New Glass is Confidence

If you are someone who might be on the fence about how you feel about Iraq (you know, someone who doesn't really want to lose the war, but would really like to see Bush's nose rubbed in it), then perhaps you should take your cue from the Iraqi people.

Should you have confidence that we are making progress in Iraq? Look no further than the local storefront:

There at the first corner, I see it. New glass. Someone has put new glass in a shop. Someone only installs new glass when they think it won't get broken. New glass is confidence.

As we roll though Ramadi I see more stores and small shops open. And more new glass.

New glass is confidence.

Several days later we return to Ar Ramadi. We take the western highway this time which takes us north and around the city of Falluja. The north and east sides of Falluja are the most devastated. That is the direction from which US Forces attacked during Phantom Fury in November 2004.

As we round the northeast corner, I see one house that looks different from the others. People are living there. Coming and going. It has something the other places don't.

New Glass.

If the Iraqi people have confidence, perhaps you fence-sitters (or wobbly pols) can have some confidence as well. It does not mean that victory is complete, but we are headed in the right direction and should not change course prematurely.

Thanks to frontline milblogger Badger 6 for this great example, and all of his other continuing insights.