The first free election of their lives

It was the first free election of their lives. A letter from a Marine General who writes poetry, this time prose. Via Blackfive, in part:

Every Anbari walking towards the polling place had these determined and, frankly, concerned looks on their faces. No children with them (here mothers and grandmothers are NEVER without their children or grandchildren) because of the expectation of death. Husbands voted separately from wives, and mothers separately from fathers for the same reason. In and out quickly to be less of a target for the expected suicide murderer. When they came out after voting they also wore the same expression on their faces, but now one of smiling amazement as they held up and stared at ink stained index fingers.

Live free or die. Gives new meaning to the phrase. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our troops--and great respect to the Iraqi people--a new beacon of democracy in the Middle East.

More: Let's withdraw in an orderly manner that will not jeopardize this newly established democracy. There is also the issue of allowing enough time to bring our equipment home and leave sites in good condition. Reuters, "U.S. commanders favour slower Iraq pullout".