posted July 19, 2006 07:05 PM            

DAHUK, Iraq (Army News Service, July 19, 2006) – Soldiers brought toys and smiles to children in one of Iraq’s northernmost provinces recently with Operation Helping Hands.

The humanitarian assistance mission was conducted by Soldiers of the 142nd Corps Support Battalion, 101st Airborne Division.

“The 142nd enjoys this just as much as the kids enjoy it,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Green, battalion commander. “This will stay in the minds and hearts of my Soldiers.”

Soldiers handed out Beanie Babies, sports uniforms, soccer balls, teddy bears and candy, all donated by a variety of American organizations, said Capt. John Smith, battalion chaplain.

Lake Zurich High School, in Lake Zurich, Ill., sent the school uniforms, as well as “boxes and boxes” of teddy bears, Smith said.

Green’s mother coordinated with a Dayton, Ohio, radio station in a charity drive which netted more than 4,000 Beanie Babies for the children.

In the town, the Soldiers dismounted from their vehicles holding plastic bags full of toys. As the children caught sight of the items, they quickly gathered in the school courtyard.

Two lines of neatly-dressed girls sang a song with clapping motions for the Soldiers, and the town mayor presented Green with a Kurdish flag.

After the preliminary ceremonies were over, the Soldiers lined up to hand out the toys. The children came on in a rush, hoping for one of the soccer balls, or perhaps a certain Beanie Baby or teddy bear.

Each child was to receive one toy. After receiving his or her Beanie Baby or other item, the Soldiers marked the child’s left hand with a smiley face.

“I believe we’ve made an impression on this village,” Green said “I think we were able to do a great thing.”

posted July 19, 2006 07:38 PM            

LMAO.. I wouldn't be surprized if the nay-sayers came up with conspiracy theory indicating there was poisonous powder on the toys used to dispose of the children once they got home.

posted July 19, 2006 08:29 PM              

Righttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt.

Crocodile tears

posted July 19, 2006 09:06 PM            

Go protest, join an organization, actually DO something instead of blah blah blah blah, and put your money where your mouth is.

<edit>(And in this case "money" is a metaphor - you can find the definition of metaphor on www.dictionary.com).

posted July 20, 2006 05:55 PM            

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The democratic world believes that it is not the terrorists that are to blame, but us. Us, the westerners.
WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the sooner you eliminate this misconception from your minds, the better.
We are NOT to blame. It is the freaking terrorists and the freaking terrorists only!!!! They are the bad guys. They do not understand concepts like peace, democracy, and respect for human life. They are, pure and simPle, EVIL!!!!! Behind all their political manipulations, if you carefully look at the actions of these MONSTERS, they are EVIL!!

http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000489.htm