Posted on 07/27/2007 5:31:50 PM PDT by tryon1ja
WINNING IN IRAQ
By RALPH PETERS
July 26, 2007 -- TO a military professional, the tactical progress made in Iraq over the last few months is impressive. To a member of Congress, it's an annoyance.
The herd animals on Capitol Hill - from both parties - just can't wait to go over the cliff on Iraq. And even when the media mention one or two of the successes achieved by our troops, the reports are grudging.
Yet what's happening on the ground, right now, in Baghdad and in Iraq's most-troubled provinces, contributes directly to your security. In the words of a senior officer known for his careful assessments, al Qaeda's terrorists in Iraq are "on their back foot and we're trying to knock them to their knees."
Do our politicians really want to help al Qaeda regain its balance?
Gen. David Petraeus and his deputies sharply prioritized the threats we face in Iraq: Al Qaeda is No. 1, and Iran's Shia proxies are No. 2. Our troops hunt them relentlessly. And we don't face our enemies alone: Iraq's security forces have begun to pick up their share of the fight.
A trusted source in Baghdad confirmed several key developments that've gone largely unreported. Here's what's been happening while "journalists" focused on John Edwards' haircuts:
* Al Qaeda lost the support of Iraq's Sunni Arabs. The fanatics over-reached: They murdered popular sheiks, kidnapped tribal women for forced marriages, tried to outlaw any form of joy and (perhaps most fatally, given Iraqi habits) banned smoking. In response, the Arab version of the Marlboro Man rose up and started cutting terrorist throats.
* Since the tribes who once were fighting against us turned on al Qaeda, our troops not only captured the senior Iraqi in the organization - which made brief headlines - but also killed the three al Turki brothers, major-league pinch-hitters al Qaeda sent into Iraq to save the game.
Oh, and it emerged that the Iraqi "head" of the terrorists was just a front - in the words of one Army officer, Omar al Baghdadi was "a Wizard of Oz-like creation designed to give an impression that al Qaeda has Iraqis in its senior ranks."
* Al Qaeda has been pushed right across Anbar, from the once Wild West to the province's eastern fringes. The terrorists are still dug in elsewhere, from the Diyala River Valley to a few Baghdad neighborhoods - but, to quote that senior officer again, "our forces have been taking out their leaders faster than they can find qualified replacements."
Even the Democrats yearning to become president admit, when pressed, that al Qaeda's a threat to America. So why didn't even one of them praise the success of our troops during their last debate?
But let's be fair: Congressional Republicans, terrified of losing their power and glory and precious perks, haven't rushed to applaud our progress, either. They'll give up Iraq, as long as they don't have to give up earmarks.
* It isn't only al Qaeda taking serious hits. After briefly showing the flag, Muqtada al-Sadr fled back to Iran again, trailed by his senior deputies. Mookie's No. 2 even moved his family to Iran. Why? Though he's been weak in the past, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is now green-lighting Iraqi operations against the Jaish al Mahdi, the Mookster's "Mahdi Army."
With its descent into criminality and terror, the Mahdi Army, too, has been losing support among Iraqis - in this case, among Shias.
And Iraq's security forces increasingly carry the fight to the militia:
* The Iraqi Police Tactical Support Unit in Nasiriyah came under attack by Mahdi Army elements accustomed to intimidating their enemies. Supported by a brave (and tiny) U.S. advisory team, the police commandos fought them off. Instead of a walkover, the militia thugs hit a wall - and got hammered by airstrikes, for good measure. Then the Iraqi police counter-attacked. The Mahdi Army force begged for negotiations.
* In Mosul, Iraqi army and police units stuck to their guns through a series of tough combat engagements, with the result that massive arms caches were seized from the terrorists and insurgents. In Kirkuk, Iraqi police reacted promptly to last week's gruesome car-bombing - in time to stop two other car bombs from reaching their intended targets.
* In Baghdad, the surge isn't only about American successes - Iraqi security and intelligence forces conducted a series of hard-hitting operations against both al Qaeda and Iran-backed Special Group terrorists.
