JACK ARMY, scanning my sector!
Dear Iraqi, the views you have expressed are ones I have heard from many Iraqis. There are many that have blogs similar to what Jack Army has here. A government is only as strong as it's people. Government should be by, for, and of the people. Through the Iraqi blogs, I have found out what kind of people you are and have grown very fond of many, not just as Iraqis, but as human beings no different than people throughout the world, with the same dreams and hopes we all have. Our futures are tied together in ways that can never be undone. We must not lose hope, and we must not give up. I wish for a great future for you and your family, peace and prosperity for all Iraqis in the pursuit of freedom, a government that serves it's people. My thanks to our troops, and the Iraqi people that have fought so hard to achieve freedom. Peace be with you brother, Solo
Outstanding! Thanks to your interpreter for putting his life on the line to help U.S. Forces in Iraq. If possible he should write perspectives to post on your blog from time to time.
Richard Disney
former U.S. Army
The United States will do what it can (we've experienced the sacrifice ourselves)to help a nation experience freedom- but my comments from part one still stand.
Thank you for your kind words. I too hope for a peaceful and stable Iraq. Take care.
Dear Iraqi Brother,
It is hard to believe that no matter where you go in the world, the common man only wants a good life and the chance to create a better life for their children. And yet, there is so much strife in the world created by those few, who once they achieve some power, only want more and those people who find happiness in hate. The Coalition soldiers that have joined you in Iraq are rare and special people. They volunteer to wear their uniform and put their life in danger so that those they love don’t have to. They want to protect those who can’t protect themselves. It is a shame that some Iraqi people do not know this about our soldiers. I understand why the Iraqi’s are afraid of occupation, your recent history has been plagued with occupiers and tyrants. What the American people can not understand about the Iraqi’s is how they can not fight for their own freedom. We are country that won our own independence so it difficult for us to understand why every Iraqi wanting freedom is not fighting the insurgents and al Quaeda with every breath that they take. These insurgents and terrorists cage the citizens of Iraq everyday with fear. Where is Iraq’s anger at this?
Your country has given the world so much. Writing, farming, the wheel and the first written laws. There is a glorious history written in the sands of your land. I want nothing more than for your country to once more know peace and freedom. I want our soldiers to be safe and to come home, knowing that their sacrifice has freed the people of Iraq. I want the next generation of Americans and Iraqis to know friendship and solidarity. I want your hard work and dedication, brother, to mean a brighter future for you and your family and your country. I wish to see Iraq once more mantled in greatness and our soldiers blood not spilled in vain. My prayers and thoughts are with you. May Allah guide your people to independence.
Dear Iraqi brothers and sisters,
Before 9/11/2001 I was a narcissistic, self-indulging American who wasn't paying attention to what was happening in my own country much less around the world. For much of the last three decades my own country has been socially engineered via our media, our entertainment and our universities to hate ourselves for having what much of the world is denied; individual right to freedom, self-governance and prosperity. Since that fateful day I have been freed from the oppressive brainwashing brought about by those who hold hatred for what America represents. Around the time of Saddam's fall I came across a quote by Ronald Reagan:
"freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it only comes once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again" (1967)
I have learned from you, my Iraqi brothers and sisters in freedom, that my own freedom is not free and I must defend with my life to insure freedom's light is not extinguished by totalitarian tyranny.
Reagan also said 'government is the problem not the solution'; all governments become corrupt and tyrannical whenever the people lose their will to defend their Individual rights.
We are in this together, for the future and I have learned so much from Iraqis who themselves are defending their new freedom with the own lives.
I will never give up nor lose faith in America's or Iraq's determination to succeed in Liberty's cause for there is no life worth living under tyranny and terror.
I am an American and you are an Iraqi but we are of one blood in freedom.
