Afghanistan Truth or Consequences

 

After reading dozens of accurate reports and variedly opinions (many valid and some not) regarding the causes and consequences now on the ground in Afghanistan -- there are a few fundamental truths that I’ve yet heard mentioned.

First some existing truths.

1.       This is the longest war the US has ever been involved in.

2.       We lost approximately 2,300 US soldiers, 3,800 American contractors, and spent well over a trillion dollars.

3.       Afghanistan lost approximately 66,000 Afghan soldiers and police, and at least 47,000 Afghan civilians.

4.       Afghanistan’s wealth of rare earth metals is estimated at over $3 trillion in current value.

5.       Taliban’s income from illegal narcotics is estimated at few billion each year.

6.       The original US goal of killing OBL morphed into nation building mostly with military power.

7.       Given historical, geographical, political, religious, economic, national, and corruption conditions --a US defeat was inevitable.

The current situation in Afghanistan is the inevitable consequences of failed US foreign and military policy.   A Constitution that did not prevent an unauthorized war to go after a mass murderer who justified his attack as retaliation against a murderous US foreign policy.  We really waged a war against fear (terrorism) that could never really be won without committing genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity against people we suspect of not agreeing with us, but cannot prove in a court of law.  We served ‘justice’ with invasions, occupations, torture, and mass murder. 

In brief –our nation continued putting our own short term ‘interests’ above our nation’s founding principles stated in our Declaration of Independence.  Put bluntly – inalienable human rights continue to be expendable – without a court of law.  And any serious establishment sourced proposal - to systemically change this - is deemed unrealistic.   In truth such systemic transformation is the only way of preventing future catastrophic failures of such magnitude.

Tragically, the world’s most powerful governments continue to reject this self-evident truth - and increasingly function chaotically with predictable catastrophic consequences.  The current global governance system based on the illusion of independence between peoples was hatched over 400 years ago at the Treaty of Westphalia.  Back then the word sovereignty referred to a God given right possessed by each individual.  But the rulers of large groups of waring mutated this fundamental truth into a flawed concept we worship today as ‘national sovereignty’.   Originally this mutation intended to limit the scope and range of murdering innocent individuals beyond certain lines just because of their choice of religion or God appointed leader.   

Today the functional definition of this flawed system is in a world where national borders are irrelevant to the movement of money, pollution, communications, technology, and other WMD precursors.   Governments have created unenforceable rules we call “International Laws” that can only be enforce by war, sanctions (which can be more lethal than war – or spark one), diplomacy (threats), or covert operations (assassinations, cyber-attacks, or mercenaries.

World Mosquito Day! AUGUST 20 for over 100 years.

 

Today, August 20, 2021 is World Mosquito Day.  It has been every year for over 100 years.  Why this August day? Google it.  The bigger question is why is this day so significant- yet so ignored? 

I can only guess why we ignore it…but we are in denial about how important it is - as the Covid delta variant virus now surges killing more foolishly unvaccinated Americans and other blessed souls globally who never had the chance to get vaccinated.

FYI:  Mosquitos are the deadliest animal in the world.  One estimate is that over 50 billion humans have died throughout human history because of mosquito transmitted viruses or bacteria.  And approximately 2.7 million continue to die each year, mostly in Africa.  Mostly from Malaria.

TIL (Today I Learned):  Malaria can actually be eradicated globally.  So far humans have only globally eradicated one disease – Smallpox.  This virus killed more humans in the first 70 years of the last century than all the wars, revolutions, genocides, and homicides combined during the 100 years of the same century.   Its global eradication cost the US only $32 million over 10 years ($3.2million annually).  That campaign’s success now saves US taxpayers about $17 billion every 20 years (about a $1 billion annually).  Polio could be next.  Rotary International is close to that victory.

In the context that infectious diseases remain humanities greatest killer and cost burden – it need not anymore.  Humanity now has a choice.  Our technology is evolving faster than the natural evolution/mutation of our microbial enemies.  Our greatest weapon against pathogens has always been our immune system (requiring adequate nutrition, clean water, safe sanitation, and informed minds).  Now we have increasingly rapid and effective vaccines (to fight viruses) but faltering antibiotics (to fight bacteria) with the potential for new ones we find in nature.

Unfortunately, the habits of the human mind are now the greatest ally of both forms of pathogens.  Science ignorance, illiteracy, and distrust combined with dysfunctional government and escalating political tribalism is damaging nearly every aspect of controlling infectious diseases.  And human rage between groups now has the capacity to create unprecedented bioweaponry.

