Another email from our ever faithful Major Mike.
Dear Friends,
I can't begin to explain in words how amazing an event that has transpired in Iraq this past weekend but I feel I must try. Iraqis have faced the terror created by evil men head on and went to the polls to decide the future of their country. In a place where most children have seen a dead body in their streets at some point and most families have lost loved ones to terrorists over the past year, citizens in this country bravely and cheerfully faced tremendous danger just to vote. Many told us how concerned they were about the dangers of voting during the last couple of weeks so we knew that they understood the risks they were going to take. Because of security concerns from vehicle bombs, many roads were shut off and voters had to walk up to a mile or more to vote.
I woke up early to explosions and before I made it across base to our command post rockets, mortars, and suicide bombers were attacking polling sites to scare away voters. I was briefed by my section about all that had transpired before 7:00 a.m. Iraqi policemen and Iraqi soldiers gave their own lives by identifying and stopping men with bombs strapped to them only to lose their own lives in the process. These brave men paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and saved the lives of hundreds of people standing in lines at polling locations. Throughout the day Iraqi soldiers caught terrorists, found huge storage sites of weapons, and defended their country. People danced in the streets, hugged each other, sang, played musical instruments, and shouted for joy because this day they were able to have a voice in the future of their country and not only vote "yes or no" for Saddam. Iraqi civilians, soldiers, and police lost their lives for this chance to vote today, but these lives were not lost in vain.
It wasn't easy to make this election work. Many people didn't know where they were going to vote last week. The Iraqi Election Committee has worked around the clock to put out important information on how and where to vote. Some of the information was probably put out at the last minute to prevent terrorists from having time to plan attacks. US and Iraqi Army along with the Iraqi Police have worked together to provide security around hundreds of polling sites. The past several weeks of planning have culminated into an extraordinary Iraq / US combined operation to ensure that evil men would not keep Iraqi's from their birthright of freedom.
I hope that all of you were able to see the joy in the faces of Iraqis on television this weekend. I hope that this causes all of us Americans to take a good look at the incredible gift of freedom and security that we enjoy in our country. I hope all of you realize the sacrifice of US soldiers on the ground all over Iraq have made and the joy they shared with these rejoicing Iraqis. I don't think I could ever take our freedom for granted after seeing the weathered faces and hearing the dreadful stories of people who have suffered so much from a selfish and brutal dictatorship.
I miss my family, friends, Arkansas, and living in the United States, but I can honestly say that on January 30, 2005 I wouldn't want to have been any where else. Right here in the middle of Iraq I have experienced what our founding fathers fought for over 200 years ago: democracy...................................
Thank you for your support back on the home front. I can't tell you how comforting it is to know you are praying and thinking about me. God Bless America and God Bless Iraq.
Respectfully,
Major Mike
United States Army National Guard
