Why No Celebration of Success in Iraq?

June 30 was a major success milestone in Iraq as the US military officially completed the handover of security responsibility for all of Iraq’s cities to the Iraqi police and military.  US troops will continue training Iraqi recruits and will patrol the borders and some rural areas.  But most of the security responsibility now belongs to the Iraqis.

This handover is now possible because nearly all the Al Qaeda and militia elements who were terrorizing the population before the surge have been killed or captured or have given up and left Iraq.

Americans transformed Iraq from the virulent, terror-supporting regime of Saddam and his sadistic sons to a democratic government, an emergent free society and US ally in the heart of the Middle-East.  Thanks to courageous, untiring American troops, Al Qaeda suffered a humiliating defeat in Iraq’s cities and towns.

Celebrating World War II victory

Obama could have thanked the men and women of civilian agencies and contractors who have also endured hardship and risk to help repair and stand up Iraq’s government, banking system, stock market, medical infrastructure, and oil industry.

There should have been parades in cities and towns across America.  There should have been benefit concerts for the families of disabled and deceased troops in Central Park, The Hollywood Bowl, Grant Park, and the Washington Mall.

But the hard left, from whose ranks arose Barack Obama, and the national media are still embittered over the 2000 Florida recount fight and cannot accept good news of success because Iraq was “George Bush’s war.”  And nothing with the Bush label can be worthy of respect or even quiet toleration.  The hard left, including Barack Obama and the Democrat leaders in the House and Senate predicted defeat and failure in Iraq, and did all they could to prevent a positive outcome.  America’s success then, is their failure.

Thus, the day of this great accomplishment came and went, with barely a peep of recognition from the political-media establishment.  Heroes were denied a celebration they earned and deserve so losers could escape the public scorn they earned and deserve.