Tag Archives: Jon Soltz

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Stay out of Syria


VoteVets.org

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 15-3 in favor of arming and training the Syrian rebels.

This is a misguided and dangerous idea.

I helped to train the Iraqi Army during my second tour, and their concern is that many of the anti-Assad forces are the same terrorists they’ve fought before and who continue to target them.

Plus, as Senator Tom Udall noted, once we introduce weapons, we have zero control over them. The United States “could turn over the weapons we’re talking about and next day they end up in the hands of al-Qaida.”

Three Senators voted against the bill in committee, but we need you to send a  strong message to the other 97 that you oppose intervention in Syria’s civil war. You can do that here:

http://action.votevets.org/syria

Moreover, there is no winning scenario when we get involved in other nations’ civil wars and proxy wars.

On this point, Senator Chris Murphy said it best: “We have failed over and over again in our attempts to pull the strings of Middle Eastern politics.”

Let’s not make the same mistake again.

Jon Soltz
@jonsoltz
Iraq War Veteran and Chairman
VoteVets.org

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Let them eat MREs


VoteVets.org

Nearly 1.5 million households with a veteran received food-stamp benefits in 2011.

Sadly, this also includes far too many members of the military who are on active duty. In that same year, over $100 million in food aid was used on military bases.

Those are shocking statistics, aren’t they?

What’s more galling is that the Senate Agriculture Committee just approved a bill that includes a $4.1 billion reduction in the food stamp program, and the legislation comes to a vote before the full Senate next week.

Thankfully, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has stepped up to offer an amendment to stop these cuts and pay for them by cutting subsidies to insurance companies, many of which are based overseas.

Ahead of the vote, please sign our note to Senator Gillibrand letting her know that we stand with her in this fight.

http://action.votevets.org/food-stamps

Going through the list of those who voted for the bill in committee, it’s no shock to see several Senators who always seem ready to rush our military into new wars overseas, but fail to act as expeditiously when it comes to taking care of them at home.

We have to stop them in this fight.

Jon Soltz
@jonsoltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets

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How the sequester impacts military families


VoteVets.org

“What that means is the rest of the forces that are now back in the United States will not be able to train. They will be able to do small-level, squad-level training. They will not be able to do platoon-level, company-level, battalion-level training back at their installations. They will not be able to go out to combat training centers, which is what provides them the final readiness certification at the battalion and brigade level.” – Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Ray Odierno

When Republicans rejected compromise solutions to avoid the “sequester,” they ushered in a series of cuts that promise to hurt military families at home and in the field.

At home, medical care, Department of Defense-run schools, social services like sexual assault prevention and treatment, tuition assistance, child care, and many other programs will get cut.

In the field, operations and maintenance funding (O&M) — which is essentially responsible for readiness and deployment — already faces a $6 billion shortfall, and sequestration could double it.

We have a powerful voice and unique opportunity to stop these cuts. Sign our petition to congressional leadership calling on an end to the sequester and its impact on military families.

http://action.votevets.org/sequester

Nine Republican Senators already defected from a GOP plan to end the sequester, in large part because of the cuts impacting members of the military and their families.

They also rejected a commonsense Democratic plan that would have millionaires and billionaires shoulder a small amount of the burden to avoid sequester.

The issue is at an impasse right now, and our voices are critical to ensure there’s a resolution to the crisis.

Sign our petition to congressional leadership and make your voice heard today.

http://action.votevets.org/sequester

We’ll deliver these petitions early next week and let you know about any responses we receive from legislative offices.

Best,

Jon Soltz
@jonsoltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets

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Drone medal outranks Purple Heart?


votevets.org
Have you heard about the Pentagon‘s new Distinguished Warfare Medal?It ranks above the Purple Heart and is awarded to drone operators and cyberwar practitioners for “extraordinary achievement” in a post 9/11military operation.

A number of VoteVets members have expressed their opinions about the distinction, but we want to hear from you, as well.

Do you think the medal should rank above the Purple Heart? Let us know here:

http://action.votevets.org/drone-medal

Here’s a few of the comments we received on our Facebook page:

Christopher C. No problem with the medal itself. Serious problem with its hierarchy ranking: It should not be above medals awarded for combat actions. I am seriously surprised that anyone would think it is reasonable to giving it that level of precedence.

Ethan C. I think their service should be recognized with some kind of award but combat valor medals recognize real life and death situations on the actual battlefield. Combat awards should be given the highest placement.

Let us know what you think and we’ll be sure to share your thoughts with Senator Hagel after he’s confirmed as our next Secretary of Defense.

http://action.votevets.org/drone-medal

There’s been a lot of conversation about the new medal in the traditional media and online. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, as well.

Best,

Jon Soltz                     Iraq War Veteran                     Chairman, VoteVets.org
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Jon Soltz, VoteVets.org


 

votevets.org
Did you watch President Obama’s State of the Union Address last night?

From reforming immigration and education to a focus on job creation and an overdue drawdown in Afghanistan, the president laid out a vision for the next four years that we can all be proud of.

But if the divided ovations were any indication, the work ahead won’t be easy.

There is one issue, however, that has overwhelming public support among Democrats and Republicans: taking common sense action to reduce gun violence in America.

If you’re ready to stand with VoteVets.org in this fight, make a $5 contribution today and help us organize veterans in support of legislation to prevent gun violence in the United States.

Veterans make extremely powerful messengers on this issue, and the president needs us if he’s going to sign a bill.

Veterans have seen, first hand, the carnage that assault weapons cause. We’ve had to go through background checks to get into the military and handle a weapon.

Our troops in combat aren’t even authorized to attach magazines with more than 30 rounds to their semi-automatic weapons. There’s no reason we should authorize it for anyone here at home.

We’re going to engage on this one, and I’m thankful that we’ll be in it together.

Thanks for your support.

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets.org

 

PAID FOR BY VOTEVETS ACTION FUND