Posted on 04/10/2008 11:41:51 AM PDT by Graybeard58
Many in America want the Iraq war to end now and believe if we "leave Iraq to the Iraqis," the Islamic extremists will leave us alone. That position recklessly ignores how America's decade-long refusal to deal more decisively with Islamic terrorism led to 9/11 and all that followed, and how every time America flinches in the face of Islamic aggression, the terrorists see it as a weakness to be exploited.
In this environment, Gen. David Petraeus must have expected he would be criticized for recommending the suspension of further U.S. troop withdrawals in the face of the recent flare-up of violence since the drawdown began in December. But it is the proper course if America is to protect the recent "significant but uneven security progress" in Iraq, ensure the safety and readiness of U.S. forces in Iraq, and prevent terrorists from influencing another U.S. election.
In congressional testimony March 11, then-Comptroller General David Walker cited Defense Intelligence Agency data documenting how attacks on U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces and civilians spiked in the spring of 2006. They didn't peak until a month before the U.S. midterm elections in which the Democrats, by morbidly counting body bags and declaring Iraq another Vietnam, won control of Congress on an ultimately false promise of a full withdrawal in 2007. Violence in Iraq ebbed after the election, but remained high through May 2007 while America's far left agitated for unilateral U.S. surrender. It took the Petraeus-led surge to reduce violence by 70 percent and quiet the anti-war mob.
It's no coincidence, then, that as the next U.S. election nears, the terrorists have stepped up their attacks. It is in their best interest to keep the war on the front page to stir anti-war sentiment in this country, thereby improving the prospects of a Democratic victory in November. Their best-case outcome would see Barack Obama elected president because he promises to withdraw from Iraq within 16 months. They could live with Hillary Rodham Clinton and her Carteresque plan to ensure Iraqis' freedom through diplomacy. But Republican John McCain won't get their endorsement because he describes Iraq's "transformation into a secure democracy and a force for freedom in the greater Middle East is the calling of our age."
Gen. Petraeus' recommendations would delay further withdrawals until late summer but permit faster reductions as conditions allow. With all that's at stake, and with terrorists' poised to repeat their past electoral successes — they effected regime change in Spain with a single bombing in Madrid 2004 — his wait-and-see strategy is prudent and reasonable.
Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.
If you want on or off this list, let me know.
Oh just forget it. There are too many in this country that want to put us on a runaway train to nuclear doom because it is just too damn inconvenient to deal with reality. The sheeple want their free government goodies, even if it kills a few thousand or more of us to get them. President Obama lead us forth into oblivion.
We ARE dealing with barbarians...unfortunately, they are not STUPID barbarians.
That’s something many fail to realize, especially within Congress.
2001 Beyond the visits to his Muslim relatives in Africa, Obama has little to say about Islam and Muslims until the events of 9/11. After that date, Obama begins to become more public in his support of Muslims and their cause.
2001 Obama is protective of civil rights for Muslims in the U.S., saying, “In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging,” he laments. “I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
2003 Obama calls the Iraq war “a botched and ill-advised U.S. military incursion into a Muslim country.”
2006 In August, Obama took a taxpayer-funded trip to Africa. While he was in Somalia, he was photographed in full Muslim regalia. The photo appears in the February 4th, 2008 edition of “The Examiner,” under the caption, “Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is dressed in Muslim attire while on a trip to Kenya.”
Gateway Pundit has uncovered what is probably the original posting of the photograph at Han-Geeska Afrika Onlline. [Geeska Afrika caption:] U.S. Senator Barack Obama, right, is dressed as a Somali Elder by Sheikh Mahmed Hassan, left, during his visit to Wajir, a rural area in northeastern Kenya, near the borders with Somalia and Ethiopia. The area is at the epicenter of a severe drought that has hit the Horn of Africa region, after erratic and insufficient rains during the April-June season.
2007 On February 27th, Barack Hussein Obama said the Muslim call to prayer is “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth.” In an interview with Nicholas Kristof, published in The New York Times, Obama recited the Muslim call to prayer, the Adhan, “with a first-class [Arabic] accent.” The opening lines of the Adhan (Azaan) is the Shahada: “Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme! Allah is Supreme! I witness that there is no god but Allah I witness that there is no god but Allah I witness that Muhammad is his prophet… ” According to Islamic scholars, reciting the Shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith, makes one a Muslim. This simple yet profound statement expresses a Muslim’s complete acceptance of, and total commitment to, the message of Islam. Obama knows this from his Quranic studies — and he knows the New York Times will publish this fact and it will be seen throughout the Islamic world. Regardless of Obama’s religion, what message is he sending the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims?
2007 On April 8th, Obama shows his Muslim/Palestinian solidarity and sensitivity, by telling Muscatine, Illinois Democratic party activists that he supports relaxing restrictions on aid to the Palestinian people. He said they have suffered the most as a result of stalled peace efforts with Israel. “Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people.”
2007 In an interview with the New York Times, published on April 30th, Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama’s younger half sister, told the Times, “My whole family was Muslim, and most of the people I knew were Muslim.
Obama's only major achievement in IL: 2001 Obama sponsors Illinois Senate Bill 750 creating the “Halal Food Act,” providing for inspections by the Department of Agriculture to ensure that all food labeled Halal is prepared according to Islamic law. Islamization — here's how it works and why Halal food plays a role.
1) No Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah shall be Halal. (there are debates regarding the permissibility of meat slaughtered by Jews, i.e., kosher meat).[Qur'an 2:173]
2) Global Halal Market is currently a USD 580 billion industry..Can you say "Lobbyists" Sure I knew you could!
Obama is on the wrong side of the world let alone the wrong side of politics!
To be honest, there will never be a time in which conditions would allow a withdrawal. Considering the porous Iraqi borders, Iraq's neighbors, and the attitudes of fanatical Muslims... anytime that troop reductions are considered would result in increased attacks.
Just look at the history of our time in Iraq. We tell the Iraqi's time and time again that we will leave as soon as Iraq has a stable, representative government and an end to the terrorist groups in Iraq.
And what happens? Iraqi's join terrorist groups to destabilize their country. They know what needs to happen for us to quickly leave yet they do the opposite.
And they will continue to do the opposite of what is necessary for us to leave, period. It's got to me an Arab thing, as the Palestinians do the same.
In my opinion, Iraq will only be stable if we do one of two things. Deprogram the entire populace of Iraq from the cult of Islam, or we kill them all and colonize the territory with non-Muslims.
And one's cheaper and quicker than the other. It'd just be morally reprehensible.
Just my two cents.
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