We will not abandon you

To the editor: The lack of support shown by national lawmakers to give troops the support needed to achieve their mission has become egregious. Americans wag at political assertions of troop support as the mission is obstructed. Every day, it seems as if another public official has claimed that victory in Iraq is impossible. This would come as quite a shock to the fighting soldiers. They know better. They also know that such proclamations are made solely for political gain, and are perhaps most welcomed by the enemies they fight. It is past the time for national lawmakers to abandon their political investment in defeat. We must reassure our fighting men and women that they aren’t fighting alone. What can the average American do to back up our troops when our national lawmakers will not? This is a question I get asked frequently. The answer is, “take it to the states.” Several states have already stepped forward with resolutions that promise to “not abandon our service men and women in this time of war and pledge full support of them and their efforts to secure victory.” Exactly one year ago, defeat seemed a forgone conclusion to many. Groups of “experts” sought an “honorable exit.” But Vets for Victory, a pro-troop and pro-mission organization I head, began working with state lawmakers who were as frustrated about this as the people they represent. The result was a legislative proclamation telling the troops, “We will not abandon you.” Last February, average Oklahomans working with their state lawmakers rose up to declare such support. Despite the midterm elections and the pessimistic Iraq Study Group report, over a thousand veterans and troop supporters filled the plaza at the State Capitol building to take a stand on their behalf. A respectable group of bi-partisan lawmakers were also in attendance and read the state’s pledge to not abandon the troops. Vermont followed suit with its own proclamation in May. In June, Florida’s Hillsborough County of 6 million people became the first non-state government to pass the resolution. And last November, the Massachusetts legislature followed with a strong variant of the bill. The Florida State Legislature will consider its own version this spring. LTC Steve Russell (Ret.) Chairman, Vets for Victory Oklahoma City, Okla. www.vets4victory.com