I just got home from my local sports bar, where I watched the Iraqis win the championship over Saudi Arabia in the Asia Cup (sort of like the world cup, but limited to "Asian" teams [including Australia and most of the Middle East). I've taken a lot of stick from people on this blog over the years for suggesting that things like this are as important, and probably more important, in the long run, for Iraqi "nation-bulding" than most of what we see and hear on the news. [See some prior postings are here and here]. this is a big day for Iraq -- hopefully, without the violence that accompanied their semifinal win. Maybe a step toward Iraq joining the community of nations in a normal way -- but certainly something that, for Iraqis, will be remembered for a long time.