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Congress must continue support for military

January 15, 2009|U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield

By U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield

1st Congressional District

Last month I had the honor and the privilege of visiting our brave military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a profound experience that left me with a deep sense of gratitude, pride and hope. I was able to see firsthand what kind of progress our troops are making in bringing stability to the Middle East and fighting the war on terror. While the journey has been long and the sacrifices great, significant political and security gains have been made.

During my visit to Iraq, I was able to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, the current Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, General Raymond T. Odierno and numerous other high ranking military and Iraqi officials. After surveying the situation on the ground and meeting with these high ranking individuals, I believe our mission in Iraq is going very well at this time. Incidences of violence are down significantly and the provisional development teams that are working in the Iraqi provinces are making great strides in terms of economic development and bringing healthcare, education and stability to local communities.

Having said that, Iraq remains a divided nation among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. In addition, the Iranian government still maintains significant influence in much of Iraq. These factors combined contribute greatly to the instability in the area.

Our troops and allied forces have made great strides in Iraq, but there is still work to be done.

We in Congress need to continue to give our commanders and troops the authority and tools they need to complete their mission in stabilizing Iraq for the long term.

While the challenges we face in Iraq are great, the challenges we face in Afghanistan are immense. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda remain ever present.

The national government and individual tribes continue to be at odds and have been unable to work together to address the overwhelming economic, infrastructure and healthcare needs the country faces. With the instability of countless tribal groups moving back and forth across the Pakistani border, I fear the road ahead in Afghanistan will be extremely challenging.

The highlight of my travels came from meeting and visiting with so many members of the United States military, including several from Kentucky and the First Congressional District.

While in Iraq, I was able to dine with marines from our commonwealth and hear their accounts of the progress we are making. I was also able to visit wounded soldiers at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. At the hospital, General Carter Ham, Commander of the United States Army in Europe, showed me where all the donations for our troops serving abroad are stored, everything from clothing and toiletries to books. The generous outpouring for our troops on display was truly inspiring.

Our troops have endured harsh conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan and precious time spent away from their loved ones. The sacrifices they and their families have made deserve nothing less than our unwavering support, deep respect and most sincere thanks.

As we move ahead in 2009, we must never forget about the brave men and women serving in the United States military. I look forward to continuing to support them in any way I can and ensuring they receive the resources they need to complete their missions abroad and the benefits they have earned when they return home.

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