Martha Raddatz in Mosul, Iraq (Photo courtesy of Greta Bradlee).
On Monday, April 30, 2007, the House Chiefs of Staff Alumni Association (HCOSAA) in conjunction with the House Chiefs of Staff Association (HCOSA) hosted Martha Raddatz, ABC News, Chief White House Correspondent, for a luncheon in the Rayburn House Office Building. Raddatz recently authored a critically acclaimed book, The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family, which has been on the New York Times best seller list. She spoke to 38 alumni and approximately 40 current Chiefs of Staff. The event was sponsored by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
Before talking about her book, she spent a significant amount of time analyzing the current situation in Iraq. She said that, “Iraq is becoming safer…” but “…the metrics for determining progress have declined.” She focused on Ramadi, explaining that the area around the government sector is now safer because the surrounding buildings have been knocked down, leaving fewer suitable sniper positions. In order to travel through Iraq, the reliance on armored Humvees and gunships to provide adequate cover remains necessary. According to Raddatz, the infrastructure continues to lack necessary technological advancements, with evaporation serving as the main method of sewage disposal.
During her thirteen trips to Iraq, Raddatz has had incredible access to the troops. She conceded that the war zone environment is very dangerous and embedding with the soldiers is a necessity for safety. Her access provided her with the gritty details that fill her book. Such details could not have been gathered and verified without the soldiers’ honesty, Raddatz explained, because there was no action report filed by the 1st Calvary following their battle in Sadr City, which was the largest single day loss of life for the division since Vietnam.
During the question and answer portion of the luncheon, Raddatz discussed a multitude of subjects. She talked about a junior officer in the US military that recently spoke out against the strategies of the leading generals. Raddatz was torn over whether such an action is good or bad for troop morale. She also talked about how Iraqis, including the Maliki government, do not have a consensus as to what end-state they want, and how this is can become a tremendous hindrance to US efforts. She also mentioned her exchanges with former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the lead up to the war to underscore the fact that access to high-ranking officials did not always result in substance. She was also critical of news reporting in the build up to the Iraq War and in the post-9/11 era.
The event was sponsored by Science Applications International Corporation
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HCOSAA is a nonprofit, bipartisan professional association composed of former Chiefs of Staff to members of the US House of Representatives. The mission of HCOSAA is to provide professional development and networking opportunities for both former and current Chiefs of Staff to House Members. The Alumni Association hosts receptions, private movie screenings, museum tours, embassy visits, and the occasional wine tasting.
