This is the time of year when Christians all around the world observe the birth of the Prince of Peace.  Sometimes it is difficult to celebrate when all around we see violence and unrest. Currently our country finds itself fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Both wars baffle me.  Try as I might, I have never found a justification for the Iraq war.  It has been a long and exhausting conflict with nothing to show except huge losses of blood and treasure.  As for Afghanistan, it is the place where the terrorists of 9/11 trained.  The ring leaders of that plot are no longer there.  Some have been killed, some captured, and the biggest prize is apparently hiding elsewhere.  Afghanistan is historically the graveyard of invading armies, and I fear it will be the same for us.  Do not misunderstand me.  I mean no disrespect for the young men and women fighting these wars.  I am certain of their courage and ability.  But I want to bring them home.  I want them used for real homeland security, such as inspecting ships entering our ports, guarding nuclear power plants, and patrolling our northern and southern borders as well as the coastline.  My wish for this Christmas season is that these wars might end; that our schools will be filled with recruiters from the Peace Corps rather than the “war corps”; that we might export more medicine and fewer guns; that next year our country might be known more for digging wells than for digging graves; that we might truly have peace on earth and goodwill toward men.