The Iraq You Never See on TV

(Above) Kids in Fallulujah, protected from terrorist mass-murderers by U.S. Marines and Iraqi soldiers. You can read the whole story by Stephen Deboard (USMC) in Michael Yon's online magazine. Here's what Deboard says about the Marine in Fallulujah: "It’s simply amazing what these young men are doing. They’re living on military rations and fatty, junky muffins but still try to maintain a basic level of fitness. They’re showering with city water, which is essentially coming straight out of the Euphrates. Bathroom breaks are conducted in tents and tubes, and laundry is done in a bucket with a scrub brush with whatever soap they can find. It is a very, very spartan existence, but these warriors are holding themselves to the standard the American people hold them to. They are honorable; they are respectful but firm; cautious but friendly; young but filled with a worldly maturity that indicates they know exactly what the stakes are here."

This remarkable photograph from Iraq is copyright 2007 by Michael Yon, a former soldier who blogs from war zones in Iraq. Here's how he describes the scene that he calls "Thanks and Praise": "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. A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Infantry 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." Please visit Michael's site at: http://michaelyon-online.com/. I'm sure many of you will want to help fund his efforts to present The Real Story of what's occurring in Iraq. He's a remarkable writer -- and perhaps even better as a photographer.

Please read the pieces below on William Russell's inspiring campaign to unseat John Murtha in PA's 12th Congressional District. William needs and deserves your support.

Today, I received the following message from Larry Stiles, a former Marine (VietNam era) and campaign manager for William Russell: "Dear Friend:William Russell has filed his Statement of Candidacy last Thursday tochallenge Congressman Murtha. Mr. Russell will be formally announcing in a12th Congressional District RV tour on Monday, November 19. We invite you toride with us and have an opportunity to discuss the campaign with Mr.Russell. Please contact the campaign's office to make your reservation."

The campaign's contact info is below:

Larry Stiles, USMC-Vietnam Veteran

Campaign Manager,William Russell for Congress

P.O. Box 630

Johnstown, PA 15907

To view the Russell web site:

Phone: 814.243.8662

Please volunteer for William Russell for Congress at: http://williamrussellforcongress.com/

Note from Steve: It's early in the campaign, but this may be the most critical time. It's essential that supporters of William Russell from across the nation make financial contributions and volunteer for other forms of support.

Anyone who wants to assist William Russell in defeating John Murtha can do so by clicking here.