Iraq insurgency: People rise against al-Qa'eda

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 09/10/2007 | Damien McElroy

[SomeReasonableDude]

In a town tucked tight against the Syrian border, US Marines pass softly along a darkened street as the crack of contact rings out. Instead of a panicked rush for cover, the leader of the patrol turns to cheer.

The familiar sound was not from the barrel of gun but the baize of an upstairs pool hall.

A transformation has swept western Iraq that allows Marines to walk through areas that a year ago were judged lost to radical Islam control and hear nothing more aggressive than a late-night game of pool.

[SomeReasonableDude]

A step in the right direction.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Democrats in the corner pocket for the win.

[rlmorel]

Good Gosh. This is from the Telegraph? Granted, it is not as far to the left as the Guardian, but...still...

[elfman2]

In the advanced field combat hospitals run by the Navy in Anbar province, there is suddenly nothing to do. Equipped to handle sudden rushes of dozens of gravely injured troops, the hospitals are empty.

Commander William Klorig, the chief US medic in Anbar, said the numbers treated at the facility in al-Taqqadum has plummeted to less than 80 personnel in a week.

"Our expectation on deploying here was we would be caring for a great many combat wounded," he said. "That is not the way it has turned out. Many days we have no work."

Expect this to be reported as "New Jobless Numbers Higher Than Expected!, Military medical personnel hit hardest. Bush to blame!"

[ExTexasRedhead]

This won’t make Pelosi’s day. She ordered a boxcar of white flags for herself and her cohorts.

[SomeReasonableDude]

Expect this to be reported as "New Jobless Numbers Higher Than Expected!, Military medical personnel hit hardest. Bush to blame!"

This would be even more hilarious than it already is if it weren't so true.