Lt. Colonel Michael S. Finer with Moe Lauzier

Hey good morning welcome to the 7 o'clock -- Saturday morning get together we'll love you with you one Boston. Eight and six AB WR -- on the patriots day legal. Find out later on today we're joined now by lieutenant colonel Michael Kleiner who is a local guy -- good morning welcome back to Boston on WRKO.

Thank you very much smoke your BUN beds and I am I graduated from that's in the 1987 the pageantry and accounting and -- our case he would have -- university. Now how does that work I've read that your bio and -- get all confused how does something like that work.

I'm and you know went about since the end they had their relationship with spots university because that's in itself -- not have an ROTC program. So they had that agreement that I would attend. -- university to get my commission -- second lieutenant in the army. In -- to graduate from about sin former education and that's fairly common with some of the smaller schools in in the country.

And I see you in another -- don't have enough students to justify having an ROTC unit of its own.

Exactly I think at most schools probably the less than 10000 students usually don't have. Federal program and they attend one of the larger universities.

One of those nine and giving in to temptation here I've learned a little bit about here says civilian background year the -- Arafat financial planner and you service the president of major league investments -- Now does that sound.

Powerful it you know we do we do quite a bit of work for families. It means that businesses in the news. With complex financial issues with certain celebrities we've got to work with athletes and stuff like that so that's how we got the name it's time we were doing some work for operates.

And I say now what do you do in the army a year your financial planner and the army uses financial planners.

I suppose -- so I'm actually an infantry officer and lieutenant colonel the garrison commander and western Baghdad and I'm in charge of the garrison that has just several thousand. Soldiers who were. A part of our garrison I don't command all of those soldiers directly but it responsible for the entire garrison also logistics and quality defense of the base and and here with my headquarters from Worcester, Massachusetts and people from different parts of the area and we have units. The report to us from all over the country to provide dissension and other operations you know and supporter of the war. So your home it is in the western area actually -- it and swatch dot that you should just just north of Boston and our unit headquarters is in mr.

It's a -- little confused that was my mistake the Arab League somehow we will we think of military we don't give a second thought to the logistics and -- soldiers have to eat they need clothing they need to be able to be transported around they need. I'm munitions they need they need they need I mean it's no different than civilian life of the.

Not at all fact there's an old quote by Napoleon which is sort of interest thing and -- point which says that. Tactics -- for amateurs in logistics and for experts the end. This whole war and everything that we have is really very heavily driven by the logistics and perhaps for all the way. He's taken entire army and especially are you that the amount of work it takes to. Move us years to feed us -- How -- us to do everything that we need is actually incredible I'm not sure that any other. Organization in the world could do what the US military's is doing right now.

I reached into my boyhood when I say this and I recall this was in the very early 1950s. On during the Korean more we didn't call more than we call the police action by the -- died in combat UN war. And there was concern that we didn't want to -- the red Chinese back into China because we might really get them angry whether it's. I recall hearing and in this was -- a movie theater and -- remember the old newsreels we've to have her movies I don't recall who the officer was but he said we shouldn't really be fearful of China public have a a billion in army they can't move that they can't feed they can't address that they can't are met. So what are we worried about them for and you know and that stayed with me ever since then that I'd rather have a unit of a hundred men the -- that they can be Fed moved about and fell on. And trained than have a a cadre of 10000 men who don't have a clue what they're doing.

I think I think you're absolutely right which -- that different parts of history in fact speaking of the Korean war. You know we had that you know we finished the World War II and 1945 we had our army our army in Japan in the -- 196951 of the Korean war. Army was really rusty we have problems at the outset simply because we didn't have the appropriate logistics and other things in place. In the five years it was almost too long to have experience. Last until the next war. And we weren't razor sharp and I think that's the thing that we have now that we probably be has improved on the last five years that the army though is. Five years into this conflict war in at least for our unit in the National Guard and he -- from Massachusetts I can say that. Where is rated trapped and have ever seen in my military career as -- mentioned I graduated by our kids see in 1987 just been. You know hold one years at this point since it's pretty impressive especially logistically it CYQ point. It cost so much to. -- run the army into. It has been successful in this war because you have to have on a -- to make it happen otherwise there is no way he can compete -- what -- can compete for resources.

