Inappropriate Comments Are a Distraction from Important Issues
NEW YORK - The nation's first and largest Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans organization, IAVA (iava.org), released the following statement today from Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff in response to Senator John Kerry's remarks Monday.

"Senator Kerry should issue an immediate apology for his misguided and inappropriate remarks," said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq War veteran, and the founder and executive director of IAVA. "His comments, and his refusal to offer an apology, have angered many troops and veterans, and have become an unfortunate distraction from the real issues that face this nation."

"Let's not forget that while our politicians are busy fighting each other, our troops are busy fighting the enemy. Right now there is a US Soldier missing somewhere in Iraq, but our leadership in Washington and the American media is consumed by this latest example of politics at its worst," Rieckhoff said. "It's time to get back to the issues that matter."