Posted on 02/13/2006 5:44:09 PM PST by smoothsailing
Iraqi mayor thanks American troops
The following comes from Col. Ren Hart. We know this is happening – we just don't hear it enough.
John B. Dwyer
As I'm sure you know, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment has been serving in Iraq (its second deployment there) for the past year.
As the regiment prepares to come home, it has received the letter pasted below. I believe many of you will find it an interesting counterpoise to much of what we read in the press.
From: Mayor of Tall 'Afar, Ninewa, Iraq
In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall 'Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life.
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months.
To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city.
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city.
Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi's followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zuma and Avgani finally destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom.
Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military science. This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.
God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones.
Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and inevery flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life.
Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about this brave Regiment, I haven't the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their brave families.
NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID AL-JIBOURI
Mayor of Tall 'Afar,
Ninewa, Iraq
I wonder how the troops at WR would respond if you gave them copies of this?
"You may be surprised, but Lee and Rommel were as well!"
No surprise here. I'm not an expert on the our civil war, but my wife is, and she contends that Lee was one of the greatest. As for Rommel, he was not only a great tactician but also very honorable and ethical. What a shame that he was under the command of such an evil government.
I have a large collection of WWII books and over twenty on Patton alone. He is one of the most fascinating men in history. One of my friends father died recently and one thing he had insisted be but in his obituary was that he "rolled with Patton". There is much revisionist history that paints Patton as arrogant and aloof, but I have never known anyone who served with him who said that they served "under" him.
If this is true, the spirit is awesome. This is what our boys fought for. May this spirit spread to all Iraqis. May they someday remind us of the preciousness of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
I wait with bated breath for its appearance in the New York T!mes.
What our troops have been doing at Tall 'Afar.
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment *ping*
BTTT
Thanks for the ping Patty and thank you smoothsailing for posting this. I had chill bumps by the third paragraph. I am going to copy paste to all on my email list which includes some liberal kinfolk. I think I might even send a copy to my Senator John Cornyn and request it be entered into Congressional Record. If the old msm won't carry it - then we must.
God bless our dear troops.
Thanks for the ping! And thanks to the Admin for the repost cause I missed the first one. THIS IS A MUST READ!!!!!!!! God bless our Troops!!!
This will never see the light of day in the MSM.
It's actually mind-boggling what the MSM chooses to ignore.
The progress in Iraq is amazing and continues to move forward. And the majority of Iraqis are grateful for their freedom and they are very aware of how that came about.
Good to know and even better to hear it from YOU, Allegra!
Thanks for the ping!
Wow, what a letter. I'm so glad that the sacrifices of our troops is not going unnoticed by the people of Iraq, at least some or many of them. American blood paid for their freedom. At least some of them "get it".
Thanks for posting this and patty thanks for the ping.
Didn't I hear the Mayor of San Francisco say he wanted to impeach President Bush. Perhaps we should all copy this letter and send to the goof ball in SF. Just a thought ;-)
"I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism."
Amen! God bless our troops!
Bump
ping
Thanks for the ping, Patty.
And thanks for letting this thread stay - I missed the first time it was posted.
A wonderful letter to our troops.
I like the "lion-heart" part.
Apparently this doesn't seem like a crusade to hizzoner.
Pings don't get much better than this one. Thanks.
Thanks for posting, smoothsailing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.