Recent days have brought excellent news out of Iraq, which should be doing more to help surge-champion John McCain’s presidential campaign:
With the U.S. military’s handoff of the central province of Babil to Iraqi security forces on Thursday, two-thirds of Iraq is now being secured by the Iraqi army and local police, with backup from U.S. troops. That means Iraqis finally have stood up, allowing Americans to stand down, in 12 of 18 provinces. Babil is part of the area once known as the “Triangle of Death,” which averaged 20 sectarian attacks a week last year.
On a somewhat lighter note, less violence and more cell-tower construction has resulted in reliable cell phone coverage, meaning, as U.S. News & World Report put it, “BlackBerries are back in Baghdad.”
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39 Comments
So Blackberries are a sign of a stable country? Gee if that is the case why has it cost so much in lives and treasure to obtain? Wouldn’t it have been better instead of shipping so much armor, men and material to Iraq if we had just sent a thousand cases of PDR? “Scotty beam me up, there is no intelligent life on this planet!”.
But writerdog, of course it’s a sign of a better country because corporations have a new market in which to sell their goods. That’s what war has been about for centuries, new markets, new places of commerce to make money for the ruling class. America doesn’t truly have victory in Iraq until a profit is being made.
OK I just can not leave it at that! Iraq should be for the Iraqis to decide what they are and how they should handle their affairs. If it has taken this long to come this far towards that goal then someone is lacking the desire to reach that goal. Either they themselves are not wanting it or someone is not wanting it to happen because it would mean they lose control and reasons to point to for continuing to stay.
Once again recently I heard a Senator give the excuse that if we leave then Al-Qaeda would claim a victory over the U.S. My question is, “who gives a Flying Fish what Al-Qaeda claims?”. For so long now the me-me has been totted out that we do not care what the world thinks of the United States. But now we have to step and fetch to the words of a small group of extremists! Canada better be on the look out if Bin Laden ever said he does not believe that the U.S. would ever have the nerve to invade and occupy our neighbor to the North! The only ones really wanting us to stay in Iraq is Al-Qaeda for as long as we are tied up there they are safe to plan and act. But whom am I to interject logic and reason into this conversation? “Scotty….Scotty? Oh damn it! My communicator must be on the blink again!”.
Rhonda Rhonda, the DimLibs with nothing better to do than mouth-off constantly around here will never, never, never admit it’s working. Even when faced with irrefutable fact.
Why is that….because they are lying DimLibs, full of hate for nearly everything about this country.
This is great news. And I mean GREAT news. This means the next US president may be able to shut the door on Iraq very quickly and turn to the main order of US business. Namely, the USA.
Great news!
I agree, let’s get the heck outta there! I still can’t figure out what we got for our money on this one. 6 tillion dollars and 4,000 American lives for what again?
I’m extremely proud of our young men and women in the military. To transform a country from a dictatorship to a constitutional democracy is feat only a few can claim.
writerdog
Posted October 26, 2008 at 6:58 am | Permalink
So Blackberries are a sign of a stable country?
Indeed it is writerdog. Cell towers that are erected without being blown up indicate a move towards civilized society.
The key to the success which was enabled by our fine young and men of the armed forces, was to provide an environment where Iraq could grow.
Giving moms and dads the ability to walk to the marketplace without fear of attack and enjoying an ice cream with their children is a priceless trait of a free society.
This reminds me of a story of a young Christian Ukrainian who has met with great success with his business. Under the cruel suppression the Soviet Union, Andrew Shpagin could not even practice his faith in public.
These days, Andrew Shpagin, the company’s founder and main innovator was able to realize his dream.
I was born in Ukraine in Mariupol city in 1975, in period of the Soviet Union. Andrew’s inspirational verses came from the Holy Bible. In Andrew’s own words:
At the same time I was deep in thought about the essence of Christianity. The key question in that search was one verse from the Bible Mtthew 7:13,14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
I knew very well that the narrow gate symbolized the Christ himself who saves everyone who believe. My understanding was very simple — a man repented, believed in Christ — recieved salvation and besides with guarantee of security. But once I noticed that there was a word «way» in that verse. It turned out that there was not only the narrow gate but also the narrow way that led to the eternal life. That way only took its begining at the narrow gate. Coming to believe is only the begining of the way. What is the way? The Bible says (Jesus’ words):
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him”.
Now we’ve made a meeting in our flat. Basicly my old friends come. We study the Bible deeply and we try to do it objectively as long as we are not a part of any denomination; we’re just a Christians, those who follow the Christ. As it turned out we are not alone in that. There are a lot of such small groups as ours in Kiev and all over the world. You can see it on http://simplechurch.com.ua. It is very close to our world-view.
Andrew Shpagin went on to found and build 3DCoat. It can be seen here at the URL below:
http://www.3d-coat.com/
Andrew knows that opportunity cannot come without sacrifice and work. He honors the commitment of the United States to freeing those behind the Iron Curtain.
