YankeeFan's Blog

Okay, so I was reading this article the other day saying that less than  1/2 a percent of Americans really had any idea about the military, the ethos of those who serve and  what our Service members and their families endure while on deployment.   I have to admit I was one of the 99.5 percent. Until 3 years ago, I never knew any active duty service members  or their families and, sadly had never known any Veterans from the Vietnam War.  ...  

I was just another civilian "supporting the troops" peripherally, with a check .. here and there to various "Troop" support organizations. On Dec 5 05, that all changed when I sent a few packages to some cold Marines on the Syrian Border .. LOL, those of you who know me, know that,  3 years and  3700 packages to 77 companies  front line Marines  later,   I have become more grunt than civilian and, have, certainly been uh, immersed   Not a day has gone by when one of "Our" Marines past .. or present does not humble or inspire me...

Sorry, I digress, but, I am going to tell a story which exemplifies the type of Man who wears the title United States Marine.  (there are tons of pictures in my photo album "Thanks From Iraq" .. although, this particular story takes place, right here on St Petersburg Beach. )

So.. last year, I got handed some random information on a MiTT (Military Transition Team) to send packages to.  After a time, I received a thank you e mail from the Team's Corpsman an,  I assured him that , regardless of what it was, we were here to send them anything that might make their long, arduous deployment a little bit more comfortable...  and we did., including an odd request for a long mailing tube. Well, to my shock and appreciation, I received a big picture of the team which most of the team members had taken the time to sign for me..  Nice stuff from a team whose year deployment included weeks on end without hot showers  or hot food and whose Christmas "meal" included cheese and crackers, Chicken flavored MRE's  and what they could cook on the George Foreman Grill I had sent.

The deployment ended and  I never thought I would really hear anything from them until the next time they deployed

Imagine, my surprise when I received a random e mail from the Team's MSgt Saying that he and his family would be taking a 4 day trip to Florida and would like to come to SPB to thank their supporters personally ...  I was a little surprised .. Moreso to find out that they were actually staying in PLANT CITY  and spent a good chunk  of their 4 day leave to make the drive down to thank us in person ...  Really, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW, who would spend sevreal hours of a 4 day vacation on Christmas Eve day to drive just to  thank some random people who they don't know and will probably NEVER see again for some boxes sent to their unit while deployed?  The funniest thing is that I never had any direct  interaction with him  the entire deployment  and, only knew him as my contact's room mate  ..  

So, he shows up, resplendent in his dress blues, medals shining brightly (now, mind you, it is over an hour and 1/2 drive down here and the temp had to be 77 degrees) and, to  top it off, He presents me with this gorgeous plaque ....   I almost fell over and, don't think that I will ever get used to being thanked for supporting our Heroes in harm's way. Later on, I had asked him why he had worn his  Dress Blues and his simple answer was "I thought your supporters would appreciate it"

So, that exempliefies the type of man who wears the title US Marine....  a  2 time Combat veteran who served his country for 25 years when he could have been making a lot more money in the private sector  who drives a couple of hours on Christmas Eve dressed in hot clothes  just to thank us for sending some packages ..   Heck, I was at Christmas Mass the other night and folks couldn't even be bothered to put freaking shoes on ...

A little side note: I had asked most of the businesses on Gulf Blvd to put a note to him on their Marquees so that his route to the restaurant would be marked with Thank You's and Well wishes ....  The number of participants renewed my faith in people's patriotism ...  And the folks who blew me off, reminded me of how self absorbed and thankless so many people out there still are

Okay, so I was reading this article the other day saying that less than  1/2 a percent of Americans really had any idea about the military, the ethos of those who serve and  what our Service members and their families endure while on deployment.   I have to admit I was one of the 99.5 percent. Until 3 years ago, I never knew any active duty service members  or their families and, sadly had never known any Veterans from the Vietnam War.  ...  

I was just another civilian "supporting the troops" peripherally, with a check .. here and there to various "Troop" support organizations. On Dec 5 05, that all changed when I sent a few packages to some cold Marines on the Syrian Border .. LOL, those of you who know me, know that,  3 years and  3700 packages to 77 companies  front line Marines  later,   I have become more grunt than civilian and, have, certainly been uh, immersed   Not a day has gone by when one of "Our" Marines past .. or present does not humble or inspire me...

Sorry, I digress, but, I am going to tell a story which exemplifies the type of Man who wears the title United States Marine.  (there are tons of pictures in my photo album "Thanks From Iraq" .. although, this particular story takes place, right here on St Petersburg Beach. )

So.. last year, I got handed some random information on a MiTT (Military Transition Team) to send packages to.  After a time, I received a thank you e mail from the Team's Corpsman an,  I assured him that , regardless of what it was, we were here to send them anything that might make their long, arduous deployment a little bit more comfortable...  and we did., including an odd request for a long mailing tube. Well, to my shock and appreciation, I received a big picture of the team which most of the team members had taken the time to sign for me..  Nice stuff from a team whose year deployment included weeks on end without hot showers  or hot food and whose Christmas "meal" included cheese and crackers, Chicken flavored MRE's  and what they could cook on the George Foreman Grill I had sent.

