March 24, 2008
Posted: 03:59 PM ET
Blitzer: My trip to Iraq was intense and powerful.
Blitzer: My trip to Iraq was intense and powerful.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Three years ago today, I was in Iraq. I went around the country – from Baghdad to Basra, from Falluja to Mosul and Balad. I had flown there with the then commander of U.S. Forces in the Middle East, Gen. John Abizaid.

I remember everything I saw because it was so intense and powerful. The images were amazing. But some things continue to stand out, especially at this time of the year.

I vividly remember watching hundreds of troops pray at a Sunday Easter Mass service in Baghdad, and their prayers were intense. The military chaplain’s words were deeply religious. Watching the men and women pray took on a whole new meaning for me that day. So many of the troops later told me they were praying simply to be able to survive the war in one piece. They were praying for their fellow troops. They didn’t want to die in Iraq. They didn’t want to be severely injured.

When I was there with Gen. Abizaid three years ago, more than 1,500 American troops had been killed in Iraq. Now, the number has reached 4,000.

I was thinking about that prayer service this past Easter weekend. Most of those troops I saw in Baghdad that day are probably home right now. But some of them are also no doubt back in Iraq serving a second or even third tour of duty. The soldiers have 15 month rotations in Iraq though the Pentagon is hoping to reduce that soon to 12 months. These men and women who serve are all volunteers and their sacrifices are enormous.

–CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer

Filed under: Iraq • Wolf Blitzer


Dallas   March 24th, 2008 4:03 pm ET

And McCain wants this to continue? What is he thinking?

Bill, Sacramento   March 24th, 2008 4:04 pm ET

The troops are GREAT!! What a wonderful bunch of courageous men and women to do what they do.

But, they have done the task they were asked to do - now it is time for the Iraq 'Government' to do its job and allow the troops back home where they should be treated as heros, every single one of them.

THANKS GUYS

chris   March 24th, 2008 4:13 pm ET

Obama covered up and hid from us his racial pastor and church. You can not be president and be a racist.

Obama made an excuss for blacks hating whites and then feed it to the next generation by allowing his children and others to be subjected to a hate a race sermon, by Wright.

As Dr. martin luther King put it. "we need not drink from the cup of bitterness and hatered."

in the civil war it was the white man fighting the white man to free slaves. how dare they preach hate to the very people who fought to free them. i never had any part of slavery. it was made illegal by the white man around 150 years ago and brought up again with equal rights 45 years ago. way past time for the black people to get over their bitterness toward the white.
if Obama can not face this then he needs to go

Clinton\Lewis 2008

VOTER FOR TRUTH, DIGNITY   March 24th, 2008 4:16 pm ET

Good for you, Wolf. To remember our troops and pray that they
can come home safe. And for the fallen soldiers, "they shall be
remembered' always!

VOTER FOR TRUTH, DIGNITY-OBAMA/EDWARDS 2008   March 24th, 2008 4:28 pm ET

Wolf, Can you run for Pres. on an independent ticket?
I will vote for you, Wolf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOLF BLITZER FOR PRESIDENT 2008

Idiots   March 24th, 2008 4:29 pm ET

It the Idiots Bush, Cheny, Mccain and Hillary's to blame. How come these idiots never send their children to fight for the war. America wake up and say not to this idiots.

Mike Delaney   March 24th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

Wolf,

No way should you have allowed Carville to spew the garbage he was just spewing. If he wants to use the analogy of a basketball game ending early, you should have replied that no one would support changing the rules in the middle of a game just because the wrong team was winning. CNN should not have Carville on its staff. It is too much of a conflict of interest.

Mike

gam   March 24th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

knew you wouldn't print my comment

John   March 24th, 2008 4:32 pm ET

Bring the soldiers Home.It is Easter here.

joanna   March 24th, 2008 4:38 pm ET

Wolf Blitzer of Gulf War fame!

Медведев   March 24th, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Four thousand equals the number of hours Hillary has lied awake at night consumed with the guilt and shame of signing off on those soldiers lives.

Lee A from texas   March 24th, 2008 4:43 pm ET

I keep them all in my heart and in my mind and wish for them to do thier duty and then come home as safe as they left. We owe these brave men and women a debt we can never really repay.

