"The mea culpa is contained in a shockingly frank “strategic communications” report, written this autumn by the Defence Science Board for Pentagon supremo Donald Rumsfeld."

The war in Iraq continues to give me a bad taste in my mouth.

http://www.sundayherald.com/46389

"The way America has handled itself since September 11 has played straight into the hands of al-Qaeda, the report adds. “American actions have elevated the authority of the jihadi insurgents and tended to ratify their legitimacy among Muslims.” The result is that al-Qaeda has gone from being a marginal movement to having support across the entire Muslim world."


This is almost an archivement for the Bush et all I remember, that radical islamists were pretty much disliked or even hated in the moderate muslim world in the late 90:s, thanks to their terror campaigns in the named muslim world.

Anyway, what they though to archieve with the war? No WMDs, no connections with terrorism. The argument for securing the middle east (or world) gains a weird contrast with the playing '..straight into the hands of al-Qaeda'. They have problems even in utilizing the oil (in case they went to Iraq for it).

The other question is the argument with 'liberating' the iraqis. Have iraqis living conditions increased after Saddams gone? Tyranny has been removed, but it has been changed to anarchy at least in some regions (like areas in Baghdad). I'm also a little sceptic, that these neocons went Iraq to simply help the Iraqian people. Weren't they the ones (Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney etc), who supported and armed Saddam in 80s and closed the eyes with the massmurder of Halabja in 1988 (with Europians, Asians and the rest of the world, I have to admid ).

hmm..

Of course..The Iraqis will do much better in future, if only 1) civil war don't break 2) fundamentalist goverment is not established or 3) things don't get (*)(*)(*)(*)ed up in some other way.

-BtD


[/i]

How can a Bush supporter argue against that? There, doesnt that pretty much prove the Iraq war was pointless.

And, err, why isnt this all over the news? This is pretty big....

Yeah iraq sucks bigtime.... but whats with the article's title: "US admits the war for ‘hearts and minds’ in Iraq is now lost." ?
Did any US official admit that?


Here is something to counter the gloom. Battle for hearts&minds ain't lost.


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Iraq Reconstruction Making Gains Despite Insurgency

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2004 – Although headlines citing insurgent attacks tend to overshadow its efforts, U.S.-led reconstruction initiatives in Iraq continue to make progress, a senior U.S. official noted here today. "Despite the insurgency in some areas of the country, our program is moving forward," U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Andrew Natsios told reporters at a State Department briefing.

..

For example, electric power is being more equally distributed across Iraq and the country's electrical grid now produces about 5,000 megawatts, Natsios reported, compared to the 4,400 megawatts produced prior to the war. And, by April or May next year, he estimates that 5,500 to 6,000 megawatts will be produced. "Right now we have between 11 and 15 hours of electricity in almost all areas of the country that are electrified," Natsios reported. By the end of 2005, he expects that 18 to 20 hours of electricity will be available around the country per day.

..

About $3.6 billion has been spent on Iraqi infrastructure projects since last summer, Natsios said, with another $11.8 billion obligated to contractors for additional projects. And, "thousands and thousands of Iraqis," Natsios noted, are working for contractors, non-governmental agencies and universities "to make, to build the new Iraq."

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2...004120308.html
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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan
The United Church of the Latter Day Tangential Tarts

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U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release No. 1246-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2004

Iraq Reconstruction Passes 1,000 Project Milestone


The Iraq Project and Contracting Office (PCO) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that the U.S. government has surpassed the 1,000 construction start mark one month ahead of their year-end goal. The reconstruction team has delivered 1,051 construction starts to-date.

“We’re thrilled to have achieved this goal in spite of insurgent activity,” stated PCO Director Charles Hess. “At the same time, while it is an important mark, it’s just a mark on the wall. There are going to be many more. As of today, we have 1,051 projects that have actually started construction, or “turned dirt.” Our new goal is 1,200 by the end of the year.” The 1,051 projects include the renovation and new construction of schools, primary health care facilities, hospitals, water treatment projects, and police and fire stations in every province.



