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Here's an interesting email from a Chaplain in the Army Reserve who has been called to active duty to support our troops in Iraq. They are Psychology Operations personnel who speak the local languages and work with the people. Thus, he has a good perspective to what is really going on in Iraq.
He writes...
Hi All,
In light of today's death toll in Al Fallujah I'd like to offer you a different view then you may see on your tv news. First, I'm not one that bashes the media for bias. Yes, they have a bias..don't we all..but I'm not one that sees conspiracy. But I have noticed, that deaths in Iraq get a whole lot more attention than the good things that happen here, a whole lot more attention. So, here's some background on Al Fallujah to keep in mind.

A)Why is it in the news almost every night? Because it is one of the FEW places in all of Iraq where trouble exists. Iraq has 25 million people and is the size of California. Fallujah and surrounding towns total 500,000 people. Do the math..that's not a big percentage of Iraq. How many people were murdered last night in L.A.? did it make headline news? why not?

B) Saddam could not and did not control Fallujah..he bought off those he could, killed those he couldn't and played all leaders against one another. IT was and is a 'difficult' town. Nothing new about that. What is new is that outside people have come in to stir up unrest. How many are there...that's classified, but let me tell you this...there are more people in the northeast Minneapolis gangs than there are causing havoc in Fallujah...surprised?

C)Then why does it get so much coverage? Because the major news outlets have camera crews permanently posted in Al Fallujah. So, if you are from outside Iraq, and want to get air time for your cause, where would you go to terrorize, bomb, mutilate and destory? Al Fallujah.

D)Why does it seem to be getting worse? Two answers..
1)This country became a welfare state under Saddam. If you cared about your well-fare..you towed the line or died. The state did your thinking and your bidding...want a job..pledge allegiance to the Baath party..want an apartment, a car, etc...show loyalty..electricity, water, sewage, etc..was paid by the state. Go with the flow..life is good..don't and you're dead. Now, what does that do to initiative? drive? industry? So, we come along and lock up sugar daddy and give these people the toughest challenge in the world..FREEDOM.you want a job..earn it! house? Buy it or build it! Security? Build a police force, army and militia and give it to yourself? Risk your lives and earn freedom. the good news is that millions of Iraqis are doing just that, and some pay with their lives. But many, many are struggling with Freedom (just like East Germans, Russians, Czechs, etc...) and they want a sugar daddy..the USA to do it all. We refuse...We don't want to be plantation owners..we make it clear we are here to help, not own or stay..they get mad about that, sometimes. Nonetheless, in Fallujah, the supposed hotbed of dissient in Iraq..countless Iraqis tell our psyopers they want to cooperate with us but are afraid the thugs will slit their throats or kill their kids. A bad gang can do that to a neighborhood and a town..that's what is happening here.

2) We have a battle hand off going on here. The largest in recent American history. The army is passing the baton to the marines in this area. There is uncertainty among the populace and misinformation being given out by the bad guys. As a result there is insecurity and the bad guys are testing the resolve of the Marines and indirectly you; the American people. The bad guys are convinced that Americans have no stomach for a long haul effort here. They want to drive us out of here and then resurrect a dictatorship of one kind our another.

Okay, what do we do? Stay the course. The marines will get into a battle rhythm and along with other forces and government agencies here, they will knock out the crack houses, drive the thugs across the border and set the conditions for the Fallujans to join the freedom parade or rot in their lack of initiative..either way, the choice will be theirs. The alternative? Turn tail, pull out and leave a power vacuum that will suck in all of Iraq's neighbors and spark a civil war that could make Rhwanda look like a misdemeanor.

Hey America, don't go weak kneed on us...585 dead American's made an investment here..that's a whole lot less than were killed on American highways last month. Their lives are honored when we stay the course and do the job we came to do;namely set the conditions for a new government and empower these people to be the great nation they are capable of being.

So, when you watch the reports from Al Fallujah..remember...there's more to the story than meets the camera's eye.

God bless,
John