Please help me rebut this drivel by Joe Barton,R-Texas editorial

[w8liftinglady]

During the recent debate surrounding funding for the war in Iraq, Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a vocal war critic, spoke at great length about how we’re not fighting the war, a small percentage of our countrymen are fighting it for us. He stated that Members of Congress are in the comfort of an air-conditioned building, not out in the field.

I have great respect for Congressman Murtha and support his right to express his opinion forcefully on the House floor. Having said that, I do not agree with his opinion on this issue. I sent the following paragraphs as a “Dear Colleague” letter to my fellow Members of Congress because it’s imperative that we maintain a clear, balanced perspective as we evaluate the future of our involvement in the Middle East. The letter states:

“It’s true that very few of our citizens are in the active duty military or reserves. It is called a voluntary service - our Armed Forces. But it struck me later just how limited this view really is. In fact, I think since Sept. 11, 2001, it is totally wrong to say such a thing. There were many acts of bravery and sacrifice that day that should never be forgotten. And every day since, as American citizens have been targets at home and abroad, we have all been fighting this war. Just think of the pressures facing those who screen our bags before we get on the plane; those who issue visas in our consulates; the Capitol Police who keep us safe; those Americans who go to work in the financial district of New York remembering the panic and destruction they saw and felt. How about every single person who walks into the Pentagon each day? What about the commuter who scans his surroundings for suspicious activity or an abandoned backpack on the Metro? We could go on and on. Average Americans are not fighting this war?

“We are on alert each and every day to prevent another attack on our soil and still preserve our way of life by going to work, traveling on planes and trains, and doing so in spite of the anxiety of the unknown and asking whether today is the day we will see another attack. We are all in our own way fighting against those same enemies that our soldiers are fighting in the field. It consumes all of us. It is never far from our minds. We aren’t on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan, but we are on the home front line.

“We are in the service of our country each day by standing up and fighting extremists and those who practice terror over tolerance and liberty. And we stand with our troops because we know their mission is necessary and the very dangerous consequences of failure.”

Some Members of the House of Representatives believe Congress needs to set an artificial timetable for withdrawal of our troops. President Bush vetoed such a proposal, and I recently voted in agreement with the President’s veto. The role of Congress is to provide our troops with funding they need; it is not the role of Congress to usurp our nation’s military commanders who are best able to determine the future military course from the field.


Success in Iraq is critical to our fight against terror. And it’s a fight that affects us all.

Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, represents the Sixth Congressional District of Texas.




http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2007/05/06/dailylight/opinion/editorials/column1.txt

[wakeme2008]

1. When does his 15 month tour start

Looks like a good truck driver to me...

[Th1onein]

2. I'll help you.....

Congressman Barton forgets that there are DEGREES of danger. Sitting on a commuter train and "scanning" for bags left behind is a completely different type of danger than being shot at by the enemy. It's completely different from worrying about getting blown up by a roadside IED. It's different both in terms of the proximity to danger and the frequency of the attacks. Kind of like the difference between those who went to fight in the jungles of Vietnam and those who stayed behind to join the Texas Air National Guard, stateside. If the Congressman thinks that the two are even remotely comparable in terms of danger, perhaps he should go to Iraq and walk the streets of Bagdad (spelling?) without a flak jacket for a few hours.

The Republicans can't seem to see the difference between buying one of those "Support the Troops" ribbons and actually funding the VA. To them, both acts are equally supportive of the troops. It's strange, then, that they always pick the former, instead of the latter, isn't it?

Congressman Barton's idea of supporting our troops and fighting terrorism is what we used to call "lip service," but now with the Republicans running things, is called good old American patriotism. Please, save our troops from the Republican patriots. America really can do better.

[w8liftinglady]

3. is this too harsh?

Regarding Congressman Barton's latest editorial to the Daily Light:Sir,I respectfully have to call you to task.You cite the many ways we Americans are watching for the nebulous,unknown evil that lurks out there,yet YOUR congress failed to implement some of the most basic safety measures our country could have benefitted from.YOUR Congress approved the Dubai Ports deal,which was lobbied by One of your compadres,Bob Dole,to allow unfettered access to our ports from the Middle East.Your Congress did nothing to secure our boders,preferring to benefit from the cheap labor at the expense of our security.Your Congress underfunded our Veteran's Administration by $1 billion dollars,while giving the top honchos huge bonuses.Your Congress sent our troops unprepared,without the protective gear,body-armor,and uparmored vehicles needed to accomplish whatever the mission is now.And Now,you say we all share equally in this war on terror.Well,while you wave your faded American flag with your clean pressed shirt,and bright politician's smile,I know a man who held his friend's head in his lap as the man died from an IED blast.It was both of these troops' third deployments.I know a man who had to retrieve the body parts of his friends off the street of taji after an IED.I know a man who held a dying child,only to have her head come off in his hands.Let's talk about how we equally share in this war Mr. Barton.How DARE you claim the half-hearted,faded ribbon rah-rah's even compare to the horror these brave troops are enduring.You offend me,and you offend every veteran who has seen battle.

[flamin lib]

4. Seems just about right to me. How many times did you have to

edit it to get all FUs and Stupid MFs out?

[w8liftinglady]

5. it was tough

[flamin lib]

6. When I write about Barton I just let it flow and then

do a <search=dumb shit Motha F**ker> <replace=Congressman Barton>

Saves a lot of time . . .

edit to add

Seriously, it's a good letter. It brings home the conditions of war, the absolutely horrendous things the ones who survive experience and have to live with. I wouldn't change a thing.

[Ezlivin]

7. So apparently we ARE fighting them over here

Barton is just another brown shirt.

It's time that we put these fuckers in prison. Seriously. I cannot believe that they have not been arrested.

And I want to see Kay Bailey Hutchison serving time, too. Most of our Texas "representatives" are crooks.

[EstimatedProphet]

8. He's right

I knew someone who lost an arm from riding the Metro. I also knew 3 people that were killed because they went to work in the NY Financial District. Saw someone get blown up because they had an explosive coffee from Starbuck's too. And there were several people here who were hospitalized after sectarian violence broke out at Wal-Mart. There's a McDonald's nearby that's an active Sunni base of operations.

:sarcasm:

Barton, the American people, save the ones who were shipped out to Bush's wars, haven't sacrificed a thing. They are not 'fighting terror' just because they look suspiciously at a backpack. All you're doing is trying to make the comfortable who haven't had to sacrifice - and therefore think about the ramifications of this war - feel good about their complacency. Please don't be an idiot.