What We Really Owe Our Troops

[ProSense]

Jonathan Powers
11.06.2006

What We Really Owe Our Troops

Last week America witnessed a ridiculous onslaught of political backlash, intense media coverage, non-stop scrutiny and outrage over comments made by Senator John Kerry to a group of students in California. As a veteran who served for over 14 months in Iraq, I am insulted - not by Senator Kerry, but, by the media outlets and politicians who capitalized on this botched joke.

The obsession with Senator Kerry's remarks has once again enabled politicians to evade the real problems facing our service members and has perpetuated a political climate void of any accountability. It is American politics at its worst and at this, I am truly outraged.

After Senator Kerry's remarks, White House press secretary Tony Snow repeatedly demanded an apology from Senator Kerry, insisting that he owed this to "our troops." Why do we continue to sit idly by and accept this blatant hypocrisy? For the last three years, I have wanted an apology or at least a modicum of accountability from this administration for the war in Iraq and the treatment of our returning veterans.

Nobody is addressing MY outrage. I am deeply distressed by the fact that our military is overstretched and that the men and women on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan are fighting without the proper equipment. I am distressed by the fact that my fellow service members are returning home to a Veterans Administration that is under funded and overcrowded and that my friends are having to wait over six months for basic health care. I am distressed by the rapidly mounting human and political costs of our two wars and I am OUTRAGED that there is no plan in place to deal with any of these urgent issues.

more...

[blm]

1. Iraq Veteran has wanted an apology from Bush administration for over 3 years.

.

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. Wow

Jonathan says it all. Did you post this in GD, because this needs to be spread about. This is why getting the vote out is so important.

The republicans are pulling their tricks all over the country and it is despicable and un-American, we can't let them steal away real support for our troops.

[blm]

6. I agree - THIS Iraq vet is telling us WHY we work so hard for tomorrow.

Because HE wants an apology from Bush for ALL the troops he has used and abused.

[ProSense]

7. It's posted

in GD-P. Powers is awesome!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2932128&mesg_id=2932128

[blm]

8. and so are you, Pro.

grazie.

[fedupinBushcountry]

3. I can't believe

that this is not on the home page at Huffpost. I'd e-mail and complain but as many know I was banned a long time ago. This should be seen, damn it.

[Island Blue]

4. Thanks for posting. That's brilliant.

Jonathan Powers is great and he has picked one hell of a role model! I'm sure there are many more Iraq war veterans who feel the exact same way the he does - I wish all of their voices could be heard. Thank you Captain Powers for speaking out!

[TayTay]

5. Oh, I knew I liked that guy

the first time I laid eyes on him in Faneuil Hall in April.

Tanks Jon! You are a great guy yourself. (And you know, that offer to move to Mass and run for the House still stands.)

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

What a guy!