Iraq veteran: We defended American democracy. Now we're asking Congress to do the same.

[babylonsister]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/11/07/veterans-defended-american-democracy-now-congress-must-step-up-column/4169710002/?fbclid=IwAR0jpy6a6ABNKziPfUZCQzV2c7m50uTd8vXSlLWCVeGPuykipOzhf5Iv1co

Iraq veteran: We defended American democracy. Now we're asking Congress to do the same.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and I took the same oath to serve America and the Constitution. And in Iraq, in October 2004, we bled on the same sand.
Alan Pitts
Opinion contributor

snip//

Our president attempted to use his office to coerce a foreign government for help in his political campaign, and put our national security at risk by withholding nearly $400 million in military aid that Congress, a coequal branch of government, had already approved on a broad, bipartisan basis. Now, the same members of Congress who approved that funding say it’s OK for President Donald Trump to make that aid contingent on help for his campaign. How is that loyalty to your country?

Unacceptable:Questioning Lt. Col. Vindman's loyalty to this country is un-American.

Last time I checked, “liberty and justice for all” meant no one is above the law. Last time I checked, “for the people, by the people” meant that our democracy was not for sale. The accusations against President Trump are gravely serious, and it’s high time everyone in our country found the courage to start treating them as such.

Don't tear us down for political games

Veterans have frequently been the ones speaking out about this administration’s abuses of power — from former special counsel Robert Mueller to acting acting Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor, and now Alexander Vindman. If we sink to the level of attacking the intentions of those who served our country and put themselves in harm’s way for our democracy, then I don’t know where we go next. Everyone I served with had our country’s best interests at heart and they are to be respected, not torn down for political games. The stakes are too high, and no one knows that better than us.

That’s why I and dozens of other veterans are launching the nonpartisan Defend American Democracy project. From Washington state to Washington, D.C., men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to stand up for our democracy are standing up again to call on Congress to do its constitutional duty — to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Our members of Congress swore the same oath we did, and have the same duty to protect what our veterans have put their lives on the line to protect for 243 years: our Constitution and our democracy, not politics. We’ve done our part, now it’s time that our elected representatives find the courage to do theirs.



Alan Pitts, a retired Army sergeant, served from 2001 to 2006. Follow him on Twitter: @A_Pitts515

[MagickMuffin]

1. I'm sorry but he should clarify his statement the republicons in Congress

are not doing their jobs to uphold the Oath of their Office and the Constitution.

[Hortensis]

3. +100. I looked and Sgt. Pitts agrees about Republicans.

Link to tweet

The OP message was probably softened for conservative veterans unwilling to face what Republicans in congress are doing, and that this is in effect aligning with Democrats.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. thanks for finding and posting that

[Boomerproud]

4. Isn't it a sad reflection of the times that what he is

doing requires courage? I am so over the apathetic general public who care more about stupid sports events or who wins American Idol.

[crickets]

2. Wonderful letter. Thank you. Sgt Pitts! K&R

[pwb]

5. In puke world Veterans are unpatriotic and cowards are heroes ???

.

[Aristus]

7. I hate to dump on a fellow veteran, but we weren't defending American democracy by fighting in Iraq.

We weren't even defending Iraqi democracy in Iraq.

We went in after the oil. Bottom line.