[antimedia] antimedia: News from the front....

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Posted by antimedia:
News from the front....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1158115353.shtml


   ....in the words of one who has served in the crucible of Iraq.

     Al Qaida is wounded and is lashing out. Although not defeated, our
     operations have significantly degraded their leadership capability.
     They are having success in killing Shia civilians, which gives the
     Shia militias an excuse to murder Sunnis in retaliation. This
     sectarian militia violence poses the largest threat to the
     stability of Iraq, and therefore we are focusing much of our effort
     against the various militias.
     Despite the impression given by much of the press, we don't ride
     and walk around all day waiting to be blown up by an IED. Our
     intelligence enables us to conduct raids every day and every night
     to kill or capture specific targets, which in turn leads to more
     intelligence. Concurrently we are training the Iraqi Army, which is
     becoming quite good at accepting battlespace from us and taking the
     lead in the fight. We still have a number of challenges training
     the police. We turned over the security of the first province to
     the Iraqi security forces, and will steadily add provinces this
     fall.
     Caught up in the day to day operations, casualties, and events of
     this fight, it is easy to become mired in the belief that we are
     not making progress. One has to occasionally step back from the
     current fight and assess how far we have come. Since my arrival in
     May 05, the Iraqis have written and ratified a Constitution,
     elected a government in a free, democratic process, and made
     significant progress in developing a capable Army. We have
     inflicted significant damage on Al Qaida and its leadership, and
     have prevented them from gaining the initiative. Much work has been
     done to rebuild the infrastructure that received no attention
     during Saddam's regime.
     However, we still have a tough fight ahead of us. We are focusing
     on disarming or destroying the militias and securing Baghdad, while
     concurrently continuing to pound Al Qaida. The Government leaders
     have said the right things, but now need to follow through with
     action. They must take concrete steps to unify Iraq and eliminate
     sectarian violence. They have about six months to get it right and
     show some progress. Our DOD, DOS, and DOJ advisors are working hard
     to make it happen.
     I think it is important to remember that Al Qaida chose to fight us
     in Iraq, not the other way around. We are their main effort, and
     their senior leadership understands what is at stake in Iraq. It's
     about defeating the United States and establishing a base of
     operations in the Middle East from which to continue their
     terrorist quest to establish a caliphate that reaches across North
     Africa and into Europe, increasing their chances for successful
     strikes against the U.S. homeland. America needs to wake up and
     understand that we have more at stake as a country in this fight
     than we did in WW II. Losing Iraq will provide Al Qaida a
     significant base of operations and the psychological edge to
     continue to attack America and enlist allies in their cause.
     Conversely, defeating Al Qaida in Iraq and establishing a democracy
     with an economy embracing capitalism will start to unravel the
     repressive regimes of the Middle East that provide the support base
     Al Qaida so desperately needs.
     As I close out this tour, I would be remiss if I did not mention
     one of the great Americans carrying this fight to the enemy, GEN
     George Casey. In June he began his third year as the overall
     commander in Iraq. The continuity he provides in both defeating the
     enemy and building a democratic Iraq cannot be underestimated. He
     is shouldering a heavy burden for our country, and America owes him
     a heavy debt of gratitude. It was my honor to serve with him on
     both ends of my career. With him the entire tour has been another
     outstanding Soldier, CSM Jeff Mellinger, an NCO who truly
     exemplifies the NCO and Ranger Creeds as he moves around Iraq
     checking on the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who are
     doing the heavy lifting.
     As I depart, I will miss the great young Americans who do our
     country's tough work every day and every night. Their selfless
     service, dedication, teamwork, camaraderie, and humor in the face
     of adversity are beacons for all Americans to follow. I will miss
     the smile on an Iraqi child's face when we open her new school, and
     the satisfaction our engineers have when they provide potable water
     to a village. I will miss the determination of the Iraqi people to
     risk death in order to exercise their right to vote. I will miss
     the NCO Corps, truly the backbone of our Army and the single
     characteristic that distinguishes our Army from every other army in
     the world. The NCOs guarantee us victory in every endeavor. I won't
     miss the rear echelon military bureaucracy we have created to
     support this operation, despite the valiant efforts of outstanding
     staff officers and NCOs to fight through it and accomplish the
     mission. I won't miss performing or attending memorial services. I
     thought I had attended my last one on Sunday, but we had another
     Soldier killed by an IED four days before I left. Losing these
     great young Americans has become progressively harder each of my 31
     years in this business. I guess it has a cumulative effect.
     We have made an astounding amount of progress in the past 14
     months, and are on the edge of winning this fight. The next six
     months will be decisive. We will destroy the militias and continue
     to decimate Al Qaida. Our biggest challenge is to get this new
     Government to step up to the plate, begin cleaning out the
     corruption, and take decisive steps in securing its people.
     Concurrently we must help them fight the growing Iranian influence.
     It is a tough fight, but the Iraqis can do it as long as America
     does not lose its resolve. With what is at stake for us, we cannot
     afford to.
     Thanks for the support and the prayers this past 14 months; they
     work. Please keep the kids I left behind in your prayers until we
     can finish this job and bring them home.

   Every time I think about Iraq, I thank God that Bush is President.
   Many lesser men would have folded under the withering fire of his
   opponents, but Bush has been stedfast and unwavering. For his many
   faults, he is one of a very few modern Presidents who has had the
   courage to stand by his decision come hell or high water.
   We have many summer soldiers in this country. People for whom
   difficulty is a good excuse for retreat. They exist on both sides of
   the aisle. They lack the courage to stare defeat in the face and
   refuse to yield, and they're much more concerned with protecting their
   political viability than they are in protecting our country.
   One reason for the high morale of our military, I believe, is that
   they know the President is standing by them and will not waver. The
   value of that cannot be overestimated.