Hello,

This week, Susan Collins was asked if she bears any responsibility for sending veterans like me to Iraq. Her response: “That was Platner's decision to serve. He was not drafted.”

Instead of just admitting it was wrong to vote again and again for the Iraq War, Susan Collins has apparently decided that she’s going to blame those of us that signed up to serve our country. That somehow it’s our fault that she and other establishment politicians voted for a war that we all knew was based on a lie.

Real leadership is admitting when you were wrong, not doubling down for decades.

There hasn’t been a draft in over 50 years. Every single one of the 7,000 young men and women who Susan Collins sent to die in Iraq and Afghanistan joined up just like I did. It’s a disgusting slap in the face to their families and a callous disregard for their sacrifice to say that just because any of us signed up, that the politicians like Susan Collins who voted for the war are somehow absolved of the consequences.

One of our nation’s most precious resources is the willingness of young men and women to put on the uniform and lay down their lives for our country. It must never be abused. Susan Collins clearly has no respect for it, though.

I frankly don't want to hear Susan Collins say "thank you for your service" ever again.

Because her words mean nothing. They always have, always will.

In solidarity,

Graham Platner