Can Petraeus Pull It Off?(Some good war news...for a change.)

Weekly Standard ^ | 04/30/2007 | Max Boot

[kellynla]

The news from Iraq is, as usual, grim. Bombings, more bombings, and yet more bombings--that's all the world notices. It's easy to conclude that all is chaos. That's not true. Some parts of Iraq are in bad shape, but others are improving. I spent the first two weeks of April in Baghdad, with side trips to Baqubah, Ramadi, and Falluja. Along the way I talked to everyone from privates to generals, both American and Iraqi. I found that, while we may not yet be winning the war, our prospects are at least not deteriorating precipitously, as they were last year. When General David Petraeus took command in February, he called the situation "hard" but not "hopeless." Today there are some glimmers of hope in the unlikeliest of places.

Until recently Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was the most dangerous city in Iraq if not the world. It was run by al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which had declared it the capital of its Islamic State of Iraq. The Iraqi police presence was limited to one police station, which the police were afraid to leave. Soldiers and Marines engaged in heavy combat every day, losing hundreds of men since 2003, simply to avoid having insurgents overrun the government center and close down Route Michigan, the main street.

[kellynla]

Some good news for a change but my gut tells me that we will be in Iraq as long as we have been in Korea. Because I suspect as soon as we pull out, the country will fall like a house of cards.

[Coldwater Creek]

The WOT is like a cancer that can not be cured, only briefly contained. Our best hope is to keep Islam from entwining itself in our country. Don't ask me how!

[marlon]

And when the islamopignazis blow up buses or trains in say Spain, UK, Indonesia, India, etc. Do we refer to it as "war" or just a suicide bomber? I think the "war" in Iraq is over and now we have suicide bombers or road side bombs being set. There are very few actual combat battles so I think the use of the word war is somewhat misleading.

I know it's semantics but think of all the nitwits who pay very little attention to what's going on and I'm sure they picture all our pitched battles with our troops pinned down or fighting tank battles to overtake a town or piece of real estate.

[kellynla]

Sooner or later we are going to have to give the Muslims the jihad they so desperately want. And this time, we’ll finish the job.

“We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.”
Ann Coulter

[yoe]

Every person on earth has a stake in stopping Terrorism regardless of Reid and Pelosi, aka appeasers, friends of terrorist leaders.

(Obsession)

[MizSterious]

I wish I had your optimism. As events in Virginia unfolded, I found myself wondering what we as a country would do if attacked. I’m not sure most in this country have what it takes to defend their own country—the ones who do are in the military, but it might require more than just the military to defend our country.

[TomasUSMC]

The locals have to see concrete gains from cooperating with the Coalition. Literally. They need to see their town, devastated by war, rebuilt. The roads need to be resurfaced, the water mains repaired

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The locals need to see their Ramadi leveled to the ground. And when they are forced to move elsewhere they will spread the news of how much more everyone should fear the Americans than even Allah himself.

Clear and hold is ok if you have the 10 million men in the Army, but we don’t. Clear and destroy and cart away the rubble is preferable. Do it once or twice and they will understand - no translators necessary.

We have seen these same stories out of Ramadi for years, meanwhile our casualties stay higher. 80+ dead per month for the last five months. Before that we never had more than 2 consecutive months with 80 dead.

[Tarpon]

You have to contain the cancer causing disease sites.

[Coldwater Creek]

My point exactly!

[Coldwater Creek]

And, what are we going to do about the one’s that are already entrenched in this country? CAIR come to mind?

[kellynla]

Deportation.
Exactly what should have been done after 9/11 when we failed to deport them all after the first WTC bombing in 1993.

[ConservatismNow]

Not a good way to win over the populace.

[Coldwater Creek]

Deporting them back to the Islamic countries that they came from, just to attack us from another side?

My answer is to declare Islam an enemy of the U.S. There are no moderate Muzzies.

[Coldwater Creek]

Japan is our friend!

[Old Badger]

This extensive and well written article really lays it out. I too believe this is good news although there are a few dark sides to it. No darker though than having the same type of traitors aiding and cheering for the enemy in our houses of congress, IE., "Tokyo Pelosi" and her male counterpart "Tokyo Reid" et al.

I am as disgusted with the way this war was run as anyone may be, but,I'm a firm believer in the "Old Philosopher's saying: never give up, never give up, never give up the ship." If we need an additional 30,000 troops to add to the present surge, so be it. There is no other option but success.

As to our local "Embedded Traitors" in congress, everybody should quit pussy footing around and Identify them for what they and what they are doing with their statements ............. aiding and supporting the enemy. They are costing us our precious military lives. Be verbal and raise the hue and cry "Vote them out of office ASAP."

[steel_resolve]

great article

[TomasUSMC]

Not a good way to win over the populace.

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We have spent hundreds of Billions of dollars and tens of thousands of American LIVES trying the KGC (Kinder Gentler Compassionate) warfighting style. Time to go to the true and tried method.

Most importantly we have spent time, time that we don’t have but time that the Iranian need to get nukes. And when that happens all the nice roads and schools we have built will mean nothing more than a mushroom.

[Carry_Okie]

Our best hope is to keep Islam from entwining itself in our country. Don't ask me how!

Mass deportations.

[Coldwater Creek]

Deport them and they will only come back.

[Clintonfatigued]

General Petraeus seems very capable. He and the surge deserve to be given a chance to work.