Clarity

It's been very easy to get bogged down in numbers when talking about Iraq lately. Between the differing casualty counts, media obfuscation about progress, and left-wing loony tunes peddling conspiracy theories and despair, there's a human element that slips through the cracks. There are people who can see the American efforts and intentions for what they really are, and people who understand that Iraqis need a future.

An Iraqi Colonel's words, via OpFor:

"We feel that we are connected with the American people in many connections and we will not forget the big assistance that the American Government gave to the Iraqi People. We will not forget the liberation from Saddam's Regime, we feel that we live together one body either with you or with the American people. I'm honored to participate by sending you a simple fund of (1,000$) to the American people in San Diego City to lowering their suffering from the wild fire. That's for the feeling of being brothers and friends and for the great connections together."

An Iraqi Exile's words, from his own blog at IraqPundit:

"Frankly, I don't understand why so many mock us for wanting a future for Iraq. Is your hatred for George Bush so great that you prefer to see millions of civilians suffer just to prove him wrong?"

The words of a Sunni Cleric on Iraqi television via Reuters:

"The time of revenge has gone. I call on each Iraqi person to be a like a doctor and heal the wounds of others because the wounds are deep and the pain is huge and the blood is still flowing."

And from Michael Yon, we get this:

"The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. 'Thank you, thank you,' the people were saying. One man said, 'Thank you for peace.' Another man, a Muslim, said 'All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.'"

It isn't over; we haven't won yet. The Mahdi Army will be back, and many places still aren't safe. But at the end of the day, those people who have said that there's no light at the end of this tunnel are wrong. Those of our own leaders who have been so eager to hand us a loss are wrong. This is what hope looks like.