[Chrmn. Joint Chiefs of Staff AF Gen] Myers Says Terrorism May Be Greatest Threat U.S. Has Faced

DoD - American Forces Press Service ^ | Sept. 25, 2003 | Jim Garamone

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Myers Says Terrorism May Be Greatest Threat U.S. Has Faced

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 25, 2003 – Terrorism may be the greatest threat the United States has ever faced, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers told the Defense Combating Terrorism Conference here recently.

Patience, commitment and a will to win are needed to fight the war on terror, he said. The first thing people need to understand is that the war on terrorism is really a war, he added.

"It's difficult, because the sacrifices in this war are not borne by everybody like it was in World War II, where people were on rationing for rubber and petrol, and (there were) Victory Gardens, and everybody was building tanks, airplanes and ships, or was doing something to support the war effort," he said. "We don't see that today, and we don't expect it. The public bears a burden in terms of cost. It's not quite as obvious."

Myers said the United States is a nation at war, but it is not war as Americans have come to expect. "It's a war, though, that is so serious it presents such a threat to those of us who value the freedom that we have and our democracies, that there is no option here but to win this war," he said. "I believe it is the most serious security challenge that the United States and its friends and allies around the world probably (have) ever faced."

The chairman said the free peoples are winning the war on terrorism, but much more needs to be done. He said from a "macro" standpoint, the world needs to be patient to win the war, and the free world will only win the war when it addresses the root causes of terrorism. Getting to the root causes, he said, would make terrorist organizations less attractive to potential new recruits.

Noting the commitment he believes is necessary for victory, the chairman said U.S. agencies are committed to the effort, and friends and allies around the world are too. He illustrated the point by citing the example of Macedonia. Two years ago, Macedonia was having massive internal political problems. Now troops from that country's small military are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The United States must maintain a will to win the war of terror. The goal of Osama bin Laden and his followers is to reduce the United States to a shadow of its former self, the chairman said. "They think this is a battle of wills," he said.

"That's what Saddam Hussein thought," he continued. "He thought he could outlast the coalition and convince the international community that they shouldn't let this happen. Or, once it started, that (we'd suffer) a few casualties and we'd be gone." He said terrorists look at U.S. actions in Somalia and Beirut and believe that if they inflict enough casualties, the United States will cut and run.

"The terrorists think they can win this, but they're wrong. They're dead wrong," Myers said. "We're going to win this. But the will of the American people, (and) the will of our friends and allies have to be behind us. They have to understand what the stakes are, and they have to dedicate themselves to a long hard fight."

Myers then addressed the audience specifically. Patience is important from a macro sense, he said, "but if anyone in this room is patient, you're fired. We have to have a sense of urgency like we've never had before. We've got to fix the issues we have to make this whole thing right."

The general told the conferees they need to make interagency cooperation within the United States work, and that they must do the same in ensuring cooperation with foreign allies.

The chairman also addressed command, control, communications and intelligence. He said this is the glue that keeps the government together. But cultural barriers are stopping the sharing of information among those who are working to win the war on terror. Myers pointed out that a clue found in Afghanistan may break a terror plot halfway around the world. But it won't happen if that information isn't shared.

Myers told the combating terrorism experts that they are the people who will win the war on terrorism. He said the United States is doing a better job, but needs to improve. He called on them to break down cultural barriers and work together more closely with other agencies and with allies.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 Thanks, Tonkin!

[50sDad]

This just in...water is wet!

[Coop]

Nice reading, thanks.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I wanted to post this headline. (^:

Summary of our heroic Gen. Myers's speech:

He said terrorists look at U.S. actions in Somalia and Beirut and believe that if they inflict enough casualties, the United States will cut and run. "The terrorists think they can win this, but they're wrong. They're dead wrong," Myers said. "We're going to win this. But the will of the American people, (and) the will of our friends and allies have to be behind us. They have to understand what the stakes are, and they have to dedicate themselves to a long hard fight."

No waffling or lack of resolve among our honorable military leaders.

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[taxed2death]

How does this really stack up when we have an incompetent guy like Tom Ridge running our "Homeland Insecurity" dept who states "we cannot close the borders for cultural and political reasons".


Sleep well.

[TADSLOS]

The United States must maintain a will to win the war of terror. The goal of Osama bin Laden and his followers is to reduce the United States to a shadow of its former self, the chairman said. "They think this is a battle of wills,"

It is, and if the majority of average Americans ever starts believing the liberal, mainstream media, and U.N. apologist's lie concerning Islam, we will meet Bin Laden's goal for him.

[windchime]

Bump!

[maestro]

Myers Says Terrorism May Be Greatest Threat U.S. Has Faced .....???

[Chrmn. Joint Chiefs of Staff AF Gen] Myers Says Terrorism May Be Greatest Threat U.S. Has Faced

? May be ?
? May be ?
? May be ?

.......................? Has Faced ?
.......................? Has Faced ?

Terrorism 'is' the Greatest Threat the U.S. 'is' facing for the NEXT 200 YEARS.

( Support 'your' U.S. Constitution of the Founding Fathers!)

