Omar has been at the Arab forums again and has a report. Contrary to popular canard, the deposition of Saddam Hussein and the slow transformation of Iraq into a pluralist democracy has shaken Near East societies to their core. People are talking about what Iraq's freedom means — for Iraqis and for themselves. Syrians, Omar notes, have been the most combative and full of ridicule. But more Iraqis are defending their new friends and way of life, and not without a bit of salt:

My reply is directed to the two gentlemen, Mohammed and Firas from Syria: actually I want to state here that the Syrians are the last to have the right to criticize the new Iraqi government. Whatever this government’s nature is, the president didn't [inherit] the throne from his father. Your house is built of glass, gentlemen, and you know it's not difficult to smash it.

I see good years ahead for Iraq. And I look forward to seeing what leaders — political, philosophical, spiritual — will emerge.