44 posts tagged “iraq”
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Now go nominate your favorite milblog by service, and/or status.
One Marines View A SoldiersPerspective, This Aint Hell
PROVINCIAL IRAQI CONTROL (PIC) 1 SEPTEMBER 2008
NEARLY SIX YEARS AGO THE COALITION CAME TO IRAQ NOT TO ENSLAVE BUT TO FREE A PEOPLE FROM THE GRIP OF A TYRANT. WE ALSO CAME TO ENSURE THAT THE TYRANT AND HIS HENCHMEN COULD NEVER RE-ACQUIRE NUCLEAR OR CHEMICAL WEAPONS FOR THEIR OWN USE AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE, OR TO PROVIDE THOSE WEAPONS TO THEIR TERRORIST PARTNERS WHO WOULD GLADLY USE THEM IN THE CAPITOL CITIES OF ANY NATION THAT DID NOT COWER AND SUBMIT TO THEIR SICK FORM OF EXTREMISM. THEY STILL WOULD. IT WAS NEVER ABOUT OIL. ONLY TRUE CYNICS ARE IGNORANT ENOUGH TO TRY AND MAKE THAT CASE. IT WAS ALSO NEVER ABOUT EMPIRE OR OCCUPATION. EVEN THE MOST MISINFORMED KNOWS THAT IN ALL THE WARS AMERICA HAS FOUGHT THE ONLY LAND WE HAVE RETAINED ARE THE CEMETERIES WHERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR FALLEN REST FOR ETERNITY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE HALLOWED PLACES SERVE AS AN ETERNAL SYMBOL OF WHAT FREE MEN WILLINGLY DO WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO PROTECT THEIR OWN PEOPLE, AND DIE FOR ANOTHER.
SEVEN MONTHS AGO THE CURRENT FORCE OF AMERICANS CAME TO ANBAR TO CARRY ON THE WORK OF ALL THE AMERICANS THAT HAVE SERVED HERE PREVIOUSLY, AND WE KNOW WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS AND ARE REAPING THE REWARDS OF THEIR EFFORTS AND THE BLOOD THEY SHED. ON A PERSONAL NOTE I AM PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE FOR MY THIRD TOUR. I SAY THIS FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN SERVE WITH YOUNG AMERICANS—THE BEST OF THEIR GENERATION—IN COMBAT. A SECOND REASON IS THERE IS NO GREATER HONOR OR PLEASURE FOR ANY MAN OR WOMAN THAN TO PROTECT ONE'S COUNTRY IN TIME OF GRAVE DANGER WHILE WEARING THE NATION'S CLOTH. FINALLY, I DO NOT THINK THERE COULD BE ANYTHING MORE GRATIFYING ON THIS EARTH FOR AN AMERICAN THAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FREEING OF A PEOPLE FROM THE GRIP OF A TYRANT, THEN HELPING THAT SAME PEOPLE REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF DEMOCRACY AND HELP THEM EXERCISE THE GOD GIVEN RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY , AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
THESE WORDS ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO WHAT WE ARE AS AMERICANS, BUT THE MEANING OF THESE WORDS HAVE GROWN DULL I THINK FOR MANY OF MY COUNTRYMEN BECAUSE THEY WERE WON FOR US BY AMERICANS OF GREAT CHARACTER GENERATIONS AGO. I CAN SPEAK PERSONALLY THAT THESE WORDS HAVE TAKEN ON NEW MEANING FOR ME. IT HAS NOT BEEN UNTIL I CAME HERE TO IRAQ AND STRUGGLED SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH MEN AND WOMEN—AMERICAN AND IRAQI—WILLING TO TRADE THEIR LIVES AND WELLBEING TO MAKE THESE WORDS REAL THAT I HAVE TRULY APPRECIATED WHAT THEY HAVE MEANT IN MY OWN LIFE. OF WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN, AND HOW TRULY PRECIOUS THEY ARE. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED BETTER WHAT THE HUMAN COST WAS TO THOSE FIRST AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT AND DIED OVER TWO CENTURIES AGO, THAT THEN ALLOWED OTHER MEN THE FREEDOM TO WRITE THEM DOWN FOR THE AGES—AND LIVE THEM.
