Timetable for Iraq pullout

[Lemmy]

Dear Mr. President,

Today, in your veto message regarding the bipartisan legislation just passed on Operation Iraqi Freedom, you asserted that you so decided because you listen to your commanders on the ground.

Respectfully, as your former commander on the ground, your administration did not listen to our best advice. In fact, a number of my fellow Generals were forced out of their jobs, because they did not tell you what you wanted to hear -- most notably General Eric Shinseki, whose foresight regarding troop levels was advice you rejected, at our troops' peril.

The legislation you vetoed today represented a course of action that is long overdue. This war can no longer be won by the military alone. We must bring to bear the entire array of national power - military, diplomatic and economic. The situation demands a surge in diplomacy, and pressure on the Iraqi government to fix its internal affairs. Further, the Army and Marine Corps are on the verge of breaking - or have been broken already - by the length and intensity of this war. This tempo is not sustainable - and you have failed to grow the ground forces to meet national security needs. We must begin the process of bringing troops home, and repairing and growing our military, if we are ever to have a combat-ready force for the long war on terror ahead of us.

The bill you rejected today sets benchmarks for success that the Iraqis would have to meet, and puts us on a course to redeploy our troops. It stresses the need for sending troops into battle only when they are rested, trained and equipped. In my view, and in the view of many others in the military that I know, that is the best course of action for our security.

As someone who served this nation for decades, I have the utmost respect for the office you hold. However, as a man of conscience, I could not sit idly by as you told the American people today that your veto was based on the recommendations of military men. Your administration ignored the advice of our military's finest minds before, and I see no evidence that you are listening to them now.

I urge you to reconsider your position, and work with Congress to pass a bill that achieves the goals laid out above.

Respectfully,

Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA, Retired

[El-Moldo]

Would he have written that if he wasn't retired?

[once a runner]

If he had, he would have been fired. Does the fact that he's retired change the truth of the statement? Bush only uses the commanders recommendations when it suits his agenda.

[El-Moldo]

Do hospitals need opinions of retired doctors on how to fight cancer? Or do they rely on those doctors in the forefront of the battle? Do we need opinions of a retired Jimmy Carter on how to handle the mid-east? Let's take what the retired general said with a grain of salt.

[Goodwill]

bipartisan legislation --my butt

Further, the Army and Marine Corps are on the verge of breaking - or have been broken already - by the length and intensity of this war. I wonder why?

The situation demands a surge in diplomacy, and pressure on the Iraqi government to fix its internal affairs.--You can't with terrorists

We must begin the process of bringing troops home, and repairing and growing our military, if we are ever to have a combat-ready force for the long war on terror ahead of us. ---cut and run, surrender and leave the field to the terrorists?


and puts us on a course to redeploy our troops. -- In Japan yeah thats smart Martha lol


Your administration ignored the advice of our military's finest minds before, and I see no evidence that you are listening to them now. --Gee I believe its not what CNN or the liberals want.

[Lemmy]

PENNSYLVANIA

Number of Active Duty Service-Members in Iraq: 6,691
Number of Reserve Forces in Iraq: 1,478
Number of Service-Members Killed in Iraq: 163
Number of Service-Members Wounded in Iraq: 1,102
Cost of War to the People of Pennsylvania: $14.4 billion
(Source: CTS Deployment File, 1/31/07; Department of Defense Personnel Statistics; nationalpriorities.org)

Pennsylvania National Guard faces equipment shortfalls. "Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver admitted that the Pennsylvania National Guard has equipment shortfalls... At the moment, the state has just 620 of its authorized 1,690 Humvees... With about 19,000 soldiers and airmen, Pennsylvania has one of the largest--and most deployed--National Guard contingents in the country... About 4,000 Pennsylvania guardsmen have been deployed to Iraq, mostly with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team during its one-year tour in 2005-06." ( Lebanon (PA) Daily News, 3/29/07

[El-Moldo]

Number of People killed by terrorists IN Pennsylvania: 0

[D-nice]

Rudy said it well tonight. after the 9-11 attacks the al-quaida plan was to keep them coming. we have not had an attack since 9-11.

You stupid liberals think there is no threat, you are so self consumed and arrogant.

[Gunner18]

Moldy, I know shanksville is it's own little world over there, but are you trying to tell me that field where flight 93 went down was actually outside PA territory? Seems to me like right there is a few hundred people killed by terrorists not only in PA, but a stones throw from most of our families.

[El-Moldo]

gunner: Are you even following the conversation? It does have a flow. Lemmy just gave us all those statistics about Pennsylvanians SINCE the war STARTED!!!!!!!! Comprende? And since the war started, the number of Pennsylvanians killed by terrorists IN our state is 0. Reading is fundamental.