Vets 'Get it' in Iraq

It is the day after the official celebration of the Veteran's Day holiday. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, I appreciate this time set aside to honor those who have defended and are defending our freedom around the globe.

Which brings us to the current war in Iraq. I found an interesting piece of reporting on Cybercast News Service yesterday highlighting words of three Iraq vets who are members of Vets for Freedom, a group that supports keeping troops in Iraq. That's right, such a group exists, and is making noise as well. You just aren't hearing much about it on the MSM.

According to this reporter, Nathan Burchfiel, these vets were very critical of the MSM for, among other things, "playing up the fact that 2007 has been the deadliest year for American troops while largely ignoring the positive trend in recent months." What is that positive trend? It is the additional fact that since the "surge" in troops was fully implemented in May 2007, the trend in deaths has been consistently downward. It includes the fact that since the surge, Baghdad has become much safer. The fact is that the surge has worked and is working. It is working better than even its supporters thought it would.

Other comments from these veterans of combat in Iraq are worth noting. Staff Sgt. David Bellavia, who fought in Fallujah and founded Vets for Freedom, "criticized elected officials who seek a timeline for success in Iraq tied to a withdrawal strategy."

" 'You would never ask that question of Gen. MacArthur,' he said, referring to the World War II general who led U.S. forces in the Pacific. 'The reason why the 'greatest generation' was great was because the World War II generation understood they had to win their war.' "

This comment from Sgt. Bellavia is brilliant. He is one who understands what is at stake here. He is a veteran who "gets it," and he is not alone. His fellow serviceman, Sgt. Marco Martinez, also a member of Vets for Freedom, "said he believes servicemen and women are being misrepresented by a vocal minority who oppose continuing to fight in Iraq.

" 'I have not met one man when I was in that wanted to come back,' Martinez said, referring to suggestions that a large number of troops do not support the mission."

What the people of Vets for Freedom understand is that the United States simply cannot afford to retreat from this battle in the global war against terrorism. That is what the people in the MSM, along with most in the Democratic party, do not understand. And, there is basically one reason for the difference. Those in the Vets for Freedom group have looked the enemy in the eye. Those in the MSM have only looked at themselves. The Vets have the real assessment because they have seen and experienced what the enemy has done and is willing to do to achieve the victory. The MSM can see nothing but a projection of their idealistic selves. That is why the Vets for Freedom represent what is good, right and true today, and why the MSM represents only the blind leading the blind.

IJHN
LEE