Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Officials: Bush to adopt Petraeus advice on troop withdrawals - CNN.com
Is anyone really surprised here? President Bush didn't really have a choice in the matter. With General Petraeus saying that there is progress and we can bring the surge troops home by next summer if things continue the way they are now, Bush wouldn't really have a leg to stand on if he chose otherwise.
Plus, had he not followed General Petraeus' advice, he would have looked like a hypocrite for saying "listen to the commanders on the ground".
Now that the firestorm has subsided ever so slightly, the real work is in prodding Iraqi lawmakers and their security forces to start getting on the ball about various issues.
That's where we need to focus on more than anything else. The local folks are starting to stand on their own two feet and driving out insurgents. We're not out of the woods yet, but I can see civilization.
Travis
Monday, September 10, 2007
BBC NEWS | Middle East | US surge has failed - Iraqi poll
And now for the differing opinion. The BBC is reporting that a recent poll shows that the Iraqi's think that the "surge" has failed. Let's take a look at their numbers shall we?
IS VIOLENCE JUSTIFIED?
"Thinking about the political action of other people, do you find each of these items to be acceptable or not acceptable?"
Attacks on coalition forces
All
Sunni Arab
Shia Arab
Kurds
Acceptable
57%
93%
50%
5%
Not acceptable
43%
7%
50%
94%
BBC/ABC News
One of starkest statistics from the poll is the overwhelming support for attacks on coalition forces among Iraq's minority Sunni population; 93% of those surveyed said they considered it acceptable.
The numbers were exactly opposite when they asked about attacks on Iraqi forces.
Funny though, Iran is supporting Shiite Muslims in their attacks on US troops. So you have to wonder if the result is a bit skewed on that number. Hell according to the CIA Factbook, Iraqi is "60-65% Shiite". So if Iran is supporting them, how do you suppose they'll answer? Do you think that Hitler would answer that he supports the Jewish folks because it's the right thing or the truthful thing?
The one thing that I've been telling people all along is one of the main complaints.
Jobs - 80%% are "quite bad" or "very bad".
Electric Supply - 93% "quite bad" or "very bad"
Clean Water - 75%
Take these things out of the equation and Iraq will prosper past your wildest dreams. I've spoken with Iraqi civilians and US troops and that's the three biggest complaints. I've written about it before back in MAY.
The number of people wanting coalition forces to leave immediately rose since February's poll but more than half - 53% - still said they should stay until security improved.
Even the Iraqi's know that the security situation needs to improve or drastic things will happen.
So there you have it. A differing opinion on the war in Iraq. I wonder if the mainstream media or Dailykos would ever have the courage to do such a thing. Nah, I doubt it.
Travis
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hope For Iraqis
Wait a minute. I thought the Iraqis wanted us all gone immediately. I thought they hated our guts and wanted nothing to do with us. If that's the case, why are Iraqi civilians risking their necks to save US soldiers? Oh that's right. Because what you've been told by the media is bullshit.
An Iraqi man saved the lives of four U.S. Soldiers and eight civilians when he intercepted a suicide bomber during a Concerned Citizens meeting in the town of al-Arafia Aug. 18.
They don't mention the mans name, but anyone who acts like that is a hero in my book.
Later that night, the Concerned Citizens group contacted the local National Police director, Lt. Col. Samir, with the location of the al-Qaeda cell believed to be responsible for the attack. The National Police immediately conducted a raid that resulted in four arrests.
Sounds to me like the Iraqi citizens are starting to get a foothold on their area and by working with US soldiers, they are starting to get rid of terrorist in their neighborhoods.
So tell me liberals, how can you turn your back on people like this? How can you want to pull out our guys when they face dangers like this. That makes you a coward and a traitor to these people in my book.
Travis
Labels: al-qaeda, iraq, military, surge, terrorism
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