Note: The following post is an exact quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1441785/posts
Scourge of terrorists and saviour of Aussie
dailytelegraph ^ | July 13, 2005 | PAUL KENT
Posted on 07/13/2005 4:16:50 AM PDT by Critical Bill
As former hostage Douglas Wood meets Prime Minister John Howard, PAUL KENT travels to Iraq to meet the man who saved the Australian's life
ON THE night they brought in 35 more Australian troops to do Australia's fighting, the little man with the eternal light was out in the Iraqi suburbs, weaving whatever it is that makes the legend grow.
He is not Australian, yet he senses the place he holds in Australian hearts. He is not a big man, and yet with every new conquest he seems to grow.
"Big power," he calls it, and he couldn't be more right.
Not so long ago, Colonel Muhammad Faiq Raouf was handing out toys and school supplies to children in the Iraqi suburbs, when a small tip came his way. It was not simply an act of goodwill, although that is the pleasant by-product.
"What happens when you're nice to the people is that a lot of times they will give you information about bad guys in the area," says Randy Green, a captain in the US Army serving under Colonel Muhammad.
All part of a normal operation, Colonel Muhammad got a handful of tips about houses in the area and so he squared off an area about 2km long and 500m wide and his squad of some 200 men began knocking on doors.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytelegraph.news.com.au ...