The vast majority of Americans do not have a loved one in the military

As supplement to VTs take on Obama’s State of the Union in his article Obama Bring the Troops Home, Support Veterans, VT has also received this call to action from Military Families Speak Out (MFSO).

Despite the patronizing of America’s veterans and military families and attempts to placate us by sending forth Michelle Obama (for what the second time) and Joe Biden, military families are beginning to take note of just how   superficial Obama’s reference to the wars really were. Mike touched on an aspect of this. We believe the media is NOW more interested in hearing from troops and military families willing to speak out after Obama’s State of the Union than before it.

“The press would like to speak with [any Military Family members] who are impacted by the President’s policies and the continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is an opportunity to share the “ground truth” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the American people. The vast majority of Americans do not have a loved one in the military. It is your stories — your voices — that can convince the public of the necessity to end these wars.”

Robert L. Hanafin, Staff Writer, VT Military Veteran and Foreign Affairs Journal

As you know, President Obama delivering his second State of the Union address on Wednesday, January 27 , 2010. With the vast majority of Americans (the electorate) not having a loved one in the military thus not committed to the wars, it was no surprise that Obama’s message focused on domestic priorities, and he only reiterated and defended his policy decisions on Iraq and Afghanistan, including the most recent surge of 30,000 troops in November, 2009.

The press would like to speak with any Military Family members who are impacted by the President’s policies and the continued wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is our opportunity to share the “ground truth” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the American people. The vast majority of Americans do not have a loved one in the military. It is your stories — your voices — that can educate and convince the public of the necessity to end these wars.

If you would be willing to speak with the press, please fill out the following form and return it to [email protected].

We will be providing talking points and can support you if you would like to speak to the press for the first time.

Name:

City/State:

Relation in military: (Example: Son is in Marines)

If a Veteran or active duty, experience in Iraq and Afghanistan: (Example: 1 tour in Iraq, currently serving in Afghanistan)

Anything in particular you would like to communicate to the press:

Home number:

Work number:

Cell number:

Best way to reach me during the day:

Is it ok for us to share your contact information directly with a press contact or would you like MFSO to call you first?

Thank you for your work and commitment.

In Peace,

Deborah Forter, MFSO National Director

www.mfso.org

[email protected]

617-983-0710

Posted by:  Bobby Hanafin

Robert L. Hanafin

Readers are more than welcome to use the articles I’ve posted on Veterans Today, I’ve had to take a break from VT as Veterans Issues and Peace Activism Editor and staff writer due to personal medical reasons in our military family that take away too much time needed to properly express future stories or respond to readers in a timely manner.

My association with VT since its founding in 2004 has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Retired from both the Air Force and Civil Service. Went in the regular Army at 17 during Vietnam (1968), stayed in the Army Reserve to complete my eight year commitment in 1976. Served in Air Defense Artillery, and a Mechanized Infantry Division (4MID) at Fort Carson, Co. Used the GI Bill to go to college, worked full time at the VA, and non-scholarship Air Force 2-Year ROTC program for prior service military. Commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. Served as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1977 to 1994. Upon retirement I entered retail drugstore management training with Safeway Drugs Stores in California. Retail Sales Management was not my cup of tea, so I applied my former U.S. Civil Service status with the VA to get my foot in the door at the Justice Department, and later Department of the Navy retiring with disability from the Civil Service in 2000.

I’ve been with Veterans Today since the site originated. I’m now on the Editorial Board. I was also on the Editorial Board of Our Troops News Ladder another progressive leaning Veterans and Military Family news clearing house.

I remain married for over 45 years. I am both a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Veteran. I served on Okinawa and Fort Carson, Colorado during Vietnam and in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, CA during Desert Storm. I retired from the Air Force in 1994 having worked on the Air Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.