(Photo of Pete Geren, Sec'y of the Army)Saturday, May 31, 2008: 972 men and women graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at Westpoint, New York.
The person who was ranked 967th in the class gets to run for president in 30 years.
Since last year's graduation, 11 West Pointers have died "in service to their country." Army Secretary Pete Geren told this year's group that they were courageous and they would be defending the "transcendent" ideals of the Constitution. He also warned them that "There's always a personal cost in your profession of arms. Your willingness to bear the cost ennobles you, your calling and this gathering," said Mr. Geren.
Most of the graduates will head off to Iraq or Afghanistan. Geren said they have a chance to "make history."
Many of them are eager beavers.
But who is this Pete Geren to send these young men and women off to die? Well, he's a lawyer. He was a businessman and attorney in Fort Worth, Texas. He served as a U.S. Congressman from Texas. He joined the Department of Defense in 2001. For a time he was acting Secretary of the Air Force, then assistant Secretary of the Army, and now he's the big cheese.
He's a Bush crony, obviously. So far as I can discover, he's had no military experience. He may be a very nice person, but being a lawyer and part of the Bush administration makes that unlikely.
How does a Fort Worth lawyer get to be the United States Secretary of the Army and send young men and women off to die in a misguided military adventure that has utterly no value to our country or any other country?
And I wonder what "personal cost" he has borne for his country?
1 comment:
That is a dangerous path to go down. Few in Government have ever served! Many took strong measures to avoid serving. We called them “draft dodgers”. Many have no shame. Our Veep actually excused his actions by telling the world he “had other priorities” . too bad those that were drafted could not avoid serving when called. These cowards feel free to castigate any that disagree with them and believe that wearing a flag pin makes them patriots. They do not respect the men and women they send into harm’s way. I think they think they are suckers for volunteering. Their families give nothing either. They want freedom to be bought with other people’s blood and sacrifice. They have no shame!
Bob Poris
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