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Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Iraq War News 

Subject: Apology





sentiment shared.


For good and ill, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will
remain an issue -- on the one hand right thinking Americans will abhor the
stupidity of the actions while on the other hand political glee will take
control and fashion this minor event into some modern day My Lai massacre.

I heard some Arabs are asking for an apology. I humbly
offer mine here:

-- I am sorry that the last seven times the Americans took
up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth it was in the defense of
Muslims (Bosnia, Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait, etc.)

-- I am sorry that no such call for an apology upon the
extremists came after 9/11. I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11
were Arabs.

-- I am sorry that Arabs have to live in squalor under
savage dictatorships. I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth.
I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their religious
schools.

-- I am sorry that Yasir Arafat was kicked out of every
Arab country and highjacked the Palestinian "cause." I am sorry that no
other Arab country will take in or offer more than a token amount of
financial help to those same Palestinians.

-- I am sorry that the USA has to step in and be the
biggest financial supporters of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely
wealthy Arabs blame the USA.

-- I am sorry that our own left wing elite and our media
can't understand any of this.

-- I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people
of Iraq out of the"food for oil" money so they could get rich while the
common folk suffered.

-- I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families
of homicide bombers upon their death. I am sorry that those same bombers are
seeking 72 virgins ? I can't seem to find one here on Earth.

-- I am sorry that the homicide bombers think babies are a
legitimate target.

-- I am sorry that our troops died to free more Arabs. I
am sorry they stopped the gang rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of
dissidents.

-- I am sorry they show so much restraint when their
brothers in arms are killed. I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed
more Arabs than any other group.

--I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to
seize control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state. I am sorry we
don't drop a few dozen DaisyCutters on Fallujah.

-- I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a
convenient "Holy Site." I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving a jet
into the World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged St. Nicholas
Greek Orthodox Church - one of OUR Holy Sites.

-- I am sorry they didn't apologize for flight 93 and 175,
the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, etc.

-- I am sorry Michael Moore is American; he could feed a
medium sized village in Africa.

-- I am sorry the French are French. America will get
past this latest absurdity. We will punish those responsible because that's
what we do. We hang out our dirty laundry for all the world to see. We move
on. That's why we are hated so much. We don't hide this stuff like all
those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.

Deep down inside when most Americans saw this reported in
the news we were like . so what? We lost hundreds and made fun at a few
prisoners. Sure it was wrong, sure it dramatically hurts our cause but
until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we're
supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated? Our compassion is
tempered with the vivid memories of our own people killed, mutilated and
burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujans.

If you want an apology from this American your gonna have
a long wait. You have a better chance of finding those 72 virgins

If you are 'sorry' also, pass it on!!



Iraq War News


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Friday, July 16, 2004

Soldiers Angels
 


 


There are many ways to let American troops in the Middle East
know that their hard work does not go unnoticed, and that they
have our gratitude for doing their job so well.

U.S. soldiers wounded in combat are getting help making the
transition back home. Volunteers from a non-profit organization called
Soldiers? Angels are sending backpacks to combat support hospitals in
Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany.

The bags are filled with personal hygiene items, clothes and get well
cards to help soldiers wounded in combat.

Tears of happiness from injured soldiers are a sign these volunteers are
doing the job they set out to do.

?I've got some beautiful letters saying how much it meant to them to
know people care,? said volunteer Peggy Baker. ?Many tears have been
shed by soldiers when they see us and they talk about the fact these
were there and couldn't believe there was something waiting for them.?
That small token of appreciation goes a long way to brighten the day
of soldiers wounded in combat.

?For all of us, every single one of us, it's the best non-paying job
we've ever had,? volunteer Liz Fuentes said.

Volunteers stuff clothing, personal hygiene items and other non-
perishables into the combat backpacks. They say it's a labor of love.
?Because they need it, because they give me the freedoms to do what
I want to do and they need my support,? volunteer Vicky Carter said.
Volunteers know first hand their work is appreciated and desperately
needed by those who tend the wounded.

