Can't They Say Two Simple Words?

Yesterday in Baghdad, U.S. and British forces stormed a house and freed three peace activists who had been held for over four months, and were able to free them without firing a single shot. The three men were part of some group called The Christian Peacemaker Teams. Their kidnappers were not present when the troops arrived to free the captives. The night before, U.S. forces captured a man who gave them information on the prisoners' whereabouts, and they acted quickly and rescued the men.

The three men, one Briton and two Canadians, were taken to a hospital and were released after they were found to be in good condition. So were they grateful to the American and British forces who risked their lives and rescued them? Hardly. In an absolutely mind-boggling press release, the CPT had this to say:

"We believe the illegal occupation of Iraq by multinational forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much of the pain and suffering in Iraq today. The occupation must end."

So much for being grateful to be free again. I guess their immense vocabularies don't include two simple words: "thank you." A colleague of theirs, who was also kidnapped back in November, was found murdered earlier this month. I guess these peaceniks have such an anti-American and anti-Bush slant that even when troops they probably despise risk their lives to secure their freedom, they can't find it in their hearts to even thank them for it.

If someone I didn't like risked their lives to save my neck, they'd get a whole new respect from me. But then again, I wouldn't be foolish enough to be in one of the most dangerous places on earth trying to spread "peace" while at the same time badmouthing the United States.

I have a cousin, an uncle's son, and a couple of friends who have seen time in the military in Iraq or Afghanistan in the past couple of years. I greatly admire their courage and bravery, and I've heard the stories about the good things they have seen and done in those two war-torn countries that are rarely, if ever, reported in the American media.

If those newly-rescued men in Baghdad won't say it, then I will.

Thank you, and may God bless all of our military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You are in my prayers every night.