What I learned on the Highway of Death in Iraq - Allen West

Steadfast anbd Loyal Blog ^ | January 17, 2014 | Allen West

[LeoWindhorse]

Today is the 23rd anniversary of the start of the First Persian Gulf War also known as Operation Desert Storm. I was a 29-year-old Captain in the First Infantry Division, “The Big Red One” at Ft. Riley in Kansas. Angela and I just celebrated our first wedding anniversary in December 1990 and now I was deploying into combat — something she had seen her own dad do twice to Vietnam.

I was the Fire Support Officer for Task Force 2-16 Infantry (call sign Ranger 14) in the 2nd Brigade (Dagger). Our mission was to be the lead task force of the 1st Infantry, which was the lead Division of the US VII Corps, into the breach to establish the cleared lanes for the follow-on elements to exploit and continue the attack to envelope Saddam’s Republican Guard units.

[Paladin2]

AW is no Colon Bowel.

[Paladin2]

" especially against the enemy called Islamic totalitarianism. "

AW gets it, unlike most of the World formerly known as "Western".

[doc1019]

When this man speaks, I listen. Doing so never leaves me disappointed.

[ConorMacNessa]

"When we commit our forces, it must be to win, and our civilian leadership must have the burning desire and passion in their hearts to set up our men and women to win.

It is a sad cycle of warfare when it is fought by politicians, and not warriors or statesmen. I am proud to have served in Desert Storm and Iraq, the third generation in our family to have served in combat. But as I watched newly promoted Major Bernard West last week, I wondered, what battlefield will he have to return to? Plato said it best, 'Only the dead have seen the end of war.'"

He is absolutely right. Having stood in battle myself, I would willing send my sons into battle with Col. West.

I will not commit them to battle under this regime. Rather, I would commit them to a citizen militia dedicated to to securing our Freedom against the tyrant now in power.

My ancestors came here to gain Freedom - no kings, no serfs. I will not consign my children to the serfdom my ancestors fought mightily to defeat.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[School of Rational Thought]

Common sense not so common amongst politicians.

When they announced the ceasefire of the first gulf war I was just shocked and angry.

Would anyone tell their doctor to leave some cancer in place.

[Bobalu]

Allen West is a good man!

I wish he was the first black president... he's a man we could all be proud of. :-)

[Forward the Light Brigade]

A great read—he hits it on the head—Victory isn’t won in a UN mandate or a scrap of paper. We should have finished off Saddam at that point and saved many lives—both iraqi and Allied.

[LeoWindhorse]

I absolutely would 100% support his candidacy (again) . We tried real hard to convince him in 2012 , but he remained steadfast to those who had elected him to be their Representative in the House . Then his constituency defeated him and sent him out of office . Dem dirty tricks and vote manipulation . Fought but finally conceded . I know some people speak down on him over certain votes . I could give a rip . His core values and insights on the dangers of radical islam make him the ONLY choice for me . If only.... we shall see

[Sequoyah101]

Agreed.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Palin/West 2016.

[DJ Frisat]

While many would recoil at his comment to Greta that he would recommend our return to Iraq in light of recent events, I would not be so fast to cry ‘NO!’

My support, however, would be contingent upon a return with a defined mission: to win. Decisively and indisputably. To do that, you go in and do your best. You kick ass 9 (assuming you have the ability, and we do.) Screw the politicians and the asinine rules-of-engagement that have hamstrung our military effort and put our brave sons and daughters at a disadvantage.

Otherwise, just stay the **** out of these squabbling piss-ant countries and let them kill each other.

[Yorlik803]

When you fight a war you gotta make it so horrible so that your enemy regrets going after you.
Strike hard and fast. Punish them. Make them dread the day they were born.
Better to be feared than respected.

[M Kehoe]

Big Red One bump.

5.56mm

[nascarnation]

Yes as Patton said, the goal is not to die for your country but to make the other guy die for his.

[Yorlik803]

I remember seeing pics from the Highway of death. And Colin Powell said they couldnt show them on TV because it would show how horrible war is.
I seem to remember back in world war 2 when the Americans and the British was trying to encircle the German Army in France. It was a blood bath. The Germans lost thousands of men and equipment. The Brits were slow and a lot of the Germans escaped. But there was no outcry about showing the pictures of burnt Germans and destroyed panzers.
Times have changed.

[hattend]

BTTT

[LeoWindhorse]

well , at least it would not have to be a totally combat entry .....

[huldah1776]

sorry responding so late but I just had a chance to read the article. We should always fight to win but under this administration I can see another Beirut being the agenda.

the new agreement with afghanistan, yet to be signed by the loon Karzai, is discussed at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/26/rules-of-engagement-bind-us-troops-actions-in-afgh/

“The new U.S.-Afghanistan security agreement adds restrictions on already bureaucratic rules of engagement for American troops by making Afghan dwellings virtual safe havens for the enemy, combat veterans say.

The rules of engagement place the burden on U.S. air and ground troops to confirm with certainty that a Taliban fighter is armed before they can fire — even if they are 100 percent sure the target is the enemy. In some cases, aerial gunships have been denied permission to fire even though they reported that targets on the move were armed.

The proposed Bilateral Security Agreement announced Wednesday by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Secretary of State John F. Kerry all but prohibits U.S. troops from entering dwellings during combat. President Obama made the vow directly to Mr. Karzai.”