When you're going off to Iraq, your horizons become more short term.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not.
Since coming back from Iraq, there's been so many triumphs and obstacles standing in my way, so whenever I set my mind to something, I definitely just go full blast at it.
In fact, things are moving along rather well in Iraq. Nothing is perfect, of course, and freedom is messy work. The cooperation of the three major interests in Iraq has been remarkable.
In terms of the idea of long-term occupation - I have been reading a little bit more about this period - and you can see in that occupation are many lessons for the current occupation of Iraq. So we have these connections that go way back that people aren't aware of.
Much as soldiers come back, they've been in combat or the edge of it and suddenly that adjustment back to civilian life is a real challenge.
Iraq is a better place, absolutely worth it.
The situation in Iraq will be long, it will be expensive and it will be difficult. But in the end, Iraq will very much be worth it.
Iraq is going to go down as one of the greatest blunders in American history.
I leave Iraq gladdened by what has been accomplished and confident your future is full of hope.
The further you go in life, the more you realize what you're going to leave this Earth.