Eight VFF Combat Vets Return to Iraq to Assess Situation on the Ground

Below you will find one of the finest groups of men in which America is honored to be considered their home. Eight of them shall undertake the grueling task of going back to Iraq to report about the situation on the ground…the TRUTH this time. Apparently that is NOT something they teach in journalistic ethics anymore.

This was written by Pete Hegseth of Vets For Freedom, and I hope you will keep them in your prayers. Also read their articles. They will be writing often, and with eight of them? It should be daily! lol. Oh, there’s going to be video, too! This is where you will find the news. If you’d like to follow as they go into dustbowl hell again, join and follow the reports from the Vets For Freedom.

Vets For Freedom - Back to Iraq to Asses Situation

Dear Vets for Freedom Members:

I’m excited to announce that next week, Vets for Freedom is sending eight Iraq war combat veterans “back to Iraq” to embed with U.S. combat units and assess the security and political situation on the ground. The media—-along with recent Iraq visitors—-have not sufficiently reported the gains on the ground…so we’ll do it ourselves.

We will return to the Iraqi cities where we once patrolled—-cities like Fallujah, Baqubah, Samarra, and Baghdad—-to provide a true “before and after” perspective and analyze the results of the surge, observe ongoing counterinsurgency operations, and examine future scenarios that might confront U.S. and Iraqi forces, as well as the Iraqi government.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF EMBEDS AND WHERE THEY’LL BE.

All eight Vets for Freedom members have received their media credentials through Blackfive, National Review Online or The Weekly Standard. And while in Iraq, we will provide regular updates through the above media organizations and at www.vetsforfreedom.org. We will be blogging daily, writing full-length pieces, shooting video footage, and reporting live from the ground.

Embeds will be meeting with U.S. and Iraqi military and civilian leaders, and will focus our analysis on determining the durability of recent gains, the potential consequences of a rapid American withdrawal, the proper “conditions-based” metrics needed to measure future force levels, the status of displaced Iraqis, and the prospects for the return of al Qaeda to Iraq, amongst other issues.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL FUTURE DISPATCHES FROM IRAQ.

I’m honored to be heading back to Iraq with such an incredible group of vets. I also want to thank the corporations UnderArmour and Wiley-X for outfitting our group with the proper tactical clothing and eyewear, as well as North American Rescue for supplying us with medical supplies.

Be on the lookout at www.vetsforfreedom.org for forthcoming updates about the trip!

Moving out—-with 7 fellow vets—-to Draw Fire!

Pete Hegseth

Chairman, Vets for Freedom.

This is their first article:

WASHINGTON, DC – Vets for Freedom (VFF) today announced that eight Iraq war veterans who are members of the organization will return to Iraq to assess conditions on the ground and analyze policy options for future U.S. military involvement. Next week they will return to the Iraqi cities where they once patrolled, to provide a true “before and after” perspective.

Success in Iraq demands a fact-based policy built on an objective assessment of conditions on the ground and the advice of U.S. commanders. Through this extensive review, VFF embeds will provide an informed understanding of the best future course for the United States in Iraq.

“The great danger is that policy becomes divorced from events on the ground. The only responsible course is to ensure that decisions on troop levels and other matters reflect the demands of the battlefield. To reduce forces ignorant of, or despite, the consequences would be to risk disaster,” remarked VFF Chairman Pete Hegseth.

Individuals participating in the embed in Iraq include Hegseth, David Bellavia, Joel Arends, Erik Swabb, Kate Norley, Shawn Bryan, Daniel Bell, and Ben Hayden. Biographies for these individuals, as well as where they will be embedded, may be found at www.vetsforfreedom.org/backtoiraq, and additional details about the trip will be made available as schedules in Iraq are finalized.

The assessment will include a series of real-time updates from key strategic points in Iraq, with visits to Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah, Samarra, Baghdad, amongst others. Following the return of the group, VFF will issue a report to elected officials and the public with findings and recommendations.

The analysis of the group will focus on determining the depth and durability of recent gains, the troop levels required to achieve stability, the potential consequences of a rapid American withdrawal, the proper “conditions-based” metrics needed to measure the right balance of U.S. and Iraqi forces, the status of displaced people seeking to return to their homes, and the prospects for the return of al Qaeda to Iraq, among other issues.

“Senator Obama has stated his intention to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq on a fixed timetable and without almost any consideration for facts on the ground and events in the region. A policy of effectively unconditional withdrawal from Iraq raises troubling questions. Through this on-the-ground assessment, members of VFF are committed to providing fact-based analysis of critical policy decisions,” concluded Hegseth.

