Report #2 by Kristinn Taylor from FREE IRAQ!

Move America Forward ^ | 11/07/2006 | Kristinn Taylor

[Impeach98]

Report from FREE IRAQ by FReeper Kristinn Taylor

I wanted to follow up on yesterday's report from Erbil, Iraq with some more details. By now the news is out about the scathing comments made by the Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistanabout the media's coverage of Iraq.

WorldNetDaily: 'CNN, Al-Jazeera coverage of Iraq war equally biased'

CNSNews: Iraqi Leader Disparages US Media Coverage

We all were in agreement with him. He said the media makes it look like Iraq is on the verge of collapse, when that is not the case. Yes, there are troubles in Baghdad and a few other provinces, but where we are it is peaceful and the northern Iraqi provinces are experiencing an economic boom.

In our travels we are seeing roads being built (and rebuilt), buildings and homes going up everywhere, the power grid being expanded, retail stores and car dealerships opening and busy. Oh yeah, we haven't seen any fighting or bombs going off, go figure.

Even though gasoline and kerosene cannot be delivered from the south because they make inviting targets for terrorists down there, courageous Kurdish entrepeneurs travel south and bring back barrels of fuel to sell by the roadside. As a result, the streets are teeming with vehicular traffic like any other large city in the world. The KRG is planning to open up oil fields and build refineries in their region next year to stabalize the fuel situation.

The Iraqi people here have been very friendly and welcoming--from President Barzani to the kids in the street. There is a strong sense that they recognize that this is their once-in-a-lifetime chance to secure their freedom. And unlike their brethren to the south, they have put aside any thoughts of revenge and are seizing the moment.

The Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Nerchivan Barzani told us yesterday that we could go most anywhere in Iraq and meet people who would tell us how grateful they are for liberating them from Saddam. He emphasized the word 'liberation.' He does not see us as occupiers.

A few nights ago, we met an American woman who has been living in Iraq for the past three years helping the Iraqis build their democracy and economy.

She told us of a taxi driver in Erbil who, when learning she was American, proudly rolled up his sleeve to show her his bicep that was tattoed with the image of President Bush!

We spent last evening at the home of the widow of the slain deputy prime minister of the KRG. Her husband and son had been killed by a suicide bomber in February 2004. It was an emotional night as the Kurdish and American parents shared their grief over the loss of their loved ones in the fight for freedom.

This trip has been overwhelming in so many ways for all of us. We have three more days until we start heading home.

More later.... Stay tuned to www.MoveAmericaForward.org for complete updates.

Kristinn Taylor

P.S. I also posted a thread with a live chat between Gold Star Families on this trip from FREE IRAQ with you, our fellow FReepers. CLICK HERE TO READ IT!

[Quix]

Thanks K,

Please keep up the great work!

Hug em all and thank them for standing up and fighting for what's right.

[Albion Wilde]

Go, Kristinn!!

[Diver Dave]

A bump for Kristinn Report #2.

[Tax-chick]

BTTT for Kristinn in Iraq!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Thanks for the ping.

[auboy]

BTTT

Thanks!

[teeman8r]

great report and keep them coming... kristinn, thanks for taking the time to take us with you...

teeman

ps-kristinn sure makes a lot of trips... does he work with the cia?

[StarCMC]

Thank you Kristinn!!

[Allegra]

Want to come out with one of your gloom-and-doom remarks now, Captain?

Someone else is pretty much saying the same things I've been saying all along. Come on, let's see you continue to disparage the reports of those of us who can see it.

[Dinah Lord]

Thank you kristinn - that was a great report to read on a gloomy day here in the states. (Gloomy in more ways than one...)

LOL about the taxi guy's tattoo! That was the best!

Thinking of you all with prayers and safe travel vibes.

Dinah

[Incorrigible]

And thank you Allegra for keeping us informed on a regular basis as well.

[Impeach98]

"ps-kristinn sure makes a lot of trips... does he work with the cia?"

I'M TELLING JOSEPH WILSON ON YOU!!!

LOL!! :)

[trooprally]

Kristinn -

Thanks for the continued reports and be safe.

Make sure to tell the troops that no matter what happened on election day, the majority of Americans do support them. And we'll keep up our support rallies.

[Mr] T

[Fudd Fan]

Thanks for this thread... and thank you kristinn!!

GOD BLESS OUR BRAVE TROOPS!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[cibco]

BTTT!

[acsrp38]

Thank you all!!

[cibco]

Can you ping some more to this thread? Pretty please...

[defconw]

OK for you, I will.

[defconw]

FYI Ping!