Posted on 06/03/2007 8:07:30 AM PDT by Valin
In Iraq There Is No Alternative But Victory-The Truth Shall Set Them Free…To Focus On Winning!
Memorial Day came and went and we all enjoyed the long weekend here at home while our brave heroes defended our freedom on distant shores. We are rapidly approaching the 63rd Anniversary of D-Day where 10,000 out of 156,000 Allied Ground Forces participating in Operation Overlord became casualties in the categories of Killed, Wounded, Missing or Captured. That was one day of one campaign in World War II. That day and campaign are consistently called an overwhelming Victory for Allied Forces. In four years of fighting an unconventional insurgency fight in Iraq the coalition casualties’ number less than 20,000 Killed, Wounded, Missing or Captured. (Not Including Iraqi Security Forces or Wounded Returned to Duty in 72 hours) As I reflected on the amazing selfless service of our Veterans of past and present conflicts over the Memorial Day weekend and watched the political pundits and talking heads debate the future of Iraq, I kept running into this one question. Why are we even debating the possibility of defeat (Quitting) in Iraq?
The reason for this debate is very simple yet very complex. We are losing the information War at home. In my travels with work on the radio show, a new documentary we are working on, and living in North Florida I have been exposed to a number of people with various perspectives. After interacting with all of these people from different backgrounds and different beliefs, I truly believe the answer is lack of information. I am not talking about debate in the Congress or on Hannity & Colmes. Those people get paid to debate. The debate I am discussing is the divide amongst the public. Unfortunately the debate in Congress & debate on the air waves seems to be the only source of information for the majority of our public. The anti-Iraq movement including Politicians, Talking Heads, Anti-War Groups (Move.On.Orgs legions), and anti-Iraq Vets groups have done a much better job at driving their very simple talking points to the market than the people that believe there is no alternative, but Victory.
Is America really ambivalent to the prospects of losing in Iraq or are they just not getting exposed to the right information? I choose the latter. I believe the Victory Camp has not been very organized or concise in their explanation of why we have no choice but Victory and why we are winning in Iraq. I fall into the camp of losing to the anti-Iraq movement and will continue to fall into that category, unless the Victory Camp gets unity of message in response to the very consistent Anti-Iraq talking points. I did not realize how poorly organized we were until I saw what right looked like. Right is a Power Point Presentation put together by a US Army Brigadier General Steven Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Resources and Sustainment, Multi-National Force – Iraq. He didn’t put it together for General Petraeus, a Congressman, or the President. He put it together to present to an open audience of students and faculty as he visited his daughter’s college graduation at James Madison University during his R&R leave from Iraq. This Brigadier General’s briefing (developed from first hand experience, access to factual information, and exposure to subject matter experts and molded to address his target audience) makes for what the American people should use as a guide for educating themselves on the situation in Iraq. It is concise, factual, and addresses the very consistent major talking points of those opposed to the conflict in Iraq. I will outline the presentation in a 12 blog series that starts next Monday with the subject: Why Iraq is so vital to regional stability and the War on Terror. The 10 subsequent weekly blogs will address the following myths regarding Iraq:
Myth..................Blog Post................Troop Talk
#1: War in Iraq is All about Oil June 11th....June 17th
#2: US is Fighting Alone June 18th.....June 24th
#3: Iraq engulfed in full-scale Civil War June 25th.....July 1st
#4: Iraqi’s Better Off Under Saddam July 2nd.....July 8th
#5: Iraqi Government Ineffective July 9th.....July 15th
#6: Economic Development Nonexistent July 16th.....July 22nd
#7: Contractors Cost Government Too Much July 23rd.....July 29th
#8: Troops Aren’t Properly Equipped July 30th.....Aug 5th
#9: Morale is Low Aug 6th.....Aug 12th
#10: The Biggest Myth of All: We Have Lost Aug 13th.....Aug 19th
The final blog will provide a roll up of responses and feedback that we have received and outline the subject matter for the next series.
As we present the information outlined in this presentation in a 12 part series, think of it as your duty to educate yourself on the material, your duty to provide additional facts to debunk the myths, and your duty to let everyone know that this is their chance to take up arms in the information war at home. General Petraeus and our brave warriors deserve the support that General MacArthur, General Eisenhower, and the Greatest Generation received as they gallantly led our nation to Victory in World War II. We must win the information war at home to ensure General Petraeus’ Coalition has no distractions in fighting to win this Central Fight…in the Central Front…of this World War III. General David Petraeus and all of his soldiers should never have to worry about reassuring their Iraqi counterparts of America’s resolve and commitment.
