Ex-Iraqi says she felt called to serve the U.S. Army
July 4th, 2008 by Admin
MONA REEDER/DMN
Spc. Razan Saied of Richardson was a translator for Army commanders in Iraq until she suffered traumatic head and hip injuries in a January rollover.
This is an inspiring story and a true testament to the good that our troops are doing in Iraq. Contrary to the political and journalistic endeavors to portray us as "cold blooded killers", our troops are creating lifelong positive experiences in the lives of everyday Iraqis. I'll get to the story of the photo above shortly.
Roadside bombs in Iraq have decreased almost 90% (88% to be exact) from this time a year ago. In the next few days, the volatile Anbar Province will be officially handed over to the Iraqi government. We will play a small support and intelligence role until they are fully functional there. This is a MAJOR improvement that isn't being touted in the MSM. Iraqi forces have crushed an Al Qaeda uprising in Mosul and that area has also returned to calm. Violence in Iraq has dropped considerably in recent months, as Iraqi military cooperation and a willingness among Iraqis to settle differences without violence have led to a broad decrease in civilian deaths. Civilian deaths are down more than 80% from the height of sectarian violence in November 2006.
Al-Mahdi Army militias have been routed without a shot fired. They came at dawn, thousands of Iraqi troops and US special forces on a mission to reclaim a lawless city from the militias who ran it. By the end of the day, al-Amarah was under Iraqi Government control – without a shot being fired. The city had been taken over by the Shia al-Mahdi Army two years ago after British troops handed it to an ill-prepared Iraqi Army. Again, you aren't hearing about this.
Iraq will award contracts to 41 foreign oil firms in a bid to boost production that could give multinationals a potentially lucrative foothold in huge but underdeveloped oil fields. This is important to building and funding Iraq's economy, growth and government.
And because of all this success, stories like the subject of this post have been possible:
Spc. Razan Saied seems like an unlikely soldier.
She once taught elementary school in her native Kurdistan, in northern Iraq. That was before she, her husband and their three children fled the Saddam Hussein regime a decade ago.
Later, as U.S. citizens, her husband and children supported her decision to enlist in the Army, even if they didn't fully understand it.
"I kind of thought she was joking," said her 10-year-old son, Alan.
"She's a soccer mom!" said daughter Sana, 14.
But Spc. Saied felt a calling to serve, which she did as a Kurdish translator for U.S. commanders. She feels it still now, as she struggles to recover from the traumatic head and hip injuries she suffered in Iraq, the result of a Humvee rollover.
"I'm a soldier," she said.
The Richardson resident will spend Independence Day at home with her family before returning to San Antonio for another round of grueling physical therapy. The three-bedroom home is the first they've owned since coming to the United States in 2000, a gift from a national charitable group.
Spc. Saied, 39, can walk only with crutches. But she has no regrets about enlisting.
"I wanted to do something for this country because I love this country," she said. "Here, you have freedom."
Read the rest of this story by Ed Housewright at the Dallas Morning News.
Posted in Military Perspective
It's often those who have seen the lack of freedom who are most willing to fight to keep it, unlike so many on the Left these days…
"She said she doesn't feel conflicted about fighting against her former country."
I didn't know we were still fighting Iraq. I thought we were fighting against insurgents.
She is a Kurd, the Kurds don't really consider themselves Iraqis. The Kurds have been looking to get back at the Iraqis(and the Turks) for years.
And since you are so willing to disparage the career of Clark I should point this out….
"Army officials could not provide a cause Thursday for the accident, but Spc. Saied said she believes the vehicle failed and flipped over. The vehicle was not under attack. Sgt. Sturdivant and another passenger, a United Nations official, died in the wreck."
Basically, her bad driving injured her and killed two other people. "The vehicle failed" yea, right.
Steve,
Do you read anything beyond what you don't agree with in my Clark post? Maybe you should go back and read the ENTIRE thing. The point I was making in "attacking" Clark is that we shouldn't be attacking anyone for their military service. I highly respect Clark's service, but if he wants to make an issue of McCain's, someone needs to provide leverage.
Gee Steve, were you there? I only ask this as your comment implies that you know something none of the rest of us do. Enlighten those of us who haven't seemed to come to the realization that we have an Army of the inept in a place where anything can and often does happen. How silly of us to focus on and be proud of the fact that this woman felt enough for her country to raise her right hand and enlist, during a time of war.
(sorry CJ, I just can't abide this kind of thinking. Remove this comment if it goes against your policies here.)
So stevie, have YOU ever been to Iraq?????
And to SPC Saied, THANK YOU my sister for your Service to your new nation, and WELCOME HOME!
CJ, your point is that we shouldn't attack anyone for their military service, then why did you? Lead by example, take the high road etc etc. Please point me to your posts defending John Kerry or Max Cleland's military service.
Yankeemom, no I wasn't there I gained my "inside knowledge" from reading the article in the newspaper, not just CJ's highly edited version. You would have seen it if you followed the link.
No Paulie, I haven't been to Iraq. But as a FedLEO I have done my part in the war on terror. I am also a veteran of one of the seven branches of our countries uniformed services.
Mind telling us which one?
Steve,
I think what CJ was saying is that while service should not be attacked, actions can be, thats what makes or breaks a man.
Marcus,
I may get fits of laughter for my whole life if he says Marines.
I have a feeling it won't be the Marines. I don't know what he is considering branches of uniformed service, but I can only think of 5 off the top of my head. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard.
Perhaps he thinks that Police and Fireman are also the part of the Nation's uniformed services??
Marcus, some people think the Girl Scouts ARE a uniformed service. Give the guy a break, sheesh!!
I am always amazed at how little people know about the country they claim to love so much.
6)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps (NOAA Corps)
Department of Commerce.
7)United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC)
Department of Health and Human Services.
Surely, you've heard of the Surgeon General.
But I am a former Army officer. BTW, I was also the leader of my daughters GS troop.
I really fail to see how you're considering those two branches of the uniformed services. I have heard of NOAA, but never NOAA Corps, so how about you educate me on this? What makes those two count as a uniformed service?
Steve, thank you for your service to this country as a Soldier. I mean that honestly. Even though we disagree on a great many things, I still appreciate your willingness to serve our nation. Now, on to my signature sarcasm…
Now that I know what the NOAA does (I did my research), you are right. They are a uniformed service. Along with Taco Bell, Toys R Us, and federal work release program employees since they all wear uniforms as well. Is the NOAA eligible for membership in NAUS or the USDR?
Oh, and I'm a Girl Scout leader too! I always joke about the Boy and Girl Scouts getting called into service if we keep up this pace!
Marcus, I didn't designate them uniform services, you'll have to take it up with the G. Do a search on "seven branches of uniformed service" and your questions will be answered.
The predecessor of NOAA was something called the US Geodetic Survey. They were put into uniform so they couldn't be executed as spies when they were surveying battlefields.
Both NOAACC and PHSCC are non-military branches of uniformed service. They are eligible for many of the same veteran's benefits as a military veteran. Like the Coast Guard they too can be opconned to the DoD.
I couldn't say about NAUS or USDR. They appear to be non-governmental organizations.
I'm surprised the Merchant Marine officers aren't considered because King's Point is considered a military academy.
"No Paulie, I haven't been to Iraq. But as a FedLEO I have done my part in the war on terror. I am also a veteran of one of the seven branches of our countries uniformed services."
Sorry Steve but you DID say you served in a "UNIFORMED" branch of the service. Or did you leave out a letter and mean to say the "UNINFORMED"?