Iraq War Veteran Gives Democratic Radio Address Criticizing Bush

AP via San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | May 1, 2004 | Pete Yost

[an amused spectator]

WASHINGTON – 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."

In advance of Rieckhoff's remarks, Republicans circulated televised comments he made last year in Iraq in which he gave a brighter picture of U.S. prospects.

"I think we've made incredible strides," Rieckhoff said in a CBS "60 Minutes II" segment broadcast last October.

In a brief interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Rieckhoff said he had not been free to speak out in the TV interview because he had been on active duty.

Rieckhoff said he is not working for the Kerry campaign or for the Democratic Party. He contacted Kerry staffers who deal with veterans issues when he returned from Iraq three months ago, and they "provided me with the forum. I wrote every word."

Rieckhoff is an Amherst College graduate who spent two years on Wall Street as an investment banking analyst before joining the National Guard. He said he plans now to return to university.

[an amused spectator]

I see Rieckhoff, a Demi from Amherst, has got the DNC "mistake" talking points down pat.

Mr. Rieckhoff has an interesting history on the Net.

[an amused spectator]

http://www.super.nu/wboard/messages/48.html

Amherst is known for its virulent brand of anti-Americanism, and Rieckhoff looks like he was in the thick of it.

[Joe 6-pack]

Rieckhoff said he is not working for the Kerry campaign..."

It sounds like he's starting his own, "Kerry campaign." I wonder how many purple hearts he, "earned," and how far he can throw them...

[an amused spectator]

How like the Demis to recruit a lieutenant to gainsay the commander-in-chief.

Of course, when Rieckhoff was at Amherst, free speech was only to be countenanced for the Left, not the conservatives. ;-)

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Amazing that a political party would stoop to crticizing our president, and using our troops as poltical pawns to boot. Oh wait. No it's not. Not when a forum that represents the base of that party shamelessly lists the war dead on it's front page to smear said president.

[Shermy]

They are still waiting for a policy that brings in the rest of the world and relieves their burden," said Rieckhoff.

"Their" burden? Jeez, this is so Kerryesque. The only thing that would satisfy "the rest of the world" is a return to Food for Oil.

[GoLightly]

I was gonna say we should remember the name, cuz I see him running for Congress in the near future...

[jocon307]

"Mr. Rieckhoff has an interesting history on the Net."

What do you mean?

And, btw, what are the dems recommendations? What is this Lt's recommendation? Because if it's not escalation, they are all wrong.

I know the commies wanted the North to win in Vietnam, and I know the anti-war movement was just a front for the commies, although I acknowledge that there may have been many "anti-war" persons who did not know that. Not Kerry, of course, he was too high up and he is too smart not to have known that. However, do these folks not get the difference between the North Vietnamese and the Islamo-fascists? The Islamo-fascists actually want to KILL US.

[SpinyNorman]

"Rieckhoff is an Amherst College graduate....."

That's all you need to know.

One has to wonder why a nice little Amherst liberal like him would join the NG.

Extra money? Not if he worked on Wall Street.

Love of the military? Puhleeeze!!

Love of the country? Maybe Amherst, but after that......

A Dem mole? Maybe. The "I wasn't free to speak while on active duty" begs the question why he spoke at all.

I bet he knows the infamous Rene Gonzales.

[FReepaholic]

>>..."Our troops are still waiting for more body armor. ..." said Rieckhoff....<<

Didn't Kerry vote against funding for body armor?

[Tamzee]

He appears to flip-flop as much as Kerry...



”I think there’s a small percentage of people here who don’t want us here, but I think by in large, most of the people here, as you’ll see on this patrol, are welcoming of our presence,” says Rieckhoff.

But by the next day, kids trailed his patrol down the block. Rieckhoff’s men fixed up a stadium that was once an Iraqi army shooting range, and the community relations is paying off. The neighbors are now telling his patrols about hidden weapons and guerillas.

Rieckhoff was president of his class at Amherst College, went to Wall Street, and joined the National Guard for a challenge. He says he found it: “I don’t think the American public understands that there’s much more going on here besides IED attacks. Those are horrible and we all mourn the loss of life. But every day there’s an incredible amount of stuff going that doesn’t get reported because it’s not sensational. The fact that school supplies are delivered or there are hospitals open - that stuff is incredibly important for every member of this local community.”

What does Rieckhoff now think of the war?

“I think we’ve made incredible strides. This is the hard part. This is the road nobody has gone down before and the U.S. is breaking some new ground here,” says Rieckhoff. “It’s going to be a difficult struggle. Germany wasn’t repaired in four months. Japan wasn’t repaired in four months. It’s gonna take time to reestablish this entire government, this entire country. But i think it has enormous potential. And i think the sky’s the limit for the people of Iraq.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/01/60II/main576073.shtml

[68skylark]

I am mystified my the Democratic tactics. If they think they can convince the public that the president doesn't care about the troops, they're insane. No one is going to believe it.

[nothingnew]

...said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who was a platoon leader in Iraq.

Pay no attention to what he has to say. He's not a real soldier..../sarc

FMCDH

[jps098]

You mean they are waiting for the body armor that Kerry voted against? How would Kerry be any better in this perspective?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

But...but...according to Kerry and DNC honcho McAuliffe people who serve in the Guard ain't really part of the military. I mean didn't they trash Bush's honorable Guard service but now they have a Guardsman spewing their talking points.

[Interesting Times]

Looks like the Left is trying to replay the glory days of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

Hey, it's not like they have any new ideas...

[MEG33]

Another John Fonda Kerry in the works.

[optimistically_conservative]

I am getting extremely ticked off with the politicization of the military by the Kerry campaign.

Here's a thought. How about I go to the next Kerry public meeting and throw my ribbons at him.

I'll follow him around doing that at every meeting until I get arrested.

Perhaps another vet can pick up the mission for me from there?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the UCMJ ban on military political action or attacking certain elected officials by commissioned officers does not make a distinction between active and Guard/Reserve.

[VOA]

Didn't Kerry vote against funding for body armor?

I heard a short audio clip on radio of the fellow's talk.
It centered on the lack of waterbottles for troops on patrol (in the 120 deg F. heat)
and the use of "Vietnam-era flak jackets" due to lack of modern body armor.

He sounded reasonable, then I woke up and said...
"Shortage of goods for the grunts in the field? Thank John Kerry, more than likely!"