What's at Stake in 2008

The Surfing Conservative ^ | 12/30/2007 | Left Coast Republican

[Left Coast Republican]

Well, 2007 is all but over. We've seen many important developments this year. The most important development of the year was by far President Bush's surge of troops to Iraq, led by General Patraeus, which turned the tide in Iraq, despite all the naysayers in the media and Congress. Insurgent violence in December was 60 percent lower than a year earlier. US casualties have dropped dramatically. Iraqis are returning rather than leaving. Businesses are open in Baghdad. Al-Qa'ida has been driven from its sanctuary in Al Anbar province. A dramatic turn of events to be sure.

But, 2008 looks to be a very decisive year both here in the US and abroad. Many things hang in the balance that will determine the course of events in many places of importance, especially with regard to the global War on Terror. Here are some of the most salient issues that will be decided, one way or another, next year:

The fate of Iraq: Without question, the fate of Iraq will be decided in 2008. The change in strategy and surge of US forces this past year has put victory within reach. But it will take political compromises by the Shia-led Iraqi government to foster Sunni-Shia reconciliation to achieve victory. Baghdad has taken some small, positive steps toward this, but the window of opportunity will not remain open indefinitely. The US troops surged to Iraq will be withdrawn next year. If Sunni Iraqis don't see any of their grievances redressed, the Sunnis who joined forces with US troops this past year might turn their guns back against government and US forces...