When You Vote, Remember the Iraq War and its Veterans

Pundits tell us that the Iraq War is uppermost in voters' minds this election season. I suppose that's true, both because of the war itself, and because of what it symbolizes: dishonesty, incompetence and callous indifference by the Bush Administration and the Republican-led Congress.

And grotesque profiteering by Bush/Cheney-friendly corporations from the destruction and human misery caused by US invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Greedy US profiteering in Iraq isn't about to end anytime soon, either, per the Republican surprise that was buried in the most recently-passed military authorization bill: the only US auditor in Iraq will shut-down in 2007. Writes the New York Times today:

"Iraq is still an open-ended tragedy, and there is mounting evidence that without vigilant, independent monitoring, reconstruction contracts will waste American tax dollars without delivering the results that Iraqis have been promised. Still, the Republican-controlled Congress has voted to close down, as of next Oct. 1, the one effective oversight agency that has shown it could produce results.

The deadline for ending the work of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was included in the conference report on a huge military authorization bill — inserted at the last minute in the back room by the staff of Duncan Hunter, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee."

All the easier opportunity for another $9 billion of US taxpayers' funds to go inexplicably "missing," I suppose.

Meanwhile, our courageous men and women in the military continue to bravely slog it out amidst the civil war now raging in Iraq.

Many vets have returned from the Iraq War, and are newly running for seats in Congress. They're angry, they have something vital to say, and they want to affect change via Congress.

VoteVets.org
One of the 2006 campaign organizations I most respect is VoteVets.org, which is devoted to electing to Congress "Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans... who are critical of the execution of the war in Iraq and representative of the principles of VoteVets.org PAC."

VoteVet.org's illustrious Board of Advisors includes retired US Army General Wesley Clark, who has done considerable campaign work on behalf of veterans running for Congress.

The powerful new VoteVets.org ad, "Because of Iraq," which features 3 Iraq veterans and General Wesley Clark, bluntly reminds Americans that "the next time they see ads declaring the world is a more dangerous place, they should remember it is that way, because of Iraq." You can also view the ad HERE on YouTube.

When you vote next Tuesday, remember the Iraq War. And remember its veterans.

VoteVets.org urges all of us to ensure that "current members of Congress are held accountable for their votes on Iraq and Veterans’ issues by taking them to task for votes and positions that harm America, and its troops and Veterans."

Related Reading
Iraq War Statistics & Results as of November 2, 2006
Profile of Retired US Army General Wesley Clark
Blinding the Taxpayer on Iraq, New York Times editorial on November 4, 2006
Report: Halliburton Unit Exploited Rules, AP via USA Today on October 27, 2006

Related Websites
VoteVets.org
War Profiteers