Operation Enduring Freedom

Eight years ago today, President George W. Bush addressed the nation from the Treaty Room of the White House.

Operation Enduring Freedom had begun. Our B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers, F-14 Tomcats, F/A-18 Hornets, and Tomahawk cruise missiles led the offensive against Bin Laden, Al Qaeda and the terrorist network harbored in Afghanistan.

Today, General Stanley McChrystal leads our operations in Afghanistan, commanding our 68,000 troops (plus 100,000 Nato forces). He has requested an additional 40,000 troops from our current administration in order to win this fight against terrorism.

However, his request has been stalled for over a month as the White House studies our current strategy.

Our Vice President supports a new strategy calling for the use of drone missile strikes and special forces ops as our primary offensive. Gen. McChrystal has stated he will reject this strategy, saying it would lead to "Chaos-istan."

774 American soldiers have given their lives thus far in Afghanistan. This number includes 8 US troops killed last weekend (while we discussed strategy) in an Al Qaeda attack against a military outpost near Pakistan. This was the deadliest attack in more than a year... and of President Obama's term.


For a President who campaigned on the need for us to focus our military efforts in Afghanistan, I for one don't understand the delay.

Could it be that we have forgotten why we are in Afghanistan? Just in case, here are some highlights of the speech that introduced this conflict to the world.

President George W. Bush, October 7, 2001:

More than two weeks ago, I gave Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands: Close terrorist training camps; hand over leaders of the al Qaeda network; and return all foreign nationals, including American citizens, unjustly detained in your country. None of these demands were met. And now the Taliban will pay a price. By destroying camps and disrupting communications, we will make it more difficult for the terror network to train new recruits and coordinate their evil plans.

Initially, the terrorists may burrow deeper into caves and other entrenched hiding places. Our military action is also designed to clear the way for sustained, comprehensive and relentless operations to drive them out and bring them to justice.

We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it. The name of today's military operation is Enduring Freedom. We defend not only our precious freedoms, but also the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear.

In the months ahead, our patience will be one of our strengths -- patience with the long waits that will result from tighter security; patience and understanding that it will take time to achieve our goals; patience in all the sacrifices that may come.

Today, those sacrifices are being made by members of our Armed Forces who now defend us so far from home, and by their proud and worried families. A Commander-in-Chief sends America's sons and daughters into a battle in a foreign land only after the greatest care and a lot of prayer. We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask them to leave their loved ones, to travel great distances, to risk injury, even to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. They are dedicated, they are honorable; they represent the best of our country. And we are grateful.

To all the men and women in our military -- every sailor, every soldier, every airman, every coastguardsman, every Marine -- I say this: Your mission is defined; your objectives are clear; your goal is just. You have my full confidence, and you will have every tool you need to carry out your duty.

The battle is now joined on many fronts. We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.


Gen. McChrystal has said that failure to engage in a troop surge will lead to failure in Afghanistan. So as our government wavers, tires, and falters, it leads one to wonder, will peace and freedom prevail?

You can listen to this speech here: http://fallen.wingslikeaneagle.com/mfiles/20011007-8.a.ram