As our office grows quiet in preparation for Independence Day in the United States, it seems appropriate to wish our U.S. readers a Happy July 4th.

Independence Day is a great time to slow down and reflect on the wonderful freedoms and fortunes we enjoy in this country. But it's also a good time to remind ourselves that we are also world citizens, and we have an obligation to try to connect with, aid, and learn from people all over the world.

At Forum One, we're fortunate to work with great clients where international work is core to their mission.

It's been several years since we first saw the horrific images of prisoner abuse from within the walls of Abu Ghraib prison. Lately, the indelible images, which first came to light in 2004, seemed to be fading into history as just another sad chapter in the story of America's misadventures in Iraq.