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Burgess Speaks on Tuskegee Airmen Vote
Posted by Michelle Stein on February 9, 2005
Congressman Michael Burgess speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives about the Tuskegee Airmen. Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess voted for legislation honoring a proud group of African-American heroes of World War II. The House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res.26 to honor the Tuskegee Airmen for their bravery in fighting for our freedom in World War II, and for their contribution in creating an integrated United States Air Force. Tuskegee Airmen is the term used to describe the black fighter pilots of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, later incorporated into the 332nd Fighter Group, who fought during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps that were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Tuskegee, Alabama.
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Burgess Speaks at Alzheimer’s Hearing
Posted by Michelle Stein on February 3, 2005
“Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease that not only robs an individual’s memories and life, but it also brings pain and suffering to those loved ones left behind,” stated House Policy Subcommittee on Health Chairman Michael C. Burgess following a hearing on the “Impact of Alzheimer's Disease on Caregivers and the Progress of Research” on Wednesday. “It is critical that we raise the awareness of Alzheimer’s now,” stated Chairman Burgess. “Nearly 4.5 million Americans suffer from this disease a number that has doubled since 1980. The annual direct and indirect costs of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are estimated to total $100 billion as well as exacting an unquantifiable emotional toll on caregivers.” One of the testimonies in Wednesday’s hearing came from University of Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles. The legendary UA football coach was testifying before the key committee of Republican lawmakers today because he has spent the last several years as a caregiver to his wife Barbara, who suffered from Alzheimer's. Barbara passed away last October, and since then, Coach Broyles has made Alzheimer's advocacy his “new mission in life.” Arkansas Congressman John Boozman hosted the hearing and introduced Broyles, his former coach at the University of Arkansas. Broyles told the committee his personal story of how he first found out about Barbara's illness, what the family went through as caregivers and about the impact her death has had on his life. He brought a message to the lawmakers asking them to become as passionate about this issue as he is, saying that is how we can make progress toward a cure. Barbara Broyles was 79 when she passed away and had been married to Frank for 59 years. Although Alzheimer's affects millions in America, nearly half of all people 85 and older, it does not receive the attention other incurable diseases do because those who have it cannot advocate for funding. The hearing focused on the National Institute of Health (NIH) funding for Alzheimer's research. The panel discussed the “Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act,” which Congressman Michael Burgess is an original cosponsor. The Ronald Reagan Act seeks to increase NIH funding by $1.4 billion for Alzheimer’s research. Also testifying at the hearing were Dr. Marilyn Albert, Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Dr. Stephen McConnell, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Alzheimer's Association. Coach Broyles stayed on Capitol Hill after the hearing as a special guest to view President George W. Bush's State of the Union Address and to attend the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning.
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Congratulating Iraq on their First Free Election in 50 Years
Posted by Michelle Stein on February 2, 2005
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess voted to approve a resolution honoring the people of Iraq and congratulating them on their first free election in 50 years. By a vote of 404-9, Members of Congress recognized the courageous achievement by the Iraqi people who voted in defiance of the threats made by the terrorists. Rep. Burgess was honored to vote in favor of this historic measure. “I was pleased to support this legislation that congratulates the Iraqi people on their landmark achievement. Also, this resolution expressed our gratitude to the American service men and women, coalition forces, and Iraqi security forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice in providing security for this monumental election. I applaud all of those individuals who were so dedicated and committed to making this vote a success,” said Congressman Burgess. “I know that the American people and constituents in my district share my view that this election in Iraq is an exciting step forward for a people who suffered for so long under the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. This election signals to terrorists all over the world that courage, a love of liberty, and a desire to have a representative form of government cannot be deterred by threats or suicide bombers.”
