Comments for Happy Ending at http://www.michaelyon-online.com , comment 1 to 14 out of 14 comments http://www.michaelyon-online.com Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:48 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16428 Thanks so much for sharing this great story out of Iraq. It's difficult to get concrete, accurate stories via the mainstream media. It's good to hear about the good, noble women and men working in Iraq, for Iraq. The leftist illuminati have their own agenda to push, so thanks for simply reporting what's happening on the ground. - conservativechic Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:59:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16422 I have forwarded this story on to about 500 former military officers, many of whom still work in corporate America. I am hopeful one of them picks up on this and lends a hand. - Scott Dudley Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:25:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16421 I am so happy to read this article! My husband was in this troop/unit/whateveritis (yeah, i don't know the military lingo haha) with LTC Crider (1-4 CAV). I was so happy to have him come back home this past April but I am also happy to hear that they did many good things over there!! He has told me several stories, but it's good to see one of them public :) - Kendra Howard Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:08:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16420 I do not live in the US, nor am I an American. I work with immigrants in my country, and lately there have been many Iraqi's coming here, since the start of the war. I have met people who has had to flee Iraq because of helping American forces. This because of insurgents threatening both them, and their families because of the aid they provided for the US forces. I spoke with several of them, and one person in particular came to mind when reading this here article. He had also been working with the US forces, as a translator. Allthough, when the unit he worked for moved on, his services was no loonger needed. By then, the insurgents had realized he had been working with the US forces, and threatened to kill him and his family. He received no help whatsoever from the US in this matter though, he was simply told that if he got hold of a green card he MIGHT be able to get to go to the states, but that besides that there was nothing, or very little that could be done for him. When I met him, he was still trying to get hold of a green card so that he could go to the US. I have never really heard him resenting the US or speaking negatively about the US armed forces, but he is a bit perplexed as to why when they had no need for his services anymore, he was just abandoned. The above story is perhaps a step in the right direction, but there is still a very long way to go. Blessing one person for having made it to the US does not really help dozens of others who are still trapped in Iraq. Instead might be you should start wondering what you can do, to actually allow for those others that helped, but were not as lucky as "Bishop" here, to get the same chance. I've spoken to many Iraqis who fled, and I can say this, while many are happy Saddam is gone, they still question the progress in Iraq. Many of them have family and friends down there still, and they hear alot of bad things going on every day down there. Even though they are safe in this country of mine, I can still see that they are haunted with fear for either loved ones or friends. Don't get me wrong here. I am not trying to slander the USA, because I don't really have any trouble with either Americans or USA. Doesn't mean I think everything done in the name of USA is actually done the right way, but badmouthing an entire nation for decisions made by it's leaders seems a bit silly to me in my opinion. This is a story of success, and I figure we all kinda like those. But don't let this one story blind you to think that things are now solved, because there are still many people in the same situation left behind. My hat goes off to LTC Crider though for making the effort of saving one soul out of many. I figure in a way, if there is a will, there is a way. - Escaflowne Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:33:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16418 Thanks for protecting our sons with the 1-4 and may the blessings of Freedom and Peace be with you always. - go gipper Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:29:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16416 Michael... You have to get Pat to have him on his show!! I would love to hear this man's amazing story in his own words. This is the reason my son went to fight.. this man and all the other Iraqis like him who just want a better life for themselves and their country. - Knottie Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:49:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16415 Bashar Welcome to America. I hope your dreams come true! Michael Your stories sustain me. Thank you! LTC Crider I have a soldier son in training right now. I have peace like a river knowing that we have leaders like you watching over our children. - Tim O'Keefe Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:31:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16414 This article made my day, my week and my year. Welcome to America and blessings to you and your family. Jeff Plano, Texas - JeffLF Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:05:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16413 God bless you, your friends and your allies. A Soldier's Mom - mary g Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:48:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16412 E-mail sent, family welcomed. I hope they make a good life here. - Solo Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:13:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16411 This article should be sent to the NY and LA Times. I am sure they would love to get this positive story out to the nation. - Ken Juen Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:48:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16409 Michael, thank you so much for letting us know about Bashar and his family. I read your article on Pajamas Media yesterday, and immediately sent an email to him thanking him for helping the US, and for the selfless service he was performing for his fellow Iraqis. I have him and his family on my daily prayer list now. Thank you again. - Maggie45 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:40:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16407 Bashar: You have never met me, and most likely you never will. But I cannot tell you how thankful I am for the loyal and courageous service you have performed on behalf of the United States and your fellow Iraqis as a translator. People who serve as translators are among the most important people in the entire war -- your efforts help to keep the focus of operations on bad guys, and protect the innocent. Which is precisely why the insurgents concentrate their terrorist actions on folks like yourself. The innocent Iraqi lives you have saved, and the American Soldiers who were able to return to their families safe and sound, can never thank you enough. I am especially pleased that you were able to come here to America at long last. It shames me to think of all the tens of thousands of courageous Iraqis who have played critical roles in the war, and yet who have been turned away by my country. I am happy to hear that you were one of the lucky ones who made it through the bureaucratic thicket. Lastly, I strongly encourage you to use your voice and your story to help maintain American awareness of, and support for, the many thousands of Iraqis who have sacrificed and risked everything in order to work with and for the Americans and their elected Iraqi government. Many Americans don't realize that success in Iraqi hinged on the willingness of people like you to step up and take huge risks. And it was not just you who bravely faced these risks -- everybody who you loved and care about also was on the firing line. Most Americans don't realize that we have a moral obligation to back up and support the Iraqi people like yourself who worked as translators, security personnel, government workers, etc. If America abandons people like you in Iraq, how can America ever expect to receive the support we need in other countries (such as in Afghanistan)? The truth is, if the Obama Administration and Congress foolishly abandons folks like you in Iraq, we can kiss any hope of winning over future folks like yourself in Afghanistan and in other places good bye. In the Vietnam War, America recruited and worked alongside many hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese, Montagnard, and Hmong people. Like you, these folks risked everything they had to work alongside or military and political forces. Shamefully, when America pulled out of Vietnam in 1973, we cut these people loose and abandoned them into the hands of vengeful and bloodthirsty Communist forces who promptly butchered and imprisoned them in 1975 when Saigon fell. Some of these folks (and their descendants) still languish to this very day in squalid refugee camps in Southeast Asia. It was one of the darkest chapters in American history in my opinion. America must never allow such a thing to happen again. We must never allow our allies and people who bravely helped support their own people and assisted our Soldiers, be hung out to dry when American public resolve starts to weaken. People with your life story are essential in preventing a repeat of that shameful American history. Again, thank you for everything you have done, and I wish you and your family the best of luck and fortune here in America. You have certainly earned this opportunity many times over. - AVN Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:33:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/happy-ending.htm#comment-16406 Ah... a wonderful saga and hats off to LTC Crider for not giving up. Welcome to America, Bashar! You'll find us a nation of immigrants --mine came over in the 1900's to escape the overriding poverty and utter lack of opportunity in China. I'll pass this on to my friends at the LA Times Pressmen. - Kanani Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:06:00 +0100