Iraq War Draws Veterans Into Politics
By JON SARCHE
Associated Press Writer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.
After 20 years in the Air Force and Bronze Star service during the 1991 Gulf War, Democrat Jay Fawcett decided to come home and run for Congress, largely out of disgust with the way American troops were being used in Iraq.
"I think it's just gotten to the point where a significant number of us who've served are looking at this administration particularly _ and Congress doesn't get off the hook _ and saying, `What're you doing? What's the plan?'" he said.
Fawcett is part of a large and possibly unprecedented number of former soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines running for Congress this year.
About 40 of the candidates are Republicans, while at least 55 are Democrats. By one count, at least 11 veterans of the Iraq war or Afghanistan are hoping to get elected to the House or Senate, all but one of them Democrats.
The fighting Democrats, as some call themselves, say their military experience could give them the credibility to criticize the war without being dismissed out of hand by the GOP as naive and weak on defense, as the Bush administration has often done.
Associated Press Writer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.
After 20 years in the Air Force and Bronze Star service during the 1991 Gulf War, Democrat Jay Fawcett decided to come home and run for Congress, largely out of disgust with the way American troops were being used in Iraq.
"I think it's just gotten to the point where a significant number of us who've served are looking at this administration particularly _ and Congress doesn't get off the hook _ and saying, `What're you doing? What's the plan?'" he said.
Fawcett is part of a large and possibly unprecedented number of former soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines running for Congress this year.
About 40 of the candidates are Republicans, while at least 55 are Democrats. By one count, at least 11 veterans of the Iraq war or Afghanistan are hoping to get elected to the House or Senate, all but one of them Democrats.
The fighting Democrats, as some call themselves, say their military experience could give them the credibility to criticize the war without being dismissed out of hand by the GOP as naive and weak on defense, as the Bush administration has often done.
posted by Andy W. Rogers | 7:57 PM
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