Iraq Vet Doubts 'New Veteran' Loyalty to McCain

To gain the sympathy and cooperation of the American people come election day, the robust presidential candidate McCain machine is working hard to quiet the anti-McCain fervor among "new veterans" that until recently has lurked just beneath the surface of America's watchful eyes.

Trumped only by the looming Bush/McCain-caused national economic catastrophe, the topics of war, foreign policy, and veterans issues are at the forefront of the debates.

To undermine the growing "new veteran" discontent with Senator McCain's record on Veterans' issues, a cast of 300 retired generals and admirals recently penned a very short note in support of "their candidate."

In this stratagem by "would-be Commander-in Chief" McCain, a swath of "300 Spartans" has emerged to try to persuade swing voters that POW McCain really is a "caring veteran."

The opening of the letter almost takes one to the Battle of Thermopylae -- still so fresh in the minds of our popular culture after the blockbuster film "300" was released a year ago.

'We have had the honor and privilege of serving as career officers in the United States Armed Forces, and of serving shoulder-to-shoulder with so many of the fine young men and women who are the backbone of America's Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard."

But this 230-word missive sounds more like a pathetic plea from the Spartan court than Spartans themselves. The "300 Gray-hairs" are about as Spartan-like and out of touch as your "average" golfing-American millionaire.

This cult-like following of former top brass, many of whom have engaged in rapacious war-profiteering through back-channel DOD contract favoritism, is a testament to the broken military-industrial complex that has misdirected enormous budgets and misguided foreign policy makers.

Sadly, Eisenhower's forewarning is a cancer that lives among us now:
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist," said Eisenhower in 1961.

These days, it seems that most of our retired senior officer corps leverage their honorable public service into private-contracting fortunes. Just check to see how many have become millionaires, ultimately at taxpayer expense, since their retirement!

It is loathsome and it is a threat. No wonder the "300 Gray-hairs" support McCain, who seeks to continue the status quo which has made them rich!

As a combat-wounded, two-tour veteran of Iraq who integrated into the VA system last fall upon honorable discharge from the Army, I have never once stood 'shoulder-to-shoulder' with any Generals or Admirals at VA hospitals and medical clinics.

Moreover, when was the last time a General or Admiral had a problem with the Department of Veterans' Affairs?

The millions of veterans obtaining services at hundreds of facilities across the nation know the real status of the broken VA system. You need only look to the last eight years of this Administration and to McCain's complicity with it - his voting record - to know that he has not advocated for anything to help the ever-growing population of veterans - particularly the veterans of America's newest undeclared wars.

McCain and "his veterans" are running scared now, because the majority of these "new veterans" from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are making a heroic stand against them and the special interest groups they represent. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans' Association (IAVA) ascribed a "D" ranking to McCain for his long history of failing America's Veterans' in legislative actions before Congress. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) also recently made plain that McCain has far from a veteran-proponent record in Congress.

The most flagrantly anti-Veteran vote Senator McCain recently made was against the New G.I. Bill - a long-overdue bill that affords modern-day service members and veterans the actual dollars and cents needed to pay for a college degree. With that "nay" vote cast, it would seem that McCain thought that the author of it, Senator and Veteran Jim Webb, doesn't know what he's talking about with respect to our nation's armed forces, veterans, and the dilemmas facing military recruitment and retention.

McCain was wrong about opposing the new G.I. Bill. When he realized he would not prevail, he retreated into posturing that he had actually supported the bill all along.

As if all this weren't enough, a few days ago at the first presidential debate, Senator McCain stunned the veteran community when he said,

"...I know the veterans. I know them well. And I know that they know that I'll take care of them... And I love them. And I'll take care of them. And they know that I'll take care of them. And that's going to be my job."

POW McCain's legislative record strongly contradicts his perception of reality. Let us hope that whoever becomes the next President, remembers President Lincoln's immortal words, "...to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.'

Luis Carlos Montalván is a former Army captain and veteran of Iraq.

Comments

[BushSunkOurShip]

Can you plame anyone of them....They have been lied to , screw and tatoos by Bush and his policies.
Bush , Cheney , McSame refuse to give them the best of protection (Armor and equipment) available (uncle bucky and others didn't want to cut their profits..) , refused to give them health benefits after coming home , privatized their health hospitat so service and personal were cut , didn't wish to give them an educational program...
Bush , McSame likes to use our soldiers for the campaigning and waving the flag ,,, but certainly doesn't take care of them in the field and at home...

[chapala]

Amen, brother! Mac has been priveledged member of the military since day one, haviing a long list of admirals, etc. in his family tree. If anyone is an elitist in this campaign, it is McCain! After graduating among the bottom of his class in Annapolis, he was assigned to a fighter squadron, a position that is usually offered only to those that graduate in the top of their class. He might not have graduated at all if his father had not been an Admiral and alumnus of Annapolis.
HIs record speaks clearly regarding his "love" of vets. He has also shown himself to be a shameless lier and opportunist. I have developed the same reaction to McCain's speaches as I had for "W"'s which is that I either have to leave the room or reach for the barf bag!

[Vietvet69]

I would like to add my "name" to the huge group of grey haired veterans who will not be voting for McCain because of his lack of support for veterans(despite what he says),his poor judgement, and his
associations over the last 30 years. As for the 300 Field Grade officers who say that they "have served
shoulder to shoulder with" the ground troops, I seriously doubt that their exposure to hostile fire
was of the same magnitude. Maybe they were driving around Bagdahd in the "entirely safe" zones
with McCain.

I am a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and like many others recognize that the Iraq war is a sham
on the fine men and women of our armed services who thought they were doing the right thing in
following orders from the Commander in Chief-a person who did everything in his privileged life
to avoid combat.

