A vet speaks out about Bush

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Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:48:58 -0700

A vet speaks out about Bush

 

 

 

A vet speaks out about Bush

By DOUG THOMPSON

Dec 30, 2005, 06:34

 

 

 

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7919.shtml

 

Tim Abbott is a Vietnam veteran who lives in the Southwestern Virginia

town of Hillsville, a conservative, blue-collar community that tends

to vote Republican and bleed red, white and blue.

 

But, like an increasing number of veterans, Abbott is fed up with

President George W. Bush.

 

" Bush talks a lot about freedom, courage, transparent government and

the rule of law. He talks, " Abbott says. " His speeches are carefully

choreographed before audiences of his faithful -- often Christian

fundamentalists or, to paraphrase Bush, Christian-fascists -- and they

must sign loyalty oaths to Bush. He speaks before audience after

audience of soldiers and sailors who cannot speak except as directed

by the White House. "

 

Normally, such comments would be risky in a mountain town where

Patriotism rules supreme but Abbott expressed his views this week in

an op ed article for The Roanoke Times and found many people agreeing

with him.

 

" When I think of Bush, I do not think of liberty and courage,

compassion and justice. No, I think of arrogance, greed and lies, "

Abbott wrote.

" He is a thug, a buffoon and a coward. Not only is he incompetent, he

is corrupt. "

 

In normal times, these would be fighting words and Abbott would do

well to avoid lunch at the Hillsville Diner, the Main Street eatery

where the locals gather to discuss politics. But George W. Bush's

times are not normal times and Abbott is greeted warmly on the streets

of Hillsville.

 

" In his Mission Accomplished foray, (Bush) wore a military uniform,

something no president has done since Washington, and Washington only

wore the uniform to quell a rebellion, " Abbott says. " Around the world

he has replaced the Soviet Gulag with the Bush Gulag, where men may be

tortured. "

 

Abbott's comments come when this web site revealed that the Pentagon

has ordered soldiers home from Iraq for holiday leave to give pro-war

interviews to their hometown newspapers and television station. This does

not surprise a veteran who learned about military duplicity in Vietnam.

 

" Others before whom he speaks may ask no questions. He runs from

journalists, as we have seen in China, even on those rare occasions

that he speaks before them, " Abbott says of Bush. " Even worse, he has

paid journalists to say good things about him and his policies. He

also produces propaganda from government offices that he offers as

news reports. And any protests against his policies are diverted well

away from his sight and hearing. "

 

In recent weeks, I've spoken with dozens of vets of Vietnam, Desert

Storm and the present invasion of Iraq and most speak with anger

towards Bush and his policies.

 

Soldiers serve under a code of honor, something they say Bush lacks.

 

" Bush is of a kind with the dictators; a strutting, sanctimonious

buffoon who talks democracy but acts like Saddam Hussein, " Abbott says.

" Bush might differ in degree from Hussein, not having been in power as

long, but in behavior, with torture and the corruption of government,

they are of a kind.

 

" While al-Qaida is an enemy of the values and principles of the United

States and Western civilization and must be confronted, it can do no

more than kill people and destroy property.

 

" Bush can subvert our principles and institutions. He is the greater

enemy. "