Veterans' group forms Kentucky chapter.

This morning, I joined a select group of participants in a conference call from a new Veterans' group that has formed in Kentucky. Here's the group's news release that accompanied my invitation:

On Thursday, August 9, Vets for Freedom, a non-partisan organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, will launch its Kentucky chapter to educate Members of Congress and fellow citizens about the need to support the U.S. mission in Iraq. The effort will begin with a television ad thanking Senator McConnell for supporting General Petraeus’s counterinsurgency strategy, which is already showing strong signs of progress.

"As our Senators and Representatives return to their home states for August, Iraq veterans will be organizing and standing up across the country to make our pro-mission, pro-victory voices heard," said Pete Hegseth executive director of Vets for Freedom. Hegseth served with the 101st Airborne (Fort Campbell, KY) in Baghdad and Samarra in 2005-2006. "These Kentucky vets know first-hand the need to fight and defeat al-Qaeda in Iraq and they understand the devastating consequences of surrender."

During the conference, the group's leader, Pete Hegseth, informed us that the group was formed to counter the Liberal (pro MOVEON.org) views on Iraq. From his answer to my question regarding Petraeus' anticipated September 15th FINAL report on the "surge", I came away with the knowledge that the group wants the troops to "stay the Course" until Al Qaeda is defeated.

Here's the McConnell ad, other ads, and the group's website.

I suspect this will be a tough sell in Kentucky, for instance, where 60% already want the troops home by December! But then again, maybe, the group's efforts will help change minds.