Iraq is a democracy

I don't know how many of you saw the recent headlines that a permanent, national unity government has been formed in Iraq. This government consists of Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, and Christians, elected by the people of Iraq.

Why aren't we excited? Isn't that what we came to do? (Not to mention that Saddam Hussein is being tried by the Iraqis for crimes against humanity)

There has certainly been a tremendous loss of life- though far less than almost any war we have fought in the past. Each one of those lost lives is important and tragic. Yet those that assumed we would fight a war without losing people were not mislead by the President or anyone in the military.

There are also struggles ahead. There is a strong insurgency that is fighting not just the US and all of the coalition partners, but fighting even more so against the Iraqis who want to be free. The insurgency will not away quickly, but we must have the resolve to see this through.

Yet, at the heart of all of this is the truth that Iraq has now join the community of nations that embrace democracy. It's too bad that the overwhelming wave of anxiety that the media has helped to foster cannot help people to see what's really going on here. What would be even worse is if we were to give into the notion that we should cut and run. Not only would that disrespect the mission of those who have already given their lives for this cause, it would also prove to the world that we Americans truly do not care about others, and it would represent an act of great betrayal toward those Iraqis striving for freedom.