September 10, 2003 - The Mercury News: Morocco RPCV Jim Swanson says Peace Corps yields huge peace dividends

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: September 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: September 10, 2003 - The Mercury News: Morocco RPCV Jim Swanson says Peace Corps yields huge peace dividends

By Admin1 (admin) on Friday, September 12, 2003 - 11:22 pm: Edit Post

Morocco RPCV Jim Swanson says Peace Corps yields huge peace dividends





Read and comment on this letter to the editor of the Mercury News from Morocco RPCV Jim Swanson who says that the United States governments spends more for 35 hours of our military occupation of Iraq than we do for the worldwide operations of the Peace Corps for an entire year:
"The people of the world, especially Americans, reap huge peace dividends from the work of the Peace Corps. The peace dividends from our military campaign in Iraq are dubious at best."
Read the letter at:

Millions for peace, billions on Iraq*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



Millions for peace, billions on Iraq

Seventy-five billion dollars is a conservative estimate of our projected 2004 military expenditures for Iraq. This is based on current spending levels as well as the figures presented by President Bush in his address to the nation, and it excludes additional tens of billions for reconstruction, support of coalition partners, and other costs.

On the other hand, the U.S. Peace Corps' annual budget for 2003 is only $295 million, notwithstanding bipartisan Congressional support and increased funding.

In other words, we spend more for 35 hours of our military occupation of Iraq than we do for the worldwide operations of the Peace Corps for an entire year.

Although I want to believe that all of our military efforts are intended to promote peace, we do sometimes err in pulling the war lever, with tragic unintended consequences.

The people of the world, especially Americans, reap huge peace dividends from the work of the Peace Corps. The peace dividends from our military campaign in Iraq are dubious at best.

Jim Swanson
Los Altos



Morocco RPCV Jim Swanson helps Internet-related start-ups in Silicon Valley



Morocco RPCV Jim Swanson helps Internet-related start-ups in Silicon Valley

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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Morocco; Iraq; Speaking Out

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