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Editorial Response- "Video Gate" McHenrys Waterloo?

I am not surprised that Mr. McHenry, through his spokesman, has described my request to investigate his recent actions ("McHenry under fire") as "yet another absurd political gimmick for a man that is desperate for attention."

Clearly Mr. McHenry, through fellow Congressmen and his spokesman, is attempting to distract voters from the real issue- his irresponsible behavior both during and after his trip to Iraq. No one forced Mr. McHenry to make this prohibited video while in Iraq, and no one forced him to place it on his taxpayer-funded Congressional website after his earlier derogatory remarks ("two-bit security guard"). Mr. McHenry made that decision in an attempt to bolster his image with the voters back home. All I have asked is that Congress investigate his actions because I, along with many other military veterans, believe he endangered our troops.

Mr. McHenry has been in Congress for over three years. Prior to being challenged in this election year by three veterans, he had never been to Iraq. However, less than two months before the primary, Mr. McHenry traveled to the Green Zone because "he wanted to ask the questions to make sure no Americans die in vain." (HDR, March 24)

Shortly after the Easter morning attack, Mr. McHenry created the prohibited video in which he personally described the attack. Did this video help him "to make sure no Americans die in vain."- or did he have other plans for that video?

To better understand the sacrifices the troops are making in Iraq, Mr. McHenry could have traveled to Ft. Bragg and talked to the soldiers and their families or he could have visited the wounded service members at Walter Reed.

Mr. McHenry does not respect his constituents enough to provide a personal response to these concerns, instead choosing to hide behind the words of others. Apparently Mr. McHenry saves his comments for self-promotional videos only.

First, one colleague stated that given the crude nature of the weapons, providing a post-attack analysis was worthless. This type of naïve and short-sighted view fails to consider how terrorist organizations really use this type of information- publicity and propaganda, fund raising, recruitment and mobilization, and planning and coordination, just to name a few.

Another colleague alleged that the likelihood of insurgents seeing this video was "nil." But Mr. McHenry himself publicly promoted his video in an article in the Army Times, during an interview on Sirius satellite radio, and on the front of his Congressional website.

We believe that it is necessary to discuss the soldiers who were later killed and wounded in the Green Zone. These are not just casualty numbers- they are real people. We absolutely cannot forget that revealing military information can have deadly consequences. How would you feel if one of these soldiers were your father, your husband, or your son? What would you think about Mr. McHenry's actions then?

Ironically, in a phone call with the Hickory Daily Record during his Easter stay in Baghdad, McHenry stated that he "could not elaborate on the rest of his trip for security reasons." It is a shame that he was more concerned about his own safety than for those who had to remain behind.

Because Mr. McHenry exploited his trip for political purposes, because he endangered American lives, and because he believes he is above the rules - his tenure in Congress must end.

Lance Sigmon

Republican Candidate for the 10th Congressional District of NC