Tide Is Turning In Iraq

From the Narshalltown Times-Republican:

Speaker says there is a difference between 2005 and recent trip

By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICAN

Saying he believes the tide has been turned in Iraq, a fighter pilot with the Iowa Air National Guard gave his impressions on the five-year-old conflict in the Middle East to the Noon Lion's Club Monday.

Col. Mark "Bo" Maly said there is a difference between 2005 and his most recent trip to Iraq.

"There has been some success in what's happened over there with the way the war has progressed," he said.

Although the workload of fighter pilots is just as heavy as it was before, the jobs tend to be a little less dangerous.

"The threat is fairly permissive as far as surface-to-air missiles and arms fire," he said.

Fighter pilots are still flying every day, perhaps as long as seven hours, providing overwatch support for troops on the ground or looking for improvised explosive devices.

Despite the improved conditions in the country, Maly noted it still does not make the goodbyes at home any easier.

"Saying goodbye ... is one of the hardest things we do before we deploy," he said.

Still, looking at the progress the country has made over the past several years does bring a sense of satisfaction to what United States' servicemen are doing, according to Maly.

But while the U.S. has made efforts to help stabilize the country by working on the electrical grid, providing additional security, and building or rebuilding schools and hospitals, Maly believes most of the change has taken place as a result of the Iraqi people. Perhaps, he said, they have simply grown tired of the simple things in life the rest of the world takes for granted - reliable electricity, clean water and a safe environment.

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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com

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T-R PHOTO BY KEN BLACK

Col. Mark Maly speaks about the Iowa Air National Guard to the Noon Lions Club in Marshalltown Monday. Maly believes the country has made tremendous progress toward peace and stability in the past several years

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[RON MALY'S COMMENT: The entire Maly family is very proud of Mark amd everyone else serving in the U.S. Armed Forces].