Charles Skelton: “The purpose of our military in this country is to protect our freedoms and to protect American interests. Today I speak…”

“The purpose of our military in this country is to protect our freedoms and to protect American interests. Today I speak for the veterans, I speak for those in uniform, I speak for the military who fought for America against Saddam Hussein and against Iraq. Some of those Americans died. Some were injured. Some came home very, very sick and still suffer as a result of toxics obtained in that area and from that war. What kind of a message are we sending the troops that now stand guard in Macedonia, in Korea, Ft. Leonard Wood, anywhere else around the world, if we do not adopt this resolution unanimously? We should not put business interests ahead of those who fought for and sacrificed for our country, whether those business interests be tobacco or otherwise. Our American military should come first. It is up to the Congress under the Constitution to raise and maintain the military. I stand by them. Let us work with them. Let us support them. This is an opportunity to do just that.”