?We actually follow the soldiers from ...Click Here to continue


 

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Thursday, July 15, 2004

Message to Heroes
Wonderful Video

Click The angel to begin







MESSAGES-TO-HEROES-VIDEO


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Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Messages to heroes video
MESSAGES-TO-HEROES-VIDEO



Godspeed Heroes




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Iraq War News
Marine heads home...Criticism of the Philippines...Bush in Wisconsin in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Hassoun due back in U-S in hours in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Baghdad Car Bomb Kills 11, Injures 40: "A suicide attacker detonated a massive car bomb Wednesday at a checkpoint near the British Embassy and the interim Iraqi government's headquarters in Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 40, including a U.S. soldier, authorities said. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Zarqawi Still Targetting Iraq PM: Web Site: "Suspected al Qaeda ally Abu Musabal-Zarqawi has warned Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi that hewill not escape death at the hands of the militant group. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Baghdad Blast Kills 11, Bulgarian Hostage Beheaded: "A suspected suicide car bombing killed11 people and wounded 30 Wednesday in the first big guerrillaattack in Baghdad since an interim Iraqi government took overfrom U.S.-led occupiers on June 28. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Marine Who Vanished in Iraq Heads Home: "A U.S. Marine who disappeared in Iraq and turned up in Lebanon nearly three weeks later said Wednesday that he was in good health and "excited to be going home" as he left a U.S. military hospital in Germany. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Egypt's Israel peacekeeper plan draws ire: "The first time an Egyptian president took the risk of reconciling with Israel, he was shunned by other Arabs and vilified by his own citizens."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Baghdad Car bomb kills 11, injures 40: "A suicide attacker detonated a massive car bomb Wednesday at a checkpoint near the British Embassy and the interim Iraqi government's headquarters in Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 40, including a U.S. soldier, authorities said."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Philippines pulls troops from Iraq early: "The Philippines said Wednesday it was withdrawing its small peacekeeping contingent from Iraq early to save the life of a kidnapped truck driver, a dramatic turnaround by one of Washington's biggest backers in the war on terrorism."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



In race to train Iraq security force, GIs find trust is biggest obstacle: "But Lt. Joaquin Meno of the 1st Infantry Division had even higher hopes as he led the patrol recently into an area where U.S. soldiers have been hectored for weeks. The Iraqi troops bounded out of their trucks and set up a right flank, just as they have been trained. Minutes later Meno did a double take: Several of the Iraqis had tugged their bandanas and kaffiyehs up to their eyes. (Chicago Tribune)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Inquiry: U.K. Iraq Intelligence 'Flawed': "Iraq had no useable chemical or biological weapons before the war, and British intelligence relied in part on "seriously flawed" or "unreliable" sources, an official inquiry reported Wednesday. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Car bomb rocks Baghdad killing 11: "A suicide attacker detonated a massive car bomb Wednesday at a checkpoint near the British Embassy and the interim Iraqi government's headquarters in Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 40, including a U.S. soldier, authorities said."

In Kansas City Star: Iraq



Philippines withdraws troops from Iraq; Bulgarian hostage killed: "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The Philippines said Wednesday it had withdrawn some of its peacekeepers from Iraq and was coordinating a pullout, apparent efforts to meet the demand of kidnappers threatening to kill a captive Filipino truck driver."

In Fresno Bee: Iraq



Germany US Marine in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



NATO troops duped by U-S vigilantes in illegal explosives raids in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror



Iraq Explosion in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror


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Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Iraqis Save A Marine


Iraqi Soldiers Save U.S. Marine
Good stories are not uncommon, but rarely reported.

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

?I was walking beside the Marine, then we heard gunfire, and I saw that the American Marine was shot. Then I realized it was just me and him, so I quickly started shooting at the enemy." ? Private Imad Abid Zeid Jassim, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps



Portions of Iraqi Private Imad Abid Zeid Jassim's citation for bravery reads: "...[A]s the firefight ensued, under a hail of enemy fire that was accurately targeted on the wounded [U.S.] Marine, and without regard for his own safety, Private Imad Jassim moved forward into the enemy fire and came to the aid of the wounded Marine. He dragged the wounded Marine out of the line of fire to a covered and concealed position...reengaged the enemy...aggressively pushed forward...dislodged the enemy fighters.... His efforts clearly saved the life of the Marine...."



