Good news from Iraq, Part 24

Chrenkoff posts the latest in his bi-weekly Good news from Iraq series. His stated goal is not to present a balanced view, but to provide the good news from the Middle East in an effort to counter-balance all of the negative press that the Mainstream Media (MSM) bombards us with.

I, for one, find this series (and his series on Afganistan) refreshing and encouraging. Those who seek to know all sides of the Iraq story, should supplement their reading with Chrenkoff's posts . . .
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Democracy in Iraq

Husayn, an Iraqi, has a blog called Democracy in Iraq (Is Here!). His blog is worthwhile reading as a case study (in progress) of the gestation and birth of democracy in Iraq. Talk about history from the first-person perspective!
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On Patrol

Russ Currie, an officer in Iraq, has a blog over at Sic Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. He relates the story of a patrol one day that ended on a really good note. It is a rather long post, but one well worth reading.
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Easter Blessings

As we celebrate our Lord's victory over death on this day 1,975 years ago, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful and blessed Easter.

We should think of Him . . . because He is thinking of us. We should seek Him . . . because He seeks us. We should love Him . . . because He loves us.

Happy Easter to all !

Schiavo and "Persistent Vegetative State"

This post is a well-researched and documented article that was posted by James Joyner at Outside the Beltway yesterday. I am not prepared to voice an opinion about this tragic situation, but I think that this post brings to light some pertinent information that has not been widely disseminated.
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Another side of our military in Iraq

Check out this post at the Lance in Iraq blog. There are some pictures, so there may be a delay as it loads. But it's worth the wait. Our military is doing a lot to help out over there -- in total contrast to the daily body counts that we get from the MSM.
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EU -- Collectivism over Individualism?

Pete du Pont, has an op-ed at OpinionJournal, the WSJ opinion page online, about an argument that Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, is making in his new book, On the Road to Democracy. Here is an excerpt:

"The current European unification process is not predominantly about opening up," he continues, "It is about introducing massive regulation and protection, about imposing uniform rules, laws, and policies." It is about a "rush into the European Union which is currently the most visible and the most powerful embodiment of ambition to create something else--supposedly better--than a free society."

Scary? I think so. It's worth reading the rest . . .
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"Burying the better news"

Chrenkoff has a refreshing perspective on some of these statistics that are being thrown around about Iraq. It's a short post, so you should go check it out . . .
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Kids' Wisdom

Last week my mom came to visit for a couple of days and told me a touching, and humorous, story about my 7-year-old daughter, "The Planner" (TP). A couple of weeks ago we were in a Starbucks with Mom and some dear friends of hers who were visiting from Finland. My Lovely Lady and I were visiting with Mom's friends and Mom was having a little visit with TP. Their conversation got on the subject of my 14-year-old daughter, "The Stoic" (TS), and boyfriends in general. It then went something like this:

Mom: Do you have a boyfriend?
TP: Yes, C.
Mom: Oh, C huh? Why is he your boyfriend?
TP: Well, he is a Christian, he doesn't pick his nose, and he is nice to me . . .

You've got to admit that these are all desireable qualities in us guys!
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Karen Hughes' Appointment

The folks over at New Sisyphus have a post about Karen Hughes' appointment as the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. They point out that the State Department is staffed by people who are sworn to carry out the policies of the President of the United States. They go on to say . . .

"If this keeps up, we'll be forced to implement the foreign policy of the United States."

It's a good post. I found it funny, in a cynical sort of way . . .
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This Was Not Looting

Christopher Hitchens has an interesting article on Slate called This Was Not Looting that is about the systematic dismantlement of various weapons-making sites in Iraq during and immediately after Operation Iraqi Freedom's military combat phase.
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Captain's Quarters -- CO 1st Cav

Ed Morrisey, over at The Captain's Quarters, has an informative post about a presentation given by Major General Pete Chiarelli, the commanding officer of the 1st Cavalry Division. Go here to read it.
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The chaos in Iraq . . . promoting a real democracy?

CaliValleyGirl, who is currently residing in Germany, has an insightful post up here. It's worth the read. I think she's on to something . . .
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The Lebanon Stakes

This is an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal. I'm not exactly sure that the point of the article agrees with its title, though.
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Electrocharger / Retrofit Hybrid

Maybe this is my answer to a fuel-efficient hybrid car without paying a "new car" price for it. And my alma mater,Texas A&M University, is involved in it, as well. Gig 'em, Aggies!(Hat tip to The Adventuress.)
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Swift Boat Inside Story . . .

