April 9, 2003 -- April 9, 2009

Today is April 9, 2009, six years from the day on which American forces entered Firdus Square in Baghdad and helped the Iraqi citizens pull down the statue of Saddam Hussein. Over at Eye Raki, Hayder offers thanks to those who have stood strong over the last six years:

Many people deserve praise for turning Iraq into what it is today; The coalition soldiers whose blood has been shed on Iraqi soil and mixed with the blood of Iraqi policemen and soldiers fighting a common enemy. The Iraqi politicians who had many sleepless nights trying their best to make sure Iraq does not free fall to disaster on their watch. Perhaps no one deserves more praise than the people of Iraq who are truly the unsung hero's of this tragic story. Hopefully a story that will have a happy ending. They sacrificed for their family and they sacrificed for their country. They stood strong against foreign powers and today the message is as clear and strong as ever. A new Iraq was born in 2003 and it is here to stay.

IBC