Iraq: Arrowhead 'Ripper' and 2 Compassionate Soldiers

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

These are two great articles. First, we have the ISF (Iraq Security Forces) working along side the Coalition Forces (CF) to put pressure on any al Qaida still left in the neighborhood.

BAQOUBA, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) teamed with Task Force Lightning units, Thursday, to clear Baqouba and surrounding areas as Operation Arrowhead Ripper continued.

“We are shoulder-to-shoulder with Iraqi Security Forces in this fight,” said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding general, operations, and commander of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. “Specifically the 5th Iraqi Army Division led by Maj. Gen. Saleem Kariem Ali Alotbei, along with the provincial director of police, Maj. Gen. Ganim, have provided the Iraqi security forces to the fight.

The weeks ahead are absolutely key in not only holding and retaining the ground that is cleared in partnership with Coalition Forces (CF), but also in building trust and confidence with the citizens of Diyala.” [Continue reading.]

There is also a picture that comes with both of these articles. Well, all of them today, actually. Wait until you read how many AQ they killed! :)

This next article is very moving. Two soldiers who were only doing their job turned the mind of one man (who could in turn change the minds of others) when they took notice of the needs of his son.

KIRKUK, Iraq - The nine-year old boy would most certainly lose his leg. Given the prohibitive cost of medical care and his family’s lack of resources, amputation and a life of pain and dependence seemed inevitable. The Iraqi boy’s father was resigned to that conclusion.

Then two soldiers got involved and hope arrived along with them.

Sgt. Donald R. Campbell and Capt. Geoffrey Dutton, both Georgia natives, brought coalition and Iraqi resources together to give an Iraqi boy hope after a chance encounter during a routine patrol in Kirkuk, Iraq. [Continue reading.]

These guys are very special. It makes me so proud to be an American. Thank you for your service, stay safe, and God bless you.

Mrs. Ruth Graham: Rest in Peace

Ruth Graham went to be with God today. She was 87 years, and she shared a 65 year long love affair with her husband, Reverend Billy Graham. May God comfort all who knew her and will miss her, and may she finally have peace.

Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas: RIP

We learned today that Sen. Craig Thomas has died from leukemia at the age of tender age of 74. I send my prayers to his family, friends and constituents. He is in the only place better than America now, he is no longer in pain. May he rest in peace.

I will not bring up politics at this time, for it is inappropriate. That is why I did not disclose to which party he belonged. Does it matter anymore? Only to those who want fill his seat, but can they really? Isn't that tacky? God forgive you.

May everyone deal with this in their own way, but I shall pray for you all.

Rev. Falwell died today. May he rest in peace

Rev. Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority around 1980, and he was a major player in helping to elect President Reagan. Here is a little of what Yahoo News has written about him:

The fundamentalist church that Falwell started in an abandoned bottling plant in 1956 grew into a religious empire that includes the 22,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, the "Old Time Gospel Hour" carried on television stations around the country and 7,700-student Liberty University. He built Christian elementary schools, homes for unwed mothers and a home for alcoholics.

He also founded Liberty University in Lynchburg, which began as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971. [Continue reading.]

This is where they found Rev. Falwell unconscious. They rushed him to the hospital, applied CPR, but it did not bring back our beloved friend. You will be missed, Rev. Falwell. May you rest in piece.

Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald: RIP

Rep. Millender-McDonald has filled many offices which allowed her to serve our country, and today she has finally gone home to her reward. She is 68 years old.

She died of cancer, as did Rep. Norwood earlier this year. I suppose I should mention that Juanita was a Democrat, and Charles Norwood was a Republican. We do not know what type of cancer, and I was not even aware she was ill.

Ya see, she was my Congresswoman. While we were on different sides of the aisle, she was always courteous and active. For a Democrat, she was a great lady. May you rest in peace, and may God comfort all of those who have been left to carry on. God bless you all.

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Calif. meets reporters on Capitol Hill, in this Nov. 29, 2005 file photo. Millender-McDonald, D-Calif., died early Sunday, April 22, 2007 of cancer, an aide said. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Source: Peter Prengaman of AP.

At least 20 murdered at Virginia Tech, Redeploy!

In a heinous act, a man went through at least two buildings at the Virginia Technical College (Institute?) shooting indiscriminately, or it would seem so far. There will be news coming in at a pace of drips and drabs. They cannot confirm the number of dead or injured, and they will not release the names of the victims. It's about time they started acting like the family matters...

The reason for the call for redeployment? Because people are dead. Don't we always redeploy when people die? If we do not do this for such a dangerous city in Virginia, then tell me, please, why should we do this in Iraq?

I realize it may be tacky to some to lump the two together, but I am actually not. I am trying to show you, by paralleling the events and reactions, the idiocy in the later, while respecting the first.

I pray for the injured, the families of the dead and injured, and the friends and all that are affected by this wicked event. I pray there are answers soon.

I pray Virginia does not become a state that is riddled by insurgents. Remember, this is where those two were found who shot people indiscriminately. Maybe we should let Virginia leave the Union? After all, they fought in the Civil War (on the side of the South!).

Doesn't make sense to you? Want it spelled out? Okay. Let me say that all you saw for 4 years was school shootings and murder, rape, robberies, burglaries, poverty and starvation. Then I did not let you know anything else about Virginia. Would you be willing to move there? Would you plan your vacation there?

MY point is simply this. I'm pissed off that this happened. It is the same thing that happens in Iraq (NOT everyday or everywhere). In that same way as you are demanding for justice for these victims in Virigia, so why do you not believe that we should do the same thing for our ally, Iraq? You don't want to leave Virginia out in the cold because you see the ridiculousness of it. So why do you want us to abandon our weak ally? (This is not meant for those of you who do not want to run away from Iraq.)

I am too angry to be writing about this, apparently. Angry about what? Both crimes. I am angry about the school shooting, AND I am angry about the politicians who think that playing games with our men and women wearing the uniform to protect all of us are getting no freakin' respect or money to do their jobs is a politically acceptable thing to do. If you really care so much, you wouldn't want them dead. That is the result of these dumbass politicians. I gotta go.

Update: The first shooting was at 7:15 am. One was confirmed dead. The rampage began TWO WHOLE HOURS LATER. Why was the school still open? Did anyone respond to the 7:15 am 911 call?

An UNCONFIRMED report by one of the students said that the murderer was Asian.

The number murdered is now 31+the murderer.

Update: One more person has died to bring the total of murdered students and professors to 32. They have identified the murderer as a South Korean resident alien by the name of Cho Seung Hui. He is was 6' tall. He was also an English major. Why are they telling us this? To humanize this animal? I do not know. I would like to think it is for those who need to know why. I personally know that this will not help. The only answer is that there is evil inside each and every one of us. It is up to each of us, individually, to identify and control that which is unacceptable in the sight of God.

Look. If you do not know like my mention of God because it convicts your heart, you don't have to read what I write! Sheesh. Give me a break, will ya? I will proclaim His Power to all ends of this world! I pray one day you too will understand why...hopefully before you do die and then there is no hope for redemption...