WHEN I RETURNED TO ANBAR IN FEBRUARY I'D BEEN AWAY THREE YEARS. WHAT I FOUND CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS SHOCKING. WHEN I WAS HERE LAST DOZENS OF IEDS DETONATED EVERYDAY IN AL ANBAR. FIRE FIGHTS WERE AS COMMON AS IEDS, AND MORTAR AND ROCKET ATTACKS A NIGHTLY ROUTINE. THE EMIRS OF AL QAEDA AND OTHER EQUALLY MURDEROUS GROUPS PREDICTED OUR IMMINENT DEFEAT AS THEY PURSUED A SICK FORM OF EXTREMISM NO RATIONAL MAN OR WOMAN HERE, OR ANYPLACE ELSE, COULD COMPREHEND. WHEN I LEFT HERE MANY IN MY OWN COUNTRY FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS BEGAN TO LOSE FAITH—BUT THE SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, AND MARINES WHO FOUGHT OUR COMMON ENEMY TO A STANDSTILL NEVER DOUBTED OR WAIVERED IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO WIN. THE DAY AFTER I RETURNED IN FEBRUARY I WALKED THROUGH THE MARKET SECTION OF FALLUJAH. IT WAS BUSTLING WITH IRAQIS OF ALL AGES BUYING AND SELLING PRODUCTS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. ADULTS WAVED, PRESSED FORWARD TO SHAKE HANDS, AND MANY LIKE GOOD BUSINESSMEN EVERYWHERE TRIED TO MAKE A SALE . KIDS SWARMED AROUND THE MARINES TRYING OUT THE FEW ENGLISH WORDS THEY HAVE LEARNED IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALL NOW OPEN. PARENTS NO LONGER FEAR TO SEND THEIR BOYS AND GIRLS TO LEARN, A PRACTICE THAT UNDER THE EXTREMISTS WAS OFTEN A DEATH SENTENCE.
WHEN I LAST VISITED THAT CITY IT WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE ON EARTH. IT WAS A GUNFIGHT GOING IN, AND A GUNFIGHT COMING OUT EVERYDAY. THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY'S POPULATION LIVED IN STARK TERROR FROM THE MOST EVIL MEN ON THE PLANET. IT WAS THE SAME THEN IN RAMADI, HADITHAH, AND ALL THE WAY ALONG THE EUPHRATES RIVER VALLEY TO THE SYRIAN BORDER—BUT NO LONGER. LIKE FALLUJAH THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN, MARKETS THRIVE, AND POST-WAR RECOVERY GAINS MOMENTUM ACROSS AL ANBAR. THIS WAR IS NOT QUITE OVER, BUT IS BEING WON AND TODAY PRIMARILY BY THE PEOPLE OF ANBAR. AL QAEDA IS NOT ENTIRELY DEFEATED IN ANBAR, BUT THEIR END IS NEAR. THEY NO LONGER HAVE ANY SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE OF ANBAR. THEY ARE NO LONGER AN ORGANIZED INSURGENCY, BUT A SENSELESS GROUP OF MURDERS. AL QAIDA KNOWS NOW MORE THAN EVER THAT IF THEY ARE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO COME OUT OF THE HOLES THEY HIDE IN TO MURDER AND INTIMIDATE, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY BE MET BY DEDICATED IRAQI POLICE AND SOLDIERS IN VASTLY INCREASED NUMBERS AND EFFECTIVENESS, WITH TOUGH YOUNG AMERICANS STANDING FIRM AND UNAFRAID IN THE BACKGROUND ALWAYS READY TO SUPPORT.
ANBAR IS STILL A DANGEROUS PLACE I DO NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, BUT LESS SO EVERYDAY AND NOTHING LIKE IT WAS THANK GOD ONLY A SHORT TIME AGO. I KNOW I DO NOT HAVE TO CONVINCE THE PEOPLE OF ANBAR TO SEE THIS FIGHT THROUGH TO THE END AS YOUR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN DEPEND ON VICTORY. AMERICANS SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THE STAKES THAT ARE INVOLVED NOT ONLY FOR IRAQ , BUT FOR OUR OWN COUNTRY. WE TOO MUST SEE THIS EFFORT THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, THE AMERICAN THING TO DO, AND IT PROTECTS OUR HOMES AS WELL. AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF DEFEAT HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW "GREATEST GENERATION" IN JUST ENOUGH NUMBERS WILLING TO GIVE UP THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOMES AND DEFEND US ALL, WHILE SPREADING FREEDOM TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER KNOW IT. AMERICA 'S WARRIORS HAVE NEVER KNOWN DEFEAT IN THE PAST. WHEN WE HAVE LOST OTHERS HAVE DECLARED DEFEAT, NOT US. THIS CONFLICT IS ALMOST WON AND THESE PEOPLE ARE ALMOST FREE—WE SHOULD NOT WAIVER AND I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL SEE IT THROUGH AND REMAIN HERE WITH YOU UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT TOLEAVE.
