The Iraqi Upturn
Don't look now, but the U.S.-backed government and army may be winning the war.


Sunday, June 1, 2008; Page B06

THERE'S BEEN a relative lull in news coverage and debate about Iraq in recent weeks -- which is odd, because May could turn out to have been one of the most important months of the war. While Washington's attention has been fixed elsewhere, military analysts have watched with astonishment as the Iraqi government and army have gained control for the first time of the port city of Basra and the sprawling Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, routing the Shiite militias that have ruled them for years and sending key militants scurrying to Iran. At the same time, Iraqi and U.S. forces have pushed forward with a long-promised offensive in Mosul, the last urban refuge of al-Qaeda. So many of its leaders have now been captured or killed that U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, renowned for his cautious assessments, said that the terrorists have "never been closer to defeat than they are now."

Iraq passed a turning point last fall when the U.S. counterinsurgency campaign launched in early 2007 produced a dramatic drop in violence and quelled the incipient sectarian war between Sunnis and Shiites. Now, another tipping point may be near, one that sees the Iraqi government and army restoring order in almost all of the country, dispersing both rival militias and the Iranian-trained "special groups" that have used them as cover to wage war against Americans. It is -- of course -- too early to celebrate; though now in disarray, the Mahdi Army of Moqtada al-Sadr could still regroup, and Iran will almost certainly seek to stir up new violence before the U.S. and Iraqi elections this fall. Still, the rapidly improving conditions should allow U.S. commanders to make some welcome adjustments -- and it ought to mandate an already-overdue rethinking by the "this-war-is-lost" caucus in Washington, including Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Gen. David H. Petraeus signaled one adjustment in recent testimony to Congress, saying that he would probably recommend troop reductions in the fall going beyond the ongoing pullback of the five "surge" brigades deployed last year. Gen. Petraeus pointed out that attacks in Iraq hit a four-year low in mid-May and that Iraqi forces were finally taking the lead in combat and on multiple fronts at once -- something that was inconceivable a year ago. As a result the Iraqi government of Nouri al-Maliki now has "unparalleled" public support, as Gen. Petraeus put it, and U.S. casualties are dropping sharply. Eighteen American soldiers died in May, the lowest total of the war and an 86 percent drop from the 126 who died in May 2007.

If the positive trends continue, proponents of withdrawing most U.S. troops, such as Mr. Obama, might be able to responsibly carry out further pullouts next year. Still, the likely Democratic nominee needs a plan for Iraq based on sustaining an improving situation, rather than abandoning a failed enterprise. That will mean tying withdrawals to the evolution of the Iraqi army and government, rather than an arbitrary timetable; Iraq's 2009 elections will be crucial. It also should mean providing enough troops and air power to continue backing up Iraqi army operations such as those in Basra and Sadr City. When Mr. Obama floated his strategy for Iraq last year, the United States appeared doomed to defeat. Now he needs a plan for success.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...053101927.html


Wow, Bush was right!

Another victory for W.

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Liberals believe it is okay to kill babies, but not terrorists.

democrats believe it is okay to taser a 10 year old if this stance will get their guy elected.

The New York Times, the Washington Post, next up, the LA Times will admit the truth!

You guys really know how to make me laugh!!!!

Laughing in the face of defeat is good for you.

This post makes Harry and Nancy cry.

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"It's the rich people's fault they earn more." - Makedde

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Lololololololololololol!!!! Wootwootwootwootwootwootwootwootwoot!!!! Hehehehehehehehehehehe!!!! Hohohohohohohohoho!!!! Ha!

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Left sucks! so visit our new group! Obama is a Joke!

So let me get this right: winning is when you finally get the upper hand over the militants who weren't there when you started? Umm, well done?

Thanks for today’s episode of "Who Lies do you believe more". I didn’t know whether that was a real article or an Anti - Obama ad! I still do not think we have established what would constitute an Iraq Victory! I hope people do not get confused with marginal calm during this time as some sort of sign that the fight is heading to an end. This region will never have a settled environment and this inst a war as much it is a civil war. It real easy to claim gains when you don’t factor in the civilians that are being blown apart right along with our boys.

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EVERY WORD YOU SAY IS A DOOR WAY TO YOU!

We turned a corner.
The insurgants are on the run.
Victory is near.

Wake me up when the rhetoric changes.

Ixtellor

P.S. How is the iraqi gov doing, did they reconcile yet?

P.P.S. The sunnis have cut off all talks.

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George W. Bush "I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building"

Blasphemy is a victimless crime.