I am an active duty Sailor, Navy Petty Officer Third Class, stationed in Norfolk Virginia. Like most enlistees, I joined the Navy to help pay down some debt, acquire more education, and advancement in life. Today, over 10,000 Sailors have been augmented, through the Pentagon Individual Augmentee program, to support the so-called war against terrorism.
In the fall of 2006, I co-founded an initiative, The Appeal For Redress, for active-duty, Reserve and National Guard personnel to appeal to their leaders in Washington to end the war, bring the troops home and take care of them upon their return. Since that time, over 2000 military personnel, sixty percent of them having served one tour of duty in Iraq, have supported the message which states:
As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
Since 2006, we have seen the Congressional and Senate leadership change as a result of the discontent and dissent of the American people on the war in Iraq. Nevertheless both parties have continued to fund and escalate this war at the expense of our national security, endangering the lives of Americans here at home and abroad.
Our next President must be 100% committed to ending the occupation of Iraq, bringing our troops home and taking care of them when they get here.
Our next President must be 100% committed to the principles of our constitution in potentially declaring war in defense of our security and sovereignty.
I believe Dr. Ron Paul is the most committed and principled presidential candidate for active-duty, Reserve, and Guard personnel to support towards ending the Iraq War and restoring decency and respect to our constitution and the American people.
Of all the presidential candidates running in both parties, he is one of only two to have voted against the Iraq War in the United States Congress.
I further hope the antiwar movement in this country strongly considers Dr. Paul’s candidacy. It is unintelligent for progressives of all stripes to consistently support the Democratic party that has consistently funded the Iraq War against the overwhelming opposition of their constituents.
Photo courtesy of Helen Jones.
Thank you for reading my words. Run Paul run!
J. Hutto, Sr. Co-Founder Appeal For Redress Author, Antiwar Soldier
Disclaimer: Jonathan Hutto’s views and opinions, in this article, in no way represent the United States Military or the Appeal for Redress movement.
Read the interview with Jonathan Hutto.
January 4, 2008
