Grinder
22 December 2003, 03:45
By K.L. Vantran
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2003 - The American soldier, Time magazine's choice for
Person of the Year, is "exactly right," the nation's top military officer told
Sunday news shows audiences here today.
The magazine cover is a "fitting tribute to these young men and women who have
volunteered to serve their country and are over there doing a superb job,"
Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said on CNN's "Late
Edition with Wolf Blitzer."
The general just returned Dec. 20 from visiting 25,000 troops in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Djibouti. "The military in many cases stands
between terrorists and their goal," the chairman said on "Fox News Sunday."
"They're doing a terrific job. America ought to be proud of its military."
"These folks look like they're ready for inspection," Myers told the Fox
audience about his overseas trip. "It's hard to tell the 101st Airborne
(Division) up in Mosul, Iraq, have been there nine months and had to fight
their way through Baghdad to get there. They look terrific. They understand the
mission. They're confident in the mission. They take care of one another.
"They're making a real difference in Afghanistan and in Iraq," he said on CBS'
"Face the Nation."
"They're changing the scenery for the good."
Myers said the capture of disposed Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein is "a big step
in the inevitable process of Iraq's march to democracy."
Upon Saddam's capture, Myers told CNN viewers, it was important for the
security of Iraqi people, coalition forces and for all those who are trying to
make a better Iraq to show that the former dictator was indeed captured. "He
was such a powerful figure at one time, it was important to show the Iraqi
people that he's no longer going to be an influence in their lives," he added.
Information obtained when Saddam was captured has led to a better understanding
of the structure of the former regime, and subsequently more than 200 people
have been detained, Myers said on Fox.
The general noted that since Saddam's capture more and more Iraqis have stepped
forward with information on former regime elements. He said it's "probably
because they're not afraid any more. (There's) a realization that the Baath
Party is never coming back to power," he added. "The new Iraq will be based on
democratic principles."
Myers said the plot to kidnap members of the Iraqi Governing Council and then
offer them in exchange for Saddam is not unusual. "We know that they would love
to stop the progress in Iraq," he added. "We've seen them go after the
infrastructure. We've seen them go after (Iraqi) chiefs of police. They've gone
after mayors."
The chairman talked on CNN about the possibility that insurgents have had
access to inside information resulting in the attacks on the Al Rasheed Hotel
in October and on coalition administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer's convoy
earlier this month. Acknowledging that any breaches in security are a concern,
Myers said "we have to work our counterintellgience people very hard to ensure
that we maintain operational security and protect people the best we can."
Despite this, the general told the Fox audience the courage of U.S. and
coalition forces, the Iraqi people and the governing council shines through.
More than 100 Iraqis in security forces have given their lives to secure that
country, he added.
When asked about recent al Qaeda threats concerning attacks against the United
States, Myers said intelligence tips are taken "very, very seriously." "There's
no doubt from the intelligence we pick up that they want to do away with our
way of life," he added. "If they could cause another catastrophic event like
the tragedy of 9/11 or if they could get their hands on weapons of mass
destruction and make it 10,000 not 3,000 (deaths), they would do that and not
just in the United States but in other parts of the free world."
The general said there are troops doing great work to mitigate these threats
here at home as well as in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
Myers said he believes there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and it's
only a matter of time until they are found. "It's going to be like finding
Saddam Hussein," he added. "You need the right series of events, the right
individuals to keep track and say, 'Here's where we think it is.'"
The same is true in the search for Osama bin Laden, Myers said on "Face the
Nation." "We track down every lead. There are people in this government and in
other governments who are dedicated to finding him," he added. "His options for
hiding become less and less as we gain more and more intelligence. As we keep
working this trail, it's like any good detective work, any good intelligence
work: One lead leads to the next lead."
Since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March, 461 U.S. troops have died and the
chairman told CNN what a tragedy these deaths are. "It's a tough business," he
added.
He said trying to change a country that had been in dictatorship and ruled by
fear and terror to a democracy takes a lot of sacrifice. "It takes a lot of
personal courage," he added. "Our soldiers won't back down from this. We have
the resolve and the will to carry this through."
