Najim Al Jibouri, the mayor of Tal Afar, Iraq, went to Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, on Friday (May 19) to visit the U.S. 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
According to The Rocky Mountain News, Jibouri had to let the American soldiers know personally of his appreciation for their hard and heroic work in chasing the deadly anti-democracy insurgents from his town last year:
"Are you truly my friends?" he asked through a translator. "Yes. I walk a happier man because you are my friends. You are the world to me. I smell the sweet perfume that emanates from your flower of your strength, honor and greatness in every corner of Tal Afar. The nightmares of terror fled when the lion of your bravery entered our city."
"One year ago today, not even a bird used to be inside the city of Tal Afar because of all the shooting that happened continuously," he said. "All of the schools were closed and all the government facilities were closed completely. Killing and murdering was allowed -- even of the children."
A little English. The mayor said just two words in English at what was a welcome-home ceremony by families, friends and fellow soldiers for a 3rd Armored Cavalry contingent who had just finished a tour in Iraq.
Jibouri said, "Thank you."
According to The Rocky Mountain News, those two words brought a standing ovation.
The Americans don’t liberate nations for a thank you or a merci. They liberate nations because it is the duty of free people to free the oppressed wherever they can, and because a freer world is a better, more peaceful world.
But a thank you is so polite.
Frank Warner
Comments