The United States is now winning the war that two years ago seemed lost.

[Pooh21]

I fantasize about the old days when we hung seditionists. If I was Jack Murtha I would eat a .45 hotdog tomarrow over my treatment of the Haditha Marines for the support of Pelosi.

[bj229r]

It's difficult for a politician to have EVERY statement be seen as being on both sides of the issue, fortunately, one can always pretend he never said something which later proves to be wrong

Barack Obama’s aides have removed criticism of President Bush’s increase of troops to Iraq from the campaign Web site, part of an effort to update the Democrat’s written war plan to reflect changing conditions.

After Bush delivered a nationally televised address on Jan. 10, 2007, announcing his plan, Obama argued it could make the situation worse by taking pressure off Iraqis to find a political solution to the fighting.

“I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there,” the Illinois senator said that night, a month before announcing his presidential bid. “In fact, I think it will do the reverse.”

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_obama_surge_071508/

Thank you General Obama. (Admittedly a worse stance was offered by pres. candidate Joe Biden, (who ALSO opposed the surge) who accepted that it was another un-winnable Vietnam, and wished to slice Iraq into 3 parts, one for each sect--All 3 Iraqi sects were against that

[Saxman]

Y'know, I think it's rather funny the outrage people on this board express over the thought of taking away guns in THEIR country, yet they have absolutely no problem with--and in fact SUPPORT--taking guns away from innocent civilians in ANOTHER country.

 

[Slash27]

Okay but consider what happens when our future despot takes office and brings the troops home. Now no one in the country has weapons Iran marches in and starts shooting anyone with anything more than an 8th grade education and then everything is back where it started.

Each household in Iraq is allowed one Kalashnikov.

[bj229r]

Each household in Iraq is allowed one Kalashnikov.

I want my Kalashnikov!

[Carrel]

If this is 'success', then is it worth the price?

As long as the authors of these threads never have to serve, then sure, it's worth it- for them.

[Gunthr]

I suspect our 'success' is due in equal parts to the media generated perception of progress and the successful adaption by the military of it's new mission.

occupation/population control

The military has now been adapted to a mission that should make every American cringe.... sealing urban areas, kicking down doors and collecting weapons.



...a role not particularly well suited to hunting guerrillas in the pashtun, unfortunately.

Can anyone ID the weapons in the photo background? It looks to me like an army is having their small arms secured, not simply a civilian population.  The comparison to an American city is incongruent. 

 The idea that half of the success of the surge in Iraq is due only to media perception doesn't make any sense to me.

Anyway, Iraq can't make much political progress untill the fighting and violence is suppressed.  It now looks like the Iraqi gubmint is making inroads...

[Nefarious]

I want my Kalashnikov!

If that's the case you better purchase one soon.

[FiLtH]

 Why would they want to have former insurgents intergrated intio government jobs? They have held a grudge for hundreds of years..whats a couple gonna do to make them get over it?

[bj229r]

Why would they want to have former insurgents intergrated intio government jobs? They have held a grudge for hundreds of years..whats a couple gonna do to make them get over it?

I guess it hinges upon whether their grudge is with the U.S. or is it the Sunni/Sh**te thing. We have been hearing for a few years that there wouldn't BE an insurgency if the U.S. would just leave....prolly find out in next couple years

[crockett]

Y'know, I think it's rather funny the outrage people on this board express over the thought of taking away guns in THEIR country, yet they have absolutely no problem with--and in fact SUPPORT--taking guns away from innocent civilians in ANOTHER country.

 

Yea, I was thinking the exact same thing..

[Gunthr]

Y'know, I think it's rather funny the outrage people on this board express over the thought of taking away guns in THEIR country, yet they have absolutely no problem with--and in fact SUPPORT--taking guns away from innocent civilians in ANOTHER country.

 

Yea, I was thinking the exact same thing..

Hmmm.  I don't think I would have the slightest problem with our gubmint taking assault rifles, machine guns, RPG's and the like out of US citizens' hands if those in possession are unable to prove ownership or show proper licenses. 

[Hangtime]

I couldnt care less about the gun rights of Iraqi citizens.

All I care about is the safety of our troops.

Simple answer to both... get 'em outta there.

...find somebody else to kick down doors and direct traffic in Iraqi cities. American troops would be better used as an army of maneuver, in the field; tasked with taking ground... not policing it.

[Rich46yo]

Simple answer to both... get 'em outta there.

...find somebody else to kick down doors and direct traffic in Iraqi cities. American troops would be better used as an army of maneuver, in the field; tasked with taking ground... not policing it.

Oh I agree. The problem with that is if we pull them all out we risk losing far more if we have to go back. I still feel that region is going to be a sight of a major war in the next 10 years. Still, back on topic, its the job of the Iraqis to police. Not our troops, or our allies. Allowing the Iraqi Police forces to disintegrate after our invasion was pretty stupid.

Best of all the Iraqis are best geared towards getting information from prisoners that will save our boys and girls from getting blown to bits in future attacks. Let em use their own methods, its not our business.

Dont expect a complete pull out of American troops from Iraq however. There will be a pull back, and the forces left there will be smaller. The presence of Yank combat troops in the region was part of the reason for attacking Iraq.

[Hangtime]

Hmmm.  I don't think I would have the slightest problem with our gubmint taking assault rifles, machine guns, RPG's and the like out of US citizens' hands if those in possession are unable to prove ownership or show proper licenses. 

US Troops, disarming Americans?

Perish the thought. Aside from it being a violation of US Code, Title 10, The Posse Comitatus Act of 1807 precludes it.

It's a matter of perspective.... Example: A US Soldier on a Baghdad street, kicking down doors and confiscating weapons is a Hero, doing a distasteful and dangerous job, deemed critical by his lawful commanders.

That same troop, armed and under the same orders in my town would be, by legal default; acting unlawfully. If he made the attempt of home invasion and disarming me and I resisted by force that attempt, then I would be legally protecting my person, family and property.

Since it's likely neither of us would survive to sit in judgment by our peers; it'd be up to prosperity to decide who was right.