Joseph Johnson, I can't believe that you are writing to me from Iraq! I want to tell you how sorry I am that you lost your son. I can't imagine the pain you felt but also your great pride in him shines thru. He died for a great cause and he was doing what he knew was right--bringing freedom to desperate people. He gave his life so others could live and be free.
It's really hard to write this thru tears, but I have read of the horrors of Sadaam's regime, the torture people went thru, the fear they lived with constantly. I met a young Iraqi here whose father was killed before his eyes because he dared to speak out. His son fled Iraq to save his life and has settled here with his sister--they cannot believe the dream that is America.
We are all so proud of all of our troops, and their families who wait for them and who pray for them constantly. My son was in Desert Storm and I remember those anxious hours--and that was for a short time;I can't imagine what these families are going thru.
We pray for all of them every day and also that they will be allowed to finish the mission. Unfortunately we live in a tv situation that's solved in an hour and people are very unrealistic. The devastation inflicted on Iraqis and their country cannot be fixed immediately--it's going to be long and hard and expensive, but we need to do it. We're praying hard for this election too, that the naysayers will be defeated.
Please remember your son isn't gone, he's still here--he's just in a different place (to quote from the mother of a Marine who lost his life in Iraq). I know he will always be with you. Thank you, and all of you, for being there for us!!!
It was an honor to receive your message Wish I could be there with you!
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