[Scan-DC] Off Topic but worth Looking At

[Rapbep at aol.com]

All, 
Off topic but I got this from one of my friends & I think worth  reading. 
RON(Rapbep at aol.com)
Utility Station Monitoring
Maryland,  USA


What follows is a letter from the Mayor of the city of Tall ‘Afar in the 
Ninewa province of  Iraq to the commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment  
(ACR).  
Reading things like this bring purpose to the death we hear  about every day. 
We are reassured by it. It strengthens our resolve.  
Why then do we not see much of this in the US  news media? Could it be that 
partisan politics has become so sadistic that  Americans are not to be given 
cause to feel good about what we are doing in  Iraq? 
Read this and be proud of your country because  for all our warts, America is 
still the best place in the world.  
Tony D. Baker 
Assistant Professor, Center for Army Tactics  
US Army Command & General Staff  College 
Fort Leavenworth,  Kansas 
913-684-3486 ~ DSN  552-3486 
Letter to the  Regiment from the Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa, Iraq 
From: Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa,  Iraq

In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful

To the  Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have 
changed  the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread 
death and  destruction, to a secure city flourishing with  life.

To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of  terrorists who 
were beheading men, women and children in  the streets for many months.

To those who spread smiles on  the faces of our children, and gave us 
restored hope,  through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new 
life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days,  and stole our confidence 
in our ability to  reestablish our city.

Our city was the main base of operations for Abu  Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city 
was completely held hostage in the hands of his  henchmen. Our schools, 
governmental services, businesses and  offices were closed. Our streets were 
silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our  people were barricaded in their homes 
out of fear; death  awaited them around every  corner. Terrorists occupied and  
controlled the only hospital in the city. Their  savagery reached such a level 
that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and tossed them 
into the streets in  order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve  the 
bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until  God prepared 
and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of  the 3d Armored Cavalry  
Regiment, who liberated this city,  ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers after harsh 
 fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to 
flee the city like rats to the surrounding  areas, where the bravery of other 3d 
ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar  and Avgani finally destroyed them. 
I have met many soldiers of the 3d  Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not 
only courageous  men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to 
fight the evil of  terrorism.

The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC  Hickey, LTC 
Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and  wisdom.

Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and  character of 
knights in a bygone era. The mission they  have accomplished, by means of a 
unique military operation, stands  among the finest military  feats to date in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom,  and truly deserves to be  studied in military science. 
This  military operation was clean, with little collateral  damage, despite the 
ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt 
with the terrorist  cancers in the city without causing unnecessary  damage.

God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who  dedicated these 
brave men and women. From the bottom of  our hearts we thank the families. They 
have given us something we will never  forget. To the families of those who 
have given their holy  blood for our land, we all  bow to you in reverence and 
to the souls  of your loved ones. Their  sacrifice was not in vain. They are 
not  dead, but alive, and their  souls hovering around us every second of  every 
minute. They will never be forgotten for  giving their precious lives. They 
have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every 
child,  and in every flower growing in this land. Let America,  their 
families, and the  world be proud of their sacrifice for  humanity and life.

Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about  this brave Regiment, I 
haven’t the words to describe the courage of  its officers and soldiers. I pray 
to God to grant happiness and  health to these legendary heroes and their 
brave  families.

NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID
AL-JIBOURI
Mayor of Tall  ‘Afar,
Ninewa, Iraq