Asking honor of those who serve--and lead
Letter to the Editor of the Chicago Tribune by MFSO member Linda Englund

by MFSO Member Linda Englund, Chicago Tribune
September 18th, 2007

Chicago - We are the parents of a soldier who has been wounded twice in Iraq. As with many military families, we are not interested in salvaging political legacies of those who allow this war to continue.

President Bush, General David Petraeus, and most of Congress are much more concerned about never having to admit to their catastrophic mistakes in Iraq, mistakes which began even before the first soldier arrived. They are only peripherally concerned about our troops, and are willing to gamble with their lives for years to come on a lost and immoral cause.

Our son, like almost all our troops, despises the politics that twists facts and distorts all debate. He is mad about what he sees as a "war for oil and for those who get rich from it." He is bitterly angry that his friends have died beside him. He is saddened by his part in the destruction of millions of Iraqis' homes and lives.

Our son, and all who serve in the military, performs every day with courage and honor. Neither of those attributes is displayed by the commander in chief and those in Congress who put their political fortunes above our troops every day.

Seventy-five percent of our troops want to leave Iraq. The people of this country realized their error in supporting the invasion and occupations of Iraq, have admitted to it, and voted accordingly almost a year ago.

We call upon Bush and we are telling him every day to bring our troops home and take care of them when they get here.