Iraq's a Lost Cause? Ask the Real Experts(Excellent News!)

LOS ANGELES TIMES ^ | November 23, 2005 | MAX BOOT

[kellynla]

WHEN IT COMES to the future of Iraq, there is a deep disconnect between those who have firsthand knowledge of the situation — Iraqis and U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq — and those whose impressions are shaped by doomsday press coverage and the imperatives of domestic politics.

A large majority of the American public is convinced that the liberation of Iraq was a mistake, while a smaller but growing number thinks that we are losing and that we need to pull out soon. Those sentiments are echoed by finger-in-the-wind politicians, including many — such as John Kerry, Harry Reid, John Edwards, John Murtha and Bill Clinton — who supported the invasion.

Yet in a survey last month from the U.S.-based International Republican Institute, 47% of Iraqis polled said their country was headed in the right direction, as opposed to 37% who said they thought that it was going in the wrong direction. And 56% thought things would be better in six months. Only 16% thought they would be worse.

American soldiers are also much more optimistic than American civilians. The Pew Research Center and the Council on Foreign Relations just released a survey of American elites that found that 64% of military officers are confident that we will succeed in establishing a stable democracy in Iraq. The comparable figures for journalists and academics are 33% and 27%, respectively. Even more impressive than the Pew poll is the evidence of how our service members are voting with their feet. Although both the Army and the Marine Corps are having trouble attracting fresh recruits — no surprise, given the state of public opinion regarding Iraq — reenlistment rates continue to exceed expectations. Veterans are expressing their confidence in the war effort by signing up to continue fighting.

[kellynla]

"There are also positive economic indicators that receive little or no coverage in the Western media. For all the insurgents' attempts to sabotage the Iraqi economy, the Brookings Institution reports that per capita income has doubled since 2003 and is now 30% higher than it was before the war. Thanks primarily to the increase in oil prices, the Iraqi economy is projected to grow at a whopping 16.8% next year. According to Brookings' Iraq index, there are five times more cars on the streets than in Saddam Hussein's day, five times more telephone subscribers and 32 times more Internet users.

The growth of the independent media — a prerequisite of liberal democracy — is even more inspiring. Before 2003 there was not a single independent media outlet in Iraq. Today, Brookings reports, there are 44 commercial TV stations, 72 radio stations and more than 100 newspapers. newspapers."

[pogo101]

bttt.

[rightinthemiddle]

47% of Iraqis polled said their country was headed in the right direction, as opposed to 37% who said they thought that it was going in the wrong direction. And 56% thought things would be better in six months. Only 16% thought they would be worse.

__________

Amazing. Iraqis think more of their country than Americans think of ours.

[Jeff Chandler]

Before 2003 there was not a single independent media outlet in Iraq. Today, Brookings reports, there are 44 commercial TV stations, 72 radio stations and more than 100 newspapers. newspapers."

"Bush lied and Oppression died."

[JamesP81]

Thanks primarily to the increase in oil prices, the Iraqi economy is projected to grow at a whopping 16.8% next year.

Better call my broker and have him by Iraqi stocks.

[Rippin]

Great to hear some good news in an Old Media paper but how the hey can per capita income double since 2003 but only be 30% higher than it was before the war??? Strange stats indeed.

[2001convSVT]

I hope that when Iraqi becomes a shining star of democratic reform in the middle of the Arab world, the people of America remember who really lied to us about the true state of Iraqi affairs!

[MNJohnnie]

Article should be nailed to the top of the Free Republic Masthead. Then we should tattoo it to the back of every "Journalists" hands.

Not to scum bag Democrats. We, the American People, will not allow you to turn the successful mission in Iraq into Vietnam 2.0 If you persist in waging the 2006 election campaign around this issue, you will deservedly get the same result you got in 2002 and 2004. Grow up your supercilious Democrat twits. You lust for political power does not trump your duty to the American people. As long as you focus on your winning power over winning the war, you will remain a minority party.

[MNJohnnie]

but how the hey can per capita income double since 2003 but only be 30% higher than it was before the war

Because the super rich, (i.e. Saddam's stoodges") no longer skew the curve. Bet if you compared numbers there is a more equal distribution of wealth now.

[ceoinva]

Why the heck is the Bush Admin and Bush himself so lame at communicating this? Every month Bush should go to a joint session of Congress and give them there requested "update". Seriously, use charts, graphics, photos and whatever else is needed to drum beat this into the think skulls of the American people -- bypassing the MSM!

BTW. Same thing with the roaring American economy, declining crime rate etc.

[MNJohnnie]

"Bush lied and Oppression died."

Thanks for the new tagline!!!!

[kellynla]

Well all you have to do is speak to the troops returning from Iraq; I have spoken to many Marines from my old outfit, the Fifth Marines who have returned from Iraq and they tell me that the situation has improved and continues to improve dramatically. Americans just need to continue to support them.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Wristpin]

High reenlistment rates among those serving in Iraq says more than the 24/7 liberal BS smokscreen ever will. These folks are being ridden extremely hard and despite a 4.9 percent unemployment rate, are choosing to stay the course!

[r9etb]

Why the heck is the Bush Admin and Bush himself so lame at communicating this? Every month Bush should go to a joint session of Congress and give them there requested "update". Seriously, use charts, graphics, photos and whatever else is needed to drum beat this into the think skulls of the American people -- bypassing the MSM!

I think you're being naive here. The MSM would still be the conduit through which people would hear of these briefings, and the MSM's main sources of commentary about these updates would be the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

If the MSM wants to paint a bad picture, briefings to Congress won't change that.

[bnelson44]

I didn't know the Marines were having problems recruiting. First I've heard of that. Is it true?

I think the Army has pulled things around. But they did lower standards to do it.

[kellynla]

All the numbers I have seen are that the Corps is meeting it's recruiting quotas and re-enlistment numbers have also been very high.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[angkor]

I think you're being naive here. The MSM would still be the conduit through which people would hear of these briefings

C-SPAN would cover it. So would all the blogs.

The MSM is being bypassed more and more every month.

But the Bush WH seems to want to play the Beltway game. They don't get it.

[jagusafr]

"a survey of American elites that found that 64% of military officers are confident that we will succeed in establishing a stable democracy in Iraq. The comparable figures for journalists and academics are 33% and 27%, respectively."

Jeez, I didn't know I was an elite. Wonder if my kids'll show a little more respect? Naaahhhhhhhh...

Colonel, USAFR

[Names Ash Housewares]

shhhh, dont tell the MSM.

Imagine how shocked they will be.

Lets keep it for a surprise.

[kellynla]

"shhhh, dont tell the MSM.

Imagine how shocked they will be.

Lets keep it for a surprise."


Well we reeeeeely need to shout this good news from the roof tops!
The troops read all the negative reporting from the MSM and it definitely affects their morale!

Semper Fi,
Kelly