Thank you for your letter. I have frequently wondered what Iraqis thought of what the Coalition forces had done. To the Iraqis were we occupiers or libertators ? The difference is more that a few letters in the alphabet. The difference in preception is profound, it makes all the difference in world. However, like so much is life I don't suppose it is that simply. I imagine that the Coalition is seen as both and as everything in between. It is like that in the US. Some Americans wonder why we went into Iraq to begin with. It was a independent country, what right did we have do go in. Many people across the world are very angry with the US for going into Iraq. They say 'Just because you are strong, and no one has the army to stop you, you think you go just roll into a country ?' They say that America is a bully. Many Americans agree. I must admit is hard to know what the truth of the Coalition's involvement really is. Everyone has an opinion and everyone is sure their opinion is the only truth. If you disagree with them you are helping the terrorists kill innocent Iraqis and Coalition forces. But probably like the many opinions that the Iraqis have of the Coalition , Americans have many opinion about whether we should be in Iraq. At first I didn't think the Coalition should have gone into Iraq. After all, what gave the US the right, what right did the US have to think it were right ? But as I have spent the past few years reading blogs like your friend Jack's I have been rethinking that opinion. In the end maybe my opinion isn't that important. The opinions that matters is the opinion of the those who are there, such as you. Iraq is after all your country, your home. Iraqis are the ones who must live and sad to say die there not me. So I will remember your words and hope and pray for you, all of Iraq and all the Coalotion forces. Thank you
I noticed some incorrectly spelled words. I am sorry, I should have proof read more carefully
Dear Iraqi,
As an interpreter you are an exceptionally heroic and courageous man... far more than I will ever be. As many posters have written already, it is by the efforts of brave people, like yourself, that liberty is won. I have read several accounts of Iraqis and other Arabs who share your dream of a free and prosperous Iraq and Middle East. They account the endless brainwashing that tyrants, like Saddam, propogate on their people: that their failures and brutality are the not the result of their own evil, but that of some outsider like the West, Israel, or America. Throughout the Middle East, the strongest, most bleak, prisons, were not that of walls, but hate consumed minds of its citizens produced by these "leaders". Such a poisonous state of humanity cannot be allowed to exist any longer and that is why supported, and still support, the mission of our warriors in Iraq and elsewhere, and the people who have broken out of their mental prisons of hatred who stuggle, like yourself, to enjoy the hope that comes with self governance and freedom.
May God Bless you and your countrymen.
Wow.. As an American I am blown away by this letter.
Thank you for taking time to write your view.
My Allah be with you always!
Stay safe Brother
Hello Iraqi Brother!
I read your letter on Jack Army. I want to tell you this—thank you for writing your letter. Thank you for the risks you are taking to build a new Iraq. I am sorry your country has been thrown into chaos, but believe this: we in America are pulling for you. We want you to have a life where you are free to pursue Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We have made mistakes and history will judge our endeavors in your country. But--we want you to be free. We want your children to be free. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to do what you are doing. I hope I would be as brave as you are, were I in your shoes. I cannot imagine living under tyranny.
I have read about true courage. You are living it.
As I age, I find I don’t care about politics, I care about people. I care about you, struggling to survive in a world I can’t really fathom.
I care about Jack Army, who wants what I want--for you to have peace and happiness, like I have.
I want Jack Army to come home safe.
I want my son to come home safe.
I want for you, your family, to be safe.
To be free.
To be happy.
Insh'allah
"He sees a better life and wants it for his country. I hope he gets it."
So do I, Sarge. So do I.
Thank you for posting this letter from this fine man.
Dear Sir:
Thank you for taking the time to write this letter.
My son is a Marine, and is coming to Iraq next month. His mission is to help drive Al Qaeda and others vying for power over the Iraqi people from Anbar and then help the people of Anbar rebuild their lives.
There are those in America who do not understand all that you have said in your letter. They do not understand that if we leave Iraq without finishing our job, not only will we leave the Iraqi people in the hands of Al Qaeda and other terrorists, but we will also be creating a haven for those who are working to take away America's security and way of life.
Neither can happen.
My son and I have talked many times, and we are both in agreement on this: Whether the US should or should not have gone into Iraq in 2003 is no longer the question (for the record, we both have long believed that the people of Iraq deserved to be liberated from Saddam!).
We fight now to help the Iraqi people - those who are just like us, those who want an opportunity to succeed, those who want a better life for their children, free of terrorism, death and destruction.
We fight now to give all Iraqis the same hope and freedom that we in America enjoy every day.
And when it comes to Al Qaeda and its ilk, we also fight so America does not lose its freedoms to those who would strip it away from us and force us to submit to them.
