Between President-elect Barack Obama's campaign promise to end the war in Iraq and that country's desire to have our nation leave its borders, we hold onto hope that we will see progress soon.
Most months, we use this space to remind readers of the tragic and very real human cost of this war. Some 4,207 United States military personnel have died in Iraq and 30,634 were wounded there - some maimed for life, physically or psychologically - as of Nov. 30. As many as 43,922 Iraqi civilians have lost their lives in their own country, as have 8,760 in the country's military.
Whatever your political leanings, we hope you will join us in honoring the service of those who continue to fight in Iraq and wishing for their safe return at this time of the year when so much of the world thinks of peace.