Wizblog

Missed This on CNN

Iraqi teachers and students joined U.S. Marines in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a rebuilt school in An Najaf. (link via On The Third Hand)

The Al Gary Secondary School for Girls, which was heavily damaged during the war, was the target of a $72,000 renovation that was supervised by the Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, Air Detachment, based in Port Hueneme, Calif.

Since the end of major combat operations on May 1, the division has focused a great deal of man-power and funding to repair dozens of schools in southern region that had been damaged or neglected due to the war with the former regime. In An Najaf province alone, the Marines and Seabees have repaired 13 schools.

The legacy that the Marines want to leave Iraq with is not one of war, but a legacy of freedom and education for the children of Iraq.

There are countless stories like this one of the humanitarian work that coalition forces are undertaking in Iraq that are reported each day via emails from U.S. troops, Iraqi bloggers, and other first person accounts. It seems that at least the Iraqi people are appreciative. If more Americans heard about this kind of work through the media, the perception of whether or not our mission is a "success" would surely be different.