For interviews, please contact those listed above. For more on Vets for Freedom and the “Four Months, For Victory” campaign, visit www.vetsforfreedom.org/fourmonths.

These are wonderful people, and they are sacrificing much to bring us so much information to you. They have already served in Iraq when it is was at its roughest and almost impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel that John McCain saw so clearly. Let us be grateful for such men as these, and let us pray for them. Also, let us support them. Yes, I mean MONEY!

God bless you guys for doing this for us, and God bless everyone who truly supports them. Have a great day.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts and Adam’s Blog.

Friends I have trackbacked today through Linkfest and others:
The World According To Carl: Mercedes Benz’s New Luxury Vehicle: The MZ-3000 Illusion.
123beta: Saddam Hussein’s Rolls Royce For Sale On Ebay.

Friends who have shared their posts for your reading pleasure:

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Politician vs. Statesman

I read something this evening that I had not heard about anywhere else expect over at Blackfive’s. He led me over to Mrs. Greyhawk’s wonderful article at the Mudville Gazette that distinguishes the true difference between Sen. Obama – a politician – and Iraq’s Minister of the Interior Jawad Karim al-Bolani – a true Statesman.

Why do I declare one this way and the other one in a better light? Read this article. Someone made time for our wounded troops. There was no entourage. A few reporters, but no front-page headlines. No. This MOI al-Bolani came to America to see our wounded and to thank them for freeing his country from that tyrant, Saddam Hussein. Can you imagine that?! HEY! NY TIMES! THEY’RE THANKING THE SOLDIERS! Not you, though, huh? I wonder why…

Source(s): Blackfive.net and Mudville Gazette.

Cross-posted @ Talon, Rosemary’s Thoughts and Adam’s Blog.

Today I am having a Linkfest party for all my friends, they ones I know and they ones I will come to know. If you have a post you would like to share with more people, why not trackpost it here? All you have to do is add my Permalink somewhere in your article (usually at the bottom), then trackback to it. You don’t have trackbacks available? Why not use Wizbang Stand Alone Trackback Everyone have a nice day.

Friends I have trackbacked today through Linkfest and others:

Friends who have shared their posts for your reading pleasure:
5. The World According To Carl: Mercedes Benz’s New Luxury Vehicle: The MZ-3000 Illusion.
6. 123beta: Saddam Hussein’s Rolls Royce For Sale On Ebay.
8. Conservative Cat: Saner Men Would Need Therapy.

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Founders’ Daily Quote: 31 July 2008

“I believe a time will come when an opportunity will be offered to abolish this lamentable evil. Everything we do is to improve it, if it happens in our day; if not, let us transmit to our descendants, together with our slaves, a pity for their unhappy lot and an abhorrence of slavery.”

–Patrick Henry (letter to Robert Pleasants, 18 January 1773); Reference: The Spirit of ‘Seventy-Six, Henry Commager and Richard Morris, 402.

I have always Patrick Henry, but now I like him even more! AMEN.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s News and Ideas.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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Pentagon: Surge a success by any measure

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (June 24, 2008) — The surge in Iraq has been a success by any measure, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said during a news conference June 23. The policy, announced by President Bush in December 2006, pushed additional brigades in to Iraq to provide a security umbrella so the Iraqi military could build and the country’s government could grow.

The surge has allowed Iraq to make improvements from security, political and economic standpoints, Morrell said. The last of the five surge brigade combat teams recently left Iraq. “By every metric that we measure violence in Iraq, there has been a dramatic improvement from where things were before the surge,” Morrell said. “I’ll just point to one, and that is [that] in July of last year, we had 79 U.S. [servicemembers killed in action] in Iraq. We have four thus far this month.”

The dramatic security gains have provided room for political and economic successes. “You name it, it is happening in Iraq,” Morrell said. “Do you want to talk about political gains? We’ve had basically all the major benchmark legislation passed.” The Sunni bloc has returned to the government, 10 of 18 Iraqi provinces are under local control, and Najaf International Airport has reopened. “You see a $300 million luxury hotel opening up in the Green Zone [and] $50 million in refurbishment of the airport road,” Morrell said. “There’s economic investment, and there’s political progress. There’s increased security. All those things are undeniable, and they are attributable to the fact that we plussed up forces in there.”

