Michael Yon: Three Marks on the Horizon

Michael Yon: Online Magazine ^ | 13 Aug 2007 | Michael Yon

[citizenmike]

...Countless acts like these around Iraq are a large part of what has given our guys moral authority with Iraqi Police and Army. Before the war, the Iraqis clearly questioned the courage of our fighters. They no longer question the courage of our fighters, or the abilities of our military leaders.

Large numbers of Iraqis detested us after the prisoner abuse stories, and some over-the-top attacks on Fallujah, for example. But through time, somehow the American military has managed to establish a moral authority in Iraq. It’s not the only authority, but the military has serious and increasing moral clout. In the beginning, our influence flowed from guns, or dropped from the wings of jets. Later it was the money. Today, the clout still is partially from the gun, and definitely the money is key, but there is an intangible and growing moral clout and it flows from an increasing respect among Iraqis for our military. Washington has no moral clout in Iraq. Washington looks like a circus act. The authority is coming from our military. The importance of this fact would be difficult to understate.

[Tennessean4Bush]

The Iraqis I speak with couldn’t care less what is said from Washington but large numbers of them pay close attention to what some Marine Gunny says, or what American battalion commanders all over Iraq say. Some of our commanders could probably run for local offices in Iraq, and win.

The money quote.

[wny]

We don't have "fighters".

We have soldiers.

"Fighters" is what the MSM calls "terrorists"

[bnelson44]

“Our military has increasing moral authority in Iraq, but the same cannot be said for our government at home. In fact, it’s in moral deficit. . . . Washington has no moral clout in Iraq. Washington looks like a circus act. The authority is coming from our military. The importance of this fact would be difficult to understate.”

Iraqis Are Making Political Progress

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[athelass]

Michael Yon is always right on the money. Thank God he’s out there to tell us what’s really going on.

[jveritas]

A very powerful statement.

God bless our brave troops and President Bush.

[roses of sharon]

American troops are the best of us, always have been, and I am humbled at their feet.

I just knew they would reach the Iraqis and the Afgans, their children and their leaders, it just takes time.

And the next generation of children will be harder to recruit into their suicide cult. Could this be the beginning of the end of the Islamic radical’s power?

Modernity is inevitable, and our dead have laid a path to salvation, civilization, and a culture of life for those who wish to take it.

God Bless them all.

[jveritas]

Amen.

God bless our troops.

[OldArmy52]

The U.S.Military has standards high enough that few of our elected reps/leaders would be let in.

[Liberty Valance]

bttt