It's over. We've won. More importantly, the Iraqi people have won... and Al Qaeda has lost.

At least, that's the way it looks to me, and I'm not alone. I've seen numerous stories over the past several weeks about Iraq (rarely in the mainstream media, of course), all of them indicating the same thing: victory. Violence is down dramatically, the Iraqis have banded together against Al Qaeda, the Bush administration and the U.S. military are on the right track with the surge, and there are hopeful signs everywhere.

Sure, there will still be violence and setbacks, but I am convinced it's over. The naysayers, peaceniks, and defeatists said it couldn't and shouldn't be done. But it's done.

Yes, we've paid a heavy cost in lives and dollars, but the benefits are enormous: the madman and terrorism supporter Saddam Hussein and his monster sons, who had previously used WMDs, killed hundreds of thousands, and operated torture chambers, have been eliminated; democracy has gained a desperate foothold in the heart of the Middle East; and Al Qaeda has been defeated. The war on terrorism continues around the globe, but Iraq was Al Qaeda's focal point.

Unfortunately, I don't think there will ever be a singular victory moment, a day where all of America (and the rest of the civilized world, for that matter) can celebrate the return home of our military heroes with ticker-tape parades and grand speeches. This isn't a conventional war where the enemy is finally forced to formally and unconditionally surrender at a court house or upon the deck of a battleship.

So, it's unlikely we'll have that catharsis when the nation collectively rejoices and declares victory. That's okay. If victory gently sinks in, and loved ones return home, and we find ourselves smiling a little more and feeling more secure, it's victory nevertheless.