Everybody's got a definition of what was won and lost in Iraq

"There’s a guy selling fish. He’s got a fish cart. He’s cooking fish. And there’s a watermelon stand and then there’s an electronic store right next to it, and people are everywhere. And I’m sitting in traffic and I’m going, ‘Man, this is unbelievable.’ That’s a victory parade for me."

--COL. ROGER CLOUTIER, on conditions in Baghdad.

See the excellent Steven Lee Myers story on the combat pullout from Iraq.

One reasonable description of what just happened:

The invasion has left behind a democracy in an autocratic part of the world, but a troubled young one with uncertain control over its security and destiny.

I have yet to see a young democracy start in any other way.  It's a very American story.