The Surge is Working! [ExileStreet]

ExileStreet ^ | 8/7/07 | Richard S. Lowry

[ParsifalCA]

Yesterday, I received a press release from Baghdad. It told a story unlike any I have read. It told a story you will not hear on the evening news. It told a story of eighty Iraqi civilians who acted to take their neighborhood mosque back from terrorist elements. Six months ago, these people were living in fear. But, today with an increased Coalition presence in their community, the people of the Maghrib neighborhood on the east side of Baghdad went after the thugs who had been controlling their lives for so long.

It all started on Sunday afternoon, August 5th, when word spread that the terrorists living in the Abu Hanifa Mosque had murdered two relatives of a prominent local sheikh. Before the American and Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police’s continued presence, these murderers would have successfully intimidated the people into silence and cooperation. But on Sunday, with an increased confidence that Iraqi and American forces would support them, a crowd of eighty angry citizens stormed the Mosque to oust the terrorists from their local house of worship. [more]

[Old Student]

Good for these people, and for Iraq. Now we need to make sure someone else hears about this. Say, maybe Hillary, and John, and John, and Ted, among others.

I should probably have more John’s in there, too.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Eight Americans died on Monday and civilian deaths are higher than the surge began, and the Iraqi government is chaos as two key groups drop out. Instead of addressing the benchmarks, the Parliament went fishing. Working? After five years of this, I’d think the Pollyanna’s at FR would start asking some questions.

[theDentist]

Harry Reid is getting really peeved at such news.

[Son House]

What do you think?

” eighty Iraqi civilians who acted to take their neighborhood mosque back from terrorist “

Too bad the ROE still don’t allow our Troops to protect themselves from being attacked from Mosque.

[mmichaels1970]

Now we need to make sure someone else hears about this

I'm saddened to think that many minds are already made up regardless of the news. I only hope that General Petraeus will come out swinging during his September report and not play the "cower to Congress" game that they all seem to play.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"3-7th Cavalry’s commander, LTC Jeff Broadwater, said afterward, “I think this was a turning point.” The people of Maghrib have taken back their neighborhood and General Petraeus’ men, the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police will continue to assist these brave people in keeping their neighborhood free from violence.>/i>

"General Petraeus’ men"? Quite an accolade for General Petraeus to be referred to in that manner - anyone know if this is becoming common among the troops there?

[pgyanke]

If the deaths are going to derail our campaign, then the terrorists (and their chosen tactic) win. Your post is the primary reason they blow things up. They can’t win militarily, but they want to weaken our resolve until we capitulate.

What this thread points out is that what needs to happen most is happening—the people are beginning to take responsibility for themselves. They have had decades of cowering in fear... they are now stepping out to take care of their own neighborhoods. As long as the Islamists could count on their neighbors remaining silent whether through intimidation or cooperation, there could be no resolution. Resolution will come when ordinary citizens choose not to live in fear and reject the jihadis in their midst.

It doesn’t matter what the politicians decide... the people will make the difference... or not.

So yes, this article is good news.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Eight Americans died on Monday and civilian deaths are higher than the surge began, and the Iraqi government is chaos as two key groups drop out. Instead of addressing the benchmarks, the Parliament went fishing. Working? After five years of this, I’d think the Pollyanna’s at FR would start asking some questions.

And your solution is...

[jmj3jude]

I wonder if your going to care about the civilian deaths over their if we pull out? There won’t be thousands anymore, there will be millions. And Iran will take over Iraq, take their nuclear bomb with them, own the oil in the region, and nuke our allies. And then us. Then the death toll will be in the many millions. We are not Pollyanna's’s at FR, but you seem to be one. As if you really think we can just walk out of their with no consequences, tell that to the Vietnamese when we left them by the million to die!

[Old Student]

“Eight Americans died on Monday and civilian deaths are higher than the surge began, and the Iraqi government is chaos as two key groups drop out. Instead of addressing the benchmarks, the Parliament went fishing. Working? After five years of this, I’d think the Pollyanna’s at FR would start asking some questions.”

FRiend, you might want to do a little more reading and a little less pontificating. Quite a few people here on FR have friends and family in the military, and they are telling us that things are getting better there. As for the politicians, you might want to look into what our Congress is doing right now.

[Old Student]

“It doesn’t matter what the politicians decide... the people will make the difference... or not.”

As it was in 1776, so it is today.

[mmichaels1970]

civilian deaths are higher than the surge began

Not trying to be a jerk, but can you provide a source for this? I couldn't find it in the Initial Benchmark Assessment. I was under the impression that violence has decreased since the surge began, but mainly political benchmarks were lagging behind.

[jpsb]

Excellent news, hope to hear more of the same, thanks.

[Trueblackman]

Funny more Americans have died in the streets of the Ghettos in the last 5 years than in the 5 years we have been in Iraq, but liberals and the press consider Iraq a quagmire, while demanding more money for the ghettos created by their great society!

[jpsb]

I would expect more casualties as the battle is joined not less. Hopefully all or most will be bad guys.

[meandog]

Of course the surge is working! And, if Bush hadn’t listened to idiots such as Don Rumsfeld, he would have had it in place four years ago and would be enjoying a 90 percent approval poll by now as he looked forward to a lasting legacy.

[sr4402]

The Surge has Failed even before it began. You know this is so because I said it. You will comply. Resistance is Futile.

/Sarcasm OFF

[metmom]

In spite of your sign up date, are you sure you’re on the right forum?

[mmichaels1970]

Two words.....Ron Paul.