Military Families Call for Withdrawal of Troops From Iraq (Leftist Drivel)

CNSNews.com ^ | 8/14/03 | Lawrence Morahan

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - A group representing military families and veterans Wednesday called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, saying at a Washington press conference that there was no justification for the deployment in the first place.

Nancy Lessin, a co-founder of Military Families Speak Out, said the reasons U.S. troops were in Iraq were different than those given by the Bush administration.

"We believe very strongly that the reason that we're over there had nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction and had nothing to do with links between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda, that it was in fact about oil markets and empire building. That's not what we should be doing," Lessin told CNSNews.com.

The group's slogan - Bring Them Home Now - was a twist on a comment by President Bush at a July news conference, organizers said. When asked about continued guerrilla attacks on U.S. forces, Bush responded: "Bring 'em on.'"

"In response to George Bush, who said, 'Bring 'em on,' what we're saying is, 'Bring them home,'" Lessin said.

Formed in 2002 by two families, Military Families Speak Out numbers 600 families across the country and is growing, Lessin said. The organization's membership now includes families that originally supported Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lessin said.

Michael McPherson, a veteran of Gulf War I and a spokesman for Veterans for Peace, said the protest was directed at elected officials, not people serving in the military.

"We're saying that the government at this point hasn't even said that they're going to bring the troops home," said McPhearson, who served at the rank of captain in field artillery with the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division in Gulf War I.

"They have no exit strategy in place, there's no plan, they have not communicated anything...to the American public saying when these things happen, the troops will be coming home," McPhearson said.

Supporters of the Iraq deployment criticized the call for bringing the troops home immediately.

Robert Maginnis, a national security analyst and a former Army colonel, said groups claiming to represent families of veterans were sending the wrong message - as groups did during the Vietnam War - to troops who were "very much part of the war on terror."

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq denied a "sanctuary and a training ground and a gas fill-up station to terrorists from that region of the world," Maginnis said.

"We can't abandon ship at this point. It would not be to the Iraqis' best interest, certainly would not support our effort to counter terrorism across the world," Maginnis said.

Steve Thomas, a spokesman with the American Legion, the country's largest veterans group, said the call for withdrawal would have a limited effect on troop morale.

"The protests - to the extent that there are any today - would have limited impact on morale because the troops realize that most Americans supported them. The administration did the right thing, and the American people supported the mission and the troops themselves, and so does the American Legion," Thomas said.

"Everybody wants the troops to come home and to come home safe," Thomas added.

"In terms of morale, the most important thing is to augment the active-duty force so that the operational tempo and the size of the force are consistent. Right now, our military is over-deployed with respect to the size of the active-duty force," Thomas said.

More than 148,000 American troops currently are deployed in Iraq. Three U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq in separate incidents Wednesday, according to U.S. Central Command press releases.

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[kattracks]

Check out the speakers for Veterans for Peace. What happened, they couldn't get Saddam to speak?

[Joe Boucher]

crappola.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

600 families out of 125,000+ soldiers in Iraq? Small minority, but potentially very damaging.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Their spouses signed on to the military. "It is not our's to question why..."

I guess they just thought this was a college funding and training program. Sorry dodos. They should be ashamed of themselves. Other families will step forward and support what their loved ones are doing. These creepos are throwing mud on the grave of every fallen soldier in this historic operation. If I were the son of one of these soldiers, I'd be ticked off royally at these pathetic whiners.

FReegards....

[CWOJackson]

When my wife and I got married I wore my uniform. Before the wedding I introduced her to military wives and told her, you're not just marrying me. For me the Coast Guard was a way of life, not a job.

Her parents never forgave her for marrying a "military type" but we've had a great marriage with over thirty years active duty and she served just as much as I did.

[Fighter@heart]

I'm a vet, my dad was a 30 yr. "lifer" if our family pulled this crap, dad would have taken emergency leave, came home & kicked all our asses!! It amazes me just how many idiots "sign up" & play soldier & patriot for the free training & benefits and cry like babies when asked to actually do what they volunteered for!

[EuroFrog]

Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do.

I want my husband to come home but I see absolutely no point in running to the press telling them that. As far as joining a group of spouses/parents/children that want their soldiers to come home, Im already a member. Its called being an Army Wife. Dammit we all want our men to come home. I would like to grab a hold of some of these people and shake them. This is a crying shame!

[sgtbono2002]

I want our troops home also, but how does Bashing the President accomplish this.Asking the President to bring the troops home is fine but the reasons stated , that we shouldnt be there in the first place , that there arent any WMD's this isnt a reason, this is just more left bashing and its coming from people who should know better.

[EuroFrog]

I agree with you 100%. I want him home but I also know he is doing a really important job there and he will come home when its his time. I fully support our president, I always have. It shames me to see these people doing this and Im fixing to send them a big flaming email to tell them how I feel about it.

[mystery-ak]

You just said everything I wanted to say.....these families pi$$ me off!

[StarCMC]

If I were the son of one of these soldiers, I'd be ticked off royally at these pathetic whiners.

The man in charge of this org. was on CNN debating a FReeper a couple of days ago. He virtually admitted that his son (deployed soldier I believe) doesn't agree with what he's doing.

[Red Boots]

If I were the son of one of these soldiers, I'd be ticked off royally at these pathetic whiners. Can you imagine anything more humilating than your mother whining about you before the entire nation ?? These poor guys probably joined just to get away from their mother's suffocating apron strings, and now this.

[happygrl]

Thanking you and your family for your sacrifice as well.

It is my belief that this smaller scale war prevented one that would have been far more horrific.

Your husband is among the true peacemakers.

My prayers now for his continued safekeeping.

[kjfine]

You guys still on? My time zone is just a bit different than yours...Iraqi time. My sister sends me these links in e-mails, and I just couldn't resist this one. I am glad that there are people like you out there. I am sick of hearing only negative. Contrary to what is said, it does influence the morale somewhat.

[kjfine]

The part that really makes me angry is the former CPT. I am a CPT and I am in the middle of all of this stuff. I don't even know what the overall plan is. However, he is wrong about there not being a plan because I may be home by Christmas because of a plan. Besides, what makes him, or anyone for that matter, think they have the right to knwo when we are coming home. This isn't an exercise, this is war. Soldiers are getting killed even though major action has concluded. Sorry so long.

[kjfine]

Thanks, Sis! Love the "God protect the 969th...." thing!

[EuroFrog]

I love you. God bless you.

[kjfine]

Thank you!!!!!

[armymarinemom]

I'm beginning to think that Miltiary Families are going to have to address these people publically. There are plenty of military support groups out there that should all hold press conferences.
These jerks do not have the support of the majority of parents or our military. We should put these Yahoo's in their place.