These are the issues that are important, damn it. If we sacrifice what’s right, and doing what’s right, for what we want - we will end up with neither.
I was recently asked whether I support the comments made by General Wes Clark, regarding Senator John McCain’s qualifications to be Commander in Chief. I know General Wes Clark, having served directly for him for many years both in and out of uniform. In some ways I feel that I know him better than many; therefore, I am compelled to speak out on behalf of the integrity, honesty and just plain old fashioned smarts that he has consistently shown throughout his tenure as a military leader and into his civilian life. Let me be as clear as possible. Speaking as a veteran, both General Clark and I, not only respect but, revere the service given to our country by John McCain, including his years spent as a prisoner of war; however, this is not about Lieutenant John McCain the war hero. Make no mistake about it, Lieutenant McCain is a genuine American hero, but the issue at hand is about the judgment of Senator John McCain the politician.
Please go read the rest at: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/2/11101/80948/786/545337 . Then recommend it while you’re there and let Eric know you appreciate what he said by leaving a comment and telling those you know about what he’s said here today.
General Clark DID NOT impune Senator McCain’s service in any way, shape, or form. In fact - he said Mccain was one of his heros, as well as a hero to millions, for his service. What he did say was simple logic - that McCain’s specific military service does not make him automatically qualified to be commander-in-chief anymore than being able to drive a car qualifies one to race at NASCAR.Furthermore - I ‘ve no doubt he would have made his comments no matter who the presumptive Dem nominee was. The comments have nothing to do with Obama. And - considering they have nothing to do with Obama, I’m saddened and, frankly, disgusted, that an Obama campaign spokesman would denounce General Clark’s remarks.
There is nothing to denounce. Doing so smacks of political cowardice on the part of the Obama spoksman who issued the statement, at the very least.”
Today, VoteVets.org launched its second of three ads. There’s a common theme to these ads - that despite President Bush’s comments to the contrary, he does not listen to his commanders on the ground - and that’s an enormous problem. Civilian control of the military is one thing - civilian deafness due to arrogance is quite another…and it’s getting our troops, and Iraqi civilians, killed and maimed daily, not to mention blowing the Hell out of one of the cradles of civilization. (Yes. I’m still pissed about the looting of the museum in Baghdad!)
This second ad features Maj. General Paul Eaton (ret.), whose most recent operational assignment was Commanding General of the command charged with reestablishing Iraqi Security Forces 2003-2004, where he built the command and established the structure and infrastructure for the Iraqi Armed Forces. (re: votevets.org)
The first ad featured Maj. General John Batiste (ret.), who resigned from the Army in order to speak out about the failed strategies the Bush Administration has for Iraq. These strategies are breaking our armed forces, who are doing everything they can to prop up a fatally flawed plan.
Maj. General Batiste’s (ret.) final assignment in the Army was commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division from August 2002-June 2005. During this timeframe, the “Big Red One” conducted successful peace enforcement operations in Kosovo and combat operations in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In Iraq, the division was deployed to north-central Iraq from February 2004 until February 2005 and included 22,000 soldiers from active and reserve component units from throughout the United States. (re: votevets.org)
I’m telling you about the final assignments of these two men for obvious reasons - they know what the hell they’re talking about when they tell you Bush doesn’t listen to his commanding generals on the ground. They were two of those generals! So, it behooves us to do what our president repeatedly fails to do: listen,learn and react accordingly.
These videos are targeting several key members of Congress, who are finally demonstrating an ability, at long last, to listen and learn from these commanders who have been in Iraq leading our troops and tried repeatedly to tell the President what’s going on, as well as to the only General who fought and won a war without losing a single American life. Next week, they will air a third ad featuring that particular general - General Wesley K. Clark (ret.), and I’ll post it here.
It’s about damn time everyone in Congress listens. You can help nudge them in the right direction too. Here’s how:
1. Click the StopIranWar.com picture to the right. It’ll take you to the www.stopIranWar.com, where you can sign a petition asking both the President and Congress to listen and think before they escalate us right into another war, with a far better equiped and trained army than Iraq ever had.
2. StopIranWar.com (which is a joint project of VoteVets.org and General Clark), is also asking people to call or write these members of Congress who are the targets of the current ads. A different member will be featured each week. This is a great grassroots effort by General Clark’s volunteers - please give them a hand with it by going to http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/12090 and reading the following posted by Susan Meara:
WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS CAMPAIGN A BOOST WITH A GRASSROOTS PHONE AND EMAIL BLITZ!
Some of our elected officials are going to be treated to a SPECIAL DAY
when they will be showered with attention for the purpose of delivering a message. By joining us, you can help MAKE THEIR DAY!
They need to know that people are paying attention to what they’re doing.
The message is this:
Do not support the Presidents failed policy!
A MILITARY ONLY STRATEGY WILL NOT WORK IN IRAQ.
We need POLITICAL help from the Maliki government, and REGIONAL DIPLOMACY with Iraq’s neighbors, including IRAN.
Please support diplomatic & political efforts–we owe this to our troops.
(It doesn’t matter if you live in a different state or district. They know you can provide support for their opponents in the next election if they continue to defy the will of the American people!)
Today’s Special Day belongs to…SENATOR JOHN WARNER of Virginia!
(tomorrow or the next day is okay too)
CALL:
Washington office: (202) 224-2023
TOLL FREE NUMBERS (ask the operator for Senator Warner’s office):
800-828-0498, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803
EMAIL: You can also use the online contact form to send this message to Senator Warner in email instead of calling.
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
