Kinda hard to see who I'm talking to though. Don't you know it's that problem again.
Posted on 08/22/2004 3:52:38 PM PDT by Cedar
Task Force 185th Aviation “Catfish Brigade” continues to put on an Air Power demonstration here in Iraq. We are flying about 100 missions a day conducting air movements of personnel, supplies and equipment. Our efforts are providing tremendous flexibility to the US, Coalition and Iraqi Forces.
Our Humanitarian efforts resulted in a “Ground Breaking” ceremony this week for a new secondary school that will be built in a near by town. When this school is complete in November, we will donate the “Catfish” at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. We have now sponsored six building projects and will complete three water purification projects before we leave.
We continue to be excited about the Iraqi Soccer Team winning their third match in the Olympics. The Iraqi’s are absolutely going nuts about their team. The other night we saw a stream of tracer fire going up in the air. We initially thought they were shooting at aircraft, but quickly realized it was celebratory fire after Iraq had won another Soccer match. The success of Iraq’s Soccer Team is definitely helping Nation Building efforts.
Muqtada Al Sadr and his militia did everything they could this week to over shadow the Iraqi National Conference. Despite Sadr’s efforts, the Conference took place August 15-18 and was a huge success! A Governing Council (parliament) of 100 was elected representing each of Iraq’s political and ethnic groups, including an amazing 21 women. This Interim Iraqi Governing Council (parliament) will hold their first session in September and their National Elections are scheduled for January 2005.
Despite the negative news reports, the Iraqi Prime Minter Allawi showed incredible courage and leadership this week as he managed the Iraqi National Conference and the Sadr Militia simultaneously. While Sadr and his militia continue to occupy the Kufa Mosque they are surrounded by the Iraqi National Guard (with US back-up) and are being forced to negotiate or be crushed. Despite the fact Sadr said he would fight to his death, he continues to seek an agreement with the Interim Iraqi Government to save his own skin. As Sadr played stall games this week at least 70 of his militia have been killed, 70 wounded and 40 arrested trying to flee Najaf.
Some say Sadr and his followers have lived to fight another day and that might be so. But, one thing is for sure; the Interim Iraqi Government scored a huge diplomatic victory this week and sent a message to the world that armed vigilantes and terrorist groups will not be tolerated in Iraq. A legitimate Democracy is taking hold right before our eyes here in Iraq and we are proud to be a part of this transformation.
Until next week thanks for your tremendous prayers and support. We continue to be flooded with emails, letters, care packages and humanitarian gifts. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), located at 411 Briarwood Drive in Jackson, Mississippi sponsored the Catfish Brigade before we left and have continuously supported us. We want to give a special thanks to BLM this week and look forward to thanking them is person upon our return.
Catfish 6 Bradly MacNealy TF 185th Aviation "In the Sunni Triangle" Commanding
Our troops are terrific.
We sent:
9 Books: Sarum: a novel of England (Edward Rutherfurd), Russka: a novel of Russia (Rutherfurd), Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean Auel), The Good Earth (Pearl Buck), paperback Dictionary, Winds of War (Herman Wouk), Not without My Daughter (Betty Mahmoody), The Chequer Board (Nevil Shute), The Death and Life of Dith Pran (true story The Killing Fields was based on)
DVD Movie: The Man from Snowy River
2 tubes hand cream
Stationery: 2 packs Hallmark sheets/envelops, 1 med. yellow tablet, 8 envelopes, 2 pens
Stickers: 4 sheets each of flowers, horses, race cars, kitties, colored soccer balls, cartoon bugs
Candy: individual 2 each Smores, white Kitkat, M&M's. 1-3 pack of hazel nut choc balls
1 puzzle book
Anyone interested in our efforts can link to our latest thread:
Care packages and Thank-you Notes for our Troops in Afghanistan
Great job!
If anyone knows anyone in this Task Force who would like a care package, let us know.
Or if this task force could use a VCR and/or DVD player, please let us know.
We've sent over 150 movies to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, over 80 movies and a VCR and DVD player to Bagram, over 80 movies and DVD/VCR player and Playstation 1 to Kirkuk, almost 50 movies to Baghdad, and about 20 movies to Balad.
We're seriously in to this.
Yes, the truth is always enlightening to the information challenged.
Thank You! : )
We have been all along, however it is tough to see the seriousness through the MSM.
MSM?
(I'm still learning)
Until next week thanks for your tremendous prayers and support. We continue to be flooded with emails, letters, care packages and humanitarian gifts.
Thank you, Cedar.
Working overtime in a war zone, taking the time to report - with good will - our troops are awesome.
(To know them is to love them, bump!)
Main Stream Media, my friend. : )
A mind is a terrible thing to be wasted.
Kinda hard to see who I'm talking to though. Don't you know it's that problem again.
What one doesn't use, one loses!
Have a great day!
i'ts always nice to hear good news from Iraq. and Commander MacNealy is a nice man, and is a commander who truly cares for those under his command.
"a commander who truly cares for those under his command."
Yeah, that shows through. He sounds like an honorable man.
Boots on the ground...along with my Capt. Son-in-law keeps me up to date on the real deal over there. Which is opposite from the lamestream media....
Bump!
Sending "thanks" to your son-in-law for his service.
Bump
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