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If I may use your words, Uncle, from the thread about "We Were One" (The Battle of Fallujah):

"Perhaps in the long run, we shall see the majority of Iraqi having a deep respect for the United States Airforce, Army, Navy, and Marines. They came they conquered and gave back the land and peoples a better place for their future to be worked out. I continue to be torn between what we are capable of doing in order to minimize our losses and what the politics that may perhaps bear fruit in a new unified democratized Iraq, may lead to."

This fight for freedom is far from over. I have a 'dog' straining at the leash, ready to do his part. I would like insight from the Gold Star parents, kristinn. My question (I'll be away from the computer when you're on) is what kind of impression you have about the inner strength being culled in these countrymen to defend this great gift your children have given. I ask this because I can only imagine the culture shock from 'before' to 'after' is just subsiding. Do you feel more opportunities such as this trip by civilians-family to family- would be beneficial, a hindrance, or no benefit?

In many ways, it is beyond my comprehension how these people 'lived'. Yet, it is simple to understand that living with evil is, simply, evil.

Thank you all, for everything.

"Yet, it is simple to understand that living with evil is, simply, evil."
More profound then you may realize in retrospect.
Let us prayerfully hope that in the days to come the new Iraq shall simply be thankful for all the good will the US and Coalition forces have provided, and a new kindred spirit shall continue to emerge where your son if he deploys there shall find a safer environment, where he and his commarades simply have to give toys and candy to the little ones as they continue to help build the Iraqi forces up, provide continued aid in building the infrastructure, and not have to be hunting down so many totally misguided arabs.

To be sure. It appears the excuses any Arab or otherwise living in Iraq can conjure up to resist the IG's moves for unifying the country, fall short of the growing majority of Iraqi that simply want the violence in all it's forms to end, and get on with rebuilding their country from the ashes Saddam created.
IMHO, radical forms of Islam will take a second seat to this new movement. It is now a matter of time, not if it will come to be.