Congressman Peter Roskam's May, 2009 Report Card on Middle East Wars
May 31, 2009
Congressman Peter Roskam
150 S. Bloomingdale Road, Suite 200
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Dear Congressman Roskam,
Congressman, it took many months but you finally have a new lead story on your website
issue link “War On Terror”. The previous lead story had nothing to do with “War On Terror” which, unfortunately, has come to mean throughout the world, pre-emptive criminal war, torture and spying on peace-loving Americans. It dealt, instead, with your mother’s laudable efforts to return dog tags to a Vietnam veteran who lost them forty years ago during another criminal war. Your promotion of that action is fine but couldn’t you place it on a link entitled “Roskam Family Exploits” and give us genuine and relevant information on your website concerning national security?
Unfortunately, the new one, an op-ed piece entitled, “Pelosi is Playing Politics with our National Security” simply follows Republican National Committee talking points. As a member of the war party which includes most Republicans and many Democrats, you know full well that the Iraq war is a criminal enterprise launched with lies, fear tactics, and the smearing of anyone who spoke truth about it. There are upwards of three million dead, fled or wounded Iraqis from our criminality. There are tens of thousands of dead, wounded and mentally broken American GI’s sent to fight this criminal war by leaders who were poster cowards for avoiding military action in Vietnam (Bush and Cheney) when they were young and strong in body but not in character.
But what, pray tell, incurs your wrath enough to bump the endless loop about Vietnam era dog tags from first place on the “War on Terror” link? It seems you are upset that your Speaker “rails” against our use of torture which endangers American soldiers and civilians overseas, recruits new terrorists, dishonors American ideals and just happens to be against international law. Let’s see: violating international law - check; endangering Americans overseas – check; trashing our most sacred American ideals – check; recruiting new terrorists - check. The Speaker got it right on all four, Congressman, and you got them all wrong. Maybe you should take a remedial class in civics and international law.
Then you imply that her support for closing our gulag in Guantanamo will result in the worst terrorists possibly winding up in the 6th District; who knows, maybe even the Wheaton city lockup.
Sir, your piece is sophistry and scare tactics, and it is unbecoming of any American, especially a Congressman.
America is collapsing as a moral and economic force throughout the world not only because we imposed our criminality around the Middle East in response to a terrorist attack launched by the equivalent of a street gang, but also because we have closed our eyes to the moral cloud it has left over us.
As a much older man than you, I may not be around to council my future grandchildren when they inquire how America descended into madness in the first decade of this new century. That is OK because they will read my public record and be proud.
What Congressman, will you tell yours?
Respectfully,
Walt Zlotow
IL 6th District Resident
cc: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Congressman Peter Roskam
150 S. Bloomingdale Road, Suite 200
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Dear Congressman Roskam,
Congressman, it took many months but you finally have a new lead story on your website
issue link “War On Terror”. The previous lead story had nothing to do with “War On Terror” which, unfortunately, has come to mean throughout the world, pre-emptive criminal war, torture and spying on peace-loving Americans. It dealt, instead, with your mother’s laudable efforts to return dog tags to a Vietnam veteran who lost them forty years ago during another criminal war. Your promotion of that action is fine but couldn’t you place it on a link entitled “Roskam Family Exploits” and give us genuine and relevant information on your website concerning national security?
Unfortunately, the new one, an op-ed piece entitled, “Pelosi is Playing Politics with our National Security” simply follows Republican National Committee talking points. As a member of the war party which includes most Republicans and many Democrats, you know full well that the Iraq war is a criminal enterprise launched with lies, fear tactics, and the smearing of anyone who spoke truth about it. There are upwards of three million dead, fled or wounded Iraqis from our criminality. There are tens of thousands of dead, wounded and mentally broken American GI’s sent to fight this criminal war by leaders who were poster cowards for avoiding military action in Vietnam (Bush and Cheney) when they were young and strong in body but not in character.
But what, pray tell, incurs your wrath enough to bump the endless loop about Vietnam era dog tags from first place on the “War on Terror” link? It seems you are upset that your Speaker “rails” against our use of torture which endangers American soldiers and civilians overseas, recruits new terrorists, dishonors American ideals and just happens to be against international law. Let’s see: violating international law - check; endangering Americans overseas – check; trashing our most sacred American ideals – check; recruiting new terrorists - check. The Speaker got it right on all four, Congressman, and you got them all wrong. Maybe you should take a remedial class in civics and international law.
Then you imply that her support for closing our gulag in Guantanamo will result in the worst terrorists possibly winding up in the 6th District; who knows, maybe even the Wheaton city lockup.
Sir, your piece is sophistry and scare tactics, and it is unbecoming of any American, especially a Congressman.
America is collapsing as a moral and economic force throughout the world not only because we imposed our criminality around the Middle East in response to a terrorist attack launched by the equivalent of a street gang, but also because we have closed our eyes to the moral cloud it has left over us.
As a much older man than you, I may not be around to council my future grandchildren when they inquire how America descended into madness in the first decade of this new century. That is OK because they will read my public record and be proud.
What Congressman, will you tell yours?
Respectfully,
Walt Zlotow
IL 6th District Resident
cc: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
posted by Walt Zlotow at 3:24 PM
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