Women in War: How Major Tammy Duckworth Lost Her Legs and What She Says Is Wrong with the War in Iraq
The military is about accomplishing the mission. But what is the mission? Our military can accomplish any mission you want to put in front of them. We have an incredible military but we need to make sure that we use that might in the most appropriate and judicious manner and I just don’t think that’s been done.
SM: You say you couldn’t speak out against the war back then. What has changed now?
Tammy Duckworth: I can speak out to you when I’m on my own time, when I’m not in uniform. I’m no longer on active duty and because I ran for political office I did inform my superior officers and then made statements as a private citizen. These statements should never be taken in context of my rank in the military or the opinion of the military; they’re only my opinions. By nature of my injuries and being sort of thrust into the spotlight I was put in that situation where I ended up having to say things.
In 2006, Duckworth ran as a Democrat for a seat in Congress against Republican Peter Roskam. It was an incredibly competitive election and ultimately Roskam won. A few months later the governor of Illinois appointed her to be the director of the Illinois Veterans’ Affairs Department.
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Your comments
| fun_in_the_sun | |
| I think we have to listen to what Tammy said about the troops not having freedom of speech to speak out against the war. One of my friends is in Iraq and he agrees that we just need to get out of there. We need to start listening to the soldiers themselves who have seen everything first hand, because only they can tell us the truth about the situation. | |
| asya | |
| what i appreciate most about this interview is that it's not sensationalist like many people out there. tammy does not simply bash on the administration but intellectually defines the problem and what we can do to alleviate the situation. | |
| LILA -- Los Angeles | |
| Tammy--thank you so much for shedding light on the military experience. While I respect the fact that the troops put their lives on the line for their country, with this war (that I don't agree with), it's been rather hard to not think of the troops as being "brainwashed." Now I feel like I can't really say that anymore thanks to your story and explanation of what it's like and what it means to be a U.S. soldier. Thank you. | |
| blackie | |
| Tammy, if you happen to read this, don't be so sure that you CAN'T wear those aforementioned summer dresses and wedge heels. I saw a girl on the news recently wearing SHORT SHORTS--damn near hot pants and SHE had lost a leg at 10. They're called LISA legs--just the thing for a night out on the town, when you don't want to be wheeled around or wear the "industrial" legs. Check 'em out IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY--they, fit HIGH, too. I THINK they're made by a firm called FDR orthotics. | |
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