Sustain the support

From John B. Dwyer, a military historian:

With his June 28 speech discussing Iraq and the war on terror, President George W. Bush initiated what many of his supporters believe to be an overdue effort to rally home front support; to reverse the overwhelmingly negative, explosive 24/7 news cycle images. While acknowledging that terrorists continue killing innocent Iraqis, that this a tough struggle, he stressed successes on all fronts: military, political, social. He noted that terrorists have failed to prevent elections, the formation of a national assembly and an interim Iraqi government. He provided context and perspective; reminding Americans that it has only been one year since Iraq regained its sovereignty after decades of brutal repression; that patriotic Iraqis continue to sign up for the army and other security forces to defend their country. Several hundred have died doing so. They are, after all, the ultimate guarantors of Iraq’s security and stability.