Nine years on, Saddam's fall is overlooked

Granted, there are bigger issues on the political landscape - Libya, Syria, and, of course, our favorite, the looming American election. However, it was noticeable to a select few today that the anniversary of an event that defined a decade and changed the tide of international politics was largely ignored. April 9 represents the nine-year anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Though likely next year, at the decade mark, there will be some retrospection, it remains an anniversary that we choose to ignore. It reminds us that nine years later, we have not only not found any direct evidence of weapons of mass destruction, we have not found much direct evidence to suggest that there was much to find in the first place. It reminds us that we put our reputation on the line in front of the world at the United Nations. And most importantly, it reminds us that we've largely left the country in no better shape than it was 9, or even 21 years ago.

It is hopeful that a retrospective on Iraq follows over the next year, one that gives us greater insight into the war within the context not only of our own standard, but also within the changes that follow. Iraq has a future. The only question is how did we contribute or detract from it.