The following series of photographs was shot by Washington Times correspondent Maya Alleruzzo as the platoon of Iraqi soldiers with whom she was traveling was ambushed by insurgents in Baquba. The correspondent was covering the platoon as it patrolled that dangerous city in unarmored vehicles and without the benefit of US combat troop support. Readers familiar with my dispatches about the state of the Iraqi Security Forces in Baquba before and shortly after the historic January 2005 elections will recognize the incredible progress demonstrated on so many levels in these photographs. They also depict the singular courage and command of Captain Furat, as the truck in front of them was suddenly hit with a roadside IED. Maya’s camera captured the incident and ensuing firefight, in the process giving us one more example of the reason I continue to believe that the Iraqi people have what it takes to beat this enemy.

First Things First: Captain Furat tends to the wounded civilians, providing comfort and security as he commands his men.

Shielding the photographer with his body: Captain Furat returns fire after the enemy followed on the IED with a barrage of small arms fire.

Captain Furat taking control.

Returning fire: the enemy broke contact.

The incident depicted here was prior to the attempt on his life that almost succeeded and about which the article below gives much greater detail. But these photographs are testimony about why this warrior was such a high value target for an enemy that once came close to owning Baquba. Full credit goes to the Washington Times and their correspondent Maya Alleruzzo, proving that some media has both a big heart and a serious commitment to getting the story even in a dangerous environment. And full credit to those quiet Americans who generously provided so that Captain Furat could have the best medical care. I was told that a battalion of our own soldiers at Fort Benning recently gave Captain Furat a standing ovation for his courage and sacrifice in the war to rid Iraq of terrorists.

Please read this story, and know that if it were not for the Washington Times and their correspondent Maya Alleruzzo, along with those quiet Americans, this Iraqi hero would be dead.

But today he lives. In Georgia.

http://washingtontimes.com/specialreport/20060507-124947-4122r.htm

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