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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Fallujah Perspective |
| 2005-02-25 |
| -snip- Election day. RCT-7 is assisting the Iraqi Security Forces and IECI at two polling sites located within 10 kilometers of the city of Fallujah. Much work and preparation has gone into this day---a strong effort to ensure that those Iraqis who chose to vote can vote in safety. Polls open at 0700. At 0915 I am at the easternmost polling site in my AO. And not a single voter has come to the polls. At 0930, a man, two women, and two children walk up to the security gate, into the polling station, and then depart. As they are leaving the man walks up to the Iraqi Army Colonel standing with me and tells us that there is a "group" of people gathered in the nearest city who want to come vote, but want to be reassured it is safe. He informs us he is going to go tell them it is safe. 20 minutes later, 1500 Iraqi men and women come over the hill and take their place in line. For the next 7 hours, the scene in this photograph remained unchanged as 5000 people from the surrounding community walked over the hill and into history. Over 7000 voted in the city of Fallujah itself. 12,000 in an area that 3 months before was the hells acre of terrorists and vicious criminals. It is now the safest area in the Sunni Triangle. And it will remain so. Twice in the course of this day the enemy fired mortars at the polling station. In both cases the mortars flew harmlessly overhead and impacted as duds in the field beyond. The women prayed, the men held their children close. But they all calmly held their places in line, and they cheered when we located and killed both mortarmen. Women cried as they walked out after voting. Both women and men walked up to and hugged the Marines as they walked out of our perimeter. -snip- About 1300, as the line showed no sign of diminishing, one of the Corporals walked over to me and said "Sir, we knew they would come." And we did. Those of us here knew they would come. You don't often get a chance to see a nation show its courage. On 30 Jan 2005, the people of Iraq reminded us of the virtue of self-determination. We continue to win. Little by little, success comes until it tips inexorably towards victory. And it has tipped. There is much to do still. But it will be said---of those who have fought this last year for the future of Iraq and the destruction of the terror that threatens our nation---it can and will be said that they ventured into hell, and did not return with empty hands. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #6 His Mom and Dad, and the rest of the family are very proud of him. His grandfathers fought in the big one, but we are not a military family by any means. We are proud that he's making a difference, instead of making a mess! In the late 60's two self-described radicals came to college (I didn't go to Columbia, however). When I got a chance to ask them a question, I asked, "If the government is run by the big corporations, why do they let the EPA make them install catalytic converters?" Having read the newspapers at that time, I knew the automakers were dead set against that – and fuel efficiency standards. The radicals only had hot air. I’m not even sure they understood the question. I left the room, and haven’t heard much intellectual from their ilk since. The beat goes on. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-02-25 3:25:10 PM |
| #5 First, Bobby, thank your son for me. Second, I dunno about the experienced part. I've got a few years on "Peregrine", but I've never been farther outside the US than Canada. I don't claim to be an expert on anything, though, just an amateur student of history. Despite his being a grad student in foreign affairs, I have no doubt I've read more -- at least more honest -- history. I can recognize brainless cant when I read it, too. And that's what Peregrine was mouthing -- the same empty slogans we've been hearing since Sep. 12, 2001. Oh, the bit about peace between democracies being an "allusion" was a new, pseudo-scholarly spin, but it's still pure crap. And let me say that if that's at all representative of what goes into the Foreign Service bureaucracy, we're in deep, deep trouble. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-02-25 2:52:34 PM |
| #4 Wow! And the other stories, about the brain surgeon from Chicago, and the brave Americans who tried to save an Iraqi woman...and were cheered by the Iraqis who witnessed it... All worth reading, and all the TRUE face of America's military! |
| Posted by: Justrand 2005-02-25 2:48:17 PM |
| #3 I've been following your Peregrine comments, RC, and I suspect you have more experience - if not education - than the Columbia ...um, person. But, ya gotta remember - from Peregrine's perspective, these are adrenalin-crazed, video-game-playing, deluded wackos. Like my son, the Marine. He hopes to be able to tell his children that he was there for the historic elections in Iraq. And Prergrine - you'll just have to wait to see if history agrees with him - or you. I have my opinion..... |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-02-25 2:11:33 PM |
| #2 Women cried as they walked out after voting. Both women and men walked up to and hugged the Marines as they walked out of our perimeter. Hello, Peregrine? Would you look those people in the eyes and tell them what they did meant nothing? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-02-25 1:55:07 PM |
| #1 it can and will be said that they ventured into hell, and did not return with empty hands Indeed, they passed the baton off to the other oppressed people of the region. |
| Posted by: Mac Suirtain 2005-02-25 1:52:01 PM |