Take Time to Remember the Soldiers
By: U.S. Congressman Lincoln Davis

With the week of July Fourth upon us I would like to take a moment and pay respect to our nation's veterans and active military personnel, and to comment on the current situation facing the United States Armed Forces, the American people, and the rest of the world. To those who have worn the uniform, I, along with all Tennesseans and the rest of the country, thank you for your invaluable service.

The men and women who make up the United States Armed Forces have made a selfless sacrifice to protect our freedoms and way of life. They honor every American and the foundation of our democratic nation through their voluntary service. In my humble opinion, those of us who work in government must fully respect the sacrifice of our soldiers by having a continuous open and honest discussion with the American people about the difficult nature of our mission in the Middle East.

Bringing peace and freedom to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Middle East is a unique challenge that, frankly, will continue to be incredibly difficult. Our Armed Forces, fighting alongside Iraqi citizens, are not only trying to establish a true democracy in a country used to the smothering nature of a dictatorship, but they are also trying change the way of life in the Middle East. They are fighting against a history of oppression, where the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, such as freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and the pursuit of property, could lead to a person's execution. American soldiers truly are engaged in a passionate battle, the outcome of which will have a fundamental effect on the future of the region.

Despite the difficulties of our task, we all must realize that we have made a commitment in the Middle East. In all honesty, this commitment may require the United States to have a military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan similar to our continued military presence in Europe after World War II, South Korea, and Kosovo. This means our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren could possibly be involved in the Iraqi conflict. Despite this reality, the consequences of not fulfilling this commitment, or a "cut and run" decision, could quite possibly be devastating.

If we win, we will bear witness to an unimaginable dream similar to that of our forefathers who fought and won this nation's freedom from the British. We will also have created a foundation upon which a free and peaceful Middle East can begin to be established. If we lose, Iraq could become a safe haven for terrorists where they will continue to train and learn new ways to harm the free people of the world. Additionally, losing or retreating would send a message to the rest of the world that America cannot fulfill its military commitments, and that it's easy to break America's will.

Realizing this, we must do what it takes to empower the Iraqi people, solidify the new Iraqi government, and train the Iraqi security forces so that our soldiers can return home to their friends and families as soon as possible. The time to worry about why we went to war in Iraq is over. There will be plenty of time in the future to debate the different motivations for the war, and whether or not they were justified. Now is the time to worry about how we will win the war and end the violence we see in the daily news.

In reaction to the continuing violence in Iraq, some in Congress have begun to demand a date of withdrawal, or having a fixed timetable. I believe that having a fixed timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces will not help us win, and is an unwise and counterproductive policy decision. It is unwise because it undermines the work of our military leaders and our soldiers on the ground, and because it gives the insurgents a date they can point to as they attempt to wait us out. President Clinton refused to give his critics, including our current President, a withdrawal date for our troops involved in the Balkan conflict because he knew an arbitrary date is nothing more than an "x" on a calendar and does nothing to help ensure success.

While I won't demand the President and the Administration give Congress and the American public a withdrawal date, I do think they should start an open dialogue with the public and Congress so new thoughts towards a success strategy can come to light. I was happy to see President Bush address the nation about Iraq this past June 28, but in my opinion he did not ease America's anxiety about this war. Part of the reason people are starting to disapprove of the war is because we don't know what the plan is to win, and I'm not sure we got the plan we were looking for on June 28.

Just as we must empower the Iraqi people to take control over their country and their freedom, we must also empower the American people so that as a country we can fully appreciate the consequences of this war, so we can understand how we will win, and so we will continue to rally around our fighting men and women. Our soldiers and the American people deserve this.

I have been in continual conversations with my colleagues, particularly those within the Blue Dog Coalition, about what strategies we can and should follow in Iraq that will bring us to victory faster. First, we must secure Iraq's oil resources. If we stabilize Iraq's oil resources we can use them to fund the war and pay for the reconstruction. Currently, American taxpayers have had to bear 90% of the financial costs of the war-over $300 billion so far-to the detriment of our domestic and fiscal needs at home. By eliminating the corruption that plagues Iraq's oil industry we can ease the war's burden on our taxpayers and help finance a broader international security force. A broader coalition will lift some of the pressure from our military forces.

Second, we must secure Iraq's border. We know the insurgents are coming to Iraq from abroad. It makes sense to cut off their point of entry before they can join the rest of the insurgency within the country. I think it will be easier for our military to use our superior forces in the border regions while reducing the number of civilian casualties. Certainly our soldiers should be aided in this mission by other international forces.

Additionally, we should use the extra international military personnel to help expedite the training of Iraqi security forces and their army. This must be a priority of any strategy to embolden the Iraqi people and hasten the withdrawal of our troops. When the Iraqi people are on the front lines fighting for their freedom and their country against the insurgency, they will realize the same dreams our founding fathers had and they won't quit until they have their freedom. We will be there to assist, but the battle must be waged by the citizens of Iraq.

Once we have secured the oil resources and the border, and once we have established an effective Iraqi police force, army, and legislative government, we will be able to focus on the reconstruction of the country's infrastructure. The reconstruction must bring together the different Iraqi religious and ethnic groups so that they all may have a hand in their nation's economy. As they develop their new economy the Iraqis must see that they are protected by their own security forces, and that they are lead by their own elected officials. When this dream is achieved Americans and the rest of the world will know we were successful, and the Iraqi men and women will no what it means to truly be free.

In closing, to the men and women who have worn the uniform in the past, to those who continue to serve today, particularly those in the 278th Regimental Combat Team who are in Iraq now, and the 779th Maintenance Company who will soon be deployed, and to the families who share in their sacrifice, I, my staff, and the great people who make up Tennessee's Fourth Congressional District say "Thank You, and God Bless America."