VP Harris - Pick an Iraq & Afghanistan Vet

Plus, Rahmani Returns

(Correction: In earlier versions, GCV wrote John Kelly instead of Mark Kelly. Oy vey!)

Vice President Harris,

G*d bless you. I don’t envy you. No, sir, I do not.

For the last 3 years, the Democratic and Republican parties have sh*t all over you. Hell, I even joined in the fun.

C’mon, the VEEP stuff was funny. We must remember to laugh at ourselves at times. Humility is important for a leader. Not taking yourself too seriously even though you’re immersed in the deadliest business is a difficult skill set to master.

Anyway, everyone is at your side right now telling you what you should do. All those DC creatures are whispering sweet nothing in your ear. Everyone loves the new girl with a chance at power.

You shouldn’t really listen to me. I’m a classical liberal Zionist who fancies himself a neo-con’s neo-con. Give them the gun! I’ve been voting Democrat for President since Trump descended down those golden escalators.

Sorry. You don’t disparage my hero, John McCain, and then make it up to me. Nah, bruh, that’s not how I’m built. Loyalty means something to me.

Ma’am, I don’t agree with you on anything domestically. I’m pro-2nd Amendment, pro-Life (exception for rape & incest), and anti-DEI. But, alas, I’m still going to pull the lever for you.

Regardless, if I may, I think you should pick an Iraq & Afghan veteran for your Vice President. I know, I know, Shapiro makes a lot of sense. Hey, I would love Shapiro! He’s part of the Tribe! He stood up to anti-semites in Pennsylvania. It makes a lot of sense politically too, because you must keep Pennsylvania to win the election. So, from an Xs & Os perspective, he’s the best pick on the table.

I also understand the allure of Mark Kelly. He’s a vet! He’s a mofo astronaut, and his wife gives you a potent weapon for gun violence. I don’t agree with Gabby, but I understand the appeal. He’s a fine pick, too. Could keep Arizona Blue.

But you have other options. There are 16 Congressional Democrats who are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. In the Senate, you have Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee helicopter pilot. Governor Wes Moore is an Afghan combat veteran who led operations with the storied 101st Airborne. Hell, how about Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat from Virginia? A CIA officer? Sign me up. I’ll even take Mayor Pete, though he annoys the shit out of me.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Some will tell you that it’s not that important to have a veteran on the ticket. Sure, JD Vance is a veteran, but he’s a douchebag. While that’s true, it doesn’t matter because Trump & et al. will zero in on your lack of experience on the world’s stage.

Sure, Trump made a lot of mistakes overseas, but he will now sell his experience against your naivete on the border, which is going to be a salient issue for your enemies. You’re very vulnerable on the border. . . for good reason.

Consider shoring all this up by selecting a young Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. I would counsel against Admiral McCraven. I’ve met him, and he’s an exemplary Admiral. However, I think we need to push the general officers off the stage after two lost wars.

VP Harris, you have a chance to send a subtle message to America’s Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans: I hear you, and it won’t be business as usual.

You have an opportunity to pick someone who will protect your left flank from a Department of Defense that is in dire need of mass firings. Your DoD lost two wars over the last twenty years. They’re mired in disciplinary problems. Part of that is because recruiting is down. Another part is because they’re being asked to do more now with the smallest military since World War II.

Regardless, things must change at DoD. And, ma’am, you’re a change agent.

Pick a veteran, VP Harris. Pick a new one that can protect you from Afghanistan (another weakness) and that can highlight the importance of NATO. All of these picks above will speak to that.

I’m GCV4Harris, so, essentially, you had me at hello.

But I think it would help you win.

In return, could you do me a favor: let combat veterans smoke pot? We’ve earned that.

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Our First Poet

Today we published our first Afghan poet, Shir Aqa Sarbaz

My house my home

My land full of bloom

My love my culture

My land full of nature

Oh God! what happened

Now everywhere is full of torture

We run and we run

to be safe from the gunman

We leave, we immigrate

To make our lifes great

We search, We starve

But can't find something to eat

Oh God! what happened

Why they kill me for faith 

My veins are burning 

My country men are dying

We deserve to live better

but why our death does not matter

And, My house, my home

Was land full of bloom

At GCV+F, we provide a platform for all of those affected by war. Your voice matters. Please consider helping us in this important endeavor.

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More Rahmani

Our first official contributor, Colonel Abdul Rahman Rahmani, returned to Tales of the Afghan Security Forces. This short episode drops tomorrow. Watch the clip and give it a try. Help us elevate the voices of those who protected Americans for 20 years.