Obama announced today his plans to draw down troop levels in Iraq over the next 18 months. If I remember correctly, Bush actually set that in motion before leaving office, but whatever.

Speaking to a group of Marines today as he announced his plans, Obama managed to avoid using the word "victory." He simply said our troops "got the job done." Not even "job well done," just "got the job done."

John McCain's response, "I think it'd be very appropriate for the president to say that we are winning, and we have succeeded, and we are achieving victory."


Questioned about the omission, Secretary of Defense Gates responded, "I don't think they need to be told that they've been successful, they know it."

To let politics take precedence over honor in this way is beyond disgraceful.

Our troops DO need to hear it, and they need to hear it from their Commander in Chief. Their families and friends need to hear it, and they need to hear it from their President. The families of all the troops who didn't make it home need to hear it. They need to know that the mission in which their loved ones sacrificed their very lives in service of their country, will be ending in victory. Our troops and their families have made countless sacrifices in support of America's mission in Iraq, and they HAVE been successful.

Our troops have succeeded in liberating the Iraqis from a tyrannical leader who routinely murdered and tortured his own people. The road has not been easy, but bit by bit we have succeeded in helping the Iraqi people to develop their own democracy.

One of the greatest evidences of the success was seen last month, with little if any mention in the MSM, when Iraq held free elections without violence.

Major General John Kelly wrote about the experience, here's an excerpt:

I don't suppose this will get much coverage in the States as the news is so good. No, the news is unbelievable.

Something didn't happen in Al Anbar Province, Iraq today, Saturday January 31.

Once the most violent and most dangerous places on earth, no suicide vest bomber detonated killing dozens of voters.

No suicide truck bomber drove into a polling place collapsing the building and killing and injuring over 100.

No Marine was in a firefight engaging an Al Qaeda terrorist trying to disrupt democracy.

What did happen was Anbar Sunnis came out in their tens of thousands to vote in the first free election of their lives.

...

Six PM and the polls close without a single act of violence or a single accusation of fraud, and nearly by early reports pretty close to 100% voted. Priceless.

Major Kelly goes on to make the point that "People are not given freedom and democracy - they take it for themselves. The Anbaris deserve this credit."

Yes, the people of Iraq deserve credit. Without their resolve and courage to do this for their families and communities, none of this would have happened. But so too, the sacrifices of American troops were also essential to bringing Iraq to where it is today.

Our troops deserve to hear that in no uncertain terms from their Commander in Chief.




Link to video

Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009