I finally wrote my letter to American Legion National Commander . . .

[Klimmer]

I know we are all very concerned at the moment about Katrina. Pray.

On another topic of concern, the war in Iraq . . .
See the original thread in the "Veterans and Military Issues" forum for workable full links:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x694


To: Thomas P. Cadmus, National Commander
The American Legion
700 N. Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Tel.# [phone]
[e-mail]

http://www.legion.org

From: Klimmer

Date: 8-28-05

Re: The American Legion, National Commander, Thomas P. Cadmus’s public comments regarding protesting the Iraq War . . .

Dear National Commander Thomas P. Cadmus,

Your statements during the American Legion’s most recent National Convention in Honolulu, August 23, 2005:
http://www.legion.org/?section=pub_relations&subsection...

"The American Legion will stand against anyone and any group that would demoralize our troops, or worse, endanger their lives by encouraging terrorists to continue their cowardly attacks against freedom-loving peoples."

Are you saying that TAL will stand against the 1st amendment rights of US citizens to peacefully gather, protest, and demonstrate against this illegal and immoral pre-emptive Iraq war? What US war protester is trying to encourage terrorists to attack our great country, our citizens, and our soldiers? Quite the opposite really. The ones who truly support the troops are the ones who are calling this war what it is --- a fraud, and asking that our troops be brought home safely.

It was reported that you told TAL delegates to vote in support of using "whatever means necessary to ensure the united backing of the American people to support our troops and the global war on terrorism."

Are you suggesting that TAL delegates trample on the freedom and rights of US citizens and use whatever means necessary to make American citizens demonstrate the illusion of support for illegal, immoral pre-emptive wars? Are you serious? Does The American Legion support fascism?

You said, "No one respects the right to protest more than one who has fought for it, but we hope that Americans will present their views in correspondence to their elected officials rather than by public media events guaranteed to be picked up and used as tools of encouragement by our enemies."

You show your ignorance and lack of understanding of the US Constitution Bill of Rights. Amendment 1. Religious and Political Freedom (1791):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

You are wrong.

Perhaps I don’t have the moral high ground such as a wife, husband, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, brother has who has lost a loved one in GW Bush’s illegal and immoral Iraq War, but I am a US citizen. I did serve my country honorably in the US Army Honor Guard in a time of peace, broken shortly by our nation’s action in Grenada, and the tragic bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. I am a member of The American Legion. I support our troops completely. At this moment, I have a brother-in-law in the US Army who has seen more than his share of action around the world over the past 10 + years, including a tour in Iraq. More than likely he will be shipped-out again to Iraq, and my entire family is very worried for his safety and well being. As Cindy Sheehan is asking President Bush a completely valid and honest question, “What noble cause did my son die for?” I too ask the same question in honor of all the soldiers who have to go, and those left here who have to bear the tragic personal , emotional loss, and generational debt inducing costs of this fraudulent war.

How dare you attempt to speak for me as a member of TAL regarding this immoral, corrupt war in Iraq that is based on the lies and deceit of the Bush Neo-con PNAC controlled administration. This fabricated pre-emptive illegal war against the sovereign nation of Iraq had no connection with 9-11, or state sponsored terrorism, but has everything to do with war profiteering by private contractors/corporations with direct connections to the Bush administration and their lust after and control of the regions fossil-fuel reserves.

This war in Iraq is not only wrong but immoral. Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians have lost their lives since the beginning of the war. Geneva Convention abuses abound such as the prisoner treatment at Abu Ghraib. And worse still is our government sponsored genocide through the illegal use of Depleted Uranium weapons and armature throughout the region. The regional background radiation due to DU use is dramatically increasing, and the people of Iraq and our soldiers are suffering and dying as a result. And now family members whom have never been in the region are also suffering and are being severely affected through physical contact to those who have been in the region. This is in many ways a nuclear war by non-conventional methods. This insidious secret use of DU is completely immoral and illegal by the Geneva Convention and will continue to kill for billions of years. How many more will die? Our government, the Pentagon, the VA, and the VA hospitals do not want to talk about it --- this is treason at the highest levels. Please see the following DU resources:

Radioactive Wounds of War
Tests on returning troops suggest serious health consequences of depleted uranium use in Iraq
By Dave Lindorff
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2298

DU --- A Scientific Perspective An Interview With
LEUREN MORET, Geoscientist
http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/News/2005/11-20/19news0...

August 2004 World Affairs Journal. Leuren Moret: "Depleted Uranium: The Trojan Horse of Nuclear War,"
http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2004/DU-Trojan-Horse1jul0...

World Depleted Uranium Weapons Conference, Hamburg,
Germany, October 16-19, 2004:
http://www.uraniumweaponsconference.de/speakers.htm

Radiological toxicity of DU
K. BAVERSTOCK, C. MOTHERSILL & M. THORNE (Repressed WHO Document) 5nov01
http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/DU-Radiological-Toxicity-...

American Free Press four-part series on DU by Christopher Bollyn.
Part I: "Depleted Uranium: U.S. Commits War Crime Against Iraq, Humanity,"
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/depleted_uranium....

Part II: "Cancer Epidemic Caused by U.S. WMD: MD Says
Depleted Uranium Definitively
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/cancer_epidemic_....

Part III: "DU Syndrome Stricken Vets Denied Care:
Pentagon Hides DU Dangers to Deny Medical Care to Vets",
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/du_syndrome.html

Part IV: "Pentagon Brass Suppresses Truth About Toxic
Weapons: Poisonous Uranium Munitions Threaten World",
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/pentagon_brass.ht...

Poisonous Legacy --- DU (flash animation)
http://www.bushflash.com/pl_lo.html



National Commander Cadmus, you do not speak for me. Unless you publicly denounce the statement you made against those who would protest this illegal, immoral, and corrupt war whether they are TAL members or not, please cancel my membership in The American Legion effective immediately.

There was a courageous young war protester after returning from Vietnam, and now a well known US Senator, who said:

“How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”

The same can be asked of the Iraq war soldier today.


Sincerely,


Klimmer

[papercut]

1. I spoke with my dad today.

He's considering cancelling his Legion membership.

[yewberry]

2. Wow, great letter.

That's got to be pretty hard--I mean, an organization like this one is based, to some degree, on a sense of shared experience. A brotherhood, a sisterhood, no matter what.

Having to make a decision to turn away from that must cut pretty deep. I think you're absolutely right to do so; I only hope that others feel the same way and won't allow themselves to be bullied, shamed, or manipulated into following a bad leader off a cliff.

Good job.