Iraqi Freedom

Today is a great day for the country of Iraq and I think the United States has a lot to be proud of in our freeing 26,000,000 people from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

The turn-over of sovereignty came two days early supposedly to deprive terrorists the opportunity to mar the day with violence and murder. The turn-over also happened a couple days early because there was no reason to delay any further.

There is still much to do and our troops still must face great peril but they have been exemplary and I have every confidence in their ability to be no better friend to the people of Iraq and no worse enemy to those who would oppose freedom.

The days of the Coalition Provisional Authority are now over but the ripples of their accomplishments will be felt for decades to come.

June 28th will now be the Iraqi equivalent of our July 4th and I find some humor in the change of date from the original proposed date of June 30th.

June 28th used to be known as the day that Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot and "Old Europe" was plunged into World War I. Now it will be known as a day of freedom. This juxtaposition also serves as a reminder on many levels. Our new coalition served to set men free. The "Old Europe" coalitions and alliances of 1914 served to imprison millions in the imperial wishes of the few.

June 30th would have also worked because it is the anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg. There would have been a certain symmetry in the turn over happening on the anniversary of the battle that is forever remembered through Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and through extension the Emancipation Proclamation. Personally - I like the idea of our "honored dead" from the Gettysburg still having the day to themselves.

(PS -I know the Emanciaption Proclamation actually came about a year earlier than the Gettysburg Address but work with me here.)