Bush's War: Ending or Defending It, Vets Speak Out

by Mary

Jon Soltz is well-known in the left blogosphere for his leadership with VetsVote.org and their strong advocacy for bringing the troops home from Iraq. Today an AP story tells how he is opposed by another veteran's group that actively supports the war. Although Pete Hegseth believes that his organization, Vote for Freedom, should be non-political, he stands with Republicans when they accuse Democrats of betraying the troops when they speak out against Bush's war. As usual, Republicans can't support Bush's war without smearing the opposition.

"The Democrats, unfortunately, are trying to undermine the efforts of our troops and restrict the ability of our generals to carry out their mission," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said at a July news conference with Hegseth and other members of the group Vets for Freedom, which supports a continued U.S. presence in Iraq.

But as General Wesley Clark said so passionately at the YearlyKos, this is an outrageous smear.

"President Bush, 'Mr. President, stop hiding behind Dave Petreaus and come out here and defend YOUR strategy! This is your war. You defend it.'

Seeing the mess Bush made of his war and demanding that he recognize there cannot be a military solution to the turmoil in Iraq is not betraying the troops. Letting him continue to make a complete hash of it is. It's time to bring our troops home.