Given the so-called exit strategy in Iraq, coupled with the latest announcement of a troop surge in Afghanistan, there will no doubt be a tendency for troops in Iraq to see their roles as being perhaps less critical as they once were. In my view, commanders and leaders in Iraq are going to have to remain focused on keeping everyone as alert as possible over the next year or so. But, I'm pretty sure they know this already.
I write this only because I remember how lax many became in Vietnam after everyone figured out where that conflict was headed. I'm not saying Iraq=Vietnam. I'm just saying don't get the same "short-timer" attitude many of us Vietnam veterans had back then.
