Letters: Retired military officersupports Barack Obama

As a senior retired military officer in Del Norte County, I have decided to support the Democratic candidate for president, Barack Obama.

Like Gen. Colin Powell, I do not like the way that the Republican Party has been captured by far-right extremists and bigots. Having worked at all levels of the military, which included air combat operations similar to Sen. McCain's, worked in the Pentagon, lobbied for defense legislation on Capitol Hill and world-wide arms sales, I can say much is amiss in our national priorities. I have personally witnessed the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars and seen the failures of the Vietnam War.

While I am proud to serve my country, much of what I saw was morally wrong. I want a better, peaceful future for all of us, including my newly born granddaughter!

John McCain has lost credibility with me for many reasons. McCain comes from a long line of military officers, and is used to the "military solution." As a peer of McCain, I wonder why he has not learned from the Vietnam War. His support of the Iraq War demonstrates he is willing to repeat our past military failures, at the cost of billions of dollars and loss of thousands of lives. I find this unacceptable.

Seeing the list of dead and injured military personnel in Iraq brings tears to my eyes. Our military should only die when we have to defend this country. Instead, they are dying for oil and those who promote the political corporate complex. Since I used to work with defense contractors, I understand their goal is the bottom line. This is not a time to exacerbate world tensions or take simplistic actions without a full understanding of complexities in conflicts. We cannot simply be "rough riders" like McCain's hero, Teddy Roosevelt.

Need we be reminded that the Iraq War had false reasons for engagement, was guided more by fear and blind optimism than reality, was poorly executed and will never be "won"?

Barack Obama will be a levelheaded president who can look at a wide range of perspectives and bring leaders of both allies and enemies together. Obama has supported the military but understands that the Bush Doctrine needs to be ended and our reputation depends on working with others. Obama elicits admiration and confidence wherever he goes in the world. World leaders want to work with Obama!

Some of my fellow veterans may not agree with me. It is always much easier to salute and keep quiet about your personal feelings. However, I think the stakes are too high and I have seen too much. I remind you that there are many senior military officers who support Obama. At this crucial time, we must not fall for the lies, racism and ignorance about Obama.

As Colin Powell stated, Obama has the potential to be a "transformational leader" if we are wise enough to elect him.

Al Muelhoefer, Col, USAF, Ret.

Klamath