Troops for Fred.

From a new favorite South Carolina blog, Marie's Two Cents:
(I don't think I need to add anymore. Go visit her.)
Here is a *snip* of a letter from one Soldier To Another:


Vets For Fred

Dear Fellow Veteran:

While most of us are stateside enjoying the comforts of home with family and friends during this holiday season, hundreds of thousands of brave men and women will remain abroad defending our freedom and that of others.

We are in the trenches stateside helping Fred Thompson run for President because he is the most experienced and consistent conservative leader of the major candidates. It is imperative to have a solid Commander-in-Chief to lead our nation during time of war, and Fred is that man.

Some of our troops in Iraq agree, and are showing their support for Fred there. You can see more on the Vets for Fred site.

Last month, Fred rolled out his plan to revitalize our military in a speech at the Citadel entitled: "Four Pillars of a Revitalized National Defense" which you can review by clicking here. His plan is being widely hailed as a substantive and sound policy proposal.

Fred's plan increases the defense budget to 4.5% of GDP and builds a "million member" ground force with and Army end strength of 775,000 organized into 64 brigade combat teams and increase active duty Marine Corps forces by 50,000 to 225,000. This will enable us to handle peacetime and wartime missions without wearing out our troops or increasing the vulnerability of the United States. As Fred stated, "Half-measures and small increases will no longer do."

Here is what a people have said about Fred's plan:

*Investor's Business Daily:

"Fred Thompson wants a million-man ground force and more modern equipment on the ground, in the air and on the water. The arsenal of democracy needs some retooling....Once again the U.S. military is depleted and exhausted...It may be time for another buildup like Reagan's that brought down the evil empire and gave us the means for victory in Desert Storm."

*The Weekly Standard:

"Fred Thompson staked out a Reaganesque position on defense spending and the need to increase the size of the military... Thompson is talking about a real build-up of the kind that this administration should have undertaken from the moment it entered office, but failed to do even after the attacks on 9/11."

*The National Review:

"While most candidates have called for increasing the size of the military, Thompson laid out a detailed plan to achieve that end...Thompson has set a standard of specificity, conservatism, and soundness that we would like to see the other Republican candidates measure up to."

Our troops, veterans and their families deserve a Commander in Chief who is ready on Day One, not someone who needs on-the-job training when it comes to foreign affairs and national security.

Fred Thompson will be ready to lead the minute he is sworn in, and that is why we are supporting him for President.

Sincerely yours,

James E. Livingston
Co-Chairman
Veterans for Fred
MAJGEN, USMC (Ret.)
Medal of Honor Recipient

Joe Repya
National Executive Director
Veterans for Fred
LTC, USA (Ret.)

Vets For Fred

Press Release

Thompsons Troops