Doura Progress Report

"1-4 CAV Update #8 by LTC Jim Crider
DEC 07
Despite the hardships associated with our current deployment there are many things that are personally rewarding. Undoubtedly, when we return to Fort Riley we will do so with an enormous sense of accomplishment as a team and personal satisfaction as individual soldiers. In our area it is indisputable that we have set the conditions for political progress and are working hard to move forward on the local level. The current situation is not irreversible as there are certainly those with designs for power looking for opportunities to return to chaos. I do find that our Iraqi friends enjoy living a closer to normal life with an increased sense of hope and therein lay our own hope that all sacrifice has not been in vain. We know the heavy price that was paid to get us to this point and we must be prepared to follow through. Recently, a close Iraqi friend remarked that reconciliation was not needed between Sunni and Shia but between the people of Iraq and their government."
Michael yon