The people of Iraq know that opportunity and God’s blessing will lead them to prsoperous times because of the sacrifice of the men and women of the United States and its allies.
The young men and women of our military withstood the test of faith and will from all sides, including those who would call them evil and warmongers.
There will be people from Iraq like Andrew Shpagin that will enrich our world with their intellect and creativity.
Well done lads and lasses, well done.
May God bless your lives and may we all honor your service and sacrifice.
I understand they are paying people over there not to shoot up the place and otherwise act out.
How do I get in on some of THAT action?
The Number one issue for me always is terrorists and who can best handle them. I don’t think it will be wimp Obama. If we get attacked here in the good old USA again, watch how fast the dems and libs will back peddle because the public would demand it. Barney Frank wants to cut the miltary 25% that is wrong, wrong, worng.
Barney Frank wants to cut the waste … not body armor. Get real.
An Obama scalpel, not a McCain hatchet will be utilized…..
Good interview with Christopher Hitchens –
http://miaculpa.blogspot.com/2008/10/hardball_9712.html
He says McCain is borderline senile and it’s become “…morally and intellectually impossible to vote Republican.”
george
Posted October 26, 2008 at 9:56 am | Permalink
The Number one issue for me always is terrorists and who can best handle them. I don’t think it will be wimp Obama. If we get attacked here in the good old USA again, watch how fast the dems and libs will back peddle because the public would demand it.
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Yeah, we’d be much better off with a real patriot like McCain. You know, the guy who made at least 32 propaganda statements for the North Vietnamese.
In short, the ’surge’ obviously worked, but a lot of people will deny and ridicule that. Facts are not important to many people, obviously.
“Raptor” –
If the Surge worked (ya know; past tense) then it’s time to get American troops outta there. The Iraqi government was the occupation army out of their country.
The the Pentagon wants more American troops on Afghanistan/Pakistan border.
But they can’t spare the troops because The Surge, at best, can’t even begin to seem like it’s working without 150,000 pairs of American boots on the ground
Those are the facts, “Raptor.”
Maybe we should pay people to stop shooting each other in Chicago?
Obama’s “neighborhood” is the murder capital of the world:
“Oct 24, 2008 10:34 am US/Central
Chicago Beats New York, Los Angeles In Murders
Police Supt. Jody Weis To Take Hot City Council Hot Seat
CHICAGO (CBS) ? Chicago is the Second City in nickname and the third in population, but when it comes to murder, the city has the dubious distinction of being second to no city in America.
As CBS 2’s Mike Puccinelli reports, the Chicago Sun-Times pointed out on Friday that Chicago has seen 426 homicides this year through Tuesday, compared with 417 in New York and 302 in Los Angeles.
At the end of 1998, Chicago made international headlines as the U.S. “murder capital” after surpassing New York’s homicide totals for the first time ever. Chicago shed that dubious distinction when murders plummeted over the last decade.
There are more than 8 million people in New York, compared to slightly under 3 million in Chicago. The population of Los Angeles exceeds that of Chicago by more than 800,000.”
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/chicago.homicide.rate.2.847736.html
Many of the dead where High School Students.
What were the positive results from the millions of dollars that Obama and Terrorist William Ayers spent on “education” in Chicago?
Well let’s see, they’ve succeeded in driving out half the christians from Mosul in recent days, is that what you’re cheering about?
Once the ethnic cleansing is complete, can we leave then?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081024/wl_nm/us_iraq_christians_syria_1
Or, maybe you’re so giddy because Iraq’s main Sunni party has suspended all talks and contact with the U.S.?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081025/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_236
Looks like SNAFU to me, but you might be able to pull it off, with everyone’s attention focused on the presidential race.
Franklin
Posted October 26, 2008 at 11:55 am | Permalink
Maybe we should pay people to stop shooting each other in Chicago?
Obama’s “neighborhood” is the murder capital of the world:
___________________________________________________
Obama is a politician, not a cop. So what’s your point?
nitwit
xxx
Obama and terrorist William Ayers spent millions of dollars on “education” in Chicago.
Of course, that was money spent on ACORN and other political activities, but Obama should be made to show what POSITIVE effect all of those millions of dollars Obama controlled, had on bloody Chicago! As stated, many of the dead were high school students.
Also, Obama was friends with slumlord Rezco, who once owned many of the buildings were these crimes are taking place. Rezco was Obama’s greatest fundraiser, for a time, and Obama represented Rezco, on several legal matters.
Obama is part of the corrupt Daily Machine, in Chicago.
Obama is part of the corrupt Sroger Machine, in Cook County.
Obama served in the State Legislature, representing one of the highest crime-rate districts in the world.
What has Obama done about crime?
So I guess this means that Chicago is now less safe to live in than Iraq and has more killings a year as well.
Now who is from Chicago?
Oh yeah, Obama. The same guy who opposed the successful surge in Iraq.
I hpe all of this works out in the end. And yes, blackberries are actually a part of that – if a telecommunications system can be maintained that is indeed a sign of progress. Unfortunately I remember all too well such similar “signs” in a previous similar war – and also the “light at the end of the tunnel” that turned out to be an oncoming train.
