An Iraqi Mayor In Colorado

The Rocky Mountain News has an article on the return ceremony for the 3rd Armored Cavalry in Colorado Springs. The mayor of Tal Afar, visiting the US for the first time, was asked to speak at the ceremony. He spoke only two words of English.

"Thank you".

An Iraqi mayor stood before troops lined up on the lawn at Fort Carson on Friday morning and said only two words in English.

But those two words brought the crowd to its feet.

"Thank you."

It was a telling gesture from Tal Afar Mayor Najim Al Jibouri, who spoke for about 20 minutes in his native tongue praising the 3rd Armored Cavalry for saving his city from certain ruin.

It was his first trip to the United States, arriving via Washington, D.C., then coming to Colorado Springs with his wife and son.

The mayor was invited as a part of a welcoming ceremony at Fort Carson for those who had just finished another tour in Iraq.

After the ceremony, the mayor was surrounded by well wishers and people who just wanted their picture taken with him. He told the reporter that he worries about waning support for the war.

The mayor said afterward through a translator that he worried about fading support for the war in Iraq and urged Americans to remember what it was like before U.S. forces arrived.

"One year ago today, not even a bird used to be inside the city of Tal Afar because of all the shooting that happened continuously," he said. "All of the schools were closed and all the government facilities were closed completely. Killing and murdering was allowed – even of the children."

He said mistakes have been made – he did not specify them – but Al Jibouri said he believed troops might need to stay for another two to three years. He said there is still a lot of work to do.

Nobody who attended that ceremony will ever forget what Najim Al Jibouri had to say to them.

UPDATE: More about Tal Afar at Mudville Gazette.