| It may surprise you to learn that during the entire | | | | would seem to me that these Iranian actions are |
| Iraq war and post war engagement period, only | | | | an Act of War against the United States. Perhaps |
| two of the elite Navy Seals have paid the | | | | Mr. Bush feels that have the WMD debacle, he is |
| ultimate price of service. I remember when the | | | | unwilling to be accusatory against another Arab |
| Navy created these magnificent combat units | | | | (Persian really) country. |
| during the Viet Nam war, which succeeded the | | | | It is putting our brave soldiers at a great |
| navy's underwater demolition teams (UDT's) that | | | | disadvantage. Prior to the war, the manufacturers |
| became famous during World War II. | | | | of the Abrams tank use to boast that no |
| When the Green Berets use to train in Viet Nam, | | | | American soldier has ever lost his life in an |
| they would run up and down the beaches. The | | | | Abrams. Several have now lost their lives in this, |
| Seals would run with them, but would run around | | | | the ultimate tank. What's worse is that the new, |
| them, to demonstrate their competitive spirit and | | | | improved explosive devices coming from Iran |
| their training. | | | | have the capacity to pierce the Abrams tank, due |
| A Navy Seal unit in Iraq was assigned to a sniper | | | | to the shaped charge now incorporated into the |
| hideout in Ramadi, outside Iraq on September | | | | device. |
| 29th, of this year. The door to the hideout was | | | | There's much that the President and his |
| part of a roof top structure. Petty Officer 2nd | | | | Administration have to be accountable for. We as |
| Class Michael A. Monsoor was the only one near | | | | a nation have to deal with what is. We can look |
| the door. A grenade was thrown into the hideout. | | | | back and question the war because of an |
| It bounced off Monsoor's chest and hit the | | | | absence of Weapons of Mass Destruction. I don't |
| ground. | | | | know how profitable such an examination is at |
| His fellow Seals stated that Monsoor's eyes never | | | | this point. |
| left the grenade. As the grenade moved to the | | | | The President and his advisors through their |
| ground, Monsoor eyes followed it. It is a moment | | | | actions have committed three massive operational |
| like this that can never be trained for, thought | | | | decisions that have led to the quagmire, and |
| about, or reasoned. Everything you are as a | | | | insurgency that we are now facing. The first |
| human being determines what you do next. What | | | | mistake was first was the extent of |
| would any of us do? These are questions to | | | | de-Batthification. Our leaders chose after World |
| which we can never know the answers. We do | | | | War II to employ thousands of Nazi's to keep |
| however know what Michael Monsoor did. | | | | whatever was left of the German infrastructure |
| He voluntarily smothered the grenade with his | | | | going. We also knew that these people would help |
| body, and absorbed the full brunt of the explosion. | | | | restore the economy quicker than trying to |
| In doing so, he saved the lives of the men in his | | | | replace them. |
| team. Other members were hurt but not killed. A | | | | The second major error was getting rid of the |
| 28-year old Lieutenant was hit with shrapnel in his | | | | army. The Administration would tell you that the |
| legs. There were two Seals next to Monsoor who | | | | army just got up, disbanded, and left. Armies are |
| were hurt but not seriously. Another team | | | | loyal to whoever pays them. Here were hundreds |
| member 10 feet away was unhurt. | | | | of thousands of soldiers that could have been |
| Seals who knew Monsoor when he was stationed | | | | employed to help stabilize a new government in |
| at Coronado Island, in San Diego said that he was | | | | Iraq. Instead, we chose to shame them, not pay |
| a loyal friend, and dedicated professional. Both his | | | | them, and send them home where there were no |
| brother and his father were former Marines. | | | | jobs, and nothing for them to do. The response is |
| Monsoor was no ordinary man. On May 9th of | | | | that they are wreaking havoc on our troops, who |
| this year, five months before his death, a team | | | | are paying with their lives and limbs for this tragic |
| member had been shot in the leg, again in Ramadi. | | | | error in judgment. |
| Without hesitation, Monsoor and a fellow Seal | | | | The third error was dumping the leadership group. |
| pulled the insured Seal to safety. There were | | | | Saddam's associates were never Islamic |
| bullets flying all around them while they performed | | | | extremists. Yes, we needed to chop off the first |
| the rescue operation. Monsoor was given a Silver | | | | layer of leadership that surrounded Saddam, |
| Star for that action. | | | | maybe put them on trial for their crimes. At the |
| How lucky, how fortunate we are as a nation to | | | | same time recognize there were thousands of |
| have such fine human beings walking among us. | | | | people that were members of the Saddam's |
| People that are committing the most selfless acts, | | | | party because they had to be just to hold jobs, |
| they show such remarkable character. They are | | | | like the thousands of teachers that taught the |
| demonstrating a uniqueness that we could only | | | | children. Our entire space program was the |
| wish existed in even a handful of our elected | | | | product of German rocket scientists, including |
| leaders. America is a far safer country because | | | | Werner Von Braun, the guys who rained missiles |
| such extraordinary people exist and have opted | | | | down on London during the war. Could we not |
| to serve in our armed forces. | | | | have turned these Iraqi leaders to our advantage? |
| It has now come to our attention that the | | | | The culmination of these three strategic errors is |
| explosive devices being used in Iraq to kill and | | | | that such fine young men like Petty Officer |
| main our servicemen are not the product of Iraqi | | | | Michael A. Monsoor have to pay with their lives |
| insurgents. These devices are being produced in | | | | because of the tragic leadership errors of our |
| neighboring Iran, and brought across the border to | | | | elected officials. Thank God, America produces |
| kill our troops. The President has chosen not to | | | | such fine young men. We always have, and we |
| share this information with the American people. It | | | | always will. |