Support The Troops, Help Stop The Escalation
Support The Troops, Help Stop The Escalation
Our guest blogger is Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org and veteran of the Iraq war.
Tuesday was Valentine’s Day, but today is the real V-Day in the House of Representatives - Vote Day. Finally, after weeks of wrangling and days of debate, Members of the House will lay down a vote declaring whether they are for the escalation in Iraq, or for the Troops. Most likely, the House resolution will pass easily with bipartisan support and attention will turn to the Senate, where Sen. Harry Reid is delaying the President’s Day recess to vote on it.
VoteVets.org’s veterans of Iraq will be spending the weekend in D.C. to help ensure a vote and passage. We’ve had meetings with half of the Senate, and a few dozen House offices. The vast majority of Democrats are eager to cast their vote for the resolution. On the Republican side, while there are many that won’t support it under any circumstances, I do get the sense from many more that they are genuinely struggling with the issue — whether to put country above party.
I can tell you that the only thing that moves members more than hearing from the troops is hearing from constituents. The Senate resolution will pass only if their phones are flooded with demands from their constituents. Please do your part and take a few seconds to make a call (800-614-2803) or write and then report back.
– Jon Soltz
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28 Responses to “Support The Troops, Help Stop The Escalation”
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The Virtual Headquarters for the Campaign to Move Congress to End the War in Iraq:
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February 16th, 2007 at 11:19 amYou mean the troops are tired of getting blown up, dying, seeing their friends die? Why do the troops hate our good 30 percenters?
February 16th, 2007 at 11:20 amThat’s the big difference between Dems and Repubs: putting country first, or party first. I think the “mythical little people” of the U.S. know EXACTLY what is more important. Anyone who doesn’t stand up now for what is right is going to have a damned difficult time in the ‘08 runs. The people aren’t very forgiving now and will be even less forgiving, then.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:34 amWhy doesn’t Jon Soltz just shut up and support the troops? For that matter, why does Jon Soltz hate America? Why does Jon Soltz give aid and comfort to terrorists? I will tell you why: because patriotism, loyalty, and love of country mean nothing to this scoundrel.
/sarcasm off
February 16th, 2007 at 11:41 amyahoo reports the number of deaths fell dramatically yesterday.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:47 amEvery veteran I personaly know is against the escalation and now against the Iraq war, because it was started on LIES.
Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org and veteran of the Iraq war.
Thanks for that url, gonna check the site out
February 16th, 2007 at 11:55 am#5 What deaths? The daily body count in Baghdad? They just haven’t been able to collect and count the bodies yet. Those that will get counted, that is. No doubt many will go uncounted.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:56 amyahoo reports the number of deaths fell dramatically yesterday.
Comment by ccokz — February 16, 2007 @ 11:47 am
You forgot to add that the commander of the joint U.S.-Iraqi forces in Baghdad said that the dip in violence would be temporary. It is even in the Yahoo headline:
“U.S. general: Dip in Baghdad violence temporary”
February 16th, 2007 at 12:01 pmSupporting Troops Is NOT Keeping Them In Iraq To Die Or Be Maimed!
Friday 16th of February 2007
by Jay Randal
For anyone in Washington, DC, to claim that support for the US soldiers is keeping them in Iraq to die or be maimed/wounded is complete outrageous hypocrisy!
The Iraq Fiasco War is being waged to control the oil fields, and NOT to create democratic freedom for the Iraqi citizenry, so the lies must stop being told in DC!
There never were any working WMD in Iraq, in 2003, nor was Saddam Hussein a pal of Osama Bin Laden, but there are vast pools of black-gold-oil under Iraq!
And there are vast sums of money to be pilfered by the “Military Industrial Complex” CEO profiteers, those who love to make profits from death, the war leeches!
Continued Congressional Funding for the Iraq debacle is a YES-vote for more death, destruction, and greed for Petrol Cartel vampires to make even more profits!
The Congress must cut-off funding for the Iraq misadventure mistake and bring the troops home ASAP to their loving families in the US!
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
PS: Contact Democrats in DC to end Iraq Fiasco War now!
February 16th, 2007 at 12:05 pmTuesday was Valentine’s Day…
Just for the record: Tuesday was the day BEFORE Valentine’s Day.
February 16th, 2007 at 12:49 pmThinkProgress is good at reporting poll results. How about polling the troops and find out what they want. The vast majority of those in Iraq want real support from the American people. Support for the troops is support for their efforts. If you can’t support the effort, you aren’t supporting the troops engaged in the effort.
February 16th, 2007 at 12:57 pmI remember the quote– more or less that, War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things– the decayed and degraded state which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety is a miserable creature and has no chance being free– unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men then himself.
Stand aside, we’ll protect America, you liberal woosies..
Nico
February 16th, 2007 at 1:24 pm#11, paul: ….The vast majority of those in Iraq want real support from the American people. Support for the troops is support for their efforts. If you can’t support the effort, you aren’t supporting the troops engaged in the effort.
Paul, for the record, I was also one of the vets. So was Jon Soltz. Big mouths and idiots like you really need to be in Iraq, to know the war was long lost.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:03 pmYou think an unjust war, or invasion based on lies and the interest of some wrangling scums can be won? Bush & co. needs dommos like you to die for Haliburton and co down there. Hurry up, join the escalation or what the hell are you waiting for?
