One of the things that has me a bit steamed is the way much of the media has presented the situation in Iraq as bleak and desperate. Every day, it seems, we are told how many U.S. soldiers were killed or injured and how this increases the overall casualty count. The "Old Media" (a Hugh Hewitt term) wants to make sure you understand that there are plenty of terrorists wreaking havoc and decapitating American aid workers, but gives little notice to the overwhelming good news of Iraq's rise from the ashes of the Saddam Hussein's evil regime. We are even being told by the Kerry-Edwards campaign (and its associated cronies) that the situation in Iraq is a "quagmire" -- they just can't seem to get past Vietnam and its not helping. "Doom, despair, excessive agony," and this is not just a line from a Hee Haw song, its the official position of the Democratic Party.

When I checked my e-mail this morning, much to my surprise, I found an article by Arthur Chrenkoff in the Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal that focuses entirely on the actual situation in Iraq. Mr. Chrenkoff spends a great deal of time chronicling the status of Iraqi society (with some emphasis on women), the economy, reconstruction efforts, humanitarian aid, coalition troops, and security matters. It is a great article, especially if you want something other than what the doom and gloom crowd is peddling. And I particularly like the final line of Mr. Chrenkoff's article:

The obstacles are considerable, the challenges huge, but day by day the Iraqi people, assisted by the coalition and people of goodwill from around the world, are slowly forging ahead with the task of reconstructing their country--and more importantly--reconstructing themselves.

Not sugar-coated, but straightforward. Once again, hats off to Arthur Chrenkoff for bringing the truth about Iraq and not allowing the Naysayers to stand unchallenged.