They go where we tell them and they do what we ask them. they are some of the finest americans we will ever know.

Chris, Middletown, CT   March 24th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

He has that beaten look…that one where he said "if I support Hillary, she will let me be the press secretary….and I will have a cushy job like George Stephanapolis" - too bad for you Wolf….throwing her softball questions wasn't enough to put her over the top….people want change….and Hillary isn't it

RealityKing   March 24th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

There is no greater love than to die for your brother. -Jesus

jennyM   March 24th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

I think it is sad that only when we hit a landmark number that most in this country forget we are in a war that we should have never been in .

Most people do not have to sacrifice one thing for this war. Although your children and grandchildren will when they have to pay for it.

3 trillion when you count caring for 30,000 injured many of whom need lifelong care now .

And people argue over what some Pastor said ? Who cares? We should focus on how to get out of Iraq, and fix our economy, our schools and infratstructure.

Jones in California   March 24th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Wolf, i am tired of hearing this Rev. Wright nonsense, can we hear more substance from your party's discussion….

Bill Enuff   March 24th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

How about the Joseph McCarthy comment…..Wolfe?

Pretty out of line uh? You have a selective memory when it comes to this stuff.

How about the tasteless comments made about the stain on the blue dress? Selective memory again.

THIS is the reason John McCain will be the President and people will continue to die in Iraq.

Backlash   March 24th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

Never leave your brother in arms, fight to win, and win to fight…

USS San Jose AFS 7
USS Alamo LSD 33
USS Wichita AOR 1 Remember the USS Stark FFG 31…..USS Stark hit by Iraqi missiles, 37 sailors die May 17 in 1987

Operation Just Cause
USS Philippine Sea CG 58

Michael Scott Speicher was shot down during the Persian Gulf War

You may be gone but in the hearts of those that hear your plane hit the sound will live in our hearts forever…

The price of freedom comes at a high price, Continued Freedom comes at an even higher price.

Willy   March 24th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

Ahhh….

Marc   March 24th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

No Bill Enuff, McCain would become the President because Hillary cannot be trusted, and Obama is black. That is the truth.

Aliou   March 24th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

to anyone who likes war, let that one american who is going to the front by love of death be you.

let those who are forced to go come home now.

Let those who want to make omelettes with someone else's eg do it with theirs.

Aliou   March 24th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

Wolf, never mind, Obama will bring them home.

China for McCain or Hillary   March 24th, 2008 5:08 pm ET

I am from China, please vote for McCain or Hillary, because they will take america to another war & America will loose trillions of dollars again. I am happy to see america loose money in the war & happy to see you americans are fighting among yourselves over this election. Please don't vote for Obama, because he will unite your country & improve your economy. Please vote for McCain or Hillary, because if you are divided, you will fail as a Nation,.

Bayou Joe   March 24th, 2008 5:09 pm ET

The reason John McCain will be President is because we need a commander in chief that understands war, because he has been in it Knows how to deal with other governments from a position of strenght. Will not undermine our military efforts. Has the age and wisdom to direct this country through the next phase. When he says we will be in Iraq and the Middle East for the next 100 years, he is absolutely right. We have been in Europe and Japan for the last 60 years and have no plans of leaving. To withdraw from the Middle East and Asia would be disastrous not only for our Nation but also for our allies. What we do need is for other Free (Democratic) Nations to do their part. This they have failed to do. Germany, France, Japan need to pay for their own protection and stop relying on our armed forces and MY money to protect them. This also goes for Canada, another country that gets a free ride at our expense.

Margie   March 24th, 2008 5:10 pm ET

Chris,

You are really stretching. So now, not only is Barack's pastor a racist, but now Obama is a racist (with a white mother, grandmother, etc.). You are wrong Chris, and obviously had poor history teachers.

Blacks and other races are not bitter, we just hate ignorance.

Obama 08

therealist   March 24th, 2008 5:13 pm ET

In case you missed it, the war is over. Lets choose not to lose the peace now..

