Digesting The Iraq Report

Human Events ^ | 9/12/07 | Ericka Andersen

[HoosierGirl25]

Kirk Johnson, formerly the Deputy Director for Assessments in the Joint Strategic Planning and Assessment office at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, met with bloggers yesterday to help the community understand the elements that comprise the security improvements in Iraq that result from the troop surge. Fresh from Iraq (he left less than two weeks ago), Johnson relayed his take on the progress report, mentioning that the surge was initially put forth last year as a “new way forward.”

Like any new plan, the surge required some tweaks. Johnson, who was also the chief statistician for Ambassador Ryan Crocker, said it went from “transition[ing] to Iraqis to population security” instead. With “joint security stations,” American troops work side by side with the Iraqis for what Johnson called “on the job training.”

“Their abilities [are] strengthened and they’ll act as a force multiplier…[and] help us provide better security,” Johnson said, adding that security has demonstrably improved throughout the country.

Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker’s testimony to the House and Senate confirmed these security improvements. Petraeus surprised many by recommending a “substantial withdrawal” of troops to begin as early as next month.

[MNJohnnie]

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[SMARTY]

“…the Administration has sent you here today to convince the members of these two Committees and the Congress that victory is at hand … I don’t buy it.”

Since Liberals are patently inimical to the achievements and plans of this Administration... of course they ‘don’t buy it’.

Funny, the initial problems arising from our presence in Iraq arose out of coalition concerns for the urban populations. Every effort was made to keep out of their way and to achieve stability and security for them without too far interrupting their lives or interfering with them in any way. Once it became obvious that the terrorists were taking shameless advantage of this, all manner of criticism of the US and coalition approach to securing the country was made by US Liberals, European ‘allies’ and even by the Iraqis themselves. Once we saw that it could not be done both ways, of course we decided to adopt the ‘surge’ strategies. NOW the same Liberals who disapproved of the surge ( and EVERYTHING else we do in Iraq) are disallowing the positive and obvious results! Do they EVER get tired of themselves???? I DO!