Let the countdown begin.

Well, here we go. In a few months I'll be headed for Iraq. I think it'll be a good trip. If nothing else it'll be something to tell the grandkids about.



Since I received the news I've had a lot of time to think about it and after some soul searching, I've realized that under my bravado and patriotism, I really do believe in what we are trying to do over there. And here's the part that you won't get on the news...it's working.



Volumes have been spoken on this "surge" and whether or not it's going to work. I have to be honest; it is, and it is for obvoius reasons. When we went in the first time, the troops counts were determined based on the number of troops it would take to take an area. No thought was given to holding the ground. So we would clear out an area and move on, and as soon as we moved on the enemy wouold reoccupy the ground.



How do we fix this problem without having a military presence in Iraq for the next 30 years? Simple. We do what we have been doing since the beginning of the surge.

1) Allocate enough troops to take the ground.

2) Allocate the required number of troops to provide area security for ground already taken.

3) Allocate specialized troops to train the Iraqis (the good ones) to be able to take over

security so we can eventually move on.

4) Require the current Iraqi government to provide us with competent troops to train in defending their pwn country.





This will accomplish our stated objectives.



1) Eradication of the terrorist threat in Iraq.

2) Installation of a strong central government friendly to the free world that will not provide a

power vaccuum for terrorists to make a play for.

3) A way to end this conflict without a specific timeline.

Think carefully to yourself, whether you like Bush or not, if I am a terrorist, and the US announces that on such-and-such a date we will pull out and go home, what do I do?

The obvious answer is sit back and relax and wait for them to leave so that we can continue our operations. I have never understood how this is not obvious to everyone who wants to get out now.