Democratic Pastor   March 24th, 2008 5:13 pm ET

Time for democrats to unite. Time for democrats to stop fighting between ourselves. We all know that Obama has won twice as many states as Hillary, and won almost a million popular vote than Hillary. Mathematically hillary cannot win the nomination against the will of the people. Even the big states that Hillary claims to have won, it's not a huge margin. The media is trying to divide the democrats based on issues like race & comments from Obama's former Pastor. I am a pastor myself, I am white, 45 years old, What Obama's pastor said was completely true, he was referring to the injustice America has commited in killing of innocent people. We all talk about 4000 american troops killed. Is anyone, as a christian, thinking about the millions of Iraqi civilians killed in this war ? The Media is silent on these things. If Jesus Christ was here right now, he will say the same things as Obama's former pastor said. It doesn't mean Obama's former pastor is not patriotic, from a pastor's standpoint, I understand his words. The media should stop being a negative propaganda. We all know that Hillary, McCain & Bush all were responsible for this war. The only true candidate I respect is Sen. Obama. We as a nation fought this war for no reason. Iraq had no WMDs, it was not responsible for 9/11. It's a huge mistake commited by our current administration. It's the responsibility of the news media to bring this information out to the public. We have killed almost one million people in Iraq so far. Every Christian out there, think for yourself, is this what the Christ preached us ? God Bless you all

Vig   March 24th, 2008 5:15 pm ET

George Bush should be impeaced. Tell that to Nancy Pelosi whose holding hands with the Dali Lama while turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed in the name of America.

California Viewer   March 24th, 2008 5:15 pm ET

Wolf, why can't Hillary Clinton speak for herself, for goodness sake? Obama gets wall-to-wall, live coverage of his speeches, but all we see of her is the occasional two-minute out-of-context snippet. What is up with that??????

Brannon   March 24th, 2008 5:18 pm ET

Thanks for this piece. I'm glad someone still remembers the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who're stuck in the sandbox over another holiday, with the cacophony of the soap opera election season going on.
Also, I'm really getting tired of the off-topic political shilling being done in these comments. Seriously, CNN. Enforce your own comment policy or get someone who will. This feature used to be relevant and interesting, but now the only purpose it serves is to provide a bullhorn for fanatics to rave into without check.

RETIRED PROFESSIONAL W/WOMAN OF 63   March 24th, 2008 5:19 pm ET

I hate Hillary and Bill.

Just think if the smear ads, "SWIFT BOAT ADS" had not worked
we would have had Kerry as Pres. instead of Bush. I did not
vote for Bush. I voted for Kerry.

Just, think how different our world would have been folks, makes
me want to sit down and cry for our country.

OBAMA/EDWARDS 2008 AND NO ONE, NO ONE ELSE. IF
WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR THE LIAR HILLARY, WE WILL NOT
VOTE. JUST WILL NEVER. NEVER.

RETIRED PROFESSIONAL W/WOMAN OF 63   March 24th, 2008 5:22 pm ET

Wolf, could you do a documentary on the good things that Rev Wright
did? Was'nt he a U.S. Marine? served as a nurse? to Lyndin Johnson?

OBAMA/EDWARDS 2008

Republican Austin TX   March 24th, 2008 5:29 pm ET

Wolf,

Am watching you as you tirelessly make the case for Hillary with regard to the delegate count, it's amusing. I mean, the media counted her out before, which i agree was a mistake. But there are realities to be faced now. First, because the delegates pick the nominee, just as the electoral vote picks the president, her numbers are'nt adding up and i frankly agree with POLITICO; it's over. Secondly, James Carville is wrong to think that the 8% of the remaining democrats will all vote for Hillary if they were to vote. Last i checked, Obama had supporters too and most of them either voted uncommited or never voted at all. Lastly, i agree with JACK, Obama won texas…and just as Nancy pelosi and Howard dean said, it's a delegates race…and WE the voters are watching really closely.

By the way, your argument about electability is shallow…because why is'nt she winning now?

