Veteran PACs Drive Me Nuts
There are a lot of “veterans” organizations out there establishing political action committees (PAC) lately. The war in Iraq has become as much of a polarizing topic to vets as it has to politicians and public at large. I find this highly disturbing. Since when did victory at all costs become polarizing? How can people actually disagree that we need to win in order to stay safe and ensure a secure planet? What happens in Iraq after we leave, good or bad, is not going to stay in Iraq. If Iraq fails, other nations will follow suit. If Iraq succeeds, like it is, then other nations will also follow suit.
With that said, I had a choice to make with regards to providing my time and talents (yes, eating copious amounts of Tootsie Rolls is a talent) to a particular group in the form of writing. Being an active duty Soldier, it is difficult for me to be an active advocate or activist on Soldier issues. As someone who has a spark of interest in one day running for public office after my military service, a natural choice would seem to be VoteVets. According to their stated goals, VoteVets is organized to “Elect Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to public office – regardless of party” (emphasis added). As a matter of fact, it’s listed as their first goal.
So, I found it a bit odd that under their “Our Candidates” section, they only have eight people listed as running or in office as veterans. More interesting is that Major Eric Egland is not one of them. After all, Eric meets the other two stated goals of VoteVets which is to ensure that those “who have failed our troops, Veterans, and nation on matters regarding the war and Veterans’ issues” don’t get supported and to “fight for Veterans in the future”, something that Eric Egland is quite uniquely suited for. He recently wrote a book titled “The Troops Need You, America” and also founded “Troops Need You”, a charity that continues the American wartime tradition of mobilizing citizens directly in support of our troops. He is indeed fighting for veterans NOW.
When one looks more closely at the list of VoteVets candidates, one can easily see that the organization is in violation of its own stated goals. There is not one Republican, Libertarian, Green Party, Independent or other third-party candidate anywhere to be found on the list. They are ALL Democrats. So much for “regardless of party”. Even the VoteVets board of advisors is full of Democrats. Heck, one even ran for president! They’re almost as bad at the VETPAC, um PAC. Their list of fourteen 2008 candidates are running for office “regardless of VETPAC endorsment or party affiliation” are ALL Democrats. No mention of Eric on that site either.
The choice seemed pretty clear to me that if I wanted to align myself to a group with integrity and an eye towards victory, I should contact Vets For Freedom. Vets For Peace SOUNDS like a great name since that SHOULD be the goal of every veteran. War is hell and it sucks. Veterans put their lives on the line every day to maintain peace. We don’t want war. We are the ones that die in them. But, we do it anyway because the result is worth the sacrifice. Don’t get me wrong, every vet in VoteVets has my respect for their military service. I just with they had the integrity to tell the truth about their purposes. Or at least change their stated goals. Naturally, anyone who pays any attention to current events will know the truth anyway, but it would be nice if we didn’t have to.
There was a point back in the day that I was aligned with a similar group as VoteVets called OpTruth. OpTruth ended up changing their name to Iraq Veterans Against War (IVAW) Iraq and Aghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) when it became obvious there was nothing truthful about them either (author’s note: I made a typo in mentioning this organization. IAVA is the successor to OpTruth, not IVAW. Either way, Paul Rieckoff is a partisan hack who tries to silence vets who don’t agree with him – like me! Thanks to Eli for pointing this out while not addressing the point of this post in any way.). I was personally contacted by Paul Rieckoff to join the group and even asked to take part in an interview on Al Franken’s radio show when I was in California. When Paul found out that I was a pro-mission, pro-victory Soldier he pulled me off the interview with some lame excuse about not wanting to hurt my career – even though I made it clear that I had permission from my public affairs officer and every commander in my chain of command to take part in the interview. My profile was constantly edited to basic information. When I commented on the profile of another Soldier who I actually worked with and called him out for outright lying about his experiences, I was reprimanded by Paul for “attacking” another member. I didn’t realize that integrity checks were considered attacks.
As an active duty Soldier, I have a unique perspective about all these so-called troop support organizations. I’m not a big fan of PACs at any level. I cherish my membership in the American Legion and VFW. They put their money where their mouth is. They speak up for the troops – ALL of them. That’s how I feel about VFF as well.
Eli
October 16th, 2007 at 11:35 pmYou need to do your research a bit better next time. Operation Truth was the precursor to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), led by Paul Reickoff. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) has never been affiliated with IAVA. Please check your facts and quit posting lies.
CJ
October 17th, 2007 at 8:51 amEli, it was not a lie, it was a typo. I got the acronyms mixed up. They’re a dime a dozen anyway. You are correct and I have reflected my typo in the post and corrected my inaccuracy. No research is needed as I know what I know. I worked with OpTruth, not IVAW or IAVA so which one OpTruth morphed into is irrelevant. What is relevant is that an organization that claims to be a representative of Iraq and Afghanistan troops is not what it claims. When I mentioned I have a dissenting view than Paul, he shut me out of the group. Thanks for pointing out my mistake though. I appreciate it.
Eli
October 17th, 2007 at 11:22 amCJ, I didn’t address the point of your post because I don’t really care what your point is. I just wanted you to correct your “typo” because it was a factual error. I’m not going to bother discussing my opinions with you because we are on opposite ends of the spectrum and arguing about our opinions over the internet is pointless. I’m not going to change your mind and you’re not going to change mine. I am an active-duty soldier and a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. We have no affiliation with IAVA, we are two very different organizations. Coming in here to share my views would be like walking into a church to try discussing atheism. It would accomplish nothing, I’d be ganged-up on, and attacked for my beliefs. You share your thoughts here, I’ll share mine elsewhere. Peace.