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2003 - The American soldier, Time magazine's choice for
Person of the Year, is "exactly right," the nation's top military officer told
Sunday news shows audiences here today.
The magazine cover is a "fitting tribute to these young men and women who have
volunteered to serve their country and are over there doing a superb job,"
Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said on CNN's "Late
Edition with Wolf Blitzer."
The general just returned Dec. 20 from visiting 25,000 troops in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Djibouti. "The military in many cases stands
between terrorists and their goal," the chairman said on "Fox News Sunday."
"They're doing a terrific job. America ought to be proud of its military."
"These folks look like they're ready for inspection," Myers told the Fox
audience about his overseas trip. "It's hard to tell the 101st Airborne
(Division) up in Mosul, Iraq, have been there nine months and had to fight
their way through Baghdad to get there. They look terrific. They understand the
mission. They're confident in the mission. They take care of one another.
"They're making a real difference in Afghanistan and in Iraq," he said on CBS'
"Face the Nation."
"They're changing the scenery for the good."
Myers said the capture of disposed Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein is "a big step
in the inevitable process of Iraq's march to democracy."
Upon Saddam's capture, Myers told CNN viewers, it was important for the
security of Iraqi people, coalition forces and for all those who are trying to
make a better Iraq to show that the former dictator was indeed captured. "He
was such a powerful figure at one time, it was important to show the Iraqi
people that he's no longer going to be an influence in their lives," he added.
Information obtained when Saddam was captured has led to a better understanding
of the structure of the former regime, and subsequently more than 200 people
have been detained, Myers said on Fox.
The general noted that since Saddam's capture more and more Iraqis have stepped
forward with information on former regime elements. He said it's "probably
because they're not afraid any more. (There's) a realization that the Baath
Party is never coming back to power," he added. "The new Iraq will be based on
democratic principles."
Myers said the plot to kidnap members of the Iraqi Governing Council and then
offer them in exchange for Saddam is not unusual. "We know that they would love
to stop the progress in Iraq," he added. "We've seen them go after the
infrastructure. We've seen them go after (Iraqi) chiefs of police. They've gone
after mayors."
The chairman talked on CNN about the possibility that insurgents have had
access to inside information resulting in the attacks on the Al Rasheed Hotel
in October and on coalition administrator Ambassador L. Paul Bremer's convoy
earlier this month. Acknowledging that any breaches in security are a concern,
Myers said "we have to work our counterintellgience people very hard to ensure
that we maintain operational security and protect people the best we can."
Despite this, the general told the Fox audience the courage of U.S. and
coalition forces, the Iraqi people and the governing council shines through.
More than 100 Iraqis in security forces have given their lives to secure that
country, he added.
When asked about recent al Qaeda threats concerning attacks against the United
States, Myers said intelligence tips are taken "very, very seriously." "There's
no doubt from the intelligence we pick up that they want to do away with our
way of life," he added. "If they could cause another catastrophic event like
the tragedy of 9/11 or if they could get their hands on weapons of mass
destruction and make it 10,000 not 3,000 (deaths), they would do that and not
just in the United States but in other parts of the free world."
The general said there are troops doing great work to mitigate these threats
here at home as well as in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
Myers said he believes there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and it's
only a matter of time until they are found. "It's going to be like finding
Saddam Hussein," he added. "You need the right series of events, the right
individuals to keep track and say, 'Here's where we think it is.'"
The same is true in the search for Osama bin Laden, Myers said on "Face the
Nation." "We track down every lead. There are people in this government and in
other governments who are dedicated to finding him," he added. "His options for
hiding become less and less as we gain more and more intelligence. As we keep
working this trail, it's like any good detective work, any good intelligence
work: One lead leads to the next lead."
Since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March, 461 U.S. troops have died and the
chairman told CNN what a tragedy these deaths are. "It's a tough business," he
added.
He said trying to change a country that had been in dictatorship and ruled by
fear and terror to a democracy takes a lot of sacrifice. "It takes a lot of
personal courage," he added. "Our soldiers won't back down from this. We have
the resolve and the will to carry this through."