Generals, Veterans, Speak Up For and Against Iraq War

But in the battle for military backing for the war, Republicans have their own support teams. VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace, who personally handed the petition to House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said the petition comes at an important time.

"I think the positive thing of it is, is they get to hear it from the troops. I mean, nobody's made anybody sign this petition," Wallace said the petition's organizers, Navy Lt. Jason Nichols of Florida, and Army Staff Sgt. David Thule, a member of the Minnesota National Guard, are both stationed in Iraq and decided the petition was the best way to show congressional leaders that the Iraq war is the right fight and that the troops need Congress' support to complete their mission. They approached Wallace two weeks ago about the petition.

Wallace said he spoke earlier Wednesday with Nichols, who is stationed in Baghdad, and asked him his thoughts on the objective of the petition.

"His response was very simple: To win the war," Wallace said. Wallace said that Nichols told him media coverage has focused too negatively on the war, and it is important for Americans and Congress need to know otherwise.

The "Appeal for Courage" petition reads: "As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home."

"The War in Iraq is necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack."

Appeal for Courage
Posted by Patrick Ruffini | 2:20 PM
When we launched We Win, They Lose last week (now closing in on 10,000 signatures), the usual suspects came out of the woodwork with the “chickenhawk” canard.

They’re not likely to do the same with AppealforCourage.org, a coalition of nearly 3,000 active duty and reserve personnel petitioning Congress not to surrender. That’s right, I said, active duty, so even veterans of past wars don’t qualify to sign. And a majority have served in the Iraq theater.

As has been pointed out time and time again, the idea that only those who serve or who’ve served are qualified to comment on matters of war and peace is ridiculous on its face. (Actually, they usually stack the deck like this: only if you’ve served can you support a war, but anyone, regardless of past service, is qualified to oppose a war.) Last I checked, we do not have a military government and we do have a First Amendment. It’s curious to see the left at cross-purposes with these two very basic tenets of Constitutional government.

But the case that seldom gets made is this. If we did follow the Kossacks’ advice and let only interested parties decide our Iraq policy (service personnel and their families), the decision would be clear and it would be for victory. Want to know once and for all if the mission is worth it? Just ask the troops on the ground.

Be careful when you invoke Absolute Moral Authority (tm). You might not like the answers you get.

http://www.appealforcourage.org

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/g/ec895238-ed99-4fda-8469-98f63bcb455d?comments=true#comments

TROOPS PETITION CONGRESS TO STOP CALLS FOR RETREAT

May 9, 2007

House and Senate GOP leaders today accepted a petition - the Appeal for Courage - signed by more than 2,700 U.S. service members since February 2007 asking Congress to fully support the mission and reject calls for retreat. Sixty percent of the signatories are serving, or have previously served, in Iraq. Here is the petition's actual text:

"As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack."

Accepting the petition on behalf of the House of Representatives were Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and other GOP leaders. Boehner outlined the importance of giving our men and women in uniform our full support:

"We can't say on one hand that we support our troops and then on the other hand say the war is lost. These young men and women over in Iraq are there fighting for our safety and our security. They are also fighting for the safety and security of our kids and theirs. If we don't take on the terrorists and we are not willing to take on the terrorists in Iraq, where do we draw the line and when do we stand up to protect the safety and interests of the American people. Enough is enough. It is time to get a clean bill to the President's desk and really support our troops."

The Appeal for Courage was organized by two U.S. servicemen serving in Iraq: Lieutenant Jason Nichols, a Navy Information Professional officer currently stationed in Baghdad; and Staff Sergeant David Thul, of the Minnesota National Guard, currently serving with the 34th Infantry Division, conducting convoy operations in Iraq. Thul and Nichols issued the following statement today:

"This Appeal is a direct communication to Congress from the currently serving military troops. We are respectfully asking for full support in finishing the mission you assigned us here in Iraq. Patience and resolve will result in a stable democratic country in the Middle East. Early withdrawal will result in a stronger enemy, a weaker America, and a demoralized US Armed forces. Building a new democracy takes time, and we are making steady progress. We need your support to finish the job."

Even while members of our Armed Forces are asking Congress to support their mission, the House is expected to debate a proposal as soon as tomorrow that would ration funding for the troops and impose a two-month surrender date that telegraphs retreat to the enemy. American Legion Commander, Paul A. Morin issued what he considered to be a "wake-up" call to Congress:

"The Global War on Terror is not about partisan politics, it is about the survival of freedom. To the leadership of Congress, my message is very simple: pass the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to fund the war through the end of the fiscal year. Those who are willing to win this conflict can do the same so that 'We the people' can have the final say."

Rationing funds to our men and women in uniform who are fighting for our freedom is beyond irresponsible - it's reckless. The time is now for a clean bill that gives our troops the resources they need to succeed.

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