He's back from Iraq -- again (Iraqi Police Trainer)

Republican American ^ | Sunday, February 8, 2009 11:08 PM EST | Lt. Col. Sherman McGrew

[Syncro]

Sunday, February 8, 2009 11:08 PM EST

He's back from Iraq -- again

I'm back. And understandably, everyone has questions. Most often asked is, "How was it?"

Long, hot, hard and sometimes dangerous.

Once again, I am greeted by countless people who tell me that they have read my articles and got a real feel for what is happening in Iraq. One older gentleman said that he was reminded of Ernie Pyle writing during World War II. I'm humbled by the comparison. I hope, as Pyle did, to have been able to bring the experiences of our soldiers home to you.

I also hope I have conveyed the courageous, the ridiculous, the sublime and the idiotic experiences that are all part of an army at war. And whether the stories from Iraq made you laugh or cry — hopefully both — you can rest assured that that they were the truth, at least as I saw and experienced it.

The second most asked question: "How are we doing there? Are we making a difference?"

Without question, the answer is, yes, we are.

The situation is extremely complex and difficult. I can only hope that 20 years from now there will be an Iraq that is sovereign, free and democratic. I think it will be.

It will not be a democracy as we know it. It will be hard-won and paid for with the blood of countless Iraqi and American patriots. Every Iraqi who has worked with us there has put his life on the line. For them, there is no tour of duty, no other home to go back to. If we fail, they will die. It's that simple.

Will they be ready by the time we leave? I think they will be. But no one knows for sure. We just won't know until we leave and they stand or fall on their own.

There are many differences between the United States and Iraq in terms of culture. But one thing that cuts across the divide — the children.

Kids. They're the same everywhere. I remember seeing young Iraqi boys rough-housing. It was a scene that could have come from any schoolyard in America. And a young Iraqi girl, about 10, stylin' as she walked down the street.

Whenever I had doubts about what we were doing in Iraq, I thought of the children. They deserve a chance to grow up and live free. Under Saddam Hussein they would have had no chance. At least they have one now.

We now enter a new era. There hasn't been a terrorist attack on America after 9/11. We are too close to the forest to see the trees right now in terms of George W. Bush's legacy. Over time, history will judge his efforts.

And so the Obama era begins. In President Obama, it's obvious that we have a highly intelligent, articulate and inspirational leader. He has his work cut out for him. The one overarching concern for his presidency must be national security. If he succeeds in all the overwhelming challenges facing him, but fails on national security, all his successes won't matter. The task facing him is monumental.

Thank you for taking the time to read my dispatches from Iraq. I was privileged to once again wear the uniform of this land.

Lt. Col. Sherman McGrew, a member of the United States Army Reserve's 353rd Civil Affairs Command, has returned from Basra, Iraq, where he was a military police battalion commander and senior U.S. military police advisor. A captain in the Waterbury Police Department, McGrew was in charge of training the 16,000-member Iraqi police force. This was McGrew's second deployment to Iraq; the first was in January 2003.

[Syncro]

It will not be a democracy as we know it. It will be hard-won and paid for with the blood of countless Iraqi and American patriots. Every Iraqi who has worked with us there has put his life on the line. For them, there is no tour of duty, no other home to go back to. If we fail, they will die. It's that simple.

Will they be ready by the time we leave? I think they will be. But no one knows for sure. We just won't know until we leave and they stand or fall on their own.

[Squantos]

In President Obama, it's obvious that we have a highly intelligent, articulate and inspirational leader.

McGrew said this ?

[Syncro]

Yea, weird huh?

I think he is just appeasing Present Obama to keep his job.

Just politics, I can imagine him with a big old /s in his mind, but who knows?

That comment make me take notice too.

[kms61]

You don’t badmouth the CiC, no matter what you think of him privately.

[Islander7]

Present Obama

He he he . . . punny!

[Syncro]

I've been referring to him as Present Obama since just after he was "elected" on November 4th.

Not many people have noticed...

I was inspired by all the MSM calling him President Obama before he was coronated Jan 20th.

Some time last month I came across this, made by FR member SparkyBass:

E UNUM NON ID
LOL

[mojitojoe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGafMHsV4Ug

[Squantos]

I do , I did.... as a Career NCO. My troops were always briefed as to the polidiot threat as well as the enemy threat before a road trip. If ones Precedent is a POS I can see and understanding reserving your personal opinion in public . But I can never promote or endorse such praise on a loser like Carter, Clinton or , as in this case,.... Obama. This officer took same oath I did. Against all enemies both foreign and domestic. This criminal socialist element / administration is by definition a domestic enemy. To heap such praise on Obama just outs ones inner self to those he rules by rank only.

But then I was an NCO who earned my rank through tests I personally passed. Not a requirement to kiss ass to pass in my career field.

[Squantos]

Scary...... thanks for the video link !

[Squantos]

That’s a keeper !

I have called him Precedent Obama. I refuse to call this POS criminal anything close to a respectful title.

[NoRedTape]

Applause for Lt. Col. McGrew!!!

Thank you so much.

[STARWISE]

That is priceless!
Well done, Sparky.

[STARWISE]

Holylordalmighty ... just as I and we have speculated of their shameless plans.. And worse.

MUST SEE VIDEO .. from a Chicago Dem who’s been updated about what’s coming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGafMHsV4Ug

Mojito .. has this had its own thread ?? It needs one badly.

[mojitojoe]

No I didn’t know if I should. Feel free to make one. I think it should be known and we need to get this information out there.

[STARWISE]

Found the thread. I’ve asked to have it put in Breaking News.
It’s what we’ve speculated, but still .. hearing it spoken aloud is more than alarming and explosive.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2181184/posts

[maica]

I’ve been referring to him as Present Obama since just after he was “elected” on November 4th.

Not many people have noticed...

#####

For whatever reason, many of the people who talk on TV say the same thing. I believe that it is just a sloppiness, in the same way that many congressmen always say ‘sosh security.’ But I am with you, I have started saying “present Obama” whenever I must refer to him.

During the Bush Admin, tv talkers were scrupulous in only saying ‘President Bush’ once and then ‘Mr Bush’ for the rest of the conversation or report. They said that it was a “conventional style issue.” We know that it was because “president” and “bush” did not go together well in their heads.

I rarely hear “Mr Obama” these days. Then, again, I have really reduced my attention to tv talkers.

[maica]

Have you seen the video of Obama entering Marine One. It is a clip from CNN/Wolf Blitzer reporting. The One gives a fake salute and then Shakes Hands with the saluting Marine.

How GROSS! The One is willfully ignorant of military protocol.

[PhilCollins]

Thanks for the ping. I was in the navy for 21 years, and I was near Baghdad, in the Triangle of Death, in a marine infantry battalion, Sept. 2004-Mar. ‘05. While I was there, I rarely heard my co-workers (mostly marines and soldiers) complain about American presence, in Iraq. After I returned to the U.S., I heard many people, who haven’t served, in the military, complain about it. The servicemembers know that we protect the Americans from terrorists, but too many Americans aren’t grateful.

[Rappini]

Thanks for your service and I agree.