Charles Skelton: “I rise today to commend our troops on the battlefields in Iraq. Their continuing advance to victory is a product of that…”

“I rise today to commend our troops on the battlefields in Iraq. Their continuing advance to victory is a product of that courage and ingenuity under changing conditions. It is also the results of extraordinarily detailed and adaptive planning. That itself was built on the knowledge and wisdom instilled by our war colleges. These institutions in every service make great officers into outstanding war-time leaders. Military historians have noted that the allied victory in World War II is due in no small part to the fact that some of our top military leaders both attended and taught at the services war colleges. I believe the same will be said for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In all of the services, including the Army's exceptional war college at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, our officers are skilled in the art of strategy, operations, and tactics that are the foundation of an innovative and effective military campaign. The instruction provided by our service intermediate- and senior- level war colleges came to fruition in the war plan developed by General Tommy Franks and his team. The plan outlined a truly joint effort that has kept American forces a constant 48 to 72 hours ahead of Iraqi responses. The strategy has hit hard at Iraqi leadership and Republican Guard targets, degrading command and control and isolating the bands of fighters unwise enough to take on our troops.”