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Baghdad Blues
Ny Post ^ | May 11, 2007 | Ralph Peters

Posted on 05/11/2007 8:54:13 AM PDT by RDTF

IN his remarks at the Pentagon yesterday, President Bush stressed two things: The troop surge - which still isn't complete - must be given a chance, and the Democrats need to knock off the shenanigans and vote our troops the funding they need to fight.

On the second count, Congress is behaving disgracefully. Guess I'm a slow learner, but it took me until now to realize that when Pelosi, Reid & Co. chant "Support Our Troops!" they're talking about the enemy.

As for the president's first point, he's entirely right. With a fourth combat brigade just arriving and a fifth still on the way, Gen. David Petraeus doesn't yet have all the resources he's been promised. He's only got three wheels on the car and the critics are howling for him to hit the gas.

Frankly, this surge is a desperate measure after four years of blunders and dithering. It may prove too small and too late. But the stakes are so high that, despite the inevitable cost in American blood, this last gambit is worth the effort.

And it is the last gambit. If the troop surge fails, we'll start striking the tents.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; victory; willtowin; wot

1 posted on 05/11/2007 8:54:14 AM PDT by RDTF
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To: RDTF

I say we take off and nuke ‘em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.


2 posted on 05/11/2007 8:55:33 AM PDT by VRWCmember (Go Rudy Go! (And take McCain with you!))
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To: VRWCmember

You are talking about Congress aren’t you?


3 posted on 05/11/2007 8:56:29 AM PDT by SolidWood (Islam is an insanity cult that makes everyone act Arab)
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To: SolidWood
"You are talking about Congress aren’t you?"

LOL!

carolyn

4 posted on 05/11/2007 8:59:38 AM PDT by CDHart ("It's too late to work within the system and too early to shoot the b@#$%^&s."--Claire Wolfe)
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To: VRWCmember

Seconded!


5 posted on 05/11/2007 9:06:15 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: RDTF
The surge is showing amazing results. Al Anbar province has turned itself around. Sunni tribes across the country are joining forces and attacking Al Qaeda because they have been killing Sunni's too. Sunni's are fighting Sunni's. The surge is working and will stabilize Iraq.

This is why I quit listening to Ralph Peters several years ago. He thinks this is Vietnam and it clearly is not. This war is like no other we have fought in the last 100 plus years. Peters does not understand it and sadly will never.
6 posted on 05/11/2007 9:10:28 AM PDT by jrooney (The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
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To: jrooney

Something happened to a lot of weak sisters like Ralph Peters, the just don’t have it....can’t see the forrest for the trees or like you said, he thinks this is Vietnam and it clearly is not.


7 posted on 05/11/2007 9:15:59 AM PDT by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: RDTF
And it is the last gambit. If the troop surge fails, we'll start striking the tents.

Wrong answer. Iraq will just become again a breeding ground for newly emboldened terrorists.

People don't seem to understand that. Why do we understand, though, that one must put murderers and rapists in jail? Why? Primarily, to prevent future murders and rapes.

If these islamic murderers are allowed to remain free, and if we are the ones they uniquely hate, then we are definitely on their list of who to try to murder one more time.

It's not the last gambit.

There are other choices available. My favorite is still the tri-partition of the country.

8 posted on 05/11/2007 9:16:01 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: jrooney
Good points on Peters. He does view much through the Vietnam perspective. However, he is correct when he states, "The bitter truth is that, in the type of conflicts we now face, we must be willing to fight as ruthlessly and savagely as our opponents. We have to play by their moral rules. "

Our leaders need to stop being PC too.

9 posted on 05/11/2007 9:17:49 AM PDT by sand88 (q)
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To: jrooney

Good points.


10 posted on 05/11/2007 9:32:11 AM PDT by elhombrelibre (Al Qaeda knows Iraq's strategic value, yet the Democrats work day and night for our defeat there.)
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To: RDTF
More rabid stupidity from Democrat Campaign consultant Ralph “Surrender Now” Peters. So RP did you run this by Hillary before you published it?
11 posted on 05/11/2007 9:54:38 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (If you will try being smarter, I will try being nicer.)
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To: sand88
You know the Nazis in Eastern Europe and the Russians in Afghanistan followed your “kill them all” doctrine. How did it work out for them.

Counter Insurgency is not Total War. Learn the difference. Right now the bulk of the fighting, and dying, on our side is being done by the Muslims against other Muslims. You macho boys with your Counter Insurgency doctrine based on having watching Hollweird Action movies dogmas would turn them into enemies. It would be utter stupidity on our part to use those tactics.

http://icasualties.org/oif/IraqiDeaths.aspx

12 posted on 05/11/2007 10:00:08 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (If you will try being smarter, I will try being nicer.)
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To: MNJohnnie
t would be utter stupidity on our part to use those tactics.

being ruthless does NOT mean "kill them all" I read many Iraqi blogs and it is obvious we are winning in Iraq. We are doing much right in this war. No way should we just go killing indiscriminately. However, it is apparent that many times "lawyers" or others in the control loop get in the way of good targets of opportunity. I remember seeing drone images of many terrorist Taliban praying. It would have been prudent to just take them out. It seems we are sometimes too cautious because of PC.

13 posted on 05/11/2007 10:48:36 AM PDT by sand88 (q)
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To: MNJohnnie
I take affront at that simplistic insult. You should not read too much into people's postings and assume the worse. Thank you.
14 posted on 05/11/2007 10:53:12 AM PDT by sand88 (q)
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To: sand88
"...and it is obvious we are winning in Iraq."

Please, not out loud - those currently investing in defeat still have some assets that can go on the table, next to the President's.

15 posted on 05/11/2007 11:01:22 AM PDT by LZ_Bayonet (Meanwhile, there has been no progress on fixing Social Security!)
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To: RDTF

This essay is tremendous. Peters hits the target.


16 posted on 05/11/2007 6:51:03 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
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To: sand88

He does that all the time. Must be tough to be him, always misunderstanding people.


17 posted on 05/11/2007 6:52:35 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
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To: RDTF

Peters is pathetic,

The US has been winning the Iraq war from the get go.

The surge is primarily effective because it continues to convey strength in the face of domestic failure.

Dems and republican traitors promise to undermine our troops further— Bush and Petraus simply upped the ante.

It creates the right symbolish. Internal acts of traitorous behavior will be met with increased deployments overseas.

Clue to enemies here and abroad: If you want us to come home then either shut up or support the war. Backstabbing the troops will not bring them home early. I would love it if Bush would promise to escalate troop levels more for every week the dems and republicans in Congress delay funding.

No one seems to be able to clue in that Bush has nothing to lose in this process. Popularity means nothing. There is no re election. He can simply stick it to his opponents.

Clearly Bush’s enemies hate seeing the war escalated. Keep escalating it until they get the picture.


18 posted on 05/11/2007 7:16:43 PM PDT by lonestar67 (Its time to withdraw from the War on Bush-- your side is hopelessly lost in a quagmire.)
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To: Kitten Festival
He does that all the time. Must be tough to be him, always misunderstanding people.

It's okay. It's easy for us who love Liberty and our wonderful Republic to get frustrated at incessant assault by the left. So it's understandable for us to get a bit testy with each other at times. Thank you for your words of support. Have a good night.

19 posted on 05/11/2007 9:17:39 PM PDT by sand88 (q)
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