Walberg OP-ED In Detroit News: "American military achieves success despite challenges"

Op-Ed

Has Iraq improved enough?
American military achieves success despite challenges
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg

Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are sharing significantly better news about Iraq than during their last congressional briefing in September 2007.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have stabilized and secured much of Iraq, and Iraqi leaders have made modest but meaningful political progress. While challenges remain, the counterinsurgency strategy implemented by Petraeus and the heroic efforts of American troops have transformed Iraq from a nation on the verge of civil war to one filled with potential for freedom and democracy.

Unfortunately, the success of our troops has garnered little media attention. As I learned in January during a trip to Iraq, troops feel the American public is not receiving a full perspective about positive developments in Iraq, and many have started their own blogs or Web sites to communicate their point of view.

So as we evaluate our future involvement in Iraq, it is important that the public receives a full picture of Iraq.

I entered Congress in January 2007 in the middle of a war that was not going well. Our troops were fighting with traditional, outdated tactics, and folks like Sen. John McCain were rightly calling for a new strategy.

Two options existed: surrender or, as many military experts demanded, employ a surge. Despite the objections of some, Congress allowed our military leaders to do what they have been trained to do, and a new strategy was implemented. Today, America and Iraq are both reaping the benefits of the surge.

According to a recent study, terrorist activities killed 1,087 in Baghdad during February 2007, but that number dropped to 178 in January 2008. Iraq is rebuilding its infrastructure, and communities are blossoming again.

More important, Iraqi military forces are fighting alongside American troops against terrorists in Iraq. As we saw recently in Basra, Iraqis are increasingly taking more responsibility for their security. The Iraqi army now suffers three times the casualties suffered by U.S. troops. Overall, causalities have declined.

I am confident Petraeus has Iraq moving in the right direction. He told me that a carbon copy of America should not be expected in Iraq, nor is it necessary, but Iraq must continue to become more independent and accept greater responsibility. Iraq has the potential to be a stable democratic state and U.S. ally and, most importantly, a state that does not harbor terrorists.

Many in Michigan are tired of the cost of the Iraq War, and I understand these frustrations. Though undeniable progress is being made in Iraq, an immediate withdrawal of American troops would be a significant setback in our comprehensive battle against terrorists.

We need to continue recent progress and maintain order and peace in Iraq so terrorists do not take control. The last thing the world needs is another terrorist-sponsoring country aiming destructive powers at free nations.

Fighting foreign-backed terrorists in Iraq makes Americans safer here in the United States.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, is a member of the House Republican Policy Committee.

Source