Bill Jetta, US ex;
I served 24 years in the US Army and saw combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I'm sick of politicians wrapping themselves in the American flag, beating the drums of war and sending someone else's child to die. Families in my district watched loved ones leave Fort Bragg, North Carolina, believing they would be home in two weeks. Then a letter arrived. Their validity period was extended by a whole year.
A year of missed birthdays, missed wedding anniversaries, children growing up without a mother and father. A year of nightmares full of flag draped coffins. And for what? Donald Trump's ego? Another billion dollars for Raytheon?
This administration dragged our sons and daughters into a war with Iran without a clear exit strategy. With no plan to bring them home. And without answering the most important question, what the hell are we fighting for? Our soldiers deserve better. Our veterans deserve better.
The families who sacrifice everything for this country deserve much better. And I'll be damned if we continue to allow politicians to send our sons and daughters to fight wars they don't have the courage to fight themselves. These are not chess pieces on Donald Trump's board. They are not pawns. They are not prophets.
They are our sons and daughters and it is time to bring them home. And Pete Gosset was lucky. He got through it. But make no mistake: He won't be so lucky in the 120th Congress. Tik Tok.
Get ready, idiot, because we're coming.