Der Spiegel, which not too long ago ran this cover story....
(Power and Lies: George W. Bush and the Lost War in Iraq)
....sings a slightly different tune today. Here's some excerpts....
Truth be told, the Americans have restored order to many parts of the county.
The US military is more successful in Iraq than the world wants to believe.
The Americans run into acquaintances in the crowd. After being stationed in the city for 10 months, they have become a familiar sight. Bearded men greet the soldiers with hugs and kisses, and passersby hand them cold cans of lemonade. "Thank you, Mister," "Hello, Mister," "How are you, Mister?" they say. They talk about paint for schools and soccer jerseys, and they invite the Americans over for lunch. The Iraqis pose for photos with them, making "V's" for "victory" with their fingers.
It may not matter in the end whether they greeted us as liberators 4 years ago, as long as they believe in what we have been trying to do 20 years from now.
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