"The soldiers are really doing a magnificent job," he added. "All of you should be very proud of what soldiers here are doing in support of the people of Iraq."
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Bush, 1st Armored Division and Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Fuss, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) agreed:
"They're doing very well," said Fuss, who also serves as command sergeant major for Task Force Iron Horse, which has responsibility for the northeast portion of Iraq. "They're disciplined. They're trained. They are taking the fight to the enemy every day and we're winning."
This is in spite of working in difficult conditions such as the "tough, rugged" terrain and temperatures that have averaged 123 degrees, said Preston. "Even in full uniform out on the ground, their spirits are high," he added. "Soldiers are proud of the mission they are doing.
8 Troops Doing "Magnificent Job" in Iraq Say Senior Leaders - DoD | 8/22/03
SOD Rumsfeld, Thurs. Aug. 21:
''The terrorists and the regime remnants see progress that is taking place across Iraq. The terrorists see that Iraqi people are reclaiming their country, starting independent newspapers, policing their own streets, forming municipal councils, civic institutions and political parties. They see the Iraqi Governing Council getting on its feet and paving the way for a new constitution and free elections. They see Iraqis putting the era of Saddam Hussein behind them.''
''These accomplishments are victories for the Iraqi people and defeats for the Ba'athists and their terrorist allies. This much is certain: their cause is lost. That regime will not be coming back. The coalition will not be dissuaded from its mission, not by sabotage, not by snipers and not by terrorists with car bombs.''
~~~
''Each day more Iraqis are coming forward with information, leading coalition forces to be able to find weapons caches, hideouts, and with their help, the coalition has now captured or killed 42 of the 55 "Most Wanted."
''Thus far, 27 nations have sent forces to Iraq, and over 40 nations have pledged more than 3 billion (dollars) in assistance to help the Iraqi people.''
''The vast majority of the Iraqi people want peace. They want democracy, and they want the chance to build a free society. They deserve that chance, and a small minority in that country or individuals coming in from other countries are not going to be permitted to take it away from them.''
8 DoD News Briefing - Secretary Rumsfeld and Gen. Abizaid [Excellent!] - DoD | 8/21/03
"It is a terrible war. It's one which was declared on the American people very dramatically on September 11th, and it's a war that we will win. It's not something that we're going to get deterred from by an attack here, bad as it was."
~~~
"I don't know who makes the assessment that things aren't in control. It's clearly not the view of the coalition here. We have a security problem here. The security problem now has got a terrorist dimension, which is new, but the rest of the security is basically in better shape than it was three months ago when I arrived here."
"It is true that we're taking some casualties among the coalition forces, but that's largely coming from a small group of bitter-enders from the former regime, and almost all of it in a very small geographic area."
~~~
"Well, the streets of the main cities, including Baghdad, are safe. They're safe today. You can go around them. You find thousands of Iraqis on the streets every day. Right now, if you went downtown, you'd find them walking around. The shops are open. Men and women and their children are there.
It is dangerous after the curfew, obviously, in the late evening. But the country is not a country in chaos. And terrorism doesn't mean chaos. It does mean an outrage against humanity. And it is something we have to deal with, and we will deal with it. But it is simply wrong to extrapolate from these terrorist acts to a conclusion that this country is in chaos. It's simply not true."
8 Ambassador Bremer Interview with the CBS Early Show
President's Radio Address
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Earlier this week, terrorists struck the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. The U.N. personnel and Iraqi citizens killed in the bombings were engaged in a purely humanitarian mission. Men and women in the building were working on reconstruction, medical care for Iraqis, and the distribution of food. Among the dead was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N. representative for Iraq -- a good man serving an important cause.
On the same day, a terrorist in Jerusalem murdered 20 innocent people riding a bus, including five Americans. The killer had concealed under his clothing a bomb filled with metal fragments, designed to kill and injure the greatest number of people possible. Among the 110 people hurt were 40 children.
These two bombings reveal, once again, the nature of the terrorists, and why they must be defeated. In their malicious view of the world, no one is innocent. Relief workers and infants alike are targeted for murder. Terrorism may use religion as a disguise, but terrorism violates every religion and every standard of decency and morality.
The terrorists have declared war on every free nation and all our citizens. Their goals are clear. They want more governments to resemble the oppressive Taliban that once ruled Afghanistan. Terrorists commit atrocities because they want the civilized world to flinch and retreat so they can impose their totalitarian vision. There will be no flinching in this war on terror, and there will be no retreat.
From Afghanistan to Iraq, to the Philippines and elsewhere, we are waging a campaign against the terrorists and their allies, wherever they gather, wherever they plan, and wherever they act. This campaign requires sacrifice, determination and resolve, and we will see it through. Iraq is an essential front in this war. Now we're fighting terrorists and remnants of that regime who have everything to lose from the advance of freedom in the heart of the Middle East.
In most of Iraq, there is steady movement toward reconstruction and a stable, self-governing society. This progress makes the remaining terrorists even more desperate and willing to lash out against symbols of order and hope, like coalition forces and U.N. personnel. The world will not be intimidated. A violent few will not determine the future of Iraq, and there will be no return to the days of Saddam Hussein's torture chambers and mass graves.
Working with Iraqis, coalition forces are on the offensive against these killers. Aided by increasing flow of intelligence from ordinary Iraqis, we are stepping up raids, seizing enemy weapons, and capturing enemy leaders. The United States, the United Nations, and the civilized world will continue to stand with the people of Iraq as they reclaim their nation and their future.
We're determined, as well, not to let murderers decide the future of the Middle East. A Palestinian state will never be built on a foundation of violence. The hopes of that state and the security of Israel both depend on an unrelenting campaign against terror waged by all parties in the region. In the Middle East, true peace has deadly enemies. Yet America will be a consistent friend of every leader who works for peace by actively opposing violence.
All nations of the world face a challenge and a choice. In continued acts of murder and destruction, terrorists are testing our will, hoping we will weaken and withdraw. Yet across the world, they are finding that our will cannot be shaken. Whatever the hardships, we will persevere. We will continue this war on terror until all the killers are brought to justice. And we will prevail.
Thank you for listening.
