Legionnaires Condemn War Protests

[GOPFighter]

http://www.legion.org/?section=pub_relations&subsection=pr_listreleases&content=pr_press_release&id=303

The first sentence of the American Legion press release reads: "HONOLULU, August 23, 2005 - Delegates to the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization meeting here in national convention today vowed to use whatever means necessary to ensure the united support of the American people for our troops and the global war on terrorism."

I can only interpret "by any means necessary" to include violence. This is a line which no organization in America has a right to cross.

According to the American Legions website, "The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919." I urge everyone who is concerned about the escalation of the huge divide that is growing in our country to write to both of their Senators and Representative and demand that the American Legion's charter be revoked IMMEDIATELY.

[acmejack]

1. Flash: DUer Vet/war Protesters tell Legion to get a clue!

They had to get a lot of resignations today.

[wtmusic]

2. Had to call them on this one

"So your Legionnaires in Honolulu "vowed to use whatever means necessary to ensure the united support of the American people" of the so-called war on terrorism.

What a laugh.

I hereby vow to use whatever means necessary to protest the President's illegal invasion of the sovereign nation of Iraq, prosecute the President on war crimes charges, and to prevent you from taking away my constitutional right to do so.

Come and get me."

:rofl:

[longship]

3. These Legionaires are diseased.

n/t

[GeorgeBushytail]

4. But they were a leading anti-war group in 1999

Check out thier hypocrisy:
http://billmon.org/archives/002107.html

Here's their 1999 anti-war letter to President Clinton:

President William J. Clinton
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The American Legion, a wartime veterans organization of nearly three-million members, urges the immediate withdrawal of American troops participating in “Operation Allied Force.”

The National Executive Committee of The American Legion, meeting in Indianapolis today, adopted Resolution 44, titled “The American Legion’s Statement on Yugoslavia.” This resolution was debated and adopted unanimously.

Mr. President, the United States Armed Forces should never be committed to wartime operations unless the following conditions are fulfilled:

That there be a clear statement by the President of why it is in our vital national interests to be engaged in hostilities;
Guidelines be established for the mission, including a clear exit strategy;

That there be support of the mission by the U.S. Congress and the American people; and

That it be made clear that U.S. Forces will be commanded only by U.S. officers which we acknowledge are superior military leaders.

It is the position of The American Legion, which I am sure is shared by the majority of Americans, that three of the above listed conditions have not been met in the current joint operation with NATO (“Operation Allied Force”).

In no case should America commit its Armed Forces in the absence of clearly defined objectives agreed upon by the U.S. Congress in accordance with Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution of the United States.


Sincerely,



HAROLD L. “BUTCH” MILLER
National Commander


Att: Resolution #44

cc: Secretary of Defense
Secretary of State
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Leadership, House and Senate
Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member, House and Senate Armed Services Committee

[punpirate]

5. They did the same thing during the Vietnam war...

... their leadership was very much in favor of continuing and escalating the war, saw the VVAW as a real threat--lots of talk about "treason" then, too.

Screw `em. I refused to join when I saw that many members were just armchair warriors who wanted to bathe in the reflected glory of those who'd actually been in combat (a large percentage of the membership had not) and were staunch Nixon supporters.

Pay `em no mind.

[DURHAM D]

6. 2.7 Million members claimed and only 4,000 at the convention.

Those 4,000 voted unanimously on this resolultion - seems like a big lie from the get go. I would love to see the age (and gender) breakdown on this group of 4,000.

[GOPFighter]

7. A co-worker who is a member of the Legion...

...went berserk when I showed him the press release. He hates Bush, strongly opposes the war and is canceling his membership. He was a Navy swift boat captain in Vietnam BTW, and really feels for the guys over in Iraq.

[DunstanRamsay]

8. Actually it depends how you read it

"to ensure the united support of the American people for our troops and the global war on terrorism"

I think we all support our troops...we want them home and safe. Dubya leaves them in Iraq, ill equipped, in harms way and with no apparent purpose. Also I support a defense against terrorists, but we sure are going about it the wrong way and in the wrong places. Its anything but a "global" effort.