Five Years

It's been five years since the war in Iraq began, and over that period we've been through many ups and downs in relation to successes and failures. No need to get into all that here, but I do want to say one thing. There is no way that what has been accomplished thus far by coalition forces was not worth the sacrifice and effort by all involved. Whether or not it's been worth it from an Iraqi standpoint can only be judged if you are one. I can't help but believe, however, that most Iraqi people are glad to see the old regime is gone, are are glad (reservedly) that there is a much better future on the horizon for their proud country, if only their politicians and religious leaders can make it happen. Many Americans fail to recognize the sacrifices made daily by millions of Iraqi people, who have endured so much, for so long. It's hard to define "victory" or "mission accomplished" in our war on terrorists today. Still, it's not that hard to list, page after page, small and large successes made possible by those on the ground in Iraq, who seek to bring lasting peace to their nation, and hopefully the region. So, regardless of where this all winds up, I'm proud of what's been accomplished to date. Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and say "thanks" to those who have served or are now serving with such dedication and determination.