About two weeks ago Operation: Arrowhead Ripper was launched by American and Iraqi forces to route Al Queda militants from Baqubah, Iraq. The operation has been very successful so far as is related in Michael Yon’s latest update where he discusses the changes he has noticed in this city over the course of the past two weeks. He also offers some clarification from the Iraqi perspective regarding the massacre I discussed in an earlier post, and shares some rather adorable pictures of “camera happy” Iraqi children. It is well worth the read.

In my personal opinion, if the children are smiling there is more than just hope.

[Update: The New York Times is running another excellent article: G.I.'s Forge Sunni Tie in Bid to Squeeze Militants ]