In Case You Missed These...

Posted By Blackfive

In case you missed it (and I did), Susan H. and Matthew H. (no relation) send this Washington Post article about American and Iraqi Soldiers.

Humvee Tragedy Forges Brotherhood of Soldiers
Iraqis Persevere to Recover Dead Americans

By Steve Fainaru
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, February 22, 2005; Page A01

<...>

During the harrowing day-long mission to recover the bodies of the Humvee's three occupants on Feb. 13, an Air Force firefighter also drowned. Five U.S. soldiers were treated for hypothermia. For five hours, three Navy SEAL divers searched the canal before their tanks ran out of oxygen.

What happened then, however, has transformed the relationship between the Iraqi soldiers and the skeptical Americans who train them. Using a tool they welded themselves that day at a cost of about $40, the Iraqis dredged the canal through the cold afternoon until the tan boot of Spec. Dakotah Gooding, 21, of Des Moines, appeared at the surface. The Iraqis then jumped into the water to pull him out, and went back again and again until they had recovered the last American. Then they stood atop the canal, shivering in the dark.

"When I saw those Iraqis in the water, fighting to save their American brothers, I saw a glimpse of the future of this country," said Col. Mark McKnight, commander of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which had overall responsibility for the unit in the accident, his eyes tearing...

And if you're not reading Tim Chavez's columns in the Tennessean, you're seriously missing out:

Spreading good news in spite of the main media

Though John Johnston's grandson has spent much time serving his nation in Kosovo, Afghanistan and the past 12 months in Iraq, he has only one big complaint:

''I wish the press would pick up on good things that are happening (in Iraq).''

It did for a moment last Sunday, but that took millions of Iraqis going to the polls. Capt. Neal Mayo was referring to the good his men and women from the Arkansas National Guard have been doing for some time. They've been rebuilding hospitals and organizing youth soccer teams. His grandfather, from his Brentwood home, has been sending books to his grandson as his unit sets up libraries...

Arthur Chrenkoff interviews Michael Ledeen.  Ledeen is an interesting character and I especially appreciated the context around Iran (what with a former UN Iraq Weapons Inspector making claims that we're going to bomb Iran in June).

And I learn something each and everytime I visit Tom Maguire's Just One Minute or Wretchard's Belmont Club.

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In Case You Missed These...

In case you missed it (and I did), Susan H. and Matthew H. (no relation) send this Washington Post article about American and Iraqi Soldiers.

Humvee Tragedy Forges Brotherhood of Soldiers
Iraqis Persevere to Recover Dead Americans

By Steve Fainaru
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, February 22, 2005; Page A01

<...>

During the harrowing day-long mission to recover the bodies of the Humvee's three occupants on Feb. 13, an Air Force firefighter also drowned. Five U.S. soldiers were treated for hypothermia. For five hours, three Navy SEAL divers searched the canal before their tanks ran out of oxygen.

What happened then, however, has transformed the relationship between the Iraqi soldiers and the skeptical Americans who train them. Using a tool they welded themselves that day at a cost of about $40, the Iraqis dredged the canal through the cold afternoon until the tan boot of Spec. Dakotah Gooding, 21, of Des Moines, appeared at the surface. The Iraqis then jumped into the water to pull him out, and went back again and again until they had recovered the last American. Then they stood atop the canal, shivering in the dark.

"When I saw those Iraqis in the water, fighting to save their American brothers, I saw a glimpse of the future of this country," said Col. Mark McKnight, commander of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which had overall responsibility for the unit in the accident, his eyes tearing...

And if you're not reading Tim Chavez's columns in the Tennessean, you're seriously missing out:

Spreading good news in spite of the main media

Though John Johnston's grandson has spent much time serving his nation in Kosovo, Afghanistan and the past 12 months in Iraq, he has only one big complaint:

''I wish the press would pick up on good things that are happening (in Iraq).''

It did for a moment last Sunday, but that took millions of Iraqis going to the polls. Capt. Neal Mayo was referring to the good his men and women from the Arkansas National Guard have been doing for some time. They've been rebuilding hospitals and organizing youth soccer teams. His grandfather, from his Brentwood home, has been sending books to his grandson as his unit sets up libraries...

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» We few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers, Iraqi and American from Does This Offend You?
We lost soldiers in a tragic accident in a cold, rushing canal in Iraq. Our efforts could not recover the bodies. The Iraqi soldiers refused to be dissuaded... "No, you can't go in there," said Poteet. "Why? Why?" Abdul Mutalib pleaded, near... [Read More]