Iraq: The Untold Truths
I’ve enjoyed Ralph Peters’ reporting from Iraq immensely. He’s now returning home so this is his last article from the trenches. Fortunately, he saved his best for last:
What actually happened last week, as the prophets of doom in the media prematurely declared civil war?
- The Iraqi army deployed over 100,000 soldiers to maintain public order. U.S. Forces remained available as a backup, but Iraqi soldiers controlled the streets.
- Iraqi forces behaved with discipline and restraint, as the local sectarian outbreaks fizzled, not one civilian had been killed by an Iraqi soldier.
- Time and again, Iraqi military officers were able to defuse potential confrontations and frustrate terrorist hopes of igniting a religious war.
- Forty-seven battalions drawn from all 10 of Iraq’s army divisions took part in an operation that, above all, aimed at reassuring the public. The effort worked, from the luxury districts to the slums, the Iraqis were proud of their army.
Prophets of doom is an apt description for the Agenda Media. First, they won’t leave their hotels so they’re getting second-hand information (at best). To make matters worse is that they don’t have a way of verifying the accuracy of the information that their Iraqi ‘helpers’ are feeding them. Finally, and worst of all, they don’t try finding out anything about the total picture in Iraq.
Thankfully, we’ve had Col. Peters in theater reporting facts because he cared enough about ‘the big picture’ to go there and get the facts firsthand. He should be applauded for his great reporting.
AS a result of its nationwide success, the Iraqi army gained tremendously in confidence. Its morale soared. After all the lies and exaggerations splashed in your direction, the truth is that we’re seeing a new, competent, patriotic military emerge. The media may cling to its image of earlier failures, but last week was a great Iraqi success.
This matters. Not only for Iraq’s sake, but because standing up a responsible military subordinate to an elected civilian government is the essential development that will allow us to reduce our troop presence in the next few years. Much remains to do, and much could still go wrong, but I, for one, am more optimistic after this visit to Baghdad.
Hallelujah and Hooray!!! Good for them, too!!! This can’t be seen as anything other than a major positive development. No need for qualifiers. Let’s hope that these troops keep improving, keep gaining in confidence and keeping building their morale. It sounds like these soldiers are brimming with pride and patriotism, too. Good for them.
Let’s go deeper and probe into the growth of Iraq’s army. On Saturday, The Post conducted an exclusive interview with the commander of Iraq’s ground forces. It was Lt.-Gen. Abdul Qadir’s first sit-down with the press, he’s been a busy man.
The general looks like a vigorous, good-natured grandfather in uniform. But his affable dignity masks a heroic past. An armor officer with extensive battlefield experience, Qadir stood up to Saddam, stating that his adventure in Kuwait was destined to fail. The reward for his integrity, the patriotism of the honest soldier, was seven years in prison. Only his history of combat valor saved him from death. Now Saddam’s in prison and Qadir’s determined to build a better Iraq.
This is an incredible man. Iraqis should be thankful that he’s in a leadership position. Just standing up to Saddam must’ve taken an incredible amount of courage. Now he’s training and leading forces. I can only imagine that these soldiers are well-trained and full of pride. I’ll guarantee you won’t read this account in the NY Times; I’d doubt if we’d hear Sen. Biden admitting anything like this.
Thank you for your outstanding reporting, Col. Peters. I, for one, am most grateful for the information that you reported.
Cross-post at LetFreedomRing
Publisher’s note: See Bill Crawford’s “Read What You’re Not Reading About Iraq”