Congressman Randy Neugebauer’s trip to Iraq and Afghanistan

Saturday, December 13th
En Route

I have been excited about this trip for weeks. Even as I read the morning clips where there have been soldiers killed in areas we are headed to, I still feel like I need to go and see firsthand an area of the world where our country is making huge investments of manpower, political capital and, of course, the ultimate investment, the lives of our countrymen. This trip will have lots of opportunity. Fact finding is certainly one aspect, but also an opportunity to show support for our troops.

Sunday, December 14th
Ramstein, Germany

1:00 pm: What a day and its only 1:00 pm! My day started off with the alarm clock not working. I awoke at 7:40 am. I was supposed to meet the group at 7:50 am. Needless to say I missed my morning shower. This morning we traveled to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. This is where critical injuries are treated before transporting back to the U.S. We also had a briefing by General Lichte and the Counsel General. Lieutenant Arthur Lichte is the Vice Commander US European Command, which covers 93 countries, 20 million square miles, and ¼ of the world’s population.

With a major reduction in force and realignment, Ramstein is the second largest Air Force Base. Most logistics come through this base. It also supports the medical unit for the forces serviced in Europe. Both the General and Consul General say that U.S. and German relations are good. I am not surprised that local leaders are happy with US presence as it is a major economic engine in the region. Most members of the CODEL (Congressional Delegation) support the Administration’s position on contracting.

Congressman Neugebauer has lunch with a soldier at the Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany.

Upon arrival at the hospital, we went straight to see our soldiers. These are faces of the war that most people don’t get to see. They are the heroes who have quietly gone and served and in some cases paid a big price. Many of the injuries were grievous. The use of IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices) by the resistance has increased, most of which are used by suicide bombers. I met one soldier who lost his nose and was shot in the arm, but kept fighting until he passed out.

Another soldier was hit in his protective vest, which saved his life. It broke his sternum, but would have been a fatal wound if not for the vest. This is a war and we are still at it. The soldiers told me that the response from Iraqi people is that the closer you get to Baghdad, the more resentment. These were Saddam’s chosen folks and they had the most to lose. The unemployment and faltering infrastructure is causing frustration among the people. There are still lots of weapons in Iraq which makes it a very dangerous place to be.

Congressman Neugebauer meets with some more troops from the Airman Dining facility at Ramstein, Germany.

The survival rate in the war is the highest of any previous war as it relates to battle injuries. Better care at every level and having more sophisticated equipment on the front lines helps. It was very sobering to visit and hear their stories, I am sure they have experienced things that will forever change their lives. You see people who have been injured seriously in some kind of accident, but when you see someone who has been injured by another person, it is just different.

We then left to go have lunch with some of the soldiers. They had arranged to have some folks from each of the Member’s states eat with us. I had dinner with a delightful young woman, Lt. Courtnee Cruz from San Antonio. She presented me with a sleigh filled with chocolate treats. We had a very nice visit and then something special happened. We learned Saddam has been captured. We took a picture with Fox News showing the reaction to the announcement.

Monday, December 15th
Afghanistan

We are now on board at C-130 on the way to Afghanistan. We spent the night in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the largest city in the former Soviet Union. In many ways it is a very modern city, but there are signs of decay and poverty in places. We are told the monthly salary is around $30 per month. I find that hard to believe. The people are very friendly in the Hotel Inter-Continental there. We have excellent security around us. We traveled by motorcade to and from the airport. The C-130 is a far cry from our C40 but it is fun to ride in an aircraft our troops use. Uzbekistan is supposedly the second largest exporter of cotton in the region. They have low grade coal, natural gas, and low grade gold.

Congressman Neugebauer gears up for the flight to Bagram, Afghanistan.

There is still a lot of excitement in the delegation about the capture of Saddam Hussein. It will be interesting to be in Baghdad at this time. It is a beautiful flight. We passed over vast agricultural areas and now are over a very mountainous area with lots of snow.

We arrived at Bagram around 10:30 and were greeted by Brig. General Austin, who gave us a brief overview of the joint service activities in Afghanistan. There are Army, Marine, Navy, and Air Force service personnel stationed at this base. From the time you arrive until the time you leave you realize that this is a real base engaged in a real mission. The tarmac is full of fighting aircraft from A-10 tank killers, Black Hawk helicopters and other types of fixed wing and rotary aircraft. There is security everywhere and bunkers in case of missile or mortar attacks. Everyone carries a firearm and they are on alert 24/7.

