MY TRIP TO IRAQ
Monday, July 30th, 2007As a Member of Congress I can tell you there is no bigger issue we face as a nation than the Global War on Terror. This war affects every American. It demands sacrifices from the men and women in uniform who so bravely risk their lives to defend the freedoms we enjoy today, and it affects the families of our military who send their loved ones to fight the battle. It is to these individuals that we owe our eternal gratitude.
This past weekend I flew to Iraq to visit the soldiers from Fort Hood who are stationed on the ground. I went over there expecting to hear and see the same things you have seen on television- explosions, bloody battles and soldiers who have given up on their mission. I was prepared for the worse news possible.
What I witnessed was the exact opposite. We have young men and women fighting on the ground in Iraq who believe strongly in what they are fighting. We have generals who believe in the missions and report that, although things look dire on an American television set, things are changing to our favor in Iraq. In fact, in all my conversations with hundreds of soldiers, the one thing they all had in common was their view on the war they are fighting. They believe they are fighting a war that is being won, and what discouraged them most was the war going on in Congress about pulling them out before they have completed their mission.
I am not a military expert, and neither is anybody in the Congress. I must add that I have been to Iraq four times since I was elected to Congress, and this was the closest I have been to the fighting. It was hot, windy and dangerous, and although I was only in Iraq for a weekend, I got a taste of the harsh conditions our soldiers are dealing with; and still they are dedicated to their mission. We are talking about 130 degree heat with the strongest wind you can imagine, and still their spirits were high. I tell you, Central Texas has some amazing men and women over in Iraq.
During my trip we made an unexpected stop in Ramadi to walk through a central market. If you recall, about eight months ago, Ramadi was said to be the most active combat zone in the entire country, but now it is a place where people can go and shop. It is still dangerous, but nothing compared to what it was eight months ago. Things are progressing.
What is making a difference in Ramadi is the Sunni population is now working with the Iraqi government and our military to point out terrorists. I might remind you that the al Qaeda are Sunni. Because of the success of our men and women in uniform and the brutality of the terrorists, the Iraqi people are beginning to trust their government and the Americans.
I believe in our servicemen and women and the American spirit they’re bringing to Iraq. Ramadi is proof that folks in Iraq are seeking peace and prosperity. With a little encouragement, and the strength to enforce laws, the prospect for a bright future in Iraq is looming. Calvin Coolidge once said, “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” I want those soldiers in Iraq to know that I have not forgotten about them, and I will continue fighting and praying for the mission they believe in so strongly.