IRAQ UPDATE — from Al Asad: Major Chris Julian, USMC
Major Chris Julian, USMC
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EDITORIAL: MOSUL — CAN WE WIN THE PEACE?
Saw this blurb this morning as I read the news in my Twitter feed…
George C. Marshall
General, U.S. Army
There is a sense of relief now that the shooting, artillery and airstrikes in Mosul and Iraq in general are dwindling. That collective feeling of relief is normal but can be savored only briefly because now comes the most critical phase of the operation — winning the peace — the phase the United States and its partners have failed in in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. It’s purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world so as to permit the emergence of political and social conditions in which free institutions can exist.”
George C. Marshall
Secretary of State 1947-49
Secretary of Defense 1950-51
All of the fighting that has been done and all of the death that has befallen the citizens of the region simply delivers this coalition and the nation of Iraq to the doorstep of an opportunity to create a better reality for the people of the region… but can they create that reality on the ground? Will they seize THIS opportunity? Will this time be different?
“Winning the peace” or “Phase 4” is difficult work. It is where the United States and it’s partners succeeded in post World War II Europe and Japan and then again in post-armistice South Korea yet have failed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Let’s hope Secretaries Mattis and Tillerson have the foresight of General and later Secretary George Marshall — the visionary of what ultimately became “The Marshal Plan” — and enact policies that are in the long term best interests of the region and not policies that are simply expedient. The Bush and Obama Administrations both destabilized the order of the Middle East and Afghanistan — both attempted the expedient and we have seen the fruits of that course of action.
In Mattis we trust, as we who fought for him always have.
IRAQ UPDATE, MUQTADA AL-SADR VISITS SAUDI ARABIA & THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARY UNITS IN IRAQ: Jerry Durrant
Jerry Durrant
Col, USMC (ret)
Jerry Durrant, Col USMC (ret) joined us to talk about his time as a LCpl in Vietnam in 1970 as well as his thoughts on Iraq today.
He is currently part of a private company that does military education for the Iraqi military. He has interesting things to say about where Iraq is and what is next for the war-torn nation.
He raises concerns about Sunni’s being eliminated from the Iraqi military, the upcoming Kurdish referendum and genuine surprise at the visit Muqtada al Sadr made to Saudi Arabia recently.
Durrant is a great representative of the Marine Corps and a thoughtful guest.
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THE AFTERMATH OF MOSUL: John Ubaldi
John Ubaldi
MGySgt USMC (ret)
Founder, The Ubaldi Reports
The principal of The Ubaldi Reports, John Ubaldi joins to talk about what comes next in Mosul. With large scale resistance quelled, the task now turns to what comes next? What role will Iran plan in the aftermath of Mosul? Will a Sunni population accept a largely Shiite Iraqi Army?
Always interesting.
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LEADERSHIP, TRANSITIONING & ECHO IN RAMADI: Scott Huesing
Scott Huesing
Major, USMC (ret)
Scott Huesing, Major USMC (ret) joined us to talk about his career as an infantry Marine… both as an enlisted Marine and an officer… his transition from the active duty to civilian after twenty-four years of service as a Marine, becoming a author (Echo in Ramadi), a public speaker, a veteran’s advocate and a CEO of his own consulting company.
Scott has interesting things to say about becoming a writer and pointed things to say about leadership and why it’s important for leaders to genuinely care about those they lead.
Great stuff!
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UNPLUGGED (KINDA) — GENERAL JOE DUNFORD’S Q & A WITH THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joe DUNFORD, appeared before the National Press Club yesterday (Monday, June 19 2017) and YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO HIS COMPLETE COMMENTS — you’ll be smarter, trust me.
The Chairman talks Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, SU-22’s being shot down, Russia, Turkey, Iran, North Korea, the Defense Budget and strategies in each of these regions as well as his vision of how American involvement contributes to success. What you’ll get is complete answers to difficult questions, not sound bites.
Well done by the National Press Club!
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