The US is not in the business of occupying a country and colonizing it. We did not colonize in Germany or Japan when we won WWII - in fact, we rebuilt both countries and left them to govern themselves, and today, both countries are modern, world powers.
And we do not want to run Iraq, or stay there any longer than we have to.
We know that we must see this mission through - that is, to help Iraq establish a strong Federal government and strong local governments, chosen by the people of Iraq, and those governments must work to help all the people of Iraq, regardless of their race or religion.
We must help the people of Iraq rebuild their cities.
We must help the people of Iraq and the government of Iraq drive out the forces that work to destroy the people and take power over the country.
And then, we can leave.
When this happens, Iraq will be strong and her people safer than before we came.
I pray daily for the Iraqi people. I pray for their safety, I pray for their children. And I pray that the Iraqi people will rise up - as they are doing in Anbar - and fight for their freedom, fight for their right to live and prosper.
The citizens of Iraq must be as committed to their freedom and security as we are.
We drove Saddam out of power. But the new government can only survive if they work for the betterment of ALL Iraqis.
The US can only finish the job of rebuilding a free and secure Iraq with the help of the Iraqi people.
As I said, there are those in America who do not understand these realities, and it is these people who are w
(apparently, there's a word limit! So here's the rest of my post
)
As I said, there are those in America who do not understand these realities, and it is these people who are working to pull America out of Iraq before the job is done.
So I hope more brave people like you, and the sons of Anbar, take a stand against the bad guys, so we can complete our mission and hand Iraq over to her people, and our sons can come home.
I look forward to America and Iraq becoming both friends and allies, but most of all, I pray for peace and prosperity for both our countries.
Laura
What thought provoking words and ideas. A man who realizes what is at risk, and what there is to gain. He gets it. Wish people in this country would get it also.
Thank you for your perspective. Thank you for taking time to write. You could have set back and watched, but instead realized that there are things that are greater and are worth more than a life of complacency.
I hope we hear from you again, and give your thoughts. Be praying for you and your family to be safe from harm.
I agree with others here. You are the future of Iraq. I don’t know what the future holds, but your country has a rare chance; the ability to determine your own destiny.
We are so proud of our men and women in the military. It is good to hear from someone who works with them. It is a shame that your words are not heard nation wide.
Be safe.
Finally we hear fromm someone from Iraq who gets it. Now if only the American people and the people of Iraq would get it. Our troops want to get the job done and come home and it would take way less time if the people of Iraq were more like this brother who is brave in his speaking out and telling the other side we here in America do not hear. Thank you for making me feel our troops are fighting a loosing battle there. My you find peace and freedom soon
Gina
Dear Iraqi Brother,
All men are equal. You have a natural right to your life, your liberty and to your pursuit of happiness. The role of government is to guarantee those rights against any that would deny them to you.
When they say that you need security, what they mean is that you need to live without fear of losing your natural rights as a free man.
The Iraqis government can not yet guarantee those rights, but with time, and the courageous dedication of men and women like you, your country will grow strong. America will help you because what threatens you, threatens them as well. And when the Americans return home, you and your children will live in an Iraq that is like a shining city on a hill.
I'm not an American citizen, and so I think I understand better than those who are what it is to want freedom and opportunity for your children. I have been in the United States twice before now, and I'm always amazed at the desire of these people to do well for others. You couldn't pray for better friends than American soldiers.
My dear Iraqi brother-
By long experience you have learned more about these American Soldiers than most of the people that live in free here in America because of them and those that went before them. You are truly blessed and I believe it is your further duty to pass that blessing on to others as you have done with this letter.
My friends and I cried when the statues came down in Baghdad. Much has been done there but much remains to be done. Always remember that the Americans you are meeting are the very best we have. Those here at home are not as wise or brave or strong except those that have sent their sons and daughters, husbands and fathers to join the fight. Most of the rest of us are weak and fearful and soft. If the people that you work with there were the ones making all the decisions things would be even better.
If you want to pray, pray that our people and the politicians we elect have the wisdom and strength to complete what we have started so that one day, a proud Iraqi soldier can stand beside his American brother as Freedom is brought to all the oppressed. Together the tyrants of the world will tremble at the thought of such an alliance.
TB
ps. It has been 30 years since I used my Arabic so I only write to you in English.
Commenting by HaloScan
