Sending a Message of Support to the Troops in Iraq
Sending a Message of Support to the Troops in Iraq
November 28, 2005
In the late hours of November 18, the U.S. House sent a loud-and-clear message to our military serving in Iraq that we support them and their mission. During the days leading up to this important vote, the national media were singularly focused on one House member with a distinguished military record who wants to end America's military involvement in Iraq before that vital mission is complete. While Congressman John Murtha's (D-PA) service to his country is commendable, he is not the only war hero who has an opinion on the issue.
Interestingly, news coverage of the strong stance of House member Sam Johnson (R-TX) for our troops and their mission has been rather scant. He is a soft-spoken man with a service history that makes up for it. An Air Force pilot of nearly 30 years who flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, Sam Johnson was held as a prisoner of war by the communist North Vietnamese for seven years - half of that time in solitary confinement.
Sam Johnson, former Alabama Senator Jeremiah Denton, and Arizona Senator John McCain all share the distinction of having been tortured in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" as POW's. Johnson's hands still bear the scars of having their bones broken by rifle butts. Through it all, he maintained his spirit and patriotism. His service earned him two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards.
Sam Johnson had plenty to say on the House floor about how damaging such talk of ending the mission prematurely is to our men and women in uniform. Here are some excerpts.
"I know what it's like to be far from home, serving your country, risking your life, and hearing that America doesn't care about you... Your Congress doesn't care about you. Your Congress just cut all funding for your war. They are packing up and going home, and leaving you here. When I was a POW, I was scared to death when our Congress talked about pulling the plug that I would be left there forever. I know what it does to morale, I know what it does to the mission, and so help me God, I will never, ever let our nation make those mistakes again."
"Our men and women in uniform need our full support They need to have full faith that a few nay-sayers in Washington will not cut and run and leave them high and dry. They need to know these things because that is mandatory for mission success and troop morale."
Sam Johnson and others in support of our mission in Iraq have underscored that irresponsible talk of an early withdrawal, before the job is done, not only injures troop morale but encourages our enemies and reverses any progress we've made. The Iraqi people are taking responsibility for their security in levels not seen before. Since August, Iraqi military operations have risen from 250 to 450 and their security forces have enlarged by 20,000 since September to 212,000. The number of civilian tips on terrorists has also exploded - from 442 in February to 3,341 in August. Just as the Iraqis are getting on their feet, what long-term advantage would there be to abandon them and give way to the terrorists?
I voted against House Resolution 571 to immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq and believe that there can be no retreat in the war on terror. So long as the terrorists threaten us at home and abroad we cannot simply walk away and hope they will not bother us. Osama Bin Laden made clear the futility of such a stand in his battle cry: "By God's leave, we call on every Muslim who believes in God and hopes for reward to obey God's command to kill the Americans and plunder their possessions wherever he finds them and whenever he can."
http://wwwc.house.gov/everett/news/columns/col_112805.asp