Thomas Hermann, Progressive Party candidate for Vermont’s At Large House seat, was recently profiled in the Rutland Herald. Hermann talks about his time as a soldier in Iraq, and how he came to oppose a war he enlisted for after being swayed by claims of weapons of mass destruction:
“I thought we were bringing democracy to a nation that wanted it,” he said.
During his first year in Iraq, Hermann was sent on more than 150 missions in war-torn areas such as Mosul and Rawah in the Anbar province. He received an Army Commendation Medal and his Gold Spurs.
While Hermann was in Iraq his views began to change. No weapons of mass destruction materialized, and he said it was clear that many Iraqis didn’t want the Americans there.
“I had a self-realization while in Iraq,” he explained. “I found myself having a lot of empathy for the Iraqis and wondering what I would do if the situation was reverse. When I left that country, it was certainly in worse condition than when I got there.”
Hermann is challenging incumbent Democrat Peter Welch’s antiwar credentials in the aftermath of the Congressman’s votes in favor of two war funding bills last year. The entire article can be found here.
I haven’t been able to find any polls, but it looks like there’s no Republican in the race, so I guess he’s in the good position.
Any polling numbers for him? It seems like, just from the info provided in this article, he might have a decent shot in this race.
Oops, typo. Withdrawal.
I’m glad to see this. War supporters use too many anecdotes, such as giving soccer balls to Iraqi kids, as a justification for staying there. As an Iraq vet, Hermann has a heightened level of credibility in arguing for withdrawl.
Hermann talks about his tattoos to the paper, which is a mistake. He doesn’t realize one of them is a popular white nationalist symbol, most visibly used by the National Alliance.