Hi everybody,
I’d like to share with you a promotion we’re beginning today at VoteVets.org. As many of you know, our own Angry Rakkasan (known in real life as Brandon Friedman), has written a book about his time in Afghanistan and Iraq called The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and the Reality of War. Now, at VoteVets.org, we like to think of Brandon as the writer and me as the talker. I can give a speech or go out on TV and manage to keep it interesting, but I can’t convey what war feels like to a soldier in writing the way that Brandon can.
Because I feel so strongly about Brandon’s message about war in the book, we’ve decided to use it as a tool to help us in our efforts to go after the Bush administration. To that end, we’re offering signed copies of Brandon’s book in return for $50 donations to VoteVets.org PAC. Your donation will be crucial in the coming year, as VoteVets.org Political Action Committee plans to be heavily active in getting at least three more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans into Congress, to join with the four that VoteVets.org worked to get elected last cycle. We'll also be sure to hold those accountable that have not voted in support of the troops and veterans. The money you give to VoteVets.org PAC will help us engage in voter outreach, hire outreach coordinators to expand our pool of veteran representatives, and, of course, produce and air those hard hitting TV ads you've come to expect.
As part of our promotion, General Wesley Clark has penned a message in support of Brandon’s book. Here’s part of what he said:
Dear VoteVets.org Supporter,
I have just finished reading a book that was so compelling and moving that I wanted to urge you to buy a copy, while helping a worthy cause. "The War I Always Wanted: The Illusion of Glory and Reality of War," by Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran Brandon Friedman, captures the feelings of war with uncanny perception. Among the many excellent war memoirs by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Brandon’s stands out as the best. I couldn’t put it down.
Brandon, in his book, recounts growing up in civilian life, attracted to the movies and television shows that portrayed life in the military and war in a certain way, and how as soon as he had his chance, he signed up for service. Brandon then takes us along for his journey, through deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and how tough talk by politicians at home and all those movies and shows were so clearly out of touch with the realities of war.
My friend and colleague, Major General (Ret.) Paul Eaton, who was a commanding general in Iraq, said, "This book should be obligatory reading for every member of the Bush Administration and member of Congress who does not have a son or daughter serving in the America's Armed Forces - especially those executing ground combat operations. To paraphrase, never in America's history have we asked so much from so few."
I couldn’t agree more. For the average American, this book is a real eye-opener. I believe we need to be distributing it to all the politicians, so they can talk about patriotism, war, and right and wrong in the same sentence. It is a real soldier's manifesto.
Wes Clark
We need to spread the word on this book. It really has the power to change the way Americans view the war in Iraq.
P.S. For an excellent review of the book, please see SusanG’s front-page post from the other day.