Today is the five year anniversary of the Iraq War. One of our longest-standing community members, D, wrote an op ed in support of our continued presence in Iraq. Most folks here, including me, don’t agree with that position, but I wanted to cross-post to D’s piece because he’s been a valued member here, and the exchange of ideas is important.

Unlike many who come through the comment boards spewing ignorance and hiding their motivation, D is open and respectful. He’s a McCainiac (is that a word?) but is constructive.

I’ll post something later today on a plan to get us out of Iraq, but in the meantime, listen to D, and share your comments as always.

Here’s an excerpt below. You can read the full post here.

This week marks the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War. As we approach the anniversary, many antiwar organizations will take their cause to the streets, the media and the internet. Undoubtedly, they will state their case that the war has been mismanaged, that too many lives have been lost, and that what we’ve lost in the conflict far outweighs what we’ve gained.

I served onboard the USS CONSTELLATION during the opening days of the war in 2003. For me, while it is important to acknowledge the views of those against the war, it is equally important to acknowledge the progress that has been made in Iraq, and why we must see its citizens through to stability and a strong self-governance.

I take encouragement in our cause from the fact that Iraqis are taking an ever increasing role in the future of their country. For example, Iraq’s security forces-which now hold responsibility for security in nine of Iraq’s 18 provinces-grew by more than 100,000 in the past year, and now boast over 500,000 personnel. Volunteers calling themselves the “Sons of Iraq” have stepped forward to secure their own neighborhoods.

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