UPDATES

eYou might be feeling like you need a bath after sifting through BT's and 24STL's gooey trash. How about this one (brand new):

Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette posts a letter from the mayor of Tal Afar to the soldiers of to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and their families. For those that don't remember, US forces rooted out a Zarqawist snake pit in June and September of last year. As Col. H.R. McMaster said of the operations: "There is no really greater pleasure for us than to kill or capture these particular individuals." (transcript)

Anyway, here is an exerpt from the letter. Go read the whole thing.

"To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life. To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months. To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city.
[...]
"I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
[...]
"The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom. Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character of knights in a bygone era...This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.

"God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget."

IBC