Defending a Client

My husband and I had dinner with another couple last night and I was challenged to explain the differences between IAVA and other vets groups. What I should've said was that I'm not an expert on other Vet groups, and I barely touch the depths of the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of American while I'm asking radio talk show hosts and news desks to interview Paul Rieckhoff and the other spokesmen from the group. But, I did recently finish reading Paul's book Chasing Ghosts.

Now, reading a book does't make a person an expert about another person. But, I do feel like I understand the founder and executive director of this organization a heckuva lot better than I used to. I encourage you to pick up a copy of Paul's book because he lets us in on the ugly blood and guts of Iraqui freedom that the media didn't have access to. (Why they didn't or couldn't is a topic for another blog, and has been covered by numerous others who were there.)

Back to what I feel more qualified to write about....

I think, what makes Paul's group unique is that he and his guys were in combat, and can better analyze the mistakes, misteps and shortsighted decisions that were made just before "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was launched. And, you get to read about his thoughts based, in part, on journals he kept, and conversations he had, with his buddies, while he was on active duty.

I suppose some people find it hard to stomach that a guy who signed up to become a killer in uniform, a battlefield commander, an officer in the National Guard, would write about the the lousy way the war came to be, is being conducted, and how his boys, (now veterans) are being taken care of by the government ---and indeed, by their fellow countrymen and women. Afterall, isn't it against some sort of oath of office that he cannot besmirch the reputation, or badmouth the commander-n-chief? Well, not when you are NOT active duty. And, why do people think that just because he is critical that he would undermine the security of the very men he commanded? How idiotic is that thinking? You don't become a Lieutenant by undermining the safety and well being of the guys who you tell to "take the shot," and kill the bad guys; or the guys who you would hope would shield you from the blast from an IED. (Read his book. You'll feel like your watching the war from his perspective unfold like a movie.)

I think that we, as Americans, confuse love of country, with silence about the stupid things government does or doesn't do. Do not believe for one minute that just because you consider yourself a patriot that you have no choice but to "put a cork in it" and shut up. Paul includes a quote from Mark Twain in his book that goes something like this, ' love of country, always...love of my government, not a given. ' Find that chapter.

I'll always love my country. But, our country was founded by people who argued vehemently amongst themselves about the government that they were in the midst of creating, trying out, and recreating. We fight to instill that premise in our friendships with other nations around the world. I think we can afford to have dynamic debate without having to shut-up opposing points of views. And, I think this great nation can afford to do a heckuva lot better by ALL our generations of veterans. We have to. We'll never be able to maintain an all volunteer Army if we fail our men and women who sacrifice life, limb and mental health for us.