[Speaking before the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City Monday, Fred] Thompson championed the continued deployment of U.S. troops in Iraq, invoking a need to protect American “freedom.”

Thompson, a Hollywood actor and former Tennessee senator, derided war critics “who think that if we pull out of Iraq our problems are going to be over.” He said American troops are “definitely making progress in Iraq” and warned that expression of divided views on the war emboldened American enemies.

“I-m a little tired of people feeling the necessity to apologize for the United States of America,” Thompson said, drawing cheers and applause.