U.S. troops remain in peril in the Middle East, sitting ducks for the next attack
The horror of war is something most of us cannot imagine. You can watch documentaries and read stories. But unless you’ve been directly involved in war or you have lost a family member or friend, it seems so far away.
In January 2024, three U.S. Army reservists were killed in Tower 22, a logistical base in Jordan near the Syrian border, in addition to more than 40 other service members who were injured, many with traumatic brain injuries.
• Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, age 46, of Willingboro, New Jersey
• Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, age 24, of Waycross, Georgia
• Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, age 23, of Savannah, Georgia
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, U.S. troops stationed in Iraq have been attacked more than 60 times. And in Syria, our troops have been attacked more than 90 times.
Our U.S. military has about 900 troops in Syria, scattered mostly in the northeast in places like the al Omar Oil field and the al-Shaddadi base. And in Iraq, there are about 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Union III, which is the main coalition base located in Bagdad and the Ain al-Asad air base, which borders Iran.
I recently received an email from Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents the Third Congressional District, stating that she is available to support veterans.
Gluesenkamp Perez voted “no” on House Joint Resolution 79 in July 2023, a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency in Iraq, which would have extracted our troops out of Iraq. She also voted “no” on House Joint Resolution 71, a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency in Syria, which would have allowed our troops to come home. And she voted “no’ on House Joint Resolution 74, a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency in Yemen, where the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists operate.
From my point of view, it’s rather shocking that Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez would vote against bringing our troops home from overseas foreign wars. What really confounded me is when Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez voted “no” on House Resolution 4366, an appropriations bill that would have funded the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez continues to speak out of both sides of her mouth, promising to help military veterans while voting to keep our troops stationed overseas in the middle of foreign wars.
Our troops are stuck in the Middle East and they are easy targets for the next attack.
Barry Sullivan
Clark County
