Posted on 03/18/2003 2:20:50 PM PST by LiberalsWorstNightmare
LOUDOUN COUNTY (VIRGINIA) County Board Tables War Resolution; Burton, Harris Criticize Bush Action
by Teresa Brumback (Leesburg Today news)
Mar 18, 2003 -- With opposition led by two retired military officers, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Monday postponed action on a resolution that expressed support for the nation's troops in the current crisis in the Gulf. Two supervisors, retired Air Force Col. James Burton (I-Mercer) and retired Army Lt. Col. Charles Harris (D-Broad Run), attacked the Bush administration's 'race to war' but didn't ask for a resolution of board opposition to the war. Instead, they voted with a majority of colleagues to defer action on the resolution proposed by Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R Sterling) that expressed support for the U.S. military.
The resolution stated, the board 'wholeheartedly supports and appreciates the brave men and women of Loudoun County, Virginia serving in the United States military, and wishes them Godspeed in their dangerous missions and a safe return from harm's way.'
The resolution noted that the service members were called upon to 'offer their utmost devotion in the defense of their country and to bring peace to a troubled corner of the earth.'
Delgaudio had offered a resolution which drew fire asking support for the 'current military actions'. After Supervisor Bill Bogard (District: Sugarland Run) objected, the phrase was changed to express support for the 'Armed Forces of the United States.'
Just a few hours before from President Bush's scheduled address to the nation which was a final ultimatum for Iraq, the board agreed on a 6-3 vote to Harris'motion to table Delgaudio's resolution. Dissenting votes were cast by board Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large), Delgaudio, and J. Drew Hiatt (R-Dulles).
'Given that this resolution as introduced by a Republican and a patriot, and given the seriousness of this issue' Harris said, 'I would like to see us craft a resolution that will have the consensus of the board so it has some true meaning, at least true meaning in my mind.'
'This is a time for non-partisanship', Delgaudio shot back.
Of the war, Delgaudio said, 'it's a bad thing. It is something that has to happen. God willing, we can have that debate today if we need to.'
Supervisor Sally Kurtz (D-Catoctin) suggested delaying action on the resolution. Delgaudio agreed to a change in language she offered so that a resolution would state 'praise for their [military members] patriotism in responding to their call of duty.'
Burton said he liked Kurtz' wording. 'This has made this more palatable to me. I cannot support wording that implies, insinuates or even hints that this war is justified, because it is not.'
Earlier in the meeting, Burton noted that York had asked supervisors to refrain from commenting on the war. But he ignored York's request. 'I believe it [war] is coming,'he said. I's a shame the national debate hasn't been thorough. I personally am opposed. The reasons that have been given are bogus. We need a debate on this march to war but it appears we're going in that direction.
'It sickens me to think that the debate has been so shallow on this subject up to this point,'Burton said.
As an Air Force office at the Pentagon, Burton won national recognition for exposing manipulation of design and testing of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. His book, 'The Pentagon Wars,' was the basis for an HBO movie. In the final chapter of that book, Burton criticized military leaders for ending the 1991 Gulf War before destroying Saddam Hussein's elite Republican Guard force.
'If [Gen. Norman] Schwarzkopf knew the gate was open, even after telling the public it was closed, why did he agree to a cease-fire when he knew full well that most of the Republican Guard was escaping? Very confusing indeed,' Burton wrote at the time.
Harris cited his expertise on the subject of war, noting 26 years as a combat arms soldier, including two years in Vietnam and several years 'with my finger on the button of nuclear weapons.'
Agreeing with Burton that the national debate on the war has been lacking, Harris said. 'War fever'is spreading at a time when the nation's democracy is in peril, he said.
'We need to step back and think. To debate the issues of war is not unpatriotic but is required of all citizens,' Harris said.
He reminded colleagues of a son of one of his constituents in Ashburn Village who lost a leg in Afghanistan recently when he stepped on a land mine.
'That family will live with that forever,' Harris said. 'The emotional cost of war is not well-publicized, he said. We dismiss that. To put at risk American lives and the extensive amount of resources truly needs to be for a good cause.
"This is a Bush-Cheney war," Harris said of the president and vice president, "As much as it is an Iraq war. It is a failure of diplomacy." Evidence connecting the Iraqi regime to al Qaeda and its financing of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks hasn't been substantiated, he said.
Supervisor Mark Herring (D-Leesburg) said he attended a peace vigil held by Loudoun Interfaith, a group of churches, "to pray for our leaders and a peaceful resolution."
One big barf alert. Can anyone believe this garbage?!
What an absolute outrage that they would not support a generic motion to support the troops in the field posed for WAR.
Methinks they should be 'freeped'!
Ok....here we go.
Unfortunately for them (fortunately for us), it put their views in the public forum. Even those who disagree, who dispute the reasons for this war, should support the troops who'll be fighting in it. These people are asses.
Gotta' get these jerks out of office, or otherwise embarrass them in the news and before the voters. Loudoun to me is kind of a conservative place still, at least Pro-American troops, regardless of party!!
Them and the Dixie Chicks.
We need to remember these people and give 'em payback when we have all the massive, victorious welcome home parades for our boys in the summer.
Not exactly. Every non-county race (legislative seat, US Senate, Us House, Gov, etc.) was won by the Republican candidate in Loudoun County (usually by large margins).
The problem is that a local issue (slow growth vs. property rights) has fractured the Loudoun Republican committee (party) into waring camps, allowing Democrats and RINOs to control the local board (with only one or two notable exceptions).
We'll be taking care of that this fall. :)
Which part? And have you mailed in you registration for the convention yet?
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