Hi Kristinn,
Praying for all of you and those outstanding men and women in armed forces (as well as the contractors and non-mil personnel).
It is important that you ask the troops (those who have repeated tours), what the situation was before and get the number of schools, infrastructure, etc. that have been built; life for women/girls before and after; their legal system (we know the judges aren't Clinton appointees, thank goodness); the interaction with the Iraqi children; Healthcare vs. previous conditions (and something from the brave medical personnel inside and out of the military); the growth of business, cell phones, press, freedom of speech (as greatly emphasized during subsequent elections (ask how they felt through each election); something from bloggers there; true assessments (remember no pol. affiliation from the troops), on what works best for them and how they can most honor those that fell along side them; A message from the troops for us fighting the MSM at home (make sure they know... some do of course, that we're fighting the ground war here with good news from Iraq, and we know their accomplishments, truly historic); collegate outlook; what social services, if any are available (cultural wise); madrassas, has our help meant any changes there; Get feedback from the imams; ask how Iraqis feel about muslim on muslim crime and what's the greater dangers they fear; Do the Iraqis feel they're ready to protect their land and their sense of nationalism; We need to know what they need there, so we can send it (clothes, school supplies, whatever); What did they think of America before vs. now; How many have taken an interest in the English language and things US (music, movies); Do they understand the concept of someone sacrificing themselves for good vs. occupation.
For the parents:
How do they view their loved ones historic sacrifice since they've been there?
Have they come upon friends of their brave loved ones that knew them, what did they come away with?
How did it feel to be there when the verdict came?
Do they realize these troops will be the new greatest generation, bringing loyalty, fidelity and values back home, how it will change our society and the world for the better?
Did the Gold Star's talk to Iraqi parents of Iraqi Guard or any parent that lost someone due to insurgents/terrorists?
Did they get to see Iraq's democracy in action (I'm sure you can't just walk in as the house or Senate)?
What do they think of the number of women elected in posts there?
Do it make them even more proud to see the challenges their loved ones and others now, go through to make this happen?
How did they find the morale of the troops?
(I should say their sons and daughters... they all are)
Tell them for me,
Words can't express their representation of every mother and father in this country who believes in our young men and women. Tell them all of them are also our children, including theirs who now watch from on high, and we will protect them all we can here. We look forward to working with them on anything that needs to be done.
God bless, stay safe.
Good questions. We should be online in about one hour from now.
I.m Joseph Williams, Gold Star Father.
To anwser your question(s):
Today we met people who survived the Anfal campaign Saddam waged against the Kurds. One lady lost her entire family. It was really emotional and I think we need to help these people. There are about 326 families living in this area. All these people were scheduld to be executed before America saved them.
I can't say how much they appreciate that, they were so happy to meet us. We told them that we were all family. They were deeply touched.
Saddam's verdict, the people there wanted justice done to avenge the dirty deeds done them by Saddam. As far as Saddam's execution, the sooner the better. And when it happens I will be high-fiving everyone I know and drinking a very big toast.
Hello to all from Iraq,
As a Gold Star parent I can't tell you the feeling I had to touch down in the country where I lost my son. I wanted to see for myself the progress that is not being given any attention on the media. I am very happy that I made this trip.
We have been as close family here in Erbil and the surrounding areas. The gratitude of these people to the United States and to the President is expressed to us from everyone. They love America in this region. Today we visited women who had lost their sons and husbands under the old regime. These people live in the old camps where they were under a type of house arrest, until the day that the troops under Saddham would come for their men. Some of these women still wait as if their men will return. We were the first Americans they ever saw. They cried and mourned for our loss and their loss. I can't explain. They have nothing, but their hearts and stories were ours. I told them that they have family now in the United States. They are trying so hard to rebuild. The simple things are needed to help them get along.
The government is new, so help is needed. The President of the Kurdish region is a warm and wonderful man. He lost 35 family members under Saddham.
They know and feel our loss. They feel that a swift death for Saddham is too kind.
Those that we say goodbye to have tears in their eyes. They are fearful that Iraq will fall hard if our troops leave here.
The troops that we have visited with feel the same. They want to finish their mission, and try to ignore the news from home that some want them to abandon these people.
Very hard to put into words.
Debbie
Proud mother of Capt. Derek Argel
Hi, I'm Jan Johnson. My husband,Joe and I have been able to run into one of the guys who served with our son, Justin, and was one of the guys who went out to the site of his death that night. It was so touching, something we really didn't expect to happen. We also ran into him again today at one of our meetings and was able to talk to him some more.
Joseph Williams here.
We met a woman minister for the KRG today. She's in charge of a new ministry dealing with the Kurdish victims of Saddam. There are so many people who were killed by Saddam the Kurds had to set up this ministry to take care of the surviving families. We're told there are about 2 million widows in Iraq.
Hi, this is Joe Johnson. This afternoon we were able to go to the outskirts of Erbil. This was a slum area, something I was used to seeing in Baghdad and western Iraq. This area used to be a concentration camp built by Saddam's regime. The Kurdish people were sent here, would stay from 2 weeks to 3 months then picked up and taken out to the desert to be shot and buried in mass graves. We spoke with several older women that had lost many family members this way. These ladies called the American soldiers heroes and because of our sons sacrifices, they now have freedom.
Hello this is john Holley from Erbil Iraq,
I am as proud of my son as ever. I came here to in a small way experience what Matthew experienced.
As an Army veteran I have wanted the experience of being in a war zone and that feeling was hightened by my sons passing. So this trip has given me the feeling of walking in my son's shoes.
That was important to me because I don't expect my son to do things I haven't done myself.