We won the war, but the battles to rehabilitate Iraq are just beginning.
Among those overseeing the rehab is Salt Lake native Scott Allen, a Chief Warrant Officer with the 144th Military Intelligence Battalion who is in Baghdad helping debrief officers returning from the field. This week, in a family letter home, Scott told of a Marine colonel's encounter with an Iraqi doctor. Scott's father, Donald, asked and received permission from his son to share the letter publicly. This is what the Marine colonel told Scott:
"While at the Iraqi Ministry of Health today, an Iraqi doctor asked if he could talk privately. I agreed, and immediately wished I had a recorder, because I knew every soldier, sailor, Marine, airman, Coast Guardsman and their leaders would appreciate his words. I cannot possibly capture every nuance of expression, but what follows is close.
"'Colonel, I want to express how I feel in my heart, and if you can, I ask that you pass my words to your leaders and commanders and the Marines and soldiers who suffered and are suffering for my country. I want all of you to know that the great majority of Iraqis applaud your coming, your success in battle and your efforts to be kind, decent people now. We suffered for many years and no one would help us — not even our Arab brothers. Only America had the strength, not only in military power, but also in vision, in character, in moral authority and in love for its fellowman to come to our aid.
"I know that it is hard for the soldiers now — they must live on our streets to protect us, they are away from their families. I want them to know that we know the sacrifices they make for us. I pray to Allah that they will sacrifice no more; too many already have sacrificed too much. I also want to apologize for some of our young people who are not mature enough to understand what you have done and what you have given us. We have not known freedom for a long time, so it will take time to truly appreciate what a glorious gift you have given us.
"Many of us blame the sanctions for all our problems. It was not the sanctions that created what we see today — it was the regime that existed everywhere . . . that cheated the people out of what was rightfully theirs by God's laws. When I talk with my family and friends, I tell them that what is going on now, with the shortages and suffering, is like a surgery for cancer. Saddam was a cancer. When one operates for a cancerous tumor, one must cut through the muscle and sometimes the bone, to get the entire tumor out. After the tumor is removed, the patient's muscles and bones hurt greatly, and the pain continues while healing. Over time, the patient sees a change — the patient begins feeling and doing better. That is how it is in Iraq. The Americans came and took out the awful cancer and now we must work through the pain and recovery, but eventually we will enjoy a full life, free of pain, with no fear of cancer. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart."
"Tearfully, with a touch of his right hand to his heart, and 'En Shallah' passing through his lips, he left. I will not forget him or his words.' "
Cw4 Allen ends with a personal note:
"During hundreds of interrogations I heard similar, although usually less eloquent, words of gratitude from Iraqi prisoners of war. I also heard such words while interrogating prisoners of war during Desert Storm 12 years ago. I'm proud that we have returned and are, with the help of the Iraqi people, finishing the surgery and healing the wounds.
"By the way, 'En Shallah' is Arabic for 'God willing.' We use it whenever we share the latest (and usually unfounded) rumors about coming home.
"It is going to be very good to come home. En Shallah."
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com.