Jan 18 2008
Iraq To Stand Free By Year’s End
OK, I am really tired of those who are too skittish or afraid to declare Iraq at least a blooming victory. The parliament is working off the necessary legislation to bring their governing coalition back together and al-Qaeda is now the enemy of Muslim Iraqis – not their heros. But more than that is the fact Iraq is on a glide path to stand free and on its own this year:
Iraq’s army and police could be ready to take over security in all 18 provinces by the end of this year as the U.S. military moves toward a less prominent role in the country, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
“We look at it every month. We make recommendations. I think that if we continue along the path we’re on now, we’ll be able to do that by the end of 2008,” Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the No. 2 commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, said when asked when Iraqi forces could take the lead in all provinces.
He said that a joint operation under way led by Iraqi troops and supported by U.S. troops against al Qaeda militants in the northern city of Mosul was a model for the future.
“That’s how I see our role frankly in the future here,” he told Pentagon reporters via videolink from Baghdad.
Iraqi security forces are now in control of nine provinces after assuming control of Iraqi’s southern oil hub, Basra, in December. Iraqi forces are also expected to take control in Anbar province, a one-time insurgent stronghold, as early as March.
The ability of Iraqi forces to take the lead in security operations is vital to President George W. Bush’s plan to withdraw 20,000 U.S. troops by the middle of this year.
More here on the plan – which is really riling up the Surrendercrats who know that they have no big issue along with there lack of legislative results. Now all the SurenderIdiots can moan about is how long troops will be there. Well here is a little tidbit from the Clinton years – we are still in Bosnia ten years after that campaign. The fact is we need to FINISH what we started and that goes double for those who voted for the war and triple for those who claim they are only for peace. Iraq needs peace and that means they need our support for a while longer. But Iraq is also stepping into the light of freedom this year and it is a tribute to this country and President Bush that we will see victory in Iraq on 08.
I have supreme confidence of our military in Iraq and their achievement is obvious for all to see. It’s repugnant when Americans are calling for the plug to be pulled… no one is asking them to do a thing.. they should just keep quiet.
All that said, I think the rest of Bush’s foreign policy is going to render Iraq’s achievements moot.
The media including Fox is still only reporting suicide bomb incidentsand no progress of any kind. It really chaps them that Bush will go down in history as the president who not only won this war but made great strides in the GWOT itself. Also, he made a start to democracy in the ME. I do believe the reason the dems want us to leave Iran alone is so they will destroy all the good Bush has done not only in Iraw but in the entire ME. But, even if they succeed they are the ones who will go down in history as obstructionists and they will be blamed justly for any losses. I doubt if this has occurred to them.
Bill Roggio over at The Long War Journal
Has an excellent map up showing the confined areas AQ is now operating in.
The story along with it is worth the read.
Thanks for the link, Merlin!
I also read your post about the second fort in Pakistan. But later on in the day, I saw an article over at Jihad Watch saying that the Pakistani army fled from the second fort in fear of being attacked by the jihadists.
Did you come across something like that?
Lurker
Haven’t been back on that issue, but as I recall the first fort was ran with prisoners taken by AQ/Tali and held defense on the second but may have later abandoned it, unclear now.
AQ gave up the first fort on their own, knowing it would be a sitting target for air strikes.