Jul 30 2007
NY Times: We Can Win In Iraq
In order to find out what is really happening in Iraq the NY Times did something novel (for the media, not for the NY Times which has had reporters in country defying the SurrenderMedia’s message machine) – they went to Iraq. And what did they find? They found DC and NY are disconnected from reality:
VIEWED from Iraq, where we just spent eight days meeting with American and Iraqi military and civilian personnel, the political debate in Washington is surreal. The Bush administration has over four years lost essentially all credibility. Yet now the administration’s critics, in part as a result, seem unaware of the significant changes taking place.
Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory†but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with.
In other words it is not time to surrender. It is not time to give up. A sea change is occurring in Iraq. And that change includes rejection of al-Qaeda across the country and embracing the possible future of a democratic Iraq.
Today, morale is high. The soldiers and marines told us they feel that they now have a superb commander in Gen. David Petraeus; they are confident in his strategy, they see real results, and they feel now they have the numbers needed to make a real difference.
Everywhere, Army and Marine units were focused on securing the Iraqi population, working with Iraqi security units, creating new political and economic arrangements at the local level and providing basic services — electricity, fuel, clean water and sanitation — to the people. Yet in each place, operations had been appropriately tailored to the specific needs of the community. As a result, civilian fatality rates are down roughly a third since the surge began — though they remain very high, underscoring how much more still needs to be done.
In Ramadi, for example, we talked with an outstanding Marine captain whose company was living in harmony in a complex with a (largely Sunni) Iraqi police company and a (largely Shiite) Iraqi Army unit. He and his men had built an Arab-style living room, where he met with the local Sunni sheiks — all formerly allies of Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups — who were now competing to secure his friendship.
Someone needs to tell the Democrats (aka the Surrendercrats) that we have turned the corner in Iraq. The usual lame doom-and-gloom wishful thinking by the dysfunctional left cannot change what al-Qaeda did in Iraq. It created a nation opposed to its murderous brutality. The fact is many of us and al-Qaeda itself saw the possibility that their blood lust in Iraq could spell their doom. Check out this CBS news report from 2005:
The letter, which was written shortly after the London bombings in July, calls Iraq “the place for the greatest battle of Islam in this era.”
Zarqawi is America’s most-wanted insurgent in Iraq. Zawahiri, the man most intelligence analysts believe is the brains behind bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist organization, is considered the world’s second most wanted man.
As outlined by Zawahiri in the letter, al Qaeda’s battle plan calls for driving the Americans out of Iraq, establishing an Islamic regime in as much of the country as possible and then extending the holy war to other Arab countries, including Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.
In the letter, Zawahiri complains to Zarqawi that some of his violent tactics are hurting public support for al Qaeda’s cause, particularly the videotaped beheadings of hostages.
“We don’t need this,” the letter says. “Use a bullet instead.”
2 years later, and uncounted bombings and civilian deaths later, the prophecy of Zawahiri has come true. The brutality of al-Qaeda did impress the Iraqis, so much they are taking up arms to drive them from their country. This stunning reversal has yet to register in the minds of those suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS). But BDS is an affliction of a segment of America who believe (naively) everything spoon fed to them by media outlets who are not interested in America but in only political power. In a pathetic twist of reality we have the SurrenderMedia to thank that al-Qaeda did not change tactics. Since this warning al-Qaeda has been on a mass murder spree to gain News Media TV time. In doing so they not only killed tens of thousands of Muslims, but changed the face of the war. Now it is al-Qaeda which is seen as The Great Satan in Muslim streets and homes. With good reason.
I can hardly believe my eyes and ears, the MSM is finally, finally telling it like it is. We just might win this one of the many fronts of the war on terror. Leaving is not an option. Now what are the Dems going to do?
O’Hanlan and Pollack, the shock continues. Pollack wrote the book (literally) about the evil of Iraq and then in true Clinton NSC, bureaucratic cowardice, did an about face to focus on his next book on Iran. O’Hanlan is from Brookings, enough said.
