‘We actually fought in your damn wars!’: Biden turns back on veterans during confrontation over war record

Jonas Parker

Hooligan

‘We actually fought in your damn wars!’: Biden turns back on veterans during confrontation over war record
by Spencer Neale | March 05, 2020 12:51 PM



Two veterans who confronted former Vice President Joe Biden about his voting record on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars believe the Democrat should be disqualified from the race.

Air Force veteran Michael Thurman and another Army veteran told Biden he "enabled" the Iraq War, which began in March 2003, during a confrontation at the Buttercup Diner in Oakland on Super Tuesday.

"We are just wondering why we should vote for someone who voted for a war and enabled a war that killed thousands of our brothers and sisters and countless Iraqi civilians," said Thurman, a conscientious objector. "You enabled that war. And you also gave a medal to the man who enabled that war and caused that war. Their blood is on your hands, as well. You are disqualified, sir. You are disqualified."

Biden shot back at Thurman, saying his son Beau Biden was dead too before turning his back on the men and walked away as they continued to admonish the former senator for his voting record.

"My brothers and sisters died in Iraq and Afghanistan. He enabled that to happen," Thurman said. "He is disqualified. No way he can be president. They are dead. Millions are dead in Iraq. He will not be allowed. Trump is more anti-war than Joe Biden."

The crowd inside the diner began to chant Biden's name as the Army veteran behind the camera yelled, "We actually fought in your damn wars!"

Biden's son Beau, a former Delaware attorney general, died in 2015 at the age of 46. He did not die during his service in the war, but rather after losing a fight with brain cancer.

Though Biden has said he was opposed to the war from "the moment" it began, he voted in the Senate to authorize military force in Iraq in 2002. In 2018, Biden presented former President George W. Bush with the Liberty Medal for his "support of veterans." More than 4,500 American troops and 200,000 Iraqi civilians have died in Iraq since the war began.

The veterans are part of the post-9/11 anti-war grassroots organization About Face: Veterans Against The War, whose stated mission is to "mobilize the military community against militarism at home & abroad." A representative for the group confirmed the identity of Thurman to the Washington Examiner and said the Army veteran who was behind the camera asked to remain anonymous.

A 2019 Pew Research poll found that 64% of veterans believe the Iraq War was "not worth fighting considering the costs versus the benefits to the United States." Fifty-eight percent agreed to the same statement on Afghanistan.
 

Pinecone

Has No Life - Lives on TB
"We are just wondering why we should vote for someone who voted for a war and enabled a war that killed thousands of our brothers and sisters and countless Iraqi civilians," said Thurman, a conscientious objector.

OK, I'm confused. If he's a conscientious objector, did he or did he not serve in the military? In the 60's they went and hid out in Canada and didn't serve.
 

hunybee

Veteran Member
"We are just wondering why we should vote for someone who voted for a war and enabled a war that killed thousands of our brothers and sisters and countless Iraqi civilians," said Thurman, a conscientious objector.

OK, I'm confused. If he's a conscientious objector, did he or did he not serve in the military? In the 60's they went and hid out in Canada and didn't serve.

SERVICE AS A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

Two types of service are available to conscientious objectors, and the type assigned is determined by the individual’s specific beliefs. The person who is opposed to any form of military service will be assigned to alternative service - described below. The person whose beliefs allow him to serve in the military but in a noncombatant capacity will serve in the Armed Forces but will not be assigned training or duties that include using weapons.

ALTERNATIVE SERVICE

Conscientious objectors opposed to serving in the military will be placed in the Selective Service Alternative Service Program. This program attempts to match COs with local employers. Many types of jobs are available, however the job must be deemed to make a meaningful contribution to the maintenance of the national health, safety, and interest. Examples of alternative service are jobs in:

  • conservation
  • caring for the very young or very old
  • education
  • health care
Length of service in the program will equal the amount of time a man would have served in the military, usually 24 months.


 

zeker

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I don't know these vets or their rational

but I am assuming from their stance,

that they served, and have had second thots afterward?

thereby not wanting to see others expended in pointless endevours
 

beDplorable

Senior Member
asthma as a teenager, not a conscientious objector


If Biden were president, he'd be in minority with no military service

If selected commander in chief, Biden would join the ranks of 19 U.S. presidents who never served in the armed forces, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The former vice president received five student draft deferments during the Vietnam War.

The Obama campaign released Biden's Selective Service records in 2008 at the request of the Associated Press. Those records show that he first received a deferment as an undergraduate at the University of Delaware and later as a law student at Syracuse University.

After a physical exam in April 1968, Biden was given the Selective Service classification "1-Y," which meant he could only be drafted in case of a national emergency. An Obama campaign spokesman said Biden was "disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager."

Biden's supporters argue that, though he never personally served, he has extensive experience with military issues as a former vice president and longtime senator. He was a top adviser to President Obama on military issues, particularly the conflict in Afghanistan, and was deeply involved in foreign policy as a senator.
[snip]
 

Thunderbird

Veteran Member
After a physical exam in April 1968, Biden was given the Selective Service classification "1-Y," which meant he could only be drafted in case of a national emergency. An Obama campaign spokesman said Biden was "disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager."

I had very severe asthma as a teenager. Did not disqualify me.
 

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
After a physical exam in April 1968, Biden was given the Selective Service classification "1-Y," which meant he could only be drafted in case of a national emergency. An Obama campaign spokesman said Biden was "disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager."

I had very severe asthma as a teenager. Did not disqualify me.


your file didn't have 2-3-4 letters in it with VIP letterheads across the tops - Biden was born with a silver spoon ...
 

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I was born in 1964, and don't remember that much of Vietnam. Could someone explain, or point me to a place where I can learn about draft deferments during Vietnam? I know there were medical deferments, deferments for critical wartime jobs, what other classifications did they have?
Thanks in advance for the info.
 

Satanta

Stone Cold Crazy
_______________
My dad was in the Nam. He volluntered.

I would have as well. Not for God or Country but simply to kill Commies.

I would not want someone like biden or McCain serving with me.

Trump deferred out too-to me none of that matters with either of them. Simply put-Biden reminds me of a greay sack of Mayo someone pulled across a Barbershop floor then tossed in a dumpster of rotting pigshit in the Summer heat.

I know someone who served and is a Conscietious Objector-problem is he turned full-blown Commie siding with the likes of the Black Panthers, Obama and, if he still voted he'd vote for Sanders. He gets VA bennies too.

Him bringing up his lawyer son who died basicaly of natural causes-and not a damn person who supports him will check facts-shows he is a POS.
 

ltd

Higher Ground
your file didn't have 2-3-4 letters in it with VIP letterheads across the tops - Biden was born with a silver spoon ...
.. guys like Sleepy Creepy Joe were born on third base and live their whole lives thinking that THEY hit a triple .....:mad:
 

Ta-wo-di

Veteran Member
I was born in 1964, and don't remember that much of Vietnam. Could someone explain, or point me to a place where I can learn about draft deferments during Vietnam? I know there were medical deferments, deferments for critical wartime jobs, what other classifications did they have?
Thanks in advance for the info.
AlfaMan, For NAM, they had deferments for being in school as well. I had one for college and then when I got out, they deferred me medically since the war was winding down and they were being more restrictive.
 
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