Moving Forward in Iraq

OpinionJournal.com ^ | July 11, 2007 | KIMBERLY KAGAN

[gpapa]

The "surge" is working. Will Washington allow the current progress to continue?

In Washington perception is often mistaken for reality. And as Congress prepares for a fresh debate on Iraq, the perception many members have is that the new strategy has already failed.

This isn't an accurate reflection of what is happening on the ground, as I saw during my visit to Iraq in May. Reports from the field show that remarkable progress is being made. Violence in Baghdad and Anbar Province is down dramatically, grassroots political movements have begun in the Sunni Arab community, and American and Iraqi forces are clearing al Qaeda fighters and Shiite militias out of long-established bases around the country.

[AZLiberty]

This is remarkable because the military operation that is making these changes possible only began in full strength on June 15. To say that the surge is failing is absurd. Instead Congress should be asking this question: Can the current progress continue?

No, Congress should be asking this question: How can we help the current progress continue?

But that would be expecting too much of that semi-treasonous body.

[11th Commandment]

Just fricking great. The good news from Iraq is coming from talk radio, WSJ and al-jezzera! GOOD JOB on the communication Bush administration.

[11th Commandment]

Just fricking great. The good news from Iraq is coming from talk radio, WSJ and al-jezzera! GOOD JOB on the communication Bush administration.

[smoothsailing]

al-jezzera

I guess you didn't win that spelling bee, honey.

[smoothsailing]

Ping to post #5 (and post #6 if you want a giggle!)

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the ping, Smooth. That’s a very good article by Ms. Kagan and 100% believable.

It is criminal what Reid, Pelosi and the rest of the RATS (except for Lieberman) and a few RINO’s are trying to pull off and the enemedia are doing their best to make them successful.

They know with the surge succeeding it will bring defeat for them in the next election if the majority of the American people are truthfully informed that it’s working and Iraq is being stabilized.

The future of our country is at stake and many, many people just do not realize it. Very, very sad.

LOL! on #6.

[smoothsailing]

I'm in one of those really funky moods tonight, brother.

I know we can win this, but I just shake my head in disgust at our media and our elected officials.

I'll get over it, like I always do.

But at same time, I wonder, what will it take to wake up America?

[jazusamo]

I know your feelings, I'm feeling much the same. I can't help but believe that the truths going to come out before the RATS pull it off.

This afternoon I spotted this article in the San Fran Chronicle and almost posted a thread. I changed my mind because the more I thought about it the more I realized it was as much an op ed as it was a news piece and the writer was just furthering the RATS agenda, screw em, I'm not going to assist them.

I believe things will be looking up here before long. :-)

[smoothsailing]

I believe things will be looking up here before long. :-)

I'm with you on that, just had to vent a bit.

BTW, I can understand why you didn't post that SFChron drivel. I wouldn't have either.

(E-mail coming your way.)

[goldstategop]

In Washington, illusion gets substituted for reality. Our congresscritters live in their own dream world.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Agenda of the Lefties is...regain power in Washington....any way they can.

There is a book (now available in paperback ):

***********************

Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left
(Hardcover)
by David Horowitz

********************************************************

And reviews:

****************************************

Editorial Reviews

Rich Lowry, Editor National Review

David Horowitz is synonymous with pyrotechnics. A historian and polemicist of the first order, he is paid the ultimate compliment --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Davis Hanson, Author, Ripples of Battle

An original look at those who want us to fail in the Middle East, both at home and abroad. The --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

***********************************************************

See all Editorial Reviews

Fascinating Analysis of Leftist Goals, August 13, 2006

Reviewer: N. Sincerity - See all my reviews

A former 1960s radical, Horowitz is well-acquainted with the Leftist mindset. In this book, he strives to explain the modern alliance between left wing progressivists and radical Islamofascists. He argues that this alliance is based on a common desire to destroy Western capitalism. Leftist sympathy with Islamofascist ideas makes no sense from an intellectual point of view, given that countries ruled by radical Islamists are among the most racist, sexist, theocratic states in the world today. However, Leftists have recognized that they can benefit politically from destructive terrorist attacks on the Western world. A West under attack can be made to turn on its leaders in fear and desperation (as they did in Spain after the Madrid train bombings). Only once people reject current government structures can the Left execute its anti-capitalist revolution and build a new reality that mirrors the Leftist view of utopia.

The complete and utter idealogical hypocrisy of the Islamofascist-Leftist alliance is distressing, but as Horowitz reminds us,

Leftists radicals truly believe the ends justify the means.

***************************************

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And in the border area of Pakistan and Afghanistan:

Taliban Fight Each Other Over Traditions

The tradition ...is ....who is it proper to kill....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[TexKat]

Kimberly Kagan: Wife of Frederick Kagan to monitor plan her husband devised

I vouched for Kimberly Kagan's academic credentials in linking to her assessment of the progress of the "surge" for the Weekly Standard. I should have disclosed that Kagan is the wife of Frederick Kagan, the principal author of the surge; and his brother is Bob Kagan, another pro-surge advocate and editor at the Weekly Standard, and they're both sons of Donald Kagan, who is also a neoconservative intellectual. More to the point: Kimberly Kagan is listed as one of the participants in her husband's research team that came up with the surge in the first place. So when the Weekly Standard decided to compile a regular report on the surge's progress, they picked the wife of the main author and one of the plan's original architects. And they never disclosed these relevant facts. So allow me.

http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/36524.html

As the Iraq Debate Turns

Everyone’s asking: Is the surge working? Frederick Kagan, an architect of the strategy, gave the left-leaning Think Progress its latest astounded headline: “Whatever you can say about the current strategy, it has not failed.” Bill Kristol, the hardline conservative pundit, hits a moderately optimistic note — “better than expected.” Andrew Sullivan, a softer conservative, replies: “Than who expected?”

more...

Give the Surge a Chance, Analysts Say

AEI resident scholar Frederick Kagan and former acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jack Keane spoke out with rare voices of approval for the president's policy as part of an AEI panel called "Assessing the Surge in Iraq."

more...

Enlisting Sunni aid raises concerns for future

Frederick Kagan, a former West Point professor and senior analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, acknowledges that the Americans and Iraqis must be careful to ensure that the Sunnis are eventually integrated into the security forces.

But Kagan believes the gamble is worth it. "We are serving as the bridge between the Sunni insurgents and tribal leaders and the Shia government," he wrote in the Weekly Standard. "Before the end of last year, there were virtually no Sunnis willing to step on that bridge. Now, five months into the surge, tens of thousands are walking on it."

more...

[Marine_Uncle]

This whole sordid affair tells me the repubs that are siding with the dimwits are really so ill informed they have no business opening their mouths. Frigen fools are dumber then some ten year old.
People like Snowe and Lugar are as bad as Turbin head as far as I am concerned.