I’m not absolving the Bush admin from errors made but there is no playbook for Iraq. Its clear that some original assessments were overly optimistic, and we all underestimated the brutality of Al-Qaeda but the job was made incredibly more difficult by the incompetency of the CIA and the State department as well as the impact of the US’s doing nothing in 1991 when we let Saddam attempt to commit genicide against the Kurds and shiites.
They’re paving the ground in case Her Royal C wins in ’08, at which time they can label it as “Hillary’s victory.”
…
The fact is, the American people are not buying the Kool-Aid laden horse manure that the Bush Adminsitration – and now the NY Times -is shoveling:
\”Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?\”
Approve Disapprove Unsure
ALL adults 25 69 6
Republicans 57 38 5
Democrats 5 93 2
Independents 24 70 6
Typical “Soothie”; you can actually see the spittle spewing out of his little sewer, and he pathetically tries to disprove his own Leftist rag, the NYT!
Bee-you-ti-fool!
Pollack and O’Hanlon have tried to paint themselves as prior war critics to vest themselves credibility — as though they were war skeptics whom you can trust. They go so far as to disingenuously identify themselves ng as two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq.
In reality, they were not only among the biggest cheerleaders for the war, but repeatedly praised the Pentagon’s strategy in Iraq and continuously assured Americans things were going well. This is nothing new . . . only more of the same lies and misrepresentations.
Soothie, you are pathetic, you really are. Given the choice between a stable Iraq where people have a shot at a normal decent life and genocide, you would undoubtedly pick the second.
Tell me, if we run away and there is genocide, how do you think the American people will feel about that? My guess is if you think you can blame it on the Rethuglicans you will feel just fine.
This is from Just one Minute :
Well, I was duly shocked the second time around, when the Times finally reported it. But let’s press on:
The Times and CBS News conducted a poll from July 9 to July 17 with 1,554 adults, mostly about Hillary Clinton. There were a few questions about the other presidential candidates, about President Bush and about the war, but most of the poll was about Mrs. Clinton.
The polling took place during a week when there was no shortage of news about the war. Congress was debating the war; the Bush administration issued a report saying the Iraqi government had failed to meet many of the benchmarks it was supposed to meet; and prominent Republicans were distancing themselves from Mr. Bush on Iraq.
In the poll, The Times and CBS News posed a standard question that asks respondents to think back to the invasion. Specifically, the poll asked: “Looking back, do you think the United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq, or should the United States have stayed out?â€
Forty-two percent of those polled said the United States did the right thing, and 54 percent said the United States should have stayed out of Iraq. The last time the question was asked, in May, 35 percent said taking military action against Iraq was the right thing and 61 percent said the United States should have stayed out.
As to the article, it is true there is a change in the media’s attitude, but note how they still had to blame Bush. After all, if only he had followed the advice in their handbook, “Occupation for Dummies” everything would have gone swimmingly.
Terrye – you’re the pathetic one . . . someone who continues to believe the bull-bleep coming out of the White House – after they’ve made it obvious they wouldn’t tell the truth even if it were easier.
Draft-dodging, drunk-driving cowards is what you elected . . . and you’ll be lapping up the Kool-Aid til the bitter end.
The media has overcompensated the stories out of Iraq for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the media blamed itself during the run-up to the war for not being more critical at that time.
So, they felt they could make up for that somehow, by slanting things the other way.
2nd, Areas of Iraq where the disaster stories are plentiful…are also the most dangerous. They have relied heavily (and for which for some has now become standard proc) on stringers and unvetted, second and third-hand stories which are sometimes conduits for enemy propeganda or misinformation used to influence.
3rd, they are switching back the other way now….because they are starting to fear what will happen should we actually withdraw to the sidelines to standby and watch genocide take place and extremist or other armed groups representing religious elements topple the gov and take over Iraq and it’s resources.
