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Surge in Iraq is working, claim congressmen, vets
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Friday, 05 September 2008
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by Howard Lestrud
Four United States congressmen and three members of the Veterans for
Freedom bipartisan organization were all in agreement when speaking at
a press conference at the Republican National Convention. The surge in
Iraq is working, the group agreed.
Leading the support for the surge and providing evidence that the surge
has worked, the congressmen and vets told of repeated visits to Iraq
and discussions with Iraqi leaders about their acceptance of
responsibility to govern themselves.
Second District Rep. John Kline, R-MN, said he saw remarkable changes
last year when he visited Iraq. Successes in peace and stability are
encouraging, said Kline. He said the future of Iraq lies with the Iraqi
government and coalition forces. Kline was joined at the press
conference with fellow Representatives Steve King of Iowa, John McHugh
of New York and Geoff Davis of Kentucky.
Pete Hegseth, veteran and 1999 graduate of Forest Lake High School,
agreed with Kline’s assessment and said when he visited Iraq recently,
he was able to circulate wearing a baseball cap and no protective gear
which was necessary when he served in the military in Iraq in 2006.
Hegseth is chairman of the Veterans for Freedom campaign.
Hegseth said he was in Iraq the day the Golden Mosque was bombed.
He said he came home from the military in 2006 and was disappointed
with the direction of the war. Hegseth said he was heartened by the
changes that followed with the surge supported by Sen. John McCain and
many others.
Walking around recently for a week, he said it was very encouraging to
see the mosque being rebuilt. Families and children were active on the
streets and they were enjoying the best environment they had ever
experienced.
Hegseth told of sitting at a city council meeting and not hearing one
word about war but hearing about the topics of sewage, electricity and
elections. “It was all in the political sphere,” he said. Iraqis are
able to stand up and create a political resolution, Hegseth remarked.
He shared another story about his visit to Iraq, saying he sat across
from an insurgent who two years ago was on the United States’ target
list.
“Iraq’s soul is being reborn,” said Hegseth. He said he believed
America is winning the war and cautioned that it is not yet over. He
asked Congress to tell what has happened with the surge. Senators Joe
Lieberman and Lindsey Graham are pushing Senate Resolution 636 to
accomplish this. “It is a historic turn-around,” Hegseth added.
Hegseth said he also attended the Democratic National Convention in
Denver, CO. He said the Denver convention carried a star flavor to it
but believed enthusiasm levels were comparable for both conventions.
Hegseth has been part of the Vets for Freedom group since 2007. He said
funding is a daily challenge for the group. Funding is gained from
online donations and from some front-liner groups.
Asked what he thought of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s
speech Wednesday night, Hegseth said he believed she was aggressive in
her delivery and answered many critics.
Veterans for Freedoms executive director Joel Arends and vice chairman
David Bellav also spoke about the surge. Arends said the U.S. has two
options, it can pull all forces out of Iraq or the U.S. can stay with
an effective surge strategy that is working.
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