The good news:  In June, the World Health Organization declared China malaria-free.  Over 3 dozen other nations or territories have achieved this status.  China clearly demonstrated that defeating malaria requires a comprehensive approach.  African countries have taken notice but still suffer too many illnesses and deaths from malaria.   

The key principle here is this.  Infectious disease control lessons go way beyond malaria.  And everyone in communities, businesses, religions, militaries, and governments have a role to play.

Military power and walls will not stop histories march of invisible pathogens. Technology and global human cooperation can.   This also goes for the proliferation of WMD, Nonnative invasive species (plant and animal), forever wars, heat trapping gases, and harmful pollutants (to air, soil, water). 

It’s our choice.  Here’s what the world could be if our minds were used for solving problems instead of defending flawed concepts inherent in different political, religious, or economic circles.  I urge you to watch the 1 hr. and 40-minute 2016 documentary “The Choice is Ours”.  The Venus Project.  I don’t agree with everything stated.  But overall, its vision is profound.

Humanity has everything we need for “the world that works for everyone” as Buck Minster Fuller properly proclaimed over 50 years ago.  Today we have even more!   Unprecedented financial and material resources, sustainable technology, and the human capacity for rapid global communication/transportation/cooperation.   We even have a plan.  The 17 Sustainable Development Goals.   We need two things.  First the political will. 

Why do we continue to defend flawed ideas instead of those fundamental ideals we are all familiar with.   The Golden Rule – the foundation of each major religion, and “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” offered in the Declaration of Independence as the self-evident path yielding “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. 

Imagine the world today if Thomas Jefferson had accepted the editing advice of his close friend and Declaration signer, Dr. Benjamin Rush.   Rush suggested replacing the word “Happiness” with “Health”. 

Minds often define Happiness differently under different conditions.  Few sane minds would argue against the conditions of everyone having a healthy mind, body, spirt, family, other loving relationships, environment, economy, or rule of law.  The choice is ours! 

The second constraint besides sufficient political will is time.  We still rely on a 400-year-old global governance system (national sovereignty) to solve urgent fundamental threats to our individual freedom and security.  Threats that are growing exponentially largely due to the persistent evolution of multi-use technology, war, pathogens as our minds and governments resist change.

Have you ever asked why US politicians and military leaders swear an oath to protect the Constitution instead of public health and safety like many engineers and medical people do?

Please read the preamble to the US Constitution and give a school grade to each of its desired outcomes.  Then consider President Abraham Lincoln’s words that our Declaration of Independence is our “Apple of Gold”.  And our Constitution is its Frame of Silver. 

It’s our choice.

 

My Resume

 

 

Charles (Chuck) P. Woolery

315 Dean Drive, Rockville, MD 20851-1144     chuck@igc.org    Cell: 240-997-2209

 

Professional SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Grassroots and Coalition Organizer:  Successfully organized local, state, national and international grassroots networks and coalitions to educate the public and influence foreign policy decision makers and international financial institution leaders.  Skilled at simplifying, personalizing and connecting complicated global issues to motivate individual action with federal and global agency leaders.

 

Innovative Advocate:  Created and managed effective campaigns on difficult advocacy challenges.  1) The ‘Hill Corps’ for communicating with all 535 House and Senate offices on timely legislative initiatives.  2) “Letters-to-the Editor” networks covering over 200 US daily newspapers. 3) National media response teams targeting primary national print news media.  4) Local-Global Connection forums documenting the local benefits of solving global problems -- and the local human, environmental and economic costs of ignoring them. 5) “Power of Ten” Congressional District organizing strategy.

 

Media and Public Relations Director:  Developed tailored advocacy materials to assist local volunteers in generating local and national media coverage on global problems and pragmatic solutions.  Coordinated local and national media initiatives hosting news conferences in support of UNICEF’s annual State of the World’s Children reports and global health & child survival programs.  Experienced in giving radio and TV interviews and measurably effective in public venues speaking to youth, religious, service, and professional groups.  Also accomplish at organizing topical panels and issue debates.

 

Established resource:  Possesses a pragmatic understanding of globalization’s impact on US economic, health, social, environmental, and national security interests; and how to locate and use this information to influence US policy makers by geographical or political point of view.   Published in professional journals, written, and presented Congressional testimony, drafted federal legislation, written newsletter legislative updates, action alerts, briefing papers, and boilerplate newspaper opinion pieces for grassroots’ initiatives.  Maintains issue and quote database and library of books and files on ‘local-global’ connections, organizations, associations, national security threats, and topical experts.  Currently writing a book on maximizing freedom and security in an interdependent world - and maintaining a “435 Campaign for Global Justice” to educate Congress regarding the links between global injustices and threats to our personal and national security with a focus on funding the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030 – in the context of preventing most threats.

