Orders Resolved

I’d like to thank everyone for your prayers regarding my orders, the situation has been resolved. One report, in fact, said there was not really a problem at all, just a communication difficulty between chains of command. Whatever the origin of the ‘problem’ and whatever the methods utilized to ‘resolve’ it, I am back on track. My upcoming R&R trip has been approved, and I am also going to be able to fulfill my commitment to complete my tour of duty and adequately turn my responsibilities in person over to ‘the new guy.’

Just a word on the ‘Exit Strategy.’ The enemies of democracy in the Middle East, the criminals, insurgents, and terrorists have been passing the word to anyone who would listen that the Coalition Forces, particularly the US, will never leave. They say we are here as an army of occupation. They say we are here due to our Satanist Imperialistic ploys. They say we are trying to control economic and natural resources that are outside of our sovereignty. Unfortunately, these lies have been believed, repeated, and presented as policy by most of the news media the world over. The result is that not only does the average person in this part of the world hear this from those inciting terrorism, insurgency, and civil war, they see it on TV, hear about it on the radio, and read about it newspapers. The reality, that the stated goal of coalition forces has always been REGIME CHANGE, is almost completely lost in the propaganda fueled by the terrorist agenda. REGIME REMOVAL is the easy part (relatively speaking); rebuilding a political, civil, and military structure from the grass-roots up to the halls of power in a way that empowers people that have long been disenfranchised and gives them ownership of a totally new way of living is something that is NOT easy. We are leaving, make no mistake about it. Our only strategy IS an exit strategy, and always has been. However, an early exit would be dishonorable and counter to the stated policy of regime change, as the vulnerability and fragility of a partially functioning government (nationally, provincially, county and city wide) cannot withstand the concerted efforts of criminals, insurgents, and terrorists to disrupt it. Those who publicly cry that we are not leaving (forever mired), along with those who publicly cry for our immediate withdrawal (prior to the ability of the newly installed government to secure the protection, rights and freedoms of its people) are actually aiding criminals, insurgents, and terrorists. Please don’t be one of those people who join the GWOT on the OTHER side.

Semper Fi, Jon G.