NONE of 'our' allies have adopted its Limiting FREEDOMS,.....that says a lot about our allies?

Not ONE nation is 100% 'with' us!!

Watch your national '6'...........the enemy may be .......YOU.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

maestro, please explain your response. Have you listened to Gen. Myers throughout this war? He knows what's at stake. He speaks often, forthrightly and with courage.

I'm not the enemy. Promise.

[ought-six]

"How does this really stack up when we have an incompetent guy like Tom Ridge running our "Homeland Insecurity" dept who states 'we cannot close the borders for cultural and political reasons'."

It was a right-on speech, but I agree with you about the border question. If we are taking the position that we can't take affirmative measures to control our borders because of "cultural or political" considerations, then we have all but lost the war on terrorism already. Our goverment's abject refusal to close the borders is a criminal breach of the compact the government has with the people.

[maestro]

I'm addressing the 'Editoral' use of questioning the facts by using 'may be'......and ,.....'has faced'.....!!

Fact 'is' the Germans and Japs did NOT hit our HOMELAND with direct MASS destruction of civilian, U.S., lives!!!

And,......the ENEMY has NOT surrenderd there GOALS against us!

THAT 'is' the future.......(as a 'given') that this WAR is on for YEARS to COME,......and MUST be ADDRESSED.....the future WARS are hear NOW.

IMHO

(Some folks' life goals are 'set' for our 'future' destruction!!)

Sorry, for being emotional about the MASS MURDER of Americans.....anytime!!

[joesnuffy]

Activist tyrant judges are the biggest threat...to the Republic
Islamic terrorists may blow up the brick and mortar but the real threat is to the
soul of America and the intent of the founders

[onedoug]

"We're going to win this. But the will of the American people, (and) the will of our friends and allies have to be behind us. They have to understand what the stakes are, and they have to dedicate themselves to a long hard fight."

That "but" looms ever larger in our history since Vietnam.

And I do not think the administration nor the media are doing a very good job in communicating "what the stakes are". This is also very much a part of what it's going to take to win.

[maestro]

........ but the real threat is to the soul of America and the intent of the founders

100% Correct,.....thanks,...for your Postings!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

This General knows what's at stake, maestro. Go to the DoD website and read his briefings, his speeches. Read his bio.

I salute your passion.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

GWD said we will not run ~ I believe him!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Activist judges and terrorism are tied together. The Democrats aren't concerned with America. They don't like America as it's defined by the US Constitution, the foundations of this nation. They are intentionally working to undermine America's authority on the world's stage - aligning themselves with global socialists for power's sake - with the UN, EU - international NGOS. No one appeases the bad guys like today's Democrat Party.

 

 Borders? Forget it. They'd be happy to see America weakened. WMDs? You know what they think about the military, what they'd do to the military, how they'd approach the WOT - by elevating the UN, placing our troops under UN leadership, placing America under UN authority. Activist judges? They're on the side of the UN, of course, and against God, family and country.

 

We haven't been able to educate and inform the people through the traditional means, because the left controls our institutions of info - schools, media. The erosion of this nation and the war on terror are tied together. This is a war of ideas we have not been able to present to Americans or the rest of the world for years. This administration, by their words and actions throughout the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, is teaching the world the price and meaning of freedom.

Throughout this war, SOD Rumsfeld, Amb. Bremer, Gen. Myers and the President have been teaching the world about the US Constitution, about free press, and religion, and, yes, the second amendment (we are not disarming the Iraqi people). They are teaching the world about fair police procedures and trial by jury, and representative government - and the troops, working with the Iraqi people across Iraq are teaching the Iraqi people about faith in God, love thy neighbor and sacrificing for others.

The war shoved the press out of the driver's seat, no matter how the press tried to spin it. This administration wasn't talking to the press corps, so much, when they discussed freedom of religion, they were talking to the world. We are teaching the watching world about freedom, one step at a time in Iraq, by bypassing a all-too-powerful enemy press and going through a new door to reach the listening world.

"In terms of what kind of economic system they wish to establish, as you point out, the Ba'athist Party was a socialist party. I think it's very hard to imagine any strong support in this country for a return to that economic system, which has left the country really flat on its back, and which does not really provide a model for getting the kind of vibrant private sector which I think most Iraqis now realize is a sine qua non for a stable economy and stable economic growth. So if they choose socialism, that will be their business. My guess is that's not going to happen." ~ Amb. Paul Bremer  - Briefing on Coalition Post-war Reconstruction and Stabilization Efforts, 6/12.

Amb. Bremer was right.

The left is seething with rage because their Utopian dream has been exposed as an inhumane fraud. People around the world are fed up with ambitious, puffed-up pretenders who don't follow the rules like the activist judges who ignore the Constitution to push a personal agenda.

That's what I've learned by closely following the war. Others have, too.

I am not the enemy.

[GOPJ]

bump

[xzins]

Hitler was a greater threat. Had he been smart enough to consolidate his European base after he seized France, then he could have calmed England for a few years and subverted her.

And then expanded a bit further.....and further.

One bite at a time.