New Defense Secretary: ISIL Must be Dealt 'Lasting Defeat'

Nick Simeone at the DoD News offers the below piece:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2015 - There is no doubt the international coalition battling the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant "will deliver a lasting defeat," Defense Secretary Ash Carter told U.S. troops during his visit to Kuwait today.

However, he added, the effort will require commitment and patience.

Carter made the comments while visiting American troops at Camp Arifjan, just before convening a conference of ambassadors and senior U.S. and regional military leaders to "begin to make my own assessment of the campaign to counter ISIL."

He described the meeting, held on his fifth day as defense secretary, as "important to me as I formulate our own direction in this campaign."

Buildup of Local Forces

Before the conference, Carter told troops the international campaign to defeat ISIL -- called Operation Inherent Resolve -- will first require building up local forces, which he said will ultimately have to take the lead in battle. U.S. military advisors are now training Iraqi forces with plans by the coalition to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels as well.

Carter's comments and today's high-level meeting on countering ISIL come just days after a U.S. Central Command official told reporters an Iraqi-led assault to recapture the country's second-largest city, Mosul, from ISIL terrorists could begin as early as April.

"We need to be convinced that any use of our forces is necessary," Carter said at today's troop event, after being asked if he would recommend deploying U.S. combat troops on the front lines against ISIL.

"I want to make sure we've thought everything through and that we have a plan that leads to success," the secretary added.

Carter called ISIL a threat to the region beyond Syria and Iraq.

"If we're to have a defeat of ISIL -- which we must and will -- it needs to be a lasting defeat," said Carter, noting that can only happen if "there are those who can take responsibility for their societies and their territory after the campaign against ISIL has rid them of this scourge."

Note: The above DoD photo was taken by Glenn Fawcett.

Defense Secretary Salutes U.S. Army At 238th Birthday Celbration

Nick Simeone at the American Forces Press Service offers the below piece:

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel helped the Army celebrate its 238th birthday at the Pentagon today with a cake-cutting ceremony and a reminder that after 238 years, the service, perhaps unique among militaries, continues to have "the astounding confidence and trust of the American people."

 

I don't know of any other country in the world that can say that," Hagel said, citing what he said were consistent results of Gallup polls that "put the military in the stratosphere" in terms of public opinion, even though most Americans have never served in the military.

"You could also say it's the 1 percent that bears all the burden. ... That's true. There is still an outstanding respect for our military in society even though they are disconnected, probably more so than at any time in the history of this nation," added Hagel, who is the second consecutive Defense Secretary to have served in the Army, and the first enlisted combat veteran to lead the department.
He attributed the great respect for the military to the values that have shaped it and the sacrifices that have been made, especially by Army families, who he said "are not covered in great glory or attention, but they deserve as much recognition and thanks."

Hagel was accompanied by Army leadership, including Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, who noted the service began as and remains an all-volunteer force, always ready to sacrifice everything when the nation calls -- no more so than during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he said more than 2.5 million soldiers have served.

"Over 600,000 have deployed three, four, five, six times," the general said. "Over 4,800 soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice, over 35,000 have been wounded, but over 15,000 medals of valor have been handed out."

Hagel said the ethos of the soldier goes far beyond fighting and winning wars. Having just completed several days of congressional testimony, he recalled being asked why the military's mission should include responding to natural disasters overseas.

"I said when you look at what the soldier is about, it's about preserving the peace, because it's the soldier, when we don't have peace, that makes the sacrifices," Hagel said, noting the iconic photos that have been taken of American soldiers through history engaged in actions far beyond those on the battlefield.

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said the first orange he ever saw in his life came from an American soldier, Hagel noted.

"The Americans troops were marching into this German village, and every German citizen was scared to death, thinking they would be massacred," the secretary said. "And the American troops hugged these children and gave them chocolate bars and oranges."

This year's Army birthday is tempered somewhat by the spending shortfalls triggered by the budget sequester and uncertainty over future spending, Hagel acknowledged.

"These are difficult times," he said. "But if you ever want to put your money on an institution, you want to put it on the Army. The Army has weathered a lot of things, and we will get through this."
 

Note: From left, Army Col. Arthur Wittich, the oldest soldier serving in the Military District of Washington; Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno; Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel; Army Secretary John M. McHugh; Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III and Pfc. Andrew Segla, the youngest soldier serving in the Military District of Washington, cut the cake during a Pentagon ceremony marking the Army's 238th birthday, June 13, 2013. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo.

Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Reminds Americans To Remember Meaning Of Memorial Day

By Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2012 - In a round of Memorial Day television interviews today, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff urged Americans to reflect on the meaning of this national holiday, a message underscored by the on-going mission in Afghanistan as well as fresh reminders of the military's obligation to be ready to respond if called upon.

"I would ask people to take a solemn moment at some point during the day to remember exactly what we are celebrating and that is we're celebrating our freedom," Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told NBC's "Today" show in an appearance from the Pentagon. "The freedom that was purchased by more than two million men and women throughout the course of our history and, of course, more than 64-hundred or so in the past 10 years alone."

On multiple morning news programs, questioning quickly turned to the war in Afghanistan, with Dempsey saying he defines progress there as having Afghans able to provide for their own security and governance.

"Success in Afghanistan will be when the Afghan Security Forces are capable of maintaining stability inside their own country and the central government of Afghanistan is able to provide governance. I think that has always been the definition of success both in Iraq and Afghanistan," he told CNN's "Starting Point" program. "I think we are moving positively toward those objectives."

Dempsey dismissed concerns about a possible resurgence of the Taliban, which Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called 'resilient' on ABC's "This Week" program yesterday.

"I will say the Strategic Partnership Agreement that we entered with Afghanistan should give pause to the Taliban that they simply cannot wait us out," he said on CNN. That agreement, signed by President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul May 2, establishes the basis for cooperation between both countries over the next decade, after the end of the NATO mission. The agreement includes cooperation on counterterrorism and the continued training of the Afghan National Security Forces.

Dempsey's interviews coincided with reports of a massacre of more than 100 civilians in Syria, in apparent violation of a ceasefire between the government of President Bashar al-Asad and his opponents. On "Fox and Friends," the general called reports of the deaths "atrocious," and would not rule out a possible military option if such atrocities continue.

"My job as senior military leader is to provide the president options when a political decision is taken ...and I frankly believe the pressure has to be mounting on Asad and should continue to mount on Asad and if asked for those options at some point, I'll be prepared to provide them," he said.

But Dempsey's central message, as he told CNN, was the day itself, and he continued to return to what it means, including the daily reminder he receives of the nation's sacrifice every morning as he arrives at the Pentagon.

"I drive to work every day past Arlington Cemetery, and there are 260-thousand small American flags planted at each of these gravesites, so I just want to make sure that they know that we will never forget."