It is the holiday season so it has been especially hard to get our most recent podcast out. While we wait, I felt it especially necessary to comment on what may be the most important moment in our country in the last nine years. The Iraq War is finally, officially, over. Not “mission accomplished” bull shit over, I mean really over. Our men and women are, as we speak, headed home and out of harms way.

I think I speak for many, many progressives when I say, it is about damn time. Our countrymen have been putting themselves in harms way for years, some in countless tours of duty for a cause that many of us do not believe in. I believe that in historical terms, the future will judge this situation more harshly than even Vietnam in retrospect. Not only did we take a huge toll on our country, both physically, emotionally, financially and mentally, but we took another nation with us.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, displaced, or forever scarred by the past nine years. We played a large role in this effort and will be accountable for many years to come. We will be trying to heal from all our wounds for years and will have less of a view of how that country heals after we leave.

I am very glad that everyone is coming home and hopefully we can move to a new chapter in these efforts. I have to applaud the approach to this chapter closing by the administration. There has been a low level of fanfare or exuberance, realizing the sobering reality of the moment, unlike others who have tried to capitalize on false rewards. But now is not the time to bicker about how this began or was run. It is a time to rejoice that it is complete.

So this is meant to be a quick thank you to those that made this happen…finally. Welcome home to all those that fought and gave their lives, pride and honor to this great country. You are all appreciated.