Irish Maam's boys

[Walt's Daughter]

Sent to me by Cindy

 

As you get to the end of the article you will see why they call Dusty's OP in Samarra the Alamo. It doesnt do much for the sleepless nights factor but it does explain some things. Myabe I better send some cowboy hats along with a lot of prayers..

Seriously I appreciate the prayers for our troops over there, the cowboy hat remark is a bit of a pun I suppose. I am very proud of the generations resolve and determination to keep driving on. Thanks Love Cindy

 

From the Frontlines: U.S. Soldiers Speak on Iraq

By Chuck Holton

CBN News Correspondent

 

 

CBN.com – This week we celebrate our veterans and their sacrifice for our freedom. To honor them, we bring you a story from the frontlines of the war in Iraq. Here at home we often hear voices of protest and criticism of the war effort, but the voices of the men and women actually fighting the war on terror there have a different story.

 

You have heard what the protesters are saying, and you have seen the chaos on the evening news. You have seen a lot of Cindy Sheehan, but you have not heard anything like one soldier saying this:

 

“I believe in the sacrifice I make here - where other people won't have to make it, and also for the safety of my family back home."

 

Or this, from Maj. Jim Beagan: "I feel fortunate to do this, as hard as it has been on my family, I respect the decision to come here and my family supports me in it."

 

So how about the men and women actually doing the fighting? What do they have to say about this mission? Let's start at the top of the chain of command. Gen. Joseph Taludo is the commander of the 42nd Infantry Brigade in Tikrit, Iraq.

 

“"There is no army in the world that is as compassionate nor as capable as the American soldier,†he said. “The enemy is a lot more organized now than he was before, okay? But while the enemy has gotten better organized, so have we. We have had more attacks on the IED's than the first division had; we've had less casualties than the first division had at this time last year. It's a dangerous place, a hostile place, but we're a lot smarter, we're much better equipped now. “

 

And while someone would ask about the mothers who say “why not just bring my son home and let these Iraqis fight it out amongst themselves,†Gen. Taludo believes that "they're not ready yet. They're just not ready. The Iraqi army and police are not ready in places…in all places.â€

 

Moving on, we interviewed several members of the general's staff at the unit headquarters in Tikrit.

 

Lt. Col. Eric Durr is a guardsman from New York who helped with the cleanup of the Trade Center towers in Sept. 2001. He believes Iraq has a lot to do with 9/11.

 

"I see this as part of a campaign. The first part of it was Afghanistan - those were the guys who attacked us,†Durr said. “I think the second part of the campaign is to try to change the political dynamic of the Middle East. Oh, and, by the way, take out a bad guy who sooner or later could have caused us harm… I think if you show a working, functioning Arab democracy in the Middle East - a pluralistic state, which sets an example that other countries follow."

 

But how does that make the United States safer? Maj. Andonie tackled that question: "I think in making things more secure for people here, and in Afghanistan - in doing that, we will create a more secure and peaceful world."

 

From Tikrit we headed south into the city of Samarra, in the Sunni Triangle, to see if the front-line soldiers shared the same views as those in Tikrit. If you are wondering why you have not heard much out of Samarra on the news, one battle-hardened squad leader explains why.

 

"Reporters are too scared to come into Samarra - it's the Wild, Wild West out there."

 

Some people at home say it is time to get out of Iraq, but Staff Sgt. Smith disagrees: "What they should do back home is play Sept. 11every single day, and let the people know why we're still here."

 

One medic on the same base told us that despite the hardship, she has found her time in Iraq meaningful: "It's terrible being away from your family, being exposed to a whole new environment, but it's definitely been a wonderful experience, and I don't think I would trade it."

 

This is a sentiment echoed by many of the troops that we met: "What we're doing over here is a good thing. We got attacked in 9/11 in New York, and since we went to Afghanistan and then come here, and been fighting them over here, I believe we've been drying up their resources, and it's going to make America a safer place, said Staff Sgt. Nicholson, a platoon sergeant in Samarra.

 

So what does he think about the war protestors?

 

"We fight for people's rights over here, and those rights are to be against us or for us. You know, and the same thing in America, people can - they've got the right to have an opinion one way or another, and that's just part of being free in America,†Nicholson added.

 

"Since 9/11 there has not been any terrorist attacks on the United States,†said Lt. Col. Mark Wald, the commander of the forces in Samarra. "And since 9/11 America has fought the enemy in its own backyard. We are a target and we are going to continue to be a target here in Iraq - to those that believe that America is the infidel. Until they get over that notion, they will always come after us.â€

 

Further south in the city of Baquba, another medic, Capt. Radcliffe Antoine believes we are working to break the cycle of violence.

 

"If you look at what breeds terrorism and terrorist activity is lack of understanding for other cultures, and if you think life is hopeless, this is a way of lashing out,†Antoine said. “I think if we instill a democracy, once you get a taste of freedom, then you'd want to spread it.â€

 

On the same base, Staff Sergeant Layla Elbel works as an interpreter for the base commander, and works closely with the Iraqi people.

 

"When they see Americans roll into their area, they automatically feel safe. They know we are going to treat them with dignity and respect. More than 90 percent of the people we come across are glad we are here, want our assistance, thank us every day, and cannot thank us enough,†Elbel said. "I believe the war on terror mainly goes back to the freedom. The freedom that the United States of America stands on. We stand for freedom, and that is why our nation is so great.â€