Kowabunga

Yesterday, one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. Personnel serving in Iraq took place, with 24 dead, including 19 U.S. soldiers, and more than 60 wounded. The mortar attack was timed at noon in order to inflict the most casualties.

Over on Fox News, the following excerpt identifies the group claiming responsibility for the attack:

The Ansar al-Sunnah Army claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement published on the Internet. The statement said the attack was a "martyrdom operation" targeting a mess hall.

Ansar al-Sunnah is believed to be a fundamentalist group whose goal is to turn Iraq into a tightly controlled Islamic state like Afghanistan's former Taliban regime. In August, the Sunni Muslim group claimed responsibility for the beheading of 12 Nepalese hostages.

It is tragic that we now have another terrorist group hell-bent on ruling Iraq, and stifling liberty that the People of Iraq crave (and deserve). I have no doubt that Democracy can survive and thrive in Iraq and other places in the Middle-East, however, it is murderous bands of thugs like this, who fear giving people Liberty, who will continue to undermine any and all attempts at bringing Western-style freedom to Iraq. The only reason I can think of is that they fear freedom.

A truly free and self-determinating people, with representative government, is the bane of evil and totalitarianism. To them, the shedding of the light of freedom places their way of life into darkness. Where it belongs.

Now that our Armed Forces have cleared out the refuse in Fallujah, it is time to focus on eliminating this threat to Peace and Freedom in Iraq. The sooner these rats are dealt with, the sooner we will see a free and stable Iraq. And a democratic Iraq will be the cornerstone of spreading Liberty throughout the Middle-East.