On Veterans Day, we typically read newspaper tributes to our veterans and long-ago battles. The next day’s stories turn back to hand wringing over missing explosives and imaginary quagmires.

Let’s reflect on what our military has accomplished in this war. Under the president’s “forward strategy of freedom,” 51 million people of Iraq and Afghanistan have been liberated. The other places where our jihadist enemies find support, such as Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the West Bank, are now bordered or influenced by these two free democracies. Since military operations began, Libya has capitulated on its WMD program and some say Iran is on the way to a democratic revolution. The sphere in which Islamic terrorism is supported or tolerated is fast diminishing.

The success we have achieved so far, at the cost of 1,000 combat deaths, is surely the most stunning achievement since World War II. Also amazing is that many of us have either forgotten or never comprehended the victories in this war. We see stickers saying that people “support our troops.” We pray for the safety of our troops in Fallujah, but our Vietnam veterans know best that support for the troops is not very meaningful without our support of the cause for which they fight.

Every day, not just Nov. 11, remember that we are in a war and are winning due to the superb character of our troops. How much greater the chances are of their victory if we at home support their efforts.

Scott Gardner, Auburn

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