Thanks to Luis for the fine writing and thank you for your service.

[rdsathene]

Veterans, myself included, know Bush/McCain's abysmal records on taking care of Veterans. They can't run from their records. Thank you Luis, this is some timely and excellent reporting!

[MikeDu]

The Iraq number post is closed for comments so I'll ask here. Why do they quote casualty statistics dated from way back in March, seven months ago? I've been noticing this lately, it seems no matter how many daily reports of bombing and shooting and crashes and funerals, the 'overall casualty numbers' when mentioned in articles have stagnated during this election season. Curious, no?

[philosopher5]

While I am sure it was not Luis" intent (his focus was on retired brass), I feel the need to make clear that not all "old veterans" support John McCain. Or, in fairness, that all "new veterans" oppose him. I am certain as Luis" hair turns a bit gray, he will realize that the veteran community is as politically diverse as any other. As attested to in previous comments, there are many of us scarred old warriors (I am a former Marine Corps Officer, a long time member of VVAW, and coordinator of VFP Long Island), who realize that the McCain rhetoric does not match his voting record, that he was an obstacle in the way of increased funding for the VA, and for POW/MIA accountability. Therefore, I doubt whether McCain "knows" veterans or loves us. In fact, it has become apparent, even to many of us gray haired veterans, that with friends like John McCain, who needs enemies.

[RhiannonMR]

I am not a 'new' vet here. I got out 26yrs ago, but McCain is not for me. I stand with the 'new vets' here. He's done nothing for veterans when he could've been an agent of change for us. It took me 18 months to get my claim processed and I was told that was fast. It took almost 2yrs for my exspouse's claim to process and he was medically discharged from the military! He is NOT our friend and NO he doesn't love us!

[LizM]

The 74-25 vote in the Senate last night in favor of the rescue/bailout plan reminded me a lot of another vote in the senate not too very long ago dealing with US policy vis-a-vis Iraq which passed by an even wider bipartisan majority.

I'm more that a little surprised that similar memories are not also being recalled by the media and blogosphere...NOT!

The truth of the matter is that, in September 2007, Senator Biden's amendment - a sense of the senate resolution - to reverse US policy in Iraq by promoting a sustainable political solution based on federalism and Iraq's constitution passed with an overwhelming and unprecedented majority of Republicans and Democrats in a vote of 75-23! Unfortunately, it didn't get past the President's desk and President Bush may not have even read it...one can only surmise.

...continued...

[LizM]

...continued...

Not only did the Biden strategy for ending the civil war in Iraq and withdrawing US forces without leaving a failed state behind pass the US Congress with incredible vote margins, but this strategy has also been unofficially endorsed by the permanent members of the UN Security Council. And, most importantly, many of Iraq's sectarian leaders are also on board with the essential elements of Biden's plan, as is Turkey.

Of course, President Bush and his foreign policy team, along with the media and blogosphere, have misrepresented the Biden strategy to the point where it is unrecognizable. And, in particular, officials at the US Embassy in Baghdad, at the time this amendment was passed, engaged in one of the most duplicitous acts of sabbotage - and high treason, if you ask me - against a diplomatic effort to end a war that I have ever witnessed.

I would just add that when Senator Biden makes the promise and guarantee, on the campaign trail, that Barak Obama and Joe Biden will end this war, you can go ahead and bet the farm on it even if it is in Iowa!

[BCubedReg]

Well!!!! As a 22 Year retired United States Marine and veteran of 3 wars (Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the former Yugoslavia, and Iraqi Freedom), I cant wait to cast my vote for Barack Obama!

Obama/Biden 08!!!

[LizM]

Well said!

[Whinger]

Johnny boy, the vetrans support you the same way you supported them!

You watched all our suffering as the struggle raged higher,
And they hurt me so badly I felt my soul was on fire,
Back home maimed and crippled now safe from all harm,
Where you deserted your comrades, once brothers in arms!

[CanisLatrans]

I joined in 1986, and have been serving since, and got sent to Iraq in 2004.

I will NOT be voting for McCain. I strongly dislike how he trots out the Veteran Ticket like it's supposed to mean something when his voting records are less than impressive on the subject of caring for vets, and when he eagerly helped in the rush to war while, theoretically, knowing we were unprepared with the right equipment and faulty intelligence.

I don't trust him, and I don't trust his desire for more years of war and war with Iran.

[LizM]

It has been my admittedly limited experience that veterans and troops seem very willing and able to announce who they will not be voting for - and for very good reason, I might add! - but, at the same time, very rarely say who they are supporting.

I guess I'm confused because the Obama/Biden ticket would seem to me to be the answer to all of the concerns that veterans and troops may have, particularly with respect to Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan and Iran. I just wonder why I don't hear more veterans and troops support Obama/Biden with the same vigor with which they correctly denounce McCain.

I would be very interested in your thoughts on this.

[CanisLatrans]

Oh, I'm totally supporting Obama/Biden. I trust his word a lot more than I trust McCain's on this issue.

The military should be the last card in the deck-- dealt only after diplomacy, sanctions, etc have been tried and failed. Bush, Cheney-- and McCain-- all want to jump right to the military option and bully their way through foreign policy.

I'll trust a President who won't throw my life away on jingoistic whim and ego gratification.

[LizM]

Hopefully, the issues that are of great concern to the veterans and troops will be a significant part of the debate tonight and everyone will see that Joe Biden has always had their backs, in every way that counts.

Senator Biden will be infinitely capable of drawing very stark contrasts between Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin on all of these issues and of exposing John McCain for the kind of advocate for the troops and veterans that he has been and promises to be.

[rich3324]

This vet is not voting for McBush.