Commentary on Berkeley:  In defense of our brave military men and women
By John P. “JP” Brown III, National Commander

In recent commentary published in the “Berkeley Daily Planet,” author Kenneth Thiesen levied some heavy allegations not only against American foreign policy, but against those sworn to uphold that policy, our brave men and women in uniform. To view Thiesen’s piece, Click Here. As National Commander of AMVETS, I find this deeply offensive.

While I agree whole-heartedly with each American’s right to free speech, regardless of your opinion, I refuse to remain silent while the names of our military men and women are degraded through a series of faulty arguments and skewed logic.

Thiesen’s analysis of our global military posture could not be further from the truth. While the U.S. has troops deployed to more than 100 countries around the world, most are deployed at the request of the host nation – including our allies in Germany, France, Japan, Korea, and across Africa, to name a few.

Our troops deserve to be revered for consciously sacrificing their civil liberties to protect the civil liberties of other, including Thiesen. The examples that Thiesen uses to discuss Americans who refuse to serve in the current conflicts are examples of cowards who do not understand their commitment to our great nation. All troops have sworn to defend this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic. They have consigned to go where their country says they are needed, regardless of personal beliefs or conflicting interests. It is the nature of the job to “take the hill” in light of insurmountable odds; to lay your life on the line for those back home. Our volunteers do not choose which battles they will fight. This is what makes their sacrifice so noble.

As Thiesen observed, yes, our military men and women are trained to kill. However, our troops are trained to kill only when necessary, much like the law enforcement officers who patrol the streets of our cities and towns. They are prepared to keep us safe from those who wish to do us harm and taught to use deadly force only when absolutely necessary. The illusion of an American “killing machine” is patently offensive to those of us who have served and continue to serve.

Today, the American military is by far the most professional and compassionate fighting force in the course of human history. One must simply look to the humanitarian missions conducted in Southeast Asia following the 2005 tsunami, relief missions into Iran after the 2003 earthquake, or the countless missions our civil-military operators carry out in Iraq and numerous developing nations around the world. And I ask Thiesen this:  If the U.S. chose to intervene in Darfur, as many in Berkeley have demanded, would you continue to label our military men and women as imperialist mass murders?

Thiesen draws irrational conclusions about our forces in Iraq and chooses to throw around skewed, unattributed numbers regarding American military action in the war on terror. Unfortunately, civilian casualties are a reality in any conflict. However, Thiesen’s analysis is flat out wrong. According to iCasualties.org, an independent group that monitors casualties in Iraq through a variety of news outlets, the Iraqi death toll for both civilians and security forces is below 50,000. While this number may still seem quite daunting, it is well below Thiesen’s analysis of “millions” of casualties, and many deaths have been the result of infighting among Iraqi tribes struggling for political influence, rather than intervention at the hands of America’s professional military.

The facts speak for themselves; the United States continues to do a tremendous job mitigating collateral damage and protecting our way of life. I ask the citizens of Berkeley, when was the last time you seriously worried about being dragged out of your house in the middle of the night for your religious beliefs or lifestyle choices? When is the last time you were seriously concerned about whether you were safe to walk the streets of your bustling college town? Not in our lifetime have we experienced these threats here in the United States, which should tell all of us that our military is accomplishing its mission.

In light of the recent treatment of Marine Corps recruiters operating in the city of Berkeley, I will be visiting the Marine Officer Selection Office in Shattuck Square on Monday, March 17.

As a leader in the veterans’ community, I believe it is necessary for me to thank the two Marines who man this station for their continued professionalism and selfless service in the face of daunting adversity. These two men exemplify what it means to serve this great nation. They have dedicated themselves to preserving the freedoms that all Americans enjoy, regardless of the situation.

Cmdr. Brown will visit the Marines in Berkeley while in California for a conference on veterans’ education with DeVry University in Pomona.

Media Contact:
National
Communications Director
Jay Agg
(301) 683-4035
jagg@amvets.org

National
Publications Editor
Isaac Pacheco
(301)-683-4038
ipacheco@amvets.org

National
Media Specialist
Ryan Gallucci
(301)683-4073
rgallucci@amvets.org