McCain v. Reid - by William Kristol
"We're going to pick up Senate seats as a result of this war. Senator Schumer has shown me numbers that are compelling and astounding." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), speaking to reporters, April 12, 2007
"This war is lost." Reid, April 19, 2007
........Meanwhile, the mainstream media paid little attention to Harry Reid's comments quoted above. Republican criticisms of them were treated as the normal tit-for-tat of partisan politics. Reid's cynicism wasn't thought noteworthy, and his defeatism wasn't thought extraordinary. Apparently, cynicism in the service of the defeat of Republicans is no vice. Undercutting the efforts of American troops you have voted to send to fight in a war is a virtue.
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Remarks at Florida State University
– by Steve Russell
Should we be in Iraq?This is perhaps the most contentious question of our day. Some have argued passionately that we were not justified in attacking Iraq. Further, they contend that not only was the war a mistake, but that it resulted from carefully planned lies that hid secret motives. When viewed from this filter, all policy and decisions to support this war are for naught, given the belief that it is useless to pursue an unjust cause to begin with.
Here are a half a dozen of the most popular claims as to why we should not be there:
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General Petraeus' Message to Troops
- 15 March 07
– by General David H. Petraeus
Operation Fardh al Qanoon - the Iraqi name for the operation to improve security in Baghdad - is in its early stages. Success will take months, not days or weeks, and there undoubtedly are many tough days ahead. Nonetheless, because of your hard work with our Iraqi partners, some encouraging signs are already emerging: sectarian murders are down and sectarian displacement appears to have slowed or even stopped, with increasing numbers of families returning to their homes. It already appears that the Joint Security Stations and Combat Outposts you are establishing are making their presence felt and helping restore a sense of hope to the Iraqi people, block-by-block.....Click to read more.
General Petraeus' Message to Troops
- 10 February 07
– by General David H. Petraeus
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 comradess, we will conduct a pivotal campaign to improve security for the Iraqi people. The stakes could not be higher.....Click to read more.
Make No Apologies
– by Steve Russell
What shall we say? What more can we give to our nation than the type of sacrifice we have already given? What words can we the soldiers use to convince Americans at home that the biggest mistakes being made in this war are on the home front, not the battlefront? What will be the value of temporary civilian comforts and the illusion of national safety when a giant shadow of Islamic terrorism is casting itself onto our shores? What will be the meaning of the rhetoric and the political debate when we sift through the rubble of a workplace, a shopping mall or public transit—digging out American bodies targeted for no other reason than because of our way of life and who we are as a people? It is a scene that every soldier who has witnessed it abroad will fight with all his might to keep away—but we never thought that our own people would betray our efforts.
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It Will Never Fly
– by Steve Russell
The most talkative bird in the world is the parrot. But he is a poor flyer. - Wilbur Wright
America is a nation 300 million strong. Our capacity, resources, and ingenuity are based in the great heritage and tradition of those who sacrificed to make us great. Each generation of Americans inherits a responsibility to protect this legacy from those that would see it falter and fade. Do we then really suppose that a mere 10,000 insurgents equipped with little more than man-dresses and flip-flops can hold America and its heritage hostage while terrorizing us into submission?
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The Iraq Study Group - What's the Big Idea?
– by Steve Russell
Speak to me as to thy thinkings,
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words
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William Shakespeare
Words are powerful tools. As a speaker and writer, I choose my words deliberately to deliver my thoughts or connect ideas. Even when I do not choose my words well, they still provide insight into my thinking. Perhaps that is why I find the Iraq Study Group Report a fascinating exercise in carefully chosen words attempting to mask the authors’ collective belief that America cannot win in Iraq. Take, for example, the word ‘victory.’ In the entire 160-page document, the word is used only three times. In each case, it is used to describe how Al Qaeda could achieve it. Nowhere is the word ‘victory’ used in conjunction with US efforts in Iraq. Other similar words, such as ‘success,’ are found only in association with phrases like ‘nothing can guarantee it,’ or it ‘depends on the unity of the American people,’ or that requires it includes the active participation or reconciliation of our enemies. Herein lies the problem. How effective can a ‘strategy’ for a ‘new approach’ in Iraq be, when founded upon a pessimistic view of victory?
