The Coalition Provisional Authority has translated Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's letter to al Qaeda operatives; it's as bone-chilling as you'd expect. Read it for yourself to be reminded how, casualties and frustrations notwithstanding, the forces causing mayhem and violence in Iraq are so dangerous that they cannot be allowed to succeed. Oddly enough, al-Zarqawi has soberly assessed one aspect of his strategic efforts:

[Iraqi Shiites] have supported the Americans, helped them, and stand with them against the Mujahidin. They work and continue to work towards the destruction of the Mujahidin.

And they will continue to if Americans follow the president and "stay the course." Most Shiites and numerous Western parties - including the Wall Street Journal - strongly believe CPA to be wrong in eschewing direct elections. But it is a civil debate for a noble cause. It's the kind of problem we're lucky to have.