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Anniversary in Iraq
The FIVE-YEAR anniversary of the invasion of Iraq passed last week without celebration, and with sadness and frustration on many fronts—but with a recognition that some progress has been made in stabilizing that troubled country as Americans look for an exit. Vice President Dick Cheney, an architect of the war, and Sen. John McCain, a strong supporter, were in Iraq last week ahead of the March 20 five-year mark. On separate missions, they stressed gains in the reduction of everyday violence since the American troop surge last year and a U.S. commitment to fighting the insurgents that threaten Iraq's fragile internal security. Those upbeat observations, however, could not paper over some of the other unfortunate realities—including a grim new U.S. military death toll and a stalled national reconciliation among sectarian groups—that continue to unfold in Iraq. One dramatic recent event was the death of Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, 65, who was kidnapped Feb. 29 in an attack that left his driver and two bodyguards dead. The archbishop was found dead about a week later—buried by his kidnappers. It was a vicious act that drew a strong reaction from Pope Benedict XVI, who called on Iraqis to stop the "bloodshed, violence and hatred" and embrace the reconciliation and coexistence among groups that will allow them to move forward. "Lift up your heads and let it be you yourselves whoŠrebuild" the life of the nation, the pope said. Perhaps most troubling is the fact that U.S. military deaths in the five years reached 4,000 on Sunday, with more than 29,000 wounded and huge numbers of Iraqi civilians dead and injured. At the end of 2007, the United Nations' refugee agency put the number of displaced people inside Iraq at nearly 2.3 million, with another 2.2 million having fled to neighboring countries—many of them Christians. The cost to Americans, too, has been staggering. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it at $275 million a day, and others see a $1 trillion price tag before we're through. Which brings up the next question. How does it end? The United States faces a pivotal presidential election this year, with candidates—no matter who's eventually on the ballot—that surely will offer stark differences on strategy. As for voters, if the country's financial sector continues its downward spiral they may have more on their minds come November than the war in Iraq. That's understandable. The financial and credit crisis could have disastrous consequences, in this country and worldwide. But the Iraq war, and the resulting political and economic structure of that country, remains first and foremost an American responsibility. We, through our elected officials, have to keep up the pressure on the Iraqis and their government to take over the reins of their country. It's time for that to happen, and it's time for us to plan our orderly departure. We may not find the perfect solution; but we can pray that we find the best one.
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