And now we are there - and democracy is following in our wake. Some people are still hedging their bets; cautiously saying that while its good, its still too early to tell if it will work. Good people, its worked - we've won; for all intents and purposes, the liberation of Iraq is complete. There will be continued fighting in Iraq for some time to come - but this is in the nature of there being continued fighting in Pacific Theater in WWII even after the Battle of Midway had decided the issue. The election in Iraq decided the issue in Iraq - its a done deal; the people have chosen a democratic form of government and there is no going back.

The War on Terrorism is not over - there are plenty of terrorists left to kill, and plenty of State-sponsors of terrorism to be brought to heel. There may very well be some major military operations in the months and years to come. And yet, we've won; we've proven conclusively that when given a choice, the people of the Arab/Moslem world will choose wisely - and choose liberty over slavery. This is something I've instinctively known all along - but now we have the proof. We can now proceed with absolute confidence to confront the rest of the tyrannies in the world, reminding them that if they press the issue, an American army of liberation will arrive, and allow their people to choose liberty, too. Better all around for the tyrants to take note and go quietly into that good night - some will, others will be stubborn. Those that change will be welcomed into the civilised world, those who are stubborn will eventually be dug out of their own spider holes to face the justice of their own people.

This is the true dawning of the Pax Americana, so often hailed before, only to die stillborn as the promise of America was frittered away by timid and corrupt souls who did not wish us to do the right thing. This is our fourth chance to set the world to rights - after WWI, WWII and the Cold War, we had it in our power to so order the world that liberty would be a necessity and tyrants would fade. This time, it looks as though we've got the leadership to follow it through, plus the growing maturity in the American population which takes serious the responsibilities of being the sort of power we are.

There is a long road ahead of us - but we see the end of it clearly, and it is marked in bright lights which tell us that liberty is always to be supported, tyranny always to be opposed; the people always to tbe trusted, the elites always to be ignored. I cannot begin to describe how proud I am to be an American on this day - it is like I've come into my inheritence; my country, my glorious country, is fulfilling the promise of July 4, 1776.