There were, of course, other factors at work in the security improvement, Morrell said, but the surge and the change in U.S. counterinsurgency strategy made all else possible. The “Anbar Awakening” that allied formerly insurgent Sunni Muslims with the coalition and influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s cease-fire were other factors, he said, but he noted they didn’t happen independently of other events.

“If we think that Sadr acted in a vacuum, I think we’re kidding ourselves,” Morrell said. “There clearly was political and military pressure which caused him to make a decision to have his troops stand down. But we benefitted from it, no doubt,” he continued. “There’s no question that the awakening in Anbar, the cease-fire by Sadr, simultaneous to the surge, has helped the overall security situation in Iraq.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell holds a press briefing to update reporters on the latest news and events within the Department of Defense.

Source: CENTCOM.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts and Adam’s Blog.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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Sheikhs discuss upcoming elections in Samawa

by Capt. Robin Worch
1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

SAMAWA, Iraq (July 28, 2008) – More than 500 tribal leaders gathered in Samawa to discuss upcoming Iraqi elections and issues affecting their tribes, July 16. “This is the spirit of democracy that is encouraging progress throughout Muthanna and Iraq,” said Paul O’Friel, a provincial reconstruction team leader operating in the region.

Sheikh Hakim Khazl led the meeting under a theme of “free and fair elections,” where he proposed introducing United Nations electoral monitors to validate upcoming elections. “We are honored to be invited to such an event and witness first-hand Iraqi people’s moving forward toward a truly democratic country,” said Lt. Col. Scott Kendrick, the commander of the 2nd Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

The sheikhs discussed short falls in the election system in Iraq and agree there is a vital need to hold the national government accountable to the people. The sheikhs’ tribes are gathering, organizing and developing strategies for peaceful and democratic elections scheduled this fall.

The 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div., Long Knife Brigade, is providing oversight and aid to the Iraqi security forces in the region.

More than 500 sheiks mingle outside a tent during an annual meeting to discuss issues concerning their tribes and upcoming elections in Samawa, July 16.

Source: CENTCOM.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s News and Ideas and Adam’s Blog.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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Founders’ Daily Quote: 30 July 2008

“The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate
authority.”

–Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 22, 14 December 1787); Reference: Hamilton, Federalist No. 22

I hear ya, Alex, but they won’t listen to us. Is this why the 2nd Amendment was so necessary for the citizenry? 😉

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts and Adam’s Blog.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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Founders’ Daily Quote: 29 July 2008

“Have you something to do to-morrow; do it to-day.”

— Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1742)

Reference: Poor Richard: The Almanakcs for the Years, 1733-1758,
intro by Van Wyck Brooks (94)

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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From Vegas to San Diego – We Was a Shakin’ and a Rollin’

At approximately 11:42 am, there was an earthquake with a magnitute of 5.8 (estimated. We now know it was 5.4). I’m fine, but it felt like it lasted for over a minute, but it was only about 30 seconds. The reports are coming in fast and furious. I cannot type that fast! lol.

Am I shaken up? No, not really. I’ve been through these before. It’s just like you people who live in Tornado Valley or Hurricane Lane. It’s just something that happens. At least with an earthquake, you know what to do and it only lasts for anywhere between 20 seconds to a couple of minutes.

The people on Channel 7 news (ABC) are saying you never get used to it. Grow up! Yes, you do. Just as long you are not in the epi-center and nothing is damaged, I just ride them out. My brother and I went to the doorway, and I said, ‘Wheeee!’ So give me a break! lol.

There are now aftershocks. They are saying Disneyland is evacuting everyone from the rides. Everyone is pretty calm, and he finds it amazing because there’s a lot of out-of-towners there. I guess they probably thought it was part of the fun!

I’m going to sign off now. They don’t know if this was a foreshock or the real deal. I have a clue for them. It was the real deal. Good grief. lol. Aren’t I terrible? 😉

At this time, there have been at least 27 aftershocks with the biggest one being 3.6. The depth of this quake was 7-8 miles, and it was located 2 miles SW of Chino Hills. There is a 5% chance that this could be a foreshock, and within hours, usually 24, the chances lessen.

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s Thoughts and Adam’s Blog.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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I owe MOPHSF and you an apology

This is more than a correction, because I crossed the line. I used language that was hurtful and uncalled for, and I jumped the gun on an article I wrote before having all the facts. I will not put on a defense, because there is none. What I can do is to stop name calling, keep my research links to every article with the article (so it’s easier to find), and be more respectful to everyone.

