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What happened
when ex-hippie chick
Viet Nam war protestor
went to live and work in
Baghdad, Iraq for 3 years?
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Iraqi teenagers and Ali on
Voting Day III,
15 December 2005 |
Discover
The Inside Story of
Operation Iraqi Freedom
“Want to know the real story of the
war in Iraq? This is it! An intimate personal journey,
well researched commentary, and a passionate,
thoughtful, cogent set of stories-within-the story of
Operation Iraqi Freedom recorded by someone who lived
there in the formative years of ’04 to ’07. The fact
that I, a retired Air Force officer and pilot am
strongly endorsing the written work of a woman who once
tried to shut down Wright Patterson Air Force base is a
delicious irony. Ali’s perspectives on the war are the
same as my own, and we could not have come from more
disparate backgrounds. I love this book!”
Lt Col Robert “Buzz” Patterson, USAF (Ret) New
York Times bestselling author of War Crimes,
Dereliction of Duty, and Reckless Disregard.
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Hi,
My name is Ali Elizabeth Turner, and my book,
A Ballad
for Baghdad: An Ex-hippie Chick Vietnam War Protester’s Three Years
in Iraq is now available!
A Ballad
for Baghdad is a compendium of
soldier stories, Iraqi stories, interpreter stories and my own
personal journal of the three years I was privileged to live in a
truly remarkable time and place. During those three years I
witnessed the joyous birth of a brave and fragile nation and watched
from the sidelines as Iraq rid itself of one of the most evil
dictators who has ever lived.
These
are stories of courage, compassion and humor that you most likely
will never hear from the mainstream media.
Why
did I write this positive book about an unpopular but successful
war? Because I gave my word to Iraqis, soldiers and interpreters
that I would do everything I could to get their stories out.
“Perspectives on OIF I have never
heard, and stories that are truly moving”
"SAW" Former sniper for the Drug
Enforcement Agency |
You
see, in the early ‘70’s I was caught up in the wave of anti-war
activism that swept America’s college campuses, and tried to shut
down the above mentioned Air Force Base as well as the Cleveland
County, Ohio courthouse. I even ended up on the Cleveland evening
news telecast as the spokesperson for the group! My dad, a retired
WWII Naval Air Corps pilot said something I’ll never forget: “I may
not agree with you, but I’ll fight like hell for your right to
believe what you want to.”
However, as a punk college kid I didn’t “get it.” I didn’t
understand that freedom isn’t free, nor did I ever get a chance to
thank my dad for my many freedoms as an American woman. Saying
“thank you” to my dad was one of the main reasons that I went to
Iraq. While there, I listened to the stories of people who had been
tortured by Saddam and made coffee for the Joes and Janes.
| “Second chances don’t often come
knocking at the door; sometimes you have to go out and
make them. That’s exactly what Baby Boomer Ali Elizabeth
Turner did in 2004 at the start of her three year
odyssey in Iraq. In this endearing and spiritual story
about self-redemption, we see how a ‘60s era war
protester that “passionately wanted to see America
destroyed” travels to the middle of a combat zone to
seek forgiveness from the soldiers she once called “baby
killers.” Major Sean Michael
Flynn, author of The Fighting 69th |
No matter what you may think of
the war in Iraq, there are remarkable tales of hope and
determination that transcend politics, and you deserve to hear
them. A Ballad for Baghdad is also an actual song,
one that tells the tale of a thirst for freedom that won’t be
quenched. Read the book and listen to the song A Ballad
for Baghdad, written and sung by an intensely grateful
woman.
| “Transformation of a human being
sometimes a cliché in a book, but this book tells
the real thing. Ali’s storytelling weaves the
incredible life changes of a woman (Ali) who turns
from a radical war protester into a woman whose
endless energy focuses on supporting our troops in a
very real way. She went to war and lived among the
troops in Iraq- and the truth set her free. Read
this book or miss a real treat for the mind and
heart.” Catherine Moy,
co-author of the bestseller American Mourning:
Touched by War, Torn by Beliefs and Executive
Director of Move America Forward, the
nation’s largest pro-troop, grassroots nonprofit
organization.
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Want to leave a comment? Visit my
blog.
Ali Turner
NOTE: If you have already bought the
book, click here to sign up for your
bonus, an MP3 download of the song "A Ballad for Baghdad" written
and sung by Ali Elizabeth Turner.
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