Thursday, February 03, 2005
Great Iraqi Election Stories
I posted some emails I got from my new friend Jared Leinart last week end. Jared is in Mosul and was a part of the effort to secure polling places. I have heard from him again with some great stories of the election. Thought you's like to read them:
Elections went well. We started on Task Force Barrier at about 3:00 pm on January 27th. We provided security for some other engineers who placed big concrete barriers around the polling sites in Mosul. This kept vehicles with explosives from running into the polling sites. We didn’t end until about 11:30 the next morning. What a long night, but we were the only group to finish in one night. So, in return for our good job, we went back out the next day to help another team. Again, we started in the afternoon but we ended about 5:00 am on the 29th. We finally got a break from going out into the city, but had to increase guard duty around our FOB.
The elections were reported to have gone very well, with some great stories of the courage and faith of different people. When one polling site opened, a large crowd amassed in front of it, but no one would go in as they feared they may get killed. Finally, an elderly woman stepped up and went in and the crowds followed her. Ironically, here women have been looked upon as followers and a second-grade citizen next to men, but here was a woman (whom had grown up in that state) that stood up and led the way for others to follow. In another site, people were in line, when an insurgent sniper shot and killed one civilian who was waiting in line. The line of people, just took a knee, while the Iraqi police went after the sniper. Once the incident was over, they just stood up and continued waiting in line. I wonder if a sniper killed someone in the US, if the crowd would remain to vote or run and hide.
Jared -- the American and the Iraqi people owe you and your comrades a debt that can never be repaid. Please accept our humble thanks. Pleae convey to the Iraqi people the admiration of Americans everywhere at their bravery and fortitude.
Elections went well. We started on Task Force Barrier at about 3:00 pm on January 27th. We provided security for some other engineers who placed big concrete barriers around the polling sites in Mosul. This kept vehicles with explosives from running into the polling sites. We didn’t end until about 11:30 the next morning. What a long night, but we were the only group to finish in one night. So, in return for our good job, we went back out the next day to help another team. Again, we started in the afternoon but we ended about 5:00 am on the 29th. We finally got a break from going out into the city, but had to increase guard duty around our FOB.
The elections were reported to have gone very well, with some great stories of the courage and faith of different people. When one polling site opened, a large crowd amassed in front of it, but no one would go in as they feared they may get killed. Finally, an elderly woman stepped up and went in and the crowds followed her. Ironically, here women have been looked upon as followers and a second-grade citizen next to men, but here was a woman (whom had grown up in that state) that stood up and led the way for others to follow. In another site, people were in line, when an insurgent sniper shot and killed one civilian who was waiting in line. The line of people, just took a knee, while the Iraqi police went after the sniper. Once the incident was over, they just stood up and continued waiting in line. I wonder if a sniper killed someone in the US, if the crowd would remain to vote or run and hide.
Jared -- the American and the Iraqi people owe you and your comrades a debt that can never be repaid. Please accept our humble thanks. Pleae convey to the Iraqi people the admiration of Americans everywhere at their bravery and fortitude.
