I coulda sworn I would find this story at CNN, MSNBC, or cBS. Heck, I thought even Keith "I need viewers" Olbermann would talk about it and Nancy Pelosi would have a press release (too much? Over the top?)
KIRKUK, Iraq, Feb. 22, 2007 — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Lee looked like a proud father. A group of Iraqi Strategic Infrastructure Brigade soldiers (SIB), who Lee has been helping to train for six months, huddled around him after showing off their warrior skills during a demonstration for Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander Multi-National Division North and 25th Infantry Division.
Lee told the group of 1st and 5th Battalion Iraqi soldiers of the 1st SIB he was proud of them and to maintain their motivation level while performing their mission.
“The SIB has always seemed happy not just to have us around but to learn from us,” said Pvt. Balladine, 3-7. “They’re squared away and usually eager to show us what they can do.”
In an effort to get the SIB to train on their own, Lee has encouraged leaders to emerge. While unsure of themselves at first, Lee said that a few soldiers have taken charge and are training the group on their own.
“They’ve been tracking since we started working with them and they continue to take steps forward,” Lee said. “It was amazing to see them today during the demonstration. From when we started teaching them and to see them now … it feels like watching a child grow.”
You can read the whole story over at Defend America, a phrase guaranteed to give liberals hissy fits. Suffice it to say, sure looks like progress to me.
