GOP leaders are two-faced

To the editor:

I cannot believe how two-faced Republican leaders have become. Veterans Day is a day for real veterans. U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who has a son who is a Marine Corps officer, put a letter in my local newspaper thanking veterans for their service. But he has voted five times against VA funding to take care of veterans who have been hurt in the defense of their country.

Vice President Cheney, who got five deferments during the Vietnam War and lied to convince everyone to invade Iraq, used Veterans Day to further his agenda.

President Bush, who skirted actual service in the National Guard, picked the days before Veterans Day to give the Medal of Freedom to Muhammad Ali. I guess this was one draft dodger congratulating another. That was a slap in the face to every Vietnam-era veteran.

I think all veterans agree that since we are in this war we need to finish it. So finish it. Do not prolong it so people can get elected. We could have won this war from the very start if the government would have sent enough troops to do the job. The generals who told the administration the same thing were retired and ridiculed.

Veterans Day is to honor real veterans who put serving their country before their families, careers and private agendas. All of you right-wing chicken hawks who did not serve a day in the military deserve to have your voices heard, but please do not embarrass yourselves and the nation by acting like great patriots.

ROGER HAYS, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Marble Hill, Mo.