Wolfowitz Lauds U.S. Troops Throughout Iraqi Tour

By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2004 -- After touring Iraq June 16-19, Defense Secretary
Paul Wolfowitz said he was more impressed than ever with the caliber of
American troops defending freedom's front lines.

"Wherever you go people are grateful for the men and women in uniform," he said
to Marines gathered at the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters in
Fallujah June 19. "It doesn't matter what they think of the (administration's
Iraq war) policy, they understand the type of commitment and devotion you
spend.

"Believe me," he added. "The country is appreciative."

During four days in Iraq, Wolfowitz visited troops and met with leaders of the
1st Cavalry and 1st Armored divisions in Baghdad, Task Force Olympia in Mosul,
1st Infantry Division in Tikrit, 1st MEF in Fallujah, and Multinational Division
South East in Basra. At most stops he also met with local Iraqi leaders.

Several times in visits with American forces, Wolfowitz compared the troops'
struggles here with what World War II, Korean War and Cold War veterans
accomplished.

"What you're doing here is fighting another kind of evil," he said in Fallujah.
"It's not fascism; it's not communism; but it's every bit as evil. And I think
it's every bit as dangerous to our country."

He stressed that the United States and the world are better off today because
Germany and Japan are democracies, and Poland and other Eastern and Central
European countries are free. "We're going to be better off tomorrow and the day
after tomorrow because Iraq can be a free, democratic country and a source of
stability in the Middle East instead of a source of constant problems,"
Wolfowitz said.

At the 1st Armored Division headquarters at Baghdad International Airport,
Wolfowitz spoke over dinner to troops who will be heading back to Germany soon
after being extended three months in Iraq.

He gave them something to think about when they return to Germany. "You can
just stop and think for a moment how much better the world is because Germany
is a democratic country today and is a strong ally of the United States,"
Wolfowitz said.

"That doesn't mean they agree with us on everything, … but we are so much
better with a Germany that has made so (much) progress that was only made
possible thanks to the sacrifice of Americans."

The deputy secretary said he has been gratified in meetings with local leaders
to hear the high regard with which they hold American service members. And he
told the troops of how Iraqis were eager to be involved in their own defense.

"There are millions of Iraqis who want to be in this fight, too. And on July 1
they're going to have a government that's going to help us all do it," he said.
"But they also know they're not ready to do it on their own. You know it; I
know it; and they know it."

After his troop visits were completed, Wolfowitz had high praise for the
American service members in Iraq. "Every time I've been out here the troops are
simply magnificent," he said of his four trips to Iraq to date. "I've stopped
even pretending that I come out to raise their morale, because invariably they
raise mine."

Biography:
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D.
Wolfowitz [/bios/depsecdef_bio.html]
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Related Sites:
1st Marine Expeditionary Force [[url]http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/][/url]
1st Cavalry Division [[url]http://pao.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/][/url]
1st Infantry Division [[url]http://www.1id.army.mil][/url]
1st Armored Division [[url]http://www.1ad.army.mil][/url]
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Related Articles:
Wolfowitz Reassures Iraqi
Kurds of U.S. Commitment [/news/Jun2004/n06172004_2004061703.html]
Wolfowitz Visits Officials in
Northern Iraq [/news/Jun2004/n06172004_2004061702.html]
Coalition, Iraqi Leaders Agree
on Two Critical Areas [/news/Jun2004/n06162004_200406168.html]
Wolfowitz Arrives in Baghdad
for Meetings, Troop Visits [/news/Jun2004/n06162004_200406162.html]
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