I saw a startling statistic that said that 24% of all stories in the New York Times until last year were devoted to Iraq, and this year, 3% were. I saw a column the other day, and it said, "How to resolve the quagmire." And I looked down, it was about the Democratic race.What's happened is that the surge has changed things -- not that 30,000 men and a force of 130,000 in a country of 26 million can itself change the pulse of the battlefield, but it came as a culmination of a lot of other things. We had been fighting for four and a half years when it took hold. And we've killed over 20,000 insurgents. In the aggregate, that total is impressive.
Remember, in post-modern war, we're only allowed to talk about how much we suffer, not what we do to the enemy. For the first time in history of warfare that's been true. But we have done enormous damage to the enemy, and it's starting to now take its toll.
CONTINUED HERE
Wow ... that was quite a bit of speechifying, but I could agree with most of it.
ReplyDeleteThe important thing to ask ourselves is this: are we as a nation (and a world) safer with a Democratic Iraq or with an Iraq under a theocratic dictatorship like Iran ... because if we don't win the peace, that's what we'll get.
I printed out Victor's column, too. He is always so brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThis is one terrific post, Courtney. My husband is so concerned about the situation in Basra today. He was last there just before the war and it is a critical area for the oil industry. Plus, he established friendships with collegues and is always concerned for them.
I'll take a slightly crazy McCain over a lying Hillary and downright naive Obama any day, thank you. Even bully Hugo Chavez is nervous about a possible McCain presidency!
The writer of this piece is obviously well-versed, well-informed, historically astute and knows far better that of which he writes, than the defeatist, appeasist media and Leftie cowards that do all in their misguided power to bring us down to defeat in a battle that will, if lost, cost these idiots more than they'll ever admit or guess.
ReplyDeleteGreat -- and farseeing -- post.
Hi Paul. I hear you - that was one long bit. I thought he really knockd out all the anti war points but he certainly took the scenic route to do it!
ReplyDeleteHey there Karen. Yeah VdH is awesome. I heard him speak a Wofford College a while back and the guy was spot on. And that was when Iraq was a real mess - his optimism and history are an unbeatable combo.
ReplyDeleteBasra - what a trip. On again off again cease fires, blitzes, stops - Ever notice that certain militaries in the ME can never seem to fight til victory?
Hope your other 1/2's friends are safe and sound.
Hi Skunkfeathers! True that. OTOH, perhaps they too know that Great Satan is unbeatable - the margnalization of militas, resistence movements and intolerant regimes is as assured as Gret Satan whippinganybody on a real battlefield. Maybe, they just cannot bear to admit good thngs when their fave party is out of the White House.
ReplyDelete