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Congressman Burgess Responds to President Bush's State of the Union Address of 2005
Posted by Michelle Stein on February 2, 2005
The President’s plainspoken remarks this evening are a clear call to all who wish to live in liberty. Tonight, I heard our leader’s emphatic statement for democracy around the world and major reforms in social security, health care and energy at home. On my recent mission to Iraq, I had the pleasure of meeting with Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. He stated that Iraq has its roots in ancient civilization and that he relished the opportunity for Iraq, “to spread the cause of democracy to other areas of the Middle East, which will make the cost and the risk of liberating Iraq worthwhile.” It was this remark that I recalled most as I watched the quiet but determined march to democracy during the January 31st elections in Iraq. Our soldiers have been fighting and working hard so that a victory for freedom could exist in the Middle East where it never has before. The elections represent a dramatic and decisive blow against terrorism and dictatorships everywhere. We carry this responsibility proudly. The work in Iraq will continue to be difficult-but freedom and the Iraqi people have secured a critical victory. It was a privilege that I could be there two weeks before this momentous occasion. But tonight, when Marine Corps Sergeant Byron Norwood’s mom, Janet, embraced Safia Taleb al-Suhail, one of Iraq's leading democracy and human rights advocates whose father was assassinated by Saddam’s regime, there was not a dry eye left in the House of Representatives chamber. Nothing could have prepared me for the historical moment. I was moved as I have never been before. President Bush also discussed a bold domestic agenda. The President clearly stated the problems with social security in its current form. If you accept that there is a problem, then you know it is prudent to act now. Some might say that 2018 is far away, but as Bush remarked, “If you have a five-year-old, you're already concerned about how you'll pay for college tuition 13 years down the road.” He is correct. We must plan now for the future. Social Security, enacted in 1935, is not ready for the 21st Century. Four years after the enactment of social security, major medical breakthroughs, such as penicillin, began to extend the lives of many Americans. No one receiving benefits today, or in the near future, should have to face the prospects of having their benefits cuts, but if we do our job correctly, this will never be the case. I have no doubt that augmenting the current social security system is a necessity. I believe that to capture the time-value of money for younger workers should include their ability to possess personal investment accounts. We are becoming an ownership society, and I believe that the next generation can benefit best from having a security net in place with social security with the flexibility to invest. I agree with President Bush that a solution has yet to be revealed, but I too welcome the discussion ahead. Many proposals are being presented in Congress, and I am carefully reviewing the options. I ask you to focus on the facts, study the issue and then make-up your own mind. This is your retirement, after all. As always, health care remains a top priority for the President as it does for me. Without a doubt, one issue that I believe Congress must address is medical liability reform. Health care costs are on the rise, and a direct link can be made to lawsuits. If we continue down this path, we will see fewer and fewer doctors in high-risk specialties like obstetrics and neurosurgery. This is a solvable problem, and Texas’s recent tort reform is an example of the type of legislation we need at a national level. President Bush is committed to tort reform, and I will continue to carry this mantle in the House of Representatives. Continuing down the path of great reforms like the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for seniors, I believe we will make a move to restructure and improve America’s ailing Medicaid system. This state-federal program is complex and requires a great deal of coordination, but through my committee assignment on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, I plan to play an important role in this redesign. The work of health savings accounts has provided thousands of individuals with health insurance who have never had it before. These plans move us closer to an ownership society where people, not corporations, insurance companies or the government, make decisions about their health care needs. Only patients and doctors should make those decisions, and HSAs and AHPs help move us all in that direction. In closing, I wanted to remark on one other topic from the President’s State of the Union Address for 2005, and that is his national energy policy. Energy is something that many people do not realize they utilize everyday. From your alarm clock going off in the morning to the gas you put in your car to drive to work, Americans consume many resources. I lived through the 1970s and the “energy crisis,” and I know there are ways to avoid such calamities in our future. We must continue to focus on more renewable energy sources. We must also focus on utilizing energy sources from within our own borders. A perfect example of where we get our energy is the Barnet Shale located underneath North Texas. But an even larger energy source, the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is waiting to be tapped. I have been to visit ANWR through my previous work on the House Transportation Committee. This large, marshy wasteland is not full of pristine, snowcapped mountaintops. It is an uninhabitable place where no human or beast can survive. It is a perfect untapped example of an energy source available to us immediately. Now, as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee, I hope to work towards developing a comprehensive, national energy policy. Tonight, we head a confident leader outline a bold plan for the 21st Century. President Bush’s State of the Union Address spoke to a nation ready for action and poised on the edge of greatness. The United States consistently looks not only to be a leader, but a leader by example. We push for greatness in others as we push for it ourselves. Our challenge is to continue making the impossible, possible for ourselves and to provide others liberty and freedom. I plan to work alongside President Bush to protect social security; refine our health care system; implement a national energy policy; and people throughout the world who yearn to live in freedom know they have a friend in the USA.
