Posted By:
Catherine Moy
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VOA Photo: U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, left, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, right, shake hands after signing ceremony for security pact in Baghdad, 17 Nov 2008

American troops will leave Iraq cities by June, thanks to the historic and selfless work of our troops and their commanders. We owe our men and women in uniform so much for this victory. They have given freedom to millions of people who lived under the chain of a dictator. They have given us security and kept terrorists at bay after the horrible slaughter by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

Now the U.S. and Iraq have signed an agreement. Here’s the story from the Voice of America:

U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hashyar Zebari agreed Monday to an arrangement Mr. Crocker described as historic. 

By calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities by June next year, and all American troops by the end of 2011, the pact overturns a long-standing U.S. policy against setting timelines for leaving the country.

The agreement would replace a U.N. mandate governing the U.S. presence.  It is now being debated in Iraq’s parliament, where it appears to have majority support. 

Foreign Minister Zebari told VOA Kurdish Service he expects a decision within ten days, but cautioned it is too early to predict whether U.S. troops might stay in Iraq after the new mandate expires in three years.

If passed by parliament, the pact would give Iraq authority over U.S. military operations for the first time, requiring the U.S. military to ask permission to search homes, and banning American use of Iraqi territory to launch attacks on third countries.

It also gives Iraq some judicial oversight of serious crimes committed by U.S. soldiers while off-base and off-duty.

The pact comes after a year of often testy negotiations, and six weeks before the current U.N. mandate is set to expire.  It also follows the transfer to Iraq of security responsibilities in many of its provinces as violence declined sharply over the past year.

The White House has said the pact - called the Status of Forces Agreement - does not need congressional approval.

It is opposed In Iran by radical Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his supporters in parliament, who denounced the cabinet’s approval of the pact and are urging lawmakers to reject it.

Neighboring Iran has expressed skepticism that the pact gives Iraq enough protection from U.S. influence.  But today, the head of Iran’s judiciary was quoted in Iranian media as saying the Iraqi cabinet acted very well in approving the pact.

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Posted By:
Catherine Moy
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Good, good news. Iraqis are not only welcoming and admiring American troops, they are praising them and dancing in the streets.

By Ken Griffin
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Nov. 10, 2008 - Only a year ago, reliable electricity in Sab al Bour, Iraq, was just a dream. The city, just north of Baghdad along the Grand Canal, was practically deserted, with only diehard residents and pockets of insurgents sticking around in the dark.

Iraqi officials dance in celebration at the end of an opening ceremony for a recently completed electrical sub-station in the city of Sal Ba Bor, Iraq, Nov. 8, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Smith
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. 

As of Nov. 8, residents in this small agricultural city are literally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, according to Sheik Nadeem Hatem al-Tamimi, an influential leader in the area. Outside the city’s new electrical substation, the sheik spoke, both literally and metaphorically, about the town’s emergence from darkness.

“We had evil forces trying to kill Iraqis, ... and they destroyed all essential services,” he said, describing insurgent attempts to control the city and population. “Today, we are calling for unity between all people of Iraq.”

The top coalition forces leader in the Taji area said he believes peace and s tability start with electricity, and he was at the event to congratulate Sab al Bour on its achievement.

“Reliable and sustainable access to power allows businesses to flourish, water to crops, schools to educate our children and light on the dark nights of the Iraqi winter” said Army Col. Todd McCaffrey, commander of the 25th Infantry Division’s 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. “Sab al Bour is now postured to accept the return of its rightful residents.”

The rightful residents McCaffrey referred to are the large portion of Sab al Bour’s citizens who fled due to violence and lack of essential services. The internally displaced people now are returning at a rate of up to 50 families per week.

If the substation opening meant only more electricity, it would be meaningful enough. But the impact of this substation doesn’t stop with keeping the lights on. It will have a direct and immediate positive effect on other essential services in the area.

First, there’ll be more drinkable water. Purification stations rely on electricity to produce potable water.

Even more significantly, irrigation pumps in the area will work harder and longer. Soon, passing helicopters will notice large swaths of farmland turn from a dirty brown to a lush green, all thanks to the substation, said Army Capt. Mark Gillman, the brigade’s engineer in charge of electrical reconstruction.

“The pump station, due to power improvements, will irrigate thousands of acres of farmland with little interruption from blackouts,” said Gillman, who provided oversight and expertise for the otherwise Iraqi-run project.

Because the Sab al Bour area depends heavily on agriculture, the local economy should get a noticeable boost. Gillman, who is from Las Vegas, explained how all of the intertwined projects, which depend on electricity, are part of a “tailored network.”

“It started with the Ministry of Electricity, which brought up to 30 people in here at a time. They really set the pace for the other ministries,” Gillman said. “There was a lot of government of Iraq support for this small, mostly Sunni community.”

Attendees marked the substation’s opening with a ribbon cutting, a tour, and then singing and dancing. As they celebrated their victory and announced the lights were on to stay, they proclaimed they could move on to other goals.

