[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO GEN. T. MICHAEL MOSELEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN M. SPRATT, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 15, 2003

  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored and privileged to 
recognize one of the finest officers in the United States Air Force, 
recently promoted General T. Michael ``Buzz'' Moseley.
  For the past two years, General Moseley has served with distinction 
in one of the most demanding Air Force positions: Commander, Ninth Air 
Force, Air Combat Command, which is headquartered in my district in 
Sumter, South Carolina. In that post he also served as Commander, 
United States Central Command Air Forces, United States Central 
Command. During his tenure, he prosecuted two of the most successful 
air campaigns in modern history, raising the bar for the optimum 
employment of air and space power in joint armed conflict.
  Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United 
States, General Moseley took command of U.S. Central Command's air 
component. In this role, he provided air and space power for the 
Command's 25-nation area of responsibility that reaches from the Horn 
of Africa, across Iraq and Afghanistan, to the southern states of the 
former Soviet Union. At the peak of Operation Enduring Freedom, General 
Moseley directed over 11,000 combat sorties responsible for destroying 
over 4,600 Taliban and al Q'aeda targets--in support of our nation's 
war on terror. When U.S. forces had the terrorist organizations and 
their supporters on the run, the Central Command's focus shifted to 
sustaining our efforts to bring relief to the long-oppressed Afghani 
people. In the initial humanitarian phase, nearly 200 airdrop sorties 
were flown, delivering 2.4 million daily rations and nearly 1,900 tons 
of blankets and rice.
  Following the successes of Operation Enduring Freedom, General 
Moseley was called upon to provide General Franks, now the former 
Commander of U.S. Central Command, with air power guidance and 
expertise as the planning and preparation intensified for military 
action that would eventually remove the tyrannical regime of Saddam 
Hussein. From logistics to civil engineering, readiness of personnel to 
sensitive theater engagement with friendly foreign allies, the air 
component's methodical preparation for Operation Iraqi Freedom was 
simply spectacular. The logistical train paved the way for the 
employment of nearly 30,000 air-to-ground weapons and air refueling 
offloads totaling more than 417 million pounds of fuel--enough to keep 
a Boeing 737-300 airborne for almost 12 years. As the logistical 
buildup steadily progressed, civil engineers and contractors were busy 
executing over 350 million dollars in facility upgrades at our friendly 
host nations' airfields, bolstering their ability to support the 
pending wartime taskings.
  Employing thoughtful and polished diplomacy, General Moseley 
negotiated basing rights at 24 Arabian Gulf airfields and overflight 
rights for the coalition's 1,800 aircraft and over 1,350 cruise 
missiles, assets that were pivotal to conducting the air campaign on 
terms favorable to American and Coalition national security interests. 
At the peak of hostilities against the former Iraqi regime, nearly 
55,000 United States Air Force personnel were deployed under General 
Moseley's control. These preparatory actions led to the successful 
execution of the coalition's overwhelming effort to free the people of 
Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein. In overthrowing the regime, 
aircraft from our Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps was coupled with 
the air power of our coalition allies from the United Kingdom and 
Australia to execute the most successful air campaign in history. 
During the course of the 21-day campaign, General Moseley directed 
41,000-plus sorties and was responsible for striking nearly 20,000 
Iraqi targets--an astounding feat that is a testament to General 
Moseley's impeccable combat leadership.
  To this day, the outstanding men and women of the United States 
Central Command Air Forces continue to support Operation Enduring 
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, promoting and maintaining American 
interests in the region and reconstructing two pivotal countries where 
our efforts must not fail. While the majority of our air and space 
force have returned home from the Middle East and Central Asia, over 
17,000 airmen remain deployed. They are serving under the most arduous 
conditions in Southwest Asia, defending the victories of Operation 
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The continued sacrifices 
of these great Americans carries on our Nation's commitment to the 
security and prosperity of the region.
  I was truly pleased with the President's recent nomination and the 
United States Senate's confirmation of General Moseley for his fourth 
star. It is exceptionally well-deserved, and I want to offer my 
congratulations to him; his wife, Jennie; their son, Greg; and their 
daughter, Tricia. I am proud to represent my fellow South Carolinians--
citizens who have understood the meaning of sacrifice since the 
formation and creation of the United States--in thanking General 
Moseley and his family for their selfless dedication, commitment, and 
sacrifice.
  General Moseley is a credit to both the United States Air Force and 
the United States of America. I wish him the best of luck in his 
assignment as Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters United States Air 
Force. I am confident of his continued success in his new position and 
look forward to seeing him back here in our Nation's capital.

                          ____________________