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An Iwo Jima Moment?

If things continue to go well, this photo should win a Pulitzer.

But probably not in today's media environment. After all, it goes against the narrative. And of course, we know how today's media would have treated that moment.

[Late evening update]

"Wretchard" (aka Richard Fernandez) has related, and more articulate (as usual) thoughts.

[Update on Thursday afternoon]

Here's some more good news:

A rare visit by a delegation representing Sunni tribes in the Province of Anbar to the predominantly Shiite Province of Qadissiya is yet another signal that Iraqis are keen to put an end to sectarian strife.

The Anbar delegation included major Sunni tribes who have formed a coalition and raised a tribal force to check Qaeda influence in their areas.

Sheikh Mohammed Shaalan said both Sunni and Shiite tribes in the two provinces have vowed to bring national reconciliation to success.

Shaalan, who spoke for the meeting, said a tribal delegation from Qadissiya would also travel to Anbar in the near future.

“We have agreed to support he government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki which is working hard to enable tribes assume a better role in solving conflicts away from sectarianism and factionalism,” he said.

Shaalan said the two sides signed an agreement under which they will coordinate their efforts and raise resources “to combat crime and punish those attacking and killing security and police personnel.”

I'm amused by those in comments who seem to be quite upset that the Iraqis refuse to hate George Bush as much as the commenters do, or as much as the commenters think they should.

Posted by Rand Simberg at November 07, 2007 03:38 PM

Comments

'Tain't gonna happen. If the Pulitzer committee was interested in awarding prizes for best news coverage, as opposed to best "established journalism", Yon would have won twice by now: one for photojournalism for his picture of the US Army officer carrying a mortally wounded Iraqi girl, and one for best reporting for "Gates (Streets?) of Fire".
The Pulitzer committee is not about to encourage trespassers.

Posted by Don Eyres at November 7, 2007 04:51 PM

The first thing I thought of when I looked at this picture is the picture of the fall of Saigon with the people on the roof of the embassy lined up for the helicopter. This picture is much, much better.

Posted by John Ramsay at November 7, 2007 05:12 PM

That picture certainly is Good News.

Posted by Offside at November 7, 2007 06:05 PM

this photo should win a Pulitzer.

In all seriousness. Why?

So they were putting the cross back on the dome having taken it out of storage.

When did it go into store?

I'm prepared to bet it was post 2002.

Posted by Dave at November 7, 2007 08:49 PM

Damn, this is NOT good. We have to inhibit any real news organizations from using this.
Perhaps we should start the rumor that it was Photoshopped.
Perhaps we should start the rumor that they are actors choreographed by Chimpy Bushitler.
Damn, this is NOT good. And that pagan holiday Kristmas is right around the corner. We can’t let anyone think to use this for their Kristmas Cards.
Damn, this in NOT good.

Posted by Craig at November 7, 2007 09:48 PM

Michael Yon's too good for an award as shameful as the Pulitzer.

Posted by Laika's Last Woof at November 7, 2007 10:18 PM

Iwo Jima mountain top
Saigon roof top
Bagdad church steepel.
Yon nailed it.
A thousand words.

Posted by MRH at November 7, 2007 10:37 PM

I think it's Richard Fernandez (not Rodriguez).

Posted by anon at November 7, 2007 10:52 PM

There is one overwhelming thing I've said here, and elsewhere, the truth of the progress in Iraq is not and has not been told by the MSM.

The fact that pictures like this don't hit the front page of the NYT, LAT, Chicago Tribune, et al, is proof to me that they avoid ANY good news.

I'm still believing the news I get from the Marines my son served with in Iraq and that he still gets e-mail from.

Posted by Steve at November 8, 2007 05:58 AM

MRH, budding poets should learn how to spell steepel Unless it meant something profound that us peepel missed.

Posted by at November 8, 2007 07:25 AM

What is missing from this story is that the cross was taken down as recently as 7 months ago, after threats from the islamic extremists who have far more influence now, than they did before the invasion.
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9026&size=A

It's nice that they were able to put it back up, but this is hardly an example of freedoms that haven't existed in Iraq in "living memory", as Michael Yon claims. Unless living memory is about half a year.

Posted by Dansker at November 8, 2007 07:49 AM

The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers.

I guess Yon meant in his, Yon's that is short memory. The Muslims and Christians of Iraq were living in absolute peace with each other until Bush decided to do his bit to improve things. These improvements have sent most Iraqi Christians packing and off as refugees.

It's still a nice picture; I had missed Yon's disingenuous commentary earlier. Thanks to others for pointing this out.

Posted by Offside at November 8, 2007 08:42 AM

The Muslims and Christians of Iraq were living in absolute peace with each other until Bush decided to do his bit to improve things.

Apparently you are unable to distinguish between the words "peace" and "freedom." There is nothing disingenuous in Yon's commentary, to anyone familiar with the actual history of Iraq under Saddam. During his regime, the Iraqis had neither "peace" or "freedom." They now have the latter, and are finally starting to get the former, as the picture demonstrates.