 

WORK HISTORY: 

11-2017 to Present:  Head Wrestling Coach and Strength and Fitness trainer at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.

9-2015 to Present:  Volunteer Leader of ‘435 Campaign for Global Justice’.

11-1990 to Present:  Independent contractor and consultant to CIPAC and other non profits.

11-2003 to Present:  Public speaker linking global justice and human rights protection to protecting US national security and our freedoms.

8-04 to 11-04:  MoveOn PAC Field Organizer, New Hampshire

10-02 to 11-03:  Advocacy Director, Global Plan Initiative.

3-02 to 9-02:  Grassroots Director, World Federalist Association (WFA)

7-01 to 3-02:  Issues Advocacy Director, WFA

11-98 to 7-01:  Issues Director, WFA

4-98 to 11-98:  Grassroots Development Officer: Global Health Council (formerly NCIH)

5-97 to 4-98:  Director of Advocacy, National Council for International Health (NCIH)

3-96 to 5-97:  Director of Membership and Advocacy, NCIH

5-95 to 2-96:  Director, Communications for Health Campaign

11-90 to 5-95:  Director, Alliance for Child Survival

1-89 to 11-90: Consultant, Woolery Enterprises

3-88 to 1-89:  Media Director, RESULTS International

8-85 to 3-88:  Biology Program Representative II.  UC Berkeley, Lawrence Hall of Science, CA

5-85 to 9-85:  Bay Area Coordinator, Student Conservation Association.  San Francisco, CA

7-83 to 4-85:  Site Supervisor, East Bay Conservation Corps. Berkeley, CA

10-82 to 5-84:  Information Officer, Research Assistant, and Project Manager - The Hunger Project.

9-77 to 6-82:  Certified High School Biology Teacher/Coach/Class Advisor (CO, WA, NJ, and OR)

 

 

EDUCATION:  9-73 to 12-75:  Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO          B.S. Biology

                            9-71 to 6-73:  North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene, ID                   A.A.

 

SPECIAL HONORS AND VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Aug 5, 2021     Officially sponsored and  initiated into Rockville Rotary Club.

June 12, 2021   Certified Montgomery County Weed Warrior Supervisor

April 26, 2021 Rockville City’s Environmental Excellence Award for Outstanding Leadership in Environmental Practices for the Twinbrook Park Forest Restoration Project (Anne, Sarah and Chuck).

Dec 27. 2020 to present:    Member of Rockville Environmental Commission

Oct. 2020 to present:   Board of Watts Branch Watershed Alliance

Jan. 2020 to present:   Co-leader, City of Rockville Volunteer Weed Warrior corps, park restoration projects, and native plant rescues.

2017 to present:       Advisory Board, International Campaign to End Genocide

2013 recipient:         City of Rockville “Outstanding Individual Environmental Stewardship Award”      

2012 to present:       Certified Montgomery County Weed Warrior

2012 to present:       Board of Rockville Native Species Network

2012 to 2017:           World Federalist Institute Fellow.

2002 to Present:       Frequent panelist on “Passion for Truth” TV program.

1997 to 2012            Editorial Board - World Hunger Education Service

1989 to 2012            Executive Board Chair, Gethsemane Scholarship Institute, Fond Des Blancs, Haiti.

2007 to 2010            Advisory Board, Democratic World Federalists

2004 to 2006            Ex-Officio Chair, United Nations Association Council of Organizations.

2002 to 2004            Chair, United Nations Association Council of Organizations.

1998 to 2002            Two terms on UNA Council of Organizations Executive Committee

2002                           UNA National Capital Area, UN Day Organizing Committee

2002 to 2006            UNA National Capital Area, Education Committee

2002 to 2004            Chair, WFA Chesapeake Region (DC, DE, MD, VA, WV)

2001 to 2004            Media Chair, WFA Capital Area Chapter

2001 to 2004            Advisory Board, The Angelina Arico Foundation, Genocide Factor Series

2000 to 2001            Action Board, American Public Health Association (APHA)

1997 to 2005            Advocacy Chair, APHA, International Health Section

1996 to 2001            Served two terms on Governing Council, APHA, International Health Section

1993 to 1996            Served one term on Advisory Council, APHA, International Health Section

1999 to 2005            Vice-Chair, Maryland Global Affairs Coalition (MGAC)

1997 to 1999            Chair, MGAC

1993 to 1996            Co-Chair, Maryland Global Connections Foundation.

