Posted on 07/12/2007 9:12:11 PM PDT by gpapa
"The key to turning [Anbar] around was the shift in allegiance by tribal sheiks. But the sheiks turned only after a prolonged offensive by American and Iraqi forces, starting in November, that put al-Qaeda groups on the run."
-- The New York Times, July 8
Finally, after four terribly long years, we know what works. Or what can work. A year ago, a confidential Marine intelligence report declared Anbar province (which comprises about a third of Iraq's territory) lost to al-Qaeda. Now, in what the Times's John Burns calls an " astonishing success," the tribal sheiks have joined our side and committed large numbers of fighters that, in concert with American and Iraqi forces, have largely driven out al-Qaeda and turned its former stronghold of Ramadi into one of most secure cities in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Imagine what Fred Thompson could do politically with this story. Now compare that to Bush’s ability to do the same.
Did Fred have a press conference on Iraq today?
He not only writes well, he stands head-and-shoulders above all others at the table on the Brit Hume hour on FOX News.
No. And that's a shame, because he would have been far more effective than a certain other politician I could name. They won't be making any jokes or skits based on Fred's inability to speak effectively.
Just imagine how quickly wars and insurgencies could be dealt with, and peace and stability achieved, without the American Mainstream Media butting in all the time.
Unfortunately, they already have. There were a couple of MSM articles a couple of weeks ago about how Fred just isn’t an inspiring speaker.
The old hippies are truly terrified of Fred.
I agree, he’s a good thinker. The other 2, “the beltway boys” are just what their programs implies, they think little out of the beltway. They’re lightweights.
The people calling for a withdrawal from Iraq at this point are driven by polls, not logic, responsibility, or patriotism.
Iraq is but one major battle in a world war against Islam. Losing this battle will endanger our position worldwide vis-a-vis the War on Terror and Islam. The average Joe in the street doesn’t understand this.
Bush is incapable of effectively communicating this message - probably because even he doesn’t comprehend the consequences of what is at stake here, and the Dems WANT us to loose because they feel such a defeat will strengthen their political capital with the masses.
We need Thompson or Hunter.
AOL poll..Who now has the initiative on the iraq debate..supporters or anti-war forces..
‘I admire Charles Krauthammer, and his fortitude in standing up for Patraeus.
He not only writes well, he stands head-and-shoulders above all others at the table on the Brit Hume hour on FOX News.’
Yep. I wish they’d get rid of Mara Liasson and keep Krauthammer on the panel full time. She offers nothing new, never has an original thought...and I can’t see her and not think of the video clip of her getting positively ‘girlish’ over a chance meeting with that idiot Ho Ho Dean in 04.
Likewise, they could easily lose Mort Kondracke, a man who needs 45 seconds of ‘ah....well....ah....’ before he can offer up a simple answer. He wastes more time on air trying to formulate a politically correct response than anyone in the cable news universe.
Whats telling about how they view Krauthammer is none of them challenge his assertions directly. A wise choice, Krauthammer’s brain pan dwarf’s all of theirs put together.
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