Hopeful news from the front lines in the War on Terror

Sometimes even blind monkey find banana, or mainstream media good news in the Middle East.

First up. We've been hearing for a while that we're in talks with the Iraqi government about handing control over. Today, we got a news story that proves that it isn't just empty rhetoric on either side--on their part, saying that they're ready, or on our part pretending to believe it. We've handed over a former hot spot: the Anbar province. It's good to see the Iraqi army becoming capable of handling their own problems. Iraq is probably even happier than I am.

Next up. Pakistan is beginning to treat women as human beings. Granted, they're having a slow start, but they're investigating five honor killings. Apparently, the five women murdered by their families had the audacity to want to choose their own husbands. It's only five out of thousands that happen every year, but investigating any of that type of murders is a start.

Last of all, something that there might be some disagreement about: Dutch intelligence has posited that the US military might be attacking targets in Iran in the upcoming months. I will admit to having mixed feelings about this, but not for the same reasons that my friend at Kill the Cat would like to see. I don't like that Dutch intelligence published that we were planning to hit a few targets. Personally, I think if we were to take out a few things now, we'll have less to do later, and our allies over there (Iraq and Israel) would be in less danger.

Hopeful news out of that part of the world is difficult to come by. It's good to see that it's out there.