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Celebrating the Anti-Hero – by Steve Russell
Decorations are for the puropose of raising the fighting value of troops; therefore they must be awarded promptly....Discipline can only be obtained when all officers are imbued with the sense of their awful obligation to their men and to their country that they cannot tolerate negligence. Officers who fail to correct errors or to praise excellence are valueless in peace and dangerous misfits in war. – General George S. Patton, Jr
How long are we to accept the complete failure to embrace true heroes in this war? To most Americans, every soldier is a hero. In a general sense, that is somewhat true—but not entirely. Americans cannot be blamed fully for the failure to comprehend genuine battlefield heroics. They rely on our military institutions for understanding. That seems to be the failure of our Army.
Some generals and field officers—the rank where one controls the recognition of valorous acts—dismiss such issues pathetically with, “Well, he was just doing his job. All of our soldiers are making sacrifices and are doing a great job.” So we miss yet another great opportunity to achieve victory in the war on terror. Such a statement forfeits opportunity and speaks of a dangerous failure to recognize, even in our military culture, what is noble; what is just; and what is true. We must think on these things. Click to read more.
The only thing that matters – by Steve Russell
With public Sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed. – Abraham Lincoln
When I returned home from yet another war, I was shocked at the views of Iraq as expressed by large numbers of Americans. Even today I reflect on how much harder it is for soldiers to bear these burdens without public support. And the added stress on the soldiers’ families as they are fed a steady diet of disillusionment and defeatism while their loved ones fight, or even die, is reprehensible. Many today hold the view that because of the tragedies of combat and the suffering that soldiers face, America should not take up the effort. Some reason that our lives are the only thing that matters. I do not hold this view. When I commanded an Infantry battalion in Iraq I told my men that I believed that if God intended for us to die in Iraq, then it would happen. If not, then there was nothing the enemy could do to make it so. And I emphasized to them while we may face difficulty, we cannot be defeated in this war. Click to read more.
Us and Them – by Steve Russell
We cannot deprecate good because it is American and embrace evil out of respect to different culture. Piloting airplanes into civilian workplaces is evil. Attacking all of your neighbors while killing hundreds of thousands of your own people is evil and invites intervention of justice—whether by global partners or single nations.
So what is their beef? Why do they hate us? What makes us right and them wrong? These are the kinds of questions that well-meaning Americans have asked in pursuit of answers to our current war on terror. While the questions are worth asking, they are not the main point. If the neighborhood in which one lives were to be overrun by thugs and miscreants, having a homeowners meeting to better understand the criminal viewpoint so that the neighborhood can be more accommodating and reduce crime is absurd. We would demand better police protection. We could justify the increased risk to our law enforcers and they would gladly shoulder it to protect the innocent. We would take a stand.
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The real question – by Steve Russell
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of a moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight—nothing he cares about more than his own safety—is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. – John Stuart Mill
Should we be in Iraq? This is perhaps the most contentious question of our day. But the real question is not whether we should be engaged in a war on Iraq. The real question is whether Iraq presented a threat to the United States of America, and if so, then was our response appropriate? Will we have the national will to face down these threats now that we have committed to overthrowing Saddam’s regime?
Some have argued passionately that we were not justified in attacking Iraq. Further, they contend that not only was the war a mistake, but that it resulted from carefully planned lies that hid secret motives. When viewed through this filter, all policy questions and future decisions about whether to support this war change dramatically because they are viewed from the perspective that it is useless to pursue a cause that was unjust to begin with. Still, none of this addresses the real question. Did Iraq present a major threat to the security of the United States of America and her interests? Click to read more.
