Should vets be able to share their strife with their leaders once they are no longer under their command?

Actually I think he is well within his rights. As active SM we cannot publicly do what he did...if we tried we would more than likely find ourselves under some form of retribution. As a vet he is free to express his opinons that he couldn't before, and say the things that other active SM maybe thinking and cannot publicly express. Finally, he has EARNED the privilege to use the right to free speech that so many other use daily without regard to how they got it.

The question posed was the veteran right or wrong for his comments and should vets be able to share their strife with their leaders once they are no longer under their command?

Well yes a veteran has the right to voice his or her concerns and or opinions and I think veterans deserve to be heard.

The actual comments were biased uneducated and directed anger towards the President of the United States. Nothing the airmen said was factual or relevant to any conversation. There was no question posed or solution offered in his personal attack rant.

But if his venting helps him heal or allows him to mentally cope then he can write one hundred letters. If he can sleep better and start to forgive then he can have my key board and I will mail his letters.

We have earned the right to be heard and paid for that right with pieces of ourselves, so if not us, who? All veterans from the crazy right to the lib left and everywhere in between the political spectrum have two things, the right to express themselves and each other.

So brother, I don't agree with you but I have your back.

Why not? He's no longer in the service and is entitled to his first amendment rights... Lord knows he earned it!

He has every right to have written the letter....he has earned the right and no one should question his patriotism or his beliefs because of the letter. He espoused his views and should be applauded for them and his honesty.

Airman,
First, I want to thank Airman Kolfage and you for your service. After reading his letter, my thoughts are, why make it public and more importantly, who cares? There are many parts to your question and his letter but I am going to boil them down to what I consider important.
To your question should vet be able to share their strife with their leaders, my answer is absolutely, ESPECIALLY if that leader is an elected leader. We live in a Republic, which means those in Washington D.C. are sent there to represent us. It is actually part of their job description to answer questions from ‘we the people’. We do not surrender our citizenship by simply joining the military. If our leaders are not aware of problem, then how can they correct it? For all of the President’s short coming and failures, the fact that he used the Iraqi request that we leave as an easy answer to pull us out, is one of the easiest to write off…especially when considering the major failings and scandals we are now aware of (Fast and Furious, IRS Gate, Benghazi, and [Un]Affordable Care Act).
My thoughts on Airman Kolfage’s letter…I am sorry for his injuries but it is only because of those injuries that I took the time out of my life to read his letter, and I cannot get that time back.

I apologize to everyone who shared their views on this topic, and I was not able to respond. I have been very busy at work, and also had some last minute training this week.

I will share my views on this topic with you all now.

I believe that once we have taken off our uniform for the last time officially, we have more so a right than most to share our opinions and almost a responsibility to our brothers and sisters who cannot speak so freely for themselves. This Senior Airman although seemed to be venting, did what many would not by attacking the snakes head, and saying what he believed in an honest air.

Will it be responded to, more than likely not, but he had the right, and the intestinal fortitude to tell the POTUS the truth that I'm sure he doesn't get to hear. Even if some believe he had some other intent for leaking the document, I see it done to show the public that he will not be another letter that disappears in the pile.

He has the right to say whatever he wants no matter how off base he is. I think what the letter really shows is how much extremism there is on the right towards the POTUS.

He is being easy on POTUS. I have even a rougher time and how POTUS treats the military is beyond words. I can not wait for him to leave office so I do not need to hear any more lies on how he takes carre of the military and VETERANS.

I not only believe that veterans have a right to give full voice to their political views, but also that they have an obligation to do so even it they use that right to vent their spleen. We veterans are the free, unfettered voice of the military.

Regardless of our political affiliations and our ideological proclivities, we tend to resent overwhelmingly when our sacrifices are misdirected or wasted. Given recent events, it is undeniable that the sacrifices of those who served in Afghanistan and the Gulf were wasted.

We Vietnam veterans are sensitive to this. Our sacrifices in Southeast Asia were similarly wasted. Though we succeeded in driving the North Vietnamese invaders back behind their borders, chasing their communist allies with them, at great cost in lives and treasure, the leaders in Washington snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when they pulled all American forces out of South Vietnam and allowed the communists to return and wreck havoc on those poor people.

Isn't this what happened in Iraq? Isn't this what is about to happen again in Afghanistan? Why would anyone be surprised when veterans, especially those who suffered so tragically, object as they see the same stupidity repeated.

I'm willing to bet the farm that the vast majority of those still on active duty are gladdened to hear the veterans speaking out against this crime. Can you imagine how frustrated they would feel if no one spoke these thoughts and they are forced to remain mute?

Well....I seen this letter before...and it's an awesome letter. However, to answer the question, I'm a Vet....Just because I served, doesn't mean I lost my freedom of speech once I get out....as a matter of fact....Veterans have Special Freedom of Speech rights compared to college boys who never served. You keep that attitude...a person will reduce their ability to get punked.
It is our job as veterans to speak out against this regime and also the future Hillary regime when her reign of terror starts and she comes out against soldiers and vets. (And it will, I served during the slick Willie administration)