Troops Should Talk About Afghanistan, Iraq Successes, Pace Says

American Forces Press Service ^ | Dec 2, 2005 | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2005 – All servicemembers and Defense Department civilians should take every opportunity to tell the media and the public about successes achieved in Iraq, the U.S. military's top officer said Dec. 1 during his address at the National Defense University here. During a question-and-answer session following his remarks on the president's "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq" report, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listened to an NDU student talk about a gap in perception between the media and the government in regard to how operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are going.

The questioner then asked Pace if he thought the military was providing enough information to the public.

"I think you are correct that we have not - we, guys like me - have not articulated well enough what is happening in Iraq and in Afghanistan," Pace responded.

The chairman said the U.S. military decided in 2004 that the new Iraqi government should take more of a lead role in discussing anti-terrorist operations in their country.

"But as a result of stepping back," Pace said, "I think we may have stepped back a little too far inside our own country with regard to explaining to our own people what we're doing."

Pace said he thinks it's possible for both Iraqi officials and U.S. military leaders -- from generals down to privates -- to tell the public and the media about successes achieved against terrorists in Iraq.

"When they come home, we should be encouraging them inside their local communities to take the opportunity to talk to the local newspapers, to the local chamber of commerce," he said.

The general recalled that news coverage about the Iraq war was around-the-clock from when it began in March 2003 until Saddam Hussein's government fell that April.

"Understandably, we don't have 24/7 coverage anymore," Pace said. "Therefore, the amount of information out there for the general public is less than it used to be."

Today, myriad Iraq success stories exist to tell, yet the media seems to dwell on the bad news, the general said. For example, he pointed out, terrorists are being rounded up along the Iraqi-Syrian border, while the Iraqi military is assuming more and more responsibility in taking on the terrorists. And 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, Pace said, are relatively peaceful while the remaining four have current terrorist threats and problems.

Senior DoD military and civilian leaders -- as well as rank-and-file servicemembers and civilians - should spread the good news about anti-terrorist and reconstruction successes in Iraq, Pace said.

"Those of us who have the opportunity to put more on the table for more people to look at and turn around and decide for themselves what's right and what's not, need to take those opportunities," Pace said.

[SandRat]

GET THE TRUTH OUT THERE!!!

[bnelson44]

And we should echo them over and over and over again throughout the Web.

[bnelson44]

Almost forgot: BEAT NAVY!

[coconutt2000]

The troops I've spoken to all talk about the good things they've done, the accomplishments the Iraqis have made, and about the people they met in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The problem is that the media isn't asking them these questions, and when the media does, the positive stuff is left on the edit room floor.

[bnelson44]

Get them to write:

- Emails that you can distribute to noted bloggers

- Letters you can submit to letters to the editor

Their story must get out

[ex-snook]

Shsssssss. Things would be better if we got bin Laden dead or alive.

[Soul Seeker]

The rank and file have been doing their best.

Through talk radio/interviews even with the likes of Couric/through newspaper letters/through family and friends and even visiting pols.

What they need is the higher ups making it policy to stage pressers that have to be covered giving detailed information weekly, even daily.

I do think making it "official" for the rank and file troops to speak would be good, in a sense, because it'll be treated as something "new" and so warrant coverage where they can get their news out.

[Calpernia]

During a question-and-answer session following his remarks on the president's "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq" report, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listened to an NDU student talk about a gap in perception between the media and the government in regard to how operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are going. The questioner then asked Pace if he thought the military was providing enough information to the public.

"I think you are correct that we have not - we, guys like me - have not articulated well enough what is happening in Iraq and in Afghanistan," Pace responded.

The chairman said the U.S. military decided in 2004 that the new Iraqi government should take more of a lead role in discussing anti-terrorist operations in their country.

"But as a result of stepping back," Pace said, "I think we may have stepped back a little too far inside our own country with regard to explaining to our own people what we're doing."

[Valin]

All servicemembers and Defense Department civilians should take every opportunity to tell the media and the public about successes achieved in Iraq,

Why not send some troops that have returned from Iraq Afghanistan out on tour? Flood the country with with people who actually know what their talking about. I for one would pay cash money to see some Sgt from the 3rd ID debate Cindy or old two cheeseburgers about what's going on in Iraq.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT