Letters to the Editor

• More War! Can't Let Our Abused Troops Get Furloughed...

  [Read the article: Skepticism toward Bush claims about Syria and North Korea]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  The words of two Americans most directly affected by our unconscionable presence in Iraq:

  Keri Wheelwright, a member of Military Families Speak Out from Fountain Hills, AZ and the wife of an Army officer currently serving in Iraq, said "My husband's deployment to Iraq has been the hardest sacrifice we've had to make as a military family, and it's especially hard to endure knowing that we were duped into this war in the first place. It is the worst betrayal to watch Congressional leaders, who have spoken out against this war in the past, put their political calculations ahead of the well-being of our troops.

  .

  "Senators and Representatives who say you're opposed to this war -- you have the chance to right one of the biggest political blunders in the history of our country. Do not fall into the trap of believing this Administration when it says 'funding this war is funding the troops.' What I and other military families know only too well is that funding this war is killing our troops. Take real leadership now by refusing to put forward a bill that continues to fund the war in Iraq and introduce a bill that funds the swift and safe return of our troops."

  Megan Brooker, a member of Military Families Speak Out from Portland, Oregon whose brother is a Specialist in the Army now serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, said "My brother was supposed to leave the Army this year, but will soon be stop-lossed and forced to remain in Iraq until his fifteen month tour is over. It is infuriating to think that he could be forced to risk his life for another year because Congressional leaders who claim to oppose this war want to avoid controversial votes in the fall of an election year.

  "Stop taking the lives of our men and women of the armed forces for an unjust and illegal war. Stop causing irreparable physical and psychological injuries to our loved ones and the people of Iraq. Bring our troops home and do it NOW. Why not truly support our troops for once, by bringing them safely home and taking care of them when they get here?"

  http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/32986

  And then the words of two American "friends" least directly affected, but most directly responsible for the effectively unchallenged pending continuation of funding for the carnage in Iraq (it's only lives hanging in the balance over there - and we all know that Senate Republicans will be sure not to filibuster funding for a withdrawal next year under a Democratic president, right?), chatting yesterday:

  Mr. BLUNT....I notice the schedule doesn't include anything yet on the supplemental. I continue to see reports suggesting that the supplemental may come directly to the floor and not through committee. I wonder if the gentleman has any indication of what might be the schedule at this time on the supplemental.

  I would yield.

  Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend for yielding.

  As you have read, we are discussing how to process the supplemental. As I indicated to you, it is my intention that we will pass the supplemental prior to Memorial Day. By that, I mean in sufficient time so the Senate can do so as well so we can pass it finally.

  That is my hope and my intention. We are still working on the components of the supplemental, and very frankly, it has not yet been finally decided as to how that might be processed. ..snip.. Committee consideration, obviously, is part of the regular order, if we go that way, but there are other ways to go. We want to facilitate the passage of it as quickly as possible.

  Mr. BLUNT. I appreciate the need to get this war supplemental done. Of course we have been talking about it during this entire work period for the last 4 weeks now. Since 1989, the Congress has passed 36 supplementals. All but seven of them went through the committee process. ..snip.. ...and I don't know that that has anything other than informational value to you, it may very well go through the committee. If it doesn't, I have heard a lot of concern expressed about why, with the amount of time we have had here, we would do what is a relatively extraordinary thing.

  I would be glad to yield.

  Mr. HOYER. I appreciate the gentleman yielding.

  Our intent obviously, as I said, is to pass this bill. Obviously we are considering the best way to do so, giving every Member an opportunity to vote as they see fit on various component parts of the supplemental, and we are considering how best to do that.

  ..snip.. But I will tell the gentleman that we are trying to proceed in a way that will facilitate the passage of this bill to the Senate and hopefully transmittal to the President prior to the Memorial Day break.

  Mr. BLUNT. Well, I thank the gentleman for that. I do think the time does matter here because of the potential for furlough notices and other things for troops if we let this bill go much beyond the work period we are in right now between now and Memorial Day.

  http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2008_record&page=H2736&position=all

  But not to worry. Nancy Pelosi made sure to thank President Bush on Wednesday and to say how grateful she was to him for letting she and her fellow, blameless Party worthies meet the Pope at the White House, whom he "honored" with his visit. That's what's important, right? Forced to choose between killing Arab children in Iraq with American airborne weapons and "support" for the American Armed Forces, there's no contest, is there? Her grandchildren certainly don't think so, so why should she? Besides, remember, it's all about "the children" - those children not inconsiderate enough to be Arab and in our way in Iraq, that is.

  http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/moment-of-silence/

  Permalink Friday, April 25, 2008 08:46 AM