Posted on 11/10/2007 4:27:36 PM PST by STARWISE
There is Starbucks in Waco.
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Iraqi Leaders Thank Vermont Soldiers
Northfield, Vermont - November 8, 2007 When members of the Vermont National Guard arrived in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, it was one of the most dangerous places in the country. But thanks to the efforts of Task Force Saber and the members of the visiting delegation, Anbar, and its capital city of Ramadi, are some of the safest places in the nation.
"We have seen pictures and share them amongst members of Task Force Saber and the difference of Ramadi today versus what it was when we were there, you can't even tell the difference, you'd think it was another city," says Vt. National Guard Col. Mark Lovejoy.
Part of the turnaround, says the delegation, is a change in the mentality of the people of Anbar. Those people, they say, are no longer tolerant of the violence of Al Qaeda.
"That al-Qaida and the terrorists are people who believe in the theory of death, whereas we believe in the idea of life and building and rebuilding," Anbar Province Governor Mamoon Rashid Al-Alwani explained through a translator.
That rebuilding effort is what allowed the delegation the opportunity to leave Iraq, and visit the United States, and meet with Guard members and Norwich University students who helped make Ramadi safe.
"To the families of the victims of the soldiers in Iraq, I specifically express our appreciation to the state of Vermont," said Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha of Anbar Awakening through a translator.
Guard members and soldiers had the opportunity to speak with the delegation. For them, this visit is an opportunity to see first hand the difference they made-- even from half a world away.
"Back when the new government was new, I didn't really think too much of the Iraqi delegates coming over to the United States, but now I think about it, it's kind of a good think, you know, they're getting out in the world now and establishing themselves again," says Norwich University Cadet Sgt. Richard Sugai.
The delegation says it's confident al-Qaida will not regain any ground in Anbar, and the key to stabilizing the rest of Iraq is participation from all the people of the country.
Okay, I understand this is not conventional Breaking News fare, but this, an amazing Veteran's Day Weekend story, not only is getting absolutely no coverage from the agenda driven mainstream media (no surprise there) but is being completely ignored by the right-o-sphere (Malkin, Hewitt, Glenn Reynolds, Charles Johnson, Bryan Preston where are you?) and the conservative pundits (NRO, Weekly Standard, syndicated columnists, etc).
These Iraqi leaders aren't just any Iraqi leaders either.
They are from the Anbar tribes that turned on Al-Qaeda and opened the door that Petraeus kicked in.
Without them there would be no Anbar Awakening, no model for the rest of Iraqis to follow. And, and we all know, they are following it. The latest numbers say some 70,000 concerned Iraqi citizens in some 120 groups have now mobilized to confront the savagery of Al-Qaeda and Shiite fundamentalists.
Without our Anbar allies, the door doesn't get opened.
And, not least of all, because of them many more Americans will be returning to their families.
So, please people, email your friends about it. Email The Corner about it. If you have a blog, write about it. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment in blogs you read.
There's a great video at the WCAX website. Maybe someone could grab it and put it on YouTube or Live Leak.
Shaykh Ahmed Abu Risha and the rest of the Anbaris are on the final day of their 10 day visit to the US. Let's create a little buzz to let them know as they thank us, we, in turn, thank them.
VIDEO HERE ~~ VT Guard Hosts Iraqis ~~ right side.
"What's important here in Vermont is that you had many of your sons in our province," said Abdusalem Mohammed, Chairman of the Provincial Council, speaking through an interpreter. "This is our way to express our appreciation for all their efforts."
*snip*
"The group met last week with President Bush and members of Congress, and visited Maryland and Texas as well. They leave Vermont for their final US stop in New York City this weekend.
"For those (tribal) sheiks to come over, and turn their back on al-Qaeda and stand up for democracy and freedom means a lot to me," Middleton said."
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"The Iraqi delegation told veterans they would look to the U.S. as a model in crafting their own unity government.
"You managed to unite all 50 states in one country despite your diversity and different religions," Al-Alwani said. "You managed to build this country despite those differences."
When the reconstruction is complete, the Iraqis said, Vermont veterans will be their guests of honor.
Said Al-Essawi, "We will welcome you and your families to come and visit Iraq."
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And it's ALL due to Pres. Bush's relentless perseverance, resolve and conviction that freedom is a gift from God and planted within the soul of every living human being.
Did ANYone hear or read ANYthing about this amazing visit in the so-called press?
OMG, Star......the Miscellaneous (NOT FROM TODAY) pics of our wonderful President are TERRIFIC, FANTASTIC...and moving...these pictures make me smile.....and want to cry.
He is such a good man....I hate that he and Laura are subjected to the hatefulness of the media and liberal politicians. I also hate that, these days, many Republicans are reluctant to reference President Bush....they’ll only speak of Pres Reagan. Hope I don’t get flamed...Pres Reagan was a good man but GEORGE W BUSH IS OUR PRESIDENT and he is a man of integrity and courage and we are blessed to have him as our President.