Connie from San Antonio, Texas   March 24th, 2008 5:38 pm ET

Since it seems like Clinton cannot get a fair shake from you all and Obama is your god and cannot do anything wrong, why don't some of you compare statements in Obama's book with the services you showed on Wright. You may be surprised on the connection of Wright, Obama, and Farricon. If it looks like a duck, quack like a duck, then probably, it is a duck. I'm not for neither, but if you all put Obama into the whitehouse, you will be sorry. I used to watch your program all of the time but not anymore because of your bias position for Obama. All of these people whose now supporting Obama were losers, they're only trying to get a position if he wins and he's too stupid to see through that. But, of course, that's lack of experience and judgment which most of you don't require to run the largest office in the country. We jumped the gun on Bush also, remember?

Gavin   March 24th, 2008 5:41 pm ET

Thanks for the interesting read, Wolf.

I am hoping this Democratic Nomination will mark the beginning of the end of the Bush tragic saga…

I'm pleased we have a fighter in Hillary Rodham Clinton !

Very Concerned American   March 24th, 2008 5:46 pm ET

I remember the first Gulf war. I thought that was a mistake but this brings both wars to the forefront.

How very sad it is to be away from family during the holidays.

Visualizing 4000 men on a field and then seeing them die for a good cause would be upsetting. I just hope and pray that these 4000 men died for a good cause.

Tex   March 24th, 2008 5:52 pm ET

Wolf, good thing Reverend Carville wasn't preaching to the troops three years ago at Easter when you were there. His unChristian comments about Governor Richardson are pure bile and meaness.

James   March 24th, 2008 6:00 pm ET

Please step down, Obama.
Hillary will be the only candidate i will vote for.

gene   March 24th, 2008 6:10 pm ET

while hillary was voting for the war barack was working for rezco and spewing hatred at his so called church then comes out lying like a dog TYPICAL YES

Veterans for Obama   March 24th, 2008 6:20 pm ET

Let's not have another 4,000. If they would also print the casualties, I think more people would want this disaster to end. There are tens of thousands of soldiers who have lost limbs, hundreds who have been burned beyond recognition (just think about that for a moment), and countless more who will have the scars of battle on their conscience. War is hell, and anyone who doesn't have areal stake in it should not be weighing in on why we should keep sacrificing our young to this moronis meat grinder.

We don't even know what "winning" would look like in Iraq. Let's leave and let Iran stabilize the region, would that be so horrible? Hospitals are shutting down in the US while our guys are risking their lives to protect the construction of new hospitals in baghdad. The Gov. of Iraq has a surplus while ours is running an historical deficit. Let's eat humble pie, and end this.

And if anyone talks to me about patriotism, you don't know what true patriotism is. Quit hiding behind yout lapel pins and do something that will HELP America. That's Patriotism!

HP Boston   March 24th, 2008 6:32 pm ET

War is hell! There is not one good thing to say about war.

LIFE is more sacred than OIL and rich men using young lives as throw away toys!

I am sick of the insanity and the evil bush and cheney who kill our sons and daughters and then say ….so, so!

Don Fitzgerald   March 24th, 2008 6:33 pm ET

I sure hope that President Bush doesn't have any trouble sleeping, especially after the 4000th death involving our Armed Forces in Iraq. A war that was absolutely unnecessary, falsely presented and presented with false bravado, taunting. History will look upon this presidency as the lowest point in the caliber of person to hold that office. Unremarkable is an overstatement of this incompetent's record. I hope all of the voters who voted for him and his sidekick will think twice and examine their choice for President with a great deal of more care. It does matter what caliber of the person that we choose.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.

Independent-Latina-voter, Salt Lake City, UT   March 24th, 2008 6:41 pm ET

Sadly this war will continue, there is no way the US can pull out, even if we do have a president Barrack Obama in the White House (if the Clintons don't finish destroying him!).

Its a shame that we are stuck there, the worst is how this war will bankrupt our nation…….. that IS Bush's legacy.

OBAMA 08!

GL   March 24th, 2008 7:03 pm ET

Wolf-

You are correct. They volunteered. Having done so, to complain about the duration of their deployment is as unpatriotic as not supporting them. No one held a gun to their heads to sign the papers. It is not all Gi Bills, one weekend a month, college tuition, and three square meals a day. On occasion, when you volunteer, you will be asked to follow through with your committment.

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