In Iraq, the storm before the calm

New York Daily News ^ | May 5, 2008 | Michael Yon

[moderatewolverine]

April saw 49 U.S. casualties in Iraq, the highest total in seven months. Does this mean, as some insist, that the enormous progress we have made since the start of the military surge is being lost?

As one who has spent nearly two years with American soldiers and Marines and British Army troops in Iraq - having returned from my last trip a month ago - here's my short answer: no.

We are taking more casualties now, just as we did in the first part of 2007, because we have taken up the next crucial challenge of this war: confronting the Shia militias.

In early 2007, under the leadership of Gen. David Petraeus, we began to wage an effective counterinsurgency campaign against the reign of terror Al Qaeda in Iraq had established over much of the midsection of the country. That campaign, which moved many of our troops off of big centralized bases and out into small neighborhood outposts, carried real risks.

In every one of the first eight months of 2007, we lost more soldiers than we had the previous year. Only as the campaign bore fruit - in the form of Iraqi citizens working with American soldiers on a daily basis, helping uncover terrorist hideouts together - did the casualty numbers begin to improve.

[rusureitflies?]

I believe this...

[devistate one four]

I think Michael Yon is one of a few who get it over there

[nuconvert]

Bump

[bert]

.......we have taken up the next crucial challenge of this war......

I think a plausable argument can be made that we have been involved in several wars, not one.

The first was pretty much won in a few months and certainly over with the capture of Saddam. The others have been against smaller groups trying to exert ineffective military strength to achieve some political gain.

All have been rebuffed.

[onceone]

I agree with Michael, but..

These critics miss a crucial on-the-ground reality: Virtually all insurgencies, however noble their original purpose, eventually degenerate into criminal organizations, classic Mafia-like protection rackets, especially as they achieve their original goals.

Wouldn't our American Revolution have been called an insurgency by today's standards?

[LZ_Bayonet]

"Virtually all insurgencies, however noble their original purpose, eventually degenerate into criminal organizations, classic Mafia-like protection rackets, especially as they achieve their original goals.

"Wouldn't our American Revolution have been called an insurgency by today's standards?"

Yes, and the "degenerate criminal organizations with classic Mafia-like protection rackets", is called "The Mainstream Media" (MSM).

[Ann Archy]

Michael Yon does his work by DONATIONS from people like us!! Send him a few dollars, fellow Freepers...he does great work!

[r9etb]

Wouldn't our American Revolution have been called an insurgency by today's standards?

Actually, no. The American Revolution is a notable exception to the observation, in that we did not degenerate into chaos after the revolution. If you look at the French Revolution, which of course took place at nearly the same time, you can see the difference.

[neverdem]

The NY Daily News didn’t require excerpting when I last posted from it. Has it changed?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Blogosphere (Flopping Aces): Yon On The Sadr Fight

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Michael Yon writes a article filled with common sense on why there was an uptick in causalities in Iraq recently and the left responds by making snide comments such as this headline from Firedoglake: “Michael Yon: More Americans Getting Killed In Iraq Means We’re Winning.”

Puhlease.

Is it really that hard to understand? Or do they, as I suspect, just ignore the common sense so they can wail and gnash their teeth at Bushitler and “his war?”

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Link to the Leftists :

Michael Yon: More Americans Getting Killed In Iraq Means We’re Winning....

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By: Blue Texan Monday May 5, 2008 10:30 am

Last time we heard from Michael Yon, he was saying that We've Always Been Winning in Eurasia Iraq. He's back today with even more ridiculous assclownery. (updated below)

April saw 49 U.S. casualties in Iraq, the highest total in seven months.

Zzzzzzt! Sorry Michael, that number is actually 54. But do continue.

Does this mean, as some insist, that the enormous progress we have made since the start of the military surge is being lost? ...here's my short answer: no.

What a surprise! So what can we expect over the next few Friedmans, Michael?

For the next few months, expect more blood, casualties and grim images of war. This may lead to a shift in the political debate inside the United States and more calls for rapid withdrawal. But on the ground in Iraq, it's a sign of progress.

There is literally no way to parody these morons anymore.

UPDATE

The breathless, reverential way wingnuts like K-Lo talk about Yon's BS kinda tells you everything you need to know about the current state of the conservative movement.

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