Rumsfeld, Myers Praise Progress in War on Terror [Press lies hurt troops more than missions!]

DoD - American Forces Press Service ^ | Aug. 5, 2003 | Jim Garamone

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Rumsfeld, Myers Praise Progress in War on Terror

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2003 – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld stressed the progress the coalition is making in Iraq in the security, political and economic spheres.

Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers spoke at a Pentagon press conference today. Myers reported on his recent trip to the region – including stops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rumsfeld said the security situation in Iraq has improved. The deaths of Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay have served as a catalyst to convince average Iraqis that the Baathist regime is not coming back. "As a result, more Iraqis are coming forward to help as the coalition works to get the country back on a path to stability and self-government," Rumsfeld said.

As more Iraqis deliver information, coalition forces follow with raids that have netted hundreds of Baath Party supporters, ammunition and weapons, he said. Coalition forces have also captured or killed 38 of the 55 "most wanted" leaders of the former regime and "the forces have confiscated millions of dollars – money that could have been used … to pay dead-enders to ambush American and British troops."

There have been impressive strides on the political side as well, Rumsfeld noted. Many cities and towns have set up councils that work with coalition forces to govern the areas. At the national level, the Iraqi Governing Council has met and is taking charge. It is working to find and appoint people to lead the various ministries in a reconstituted Iraq and will soon begin the process for a new Iraqi constitution.

Economically, the coalition has started the flow of oil out of Iraq, he continued. This promises to ensure the future well being of the country.

Myers also spoke about conditions in the region. He traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, India, Pakistan and Oman in late July. He said he wanted to get a "feel for the pulse of the coalition operations" in the region.

The general said the most important "takeaway" in Iraq was that coalition forces are making "incredible, remarkable strides toward the security and stability of Iraq."

He stated that U.S. soldiers "understand the mission, understand why they are in Iraq and they understand the greater mission in which the war in Iraq is just one part."

"I couldn't be more impressed with our forces or with their progress in Iraq," he said. He acknowledged that more needs to be done and that the conditions for American forces are still dangerous and primitive.

Myers said that in India he met with his counterpart and discussed improving military-to-military ties. In Pakistan, he discussed operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. These operations are designed to track down the remnants of the Taliban and al Qaeda still in the area.

In Afghanistan, Myers visited a provincial reconstruction team in the outpost of Gardez. The area was the heart of the al Qaeda-Taliban movement. "The PRTs not only create a positive effect on how the Afghan people view the coalition, but in how the people view their government," he said. "As in Iraq, I was impressed with the mission accomplishments that we're making.

"In general, the biggest shortcoming from Iraq to Afghanistan is not the accomplishment of the mission as much as it is getting the word out about the successes we're achieving every day."

8 DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Myers - DoD | 8/05/03 | Rumsfeld, Myers, media

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The troops knew Saddam's history. They knew he used chems to murder thousands during wartime. They knew he tortured POWS in unspeakable ways. They knew they were facing some of the nastiest dregs in history - the Ba'athist Socialist loyalists. They travel for days in uncomfortable vehicles in sandstorms and always watchful of enemy fire. They patrol in 120 degree temps in neighorhoods so dangerous the police didn't bother before our guys came in. They lose friends to enemy fire and unexploded ordnance which fills the country. They suffer thirst and fear and discomfort far from loved ones. They volunteer.

Most difficult for our brave warriors: "getting the word out about the successes we're achieving every day."

Take the worst case scenario - a story written by BBC or CNN - troops miserable, angry, insert whatever the press has been able to seduce out of lonely troops far from home. What's even harder on the troops?

..."getting the word out about the successes we're achieving every day."

The deceitful press.

We need to contact our elected representatives, local and national news outlets and our neighbors on behalf of the troops. Find and share the reports from the military sources and letters from the troops. We can not count on our press.

If you didn't hear, our troops are doing an outstanding job in Iraq. Have been from day one.

The press is, putting it simply, lying. They do not want us to win in Iraq. They are selling out our troops for the sake of partisan politics. Selling out our country for the sake of personal power.