The deployment ended and  I never thought I would really hear anything from them until the next time they deployed

Imagine, my surprise when I received a random e mail from the Team's MSgt Saying that he and his family would be taking a 4 day trip to Florida and would like to come to SPB to thank their supporters personally ...  I was a little surprised .. Moreso to find out that they were actually staying in PLANT CITY  and spent a good chunk  of their 4 day leave to make the drive down to thank us in person ...  Really, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW, who would spend sevreal hours of a 4 day vacation on Christmas Eve day to drive just to  thank some random people who they don't know and will probably NEVER see again for some boxes sent to their unit while deployed?  The funniest thing is that I never had any direct  interaction with him  the entire deployment  and, only knew him as my contact's room mate  ..  

So, he shows up, resplendent in his dress blues, medals shining brightly (now, mind you, it is over an hour and 1/2 drive down here and the temp had to be 77 degrees)  Then, to  top it off, He presents me with this gorgeous plaque ....   I almost fell over and, don't think that I will ever get used to being thanked for sending some things to a Guy who has just left his family and lived worse than most felons for a year. Later on, I had asked him why he had worn his  Dress Blues and his simple answer was "I thought your supporters would appreciate it"

So, that exempliefies the type of man who wears the title US Marine....  a  2 time Combat veteran who served his country for 25 years when he could have been making a lot more money in the private sector  who drives a couple of hours on Christmas Eve dressed in hot clothes  just to thank us for sending some packages ..   Heck, I was at Christmas Mass the other night and folks couldn't even be bothered to put freaking shoes on ...

A little side note: I had asked most of the businesses on Gulf Blvd to put a note to him on their Marquees so that his route to the restaurant would be marked with Thank You's and Well wishes ....  The number of participants renewed my faith in people's patriotism ...  And the folks who blew me off, reminded me of how self absorbed and thankless so many people out there still are

Okay, so I was reading this article the other day saying that less than  1/2 a percent of Americans really had any idea about the military, the ethos of those who serve and  what our Service members and their families endure while on deployment.   I have to admit I was one of the 99.5 percent. Until 3 years ago, I never knew any active duty service members  or their families and, sadly had never known any Veterans from the Vietnam War.  ...  

I was just another civilian "supporting the troops" peripherally, with a check .. here and there to various "Troop" support organizations. On Dec 5 05, that all changed when I sent a few packages to some cold Marines on the Syrian Border .. LOL, those of you who know me, know that,  3 years and  3700 packages to 77 companies  front line Marines  later,   I have become more grunt than civilian and, have, certainly been uh, immersed   Not a day has gone by when one of "Our" Marines past .. or present does not humble or inspire me...

Sorry, I digress, but, I am going to tell a story which exemplifies the type of Man who wears the title United States Marine.  (there are tons of pictures in my photo album "Thanks From Iraq" .. although, this particular story takes place, right here on St Petersburg Beach. )

So.. last year, I got handed some random information on a MiTT (Military Transition Team) to send packages to.  After a time, I received a thank you e mail from the Team's Corpsman an,  I assured him that , regardless of what it was, we were here to send them anything that might make their long, arduous deployment a little bit more comfortable...  and we did., including an odd request for a long mailing tube. Well, to my shock and appreciation, I received a big picture of the team which most of the team members had taken the time to sign for me..  Nice stuff from a team whose year deployment included weeks on end without hot showers  or hot food and whose Christmas "meal" included cheese and crackers, Chicken flavored MRE's  and what they could cook on the George Foreman Grill I had sent.

The deployment ended and  I never thought I would really hear anything from them until the next time they deployed

Imagine, my surprise when I received a random e mail from the Team's MSgt Saying that he and his family would be taking a 4 day trip to Florida and would like to come to SPB to thank their supporters personally ...  I was a little surprised .. Moreso to find out that they were actually staying in PLANT CITY  and spent a good chunk  of their 4 day leave to make the drive down to thank us in person ...  Really, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU KNOW, who would spend sevreal hours of a 4 day vacation on Christmas Eve day to drive just to  thank some random people who they don't know and will probably NEVER see again for some boxes sent to their unit while deployed?  The funniest thing is that I never had any direct  interaction with him  the entire deployment  and, only knew him as my contact's room mate  ..  

