Good News from Iraq: 22 May 2005

[MORTARDUDE]

http://www.command-post.org/2_archives/019505.html

May 23, 2005
Good News from Iraq: 22 May 2005
Note: As always, available from "The Opinion Journal" and Chrenkoff. Thank you to James Taranto and Joe Katzman for their continuing support of the series, and to everyone else for helping to spread the good news.

You might remember Dhia Muhsin, carpenter from a working-class Baghdad neighborhood of al-Dora, who became a celebrity of sorts back in March, when he and his nephews stood up to insurgents who terrorized his area and in a firefight lasting half an hour killed three of them and forced the rest to retreat.

Well, two months on, and Muhsin is still ready to take on any intruders: ?I expect them (the insurgents) to come back and I?m ready to face them,? says the 33-year old who seems to have inspired his neighbors:

Al-Dora residents had been too scared to face down the insurgents but after seeing Muhsin?s bravery, some, it seems, have decided to fight back.
?We are ready to confront any terrorist and the people in the area, after they saw what I did, have become more daring and strong,? said Muhsin.

Mudher Khudher, 42, a bakery owner, said he is proud of Muhsin actions and he and others have decided to follow his example, ?Dhia taught us that the terrorists are cowards and they can?t face all Iraqis.?

Saleem Barakat, 32, a student, called Muhsin a hero and noted that their street in al-Dora has been quiet since the insurgents were killed.
Al-Dora has not been completely violence-free since that fateful day in March, but the example set by Muhsin is nevertheless very important one for the Iraqi people. Insurgents and terrorists thrive on fear and passivity - they can't win when society turns against them.

This is a lesson that increasing numbers of Iraqis seem to be learning, and it is important more than ever, now that the past two weeks have passed under the shadow of a bloody suicide bombing campaign. This carnage around Iraq has dominated the media coverage, and once again it managed to overshadow most of the positive developments taking place around the country, in security and other areas of life. Below are some of these stories that you might have missed.