"As an Army convoy prepared to depart after dropping off blankets, an Iraqi boy came out to say goodbye clutching a stuffed toy--and an American flag."
Posted on 01/10/2007 10:39:25 PM PST by ajolympian2004
My Hot Air colleague Bryan Preston and I have been in Iraq, embedded with an incredibly dedicated Army unit in Baghdad tasked with training Iraqi security forces (both Shia and Sunni) conducting counterinsurgency operations, and carrying out civil affairs work. Yes, there is danger and chaos and unspeakable bloodshed in parts of Baghdad. Sectarian violence--compounded by everyday street crime and tribal conflict--is rampant. Corruption, incompetence, and apathy infect the Iraqi government. You've gotten endless news coverage of all that. But there are also pockets of success and signs of hope amid utter despair. I'll give you more details of our embed unit after we get home. We have much to report and will be publishing a multi-part video and audio series, blog posts, and op-eds on security conditions, media malpractice, and the big picture on the war next week. Having met, watched, and interviewed a broad cross-section of our troops during our brief but fruitful travels, my faith in the U.S. military has never been stronger-- but I will not sugarcoat my skepticism and doubts about decisions being made in Washington. For now, I'm posting a few pictures I took from one of our recent trips on patrol through the slums of Baghdad.
Michelle's pictures here -
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006675.htm
That is a big sigh. Keep me posted.
Good, get as many Margaritas, football games, and cold beers in as you can.
It's a darn blizzard here. LOL.
I got robbed...only about 1/32 inch here and it stopped!
But if the sounds we hear of that of the Mahdi Army getting their a$$es handed to them, that'll be a good thing. I was getting a little tired of their daily rockets and mortars just before I went on vacation.
It started here 'bout 6:30 and has not let up (tacoma)
Those toothless bastards are on borrowed time now.
When that serious stuff starts, Allegra, keep your head down and stay safe.
Great pics.. somehow just looking at those children I would say their parents aren't all 'raving maniacs'.
Hat's off to Malkin for a brave reporting job.
Amen!
It blew real fast past here (Poulsbo) on it's way down to you. It must have gotten stuck over you then. Have fun with it!
Oh, I plan too. Biggest snowman this side of the Pecos tomorrow AM
"As an Army convoy prepared to depart after dropping off blankets, an Iraqi boy came out to say goodbye clutching a stuffed toy--and an American flag."
Boy, that really gets to you.
Thanks. Actually, the serious stuff has been going on for quite a while. That Mahdi Army scum has been launching things at the Green Zone daily since early November. One of the people killed in those strikes was a friend of mine.
It'll be nice to know that some of the sounds we hear are the good guys going after them and kicking their butts.
I can only dream that would be on the front page of every major newspaper. A real shame..
(((hugs)))
The smile of a small child at a total stranger is as strong proof of the Almighty as anything. When you smile at a baby or toddler and they smile back, they aren't thinking about how they are smiling back at you, they are feeling your warmth and affection and returning it in reflexive appreciation.
It's when kids are taught to be "cool" and aloof that the smiles disappear, replaced by blank stares or scowls. Thank goodness these Iraqi kids aren't cool enough to project attitude at the camera; they might have looked like those unfortunate Palestinian kids trained to be suicide bombers.
well stated.
I know it's been going on for a while, actually I think quite a while.
I'm truly sorry to hear about your friend. May God Bless him or her and family.
If the stuff really hits the fan and they go at it big time with Sadr's thugs, I hope they get all of you out of there to a safer place and I sure hope we wipe them out.
BTTT for the seeds of freedom.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.