So, he shows up, resplendent in his dress blues, medals shining brightly (now, mind you, it is over an hour and 1/2 drive down here and the temp had to be 77 degrees) and, to  top it off, He presents me with this gorgeous plaque ....   I almost fell over and, don't think that I will ever get used to being thanked for supporting our Heroes in harm's way. Later on, I had asked him why he had worn his  Dress Blues and his simple answer was "I thought your supporters would appreciate it"

So, that exempliefies the type of man who wears the title US Marine....  a  2 time Combat veteran who served his country for 25 years when he could have been making a lot more money in the private sector  who drives a couple of hours on Christmas Eve dressed in hot clothes  just to thank us for sending some packages ..   Heck, I was at Christmas Mass the other night and folks couldn't even be bothered to put freaking shoes on ...

A little side note: I had asked most of the businesses on Gulf Blvd to put a note to him on their Marquees so that his route to the restaurant would be marked with Thank You's and Well wishes ....  The number of participants renewed my faith in people's patriotism ...  And the folks who blew me off, reminded me of how self absorbed and thankless so many people out there still are

 

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. 
 My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
 My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
 Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
 Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

 The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
 Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. 
 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
 Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
 In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
 So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

 The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
 But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. 
 Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
 sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
 My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
 And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

 Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
 A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. 
 A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
 Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
 Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
 Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

 "What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
 "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! 
 Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
 You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
 For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
 Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

 To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
 Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, 
 I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
 "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
 That separates you from the darkest of times.

 No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
 I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. 
 My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
 Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
 My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
 And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
 But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. 
 Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
 The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
 I can live through the cold and the being alone,
 Away from my family, my house and my home.

 I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
 I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. 
 I can carry the weight of killing another,
 Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
 Who stand at the front against any and all,
 To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

 "  So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
 Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
 "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
 "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
 It seems all too little for all that you've done, 
 For being away from your wife and your son."

 Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
 "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. 
 To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
 To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
 For when we come home, either standing or dead,
 To know you remember we fought and we bled.
 Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, 
 That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

In Memory Of Christopher M Zimmerman, KIA 9/06

www.supportourmarinesinc.org

Becuase Freedom Isn't Free

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. 
 My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
 My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
 Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
 Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

 The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
 Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. 
 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
 Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
 In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
 So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

 The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
 But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. 
 Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
 sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
 My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
 And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

 Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
 A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. 
 A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
 Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
 Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
 Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

 "What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
 "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! 
 Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
 You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
 For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
 Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

 To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
 Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, 
 I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
 "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
 That separates you from the darkest of times.

 No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
 I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. 
 My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
 Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
 My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
 And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
 But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. 
 Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
 The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
 I can live through the cold and the being alone,
 Away from my family, my house and my home.

 I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
 I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. 
 I can carry the weight of killing another,
 Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
 Who stand at the front against any and all,
 To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

 "  So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
 Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
 "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
 "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
 It seems all too little for all that you've done, 
 For being away from your wife and your son."

 Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
 "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. 
 To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
 To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
 For when we come home, either standing or dead,
 To know you remember we fought and we bled.
 Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, 
 That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

In Memory Of Wesley Canning, KIA 11/04

www.supportourmarinesinc.org

Because Freedom Isn't Free

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. 
 My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
 My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
 Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
 Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

 The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
 Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. 
 My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
 Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
 In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
 So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

 The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
 But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. 
 Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
 sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
 My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
 And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

 Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
 A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. 
 A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
 Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
 Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
 Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

 "What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
 "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! 
 Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
 You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
 For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
 Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

 To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
 Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, 
 I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
 "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
 That separates you from the darkest of times.

 No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
 I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. 
 My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
 Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
 My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
 And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
 But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. 
 Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
 The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
 I can live through the cold and the being alone,
 Away from my family, my house and my home.

 I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
 I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. 
 I can carry the weight of killing another,
 Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
 Who stand at the front against any and all,
 To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

 "  So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
 Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
 "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
 "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
 It seems all too little for all that you've done, 
 For being away from your wife and your son."

 Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
 "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. 
 To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
 To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
 For when we come home, either standing or dead,
 To know you remember we fought and we bled.
 Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, 
 That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

 

In Memory Of Thomas Echols KIA 06

www.supportourmarinesinc.org

Because Freedom Isn't Free

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.



I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.


I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.


NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,                           
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.


WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.


FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A MARINE ,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.


THE MARINE  LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.



THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES MARINE .


WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE MARINES
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.


THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE MARINES ,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.


I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.



THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.


THE MARINE AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.


THE MARINE ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.


I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.


I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.


THEN THE MARINE ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.


ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.



I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.


I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.


NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.


WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.


FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A MARINE ,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.


THE MARINED LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES MARINE .

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE MARINES
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.


THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE MARINES ,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.


I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.



THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.


THE MARINE AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.


THE MARINE ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.


I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.


I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.


THEN THE MARINE ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.


ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.



I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.


I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.


NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.


WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.


FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A MARINE ,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.


THE MARINED LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.



THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES MARINE .



WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE MARINES
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.


THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE MARINES ,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.


I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.



THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.


THE MARINE AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.


THE MARINE ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.


I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.


I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.


THEN THE MARINE ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.


ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

In a country where entering illegally seems to be the only prerequisite these days  to obtaining  the medical, educational and social security benefits which I  and my family have worked and toiled for and where the sense of "entitlement" simply for being is running rampant ,  this gives me hope ...  if more people had to actually fight or defend the freedoms which so many take for granted, or had to work to gain the PRIVLEGE of becoming an "American" there would be more pride in the USA and all that it stands for

Refugee Becomes Marine to Repay Debt to Nation

KARMAH, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2008 - A deployed Marine lived through a war as a child, but he did not hesitate years later when it came time to defend the freedom he and his family almost lost.

Marine Corps Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, 21, an ammunition technician with Regimental Combat Team 1's Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, performs a function test on a weapon to ensure its operability in Iraq. After fleeing war-torn Bosnia as a child, Buzaljko joined the Marines to defend the country that accepted him and his family with open arms. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marine Corps Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, 21, an ammunition technician serving with Regimental Combat Team 1's Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, first experienced war as a child in Bosnia.

When Bosnia erupted into civil war in the early 1990s, Buzaljko's mixed Muslim-Catholic family's life in Stolac was shattered. The Croatian military placed his father and uncle into a concentration camp, leaving his mother alone to care for Buzaljko and his baby brother.

Buzaljko said he cherishes memories of Bosnia prior to the civil war. He described the country as having a scenic environment with lush fields and streams. The erupting violence was completely contradictory of everything he remembered up to that point, he said.

"Before the war, it was a beautiful place," he said. "We would always play and have so much fun. It is full of history and had gorgeous scenery. Then one day, tanks and [troops] came through our town."

Not until mortars began falling in the town did Buzaljko realize the danger his home, and everything he knew, was in.

"My mother tried her best to keep me unaware of the violence surrounding us," Buzaljko said. "One day we were getting ready to escape the city, and we were covering the lights on our car to avoid detection. All of a sudden everyone started running; it was chaos. I heard this loud whistling, and all of a sudden, boom! My school was gone."

Buzaljko's father and uncle spent a year doing hard labor with scarce food until United Nations officials helped to free them. When his mother woke him up to tell him his father was home, Buzaljko did not recognize him.

"I saw him standing in front of me, and I didn't know who he was," Buzaljko said. "He had several shirts on, and I could still see his bones through his clothing."

Bosnian soldiers running the concentration camp allowed only prisoners nearing death to go home.

After Buzaljko's family reunited, U.N. officials told them they could go wherever they wished. They wanted to go to America.

"We moved to New York, and my family started rebuilding our lives," Buzaljko said. "In Bosnia, my family was established. We had good jobs, financial security, everything we needed. It was taken away."

Buzaljko grew up appreciating life in Utica, N.Y., quickly accepting it as his new home and thoroughly enjoying the land of opportunity.

"It was great," he said. "Even as we were leaving Bosnia, they told my mother she could stay, but the children could not, since she came from a mixed marriage of Catholicism and Muslim. In America, that never even came up."

Buzaljko's interest in the military started in high school, where he was actively involved in the Junior ROTC program. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Buzaljko said, he knew he would take his interest further, and joined the Marine Corps after graduation.

"When we were attacked, it just made me feel like my home was being attacked again," he said. "I wasn't going to let that happen to me. That was the final factor in my decision to join. I wanted to go help fellow Americans."

During Buzaljko's first deployment -- to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines -- he discovered another aspect of his service.

"When I got there, I realized not only was I doing my part for a country that took me in and helped my family, but I was helping other people in need, just like [the U.N.] helped me when my family was in trouble."

Buzaljko's care and concern have carried over to his deployment here.

It says a lot about someone to go back to a similar environment they left under such unfavorable circumstances, said Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew Clay, 23, a logistics operations center watch chief with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. "Anyone who's lived through a war and volunteered to go back has a lot of courage. I have a lot of respect for him."

Despite the hardships Buzaljko's family endured to leave their war-torn home, they remain supportive of their son and his service to their new country.

"I am very proud; you can't even imagine," his mother, Vesna Buzaljko, said. "He joined to say 'thank you' to the [United States] for welcoming us with open arms. It was a tough time when we left, but America took us in and saved our family. Now he has a purpose to help others like we were helped when we needed it, and we are so proud."

