Vets Supporting Bush Should Consider The Following

[volosong]

Triple amputee and Vietnam hero Max Cleland sat in a wheelchair in the broiling hot Texas sun waiting for George W. Bush to do the right thing. In his hand was a letter signed by 9 US Senators, all war heroes, entreating the President to specifically ask the swift boat vets to cease their disredited accusations.

This was a valid appeal against an unprecedented campaign of political poison designed to distract voters from issues like the high rate of homelessness among veterans; the proposed closing of more V.A. hospitals; current problems in Iraq(nam); and the open mockery of Purple Hearts at the RNC. Anyone truly a friend of veterans and the military would have promptly issued a statement denouncing those offensive and disgraceful displays. But once again we must ask, "Where was George?"

George W. Bush of course hid, whether from military duty in Vietnam or from discussing the failing economy, unemployment, social unrest, and of course his latest flip flops on winning the war on terror. Bush went from Mission Accomplished, to Mission Miscalculated, to Mission Impossible, and then yesterday to Mission Possible. Few people have fooled so many so easily as George W. Bush and his Borgia Bandwagon driven by the news media.

The attacks on Kerry's Vietnam service or postwar dissent were never about honor. It was about truth, wasted lives, and sensible policies predicated upon sensitive intelligence and intelligent leaders. The truth is had been more men like John Kerry, there would be fewer names engraved on the Vietnam Wall. If that is "treason," then cowardice and hypocrisy are virtues and genocide is charity.

Many Vietnam veterans were humiliated and mistreated after returning from Vietnam. They were not war criminals; it was the war that was criminal. America and not John Kerry owes them an apology. But if there is to be any closure and healing, there must also be forgiveness and mutual understanding.

[whistle]

1. Bush and Cheney don't give a rat's ass about the humiliation...

...and mistreatment of returning veterans of any war. They only care about power, influence and of course the wealth that bestows upon them. Where was George indeed? Where is George now? Hob nobbing with his base, the very wealthiest republican, right right wing conservatives.