Monday, February 13, 2006

This is why they fight

In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful

To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life.

To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months.

To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city.

Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally destroyed them.

I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not ly courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.

The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom. Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military science. This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.

God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and in every flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life.

Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about this brave Regiment, I haven’t the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their brave families.

NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID AL-JIBOURI
Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa, Iraq

Via the MudvilleGazette

13 comments:

Charlie Martin said...

Damn, beat me to it.

Remember this next time some ninny says we weren't seen as "liberators".

Unknown said...

seneca:

Well the same ninnies will say this is propaganda...it must be sad to be so incapable of believing in something. But that is the heart of the left, cheap cynicism.

Luther said...

Thanks terrye, I may not have seen that letter otherwise.

That is the type of news that the NYT's, LAT's and the Post should be featuring, at least on occasion. But we know that will not happen. I suspect there are many more stories such as this out there, stories that the majority of the American public will never even know exist.

MeaninglessHotAir said...

Terrye,

They believe in things alright. It's just that the things they believe in are so inimical to us that we can't see it, though it's right in front of our faces.

They believe that the United States is evil. They believe that America is a fascist state. They believe that America must be destroyed. They believe that George W. Bush is Satan's spawn upon this earth (they don't use those words exactly, but it amounts to the same thing). He can and must be destroyed. Republicans must be killed.

They want us to lose. They're on the other side. We're the ones having trouble believing.

Unknown said...

MHA:

Well that is true. But even then they don't really believe half of their own crap.

I mean come on, who are they more afraid of: the terrorists or Bush?

Obviously they have no fear of doing cartoons about Bush the evil one. They know he will not lob off their heads. They are not so sure about their new best friends in jihad land.

These folks like to compare the US to Rome. I am not so sure that I like the comparison myself, I do not think of the US as an empire. We are too inconsistent and changeable.

But the truth is even if you accept that analogy...what happened when Rome fell? A light went out in the world, and the dark ages came to Europe. Not a happy time for anyone, including the barbarians.

MeaninglessHotAir said...

what happened when Rome fell? A light went out in the world, and the dark ages came to Europe.

I agree with you.

But I had this same discussion with a Moonbat I konw who lives in NYC. His response was that life under the Barbarians wasn't so bad and all that stuff we've heard about how horrible it was is just propaganda. Sound familiar?

These people will believe exactly what they want to believe. If reality seems to be bad, that's just made up. They've led sheltered lives and they cannot really imagine that things could ever get worse than living under a Republican in the White House. Really.

We've become such a nation of pampered babies that our survival is in grave doubt.

buddy larsen said...

What's scary about the Fall of Rome is that it never really "fell" so much as just lay down and go to sleep, and fade away, over several generations. Rome still had excellent combat units on garrison duty out in the remotr reaches of the empire, but in the heart, the ruling classes just made one accomodation aftre another to a succession of barbarian kings, until one finally became boss. Meanwhile, an excellent army just withered away, mainly when the pay quit arriving, and a good number of soldiers just kept on as before, stayed put, and became natives of the former colony. Rome fell from her center, when in her heart she was no longer "Roman", as expressewd in the lives of her latter-day politicians, who placed other allegiances before the welfare of their nation.

Unknown said...

buddy:

Yes, it is like Rome forgot who she was.

MeaninglessHotAir said...

Luther,

That is the type of news that the NYT's, LAT's and the Post should be featuring, at least on occasion. But we know that will not happen.

You are so right. It just makes my blood boil. The problems we face in this war are almost entirely right here in this country. It's why I wonder whether we will win.

buddy larsen said...

We've already won what we can win--the rest is that hearts & minds universe--and I'm with you on that, MHA. It's still up in the air.

But history can go ahead and record that this nation gave that one the chance.

Syl said...

It's why I wonder whether we will win.

I feel better today, but the last few days I really doubted the West's will to survive.

But we do have friends who are muslim and some of them are swallowing their own fears of the Islamists and beginning to speak out.

And no matter how many broad generalizations we find ourselves making that dishearten us, in the end it will be moderate muslims and the West who will win this thing. It won't be easy, it won't be bloodless, and it won't be quick, but we will win.

Syl said...

And peace be unto the Mayor of Tall ‘Afar.

Thank you for your gratitude.

buddy larsen said...

Check out the video "Thank You".