[neverdem]

Happy New Year!

[mugs99]

the establishment of a stable Iraqi democratic government, free from sectarian and terrorist violence

Never happen.
.

[Tolik]

    Victor Davis Hanson Ping ! 

       Let me know if you want in or out.

Links:    FR Index of his articles:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson 
            His website: http://victorhanson.com/    
                NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp
New Link!    http://victordavishanson.pajamasmedia.com/

[expatpat]

While there may be a sick appeal in allowing Sunni and Shiite jihadists to kill each other off

I think I've caught a bug.....

[GSlob]

"1) Provide a clear definition of victory as the establishment of a stable Iraqi democratic government, free from sectarian and terrorist violence."
Why we are at it, why not define a grandfather as a grandmother with changed anatomy?

[Billthedrill]

I have remained silent on the topic of a "surge" of troops for the simple reason that I haven't the faintest clue whether it would accomplish anything or not. I do view with extreme suspicion such actions emanating from the planning rooms in D.C. as political gestures rather than military operations. We don't know what the generals really asked for or what they are prepared to do with additional troops; what we read in the media is only speculation from persons who, even with the highest qualifications, have only imperfect data.

I agree with VDH that it would be nice to have some sort of objective delineated by which to measure this activity. It would be even better to have that a bipartisan objective, but that would risk the Dems giving up a potential club with which to bash the administration for the piddling consideration of national security. They have not proven mature or broad-minded enough as yet to do so and the present treacly Pelosi coronation orgy leaves us no indication that they ever will.

[westmichman]

From the start Bush said that nations harboring terrorists would also pay a price. I feel that any so called civilians who harbor terrorists in their midst are not civilians but part of the enemy. They want us dead as bad as the terrorists themselves and therefore are not civilians. The media can stick this "civilian" descrption where the sun doesn't shine. Besides, how do you tell a terrorist from a "civilian" when they all wear civilian clothes?

[AZLiberty]

My prediction: the next phase of the war in Iraq will be won primarily
with information rather than weaponry or manpower. After four years, we have surely mapped out every residence in the Baghdad region, with knowledge about who lives there, where their political sympathies lie, where they work, who their friends are, who they call on their cell phones, what books they borrow from the library, what satellite channels they watch, what kind of vehicle they drive, where they typically drive it. Once we have the multidimensional version of "Google Baghdad", with real-time viewing and other forms of monitoring, we've got their number.

[CBart95]

Now Hanson is vilified for speaking clearly and precisely?

It figures. The Hate America crowd hates clear thought more than anything. It cuts the withered testicles off of bloated hypocrisy.

Hanson ascends to a clarity of thought and insight that is remakable and refreshing.