Never forget.

8 Unapologetically Pro-Coalition News Links 7

[PhiKapMom]

Wanted to bump for TRUTH and against the Liberal Media!

[Guillermo]

Raed the posts over at DU lamenting the fact that no US soldiers have been killed in combat the last 5 days.

[Coop]

Two thumps up for our fighting forces deployed in this war on terror!

[wideawake]

I hope you're joking. Please tell me you're joking.

[Guillermo]

They may not be as overt as one might think, but yes, the general sentiment is there.

More US deaths = bad for Bush.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

World's Finest Military by far.

God save them. The media won't.

Thank you for posting this and your homepage.

[PhiKapMom]

That is disgusting! These people are the lowest form of creatures on earth IMO!

[PhiKapMom]

These soldiers overseas go through so much and they should not be treated like they have been by the liberal DemocRATs and their medial lapdogs in trying to paint a negative picture about Iraq and our military!

The lack of positive articles is a media disservice as if the media really cares -- their agenda to put a RAT back in the WH is painfully obvious!

[Coop]

The media is truly a disgrace. I am finally reading Bill Sammon's book "Fighting Back," and his coverage of the press' performance during the Afghan war is really eye opening. I don't know how some of these terrorist-enabling scumbags can even look in the mirror.

[PhiKapMom]

I am with you -- how can they look themselves in the mirror knowing what they write. Only answer is that they truly are anti-American and pro-Clinton DemocRAT!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Caption this pic:

 news conference at the Pentagon

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2003 in Washington.

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

I'm putting together a ping list.

Please let me know if you want on - or off. We need to get pro-active on behalf of the troops. (Republican) Senators and Reps are very glad to hear from constituents who know what the press is doing and are working to get the message out.

Contact the press, so they know we know - and then go straight to the people - sympathetic groups, pundits, friends.

People are shocked when you lay out the facts - number of troops on the ground, number of Iraqis, size of the country, number (how few) casualties, numbers of bad guys, weapons and funding taken in, number of schools open, pipelines working, new Iraqi police and military grads, people in the marketplace.

The facts change little from week to week...except to show that our troops are taking a big bite out of crime in the Hussein neighborhood and making steady, heartwarming progress in a hurting land.

Bring 'em on.

We'll keep score.

[PhiKapMom]

Count me in! I like being on ping list in case I miss something!

[PhiKapMom]

SecDef Rumsfeld looks like he wants to wring a reporter's neck!

There is a book out called Pieces of Intelligence - The Existential Poetry of Donald H. Rumsfeld

That book is hilarious as it has the various quotes of Rumsfeld -- not large but I have it here on my desk to read when I need a lift!

[smiley]

God Bless our troops...wherever they are....

[dixiechick2000]

More US deaths = bad for Bush.

Ellen Ratner let that cat out of the bag months before the war started. Dems are just sick!

[dixiechick2000]

Please add me to your ping list.
I thoroughly enjoy your posts.
Thanks!

[habs4ever]

Those scumbags count on people forgetting and their buddies in the media circling the wagons with cries of "let's move on" to the next lie and non story...which should give you an idea of the lasting value they place in their own "craft".

[Coop]

SecDef Rumsfeld looks like he wants to wring a reporter's neck!

There's a portion of Sammon's book that made me laugh out loud. It was based on a SNL skit ridiculing the stupid press questions. Keep in mind this is a gist from memory.

Reporter: There are reports that Northern Alliance troops are firing on Taliban fighters who fired on them first, even though their shots missed? Do you condone such activities?

Fake Rummy: What kind of question is that?

Reporter: Thought-provoking?

Fake Rummy: No.

Reporter: Incisive?

Fake Rummy: No. Do you remember what I said about your question last week?

Reporter: Idiotic?

Fake Rummy: Yes. And?

Reporter: ...and that I'm an embarassment to both myself and my newspaper?

Fake Rummy: That's right.

[Coop]

If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading Sammon's "Fighting Back" book about 9/11 and the war on terror. It really brings back some powerful memories.