My fellow Veterans, troops, military families and our supporters everywhere reading this letter that I sent by on behalf of our military family via Congress.org to our so-called national leaders President Bush, our two "current" Senators and Congressman in Ohio. The info is provided to encourage those who feel as we do to also contact your members of Congress both NOW and when the 110th Congress takes to the House and Senate Floor in January 2007 and remind THEM why the Democrats gained control of the House. IT IS THE IRAQ WAR STUPID!
We realize that letters to members of Congress and the President are suppose to be respectful in tone, but let me ask readers this. Has any member of Congress who voted to send our troops in harms way and continued to fund this fiasco while not asking any sacrifice from THE AMERICAN PEOPLE done anything to EARN respect or courtesy from Military Families? Let me hear beaucoup Amens to THAT!
A very patriotic man, in fact a Medal of Honor recipient, once reminded us that these people who work in Congress were elected BY US. THEY are our employees, including the President, and we have every right to rate their performance. Frankly, I rate them with the RESPECT they have EARNED over the past six years or so, since 2000 – VERY LITTLE. Thus, the tone of my letter is WITH ALL DUE RESPECT should we get a response this time or not. Two in receipt of this letter are lame ducks, and WE will do all necessary to fire the other two worthless employees GUILTY for Iraqinam.
Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired
Thank you for using Congress.org Mail System
LINKS TO LETTERS TO PRESIDENT BUSH:LETTER TO SENATOR GEORGE VOINOVICH:LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN DAVE HOBSON:
Subject: Take Their Troop Surge In Iraq And SHOVE IT
To: "Congress.org" no-reply@congress.org
From: "Congress.org" no-reply@congress.org
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:04:50 -0500 (EST)
Message sent to the following recipients:
President Bush
Senator Mike DeWine (R.OH)
Senator George Voinovich (R.OH)
Representative Dave Hobson (R.OH)
Message text follows:
Major Robert L. Hanafin, U.S. Air Force-Ret.
Dayton, OH
December 20, 2006
As the parents of a Soldier serving an extended second combat tour in Iraq, our New Year's resolution for Congress is that Congress should force the President to begin troop withdrawals from Iraq in 2007.
It is astonishing to remember that a mere six years ago George Bush campaigned on the accusation that the Clinton administration had let the readiness of our military deteriorate. Today nearly all our military experts, even those speaking at peril to their careers, agree that our
Armed forces have been broken by the strategically idiotic occupation of Iraq. And yet the Bush administration has now coined yet another slogan for "stay the course," in utter and diffident defiance of the will of American people.
They are trying to sell us on yet just one more "surge" in Iraq, perhaps the one that will finally break our own backs. What Germany could not do in World War II, what Japan could not do, George Bush has single handedly nearly accomplished already, the destruction of our armed forces.
The last documented response our military family received from Senator George Voinovich of Ohio when asked if he favored cutting funding to the Selective Service Agency, disbanding Draft Boards, and cease the collection of data on young American men who would not VOLUNTEER to go to Iraq or Afghanistan, Senator Voinovich replied that although our Armed Forces is currently voluntary President Bush still requires access to
THE DRAFT system should there be a military crisis.
When the President of the United States goes on national television and admits we are losing the ground war in Iraq, our military family would define that as a military crisis? In fact, putting America's military families through hell this past four years is our definition of a military crisis Senator Voinovich, but it is clear to us that those in Congress making these "bipartisan" decisions have no one in harms way. A few gallant relatives of members of Congress and even a token fewer members of Congress in the military does not a representation of American society or sacrifice make.
There is only one possible outcome from more such bull headed obstinacy, a surge in casualties, a surge in red ink budget deficits, and sadly yes, a SURGE in insurgency. At a time when many are worried about how to logistically extract the troops we have there already, what the Bush
Administration is looking to do is to drive even faster going the wrong way on the freeway. And IF there were to be a further increase now, it would push off prospects of any meaningful withdrawal for another couple years, conveniently until the currently scheduled end of the Bush
presidency. What is this silly talk about two to three months? It would take longer than that just to get more troops in. Are supporters of these idea nuts? They most certifiably are.
And worse yet, Harry Reid was just quoted as saying he might go along with their "surge" lunacy. How much is he in debt in campaign contributions from the Defense Industry to think this way. What makes him any different from the NEOCON he is replacing? He really needs to hear from us.
American deaths from roadside bombs in Iraq are even now at their highest rate ever. There is no honor whatsoever in sending our brave troops into a rigged fight. There is no defense against such weapons, at least none which our troops are likely to ever be given. Our troops are in a
shooting gallery where it is impossible to tell friend from foe. They are dying for absolutely no other reason but politicians (from both parties) who are too cowardly to admit they were wrong, with the pathological liars in the White House at the top of the indictment.
Our military family will not support any current member of Congress who voted for the Iraq War until they have admitted their mistakes just as the President has at least been advised to admit his by Karl Rove.
In closing, our military family is sick and tired of getting those disrespectful form letters from do nothing politicians in Washington that talk down to us, question our intelligence, or patronize us while our children are sent on endless deployments to combat zones with no defined mission. Even in announcing that we are losing the Iraq War but he will surge on to Victory, President Bush still could not define either what victory or "the mission," was because Karl Rove was still working on that slogan?
Stop playing politics with the lives of other peoples children the way you budget other people's money.
As of this date, one out of three of our Congressional Representative are Democrats, god pray come 2008 that will be three out of three.
If the Democrats are no different than the Republicans in selling out to the Defense Industry than maybe we need to find a third party that can and will end the War in Iraq.
Enough already,
With all due respect,
Major Robert L. Hanafin, USAF-Retired
Employer Name: Department of Defense
Employer City: Pentagon
Position: Management-Retired
Are you a registered voter? Yes - Libertarian
Did you vote in the last election? Yes - Democrat
Age: Old enough to not repeat the same MISTAKE made over 35 years ago.
Gender: The one that currently better take THE DRAFT serious as is.
Organization: Veterans for America (VFA)
Interest Group: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Group
Would you like a reply? Yes
Have you visited our website? Yes
LINKS TO LETTERS TO PRESIDENT BUSH:
LETTER TO SENATOR GEORGE VOINOVICH: http://www.congress.org/...
LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN DAVE HOBSON: http://www.congress.org/...
LETTER TO (DEFEATED) SENATOR MIKE DEWINE: Not delivered.
In closing, depending on what kind of response/action WE get from a Democratic controlled Congress, I strongly recommend researching and posting across the internet and passing data on how much money career Democrat candidates in Congress are indebted to the Defense Industry so that THEY can be given special recognition come 2008 as Republicans defeated in 2006 were. GET THE PICTURE.
I’m all for a STRONG DEFENSE but not when it BUYS a Senator or Congressman/women’s 30 year career in Washington. BULLSHIT!!! It is way past time to launch surgical strikes on this decades long log jam in Congress. This is not Strong National Defense it is Dumb National Defense that contributed to both Vietnam and Iraqinam. Demand the CEOs of Defense Industry provide Congress a listing of just how many of their relatives are in harms way HUM?
WE THE VETERANS, MILITARY RETIREES, and MILITARY FAMILIES need a SMART NATIONAL DEFENSE not a DUMB NATIONAL DEFENSE. A Smart National Defense can be achieved with intellect and achievement, because it does not have to be bought with BRIBERY and it does not need unnecessary dumb brawny weapon systems just for the sake of PROFIT MOTIVE.
ACTION I AM ASKING READERS TO TAKE - GO TO THIS LINK AND CONTACT YOUR SENATORS, CONGRESS PERSON, AND BUSH AND TELL THEM TO SHOVE IT!