Don't You Guys Get It? – by Steve Russell
And I see not in my blindness
What the objects were I wrought,
But as God rules o’er our bickerings
It was through His will I fought. - General George S. Patton, Jr.
Veteran’s Day. A nice public gathering for veterans. The school bands were great. The student poems were thoughtful. The efforts of all were appreciated. I gave my remarks in uniform and as a veteran, took pride to be numbered among America’s veterans. The remarks were well received and many expressed their feelings and gratitude or related stories of their relatives’ sacrifice and service. Click to read more.
Our Mission
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Our mission is simple—to engage and change public sentiment to achieve victory in the war on terror. We will accomplish this by raising the soldier’s voice in the national debate on this war and provide accurate information from those that have had the most at stake—the soldier. Ours is a voice of experience, not academics or theory or postulation. We deserve to be listened to, not pandered to or pitied.
Without the commitment of the American people, our use of military power will falter in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our other instruments of national power, such as diplomatic or economic or information, will scarcely gain a foothold without solid commitment. Real victory will come when, as at times past, Americans hold to their ideals, rally as a nation, face the dangers threatening our way of life, and stand firm until victory is achieved. When our enemies see this commitment, they will lose their initiative and begin their march to defeat. We are the United States of America. We should never apologize for being who we are. Click to read more.
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Critical Steps on the Road to Victory
- by Steve Russell
Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. - Abraham Lincoln
Can we win? Ask a soldier. If four doctors all said that your life could be saved by surgery yet everyone in your neighborhood said you are going to die, who would you believe?
Victory rarely comes easy. Robert E. Lee said that from the rear, even victory looks like defeat. In a time of constant anxiety, opponents of the war offer no solutions other than what is essentially quitting followed by a legacy of defeat. As Americans, we owe it to our fallen and to ourselves as a nation to do better.
Often I am asked, what can be done to turn this war around. Here are some current practical ways to lead us toward victory that I have shared publicly:
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Combat Calculus
Will 21,000 more troops make a difference?
– by Scott E. Rutter
The United States was founded on the doctrine of human sanctity. Each and every human life has value. Thus, in war our military and the world, in the form of the Geneva Conventions, developed certain rules of engagement that dictate fundamental battlefield actions. If warring parties uphold these rules of engagement, the preservation of human dignity is maintained, despite the bloodshed and destruction inherent in any war. What was not considered in this equation is a situation in which the enemy fails to act in accordance with these rules. In this situation, is the opposing party required to follow the rules? Can our society stomach a brutal torture and killing of an American soldier broadcast on the major news channels? Do we risk losing because we will only fight by the rules? In the minds of military planners and leaders, we must make these calculations and live with the consequences.
Click to read more.
Who Are We Really At War With?
– by Scott E. Rutter
The most fundamental element in raising an Army is money. By extension, the United States has the most powerful Armed Forces in the world. We can claim that we are the smartest and the most organized. We can claim that our democracy fosters the decisions that portend strength in the Armed Forces. But, at the very foundation, our nation’s military strength is based on our capitalist society grounded in the continued pursuit of monetary wealth. Period.
It is interesting to speculate on the reasons that we really went to War with Saddam Hussein. Some would argue it was because of WMD’s, in retribution for 9/11, to quash the terrorists, or to kill a brutal dictator. All of these are valid reasons, and all were part of the mix when the U.S. made that decision in 2003. But, in selecting Iraq, the President made an interesting choice. This decision will prove to be pivotal and vital in the history of mankind. Click to read more.
Losing Sight of the Big Picture – by Scott E. Rutter
An Open Letter to the President of the United States
Dear President Bush:
As we sit today at a crossroads in our War on Terror, I felt it was my civic duty to provide to you some of my own perspective on our path forward. I am honored to have this opportunity and I hope that what I have to say will have some impact on your decisions in the coming weeks.
