Victory Is Within Reach in Iraq

Wall Street Journal ^ | 20 October 2007 | MICHAEL A. LEDEEN

[shrinkermd]

Should we declare victory over al Qaeda in the battle of Iraq?

The very question would have seemed proof of dementia only a few months ago, yet now some highly respected military officers, including the commander of Special Forces in Iraq, Gen. Stanley McCrystal, reportedly feel it is justified by the facts on the ground.

These people are not suggesting that the battle is over. They all insist that there is a lot of fighting ahead, and even those who believe that al Qaeda is crashing and burning in a death spiral on the Iraqi battlefields say that the surviving terrorists will still be able to kill coalition forces and Iraqis. But there is relative tranquility across vast areas of Iraq, even in places that had been all but given up for lost barely more than a year ago. It may well be that those who confidently declared the war definitively lost will have to reconsider.

Almost exactly 13 months ago, the top Marine intelligence officer in Iraq wrote that the grim situation in Anbar province would continue to deteriorate unless an additional division was sent in, along with substantial economic aid. Today, Marine leaders are musing openly about clearing out of Anbar, not because it is a lost cause, but because we have defeated al Qaeda there.

In Fallujah, enlisted marines have complained to an officer of my acquaintance: "There's nobody to shoot here, sir. If it's just going to be building schools and hospitals, that's what the Army is for, isn't it?"

[nuconvert]

Gen. Patraeus and Odierno “fear that the political class in Washington may yet snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They know that Iran and Syria still have a free shot at us across long borders, and Gen. Patraeus told Congress last month that it would not be possible to win in Iraq if our mission were restricted to that country.”

[elhombrelibre]

Allegra can gloat now ping.

[BIGLOOK]

A little beyond the horizon, Master Sergeant. Seeing what’s coming is the safe play.

[jwparkerjr]

re: have become suddenly silent on Iraq

And when was the last time you heard the news talk about an area of disturbed weather in the Atlantic, expected to become the season’s next tropical storm then hurricane?

[MNJohnnie]

The very question would have seemed proof of dementia only a few months ago,

No, it wasn't.

People who actually followed things in Iraq instead of letting the Junk Media do their thinking for them were telling people like Ledeen this for quite a while now.

Like most Establishment "Conservatives" they all were too arrogantly certain of their own intellectual infallibility to listen.

Now Ledeen, like the rest of the Dincons, is in serious damage control mode trying desperately to resurrect their self murdered credulity as pundits.

[okie01]

The key to victory in Iraq has always been getting the people on our side. That's the case in any and every insurgency or guerrilla war.

At bottom, the "surge" is what did it.

Not because there were more boots on the ground -- though, certainly, that helped.

But the real reason was because mounting the "surge" convinced the people of Iraq that George W. Bush and the U.S. military was in it to the end -- they wouldn't be abandoned (like some other peoples were).

This could've all been over and done with a year or two ago -- were it not for the Democrats and the MSM working overtime to convince Americans (and Iraqis) that the war was not worth fighting, if not already lost.

The impact of liberal propaganda was always identified as a.) endangering our troops and b.) emboldening our enemies. But many overlooked the more profound effect -- it had to disspirit the Iraqi civilians and make them uncertain of our resolve (and, thus, their fate).

Instead, a thousand-or-so more soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen had to die -- along with thousands of innocent Iraqis. Just so the liberals could play their petty little political games...

Disgusting. Just disgusting.

[okie01]

This is the way to end Islamo-Fascism and ensure a continuing supply of oil for American industry and consumers.

Which was the objective all along.

But the left couldn't see that. Or appreciate it when it was explained to them.

Imbeciles.

[Laverne]

Gloat away Allegra! You deserve to! You have been steadfast from day one...and you have been so in the center of it all. My only question to you is this: How will the media spin this success into a victory for the democrats, because you know they surely will try!

Or...they may just ignore it, like Charlie Gibson did on the news this week. His report: The news is: There is no news from Iraq, no bombings, no nothing. Not that there was GOOD news, just that there was NO news. Unbelievable.

[Allegra]

People have asked me how long I plan to stay here.

About a year or so ago, I started telling them I wanted to stay until I could go to a restaurant in downtown Baghdad in a soft-skin vehicle with no anti-ballistic gear on and have dinner.

I was joking when I said that. And a year ago...heck, six months ago, it WAS a joke. It was unfathomable.

But now, who knows? Maybe in a few months... :-D

[BobS]

"This is the way to end Islamo-Fascism and ensure a continuing supply of oil for American industry and consumers."

That's not the point. The goal is for normal country-to-country relations with Iraq directly. A treaty must be negotiated. Condi Rice must be in the negotiation with her Iraqi equal. That takes a lot of time. And it's hard work. International laws are involved here with many countries.

Is this in your mind happpening just because we are not mining our own vast oil reserves like we should be?

[txhurl]

You should go in a convertible red ‘vette in a bikini, swigging whiskey right out of the bottle, and send us pictures! lol

[BobS]

Hey, Allegra, when you see Pizza Huts and McDonalds sprouting up over there it will be just like here:):) Without the tan.

[Allegra]

Or...they may just ignore it, like Charlie Gibson did on the news this week. His report: The news is: There is no news from Iraq, no bombings, no nothing. Not that there was GOOD news, just that there was NO news. Unbelievable.

He said that? Those must have been some pretty sour grapes. LOL

He didn't mention all of the stores and entire streets that were shut down for a couple of years are opening up now? He didn't talk about how construction is now moving along at a much faster pace because of the reduction in terror incidents? He didn't speak of the increasing number of citizens coming forward to rat out any suspicious activity and as a result, more and more terrorists are being rounded up, more and more caches of explosives are being found and destroyed?

I guess none of that is good news to the leftists.

But we know better.

[MLedeen]

Thanks so much for reminding us all about the courage of Quattrocchi. He maintained the honor of his people, and inspired us all.

[AGreatPer]

Ironic that I see this post. Just last night at a bar I see one of my former soccer players back from Fallujah. He told me how boring it is there now and glad to be home until March. He hoped they send him elsewhere.

He is in ordnance and supplies all kinds of ground ammunition. He said it is like being a Maytag repair man in his area.

Of course, he is not allowed to buy any drinks.

[bray]

The Surge Worked and the War is Ending in Victory

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[bray]

Allegra, we all owe you a great debt of gratitude. You have walked the walk and should have a lifetime of pride for doing just that.

We all owe President Bush for staying with the troops and his Generals when nearly every other politician would be bailing.

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[timer]

two points : the official denazification policy in germany finally put an end to post WWII nazi terrorism, and germany has been a peaceful country now for 60+ years. In nov 2006 Sen Burns(R-MT)lost by 1729 votes out of 250,000 cast, primarily becaue of the anti-war vote. If he had won, given today’s situation in iraq, we’d still have a R majority in the senate.

[KantianBurke]

I was interested in the article till I realized who the author of it was. Leeden? No thanks. Hitlery has more credibility than this idiot.

[george76]

bttt

Good news