Col. Jimmie Jaye Wells: View from the ground

Dallas Morning News ^ | August 27, 2005 | Col. Jimmie Jaye Wells

[RWR8189]

Much has been and continues to be accomplished in Iraq. It would be a mistake to withdraw.

Because I have been serving for nearly 18 months in Iraq, I have a greater sensitivity to the debate in the media about the war.

It seems it is an obligation that I should share a different perspective from what the media focus on. My views are not those of someone who has "visited" Baghdad for a few days, as some pundits have. I serve in the day-to-day, sometimes monotonous battle for freedom. As a simple grunt colonel, I don't have the power of the press, but I certainly have the power and responsibility to express my perspective and opinion.

I'm concerned by the recent wave of attacks on President Bush, Congress and others for going to war and, now, for pursuing it to a successful conclusion. Several factors seem to be contributing to the criticism, including the political motivation of the critics and the "instant news" in this shake-and-bake, ever-flattening world.

It has been nearly 28 months since Operation Iraqi Freedom began.

But insurgencies take years, not months, to overcome – and Iraq is different from your garden-variety insurgency. Most of the various enemies/opponents have no plans to govern, only plans to disrupt, create chaos and gain from that imbalance. Iraq is also different in that it serves as the battleground in a much larger war of worldwide terror.

The tools of war are another factor in this insurgency. Our ability to concentrate the fight and limit fratricide and collateral damage continues to improve. This allows for fewer soldiers to do the job – but that has the effect of making this "someone else's war." Only 138,000 soldiers are serving in Iraq, which pales in comparison with, for example, Gen. John Pershing's 

[tsmith130]

I wish those that want to "bring the troops home now" would actually ask the troops how they feel about it (yes, I realize that wish is delusional). Shouldn't their opinion carry SOME weight!?

[SFGI]

Our Military and our Coalition's Military defeated Saddam's Army in a matter of weeks. The fight against the terrorist began soon after Saddam's defeat.
The media wants us to believe we are losing and it hopeless, because any other out come will prove President Bush was right, and they we dead wrong.
The so called quagmire, and comparisions to Vietnam is utter nonsense.
If we pull out of Iraq and let the Terrorist have there victory, it will be just a matter of time before we are fighting them here in our streets!

[bitt]

good read

[ExcursionGuy84]

Said Straight from the dust-embalmed, sweat-flecked "WarHorse's" mouth.

[sageb1]

The left will never understand that their words and actions are having precisely the opposite effect. They are prolonging our stay, as well as motivating the insurgents to continue their quest.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!