Posted on 01/05/2004 3:48:11 AM PST by kattracks
Lt. Col. Scott Rutter (U.S. Army, Ret.), who led the liberation of Baghdad International Airport, gives his views on the War on Terror
With regard to terror and safety; let there be no doubt that we as Americans are better off today than we were one year ago. We are on the offense and are taking a stand. Individuals that are part of terror networks and working to attack our country are currently being caught before their acts are committed. The recent communication intercepts and coordination with French Intelligence resulting in the cancellation of several commercial airline flights on Christmas Day is a testament to our aggressive efforts to protect our citizens before horrific acts are committed. We must continue to move forward ever so carefully to protect our freedoms and privacy. The words of President John F. Kennedy, "The mere absence of war is not necessarily peace," signify the thought process and prescription for us as Americans to adhere to as we continue our efforts to reduce and avoid terrorist acts in our back yard and around the world.
The removal of Saddaam Hussein and his regime of terror as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan was a necessary ingredient in our efforts to counter terror. Our success in Iraq will once and for all prevent future atrocities by a brutal tyrant against the Iraqi people. One cannot argue that intelligence proved that we were justified in believing that weapons of mass destruction and chemical munitions were available to Saddam Hussein and could be used against innocent people as has been done in the past. Each and every day a new thread to the global terror network is identified, which either originated or passed through the defunct Iraqi Regime.
Once and for all this belligerent regime in Iraq is gone. The lack of foresight of then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell to exploit the opportunity to destroy the Iraqi regime in 1991 during Desert Storm resulted in a decade of meaningless and wasted diplomatic efforts of the Clinton administration and the fruitless spending of American taxpayer dollars. Then, we should have continued on to Baghdad. I saw first hand the effects of ten years of physical and mental neglect of a generation of children. Thousands of people were killed indiscriminately without due process of law. In 1991 my company was responsible for securing the final peace negotiation site, Safwan Airfield in Southern Iraq. After 100 hours of ruthless combat with minimal casualties, I wondered why we held back and didn’t go the distance. Because of our misstep, the world Saddam Hussein from continued its reign of torture and the network of terror strengthened. Had we been more aggressive and recognized the severity of the threat, September 11th 2001 may have never happened.
One cannot argue the fact that intelligence proved that we were justified in invading Iraq. All sources of intelligence and a preponderance of the evidence stated that weapons of mass destruction and chemical munitions were available and could be used against innocent people or as a terrorist threat. President Bush rose to the occasion to once and for all remove this clear and present danger from the free world. We watched as other ‘friends’ deserted our efforts for fear of retaliation or monetary gain. France, Germany, Russia and many others found excuses. Great Britain, Spain and Australia clearly understood the risk of retreat. The liberation of Iraq was a brilliant and necessary act of initiative that demonstrated to the world that we as Americans, and our great allies, are united in our commitment to the protection of free people and the promotion of democracy our founding fathers envisioned.
Our efforts must continue to be on the offense to find terrorist cells before they target our vulnerabilities. Our intelligence models and analysis must target high payoff areas that remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We must continue to develop our protection infrastructure to mitigate the threat against these vulnerabilities. We must work shoulder to shoulder with our allies to ferret out these Al Qaeda vermin. Our counter terror campaign will demonstrate our will to maintain stability in these delicate times. The result will protect future generations from these evils. We are only now beginning to see the second and third order effects that are the result of our Commander in Chief’s efforts in our aggressive campaign. Information from our efforts directly impacted Muammar Gaddafi and his Libyan regime to concede its efforts to harbor and develop banned weapons.
We must continue to support our allies in the Middle East in their movements to support freedom and democratic ideals and to prevent atrocities directed against innocent women and children. The dominos are now falling in a productive direction as we develop and expand human intelligence collections efforts at the international and domestic spheres.
Our military and the American people have once again proven themselves to be mutually supportive of each other. At this very moment, our service members and members of the intelligence community continue their efforts in the War on Terror. Whether along the North and South Korean border, in Afghanistan or aboard reconnaissance aircraft collecting vital information in the Philippines these Americans proudly serve. We must not give in.
