IAVA chief claims remark was about who fragged the most and not meant as disrespect.

by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

Sometimes I wish people would just do the simple and correct thing when they open their mouth to change feet:  Apologize for an un-smart comment and move on.

But, no ...

Most people have to explain and explain ... and explain some more in an attempt to make it appear that what they said really was correct and really wasn't meant to be offensive ... thus trying to put the onus back on the person(s) they offended.

Such is the case of Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

Yesterday we reported that Rieckhoff, in response to a soldier killing five fellow troops in Iraq, said, in part:

"Unlike during the Vietnam War, today's military is a professional, all-volunteer force."

This remark greatly offended me ... as it did Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland ... and, we let our feelings be known.  It also offended many other veterans as noted by the angry comments at the bottom of the article.

Instead of just saying, "I'm sorry.  It was an insensitive remark and doesn't reflect my true feelings.  I apologize," Rieckhoff tried to explain his way out of it.

His PR person sent me this email saying that the statement was from Rieckhoff:

“IAVA has never prioritized one generation of veterans over another. Every year, we have joined dozens of veterans' service organizations in supporting the Independent Budget, presenting a united front to Congress in our recommendations for VA funding. Our top legislative recommendation this year is advance appropriations, the priority of every leading veterans' organization.

To say that we intentionally disparaged or disrespected Vietnam veterans is completely untrue. Vietnam veterans have served as role models to this generation of veterans, and to this organization. Our statement merely pointed out the fact that ‘fragging’ has been exceedingly rare in Iraq and Afghanistan compared to Vietnam. There have been only a handful of incidents of intentional homicide in Iraq, while the AP reports at least 600 incidents of fragging in Vietnam between 1969 and 1971. Military historians link this dramatic change to the creation of the all-volunteer military.

IAVA will continue to work hard to advocate on behalf of veterans of all generations.”

OOPS!  We have some problems.  The first sentence is completely false.  Just look at the name of the group.  Of course they've prioritized the "new veterans." 

Then, why go into the fragging explanation?  It makes no sense.  Rieckhoff is saying, "My new guys don't frag as much as you old guys did."  What does that mean?  Why say it at all?  His original statement should have leaned on the problems our GIs are having getting adequate mental health care, not a frag count.

When Jim Strickland read this, he emailed me:

Not true. The comparisons made have not been apples to apples. To compare Iraq to Vietnam is to compare a swimming pool to the Pacific.

That dog don't hunt.

But, to make things even worse, Rieckhoff kept over-explaining, trying to dig his way out of his blunder.  He posted a statement on the IAVA web site much like the one above ... but, with more and more and more explaining.  He just had to cover more bases:

IAVA Honors and Supports All Generations of Veterans

IAVA has never prioritized one generation of veterans over another. Every year, we have joined dozens of veterans' service organizations in supporting the Independent Budget, presenting a united front to Congress in our recommendations for VA funding. Our top legislative recommendation this year is advance appropriations, the priority of every leading veterans' organization and a step that will benefit generations of veterans. We are working with the leading veterans organizations including, Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, on this and all other actions that will benefit veterans and their families.

IAVA has never intentionally disparaged or disrespected veterans of any generation. Vietnam veterans have served as role models to this generation of veterans, and to this organization. Our statement merely pointed out the fact that "fragging" has been exceedingly rare in Iraq and Afghanistan compared to Vietnam. There have been only a handful of incidents of intentional homicide in Iraq, while the AP reports at least 600 incidents of fragging in Vietnam between 1969 and 1971. Military historians link this dramatic change to the creation of the all-volunteer military. In drawing this comparison, our intent was to illustrate that incidents of fragging have been rare and do not characterize veterans as a whole. IAVA has always been committed to pushing back on negative stereotypes for all veterans.

Drafted, volunteer, or otherwise we respect the service of all veterans. IAVA will continue to work hard to advocate on behalf of veterans of all generations.

Mr. Rieckhoff, your non-apology is not accepted.

And, to the staff at IAVA:  Keep Paul Rieckhoff away from all computers.  He's the only person I know who can dig a hole with a keyboard.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, IAVA, Paul Rieckhoff, Vietnam veterans, draftees, fragged, fragging