Congressman Neugebauer and other delegates meet with Brigadier General Austin in Afghanistan.

We traveled around in armored Suburbans and had a security force with us at all times. After the briefing from General Austin, we were taken to the command center, a high tech center where all operations are coordinated. There are lots of computers and large LCD screens showing real-time location of troops and the hardware that is supporting them. While we were there they were involved in an engagement with Al-Qaeda.

My thoughts this morning are how large a world we live in, this week I have already flown a number of miles, and yet have only been to a few countries.

I can see the problem of our forces not having cooperation from some of the countries close to the action. It makes logistics difficult

"...it reminds me of someone who has never heard or spoken and all of a sudden they have hearing and everybody expects them to speak."

and expensive. There is great anticipation and frustration with these countries that have new found freedom like Russia, Iraq, and others. But it reminds me of someone who has never heard or spoken and all of a sudden they have hearing and everybody expects them to speak. Living under oppression and socialism for so long, it is going to take time for these people to learn the language of freedom, democracy and capitalism. God bless the USA and how fortunate we are to live there. We so take for granted what we have.

The Taliban is still operating in Afghanistan. It is interesting that most of these groups only have a small number of members, about 200-300 each, but they have access to lots of weapons and some to a lot of money. Al-Quaeda moves back and forth from Pakistan and is financed by wealthy Pakistanis and Arabs. When you see the terrain that they ride in, you

Congressman Neugebauer listens attentively as he meets with American troops in Afghanistan.

begin to understand why it is too hard to find and fight them. We heard some amazing stories of missions where helicopters landed on the roofs of homes in the mountains, literally getting the rear wheels on the roof while hovering so that they could either bring folks in or get them out. A lot of these soldiers are National Guard or Reserves.

There are approximately 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, 11,200 U.S. and the rest from other countries. After our visit to OP’s room, we were given a classified briefing on current and future operations for the force in Afghanistan. We had lunch with troops and also dinner. The highlight of the trip was running into Mackey Hancock. It was good to see a face from Lubbock. You can tell he is ready to come home.

Tuesday, December 16th
En Route to Kuwait

I am tired today. I didn’t sleep too well last night. Nice hotel, but never thought I would spend the night in a Russian hotel with a security detail outside my hotel room. What a difference a decade makes! We are en route to Kuwait. It is a 6-hour plus flight. We are logging a lot of hours in the air.

We arrived at Kuwait City International Airport—military side. The Kuwaiti government has allowed us to not only use part of the airport, but also allowed us to build a temporary supply depot and manpower

Congressman Neugebauer shares a smile with the troops at Doha, Qatar.

processing center. Most, if not all, of the troops in Iraq are staged from Kuwait. As a part of their support for the war, Kuwait is furnishing fuel, electricity, and water to support the base. After visiting Ramstein and now Kuwait International, you begin to understand the magnitude of supporting the 130,000 troops in Iraq and the 13,000 troops in Afghanistan. Everyday the troops come in and go out. And everything from fuel to food and fingernail clippers must be shipped in to support our efforts.

Everywhere we have been, we have been greeted and briefed by a General. I am very impressed with the quality and dedication of the leadership executing this war. But we have also interfaced with the troops at every rank and have been impressed with how professional and dedicated they are at doing their job, and doing it well.

Everywhere I have been so far there are a lot of Texans serving in our efforts in the Middle East. We arrived at the JW Marriott Hotel, which is a beautiful hotel. The first thing I noticed was that it was filled with men wearing the traditional head scarves and not many women in the lobby. We stick out like a sore thumb. There is a mall attached to the hotel and it looks very western, with the exception of the dress and some of the specialty products sold that caters to the Middle East population. The one ironic thing I saw was three women that were covered from head to toe with only a small slit for their eyes buying makeup. I know they were buying it to look good for their husbands, but what if you weren’t married.

