Vets For Freedom Open Letter

Vets for Freedom, a nonpartisan organization established by Iraqi War veterans, has published an open letter to retired General Wesley Clark. Go to their website and read it! In the letter, Pete Hegseth, the Chairman of Vets for Freedom, reprimands retired General Clark for his comments about Senator McCain and his military service on "Face the Nation." The letter refutes each of retired General Clark's statements, point-by-point, For example, retired General Clark said that Senator McCain "hasn't held executive responsibility." But the letter points out that Senator McCain commanded and revitalized the largest squadron in the US Navy. The General said that Senator McCain's military leadership doesn't count. But, as the letter points out Senator McCain volunteered to serve, was held as a POW, then endured months of physical rehabilitation in order to become a commander. Retired General Clark said that Senator McCain "hasn't been there [war] and ordered the bombs to fall." Senator McCain flew 23 combat missions and was "there" in Hanoi for 5 1/2 years. Finally, General Clark said that "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President." As Mr Hegseth says, "If serving your country, volunteering for combat, resisting the enemy, and receiving seventeen decorations for service does count for anything, then why are you [General Clark] on television, speaking as an 'expert' on national security matters? Your personal attacks came not from a General with respect for the uniform, but from a political operative dispatched to attack the military background of a political adversary." Mr Hegseth hit that nail right on its head! He then urges the General to apologize to Senator McCain. We'll see how far that goes beyond the normal, "I'm sorry I was misunderstood" mantra.

If I were a suspicious person, and perhaps I am, I'd wonder if retired General Clark's statements about Senator McCain were deliberate; despite Senator Obama's rejection of them. If I were a suspicious person, I'd wonder if the statements were designed to "set up" Senator Obama's speech about patriotism and give Senator Obama a "lever" to use to preempt any attacks against his own patriotism. After all, how can you attack the patriotism of someone who has a theme of "You're a great patriot. I'm a great patriot, too. We just exercise our patriotism differently. So if you attack my patriotism, you're really attacking the patriotism of everyone." His rejection of retired General Clark's statements about McCain is all for show. He could have stopped his surrogate well before the statements were made; if he had wanted to. I don't think he did. I think it was a deliberate move. But then, I'm a suspicious person who believes in all kinds of conspiracies. Just ask me about the grassy knoll and Roswell.