Micco: We're winning Iraq

Army reservist and mortgage banker Vince Micco, a 39-year-old Republican from Rutherford, is making another run against Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fair Lawn.

Rothman beat Micco in 2006 by more than 40 percentage points, but Micco thinks that was just a bad year for Republicans overall and he's got a better shot this year.

Micco launched his campaign at a news conference Monday at the National Press Club Monday organized by Iraq Veterans for Congress. The event featured a half-dozen other veterans who are running on a "pro-victory" platform.

In a 10-minute speech, Micco said the United States is winning the war, that the strategy in Iraq will some day be seen as "visionary," and he's so committed to it, he signed up for another six-year stint in the reserves that could lead to him being sent back over.

Here's excerpts of what he had to say, along with sound clips with more complete quotes:

About his first run for Congress in 2006:

"This year, it's so refreshing to see we've got a lot more pro-victory Iraq war veterans running, and we're starting to get our act together." [Full sound clip]

Where he served in Iraq:

"I served a year-long deployment in Iraq, primarily throughout what's known as the Sunni triangle." [Full sound clip]

What he did in Iraq:

"I held a top secret clearance in Iraq, and I participated in counter-intelligence operations, some late-night raids, throughout the Sunni triangle." [Full sound clip]

Why he's running:

"I believe so very strongly in what we're doing in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in the Middle East throughout this global war against terrorism. And the reason I'm running is I believe victory and success in Iraq are not only attainable, but they are just imperative. We must win, we can win, we are winning." [Full sound clip]

Dealing with Iraqis:

"My job in Iraq was basically, often, to make friends with the locals, and get them to become informants for us, which they did. ... These folks would risk their lives to bring us valuable intelligence." [Full sound clip]

Iraqis are grateful:

"At the end of one of our encounters, I would often thank my informants. I'd just say, you know, 'On behalf of grateful Americans, I realize how much you risked to help us and I realize what might happen to you if you were found out.' And these people, every single time, would interrupt me to say, 'No, sir. You don't need to thank us. We need to thank you, thank you America, for what you're doing in Iraq.' " [Full sound clip]

Children love soldiers:

"What we're doing there, it may run counter to centuries of Islamic culture, but it's going to begin to pay dividends in the near future. The children in Iraq, and everyone who's here can probably attest to this, if you've been on a convoy in Iraq like I have, the children love American soldiers." [Full sound clip]

American culture becoming popular:

"That's the legacy we're leaving in Iraq, they love us there, the kids." [Full sound clip]

When children are in charge, Iraq will be a great ally:

"In five, 10, 15 years, my point is, when these kids are old enough to run their country, that's when we're going to begin to see the dividends on our investment." [Full sound clip]

Comments

[love games]

I admire this man. What if he really is right ?