NcDeuce
03-29-2004, 02:14 PM
Deputy commanding general of 101st, terrorism expert to give briefing
Only a handful of people truly understand what the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) accomplished in the Iraqi war.
One of the insiders is Gen. Frank G. Helmick, who will share this information with the public at 6:30 p.m., March 29.
Helmick will present the briefing he and MG David Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), gave to members of the United States Congress earlier this month.
Assistant Division Commander for Operations Helmick is one of America’s top experts on the role of the 101st in the Iraqi war as well as on global terrorism. Helmick’s briefing, which is open to the public, is sponsored by Austin Peay’s department of history and philosophy.
Dr. Dewey Browder, chair of the department and professor of history, recently had the opportunity to sit in on the same briefing by Helmick and Petraeus, and called it “excellent.”
“The 101st was engaged in some genuinely insightful projects in Iraq that go far beyond traditional military operations,” Browder says. “Within their area of operations in Iraq, the division was instrumental in bringing economic and political changes that largely have been ignored by the press. By extension, these changes are having an additional impact on society.
“The division also was influential in introducing responsible Iraqi security forces, which will go a long ways toward stabilizing the country in time. Gen. Petraeus and his subordinate commanders showed great wisdom in the way they managed the chaotic situation.”
Browder indicated that what Helmick has to say is important, not only because it reflects well on the dedication of the division and the sophistication of the U.S. Armed Forces, but also because the war with Iraq is only one facet of the ongoing war on terrorism.
“Although the war in Iraq is winding down and most of the soldiers of the 101st are home, we must not become complacent. Our soldiers dimmed the long-term threat of terrorism by their brave actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as we saw with the recent massacre in Spain, the threat of terrorism continues, so Gen. Helmick’s unique insight is invaluable.”
Looking forward to this briefing on OIF, the war on terror, and some reflection on the recent tours of the 101st.
Only a handful of people truly understand what the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) accomplished in the Iraqi war.
One of the insiders is Gen. Frank G. Helmick, who will share this information with the public at 6:30 p.m., March 29.
Helmick will present the briefing he and MG David Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), gave to members of the United States Congress earlier this month.
Assistant Division Commander for Operations Helmick is one of America’s top experts on the role of the 101st in the Iraqi war as well as on global terrorism. Helmick’s briefing, which is open to the public, is sponsored by Austin Peay’s department of history and philosophy.
Dr. Dewey Browder, chair of the department and professor of history, recently had the opportunity to sit in on the same briefing by Helmick and Petraeus, and called it “excellent.”
“The 101st was engaged in some genuinely insightful projects in Iraq that go far beyond traditional military operations,” Browder says. “Within their area of operations in Iraq, the division was instrumental in bringing economic and political changes that largely have been ignored by the press. By extension, these changes are having an additional impact on society.
“The division also was influential in introducing responsible Iraqi security forces, which will go a long ways toward stabilizing the country in time. Gen. Petraeus and his subordinate commanders showed great wisdom in the way they managed the chaotic situation.”
Browder indicated that what Helmick has to say is important, not only because it reflects well on the dedication of the division and the sophistication of the U.S. Armed Forces, but also because the war with Iraq is only one facet of the ongoing war on terrorism.
“Although the war in Iraq is winding down and most of the soldiers of the 101st are home, we must not become complacent. Our soldiers dimmed the long-term threat of terrorism by their brave actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as we saw with the recent massacre in Spain, the threat of terrorism continues, so Gen. Helmick’s unique insight is invaluable.”
Looking forward to this briefing on OIF, the war on terror, and some reflection on the recent tours of the 101st.