Here's praying that President Bush has finally found his General Grant.
Petreaus addresses Coalition, Iraqi partners
Saturday, 10 February 2007
To the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Civilians of Multi-National Force-Iraq:
We serve in Iraq at a critical time. The war here will soon enter its fifth year. A decisive moment approaches. Shoulder-to-shoulder with our Iraqi comrades, we will conduct a pivotal campaign to improve security for the Iraqi people. The stakes could not be higher.
Our task is crucial. Security is essential for Iraq to build its future. Only with security can the Iraqi government come to grips with the tough issues it confronts and develop the capacity to serve its citizens. The hopes of the Iraqi people and the coalition countries are with us.
The enemies of Iraq will shrink at no act, however barbaric. They will do all that they can to shake the confidence of the people and to convince the world that this effort is doomed. We must not underestimate them.
Together with our Iraqi partners, we must defeat those who oppose the new Iraq. We cannot allow mass murderers to hold the initiative. We must strike them relentlessly. We and our Iraqi partners must set the terms of the struggle, not our enemies. And together we must prevail.
The way ahead will not be easy. There will be difficult times in the months to come. But hard is not hopeless, and we must remain steadfast in our effort to help improve security for the Iraqi people. I am confident that each of you will fight with skill and courage, and that you will remain loyal to your comrades-in-arms and to the values our nations hold so dear.
In the end, Iraqis will decide the outcome of this struggle. Our task is to help them gain the time they need to save their country. To do that, many of us will live and fight alongside them. Together, we will face down the terrorists, insurgents, and criminals who slaughter the innocent. Success will require discipline, fortitude, and initiative - qualities that you have in abundance.
I appreciate your sacrifices and those of your families. Now, more than ever, your commitment to service and your skill can make the difference between victory and defeat in a very tough mission.
It is an honor to soldier again with the members of the Multi-National Force - Iraq. I know that wherever you serve in this undertaking you will give your all. In turn, I pledge my commitment to our mission and every effort to achieve success as we help the Iraqis chart a course to a brighter future.
Godspeed to each of you and to our Iraqi comrades in this crucial endeavor.
DAVID H. PETRAEUS
General, United States Army
Commanding
"I received something in the mail that brings a little lump in the throat and makes the eyes blink a little. As you recall, I sent some items to Afghanistan in December. Today I received this:
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 06-08 AFGHANISTAN
This Certificate of Appreciation is presented to
(Enterprise)
of ____________ in recognition of his outstanding support for the soldiers deployed with the Psychological Operations Task Force - Afghanistan, Combined Joing Task Force - 76, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan."
It was signed by the Command Sergeant Major and the Commander of the 12th PSYOP Battalion.
God bless our troops, God bless them all.
Due to flu, I've been delayed in posting the 2007 thread.
Our contact at Bagram, Afghanistan is on her way home now. Her husband remains for another month or two.
Enterprise and iceskater have been sending boxes to the NPTT unit at FOB Falcon in Baghdad. Iceskater sent Smallville, Seasons 1-4 that jtill financed. Enterprise sent some dark action movies, so I got some comedies. He also sent a boatload of popcorn.
General Petraeus' speech on assuming command in Iraq is at post 1724.
Mailed February 17, 2007, to NPTT at FOB Falcon in Baghdad, 2 boxes
Box 1, insured $98.35, postage $10.40
7 DVD movies:
Click (Adam Sandler)
Deep Impact (Tea Leoni, Morgan Freeman, Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood) --not a comedy
Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark (Harrison Ford)
Indiana Jones Temple of Doom (Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw)
Indiana Jones The Last Crusade (Harrison Ford, Sean Connery)
There’s Something about Mary (Carmen Diaz, Ben Stiller)
Wedding Crashers uncorked (Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn)
1 music CD: Daughtry (Chris Daughtry)
2 bags 28 oz. tropical trail mix
2 newspapers:
Washington Times weekly Feb 5
L.A. Times front page section Feb 13
3 Tic Tac
2 packs 12 Orbit spearmint sugarless gum
Box 2, insured $85.09, postage $10.40
1 TV series boxed set DVD’s:
Smallville, Season 5 (Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk)
3 DVD movies:
Airplane! (Leslie Neilson, Lloyd Bridges)
Dodgeball (Vince Vaughn)
Shanghai Knights (Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson)
1 book: Radical Son (David Horowitz)
2 bags 28 oz tropical trail mix
6 packs 12 Orbit spearmint sugarless gum
3 magazines:
Sports Illustrated, Feb 19 (Year of Freshmen, NASCAR preview)
Weekly Standard, Feb 12 (on Barack Obama, Fall of a Writer, Rise of a Pol)
Reader’s Digest, March 2007