Victory in Iraq Day 2008

Yes!
Victory is sweet. Please savor it.

Join me in passing along buckets of thanks to our veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom for a most excellent job done. I've met so many of you - way to go!

As well, thank you, Mr. President, for not backing away before attempting to win.

And, most assuredly, thank you, Generals Petraeus and Odierno, for your foresight and fortitude in the face of so many naysayers.

Finally, congratulations to all Iraqis - you're on your way.

****************************
In case you missed all the preparations (and the reason's we're celebrating), it's Victory in Iraq Day.

Doubt it? Here's independent combat reporter, Michael Yon, via Instapundit:

"There's nothing going on. I'm with the 10th Mountain Division, and about half of the guys I'm with haven't fired their weapons on this tour and they've been here eight months. And the place we're at, South Baghdad, used to be one of the worst places in Iraq. And now there's nothing going on. " November 14, 2008

Update via Instapundit:

"MORE: Yon emails this correction: "'Actually, NONE of them have fired their weapons in combat during this tour, and about half of them are combat veterans from Afghanistan and/or Iraq.' Sorry, I had misunderstood that bit."

More links about the win HERE.

P.S. And the political part (HT: The Corner) of the solution is looking pretty good too. ANYTHING that mullah Muqtada Sadr and Sadrists oppose is good for Iraq, because it means Iran doesn't like it. The cleric who matters - "country's most influential Shiite cleric", Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani - has given the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) his blessing. The AP and Sadr are spinning it for all they're worth (at second link):

"...al-Sistani, has indicated the agreement would only be acceptable if it passes with a big majority."

""If the agreement passes with a small majority, it will be a defeat for those who sponsored it," said Salah al-Obeidi, al-Sadr's spokesman."

Notice that the AP has a direct quote from a Sadrist, but puts words in Sistani's mouth.

But as Amir Taheri comments (at first link):

"With the SOFA so obviously popular in Iraq, Tehran has softened its opposition to it these last few days. Most Iraqi observers now expect SOFA to pass with more than a two-thirds majority."

Add your prayers to many others; we've won the war, now we need the Iraqi elected government to continue to succeed.