Posted on 02/06/2009 4:19:39 PM PST by SandRat
After a five-day trip through the Middle East, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said Wednesday that Iraq has become safer and more politically stable.
But the Democrat doesn't think that change is necessarily a result of a surge in troops she opposed two years ago. That's a vote Giffords says she stands by.
Instead, Giffords said in an interview Wednesday, the positive change — which comes as President Obama prepares to draw troops out of Iraq and increase military levels in Afghanistan — is a result of efforts by Iraqi citizens themselves.
"Largely, it's the Iraqi people realizing they would prefer peace in their country and not allow the opportunity for these violent extremist groups to wreak havoc on their communities," Giffords said.
Giffords, a Democrat representing Arizona's 8th Congressional District, has long said she would have voted against invading Iraq had she been in office in 2003. On this week's Mideast trip, Giffords was part of a seven-member delegation that met with political and military leaders in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and at NATO headquarters in Belgium.
It was her third trip to Iraq, and Giffords painted the most positive picture of the country since her first visit in 2007. In particular, Giffords praised the smoothness of recent elections, which took place just before the congressional delegation arrived.
In previous interviews, Giffords has acknowledged the troop surge — which added roughly 25,000 combat troops to Iraq — contributed to the reduction in violence. Her criticism, though, has been that the surge did not bring about political reconciliation.
"The longer that we're there, the more resources that we put into Iraq, we are in some ways enabling the Iraqi people to not step forward and make the … political decisions they need to make," Giffords said last April. With political improvements now under way, Giffords said Wednesday, the surge did contribute to improvement — but it wasn't the only factor.
"The surge helped create some calm, but the Iraqi people are creating their own country now," she said. "And the mood in Iraq is positive, and I believe both because violence is down but also because President Obama has promised to remove combat troops within a year."
Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 307-4339 or dscarpinato@azstarnet.com.
What a maroon
GRRR!!
What a nincompoop!
It’s clear he isn’t, so I am going to be embarrassed for this guy. How does he think the Iraqi’s suddenly became trained enough to function in a productive manor?
Honestly, our party members are sometimes dumb as a box of hammers, but the Democrats are never at a loss for ways to make them look brilliant by comparison.
This sniveling rat should be effusive in praising our American boys who live and die there and get wounded. I am pissed
The surge provided cover for the Iraqi people to fight back the islamists. This D is a Bush-hating moron.
Honestly, our DNC party members are sometimes dumb as a box of hammers,...
Quit being mean to hammers.
Thanks, I should have looked at the name closer. This just proves what an equal opportunity criticizer I am though.
As for the hammers, do they have a following now? Geez, I laid of the Polish, the Morons, the Half Wits, and now I can’t even talk about hammers?
Dang! =<:-|)-<-<
LOL!!!!!!!
Idjit...
Rewriting history before it’s even cold. These socialists are insane.
Unbelievable. And so it starts.
"We are at war with Eastasia. We have always been at war with Eastasia."
Beyotch couldn't use the word freedom. See you next Tuesday, Gabrielle
This is an "Of course, you ninny!" moment.
The Iraqis were moved to align themselves against the terrorists because "the surge" demonstrated that the United States was committed to the struggle and would stand by them thru thick and thin.
To that point, the Iraqi citizens had every reason to be uncertain about America's intentions because the Democrats in Congress and the liberal media were doing everything they could to undermine the effort!
The Democrats and the media were not only consciously undermining troop morale and emboldening the enemy, they were also raising legitimate questions in the minds of Iraqi citizens.
So, of course, you ninny, Iraqi citizens are responsible for the turn of affairs in Iraq. And they were motivated to do so by the surge YOU voted against.
These people are now in charge. God help us!
See Sandrat! I’m not alone out here... ;-)
Sigh, no...you’re not alone.
You have to admit, for someone to be called a dumbass looney liberal and be worse than the likes of Cynthia McKinney, Al Gore, Rangel, Murtha, and so on...it is a tall order.
But there she is.
Democrats are too arrogant to admit that they were wrong...
And knowing that the most powerful military in the world had their back certainly wouldn't factor into their thinking at all./s
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