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February 7, 2008 Opinions |
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Guest Opinion
We Will Not Abandon YouBy LTC Steve Russell (Ret.)The lack of support shown by national lawmakers to give troops the support needed to achieve their mission has become egregious. Americans wag at political assertions of troop support as the mission is obstructed. Every day, it seems as if another public official has claimed that victory in Iraq is impossible. This would come as quite a shock to the fighting soldiers. They know better. They also know that such proclamations are made solely for political gain, and are perhaps most welcomed by the enemies they fight.
It is past the time for national lawmakers to abandon their political investment in defeat. We must reassure our fighting men and women that they aren't fighting alone.
What can the average American do to back up our troops when our national lawmakers will not? This is a question I get asked frequently. The answer is, "take it to the states." Several states have already stepped forward with resolutions that promise to "not abandon our service men and women in this time of war and pledge full support of them and their efforts to secure victory."
Exactly one year ago, defeat seemed a forgone conclusion to many. Groups of "experts" sought an "honorable exit." But Vets for Victory, a pro-troop and pro-mission organization I head, began working with state lawmakers who were as frustrated about this as the people they represent. The result was a legislative proclamation telling the troops, "We will not abandon you."
Last February, average Oklahomans working with their state lawmakers rose up to declare such support. Despite the midterm elections and the pessimistic Iraq Study Group report, over a thousand veterans and troop supporters filled the plaza at the State Capitol building to take a stand on their behalf. A respectable group of bi-partisan lawmakers were also in attendance and read the state's pledge to not abandon the troops.
Vermont followed suit with its own proclamation in May. In June, Florida's Hillsborough County of 6 million people became the first non-state government to pass the resolution. And last November, the Massachusetts legislature followed with a strong variant of the bill. The Florida State Legislature will consider its own version this spring.
Do such resolutions matter? The soldiers and their families sure think so. And state legislators know they have to pump gas and buy groceries with their voters when the legislative session ends by summer in most states. To be fair, lawmakers are relieved when they are not alone in their views of backing the troops and their mission when all political 'savvy' would suggest leaving it alone.
Now is time to act at the state level. National media and political groups have allowed opponents of the war a steady national say. When the surge began to bear fruit, they began to focus their tactics of defeat by attacking the integrity and character of our men and women who serve in uniform or as contractors.
First, soldiers and marines were subjected to despicable political statements asserting instant guilt regarding war crimes that never were, with no apologies forthcoming upon acquittal.
Then we saw the same tactic in the celebrated Blackwater case. The media circled with vulture-like appetite to declare all contractors as out-of-control criminals. These former soldiers and law enforcement agents obviously chucked all their integrity and character the moment they took a paycheck from a private firm to serve their country as civilians.
Now we see returning veterans caught in the blast of hit pieces portraying us maladjusted beings of pity, likely to kill our loved ones and then come after you. Please don't tell my wife.
Instead, tell your local lawmakers. Enough is enough. Ask them to sponsor a resolution declaring that your state will not abandon the troops. This simple official message tells our troops that their sacrifice will not be in vain. It also goes a long way toward raising the morale of our troops instead of our enemies.
LTC Steve Russell, US Army, (Ret.), a central player in Saddam Hussein's hunt and capture, is the founder and chairman of Vets for Victory (www.vets4victory.com). He is a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan.Letters
Strommer Drops Out Of Primary RaceTo The Record-Courier:It is with some sadness that I announce that I will be bowing out of the Primary race for House District 60.
I want to thank my steering committee and many volunteers for their help and countless hours with this campaign. I have enjoyed the chance to meet so many new friends from the four counties of District 60.
Since Tom Butler announced his intent to retire last September, I have traveled thousands of miles and attended dozens of County Commissioners and City Council meetings learning the needs of District 60.
With the unanimous vote by the County Commissioners for Mr. Cliff Bentz I realized I was not getting the traction I need to continue in this campaign. The Commissioners had a tough decision to make. There were three qualified men running. I respect their decision. They made a good decision.
I would like to add my support for Mr. Cliff Bentz. Throughout this process Cliff and I have met many times and we have become friends. I have come to respect and appreciate his position on the issues. Cliff has a great deal of experience in Water and Land Rights. He has strong support in all four counties of District 60. He is respected by our ranch and farm communities. He has a strong work ethic and will listen to his constituents.
I will be taking an active part to see that Mr. Cliff Bentz is elected to the position that he was just appointed to, that of State Representative of House District 60.As for me I will continue to be involved in my community. I will look for opportunities to serve. I will continue to fight for the rights and values of Eastern Oregon. The best place in Oregon to live.Deon StrommerBaker CityCritics Need To Get Their Facts StraightTo The Record-Courier:Lord Byron said: “A man must serve his time to every trade, Save censure—critics all are ready made.”
Snow removal and water rates in our fair city have aroused at least two vocal critics. Not enough snow removal and excessive water rates. Their answer? Fire the City Manager. What nonsense!
The city does a fine job with snow removal. Some days it’s easy, some days it’s hard.
The water system pays for itself solely from the rates charged. Money received beyond immediate needs is held in an interest bearing dedicated fund. It is the same prudent approach to saving for the rainy day that the critics should follow. To that end, a water facilities plan has been in place since 2000. A wastewater facilities plan has been in place since 2005. The same prudence is applied to that service. Good idea!
