Iraqis Showcase Democracy on Fourth Anniversary of Fall of Saddam’s Regime

American Forces Press Service ^ | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2007 – The image of thousands of Iraqi citizens peacefully voicing their views in Najaf today illustrates the freedoms they’ve gained since U.S. and coalition forces liberated the country from Saddam Hussein’s iron grip four years ago, a senior U.S. military officer in Baghdad said today.

Between 5,000 and 7,000 Iraqis are participating in peaceful anti-U.S. demonstrations in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, Navy Rear Adm. Mark I. Fox, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad.

“That is their right in the new Iraq,” Fox said. “And, it’s only fair, however, to note that they exercise that right because coalition forces liberated them from a tyrannical, barbaric regime that would never have permitted such freedom of expression.”

The U.S. and coalition forces’ air and ground campaign launched March 20, 2003, quickly overwhelmed Saddam’s military. The dictator’s rule was effectively ended on April 9, when American troops in downtown Baghdad pulled down a metal statute of the dictator amid the cheers of elated Iraqis.

American forces found Saddam hiding in a hole near his hometown of Tikrit in December 2003. After being tried and convicted by an Iraqi court on charges of genocide against the Iraqi people and other crimes, Saddam was executed by hanging on Dec. 29, 2006.

The removal of the late dictator’s “republic of fear” also has enabled hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to participate in multiple religious celebrations and festivals held across the country.

However, Fox acknowledged the ongoing animosity between some of Iraq’s Sunnis and Shiites that’s often instigated and inflamed by al Qaeda attacks. “Now, Iraqis must reject those who seek to drive wedges between people who have in the past lived in harmony,” the admiral said.

Fox cited the establishment of a constitution, democratic governance and voting processes among the “substantial accomplishments” witnessed in Iraq since the end of Saddam’s regime. “Today, the Iraqi people are free to vote, to worship and to peacefully assemble,” Fox said.

Yet, he also acknowledged that parts of the country remain dangerous “for those who have been involved in helping to build a new (democratic) state in this ancient land.”

Meanwhile, Iraqi and coalition security forces are working together to protect the people of Iraq, as provincial reconstruction teams are helping restore Iraq’s battered infrastructure and resuscitate the national economy to provide a better future for Iraq’s citizens, the admiral said.

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

[rlmorel]

Blah.

This is boring beyond belief. SandRat, I don’t know why you persist in posting this banal, inane crap.

Nobody wants to hear this.

Where is the blood on the streets? The American public knows THAT is what really counts, not a bunch of arabs who wouldn’t know democracy if it hit them in their faces.

/s

[freema]

Don’t you just LOVE it!

[do the dhue]

I want to hear it SandRat.

Where is the blood on the streets? The American public knows THAT is what really counts, not a bunch of arabs who wouldn’t know democracy if it hit them in their faces.

rlmorel

I must be missing something. I want terrorist to be sent to judgment, but we are there to bring hope and a future to a formally caged people.

We are not there to fill the streets with blood. If we were that would have been done and over with. But we have chosen to love our enemy. Try to give them hope and a future.

If they would help us bring them security, then businesses will invest and people will start to go to work. In Northern Iraq, it has already started. The Kurdish people have secured themselves and this is a important key.

Getting the rest of Iraq to secure itself has proven to be harder. But tough times never last, tough people do. This is a tough row to hoe. We have to pull some weeds.

And to tell you the truth, I am not sure if we know what a tough time is. In the first two and a half days (days mind you) we lost 2,500 Marines and Sailors on the Island of Iwo Jima. Over 400,000 fell to WWII in four years. 52,000 fell in the two years of Korea. And the bloodiest day in our history saw 22,000 Soldiers fall in four hours. Four hours and not four years.

Our Troops are doing good. We have to keep working and maybe things like this little protest allows you to gather some intel.

Keep up the good work SandRat. I look for this stuff.

[SandRat]

lol

go back and look at rlmorel’s reply at the very end — he put /s for end sarcasim

lol

[rlmorel]

Gosh, I sure am sorry. I was being ironic and sarcastic.

As Rush would say...”Don’t try this at home...”

LOL...every time I do something like this, I end up completely making a dog’s breakfast of it.

You and I are on the same page...I agree completely with you...

[do the dhue]

Sorry ‘bout that.

Now I see why Cops don’t like toy guns.

Try putting /sac on or something ...

[do the dhue]

I missed that

I guess I was seein red or something ...

I am real sorry ...

[rlmorel]

I felt bad. I think of all the times I see things on here that just completely piss me off, and I start furiously typing and get on a roll.

It does take a little bit of a toll emotionally sometimes, so I know how you feel...I wish I hadn’t tried to be clever.

[do the dhue]

MY bad. Fouls on me.

Sorry about that. Are you OK?

[do the dhue]

I was wanting to start dunkin on you. I guess I should look for the /s a little better.

Again.

Over here. On me.

[rlmorel]

ROTFLMAO!

Yes...I am okay. SIgh...I almost NEVER do that kind of post...I guess SandRat knows how much I appreciate all her posts, and I didn’t even consider anyone else. Reminds me of a story...

When I served on the USS JFK back in the Seventies, there was a sailor on watch one night on the Port Quarter (Left side of the ship, all the way towards the back, for you lubbers out there...:)

It was about 0300, the sailor was sitting in a chair, peacoat on, soundpowered phones on, looking out at the ocean and...he fell asleep. A couple of his buddies came down to say hello, saw he was sleeping, and had a great idea for a prank.

They crawled over and tied the shoelaces on his boondockers together. They retreated back into the hatch and then called out in semi-hushed tones “Man Overboard! Man Overboard!”

Well, it had the desired effect. The sleeping sailor jumped to his feet and fell flat on his face.

Unfortunately, someone on a catwalk above heard them, and raised the alarm. The entire battlegroup came alive, 6000 men on the carrier, and thousands on the destroyers, cruisers and support ships were rousted from their beds and ran to their battle stations to report in as the ships maneuvered in unison to come about.

Needless to say, the men were court martialed.

Bottom line...it is always a good idea to consider the effect a conversation might have if overheard by a third party!

No harm...no foul!

[jveritas]

The left wing treasonous media was telling us about hundreds of thousands of Sadr supporters are going to flood the streets in many Iraqi cities demanding US withdrawal. The good news is that terrorist Sadr could only muster few thousands supporters to march in the demonstrations.

[do the dhue]

LOL

that is a good story.

Thanks for the service.

I was born on a Navy Base, but I ended up joining the Army. I don’t have a funny story right now.

I just feel bad for fouling you.

And I do apologize, again.

[rlmorel]

Good God. We have nearly succeeded in hijacking this poor thread!

[do the dhue]

my bad on me. Should I put Barkley up again?

[rlmorel]

LOL! Hey...that WAS Barkley...hadn’t he lost some weight there, later in his career?

Boy...I LOVED it when he played for Philly...I am a Boston fan, so...he made the games SO damned exciting and controversial...always had a great quote...and SO talented!

He and Bird were made for each other...the Yin and Yang!

[SandRat]

lol... don’t feel bad I almost flamed out at him to. thank goodness i read it a second time lol

[do the dhue]

That was in Sir Charles younger days.

He was like 6’10’’ but played like her was 10 feet tall.

I loved to watch him play.

I think Bird would have been a better ball player if he didn’t leave Coach Bobby Knight after the first practice /s

I figured I would try that /s thing ;-)