Our guests -- lieutenant colonel Michael -- he's a local guy from want it who is right now Ian. You said west Baghdad Clinton know and -- is how with the situation there now compared to what it was say a year ago.

I think that I can speak to determine that we've been here but clearly -- serious activity here incidents had been decreasing and it appears at least from. My perspective that the strategy that we implemented and other pieces of -- units have put together. And it in the surge in what all of the different initiatives politically and and operationally. Has started to and they -- huge difference to where. We possibly could be -- tipping point unsuccessful in in these areas really see some tremendous. Grassroots things happening with the local national population what different things where there's momentum. From a societal perspective in Iraq and I think that's most important thing -- can come loose from a personal perspective.

This does sound like a stupid question but I have never allowed stupidity you in my way of asking questions. When mrs. Bhutto was assassinated a couple of days ago what did that do with regard to our troops in Iraq is as far as personal security and security of the facilities is concerned was there any fear that. You know that this was this could be the -- triggering point of of other activities.

Well it's sort of attitude for the fact the first like everyone else we were initially sort of stunned it's such -- if something happens -- a democratic country like Pakistan cues such a prominent leader in the stomach it happens Leo oh. Also -- about the potential strategic implications the situation you know what that -- congress from geopolitical perspective a little bit speculating much ourselves and then there's more came -- that it may have been driven by Al Qaeda or other extremist groups it just made -- more vigilant to our old car -- realize that there -- groups out there that will do anything to hurt the democratic society and make no mistake Pakistan is a democratic society you know the -- models but the democratic side the -- actually. -- trying to to move in that your actions. The end we can understand exactly their pain but people trying to disrupt. The local population desire to be free which is the Iraqis that I met here it just what you eight in the just wanna. -- Take care of their feelings and their political life and they want to do that to secure environment -- I can see it almost makes us more vigilant to make sure that that's just doesn't happen here or on the world.

I had a friend who taught assassination not how to -- the but what assassinations were all about it university of Massachusetts Dartmouth they both of them professor -- Milan and he passed away in the in the recent past. I asked him once as to what is the importance of understanding assassinations he said. More world events turn on assassinations and anything else in the history he pointed to World War I the assassination of the arch duke and his wife in in Sarajevo the assassination of John F Kennedy in the changes that. On May well have brought on in the United States that we may never even be able to measure and in the case of Pakistan right now with the assassination of mrs. Bhutto and the -- of the whole whole flow of -- democratic elections may be out the window at least for. For an extended period of time so assassinations are a major player in world history.

I think I think here you're absolutely right and probably for that reason that's why we can't but it destructive course of events because that's exactly yet -- right someone can. Not -- very confusion logistically we spent tens and hundred civilians about to make the right thing happened for example here yet someone for really with no resources can make a world event happened with the assassination of this is -- With some basic explosives in. And suicide bomb.

Hey Leo and have that it really. We almost had a that it and start it. The blue -- that was enough by the name of Hinckley who who nearly killed President Reagan. His bullet was about an inch and a half away from where would've it would have killed President Reagan so protecting. National leaders I think it's probably as close to impossible if there's anything that we've ever attempted to do.

Well let's say it's especially interest in just because this is who -- exile and the whatnot. But you can see how hard the mission is here for the soldiers in Iraq trying to. Maintain security country we have an enemy who is making every attempt. -- different places to to disrupt. The democratic government. And it says it in a certain sense it's in it's been impossible task. That's exactly why were to the challenge to make sure that these things don't happen. We're doing everything that we can with every ounce of energy that we can -- said the conditions so that there's a possibility. And ever want to live and it's free and safe society.

Can we go on to something a little bit more pleasant. Your from the Boston area year year and with the patriots shouldn't I did you now.