IN CLOSING, WE ARE IN THE LAST TEN YARDS OF THIS FIGHT AND THE GOAL LINE IS SO CLOSE. THE IRONY IS THAT SECURITY FORCES, IRAQI AND AMERICAN, CAN DO LITTLE IN THIS FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME THAN HOLD WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED AND NOT LOSE AN INCH TO THE TERRORISTS. WHAT ANBAR NEEDS NOW, WHAT WILL END THIS CONFLICT FOREVER AND PREVENT AL QAIDA FROM EVER COMING BACK ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECONSTRUCTION, AND FUNDS FOR COMPENSATION. THIS CAN ONLY COME FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD AND I AM CONFIDENT IT WILL AS ANBAR HAS JUST SUBMITTED A COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET AND SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST THAT WHEN FULLY FUNDED WILL CAUSE A DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPLOSION IN ANBAR, AN EXPLOSION OF FUEL AVAILABILITY, ELECTRICITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND JOBS. THERE ARE TWO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED THAT SECURITY FORCES CANNOT PROVIDE: TRUST AND FRIENDSHIP AMONGST YOU, AND BETWEEN THE PROVINCE AND THE REST OF IRAQ . I PRAY GOD YOU CAN ACHIEVE THIS AS YOU WILL FAIL IF YOU DO NOT, AND THE AGONY WE HAVE ENDURED TOGETHER WILL HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING.
Mr. President,
My name is Bob Getz and I’m the Secretary of Chapter VI – Elite Forces, 173d Airborne Brigade Association in the Chicago-land Area. Most of us within Chapter VI are Veterans of the Brigade when it was deployed to Vietnam. We were the first Army Combat Unit deployed to Vietnam and the last to leave.
Our sons and daughters are now serving their second tour in Afghanistan after their initial Combat Parachute Jump into the Kurdish Area in the North of Iraq to act as the blocking force to encircle the Iraqi Army as it was assaulted from the south by the coalition forces.
With the Brigade being a unit formed 91 years ago during WWI in 1917, serving three campaigns under General Patton at the Battle of the Bulge and then into Germany during WWII, receiving the Presidential Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Citation in Vietnam and receiving the Meritorious Unit Citation in the War on Terrorism while serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, it is one of America’s most effective Parachute Infantry Units.
In the Fall of 2007, Chapter VI went to the towns and villages along Route 173 which runs east and west in Illinois just south of Wisconsin and requested each to pass a resolution designating that roadway as the 173d Airborne Brigade Highway in recognition of those who have served in that unit. Not only did they so designate the roadway for the Brigade but it was also passed as a unanimous House Joint Resolution by a non-partisan effort in the Illinois House and Senate.
The Brigade is currently rotating out of Afghanistan with 42 Killed in Action and one non-combat related death. We have scheduled a Motorcade down the 173d Airborne Brigade Highway on August 23, 2008, to celebrate the return of the Brigade to their bases in Europe and to thank each town and village along the way from Zion to Loves Park and the State Legislators for their support.
We are asking you to honor the men and women who served for the past 91 years in the 173d Airborne Brigade with a Proclamation Designating that Day – Saturday, August 23, 2008 – in Honor of the 173d Airborne Brigade for Their Service to Our Country. And, should you have the time, we would be honored if you could join us in that celebration.
Thank you for considering this request and, in closing, let me present you with the unique salute of The Herd.
AIRBORNE, ALL THE WAY!!
Last night, (Friday 25 July) over the course of several hours, I had email exchanges with various members of the milblog community, including Matt Burden of Blackfive, regarding the original email.
The content, or subject matter, of the email is one Army officer's view of the events of the day.
True or not, the email itself is genuine and was sent by a member of the military.
Snopes has it listed as false, based on their investigations. However there is a final entry on the Snopes page that should be noted.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/afghanistan.asp
Reading the Snopes page would leave one with the impression that the email is false, but the last few paragraphs on Snopes are the enigma.
The author of the email was contacted by Snopes.
He responded and asked that the email be removed because it was intended only for his family. (Good luck with that)
Based on that, the email itself is real.
It is the CONTENT of the email that Snopes is listing as false, not the fact that the email was sent.
