THANKS AND PRAISE

Michael Yon writes, "I photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John’s Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome." Photo: Michael Yon

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ith Osama bin Laden all but admitting that his forces have lost the war for Iraq, it's nice to see Iraqi freedom lovers firmly staking their claim to the future. This photo was taken by Michael Yon, who in my view is the best journalist working in Iraq today.

While Harry Reid (and others) have loudly declared American defeat in Iraq and the pop media hammers on each and every "grim milestone" it can find, events in recent months have been moving in the other direction. I sincerely hope this photo -- which, if there's any justice in journalism circles, would be Pullitzer prize material -- will be picked up by news agencies and shown widely in print and on television news. Such that Reid, Murtha and the other hard-nosed, loudmouthed defeatists will not be able to avoid seeing it.

Michael writes:

A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Cavalry to the church, where I videotaped as Muslims and Christians worked and rejoiced at the reopening of St John’s, an occasion all viewed as a sign of hope.

The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. ” Thank you, thank you,” the people were saying. One man said, “Thank you for peace.” Another man, a Muslim, said “All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.” The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers.

He has video of the occasion on the way, so check back on his site for that.

Michael is also offering the photograph to any media outlet for free, for a limited time. Contact him through his website.

Labels: Iraq

- posted by Agam @ 11:05 AM 0 comments

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