Group backing veterans in elections wants Ensign to apologize

[ProSense]

Today: May 24, 2006 at 16:47:0 PDT

Group backing veterans in elections wants Ensign to apologize

By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A political action committee trying to elect Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans to Congress asked Sen. John Ensign to apologize Wednesday for saying war critics have "hurt our military" and "embolden the enemy."

"Sen. Ensign is trying to intimidate people from asking questions," said Jon Soltz, executive director of the New York-based Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC. "It's because these hard questions weren't asked that we're in the situation we're in."

Snip...

Ensign spokesman Jack Finn said the senator had no plans to meet with Soltz and would not apologize.

Snip...

Soltz' PAC was formed in January and has largely supported Democratic candidates. Its board of advisers includes such Democrats as former Sen. Bob Kerrey and Ret. Army General Wesley Clark.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/may/24/052410100.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. And exactly how many tours of duty did Ensign do

in the Middle East? How many tours for these vets? 'Nough said. They've earned the right to say whatever they darned well please. And I thank them ALL for their service.

[987654321]

2. We need more groups like this one.

And of course Ensign won't apologize. It takes integrity to apologize and to the republicans, true integrity is a four letter word. They only allow those to be said if it is the Vice-President saying it to a Democratic Senator in the Capitol.

[sandnsea]

3. Letter to Ensign

The Honorable Senator John Ensign
356 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Ensign,

I read with great disappointment your recent comments to the Nevada Republican Party Convention that those who question the execution of the war in Iraq have only "emboldened the enemy." I am writing to ask for your apology for that statement.

I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the United States Army, and have come home to lead the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC (http://www.iavapac.org/), an organization dedicated to aiding those running for public office who served in Iraq and Afghanistan honorably.

IAVA PAC is non-partisan; we have endorsed members of both parties for Congress. We are not anti-war.

The wellbeing of our troops and a victory strategy in Iraq are both dependent upon the servicemembers and their leaders being able to ask the tough questions and to hold our leaders accountable - without fear of being told they are "emboldening the enemy."

Because the tough questions weren't asked by you and others, American troops went to war under-equipped, undermanned and without a viable victory strategy. Tough questions must continue to be asked - lest we repeat past mistakes, or make new ones, that will put our troops needlessly at risk.

Because of the previous failure of politicians to speak for us, we have been forced to speak for ourselves on matters regarding the war in Iraq. Your comments are insulting to those of us who have chosen to do so. For that, I demand your apology.

Rest assured, those who served in the war, like our candidates, will continue to ask the tough questions. We deserve to do so without fear of a U.S. Senator telling us that we are "emboldening the enemy." We have risked our lives in service to our nation, and deserve better than to have you insinuate that our questioning the execution of this war only helps those we put our lives on the line to fight.

The truth is, if we are to fully provide for our troops, we need more questions, not fewer.

Rather than wait for a form letter back from your office, I would appreciate your apology in person. I will be at your office at 1pm on Thursday, May 25th - tomorrow. I look forward to speaking with you then about this matter.

Sincerely,

Jon Soltz
Veteran, Operation Iraqi Freedom
Executive Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Political Action Committee

[987654321]

5. What an awesome letter.

Jon Soltz was both articulate and respectful.
I probably would have just written, "You're a first class fascist ASSHOLE who truly doesn't give a damn about the lives of those who serve in the military!"

[ProSense]

7. Great letter! Thanks! n/t

[SeaBob]

4. Ensign

maybe Ensign should read a little more historyi.e. Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James madison and John adams(father and son)quit snivelling and suck it up.

[987654321]

6. revisionist history