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Extensions of Remarks 23573 Extensions of Remarks September 19, 1991 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 23573 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS ADDRESS BY BRIG. GEN. TOMMY United States, and we greet you as we have cessful war;" We only fight wars as a last re­ FRANKS those who proceeded you. Others of you are sort, and as General Douglas MacArthur re­ the first representatives of your countries at minded us, "A soldier, above all, prays for training here: Officers from Chad, Guinea­ peace, because he will have to pay the ter­ HON. IKE SKELTON Bissau, Niger and Swaziland. We hope you rible price of war." However, from the oper­ OF MISSOURI are the vanguard of many more to come. And ational standpoint, we can be proud of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES one of your ranks, LTC Kempara from Po­ accomplishments of coalition forces in land, is the first representative of his coun­ Southwest Asia. Our adversary had the Thursday, September 19, 1991 try to return to Fort Leavenworth since 1945. fourth largest army in the world, with mod­ Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, recently, Army Perhaps you would join me in applauding the ern, front-line equipment and battle-hard­ Brig. Gen. i:-ommy Franks addressed the Mili­ significance of Col. Kemparas' presence with ened troops, and he knew the ground upon tary Order of World Wars, Banquet in Kansas us this evening. We welcome you and the which he would fight. The majority of the changes which have made it possible for you coalition forces on the other hand had to be City. His September 6 speech was an excel­ to be here. Together, you join the distin­ brought in from great distances and prepare lent recognition of the international officers at­ guished ranks of more than 5,400 inter­ to fight alongside unfamiliar allies in unfa­ tending the command and staff course at Fort national graduates of the Command and Gen­ miliar terrain against a defending force of Leavenworth, KS. I take this opportunity to eral Staff College since 1894, representing 112 equal strength. This is not a textbook sce­ share the address of General Franks with the countries. Among those who have preceded nario for an attack. Yet the results were im­ Members of this body, as it has special signifi­ you have been 23 Heads of State. The con­ pressive. Although the coordination of air cance in light of the successful coalition forces fidence that your country places in you by power for the air strikes amounted to a list with whom our soldiers fought in the recent sending you here should be inspiring as you the size of the Kansas City telephone book tackle the requirements of your course. In­ every day, the precision and success of the Persian Gulf conflict. spiring also should be the comraderie which coalition air campaign changed the way air ADDRESS BY BRIG. GEN. TOMMY FRANKS you are developing with the members of your power will be viewed from now on. In spite of Representative and Mrs. Skelton, distin­ class; together, you will share this unique the defenders' advantage, in terrain favoring guished guests, fellow soldiers and allies, la­ odyssey which will bring you closer to one armored combat, the Iraqis lost over 3,800 dies and gentleman, it is a pleasure to be another. You will make lifelong friends here, tanks to coalition forces, while the U.S. lost here, and to have the opportunity to address and I envy the great times ahead of you. fewer than two dozen. In the span of less you in this beautiful setting in his historic By now you're wondering why I'm so taken than 100 hours, the invaders of Kuwait were city. As I look over the audience this with the idea of friends and friendships. outflanked, overpowered, demoralized and evening, I am struck by their variety of our Sure, you'll say, friends are nice to have, defeated in detail, by a coalition force which dress and loveliness of the ladies. And I am just about indispensable when you're work­ had attached over hundreds of kilometers of struck by the strength and diversity of the ing in your staff group on the next briefing; desert, often at night, passing through dense friendships represented in this room! We very important when you're studying our and sophisticated obstacles, and incurring have friends of the military, like Congress­ traffic signs to get ready for the driver's li­ miraculously light casualties. These accom­ man Skelton, whose support in Congress is cense exam. Even really good friends can't plishments are incredible for any force, but staunch and indispensable; still more friends help when you're trying to understand to be performed by a coalition of thirty-six like the members of the Military Order of what's happening in a baseball game or an nations, speaking different languages, sub­ the World Wars, who devote their time and American football game, or a rodeo. By the scribing to different doctrine, and using dif­ considerable energy to preserving the values way, I understand that the international stu­ ferent equipment is hard to comprehend. that out military services defend and in fact dent have already experienced a rodeo, where The very formation of the coalition itself guarantee. There are friends from the Kansas the cow chip throwing contest was won by a is amazing. It was the largest coalition of its City community, where enthusiastic support German officer. I'm told you roped calves kind ever formed in response to a United Na­ of our international military students is gen­ and rode mules and that sometimes the stu­ tions call to combat, and it shows what I uine and sincere. It's great to be among dent won, and sometimes the mules won. But meant when I talked about friends. There are friends. all things considered, personal friends are certain themes that are understood in any Among the first friends you made upon you important. Well, countries need friends, too, language, these themes transcend cultures arrival in the United States was LTC especially right now. Few of us would have and leaders and time. Freedom is one of Eggering, the deputy class director for inter­ predicted the changes which have taken these themes, and the world community national officers, who with his staff is re­ place in our world in the very recent past. demonstrated that point by rallying in sup­ sponsible for insuring that you receive the The traditional ideological, national and cul­ port of coalition efforts to protect the free­ best training experience that Fort Leaven­ tural divisions which have dominated the dom of one small nation. A Viet Nam vet­ worth has to offer. And for many of us, there state of the world since 1945 have changed eran and war correspondent during Desert are our best friends, our spouses, sitting next dramatically, much more quickly than any Storm has said that the gulf war didn't last to us (in fact or in spirit). They've been there expert foretold. In the words of Yogi Berra, for 42 days, it lasted for twenty years; his throughout our careers, supporting us, and "Making predictions is difficult; especially idea was that the commanders who led the enhancing the jobs that we do. No recogni­ when it's about the future." In Europe and force and the strategy and tactics which tion of friends could be complete without Asia, in Africa and in South America, the fa­ proved decisive were shaped and developed them. Join me in giving them a hand. Speak­ miliar faces and familiar ways are passing, over many years. The same is true of the ing of spouses reminds me of my wife of more and new was, new faces are emerging. In this bonds of trust and confidence which forged than 20 years. On the way to Kansas City dynamic environment, the perceived threats the coalition so quickly and firmly in a time today she reminded me we'd had almost 3 of yesterday have evolved; some have gone, of crisis last autumn. Speaking of Desert happy years together. I asked he "What others have simply changed their complex­ Shield in his recent appearance before a should I talk about this evening?" She said ion. In the face of change, there are new committee of Congress, Ltc. Teddy Allen, Di­ "How long you talk is more important than causes for concern. The world continues to rector of the Defense Security Assistance what you say." I asked her "Should I speak be a dangerous place. And friends are some­ Agency, noted that "we did not have to in French, German, Spanish or Farci", and thing you can't do without in a dangerous scramble for friends in the region. We al­ she reminded me that I have enough trouble place. Friends and allies cover your flank, ready had them. The patient and deliberate with English ... So, wives have a way of and they stay with you when the going gets efforts of many years had developed the cli­ keeping us humble. tough. mate which permitted so many nations, from As I look within your class, it's an exciting Earlier this year, I had occasion to work such different regions and with such differ­ sign of the times to note who you are: Ninety with a coalition of nations that opposed ing perspectives, to unite in a common International Officers, representing sixty­ Iraq's wrongful aggression in Kuwait. Sev­ cause. eight countries; some are old friends, with eral of you were involved in those operations Our gracious hosts here this evening will histories of attendance at training in the as well.
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