Monday, October 17, 2005

Success

This morning, I shook the purple stained hand of a dear friend. The skeptics, and the ignorant, can spin the turnout and result all they want, I know the truth. I saw it in Junior’s eyes when he held up his finger. I didn’t ask him how he voted, that doesn’t matter. I think that’s what the naysayers don’t get. The outcome doesn’t matter because the process was successful, therefore whatever the outcome, freedom triumphed.
My job on Saturday was to handle any detainees picked up in our sector, questioning them and making recommendations regarding what to do with them. Take a guess at how many people I questioned. Not one. I spent the day doing redeployment planning and talking to soldiers coming off of patrols, who all reported happy crowds waving purple fingers at the passing Soldiers. No violence. No IED’s. No detainees. It was so quiet in our sector that the Brigade commander personally escorted the family of an Iraqi baby with a broken leg to a hospital, because he had nothing else going on. It was actually boring. Boring is good. My seat as a witness to history was a quiet room, watching AFN News and waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened, and that is News. Nothing happened!
Something I haven’t seen mentioned in press reports of the election is the fact that no American troops were guarding any of the polling sites. Security was handled entirely by the Iraqi Army and Police. We had patrols sweeping the MSR’s, but no one was even allowed within sight of a polling place. It was the Iraqi’s election, not ours.
It was a success. I know, I was there.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nothing has never looked so good!

Cathy said...

April is absolutely correct!

Thank you and please accept my gratitude and please congratulate the Iraqis for us.

Papa Ray said...

Hey,

Good job Troop, pass it on.

Continue the Mission.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA

FbL said...

I wish you long days filled with nothing but boring housekeeping... *grin*

Dude! Ya'll are DOING IT!

Keep the Faith!

Anonymous said...

I'm really glad to hear that stuff! I posted it on my site, www.happeningoverthere.com if you dont mind. Keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Great job, good news! Thanks for sharing with us.

Please pass along to all concerned my respect and gratitude.

Maggie Goff said...

So happy to see your report. Thank you, and most especially...thank you for your service. Thanks to your family also!!