A typical, quiet Saturday here in Williamsburg. It's cold. It's bright and sunny. I was out in my car, running an errand. Others were doing the same.

I thought it surreal: that things could be so quiet and routine here, in one place, while, across the world, the day is so extremely important to the future. I am so relieved to read the on-line report that has just come across:

Iraqis voted on Saturday for local representatives, on an almost violence-free election day aimed at creating provincial councils that more closely represent Iraq’s ethnic, sectarian and tribal balance. By nightfall, there were no confirmed deaths, and children played soccer on closed-off streets in a generally joyous atmosphere.

Thank God!

Perhaps a durable peace is taking hold in Iraq. Perhaps democracy is established. Perhaps the path is clear for the our military commanders to continue withdrawing our soldiers and sailors and airmen from harm's way.