Posted on 02/20/2006 10:31:59 AM PST by dead
An Iraqi mayor has written a dramatic letter to the commander of coalition forces, praising U.S. troops as "lion hearts" and "knights" for liberating his city from al Qaeda terrorists.
The emotional letter from gallant Tal' Afar Mayor Najim Abdullah Abid Al-Jibouri to Gen. George Casey is circulating among military families over the Internet and has created a surge of pride in troops.
Al-Jibouri's letter calls soldiers of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, who carried out recent anti-terrorist operations in Tal' Afar "lion hearts," who "bristle with the confidence of knights in a bygone era."
He said the troops transformed his western Iraqi city from a "ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, into a secure city flourishing with life."
"We see them in the smile of every child, and in every flower growing in this land."
< SNIP >
Col. H.R. McMaster, commander of the regiment's 4,700 soldiers, told The Post in an e-mail from Iraq: "It is a moving tribute to our courageous, disciplined, tough and compassionate troopers…
"Our city was the main base of operations for . . . Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage by his henchmen . . . Our streets were silent and no one dared to walk them," al-Jibouri wrote in the letter.
"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 . . . their young," he added.
< SNIP >
The mayor's letter to Casey is being handed out to families at homecoming ceremonies at Fort Carson, adding a sense of "mission accomplished" to the joy returning soldiers and their families are experiencing...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Al-Jibouri also offered special words to the families of the 39 Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the battle to save his city. "To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence for the souls of your loved ones," he wrote. "We see them in the smile of every child, and in every flower growing in this land."
No word yet on who will be giving the official Democratic Party rebuttal.
This will be very confusing to Barbra Streisand who doesn't know the difference between Iraq and Iran.
What an inspiring story. Thanks for posting it. And I love your rebuttal!!! Freepers never let me down!
Yeah Iraq!
Quagmire?
Wow! God bless our troops!
Richard Coeur de Lion. Interesting that a Muslim chieftan should praise a Crusader. But before the politically correct revisionists took hold of the Crusades, there was a certain respect between these enemies.
It was progressive Europeans who taught the Arabs about the evils of the Crusades. In fact, it was the German Emperor, working toward the First World War and undermining the British, who started the whole Arab re-education campaign.
redrock
I understand that she's also a bit shaky on the difference between her a$$ and a hole in the ground.
The NY Post gets it yet the DNC-Times is blind and deaf.
they'll never want this story out to the public...
"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 . . . their young," he added.
The amazing religion of peace..(see tagline)
What a terrific post. Thank you.
"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 . . . their young"
Paging Mother Sheehan, Mother Sheehan, please report to Reality for the nearest sanity check.
What a great post. Pass it on.
thanks, my brother's son is serving in Tal' Afar, does anyone have a link to the full letter? couldn't find much on google
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, Zumar 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 in every 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
spendid! thanks very much
I'm guessing that Hizzoner didn't buy into Saddam's "Jews and Crusaders" line.
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