Another Article

[SheWolf]

this was on MSNBC,,,

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4878974/

Iraq war veteran criticizes Bush on radio
National Guardsman says U.S. leaders failing troops

The Associated Press
Updated: 2:15 p.m. ET May 01, 2004

WASHINGTON - An Iraq war veteran expressed disappointment with President Bush on Saturday, saying the country's leaders refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of continuing violence in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - An Iraq war veteran expressed disappointment with President Bush on Saturday, saying the country's leaders refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of continuing violence in Iraq.

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“I don’t expect our leaders to be free of mistakes. I expect our leaders to own up to them,” said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who was a platoon leader in Iraq.

Rieckhoff’s comments, distributed by Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign, were the Democratic response to the president’s weekly radio address. Usually, a public official gives the response.
WASHINGTON - An Iraq war veteran expressed disappointment with President Bush on Saturday, saying the country's leaders refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of continuing violence in Iraq.

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“I don’t expect our leaders to be free of mistakes. I expect our leaders to own up to them,” said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who was a platoon leader in Iraq.

Rieckhoff’s comments, distributed by Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign, were the Democratic response to the president’s weekly radio address. Usually, a public official gives the response.

“Our troops are still waiting for more body armor. They are still waiting for better equipment. They are still waiting for a policy that brings in the rest of the world and relieves their burden,” said Rieckhoff.

Rieckhoff called his comrades in Iraq “men and women of extraordinary courage and incredible capability. But it’s time we had leadership in Washington to match that courage and match that capability.”

Now before anyone blasts this,, think about it.....

[jdfairman]

I see his point and where he's coming from, but I strongly disagree. I agree troops deserve quality leadership, but who's going to give that leadership??? Kerry??? The same man who has voted against nearly every major new weapons system and upgrade (including that body armor that 1stLt Riechoff was talking about) ??? I fully support our President. I think he and his cabinet are providing superb leadership. The man brought honor and pride that had been conspicuously missing the eight years before he took office back into the whitehouse. I, for one, also realize that as an Officer in the armed forces, it is not my job to make National Policy or to question those who do.

[namgrunt]

LT
Well said, Sir.

SheWolf

I think there could have been a different venue for Paul Riechoff to make his concerns known. I won't argue with his points because he was over there, and I haven't been near a ship or aircraft heading in that direction. Despite that, I see a problem in the way it was done.

If he is still in service, then he has just committed an act of insubordination, by not pursuing his grievance through the chain of command. Is there evidence that he did that? Is there a papertrail showing he went to upper echelons of command with his concerns? Did he follow procedures?

You were an Army NCO. You know the value of that chain. You realize the necessity for it, and why. By not following up and going through channels, Lt. Riechoff has chosen an easier, and possibly more politically rewarding route, of speaking for the opposition political party during an election year. This make him suspect from the outset. It also LESSENS his message, because it falls on a polarized citizenry considering an important election.

If he did it for the correct reasons, he chose the wrong venue to announce his "findings", and they will become lost in the hubbub and rancor of two leviathans fighting for control of our country. His message was squandered, unless he intends to become a politician himself, and plans to use this as part of his portfolio. If that is the case then he deserves what falls on him. If he had no intent to politicize the issue, then he is a dupe or pawn for political operatives who use folks then sh**can them when no longer needed.

I know you are worried for your son's safety and concerned that he may not be receiving the best of all resupply. This officer's injection of the "facts" into the campaign just helped muddy the water at this point.

My prayers continue for the safety and success of your son and his comrades-in-arms. They are my brothers, as he is your son.

Hang tough and Keep the Faith, SheWolf,
namgrunt

[SheWolf]

Originally posted by jdfairman
I see his point and where he's coming from, but I strongly disagree. I agree troops deserve quality leadership, but who's going to give that leadership??? Kerry??? The same man who has voted against nearly every major new weapons system and upgrade (including that body armor that 1stLt Riechoff was talking about) ??? I fully support our President. I think he and his cabinet are providing superb leadership. The man brought honor and pride that had been conspicuously missing the eight years before he took office back into the whitehouse. I, for one, also realize that as an Officer in the armed forces, it is not my job to make National Policy or to question those who do.

1. thanks for not blasting me for posting the article.

2. as for the leadership,, John Dean has likened the Bush administration to the Nixon White House Watergate years,,,
he states that this Administration has many many secrets...

3. I support my son's decision to join the military, in fact, I was the one who encouraged him to do so,,,(although, I wasn't expecting the Marines, haha ) and I knew what could happen....
and with my 21+ years of military service my head understands the hardships and things that happen,, but my 21 year old mom's heart sometimes has trouble dealing with it....

4. I will give the President the respect he deserves but I don't have to like him,,,, and I still don't like the way he came into office,, too much controversy, but he was elected so I'm living with it... and I don't want to start a battle over this,, I'm entitled to my opinion, views etc, just as everyone....

thanks again for not blasting me,,,, :bunny:

[SheWolf]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by namgrunt
LT
Well said, Sir.

SheWolf
If he is still in service, then he has just committed an act of insubordination, by not pursuing his grievance through the chain of command. Is there evidence that he did that? Is there a papertrail showing he went to upper echelons of command with his concerns? Did he follow procedures?


]I see what you are saying but I don't know if he tried and was unsuccessful following procedures or not

You were an Army NCO. You know the value of that chain. You realize the necessity for it, and why.

Yes I know the value,, but I also know that sometimes the Chain fails you,,, when I was in Germany I had to have a Congressional investigation started because the Chain failed me and my fellow soldiers, and it worked, the situation was corrected, not in time for me and my soldiers, but for the future troops

If he did it for the correct reasons, he chose the wrong venue to announce his "findings",


Maybe he felt it was his only venue but I agree, it will be lost in the political hubbub...