Want to help support a Marine in  harm's way but don't know how? www.supportourmarinesinc.org

becuase freedom isn't free

In a country where entering illegally seems to be the only prerequisite these days  to obtaining  the medical, educational and social security benefits which I  and my family have worked and toiled for and where the sense of "entitlement" simply for being is running rampant ,  this gives me hope ...  if more people had to actually fight or defend the freedoms which so many take for granted, or had to work to gain the PRIVLEGE of becoming an "American" there would be more pride in the USA and all that it stands for

Refugee Becomes Marine to Repay Debt to Nation

KARMAH, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2008 - A deployed Marine lived through a war as a child, but he did not hesitate years later when it came time to defend the freedom he and his family almost lost.

Marine Corps Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, 21, an ammunition technician with Regimental Combat Team 1's Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, performs a function test on a weapon to ensure its operability in Iraq. After fleeing war-torn Bosnia as a child, Buzaljko joined the Marines to defend the country that accepted him and his family with open arms. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marine Corps Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, 21, an ammunition technician serving with Regimental Combat Team 1's Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, first experienced war as a child in Bosnia.

When Bosnia erupted into civil war in the early 1990s, Buzaljko's mixed Muslim-Catholic family's life in Stolac was shattered. The Croatian military placed his father and uncle into a concentration camp, leaving his mother alone to care for Buzaljko and his baby brother.

Buzaljko said he cherishes memories of Bosnia prior to the civil war. He described the country as having a scenic environment with lush fields and streams. The erupting violence was completely contradictory of everything he remembered up to that point, he said.

"Before the war, it was a beautiful place," he said. "We would always play and have so much fun. It is full of history and had gorgeous scenery. Then one day, tanks and [troops] came through our town."

Not until mortars began falling in the town did Buzaljko realize the danger his home, and everything he knew, was in.

"My mother tried her best to keep me unaware of the violence surrounding us," Buzaljko said. "One day we were getting ready to escape the city, and we were covering the lights on our car to avoid detection. All of a sudden everyone started running; it was chaos. I heard this loud whistling, and all of a sudden, boom! My school was gone."

Buzaljko's father and uncle spent a year doing hard labor with scarce food until United Nations officials helped to free them. When his mother woke him up to tell him his father was home, Buzaljko did not recognize him.

"I saw him standing in front of me, and I didn't know who he was," Buzaljko said. "He had several shirts on, and I could still see his bones through his clothing."

Bosnian soldiers running the concentration camp allowed only prisoners nearing death to go home.

After Buzaljko's family reunited, U.N. officials told them they could go wherever they wished. They wanted to go to America.

"We moved to New York, and my family started rebuilding our lives," Buzaljko said. "In Bosnia, my family was established. We had good jobs, financial security, everything we needed. It was taken away."

Buzaljko grew up appreciating life in Utica, N.Y., quickly accepting it as his new home and thoroughly enjoying the land of opportunity.

"It was great," he said. "Even as we were leaving Bosnia, they told my mother she could stay, but the children could not, since she came from a mixed marriage of Catholicism and Muslim. In America, that never even came up."

Buzaljko's interest in the military started in high school, where he was actively involved in the Junior ROTC program. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Buzaljko said, he knew he would take his interest further, and joined the Marine Corps after graduation.

"When we were attacked, it just made me feel like my home was being attacked again," he said. "I wasn't going to let that happen to me. That was the final factor in my decision to join. I wanted to go help fellow Americans."

During Buzaljko's first deployment -- to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines -- he discovered another aspect of his service.

"When I got there, I realized not only was I doing my part for a country that took me in and helped my family, but I was helping other people in need, just like [the U.N.] helped me when my family was in trouble."

Buzaljko's care and concern have carried over to his deployment here.

It says a lot about someone to go back to a similar environment they left under such unfavorable circumstances, said Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew Clay, 23, a logistics operations center watch chief with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. "Anyone who's lived through a war and volunteered to go back has a lot of courage. I have a lot of respect for him."

Despite the hardships Buzaljko's family endured to leave their war-torn home, they remain supportive of their son and his service to their new country.

"I am very proud; you can't even imagine," his mother, Vesna Buzaljko, said. "He joined to say 'thank you' to the [United States] for welcoming us with open arms. It was a tough time when we left, but America took us in and saved our family. Now he has a purpose to help others like we were helped when we needed it, and we are so proud."

Want to help support a Marine in  harm's way but don't know how? www.supportourmarinesinc.org

becuase freedom isn't free

In a country where entering illegally seems to be the only prerequisite these days  to obtaining  the medical, educational and social security benefits which I  and my family have worked and toiled for and where the sense of "entitlement" simply for being is running rampant ,  this gives me hope ...  if more people had to actually fight or defend the freedoms which so many take for granted, or had to work to gain the PRIVLEGE of becoming an "American" there would be more pride in the USA and all that it stands for

Refugee Becomes Marine to Repay Debt to Nation

KARMAH, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2008 - A deployed Marine lived through a war as a child, but he did not hesitate years later when it came time to defend the freedom he and his family almost lost.

