Crowds gather on the National Mall to protest the war in Iraq in winter 2008.
On the cusp of the significant Iraq troop withdrawal, I find it telling to look back to the protests and demonstrations that helped end an all-too-prolonged war. As we see people gather in the streets to speak out against the distribution of wealth, entitlement programs and bailouts, let us never forget the soldiers who are left behind in Iraq, Afghanistan and abroad, fighting an ill-defined war. They should remain our first priority.