Because that's pleasant if we're preparing because -- about. Well twelve and a half hours we are preparing ourselves -- hopefully date with destiny so he -- The one of our unit sister -- from Rhode Island the end according -- them commandos then we hear from Boston so. We just had a blessed here first Red Sox so we were up that. You know our time they -- between two and 5 in the morning to watch on a Red Sox games too exhausted first you know good several weeks there. People thought we were working hard now missions but I have to admit that we were watching the red such -- night. And then of course tonight we -- missed this so were were preparing ourselves.

And then you throw on the Celtics my -- This is the -- it. My son in law's from New York and he was crying in his beer last night about what a great sports city Boston has become I loved every second and every tear --

Absolutely we have we used to have Europeans actually introduced themselves to you know. I don't want to poke fun at first but then the last few months they don't even had any of that anymore.

Q that's the breaks my heart by the way is that we do have a response to Yankee fans amenable -- you sound like a a charitable giving man and a decent human being so when you encounter Yankee fan. What -- can give them the resource that you and I had throughout our life which was at the end of the season repeat these words every day wait until next year. In it'll help you get by the next eighty years Yankee fan.

Absolutely in fact. I think when -- that's training there possibly could beat it goes to war here has -- big Red Sox in because people -- you know we always have hope took a better day. We always have hope that we can do better the next you have always hoped for. A World Series or victory in and the sports it's just amazing. How it helps us from an attitude perspective because that positive attitude of being the -- we have. Victory after victory in just historical achievements we kind of feel like we're here during a very historical time that it is the surge. Now works -- it's been working that we could be part of most historical events the end hopefully all the time. If -- Iraq. You know and took the place you know work ought to be that will be able to remember that possibly undefeated. Patriot season the World Series in god can only help us with the south which at this point.

By the way you build though -- his say military academy -- he grew up on campus and then trying get a message to him and say get the when this one for the guys out there.

Absolutely were rooting then let him know that we are -- you know from. Our post it just can't cropper Iraqi people will be a watching the game and then they're motivating us but there. You know amazing activities and we hope that we're doing the same thing in Massachusetts national part of the world to achieve victory. It'll we are -- our that is our Super Bowl to say the least.

I'm -- Sam Adams tonight will be in the with you wouldn't mind that. Well since we are allowed to have alcohol early euphoria could the wolf thank you Tennessee that painful painful to think about. I suspect mrs. miner is listening right now if you have anything to say to the -- that -- please be my guest.

Yeah I know I do want to say hello to. But kids Alexander Melissa -- and my wife Helen into the mother father. And in stepmother just want to say hello and I want saying you know. You know from you know giving us the opportunity to talk because we've spent no a lot about time since June when mobile person. And we appreciate everyone's support emotional and happy holiday over the policies and here. Everyone from the Boston area there Boris I was so impressed because we received packages like no other part of the country to -- gift packages everything it's it's amazing.

And the biggest gift served one of the big gift will come tonight our time 830 middle me what time for you let's -- We just the opposite.

That'll be worked eight hours ahead so. Approximately 4 in the morning we're ready get ready to go without patriots action chirps and.

With the bacon eggs and the path. Absolutely absolutely some people think we're slightly obnoxious over this but I don't don't understand what you're you're you're entitled to it after what we've put up with with the legal action reflects them. Would you believe this but the patriots a ten years ago fifteen years ago the pre pre the Parcells there. -- We've definitely been through basic training without support path and along the path that's lead that's the message lieutenant colonel Michael Kleiner god bless you first -- thank you for your service. Please be safe and happy New Year thank you lord thank you for -- very much my pleasure my honor lieutenant colonel Michael -- he's from swamped if he's he's a local guy. -- very astute and very aware of the the sports scene here as well in the the guys Africa to move comeback city. -- you sports team back home. Winner or -- the winners are not. Have a great deal of effect on the in the Morales Leah with the troops I mean this is something to filed this is an attachment to home to compile on a daily basis