Have no idea if this has been posted yet on FR.
But in any case, it is well worth reading. Got it from a dear friend who works in the Pentagon.
Brigadier General Mike Jones,
Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) of the 1st Cavalry Division in
the Baghdad Central area.
Dear Friends,
It isn't over yet, but today there was a resounding victory for freedom
and democracy here in Baghdad. Having been here for a while now, many
of us have grown weary of the hand-wringers, worriers, pessimists,
whiners, and host of others who have been telling us for so long that
all is lost in Iraq. Today we witnessed just how courageous the Iraqi
people can be and how much they love their new-found freedom.
After listening to the pundits tell us how terrible the Iraqi Security
Forces are, today I watched the Iraqi Security Forces stand tall. They
protected 1,188 polling sites in Baghdad. Although there were a number
of suicide bombers who attacked today, not a single one penetrated the
perimeter of a polling site. There were several Iraqi policemen, and
several Iraqi soldiers who lost their lives today. But they did not
lose their honor or their courage; none of the 30,000 plus Iraqi
Security Forces on duty in Baghdad ran away from danger today.
At the site of our first suicide bombing of the day, voters did not lose
their courage either. They quickly lined back up at the same site,
spitting on the body of the suicide bomber as they passed by in line to
vote. A woman came out of line and took the shoe of the bomber and put
it on his face- a great insult to an Arab. The same was true at any
polling site that had violence. Voters immediately lined up again to
cast their vote. How many Americans value their privilege to vote enough
to show that kind of courage?
We have listened to many experts talk about how the Sunnis would not
participate in the election. Polling sites in Abu Guyreb were moved to
Gasaliya because the Iraqi Election Commission was concerned about
security in Abu Guyreb. We watched thousands walk down the highway-
Sunni Moslems- on the 7 mile round trip to the polling sites so they
could vote. All under the threat that terrorists had been making that
they would kill anyone who voted. How many Americans would do that?
All over Baghdad the story was the same and I could tell a dozen stories
of great courage and determination. Despite the enemy's campaign of
terror, despite danger, threats, intimidation, and the sporadic
incidents of violence and terror today, Iraqis turned out in determined,
large numbers to vote. The excitement was moving. Even though the
terrorists have said they will kill anyone with a "marked finger" (when
you voted your finger was dipped in ink to keep people from voting a
second time), voters paraded down the street holding their fingers up in
joy and overwhelming pride.
When I told one Iraqi I was sorry that people had died or been wounded
today, he just said "freedom has a price, and this is the price that we
must pay". And every Iraqi I talked to said thank you to the United
States for this opportunity, for this freedom, and how grateful they
were for our help.
I am sure it will only be hours until you start hearing all the
"experts", most of which have never been to Iraq, start trying to
convince us that today was flawed, failed, or somehow less than a
wonderful day and a blow for freedom. They are the same people who say
we are failing here, that you couldn't do an election on the 30th of
January, and on and on. It is true we haven't "won" here yet. It is
not predetermined that we will win, and it will take continued sacrifice
and determination on our part. Those who hate freedom and democracy will
still fight, many to the death, to try to stop this march to freedom and
prosperity by the Iraqis with our help. They are terrified of the
thought of a free and democratic Iraq that leads this whole region to a
democratic future.
But despite this, I encourage you from here in Baghdad, for at least one
day, to ignore the pundits and experts, to enjoy a day where a blow for
freedom was struck. Know that somewhere in the world, because of the
sacrifice of your friends, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and
countrymen, good won over evil, freedom over terror, and democracy over
despotism.
Last June 30, Iraq was given their sovereignty. Today, they earned
their freedom. And we should all be joyful for that.
All the Best,
Mike
