Appeal for Redress
In 1971, Vietnam veteran John Kerry asked the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “How do you ask a man to be the last to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last to die for a mistake?”
Former counter terrorism chief, Richard Clarke in sworn public testimony before the 9/11 Commission stated that by invading Iraq, we created another generation of terrorists, which undermined our efforts to combat terrorism.
Civilians can question a president’s integrity during a time of war, because; it’s guaranteed in our Bill of Rights. Specifically, “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.” If we fail to question the judgment, competence and credibility of a president, we may as well cancel elections. A president could involve troops in war and with impunity from criticism, put the lives of our military in jeopardy for political gain.
Whenever, Americans are sent into combat, Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” comes to mind. His poetic words are timeless; “someone had blunder’d: Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die: Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.” It is increasingly evident that someone has blundered and far more than seven hundred have not returned from the Valley of Death.
Today, members of our military are encouraged “to reason why” and “to make reply”, by contacting members of Congress. I’m pleased to pass on Alan D. Kirby’s suggestion that those in the military should check out the website: www.appealforredress.org.
It states: As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
Former counter terrorism chief, Richard Clarke in sworn public testimony before the 9/11 Commission stated that by invading Iraq, we created another generation of terrorists, which undermined our efforts to combat terrorism.
Civilians can question a president’s integrity during a time of war, because; it’s guaranteed in our Bill of Rights. Specifically, “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.” If we fail to question the judgment, competence and credibility of a president, we may as well cancel elections. A president could involve troops in war and with impunity from criticism, put the lives of our military in jeopardy for political gain.
Whenever, Americans are sent into combat, Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” comes to mind. His poetic words are timeless; “someone had blunder’d: Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die: Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.” It is increasingly evident that someone has blundered and far more than seven hundred have not returned from the Valley of Death.
Today, members of our military are encouraged “to reason why” and “to make reply”, by contacting members of Congress. I’m pleased to pass on Alan D. Kirby’s suggestion that those in the military should check out the website: www.appealforredress.org.
It states: As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
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