Just returned from the 109th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Orlando. Although Tropical Storm Fay did her best "to rain on our parade", we had a very successful convention. It is clear that the VFW remains a "player" on the national political scene.For five out of eight years, President George W. Bush spoke to us and clearly continues to receive strong support from the VFW for his role as a wartime Commander in Chief. President Bush's remarks were something of a farewell address to America's veterans. At the conclusion of his speech he said: "This is the last time I will address a veterans convention as the Commander-in-Chief. Over the past seven, eight years -- seven and a half years, I've been honored to get to know many of your members. I've relied on your counsel. I have benefited from your wisdom. I have been extremely grateful for your prayers."
One would have thought that by the time the President spoke we would have suffered from "politician fatigue" as he was preceded by Senators McCain, Obama, Nelson, Webb and Martinez as well as Governor Rick Perry of TX. Senators Martinez and Nelson were well received by the attendees. Both have established a strong record of support for veterans, active, reserve and retired service members and their families. Along with VFW State Commander Dave Harris and Adjutant/Quartermaster Benny Bachand, I had the opportunity to meet with Senator Martinez. I expressed to him our concerns that without timely action by the Senate on the MILCON/VA appropriation and the National Defense Authorization Act that both VA and DoD would have to operate under a continuing resolution, thus, negatively impacting on the quality of life past and present warriors.
It was clear that Senator McCain connected with his fellow veterans. He was warmly received and his message resonated with us. His remarks followed those of a retired Russian Lieutenant General who is the leader of one that nation's major veterans' organization. Senator McCain didn't blink, when he forcefully stated, that Russian aggression against a democracy is a serious threat to the peace. From my perspective, a resurgent Russian is no less a threat to the western democracies than the old Soviet Union. It is clear that Senator McCain understands that Putin is nothing more than a 21st century version of Stalin. The only difference is that Putin is now presiding over a resurgent Russian economy driven by it vast petroleum resources.
We won the Cold War because Ronald Reagan stood firm. Our victory in the Cold War was every bit the result of our economic power as well as our recapitalizing our conventional forces in Europe. It is clear that John McCain is best suited to be Commander in Chief when the threat is either symmetrical in nature such as the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China or the People's Republic of Korea or an asymmetrical one such as Al Qaeda, Hamas or Hezbollah. McCain is acutely aware that a compliant Georgian Republic represents a critical linchpin in Russia's ability to move its oil and gas to consumer nations. Putin doen't give a tinker's damn for the ethnic Russians in Georgia, he doesn't want anyone to have control of the flow of Siberian petrochemicals to western Europe. We must never lose sight that McCain not only served with valor during the Vietnam war, but, like many professional service members of our generation, he served along side of us eyeball to eyeball with our Soviet, ChiCom and North Korean adversaries while Obama was working on the Harvard Law Review.
There were less veterans in the audience when Senator Obama spoke the next day. One could presume some already voted with their feet. Those that were in the audience were far less spontaneous than they were during McCain's remarks the previous day. Since it became clear that the surge has brought us close to victory in Iraq, Obama is still trying to unsuccessfully stake out a new position without alienating the antiwar element on the extreme left of his party. His remarks were full of the usual platitudes about veterans and their families. However, the bond is not there. He tried as he did last year to make the connection to the audience through his grandfather's WWII service. It didn't seem to play as their was an undertone of conversation throughout his speech. As one veteran whispered, "...wrapping himself in grand dad's casket flag ain't cutting it...". I believe that Obama sees veterans and their families as just another vested interest, like the teachers, the trade unions or the environmentalists.
This nation can ill afford a former community activist as its Commander in Chief. Consensus building may work on the South Side of Chicago, but, it won't work if Putin is retargeting ICBMs. Joe Biden as Obama's Vice President does little to make me sleep well at night. If we had heeded Biden's call for a nuclear freeze in the 1980's, there would be no united Germany. Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the rest of the former Warsaw Pact would still be occupied by Soviet forces. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia would still be Soviet Republics. An Obama presidency based on the premise of appeasement would result in Cold War II and a defeat at the hands of the Islamo-Fascists. I believe McCain when he says, he "...would rather lose an election than a war..." Peace can only be achieved through a strong and credible military led by men and women of courage, commitment and confidence.
Very Respectfully, LTC Lee F. Kichen, U.S. Army (Ret.)
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