In January 2003, I was tasked with commanding Task Force 2-7 Infantry, one of the key units in the initial phase of the Iraq component of the War on Terror. At that time, public sentiment for military action was very high and I can recall clearly enormously positive news reports on our soldiers and their brave and honorable sacrifice. Click to read more.
I Pledge Allegiance to Iraq – by Scott E. Rutter
Training Iraqi soldiers requires more than just weapons and equipment. In our rush to change direction, let’s not overlook the fundamentals.
The strength and soundness of our military is based on the willingness of our soldiers to put this country above their own self interests. Those who volunteer to wear our nation’s uniform, recite the following oath: Click to read more.
America Remembers Flt 93 – by Scott E. Rutter
The child of a victim wanted to hug the actor that portrayed his father. A well-known Hollywood actor ranted that this is an exploitation of the events of 9/11 and inappropriate timing.
The movie United Flight 93 elicits a wide range of emotions and opinions and deals with a vital topic that is of national significance. Although it has been only five short years, it is time for America to begin the process of preservation. Integral to our history and our national development as a democratic nation, we must find a way to remember and honor the innocent victims of this attack and the men and women that have served to protect and defend this country, many making the ultimate sacrifice. Click to read more.
Fighting for ROTC – by Scott E. Rutter
Having spoken at many college campuses nationwide in the last two years, it often shocks me how many administrations and faculty are ardently against our War on Terror. While their positions are problematic, the underlying issue is the failure to permit the free and dynamic expression of thoughts and speech that is the foundation of this nation. In particular, many campuses have banned or tried to ban ROTC programs. With heads buried in the academic sand, the ability of the armed forces to attract the best and brightest is severely hampered by these actions. Does the administration of these universities think that members of the armed forces should only be obtained from poor communities that lack adequate opportunities? Do they believe that the terrorists will just ‘go away’ if we don’t address this issue? Do they think their universities are impervious to attack by terrorists or other enemies and the lives of their students are not worth protecting? Click to read more.
Retreat Isn't an Option
– by Liz Cheney
Sen. Hillary Clinton declared this weekend, " I'm in to win." Anyone who has watched her remarkable trajectory can have no doubt that she'll do whatever it takes to win the presidency. I wish she felt the same way about the war.
In fairness, Clinton, with her proposal for arbitrary caps on troop levels and hemming and hawing about her vote for the war resolution, has company on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Joseph Lieberman is the only national Democrat showing any courage on this issue. We Republicans -- with help from senators such as Chuck Hagel -- seem ready to race the Democrats to the bottom.
I'd like to ask the politicians in both parties who are heading for the hills to stop and reflect on these basic facts:
Click to read more.
Terrorist Groups Links and Information
The purpose of these links is to provide the analyst with research tools that educates all the different lists of terrorist groups’ official names, un-official names, and aliases. These are some of the most reputable and informative resources currently on the web:
Air University Library: Terrorist and Insurgent Organizations (2003)
Asia Terrorism Database (2005)
Centre for Defence Information (2005)
Council on Foreign Relations: Terrorist Groups (2004)
CRS Reports for Congress: Foreign Terrorist Organizations (2004)
FAS Intelligence Resource Program: Liberation Movements, Terrorist Organizations, Substance Cartels, and Other Para-State Entities
International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism: Terrorist Organizations (2003)
MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base (2005)
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada: Listed Entities (2002)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Terrorist Organization Reference Guide (2004)
U.S. Department of State: Country Reports on Terrorism
Vets for Victory Blogs & Links
The Ultimate Sacrifice
CPL Velez of C Company, 1-22 Infantry, bids farewell to fellow soldiers SPC James Powell of B Company and SPC D J Wheeler of C Company. Photo taken in October 2003 by EPA’s Stefan Zaklin. The Donald L. Wheeler, Jr, VFW Post in Jackson, Michigan is named after DJ. LTC Russell attended the dedication in June 2006 and gave remarks.
Don't just read. Watch, listen and read more comments made in the media. Click to see videos and articles.
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