Posted on 10/20/2007 10:09:11 AM PDT by 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?"
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
bttt
This news isn’t surprising to those who deal in reality and logic, rather than hysteria.
I’ve been saying for more than three years that this would work, given time.
I can understand your skepticism because I pretty much despise the media. But the fact that they cannot conceal the progress here any longer and either have to report things like this or nothing at all on Iraq is significant.
Listen...here is what Baghdad sounds like right now....and has sounded like for quite some time...listen....
{crickets chirping}
You're a geriatric tart and you don't know what you're talking about. ;-)
LLS
Tell your buddy to apply for a Change of Station. Transfer to a list of places he chooses. It’s up to his Commander to approve his request. That’s all. It takes a few months to get orders to go someplace else. That’s what I did. I left SAC and met Spanish sweethearts. I’m spoiled.
Thank God because I am due to go to Iraq sometime soon. (Sorry I can’t give exact time, but it is not tomorrow).
Uh-huh. You’re the one who objected to SandRat *polluting this forum* with pro-military posts. Take another week off.
Some of us were right beside you and believed without doubt! GOD bless you all!!!
LLS
Keep doing what you are doing. I have your back. 300 yards away. With a scope. And I am invisible.
It's good to have you back.
Smartass. ;-)
I'm STILL cracking up...
Things seem to be going quite well. However I would wait awhile before declaring victory. To many things can happen. One of the wild cards is countries like Iran stepping up their terrorist activities.
You are going to meet many friends in any country you go to. You may get married. And have a new First Seargeant telling you that that you are a stupid ass.
Allegra, what are people thinking over there about Rush’s latest smackdown of the Senate? That auction fot $2.1 M just had to make you giggle all over the place:)
LOL....Yeah...their a hoot !
Got to agree with em. Marines are the pit bulls of the american forces......err bulldogs I mean ~! If the killing is over send em to Afghanistan or home.
But put up a sign in arabic that says we will be back if ya start murdering innocent iraqi citizens just looking for a chance to live free......
Please include me on your gloat ping list when you do. :)
lol. I am looking forward to it, but already married. The First Sargeant may call me an ass as I have heard many times. lol.
I can see the liberal spin now; "Americans are assaulting and killing Iraqis with cholesterol for corporate profits!"
I almost put a /s tag on that but realized that wouldn't make sense. They will say that.
Good thing you're invisible. 300 yards away is outside the wire and it's nighttime now. That's Injun country out there and we only go there during daylight. 'Tis quieter out there these days, though.
Thanks for getting my back. :-)
Nobody's declaring victory yet. What we are declaring, after being breatlessly silent for the last two months is the observation of a bright light at the end of the tunnel. We can see it.
To many things can happen. One of the wild cards is countries like Iran stepping up their terrorist activities.
Iran did step up its terrorist activities. The first seven months of 2007 were quite violent and Iran played a large part in that.
The Surge not only went after al Qaeda. The Mahdi Army and other Shiite factions are targeted as well. Sunni and Shia hearts and minds have been won and that is making all of the difference. Many, many things have been going on behind the scenes.
One of those things is that Iran has been put on notice to leave Iraq alone.
They are for the most part now, and if they reneg on that, they're next.
And I suspect they know that.
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