Marine Corps News Room

http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/stories/2005/09/28/20050928GDRIraq.html
By T. Scott Batchelor, The Daily Reflector

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

A Marine lieutenant colonel who served as a military adviser in Iraq said more progress is being made in Iraq than news media report.

Russell Jamison Jr. used photographs, a video and accounts from his time in Iraq during a presentation to the Conservatives, Arise! Political Action Committee during the nonpartisan group's meeting Tuesday at Ryan's Family Steak House.

The 44-year-old Bronze Star winner, stationed at Camp Lejeune but scheduled to go back to Iraq, said he came back from his tour "very optimistic."

"Now is not the time to be fainthearted," Jamison said.

Action there is part of the war on terrorism, he said. Jamison was overseas from October to May.

He told the nearly 40 people who showed up for the talk that he was in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists flew a plane into the building.

"I'll never forget that day, and I have no question in my mind why I was over in Iraq," he said.

Instead of shaking the foundation of the United States, "the terrorists now find Americans at their best," Jamison said.

The Islamic terrorists who attacked America and who are battling troops in Iraq and Afghanistan believe the United States is Satan, and "nothing we do will persuade them otherwise," he said. They must be "hunted down, rooted out and destroyed: There is no other alternative."

The lieutenant colonel had some close calls while in Iraq, including one incident when a terrorist exploded his car bomb in front of Jamison's Humvee, causing one Marine to lose an eye.

Jamison said there are many positive developments in Iraq, including the training of more than 100,000 troops, which was part of his mission. "These are Iraqi troops, they are led by Iraqis."

The vast majority of terrorists causing problems in the country – Jamison says they are not "insurgents" – are from other countries such as Syria and Jordan, he said.

"The clear majority of the Iraqi people are trying to get their country back together" after the reign of Saddam Hussein, he said.

The major news outlets don't paint an accurate picture of the situation in Iraq, Jamison said.

"Where is the truth teller in Iraq?" he asked. For example, Jamison said the tough battle to roust the enemy out of Fallujah was widely covered by print and broadcast journalists.

"How many of you have seen a report on Fallujah lately?" he asked. Jamison said water service has been restored in the city, electric power is on for 16 hours a day, three hospitals are operating, as well as the police station and schools.

The news media don't report on every airplane that lands safely for good reason, because that's routine, Jamison said. But the progress in Iraq isn't routine and should be reported and placed in context, he said.

He said the media's focus on Cindy Sheehan, the mother who's son was killed in Iraq and who is calling for withdrawal, is another example of a lack of focus.

Though Jamison said he respects her right to voice her opinion, "She is aiding and abetting our enemy."

Committee member Rachel Sturz asked if negative reports about the ongoing war in Iraq cause morale problems for troops.

"In the overall scheme not at all," Jamison said. "Your too busy to worry about what's being said back here," he said.

Greg Dority asked Jamison what he thought about members of Congress calling for a withdrawal time frame.

Americans should trust that "there is a plan," Jamison said, though commanders and officials aren't openly sharing it for security reasons. Key to troop withdrawals is training the Iraqi army, he said.

"That's going to take some time," he said.

There is still "a lot of bad over there," Jamison said. "It's astounding what Saddam did to those people."

T. Scott Batchelor can be contacted at sbatchelor@coxnc.com and 329-9567.