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EDINBURG--Following the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the media, policymakers and pundits all enjoyed a week of opportunities to reassert their opinions--both negative and positive--on the situation inside the country. As expected, the pronouncements and reports ranged from defeatist revisionism to overly optimistic assessments resuscitating commentators' individual beliefs and attempts to validate previous assertions.

What most of these scenarios--from all sides--failed to offer was any credible assessment of the broader implications of the mission outside of Iraq. Endless reports attempted to define success and failure by percentages, statistics, and polls. While it is important to consider such metrics in both human and numerical terms, it is equally important to look at the larger strategic picture to effectively gauge progress.

Since the invasion in 2003 and subsequent elections, a number of consequential developments have taken place out-side Iraq's borders, including:

Afghanistan and Lebanon witnessed unprecedented, historic, free elections.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinians also held their first substantive elections, albeit not under ideal circumstances or with the desired results, but these must still be viewed as enormously positive steps away from autocratic or hereditary rule.

Bahrain and Kuwait for the first time allowed women the right to vote and run for elective office.

Syria has pulled out of Lebanon, restoring much-needed autonomy and sovereignty to the country and its people.

Libyan president Muammar al-Qaddafi, once a sworn enemy of the United States and sponsor of terrorism, conceded to disarm and abandoned his country's WMD programs.

India and the U.S. have made commitments to enact a needed civilian nuclear agreement that provides shared national security benefits for both countries.