Debriefing from Congressman Steve Israel about his recent trip to Iraq

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Some topics covered by Congressman Israel

The Congressman gave a talk about his recent trip to Iraq.  (Please click here to read that presentation.)  After that, he opened up for questions and answers.  One thing should be said first.  The Congressman took this trip as part of a bi-partisan committee; politics did not play any part here.  As an editorial note, politics does not belong here, these are the lives of our troops and they should come before any political party.  I can proudly say that Congressman Israel did not let politics get in his way.  His mission was to check on the well being of our troops and that’s what he did.

I am very proud of him and I know he has the well-being of our military on his mind.  Thank you Congressman Israel, (and we are not in the same party).

Questions:

·Humvee armor upgrades

The armor plating has been ordered and is en route.  Some groups hired Iraqi firms to armor plate their Humvees.

I heard that the armor plating covers the windows and make the vehicle very hot.  Some of the troops are electing to go without the armor plating because of this.

·Body Armor

The problem with the body armor is that it was ordered in sizes from “large” and above.  Some military are in the group of “small and medium”.  This situation is being taken care of.  The correct sizes have been ordered and will be shipped ASAP.

News came in that quite a few troops have been issued the body armor.  The problem that exists is the ceramic back plate is said to be uncomfortable.  I am told the troops are getting by with this uncomfortable situation.

·Situational Awareness

This is where the present group has learned about some method of operating in this area and is able to handle it.  This is something that is acquired and has to be transferred to the next group coming into that area.

Apparently there is a stop that some military will be making where other military can “pick their brains” to see what, if anything was done in their area of patrol that should be passed along.  It’s these little day-to-day thing that we take for granted that may save a life and should be passed along.

·We put the Congressman on the spot with a statement he and others in the Iraq area agreed to.  The statement was made that “the tentative date of June 30 to give control to the Iraqis did not seem feasible”.  This was agreed to my military official in the area.

The thought is that this is not enough time to democratize a country.  We can’t pull out because that leaves the country open for the dominant religious party to take over.

The answer to this question can only be answered at the highest level after some in depth analysis.  I am sure all this is going on as you read this.

·WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction)

You know this question had to come up – Do we know what happened to the WMDs?

The answer is we don’t know at this time, but we have enough people over there trying to find the answer.  The problem this brings up according to Congressman Israel is that the decision makers require information that they can believe in.  He is concerned with having to make a decision on bad information.

This topic has been handled in depth on the various news networks.

·Congressman Israel noted that in World War 2, aviators were sent home after 25 missions to pass along information and help train others.

A member of the audience stated that the Air Force does this today.

·Congressman Israel stated that as of this date, 95% of all the fighting is being done in the Suni Triangle.