Thompson addresses the VFW
Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 4:06 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Republicans, Security
From NBC's Andrew Merten
It was soon-to-be candidate Fred Thompson's turn today to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Mo. While he didn’t explicitly mention his likely campaign for the presidency, his rhetoric on the Iraq war was similar to that of some of the official GOP candidates.
Like McCain’s speech to the VFW yesterday, Thompson opted first to praise veterans -- old and young -- for their service. “Most Americans know that without the home of the brave, and folks that make it the home of the brave, there would be no land of the free. And we have you and the other people like you to thank for that."
It wasn't until about halfway through his speech that he addressed the current war in Iraq. He said, “Some people in this country apparently think that if we can pull out of Iraq, our problems will be over. You and I know better than that. We know that Iraq is an important front in this war, but we also know that if we appear to be divided and weak in this nation, that it is going to enable an enemy and make our country more dangerous.” He went on to further lament the nation's divisiveness on Iraq, calling for a “frank discussion” at “the highest levels, with both parties” because policy-makers will ultimately need “the support of the American people and their understanding of what’s at stake.”
Thompson also had some harsh words about the current Democratic Congress, drawing a comparison between the veterans of past wars and those lawmakers who wish to withdraw troops from Iraq. He said, “I’m somewhat reminded when I look at Congress, of that scene -- that scene, that famous scene -- of Iwo Jima, where those brave people are struggling, several of them around, you know, trying to plant the flag. Except this time, it’s not an American flag, it’s a white flag.”
