Pace Reminds Americans U.S. is a 'Nation at War'

DoD - American Forces Press Service ^ | Nov. 8, 2003 | Jim Garamone

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Pace Reminds Americans U.S. is a 'Nation at War'

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2003 – The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the United States is winning the war in Afghanistan and Iraq and that America is making progress in the global war on terrorism.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace also said the rotation plan for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is a good one and a signal that the United States is in for the long haul.

Pace conducted a round robin series of interviews with television stations in Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas and Seattle Nov. 6.

He said since Sept. 11, 2001, "we have been a nation at war and we are winning this war in Afghanistan. We are winning this war in Iraq. We are winning this war against the global networks and we will continue to do so. But it requires commitments of not only the individuals in uniform who are doing this, but our entire government and, indeed, our citizenry."

Pace praised Congress for passing the $87 billion supplemental request. The money includes $20 billion for rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of that money will go to training Iraqi security forces – a goal of the Bush administration since the fall of Baghdad.

The vice chairman explained that the Iraqis taking over a greater share of the security burden will help the nation along the path to self-government. If all goes well the next force rotation will mean a cut in U.S. troops levels in Iraq from 130,000 today to about 105,000 in May 2004.

But the total number of security personnel will actually go up, he said. "We started out with about 160,000 U.S. troops and zero Iraqi troops and about 12,000 non-Iraqi coalition members back in May (2003)," he said. Today there are about 118,000 Iraqis participating in security forces in the country. Officials estimate that number will grow to about 150,000 Iraqis in June 1004 and to about 200,000 by the end of the year.

Iraqi security forces have taken over much of the policing, the border patrols and infrastructure protection. "Those are the kinds of security positions that the Iraqi forces will be replacing coalition and U.S. forces," Pace said. "There will still be three very, very capable, competent U.S. divisions on the ground in Iraq. There will still be two very capable and competent coalition force divisions on the ground. So our capability to take this fight to the enemy will be sustained."

Pace said President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld have repeatedly told Army Gen. John Abizaid, the chief of U.S. Central Command, and Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7, that they can have whatever resources it takes to win the war.

"These are the numbers that those commanders on the ground who are working this problem day to day say they need to get the job done," Pace said.

But security alone is not enough. Transferring governance to the Iraqi people is important so the Iraqis don't see the United States and its allies as occupying forces.

"We are there to turn over their country back to them with a constitution that they have written, with a form of government that they have selected, that will allow them to live free and be part of the community of nations," Pace said.

The general said the United States will continue to take the fight to the enemy, but will also work to improve infrastructure and speed the political process. All these must go hand-in-hand, he noted.

More than 47,000 reserve component service members are part of the next Iraq and Afghanistan rotation. Pace said recruiting and retention for the reserve components has remained high, but it is something DoD must keep an eye on. "We don't want to assume that just because right now the numbers are good that they'll stay that way," he said.

Pace said first, the DoD must ensure the missions assigned reserve component personnel are good ones. Second, DoD must be careful to not call on the reserve components too often. "Number three, we need to make sure that we take care of their families and that we respect the absolute right for them to know when they're going to be called up, how long they're going to be on active duty, and when we're going to let them go back to their civilian jobs," he said.

Pace commented on current operations in Iraq. He said there are always spikes in violence, but the American people must see the whole picture. He said there is more electrical power than under Saddam. The country is exporting oil again. The health system is up and working and receiving necessary upgrades.

"There are 97,000 Iraqi students who have applied to the university system," he said. "That's more than they've ever had in recent times. There are many, many ways you can measure progress in a country.

"This not to make light of a single death to a U.S. or coalition soldier. Each one of those is a tragedy. But we are winning this war," he concluded.

[Radix]

Neither do I! I post links to sketches from famous comedians.

 

All kidding aside, I take the matter of this war in Iraq, and against terrorism, very seriously. My boy, before God I swear, was nearly killed in an episode this last spring. He is back in the USA now, and safe for a time. It has not been an easy thing for me to support this war, but I simply see no alternative.

 

I am a very selfish person. I want my boy to be safe and sound. If someone's son has to die defending us, then I want it to be someone else's son. I feel horrible about the fact that I have to even consider that notion. I simply cannot help it.  I cringe, and feel just a bit sick (maybe a lot sick) inside when I learn of the death of any of our Troops. I know things right now that are privileged, and I simply cannot share. Some good, some else.

 

I simply am compelled to support this effort by president Bush and his Administration to stop the BS, and take our proper place in the world. The Europeans simply will not get off of their asses and do the right thing. Well, they never have before, so that is no biggy. As far as I am concerned, the USA is the World, because we have been driven out of every Nation on Earth, and we have come to form this greatest Nation of all! There is serious metaphor, or lesson, once that most profound truth is recognized.

 

I can go off at times, and out here on FR.com I have done so on a number of occasions. I am not so eloquent as some, but I assure you, I read a lot. I am not ignorant.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Radix]

And if the Germans won WWI it would have changed USA how?

You are no conservative. That post is all the evidence that I need to prove to me that I know everything that I need to know about you.

