Listening to Ron Connelly of American Legion

[SeattleGirl]

Former commander, being interviewed on a local Seattle station. I find myself wanting to reach into the radio and shake him! Talking about the protesters. Was asked if all the protests should be shut down. He kind of hemed and hawed, especially when asked about 1st amendment rights. Then he said, well, maybe not shut down the protest, but the media should be told that they should not cover them so much, as they are causing harm to the soldiers, enabling the enemy, blah blah blah. He equated what's happening now with what happened during Vietnam. Yes, there are many similarities (can anyone say quagmire?), but I think the soldiers and other military personnel are being treated much better now, and being respected more, particularly by people who do not support the war.

After commercial break -- still talking about the 60's and 70's. Geez, man, it's the 21st freeking century!

Bottom line for these guys seems to be: We're fightin' fer yer freedom, so sit down and shut up!

:grr:

[DURHAM D]

1. Their stupid resolution even mentioned Jane Fonda -

like my mother always says "Ain't no fool like and old fool".

[GeorgeBushytail]

2. In 1999 AL were a leading anti-Bosnian-war group

Check out thier hypocrisy:

http://billmon.org/archives/002107.html

Here's their 1999 anti-war letter to President Clinton:

President William J. Clinton
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The American Legion, a wartime veterans organization of nearly three-million members, urges the immediate withdrawal of American troops participating in “Operation Allied Force.”

The National Executive Committee of The American Legion, meeting in Indianapolis today, adopted Resolution 44, titled “The American Legion’s Statement on Yugoslavia.” This resolution was debated and adopted unanimously.

Mr. President, the United States Armed Forces should never be committed to wartime operations unless the following conditions are fulfilled:

-That there be a clear statement by the President of why it is in our vital national interests to be engaged in hostilities;
Guidelines be established for the mission, including a clear exit strategy;

-That there be support of the mission by the U.S. Congress and the American people; and

-That it be made clear that U.S. Forces will be commanded only by U.S. officers which we acknowledge are superior military leaders.

It is the position of The American Legion, which I am sure is shared by the majority of Americans, that three of the above listed conditions have not been met in the current joint operation with NATO (“Operation Allied Force”).

In no case should America commit its Armed Forces in the absence of clearly defined objectives agreed upon by the U.S. Congress in accordance with Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution of the United States.


Sincerely,



HAROLD L. “BUTCH” MILLER
National Commander


Att: Resolution #44

cc: Secretary of Defense
Secretary of State
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Leadership, House and Senate
Chairman and Ranking Democratic Member, House and Senate Armed Services Committee

[SeattleGirl]

3. Yep

I've read this, so what it tells me is that the folks in the AL (and not all of them, I know) who are backing this current crap are Bushbots and that's one of the biggest reasons for the difference in their reaction then and now.

Now on with the AL guy and the host is a military vet (Veterans for Peace member, I think) who is debating the guy. No screaming or yelling like on so many shows, but the VFP guy is definitely holding his own!

[SeattleGirl]

4. Update

The Veterans for Peace guy is local here in the Seattle area, and is on the Board of Directors for VFP. Forgot his first name, and they did not say his last name.