a couple of small reasons why they fight

[foxyrider]

Here are a couple of "small" resons why they are fighting. I was told by one of our "boys" that if they can save one child then it's worth it.

[2yld]

I've seen that bottom photo before. If we truly believe in "justice for all," then we know why they are over there. God bless them and protect them.

[Bull]

Amen to that!

[Rewind]

Another Amen!!!! Thanks Foxy!!!

[foxyrider]

Letter from a Soldier in Iraq:

My name is SSG Michael J. Sanow. I am currently stationed in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since I have been here I have had many interesting, and sometimes tense, experiences. Of all of my experiences, though, there has been one positive experience that stands out above all others. Since I have been in Iraq I have had the honor to meet some very good Iraqi people who have not only performed work for the Army, specifically my Battalion, but have also become my good friends.

Almost daily, of the thousands of Iraqi workers (laborers, engineers, electricians, craftsmen) employed by the military to help in the rebuilding efforts, I pick up and escort Ehsan, Jamal, Mahmod, Sajed, Fadel, Jabar, Hazim, Amir, Rafed, and Adil. These are very proud, hard-working Iraqis who are glad to be taking part in the rebuilding effort. I look forward to meeting them every morning, knowing that my day will be filled with conversation and an honest day's work. Ehsan, Jamal, and Mahmod speak English very well, and often translate for the rest of us, as I do not speak Arabic.

You see, each day, we eat lunch together and talk about many things, not the least of which is how happy they are to be free. They are glad to be able to have the opportunity to work and earn wages to support their families. They are glad that the United States of America has liberated them from Saddam.


Not a day goes by that we don't discuss how much better off they are now than before. Ehsan, a former biology teacher, is happiest for his children. He tells me often how happy he is that they will now have a promising future. They are optimistic about the future. They hope that freedom will bring the Iraqi people a much needed rest. As Mahmod explains it, "The Iraqi people are tired from all of the wars and Saddam."


My Battalion is participating in Operation Iraqi Children and look forward to distributing our first batch of school supplies to the Iraqi children. I have shown Ehsan the Operation Iraqi Children web-site and explained the program to him. He in turn explained it to everyone else. All of them expressed their gratitude for the Americans helping them. Ehsan agreed stating, "The country needs education. There are some very smart people in this country, but mostly the population is uneducated and uninformed. The Americans are helping Iraqis change that and that is good." It will be hard when it comes time for me to return to America, leaving behind my new-found friends. Though, that's a long way away, I take solace in the fact that I am part of history, liberating the Iraqi people and helping them to rebuild their nation. I will miss them, but they're only an email away, which is just one of the many freedoms they are just now beginning to enjoy.


Good things are happening here in Iraq. I am proud to be a part of it and very grateful to have met my new friends Ehsan, Jamal, Mahmod, Sajed, Fadel, Jabar, Hazim, Amir, Rafed, and Adil.

[foxyrider]

This was a plaque that was created and hung up by Iraqi citizenss at the school visited by Gary Sinise. It was on the wall in the Headmasters office. The Headmaster took Gary in to his office to show him the plaque because he was very proud of it and wanted to share it.

Gary decided to include it on the website because of the wonderful spirit of cooperation that he felt when he was at the school that day. This was a great tribute to the work that the Iraqis have done with the coalition forces. (Another positive step toward rebuilding that war-torn country.)

[aintgotnun]

thanks!

that is really neat

[foxyrider]

I just thought that someone should share that it's NOT all bad news over there! The US press pisses me off!