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05/01/2004 Entry: "One more thing before I'm out..."
This is a good idea. I think the Dems should offer their response time to veterans every week. They shouldn't have much of a problem finding vets whooppose ThugCo's policies.
An Iraq war veteran expressed disappointment with President Bush on Saturday, saying the nation's leaders refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of continuing violence in Iraq."I don't expect our leaders to be free of mistakes. I expect our leaders to own up to them," said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who was a platoon leader in Iraq.
Rieckhoff's comments, distributed by Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, were the Democratic response to the president's weekly radio address. Usually, a public official gives the response.
"Our troops are still waiting for more body armor. They are still waiting for better equipment. They are still waiting for a policy that brings in the rest of the world and relieves their burden," said Rieckhoff.
Rieckhoff called his comrades in Iraq "men and women of extraordinary courage and incredible capability. But it's time we had leadership in Washington to match that courage and match that capability."
Replies: 4 people speak up
Oh he's just unAmerican. A real American wouldn't complain about silly items like body armor, and ammo.
Posted by IXLNXS @ 05/01/2004 05:18 PM NY
Why is Rieckhoff un-American?
Posted by Mikey Savage @ 05/01/2004 05:36 PM NY
Here's another "un-American"..except, oops, he's a wounded Gulf War I vet who needs medical care he can't pay for and without which he's going to die:
Reuters via abcnews.com:
On the anniversary of President Bush declaring an end to combat operations in Iraq, Kerry held a sometimes emotional breakfast meeting with about a dozen veterans at a the South City Diner in St. Louis.
"We haven't even finished Afghanistan and we're fighting a war -- mission accomplished?" asked Fields Black, a 33-year-old former Marine who won a combat ribbon in the 1991 Gulf War.
Many of the veterans raised questions about both Bush, who served in the Texas Air National Guard and did not go to Vietnam, and Vice President Dick Cheney, who received five draft deferments. They argued that the Bush administration had neglected them and their issues.
"We really need to get folks out there marching again," Kerry said. "We fought for these things when we came back 35 years ago and we're going to fight for them again."
Black, who needs a portable oxygen tank to breathe, said he had contracted emphysema and other respiratory problems during the first Gulf War, probably from inhaling the fumes of burning oilfields.
Tears welling, he told Kerry that eight months ago, doctors predicted he would die without a course of treatment he could not afford.
"You land on the aircraft carrier strutting your stuff and I have a hard time walking?" Black said. "How dare you? That's how I look at the president -- how dare you? Why didn't you land a plane in Vietnam? Where were you then? Just how dare you? It amazes me how he does it with a smile too."
Kerry listened, then got up, embraced Black and quietly promised to try to help.
Posted by Xan @ 05/01/2004 08:09 PM NY
Whoever thought of this veteran response thing...is a genius...
...even if it's Terry McAullife.
Posted by Daddy-O @ 05/01/2004 10:38 PM NY
