 What Veterans Deserve
Even as our staff gets back to work today, from an unexpected break last week, many Americans will have Monday off in celebration of Veterans Day in the United States.
As we've done every year since we began publication, we're reminding you today to thank a veteran, though we frankly hope you thank those who have served and are serving every day, whenever you encounter them. After nearly a decade and a half in Afghanistan, and a nearly decade-long war in Iraq, there are more American military veterans than at any time in recent history - and more are coming home all the time.
Even as mixed reports of readiness to leave Afghanistan filter into the American media, U.S. troops are busily dismantling our military infrastructure there in anticiptaion of the coming withdrawal. Negotiations on exactly how strong the remaining U.S. presence will be in Afghanistan after 2014 are still ongoing, even at this late date, and while a complete withdrawal of troops has been hinted at, it's unlikely.
Still, President Obama's promise to end the active war in Afghanistan begun under George W. Bush over a decade ago looks like it will happen in 2014. That means that maybe, by the time Veterans Day rolls around next year, there will be no major war zones where large numbers of American service members are stationed.
That alone is a fantastic reason to be thankful, and why maybe you should hug your favorite veteran.
There are more than few other positive signs to look at, though...
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