To stem surge is to surrender: Al-Qaeda’s on the run in Anbar

The Boston Herald ^ | Friday, July 13, 2007 | Charles Krauthammer

[MinorityRepublican]

“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 [NYT], July 8

WASHINGTON - 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’ 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.

It began with a U.S.-led offensive that killed or wounded more than 200 enemy fighters and captured 600. Most important was the follow-up. Not a retreat back to American bases, but the setting up of small posts within the population that, together with the Iraqi national and tribal forces, have brought relative stability to Anbar.

The same has started happening in many of the Sunni areas around Baghdad, including Diyala province - just a year ago considered as lost as Anbar - where, for example, the Sunni insurgent 1920 Revolution Brigades have turned against al-Qaeda and joined the fight on the side of U.S. and Iraqi government forces.

We don’t yet know if this cooperation between essentially Sunni tribal forces and an essentially Shiite central government can endure. But what cannot be said - although it is now heard daily in Washington - is that the surge, which is shorthand for Gen. David Petraeus’ new counterinsurgency strategy, has failed.

[Jibaholic]

1. A Muslim democracy is scary, because democracies are wealth and powerful. A Muslim tin pot dictatorship or theocracy is not.
2. Shiites killing suunis and suunis killing shiites is preferable to both concentrating on killing Americans.

[adorno]

the sheiks turned only after a prolonged offensive by American and Iraqi forces

Which goes to show that weakness of perceived weakness only emboldens the enemy and creates doubt of our resolve with our friends. Willingness to battle the enemy and destroy them will win the respect of those that would be our allies.

To lose those sheiks again all you need to do is to let them read about the democrats' plan to surrender Iraq to the enemy.

[pissant]

We will succeed in standing up an ally. A new Turkey is much better than another Iran.

[adorno]

weakness of perceived weakness should be weakness or perceived weakness

[Edgerunner]

Voinovich needs to be voted out of office...I won’t vote for him ever!

[Jibaholic]

We will succeed in standing up an ally. A new Turkey is much better than another Iran.

Don't succumb to liberal thought, which holds that there are political solutions to problems which lie in the very hearts of men. Turkey is a relatively secular and moderate Muslim country, so it made a relatively backward democracy with many mini-revolutions and changes of constitution, all of which are largely run by a secular elite.

You might be able to make a Turkey out of the Kurds, but you can't out of Iraq as a whole.

[pissant]

Sure you can. Kuwauit and Jordan are already headed that direction.

[MinorityRepublican]

Those Arabs have lived with Savages for thousands of years, they are not going to turn against who they hate not because they hate us but because they FEAR the Insurgents.

[MinorityRepublican]

Those Arabs have lived with Savages for thousands of years, they are not going to turn against who they hate not because they hate us but because they FEAR the Insurgents.

[Blue State Insurgent]

Well, Mr Krauthammer. You have obviously been out of the FR loop for while. Don’t you know that Mexican cleaning ladies pose a bigger threat to America then head chopping, child baking, fascist oppressors bent on our annihilation?

[bray]

The Surge is Working and terrorist Cowards are Dying

Pray for W and Marine Justin Meyers

[True Republican Patriot]

The Democraps are truly Traitors to Our Great Nation. They wish for Defeat and instead they will be Defeated soon. OBL said that the U.S. was a paper Tiger full of Cowards after Clintoon turned and ran from Somalia after the Blackhawk went down. He covered up the first World Trade Center Attack and the list goes on!

[MinorityRepublican]

bttt