What were you, the American people, told about all this? Well, The New Republic published a pack of out-of-the-ballpark lies concocted by a scammer claiming to be a grunt in Baghdad. Our soldiers, he wrote, spent their time playing games with babies' skulls, running over dogs for fun and mocking disfigured women in their mess hall.
Anyone who knows our troops or has visited Iraq could instantly spot the absurdities in this smear and the soldiers in the unit denied that any of it happened - but The New Republic (which refuses to produce its source) isn't exactly staffed by military veterans.
The editors wanted to believe evil about our men and women in uniform, and ended up doing evil to our troops. (Those editors ought to be sentenced to spend August in Baghdad with the infantrymen they defamed, cleaning out military port-a-johns in the 130-degree heat.)
Is success suddenly guaranteed in Iraq? Of course not. The situation's still a bloody mess. But it's also more encouraging than it's been since the summer of 2003, when the downward slide began.
Gen. Dave Petraeus and his subordinate commanders are by far the best team we've ever had in place in that wretched country. They're doing damned near everything right - with austere resources, despite the surge. And they're being abandoned by your elected leaders.
Maybe the next presidential primary debate should be held in Baghdad.
Ralph Peters' book, "Wars Of Blood And Faith: The Conflicts That Will Shape the Twenty-First Century," is in stores now.
One man’s opinion to be sure, but something I personally believe needs to be heard
Things are looking up in Iraq.
This is the type of propaganda Bush&Company should be spreading throughout the media. Don't wait for Petraeus' report in September. An all out blitz is required.... NOW!
The Surge is Working and Al JazeerABDNC is Ignoring
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
IMHO the people in congress are fully aware of what’s going on in Iraq, but it serves them better to be treasonous than true to our country. Look at congress with a clear and clean eye. Could your congressman...woman...or fink make a living doing something else? All they care about is their re-election. If there is one of them who cares a hoot about this country, I’d be surprised. I fart in their general direction at every opportunity.
I agree that they need to start trumpeting the success in advance of Gen Petraeus report in September. Nevertheless, I believe it would be a mistake to do so before Baghdad is fully secured. That whole city and its immediate suburbs needs to be pacified and patrolled. The whole city needs to be a green zone. They probably will never be able to stop the occasional bomb, but they sure should be able to allow no safe haven nor unlawful area in that whole city. From what I have read that day may not be too far away.
Actually, it doesn’t serve them better. They ignorantly think it will serve them better. It didn’t serve the demo doves in the 60’s re Vietnam. They cemented the democrat party’s reputation as not to be trusted on security. The dems didn’t learn anything. They are now in a no win situation. If they force a precipitous pull out, they will be blamed for the mess that ensues. If a terrorist attack occurs during a dem administration, they will be slammed. If there is progress on the ground, their arguements will weaken. They have to be praying very hard for failure in the field.
15 months from now is a very long time to bank on the status quo.
ping
Thank you! I needed a little humor in my day. I appreciate your candor.
This is the man that wrote the article titled King David in Iraq.
Where oh where would we find such media today who will publish anything good about Iraq? They seem to ALL be too busy campaigning for the democrats.
Love that senior officer.
That’s funny, just got done posting my own similar obsevation;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1872737/posts?page=28#28
Democrats are going to try nit-picking about the ‘political differences’, as if Iraqi’s don’t agree on any single aspect, it’s all lost.
.
Wrong, the Iraqi Police and Military are more able to secure their sectors, so Iraqi Politicians can argue all they want.
Example; Democrat Majority Press wish to keep quiet about:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13044&Itemid=21
.
Iraqi Army conducts independent operation, tips lead to weapons cache
July 26, 2007
Iraqi Police and Military are more able to secure their sectors every passing day, and it’ll be at least a year to withdraw according to Biden, so Democrat Defeatist, ‘Your time, is up’(Maxine Waters moment).
Now, there’s an idea for CNN. “Maybe the next presidential primary debate should be held in Baghdad.”
:)
The way that many in congress ignore the outstanding work of our troops is sickening. Dems prefer to use our troops as hapless victims rather than heroes and some repubs keep their mouths shut fearing polls. Most of the entire lot needs to be flushed.
I know how you feel. Remminds me of Viet Nam all over again.
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