1996 to 1999            Served two terms as PTSA President of Rockville High School.

1992 to 1994            Served two terms as PTSA President of Meadow Hall Elementary School

1993                           Recipient of UNA-USA, National Capital Area, Human Rights Award.

1993 to 1996            Served second term as elected RESULTS Grassroots Board Representative.

1989                           Recipient of US Committee for United Nations Environmental Program, World Environment Day Award

1989 to 1990            Served first term as elected RESULTS Grassroots Board Representative.

1989 to 1993:           Maryland State Coordinator, RESULTS

1983 to 1988:           Regional Coordinator (CA, HI, NV), RESULTS.  Berkeley, CA

 

Journal & Magazine articles authored in:  Topics in Clinical Nutrition, Pediatric Nursing. World Hunger Year, Share International.

Opinion Pieces:              Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Oakland Tribune, Marin Independent Journal, Montgomery Journal.

Letters to the Editor:    Business Week, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, Washington Post, Washington Times, World Monitor, and dozens of smaller daily newspapers.

Congressional Testimony:  Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations: May 15, 1997.  House Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations:  April 24, 1997; April 25, 1996;    March 30, 1995;  March 1, 1993.

Legislation Introduced:  103^rd Congress:  HR 1935 International Woman and Child Health Act of 1993

                        102^nd Congress:  HR 5507: International Woman and Child Health Act of 1992

 

 

 

References:

 

Harry C. Blaney III, President

Coalition for American Leadership Abroad (COLEAD)

(202) 944-5519  : colead@afsa.org

 

John B. Anderson, President (Ten term Republican US Congressman & 1980 US Presidential Candidate)

World Federalist Association

418 Seventh St., SE, Washington, DC 20003

(202) 491-1027   info@fairvote.org

 

Lynn McMullen

Former Executive Director, RESULTS

(360) 750-1036   lynnmcmullen@democraticfundamentalism.org

 

Tim Barner, National Director of Area Campaigns

Friends Committee on National Legislation,

245 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20002-5795 USA
(202) 547-6000    tim@fcnl.org

www.fcnl.org

 

Richard A. Hellman, Founder, Christian's Israel Public Action Campaign

1300 Pennsylvania, Suite 703,  Washington, DC 20004

 (202) 425-4009      RAHellman@CIPAConline.org

http://cipaconline.org

 

 

 

Wrestling Accomplishments and Coaches.

 

1971    3^rd place Washington State Collegiate style.  Kennewick HS.

1971    1^st place Washington State AAU Freestyle State Championships

 

Bill Conrad:  Kennewick HS Wrestling Coach.  To the wrestling world in Washington State, Bill Conrad was a legendary coach and mentor, a crafter of championship teams and shaper of championship wrestlers.  A Washington State hall of famer twice over, Conrad’s teams won three state titles at Kennewick High and finished second twice more. Twenty-three different wrestlers won state titles during his 29 years as head coach of the Lions before he retired in 1991.

 

1972    2^nd place, NJCAA National Tournament (Team place: 5^th) for North Idaho College*

1972    Qualified for and participated in U.S. Olympic Trials  (eliminated quickly)

1973    4^th place NJCAA National Tournament  (Team place: 2^nd) for NIC**

1973    Participant in U.S. East vs West dual meet representing the West.

 

*This was the first time NIC placed in the NJCAA tournament.

** This was the second year NIC placed.

 

Les Hogan: Wrestling Coach.  NJCAA Hall of Fame.  Les Hogan assumed the reins of a start-up wrestling program at NIC in 1971 and immediately developed it into one of the most respected wrestling programs in the country. In his first year as head coach, Hogan guided the Cardinals to 5th in the nation at the NJCAA tournament. Two years later Hogan led NIC to its first NJCAA national championship, and he repeated the feat in 1975, earning back to back championships. The NJCAA honored Hogan as the National Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1975. He finished his career with a record of 95 wins and only 4 losses.

 

NIC Tradition of Wrestling champions:

14 NJCAA Team National Titles (NJCAA record)

34 Top Three Finishes as a team (NJCAA record)

54 Individual National Champions NJCAA record)

230 All-Americans (NJCAA record)

 

1975    Colorado State University Wrestling Team Co-Captain.

CSU Wrestling was replaced with Girls Volleyball after passage of Title 10.