Calm in Baghdad

Iraq passed its first major test last week as a newly elected democracy, after terrorist tried to instigate Civil War:

City residents ventured into the streets for the first time in three days yesterday, taking heart in a relative letup in the wave of killing and destruction that has shaken the country since bombers destroyed one of Iraq's most revered Shi'ite mosques.

The Iraq government calmly and effectively reacted to the bombings by imposing a curfew:

An emergency daylight curfew was lifted in Baghdad and three provinces but a 24-hour vehicular ban remained in effect around the capital until this morning...Interior Ministry official Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi said the ban on private vehicles in Baghdad would end at 6 a.m. today because the crisis is easing and citizens need to purchase food supplies.

President Bush also helped with a plea for unity in the country:

Tensions began to ease after President Bush spoke Saturday with seven leaders of Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish political parties, giving new impetus to political moves to resolve the crisis. During a late-night meeting at Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's residence, representatives of Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish parties agreed to renew efforts to form an inclusive government.

Though things are far from rosy, they have become managable, as the brave Iraqi's continue to defy the bombers.