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Congressman Michael Burgess Receives Subcommittee Assignments on Health, Energy and Investigations
Posted by Michelle Stein on January 26, 2005
Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess received his subcommittee assignments for the 109th Congress as a Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Michael Burgess will serve as a Member on three subcommittees: Health, Energy and Air Quality, and Oversight and Investigations. “These are the issues that you hear about everyday on the news,” commented Rep. Michael Burgess after hearing of his assignments during a member’s only organizational meeting of the full committee. “As a doctor, I am particularly pleased to be added to the health subcommittee where I can continue my work improving America’s health care system, but I am equally honored to serve on both the energy and oversight subcommittees as they directly impact my district.” Each subcommittee has separate jurisdiction over their focus area. The Health Subcommittee focuses on public health and quarantine, hospital construction, mental health and research, biomedical programs and health protection in general, including Medicaid and national health insurance, food and drugs and homeland security-related health aspects. The Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee oversees the national energy policy, fossil energy, renewable energy resources and synthetic fuels, energy conservation, energy information, energy regulation and utilization, utility issues and regulation of nuclear facilities, interstate energy compacts, nuclear energy and waste and the Clean Air Act. This subcommittee is chaired by fellow North Texan Ralph M. Hall (TX-04). The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has responsibility for oversight and investigation of agencies, departments and programs within the jurisdiction of the full committee which extends over five Cabinet-level departments and seven independent agencies--from the Energy Department, Health and Human Services, the Transportation Department to the Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health and Federal Communications Commission. “I am looking forward to delving into the details of each of the subcommittee as we tackle major issues facing the 109th Congress,” stated Rep. Michael Burgess. “I’m particularly interested in reviewing medical liability, reforming Medicaid and bringing a national energy policy to fruition.” Congressman Burgess’ three new subcommittees on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are in addition to his chairmanship of the House Republican Policy Committee’s Health Subcommittee. “With these two separate subcommittees on health care, I’m hoping to bring profound changes to our current system,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess.
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CODEL Journal - 16 Jan 2005
Posted by Michelle Stein on January 16, 2005
16 Jan 2005 Inside the Green Zone, Baghdad Iraq - Briefing by General David Petraeus General Petraeus, whom I had met some 18 months ago when in Mosul, Iraq, is now in charge of the Iraqi Security Force. It was with obvious enthusiasm that he related that they graduated their first class on January 6 of this year. Throughout the presentation he continued to emphasize that Iraqi leadership was key to this process. He stated that in some areas of the southern part of the country the entire spectrum of security is provided by the Iraqi Security Force. In the recent battle in Falluja, 2,800 members of the ISF have participated. The General state’s that NATO had helped with rebuilding the Iraqi police force and that much of the equipment with which the Iraqis are familiar is of an older Soviet-vintage, similar to that which many of the Eastern Bloc countries use. There have been some cultural difficulties; Iraqis will walk off of the job whether they are policeman or in the army. They see this as a cultural right, and periodically must reconnect with their families. Due to the lack of wire transfer capabilities and bank to check capabilities, these individuals must physically take pay home to their families. Once this problem was identified, and compensated for, relations with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police Force have been much smoother. Leadership is also important. Inspiration is key. The quality of any battalion is directly proportional to the quality of the Iraqi commander in charge. Still, the General feels that the individual Iraqi soldier fights for the same reason that other soldiers will fight –that is a strong commitment to the man fighting on either side of him. The General stated that money does matter and the recent pay increases have helped retention in the armed forces of Iraq. Combat is also weeding out those who are easily intimidated. On the whole, he was optimistic stating that they have built nine divisions of new Iraqi soldiers in the past year. It is his goal to drown the insurgents in a sea of Iraqi security forces. There has been no shortage of recruits, in spite of the attacks on Iraqi security forces by the insurgents, there are still many who are anxious to serve. Despite the focus placed upon the violence in Iraq, the General reported statistics showing that the trend of attacks is significantly down in the five or six weeks since the end of Ramadan. As far as the number of forces available, the General acknowledged that the numbers vary and so reports will be different. He stated his criteria -it is the number trained and equipped. This number currently stands at 127,000. There are many more currently in training, and approximately 75,000 Iraqis involved in facilities protection, which are not include in his estimate. Following the briefing by General Petraeus, our group traveled to the United States Embassy in Baghdad. There we were met by Ambassador Negroponte and his staff. They provided us with some significant insights into the upcoming elections. Additionally, with an eye beyond the elections, there was considerable discussion about rebuilding effective institutions in Iraq. The discussion turned to the expected turnout for the election. One of the ambassador’s staff members described what he called the “high noon” effect. He stated that at present the townspeople were not quite ready to come