Posted on 08/10/2005 6:54:53 PM PDT by jp3
In Baghdad, Iraqi civilians took unusual action to protect coalition forces after a car-bomb attack Aug. 6.
After U.S. medics treated the wounded at the scene in the Sumer al Ghadier District, local residents constructed a hasty barricade with trees, bricks and anything else available to protect the soldiers from additional danger.
"This is the first time that I can remember where Iraqi civilians actually built a barrier to protect my soldiers," U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steven Merkel, commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, said. "The soldiers are still talking about the helpful actions of the local community and have asked to go back to the neighborhood to thank those responsible."
Capt. David Ahl, 1-9 FA information operations officer, said, "It became very obvious that the Iraqi people are tired of terrorist activity. When I saw them putting up barricades to protect us after the (car bomb) exploded, I knew right then that the days of terrorist activity are counting down fast."
The Baghdad citizens not only helped to physically protect the soldiers, but also were forthcoming with valuable information about the area, which led to the apprehension of a man suspected of involvement in a previous car-bomb attack.
"The continued commitment of the Iraqi people to help their Iraqi security forces and coalition forces demonstrates, more than ever, that they are growing increasingly intolerant of the violence brought on by the terrorists and more eager to play a positive role in the future of Iraq," Merkel said.
(Compiled from Task Force Baghdad and Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)
(Excerpt) Read more at defenselink.mil ...
Thought I would share this tid-bit of GOOD news! Enjoy!
Pull, already posted:)
Thanks! This is a GREAT story!
It IS good news indeed! Certainly, we won't hear about this on CBS News etc. Thanks for posting this story.
It is GREAT news...and I'm thankful that it can be found and hopeful that this type of information is out there for us to find and share.
Thanks for posting. If it was posted before I missed it, but I am glad I got to see it tonight.
Thank God you have your priorities straight. FR should have a Heroes Hall of Fame for folks who understand that duplicate posting is a more important issue than allowing a pro-freedom, pro-American post get wider distribution.
thank you...I think
WOW!
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