Marine Corps Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, 21, an ammunition technician with Regimental Combat Team 1's Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, performs a function test on a weapon to ensure its operability in Iraq. After fleeing war-torn Bosnia as a child, Buzaljko joined the Marines to defend the country that accepted him and his family with open arms. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marine Corps Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, 21, an ammunition technician serving with Regimental Combat Team 1's Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, first experienced war as a child in Bosnia.

When Bosnia erupted into civil war in the early 1990s, Buzaljko's mixed Muslim-Catholic family's life in Stolac was shattered. The Croatian military placed his father and uncle into a concentration camp, leaving his mother alone to care for Buzaljko and his baby brother.

Buzaljko said he cherishes memories of Bosnia prior to the civil war. He described the country as having a scenic environment with lush fields and streams. The erupting violence was completely contradictory of everything he remembered up to that point, he said.

"Before the war, it was a beautiful place," he said. "We would always play and have so much fun. It is full of history and had gorgeous scenery. Then one day, tanks and [troops] came through our town."

Not until mortars began falling in the town did Buzaljko realize the danger his home, and everything he knew, was in.

"My mother tried her best to keep me unaware of the violence surrounding us," Buzaljko said. "One day we were getting ready to escape the city, and we were covering the lights on our car to avoid detection. All of a sudden everyone started running; it was chaos. I heard this loud whistling, and all of a sudden, boom! My school was gone."

Buzaljko's father and uncle spent a year doing hard labor with scarce food until United Nations officials helped to free them. When his mother woke him up to tell him his father was home, Buzaljko did not recognize him.

"I saw him standing in front of me, and I didn't know who he was," Buzaljko said. "He had several shirts on, and I could still see his bones through his clothing."

Bosnian soldiers running the concentration camp allowed only prisoners nearing death to go home.

After Buzaljko's family reunited, U.N. officials told them they could go wherever they wished. They wanted to go to America.

"We moved to New York, and my family started rebuilding our lives," Buzaljko said. "In Bosnia, my family was established. We had good jobs, financial security, everything we needed. It was taken away."

Buzaljko grew up appreciating life in Utica, N.Y., quickly accepting it as his new home and thoroughly enjoying the land of opportunity.

"It was great," he said. "Even as we were leaving Bosnia, they told my mother she could stay, but the children could not, since she came from a mixed marriage of Catholicism and Muslim. In America, that never even came up."

Buzaljko's interest in the military started in high school, where he was actively involved in the Junior ROTC program. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Buzaljko said, he knew he would take his interest further, and joined the Marine Corps after graduation.

"When we were attacked, it just made me feel like my home was being attacked again," he said. "I wasn't going to let that happen to me. That was the final factor in my decision to join. I wanted to go help fellow Americans."

During Buzaljko's first deployment -- to Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines -- he discovered another aspect of his service.

"When I got there, I realized not only was I doing my part for a country that took me in and helped my family, but I was helping other people in need, just like [the U.N.] helped me when my family was in trouble."

Buzaljko's care and concern have carried over to his deployment here.

It says a lot about someone to go back to a similar environment they left under such unfavorable circumstances, said Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew Clay, 23, a logistics operations center watch chief with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. "Anyone who's lived through a war and volunteered to go back has a lot of courage. I have a lot of respect for him."

Despite the hardships Buzaljko's family endured to leave their war-torn home, they remain supportive of their son and his service to their new country.

"I am very proud; you can't even imagine," his mother, Vesna Buzaljko, said. "He joined to say 'thank you' to the [United States] for welcoming us with open arms. It was a tough time when we left, but America took us in and saved our family. Now he has a purpose to help others like we were helped when we needed it, and we are so proud."

Want to help support a Marine in  harm's way but don't know how? www.supportourmarinesinc.org

becuase freedom isn't free

NOTE: Re: copyright infringment and posting original content. This is a press release from the DOD. MSM chooses to ignore and not report on things of this sort so I will which is the sole purpose of my blog. Sorry fans, no link so had to cut and past the whole thing

 

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2008 - "Without American sacrifices in Iraq, the country would still be under the rule of a brutal dictator", said Dr. Ali Al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the Iraqi government.

Al-Dabbagh spoke with Pentagon reporters today and said the sacrifices of American servicemembers made it possible to overthrow "a brutal government for 35 years which destroyed Iraq and the region. We never dreamed we would get rid of Saddam, because Saddam was planning even his grandson to rule Iraq."

The spokesman said that "all the expression of thanks to the Americans to appreciate what they did was not enough."