to Gary Cooper's side, but he felt that that day was not far off. Ambassador Negroponte said that he anticipated spectacular violence but questioned in the end if that would matter. He stated that the citizens of this country have a high pain threshold and that they have been living with violence and a question of intimidation on a day-to-day basis. He felt a lot of people would make the decision about voting on Election Day and felt that there may be a mass psychology, which may create a surprisingly high turnout. Lunch was followed by a trip to the Embassy annex. This building previously housed the Coalition Provisional Authority prior to the handover of sovereignty last summer. Steve Casteel talked about the progress he has made in the last 15 months. Casteel said that this was the largest Iraqi police effort ever attempted and that most of the failures they encountered were failures in leadership; but that they are stressing quality over quantity. Now, as they are charges with fighting the insurgency, this quality of leadership becomes even more critical. He stressed that the solutions must be Iraqi solutions, and that they must respect the process. He reports that this was a long-term process rather than a short-term solution because even though they are fighting the insurgency now, organized crime may be an issue at a later date. There was also some discussion that they were recruiting former members of the Iraqi policy, who ranged in rank from commanders to lower-ranking individuals. He said in their training they stress to recruits to not break the law, kill someone or waste money unless it is absolutely necessary. Overall, public opinion of the Iraqi police is very high. He noted that 1,500 Iraqi policeman had died in the past 15 months. He also stressed flexibility and stated that the shelf-life of any plan in Iraq was about 30 days. He stated that the insurgency is capable of almost immediate change. In spite of this, he noted that every day his force was stronger and that historically it takes time to rebuild a police force. He stressed that his mission was capable of the flexibility required. We were then joined by General Peter Casey who is the commander of all activity in Iraq. He too stressed that the overall level of violence in Iraq has decreased in the past two months. Even though the perception was that the instability had worsened, Casey said the currently, the insurgents have no reason to hold back. But he did know that many people in Iraq have never voted, and that they deserve a chance to reject the régime of Saddam Hussein. He stated that the future of Iraq was an inclusive government. The General stated that type of intimidation techniques currently in use were those employed by the former régime for 35 years. Much of the public's response is an expected conditioned response because they are so used to this type of intimidation that they register almost no reaction. They learned under Saddam’s régime that resistance was futile. It is now the pace at which the Iraqi Army is taking over protection of its own country that is a major question. In April of 2004 the army was not ready, but it now has equipment that it did not have last year. Carlos Valenzuela We met with Carols Valenzuela the United Nations official in charge of overseeing the elections. He stated that the preparations are all currently on schedule. He felt that the threats were not surprising, but there was concern for security at district levels. Their greatest concern was for a catastrophic event that might lead to massive resignations from his elections staff. It seems that Mr. Valenzuela is somewhat surprised that the numbers of resignations from his staff are quite low –in fact –lower than normally expected. Prime Minister Allawi We had a lengthy and wide ranging conversation with the Prime Minister. He seemed relaxed and quite confident about the upcoming election and acknowledged that there are those who have called for a delay in the election process. He stated that those who opposed the January license were unable to articulate a reason for postponement. He stated that if there are those who choose to not participate, either because of intimidation or boycott, that the door will remain open. He noted that the January election selecting the NSC is followed by a vote to ratify the Iraqi Constitution and, by year’s end, a third vote to elect an Iraqi Assembly. He stated what matters most is what kind of Iraq we have at the end of the process. He stated that Iraq has its roots in ancient civilization. He relished the opportunity for Iraq to spread the cause of democracy to other areas of the Middle East, which will make the cost and the risk of liberating Iraq worthwhile. Terrorism he said will continue after the elections because there will always be those who resist stability, but it will become more and more difficult to unravel the community. On the question of turnout, the Prime Minister stated that he meets with Sunni leaders throughout the country. Some of these leaders are committed to delay, and he believes that by continuing to educate them it will add to the overall strength of the country in the future. At this point, he became fairly philosophical and said he had spent the best part of his life fighting for freedom for his country -- and now this freedom is at the doorstep. He would not allow these individuals to distract the process. He stated that if they cannot participate now, there will be a space open for them to participate in the future. “We don’t want the radical forces to win now, nor do we want outside forces from Syria or Iran to take over. I am a practical person. The Sunnis are changing. The process is slow but our only hope for everyone is to engage in the process and distance ourselves from the terrorists. February 1st begins the next chapter in our country's history.” The Prime Minister noted that the insurgents were motivated by a lack of power, and they had no real objectives. He felt that this is the reason they will ultimately lose. Iraq must work to build its own security. He stated that they were at a crossroads, but we need now is more effort, more understanding and more vision. He was asked what message he would like to deliver to the American people, and he replied that all of Iraq is appreciative of the sacrifice of the Americans. He emphasized that it was important