If people felt that such media rags were parroting liberal causes or taking sides with them….and they do….they will hold them just as responsible for what’s going to happen in Iraq should we take the avenue that they have not only supported, but have sought to influence with exaggerated and non-objective news, and it turns out to be another big mistake. As well, the above practices of the NYT in particular has caused them to loose so much money and readership that their own board has revolted several times to do something to stop the losses.
I always get a kick out of ol’ Sooth. This time he reminds me of the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike. He seems quite aware that Americans love a winner. As more and more of the good news in Iraq gets out, his little finger, trying to hold back the opinion polls, will be overwhelmed by the flood and the surge of approval in the opinion polls.
I wonder if he will come back when he is shown how wrong he has been.
It’s so funny to see how the Left is “stuck on six”….years old that is. Name-callin’ and all. Some people just always want to let you know what “level” their character is on…:)
Calling this President a liar, etc. is a compliment coming from ANYONE on the Left. Afterall, it depends on what the meaning of is, is to determine what is truth. HAH! What a joke!
Hey, pick your sides. We are proud to be on the side of George W. Bush and will be for years to come.
Anyhoo, Rich, The CIA and State tried repeatedly and to this day to sabatoge this administration. It was not their (cia/state)incompetence, it was their INTENT to undermine a sitting President during a time of war. Have you read, ” Sabatoge” by Rowan Scarborough? I have only seen exerpts…but will be reading it. VERY interesting things in this book.
Let’s re-hash shall we:
Gonzales will be gone within the month (March 20, 2007). It’s almost August and whatayaknow? He’s still there. An honorable and decent man who is taking one for the gipper.
Iraq: movin’ and shakin’. Winning in soccer. People celebrating in the streets. Wow. We are building an embassy there, largest in the world, no? And have an airfield already…Gee sounds like good work to me-protecting and securing those oil fields and establishing a presence in the heart of the Middle East…Cleaning the swamps…
Conflict_________Combat___Other___Total deaths
Revolutionary War 4,435 (unknown) 4,435
War of 1812 2,260 (unknown) 2,260
Mexican War 1,733 11,550 13,283
Civil War 184,594 373,458 558,052
Spanish-
American War 385 2,061 2,446
World War I 53,513 63,195 116,708
World War II 292,131 115,185 407,316
Korean War 33,651 (unknown) 33,651
Vietnam War 47,369 10,799 58,168
Gulf War 148 145 293
Iraq War 3,196 709 3,905
http://icasualties.org/oif/
Just a little perspective on what could really happen to us and our military. G_d bless each and every soul who, through the years, has given their life for my freedom.
Draft dodging??? Oh puhleaze, Bill Clinton avoided the draft, bombed Iraq, passed the Iraqi Liberation Act, said there were wmd in Iraq, supported the invasion of Iraq, accused Saddam of supporting terrorism and firing on American planes….but all of a sudden Bush {who actually wore a uniform for awhile} is the draft dodger and the villain.
Bush was in the Air Guard, like it or not the fact is that people in the Air Guard might see action, whereas college boys running around a foreign country and ignoring the selective service generally do not.
You are pathetic soothie, it is the same crap from people like you year after year after year. Chimpy the evil genius dummie draft dodger chicken hawk baby killer oil man blah blah blah.
From http://www.rideitin.com:
“Open Thread!
July 24th, 2007
Hey all; so sorry; business travel and vacation; NO IDEA what happened to “Apacheâ€; I haven’t even been able to look at Blog in 2 weeks!
I’ll try and track him down tomorrow, and I’ll get something up within 24hours; have lots to write about!
I don’t even waste my time over a AJ’s any more, can you say “echo chamber�
Written by Dale InAtlanta – Visit Website
Posted in Open Threads | 9 Comments »”
Wow, Dale, for someone who thinks AJ’s website is an echo chamber, you come here a lot.
I guess youre here to just badger dissenters since you cant pull their comments like you did mine over at your website. HA HA HA.