The other thing to realize is that Americans fighting in Iraq are also defending their homeland and making the region safer, Al-Dabbagh said. Al-Qaida is a danger not only in Iraq, but throughout the region and internationally.

"As an example, what happened in Afghanistan made an attack on New York," he said. "Iraq could slip down and then a group could attack London or Washington."

Al-Qaida terrorists are "devil enemies" who have attacked the length and breadth of the Arab world and internationally, Al-Dabbagh said.

"All the region needs to be united in fighting such devil enemies," he said.

Al-Dabbagh addressed a suicide bomb in Kirkuk today that killed at least 45 people. "We do need to work on the Kirkuk issue in a wise way and a quiet way," he said.

Kirkuk is a complicated mix of people and an oil-rich area. Every ethnic background and religious sect needs to buy in to any settlement in the region, Al-Dabbagh said.

"We do need to give ourselves more time to eliminate sources of tension, so we can have a census in the region," he said.

Al-Dabbagh said Iran has been cooperative and seems to have stopped sending ordnance and fighters into Iraq.

"Iran has shown a positive stance since last year even," he said, adding that the assurances that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave Iranian leaders seems to have made a difference.

He said the Iranians "finally realize" that the status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq poses no threat to Iran.

"The Iranians should be our good neighbor and should not interfere in our affairs," he said.

The Iranians also have expressed an interest in solving long-term problems between the two countries such as disputes over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway that is Iraq's sole access to the Persian Gulf.

Al-Dabbagh called for the new U.S. administration to engage in "deep dialogue" with Iran, but he called on Iran to respect international law.

"In order for Iran to be a good partner in the region they should respect international law and refrain from interfering not only in Iraq, but the region," he said.

Al-Dabbagh also clarified the Iraqi position on the status of forces agreement. He said that the Iraqis understand that building the security forces will take longer than the three years covered by the current agreement, which goes into effect Jan. 1, and runs through the end of 2011. At that time, all U.S. troops should be out of the country. However, there still will be a need for trainers, logisticians and so on, which will be negotiated in an agreement in 2011, Al-Dabbagh said.

On Jan. 1, the U.S. rules of engagement will change. In the first six months of 2009, U.S. combat forces will move from the cities and towns into camps outside them, Al-Dabbagh said. The Iraqi police and army will have the lead for operations in these urban areas. They will set up operations in the areas and sometimes those operations will include U.S. servicemembers and sometimes they will not, he said. Sometimes, the operations will comprise mostly Americans, but still only with the permission of Iraqi authorities. The U.S. forces will not have the permission to kick down doors as they do now, he said.

With Iraqi forces in the lead and handling most of the operations, this will reduce friction between the coalition and the Iraqi people. "It will be better for the American troops and better for us," he said of the agreement.

NOTE: Re: copyright infringment and posting original content. This is a press release from the DOD. MSM chooses to ignore and not report on things of this sort so I will which is the sole purpose of my blog. Sorry fans, no link so had to cut and past the whole thing

 

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2008 - "Without American sacrifices in Iraq, the country would still be under the rule of a brutal dictator", said Dr. Ali Al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the Iraqi government.

Al-Dabbagh spoke with Pentagon reporters today and said the sacrifices of American servicemembers made it possible to overthrow "a brutal government for 35 years which destroyed Iraq and the region. We never dreamed we would get rid of Saddam, because Saddam was planning even his grandson to rule Iraq."

The spokesman said that "all the expression of thanks to the Americans to appreciate what they did was not enough."

The other thing to realize is that Americans fighting in Iraq are also defending their homeland and making the region safer, Al-Dabbagh said. Al-Qaida is a danger not only in Iraq, but throughout the region and internationally.

"As an example, what happened in Afghanistan made an attack on New York," he said. "Iraq could slip down and then a group could attack London or Washington."

Al-Qaida terrorists are "devil enemies" who have attacked the length and breadth of the Arab world and internationally, Al-Dabbagh said.

"All the region needs to be united in fighting such devil enemies," he said.

Al-Dabbagh addressed a suicide bomb in Kirkuk today that killed at least 45 people. "We do need to work on the Kirkuk issue in a wise way and a quiet way," he said.

Kirkuk is a complicated mix of people and an oil-rich area. Every ethnic background and religious sect needs to buy in to any settlement in the region, Al-Dabbagh said.

"We do need to give ourselves more time to eliminate sources of tension, so we can have a census in the region," he said.

Al-Dabbagh said Iran has been cooperative and seems to have stopped sending ordnance and fighters into Iraq.

"Iran has shown a positive stance since last year even," he said, adding that the assurances that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave Iranian leaders seems to have made a difference.

He said the Iranians "finally realize" that the status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq poses no threat to Iran.

"The Iranians should be our good neighbor and should not interfere in our affairs," he said.

