In this world when someone such as Paula gives their life for others to live better, it may not be noticed by most of the world. But God notes the sacrifice and those of us who know can thank God for her life. Our prayers are with her family and friends as they look for answers in the cruelty of individuals and cultures. May God continue to work in this part of the world to make it better for all humans, especially women.

... if whomever had told you had actually respected her family's wishes to keep this under wraps until the funeral is done. And it would have been super if you had done the same.

RIP Ms Lloyd, prayers out to your family and friends.



Michael, do take care when you head back into the madness...

The suffering of this vapor we call life is over for Paula. She gave her life in the service of others. No greater calling will there ever be. I pray comfort for her family and friends in the face of such reckless hate.

I read what happened to Paula that, "She approached a man carrying a fuel jug and they began talking about the price of gas. Suddenly, the man doused Lloyd in a flammable liquid and set her on fire." (http://warandhealth.com/pray-for-paula-loyd/) I thought, "I hope they killed the guy that did it. They did. "Another member of the U.S. Army Human Terrain Team to which Loyd belonged, a military contractor named Don Michael Ayala of New Orleans, executed Salam by firing a gun into his head, once he had already been captured, subdued and restrained. According to an indictment filed in a U.S. court (Ayala was removed from Afghanistan and is now out on bail), the execution happened about 10 minutes after the attack on Loyd, once Ayala heard that she had suffered severe burns to most of her body." (http://openanthropology.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/on-the-conduct-of-military-contractors-in-afghanistan-in-the-words-of-paula-loyd/). I didn't know her and it doesn't bring it back, but just even reading about the incident made me think that the guy who did this doesn't deserve to live. Justice served. Mr. Ayala has to go through the criminal court system now. I wonder what will come of him?

She's gone,
RIP Paula

It is saddening to hear from the ruthless acts of fanatics who in the name of their religious beliefs commit senseless crimes like this one. But it is comforting to know that people like Paula, in spite of all the terrible dangers they know will await them in far away places, still volunteer to go there. Our prayers go to her family and friends and we hope they find resignation after this tragedy. Her gift of life is the greatest a human being can offer in the search for peace in this troubled world. I hope that Mr. Ayala will surpass his ordeal through criminal court; his reaction in my opinion, was fully justified after watching the barbaric act perpetrated by the Islamic terrorist against Paula.

Dear Don Michael Ayala,

Thank you.

R. Balentine

May she rest in peace.

She walked into the Valley hoping to do good and was met with hatred.

Of all the major (and perhaps minor as well) religions, only one does not include an equivalent to 'do not do to others as you would not do to yourself'. That singular exception is Islam. Islam means 'submission', not 'peace'. It does not seek to bring salvation to all, it seeks to impose dominion over all.

Judaism demands ethics and justice.

Christianity instructs us to live our lives (and even lay them down) for the sake of others.

Islam tells us to kill others for its glory. This is the precise reverse from Torah and Biblical faith.

Islam is not compatible with modern civilization.

Michael has many good Muslim friends, I have some. We cannot simply ignore or abandon good people. Can Islam be educated and reformed into a productive and civilized faith? We may wish so, but what we wish has no consequence: the answer and solution must come from within the Islamic community itself. It is not. Every indication is that the movement is incapable of reason. The present Pope has raised this issue directly, and might well be doing more to raise Islam from the brutality of the sixth century than any Muslim spokesman. Bless him for his courage and devotion.

In opposing civilsation, Islam condemns itself.

Best regards, Peter Warner.

Certainly Islam, as with Christianity, has many different leaders and many different interpretations , but it is also apparent that it will never, never bring peace to the world.

This is not to say that the majority of Muslims do not live peaceful lives, but that rogue Mullahs who concentrate on the conversion or killing of Infidels and Jews as their main duty in following that faith, as well as murdering women whom they believe violate the tenants of the Quran, will forever preach and plan these killings, incite the young to do their bidding, and keep these primitive lands in turmoil.

But it is not only the ignorant or illiterate in these territories, but even the highly educated who live in European and American socities who will carry out terrorist acts, which should make us all wary. Even were we all to convert, it is only a matter of time before the differences between Sunni and Shiite reach other countries and erupt into the same terrible deeds, because without exorcising the passages that lead to these acts, the seeds of it will follow civilization down through the centuries. There is no solution, just continued rounds of death and grief becaise pf a few hundred words imbedded in a book of faith and religious instruction.

I met Paula when she was an instructor for a training for civilians at Ft. Bragg who were deploying to Afghistan. No doubt a gifted and special person, what made her stand out even more was her humility and humanity. Hers is a loss that cannot be measured. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, as their loss is truly unfathomable.

Godspeed, Paula.

The savages score another victory, another innocent dies at the hands of Islam while its "peaceful silent majority" continue to stay silent.

Too bad that peaceful majority can't rouse itself and eject the murderers in its ranks, perhaps because they don't really want to.

Religion of peace? Religion of simple-minded cavemen.

RIP Ms. Lloyd

@24

I am of the opinion that Salafism/Wahabism has made Islam a mental and moral cancer that must be either greatly reformed or else eradicated.

In Latin: Facta, Non Verba

Deeds, Not Words.

Motto of the Triple Deuce, The 2/22 Inf (a unit I once served

I suggest all read the book "America Alone". It has the scary statistics about the growth of Islam in various countries - and the rise in violence that has begun and will grow. I wish this was *only* a political war....

My deepest sympathy and respect to this woman's loved ones. Her faith in and commitment to humanity surpasses any religion created by man. I wish I'd have known her and hope there are others like her. They are our only hope. If not for this website, where would I learn of such people?

I work served in the same position as Paula on one of the Iraq teams. I can tell you first hand that there is NO slight to Ms. Lloyd regarding memorializing her service or loss. The program will be holding a memorial service this week and the website, which we do NOT internally maintain, has been scheduled with the company that acts as our webmaster to be updated this coming week as well. Everyone in the organization feels a profound loss at Ms. Lloyd's death, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. As for anyone trying to blame Paula, I've not seen or hear anyone at all, including Mr. Fondacaro or Mr. Rotkoff do so. Rather, they and the rest of HTS leadership extended enormous amounts of energy to make sure that Ms. Lloyd got the best care and that her and her family's needs and wishes were taken into account and care of. Again, everyone in HTS's thoughts and prayers are with Paula's friends and family.

I knew Paula. She was a breath of fresh air. May God bless Paula, and God bless Don Ayala.

I'm very sorry to hear this. Godspeed to Paula, and condolences to her family, coworkers and friends.