Virginia has over 700,000 veterans and they understand more than any other group that maintaining our freedom isn+óGé¼Gäót free and their sacrifice is willingly given. Yet the Bush administration and his backers in Congress seem unaware of the real nature of these sacrifices. It becomes increasingly more apparent that only service personnel are being asked to bear the burdens of our war on terrorism and the separate war in Iraq. A strong majority of Americans continue to pay no price and bear no burden as even the cost of the war is being charged to future generations.
The President fails to understand that most Americans now view our present military situation as two distinctly separate crises, the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. The war on terrorism is now in its fifth year and is supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans who consider it an essential struggle.
Our failed policies in Iraq continue as the terrible costs in human life and national treasury grow ever larger with no end in sight. The administration refuses to acknowledge growing worldwide anti-American sentiment as we are militarily and politically weakened in coping with other serious threats such as Iran and North Korea.
As a veteran, and a father of an Iraqi War veteran I feel it is my obligation and duty to speak for change in our present Iraq policy. I can no longer remain silent while our Administration abuses the trust and sacrifice of our great young service people. Our heroic service people who step forward to protect and defend our nation deserve to be honored with Truth.
This is the wrong war at the wrong time. We need change! We need an administration and thinking members of Congress that will honestly take us back on the path of fighting terrorism, not creating terrorists. It is time for an open government, one that honors the service and sacrifice of its veterans. We need people in Washington who will serve us, not themselves!
Tom Morris
Pilot, VA
Retired Teacher
Retired Marine (wounded in Vietnam 1968)
Father of an Iraqi War Veteran
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Whatever one thinks about the rationale for America's 2d invasion of Iraq, the consequences of the clumsy planning and inept prosecution of GWOT in general has in fact terribly damaged America's military and the international perception of invincibility which we formerly enjoyed. The Republicans show no remorse in continuing to exploit the patriotism of our professional soldiers AND our citizen soldier National Guard, while refusing to support or help them AFTER they return to CONUS.
The entire confused, irresponsible, exploitive doctrine of Republican militarism is actually destroying America's strength and wasting our treasure. Not to mention leaving us unable to deal effectively with future challenges from both Russia and China.