Nathan

Everything here is roses. It looks like this country has realy turned the corner. There are still things getting blown up everyday but we haven't had any incomming fire in weeks and the government is realy starting to fuction. Electricty is back to pre-war levels and the markets are filling with people again. The first female class of high school senors graduated sence before the rule of Sadam and kids regulary play at parks and rec-centers opened by the U.S. Even the fuckups in Sadar city have been regulary turning in the bad guys. It is weird that it realy takes violence to bring about peace. People have to hate death more than they hate the differing people in there country and the longer the split the more blood shed is needed to bring about peace. But it is truely on the way. The largest problem that I see is the lack of bold leadership. When the British left early in the 20th century they just left and the power vaccume was filled by violent self serving tyrants all the way up to present day with the exception of nori al-maliki the elected leader currently in charge of the country. What happened to the Iraqi people was the systematic murder of all possible leaders by the tyrants who seized power. The fight, the will, the drive for self determaination has been raped, torchered and murdered out of this people. There are no John Adams, George Washingtons, no Ben Franklins here to lead them but with enough time they will come about. It is like letting your kid brother or sister beat you at checkers to give them confidence. The absolute worst thing we could do is pull out before the time is right. All progress will be lost and Iran will surley exact it's revenge for the bloody 8 year war with Sadam. I do not agree whole heartedly with the war I am here for a paycheck but it would be a hell of a waste to quit in the last inning of the game and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The number of lives given by our volenteer military and the dollars given by every American for this cause would be cast vainly away.Nathan McCullough Camp Liberty Baghdad Iraq