In May, Army Captain Christopher Dawson, who was on my show talking with Senator Ben Nelson (NE) live from Baghdad, provided the truth from the front: decreased sectarian violence, increased economic activity and Iraqi Security Forces stepping up to the plate. America must step up to the plate and remember what President Ronald Reagan once said: that a [nation] “once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough.”
General MacArthur told us - In War there is no substitute for Victory!
General Petraeus understands - In Iraq there is no alternative, but Victory!
God Bless You! God Bless the Troops! God Bless the United States of America!
Please encourage Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, family members and Veterans to comment on the series!
Something for your pinglist
What exactly does “victory” in Iraq look like? No one, not even the President has ever gotten around to actually identifying “victory” or how “we the people” will even know that we have won.
Which of course brings up the obverse, “What does defeat in Iraq look like”? That has never been defined as well.
So bascially “we the people” are to tread forever long “tough fights” for a goal that no one has described so far, but if we stop treading that “tough fight” for a goal that no one has described, then we have been “Defeated”.
Crushing Iran and Syria would be a good start.
Crushing Iran and Syria would be a good start.
Well then,let’s get to doing exactly that, Syria is going to be under serious pressure over killing Lebanese PM Hariri, and Iran still needs to be dealt with, if we could cut the price of oil, Iran’s economy may collapse.
So that is a start, but we need much more than that, especially defining “victory in Iraq”.
This only emphasizes, that victory sometimes comes only at fearful cost.
There is a term for such a victory - a Pyrrhic victory. Named for a king of Epicus (part of Macedonia) that engaged the battles of Heraclea and Asculum against the Romans in 279 B.C., the Romans were defeated.
Although I agree with you that "victory" as such is pretty ill-defined (I personally think we already "won" the war, in 2003), defeat is far easier to define in the postwar reconstruction context: if Al Qaeda gains a safe haven in an Iraq which becomes unreachable to us (for example, because we have withdrawn), that will obviously be a defeat for us.
So bascially “we the people” are to tread forever long “tough fights”
No one's really asking "you the people" to do very much, you know. There are some soldiers stationed in Iraq. Meanwhile you (a person apparently typing things on the internet) are asked to do... nothing, basically. Is nothing really too much to ask of you?
No one’s really asking “you the people” to do very much, you know. There are some soldiers stationed in Iraq. Meanwhile you (a person apparently typing things on the internet) are asked to do... nothing, basically. Is nothing really too much to ask of you?
As a American Citizen, yes, “doing nothing” is too much to ask of me, or any other engaged American Citizen. This suggestion basically “The war doesn’t effect you personally, what should you care”? is rather disingenous, sort of like saying “Go back to sleep, this is out of your hands or opinion”
Thanks for the advice though...
1. "disingenous" [sic]? I do not think that word means what you think it means.
2. I'm not saying "go back to sleep", I'm just pointing out that there is a discord because how much the war is (probably) actually affecting you and how much you're complaining about it (and painting it as a big imposition). Perhaps I am wrong, but I doubt it. And in any event, you certainly have the right to complain about anything you wish. But I have an equal right to point out that complaining about the maintenance of a military outpost whose existence asks virtually nothing of you is rather strange and self-centered.
Oh to be sure, a “military outpost” is no concern of mine, why it’s Disneyland complete with Mickey and Donald, why should anyone be concerned with a “military outpost”?
From Gasoline prices skyrocketing to our national debt growing exponentially, it would be a hard slog to try and say “This doesn’t effect you in a personal way” yet...
hmm disingenuous...”Not straight forward or candid”
Naah, that wasn’t what I was suggesting at all, to think otherwise would be...disingenuous...;)
Wait, what? I don't even understand what point you're trying to make. When did I say it was nice there? and what's that got to do with anything? Still doesn't affect you. (if it does, how?)