that the voices of reason prevail. He felt it was beneficial to use good relations to urge people to participate. He stated that we must get other countries to stop meddling in Iraq's affairs of state. He reserved particularly harsh criticism for the country of Iran, which he said wants to take people back in time 1,500 years. He stressed that patience is necessary. While they are making progress, in must be stressed that the value of Iraq to the United States is a strategic relationship. This in turn can assist in the fight against radical Islamic fundamentalism. It is a chance for civilization to triumph over chaos. It is a chance for a more rational world, which in turn will be a better world. General Peter Chiarelli General Peter Chiarelli talked to us about the difficulties in controlling the areas of Northern Baghdad, particularly the area around Sader City. The total population of Baghdad is 6 to 7 million people and the average life expectancy is 58 years old (this is largely due to disease and the effects of unsafe drinking water). The General said that attacks recently have decreased. The biggest threat remains the vehicle bombs and improvised explosive device, but that they have given the enemy a look that he has never seen before. Combat operations are at unprecedented levels. This is a war unlike any other the General said because of the component of international terrorist networks which are operating in the country. The General stated that the work was proceeding along five fronts. In addition to combat operations there was also a major push to train and employ Iraqi Security Forces. At the same time they are working for the restoration of essential services. They are promoting governance and economic pluralism within their area of the country. The General observed that they will never lose a tactical fight, but it is critically important to keep up all levels of engagement. One of the General's major frustrations is the inability to let the media know that all of these lines are important. Television will continue to focus on the story of the bombing and not the story about how the men and women helping (Camp Victory has put 18,000 people to work in Sader City). Following a visit with the General, we were again allowed to visit with the troops stationed at Camp Victory. Again we encountered young men and women whose morale was high, and whose focus was on the mission at hand. Again they were emphatic that I bring the story back to the United States that there was gifted improvement seen in their area on a day-to-day basis. While every one of them is anxious to come home, they recognize the importance of their work and are willing to stay until the job is done.
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CODEL Journal - 15 Jan 2005
Posted by Michelle Stein on January 15, 2005
14 Jan 2005 Camp Falluja, Iraq - Briefing from General Hejik General Hejik relayed to me the five phase operation to free the city of Falluja, Iraq. One of the keys to this impressive victory was the direct injection of real-time data and the delivery of this data to the commanders in the field during the “active” phase of the battle. As a result of situational awareness that permeated all levels of the operation, there were no "friendly fire" incidents during this closely fought operation. During the second phase of the operation there was intense targeting of areas that housed suspected insurgents. Phase three represented the actual assault on the city which involves intense urban combat. As a result of this activity, hundreds of weapons cachets were discovered. Significant numbers of anti-tank weapons and antiaircraft weapons were confiscated. Over two dozen IED factories and a smaller number of vehicle bomb IED factories were discovered. As a result of these seizures, weapons prices almost doubled on the black market in the weeks following the assault. More importantly there was a 47% reduction in attacks on coalition forces afterwards. This was indeed a precise operation. Over 500 enemy combatants were killed, and all but six were military-age males. The average age of a U.S. Marine participating in the fighting was 19 ½ years old. Phase four of the operation is now in effect. As of the date of our briefing, 20,000 people had been resettled in town. The civil affairs perspective is that there has been a rapid assessment and administration aid. This was described as a “three block” war. As the fighting progressed ahead, restoration was occurring a few blocks away. The city has been reopened by districts. As safety hazards are cleared away, families are allowed to return. Electricity and water service has been slow to re-establish, largely because of the weak infrastructure in existence prior to the war. Approximately 25% of the houses in the city have been severely damaged and will require major structural repair before re-habitation, but 75% of the structures had only mild or superficial damage and can currently be reoccupied. The General discussed the prospects for elections. They have devised what appears to be a comprehensive program to insure safety of the electorate on election day. The general stated that they have been flexible and creative, and they expect the elections to be held as scheduled. The general observed that the opposition to the elections was different depending on the area of the country, but he said there was a thirst for information about voting in his area of, Al Anbar Province. Most people in the area have never voted and after generations of dictatorial rule and war the general believes that the population is ready to try something else. Perhaps, that something else can be a popularly elected representative government. The general will regard elections in his area as successful if people are given the opportunity to vote. Balad Air Force Base, Iraq - Briefing by general S Hansen We had a rather thorough briefing about the role of the Air Force in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Several air facilities around the country have been recently opened, and the new Iraqi Air Force was recently given three C-130 aircraft. At the Balad Air Force location, in addition to air control operations, there is also significant medical support. Many of the casualties from the Iraqi theater are brought through the Balad facility for stabilization prior to transport