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The Tide Is Turning in Iraq
Wall Street Journal ^ | 9-9-07 | Kimberly Kagan

Posted on 09/08/2007 9:18:37 PM PDT by smoothsailing

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1 posted on 09/08/2007 9:18:39 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: All; smoothsailing; Anita1

.

MEL’s -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

http://www.Freerepublic.com/~aloharonnie/

http://www.Freerepublic.com/~anita1/

.


2 posted on 09/08/2007 9:23:18 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: smoothsailing

Perhaps we will be able to bring the troops home sooner than we think.
As long as it’s under the terms of victory, not legislated defeat by the Democrats.

Of course we really need a permanent base in Iraq, like we have in Ramstein, Germany.


3 posted on 09/08/2007 9:23:43 PM PDT by counterpunch ("The Democrats are the party of slavery." —Cindy Sheehan)
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To: counterpunch

Our exit strategy should be rotating the battalions so they all get combat experience. THAT is how we leave Iraq as outlined by Duncan Hunter.


4 posted on 09/08/2007 9:30:38 PM PDT by wastedyears (George Orwell was a clairvoyant.)
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Hi Ya Ronnie, always good to see ya!


5 posted on 09/08/2007 9:30:46 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing; SJackson; Dog
What I don't get is this: Even if we do successfully "secure" Iraq as a sovereign government capable of maintaining internal peace, it will still be a nation of Muslims committed to the destruction of Israel. It will still be a Shia nation, having more in common with Iran than us. Thus, even if there is internal peace, it will still be a nation with a sizable population committed to regional war.

How would that be an improvement?

6 posted on 09/08/2007 9:48:20 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The fourth estate is the fifth column.)
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To: counterpunch

I’m pretty sure Al Asad airbase will be one of them. It has 2 of the longest runways in IQ (13,123’) I believe Balad also has 2 of the longest runways (11,300’ & 11,200’) and will be one of the permanent bases. Camp Ananconda might stay intact too. There might be 1 or 2 other large bases, to remain.


7 posted on 09/08/2007 9:49:17 PM PDT by freepersup (find the enemy... destroy the enemy... remain vigilant)
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To: freepersup

From what I understand, the Democrats have mandated that the bases be non-permanent structures, and the troops have to work out of trailers and such.


8 posted on 09/08/2007 9:53:20 PM PDT by counterpunch ("The Democrats are the party of slavery." —Cindy Sheehan)
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To: counterpunch

Yes- per the rats and with the help of some of their spineless counterparts, concrete structures are verboten. There are however, a great number of hard buildings on the base, with which to choose from for occupancy. There are tents & ‘cans’ used for housing primarily.


9 posted on 09/08/2007 10:01:54 PM PDT by freepersup (find the enemy... destroy the enemy... remain vigilant)
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To: smoothsailing

this war like every one before it and every one to come after it depends on having the right person at the right place and at the right time to win it.


10 posted on 09/08/2007 10:18:37 PM PDT by SCHROLL
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To: Carry_Okie
it will still be a nation of Muslims committed to the destruction of Israel. It will still be a Shia nation, having more in common with Iran than us. Thus, even if there is internal peace, it will still be a nation with a sizable population committed to regional war.

On what basis do you make these claims? Just because they're Muslims? Are you suggesting we just abandon the entire Mideast and hope for the best? Respectfully, that's nuts.

11 posted on 09/08/2007 10:18:38 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: smoothsailing; Adam Smith; Straight Vermonter

I don’t know, but I feel a need of more troops in Baghdad. The casualties of US troops are now down to around 80 from above 100 months ago. Civilian casualties mark around 1500 stubbornly while Iraqi security force casualties recorded a new low below 100 last month on icasualties.org. It’s a difficult analysis with different trends of casualties between groups. In Baghdad, many are killed in the dark, rather than old fashioned suicide bombing, which the coalition force needs to adjust itself to hunt those engaging killing-in-the-dark tactictics. Approximately 15 people in Baghdad per day are found dead, likely a result of the in-the-dark murders. This adds up to at least 30% of the total deaths of iraqi civilians per months. One news source points to Shiite extremists and Iranian agents, which is very likely pointing to Mahdi Army. Sadr demanded to avoid clashes, but whatever their motivations, the coalition should begin to plan a total offensive against Mahdi Army and kill or capture Al Sadr. Baghdad needs more clean up.


