Iraq Turning?

Well, Iraqis are returning to Iraq, reversing a trend that began as the insurgency took hold in 2005 through 2006. That's a good sign. Iraqis have to believe that things are improving if they're heading back to Iraq.

After all, it's their lives on the line for that.

Meanwhile, Michael Yon, (via Instapundit) who continues to conduct better reporting and interviews that most anyone in Iraq these days, may have taken the photo of the year.



Here's his caption for that photo:

I photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John's Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome. A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from 'Chosen' Company 2-12 Cavalry to the church, where I videotaped as Muslims and Christians worked and rejoiced at the reopening of St John's, an occasion all viewed as a sign of hope. The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. 'Thank you, thank you,' the people were saying. One man said, 'Thank you for peace.' Another man, a Muslim, said 'All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.' The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers. (Videotape to follow.)

That photo expresses more religious freedom and tolerance than what you'll find in Hamastan, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia these days.

Yon should win a Pulitzer for this photo, but being an outsider makes those long odds. I'll be submitting emails to the Bergen Record and Star Ledger to run the photo in their paper. Let's see if it gets run. Besides, Yon is making this available to media outlets at no charge for a limited time - to get the message out.

Of course, all Yon's efforts are not without considerable cost to Yon. Hit up his tip jar so that he can continue in his work.