Wednesday, December 17th
Iraq

Flying into Baghdad is an interesting experience. You literally cork screw into the airport and if you are prone to motion sickness, this is not the flight for you. Upon arrival we were escorted to a motorcade that consisted of armored Suburbans and Humvees with the windows opened and soldiers with machine guns pointing out of every window, there was an ambulance, a communication vehicle that had a signal device that prevents remote IED’s from exploding. The ride from the airport to the green zone carried us through the heart of Baghdad. Cars were lined along the way partly because intersections were closed for our motorcade. The ride gave you a sense of life in Iraq today. You can see the neglect from the Saddam era sprinkled with some damage from the war. Signs of normality were also evident. Markets are springing up, there are lots of cars on the streets, stores, restaurants and other signs of commerce. There are a lot of people standing around. Unemployment is around 30 to 40 percent right now. But signs of westernization are also visible. Satellite dishes, television, and electronics stores are available.

The streets are narrow and there is not much traffic management. We encountered numerous traffic jams, which our security force immediately responded to by encouraging folks to pull off the road. We traveled at fairly

Congressman Neugebauer visits a hospital at Baghdad, Iraq.

high rates of speed for the conditions, but that was for our safety. Joining our motorcade were two Black Hawk helicopters, which flew over us and monitored our progress. When we came to congested areas, they would hover and look for potential targets. The ride to the green zone also gives you a perspective of what kind of war we are fighting in Iraq, especially in Baghdad. It is in many ways the same war in Israel: there are small groups of terrorists among millions of people. As I looked out the window I wondered how you truly know the enemy. I have to admit part of me wanted to walk the streets and experience the city, but I was glad when we arrived at the palace inside the green zone.

Our first briefing was with General Day

He gave us an overview of what’s going on with intelligence and the search for weapons of mass destruction. There are two competing issues for Intel: Intel for the mission of counter-terrorism and the search for bio and chemical weapons. The number of personnel that are trained and speak the language is small. Overall Intel is getting better as the people of Iraq begin to trust us more. Our folks are learning more about how some of the cells are operating and this has become efficient. There are a lot of weapons in this county, some have said there 100,000 tons of ammunition and they have found about half. Everyone in the county has some type of weapon and there are thousands of stashes in the country. While the search for weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological and nuclear) have not yielded much fruit, it is very clear that Saddam was engaged in numerous activities that were in violation of UN resolutions. The jury is still out as to if we will find WMD’s. But one thing is clear: Saddam was a real threat to world peace and he was evil.

Our next briefing was with Ambassador Paul Bremer and other members of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Bremer focused on the challenges of transitioning Iraq from a totalitarian regime based on socialism to a free Iraq. The meeting was held in a presidential palace.

Congressman Neugebauer and other members of the delegation meet with Ambassador Paul Bremer and members of CPA.

Most of Iraq’s oil money had gone for building lavish palaces and building up a huge amount of military hardware, while the people starved to death. Saddam knew that hungry people can be dangerous and he was quick to suppress anything or anyone who might begin to question his authority, even if that meant killing thousands of people. One soldier told me that Saddam would have a lavish banquet at his palace and at the end of the dinner would thank his supporters who were there and tell those there that did not support him that they were given food with poison in it. Whether that is true or not, that was his solution to assert. It was usually quick, decisive and fatal.

We were inside what is known as the “green zone” or inside the wire. This is a secure area, but is subject to mortar and rocket attacks from the outside. Within the gates of Baghdad, the military was assigned different zones that have a certain amount of commonality. Many of these zones have little or no activity from a terrorism standpoint, while others seem to be the site of daily events, unemployment is a big stumbling block for the reconstruction and normalcy or Iraq about 50% are unemployed. But this is not new to Iraq. The entire basic infrastructure is at or above prewar levels. Many things are better than before the war.

Congressman Neugebauer takes a tour of the base while visiting with the CPA in Iraq.

The challenge for the CPA is to work with the military to first and foremost bring peace and security to the country. The more secure the country, the easier to transition the country to freedom and democracy. The work ahead is to write a constitution, form a government, maintain security, create opportunity for investment, and create jobs for the citizens of Iraq. We have been working on this in our nation for over 200 years.

