A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words In Iraq

From Burke to Kirk and Beyond... has the picture and more at his post Where was this photograph taken? .

More progress in what was not too long ago was ground zero in the terrorist culture of death.

I was very stuck by the comments that in Burke's first link by an American that is a agriculture facilitator. I see versions of this scene playing out all over Iraq.

I spoke to the local Farmer's Federation about the lack of feed for their sheep (3 year drought) and they wanted to meet the provincial governor to talk about their issues. I told them that I'd see what I could do with the governor, but in the meantime they should gather letters from their farmers describing how they are being affected to present to the governor at the meeting. They said "We want the coalition forces there so they can hear what the governor promises." I said "You want the local paper and radio reporters there so all the voters hear what he promises." You could see the switch click on. There's an election in September, and the power inherent in the electorate only exists if they know, and the politicians know, its there.

I think that speaks volumes in many ways and again this playing out all over Iraq. Often led my just ordinary American Servicemen that are going to make some incredible Mayors and elected officials when they get back. If they help start local democracy in Iraq and deal with problems such as the water plant while terrorist are exploding bombs imagine what they will do when they back home.

It started last year. The Surge was not just a military logistic matter. What led to the early success was a fundamental shift in many Iraqi attitudes. Michael Yon reported last year:
The big news on the streets today is that the people of Baqubah are generally ecstatic, although many hold in reserve a serious concern that we will abandon them again. For many Iraqis, we have morphed from being invaders to occupiers to members of a tribe. I call it the “al Ameriki tribe,” or “tribe America.”.

Tribe American!!! That fundamental shift was indeed missed by many here in the United States and sadly still is by those that just scream Occupation.

All this occured while evil of one nightmares, largely "staffed" by non Iraqi's, was creating a nightmare. Thw Iraqis are an incredible people and the fact that they have not collapsed under this is amazing.

However Tribe American will not always be there to run interference. Hence we see the exchange above and as he notes people "having the switch go on". We have enough difficulty with the switch going on here in the United States among our own citizens. They are doing it despite the fact they are recovering from an economic past where Baghdad ran everything and also ran the state by fear.

There are of course other "pictures" that could be taken on this day that show not all are roses in Iraq. But those are quickly becoming outnumbered by those the Burke links too at a frantic pace.