CJ
October 17th, 2007 at 11:49 amI am well aware that IAVA and IVAW are not TECHNICALLY affiliated, even though both organization are on the same misguided mission. I was once fooled into getting aligned with IAVA, then OpTruth, and I’ve encountered IVAW “troops” while I was in DC. The group that you are a member of sickens me. As a Soldier, I can’t believe you are associated with them and the tactics they use. Trotting fake Soldiers in front of media and carrying caskets down Independence Avenue is not how I would define a patriot. True patriots honor their fallen; they don’t mock them. However, you have free speech and have earned it through your service, honorable I’m sure. That doesn’t make it right. And while you personally may not have carried a mock coffin you are still guilty by association. IVAW has YET to come out in the public spotlight and denounce openly that have infiltrated their organization as fake heroes. This should appall you. Does it? If you’d like, I can go where you are and give my opinions. I don’t mind being “ganged up on” as you call it. There is nothing anyone can do to diminish my experiences. So, if you’re more comfortable having this debate on your turf, I’m happy to scoot on over there. Just tell me where to go.
I’d be more than happy to debate someone who disobeys lawful orders in a combat zone. You are the one who VOLUNTARILY reenlisted in 2004, AFTER the war in Iraq had been going on and you had plenty of opportunities to shout “peace” then. Unless you’re a different Eli than I’m aware of, you were duped.
LL
October 17th, 2007 at 12:25 pmAhhh, yes, OpTruth. They couldn’t even stand JP’s wicked sense of humor. And that just ain’t right. Him being an Afghanistan vet, you’d think they’d treat him better, but he didn’t toe the party line…..
Now that he’s also an Iraq vet, do you think he’d be welcome this time?? Or would his writing about silly stuff still be a magnet for left-wing attacks even though he wrote about care packages? Cuz you know…them care packages are a highly controversial issue!! And I think they’re also a Vast Right Wing Conspiracy! Bad packages, bad, bad packages!!
Meh, sometimes it’s just not worth it to try to “talk” to people. Action speaks louder than words anyway and we’ve all see the action of those “Support the troops but not the war” folks.
By the way, did you read that story about Gen. (Ret) Pace putting his stars at the Wall for his lost troops in Vietnam on the day he retired? Bless his heart….
CJ
October 17th, 2007 at 12:35 pmThat’s right LL. I forgot that JP was also on OpTruth for a bit. How soon I forget! And yet another illustration about how the anti-war movement silences it’s critics. At least IVAW forces you to make three promises when you join so you know what you’re getting into:
* Immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces in Iraq
* An end to the pillaging and destruction of Iraq so that ordinary Iraqi people can control their own lives and their country, and
* Full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health), and other support for returning GIs.
IAVA tries to pretend they’re neutral. Although the second one is interesting. I’m interested in who is over there “pillaging and destroying” Iraq. AQ and the Mahdi Army. Yeah I want them to stop too.
LL
October 17th, 2007 at 12:40 pmOooooo, I think we’re actually TRYING to put an end to that pillaging and destroying. But hey, we can always pull out and allow that. Does that make you military guys accessories after the fact or something if our Congress succeeds in pressuring Bush into doing that? Or does that make THEM accessories after the fact??
Flag Gazer
October 17th, 2007 at 3:07 pmGosh, they did not help Lt Col John Kanaley either in this summer’s special election in California. (Must be that pesky R behind his name.)
“Coming in here to share my views would be like walking into a church to try discussing atheism.” – Eli
Yep, you’d be wrong on both counts, Eli.
Terri
October 17th, 2007 at 5:11 pmI have to agree with you fully CJ. What I’ve seen of Paul Reichoff, who proclaims every chance he gets to be an “expert” on things going on in Iraq, turns my stomach. I find it strange how someone who hasn’t been “in-country” for awhile now, and has no clue about what’s really going on over there (other than what he apparently reads in the media) can claim to be an expert on what’s currently happening there. Kind of like those Captains who’ve spoken out recently who’ve not been over there in several years. Yeah, that’s really expert observation isn’t it, since so much has changed since their tours over there.
Carole
October 17th, 2007 at 5:49 pmI think you made a good choice, CJ. ASP is at the top of my list but, VFF is another of my favorites and you just made it all the better.
CJ
October 18th, 2007 at 10:53 amThe silence is deafening.
Spen Baldik
January 10th, 2008 at 3:37 pmApparently if you aren’t in line waiting for your turn to kiss both Cheney and Rove’s hairy pimply keisters you are a traitor regardless of your service. I think that people might consider directing their energy at drawing attention to the many hideously wounded who have not only suffered physically but have lost homes. jobs and families while the VA deliberately stonewalls their claims and the rest of the country feigns ignorance and turns its back.
CJ
January 12th, 2008 at 10:43 amSpen, is there a point to your rant anywhere? The VA has been jacked up as long as its been around. What have YOU done to make it better? I could care less about Cheney and Rove and your incessant focus on them probably warrants professional help.
Spen Baldik
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 pmOh thats right CJ, PTSD and TBI are scams and those who are PHYSICALLY wounded are also scamming the government. Does your commander share your opinion?
CJ
March 5th, 2008 at 12:19 pmWell, Spen, since you are putting words into my mouth that I didn’t say, the answer would be NO. My Commander does not share an opinion I myself don’t possess.
Spen Baldik
March 18th, 2008 at 6:36 pmcj, those “words” that you so arrogantly allege that I am “putting” in your mouth come from your other vituperative postings on this VA Mortgage blog. I guess it is correct to assume that your commander considers physical as well as mental casualties of this war to be scammers.
Spen Baldik
March 18th, 2008 at 6:37 pmAs a PS, I might also assume that your CSM and battalion commander and the other green tabbers “up the chain”, believe the same.