Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Supporting The Troops

Daily Kos: CA-04: Ask an Iraqi War Veteran Who Supports the Troops? Certainly Not Doolittle.: "DOOLITTLE KNOWS VERY LITTLE ABOUT 'SUPPORTING THE TROOPS'

. . .I [ candidate Charlie Brown]wasn't the only one who noticed. My son, an Iraqi War Veteran and Air Force Captain who co-piloted Doolittle from Baghdad to Tal-Afar back in February took exception to Doolittle's recent column while home a few weeks ago on leave. His response to Doolittle is below, from the Sept. 5th edition of the Roseville Press-Tribune.
I read Congressmen Doolittle's recent Op-Ed ('Support Our Troops, Don't Exploit Them') while home from duty overseas. As an Iraq War veteran, I found his claims of support for our military men and women, and his comments about Charlie Brown infuriating.

Doolittle suggests that if you do not agree with the political decision to go to war, then you do not support the troops. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I've traveled all over this country, and met people both for and against the war. Regardless of which side they fall on, everyone I meet supports the warriors. Many send care packages, body armor and helmets. Others advocate for veterans rights or volunteer to help homeless veterans and families coping with the absence of a loved one. Actions speak louder than words.

Career politicians like Doolittle say they support us, because that's all they can do. Yet their voting records, official actions, and appalling misuse of taxpayer dollars tell a very different story. Veterans, both past and present, are not fooled by the empty rhetoric.

How many vehicle armor plates could "fiscally conservative" Doolittle have bought with the taxpayer money he wasted sending out campaign mailers in August? How many sets of body armor could have been bought with his $1,000 per month taxpayer subsidized car lease? Why did Doolittle vote to allow more than $400 million in VA funding to be cut from a recent appropriations bill so that $700 million could be spent to move railroad tracks closer to casinos in Mississippi? And, would someone who "supports the troops" blow off a vote on VA benefits to attend a fundraiser with VP Cheney? Was it because he pocketed 15% from the event? . . ."

No comments: