Nov 09 2007
Surrendercrats: Surrender Iraq Or No Money
The Democrats are playing a losing game – specifically because they keep pushing for a US failure at all costs. Yesterday the Surrencercrats announced they would ONLY fund a defeat in Iraq, as they play General and President and work to create a Vietnam out of all the progress seen in Iraq since the Surge:
House Democrats are planning another veto showdown with President Bush on the Iraq war. And this time, they say they won’t back down.
The House planned to vote as early as next week on a $50 billion war spending bill that would require Bush to begin withdrawing troops. The measure identifies a goal of ending combat by December 2008, leaving only enough soldiers and Marines behind to fight terrorists, train Iraqi security forces and protect U.S. assets.
The fact is Iraq needs determination to complete the success. The results in Iraq are multifacted, as shown in this excellent overview of the reasons Iraq has turned around:
“The Surge†and counterinsurgency tactics
Top US officials are quick to point out the effect of the increase of US personnel on the reduction of violence, citing an acquired ability to target a wider range of al Qaeda and Shiite militia extremists and to project security into new areas with a focus on protecting civilians.
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The rise of the Iraqi people and “reconciliationâ€
US commanders credit a sea change in Iraqi public opinion against extremist groups and the willingness of local political leaders – some former insurgents – to cooperate with the government as perhaps the most important factors in quelling violence.
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Strengthened Iraqi Security Forces
The Iraqi Army (IA) has grown from 10 to 12 Divisions for a total of 47,000 additional frontline troops. Of 44 brigades, 3 are independent and 32 are “in-lead,†while the newest nine are still classified in at partnered stage. While Military Transition Team ground commanders complain that most Iraqi units are heavily reliant on US logistical support, Iraqi units have taken primary operational responsibility for eight provinces and lead in all of Iraq except the Rutbah District of Anbar.
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Have sectarian cleansing and refugee flight run their course?
In addition to positive and proactive factors, some intelligence officials and analysts believe that a portion of the reduction in violence can be attributed to the refugee crisis and sectarian segregation of certain neighborhoods in and around Baghdad.
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The truce with Muqtada al Sadr and the Mahdi Army
On August 29, Muqtada al Sadr called for a truce between elements of the Mahdi Army and both rival Shia groups and Coalition forces, which significantly contributed to the overall decrease in violence.
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Slowing down the borders
Officials also point to a smaller quantity of foreign fighters and weapons entering Iraq, especially via the western border with Syria and Saudi Arabia. The Brookings Institution’s Iraq Index, which tracks security indicators, notes that the number of foreign fighters has diminished from roughly 85 to 50 per month over several recent months. This inability to replace men and material lost to coalition operations has severely hampered al Qaeda’s ability to conduct attacks, and monthly suicide bombings have halved since January. US officials offer various theories to explain the tightened borders.
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Officials stress that continued momentum is required to solidify gains, specifically maintained targeting of extremist groups, successful border interdiction, the official employment of a portion of CLCs in the Iraqi Security Forces and, most importantly, a mid-term commitment to American brokerage of reconciliation between the national government and tribal and former insurgent groups
The message – no one thing is making a difference, but all of them must be maintained to ensure the progress is retained and expanded. Withdrawl (a.k.a. surrender) is not an option – unless you are bent on giving al-Qaeda forced error and a huge PR success against America.
Yes, the left must lose Iraq lest Christianity come back to Iraq.
http://michaelyon-online.com/wp/thanks-and-praise.htm
Moderate Muslims and Christians living together in peace? Can’t have that….
Look at the line up of domestic programs the Dems are talking about. They need money for these programs, the WAR is in the way. They don’t care if we can win, they don’t care about our military men and woman, they don’t care about the Iraqi people. They care about buying the American people with promises. That is their game and they have bet all their power on it.
Look at the line up of domestic programs the Dems are talking about. They need money for these programs, the WAR is in the way. They don’t care if we can win, they don’t care about our military men and woman, they don’t care about the Iraqi people. They care about buying the American people with promises. That is their game and they have bet all their power on it.
Look at the line up of domestic programs the Dems are talking about. They need money for these programs, the WAR is in the way. They don’t care if we can win, they don’t care about our military men and woman, they don’t care about the Iraqi people. They care about buying the American people with promises. That is their game and they have bet all their power on it.
If only the democrats were just mistaken on a guns or butter choice,
If only the democrats were just mistaken on a guns or butter choice,
If only the democrats were just mistaken on a guns or butter choice,
then they might be forgiven their naievety buttheir world is darker
than that. True socialists, true Marxists, have identified the USA
as the prime problem in the world, their dream of a one world
government cannot come true if the USA is still free and strong.
The left, and their democrat representatives arepushing a covert
of program of weakening the USA until it is no longer any more
important, than say Brussels. Losing wars, being snared in
hopeless UN run treatys like Kyoto or Lost, are their means to
an end. Remember, “The end justifies the means”.
A million dead Iraqis? Three million dead New Yorkers?
In their thinking, this pales into insignificance against the
shining “social justice” they crave
This is one time where the President could take a page out of Reagan’s play book and go right to the people. He could say something like:
“Last November the people sent a message to Washington that they wanted a change. I heard you and in January we changed our direction in how we carried out the war in Iraq. It is working. The terrorists have been virtually run to ground in Iraq. And now the Congress wants to cut off their funds. The American people didn’t vote for defeat, the people voted for a change. They have it and it is working. Don’t allow this “Defeat at any cost” Congress to undo all that has been accomplished this year …”
I think he could do it. He needs to address the people and tell them what the Democrats are trying to do. The people won’t support it. They WILL support a winning strategy.
Even Evan Bayh is getting in on th act. When he was Governor he was a reasonable person, a few years in DC and the man sounds like Pelosi, pathetic.
The Democrats know it is not that simple. Even if they cut off the money. In fact a withdrawal is an expensive and risky thing to do if you don’t want to get killed on th way out. So just cutting off the funds and demanding a troop withdrawal will only make it more dangerous for the people still there. There are ways to do these things.
> In fact a withdrawal is an expensive and risky thing to do if you don’t want to get killed on th way out.
No, they’re planning the helicopter-lift-off-from-the-embassy type of pull-out.
You know, the kind that led to Cambodia and the Vietnamese boat people.
That’s the template, you see.
Pity the Iraqis and those of neighboring nations if the Dems win again. It will not be a pretty thing.
I would also note that “border security” has played an important role in taking back control of Iraq. Not because they can/could or will ever be able to do it 100%. Not because border secruity improvements have been all that dramatic. But because even a small change there…can have a dramatic residual and long term impact on the problem.
I’m glad they finally stopped listening to those who said it should not be attempted beause it could not be done…and finally put some effort into making it work. It paid off…as noted in your post here. I would only hope that we can bring some of that common sense home here to the US.