12 posted on 09/08/2007 10:19:44 PM PDT by Wiz
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To: Carry_Okie
What I don't get is this:...

I hear you.

And all I can say in reply is this....

As Americans, we are not conquerors, nor occupiers, it is just not our way...

That said, we have a noble history as a nation of promoting and expanding the human concept that we enjoy, individial freedom and liberty.

That's all I know, Carry, as long as we spread the hope of freedom, our own freedom remains safer.

13 posted on 09/08/2007 10:20:26 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: Wiz
I don’t know..

Nor do I, Wiz. That's why we have the CIC, ground commanders, and the finest military the world has ever known.

14 posted on 09/08/2007 10:27:14 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: jazusamo
Good morning read for you, brother.

I'm turning in.

Tomorrow there be more dragons! :-)

15 posted on 09/08/2007 10:32:05 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

The Surge is Working and Victory is Near

Pray for W and Our Troops


16 posted on 09/08/2007 10:32:19 PM PDT by bray (Member of the FR President Bush underground fighting FR BDS)
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To: smoothsailing

I am cautiously optimistic.

But, it’s up to the Iraqis to support their own country and to dissavow extremists and violent tribal murder-groups.

Hopefully they have begun to see the darkness that Al-Qeada promises, and the hope that freedom and reconciliation holds for their future.

Let’s hope the dems don’t ruin the progress with their selfish political opportunism.


17 posted on 09/08/2007 10:33:52 PM PDT by Tears of a Clown
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To: hsalaw
On what basis do you make these claims? Just because they're Muslims?

Um, in case you hadn't noticed, Muslims have a predominant antipathy for Israel and it's not going away.

Are you suggesting we just abandon the entire Mideast and hope for the best? Respectfully, that's nuts.

OK, we "secure" Iraq. How many troops will have to remain on a steady state basis for the foreseeable future? Then add the number it will take to quell Iran, Pakistan, possibly Indonesia, and still be able to deal with China?

I do think we've bit off more than we can reasonably chew when it comes to dealing with both Islam and communofascism simultaneously (as if we weren't infested with the latter), especially when we try to "make friends and influence people" at the rate of spending to which we've been teaching the world to become used. As is easily observable, things are getting out of hand in our own hemisphere, and fast while our infrastructural, educational, and demographic trends aren't exactly what I'd reasonably call hunky dory.

I'm not looking for an "exit strategy" as much as I'm looking to manage finite resources, especially debt and young male volunteers. We don't have the money or the people to police both a billion Islamists, more Chinese, and half a billion crazed hispanics, especially when half of our own country (or more) is being fed a steady diet of an equivalently destructive ideology. Isn't that evident?

18 posted on 09/08/2007 10:35:43 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The fourth estate is the fifth column.)
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To: smoothsailing

Liberals are scared to death of Rupert Murdoch and the WSJ and they should be.

The WSJ does good old fashioned reporting - anathema to the J-school grads and their editors at the NY Slimes and others.

I have a dream. The WSJ puts out regional papers with two sections devoted strictly to national, finanacial and world news PLUS a regional section with region-specific, objective news reports.

Forget the crossword, forget the jumble, forget the comics and the horoscope, just good old reporting.

The mass has a thirst for a paper like that. It would sell hugh.


19 posted on 09/08/2007 10:39:18 PM PDT by Rembrandt (We would have won Viet Nam w/o Dim interference.)
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To: Carry_Okie
Thus, even if there is internal peace, it will still be a nation with a sizable population committed to regional war.

Democracies don't make war on each other, not since the days of Greece.

20 posted on 09/08/2007 11:06:45 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (Libs obviously don’t believe pro-lifers are terrorists, or they'd placate us by banning abortion.)
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