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Veterans Not Worth Anti-War Senators' Time
By John
Yesterday, a group of former soldiers representing Vets for Freedom took the good fight to The Hill. Lobbying key Senators in the debate, Iraq War vets tried to pound the severe consequences of retreating from Iraq into congressional skulls.
Vets for Freedom's mission Tuesday was to reassure the GOP lawmakers supporting President Bush's war strategy as they endure a pummeling at home in TV ads and automated telephone calls from anti-war groups. And maybe, the veterans hoped, they could change the minds of other lawmakers.Their Capitol Hill offensive wound up illustrating the unevenness of the debate over the war and whether to end it. Veterans for Freedom has scant money to spend and no contracts with professional public relations firms.
The opposition can easily entice a sitting lawmaker to attend rallies and events; 23 senators and 57 representatives attended an anti-war candlelight vigil Tuesday night organized by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, an umbrella organization that represents roughly 9 million anti-war activists.
The only senators who would meet with the pro-surge veterans were those who already shared their view. The real targets -- war opponents or wobbly supporters -- sent a first wave of senior aides to shield themselves from the pitch.
Senator Carl Levin's (D, MI) staff apparently felt that meeting with Vets was a waste of time:
For more than a half-hour Tuesday, a small group of Iraq war veterans worked on their adversary, pressing President Bush's surge strategy to the staff of Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin."Unproductive," muttered one as he arrived for lunch in the American Legion building on D Street shortly afterward.
Vets For Freedom is taking a lead here and I hope that you all will join them. I just signed up after I received an email from one of my VMI Brother Rats who has assumed a leadership position in VFF's ranks.
The Politico touches on an important point, the pro-war crowd is getting creamed by the anti-war lobby. VFF did what it could, but will need help from fellow servicemembers if we're going to convince our elected officials that listening to the real-life consquences of a withdrawl from Iraq is something more than....unproductive.
You can sign up here.
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Comments
Wow, I never would have guessed that a group that supports the war would actually have donors that....well....supports the war. As far as the Lt. giving up his part time gig I guess 1 deployment doesn't really count huh? If he wasn't willing to fight he wouldn't be in the National Guard either. Who on earth has 4 or 5 deployments?? And very few are on a 3rd. Do some math. How is it you know that most of the membership is not active duty when they won't release a list of members?
Old Tanker - amen!
What the VFF needs is a sugardaddy like Soros to fund them a la Code Pink and MoveOn. $$ = consistent, persistent presence. IMHO $$ is not what most VFF members have in abundance.
At the root of Kennerly's argument: one can not be suitably citizen-y enough or patriotic-y enough unless they are in Iraq and/or Afghanistan year in and year out. What's next? One needs to have a certain body count in order to interact with our political elite?
Perhaps it because it is because of membership in... the Guard (gasp of horror, wretched sounds of vomit splatting dear Sainted Mother's picture)!
I will point out though, Old Tanker, this fellow does make two points worth a re-mention:
o there are a number of folks I know who are on their third rotation - all Guardsmen mind you.
o company-grade officers are leaving in droves. There are a multitude of causal factors which aren't addressed but insinuated. Discussions of causality is great for BBQ and beer, but insinuating Hesgeth is a coward, or an unprofessional officer, is simply character assasination - how professional is that?
Good to see VMI folks being involved...
DaveO,
I never questioned what rick said about officers leaving because I simply don't know nor did I have time to look it up. I'll leave the making of broad assumptions to others.
I do realize that there are people on their third deployment. All of the people I know personally have not done more than 2 but I've heard of 3, I had to question 4. Seems like that would only be possible if some returned from deployment and volunteered to switch to a unit that was deploying in the next couple of months. Of course, the war hasn't been going on long enough for anyone to do 5 deployments but hey, again I'll leave the assumptions to others........
Hey, Rick, whether in peace or war, the majority of junior officers (O1-O3) leave active duty at the 5-7 year point. This is true of all services. Folks leave for a variety of reasons, all the time, anyway.
Did you serve?
He served. And as a member of the Guard, he will most likely go again.
Good to see you blogging on the great efforts by Vets For Freeedom, John. They’ve done an awesome job the past few weeks. I want to invite you and your readers to join us at Move America Forward as we launch our national, cross-country “Fight for Victory Tour” this September 3 - 15 ending in DC where we’ll have a rally with a collection of pro-troop groups including Vets for Freedom, Gathering of Eagles, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Free Republic, Protest Warriors and others. It’s a vital time for us to be mobilized and speaking out and it’s for such a just, worthy, noble, and pertinent cause. So let’s kick some butt and stand up to those who wish to force surrender terms upon our troops! http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org
Old Tanker,
My manner of stringing words together came across harshly, and that effect wasn't intended for you - so my apology for collateral snarking.
The folks I know of are all Guardsmen and they do hop from unit to unit, as soon as the minimum amount of time has elapsed. What truly governs that time between deployments is the pay computer system. After so much time on active duty, the Guardsman 'falls off' the computer - so no pay.
The exodus of company-grade officers could (and likely should) fill a book. I'm up for discussing it any time.
And again, sorry for catching you up in a blast meant for another.
V/R, Dave
DaveO,
I didn't take it that way, no apology necessary. I was just clarifying myself.....
Old Tanker,
Here's a link to a story about a reservist fighting his 5th deployment. Of course, you have to get to the 8th paragraph to find the details as to the length of his previous deployments.
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/07/13/835409-reservist-tries-to-stop-5th-deployment
PirateParrot
Thanks for the link, notice when I addressed rick he said 3,4,5 deployments to Iraq.
I was incredulous when I first started to read the article until, as you said, you find out how long his deployments were. A friend here at work is on his second deployment, BUT, when he gets home it will have been 27 months in country. I guess I can see why he wasn't given an exemption, his longest deployment was 7 months, that ain't gonna fly with the guys doing 15 right now!!
Arguing over the number of deployments is like arguing over when you lost your virginity. Once you have been in combat you remember it. I joined today VFF today and yes I will donate and continue to donate.
VFW Post 9949 and now over in the MidEast as a civilian.
what a thoroughly lame post ...
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
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Maybe that's because VFF are a bunch of frauds.
What 1st Lt Pete Hegseth of VFF needs to do is abandon his part-time National Guard post and join the regular fighting Army, the folks who have made 3 or 4 or 5 deployments to Iraq and where company grade officers like Hegseth are leaving in droves and are in extremely short supply. Let him fight and die for his beliefs like a real soldier, instead of standing on the sidelines writing articles.
BTW, Hegseth and VVF are a bit of ringer. Check out him and his organization at www.sourcewatch.org. Vets for Freedom is a completely GOP 527 front organization and has, as far as anyone can determine, very little active duty military membership (VFF won’t release a list of members, but donors and contributors are mostly republicans loyalists).