to Germany. The staff of Balad is extremely dedicated and felt strongly about their mission. Simply put, they want to win. We also toured the predator unmanned aerial vehicle facility as well as the F-16 maintenance facility. These were extremely well-run operations, and again, morale was high. Mosul, Iraq - Briefing by Col. Tom Knight In Mosul, there are two motorized infantry battalions and significant aircraft activity aimed at intimidating insurgents. There is also a concerted effort to bring the Iraqi Army up-to-standards and in-place, defending their country. Perhaps the best Iraqi support comes from the Iraqi Interaction Force. These troops were tested in the battle of Falluja. It has been difficult re-establishing Iraqi security since the collapse of the local police in November. Although the police force itself has been difficult (and is said to be reconstituted), there are the beginnings of a tested and capable force. The force will require considerable mentoring during the election process but is unlikely to be as easily dislodged as the prior police unit. The Colonel stated that there was increasing human intelligence available to them. He relayed a story of a 12-year-old girl who went up to one of their units and told them the location of a water truck which was the rigged as a vehicle borne IED. There was also a significant amount of weaponry recovered in this incident. The Colonel stated that the populace of Mosul has become more forthcoming in providing information about the insurgency. The United States presence, as well as the presence of the Iraqi forces, has made a significant difference. He reported that the local residents are tired of war. The Colonel also outlined his plans for security during the elections, but conditions are somewhat different than that in Al Anbar Province where Falluja is located; however, the plan seemed well constructed and the elections will proceed as scheduled. This last briefing was followed by dinner with the troops. I had been concerned about the morale in Mosul because of the recent homicide/suicide attack which occurred in their mess hall three weeks ago. I was seated with six enlisted personnel from Texas; their morale was high. If anything, the previous attack had angered them and made them more determined to complete their mission in this country. One individual was well into his second tour of duty in Iraq, and he stated that he had been present during the initial phase. It was his observation that conditions were significantly better now compared with what they were a year ago. He stated that there was almost daily improvement of conditions in the city of Mosul, and the other soldiers at the table were in agreement with this sentiment. They all want to come home, but they want to come home after they complete their mission in Iraq.
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CODEL Journal - 14 Jan 2005
Posted by Michelle Stein on January 14, 2005
14 January 2005 Today began with an early morning flight, in a C-130 Aircraft, from Islamabad, Pakistan into the airport at Kabul, Afghanistan. With all the problems we encountered with the weather and mechanical difficulties the day before, this flight was entirely uneventful. Following our landing at the Kabul airport we were taken to Task Force Phoenix headquarters. There, we were given a briefing by General Moorehead. Task Force Phoenix is charged with training and equipping the Afghan National Army. The briefing by General Morehead was very thorough and got us up-to-date on what had been happening in Afghanistan for the past 12 months. An enormous amount has been accomplished in the year since my last visit. Task force Phoenix took over the job that was begun by the 10th Mountain division and accelerated the pace of training for the new Afghan National Army. Additionally, they have been encouraging the local militias and warlords to turn in their weapons and several large sequestration areas are now under their control. Afghanistan, of course, recently completed their national elections some four months ago. Largely drawing from the success of registering voters for the election, the success on Election Day with a strong turnout, and now the acceleration of training the Afghan national Army there certainly is reason to be hopeful about the future of the country. A year ago during the briefing General Austin talked about the impact that tribal warlords were having upon the stability of the country. Additionally, the remnants of the Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives were also disruptive forces. The Taliban has been almost completely marginalized by its inability to disrupt the election process. Al Qaeda forces are currently less active because of pressure from the Pakistani Army to the east and continued pressure from coalition forces in the west. President Karzai was largely able to marginalize the effect of the warlords by first incorporating them into his administration, and subsequently replacing those he found unsatisfactory. Following the briefing we were allowed to meet with several soldiers, one of whom is currently a Texas State Representative from San Antonio, Major Rick Noriega. His guard unit has been activated. He met us outside the briefing room and presented a Texas flag which he says flew over the “Alamo.” “The Alamo” is the name that they have given to their outpost east of Kabul. We were then taken to the areas where weapons have been sequestered. The damage done by our Air Force during active combat phase in 2001 showed the deadly accuracy of our air attacks. Old Soviet structures lay in ruins, but the roads themselves had been undamaged. There were no random craters around the bombed out buildings, only those structures that had been designated for destruction were affected. Following lunch with the Marines in the embassy compound we were given an additional briefing by the country team at the American Embassy. A significant portion of this discussion was related to the affect the drug trade has on the economy of Afghanistan. With all of the success following the election, and the acceleration of the new Afghan Army, there is real concern that narco-terrorism may undo the beneficial work that has been accomplished to date. The current plan to combat the growing drug trade is by increasing public information, both at the level of the government