The Iranians also have expressed an interest in solving long-term problems between the two countries such as disputes over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway that is Iraq's sole access to the Persian Gulf.

Al-Dabbagh called for the new U.S. administration to engage in "deep dialogue" with Iran, but he called on Iran to respect international law.

"In order for Iran to be a good partner in the region they should respect international law and refrain from interfering not only in Iraq, but the region," he said.

Al-Dabbagh also clarified the Iraqi position on the status of forces agreement. He said that the Iraqis understand that building the security forces will take longer than the three years covered by the current agreement, which goes into effect Jan. 1, and runs through the end of 2011. At that time, all U.S. troops should be out of the country. However, there still will be a need for trainers, logisticians and so on, which will be negotiated in an agreement in 2011, Al-Dabbagh said.

On Jan. 1, the U.S. rules of engagement will change. In the first six months of 2009, U.S. combat forces will move from the cities and towns into camps outside them, Al-Dabbagh said. The Iraqi police and army will have the lead for operations in these urban areas. They will set up operations in the areas and sometimes those operations will include U.S. servicemembers and sometimes they will not, he said. Sometimes, the operations will comprise mostly Americans, but still only with the permission of Iraqi authorities. The U.S. forces will not have the permission to kick down doors as they do now, he said.

With Iraqi forces in the lead and handling most of the operations, this will reduce friction between the coalition and the Iraqi people. "It will be better for the American troops and better for us," he said of the agreement.

  WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2008 - "Without American sacrifices in Iraq, the country would still be under the rule of a brutal dictator," said Dr. Ali Al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the Iraqi government.

Al-Dabbagh spoke with Pentagon reporters today and said the sacrifices of American servicemembers made it possible to overthrow "a brutal government for 35 years which destroyed Iraq and the region. We never dreamed we would get rid of Saddam, because Saddam was planning even his grandson to rule Iraq."

The spokesman said that "all the expression of thanks to the Americans to appreciate what they did was not enough."

The other thing to realize is that Americans fighting in Iraq are also defending their homeland and making the region safer, Al-Dabbagh said. Al-Qaida is a danger not only in Iraq, but throughout the region and internationally.

"As an example, what happened in Afghanistan made an attack on New York," he said. "Iraq could slip down and then a group could attack London or Washington."

Al-Qaida terrorists are "devil enemies" who have attacked the length and breadth of the Arab world and internationally, Al-Dabbagh said.

"All the region needs to be united in fighting such devil enemies," he said.

Al-Dabbagh addressed a suicide bomb in Kirkuk today that killed at least 45 people. "We do need to work on the Kirkuk issue in a wise way and a quiet way," he said.

Kirkuk is a complicated mix of people and an oil-rich area. Every ethnic background and religious sect needs to buy in to any settlement in the region, Al-Dabbagh said.

"We do need to give ourselves more time to eliminate sources of tension, so we can have a census in the region," he said.

Al-Dabbagh said Iran has been cooperative and seems to have stopped sending ordnance and fighters into Iraq.

"Iran has shown a positive stance since last year even," he said, adding that the assurances that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave Iranian leaders seems to have made a difference.

He said the Iranians "finally realize" that the status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq poses no threat to Iran.

"The Iranians should be our good neighbor and should not interfere in our affairs," he said.

The Iranians also have expressed an interest in solving long-term problems between the two countries such as disputes over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway that is Iraq's sole access to the Persian Gulf.

Al-Dabbagh called for the new U.S. administration to engage in "deep dialogue" with Iran, but he called on Iran to respect international law.

"In order for Iran to be a good partner in the region they should respect international law and refrain from interfering not only in Iraq, but the region," he said.

Al-Dabbagh also clarified the Iraqi position on the status of forces agreement. He said that the Iraqis understand that building the security forces will take longer than the three years covered by the current agreement, which goes into effect Jan. 1, and runs through the end of 2011. At that time, all U.S. troops should be out of the country. However, there still will be a need for trainers, logisticians and so on, which will be negotiated in an agreement in 2011, Al-Dabbagh said.

On Jan. 1, the U.S. rules of engagement will change. In the first six months of 2009, U.S. combat forces will move from the cities and towns into camps outside them, Al-Dabbagh said. The Iraqi police and army will have the lead for operations in these urban areas. They will set up operations in the areas and sometimes those operations will include U.S. servicemembers and sometimes they will not, he said. Sometimes, the operations will comprise mostly Americans, but still only with the permission of Iraqi authorities. The U.S. forces will not have the permission to kick down doors as they do now, he said.

With Iraqi forces in the lead and handling most of the operations, this will reduce friction between the coalition and the Iraqi people. "It will be better for the American troops and better for us," he said of the agreement.