Here is an interesting -- and perhaps more accurate -- perspective on the Swift Boat Veterans and their experience in getting their message about John Kerry out to the nation. I got this off of Powerline.
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The Cedar Revolution Advances

New Sisyphus posted The Cedar Revolution Advances a couple of days ago. This is older news, but the first comment at the end of the article gives us an insider's viewpoint -- and makes me more hopeful about Lebanon.
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Wage Gap?

John Leo, in a Jewish World Review article, has an interesting and provocative perspective on the gender-wage gap. In it he maintains that (when all things are considered) there is statistical evidence that women actually are paid better than men in equivalent jobs.
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Terror Free Tomorrow Poll of Indonesians

Though I have not verified the validity of this report, I would not be surprised if it is true. The US was there almost immediately, and has worked hard to help out the tsunami victims throughout the region. I guess us Americans aren't as evil as "they" think we are, eh?
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Sgrena's Saga

Here's an update (as of 11 March) about the story of the Italian "journalist" who was "deliberately attacked" by US troops in Iraq while being driven to safety after being released by the terrorists. Captain Ed at Captains Quarters has done a good job of researching and reporting this.

Please note that the Italian government appears to be financing the terrorists in Iraq now. Every time a soldier or Iraqi citizen is hurt or killed in a terrorist attack, we can thank those fools in Rome.
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UPDATE (13 March): Here is the latest on Sgrena's Saga -- compliments of Captain Ed.
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Detective Extrordinaire

You've got to read this final installment of the Dan Rather Detective story that iowahawk has on his site. It'll make you laugh.
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The War on Terror in Northern Ireland

New Sisyphus reminds us that America has been supporting terrorists for years . . . Sinn Fein and the IRA. It's worth reading. And worth repeating!
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A Washington Times OP-ED

I have been very disturbed by the vociferous, hateful, intractible political positions that some people in this country have been espousing, with great venom and enthusiasm, over the last 2-3 years. Not just hard-core liberals, but hard-core conservatives, too. It sometimes seems that a significant number of Americans absolutely despise -- even hate -- fellow Americans who disagree with them politically.

Yesterday, I found a Washington Times editorial from 03 March that is encouraging to me. It describes an interview Jon Stewart had with former Clinton aide, Nancy Soderberg, about her new book. (This book is one of those hateful diatribes that I'm talking about.) And the very liberal Jon Stewart didn't seem to be as impressed by the book as he is with what is happening now in the Middle East. . .

It's a quick read, so you should check it out.
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Monty Pythonese

Gerard Baker of the UK Times Online has a good article that illustrates similarities in the "anti-American policy in the Middle East" crowd and a Monty Python movie. He makes some good points, so I recommend you read this two-part article.
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Eurospeak

Victor Davis Hansen has an amusing piece entitled "Eurospeak" that discusses the dichotomy between what Europe seems to want from America, and what they seem to need . . . It's worth a read.
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An Interview from the sandbox

Paul at Jennifer's History and Stuff has posted an interview of one of our soldiers (who also happens to be a blogger). Check it out. It really gives you a different perspective on what's going on over there.
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Cute Story

This post at Feisty Repartee describes a conversation between a mommy and her 4-year old about death and heaven. Go . . .
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Celfone-controlled IEDs

You have to check out this post at Electric Venom. It is a frightening reality over in Iraq these days . . .
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The Quartet Speaks

Another post, by New Sisyphus, that supports the idea that things are really changing in the Middle East. This also merits our prayers and well wishes.
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It is, indeed, the time for change.

The good Doctor at The Daily Demarche has an optimistic post here about the ripples of democracy that are spreading (and other, potential, ripples) in the Middle East. The two contributors to The Daily Demarche, Dr. Demarche and Smiley, work for the State Department in overseas positions.

I, too, feel as if there are great things happening and others about to happen over there.

George W. Bush, along with our military and other government personnel, can take credit for creating the beginnings for a dawning democratic movement in the Middle East. I'll go out on a limb here and say that good is now being produced from the evil that was 9/11. From the loss of 3000 innocent lives on that infamous day, to the liberation from tyranny and oppression of millions of people in Afganistan and Iraq. God does prevail.
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