Yesterday, August 15, 2006, was the 61st anniversary of
Japan's surrender in World War II. A few weeks later, on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri, the Japanese formally surrendered, ending the Second World War.
Yesterday, August 15, 2006, was also a milestone in our present war in Iraq. Yesterday was the 1244th day since the U.S. invasion of Iraq (3/20/03 to 8/15/06).
The United States was at war with Nazi Germany for 1244 days during World War II (12/11/41 to 5/8/45).
So as of this morning, the United States has been in Iraq
longer than we were at war with Germany in WWII.
If the United States is still in Iraq on December 14, 2006 (which is almost certain to be the case), we will have been in Iraq for 1364 days, equal to the US war against Japan in WWII (12/8/41 to 9/2/45).