Price: Troops' Morale In Iraq Is High

CBS ^ | Apr. 25, 2006 | Dave Price

[FairOpinion]

"After I got home from Afghanistan last year," Price recalled, "I made a commitment to return to entertain the troops overseas. … I couldn't pass up the chance to go with Charlie Daniels.

"The people now serving in Iraq face death on a daily basis," Price says, "but if you think morale is low, guess again.

"My job was to try to cheer the soldiers up. But in most cases, they didn't need it. … It was an amazing experience. I went to Iraq looking to raise morale. But in the end, it was the soldiers who had done that for me."

Price observed to a Pfc. Meyer, "A lot of folks would say this is awful. You folks have to be here for so long. Is it hard?"

"It's hard being away from your family," Meyer admitted, "but we have a really tight group, and every day I wake up smiling. I'm happy to be here doing what we're doing. I really am; really excited about being here."

In base after base, Price said, most troops had a clear sense of mission.

Sgt. Mark Massey, an Army vehicle commander, is on his third tour. "They don't really hate us as much as we think they do," he told Price. "That's something I'm proud of, that I volunteered to train these Iraqis, because I got to see the culture and I got to see how these real people operate — not what you see on TV."

[FairOpinion]

Seems like we missed posting it.

I think it deserve FrontPage mention, so people get to read some truth about our troops in Iraq, not the lies of the MSM.

[FairOpinion]

Iraq good news.

[txrangerette]

Thanks, FO.

I guess if the troops had only read this, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1628365/posts, they would be giving up about now, hmmmmm?

Media PUKES!

[AmeriBrit]

But I heard on the news that we're losing the war and all the troops are so down and unhappy, they either want to desert or come home yesterday! ;)

[FairOpinion]

Remember that bogus poll, some anti-war group claimed they took, trying to ruin the troops morale, by claiming the morale was poor and everyone wanted to come home immediately, or something like that?

Price said he really went all over and talked with people randomly. Everyone had high morale and a sense of purpose.

Another piece of info in the article:

"One soldier told him, "I'm the senior enlisted here, and not one time since I've been here have I had an individual come to me and say, 'I don't want to be here. Not one time, 'What can you do to get me out of here?' I haven't had that happen one time. And that's pretty nice."

[Theresawithanh]

Thank you for posting this great read!

[AmeriBrit]

WOW!!!

What a fantastic, uplifting report.....thanks FO.

[stylin19a]

Great story...but i fear a CBS censor will be getting called on the carpet for letting this one slip through.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the post FO. Great article and it seems Mr. Price had the drive and the nerve to get out in theater where the troops are, find out the truth for himself and report it. Good for him and CBS and God bless our troops.

[AmeriBrit]

Wish I knew how to do it.

That's the kind of video feed that needs to be saved and sent around to everyone via email (including political big-wigs)

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

But...it's a quagmire, I tell ya! Get out now! < /Russ Feingold >

[GretchenM]

bttt

[MedicalMess]

The war in Iraq has been described as unwinnable, Price points out, but, 'Many of the people I spoke with see things differently."

That's right, people away from the newsroom of CBS do have a more realistic view of things.

To be sure, Price told co-anchor Harry Smith back on The Early Show set in New York on Tuesday, the troops in Iraq are "task-focused. All of them said, 'Don't talk to me about policy. I don't wanna tell you whether we should or shouldn't be here. That's not my concern. I'm here to do a job.'"

Notice how the soldiers have wised up to the real enemy (the media).

[hsalaw]

People such as a Staff Sgt. Ellis, who said, "Of course, we see bad stuff. We're hit with IEDs, we're shot at, things of that nature, but for the most part, the country's not bad. I'm sure, if you were to equate it to how we were when we were starting out as a country, there's still a little chaos, a little confusion, a lot of uncertainty, that's how it is here in Iraq."

Our guys in Iraq are smarter than 99.999% of our politicians. Staff Sgt. Ellis knows we, too, had a rough start as a country, so it's not surprising Iraq hasn't had the 30-minute sitcom start the dems, and some RINOs, too, seem to want. Prayers for our troops, all the brave coalition forces and the new and improving Iraqi forces, and for the success of their mission.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

They are us.....God Bless 'em.

[Coop]

Ping

[topher]

Maybe CBS is finally waking up.

I am glad to hear something cheerful from the news media.

Maybe I should stop bashing the MSM...

[avacado]

--- Price confirmed that entertainers aren't exactly flocking to Iraq to perform for the troops, saying, "Some of the areas we visited are dangerous and some very, very remote."

Then, a poignant plea: "I invite celebrities: Come along with me and we'll take a journey over there. We could really use the entertainment."---

Anyone have a list of celebrities who have gone to Iraq to entertain? That would be an interesting list.

[PleaDeal]

Maybe I should stop bashing the MSM...

It's because of the bashing that they are finally, albiet minimally, starting to do some good reporting. Keep the pressure on!

[PleaDeal]

Thanks for another good find, Coop!

(ps. I still miss you on the "corners")