AMERICAN POW's RETURNED IN SAMARRA (CNN)

CNN ^ | 04/13/03

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Seven American POW's, including tewo helicopter pilots as well as members of the 507th Maintenance Company, have been turned over to a Marine unit near amarra without a fight. The unit was in the area for another mission, when an Iraqi policeman apporached and said "I know you are here for the prisoners".

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

The prayers of millions are answered this morning.

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[RANGERAIRBORNE]

That should read "SAMARRA"

[BenLurkin]

Amen.

[xJones]

I was hearing a very tenative report this morning on Fox. They said it was just one eyewitness report, so it's tenative, but a black female was one of the seven. If so, praise be, that would be Shosanna Johnson of Georgia. Again, only very tenative.

[paul in cape]

God Bless Our Soldiers.

BTW, what is a CNN?

[bucephalus]

A Great American Novel - Appointment in Samarra, John O'Hara.

[Diogenesis]

Pics here

[Thebaddog]

We'll be staying tuned here in Chicago.

[xJones]

Fox also said in that report that 5 of the 7 were seen running toward our aircraft, but 2 appeared injured and couldn't run.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"The distance of Samarra from Baghdad is sixty miles. This name, Surra man ra'a (He who sees it, rejoices), is said to have been given by Mu'tasim himself, when, for approximately £2,000, he purchased as a site for his new city a garden that had been developed by a Christian monastery. The Caliph's happy Arabic pun was based on the Aramaic name, Samarra, which was a town in the immediate vicinity from the times before."

Rejoicing is indeed taking place today.

[Physicist]

A Great American Novel - Appointment in Samarra, John O'Hara.

I just picked up a copy last week. The event belies the title, however, as an appointment in Samarra is an appointment with death.

[Toidylop]

Thanks God.

Sun Apr 13,10:36 AM ET

Former POW Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson, 30, center, is escorted by US soldiers to a waiting C-130 transport plane at an air base, Sunday, April 13, 2003. Johnson was with a convoy of the 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed March 23 in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Sun Apr 13,10:41 AM ET

U.S. Army Apache helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer Ronald D. Young Jr., 26, right, of Lithia Springs, Ga, who had been held as a POW by Iraqi forces when his helicopter was forced down March 23 during heavy fighting is greeting by an unidentified U.S. serviceman as he is escorted on to a waiting C-130 transport plane, Sunday, April 13, 2003, 60 miles south of Baghdad. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Sun Apr 13,10:30 AM ET

U.S. Army Spc. Edgar Hernandez, 21, of Mission, Texas, left, Army Spc. Joseph Hudson, 23, center, of Almagordo, N.M., and Army Pfc. Patrick Miller, 23, of Park City, Kan., all of the 507th Maintenance Company, and who have been held as POW's by Iraqi forces since March 23 when their convoy was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, are escorted on to a waiting C-130 transport plane, Sunday, April 13, 2003, 60 miles south of Baghdad. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"BTW, what is a CNN?

A "CNN" is a cable channel of very uneven quality, generally anti-American in tone, that I am forced to watch while at work because apparently the powers-that-be have decided FOX NEWS is too pro-American.

I was listening to one of their female reporters explain , with obvious delight, that she had been in contact with one of the recovered pilot's wives at Fort Rucker- when the (female) anchor cut her off and sneered "Yes, it MUST be so difficult to avoid becoming wrapped up in all that emotion".

It wasn't the words, it was the tone of voice. Must maintain our journalistic integrity, right? Ask Eason Jordan about "integrity".

Anyway, I am too happy this morning to let the messenger ruin the great news for me. But at home, I do NOT watch CNN.

[xJones]

Thank God, and thank you for the photos!

[bucephalus]

"The event belies the title, however, as an appointment in Samarra is an appointment with death."

Right you are. The epigraph from Maugham is quite memorable, too. Have a good read.

[Terry Mross]

What a wonderful thing to happen at Easter! God has blessed this country and He's on Bush's side in this war! Thank you, Lord!!!!!!!

[Toidylop]

God has blessed this country and He's on Bush's side in this war! Thank you, Lord!!!!!!!

AMEN...

[William McKinley]

I notice that almost every response on FR is one of joy and thanks to God.

I notice that almost none of the DU posts seem overly happy.

Democrats suck.

[deadhead]

"The prayers of millions are answered this morning."

Yes, prayers have been answered. Wonderful news to wake up to today.