Open Letter to Congressman Mike D. Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

Guest Opinion by Lee McInnis

Congressman Rogers,

 As you know, more than 27,000 Alabamians are currently serving in the US Armed Forces. Of the thirteen Americans who have lost their lives in this conflict, several werefrom Alabama or had close ties to this state. You claim to be an advocate for the men and women who serve our nation in the armed forces. It is time for you to step up and give those statements meaning.

Multiple sources are reporting that a number of US troops were injured in an Iranian missile attack on Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait over the weekend. Another attackon a US air base in Saudi Arabia may have wounded several other US personnel and damaged two E-3 Sentry aircraft. At this point, there are few details, as the Pentagon has made no formal comment on the attacks. 

Congressman, as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, the American people need you to do your job and provide oversight of the conduct of this war.

From the outset, Sec. of Defense Hegseth has refused to provide the American people with accurate information about the conduct of the war. For instance, DoD reportedthat the first six days of the war cost US taxpayers $11 billion. Soon after, DoD requested an additional $200 billion in funding to prosecute the war. Forty-five days later, Sec. Hegseth appeared before your committee and said the war had cost only $25 billion. Hegsethwould like us to believe that 45 days of the war cost only slightly more than the first six. As ludicrous as that is, you did not question those numbers.

Today, multiple well-sourced reports say that damage from Iranian attacks on US equipment and installations is far worse than the Pentagon is willing to admit, and that the damage could run into the tens of billions of dollars. This makes Sec. Hegseth’s $25 billion claim even less believable.

This war has driven up the prices of diesel fuel and fertilizer, crushing our rural communities. Gasoline prices are as high as they have been in four years, further deepening the affordability crisis our families face. The inability to bring this war to a conclusion is diminishing our standing in the international community and alienating us from our allies. Sec. Hegseth has, at best, been disingenuous in his statementsabout the war and may now be withholding information about US casualties.

Congressman, the young men and women in our armed forces are the best and brightest this country has to offer. They are our sons and daughters, our fathers and mothers,our husbands and wives, and our friends and neighbors. They deserve an advocate in the House of Representatives. If you are not willing to answer that call, please step aside for someone who will.

Sincerely,

Lee McInnis

Lee McInnis is an Alabama native with 30 years of experience in the U.S. Army and the Defense Intelligence Community. His service included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the Democratic nominee for Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District seat.

For more information on McInnis and his campaign, visit https://leemcinnis4alabama.com.

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