[Cacophonous]

I'm not trying to beat up on anyone; I've read enough of Cowgirl's posts to know she's nothing if not absolutely sincere, intelligent and purely patriotic. I wouldn't insult her at all.

Perhaps I came on a little strong, and for that I apologize. But here is my point:

We all know how eagerly the libs and dems latch onto words uttered without thought (remember the 16-word "imminent threat" hullabaloo).

You can bet that if the GOP uses in its campaign the words "Iraq is free", the dems and libs will jump all over it with the same questions I had (though in an entirely different spirit). "If Iraq is free now, why do we need to be over there? If Iraq is free, why are US troops being shot?" You know the drill, and you know I'm right. So I'm just warning the GOP of the obvious: be careful what you say.

A better - and truer - thing to emphasize is how much better off the Iraqis are, and how much better things are going to get, emphasizing that it ain't over yet.

[Luis Gonzalez]

One last thing.

The last japanese soldier surrendered in 1974.

Sometimes, things take time.

[Naspino]

thing to emphasize is how much better off the Iraqis are,

That wouldn't be a phrase to latch on to either. They've already made their mantra "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?".