By any and all accounts of measuring success (including the American liberals’ ever changing goals), we can finally mark the day that America can finally declare “Victory In Iraq.”   A number of bloggers were declaring 11/22/2008 (last Saturday) as “V.I. Day” — and that date is as good as any.

But it was this week that, militarily and politically, the Armed Forces of the United States of America Officially Won The War In Iraq. 

BAGHDAD — The long, costly story of American military involvement in Iraq moved closer to an end Thursday when Iraq’s parliament approved a pact that requires all troops to be out in three years, marking the first clear timetable for a U.S. exit since the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

The vote followed months of talks between U.S. and Iraqi negotiators that at times seemed on the point of collapse, and then days of dealmaking between ethnic and sectarian groups whose centuries-old rifts had hardened during the first four years of the war.

Three United States heroes are primarily responsible for Victory In Iraq:  General David Petraeus, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the Commander In Chief, President George W. Bush. 

However… the ultimate credit and praise goes to the nameless and faceless:   The many, many American heroes in uniform (some still fighting; some never coming home), the American civil servants in the Green Zone, the countless Americans volunteering in Iraq out of compassion, and millions of ordinary Iraqis stepping up out of the dust clouds and raising their voices for freedom.

The War Against Islamic Fundamentalism is far from over.  But the forces of evil suffered a known defeat in the sands of Iraq at the hands of Western liberal democracies.  It wasn’t pretty — but war is hell.

AMERICA SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE VICTORY IN IRAQ.   Yes, it came at a terrible cost, as all marches toward freedom do.  But history shall be the ultimate judge of how the Post-9/11 world is safer because Saddam Hussein was not a part of it.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Sure seems so.  I was actually going to give the angry lesbian a chance and watch her new show “Rosie Live.”  As I woke up this morning, it seems I missed my chance.   PatriotPartner and I just conferred:  we don’t think it was even aired on our local NBC affiliate station, despite the promo ads.

Seems like it was just as well.  It appears to be one of those hours of life that would have been lost forever.

Rosie O’Donnell gave NBC a real turkey.

The network’s attempt to revive the primetime variety show failed to draw an audience Wednesday night, tying for the evening’s lowest-rated program.

“There’s a notion that the climate is right for the genre to make a comeback,” emailed one executive at a rival network. “I guess we now know what not to do, thanks to Rosie.”

Critics were not kind. The NY Times described it as “hokey comedy with an enemies list.” TV Guide called it a “ghastly ego trip.” And the LA Times asked, “Rosie, what on earth were you thinking?”

Yikers.

I guess I will just have to look forward to something else on my boob tube besides an angry boob who hates squirrels.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

To everyone out there that reads GayPatriot and your families, I hope you had a very blessed Thanksgiving.  I’ve been on vacation from work (and life) this week so I apologize for not posting this yesterday.

We, as Americans, have a lot to be thankful for.  Even though lately our society seems to want to stress and magnify our differences for the shock-value or newsworthiness of conflict — we in the USA are a different breed of nation and always will be.

As we enter the Christmas season, I give thanks for a wonderful family around me.  Close friends I can count on in times of need.  Co-workers who are sometimes my closests brothers and sisters.  And a blogosphere full of friends I’ve never met — but have known for years.

Finally, I’d like to thank President Bush for keeping me and my family safe.  I am a “9/11-refugee” of sorts — having left the DC area after the attacks as a result of them.   Despite my own soaring frustration with the President’s leadership and tactics — I am grateful that he kept his focus on the one part of his job that is most important.  Despite all his faults, President Bush has, to the best of his abilities, preserved, protected and defended the Constitution of the United States during a very trying time in our nation.

We have been free from al-Qaeda attack for seven years.   Thank you, Mr. President.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

-Bruce (GayPatriot)