Posted on 06/12/2005 2:40:16 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
A Republican congressman who voted for the Iraq war said Sunday that "we've done about as much as we can do" in the country and that the reason for invading Iraq has proven false.
Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina will be among the lawmakers introducing legislation this week calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops in Iraq.
"When I look at the number of men and women who have been killed - it's almost 1,700 now, in addition to close to 12,000 have been severely wounded - and I just feel that the reason of going in for weapons of mass destruction, the ability of the Iraqis to make a nuclear weapon, that's all been proven that it was never there," Jones said on ABC's "This Week."
President Bush has said any timetable for withdrawal would encourage insurgents to wait for the foreign troops to leave, but Jones said he believed Iraqis can defend their own country.
His stance leaves Jones sided with Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, the most prominent Democrat calling for a timetable to leave Iraq. Jones said he had not discussed the issue with Kennedy.
Two years ago, Jones helped lead an effort to make sure Capitol Hill cafeterias retooled their menus to advertise "freedom fries" instead of french fries to protest France's opposition to the war.
Jones said he began changing his mind about the war after attending the funeral in April 2003 for Sgt. Michael Bitz, 31, who was killed in the southern city of Nasiriyah. He recalled that Bitz's widow read the last letter she received from her husband.
"And that really has been on my mind and my heart ever since," he said...
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.washingtontimes.com ...
What I am saying is that my husband served his 22 years and served proudly. He knew he was dedicated to his country and wanted to stay in the Air Force. He also didn't have to go to war 12 or 14 months, come back for 12 and go again for another 12 or 14 for years if necessary. You can believe we will be out soon and I can believe we will stay for many years but what matters are the brave men and women who are really going to war and leaving their family over and over again and many are making the decision not to reup. They do believe we will be there for many years.
You stated your husband served proudly for 22 years and is dedicated to his country. Then state "he also didn't have to go to war for 12 or 14 months, come back.. and go again...". Are you suggesting that had the road turned a little bumpy your husband would not have been so dedicated and would opted out much sooner? Please note, I am not suggesting that your husband did any less than serve his country well. I am grateful that he did. I am simply trying to understand your point of view as to how your husband's service of 22 years differs from those who serve today. That is, why would someone join the military, knowing full well what that would entail? I think the people you know that are serving now may have made a mistake in joining the military if they were only joining for the benefits.
"""Do you think Germany, China or even France would be handling their enemies with kid gloves?""
This is a joke right?
So your husband picks and chooses the conflicts he wishes to be in. No thanks for officers like that. Tell him to get the hell out quickly if he's got such a crappy attitude.
I can't believe we have this give-up-itis, whiney attitude from . . . so-called officers. What a disgrace!
lol...
I included France to add a little humor. We all know France would have surrendered to Afghanistan.
...
Dear Congressman Jones
You do America a great disservice with your duplicitous and traitorous undermining of the war effort.
Your lies regarding weapons of mass destruction are pure fifth-column propaganda.
Your demand for a withdrawal timetable follows the tradition of John Kerry and Jane Fonda parroting the Viet Cong party line.
You are a disgrace to the Republican Party and an insult to the thousands of brave men and women defending our freedom.
Vietnam went to war against the Khmer Rouge. They deposed Pol Pot. Vietnam also went to war against China. So much for The Domino Theory. Continued instability is a poor justification for continued occupation.
Uh the viet cong(as did jane fonda and other American leftists) initially supported pol pot. It was the American left who were joyous that pol pot took over Cambodia, but you can go ahead and try to revise history, to the detriment to the 1.5 millions innocent Cambodians slaughtered by the khmer rouge.
I applaud your letter writing Phil. Emails aren't as effective.
I think they get a sense of the impact of their public statements--they claim they've been "misconstrued"--
I explained there is a massive media web eager to "misconstrue" their remarks as weapons against the "Bush war".
They said they were "getting slammed"--gee, you go on the Sunday shows with your defeatist talk and it comes back and bites ya--
Actions have consequences.
Good for you! It sounds like you are having some impact, especially when they start whining to you about being 'misconstrued', LOL!
In December 1978, after several years of border conflict and a flood of refugees into Vietnam, Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia, capturing Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979 and deposing the Khmer Rouge regime.
I don't think the American left even noticed that pol pot took over Cambodia. Got any quotes?
Most Americans agree with him. Time to get out.
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