The following was posted originally as a comment on another thread. I decided to put it up here as a diary on its own. Do with it what you will. I will post no mojo cup.
As you read it, you can mentally, if you choose, substitute the word Veterans for where I use troops. I don't care. I was USMC by choice because I believed in supporting our deomcracy. I could not today make the choice to join because to serve under this administration is a perversion of our constitutional system.
Understand, my words come from sorry as much as from anger and frustration. They are mine. They represent what I feel this morning. Read, and respond as you see fit.
AS A VETERAN, I DON"T WANT WORDS OF THANKS
because right now those words are to me meaningless. What I want is that those who serve not have their lives wasted and disrupted by an administration most of whose leadership never served in any meaningful way, and which makes military commitments without listening to those who understand the military.
You want to thank the troops? Don't have them committing atrocities which will give them nightmares and regrets for the rest of their lives and may eventually subject them to prosecution or torture by others.
You want to thank the troops? Don't disrupt their lives with stop-loss because your idiotic policies mean you cannot recruit sufficient personnel.
You want to thank the troops? Don't send them into harm's way without sufficient protection - body armor, armored humvees.
You want to thank the troops? Don't start threatening other countries with the implication that even after multiple tours in Iraq and tours in Afghanistan, troops will now have to worry about Syria, or Iran, or even Venezuala?
You want to thank the troops? Cut petroleum consumption by not driving an SUV that gets only 15-20 mpg in the city. Turn down your thermostat. Don't give the administration the "justification" that we need to protect our petroleum resources.
You want to thank the troops? Vote, and campaign, against anyone who voted for Alberto Gonzales for AG after that person (I refuse to use the word "gentleman") justified the use of torture.
You want to thank the troops? Vote, and campaign, against anyone who had George W Bush or any other high administration official campaign for them.
You want to thank the troops? Vote, and campaign, against anyone (including the 5 Demcrats) who just voted in support of Lindsey Graham's proposal to abolish Habeas Corpus for those at places like Guantanomo.
You want to thank the troops? Get off your butt and do something about the political leadership of this the most destructive administration administration in our history.
And if you think I am using hyperbole in my last sentence, consider merely the following:
- USA PATRIOT ACT and its gutting of basic civil liberties
- the incredible run up of national debt to the point where this country cannot afford to provide the basic services or fix the infrastructure on which we are dependent.
- the continued failure to address the vulnerabilities made so obvious on 9-11
- the continued abrogration of international responsibility
- the attempts of personal destruction of anyone who contradicts their interests, which are certainly NOT the interests of the nation
- the destruction of the US Army as a functional military capable of defending this nation
- the destruction of the Guard and Reserves as a force available to help in times of natural disaster and crisis at home
- the destruction of the reputation of this nation as a force for what is right and good around the world
- the destruction of a future for many in our nation with the gutting of social programs that served as a basic safety net
- the continued destruction of our environmental heritage - and I remind people that the environmental movement in this country was originally begun by Republican such as Pinchot and T Roosevelt
- the attempted destruction of our system of checks and balances by refusing to make available to Congressional oversight things such as the Cheney energy manipulation
- the attempted destruction of our system of laws by things such as allowing White House staff extra time to desttroy evidence during the investigation of the Plame leak
You want to thank the troops? Bring them home now.
You want to thank the troops? Impeach all of the top leadership of this administration, beginning with Bush, Cheney, Rice, Gonzales, and Rumsfeld. Pressure the Democrats in the House to use special orders speeches every day to demand accountability. Demand courts martials of those craven military leaders truly responsible for things like Abu Ghraib -- Generals Miller, Abizaid, Sanchez and now retired Genm Myers immediately come to mind (and yes, a retired officer can be activitated and court-martialed).
Words withou action are empty. Show your thanks for those troops who have served to defend our constitutional system by taking acting to preserve and protect that same constitutional system.