John Drake: “Congressman, I would like to tell you two stories about the Iraqi people. On my trip, I was quite amazed, flying from…”

“Congressman, I would like to tell you two stories about the Iraqi people. On my trip, I was quite amazed, flying from Baghdad to Balad in a black Army helicopter, very low and very fast over agricultural fields; and the people working the fields were waving at the helicopter. When we got to Balad, I commented, only to be told they always wave at us. The second story was in Arizona this summer I went out for a congressional meeting. Turned out my cab driver was from Iraq. He has been here 16 years. Still has family in Iraq. And he goes to Iraq on a contract working with the Iraqi troops. When he realized I was a Member of Congress, he stopped the cab, turned around and said, ``I would like for you to thank the American people for me for what you have done.'' He said, ``When I go over there, it is like I am on vacation. There is only a few places where there are problems.'' He said, ``You people work so hard and so long, I do not think that you ever sleep, and you do it all for us.''”