Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management

Ms. Frederica Wilson; Politicizing our warriors who died…shameful! October 20, 2017

Recently, a Special Forces team was attacked by an estimated 50 ISIS fighters in Niger.  Unfortunately, 4 US Service Members paid the ultimate price and are not coming home.  President Trump made a call to the wife of one of the fallen soldiers.  This has created a very unnecessary political storm.  I have heard numerous pundits comment on President Trump’s comments.

Before I comment further, let me understand the situation.  So the President of the United States (the Commander in Chief) calls the wife of one of his soldiers who died and who happens to be in her car with a US Representative and nobody says: “Mr. President…by the way we are on speaker phone and the Honorable Representative Wilson is in the car.”?  Not doing this certainly smacks of some ulterior motives on behalf of Ms. Wilson.  Who does this?  Nobody…. unless they have ulterior motives.

While Ms. Wilson wears ridiculous hats as part of her persona, she is NOT and NEVER HAS, been in combat.  She is NOT a veteran and, in fact, she has voted numerous times against veterans’ issues.  According to VoteSmart.org:

“…measures that Wilson opposed included a bill that could have ensured that families of four soldiers slain in Afghanistan in 2013 received death and burial benefits. […]

Despite Wilson’s claim to be “committed to honoring our service members, not only with words but with deeds,” she has voted against most bills ensuring continued funding for veteran benefits, including payments to widows of fallen soldiers, the vote-tracking site shows.

She has also opposed measures designed to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In March 2013, Wilson opposed the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act,” which prevented a government shutdown and provided funds for the U.S. military and the VA.

The bill, which passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law by the Obama administration, provided funding to the military and the VA until the next government shutdown showdown. […]

Later in the year, Wilson again voted against a resolution aimed at ensuring benefits paid to the veterans and their families would not be affected by the government shutdown in October that year. […]

The congresswoman also opposed numerous bills aimed at improving VA services provided the veterans and their families. (FoxNews.com)”

So while Representative Wilson feigns disgust at President Trump actually calling the wife of a slain soldier, she does not appear to actually support veterans.  Acta Non Verba, Ms. Wilson, Actions not Words!

With regard to the point that President Trump said that the soldier…his soldier.  (As the Commander in Chief, this soldier was under the command of President Trump): “Knew what he signed up for…” is irrelevant.  In fact, it is a nod to the bravery of the soldier.  While Representative Wilson goes to great lengths to state that soldiers “…sign up to serve and not to die…” is facile and ignorant.  She has never served and she does not understand.

Many people are taking this supposed comment as an insult or insensitivity on the part of the President…that is, in my opinion, objectively wrong…a warrior…any warrior…knows that their job has the risk of injury or death. It is the warrior ethos that enables that person to do their job in spite of the risk…that young driver in Niger was a true warrior…He KNEW the risks…but he did not cower in the face of the risks…he did his job…that is the true test of courage. As the incomparable Mark Twain said: “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear–not absence of fear.”…I say to all four of those killed…”

While you laughingly referred to yourself as a Rock Star in response to General Kelly’s very pointed commentsGeneral Kelly’s very pointed comments, you ma’am are NOT a rock star.  You are a shameless human being and a blight on our system.  (I am starting the clock to see how long it takes someone to call me a racist….par for the course).  Mr. Wilson has already played the race card…. Please contact Ms. Wilson here.