Turning Point: The Good News About Iraq ( From ABC News....but watch for the spin )

ABC News ^ | May 22, 2008 | JONATHAN KARL

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Iraqi Forces Are Leading Operations in Three Iraqi Cities With Little U.S. Suppor

As Gen. David Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for confirmation hearings today, things are looking up in Iraq.

An Iraqi soldier stands guard in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 21,...

Iraqi military spokesman said Tuesday that Iraqi troops have moved into Baghdad's Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City to seize control. The mural shows late father of the radical anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr, right, and Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr.

(AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
More Photos

Despite the recent gun battles and civilian casualties we have seen in Sadr City, there are some real signs of progress. Military officials are more optimistic now than they have been at any time since the purple-finger elections of January 2005. Consider:

-- Iraqi forces are now leading operations in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City. In each case, the Iraqis have made progress with relatively little American support. This is unprecedented: three major Iraqi-led operations in three different parts of the country.

-- Last week, the overall level of attacks in Iraq was at the lowest point since April 2004.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Bit of news from the MSM....but they seem to think the casualities in Sadr City are not a good thing....I don’t think they have a good perspective of just how huge the Sadr City effort is.

[elhombrelibre]

ABC NEWS stumbles onto the obvious, at least in part, ping.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More on the Sadr City effort:

Iraqi troops pour into Baghdad Shiite stronghold ( 'Operation Peace' )

[Our man in washington]

Watch for how the MSM spins the story if May casualties come in at a record low level.

Iraqi civilian and military casualties are currently at 389 for the month of May. By the standards of this conflict, that’s a low number. That projects to 548 for the month if the current pace keeps up, which would tie December for the lowest total since Icasualties.org started counting. Still more than we like, but a sign of progress. And far better than the monthly death count under Saddam Hussein.

[SueRae]

On May 8, the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mahmoud al-Mishhadani, wrote a heartfelt letter to President Bush, thanking the U.S. for sending the “best politicians and military commanders” to Iraq. Mishhadani urged Bush to keep Gen. Petraeus in Iraq. His letter was not reported in the Western press, but it is a significant sign of political progress. Just a year ago, Mishhadani, a Sunni, said attacks on U.S. forces are justified and called Sunni insurgents who kill American troops “heroes.”

Just WOW. That letter should be read aloud on national TV and every single serviceman and woman should get a copy.

[ikez78]

ping

[norwaypinesavage]

"As one usually pessimistic military official told me this morning, "Everything has broken our way over the past three months."

Give a few GI grunts guns and good leadership, and its amazing how lucky you can be.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

You would think if the press was on our side they would report the letter....makes your wonder whose side they are on...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

Barack Gaffes
(Hoohah Boy, This Fellow Makes John Frakin’ Kerry Look Principled Alert)
National Review ^ | 5/21/2008 | Michelle Malkin
Posted on 05/20/2008 10:39:08 PM PDT by goldstategop
All ihttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2019043/posts

[Marine_Uncle]

Either that or they do really have a good analysis of the situation but continue to feel the need to press the spin to offset any change of opinions the masses might consider, should it become so apparent Iraq will hold together and continue to improve. And if the Iranians really do plan on some bloody summer battles, they are going to find it was a bad move. Maliki is no longer allowing it to be perceived that he is in bed with Iran. He never was as far as I can see. He is an Arab. He doesn't trust the Iranian government and what the Shia Mullah would have for his country. He just had to earlier on take it slowly.
If anything, he would be called on constitutional matters at this point. His government is under obligation to carry out all the provisions within their body of laws. And that includes protecting Iraq from any foreign influences. To damn much spin continues to float around.
Earlier on Iraq was not capable of running the show. That obviously has changed at this point.
And the Iraqi government is fully aware the US may be pressed to take air/ground actions directly to the Iranians if things get out of hand. They from a Muslim perspective do not want this to happen. So they will be obliged to kill as many Iranian backed Iraqi and Iranians on their soil as possible.