Members of the new Falluja Brigade celebrate with the Iraqi flag, after taking over from U.S. troops in Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites), Tuesday, May 4, 2004. The Iraqi force of up to 1,100 is to be led by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Abdul-Latif. Many of the fighters are former soldiers and the force includes several who are believed to have fought against the Marines. (AP Photo/Abdul Kader Saadi)
Geez...someone please tell me why this isn't read on every 'major media' outlet and every printed news paper???? HHHMMM...
I had real doubts about the 'Fallujah gamble' to calm down that place and use ex-Saddam generals to help. It sounds like it paid off though. It's been a while since we heard about fighting in Fallujah now. That's really great because urban fighting in that hellhole was killing a lot of troops.
Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but it seems like the military situation has drastically improved over the last month. Fallujah is under control, and Al-Sadr has been marginalized in Baghdad/Najaf/Karbala. No-one wants him around the holy cities, including the Iranians. Al-Sadr's militia has become cannon-fodder and he probably doesn't have many volunteers these days. If only Najaf and Karbala's Shiites would take matters in their own hands and drive Al-Sadr out. I think it's coming because otherwise there will be a full-scale assault on these places which will be bloody on both sides. The stand-off situation will have to break soon, and I think the coalition holds the better cards in the overall situation.
All of this has a) been overshadowed by the Abu Graib scandals and b)been ignored by the MSM in general because it means things are going better in Iraq and that doesn't fit their 'Vietnam' scenario. The Bush Administration must start getting their message out better!!!
Arabs are absolutely devoid of any sense of what PR or the lack of it can or can't do for you. They are their own worst enemy in that regard as well as many other 'regards.'
I do wish them well though, and I hope they realize that while as imperfect as any Nation is, we are there first, last and best hope. I do think they're realizing that too, and they must be aware that the American people are beginning to wonder if they're worth it, and I think they know that they can't afford that conclusion to be drawn at NO! So, God please unharden the hearts and sharpen the wits of the boys with the ugly flag.
Hmm, looks like things are breaking our way. Great! Of course, the press will ignore this.
Thanks, NormsRevenge. That's the most encouraging thing I've seen in a while.