On the evening of May 30, 2004, Jassim and his fellow members of 4th Platoon, India Company, Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) were jointly patrolling the streets of Al Karmah, near Fallujah, with leathernecks from 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. All at once, the patrol was ambushed from the rear by enemy insurgents. A U.S. Marine was instantly struck down with a gunshot wound to the leg.



Reacting as they had been trained to do by their U.S. counterparts, the Iraqis swung into action.



Jassim, who was standing closest to the Marine when the latter was hit, immediately returned fire.



Sergeant Abdullah Sadoon Isa, Corporal Eiub Muhamad Hussane, and Private Ahmad Lazim Garib raced toward-and-beyond the downed American. Constantly under fire and simultaneously returning fire, Sgt. Isa quickly positioned other members of his platoon between the wounded man and the enemy.



Jassim and another private, Kather Nazar Abbas, stopped shooting long enough to begin dragging the American to a position of relative safety. Bullets and at least one rocket-propelled grenade zinged past their heads as they managed to pull the Marine behind a wall. A U.S. Navy medical corpsman rushed forward to render first aid. The Iraqis and the Americans continued battling the enemy force.



The response to the ambush was textbook. "The ICDC ultimately assaulted through the enemy's position and pushed them out," said 2nd Lt. Charles Anklin III, of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.



On Friday, Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, and Col. John A. Toolan, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 1; decorated the five aforementioned Iraqi soldiers for their "heroic achievement" during an awards ceremony at Camp India in Nassar Wa Salaam. The awards included two Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals and three Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Each of the medals included combat "V"s for valor.



"You've witnessed the bravery of these soldiers from India Company, who were willing to shed blood with Marines to make sure we get a free Iraq," said Toolan, before a gathering that included Iraqi military leaders and local village sheiks. "The important aspect is that the Coalition and Iraqi forces have worked together, and the bond you see between the ICDC soldiers and Marines has become rock-tight."



Private Jassim added that the firefight created an even stronger bond between Iraqi (ICDC) soldiers and American Marines. Speaking through an interpreter, he said, "I feel very, very bad the Marine was shot because they are like my brothers now, but I'm ready to go out again. I'm always ready."



The ICDC soldiers not only saved the life of an American, but their actions served as an example of the ongoing coordination and positive developing-relations between the U.S. and Iraq. This was good news. It was not an isolated event. Unfortunately, so little of this kind of news ever gets any ink.



This is one of the many "positive" albeit rarely told stories coming out of Iraq, U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson (R., S.C.) told NRO from his Washington office on Saturday.



Wilson believes such stories must receive equal time with the negative ones if the U.S. military is to continue garnering needed support at home and abroad. He should know. A 31-year veteran officer of the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard as well as a current member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Wilson has recently traveled to both Iraq and Afghanistan as part of congressional delegations. And his keen interest in the futures of both countries is both professional and personal. Wilson has four sons. The oldest three are military officers: Two are serving in the Army. One is in the Navy. The oldest son is currently stationed in Iraq.

Last Thursday, Wilson was part of a group meeting with Iraqi president Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawar; al-Yawar said that there were more representatives of the various news media per capita in Iraq than anywhere else in the world. The Iraqi president added, that may well be the reason there seems to be only "bad news" coming out of Iraq.



"Of course, we want the media there," says Wilson. "But problems arise when there are too many reporters in one place, all in competition with one another, all trying to outdo each other." According to Wilson, there is a growing consensus on both sides of the political fence ? particularly among those who have toured Iraq ? as well as among members of the new Iraqi leadership, that competition for the "big story" is forcing reporters to concentrate on "the ten percent negative stories, while ignoring the 90 percent good, positive stories." That's not only unfair. It's strategically dangerous.



