Reload this Page Did Anyone Catch the News Conference With PM al-Maliki and President Bush?

The National Review ^ | July 25, 2006 | Bill Crawford

[Xing Daorong]

Everyone there seemed nervous except for the Prime Minister, he had answers to every question he was asked, even the news reporters were stuttering and acting nervous when they were asking questions. As usual the president stuttered in his speeches and responses but he made clear his positions on the new arising issues of today. For once in as long as I can remember, I feel a politician has a genuine grasp on what is happening in the Middle East, al-Maliki's discussion with Bush seemed to sway his opinion on the War in Lebanon, he pledged thirty-million in relief aid for the damaged buildings, explained the shipment of missiles, and spoke differently about Israel, it wasn't about "Israel+bombs=terrorist pwnage", it was about trying to stop the unnecessary loss of life the IAF has caused by bombing urban areas and helping to rebuild and re-strengthen Lebanon and it's shaky government structure. He is still very much anti-Hezbollah, but he is American, and a politician, so that is to be expected but he took a much more pro-Arab support stance in this conference. His policies in the Muslim world and his discussions with their leaders and representatives have ultimately changed him and his views. It's not just the same "freedom is on the march" idealist speeches, its realism, coupled with Bush's staunch support for the new governments in Muslim and Arab nations. Personally I feel he is a more well rounded and experienced politician now more than ever, but I decided to look more into the current situation in Iraq, into the gruesome sectarian violence and the good news you will never hear about in anymore than small doses in mainstream news (not accusing news of particular slant, but bad news does travel faster in almost any scenario, the news is meant to be sensationalist so it gets viewers).

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...NiMGEzNjNjM2E=

But the "Progress Report", of which I have only recently become aware of, cites its sources from less controversial sources (this way the liberals can't deny the progress) and in one link, the New York Times. The progress it shows is:

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~Infastructure~

-A $70,000,000 investment by a company in an Iraqi cement plant. -USAID providing cean water to Kirkuk residents. -Completed 60 megawatt Power Plant in Samawah, Iraq. -U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes a major power plant in Basra, Iraq. -Completion of a secondary school in Nineveh, Iraq. -"The 900,000 residents of Erbil now have a first-rate maternity and pediatrics hospital." -Paved roads through parts of Najaf complete. -Over $22 Billion spent by U.S on rebuilding Iraq so far. -Al Ahnaf Nahia now has a new government building. -Iraq's border with Syria now more secure with contruction of 23 border forts. (http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/r...con071706.html)

~Political~

-After calls for unity by Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraq’s largest Sunni bloc (IAF) has ended its legislative boycott. -Iraq’s prime minister said that fears of an Iraqi civil war are unwarranted. -Muthanna Province completely controlled by Iraqi Army. -One-fifth of the Diyala Province now under Iraqi Army control. -The number of tips from Iraqis continues to grow. -New York Times; Baghdad violence "ebbed significantly".

~Military~

-Iraqi troops captured the number-2 man in the Islamic Army terrorist group. -In Baghdad, Iraqi troops captured two top Shiite militia leaders, and killed or wounded between 30 and 40 during the raid. -In Babil, Iraqi security forces captured a leader of anti-Iraqi forces. -Based on tips from Iraqis, Iraqi security forces captured an entire anti-Iraqi cell during a raid in Mosul. -A senior insurgent leader was captured in Baqubah. The wanted man was responsible for terrorist activity throughout the middle Euphrates region. -In Baghdad, a top al Qaeda leader was captured by Coalition forces. -In another raid, Iraqi security forces captured a top insurgent leader, responsible for IED attacks, and the murder of Iraqi civilians.

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I left out some stories using questionable sources like Cyber Cast News Service for obvious reasons but the progress is right here in right of us. The sectarian violence still is a major problem and there have been logistical and political faliures, but the way I see this situation, the strength, professionalism, and fortitude of the Iraqi Army is going to become a major factor as more and more are trained and have battle experience, it will only be a matter of time before the insurgency is crushed or severely downsized by the increasing power the Iraqi government wields. But the one thing that will hopefully hold all of this together is the continued steadfastness of the president and our present and future members of Congress, I know many are opposed to this war, and I am not one to think you don't have your reasons. But if anything has been keeping Iraq from desending into hideous levels of violence as a nation, it is the continued, unheard progress made by the MNF and the IA (Iraqi Army).

[Xing Daorong]

Wait what is this "Reload This Page" business?