Letter From The Secdef To Military *unclassified*
02-03-2003, 08:58 AM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
Posts: 6,331
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. MILITARY, TOGETHER
WITH THEIR CIVILIAN COUNTERPARTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE -- HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO PRESERVE PEACE AND DEFEND FREEDOM AGAINST TERRORIST FORCES AND
THOSE WHO WOULD HARBOR AND PROTECT THEM AROUND THE WORLD. TO EACH OF YOU,
AND YOUR FAMILIES, WE EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE
RISKS YOU UNDERTAKE AND THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE SO THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN
ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM. THIS WAR, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, IS NOT ONE OF OUR MAKING.
IT WAS THRUST UPON US. WE ACT IN SELF-DEFENSE - IN DELIBERATE RESPONSE TO ACTS OF
WAR DIRECTED AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND TO PREVENT FUTURE ACTS FROM
CLAIMING EVEN MORE INNOCENT LIFE. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GLOBAL WAR, AND IT IS
BEING WAGED ON MANY FRONTS USING ALL THE INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER.
IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS, THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED THE WORLD'S ATTENTION
TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REGIME IN IRAQ. HE HAS RALLIED THE UNITED NATIONS TO
ENFORCE ITS RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR THE REGIME'S DISARMAMENT. TO ASSIST
THIS DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE AND TO PRESERVE FUTURE OPTIONS, ADJUSTMENTS TO CURRENT MOBILIZATION,
DEPLOYMENT AND ROTATION CYCLES MAY BE NECESSARY, ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY MEAN LONGER
TOURS OF DUTY THAN YOU MAY HAVE EXPECTED.
WHILE THE TIMES, PLACES, AND CONDITIONS OF DEPLOYMENT CANNOT NOW BE
PRECISELY KNOWN, WE DO RECOGNIZE THE UNCERTAINTY THESE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY
CREATE FOR THOSE IN UNIFORM, THE CIVILIANS WHO WORK BESIDE THEM,
AND THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, WITHOUT WHOSE SUPPORT THEIR SACRIFICES
WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
I KNOW THE SECRETARIES AND CHIEFS OF THE MILITARY SERVICES ARE COMMUNICATING
WITH YOU IN GREATER DETAIL ABOUT THESE MATTERS, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF THESE DEPLOYMENTS
IS IMPORTANT TO US. BE ASSURED THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT DECIDE TO COMMIT
FORCES UNLESS CONDITIONS REQUIRE IT, AND ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. SHOULD
ACTION BE NECESSARY, YOU WILL HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO CARRY OUT THE MISSIONS ASSIGNED.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR NATION AND THE WORLD.
WITH THEIR CIVILIAN COUNTERPARTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE -- HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO PRESERVE PEACE AND DEFEND FREEDOM AGAINST TERRORIST FORCES AND
THOSE WHO WOULD HARBOR AND PROTECT THEM AROUND THE WORLD. TO EACH OF YOU,
AND YOUR FAMILIES, WE EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE
RISKS YOU UNDERTAKE AND THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE SO THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN
ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM. THIS WAR, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, IS NOT ONE OF OUR MAKING.
IT WAS THRUST UPON US. WE ACT IN SELF-DEFENSE - IN DELIBERATE RESPONSE TO ACTS OF
WAR DIRECTED AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND TO PREVENT FUTURE ACTS FROM
CLAIMING EVEN MORE INNOCENT LIFE. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A GLOBAL WAR, AND IT IS
BEING WAGED ON MANY FRONTS USING ALL THE INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER.
IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS, THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED THE WORLD'S ATTENTION
TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REGIME IN IRAQ. HE HAS RALLIED THE UNITED NATIONS TO
ENFORCE ITS RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR THE REGIME'S DISARMAMENT. TO ASSIST
THIS DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE AND TO PRESERVE FUTURE OPTIONS, ADJUSTMENTS TO CURRENT MOBILIZATION,
DEPLOYMENT AND ROTATION CYCLES MAY BE NECESSARY, ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY MEAN LONGER
TOURS OF DUTY THAN YOU MAY HAVE EXPECTED.
WHILE THE TIMES, PLACES, AND CONDITIONS OF DEPLOYMENT CANNOT NOW BE
PRECISELY KNOWN, WE DO RECOGNIZE THE UNCERTAINTY THESE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY
CREATE FOR THOSE IN UNIFORM, THE CIVILIANS WHO WORK BESIDE THEM,
AND THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, WITHOUT WHOSE SUPPORT THEIR SACRIFICES
WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
I KNOW THE SECRETARIES AND CHIEFS OF THE MILITARY SERVICES ARE COMMUNICATING
WITH YOU IN GREATER DETAIL ABOUT THESE MATTERS, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF THESE DEPLOYMENTS
IS IMPORTANT TO US. BE ASSURED THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT DECIDE TO COMMIT
FORCES UNLESS CONDITIONS REQUIRE IT, AND ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. SHOULD
ACTION BE NECESSARY, YOU WILL HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO CARRY OUT THE MISSIONS ASSIGNED.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR NATION AND THE WORLD.
02-03-2003, 09:06 AM
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Virginia Tech
Posts: 0
well it's comforting that you'll be given what you need to complete your mission at least? that struck me as a bit odd... sounds like they'd tell you to go cut down a tree and hand you a spoon or something 
02-03-2003, 09:12 AM
#4
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
Posts: 6,331
Originally Posted by ThirdGenRX7' date='Feb 3 2003, 09:06 AM
well it's comforting that you'll be given what you need to complete your mission at least? that struck me as a bit odd... sounds like they'd tell you to go cut down a tree and hand you a spoon or something
02-03-2003, 02:16 PM
#9
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Frederick MD
Posts: 6,331
Originally Posted by Danno' date='Feb 3 2003, 01:58 PM
THe reserve units are being activated to replace all the active duty who hva eleft allready. I am in The Marines I see eveything that is going on and my whole battalion has been deployed.