Fom Gasoline prices skyrocketing
Is this happening because we have a military presence in Iraq? What makes you think so? Do you think if we removed that military presence, the gasoline price would somehow come down? Can you actually connect those dots or are you engaging in magical economic thinking?
to our national debt growing exponentially
Kindly explain, in a few short sentences, how this has tangibly affected your life.
It doesn't even seem like you're attempting to rebut/respond to what I'm actually saying.
What AP reports may not be reality!!! Notice the red print below. Hopefully, you will chose not to be part of the problem.
This essay is from a Soldier who was in Iraq. I am reposting it, so there is no excuse for you NOT to read it. I hope you find this informative. This Soldier is spending much of his time trying to keep YOU informed. Be brave, think outside the MSM box. Our Troops deserve your effort to look for the real and complete Iraq story.
"......As I reflected on the amazing selfless service of our Veterans of past and present conflicts over the Memorial Day weekend and watched the political pundits and talking heads debate the future of Iraq, I kept running into this one question. Why are we even debating the possibility of defeat (Quitting) in Iraq?
The reason for this debate is very simple yet very complex. We are losing the information War at home. In my travels with work on the radio show, a new documentary we are working on, and living in North Florida I have been exposed to a number of people with various perspectives. After interacting with all of these people from different backgrounds and different beliefs, I truly believe the answer is lack of information. I am not talking about debate in the Congress or on Hannity & Colmes. Those people get paid to debate. The debate I am discussing is the divide amongst the public. Unfortunately the debate in Congress & debate on the air waves seems to be the only source of information for the majority of our public. The anti-Iraq movement including Politicians, Talking Heads, Anti-War Groups (Move.On.Orgs legions), and anti-Iraq Vets groups have done a much better job at driving their very simple talking points to the market than the people that believe there is no alternative, but Victory.
Is America really ambivalent to the prospects of losing in Iraq or are they just not getting exposed to the right information? I choose the latter. I believe the Victory Camp has not been very organized or concise in their explanation of why we have no choice but Victory and why we are winning in Iraq. I fall into the camp of losing to the anti-Iraq movement and will continue to fall into that category, unless the Victory Camp gets unity of message in response to the very consistent Anti-Iraq talking points. I did not realize how poorly organized we were until I saw what right looked like. Right is a Power Point Presentation put together by a US Army Brigadier General Steven Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Resources and Sustainment, Multi-National Force – Iraq. He didn’t put it together for General Petraeus, a Congressman, or the President. He put it together to present to an open audience of students and faculty as he visited his daughter’s college graduation at James Madison University during his R&R leave from Iraq. This Brigadier General’s briefing (developed from first hand experience, access to factual information, and exposure to subject matter experts and molded to address his target audience) makes for what the American people should use as a guide for educating themselves on the situation in Iraq. It is concise, factual, and addresses the very consistent major talking points of those opposed to the conflict in Iraq. I will outline the presentation in a 12 blog series that starts next Monday with the subject: Why Iraq is so vital to regional stability and the War on Terror. The 10 subsequent weekly blogs will address the following myths regarding Iraq:"
As the central front in the global war on terror, success in Iraq is an essential element in the long war against the ideology that breeds international terrorism. Unlike past wars, however, victory in Iraq will not come in the form of an enemy's surrender, or be signaled by a single particular event -- there will be no Battleship Missouri, no Appomattox. The ultimate victory will be achieved in stages, and we expect:
In the short term:
An Iraq that is making steady progress in fighting terrorists and neutralizing the insurgency, meeting political milestones; building democratic institutions; standing up robust security forces to gather intelligence, destroy terrorist networks, and maintain security; and tackling key economic reforms to lay the foundation for a sound economy.
In the medium term:
An Iraq that is in the lead defeating terrorists and insurgents and providing its own security, with a constitutional, elected government in place, providing an inspiring example to reformers in the region, and well on its way to achieving its economic potential.
In the longer term:
An Iraq that has defeated the terrorists and neutralized the insurgency. An Iraq that is peaceful, united, stable, democratic, and secure, where Iraqis have the institutions and resources they need to govern themselves justly and provide security for their country. An Iraq that is a partner in the global war on terror and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, integrated into the international community, an engine for regional economic growth, and proving the fruits of democratic governance to the region.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/iraq_strategy_nov2005.html
Thanks for these posts
Presented by Brigadier General Steve Anderson to James Madison University 27 Apr 07
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