Posted on 11/07/2006 3:30:32 AM PST by kristinn
Greetings from FRee Iraq! The Gold Star parents visiting Iraq will be on Free Republic later today to discuss our trip here. Please post questions and comments on this thread for the families.
This will be the first group interview from Iraq by the Gold Star families. For some reason, the MSM hasn't shown any interest in this historic trip :-) So once again, FReepers will scoop the MSM.
I can't give a time certain, but my best guess is the families should be on this thread in six or seven hours from now (evening in Iraq.)
Wow, Kristinn...
Tell all the Gold Star families I love and pray for them and our troops. Their testimonies made me feel as if I was right there... and tears ensued. Tears for seeds I thought had died but brought fruit a hundred fold. I came in weeping but go out rejoicing. I will never forget these stories and will share them with my children... the truth of loyalty and bravery... sacrifice and love.
Tell them they are also planted in my heart along with those whose stories they told.
LOL
Hi you wonderful Freeper you!!!
I think you are in a happier place tonight than we are...it is a rough one.
But, seriesly, what you guys have done is a beautiful thing..and a brave thing.
I want to thank you and ask you to give my thanks to the Gold Star Families that traveled with you,...Please??
God Bless your little group.....I e-mailed everyone in any addy book for prayers for you.
Stay safe over there. Our prayers are with you and the soldiers.
I'm interested to know what stands out the most to them as being difference from what the enemedia paints as truth.
From Joseph Williams,
It is a total difference, here there is no fighting and we feel perfactly safe. The people are very friendly and wel- coming to us. They say they are very happy that the U.S.
invaded Iraq and saved them. All I can say it that the old media lies!
Best wishes, love, profound thanks and God speed to all our brave troops!
This is John Holley,
I was asked what was the highlight of my trip and I said that is a difficult thing to say, because everything we have done here has been so awesome.
Regardless of what we saw or who we met, all were equally the top.
How can you choose between meeting the troops, meeting with the victims of the Anfal, seeing a prison where Saddam tortured people and being toured by a former prisoner and torture victim and meeting all the top leaders in the Kurdish region and hearing them speak in reverence for the coalition forces who have lost their lives, particularily the Americans?
They love us and really appreciate the sacrifices they have made for their freedom.
Also please don't forget that they have lost several hundred thousand of their own people up here over the years.
We are all in this fight together and as such need to respect all sacrifices.
Having lost my only child here and to hear their words is very comforting to me and all the Gold Star parents.
Saddam is another matter. The rule of law will prevail and as such his punishment will be appropriate for the crimes committed.
My hope is that we will prevail soon in this cause and i thank you for your civilian service.
Hello again, this is Joe Johnson. It was very good of you to write me back. Thank you for all of your kind and encouraging words. I think the most I have gotten out of this trip is how much the Kurdish people have prospered due to the United States involvement here. Starting in 1991 with the northern no fly zone. In doing this, it stopped the Iraqi military's ability to spray chemicals that where designed to kill humans, animals and all vegetation. Most of the land here is devoid of trees. Every tree that we have seen has been replanted. They took us to one of Saddam's prisons yesterday. Our guide was an ex-prisoner there. His stories were heartbreaking but brought to life the actual conditions that they were forced to live in. This prison was bullet-ridden from the locals who stormed the prison after the no-fly zone was placed. We have been told time and time again by the Kurdish people that if the Americans leave here, it will be back as it was before. Right now this is a beautiful area. There is alot of new construction unlike the other regions of Iraq. Religion is not a big priority here. Muslums and Christians live in harmony here, including Jews. The other provinces of Iraq could learn alot from this one. Thanks, Joe
I am so happy that you are all getting to see the truth here with your own eyes as opposed to the garbage the media portrays.
My heart and sincere admiration go out to all of you and yours for making the incredibly difficult sacrifices you have made for this mission. May God bless you all abundantly.
I hope you enjoy the remainder of your visit here and I would love the chance to shake all of your hands. It would be an honor for me.
Have been following this thread from the beginning. It is so good to hear the truth. Our admiration goes out to all the Gold Star Parents for making this trip.
Keep up the good work! Wish I was there with you folks!
Semper Fidelis.
Dear Kristinn,
I have the brother of Todd Bastian (JB) working for me, and we wish you and the Gold Star team great success on your mission.
J.B has one request for his brother; get him a Harley shirt. :)
We are looking forward to the great story's.
Thank you, Joe Johnson, for making it possible for my being able to have this personal contact with you in Iraq! I still can't believe it! Your son would have been so proud to know that you made the long journey to see for yourself what life is like over there and to hear the truth from people who lived thru the terror of Sadaam.
You are doing a wonderful job describing your surroundings and the background. What great ambassadors for America you all are.
It's easy for some people here to say we should just get out. I guess they aren't aware that the terrorists threatened that all Iraqis who dared to vote in the elections would be killed; that they would be tracked down and slaughtered. And yet you saw how the people risked everything to vote. We didn't see much of that in our local papers but thanks to Jim Robinson's vision we had up-to-the minute photographs of these brave souls.
I'll never forget the photo of the rather frail gentleman who was carrying an elderly man on his back to the polls so he could vote. The long, long lines of citizens waiting patiently for the privilege of voting. Or the looks of wonder on those who held up their blue-stained fingers. I stained mine in support and the sad thing is that no one in our church knew what it meant!
We fly our flag every day in tribute to our brave troops and those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the name of freedom. I get really, really upset when politicians who have never been to Iraq are experts on the situation there!
I know everyone is just thrilled to have these posts from Iraq and thank you Kristinn for providing the opportunity to hear this news. Our prayers are with all of you.
Stay safe!
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