Hope Springs Eternal

This remarkable picture shows us the present and the future of Iraq. In the immediate-term, this soldier and his new friend take a much-desired break from the hotbed of Falluja. Much has happened in this area and I'm sure this little girl has experience more in her short life than any of us will ever see.

However, long-term I hope this little girl finds this picture as a 30 year-old woman and understands what so many good men wearing that uniform brought them. I don't know how many Iraqis of my generation will get it (a lot do), but ideally our hopes in a free Iraq rest with the generation represented in this picture.