Afghanistan for Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team hasn't changed, and is expected to be no less dangerous with the death of Osama bin Laden.

Still, the death of bin Laden was a good day for the soldiers, said their commander, Col. Joel Ward. As Oklahoma's military installations remained on heightened alert after the terrorist leader's death, about 3,400 troops from the Oklahoma National Guard unit are in Afghanistan currently.

Read more: http://newsok.com/afghanistan-mission-unchanged-for-oklahomas-45th-infantry-brigade-combat-team/article/3564158#ixzz1SYJVGbyq

A Leader's Open Letter From Iraq

(published in the Tulsa World on Sunday, July 27, 2008)

Editor's note: Lt. Col. Doug Stall of Tulsa is the commanding officer for the 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, currently deployed in Iraq. Creek Six is his call sign.

2 July 2008

This is Creek Six,

I have heard that the news back home has little positive to say about current conditions in Iraq. This is unfortunate since so many soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are sacrificing so much. Therefore, I am compelled to share a little of what I know to provide you a more complete and accurate picture of the conditions in this Theater of Operations. In short, the "surge" is working. The murderous insurgents and criminal elements in Iraq have been knocked on their butts.

In Iraq, we are fighting an insurgency by using a Counterinsurgency Operation (COIN). These are complex subsets of warfare, and are as old as war and governments themselves. Historically, insurgent tactics have remained largely the same, though the media is a more powerful weapon for them (and us) than ever before.

Insurgents win by sowing seeds of discontent to discredit the government, and by maintaining turbulence in the society to cause the population to feel insecure. COIN operations, on the other hand, seek to foster effective governance by a legitimate government. COIN focuses on the populace, and strives to eliminate turbulence and feelings of insecurity. This is done by establishing a relatively safe environment, meeting basic economic needs, providing essential services and sustaining the society's basic qualities of life.

Contrasted with the simplicity of an insurgency, which is to create disorder, a COIN operation is highly complex and difficult. We win by telling the truth and supporting the government, while the insurgent gains the initiative by making unrealistic and/or false claims in an effort to highlight the government's weaknesses.

A simple, but high-profile attack by insurgents provides an extraordinary advantage to their goal far outweighing the tactical significance of the event. COIN historically takes an average of nearly 10 years to succeed and requires vast resources to maintain security in a volatile region.

Complicating matters is that Al Qaeda has introduced a new and very dangerous kind of insurgency that seeks worldwide revolutionary change through violent religiosity.

While I am no expert and cannot speak for this administration or the U.S. Army, it is naïve to believe that we are the root cause of Al Qaeda's efforts or that our counterinsurgency against Al Qaeda can soon end.

Gen. George Patton wrote: "...The mighty seas which are alleged to defend us can also be circumvented by a resolute and ingenious opponent. In war, the only sure defense is offense, and the efficiency of offense depends on the warlike souls of those conducting it." We must, therefore, be resolute.

Measures of an effective COIN operation include popular support and confidence in the government, economic vitality, availability of services, and security of the individual. By nearly every measurement, we are out in front of the insurgents and we are succeeding. Here is a snapshot of our recent success.

Al Qaeda's freedom of maneuver has been reduced to a fraction of what it was in December 2006. Attacks against infrastructure and friendly military forces are down more than 80 percent from over one year ago. High-profile attacks with explosives are at their lowest levels in two years.

Civilian deaths are significantly down and are back to levels not seen since January 2006. Ethno-sectarian violence is down. Deaths of U.S. military personnel are the lowest they have been in eighteen months. IED attacks, once average more than sixty per day, now average about ten per day. Indirect fire attacks (mortars and rockets) are the lowest they have been since January 2004.

Caches found this year are more than double the number found in 2006, and the year is only half over. This factor is particularly significant because it reveals the increased level of trust the people have for their government, since Iraqi citizens are the ones who turn in caches to coalition forces.

I have seen crowded markets in downtown Baghdad. Iraq just announced a large investment in its oil production capabilities. The availability of utilities is increasing in urban areas. And the list goes on.

This does not, however, mean that our counterinsurgency operations are over; but we are making significant progress. Unfortunately, this message is not getting out, and people still debate the wisdom of the reasons for this war. However, to borrow from Sir Winston Churchill: "If the present tries to sit in judgment of the past, it will lose the future."

There is no question in my mind that America is the greatest country on earth. We must strive to keep it so.

I hope this letter finds you well. We (the 45 Infantry Brigade Combat Team) should be home by October. Keep us in your prayers. Creek Six, out.

Doug Stall, 1-279 IN, LTC, Commanding

Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Deployment Ceremony

This is Kristin Buck whose father is returning to the war. Kristin is 3 and lives in Edmond with her parents. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Buck. Her grandparents are Larry and Susan Buck of Ponca City.

Kristin Buck and Ashley Hogg