Posted by Rand Simberg at November 8, 2007 08:48 AM

When the Muslims and the Christians jointly rang bells together, do you really think they were celebrating the freedom that they now have, or simply affirming their lonstanding spirit of comity, coexistence and friendship that has recently come under attack from extremists?

Yon and yourself, Rand, can't seriously be suggesting that they were celebrating the invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq. That's quite a stretch.

Right now freedom means nothing to them. All they want is some peace. And in general if you know why church bells are rung, the main reason is as a call to prayer and reflection on the peace of Christ as in the Angelus.

Posted by Offside at November 8, 2007 09:54 AM

Yon and yourself, Rand, can't seriously be suggesting that they were celebrating the invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq. That's quite a stretch.

Talk about disingenious reporting and short term memory. Dude, use the scroll bar to find the answer to your question.

Posted by Leland at November 8, 2007 10:21 AM

Yon and yourself, Rand, can't seriously be suggesting that they were celebrating the invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq. That's quite a stretch.

"The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. 'Thank you, thank you,' the people were saying. One man said, 'Thank you for peace.' Another man, a Muslim, said 'All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.'"

Go argue with them, Offside. Doesn't sound to me like they're yearning for a return to Saddam.

Posted by Rand Simberg at November 8, 2007 10:22 AM

Offside wrote:

> Yon and yourself, Rand, can't seriously be
> suggesting that they were celebrating the
> invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq.

My goodness you're out of date! The occupation ended nearly three and a half years ago. Where have you been, under a rock?

As for the invasion, Rand has already pointed out Yon's own words...

> The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of
> thanks to the American people. 'Thank you,
> thank you,' the people were saying.

Offside again:

> Right now freedom means nothing to them.

Now that's the best example of projection I've seen in a long, long, time.

Mike

Posted by Michael Kent at November 8, 2007 10:43 AM

No doubt that the soldiers are thanking the soldiers for a return to relative peace, a peace they actually used to have not so long ago.

If you really think I'm spewing, go read the interviews with Iraqi Christians who have had to flee the freedom of Iraq.

They are not cheering freedom in the sense that Yon and Rand are talking about. Just grateful for a breather, and grateful for the troops who are helping in that effort.

Maybe Yon should do a more detailed interview with these folks, one that is statistically meaningful instead of reporting a few words in isolation for his cheering squad over here.

Posted by Offside at November 8, 2007 11:19 AM

Offside, again, no one "lived in peace" under Saddam. Even the Christians who fled would tell you that. And now that Al Qaeda has been routed, many of them may now start to return.

Posted by Rand Simberg at November 8, 2007 11:39 AM

"And now that Al Qaeda has been routed, many of them may now start to return."

Al Qaeda in Iraq only make up a small percentage of the bastards causing trouble.
There are Shiite militias like Al-Sadr's Mahdi army backing fatwas against Christians: http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9409

Iraqi refugees in Denmark are still refusing to return even thought most of them have been denied asylum and they have a standing offer from the Danish goverment of $10,000 if the leave.

Your celebration is still premature.

Posted by Dansker at November 8, 2007 12:00 PM

Obviously you simpering idiots don't understand what a tragedy it is that we have denied the Iraqi's the Peace and Stability of a 'Secular' Cult of Personality supported by community informants, secret police enforcers, widespread torture of dissidents, and a culture of fear.

What right did we have to invade to topple a government with such obvious, wide-spread appeal?

Obviously any celebration that falls short of that model of perfect stability and peace is premature.

Posted by Michael In Seattle at November 8, 2007 12:18 PM

*gulp*

I have to agree with Offside here...

What the Iraqis most need is:

1. For the US to leave.
2. For Hugo Chavez to come to Iraq to fix the mess the US left behind.

/sarcasm off

Posted by MG at November 8, 2007 02:25 PM

*gulp*

I have to agree with Offside here...

What the Iraqis most need is:

1. For the US to leave.
2. For Hugo Chavez to come to Iraq to fix the mess the US left behind.

/sarcasm off

Posted by MG at November 8, 2007 02:26 PM

Damn the MSM eh? Hiding all the good news in Iraq, Pakistan and Afganistan. Talking down the economy with all those daft reports about the dollar and China and others moving into other currencies. How dare oil be pushing towards $100 even after Rand has published many times on this blog that that is just impossible, or at least should be.

Rand Simberg being wrong about anything?

Gosh.

I have to go an lie down in a dark room now and recover.

Sometimes I think some of you guys are living in a different universe to the rest of us.

Posted by Dave at November 8, 2007 08:33 PM

"Sometimes I think some of you guys are living in a different universe to the rest of us.
Posted by Dave at November 8, 2007 08:33 PM"

Yea, that universe would be called reality. Perhaps you should think about joining it sometime.

Posted by Josh Reiter at November 12, 2007 12:14 AM

Yea, that universe would be called reality.

Sad, really, really, sad. I wish you guys the best, I really do.

Posted by Dave at November 18, 2007 01:57 AM


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