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Ruben Gallego Urges Democrats to Rethink Troop Support Before Iran Vote

Senator Ruben Gallego is urging Democrats to oppose funding for the Iran war, emphasizing that true troop support means avoiding unnecessary conflicts. Drawing from his Iraq combat experience—where he lost 23 comrades and suffers from PTSD—he highlights veterans' struggles with VA healthcare, employment, and therapy cuts. Gallego criticizes leaders like Lindsey Graham and Pete Hegseth for casual war rhetoric, while referencing the Democratic Party's historical caution since the Iraq War vote. As a potential 2028 presidential candidate, he frames the issue around working-class daily hardships. His stance emerges ahead of a key congressional funding vote, with Democrats facing internal and external pressures over military policy.

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Ruben Gallego Urges Democrats to Rethink Troop Support Before Iran Vote

Senator Ruben Gallego is calling on Democrats to shift their approach to supporting troops as Congress prepares to vote on funding for the Iran war, arguing that preventing soldiers from being sent to "stupid wars" is the most patriotic form of support.

Gallego's Combat Experience and PTSD

  • Deployed to Iraq as a Marine at age 24, Gallego witnessed the deaths of 23 comrades and survived two IED attacks, including one that killed his best friend.
  • He was initially denied a PTSD diagnosis by a case worker and continues to grapple with adjusting to civilian life, regularly intervening to prevent veteran suicides.

Veterans' Healthcare and Employment Struggles

  • At a San Antonio town hall, veterans reported:
    • Rejections from Veterans Affairs for care and employment due to perceived lack of experience.
    • Remote therapy sessions forced by VA budget cuts, often conducted in shared professional spaces.
    • Concerns about the military's increasing politicization, with active-duty members openly displaying political affiliations.

Political Context and 2028 Presidential Ambitions

  • Gallego referenced the Democratic Party's unresolved trauma from the 2002 Iraq War authorization vote, which has led to cautious stances on military conflicts.
  • His narrow 2024 Senate win in Arizona, a swing state where Trump outperformed Harris, positions him as a potential 2028 candidate focused on working-class issues.
  • He criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Senator Lindsey Graham for flippant war rhetoric, and accused President Trump of pursuing Iran conflict for political gain.

Criticism of War Rhetoric and Human Cost

  • Gallego condemned Graham's comparison of an Iran invasion to the Battle of Iwo Jima, calling it dismissive of war's dangers and long-term consequences for families.
  • During the town hall, he embraced a Gold Star family member whose brother died in Iraq in 2003, underscoring failures to learn from past wars.
  • He asserted that politicians who equate opposing war with not supporting troops ignore the recurring toll of troop casualties, stating: "more and more of our troops die over and over again."
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