The Day Before the Election

It’s the day before the election. The last 36 hours have seen increased violence in our area. I know this because even though I am inside the wire I can hear the exchanges of gunfire and explosions not far away. This is the most violent it has been since mid-November.

Unlike mid-November, the violence is not directed at the FOB in the form of rockets and indirect fire. Although the FOB is relatively safe being out in sector is still very dangerous. These explosions still come with a price. Two soldiers have been killed due to roadside bombs, two pilots crashed their helicopter into a power line and died, and numerous Iraqi guards, police, election workers and innocent civilians have been murdered. The goal of the insurgents is to halt or negatively influence the election.

To be honest, these deaths have been met with a different kind of attitude than the deaths in October and November. Is there a greater atmosphere of nobility? Heroism? Sacrifice for a higher cause? We have been reminded that the cost of liberty and freedom over and over again until it gets to be cliché– however, I think there is a part of it that is true. This is the cost of freedom in this country. It is no different than so many other countries before it.

Friends, the Iraqi people will literally be putting their lives on the line tomorrow to vote. Can any of us know what that is like? Yes, there will be some very brave Americans (Multi National Forces) and Iraqis making sure that happens – but that is our job. The safest thing for a person to do tomorrow is stay home. But that won’t happen. Consider that before we let the pundits, media, and politicians tell us what the outcome “really” means.

And still we move forward here. Will we be successful? I believe so. The people want this. They see this as the only way to get the foreign military out of their country. They see this as the only way to get security back. They see this as the only way towards progress.

There are no miracles. It will take time to get this country back up and running. Years. However, our time is now measured in the next 24 hours.


(When US soldiers are killed in the line of duty we are on communications blackout until the family is notified)