I am writing this from Baghdad. I have signed and enclosed the card you sent to all American troops here. As you requested, I have prayed for you every day. I know that you communicate daily with God, and I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you, which perhaps you can relate to Him next time.

The weather is getting very hot now. I'm glad we have accomplished our goal of liberating the Iraqi people. I look forward to the time that they can realize the democracy we have prepared for them. I hope that our actions here have been an inspiration. We have demonstrated the efficiency of our occupation.

I am writing this outside the only hospital of the fifty which we didn't bomb. I don't know how we missed it. There are many Iraqi children here. Perhaps you have heard of Ali? But there is another kid here who we all love. His name is Hussan. Both of his arms and legs are gone. He's only a stump. But he's a cheerful kid. At least his head is still attached. I told him to pray for you. Someday, he will realize that losing his arms and legs was worth it.

Yesterday, I visited the museum. The looters had a field day. All those treasures of antiquity - gone. I just don't understand why our troops couldn't prevent it. Well, maybe they will show up at Sotheby's next year. I hope you and Ms. Bush will come to NYC and visit when that happens.. Maybe you can have some of the treasures placed in the Lincoln bedroom. Our soldiers are guarding the museum now. It's too late, though.

Anyway, I was talking to one of them yesterday. He's praying for you, Mr, President. There is no electricity, no water. The people are demanding that we get out of Iraq. How could they be so stupid as to not realize they have been liberated? I understand we will stay here for a long time. But some troops want to go home. They have seen enough chaos to last two lifetimes. They are praying for you, Mr. President.

I spoke to a sergeant the other day. He told me he's sad now that the war is over. It's a bit of a letdown for him, you see. There was one day a few weeks back that he will always cherish. He killed a lot of people that day. Unfortunately, he shot an Iraqi woman. The chick got in the line of fire at the last second. He said he is praying for you every day, Mr. President.

We went to see Saddam's statue torn down. There were a few Iraqi's there. Not as many as you would think if you watched CNN. The place was roped in. And some of those cheering looked like actors. In fact, one of them looked like someone I saw in a photo standing in back of Chalabi. Don't be fooled by the media pictures. They exaggerated the number of Iraqi's demonstrating against Saddam. Why would they do that, Mr. President?

As for those WMD, I don't understand why we haven't found any. Some troops are beginning too wonder why we came here. After this overwhelming victory, they are amazed that you considered Saddam a threat to the U.S. We cut right through to Baghdad like a knife through butter. The Republican Guard melted like butter.

I actually heard some of our guys criticize you, Mr. President. They said they would no longer pray for you. That you lied to get us into this war. That you wanted the war to pay back your business crony's. And one said that you deserted your National Guard unit. He read that on the Net somewhere, before he enlisted. But most of us will never stop praying for you, because we realize that there are times all of us sin. Jesus loves us anyway. Some sin more than others, though.

Anyway, I've got to run now. Oh, before I forget, let me tell you one more thing. This is very important, sir. A lot of our guys are very angry at all the coverage Jessica Lynch is getting and the money she will make. There are rumors that she was in a vehicle accident and not shot at, as the media has said. She was treated well in the hospital and never in danger. Well, most of the guys here were shot at, and they are not getting any movies made about them. I guess life isn't fair. Is it, Mr. President? Sometimes, those who shouldn't win the prize, win it by getting good PR from the media. The truth hardly matters. All is fair in love and war, I guess. Now I know why they hate us for our freedoms.

Yours truly, A Soldier