1/31/2005 06:00:45 PM|||Toni|||Chattanooga Times Free Press Following the 278th

A suicide bomber was deterred by an Iraqi soldier which saved many lives of both Iraqi's and Americans.
I like this quote:
"Freedom is not free," Col. Ismael, an Iraqi commander who lost two soldiers including Mr. Arkawazi in the suicide bombing here, said through a translator.

"Freedom needs a lot of blood," the colonel said Sunday. "We have to give something to get some, and those people who died are the blood. They are building freedom for the next generation."

According to Col. Ismael and other witnesses, Mr. Arkawazi saved the lives of about 60 Iraqi soldiers and 30 members of the Tennessee-based 278th by preventing a suicide bomber Saturday from getting past the Joint Command Center's main gate and into a two-story building where soldiers from the two armies prepared for Sunday's election.

Even though Mr. Arkawazi forced the suicide bomber to detonate his explosives early, the blast still blew out windows and knocked to the floor many of the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers inside the building 35 yards away.

Thanks to Lance in Iraq for the link. Go read the rest of the story, it's good to know Iraq's are vesting themselves with this fight.
|||110719479532240352|||Freedom is not Free