11/26/05: Join efforts to deter military recruitment - Marty Preston
Join efforts to deter military recruitment
Portage Daily Register :: Opinion ::
Saturday, November 26, 2005
We have a 37-year Marine hawk, a Democrat, well-respected by his colleagues across the aisle, rising to his feet to say "We can do no more militarily in Iraq."
John Murtha, during his 30 years in Congress, has been looked to by both parties for his solid authority and knowledge of our armed forces. The war-at-any-price folks thought he was permanently in their back pockets. Yet the very reason Murtha has the respect of those in Washington is because he can be counted on, like a true Marine, to tell the truth, to have an honest opinion, to act when necessary.
Murtha has been to Iraq a number of times. He has talked to commanders. He knows what is going on. He visited a young soldier in a hospital who had lost both his hands. Because the injury did not come from hostile fire, the young man was not going to be given a Purple Heart. Murtha marched over to his commander to say "You give him a Purple Heart or I'll give him mine."
Murtha's mission is to get the troops home because we have worn out our welcome to the point of instigating insurgency rather than quelling it.
His story leads to my purpose in writing this letter. In my efforts to deter young men and women from putting themselves in harm's way by joining the military now, I am holding a meeting Nov. 29 to make available the information I have gathered on enlistment.
Let me be clear. The meeting is not, repeat not, to trash the military. As most folks know, recruitment goals have been missed by the Army and Marines recently, and as a result, recruiters have been resorting to questionable tactics.
Because I have been working with groups over the past year in this area and have done counter-recruiting in Baraboo and Reedsburg high schools, I want to share my experience and knowledge with others who are concerned about young people being enlisted under false pretenses. I want to help them understand what the options are and provide information the recruiters do not share with their target enlistees.
The meeting will be held at the Baraboo Public Library, Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. sharp. I show a video and have information packets to hand out. I plan to make some informational remarks and then answer questions. My goal is to enlist a group of Baraboo/Reedsburg/ Portage/Dells residents to work on this issue in their communities. If there is no response, then I will have to bow out, as I cannot do it by myself.
Why don't you consider coming just to hear what I have to say? Then you can decide if you are able to help or not. I promise no strong-arming.
Marty Preston, Wisconsin Dells