AP file photo Missiles launched from Iran streak across the sky over central Israe

My father Edward was quite the paradox. A self proclaimed pacifist, he could be quite scrappy when it came to issues of importance to him. When Gulf War I broke out in 1990, Ed saw the conflict for what it was. One larger more corrupt country trying to take over a smaller corrupt county and seize their natural resources. Kind of like Russia and Ukraine today but back then it was Iraq and Kuwait.

My father wanted to pen a letter to the editor stating that while he supported the soldiers he did not support the war. The language that my dad used in his editorial made some people question his support for our troops. Just like today, back then people believed what they wanted to believe.

My old man had trash thrown in his yard. People called his house and cursed him, When my mother would answer the phone instead of Ed, some of these brave unidentified patriots swore at my mom. So much for freedom of speech.

I have always been proud of the way my father would stick his neck out for other people and for causes that were important to him. My dad accepted the fact that his words and actions would be misunderstood and criticized. He took that on. But to this day I would love to have a go at anyone who swore at my mom back in 1990.

I wasn’t living at home at the time but it became tiresome being asked the question, “So your dad doesn’t support the troops?” It got real old real fast telling others to go back and carefully read my dad’s words. Yes, he supported the troops. Just not the war.

Fast forward to the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush and company convince Congress, the American people and half the world that Iraq was responsible for 9-11 and had weapons of mass destruction. My dad’s health was failing by that time. He didn’t get involved with protesting Gulf War II but he called it for what it was. A big lie. And Ed correctly predicted that our country would be stuck in a Middle East quagmire for decades. My dad died in 2004. He had served in Korea. Despite his anti-war stance and despite any misinterpretations of his writing, he supported our troops until his dying day.

I have been thinking a lot about my old man lately. I wonder what he would have to say about the U.S. Israeli attack on Iran. And I wonder what the real reasons are for our country’s latest military action in the Middle East. The president and his team have yet to give a consistent, unified and coherent explanation of the reasons behind this attack. No clearcut statement has been made regarding the desired outcomes and an exit plan for this war with Iran.

I am a math teacher. I also consider myself a student of history

. In my lifetime, and even before I was born, the U.S. has not had a good track record in the Middle East. It has been a decades long bipartisan failure filled with lies. My Trumper friends say that I just hate Trump and everything he does. My liberal friends get upset when I level much deserved criticism at the Democrats. Mostly I just ask questions, look for answers and point out hypocrisy. There is plenty of hypocrisy and deceit in our country’s history in the Middle East.

I love this country as much as anyone. Make no mistake about it. I support our troops. But I have seen far too many former students, friends and loved ones come home from war damaged physically and mentally or in flag draped coffins to not question our country’s actions. If you love something or someone, you want them to be the best that they can be. That means asking questions, demanding answers and offering constructive criticism. Not blindly following war hawks and bought-off politicians.

Why has the U.S.A. really fought some of the wars it has? Why has the country we love spent trillions of dollars and sacrificed the health and lives of far too many of our our fine soldiers on wars in the Middle East? If we really want to Make America Great Again and put America First, we need honest answers to those questions.

We owe at least that much to the brave servicemen and women who protect our country and our freedom. So ask yourselves, your countrymen, our politicians, our elected officials and our president. Why does this country that we love really fight the wars that it does? Getting honest answers to that question is the best way to support our troops.

President Trump is now talking about reinstating the draft. I have to wonder if the Baron will be serving his county? He might have bone spurs too. I did read that bone spurs are hereditary. I don’t think that we will see Baron Trump in uniform. Elitism is hereditary too.

Andrew Ludwig is a retired math teacher and a retired public school and Catholic school administrator. He currently works as a substitute teacher in Chautauqua County.