European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 stars and stripes tuesday april 17 2007 Thomas l Kelsch publisher Richard Brauk general manager Europe it col Stephen Oconnor commander news and editorial Robb gr1ndstaff Doug Clawson executive editor managing editor Europe Sam Amrhein Europe Bureau chief Joseph Ordono Mideast Bureau chief Haruni Centea assistant Bureau chief Washington do assistant managing editors Mary bends news Sean Moores sports Brian Bowers features Christopher six Patrick Dickson news editor Joe Gromelski web editor addresses us mail unit 294so Apo a 09211 International mail Postrach 1330 64345 Griesheim Germany fax Dan 3498416 Civ 0 email news letters Central office 529 14th Street new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 phone Dan 3127630900 or Civ 202 7610900 fax 202 7610890 editorial director 529 14th St new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 phone Dan 3127630945 or Civ 202 7610945 How to Cai us 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americans i am a civilian contractor in Iraq i am also a prior army service member i read letters saying that fellow Ameri cans contractors should not be honoured for their services in Iraq because they Are getting paid More than they would be in the states the writers Start off saying How sorry they Are for the families of these americans killed in Iraq but go on to say contractors should not be recognized for their sacrifices because they Are getting paid and volunteered to come to Iraq Are we forgetting that these people Are americans civilian and military Are All americans i take Pride in my Job my coworkers and i go the extra mile with our jobs be cause the lives of soldiers who go outside the wire depend on it is not appreciated because a lot of the soldiers Here feel the same Way As the letter still i press on because the army thought me to be a professional and dedicated to duty no matter what the Circum stances May be a lot of american contractors Are Here because we Are a military Tell us Wii at you think stars and stripes welcomes your comments on editorials and columns that Are published in the newspaper and values letters on topics of importance in the lives of our readers All letters must be signed and must include the writers address or base and Telephone number please limit ail letters to 300 words we Reserve the right to edit setters for length taste and clarity Send your letters to stars and stripes unit 29480 Apo a 09211 International mail stars and stripes postfachl330 64345 Griesheim via fax country code 0 Dan 3498395 email i got out it is a sad Day when a service member in my opinion Doest care about fellow americans even if they Are getting paid More than they normally would we Are still americans just like a Soldier when i raised my right hand to join the army i knew of the possibility of going to War if either of us die we Are still Ameri cans Keith Gadson Iraq who better to work for the military than a military members a lot of contract companies wont hire someone unless he is a prior services member the military has changed so much since no one works to Cut Oil prices the army and air Force Exchange ser vice does it again Here it is april 14 and Gas prices in South Korea have risen from to a gallon 10cent in crease again i saw the average Price in the states and it was per gallon cafes officials Are incorrect when they say they go by the average Price in the states i feel sorry for the servicemen Bers who live in Europe As their Gas prices Are much higher what bothers me is that the commands and Congress do nothing about the increase in Oil prices which Are terribly inflated sgt maj Lee Doyle retired Yon san South Korea shift strategy before naming War Czar by John j Sheehan service to the nation is both a responsibility and an Honor for every citizen presented with the Opportunity this is especially True in times of War and crisis today because of the War in Iraq this nation is in a crisis of Confidence and is confused about its for eign policy direction especially in the mid dle East when asked whether i would like to be considered for the position of White House implementation manager for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan i knew that it would be a difficult assignment but also an Honor and that this was a serious task that needed to be done i served As the military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of de sense in the mid1980s and More recently As commander in chief of the Atlantic com Mand during the cuban and haitian migrant operation and the reconstruction of Haiti based on my experience i knew that a White House position of this nature would require inter Agency acceptance Cabine level agencies organizations and their leadership must buy in to the positions roles and responsibilities most important Cabine level personalities must develop and accept a Clear definition of the strategic approach to policy what i found in discussions with current and former members of this administration is that there is no agreed upon Strate Gic View of the Iraq problem or the Region in my View there Are essentially three strategies in play simultaneously the first i Call the Woody Hayes Basic ground attack which is basically gaining one Yard or one City Block at a time Given unconstrained time and resources one could control the outcome in Iraq and provide the necessary Security to move on to the next stage of development the second strategy starts with Security but adds benchmarks for both the us and iraqi participants and applies time constraints that should guide them toward a desired outcome the value of this strategy is that everyone knows the quantifiable and measurable objectives that fit within an Overall strategic framework the third strategy takes a larger View of the Region and the desired end state Sim ply put where does Iraq fit in a larger regional context the United states has and will continue to have strategic interests in the greater Middle East Well after the Iraq crisis is resolved and As a matter of nation Al interest will maintain forces in the re Gion in some form the Iraq invasion has created a real and existential crisis for nearly All Middle Eastern countries and created divisions among our traditional european allies making cooperation on other issues More difficult in the Case of Iran we have allowed Tehran to develop More policy options and tools than it had a few years ago Iran is an ideological and destabilizing threat to its neighbors and More important to us interests of the three strategies in play the third is the most important but unfortunately is the least developed and articulated by this administration the Day today work of the White House implementation manager overseeing Iraq and Afghanistan would require a great doonesbury Deal of emotional and intellectual Energy resolving critical resource issues in a bureaucracy that to Date has not functioned Well activities such As the current surge operations should fit info an Over All strategic framework there has to be linkage Between Short term operations and strategic objectives that represent lon term us and regional interests such As assured Access to Energy resources and support for stable Western oriented coun tries these interests will require a serious dialogue and partnership with countries that live in an increasingly dangerous neighbourhood we cannot shorthand this Issue with concepts such As the democratization of the Region or the constant re Frain by a Small but powerful group that we Are going to win even As victory3 is not defined or is frequently redefined it would have been a great Honor to serve this nation again but after thought Ful discussions with people both in and out Side of this administration i concluded that the current Washington decision Mak ing process lacks a linkage to a broader View of the Region and How the parts fit to Gether strategically we got it right during the Early Days of Afghanistan and then lost focus we have never gotten it right in Iraq for these reasons i asked not to be considered for this important White House position these huge shortcomings Are not going to be resolved by the assignment of an additional individual to the White House staff they need to be addressed before an implementation manager is brought on Board John j Sheehan is a retired Marine corps general this column first appeared in the Washington Post by Garry Trudeau to Paliy nctta5 you think ing 0u5h Myat Jer pay giv5it