Perspective

I am often amazed at the ability of the modern media to truly craft a story into whatever they want it to be. The conflict in Iraq for instance, is totally different then the images portrayed by the media. Is Iraq still dangerous? Yes most certainly. Is the path to a stable government going to be a long and rocky one? Most definitely. But the idea that Iraq has no future and that Americans are being slaughtered and this is another Vietnam(laughable)is simply wrong.

What I see here everyday is a country and a people who want nothing more then to have a chance, a real chance to live free lives and govern themselves according to their traditions and customs. I see a people who are sick of bombings, and beheadings, and the like. They want the Americans to finish the job, help rebuild and go home and let them live there lives.

I would remind many of you that the road to peace and prosperity in Europe, especially Germany after world war was a rocky one. Reconstruction took over seven years and was frought with difficulties. There where some in the media at the time who said it was a lost cause, that Germany was ungovernable and that America and the other allies should leave them to their own devices. Which would likely have seen the rise of another dictatorial power that would have made more trouble on the world stage.

As it was, America did stay and finish the hard work of post war reconstruction and as a result Germany is a better, more prosperous, and don't forget a free country because of it. So, my point is just this, there are and will be problems in Iraq in the near future but please don't believe in totality the media who says that there is not great progress here. I know there is I see it everyday. In a thousand acts of kindness on both sides.