I know the pope's death and his incredible life has filled the news. Here's what most people have missed:
Iraq has a government! Wow, could it mean that an end to our presence in Iraq is near? Quite possibly! I don't think so, but maybe. The situation, which looked so dire a year ago even to some six months ago has nothing but promise today. The insurgency has been annihilated each time they try and stand their ground with Iraqi and coalition forces. And even Sunni clerics are calling for their followers to join the new Iraq and leave the rebels behind. Not only can you see Iraq tuning around, you can look hard in the papers and see King Abdullah of Jordan and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak giving in to government reforms and freedoms. It's hard to suppress a nation when their neighbors have rights and hope like Iraq is getting now! Syria has actually moved a great number of troops out of Lebanon, Israel is leaving Gaza and their homes intact as they head out and President Arial Sharon heads to Texas to meet with President Bush. These are trends we just were not seeing six months ago. Yet for some reason every poll done shows the president's approval rating dipping.
