Iraq, the Surge, and the Sunni Awakening: Not So Fast, Jack
Reader Comments
Remember we're at war
We all know that we have very capable officers leading our military and from what we know about Obama he will continue with Gates at SecDef. Barack Obama is not Jimmy Carter, he is much more pragmatic about solving problems. Obama will bring in the top senior officers and state department experts and work out the best solution for moving Iraq over to governing themselves with as minimal a presence from the US as what is reasonable- probably in a two year time frame with 20,000 troops remanding working with the Iraq's after that. Being president is about good judgement and picking the best team as possible regardless of political party. John McCain still hasn't shown that he can put together the best team of leaders that will turn around and start solving the many problems that the US faces in the future- unless you consider his great choice of Sarah Palin as his next in command.
Vote For Experience?
How about Vote For Knowledge, Wisdom and Judgement? Experience alone does not make one wise enough to handle tough decisions. I've been in the military for over 19 years. A wise President has chosen knowledgeable and trustworthy members to his staff. Of course, my current Commander in Chief failed to do so. He, like others look at experience alone. Cheney was chosen for experience and look where that selection got us. Obama has the intellect to select not who the people want but who they need. I wnated him to select Hillary but then realized that this man really wants what's best for America because he's been through the rough times and understands what everyday Americans go through. If Obama was an African-American, this election would have been over months ago.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Awakening Councils
http://crudeanalysis.typepad.com/crude_analysis/2008/09/al-qaeda-in-iraq-and-the-awakening-councils.html
"Al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Awakening Councils"
re: remember we're at war
"last I checked GW had no experience in leading military troops"...yes, because McCain had SO much command experience as a captured pilot.
The Surge...
The surge has decreased violence because we have PAID OFF THE GROUPS that were causing the violence...with your tax dollars!!!
Pseudo-surge
I read a very interesting article recently. The article stated that the "Surge" was not what really imppacted violence. The article refered to a recent government report that was generated which stated that obserevations made by satellite photo specialists noted that satellite photographs of Baghdad showed some marked increse in dark areas in the city. The specialists in satellite photos observed that over time, the areas of darkness in Baghdad GREW in size, showing incresaingly REDUCED OCCUPATION of certain parts of the city. They concluded that either the acts of ETHNIC CLEANSING, resulting in fewer city inhabitants in certain neighborhoods occurring at that time, or people LEAVING THE CITY were the causes of reduced violence and NOT the "surge". So, between Al Sadir's cease fires, the Anbar Awakening and the ethnic cleansing and emmigration from Baghdad, that the surge appeared to work.
Iraq.
My fellow Americans.By us remaining in Iraq,we are only delaying the inevitable,and that is the fall of the malakie regime.Only then can Iraq begin the process of choseing a politacial system that they want,and not what we want,and then hold elections to chose a govenment of there choice,not our's nor any other nation.
Then and only then,can they begin the long road of healing it self from the Sadam years,as well as the years of bloodshed that we have brought them.
Obama is the man..
He has the brains and will actually listen to his Generals when it comes to Military action(unlike Bush)...McCain never led anyone, he was a flyboy who crashed 3 jets BEFORE he was shotdown and finished 894 out of 899 in his class at the naval Academy...a Class he NEVER would have gotten into without his Grandfather and fathers Military service...it's a NO-BRAINER, vote for the guy with the higher IQ(and the one without the Religious Fanatic Running mate).
remember we're at war
The WORST thing America can do is elect Obama for president, because last I checked GW had no experience in leading military troops. We've spent the last few years flip-flopping strategies because our commander and chief needed 'time' to do some on-the-job-training (OJT) despite having numerous 'advisors'. Wake up, man.
If you want to go through some more years of flip flopping to wait for yet ANOTHER leader to get brought up to speed with more OJT, vote Obama. If not, vote not for a republican, or "mcbush"...vote for EXPERIENCE -- because I don't care how messy it is, who did what, why it's messed up...I want it fixed. I want someone who knows what they're doing, going to tell retarded people to shutup, and get the job done. No more talk. Our economy sucks, Americans hate being American, and we're repeating the Jimmy Carter era. Screw talk. Show me walk. Vote for EXPERIENCE...if we weren't in this mess, however, I'd vote otherwise.
After 5 years, what is the mission?
To ward off another 9/11 by Saudi's at the command of Osama Bin Laden residing in the hills of Pakistan?
To topple the Saddam Hussein regime? Mission accomplished!
What are we still sacrificing lives and limbs and bankrupting the U.S. for?
What is the latest "mission"?
None of the gobble-de-goop in the Schlesinger article makes sense for Americans to continue losing life, limb & the ability to afford the American dream.
