Mr. Mark P. Mays
CEO, Clear Channel Communications Inc.
200 East Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
Dear Mr. Mays,
At the time we sign this letter, 3,801 American soldiers have been
killed in Iraq, and another 27,936 have been wounded. 160,000 others
awoke this morning on foreign sand, far from home, to face the danger
and uncertainty of another day at war.
Although Americans of goodwill debate the merits of this war, we can
all agree that those who serve with such great courage deserve our
deepest respect and gratitude. That is why Rush Limbaugh's recent
characterization of troops who oppose the war as "phony soldiers" is
such an outrage.
Our troops are fighting and dying to bring to others the freedoms
that many take for granted. It is unconscionable that Mr. Limbaugh
would criticize them for exercising the fundamentally American right
to free speech. Mr. Limbaugh has made outrageous remarks before, but
this affront to our soldiers is beyond the pale.
The military, like any community within the United States, includes
members both for and against the war. Senior generals, such as
General John Batiste and Paul Eaton, have come out against the war
while others have publicly supported it. A December 2006 poll
conducted by the Military Times found just 35 percent of service
members approved of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq,
compared to 42 percent who disapproved. From this figure alone, it is
clear that Mr. Limbaugh's insult is directed at thousands of American
service members.
Active and retired members of our armed forces have a unique
perspective on the war and offer a valuable contribution to our
national debate. In August, seven soldiers wrote an op-ed expressing
their concern with the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, since
then, two of those seven soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in
Iraq.
Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected to Mr.
Limbaugh's unpatriotic and indefensible comments on your broadcast.
We trust you will agree that not a single one of our sons, daughters,
neighbors and friends serving overseas is a "phony soldier." We call
on you to publicly repudiate these comments that call into question
their service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for
his comments.