Posted on 05/19/2008 5:50:53 PM PDT by SkyPilot
This isn't a Vanity post. It is real.
Below is an e-mail I received from a friend.
It needs to be posted.
A class of senior Army War College officers (all of whom are either Iraq or Afghanistan combat veterans with multiple deployments) were taking part on a tour of Congress. All of this was officially approved and part of the Army War College curriculum.
The officers observing Congress hold multiple bronze stars between them; and other citations too numerous to mention.
Congressman Pete Stark observed them in the gallery, and below is his official letter of outrage.
If Congressman (D-CA) Pete Stark's office wishes to dispute it, let them.
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
LETTER FROM REP. STARK TO SECRETARY GATES ABOUT POSSIBLE ABUSE OF MILITARY OFFICERS' TIME
Below is the text of a letter sent today to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates by Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), regarding the possible abuse of military officers' time.
May 16, 2008
The Honorable Robert Gates
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301
Dear Secretary Gates:
Yesterday, while voting on the war supplemental spending bill in the House of Representatives, I couldn't help but notice a contingent of approximately 20 flag rank Army officers sitting in the House Gallery watching the debate and vote for a couple of hours. I was looking from below so I thought they were Army, but there could have been other branches present.
It's possible they were on leave time or vacation. If so, I obviously have no concern. However, if they were doing this on military time, I want an explanation of why they were there.
At a time when our nation is at war, our troops are over-extended, and the Administration is literally asking for emergency military spending, what good to the "war on terror" is having US Generals and other top ranked officers - who were likely accompanied by staff and escorted by their chauffeurs - spending hours sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives?
Please provide for me the name, rank, branch, and duties of each of these officers, as well as the number of additional staff and drivers that were used to facilitate their attendance yesterday. I would like this information by Monday, May 19th.
If they were here on official duty, this was an abhorrent misallocation of our military resources at a time of war.
Sincerely,
Pete Stark
CC: The Honorable Ike Skelton, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services
CC: The Honorable Jack Murtha, Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense
“only accepts emails from his own district”
I just use the zip code of one of their local offices and a fake address, name , etc. Works fine. You are not really anonymous unless you take further steps, so watch what ya say.
:)
I am infuriated by Rep. Stark’s letter. Stark’s biography states that he is the first and only avowed atheist in Congress and it shows. I hope all will use this link to find the e-mail addresses of their states’ delegations and will write their senators and congressmen to express their disgust with Rep. Stark’s implication that US Military officers have no right to tour Congress. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
I have already written my Senators, Inhofe and Coburn, and my Congressman, Sullivan, to express my disgust with both the tone and the content of the letter by Starks. I urged, at the very least, a demand for an apology by Rep. Starks and suggested that censure would be hailed by most as appropriate.
Thanks for the link... my message follows: (censored for sensitive tastes)
As a retired US Army First Sergeant and Desert Storm veteran I rarely have anything good to say about officers. In this case, though, you steaming pantload..... you’re not worth a drop of sweat off of the most feckless of the bunch’s testicles. You know about testicles don’t you, that’s the things bouncing off your chin during sex. Don’t look down, you don’t have any.
</BR>
F%&k You Very Much,
</BR>
Alfred W. Evans
1SG, USA(Ret)
Hey, yeah, same method, I remember now! I looked up Murtha’s district, then did a Mapquest search and found a street and zipcode, then let him have it! Called him a traitor, a REMF coward who faked his Vietnam record, but never heard back.
Like you I retired after two OIF tours. thanks, You have a way with words, but they would be wasted on the likes of this a—hole. Glad to be back home, but would go back if asked. I can still pass a flight physical and handle a weapon. Those were the requirements I was given to be called back. Col USA (Ret)
I love your post. The guy is a wienie.
Who will this idiot turn to when Obama Hussein’s administration turns our country into a terrorists delight?
Oh, right, peace talks ....
May 16, 2008Mr. Pete Stark
House Offices
Washington, DCDear Mr. Stark:
I am too busy protecting the entire civilized world to respond to the mindless prattlings of a senile old coot such as yourself.
Gates
I’ll be contacting my CA Congressman tomorrow to express my outrage at this man’s insults towards our military and it’s leadership. My Congressman is a Republican, so I’m expecting a response.
Ouch, that’s gonna leave some marks (LOL).
I followed advice in Post #16. Went right thru!!
I’ll use this on all the congress websites.
A.A. Thanks.
Thank you sir.
Bump for later ........... Thanks
No thanks necessary, and sir is just way too formal. This man’s words should be used to choke the life out of his career IMHO.
WASHINGTON (AP) — An anti-war Democratic congressman backed off complaints about Defense Department personnel watching a House vote after the Pentagon told him they were students from the Army War College.....
"I appreciate the swift response," Stark said in his follow-up statement, without retracting or apologizing for his earlier complaints. "However, if these officers were hoping for a lesson in how Congress ought to work, then perhaps the Iraq supplemental wasn't the best debate for them to witness.
No.
He does not get off so easy on this.
He had CONTEMPT for military officers actually watching what Congress (which is the People's Business) doing and saying.
He cannot slime out of this.
Thanks. Stark deserves every harsh word directed at him over this.
Dear Congressman Stark,
Thank you for standing up for the American taxpayer and demanding an explanation from Secretary Gates as to why military officers were present in The House Gallery during recent debates on the House Floor.
I encourage you to contact the local print and TV news outlets in the Bay Area and expose these officers for what they truly are. They are obviously cowards who are shirking their military duty and, as such, have no right to view the government they have sworn an oath to defend in action.
To help facilitate this recommendation, I have taken the liberty of contacting the FOX affiliates in San Francisco and Sacramento as well as the San Francisco Chronicle and Sacramento Bee with the letter you sent to Secretary Gates.
I was assured you can expect journalists from these outlets to contact your office within the next day or two. But probably sooner.
In addition, as a token of my appreciation for looking out for me and my fellow taxpayers, I have sent a check for 5 dollars to your re-election campaign.
Here's looking forward to seeing you on TV. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
(Texas Eagle)
(Northern California city), CA
Not cowardice but he has no reason to accept input from outside his district.
You can’t vote for him why should he give a rats bum what you think?
And I suspect that your favorite Republican Rep feels the same way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.