Recalling comments made during a meeting between U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid and a congressional delegation in Afghanistan, Wilson said, the rejection of good stories by competing media is not just a belief shared by members of the Republican party. "I remember [Democrat] Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee making the comment that 'good news has no legs, and bad news has wings,'" he says. It's simply a reaffirmation of the newsman's clichéd adage, "If it doesn't bleed, it doesn't lead."



That's not to say there aren't important negative stories coming out of Iraq. But there are just as many ? if not more ? important positive stories that could be written about events taking place in that country. Unfortunately, stories about hospitals being renovated, little girls learning the basics of math and science for the first time, or five brave Iraqi men being decorated for saving the life of a wounded American, are not nearly as dramatic as a roadside bombing or an assassination.



? A former U.S. Marine infantry leader and paratrooper, W. Thomas Smith Jr. is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in a variety of national and international publications. His third book, Alpha Bravo Delta Guide to American Airborne Forces, has just been published.


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Iraq War News
Kurdish forces capture suspected militants: "Kurdish security forces have captured 15 militants, including one man believed to be a senior leader in a local group linked to al-Qaida, an official in a pro-American Kurdish party said Tuesday."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



TWO-THOUSAND EMPLOYED IN LARGEST EMPLOYMENT PROJECT TO DATE in CENTCOM: News Release



Blair to learn verdict of Iraq intelligence inquiry: "Prime Minister Tony Blair was to learn how much trouble he faces for relying on flawed intelligence to promote the Iraq war when the findings of a long-awaited inquiry are handed over to the government. (AFP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iraqi police launch sweep of Baghdad town: "Iraqi police launched a massive sweep of a Baghdad neighborhood, killing one person and rounding up hundreds of suspected criminals, as the interim president promised to crack down on anyone threatening the country's security."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Iraq's leaders step up with tough talk: "In the span of roughly a week, Iraq's new interim leaders have passed sweeping emergency laws, promised to "crush" troublemakers and use a "very sharp sword" to combat unrepentant insurgents."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Gulf War vets 'felt like enemy': "Troops in the first Gulf War were inoculated with a cocktail of drugs which they believe left them with debilitating illnesses and may have contributed to fatal birth defects, an inquiry has heard."

In Ananova: War In Iraq



Pakistani Ambassador Top Envoy to Iraq: "Secretary-General Kofi Annan has selected Pakistan's ambassador to Washington for the job of U.N. envoy to Iraq, replacing a top diplomat who was killed in a Baghdad bombing last year. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Iran Leader Says U.S., Israel Behind Iraq Kidnaps: "Iran's Supreme Leader said on Tuesday hebelieved the United States and Israel, rather than Muslims,were behind the kidnapping and killing of foreign nationals inIraq. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Filipino Bid To Save Iraq Hostage: "In an appeal to save the life of a Filipino truck driver being held hostage in Iraq, the Philippine government says it is willing to withdraw its troops from Iraq "as soon as possible." Terrorists have demanded a withdrawal by July 20th."

In CBS News: Iraq Crisis



U.S. Civil Affairs soldiers rebuild Iraq: "Sgt. Abubakar Senge walks through the secondary school with his rifle slung across his chest, his helmet hanging off his arm and a notebook in his hand, inspecting the work he hired an Iraqi builder to perform."

In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq



Bush hits back over weapons: "The US president defends the Iraq invasion, after scathing criticism of US intelligence in the run-up to war."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq



Saddam mocks accusers: "Saddam Hussein arrives in chains at a palace complex once used by his inner circle for relaxation and pleasure."

In BBC: Conflict with Iraq



Several Blasts Heard in Central Baghdad: "Several explosions were heard Tuesday in central Baghdad. There was no immediate word on what caused the blasts. (AP)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



Manila Gives Conflicting Signs on Iraq Pullout: "Philippine officials, trying to savethe life of a Filipino hostage, sent confusing signals onTuesday about pulling troops out early from Iraq, whileAustralia said it would bolster its forces. (Reuters)"

In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq



US professors sending textbooks to Iraqi schools in IraqWar.info



Nations slow to contribute aid despite pledges in IraqWar.info


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