Celebrating Ashura

On the Shi'ite religious day of Ashura, 130 are wounded and 30 killed from bombings and guerrilla warfare.

The situation is dangerous to the people of Iraq right now for this sole reason: Iraq carries political weight and is a pawn for politicians. Democrats hope to strengthen their party by convincing people that our troops need to come home soon (like in the next few months). Republicans "make no promises" or feel no need to come up with an effective plan that will get our troops home as soon as possible. They feel that the violence is part of a course of events that can't be avoided. As always, the Bush administration wants people to know they are right and that is why they are waiting it out. The two parties foolishly go back and forth while many Iraqis die at their expense each day.

True, many Iraqis are thoroughly happy for what we have done. What's also true is many want us out and want the chance to show the world that they ---the people of Iraq---can run and defend their homeland of Iraq.