Posted on 06/01/2008 6:46:46 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
How odd (or to be expected) that suddenly intelligence agencies, analysts, journalists, and terrorists themselves are attesting that al-Qaeda is in near ruins, that ideologically radical Islam is losing its appeal, and that terrorist incidents against Americans at home and abroad outside the war zones are at an all-time low—and yet few associate the radical change in fortune in Iraq as a contributory cause to our success.
But surely the US military contributed a great deal to the humiliation of al-Qaedists and the bankruptcy of their cause, since it has (1) killed thousands of generic jihadists, and to such a degree that the former Middle East romance of going to Iraq to fight the weak crusaders is now synonymous with a death sentence and defeat; (2) provided the window of security necessary for the growing confidence of the Maliki government whose success is absolutely destroying the Islamist canard that the U.S. backs only dictatorships. Indeed, al-Qaeda's greatest fear is successful Arab constitutional government; something still caricatured here at home as a neocon pipe dream.
In addition, the grotesque tactics that al-Qaeda in duress developed in Iraq weakened its case throughout the Middle East; while the Americans learned just the opposite lesson under Gen. Petraeus—how to win hearts and mind while mastering the elements of counter-insurgency. In contrast, the terrorists learned how to lose a war while alienating the Muslim population.
I would expect the Maliki government to gain greater respect abroad, and maybe it will cease to be the punching bag here at home, given its recent accomplishments—made possible by the efforts of the U.S. military. There is an odd feeling that the more books come out damning the Iraq war, and the more politicians write it off as a fiasco, the more Iraqis are showing the world that a constitutional government can survive the enormous odds set against it. Final note. I think this May may have been the lowest month for American military fatalities (19) since the war started in March 2003.
BTTT
Great post. Hanson nails it.
yep yep
Yes, for an old Stainist, his is right on top of this one...:)
This matches with the internal intelligence analysts I’ve read.
After all the problems with CIA, all the intelligence sources are providing honest feedback as an CYA. AQ is mostly toast. No doubt about it. They would never, ever say it unless it was so, since a big attack now would prove them all liars and end their careers.
AQ has expended their last load trying to pull another “tet”, but no one noticed.
Congressman Billybob
What is a “Stainist?”
Bush Derangement Syndrome
LOL...umm...a maoist who cannot get his pants down fast enough???
I just mistyped...I meant a “Stalinist”
Perhaps the imminent closure of Club Gitmo is bad for recruiting?
yitbos
“What is a “Stainist?””
—
That’s a lousy saxophone player, lousy golfer, gigolo and, as it happens, President of the U.S. who uses a teenager’s dress as a napkin.
That was an excellent article. Mr. Paine seemed very unhappy with the US later on though. My best:)
For perspective, what the news media *isn’t* saying is that over in the peaceful beach paradise of Brazil, 104 people are shot dead each night.
You read that right; each night. 38,000 people per year are being shot to death in Rio and its sister Brazilian cities.
...but in the Iraq war zone...the U.S. lost 15 soldiers to combat (19 overall) in the entire month of May.
Yep The "Perception Management" MSM can fool some of the people some of the time, but not us. Makes me wanna holler.
Let me know if you want in or out.
Links: FR Index of his articles: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson
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NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp
Pajamasmedia: http://victordavishanson.pajamasmedia.com/
This won't solve the Middle East's problems, and it was never intended to do so. But it may stop what seemed five years ago like an inevitable slide into Lebanon-style bloody chaos, wherein a police state under a tyrant would be regarded as a welcome relief. There are parts of the Middle East where even now that slide seems inevitable. Iraq isn't one of them.
bump
To one of my all time friends - thanks for faithfully keeping me on your ping lists.
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