Iraqpundit (Via Ace, Via Jules Crittenden).

I know those who are wedded to the idea of a failed Iraq are calling me a deluded idiot and worse. But things are improving slowly. My relatives in Baghdad say there’s no comparison; things are much better than they were six months ago. They can visit friends in different areas and walk about the neighbourhood in the evening.

Frankly, I don’t understand why so many mock us for wanting a future for Iraq. Is your hatred for George Bush so great that you prefer to see millions of civilians suffer just to prove him wrong?

It really comes down to this: you are determined to see Iraq become a permanent hellhole because you hate Bush. And we are determined to see Iraq become a success, because we want to live.

The answer to his question is, of course: yes, there are people whose hatred is so great. But don’t worry. I’m sure that soon enough there’ll be sufficient terrorist attacks in Iraq to keep the antiwar movement from having to think too hard about the consequences of their choices; or, indeed, from having to think at all.

And I leave you with this thought. Remember: Not In Their Names.

Moe Lane

PS: That wasn’t hatred on my part, by the way. That was “contempt.” Hatred implies fear. Contempt can make do with elemental revulsion.