Both of those plans precede Mr. Brocato. The critics should get their facts straight.Milo Pope Baker CityPanhandle Snowmobile Club Go Above And BeyondTo The Record-Courier:In a time when good news seems to be overshadowed by bad, I would like our Baker County community and especially the residents of the Eagle and Pine valleys to recognize the extraordinary performance of one of the local organizations. This past weekend, the Panhandle Snowmobile Club responded to a call from my office to assist in the search for and eventual rescue of two missing snowmobilers from Wallowa County. These men were overdue from an excursion starting at Salt Creek with a possible destination in Baker County. Missing persons in the back country of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in the winter constitute an emergency because injury and death can result from a night or two exposed to the severe elements.
In December, Snowmobile club members attended a four-hour course in winter search and rescue and were eager to apply their skills. They didn’t have to wait long. They responded to the call, properly equipped with winter and survival equipment and were waiting at the snowmobile club headquarters for a search manager from Baker County Search and Rescue to arrive. This was a Sunday when I’m sure most members had other plans.
The members were dispatched from Halfway to search in teams with communications to the Command Post in Halfway. They followed the search manager’s instructions and conducted an organized, efficient, safe and most importantly, a successful search. Once the missing persons had been located, they assisted in transporting one snowmobiler to a waiting ambulance.
Both Wallowa and Union counties recognized the extraordinary performance of the Panhandle Snowmobile Club during this mission and have asked for training from Baker County for their snowmobile clubs.
From our western history, we can remember the sheriff’s posse, a citizen group who were dispatched, usually to apprehend a criminal. There simply were insufficient resources available to the sheriffs to perform the law enforcement function without citizen involvement. In this 21'st century, the county sheriffs are charged with law enforcement in the rural areas of the county and they still lack the necessary resources to fulfill all of the obligations of their office without citizen assistance.
Those who say we have lost the spirit of community should take this search and rescue as a textbook example of the response by its citizens when the sheriff called. The Panhandle Snowmobile Club didn’t turn its back on two men who desperately needed assistance to survive. Without their unselfish, professional response, the outcome of this search and rescue could have been tragic.
I am proud to acknowledge the assistance of the Panhandle Snowmobile Club and look forward to working with them in the future.Mitch SouthwickBaker County Sheriff Red Cross Thanks Local Business For DonationTo The Record-Courier:In November, Gentry Ford and Powder River Motors ran a campaign, which was a “Thank You” to our local Eastern Oregon Chapter of Red Cross. For every car sold, $100 would be donated to our local chapter.
Those wonderful people and the loyal customers made it possible for our local chapter of the Red Cross to receive a great Christmas gift. They presented a check for $6,100 to Roberta Morin, E.O. Chapter Board Chair on Dec. 3. What a wonderful surprise and gift. Thank you all who participated in this campaign and to Dennis and Kelli Wright and company for the timely gift.Roberta MorinBaker CitySupport Ron PaulTo The Record-Courier:How many of you are also getting bored with the election game? There is an apparent infatuation with, or is it a smoke screen, Iraq and how to conduct our “business” there. Then there is socialized medicine and what a good inexpensive system it will be for everyone. And there is mud-slinging. But no one, except Ron Paul, wants to bring up the real issues and challenges for this country’s future.
First in the mind of any statesman, not politician, would be the requirement to obey the U.S. Constitution, the Law of the Land for any American. I have not yet heard the word “Constitution” from the front runners on either side. Why not? Could it be ignorance or that they want to indulge in things that are off-limits to them at the Federal level? They want to control schools and health care and provide jobs and energy for all. All in violation of the Constitution. They are pure politicians, recognizing no legitimate restriction on their powers.
One issue for which they are legitimately responsible is national debt. Most of them, and all of the Democrats, just don’t see any problem raising taxes and spending money this bankrupt nation does not have. America is in debt to China and Japan far past the danger point. China, if or when it sells our debt, will be in a position to control the United States. But who cares? People will vote for anyone who will promise something for nothing. Why worry about the future?!
Speaking of China. While Iraq is absolutely no threat to the United States, China is! Nearly all of our war machine is based on satellite communications. China now has the proven ability to destroy our satellites. But politicians don’t want to talk about that. It is outside their comfort zone.
So the real question is, will the American public and you in particular, vote for he or she who appeals to you, or will you look for the candidate who might save this nation from certain disaster? Perhaps, Ron Paul.Jasper H. CoombesRichland, Ore.Paper Or Plastic?To The Record-Courier:I wonder when they say it is “all in the bag,” what more is really in store and how much more weight can all these issues really take hold? Adam and Eve had it made in the Garden of Eden, fresh fruit, etc. no chemicals, whatever they were given. It was only until the apple issue came up that separated them from these things.
It seems to me that way back when the plastic bag came about it outweighed the paper, being that if something was wet, etc. it wouldn’t lose what one was carrying to begin with. Now with the paper, being the issue again like that of a merry go round, does that mean we have to pick up our groceries off the ground if the paper loses its grip? I think they should do a test for durability myself. What about our zip lock bags, etc., or are we going to have to wind up with soggy sandwiches on the account of paper, sounds gross to me. Something to think about.
I don’t think they can exactly eliminate plastic all together. We will probably have to go back to our old antiques, our favorite lunch pail if one had one. But I do know they had paper bags in those days to carry their lunch to wherever. The way food was handled then compared to now wasn’t much of an issue as is now.
After all, when the ground hog doesn’t see his shadow, and we have more winter weather in store for us, I don’t blame the poor guy for not knowing what he might be waking up to with all these issues of how it could be miserable for him to be short-lived even for him given these freezing temperatures.
I just might have to be creative for my own well being, in seeing what kind of bag I can carry and trust that I can get home with it without the bag losing its grip.Coffee Anyone?Brenda DickisonBaker City |
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