Loudoun Co. Va. Will Not Support U.S. Troops
LOUDOUN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TABLES RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF U.S. TROOPS
In an electronic letter to his constituents, Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling District, Loudoun Board of Supervisor) reported the following, in part:
Summary of the U.S. Troops Resolution
A resolution of support for U.S. Troops was introduced by Supervisor Delgaudio.
Several speeches against U.S. policy under President Bush were made. In a non-partisan gesture, there was immediate acceptance of several changes to the resolution.
Nevertheless, Supervisor Chuck Harris (D-Broad Run) made a non-debatable motion to table the resolution in support of the troops. Supervisors Harris, Herring, Towe, Burton, Kurtz and Bogard voted "yes" to table and Chairman York, Supervisors Delgaudio and Hiatt voted "no". The motion to table carried 6 yes, 3 no.
SUPPORT THE TROOPS RESOLUTION
A citizen of Sterling wrote me and asked me to introduce a Resolution in Support of the Armed Forces of the United States. I brought it up at the Board Meeting.
I said, as a Republican I have my own views about President Bush. I have been active since age 9 and have strong conservative opinions still at age 47. But political opinions are not the option for men and women from Sterling and throughout Loudoun County right now, I said.
Troops Honor Orders from "Clinton" or "Bush"
I said "Whether it is President William Jefferson Clinton or President George W. Bush, when the Armed Forces are ordered to action, we should support the troops."
I did not add anything to Mr. Logan's Resolution. I introduced it as he requested.
(This citizen) wrote "I am a resident of Sterling, (and) I would like to suggest some wording for a possible resolution by the Loudoun County Supervisors in support of our American troops (some of whom hail from our area) who are presently serving in the Middle East theatre of operations....." and this citizen suggested the following:
"A RESOLUTION RELATING TO (THE ARMED FORCES OF) THE UNITED STATES.
WHEREAS, The President of the United States has activated and deployed numerous men and women of the Armed Forces from Loudoun County, Virginia to assignments and missions related to the ongoing global war on terror and the current crisis in Iraq; and,
WHEREAS, The citizens of Loudoun County deserve high praise for their zeal and patriotism in answering their nation's call to duty."
Struck Out At Request of Sup. Harris
(Struck out, see below) whenever the cause of Freedom and Justice is threatened by foreign tyrants and aggressors; and,
(Struck out, see below) WHEREAS, The uniformed men and women of our community are once again called upon to offer their utmost devotion in the defense of their country and to bring peace to a troubled corner of the Earth.
(This section left alone in the Tabled Resolution)
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: It wholeheartedly supports and appreciates the brave men and women of Loudoun County, Virginia serving in the United States Military, and wishes them Godspeed in their dangerous missions and a safe return from harm's way. "
SECTION ON PATRIOTISM STRUCK
Supervisor Harris moved to strike the section referring to Tyrants and aggressors and Patriotism.
In the spirit of non-partisanship, and wishing for a unanimous vote, I accepted it as a friendly amendment.
Supervisor James Burton then spoke and said he did not want to vote on this and was uncomfortable voting on this "this afternoon".
Burton said "It sickens me debate has been so shallow up to this point"
Harris said "The debate has been lacking. This is a Bush-Cheney war. War is a failure of diplomacy. Tjhis is a failure of diplomacy. " Harris referred to his military service and that he was prepared to push a button firing a nuclear missile" if certain conditions existed"
Resolution Will Be Back?
"I do not and have not said "Being Republican Is Patriotic", as Harris has charged me with.
I am patriotic. I am Republican. The two are separate. But I still do not know what this has to do with SUPPORTING THE TROOPS WHO MUST TAKE ORDERS," wrote Supervisor Delgaudio.
News Articles posted on these websites as now
1200 AM WAGE RADIO report (Leesburg, Va.) "War & Peace"
http://www.wage.com/pages/topstories.html
Board Tables War Resolution; Burton, Harris Criticize Bush Action, Leesburg Today Newspaper
http://www.leesburg2day.com/
Loudoun supervisors delay vote on support for military the northern virginia journal newspaper on line http://www.jrnl.com/
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors delayed its vote Monday on a resolution to support approximately 250,000 American military men and women as they prepare for battle.
County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, R-Sterling, introduced the resolution that commended the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines for their patriotism. Delgaudio's resolution sought to acknowledge that, while many on the Board of Supervisors and in the community have their reservations about the war, the members of the armed forces have the county's support.