When the text of the email was posted on Blackfive, Matt had removed all identifying references, including the Army officer's name, out of respect for his privacy.
When the email itself began its journey through the MAIL system, the person who forwarded it did not give the Army officer the same courtesy.
Here’s a tip for future events of this nature:
REMOVE ALL REFERENCES TO IDENTITY.
We owe the members of our military at least that much and it will hinder Snopes investigations which will result in them being unable to give a definite true or false.
(Whether that’s a good or bad thing remains to be seen.)
I will respectfully ask that you backtrack and send this back up the line to your respective email loops.
**UPDATE ENDS**
The Chosen One is in Iraq on a "fact-finding" election campaign. Lets face it, this is a campagin tour. No one with any sense doubts that for a moment. You have fawning MSM anchors practically kissing the ground and Katie Couric ready to climax over this wet-behind the ears socialist who has ZERO foreign policy and military experience.
He keeps saying we need to end the war. Not WIN the war, end the war. So what is his problem? Is victory such a bad thing? Has some playground incident in his past jaded him against winning? We all know the politically correct crowd on the left has problems with competitive sports. They've succeeded in banning dodge ball, t-ball, and spelling bees, because someone has to win and someone has to lose, and we all know thats bad for self-esteem. Teachers can no longer use red ink to mark wrong answers on tests or grade term papers. God forbid they tell a student to re-write a sentence that doesn't make any sense.
If the messiah is so dead set against giving the Iraqis the same chance for self-determination we have, then why not just say so? That would be a refreshing change.
It's OK to win. It really is. No seriously. The men and women doing the work in Iraq and Afghanistan, taking the rounds, enduring the heat, the seperation from family, would certainly benefit from being told they are winner, because, when it all comes down to where the metal meets the meat, they are winners.
Every one of them.
Coby Dillard is the new State Captian for Virginia Vets for Freedom. He's also a good friend.
On July 9, 2008, Vets for Freedom (VFF) kicked off a nationwide campaign entitled “Four Months For Victory.” This grassroots effort, combined with a $1.5 million media buy, will remind Virginians of the importance of success in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War on Terror as a whole.
VFF was founded two years ago by combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Today, our organization carries membership of 25,000 in all fifty states. The Virginia organization has 350 registered members, as well as countless supporters. We represent the courage, conviction and commitment of the thousands of service members in the Commonwealth, many of whom are still on the front lines working every day to complete their mission-defeating al-Qaeda and Iranian backed militias in Iraq, and helping to stand up a stable, democratic, and allied Iraqi government.
Our country’s strategic victory in Iraq is essential to our national security. A premature withdrawal will have severe consequences and endanger-if not completely end-the progress being made by the Iraqi government and military. Evidence of this progress is seen in the following facts:
§ Civilian casualties in Baghdad have decreased by 90% since June 2007
§ Overall attacks in Iraq have dropped by 70% since June 2007
§ The month of May 2008 marked an 86% decrease in American casualties as compared to May of 2007 - the lowest since 2003
We are not advocates for an indefinite military presence in Iraq. We know our brave servicemen and women will return home with the honor befitting their service. However, any withdrawal must be done carefully, and as conditions on the ground in Iraq permit. Our service members understand the grave consequences of a hasty withdrawal based on arbitrary timelines, and Virginia Vets for Freedom is their voice in the Commonwealth.
It is important to note that we are not an attack organization, nor are we affiliated with any political campaign or party. Supporting our troops is not a political or partisan issue. We are advocates on only one issue: our nation’s victory and success in the War on Terror. While we will-and should-question those elected officials who do not support this goal, Virginia Vets for Freedom will stand with anyone who is an advocate for our military and their mission.
Our first television ad, "Finish the Job," is airing in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, and can be viewed at http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/multimedia/details.aspx?id=305. I also invite you to our Virginia webpage, http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/states/VA/. Over the next four months, we will combine additional advertisements with grassroots recruitment and other events. Together, Virginia Vets for Freedom will stand with the people of Virginia to send a clear message to our national leaders: Let Us Win!
Coby W. Dillard Virginia State Captain Vets for Freedom
I found this over at Michelle's site. Its from CNN but I like the topic. Check out that 05 'Stang.
Ya gotta love it.
Once again, the folks at Family Security Matters have nailed it.
As an extreme liberal, Mr. Obama's priority is to weaken national security, not strengthen it. He wants face-to-face meetings with America's enemies but won't meet with Chris Wallace on the Fox News Network. He has pledged to withdraw troops fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq and would allow homosexuals in the military. That's his idea of enhancing national security.
