October 20, 2003
By Claude R. Marx
VERMONT PRESS BUREAU
MONTPELIER - Because he objects to efforts to link the war in Iraq to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., was the sole dissenter on a vote urging President Bush give the War on Terrorism Medals to soldiers fighting in Iraq.
By a 97-1 vote margin, the Senate on Friday passed a non-binding resolution urging that the medal be given to soldiers fighting what Bush has called the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and the Philippines and the war that resulted in the ouster of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Jeffords said the goals of Iraq were not related to the terrorism war and should not be linked to the Afghanistan and Philippines operations.
"Those who support giving this medal to our troops in Iraq are once again trying to make a connection between Sept. 11 and Iraq that simply does not exist. I am a veteran and I wholeheartedly support our troops, but I believe it does the men and women in our military a great disservice to misrepresent the reasons why they are in Iraq. They certainly deserve medals for their service, but I will not be a part of the White House campaign to redefine this war," Jeffords said in a statement.
posted by Blicero : 10/21/2003 08:54:00 PM