Sorry for ranting.......some of the pics (esp the one where W has arms outstretched to our troops and the one of him alone in the field) just moved me.
Thanks again for this wonderful post.
You’re most welcome .. I also love some of the “oldies.”
And we’ve not see a President/CIC so connected to the
military in our lifetime, IMO. It’s a palpably emotional
connection of great honor and appreciation.
Thank you, too, for the post on the Iraqi’s visit to Vermont. You are so right.....we never see this good news on the MSM.....I belong to a Women’s Club and I definitely share these items with them...hopefully, they share with others.
It’s amazing how the MSM thinks it’s OK to hide
news like this from US ... it’s their obligation,
their darn job!
My pleasure, Dolly .. ;)
It sure is.
why would the museum need a facelift all ready?
WOW . . . THANK YOU for posting such awesome photos from today and ‘yesterday’!! As others have already indicated, the photo of the President striding with open arms toward his troops who are themselves extending their arms to him ‘says’ all that needs to be said about this President and his feelings for those he commands, as well as their feelings for him!!
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BUSH URGES CONGRESS TO OK VETERANS BILL
Saturday, November 10, 2007
CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush said Saturday that Congress’ Democratic leaders should celebrate Veterans Day by finally passing a spending bill covering programs for veterans.
“Congressional leaders let the fiscal year end without passing this bill they know our veterans need,” Bush said in his weekly radio address. “The time to act is running out. ... The best way members of Congress can give thanks to our veterans is to send me a clean bill that I can sign into law.”
. . . The White House is planning an event Sunday during which the president will honor veterans, spokesman Gordon Johndroe said from Texas, where Bush is spending the weekend at his ranch. Johndroe declined to discuss where or with whom the event would take place. Vice President Dick Cheney is paying a visit to Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, and was scheduled to speak briefly.
[YOU WILL FIND A LINK TO THE VIDEOCLIP OF ‘41’s’ SKY DIVE IN THE UPPER RIGHTHAND CORNER OF THE FOLLOWING ‘PAGE’]:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310399,00.html
Here’s what I found:
~~~~
http://www.star-telegram.com/national_news/story/298524.html
We were the kind of museum you came to and looked at stuff and couldn’t touch,” Finch said by telephone. “We wanted to make it interactive.”
An $8.3 million renovation courtesy of private donations has changed the museum, first dedicated in 1997. Many popular exhibits remain — such as the TBM Avenger, similar to the one Bush flew in World War II — and many have been added.
Before the renovations, there were 10 interactive exhibits. There are now nearly 100 — covering topics ranging from the Persian Gulf War to landing on an aircraft carrier — and countless flat-screen monitors throughout the building to explain exhibits.
“It’s amazing,” Bush said in a statement, referring to the renovations. “Though our museum looks the same from the outside ... to me it’s as if we have a totally new museum on the inside.
“I am very grateful to the dedicated team that came together to make this face-lift a total success.”
Situation Room and more
Bush and much of his family will be on hand today to celebrate the reopening. President George W. Bush, his son, cannot attend, Finch said.
The renovations, in the works for two years, add not only the Oval Office but also 116 scrapbooks that then-first lady Barbara Bush kept of the family, an audio tour and an interactive White House Situation Room, Finch said.
In the Situation Room, visitors can listen to scenarios Bush faced, receive the information he did at the time and decide what action to take.
Then they’ll learn whether they made the same decision as Bush.
That and a new exhibit on Barbara Bush’s life join more than 40 million documents and nearly 1 million pictures from Bush’s terms as president and vice president and his private life, Finch said.
Last year, the Bush library and museum drew more than 140,000 visitors, making it the fourth-most-visited presidential museum, according to the National Archives and Records Administration.
Ten years ago, Bush’s $83 million, 69,000-square-foot library and museum opened to a crowd of more than 20,000.
It sounds like a very neat place to visit!
Star, the story about the Iraqis visiting Vermont is really great. I sent it out in my email, so I hope it goes a lot futher.
Thanks for today’s Dose. Loved the “old” pix.
An amazing story, and no, I did NOT hear it from the
Has-Been Media!
God bless those Iraqis for their courage and their kind words.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
It really does.
It’s so heartwarming .. and just
a clue to what’s really happening
on the ground. They ARE hasbeens,
luv .. and they prove it more every
day.
You’re most welcome, deb.
Totally irrelivent and not where we will go for our news!
We have FReepers who are more on top of things and who are
more “fair and balanced” than the HBM!
I am blown away about all the GOOD news coming out of Iraq.
And the DUmmies still want to cut-and-run! Sheesh!
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