Today's Star Tribune has a Counterpoint written by Wes Davey here that attacks the mission of Vets for Freedom. It consists of the same tired whine of "we aren't winning, we should quit, no one knows what victory means, and the war costs too much." I've fired off a letter to the editor that I will post after tomorrows paper comes out. In all fairness I want them to have a chance to publish it first. The anti-war crowd is really besides themselves of late. Here in Minneapolis, a metro area of over 3 million, they recently couldn't muster a crowd of anti-Americans any larger then 600 to 800 for a protest that was planned for two months.
What really bugs these defeatists is that they managed to elect in 2006 Democrats who promised to stop the war in Iraq and now have turned their back on the anti-war movement. After Democrat leaders announced that the war was lost a year ago the Surge came along and now most American's believe we will ultimately win the Iraq War. It must give the anti-war crowd a considerable feeling of betrayal for the way they were used and abused. Perhaps Preparation H would soothe that burning feeling.
Lets face it folks, the Surge has worked, the Iraqi's are standing up militarily, politically, and economically to the chagrin for those cowardly sorts that demand we cut and run -starting today. Today we have even more confirmation of the winning direction with the announcement of General David Petraeus being named the new Commander of CENTCOM (Central Command). We currently have the right tactics and the right leadership executing this war. We in the Vets for Freedom only ask, "Let them Win!"
UPDATE # 1, The Star Tribune published part of my Letter to the Editor. I understand that the Tribune has the right to edit and reduce the size of letters for spacing purposes. Tim O'Brien has always been fair and I repect him for that. Here is the letter published here.
All wars are detestable and have long lasting negative consequences. We combat veterans know that far too well. In war there are no unwounded soldiers. As part of the 250 plus members of the Minnesota Vets for Freedom all we ask is: "Let them Win!"
UPDATE # 2, I would like to add that Vets for Freedom is a 21,000 member, non-partisan group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that has the support of Congressional Democrats, Independents and Republicans. We believe that when our nation is at war we must fund, equip and allow our troops the necessary time to do their job. For most of us who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan, the thought of turning tail on our allies and running away is repulsive.
