David Thomas: “a year ago we started the Iraqi freedom activity. I will talk a little bit about what has been accomplished this past…”

“a year ago we started the Iraqi freedom activity. I will talk a little bit about what has been accomplished this past year, to recognize all those who have done so much to have a successful operation there. We are moving toward completion--hopefully not too long in the future, but we have accomplished a great deal. We recognize and thank those who have given so much to continue to fight for freedom, in this case in Iraq and, of course, around the world. I am sorry this has become so much of a political issue. The fact is, we are talking about finishing a task we started. It is not something that ought to be constantly talked about as a political issue in a Presidential election. Certainly we ought to be talking about some of the successes that have occurred there. I had the opportunity to visit Iraq and Afghanistan. I was impressed with the things that have been done and are being done by our troops there, by other Americans there seeking to work for a secular government and freedom in that part of the world. I hope we can be more positive about it than we have been, particularly in the media.”