Singapore--Philippines--Pakistan--Afghanistan

Thursday, 28 May 2009

Am in Singapore to meet up with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.  Unfortunately his airplane had difficulties and he is delayed.  I understand part of the trip is being trimmed down, and I detected that some of our soldiers are not happy with that.  Secretary Gates is getting increasing respect from the soldiers, and I got word that the soldiers wanted to see him.  VIP visits often are a royal pain for our folks on the ground, and so it says a lot when they are upset about not getting to host Secretary Gates.

After my trip with Secretary Gates, will do an embed with U.S. forces in the Philippines.  They are helping in the fight against some seriously bad terrorists there, and I understand that they are making progress.

After that, over to Pakistan for a short time.  An embed was approved yesterday for Afghanistan.  Back to combat for me -- not looking forward to the endless firefights and bombs -- but at least we'll have one more voice out there with the grunts.  It's hard to get firsthand reports from Afghanistan.  I'll work on that.


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Comments  

 
0 # Scott Dudley, CDR, USN ret 2009-05-28 11:58
I understand some of our special ops guys are training the Philippine soldiers and marines. Abu Sayef are very bad guys. Maybe a little tracking training or some field experience is warranted. Be safe.
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0 # Gary Storer 2009-05-29 12:58
Michael

Nice jump around the chain of command. I guess POTUS is next for you.

Gary
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0 # The Dame Truth 2009-05-29 17:31
Michael, glad to hear you're going to be in Afghanistan. We are are especially hungry for news from there, esp the remote southeast.
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0 # cg 2009-05-30 00:16
I look forward to reading your dispatches from your Philippine embed. I was in Mindanao for Christmas and New Year. There was a grenade attack and one IED over the two week period of my trip, but overall it seemed safer than when I was there in '97. Be safe.
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0 # JC 2009-05-30 04:26
Have some fun in Singapore b4 heading back out. Been a reader of ur blog for a few years. Keep up the great work.

Cheers
JC
from Singapore
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