I posted something, and you change the subject. Typical leftist spin. Good bye is right. I won't post to you again. You are a waste of time. I saw you before one night when you were cruel to Mystery AK, and you are cruel now. You talk in circles, and perhaps you have been drinking too much from the Brookline Reservoir where BC draws it's water. Yeah, that Brookline, of the Brookline, Newton, Cambridge Axis! The true evil ones.

[VOA]

Lurkers/Posters: strike a blow against the terrorists, the defeatist media, and even FRANCE.
Please use the notice below to get some military care-packages into the mail NOW!

NOW HEAR THIS ALL LURKERS/POSTERS:

THIS WEEKEND (November 8 and 9) is the LAST SHOPPING WEEKEND for Parcel Post mailing
of care packages to our BEST AND BRIGHTEST who will be stationed far from home for the holidays
(deadline for this inexpensive mailing route is November 13th).

TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

for shipping advice, see threads at these URLs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003802/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/997310/posts

THAT IS ALL!
At-eezzz! Now, take five; smoke 'em if you've got 'em!
(just had to add a gratuitous politically-incorrect remark!)

[Burkeman1]

Boston water is quite clean. In fact the cleanest.

I don't know anything about you or your state and really don't wan't to know anything about it.

I hope someday Massachusetts is the hub of an independent country of Sea faring states that has nothing to do with a state like yours!

[Burkeman1]

Yes- please don't ever post to me again- as we Real Bostonians are meeting next week! Thanks!

[HardStarboard]

>>>((If you see ten troubles comin down the road, Nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.)) <<<

You claim; "how absurd it is to wage a "war against terrorism""

Your byline ignores that the one may be a big, fatal hit - or didn't your notice the WTC Towers fell 9-11-2001?

Or did you miss the seventeen brave sailors killed by a terrorist bomb on the USS Cole?

What about Blackhawk down in Somalia where our dead were DRAGGED the the streets?

What else is it convient for you to unremember. Kobar Towers? Beruit? The first hit on WTC, 1993? Our embassies in Africa? The Bali Nightclub?

We are in a war on terrorism, because the terrorists have declared war on our way of life. And as long a I have breath, its their way of life that will change, not mine. There are one hell of a fine bunch of young men and women fighting for your right to remain passive - and I doubt that your fit to shine their boots.

Now I'm going to have a beer and wash the taste of your post out of my mouth.

[HardStarboard]

>>>((If you see ten troubles comin down the road, Nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.)) <<<

You claim; "how absurd it is to wage a "war against terrorism""

Your byline ignores that the one may be a big, fatal hit - or didn't your notice the WTC Towers fell 9-11-2001?

Or did you miss the seventeen brave sailors killed by a terrorist bomb on the USS Cole?

What about Blackhawk down in Somalia where our dead were DRAGGED the the streets?

What else is it convient for you to unremember. Kobar Towers? Beruit? The first hit on WTC, 1993? Our embassies in Africa? The Bali Nightclub?

We are in a war on terrorism, because the terrorists have declared war on our way of life. And as long a I have breath, its their way of life that will change, not mine. There are one hell of a fine bunch of young men and women fighting for your right to remain passive - and I doubt that your fit to shine their boots.

Now I'm going to have a beer and wash the taste of your post out of my mouth.

[Burkeman1]

Prayers to those who have lost their lives here and prayers to those just confirming the deaths of their loved ones!

[Hilltop]

I'm assuming you have a point. I find more salient comments on the walls of a service station bathroom.

Against my better judgement, I must ask the rhetorical question. What do you call those killing and attempting to kill our own? Our own is defined the brave warriors that proudly wear the uniform of the USA.

Perhaps I already possess the answer.

What is your answer, we'll compare notes.

Move to Baghdad would be my closing thought.

[Burkeman1]

I didn't miss those events but did you miss the Chianook and the Black Hawk down recently that killed about 20 troops and wounded a score or more?

Before you check me- check yourself.

[Burkeman1]

What do I call the people killing our troops daily in Iraq? Insurgents. That is what I call them. If we were Soviets we would call the resistance "bandits" as they did in Afghanistan and Chechnya! And as they still do.

Rather foolish. If you want to insist that fighters attacking our troops in their land are "terrorists" then be an idiot. I doubt one real combat commander in Iraq would agree with you now!

[meema]

Stand beside her, and guide her..

[Burkeman1]

I guess you care so much about these inmates "Doctor"? Rightt? Don't think I will forget about this or that any man who served time will forget about his either. Judgement day is Coming Warden!

[Radix]

You have not asked me for advice, or opinion, but I was just thinking that in the case that you were looking for someone more serious to discuss things with, you might want to consider my research on the the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow. Certainly it would be less of a waste of your time and intelligence, than engaging this poor miscreant in further dialogue.

 

I simply will never understand just what it is about the Boston environment that negatively effects so many others, but I have some sort of natural immunity. Go figure!

[Burkeman1]

Dude- You need a bed? I will take you in. Don't need 10 guys with beards though!

[Burkeman1]

Ok you got me!

[Burkeman1]

That easy: We kill.

[Burkeman1]

ONe death!