and at the level of the people. It is important to communicate the threat posed by the increasing drug trade as well as its negative effect on investment, international support, and the community at large. There is currently an attempt to provide an alternative livelihood for those farmers who have chosen to grow poppies. They continue to build the infrastructure of the county and provide opportunities for establishing credit and more community-based organizations. Additionally, there has been significant reform of the justice system from within the country, which had to be created from scratch. Prohibition will remain a significant part of control of the drug trade as well eradication of the fields where poppies are grown. Significant progress has been made in the re-establishment of civil society in Afghanistan. There are currently more students in school that at any other time in this country's history. There has been a fivefold increase in the number of students in school and 38% of the current students are female. The historical high for female students was 13%; despite the gains, Afghanistan has one-fourth of the maternal deaths worldwide each year -- representing 138,000 deaths per year in Afghanistan. From a political standpoint, 11 million people registered to vote prior to the presidential elections in September. Over 7 million voters turned out for the presidential election. This was the first democratic election ever in the country of Afghanistan. Since the presidential election, President Karzai has focused more on putting people with technical expertise on his cabinet, and he has placed less reliance on tribal leaders and warlords. There are currently no political parties and most political decisions are based on personality or ethnic considerations. We concluded the day with a visit to the presidential palace and a private audience with President Karzai. He emphatically wanted us to convey to the Congress and to the American people how appreciative his country was to America for bringing liberty to their land. And equally as important, after liberation of Afghanistan from the Taliban, was our willingness to stay around and rebuild the country. He felt progress seen in Afghanistan today was the direct results of America's contribution. He felt the rest of the world was surprised by the progress that has been made in Afghanistan. He stated that the enthusiasm of the Afghan people is evident in the strong number that registered and actually voted on Election Day. He said the vote turnout was especially surprising in view of the fact that the weather was not cooperative on Election Day. He stated that the Afghan people do not normally stand in line, in fact, the concept of standing in line is completely foreign to them, but that everyone did patiently wait in line on Election Day. He told the story of an old man who fainted in line. When the people around him had revived him, they encourage them to go home; but he refused and returned to his place in line. He wanted to vote in the presidential election. President Karzai said that there appeared to be a mandate since the public recognizing that this ability to vote really represented power in the hands of the people. On the subject of narcotics trade President Karzai said that his country was embarrassed by the return of the poppy farms. He states that he took this message to the Afghan people and told them that they must free themselves of this menace. He felt then that volunteer eradication appeared to be working in that the number of fields under cultivation with poppies was less than the previous year. He stated that the Afghan people have one thing in their favor and that they like to be well thought of, after years of suffering this has caused them to seek refuge in the easy cash crop of opium but now there is a returning sense of safety. Now they may accept the concept of an alternative livelihood, but they also want the government to hold people accountable and arrest officials who are also drug dealers. He stated that the extent of the desperation was evidenced by the desecration of fruit orchards for poppies fields. The president summed up by again emphasizing that it was so important to him that we convey the gratitude of the Afghans to the American people. They were grateful to have their country back. They were grateful to have a future. He stated that America would benefit from having such a solid friend as Afghanistan in that portion of the world.
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CODEL Journal - 12 Jan 2005
Posted by Michelle Stein on January 13, 2005
12 January 2005 After arriving in Pakistan, we were met by the United States Ambassador to Pakistan. Mr. Ryan Crocker gave us a briefing enroute to our hotel. It was his opinion that the Pakistani-Afghanistan relationship was currently better than it had ever been in years past. He credited it to a large measure of the Pakistani efforts on the border with Afghanistan, particularly in the Northeast provinces. He stated that there had never before been a Pakistani military presence in this area, and the courage of President Musharraf to send in these troops had meant a great deal to the stability and to Afghanistan. This in turn allowed the recent Afghanistan elections to proceed with only minimal incident. Additionally, the decision was made to allow refugees from the country of Afghanistan who had been displaced into Pakistan to register and vote in the Afghanistan election. The Ambassador said that the English language was the ubiquitous unifying language in the country of Pakistan. Pakistan is composed of four provinces each of which has their own language. He said that English is the common language for all four provinces. He quoted a literacy rate of 54% which was one of the main challenges playing into considerations on the war on terror. Currently there is $66 million from USAID be applied to education in Pakistan. As we drove to the city the Ambassador pointed out that Islamabad was a manufactured capital. It was built in 1969, and most of the buildings were very recent vintage. Another great concern is Pakistan's relationship with India. Although the past year there has been some improvement regarding this relationship, there is still a good deal of concern regarding the disputed province of Kashmir. We had a meeting with the new Prime