Iraq War Over

To very little fanfare, the last combat troops have left Iraq. What does this mean? It means that the Iraq war is over with a stunning victory to the United States of America. It means that we have achieved something in Iraq that we have yet to achieve in any of the major belligerent countries in World War II. Combat troops in Germany? Yes. Combat troops in Japan? Yup. Combat troops in Italy? You better believe it. We have had a combat presence in those countries since we defeated them 60 years ago. Yet, no combat troops in Iraq. Amazing.

Despite my extreme dislike of how he ran the war, and how he ran his presidency, George W. Bush must be given his due for this war. He stuck to it, and managed to fight and win two distinct and very different wars in Iraq. The first war was against the regime of Saddam Hussein. The second was against a very tough and determined guerrilla insurgency first staffed by former baathist party members, then by trained forces from Iran.

It is amazing to me that this day is not celebrated as V-I Day. Instead, the media portrays this stunning and unprecedented victory as a depressing loss. The current President of the United States says nothing. No recognition, no atta boy to the military, who paid for this victory in blood. Way to preserve the memories of those killed. Way to bolster the hopes of those injured and wounded. You all suck. You truly do.