Reconstruction Projects Underway as of Dec. 2, 2004

schools 363
public health clinics 41
hospitals 14
railroad stations 58
border posts 88
port of entry 6
fire stations 20
police stations 17
military bases 16
water 67
electricity 58
oil 19
sewer 24
roads 66
other 194

total 1,051


“While the number is important, it is the impact of those projects that is most important” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Bostick, commander of the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “The Iraqi people are seeing progress.” Both Hess and Bostick expect the pace of construction starts to continue to accelerate as more work gets underway. The level of disbursement has doubled since August, now standing at nearly $2 billion. Iraqi employment numbers have climbed to nearly 90,000.

Further information can be found on the PCO Web site at: http:// www.rebuilding-iraq.net

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/...1203-1772.html
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Not sure how much... but it's got to be having a positive effect.

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan
The United Church of the Latter Day Tangential Tarts

What has emboldened terrorists.....is NOT Iraq.......but the successes they've had. Like 9/11. That was a huge recruitment tool for them. As was the 2 U.S. Embassy bombings in the late 90's.....and the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. Each and everytime they are successful in attacking the U.S. , they start to believe they CAN bring down the almighty United States of America. They CAN destroy our economy. They CAN destroy the will of our people. And IF they are successful in Iraq, you'd best kiss goodbye any hope of keeping them from attacking us again.

This is why I find it so unbelievable how many Dems seem to delight in bad news from Iraq. I realize that Dems are not really rooting for the bad guys here.....but it sure does seem that way sometimes.....

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"What exactly is this foreign policy experience?" Obama said mockingly of the New York senator. "Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no."

This is a political forum. Since when is happy news the main topic of discussion?

Tedminator- Read the article man. It’s covering the “strategic communications” report, written this autumn by the Defence Science Board for Pentagon’s Donald Rumsfeld.

“American direct intervention in the Muslim world has paradoxically elevated the stature of, and support for, radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States to single digits in some Arab societies.”

“Muslims see Americans as strangely narcissistic,” the report goes on, adding that to the Arab world the war is “no more than an extension of American domestic politics”. The US has zero credibility among Muslims which means that “whatever Americans do and say only serves … the enemy”.

“We face a war on terrorism,” the report says, “intensified conflict with Islam, and insurgency in Iraq. Worldwide anger and discontent are directed at America’s tarnished credibility and ways the US pursues its goals. There is a consensus that America’s power to persuade is in a state of crisis.”

“In two years the jihadi message – that strongly attacks American values – is being accepted by more moderate and non-violent Muslims. This in turn implies that negative opinion of the US has not yet bottomed out.

I done read it. It's one of many advisory papers from the DSB and other thinktanks, a paper whose views I for the most part agree with. I'm not delusional like JP there with her "What has emboldened terrorists.....is NOT Iraq." proclamations, athough she does have a point with the pre-911 attacks.



What I don't agree with is Neil Mackay's headline of "US admits the war for ‘hearts and minds’ in Iraq is now lost."
"now lost" to me means game-over. Game is not over. Game is still on.
My posting of the 'happy news' supports my opinion that the battle for h&m within Iraq is not yet lost.

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"When I'm in command, every mission is a suicide mission!" -Capt. Zapp Branigan
The United Church of the Latter Day Tangential Tarts

okie gottcha.

Iraq, Abu Graib, and Gunatanamo Bay are the perfect recruting tools for Al Queda. They're exactly what Bin Laden wants and he hopes we'll stay in Iraq for as long as possible, because the longer we do, the more mistakes we make, and the more we (*)(*)(*)(*) of the muslims. Its happening as we speak.

Also, I have never and never will consider Islamic fundalemntalist terrorists a major threat to our country. I dont beleive they cna touch us, and i believe its a joke to believe they can bring down the US.

Bush is only making things better and easier for Bin Laden.