From all reports it appears that the surge is working and will be a huge success in Iraq.
quote:
The American media, even the Arab media have had to acknowledge that things are getting a lot better in Baghdad, and perhaps Iraq generally. Sadr City, the former no-go zone of the Madhi militia has reached an agreement with the U.S. military to be stationed with Iraqi troops right in the city.
The U.S. military has reached an agreement with representatives of the Shiite community in Baghdad's Sadr City enclave that will allow American forces to maintain a permanent presence in the militia stronghold for the first time since 2004, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Saturday.
Under the agreement, the U.S. will open one of the joint security stations that are a prominent feature of the new Baghdad security plan, with American soldiers living alongside Iraqi forces in a police station just inside the impoverished neighborhood, said Rahim al-Daraji, one of Sadr City's two mayors.
quote:
More Evidence Surge Is Working
Topics: Iraq
Dan Spencer points out at California Yankee that the surge is working while the Democrat's endlessly fight among themselves over whether they will poll better to micro-manage the war using Pelosi-Murtha "slow bleed," or to rewrite history by amending the 2002 "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq," even some Democrats have noticed that the revised strategy - the surge - is working.
But don't just take Dan's word on the success of the surge, he has up this video so you can hear it straight from the horses mouth - from the perspective of the Crazyhorse Troop of the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry:
Shhhh... The Surge is Working
By Patrick Ruffini
Saturday, February 24, 2007
A gloomy haze has settled over the nation's prosecution of the War on Terror as of late. It seems like we can only watch helplessly as Nancy Pelosi and Jack Murtha size up new angles of attack for undermining the war effort. The media is chomping at the bit the tell the story of an America, bruised and humbled and exhausted, heading for the exits in Iraq.
But something interesting is happening on the way to the "new direction." Early indications are that the troop surge into Baghdad is working. It hasn't been reported on widely, but murders in Baghdad are down 70%, attacks are down 80%, Mahdi Army chief Moqtada al-Sadr has reportedly made off for Iran, and many Baghdadis who had fled the violence now feel it's safe enough to return. The strategy that Congress is busy denouncing is proving to be our best hope for victory.
Where did you get this from? evry day on the news there hve been many killed In Baghdad the new trick is to set of car bombs on buy market places howevere recently we have seen bombs on buses. 40 people died in Sunday in attacks on Baghdad.
What you have in Iraq is probably the same thing we had in N.Ireland you sen in more troops and teh fighters back down for a while they wit until youare complacent or until you think you have won and you leave. These fighters have not gone they are surveying the new situation they still launch sopradic attacks after all they killed 2 us soldiers at the weekend there didn't they.
Edward Teach said this in post #1 : From all reports it appears that the surge is working and will be a huge success in Iraq.
An increase in US troops patrolling Baghdad streets is bound to decrease the sectarian violence on the streets of Baghdad to some extent, but do you think this is particular surge is a "turning point" in the Iraq war? There's been a lot of claims like this before, all of which turned out to be false dawns. What are the military saying? And why do you think it is going to be different this time?
Bush has been told a military solution is impossible in Iraq so this surge could just be Bush's way of passing the blame when it does fail onto the Democrats when they cut the money.
Actually Edward is right but the story has been spoun by the reporters. You see violnece in Feruary was down compared to January, howevere thats not a great acheivement when you consider that Dec 06 and Jan 07 were two of the deadliest months on record it also doe ot take into account any death this month. It also does not tell you that as attacks drop in Baghdad attacks in the ret of the country were on the rise, so it appears that militants have chaged the tactics which is a headache for the US because they have to make a choice change thier tactics and leave Baghdad or stay the course and secure Baghdad.
lodgebo said this in post #4 : it appears that militants have chaged the tactics which is a headache for the US because they have to make a choice change thier tactics and leave Baghdad or stay the course and secure Baghdad.
The Bush admin knew exactly what would happen if they sent troops into Baghdad. The militants would simple vanish. The fact that they are presenting this "surge" as a new tactic is baffling.
Edward Teach said this in post #6 : Do you even know what their doing?
I do know what the're doing, why? It's the same tactic being used in Afghanistan, Ink block counterinsurgency. And they are gaining control of areas of Baghdad, but what's to stop the militants simply moving elsewhere, as they have done in the past?
