Bill Gallagher: Serviceman's Mother Questioning Bush (must read)

[Dudley_DUright]

<snip>

The writer (I'll just call her Carol) says her "frustration level is at an all-time high." Her concern about the dangerous, interminable occupation in Iraq is deeply personal. Her son is with the 3rd Infantry Division over there, and she has no idea when he'll get home.

Carol calls Rumsfeld's office every day to complain about the situation, and in May she wrote President Bush and let him have it for suggesting the war was essentially finished.

"As I watched the footage of your landing on the U.S.S. Lincoln last week and listened to the speech about major combat being over, I found myself nauseated. While your political theatrics are being launched in hopes of getting the popularity polls up, my son is still in danger in Baghdad. Your feeble attempt at camaraderie with returning soldiers was patronizing, in my opinion."

Carol didn't miss the irony of Bush's flight suit fashion show. She reminded him of his year-plus absence from the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. In those days, George W. wasn't challenging Ho Chi Minh to "bring 'em on." He was hiding in some redneck bar in Alabama, working on the congressional campaigning of one of his daddy's pals.

Carol calls that absence from duty "desertion," and tells the president, "My son will come back a 20-year-old combat veteran. Do not even pretend to have any regard for what he and his comrades have been through -- the sights, the smells, the sounds they will have etched forever in their memories."

<snip>

much more...

http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/gallagher123.html

[Tinoire]

1. Terrific Letter! America seems to be slowly waking up

"You will close your eyes at night and see $$$ as you reap the 'back door benefits' of all the corporations making millions off the war. My son will most likely see images of mangled bodies, wounded children and major destruction. Where were your priorities? Bechtel, Carlyle, Halliburton -- I guess there is no profit in humanitarian relief."

<snip>

She tells Bush, "Political policy seems to be dictated by those with power and big pocketbooks. We don't even have a democracy here anymore, how can we help Iraq to create a democratic society?"

<snip>

She wrote Bush what he should read more often. "I am an American, proudly supporting the men and women who are and have served this country, but I will no longer cower to the fallacy that I must support my president as well."

The president doesn't respond to her letters. He's too macho for that.

[KC21304]

2. Wonderful column. And he writes for Fox 2 News.

Maybe not for long. He has what it takes.

[Dudley_DUright]

4. and note that he really won a Peabody award

unlike that lying fake Bill O'Reilly.

[Melsky]

3. Great!

Things like this renew my faith in America. I can't imagine how angry and hollow I would feel if one of my loved ones was serving in Iraq.

[indepat]

5. Devastatingly blunt and right on

target?

[copithorne]

6. Great article

Very powerful.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. I live in Everett WA home port of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Today while at a local store I saw a sign saying "Welcome Home Troops". I was possesed with an urge, but did not act upon it, to ask for the store manager and say to he/she,"Are you aware, that except for a privledged few, our troops are not home yet?"

[bigwoody]

8. looks like this soldier's mom took the chimp's challenge to

"Bring it on!" We have another year to soften up this draft dodging bitch of a cheerleader. The families of the 9-11 victims need to be brought front and center with the stonewalling behind the scenes by smirk and frown on the commission. Frown has already directed his gop storm troopers NOT to have an inquiry. What a pompous fuck, like nobody's paying attention to their bullshit. Guess what you draft dodging phonies, we ARE watching and getting more pissed by the day!

[opihimoimoi]

9. I jus luv rhat "BRING UM ON HO CHI MINN !!!!"

The Bush is a toast..... ashes almost

[GCP]

10. Here's my e-mail to him

Thank you for another excellent column which I get through posters on democraticunderground.com. If you are able to contact "Carol", please urge her to copy her letters to Rumsfeld and Bush to the letters page of her local newspaper.
I believe you said she was from Indiana? The people in the vast red middle of this continent need to hear this kind of dissent, because they've been told time and time again that anyone who opposes the administration is, in essence, a traitor.
I have a son who is just now getting out of the Marines after 5 years active duty. I am so relieved, although he still has 3 years reserves to put in. But the dread that families must be feeling for their loved ones over there must be all-consuming. I don't know if I'd ever be able to sleep at night having my son in that mess.
I salute Carol for telling it like it is, and you for reporting on it. It's like little lights coming on all over the country after a long period of darkness and ignorance.
That's kind of neat - points of light against Bush II.
Regards,
Sue *********