As we enter the 17th year of the United States' "war on terror," it is
both appropriate, and necessary, to take stock of where our troops are
located and for what purpose. Without
taking U.S. military activity in Africa and elsewhere into account, we
cannot fully grasp U.S. national security. We cannot assess military
budgets, debate foreign policy or hold public officials accountable. Nor
can we fully comprehend the enormous, devastating costs of the U.S.
counterterror wars and accompanying militarization to human beings in
every corner of the planet.
