A nonpartisan group of national security leaders are backing Dan Osborn for US Senate in Nebraska for not one, but three reasons.
Less than one month from the midterms, representatives with National Security Leaders for America, a nonprofit membership organization of 1,600 senior national defense professionals, came to Veterans Park in Papillion to announce their endorsement in the heated race between Osborn and Republican incumbent US Sen. Pete Ricketts.
Security leaders’ sign-off
Standing beside Osborn, a US Navy and National Guard veteran turned Independent office hopeful, retired US Air Force Brigadier General Dan Woodward said only one of the reasons for their support was related to national security, the other two were related to “character.”
“Dan is a person of integrity, decency, honesty, empathy, moral and ethical courage,” said Woodward, recapping Osborn’s military service record. “The oath does not disappear when you retire.”
Moreover, as the US experiences growing economic strain from its costly overseas conflict in Iran, Woodward lauded Osborn’s working-class background.
“Dan understands what it’s like to try to put food on the table every single day in a highly inflationary environment, which is what we’re dealing with right now,” Woodward said. “He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He is not a billionaire. He is not the son of a billionaire. He is actually somebody just like you.”
But most substantively, Woodward said Osborn earned NSL4A’s backing due to their alignment on ending the US-Israel war in Iran. He said the US “had this thing solved” in 2015 with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, which limited Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
‘Does this really make sense?’
President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 during his first term, with the goal of pressuring Iran into a stricter deal.
“Does this really make sense?” Woodward asked, citing rising costs and lives lost since Trump kicked up renewed military conflict in the region with Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury.
“More than 800 casualties. Billions of dollars lost in infrastructure and weapons systems overseas. Gone. Does that make sense when we had a solution already in place?” said Woodward. “That’s why all 1,600 NSL4A members are speaking through me today to endorse Dan Osborn.”
NSL4A adheres to a set of criteria when making endorsements. For a candidate to earn their support, the organization says “the race must be sufficiently competitive.” During the press conference, Woodward emphasized that veteran status alone is not enough to earn their support.
The group describes Osborn on their website as a “pro-Constitution” candidate who supports their core platform planks, like defending free and fair elections, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power.
On the other hand, the group says Ricketts has raised “significant anti-Constitution concerns” with past statements, votes, and conduct.
Osborn’s Iran war stance
Accepting the endorsement, Osborn said, if elected in November, he would consult with groups like NSL4A on issues of international security.
“My opponent finds it acceptable to take advice from defense contractors, special interests like AIPAC, and his party bosses in DC. What do we have to show for it?” Osborn asked rhetorically. “A war with Iran that’s cost us 19 American lives, including Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens of Bellevue.”
The former union leader from Omaha criticized the conflict that took Tietjens’ life as “a war that no one asked for” that’s “making everyday life harder for Nebraskans” by raising gas and grocery prices. He also repeated his past criticisms of Congress for failing to enforce the War Powers Act—a federal law designed to limit the president’s ability to initiate or escalate military actions abroad without congressional approval.
“The war in Iran needs to end,” Obsorn said. “Pete Ricketts and every Washington politician who takes defense contractor money can no longer be allowed to use our military—funded by our tax dollars and made up of our sons and daughters—to help grow the profit margins of corporations like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.”
Tuesday’s endorsement comes on the heels of President Trump’s midterm campaign stop in Grand Island, Nebraska, the previous night. Referencing the war during his speech, Trump remarked that allowing Iran to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego was a small price to pay for keeping the country safe during the conflict.
Woodward was befuddled by the comment and said it was “challenging to talk about” due to the president remaining in his chain of command.
“I’m quick to laugh at a joke when it’s funny, even if it’s in poor taste,” Osborn said of the remark. ”That’s not funny to joke about bombing American cities, regardless of what you think of them. It was distasteful and I didn’t laugh at that.”
Closing his remarks, Osborn said veterans ought to play a key role in redirecting the country’s trajectory.
“I’m sick and tired of our politicians draping themselves in the American flag and then doing the opposite when it comes time to help veterans,” he said. “They know what service means. That’s why I signed on the dotted line. We’re going to get this ship steered in the right direction with veterans.”
The general election is Nov. 3.