Barack Obama and his supporters are fond of citing his opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq as an example of his superior judgment over his rival John McCain. To me, it's just the opposite, and illustrates how poorly Mr. Obama, as commander-in-chief, would handle national security matters.
Saddam Hussein ignored 16 United Nations resolutions demanding UN inspectors' unfettered access of his facilities to locate and dismantle weapons of mass destruction. After a protracted cat-and-mouse game, Saddam finally kicked inspectors out and thumbed his nose at the world. How many more resolutions would Mr. Obama like to have seen before forcing Saddam's compliance? If you don't comply with our next resolution and let our inspectors back in the country, we're going to be really, really mad. We mean it this time, Mr. Saddam. At what point does the UN finally protect its credibility and enforce the provisions of its resolutions? Is Mr. Obama suggesting that finally enforcing the resolutions is an example of poor judgment.
And don't tell me President Bush manipulated intelligence and lied to Congress and the American people to justify military action because that is simply ludicrous. Such a lie would have required the complicity and cover up of the entire intelligence communities of the U.S., Great Britain, White House staffers and the U.S. military. Doesn't it stand to reason that at least one person from those organizations would have the integrity and moral fiber to blow the whistle on such a conspiracy?
U.S. and European intelligence agencies concluded that Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction and that he was most likely conducting covert operations to acquire nuclear weapons. That's pretty scary, especially in a post-9/11 world, since Saddam had a history of attacking his neighbors and using chemical weapons against his own people in northern Iraq. There was every reason to believe he had WMDs at his disposal and would use them against his enemies, namely the United States. President Bush's decisive action was required to not only protect the nation, but also maintain the U.N.'s flimsy credibility.
I forwarded the email CJ sent me with Major Eglands wife speaking to my friend Chirs over at Modern Conservative.
He has penned an article you must read to appreciate.
Chris is deeply committed to defeating the forces of the extreme left. Not just defeating, making them irrelevant.
Here's a small sampling:
Just like the sacrifice of Leonides and the 300 reverberates to this very day, in the free air we breathe, so too does a comparison between two women of today:
Recently, MoveOn.org put out an ad called "Not Alex." It features a young mother, holding her son. It is, needless to say, an "anti-war" ad. Here is the text:
"Hi, John McCain; this is Alex. He's my first. So far, his talents include trying any new food and chasing after our dog — that, and making my heart pound every time I look at him. So, John McCain, when you said you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting on Alex? Because, if you were, you can't have him."
This women says that John McCain—and by extension this great nation—cannot have her son.But this cowardly woman—who most likely mated with a cowardly wisp of a man—doesn't realize something vital: John McCain won't take her son. Neither will the military. She doesn't decide for him, at age 18 months or 18 years.
When he grows, he will decide—as a free man—whether to wear the uniform of his country.
Ben Hayden
Iowa State Captain, VFF
As America moves closer to November, we need to be informed on the issues. One issue that is very misunderstood is the war in Iraq. A number of Americans are basing their decision in the 08’ elections on this topic, which makes it extremely important to be well educated on the issue. It is also important because America has invested so much into Iraq, both financially and physically.
Typically, when we have to make an educated decision we don’t do so based on feelings alone. We do so with the aid of research and knowledge on the topic. When making an important medical decision we don’t turn to our mechanic, we turn to our doctor, and vice versa. So why, when making an important decision about whether or not to stay the course in Iraq, would we listen to someone other than the experts? Why would we make such an important decision, a decision that carries with it so many lives and so much money, without listening to the men and women that have been there? The Hero’s that have given so much, yet asked for so little in return.
Some say that we have failed in Iraq. This is detrimental to the moral of our troops. Say what you want about the President and his Administration, but don’t tell our troops that they have failed, because they haven’t. They have achieved success and are continuing to achieve more and more. In November, Iraq will hold its first provincial elections. This proves success. Iraq now has an Air Force and an Army, with their security forces numbering over 540,000 people. Over the past year they have seen enormous economic gains and will continue to grow economically in the months to come. They are now outspending the U.S. ten to one on major reconstructive projects.
As a Marine Veteran that served two tours of duty in Iraq, I know how important success there is. I know how important it is that America knows the truths about Iraq. I can assure you that the experts, the men and women that have been there fighting, know the importance of success and want our help in winning the war on terror. Help them, help us.