Minister, Mr. Shaukat Aziz. He was elected approximately six months ago. He had previous experience as an investment banker in the United States. He is concerned with reducing the deficit in his country and points to several recent quarters where there has been in excess of 6% growth in the national economy in Pakistan. He himself was a target of an assassination attempt in July, an attack which unfortunately did result in the death of his driver. Mr. Aziz outlined the priorities for his administration. He is of course focused on the economy. The politics from within his country will continue to play a significant role for the foreseeable future, and he is also focused on security within his country, particularly in regards to border security. He feels that the country of Afghanistan represents a success story. The uneventful election in Afghanistan was truly a modern-day democratic victory. He remains concerned about the expansion of the growth of poppies in Afghanistan, and the subsequent effect on narco-terrorism. The profits gained from the poppy fields and Afghanistan fund a worldwide network of terrorism. I asked them specifically about education in his country. When we were here one year ago President Musharraf talked about the need to regulate and reorganize education in the schools called Madresses. At that time, the president was concerned that the schools were teaching only religious fundamentalism and failed in teaching children marketable, usable skills. Prime Minister Aziz had a somewhat different take on this. He felt that the new education minister, after only four months on-the-job, had really begun to show some success in increasing the teaching in the Madresses. He stated that overall they have toughened their approach to radicalism; not just in the schools, but in the mosques as well (the clergy are under some pressure to keep their rhetoric a reasonable). On perhaps the most positive note sounded by Prime Minister Aziz, remembering that he himself was a victim of a near successful assassination attempt some six months ago, was that he felt that the ordinary “Pakistani on-the-street” felt significantly more secure and that this sense of security had genuinely increased over the past year's time. He reaffirmed that Pakistan was firmly in the camp of nonproliferation as it related to nuclear weapons. He saw no reason to allow expansion of nuclear capability to Iran. Recapitulating what he saw as the successes of his administration, he noted the re-emphasis of nonproliferation regarding nuclear weapons in the country of Iran; improved relationships with India; and increased border security along the northeast border with Afghanistan (more troops have been placed along this border).
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CODEL Journal - 11 Jan 2005
Posted by Michelle Stein on January 12, 2005
11 Jan 2005 We are currently aboard the 757 enroute to Islamabad, Pakistan for the start of my third Codel to Iraq and Afghanistan. A lot has changed in the country of Iraq in the 11 months since my last visit there. It is now less than three weeks until that country holds elections. Since my last visit in February 2004, they have approved their Constitution, started their own sovereign government, and are on the threshold of having their first democratic elections in a generation. There has been a significant increase in domestic unrest in the several weeks leading up to the elections. On my past visits I've been impressed with how stable the country is, and how different the reality is from what is portrayed on the nightly news shows. I very much want to believe that the situation in Iraq is more stable than what I am seeing portrayed in the media, but one cannot help but have a sense of foreboding because of the appearance of increased unrest. At times it seems as if our own media is engaged in unforgivable complicity which encourages the worst kind of lawless insurgent, who in turn is harming his own homeland and own people. As hard as the military operation in Iraq has been, I do believe it has been an important part of our foreign policy. I do believe that if we were not fighting these insurgents in Iraq, we would end up fighting them in our own country. If my sentiment is correct, then clearly our current course of action is the correct one. But one can also argue that if the country is destined for a long and protracted civil war, that maybe it would be to our benefit to greatly reduce troop strength in that country, allow the fight to follow its natural course, and return when there has been a restoration of regular order or the combatants have simply exhausted their supply of available manpower. What is not in question is the fact that our military has done everything we have asked them to do, and they are doing so even at this hour. A significant part of my trip this time is to acknowledge their efforts and thank them for being on the front lines for us. A part of this visit will also be devoted to the country of Afghanistan. Afghanistan completed their elections in October and Harmid Kharzi is the first democratically elected leader in that country. It will be interesting to see what has changed in the years since my last visit there. Certainly they continue to struggle with extreme poverty in that country; poverty the likes of which most people will fortunately never see. Maternal mortality and infant mortality continue to be a significant problem in that country. The daunting and dangerous task of clearing land mines continues. Additionally, Harmid Kharzi is faced with the difficult task of eradicating the opium trade in his country. This is rendered all the more difficult by the fact that there is no reasonable type of commerce to take its place. When we were in Afghanistan a year ago, Mr. Kharzi talked about the tragedy of pomegranate farmers destroying their orchards and planting poppies in their place. Apparently it takes several decades to grow a pomegranate tree, and these can be destroyed literally overnight by a farmer wishing to plant poppies. We have a good group this time. There are three Republicans and Democrats. Ideologically, there does not seem to be a great deal that separates the foreign policy front. I really think this should be a good excursion and will be worth the effort when all is said and done.
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