2007 Soap Box Archives

An Open Letter To Senator Charles Schumer

Senator Schumer,

I write to you to take vehement exception to a statement you recently made concerning the job our troops are doing in Iraq.

Although I'm paraphrasing, you said something to the effect that violence in the Anbar province had gone down in spite of the recent surge of troops we have sent into the area. You said that due to the American forces inability
to protect the citizens that the warlords had stepped in and reduced the violence.

After hearing your left handed rhetoric for a while, I must say I don't expect a modicum of patriotism out of you but I didn't think that you could possibly stand up in Congress and make such a ludicrous and totally erroneous statement. I just didn't think you would sink that low, Senator.

It's hard for someone who has been a patriotic American and supporter of the military for seventy years to believe that a United States Senator would be such a slave to politics that he would be willing to make such a statement in the middle of a war.

One thing about your statement, Senator Schumer, it will be as close to immortal as any you'll ever say, because the men and women who you belittled for what you hoped to be your own selfish gain, men and women who are in
battle against the mortal enemies of America, they'll never forget it. Nor will the parents of the brave ones you so frivously and flippantly criticized.

And you're already criticizing General Petraeus report before it is even presented, before you even read it. Because you want to deflect any good news it happens to contain.

Well let me tell you something, Senator, just because lying may be an accepted way of life in your world everybody is not like you. They are not willing to sell their decency for spur of the moment political expediency.

If General Petraeus says there is headway being made in Iraq, there is headway being made in Iraq. I had the honor of meeting him on one of my trips to Iraq and I'll tell you something, Senator, instead of trying to discredit him you should be thanking God that we have a man of his caliber to lead our troops and, Senator, he's ten times the man you'll ever be.

You, Kennedy, Clinton, Biden and your far left buddies sit like vultures in a tree, cherry picking through the facts, ignoring any progress made in the war and immediately pouncing on any mistake, no matter how minute.

Well if you'd read your history, Senator you would know that there have been mistakes made in every war we've ever fought.

I'm going to issue a public challenge to you, Senator Schumer. Do you have the guts to stand face to face with America's finest, the men and women you have said are so inefficient?

I doubt it, but just in case you would, I'd like to take you to Iraq and let you meet the young men and women you have so little respect for. The men and women whose blood enemies you have encouraged by your ridiculous and
uncaring rhetoric.

And I'm not talking about some cosmetic visit to the green zone having a conversation with politicians and brass. I'm talking about going among the troops who face the enemy every day.

I want to see you stand toe to toe with some crusty old gunny who has just lost a couple of men in his unit making Anbar province a safer place and explain to him how inefficient his troops are.

I want you to see the caliber of young men and women you so wantonly describe as not being up to the task.

Then I want to take you to meet some of the parents I've met who have paid the ultimate price of a son or daughter in the war and tell them how their loved ones died in a useless effort with a bunch of fellow soldiers who just couldn't cut it.

Have you got the guts, Senator? You find it easy enough to stand on the floor of the senate and say that Anbar province is safer in spite of our troops, not because of, but in spite of.

I dare you, Senator, come let me show you the real world or either shut up about the brave men and women who protect you and your family from the people they are fighting in Iraq who would like nothing better than blow your Senate chamber up?

Senator, if all Americans are as reviled and downright disgusted by what you said as I am, this letter is probably going to have to stand in line to be read, but when you get around to it the invitation is real.

How about taking me up on it? I dee double dare you.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

September 10, 2007