Better than it looks in Iraq (Despite what you may have read, the military situation is positive)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | August 11, 2005 | Frederick Kagan

[dead]

Progress cannot be measured by the number of deaths or bombs, writes Frederick Kagan.

DESPITE what you may have read, the military situation in Iraq today is positive - far better than it ever was when we were fighting guerillas in Vietnam, or when the Soviets were fighting the Afghan mujahideen, or in almost any other major insurgency of the 20th century.

[CondorFlight]

I agree. Hold on for one more year--if we can do that, then we've won and the sacrifices will have been worth it--and will be seen to have been worth it.
Withdraw before that, and we may risk everything.

[bubman]

I am absolutely convinced that had the US and it's coalition partners not invaded both Afghanistan and Iraq, the IED's and all other violence against the Coalition forces would be targeting westerners all over the world. The arrogance and violence of fascism knows no boudaries. Those who think otherwise are dillusional at best.

[Marine_Uncle]

Again we start to see some more balanced reporting. In fact it is hard to find any gross inbalance in the article. Strange,
LAT, a bastion of far left liberalism, now is condoning an article that says we must keep our troops in Iraq to give it a chance to end the insurgency (sooner). How come he is not speaking of quagmire, hopeless resistance against a powerful well organized insurgency? Why is this no longer a Vietnam?
Of course for the observant amoung us we can clearly see it is a clever guise to put the POTUS on the spot. The libs screamed to pull our troops out, now the POTUS leans in that direction, for more then just that reason, so now they will be saying we must keep them there. If we pull out it will be considered a failure. They play both sides of the fence with skill. It is all political, and political payback as far as I am concerned.

[bubman]

What do you mean "if we can do that" ?? Of course we can do that. The level of firepower being targeted against the terrorists is nothing compared to what can be unleashed.

[SMARTY]

For Al Qaida: Defeat = Destruction

For the rest of us: Surrender does NOT = peace

[oldleft]

I said before we invaded that it would take five years. If we can start to pull out next year I think that would be ahead of schedule.

[B4Ranch]

When I look at our military to today I see well trained men and women but I am seeing far too many older, married National Guard troops for my liking in the Iraqi war.