OT: Victory For Freedom

[Guest guest]

Letter from 1st Cav Division, Assistant Division Commander Brigadier

General Michael Jones regarding the Iraqi Elections.

 

 

Jones, Michael D. BG [michael.jones21]

Sunday, January 30, 2005 4:25 PM

Victory for Freedom

 

Dear Friends,

 

It isn't over yet, but today there was a resounding victory for freedom

and democracy here in Baghdad. Having been here for a while now, many

of us have grown weary of the hand-wringers, worriers, pessimists,

whiners, and host of others who have been telling us for so long that

all is lost in Iraq. Today we witnessed just how courageous the Iraqi

people can be and how much they love their new-found freedom.

 

After listening to the pundits tell us how terrible the Iraqi Security

Forces are, today I watched the Iraqi Security Forces stand tall. They

protected 1,188 polling sites in Baghdad. Although there were a number

of suicide bombers who attacked today, not a single one penetrated the

perimeter of a polling site. There were several Iraqi policemen, and

several Iraqi soldiers who lost their lives today. But they did not

lose their honor or their courage; none of the 30,000 plus Iraqi

Security Forces on duty in Baghdad ran away from danger today.

 

At the site of our first suicide bombing of the day, voters did not lose

their courage either. They quickly lined back up at the same site,

spitting on the body of the suicide bomber as they passed by in line to

vote. A woman came out of line and took the shoe of the bomber and put

it on his face - a great insult to an Arab. The same was true at any

polling site that had violence. Voters immediately lined up again to

cast their vote. How many Americans value their privilege to vote enough

to show that kind of courage?

 

We have listened to many experts talk about how the Sunnis would not

participate in the election. Polling sites in Abu Guyreb were moved to

Gasaliya because the Iraqi Election Commission was concerned about

security in Abu Guyrb. We watched thousands walk down the highway-

Sunni Moslems- on the 7 mile round trip to the polling sites so they

could vote. All under the threat that terrorists had been making that

they would kill anyone who voted. How many Americans would do that?

 

All over Baghdad the story was the same and I could tell a dozen stories

of great courage and determination. Despite the enemy's campaign of

terror, despite danger, threats, intimidation, and the sporadic

incidents of violence and terror today, Iraqis turned out in determined,

large numbers to vote. The excitement was moving. Even though the

terrorists have said they will kill anyone with a " marked finger " (when

you voted your finger was dipped in ink to keep people from voting a

second time), voters paraded down the street holding their fingers up in

joy and overwhelming pride.

 

When I told one Iraqi I was sorry that people had died or been wounded

today, he just said " freedom has a price, and this is the price that we

must pay " . And every Iraqi I talked to said thank you to the United

States for this opportunity, for this freedom, and how grateful they

were for our help.

 

I am sure it will only be hours until you start hearing all the

" experts " , most of which have never been to Iraq, start trying to

convince us that today was flawed, failed, or somehow less than a

wonderful day and a blow for freedom. They are the same people who say

we are failing here, that you couldn't do an election on the 30th of

January, and on and on.

 

It is true we haven't " won " here yet. It is not predetermined that we

will win, and it will take continued sacrifice and determination on our

part. Those who hate freedom and democracy will still fight, many to the

death, to try to stop this march to freedom and prosperity by the Iraqis

with our help. They are terrified of the thought of a free and

democratic Iraq that leads this whole region to a democratic future.

 

But despite this, I encourage you from here in Baghdad, for at least one

day, to ignore the pundits and experts, to enjoy a day where a blow for

freedom was struck. Know that somewhere in the world, because of the

sacrifice of your friends, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and

countrymen, good won over evil, freedom over terror, and democracy over

despotism.

 

Last June 30, Iraq was given their sovereignty. Today, they earned

their freedom. And we should all be joyful for that.

 

All the Best,

 

Mike

 

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Caveats: NONE