Why is it so surprising that violence has decreased in Baghdad? Violence has decreased in every Iraqi city the US troops have surged into. This has been going on unsuccessfully for the last 3 years.
Explain what is so new this time and why do you think it's going to work?
And couldn't this just be Bush's way of forcing the Democrats hand. When and if they cut funding it will go some way to getting Bush off the hook he's been squirming around on for the last few years. Politically it's cynical and clever and good for the Republicans, and with an election not so far away the Dems know how badly it will reflect on their party.
So enlighte us Edaward what are they doing? Here are 3 intresting points that came out this week regarding Iraq
Tony Blair today admitted that it is "to early to tell if the new American tactics are working"
Also this week 127 people have died in Iraq of which just under half where in the Baghdad region so much for it calming down.
Third intresting point is one that most news companies have missed for the first time ever the white house used the words "civil war" while describing Iraq.
The thing that they are doing that is different is that they are going door to door. Confiscating all weapons they fine and discovering ammo dumps.
Something else that came out today was that the Iraqi Govenment said that violence is down since the start of the surge. However the MSM has buried the story or did not report it at all. Most newspapers like NY Times buried it deep on like page 106 or something like that. MSNBC mentioned it very briefly and none of the other networks mentioned it at all except of course Fox News. Why because the Liberal Left doesn't want the surge to succeed. They want us to FAIL in Iraq and I have no idea why they want us to fail????
As far as the "Civil War" comment. I haven't seen it.
An Iraqi leader told President Bush on Thursday that the latest security crackdown in his country is working, but cautioned it will take more time. He thanked the American people for supporting Iraq.
"We are not finished, but we are doing better than expected," said Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a leading politician in the powerful Shiite Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
Bush met with Abdul-Mahdi in the Oval Office for just under an hour. The meeting happened as House Democrats advanced legislation setting a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal despite a veto threat from the White House.
"I appreciate the progress that you're making," Bush told the Iraqi leader. "I know it's hard work. It's hard work to overcome distrust that has built up over the years because your country was ruled by a tyrant."
The White House sees stability in the Iraqi capital as the centerpiece of a political, military and diplomatic plan to winning the war. But Bush's troop buildup in Iraq comes just as many lawmakers and the public have pushed for troops to come home.
Bush last met with Abdul-Mahdi in the White House last August. He met with Iraq's other vice president, Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni Arab, in December.
Edward Teach said this in post #12 : The thing that they are doing that is different is that they are going door to door. Confiscating all weapons they fine and discovering ammo dumps.
Well thats a fairly good idea only two problems with it. 1. Not all weapons are going to be in houses 2. You can't cover the whole country that way it impossible
Something else that came out today was that the Iraqi Govenment said that violence is down since the start of the surge.
Well how long has the surge been going what just over a month hardly surprising violence is down in that time. The insurgents will probably sit back and evaluate the situation before making any move plus they are looking more at civlian targets than worrying about US forces. Also lets be honest violence would have gone down anyway Iraqs history has shown that after 2 extremly bloody months like December and January you normally have a few months of relative quiet then another month or two of death, it's the element of surprise. There is still murder in Baghdad but not on the scale we have seen recently.
However the MSM has buried the story or did not report it at all. Most newspapers like NY Times buried it deep on like page 106 or something like that. MSNBC mentioned it very briefly and none of the other networks mentioned it at all except of course Fox News. Why because the Liberal Left doesn't want the surge to succeed. They want us to FAIL in Iraq and I have no idea why they want us to fail????
No Edward the reason why is because the surge has not been going on long enought to be a success and I would not put your faith in Fox they have thier head so far up Bush's ass they can barely see what going on in Iraq. Take it from me battles like thia are not won in a months or two wait 12 - 18 months then at least we can have an indication of the way the surge is going. Trying to make a positive out of it after this short time or even trying to paint it as a potential victory is a foolish act.
As far as the "Civil War" comment. I haven't seen it.
Well I have seen it reported on Sky news. Might have been a prophecy actaully I mean this surge is it for Iraq if it fails Iraq slips into civl war and Bush and Blairs legacy is tarnished and the "model" of ME democracy become a laughing stock in that area.
03-14-2007 04:23 AM