“Now we will ask for other things – forgiveness and unity,” said the last speaker at the event. “Let’s now bring together all Sunni and Shiia in Iraq.”

Posted By:
Catherine Moy
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Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

A ‘war veteran’ (from Latin vetus, meaning “old")[1] is a person who has or is working in the armed forces

Our Vets:  Heroes...............Defender’s of Freedom..................Warriors........................Protectors

They are our sons, our daughters, our husbands, our wives, our Mother’s and Father’s. Their your neighbor, your teacher, your police officer, your Doctor, your nurse, your Pastor. They are young and old, tall and short, and from every ethnic background. They live in cities and rural communities, in the North, the South, the East, the West.

Some served one tour and others a lifetime. Some during times of peace yet others in the bloodiest battles of Germany, France, Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, or other countries of turmoil. Many have sacrificed their limbs, their eyes, their future and many have sacrificed their lives. Yet they all seem to have a common thread of selfless valor that runs through their veins. They are true patriots who because they deeply love their country, their families and their freedoms that they courageously prepare for battle so if they are called to defend this nation that they so love they are ready. 

I visited Fort RoseCrans National Cemetery in San Diego yesterday and placed flowers and a flag on my sons grave. My Mighty Warrior, Marc Alan Lee, the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq 8-2-06. As I drove in the main gate they had 6 extra flags at the base of the huge flag pole. The wind was causing the flags to appear as though they were standing proudly at attention. As I sat on Marc’s grave and processed through the different emotions of pride, of love, of emptiness I glanced up the hill through the rows and rows of marble headstones to the flags that were majestically flapping in the extreme wind. So many have given so much to make sure that those colors still fly boldly representing “One Nation under God,” and the freedoms that we have in America. Freedoms we enjoy because of all of our Vets whether Sailor, Marines, Soldiers or Airmen, our Vets who deeply gave.

I know the price of freedom and I understand the sacrifices that our troops have given. They have done that for me, for you, for this nation. They didn’t do that for rewards or medals or recognition, but today please join me as our nation chooses to remember collectively and thank them and celebrate who they are and what they have selflessly given. I choose to do that every day because they are my HEROES and I am so grateful!

I am attaching Marc’s last letter home that we have called his “Glory” letter. You will be inspired and moved.  He challenges us to do random acts of kindness and I would ask you, in his memory, to honor our Vets today by picking up the check for their meal, coffee, groceries or whatever you can. Be as generous as you can. It’s a small token of our appreciation for all they have sacrificed. These are my heroes and have given so much not expecting anything in return. Attend a parade, thank them, shake their hands, give them a hug from a grateful nation.

Don’t forget those who are deployed. Send a care package, e-mail a card, check on their families. Please remember the families of the fallen who gave it all and share your gratitude and love with them.

Thank you to everyone of you who has served or who is serving. You are my heroes and today I celebrate you and honor you for all you have sacrificed and given for me and my freedoms.

Celebrating Our Vets,

Debbie Lee

Posted By:
Catherine Moy
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Millions of men and women have given selflessly to the security of our country. They have given us freedom by putting their own lives on the line in every war since the inception of the greatest country in the world, the United States of America.
We at Move America Forward salute every one of you. We consider every day veterans’ day, as we work on our mission to support our troops and their missions.
We should reflect every day on the brave men and women who are fighting for our freedom right now. They protect us in all climates, on any terrain, and against any enemy. No words can properly express the thanks that we owe them. Our warriors are humble, and don’t ask for anything in return for their service.

THANKSGIVING

Move America Forward are packaging special Thanksgiving packages for our troops, who are thousands of miles away from their families. Please go here to sponsor a package and sendd a note of thanksgiving to our troops.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

This year Move America Forward has joined hands with Wreaths Across America in a goal to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave. We are proud to be part of this noble endeavor and ask you to please participate in remembering our veterans.

Thank you for your patriotism.

Posted By:
MAF Blogger Danny
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Today MAF went to Fairfield, CA to pick up another big order of Candy Diplomacy Jelly Beans!

These Jelly Beans are for our next big shipment of care packages, which are going to start going out very shortly so we can get them to the troops by Thanksgiving!

The idea for Candy Diplomacy came about when we shipped the troops little .35 ounce packets of Jelly Belly jelly beans in care packages last year.

The feedback we got from the troops was that not only were the jelly beans hugely popular among the troops, but they were the perfect size and item to hand out to the Iraqi children that some of the troops would visit with on patrol. 

So when we contacted the Jelly Belly company and told them about our idea to have a special message in Arabic printed on the bags, they thought it would be a great project and help make relations between Americans and Iraqis even friendlier

The first run of these specially bagged Jelly Beans was 100,000 bags and we blew through those in a few months because of the success of the “From the Front Lines” telethon which sold so many care packages. So Jelly Belly made us another shipment

Arriving at the factory

They made us put on hairnets and BEARD NETS!

LOTS of candy!

All packed up and ready to take the Jelly Bellys back to Sacramento

Ryan moves pallets around with this nifty electric pallet jack

Jelly beans stored and waiting for packing!