The victory in Iraq

A rebel fighter chillaxing in the bed of their country's ousted leader
Muammar Gadhafi in a palace in Sirte, Libya.
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This is a communications blog, so it is not splitting hairs to observe that President Obama used the word "success" in announcing that all U.S. troops would leave Iraq by the end of this year.

Not to quibble, but "victory" would be the right word.

We went to Iraq because Saddam Hussein was indicating that he held weapons of mass destruction, which he'd used many times before, and he defied U.N. security resolutions that called for inspections to assure that he did not have WMDs. Because he refused, The U.S.-led coalition had to conduct the inspection by force and assure the world that Iraq posed no threat with regard to WMDs. We achieved that. Victory.

Not to be overlooked is the link between the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and the dominoes of dictators who are falling now throughout the Middle East. Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and likely Yemin and perhaps Syria next.

The fact that a dictator like Saddam Hussein could be toppled provided an important and potent symbol to oppressed people living under dictators. The bravery, blood and treasure invested in the Iraq War has led to a new culture; a new mindset throughout the region. That's what we achieved in Iraq. People inthe Middle East can see hope. They have a future.

They can believe.

U.S. military men and women helped make that possible.

Victory.