Iraqiization will tell – as will the steadfastness of the Iraqi government to stand up to the US and t find a way for their various factions to work together.
“Nathaniel
Posted October 26, 2008 at 12:53 pm | Permalink
So I guess this means that Chicago is now less safe to live in than Iraq and has more killings a year as well.”
Nathan – that statement is 100% FALSE.
#
Franklin
Posted October 26, 2008 at 12:45 pm | Permalink
xxx
Obama and terrorist William Ayers spent millions of dollars on “education” in Chicago.
_________________________________________________
Paul, that’s education, not law enforcement. Even you should be able to tell the difference.
_________________________________________________
Of course, that was money spent on ACORN and other political activities,
______________________________________________
No it wasn’t. Care to prove that?
_______________________________________________
but Obama should be made to show what POSITIVE effect all of those millions of dollars Obama controlled, had on bloody Chicago! As stated, many of the dead were high school students.
______________________________________________
Again, there’s a difference between education and law enforcement.
________________________________________________
Also, Obama was friends with slumlord Rezco, who once owned many of the buildings were these crimes are taking place. Rezco was Obama’s greatest fundraiser, for a time, and Obama represented Rezco, on several legal matters.
________________________________________________
Prove that they were “Friends”.
________________________________________________
Obama is part of the corrupt Daily Machine, in Chicago.
________________________________________________
You’re lying. Prove it.
________________________________________________
Obama is part of the corrupt Sroger Machine, in Cook County.
________________________________________________
Another lie. Prove it.
________________________________________________
Obama served in the State Legislature, representing one of the highest crime-rate districts in the world.
________________________________________________
So what’s your point?
________________________________________________
What has Obama done about crime?
________________________________________________
What has McCain done about crime?
dimwit
BlueJay
Posted October 26, 2008 at 9:13 am | Permalink
I understand they are paying people over there not to shoot up the place and otherwise act out.
How do I get in on some of THAT action?
—————————————————————
Yeah, but BJ, you have to WORK for your pay over there.
Which side would you be on?
Oh and BJ, they don’t tolerate Brokeback Mountain types over there.
Every time “MaxGrobnik” posts an angel gets its wings….
…ripped to bloody stumps from its shoulders.
mh…obviously military history is not one of your strengths. Since when does a single campaign define an entire conflict? Was WWII over after the Battle of the Bulge? Was Vietnam decided after Khe Sahn? Was Korea determined after Hamburger Hill?
The answer to all those is obvious. The surge was one aspect to a conflict.
The most significant part to this is how so many people (including Obama) said it would never work, and it has.
“Raptor” —
How has John S (for Senile) McCain the Third (for Shrub’s 3rd term) defined “Victory in Iraq?”
There of course are other reasons that the sectarian violence has decreased other than a simple increase in the number of troops. And there are other problems that haven’t been at all addressed.
But, fine, let’s say the surge worked.
What’s your point?
If the surge worked why aren’t our troops coming home???
Because it DIDN’T work. DUH.
The crux of the biscuit is what we do moving on from this point. The top general is Iraq has stated that the conflict cannot be “won” by military means. He’s right.
The Iraqi government want us to leave. The Iraqi people want us to leave. Even George W. Bush is talking about leaving.
John McCain wants us to stay. It’s a fundamentally stupid position that will continue to cost us lives, billions of dollars, and continuing damage to the US reputation in the region.
I have my doubts about Obama’s plan (what happens after we increase our presence in Aghanistan?), but at least he’s making decisions based on a sane assessment of the facts, rather than a stubborn commitment to military options as the only recourse.
“Rage” –
John S (for Senile) McCain the Third (for Shrub’s 3rd term) approaches Iraq the same way he’s run his campaign. All tactics, no strategy.
Good piece in today’s NY Times Magazine –
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/magazine/26mccain-t.html
“…two-thirds of Iraq is now being secured by the Iraqi army and local police, with backup from U.S. troops. ”
The Iraqis will not have stood up so the Americans can stand down until the Iraqis are doing the job of protecting their provinces entirely by themselves.
Until then, we’re still there.
That was the plan all along…we’ll never leave.
And for those of you who are so proud of our “accomplishment” there…when do we get to invade China, North Korea, Sudan, Russia, and all the other countries who have no respect for human rights? It was all about the oil…not human rights, WMDs, or “spreading Democracy”. So many Americans are so stupid.
“So many Americans are so stupid.”
Yup. Otherwise, Republicans would have to get jobs in the circus.
10 billion dollars a month just so they can vote to put an Islamic findamentalist in power…whoopie! That’s money well spent!
When will it be safe enough for the 5 to 7 million Iraqi refugees to return?
So we’ve “pacified” the triangle! Gee, that sounds just like all the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel stories from Vietnam. With all the same veracity, no doubt.
Was Korea determined after Hamburger Hill?
Sorry, Hamburger Hill was fought in Viet Nam in May of 1969