Patience is the key to the success of Iraq’s transformation. We are already ahead of our own timetable and light years ahead of the restoration time line for Germany after WWII. We must stay the course and make sure the job is completed. We have invested a huge amount of financial, political and human capital into this effort. It would be a big mistake to pull out now or before we finish. I was extremely impressed with the handle that Bremer has on the task and mission. I hope he will stay in place long enough to see things through. He operates in a tough environment with a steep hill to climb, but he’s the right man for the job.

Our next briefing was by General Ricardo Sanchez

His job is to finish the war in a manner that allows the reconstruction and transition process to move along at the same time. His troops are soldiers, policeman, repairmen, and whatever it takes to keep things moving forward. His troops have to operate in a way to be offensive and defensive against the remaining cells, but in a way that does not agitate the general population.

Patrolling a country twice the size of Idaho and a population of 25 million people is not easy. Many of the operations occur inside cities, which makes it very dangerous for our troops. The focus of the opposition is changing from direct attack and confrontation of our troops to attacking the people of Iraq that are working for the betterment of its citizens. Recent attacks have been against the police force that consists of Iraqi citizens.

Terrorism is about a small number of people trying to influence the mass population by using intimidation. It is the same philosophy organized crime uses. They network across the country and region and are never gathered in large numbers like conventional warfare. But make no mistake, they are deadly and formidable adversaries. We are building an Iraqi police and military force to take over the security of Iraq, but in the meantime, the coalition forces are the primary defensive and offensive organization. With all that said we are finding and eliminating these cells everyday.

We ate lunch with the troops and then went to the hospital that is inside the green zone. The hospital visits are a reminder that we are at war, people are getting hurt and unfortunately sometimes seriously. Patients are brought

"Sir, do the folks back home appreciate what we're doing here?"

in to the hospital, stabilized and then sent to Germany. They occupy an old hospital. Not all injuries are combat related, but most are related to the job that soldiers are doing. The work is dangerous, but considering there are 130,000 troops, the number of war related injuries for the type of work they do is probably in line. Most of the combat injuries are from IED’s exploded while we are on patrol. They put rocks, bottles, glass, and anything they can find in these bombs, they cause burns and punctures, cuts and loss of body parts.

I saw a soldier who lost a nose, some lost ears. Not only have they been exposed to physical trauma of an explosion, but also the mental experience of their injury and the death or injury of their fellow soldiers. Their spirit is remarkably good and their attitude is one of “I was just doing my job, sir.” When told how brave

Congressman Neugebauer meets with the brave men and women of America.

they are, they seem to appreciate members of Congress coming to see them. I think they were surprised. In fact the reaction of the troops to our presence was one of thanks for caring. They know that we have come to a place that is not without risk to tell them thanks for the good job. They are open and candid about how they feel and they are proud of what they have done. The question most asked while I was on the tour was, “Sir, do the folks back home appreciate what we’re doing here?” My answer is that I can’t speak for everyone, but my sense is that they appreciate what you’re doing, but wish you didn’t have to do it.

After the briefings for the day, we had dinner with the troops again and then went back to the Baghdad airport where we were airlifted back to Kuwait by a National Guard Unit out of Fort Worth, Texas.

Thursday, December 18th
Iraq

This was one of the more bizarre days of the trip. The day started with our driver missing the right exit and trying to enter the airport from a different location. This caused a delay because no one at that gate knew anything about us coming. At another check point we were delayed again because we were not expected. As you can imagine security is tight, as it should be. Once we boarded the plane we were late taking off for Baghdad. Everyone was excited because we were headed for Baghdad and then by helicopter to the farm house where they found Saddam. Once we arrived at Baghdad, we found out that the helicopters were delayed due to weather. We walked around for a while and went over and visited the medical/EVAC unit on the base. They are in charge of receiving and sending all the soldiers who require transportation for treatment. They handle around 30-40 per day. Not all of these are for combat reasons. In a population of 130,000 people you have the same medical issues that come up as the general population. I was very impressed at the quality of health care our troops are getting in every area. They deliver quality care in pretty tough conditions.

Still more weather, so we went and had lunch with the troops. I ate with some Reservists from Georgia, Texas, and Alaska. After lunch we were still waiting for helicopters and time was beginning to run out. Our escorts put together an impromptu visit to a couple of Saddam’s palaces where we saw first hand his opulence and ego. The palaces are large, but the quality of the construction was not too good.

