Velma Berger – 7/12/07

This page was last updated on July 12, 2007.

Many ways to back the troops; Velma Berger; Beaver County Times; July 12, 2007.

This is the latest in a series of at least 20 Bush and Iraqi-bashing letters written by Ms. Berger dating back to February 2005. In one letter, Ms. Berger told us she was proud of John Murtha.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“I recently read with interest the letter about all the clueless people who refuse to agree with our war president.”

[RWC] The letter (“Clueless protesters,” 7/3/07) to which Ms. Berger refers says nothing about agreeing with President Bush. Indeed, the letter mentions only “soldiers and veterans,” how they deserve our thanks, and not once mentions President Bush. Why did Ms. Berger feel the need to misrepresent Ms. Colella’s letter?

“On the day the writer mentioned there were two groups of people in Beaver supporting the troops. She doesn’t seem to understand there are different ways to support them. If you don’t agree with her way, you are clueless.”

[RWC] I don’t buy for one second “there were two groups of people in Beaver supporting the troops.”

The Beaver County Coalition for Social Justice via Beaver County Peace Links organizes/supports the so-called “peace vigils” held in front of the courthouse on Saturdays. Having listened to speakers at a couple of their courthouse gatherings and having read posts on their web forum, I have little doubt their primary interest is politically oriented. I believe their professed support and concern for the troops is way down the list at best.

For example, a man who appears to be one of the leaders – and who was introduced as a “peace activist” – spoke at two rallies and said things like, “Using the court system doesn’t work,” “We have the Gestapo in the United States,” “We’re too democratic,” and “We’re seeking military domination of the world, including space” among other things. He also put forward conspiracy theories about 9/11. The speaker also opined that “socialist competition” is gone, whatever that is. Given the context of his overall comments, I believe the speaker lamented the passing of powerful communist/socialist countries like the Soviet Union to “balance” the United States. This speaker is a little more restrained in his letters to the editor, though his messages remain the same.

Though it’s possible I missed them, my notes from the two rallies indicated no one said anything positive about our men and women serving in Iraq.

“This would mean that the majority of the American people are clueless because they don’t blindly follow this administration.

“All this president can think about is war. The living conditions in the south are still deplorable following Hurricane Katrina. People there are still suffering and seem to be forgotten. These are United States citizens.”

[RWC] What does “living conditions in the south … following Hurricane Katrina” have to do with Iraq? As a reminder, the areas affected by Katrina haven’t even applied for all the funds President Bush and Congress made available. Let’s also remember which political party controls Louisiana and New Orleans; it’s Democrats. If progress is sufficient for Ms. Berger, she needs to go after state and local officials, not the feds. I would say this regardless of who’s in the White House and who’s in control at the local and state level.

“However President Bush has said in the past ‘as long as I have the support of my wife Laura and my dog Barney we will remain in Iraq.’ It doesn’t seem important to him that the majority of the people want an end to this civil war.”

[RWC] According to a CBS 60 Minutes interview of Bob Woodward, the correct quote is, “I will not withdraw even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me.” What this means is President Bush will do what he believes is right and won’t be swayed by public opinion polls. Does Ms. Berger believe leaders should put a wet finger in the air to see which way it’s blowing, and then govern accordingly?

Regarding Ms. Berger’s comment about “this civil war,” who cares whether it’s a civil war or not? We’re acting in what we believe to be our best interests, and turning Iraq over to terrorist organizations is not in our best interest. Did Ms. Berger forget what happened when Islamofascists and terrorists took control of Afghanistan, and Afghanistan had no natural resources to fund terrorist activities. Iraq, however, has gobs of oil that would be used to fund terrorist activities.

“I salute the protestors who are in front of the courthouse every Saturday, rain or shine, and also snow. This is their way of supporting the troops by wanting them brought home now.”

[RWC] Read Ms. Berger’s letter, and you’ll find she and our enemies appear to be reading from the same script. When you’re saying the same things as our enemies, how is that “supporting the troops?”