Dear Mr. President:

As a retired businessman, educator, father of OIF and Desert Storm Marines, Vietnam Vet, long-time Democrat, and outraged citizen, I can only shake my head in disbelief at your announced Afghanistan strategy.

How long will you pander to militarism? This decision counters much of your campaign rhetoric and violates the trust of millions of your fellow citizens who went to the proverbial wall in support of your recent candidacy.


From the health care crises bills pending that are an insurance industry-friendly travesty to the bail-out of the banks and Wall Street, to the continued sanction of torture and continued operation of Guantanamo to the continued loss of employment and collapse of State tax revenues, to the mortgage crises you have sold us out.

I can promise you that progressive Democrats and millions of us whose lives have been effected (and affected) by war and the continued militarism of this nation are fed up.

You've certainly lost me in the next electoral cycle, along with nearly everyone I know who went to the polls buying your rhetorical sap.


This move to deepen the Afghanistan occupation is a tragic mistake. I participate in a VA PTSD group and it breaks my heart to see so many young men and women suffering flashbacks and all of the hells of having participated in the killing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Like the generation of men and women before them, they have been betrayed by political calculation, graft and the hubris of their leadership.

Two of my youngest son's Marines have committed suicide since returning home, as has the husband of a neighbor, a young Marine whose pending third deployment sent him `round the bend.

The human tragedy wrought by Bush is being escalated by the one man we pinned hopes on of standing up to the military establishment.

Harry Truman had the courage to stand up to McArthur. You, however, have pandered to Patraeus and McChrystal in what seems an ill-disguised tactical gambit, posturing for the next Presidential election.

Our Nation is in a moral and economic meltdown unprecedented in our history. What we need is a courageous scrapper and advocate for peace and economic recovery, not another yes-man.

The perception and the reality seem to be that we put our trust in another yes-man.
For the first time in my 64 years I will look to and work for a third party."

Dan Kelly


http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2009/12/11/open-letter-from-a-concerned-vet-to-pres#more8775

I AM vietnam vet i learned at a young age never trust the goverment. I love my country

that's just a person's opinion

I'm a Desert Storm vet and my opinion is just as valid as his

and I think Obama is handling it just about right

You can't please all the people all the time!

On the contrary...that's more than "one person's" opinion. I won't vote for him again either.

I didn't but I might

so that cancels out

You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can!t fool all the people all the time.

I did!t and i won!t

The only place I can find that letter is on blogs. 2 to be exact.

I say given time snopes or crooks and liars will prove it to be fake.
Like the many before, leading into the 2008 election.

LOL
OK Asheville!

I dunno that it matters

anyone can write a letter

there are about as many people who oppose it as there are that support it and doesn't change anything

it's still going to happen

Welcome to the site. oh yes a southern hottie

I didn't vote for the liar.

you go girl

I smelled a rat over 2 years ago. In fact, he moves around like he's part of The Rat Pack.

Remember, people:

Those, who hold the purse, RULE the world!!!

The president cannot afford to exercise his will -- he has to please everybody.. first of all, those, who hold the purse!!!

Ce la Vie! (such is life)

So glad I voted OBama, so glad that I have the opportunity to vote along with all those who for whatever reason dont like him.

According to my 'Giddyup Poll' in tis thread, we still have an overwhelming Obummer disapproval rate of more than 90%.

I am Viet Nam era Vet and many GI's from that time knows Gov. ain't got your back. But, they do have a shaft for 'em.

Follow me!!

Hello and welcome, Beautiful.
Ewe caught my eye and now, I can't git ya' out of it!!