Anbar In Vermont

clipped from www.indcjournal.com An important sheik from an Iraqi province had a reunion on Thursday with some Vermont soldiers at the state National Guard headquarters. (Abu Risha) (voice in Arabic, then translator) ``We would like to express our appreciation to the National Guard and to the state of Vermont.'' (Host) Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha spoke through a translator. He said his province has overcome terrorists and insurgents. (Abu Risha) (voices shift back and forth from Arabic to English) ``Today in this state ... we present this victory ... to the families of the victims of the soldiers in Iraq ... and specifically express our appreciation to the state of Vermont.'' "We have defeated al-Qaida in this very large province of Al Anbar as a result of our cooperation with your forces," Mamoon S. Rashid Al-Alwani, governor of Al Anbar, said through an interpreter. "This victory came as a result of our cooperation with your forces and our bloods have spilled together."