Thank you for the contact numbers - will get it circulated to everyone I know. Of course, VoteVets.org represents the truly patriotic (and humane) thing to do and that is to take our troops out of harm’s way in this horrendous Civil War. Kudos to VoteVets to having the courage to stand up to this enemy within and let them know that the truly patriotic thing to do in the best interest of our military is to STOP this escalation.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:36 pm#13 You hit the nail right on the head! The troops would be elated to be brought home and everyone is beginning to know it now that they’ve realized that the WH is a huge propaganda machine who spun lies as truth to get us into this illegal invasion of a sovereign country.
And, as the law of the universe goes, a presidency based on a stolen election (ill gotten gains) can result in only more of the same….and everything this admin. touches has turned to crap….and continues to decay with each passing day. Nothing of value or substance is ever built on a shoddy foundation of lies and deceit - the greater these charlatans build/the greater is the destruction. And we’re seeing evidence of that universal law in action with the litany of lies being uncovered each day. The Republican Party is in the process of imploding and will continue to it’s self-destruction because it has been the party of corruption, lies, and deceit. The laws of the universe never fail us.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pmHey #12— get an freegon clue, idiot! Your quote: “Stand aside, we’ll protect America, you liberal woosies..” is meaningless. Our conflict in Iraq is BY NO MEANS protecting America. Bush’s selfish war only serves to make us far more vulnerable…and Iraq/Saddam posed zero threat to begin with.
Are you currently active duty, over there fighting? No? Then you’re also using the term “WE’ll protect” America a little too liberally.
Shut up and get a clue Nico
Mike
February 16th, 2007 at 4:01 pmI’m thinking that my two Senators Boxer and Feinstein don’t need me to tell them to vote on the resolution. Since they are both Democrats, I’m sure they’re going to vote yes.
I’ve been watching some of those speeches on CSPAN and it makes me sick! The Republicans keep promoting that lie that “Democrats aren’t supporting the troops”. How can get them out of harm’s way not support them. Making them stay in the middle of a civil war in a city of millions is the real NOT SUPPORTING THE TROOPS!
Cutting veterans benefits is a Republican thing. I guess it’s like the fetus thing they have….love the fetus - hate the baby (don’t provide health and child care for poor children). With the troops it’s…..love the troops, hat the veterans (make them pay for their illnesses they got while serving our country).
Lord help us!
February 16th, 2007 at 4:23 pmCHIMPya MUST BE STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS…HE IS DESTROYING THE INTEGRITY AND STANDING OF AMERICA IN THE WORLD, AND THE SOONER, WE, THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA PUT CHIMPya and Bushland Uber Allies IN THEIR PLACE(in PRISON AWAITING EXECUTION), THE BETTER OFF AMERICA WILL BE!!!!! A NON-BINDING RESOLUTION IS A MEAGER START, BUT A START NEVERTHELESS–NOW LET US HAVE SOMETHING WITH TEETH, NAY FANGS, IN IT TO BITE OUT CHIMPya and Bushland Uber Allies’ THROATS WITH!!!!!
February 16th, 2007 at 4:24 pm#12 Freedom is a resilient thing that should not be lightly bandied about as a catchphrase and uselessy spent on preserving one’s hold on power.
But it’s a pretty quote you’ve clung to there. Good for you, little man.
February 16th, 2007 at 4:26 pmDone & done.
February 16th, 2007 at 4:44 pmNico > are you in Iraq with a rifle in your hand? If you are not, then shut your GOPer yapper and get your butt over to Iraq to fight for Bush Regime.
February 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm“ThinkProgress is good at reporting poll results. How about polling the troops and find out what they want. The vast majority of those in Iraq want real support from the American people. Support for the troops is support for their efforts. If you can’t support the effort, you aren’t supporting the troops engaged in the effort.”
Oh, really? Because my brother, who is currently in his second deployment over in Baghdad, told me THE EXACT OPPOSITE just this morning.
He said, and I quote, “I am nothing but a political pawn.”
Support for the troops is supporting getting them home to the families and friends who love them.
Support for the troops is supporting the notion that American lives are more important than a deranged madman’s whims.
Support for the troops is supporting sufficient funding for those troops, before, during, and after the war.
Support for the troops is supporting the time-honored notion held by intelligent people that war is always the FINAL choice, not the FIRST choice.
Support for the troops is shutting your cakehole about something that you obviously know NOTHING about.
Support for the troops and the effort is YOU going to IRAQ.
February 16th, 2007 at 5:07 pm#11 Paul, join up, bitch.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:42 pmComment by Nico #12
hahahahahaha!!!
…lemme guess…
…Nico’s parents are either first cousins…
…or uncle and niece…
February 17th, 2007 at 3:01 pmget th troops out of the war its sly, ya dnt see bush out there fightin do ya, either take them out or send bush there with them.
February 17th, 2007 at 6:30 pm[…] week, Iraq war veteran and VoteVets founder Jon Soltz appealed for members of Congress to “put country above party” and vote against escalation in […]
February 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pmThe person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety is a miserable creature and has no chance being free– unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men then himself.
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 amI remember the quote– more or less that, War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things– the decayed and degraded state which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety is a miserable creature and has no chance being free– unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men then himself.
February 24th, 2007 at 9:47 am