my 108th ltte printed today response to my reps

[w8liftinglady]

in response to a recent "double-header" of propaganda from my reps.


http://thedailylight.com/articles/2007/10/03/dailylight/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letter1.txt
To the Editor;

I appreciate Senator Hutchison and Congressman Barton taking time to update their constituents on the progress we are making in Iraq. As a mother of two boys between 18 and 24 (one of whom has been to Iraq three times), I have a particular interest in this war. Since both of their columns fell along the same lines, I do have a few comments for both of them.

1). They both insist that Al-Qaeda in Iraq will follow us to the U.S. unless we defeat them over “there.” According to the 9/11 Commission and the Pentagon, Al-Qaeda was never a threat in Iraq until we became involved and that claims against them were false or overblown. The majority of the assassins from the 9/11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia, yet no sanctions have even been placed against their government. Most of our enemies are “insurgents,” Iraqi citizens from both the Sunni and Shiite factions fighting each other, within themselves, and US.

2). The issue regarding the Iraqi government gaining autonomy is laughable. When the prime minister tried to cancel Blackwater contracts, there was an immediate response from the state department to the contrary. Blackwater remains in Iraq. Iraqi citizens have no autonomy over their mineral rights. Billions of dollars worth of construction is being done by private contractors instead of Iraqi citizens, with much of that money squandered by poor oversight and corruption.

3). Finally, the shell game regarding the surge and our troop “withdrawal” — the truth is, there has to be a troop withdrawal of that magnitude because it is time for their natural rotation and, without activating more reserves, there aren’t the troops to replace them.Perhaps this is why the 1AD Army Band has been deployed to Iraq in a support role.

I am searching for ways that the two of them support our troops. I sincerely believe they both support them in their hearts. However, when it comes to funding issues for veterans’ care, funding for military equipment, or setting timelines for withdrawal, they both vote against their constituency. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans of America have given them both low grades when it comes to soldier advocacy. Perhaps they are doing a disservice to these brave men and women by cherry-picking the evidence to contradict what these troops are experiencing on the ground. Try really talking to them, without the photo-op. They may be surprised.

[Gregorian]

1. Wow. That covers a lot of bases.

Bravo for you! Talk about an economy of words.

I've really got to hand it to you for your effort. It's totally patriotic.

[rucky]

2. so when the hell are they going to give you a column, already?

tell the editor to pony up, or you'll quit giving them free content.

[Hepburn]

3. Great letter! K&R n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

4. Excellent work. Proud you did it...

... I recently gave Arlen Specter hell in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. I also have a Republican Congressman who votes with Bush over 98% of the time.

I am limited to 250 words and have to wait 3 months to write in the paper that lands on subscribers' doorstep. I am betting that KB Hutchinson will have her chief of staff write in response to defend her "well thought out" decisions, thus covering her ass. Let them defend themselves. They really can't anymore.

You go!

[w8liftinglady]

5. Thank you,and good for you!

I am the cheapest columnist they have,and I probably should charge,but I just can't.I'm afraid if I had to write,I wouldn't be able to,that I would be under the confines of the editor,etc.He prints everything I write,unedited.I have had 500 word letters printed,multiple times.I know he has caught holy hell from the locals for printing me as much as he does,but subscriptions and ad sales have gone up :)