Twenty Southern Arizona veterans today condemned Conservatives for Congress for using our troops’ safety as fodder for a cheap political attack ad.

These Arizona heroes, including retired General John Wickham, who served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan; retired General Bill Van Dyke, former Adjutant General of Arizona; and Joe Reagan, former Commander of the Arizona Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), called upon Conservatives for Congress to take down the ad immediately in a joint statement issued today:

“The bogus ad by Conservatives for Congress takes an issue of life and death for our troops and turns it into fodder for a cheap political attack. What a disgrace. Shame on them for disrespecting our brave men and women in uniform.  As a veteran, I call upon Conservatives for Congress to take down their ad immediately and apologize to Southern Arizona’s veteran community for this garbage.”

“Gabrielle Giffords is a one of the strongest supporters Southern Arizona veterans and military families have ever known. She looks out for our military families and veterans, and her commitment to protecting our troops and the integrity of their missions is beyond question.”

The ad—which cuts off General David Petraeus before he has finished speaking—makes an issue of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ questioning of General Petraeus before the House Armed Services Committee.  Giffords asked General Petraeus about the military policy of reducing fuel consumption.  Many U.S. troops have lost their lives or been injured on fuel resupply convoys; more than 170 in 2007 alone.

Current U.S. military policy calls for reducing fuel consumption as a way to lower the risk to our troops’ life and limb.  In addition, General Petraeus’ 2006 Counterinsurgency Manual specifically notes that the development of a stable electric supply is part of a successful counterinsurgency strategy.

Arizona veterans taking part in today’s joint statement:

Retired General John Wickham, U.S. Army Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan

Retired General Bill Van Dyke, former Adjutant General of Arizona

Joe Reagan, former Commander of the Arizona Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW)

Stanley Abrams, Captain (Ret.), U.S. Air Force; Arizona Air National Guardsman

Bob Berry, Master Sergeant (Ret.), U.S. Air Force

Carol Borges, former military X-ray technician

Robert Cohen, retired officer second class

Peter Collinson, Retired E 4

Richard Feeney

Gunny Ferguson

Bob Gent, Lt. Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Air Force

Robert Grant, Staff Sergeant (Ret.), U.S. Marine Corps

Donald Gunther, Retired Airman, First Class, U.S. Air Force; Korean War veteran

Tom Hestwood

Glen Huffman

Nelson Miller, retired Navy SEAL

Robert Parsons

Dan Ross, retired A4

Bill Valenzuela

Victor Walker, Master Sergeant Chief (Ret.), U.S. Navy

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.

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