I know you are worried for your son's safety and concerned that he may not be receiving the best of all resupply.

My prayers continue for the safety and success of your son and his comrades-in-arms. They are my brothers, as he is your son.

Hang tough and Keep the Faith, SheWolf,
namgrunt [/QUOTE

[kentmitchell]

Shewolf, I wish you'd take the time to delete the redundant paragraphs from stuff you post.
Reading something really dumb once is quite enough.

[namgrunt]

kentmitchell
Interesting play on words.
What "something dumb", which is repeated in SheWolf's posting, are you referencing?

[Osotogary]

I just saw Paul Reickhoff on "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos(?).
1st impression- A man commited to his convictions.
He mentioned that he is a combat infantryman and the men under his command were also there to fight and win. Aside from the lack of gear (personal protection, food, water, etc.), he said that his men (18-19 year olds) were given the task of guarding gas stations, watching for and preventing corruption, among other non-combat functions...tasks that they were not trained to perform. Tasks that made his men vulnerable. As an Officer responsible for the welfare of his men he felt he needed to bring these matters forward.He mentioned that he just wanted everyone to know the truth about what he and his men went through. Kerry's platform offered Reichhoff an avenue for expression.
He did sound sincere and his eye contact and bearing was very positive. His eyes did not vary in postion when he answered any questions. He was not jittery. In other words he looked like he knew what he was talking about and was very comfortable to his beliefs.
He followed Senator McCain, which was interesting because they have alot in common as men of combat. Like letting the men do their job and providing the men with the tools to do it.

[bobpage]

Just out of curiosity, did this clown resign his commission? Last time I got a class, and we get plenty, we were forbidden from lambasting the CIC anytime while we drew a penny from Uncle Sam. Seems the Army (Prison guards, and this guy) need to be taught the rules of the UCMJ and the chain of command. I see plenty that I could b***h about, and will one day when the book is out. But I do not think we should shoot at the Boss. See, if that were true, that we could, I would have shaved my head and demanded airtime on Clinton. Don't even get me started on his case. The reason for all the debate and crying is that today's military (Army, and Air Force most of all) have the purveying 'entitlement" attitude. Reminds me of a young Corporal during the Gulf War who informed a very proud Marine Sgt (ME) that he joined for the college money, not to fight. And he was now against the war. I dutifully informed him an 0311 was A WARFIGHTER! and that was his job. Guess where the L/Cpl (yes they busted him) ended up? Yup, forward. But I did not go to the media and complain, he did. And I sent it up the chain for action. They took action. Then upon his return, they admin separated him. No blood no foul. My point is this; We have rules and chains of command for a reason. He (Lt) sees neither as important, nor our President as important. Reminds me of another "vet" who cast someone elses medals upon the lawn. At least he waited until the strings were pulled to get him short fused and out of harms war. This was politically motivated, end of story. There is a web site for Iraqi War vets. Iraqiwarveterans.com. They always have ads on from journalists looking for troop responses to their experiences. Check it out. They know how to find these clowns, and offer them a forum.

[Osotogary]

Good points, bobpage. I guess there is no way to get around political implications.

[SheWolf]

we were forbidden from lambasting the CIC anytime


did you read the same article?? If the words

“I don’t expect our leaders to be free of mistakes. I expect our leaders to own up to them,” said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who was a platoon leader in Iraq.

is lambasting I would've been in big trouble when I was in,,, it was no where near what happened when the Major who got in trouble for speaking his mind about Clinton....

He didn't call Bush names or anything like that...

[SheWolf]

The reason for all the debate and crying is that today's military (Army, and Air Force most of all) have the purveying 'entitlement" attitude.

Yeah,, in the last couple of years that I was Active Duty the troops were pretty sorry,, they wanted 9-5 and out the door,, and oh don't tell them they had to stay after shift for training,, I really wanted to get a hold of some of the recruiters... :devious:

[namgrunt]

I'd like to know who found this guy and lined him up as the representative for the Democrat Party in their "official rebuttal" to President Bush's radio speech. This guy is almost a complete stranger to the media. Stephanopoulis referenced an interview of Riechoff when he was over in Iraq, and how he didn't voice any objections at that time.

Now that Paul Riechoff, (NOT 1st LT. Riechoff- he is no longer active Army, according to his own words), is out looking for something to give himself focus, politics beckons. It is too pat to be a coincidence. You folks keep watching his progress.

This guy will spitshine his head and show up as the newest, brightest Democrat Party Hope.
Positive points: clean cut image; warrior; leader of Guardsmen; alert protector of his post; fearless dragon slayer, unafraid to take his former Commander in Chief head on; AND he never threw medals away, nor claimed awards under dubious circumstances.
Negative points: Miracle of miracles! He has none (so far). I bet the DNC leadership won't need viagra this week. They have a true hero on their side again.

And the beat goes on....

That is how I see it.
Semper Fi!

[reddog4950]

Originally posted by jdfairman
I see his point and where he's coming from, but I strongly disagree. I agree troops deserve quality leadership, but who's going to give that leadership??? Kerry??? The same man who has voted against nearly every major new weapons system and upgrade (including that body armor that 1stLt Riechoff was talking about) ??? I fully support our President. I think he and his cabinet are providing superb leadership. The man brought honor and pride that had been conspicuously missing the eight years before he took office back into the whitehouse. I, for one, also realize that as an Officer in the armed forces, it is not my job to make National Policy or to question those who do.

Kerry would let our defenses down, As JD said ours is not to question , but to follow orders. IMHO I will stay with Bush!
He fully surpports our troops.
S.F. Vic