This is what I had previously written (with an update):

There has been an issue that came up recently, and people who do not know the difference can very easily be taken by this. MOPH stands for Military Order of the Purple Heart (and it is led by fellow Eagle and Special Forces soldier Henry Cook of Shreveport, LA), and MOPH Services Foundation stands for FRAUD another group who works to help our Soldiers as well, although it is not related to the Military in anyway.

Henry received word of this, and this is the result:

Larry Bailey:

A late follow up—Dick Esau, the Executive Director of the MOPH service Foundation was terminated on July 7, 2008—it seems that embezzlement is in the air too. More to follow. But this basic fact needs to get out to all veterans–

Yours in Patriotism,
De Oppresso Liber
Henry J. Cook, III

I want everyone to know about this, and please know that this situation is going to be corrected. You have people watching your back all over the place. We may not be out there on the battlefield with you, but I swear to do all I can stateside for as long I’m alive. God bless you all!

Cross-posted @ Rosemary’s News and Ideas and Talon.

After reading this, you will see that only one person was relieved of their job. That should not tarnish the whole organization. Not the way I did. I understand I can get carried away when it comes to our Military men and women, but I should at least give them time to straighten out their own affairs. Otherwise, I end up hurting the rest of the people who are doing good things to help our men and women. We are on the same team. I get so upset when other people jump the gun. So I hope you can understand the deep regret, disappointment, and sorrow I truly feel. This deserves much more than a correction, this deserves an apology. I apologize. Please forgive me, and have a nice day.

I re-posted it here, because I posted it here first. It is only fair for you to see my error in judgement.

Here is the link for MOPH: MOPH and here is the link for MOPHSF: MOPHSF. Please visit them and see all the good that they do. I wish I could do more. It will be hard not to express my opinion, but I shall try to refrain. Have a nice day.

Cross-posted @ Talon and Rosemary’s Thoughts.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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Konar, Afghanistan: ‘Almost’ Poppy Free

I have found this article, written by Navy Lt. Neil Myers Special to American Forces Press Service, at DVIDSHub. It is amazing to me that we do not hear more of these stories from Afghanistan, but the media wants us to believe this is the forgotten war. Forgotten by who? Not you. Not me. Maybe them? Anyway, who needs them?

The UN has a special office named, “United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime”, and apparently they reward people for cleaning up their drug problem. Let’s take a look first at what has occurred in past few years. In the years 2006 and 2007, this province was nearly poppy free.

U.N. Agency Declares Afghan Province ‘Nearly Poppy-Free’.

During a July 6 trip to the province, Afghanistan’s minister for counternarcotics, Gen. Khodaidad, announced that Konar has qualified for two monetary awards totaling $750,000 from the Counternarcotics Trust Fund.

Konar Gov. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi and his provincial council decided to use $420,000 of that money to upgrade the Konar Teacher Training College with a 60-room dormitory, dining facility and meeting hall. A lack of dormitories requires students of either to commute or to rent local accommodations while attending school.

“This is a great day for Konar and Afghanistan”, said Navy Cmdr. Daniel Dwyer, Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team commander. “When you see the government of Afghanistan, on its own, bringing projects to its people that provide for long-term jobs and economic growth, it shows everyone that progress is well on its way.”

This is wonderful. This is good encouragement, by using other methods of working to achieve a good economy, and this is a way to show other provinces how to prosper without growing the poppies that are aiding the Taliban and AQ. Without this money, who knows? They may even have to get a job! LOL. Seriously though.

The governor of this province is not quite sure yet how spend the rest of the money, but he does have some ideas. He would like to build some irrigation canals, improve education, and then possible use the rest for either one big project or many smaller district projects. I vote for the smaller districts, but that’s me.

He is very proud of the people in his province, especially the elders, as am I, because he knows this would not be possible without their support and efforts.

“The people of Konar deserve the credit for the poppy eradication,” Wahidi said. “All the tribal elders and people of Konar are committed to putting an end to this [poppy] seed, because the smuggling, trafficking and growing of narcotics is forbidden by Islam.”

I don’t care much for the so-called religion, but I’m grateful to them for stopping the spread of heroin. Good job, you guys. Keep up the good work.

PS. I just want to add something that was not in this story but I know to be true. It was also done with ‘a little help’ by the US Military. HOOAH!

Source: DVIDS News.

Cross-posted @ Talon, Rosemary’s Thoughts and Adam’s Blog.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

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