Iowans are
Connected to Afghanistan
by Paul Deaton
“
If one thing is clear about thisdeployment, most Iowans will provide moral support for the soldiers
being deployed, even if we don’t fully understand the mission and what
the endgame will be. It’s a form of unconditional respect for military
service demonstrated by Iowans.”
Many Iowans
don’t agree with the administration’s Afghanistan policy. Going into the
Memorial Day weekend, we do not savor the thought of additional
soldiers to be remembered for having died in the line of duty, even if
this is sure to be the case before Iowa’s 2/34th Infantry Division
returns from Afghanistan. We support the troops, but regret the deaths
past, and those to be expected in the coming months.
Iowa’s 2nd
Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division has received its
mobilization orders to deploy to Afghanistan. According
to Major Michael Wenn, “this may be the largest single unit call-up
of the Iowa National Guard since World War II…” According
to Colonel Thomas H. Staton, unit commander, “We know that we are
going to mobilize approximately 2,800 Iowa National Guard Soldiers,
along with about 400 from the Nebraska National Guard, for a mission to
work and partner with the Afghan National Security Forces. We know that
we will go on active duty toward the end of July and report to Camp
Shelby, Miss. in the proceeding weeks to continue training for our
mission to Afghanistan. We will train at Camp Shelby until mid-to-late
September and then move the entire brigade to Fort Irwin, Calif. where
we will conduct a mission rehearsal exercise prior to departing for our
Area of Operations (AO). Based on current time lines and expectations, I
believe the entire brigade will be in country by Thanksgiving, where we
will spend approximately nine months conducting operations before
returning home August 2011.”
If one thing is clear about this
deployment, most Iowans will provide moral support for the soldiers
being deployed, even if we don’t fully understand the mission and what
the endgame will be. It’s a form of unconditional respect for military
service demonstrated by Iowans.
President Obama released his new
strategy for Afghanistan shortly after taking office: “The strategy
starts with a clear, concise, attainable goal: disrupt, dismantle, and
defeat al Qaeda and its safe havens.” He refined his
policy during a December 2009 speech at the United
States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He said, “we will
pursue the following objectives within Afghanistan. We must deny al
Qaeda a safe haven. We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it
the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the
capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so that they
can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future.”
What is relevant for 2/34th Infantry Division is that they represent the
president’s goal of “fully resourcing” the Afghanistan effort and
upon arrival in country, will support for the goal “to train the Afghan
National Security Forces so that they can increasingly take
responsibility for the security of the Afghan people.” The 2/34th
rotation supports President Obama’s troop surge, and from a policy
standpoint it is pretty clear how Iowa and Nebraska’s soldiers will be
supporting the administration’s policy.
In an election year, a question may
get asked about Afghanistan at town hall meetings, but none of Iowa’s
Five Congressmen and neither of Iowa’s U. S. Senators list a separate
Afghanistan policy on their official web sites; only responses to the
administration or to specific legislation: reactions rather than
affirmative action. (If the author missed a specific Afghanistan policy
is there, please point it out to Blog for Iowa).
When pressed,
the policies are likely to be revealed, but current elected officials
don’t discuss Afghanistan unless prompted (
published Congressman
Loebsack’s position
which was a response to a constituent inquiry).
If this is the largest single unit call-up of the Iowa National Guard
since the Second World War, as Major Wenn
suggested, then why not?
I would take
the bet that official statements and appearances by politicians in
conjunction with the deployment to Camp Shelby will materialize as the
date approaches. After all, the behavior of politicians is sometimes
predictable. Making political hay out of Iowans deploying to Afghanistan
would be deplorable.
What can we do? Since we cannot
stop the deployment, Iowans should provide moral support for the
soldiers.
In the aftermath of this
deployment, we can expect combat deaths, suicides, physical injuries,
marital problems, substance abuse, post traumatic stress disorder and
traumatic brain injuries. Make sure our elected officials are taking
action to support veterans’ benefits. As long as we keep making
veterans, their expense is expected to grow and it is a long term
commitment.
Bookmark the Iowa National Guard and 2/34th
Infantry web sites and visit them from time to time to learn about
the mission of our National Guard.
Follow the 2/34th Infantry thread
on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.
Attend Memorial
Day services in a community near you to remember those who died in the
line of duty and to show respect for soldiers deployed in hostile
regions.
If your neighborhood is like ours, neighbors often
disagree about the role of the United States military. At least one day a
year, we can stand together in silent respect for those who have died
in the line of duty. This year in particular, Iowans are connected to
Afghanistan.
~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in
rural Johnson County and weekend editor of Blog for Iowa. He is also a
member of Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility and Veterans for
Peace. E-mail Paul Deaton
Blog For Iowa 