Jim Webb (D) Va .Candidate for US Senate...sending son off to Iraq

[Gin]

Got this email this morning. (I wish him well)

NOTE: Jim Webb's major economic speech on Tuesday in Newport
News has been CANCELED, due to Jim Webb's son shipping to
Iraq. Here's information on the cancellation from Webb's
campaign manager:

I wanted to send a note to you today, as a supporter of Jim's
campaign and someone who cares about the direction of this
country. As many of you know, Jim's son Jimmy, an infantry
Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps, has been scheduled to be
deployed to Iraq for a number of months. In the last few days,
Jimmy learned he would be deploying next week. While Labor Day
is the traditional kickoff to the Election and Jim already made
many commitments to do events throughout the state, including
events with Governor Tim Kaine and Governor Mark Warner, we
hope you understand at this time that Jim wants to have time
with his son. He will be taking Jimmy back to Camp Lejeune on
Monday and will spend time with him and his unit before their
deployment.

[Tom Joad]

1. Why does he want his son to die for a lie ... or worse, kill for a lie?

[rocktivity]

3. If his son's over 17, it's his decison, not Webb's.

if he feels that serving under a lying theiving cheating brain-dead deserter of a commander-in-chump is the right thing to do, we should respect his desicion. Besides, you can support the troops without supporting the war they're fighting--and it was a Republican, Trent Lott, who told us so.

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[MADem]

5. Well, he doesn't. Why would you think that he does?

That's an odd thing to say.

The kid's an adult, there's a family history of military service.

Just because an asshole named Bush has misused our military doesn't make the concept of defense of the nation dishonorable in any way, shape or form.

[Tom Joad]

6. It is dishonorable to do duty in Iraq. A soldier's honorable option

is to refuse.

[Selatius]

8. Lt. Ehren Watada made the right call by refusing to deploy

The war in Iraq is illegal. By attacking and invading Iraq, Bush and the US government is guilty of a war crime. When you've got a Nuremberg prosecutor who put away Nazi officers guilty of war crimes saying Bush should be indicted, then there's likely enough evidence out there to do just that.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/38604/

[lostnfound]

10. I agree with that, but it's a very long intellectual and moral journey

to get to that point, and people start from different places.

[Tom Joad]

11. Right, he sure did. He had the courage to resist. See this website.

http://www.couragetoresist.org

[MADem]

13. OK, fine....whatever. YMV. NT

[11 Bravo]

7. That's offensive on so many levels that I don't know where to start.

[lostnfound]

9. Tom, that's

not very kind. Mr Webb is a good guy, from what I hear, and I don't believe he would have voted for this war.

I don't know when his son signed up (many joined right after 9-11?), but please don't assume that his dad wants him to die in it or to kill in it. I think he wishes his son was being treasured by his civilian leadership the way that he ought to be.

Frankly, some people buy into the glory and honor stuff, I don't -- but I humbly respect the fact that there are others with different backgrounds and worldviews who may operate a little differently.

[Tom Joad]

12. Given that i have just read Webb's position on Iraq...

he refuses to call for immediate withdraw, and seems to say only that the occupation will not be forever. He wants the war better managed than Bush. He has no call for even setting the date. so in essence, he is calling for more soldiers to kill and die in this insanity. I have no doubt that he cares about the people that are sent there, and he surely cares for his son, but make no mistake, unless he is calling for an end to this madness, every soldier sent will be killing for no reason, and may be killed for a lie.

where is Webb's call for immediate withdraw? a quick withdraw? All i see is that he wants the job "done right"

I think the honorable way out of Iraq is the quickest possible departure. Any effort to "fix the mess" Bush has made is foolish, and will lead to more and more bloodshed and waste.

[magnolia]

15. Here is an article....

...Jim Webb wrote for the Washington Post on September 4, 2002.

He was against the war in Iraq before it started.

http://www.jameswebb.com/articles/washpost/headingfortrouble.htm

[dogday]

14. I don't want my son to die for a lie

But I have no and I mean no influence on my Son's decision to obey orders...

You can say what you like, but if our country were attacked, it would be my Son fighting for your ass....

[watercolors]

2. I wish him a save tour of duty

our grandson has been there twice, and will be headed for Afganistan in Dec. We know the anxiety a family feels during that time of duty. Just be safe !

[wakeme2008]

4. IMHO this will get him more votes than being at the events

Most Mothers and Fathers would understand Webb wanting to be with his son vs having a BBQ hot dog at an event.