In one of the palaces, we saw the meeting room where all of us have seen his generals around a large conference table. The tables were not looted because they were too big. The Lake Palace is really a series of palaces around the main one. It was built in the late 1990’s around a large man made lake. Around the lake are a series of guest palaces for friends and loyalists to come and visit. It had hunting and fishing grounds. There is really no telling what it cost, but it was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We did some precision bombing on the palace, but it is pretty much intact.

Weather was still not cooperating, so we went back to the green zone to a facility that was designed as a survival bunker for just about any type of attack, whether biological, chemical, nuclear, or conventional. It was not very deep in the ground, but it had several stories of dirt and rubble plied on top of it with a large ceremonial room on top. On the outside it looks like a several story office building, but it was actually a shell filled with dirt. We bombed the building and destroyed most of the grand hall on top. Down in the bunker where dormitory type rooms with bunk beds, a decontamination room, and a command center type room where Saddam may have done some of the videos. There was evidence that some casualties may have been taken to the bunker, because they found a room with a lot of blood on the floor. I could not help wonder if this was to assure Saddam’s followers that they would survive or if Saddam himself really believed that we could not affect him. The larger questions after seeing all of the palaces and the lifestyle he led, why he would not have complied with the UN resolutions. He had a lot to lose and very little to gain by continuing to violate the sanctions. Maybe some of his thinking will come out in the trial.

After leaving the compound we stopped by the hotel that was fired upon recently while Deputy Sec. Wolfowitz was in Baghdad. We left the

The delegation bids adieu to Iraq.

hotel and headed back to have one last meal with the troops. Again, I was greeted by a good number of Texans. While I was disappointed we didn’t get to see where Saddam was captured, I found the day interesting and gained a greater understanding of Saddam’s rule over his country. I still wonder how people like Hitler and Saddam are able to gain power and do the things they do while the world seems to stand by and watch. We said our goodbyes to the troops and escorts and started toward the plane.

As we reached the area where we were to board, we were informed that two coffins with soldiers would be on board. The reason is that a C-130 is a multipurpose plane with large cabins. Each seat folds over and cargo is in the unoccupied area. We would in fact be seated next to their coffins. No one objected. It would be an honor to ride with these heroes.

Next of kin had not been notified, so we don’t know their names or how they died, but we did know they were serving their country in Iraq. I have to admit it was very sobering to board a plane and see the caskets. I sat directly across from one of them. There were some other soldiers on board, some of which were going home. There were two homecomings represented on that plane—one of sadness and one of greatness. Two groups of families would receive their loved ones—one in grief and one in relief. I recently attended a memorial service for a young man in Texhoma where we sang a song about our soldiers. In the song there are some lyrics that “All gave some, some gave all.” I know sitting in that airplane the realities of war seemed so very real. We were delayed for awhile, and then taxied for take-off.

A few seconds after lift off the countermeasures that are assigned to protect the plane from a missile attack were activated. Basically, they are flares that shoot down and to the sides to confuse the heat seeking missiles. The pilot made a sharp turn, which is partly of the avoidance measure. It was a scary moment, but no missile was seen or observed. It is a very sensitive piece of equipment and for some reason activated. Thankfully, nothing happened and all were safe.

As I was riding back to Kuwait I began to reflect on the last few days where I traveled to some of the key bases and installations that are a part of our efforts in the Middle East. I met the leaders, talked to the soldiers, and saw them in action. I even saw the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. I now have a visual picture in my thoughts. I had looked into the eyes of the people who call them home. I have visited solders in hospitals, on duty, and at lunch or dinner break. I have looked into their eyes, heard their voices, and formed a bond with them.

None of us love war, but we all love peace. There is a price for peace and it has never been cheap. After traveling these many miles and over 40 hours in airplanes I have seen those who are committed to peace and have put their lives on the line so that you and I and the citizens of those countries might enjoy peace. And lest we forget their families pay a huge price also. Every soldier talked to me about his family. They missed them and they are missed.

And so my prayer is that God would watch over our troops and that he would comfort their families. I pray for our President and all of the leadership overseeing our campaign for peace and freedom. And, I pray that the rest of us would live our lives in such a way as to honor their sacrifice.

May there be peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

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