Today is Memorial Day.

Our country is still at war, even though it often doesn't seem like it.  We are not asked to make sacrifices -- for most of us, the war is far away.  Our society is structured in such a way that a very small portion of the population carries the burden of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the American military presence around the world.  If you are not in the military, in a military family, or have friends in the military, America's wars barely affect you at all.  There is also a huge class element, as many of our middle and upper classes look down on military service as not being a socially prestigious career choice.  American culture (or rather, the prolefeed generated by New York/Los Angeles) doesn't exactly promote military heroism, instead teaching our youth to emulate the pointless hedonism of celebrities.  Yet, somehow, someway, this country still produces men and women in uniform worthy of our founding generation.  In many ways, we don't deserve our military -- but we are blessed to have it.  Thank you to all our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and others who keep our country safe.

Also, I'd like to thank the many veterans in Youth for Western Civilization as well as those who are joining the military after they graduate and those who are currently serving their country while attending school through the National Guard, the Reserve, or the state defense forces.  It's an honor to work with you. 

In a time of domestic economic and political turmoil, it is my feeling that the U.S. would be better off with a humble foreign policy and should find some way to end its seemingly endless wars.  Reports from the Middle East indicate no end in sight, as increasingly heated relations between Israel and Iran have led some to push for the U.S. to intervene.

Surprisingly, though, it seems that Iran may finally be backing down from its characteristic bellicosity, as President Ahmadinejad has agreed to prove that his nuclear program is entirely peaceful by sending Iran’s uranium to Western states like Russia and France to be converted into fuel, which would alleviate concerns that the program would be dedicated to bomb construction.

Despite the promising news, there are still doubts:

BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, reporting from London, says that even now there will be scepticism over whether this Iranian change of heart really means anything.

The US is pressing hard for new sanctions against Iran because of the nuclear programme, so this could well just be a case of the Iranian government playing for time, trying to weaken forces lined up against it, he says.

This is the first sign of peace from Iran in a long while, and this is timely news, since the West has too many problems at home to continue expending itself abroad. The U.S. Army itself is even going through a difficult period of transition, as it can’t even seem to definitely decide on whether it wants Muslims and homosexuals among its ranks.

Whether these movements are the results of the West’s addiction to political correctness, or this is all part of Iran’s mischievous plot to "weaken" our "forces" that Leyne suggested, I can’t say for sure, but either way, peace sounds good for now.

BBC Article