Officer In Ramadi Demands A Halt To “Irresponsibly Using This War And The Troops For Political Gain”

Pat Dollard ^ | 4/23/07

[bnelson44]

“The Surge Is Working”

1stLt Matthew McGirr USMC wrote: Pat, I met you back in February 2004 at the Government Center in Ar Ramadi, Iraq as a platoon commander with Golf 2/5. I just read your article in Maxim and the email from the 1/6 Cpl which I found on the Drudgereport. That Cpl is correct in his assessment. I am also back in Ar Ramadi, and I have a basis for a comparison of the current situation based on my experiences in this town two years ago as well as today, April 24, 2007. As you know this war torn city was once the worst city in Iraq. Today, the citizens of this city are taking a stand against those extremists and foreign fighters who are focused only on destroying any chance at a secure and stable future. Those Iraqis who once fought against us are now joining the ranks of the Iraqi Police forces. They are taking up arms against the foreign fighters. They are cleaning up their streets and making an attempt at forming a structured government. They have come to see us as facilitators of peace and allies in the defense of their streets. Because of this they have become targets for the insurgents, yet they continue to show resolve in the face of terrorism. We are gaining ground. This city is undergoing a sea change. To pull stakes now will cause this city, the Al Anbar Province, and all of Iraq to fall into the hands of thugs and terrorists.

[Westbrook]

They may as well be talking to the walls.

Reid, Pelosi, and the Donkey Congress are not the least bit interested in what tey have to say.

[freema]

Let’s hear it for the boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sweetiepiezer]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7392499685041821301&hl=en

[jwparkerjr]

I don’t find it the least bit illogical that the citizens of these areas were against us in the early stages of the war, but now are on our side. To start with we were no more than a foreign, invading force and the would-be insurgents were lying about our intentions and even more so about their intentions. Time as shown the locals that we aren’t anywhere near the danger to them that they were told we would be, and more importantly, time as shown them just how disingenuous the insurgents would be.

With a few exceptions, getting to know the American troops has been a surprisingly positive experience for the locals. The locals now realize that the threat to their lives and their way of life is the insurgency, not the American and allied troops.

The insurgents know full well that as life nears normal for the locals, with the infrastructure being restored, it will be harder and harder for their tactics to work.

Time is running out for both sides. It has really become whether we can provide them security and some semblance of a normal life, something none of them have ever enjoyed, before the insurgency can convince Congress to force us to cut and run.

[freema]

! Did you see this, bnelson?

[princess leah]

As I see it, our forces are there until atleast January 20th of 2009. Bush needs to point out that NO MATTER what Pelosi and Reid try to do, they don’t have 2/3rds votes to overrule ANY VETO, so Bush will VETO anything less than support for our troops. This gives our troops another 20 months to put the Iraq situation in a win/win.

[bray]

The Surge is Working

Pray for W and Our Marines

[Freeport]

Bam! Bam! Bam bam!

To the surrender monkey's in Congress... Move to France.....

[Centurion2000]

So now not only are general grade officers indulging in politics, it is trickling down to the field grade officers as well.

I respect each and every combat vet, but this is a disturbing development since the military has traditionally been completely apolitical below the Chiefs.

[Centurion2000]

So now not only are general grade officers indulging in politics, it is trickling down to the field grade officers as well.

I respect each and every combat vet, but this is a disturbing development since the military has traditionally been completely apolitical below the Chiefs.

[dfwgator]

I would agree with you, but on the other hand, the actions of Reid and Pelosi and the rest of the Surrendercrats have brought this about.

[Centurion2000]

the actions of Reid and Pelosi and the rest of the Surrendercrats have brought this about.

On this we are in complete agreement.

[concretebob]

SEMPER FI OOOORAHHHHHHH

BUMP!!!!!!!

[Marine_Uncle]

Ar Ramadi was a bastion for the insurgents fleeing from Fallujah and points south in the TOD during 2005. Now there is no longer any room for them. They either will be captured/killed or manage to flee to other areas. The problem for the many Baathist/Saddamist/ex mil/secret police etc., that lived in these large and small Sunni cities in al Anbar is that the tide has changed. They have no place to go. A somewhat wealthy Baathist for instance that supplies monies and safe housing for insurgents will find it hard to just round up his family and leave to some other part of Iraq where perhaps no nice homes are available.
Many of these people where well entrenched in the system and had much material wealth, nice homes, living in somewhat exclusive neighborhoods. Now it is over for them.
If the IG gives many of them a way out, forgiveness if they sign on to the new Iraq, only those they supported to do the dirty work will be left.
And good HUMIT will continue to weed them out. IMHO, cities like the provincial capital ar Ramadi and many of the Sunni towns and cities in al Anbar are going to become model cities for other areas of Iraq to observe. Of course this all continues to be a nightmare for Murtha,Reid,Pelosi and other left wing Islamist supporters. They see the writing on the wall. And they fear an eventual stable Iraq.