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott E. Rutter is a Philadelphia native and a highly decorated combat commander from both Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He is a former Senior Intelligence Officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency. In addition to his deployments in the Middle East he served forward deployed in South Korea from 1997 until 1999.
| Rank | Location | Receipts | Donors/Avg | Freepers/Avg | Monthlies | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | Vermont | 30.00 |
2 |
15.00 |
29 |
1.03 |
49.00 |
5 |
Thanks for donating to Free Republic!
Move your locale up the leaderboard!
The removal of Saddaam Hussein and his regime of terror as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan was a necessary ingredient in our efforts to counter terror.General Clark, could you comment on this please?
BUMP
The lack of foresight of then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell to exploit the opportunity to destroy the Iraqi regime in 1991 during Desert Storm resulted in a decade of meaningless and wasted diplomatic efforts oII����Inistration and the fruitless spending of American taxpayer dollars. Then, we should have continued on to Baghdad. I saw first hand the effects of ten years of physical and mental neglect of a generation of children. Thousands of people were killed indiscriminately without due process of law. In 1991 my company was responsible for securing the final peace negotiation site, Safwan Airfield in Southern Iraq.Why didn't we go to Baghdad in '91? We quit when we did because of the "highway of death." Which was, as usual, not so much the real thing as a propaganda campaign by journalism to get us to fail to follow through.After 100 hours of ruthless combat with minimal casualties, I wondered why we held back and didn’t go the distance. Because of our misstep, the world Saddam Hussein from continued its reign of torture and the network of terror strengthened. Had we been more aggressive and recognized the severity of the threat, September 11th 2001 may have never happened.
There is no shortage of such propaganda in this presently-winding-down conflict, but GWB understands that there is no substitute for victory.
Lt. Col. Scott Rutter (U.S. Army, Ret.), who led the liberation of Baghdad International Airport, gives his views on the War on Terror
With regard to terror and safety; let there be no doubt that we as Americans are better off today than we were one year ago. We are on the offense and are taking a stand. Individuals that are part of terror networks and working to attack our country are currently being caught before their acts are committed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Take that Mr. Deanie Weenie! This is from someone who walks the walk and doesn't just shoot off his big mouth
Take that Mr. Deanie Weenie!
Yeah, she married. But I did a Google Search and it appears the Lesbian fires are still burning ...... married mom Anne's girly hormones started sizzling at a Nova Scotia gambling casino, where high rollers and hubby Coley Laffoon gasped as she went Sapphic . . . hungrily lip-locking a gorgeous blonde babe!
Anne, who was playing roulette, grabbed the sexy mystery woman each time she won and delivered a lingering kiss — ignoring openmouthed stares. Next night, Anne and her spouse showed up at a gay club in Halifax, with Blondie in tow — and Coley seemed cool as the girls dirty-danced, caressed and smooched outrageously.
But an hour later, he went ballistic! Grabbing his wife off the dance floor, he snapped:
"Come on, you've had enough! It's time to leave!" Anne started arguing she wanted to stay, but hubby hustled her out the door — leaving Blondie behind! (Ellen . . . is that your phone I hear ringing?)
So HERE WE ARE---a Dozen Years Later---FORCED to, once Again, DEMONSTRATE the IRRESISTIBLE FORCE faced by those who Believe that they "Actually Control" Iraq!
The "Sad Part Is," that MANY INNOCENTS must Die before Those Who believe that They "Control Iraq" Must Understand that They are NOT IN CONTROL of the Nation!!
The TRAGEDY IS, that NO "Islamic Nation" IS, or CAN BE ALLOWED To Be, "INDEPENDANT!"
NO "RELIGIO-FASCIST STATE" can "CO-EXIST" with a "Western-Style" Democratic Nation!!"
"ISLAMO-FASCISM" is INCOMPATIBLE With "Western-Style Individual Freedom!!"
& SO, we have a Basic, Cultural Conflict between "Western Democracy" & "Islamic Totalitarianism!!"
The two "Cultural Philosophies" are "Mutually Exclusive!!"
We are in a "Death-Struggle" between Individual Freedom & "Fundamentalist Islamic Totalitarianism."
SO BE IT.
"Fundamentalism" has ALWAYS been CRUSHED by Freedom.
The "Fly-in-the-Ointment" has Always been "Fundamentalist Strongmen!"
& SO it will Be!
Doc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
