Victory Day in Iraq

An interesting perspective on the conflict in Iraq from the Gay Patriot:

By any and all accounts of measuring success (including the American liberals’ ever changing goals), we can finally mark the day that America can finally declare “Victory In Iraq.” A number of bloggers were declaring 11/22/2008 (last Saturday) as “V.I. Day” — and that date is as good as any.
But it was this week that, militarily and politically, the Armed Forces of the United States of America Officially Won The War In Iraq.

BAGHDAD — The long, costly story of American military involvement in Iraq moved closer to an end Thursday when Iraq’s parliament approved a pact that requires all troops to be out in three years, marking the first clear timetable for a U.S. exit since the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

The vote followed months of talks between U.S. and Iraqi negotiators that at times seemed on the point of collapse, and then days of dealmaking between ethnic and sectarian groups whose centuries-old rifts had hardened during the first four years of the war.

Three United States heroes are primarily responsible for Victory In Iraq: General David Petraeus, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the Commander In Chief, President George W. Bush.

However… the ultimate credit and praise goes to the nameless and faceless: The many, many American heroes in uniform (some still fighting; some never coming home), the American civil servants in the Green Zone, the countless Americans volunteering in Iraq out of compassion, and millions of ordinary Iraqis stepping up out of the dust clouds and raising their voices for freedom.

The War Against Islamic Fundamentalism is far from over. But the forces of evil suffered a known defeat in the sands of Iraq at the hands of Western liberal democracies. It wasn’t pretty — but war is hell.

AMERICA SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE VICTORY IN IRAQ. Yes, it came at a terrible cost, as all marches toward freedom do. But history shall be the ultimate judge of how the Post-9/11 world is safer because Saddam Hussein was not a part of it.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Now personally, I feel we "won" the war the day that statue came down. On that day, Saddam's government was toppled, and the rest has been mop-up and rebuilding. The primary mission was accomplished, to be replaced by a new mission of nation building.

It is much easier to defeat an enemy than to build a new nation, and the past several years have proven that out.

Either way, I like Bruce's perspective on this, and found it well worth repeating.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you American warriors. Thank you to those Americans who supported them, and thank you to the President and the rest of our government who did whatever they did to bring about this victory.

Thanks and praise be to the God who watched over all of us. Annuit Coeptis