Joe Pitts, July 1, 2004

As Americans awoke on Monday morning, we were greeted with the historic news that full sovereignty was transferred from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to the Iraqi Interim Government. The transfer ceremony was done without pomp and fanfare. It was conducted with the seriousness and focus necessary to face the challenges ahead. It is one of the most significant events to take place in the Middle East in decades.

After receiving the transfer documents, Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar eloquently stated, "It is a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to. This is the day that we take our country back into the international community. We want a free and democratic Iraq, and we want a country that is a source of peace and stability for the whole world."

In just 14 months, Iraq has been transformed from lawlessness and repression to a country well on its way to adequately providing for its citizens' basic needs and ensuring their full participation in a democratic process. Iraqis have much to be proud of and much to look forward to.

Estimated crude oil export revenue is more than $6.9 billion for 2004, all 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, and all 240 hospitals and more than 1,200 health clinics are open. Health care spending in Iraq has increased 30 times over pre-war levels. As for the future, Iraqis will go to the polls early next year to freely elect their leaders, forming a truly representative governing body.

Few would wisely dispute that Iraq's challenges are many and there will be difficult and dangerous days ahead. Although it will take time for the Iraqi people to adjust to their new country, there is a clear sense of optimism among them.

Robert L Pollock, a columnist who has spent his share of time in Iraq, explained this optimism in the Wall Street Journal this week: "if the past year couldn't drive Iraq into chaos -- and despite what you see on the event-driven nightly news reports, it hasn't come close -- probably nothing will."

He goes on to talk about the Iraq people who have weathered "a diabolical campaign of sectarian terror aimed at pitting them against each other; an attempt by a renegade cleric to turn Iraq's Shiite majority against the coalition; and some serious missteps by the occupying powers."

Perhaps the new leadership’s attitude has something to do with it. "Saddam Hussein's regime was a car bomb every day," Barham Salih, the new deputy prime minister, told Mr. Pollock. "We can all complain about the uncertainty, but we cannot forget about where we came from."

According to a recent CPA poll, 68 percent of Iraqis have confidence in the Interim Iraqi Government and 79 percent of Iraqis think the interim government will make things better in Iraq. As impressive, 80 percent of Iraqis approve of the Interim Iraqi Government.

Despite unwarranted pessimism and criticism of our work in Iraq, America should not and will not abandon the Iraqi people as they continue to take important steps to shape their country's future.

While lauding handover of sovereignty and what it means for the future of Iraq, one would be terribly remiss to not mention the exceptional performance of our troops. Their mission has been tough and dangerous, but they can take great pride in knowing that they have been largely responsible for the end of a brutal regime and what is emerging as the first democracy in the Arab world.

We should never forget the sacrifices both they and their families have made to bring freedom to Iraq and keep us safe.

Congressman Joe Pitts, a Republican, represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District, which includes Lancaster County and parts of Chester County and Berks County.