Mission Accomplished: Thank You President Bush

An article this week in the very liberal Newsweek magazine described something that very same magazine once deemed either impossible, or too costly to succeed. It claims that the war in Iraq has been won by the forces of democracy.

Our military played a larger role than any other to make this happen and our servicemen deserve the most credit. However one must also understand that democracy does not happen without the resilience of the people of Iraq. Their desire for freedom and their demands that political violence cease were heard loud and clear. They did not just talk. They volunteered for the police and the army, braving bombs and snipers. They voted and proudly waved their purple fingers at cameras. Now they have run through their second cycle of elections. One party is peacefully about to give way to another.

Why did democracy work? President Bush deserves a lot of credit. He could have micromanaged Iraq, as Kennedy did South Vietnam. Domestic political pressures were placed on him every time they made a move that we disliked or misunderstood. Bush encouraged Iraq to find its own path without American controls. They did just fine.

Now young Iraqi women wear miniskirts and listen to rock and roll. Iraqis are free to speak and worship freely. Their neighboring countries do not fear stockpiled WMDs and their people are not terrified of random kidnapping and torture by the government. Rule of law and republican government prevail. And the Iraqi people love it.

Mission finally accomplished.