All is well here. Of course as you are all no doubt aware, a very significant event occurred here in Iraq on January 30th when the Iraqi people held their first true democratic elections in over 50 years. Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, the elections were either a success or a failure. As far as I am concerned, overall the elections were a success. As expected, Sunni turnout in many areas was very low, or even non-existent. But what is key is that there were polling centers opened in every province, and all were given the opportunity to vote. Whether many stayed away out of fear of insurgent threats, or general apathy is for others to determine. The elections were held, and that is significant.

Point is I had a pretty good perspective on the election because Charlie Company, along with an Iraqi security platoon, were responsible for securing one of the polling centers located right outside of our FOB. We occupied one of the local schools, which was to be used as the polling center, a few days prior to the election, created secure lanes for the voters to come through, brought out the IECI personnel (Independent Election Commission of Iraq) who were the Iraqis who would run the voting center itself, spread the word about the location of the polling center to the local population, and waited for the polls to open at 0700 on the 30th.

By 0830 on the 30th things were not looking good. Not a soul in sight. At 0900 we received word that the local IPs (Iraqi Police) would come through as a group in about 30 minutes. At around 0930, true to their word, they did indeed come through in a line of about 45 personnel. And then for the next ten or fifteen minutes nothing. I thought to myself, "Here we go again." And then I witnessed a remarkable thing. The next individual through was an old woman of about 70, traveling alone. As she approached the first checkpoint about 15 meters away from where I stood, she flashed a big smile and held up her identity cards to the Iraqi security forces who were manning all the security checkpoints, and walked on through to cast her vote; undoubtedly for the first time in her life.

And then for the next 7 ½ hours we witnessed an uninterrupted flow of people come through and make a little bit of history. We had just over 1100 Iraqis come through to vote that day; the highest total in the Brigade's area of operations, which as you know, is predominantly Sunni. I saw people from 18 to 80, women, families, a boy of 16 coming to cast a ballot for his mother who was sick, (don't know if that would fly in America!). I saw a man being pushed in his wheelchair, a man missing his right foot riding through one-legged on a bicycle, and a man missing his right leg above his knee come hobbling all the way through on a rickety set of metal crutches. All knew about the death threats if they voted; all knew about the threats that the polling centers might be bombed or attacked; all knew that the local insurgents in the area would see them coming in to vote. But they gathered their courage and said "I will be heard."

One old gentleman came through with his friend about noon when I happened to be about 30 feet from the initial entry point. I looked over at him and said "Salam" (hello). He gave me a big smile and said in English, "hello, hello," and started to approach me. I made my way towards him, looked up at the sky and said, "It's a beautiful day." He said, "Yes, yes, thank you, thank you," as we shook hands. I replied, "No, thank you for your courage in coming here on this important day for Iraq." He replied, "Yes, yes, I vote today." I said, "Yes, congratulations." He said to me, "I vote for Alawi." I laughed as I stuck my fingers in my ears and said, "Don't tell me, it's your choice." And he said, "I'm free," and continued in to cast his vote. It was very heady stuff.

And your soldiers were there. I addressed the company the day after the elections and related to them many of the things I am telling you now. I also remarked on the enigma of deterrence, that one never really knows what they have deterred. On that day I do not know, and don't think I will ever know, how many suicide bombers were in our area; how many enemy snipers thought they were going to disrupt the elections; how many insurgents had planned to be by the polling centers to bully or intimidate. What I do know is that on that day they were rendered combat ineffective. Because your soldiers were there. On MSR Michigan, in the Buffer Zone, the Outer Cordon, presence patrols. They held the line that day. Stood watch and allowed a nation to continue on its long road to a better future.

Perhaps one January 30th in the not too distant future, you will be home with your soldier, and on the television you will hear that a free and democratic Iraq is celebrating its Election Day Holiday. And your soldier will remember where he stood that day, and hopefully articulate far better than I, what it was like to be there, and to be a part of such a remarkable event. In the fullness of time it will not matter who won or lost that day. For winning or losing has nothing to do with the true meaning of democracy. The spirit of democracy is about the freedom to take a chance, to make a choice, to have your voice heard and be counted. And that is the process that was started on 30 January.

It is tragic and regrettable that over forty people were killed across Iraq on Election Day, and that the insurgents are not going to just fade away. They will continue to commit their heinous acts against those who desire the most basic of freedoms, while offering nothing of substance in return. But they can only delay what is happening now. To a large degree the Rubicon was crossed on the 30th of January and the Iraqi people, with our help as long as they need it, will continue to move forward, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, but ever forward. And you should continue to take enormous pride in the vital role that is being played every day by the soldiers of Charlie "Hardrock" Company.

CPT John H. Sandler
Company Commander