I remember not too long ago when our government and the world were holding their metaphoric breath for the big civil war in Iraq to break out. So where did it go?

I see a Baghdad with the lowest levels of violence in almost 2 years.
I see an Iraq with the lowest levels of average violence since 2004.
I see 70,000 Sunnis and Shi’a manning 'joint' outposts and checkpoints across the country to ensure their cities and communities are free from violent elements.
I see senior religious and community leaders hunting down and stamping out al-Qaeda in Iraq and other foreign elements to the point of near extinction.

I have heard that the violence in Baghdad is low because of "ethnic cleansing" which has purged the city of the Sunnis. I am here to tell you that isn't the case. Although the number of Sunnis is lower than pre-war levels, they aren't dead. They have moved to other areas of the country or abroad during the heaviest of fighting for the last 2 years. Now more than ever hundreds-of-thousands of Iraqis are returning to their homes and their country. Baghdad has stabilized with Shi'a areas, Sunni areas, and mixed areas...and those areas are being protected by the regular Iraqi Army, the IP (Iraqi Police) and community watch militias. All of those above stated elements are a mixture of Sunni, Shi'a and Kurd. And now more than ever the ratio of Sunni and Shi'a is near 50% for most regular military units.

Now all we need is the Government of Iraq to catch up with the all-of-a-suddenness of it all and start passing laws, enacting bills, and stabilizing the political aspects of the country.

Also of note are the massive increases in power, clean water, sanitation, and oil production throughout the country. Not to mention the fact that people are shopping, working, and going to school at ever increasing levels. Most aspects of the utilities, economy, and industry in Iraq are at pre-war or near-pre-war levels...and only getting better.

I know it's a tough road ahead, but building a country is a monumental undertaking for the people and government. The civil war didn't come, and looks further away now more than ever. I just wish all this was being reported more often, and that the House and Senate would understand the amazing progress that could all be lost if our own government doesn't unite behind the Iraqis.

I just thought I would post a quick note from an article I read today. The above is all true and I think is worth the time of our elected leadership to read and understand. Yes the Government of Iraq is slow to 'arrive', but the country (populace) is making gains and progress sans-formal policy. Why waste that and ignore that?