Abizaid focuses on Iraq, career Airmen

  • Published
  • By Capt. Angela Smith
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Talented people are the reason why today’s U.S. armed forces are the best they have ever been, said Army Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of U.S. Central Command, during a visit with 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen here. He urged them to “stay with the team” as the United States continues to fight the long-term war against terrorism.

“You’re making a big difference by being here,” General Abizaid said. “I know how you’re underpayed, working long hours, away from you’re families … it’s a burden sometimes. But you have the chance to serve the flag, a chance to be a part of something big. It matters to our country and to this region.”

“This (forward-deployed location) is one of the most important links we have to fight the war on terrorism,” the general said. “Terrorists are a small group of extremists who want to create a world where you don’t have freedom and you don’t have choice. We are free (people) standing together to fight for what we believe in.”

General Abizaid urged Airmen to take the time to meet the local people, learn the culture and “build a solid partnership to a common end.

“We (will keep Airmen) in Iraq until Iraq gets right,” he said. “We have a clear goal for Iraq -- we want a stable Iraq … an Iraq that does not foster terrorism, that’s free from weapons of mass destruction and respects international borders.

“It is the right thing to do,” he said. “We must allow people the opportunity to live a better life. We are on the right path. [The president and secretary of defense] will stay the course until Iraq gets right.”

Thus, he said, current operations have required the buildup of servicemembers from 20,000 to 250,000.

“We can’t do it alone,” General Abizaid said. “We have to help the people in the region help themselves.”

For example, he said the military’s role in Afghanistan includes numerous humanitarian projects. There are hundreds of civil-affairs projects in Afghanistan to build schools, irrigation systems and infrastructure.

Furthermore, a recent survey revealed most Iraqis feel like their lives are better than a few years ago, the general said.

“This is a long war,” General Abizaid said. “We are going to spend a lot of time abroad. I urge you to stay with the team. We have developed an armed forces that is the best we have ever had. It is devastating against the enemies of our country. We must maintain a quality force. We are the best, not because of our sophisticated equipment, but because we have noncommissioned officers and young people who make it the best.”