The BBC brings us the story of Noor Salman, a 16-year-old girl living in Baghdad whose father was murdered by militants in August of 2006. It's not a happy story, but the girl is happy about one thing:
Our city is not what it once was and studying is not easy. Walking to school became a dangerous journey, although recently things are better. I wonder, how many school children in the world have to go to school fearing they may not make it home. That's what we had to do. I'm so happy that things are better on that front - but we are all aware that they could easily change again.
Notice the use of the past tense when talking about the dangers of walking to school. Would her father be alive if the U.S. hadn't invaded Iraq? Probably. Would somebody else's father have been murdered by Saddam in that alternate universe? Probably. But that's a moot point and here's a young girl saying that things are better, that security has returned, and that she is happy. I'd be curious to know what the Democrats think this country owes a young Iraqi girl like Noor, if anything. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday on the situation in Fallujah: "War-ravaged Iraq city 'alive again.'" I don't think we owe anything to the people of Fallujah, but if we are to decisively defeat al Qaeda and its ilk in Iraq, bringing peace, security, and prosperity to Anbar is essential. Thankfully, it looks like things are better on that front as well.