Ever since the Sept 10th report from Gen Patraeus, we've heard less and less from the mainstream media about the war in Iraq. A sure sign that things continue to get better!
US military deaths down to 64 in Sept----lowest in 14 months.
Civilian deaths cut in half over the previous month.
Holy month of Ramadan violence down 40% from a year ago despite Al Quida's vow to step up attacks.
Al Quida is clearly on the run in Iraq as GWB's "surge" is working big time-----Gen Joe Anderson says that Al Quida now only able to conduct "isolated operations". Pelosi and Reid seem to have given up on their surrender plans!
How's Hillary going to explain herself in the general election? First she enthusiastically vots for the war----then she makes a complete 180 voting for a timetable for surrender via withdrawal-----and now already edging back to the center on her way to another full 180 saying that troops will have to remain in Iraq through 2013 !
I can just see the republican ads voicing her flip flops in her own words. For leadership she rates an F----for swaying with public opinion she rates an A+-----and she markets herself as the candidate with experience?????
and now back to reality:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7022426.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7022426.stm)
Murf - it aint just a military issue.
Military has to stablize the situation first. Already reports of people moving back into the country. Also political reconciliation is commencing at the local levels -----will ultimately spread to Bagdad and nationally.
Murf - we will never stabilize it with our military. The powers that be in Iraq need to come to a an agreement and it needs to backed up by the Big 5.
I know you don't want to see that happen (stability via the strong arm)----but it is happening-----necessary before reconciliation and normalacy can take place!
The force that has prevented stabilty before this is Al Quida who with the bombing of the mosque in Sammara several years ago set off sectarian violence----they tried for an encore this summer on the same mosque, but the citizenry (both Sunny & Shia) saw through it this time for what it was (bait to pit one sect against the other).
Disarm and/or destroy Al Quida in Iraq and you have relative stability there!
we have been waiting for 4 years and dont see the light at the end of tunnel. If the spin move doesnt work, try something else.
Stability - through the eyes of the Western World and esp. the U.S. - means military base establishments. With the invasion of Iraq, this has been accomplished. Unavoidably, they will continue to become targets.
Hence, the war may officially end, but our presence will continue - and to critics of the war, our presence will signify no end to the war.
But fear the silence...it usually means evil is afoot and just waiting to spring into action.
I admire your optimism, Murf, but I think you are too optimistic at times. Yet, that is your prerogative.
To be sure there is "evil a foot" in Iraq----that's why our presence will be required there for a long time (all 3 Dem candidates even acknowledge that now). But that presense will be confined to bases where they can act to put out insurgency fires from time to time----not unlike firehouses here in the states!
Quote from: Murffieus on October 03, 2007, 08:09:51 AM
To be sure there is "evil a foot" in Iraq----that's why our presence will be required there for a long time (all 3 Dem candidates even acknowledge that now). But that presence will be confined to bases where they can act to put out insurgency fires from time to time----not unlike firehouses here in the states!
I find that hard to believe.
In a region where US hatred is high...
In a country where stability is measured in who doesn't get killed serving an office position...
We will be targets for them. And unfortunately, our soldiers will be confined to "the target" - the military base.
Well we have no choice but to make a long term commitment there----even Hillary suggests that.
BTW----of all the Dem candidates----Hillary makes the most sense (rather pragmatic)----won't be the catastrophe I once thought it would be with her------now Al Gore a completely different story.