WATERLOO
There were no long speeches on policies; neither was there one of those routine question-and-answer sessions. It was a campaign stop with a difference.
Waterloo Veterans Memorial Hall Saturday morning served as a listening post where veterans could share opinions and discuss issues with Republican vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney. About 80 veterans attended the event.
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Evan "Curly" Hultman, who organized the event, told the gathering Cheney was there to listen, not to debate.
From peacekeeping forces in Bosnia to prescription drug benefits for veterans, Waterloo veterans voiced opinions on a wide range of issues.
The former defense secretary expressed concern about the state of the U.S. military.
Morale is down, he said. And despite Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Vice President Al Gore's claims the armed forces are better off now than eight years ago, Cheney and Texas Gov. George W. Bush believe certain areas need improvement.
Cheney praised former President Reagan, saying he deserves the credit for the present quality of military equipment and personnel. The Clinton-Gore administration merely reaped the benefits of the Reagan legacy, he said.
"It takes time to build quality of military forces as it takes a long time to train them," Cheney said. "I remember when the Gulf War ended I picked up the phone and thanked President Reagan. I wonder if any future defense secretary would call Clinton or Gore to thank them."
Improving the military would be their top priority if he and Gov. Bush are elected, he said.
One Waterloo veteran talked about withdrawing U.S. peacekeeping forces from Yugoslavia. Two days ago, new Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said Serbians should reconstruct their own country, and peacekeeping forces should withdraw.
"We are in a position to withdraw our ground forces from Yugoslavia, and we need to encourage our European allies to pick up the slack and take over, although I don't know whether we should withdraw from Kosovo," Cheney said. "My concern is we may have the same problems come up in Kosovo again if we withdraw now."
He said the United States should reduce its peacekeeping commitments because it strains the labor pool at home.
Veterans were also concerned by the lack of incentives to join the armed forces and to stay in the military. Cheney agreed there is major dissatisfaction among the armed forces, and retaining personnel is a bigger challenge than recruiting.
"There are a number of things to be taken care of," he said. "We need to make sure that we provide adequate housing and schools for the families of those in service, along with allocating resources to better train and equip the forces."
Everyone seemed eager to get a word with Cheney.
"It was great, and we would like to have this kind of opportunity again," retired Lt. Col. Doug Miller said. "People should be given a chance to get together and voice their concerns about the government as a part of the larger democratic process."
While Cheney may have won the hearts of some veterans, others were still undecided.
"The session was informative, but there are still issues about which I would like to hear from both sides," said Dave Boyd, a Vietnam veteran.
Boyd was concerned about the implications of a law that shifts the burden of proof onto a soldier who suffers a disability.
"I was satisfied with Cheney's opinions about a few issues, but then he is a politician, and I am not totally convinced," Boyd said.
Apart from addressing veterans, Cheney also met with voters at the East-West football game in Waterloo Friday night. He showed up midway through the second quarter of a scoreless game, accompanied by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming.
"We wanted to see some Friday night football, and we could not think of a better place to see it," Cheney said over the stadium's public address system. He urged the exuberant crowd to vote on election day, no matter their political affiliation.
The former secretary spent 40 minutes at the game and signed autographs and, at one point, even posed with a football for photographs.
