Posted on 07/28/2007 2:23:20 PM PDT by bnelson44
Finally, if—as seems apparent now—the surge is succeeding, opponents of the war are going to be hard-pressed to make the case for abandoning Iraq, even if there is no Shi'ite-Sunni political settlement in sight. The inconvenient truth here is that, apart from the irreconcilable Left, the American people's support for withdrawal has been based on an assessment that we were losing the war. If that no longer seems true, support for withdrawal will melt away. The Democratic leaders know this; that's why they made a concerted effort last week to get a vote on withdrawal in July. September, which will likely see a favorable report by General Petraeus, will be too late. Claims that the inability of the Iraqis to reach a political settlement is a reason for us to leave will ring a bit hollow in the face of a possible military success. After all, the American people have noticed that our Congress, unthreatened by anything more serious than an upcoming election, couldn't pass an immigration bill, can't eliminate earmarks or adopt ethics rules, and can't agree on energy legislation when gasoline is $3.50 a gallon. Politicians, they know, will be politicians, but that doesn't mean we should hand our enemies a victory instead of a defeat.
Nevertheless, because weakening the will of the American people is the only way that al-Qaeda and our other opponents in Iraq can hope to win, between now and September we will see an all-out effort to inflict heavy casualties on our troops and on Iraqi civilians. Unfortunately, this can be a winning strategy. If we are unprepared for it, a bad August and early September could still lead to a collapse in public support that would even sweep congressional Republicans with it. We should not forget that the North Vietnamese Tet offensive of 1968—although it resulted ultimately in a military defeat for the North—became a turning point in the war because it destroyed the American public's belief in our ultimate military success. A series of spectacular and dramatic attacks could do the same for our enemies in Iraq. They know that, and we should expect them to try.
But if these attacks do not occur—or if they do and are quickly quelled—the success of the surge will be an
Winning ping.
Agreed. Suicide bombs are a device for the terminally weak. If we stop that there’s no way they can beat us on the battlefield. I would look for something closer to home if they want to make a statement. If they could carry off a major terrorist operation in the US they would hand the Dems an issue on a silver platter.
Great article.
Spin. The Democrats would be able to take that and paint Bush as ignoring security at home because we’re preoccupied in Iraq. The sheeple will buy it too.
Good article.. thanks for posting...
I must clarify or take issue with your statement. Bringing down a building, killing 3000 of your enemies at the cost of your own life, is not necessarily an indication your people are "terminally weak."
I was speaking of the suicide bombers in Iraq and since this thread is specificallty about Iraq I’m sure you must have understood my meaning. Read in context. You can understand better that way.
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During the Vietnam War:
WALTER CRONKITE’s calling our 1968 TET Offensive victory a defeat on the ‘CBS Nightly News’..
WILLIAM CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM, JOHN KERRY, JANE FONDA, TOM HAYDEN, RAMSEY CLARK, TED KENNEDY’s active supporting of Communist North Vietnam’s push to take over a then Free South Vietnam...
TED KENNEDY’s pushing a post-WATERGATE Democrat Congress into cutting off all our funding for the then Free South Vietnamese to fight for their own Freedom with...
...just as the Communist Soviet Union gave the Communist North Vietnamese $6 Billion in 600 tanks & 1,000’s of moibile artillery pieces...
...all produced:
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Pictures of a vietnamese Re-Education (SLAVE LABOR) Camp
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts
http://www.JourneyFromTheFall.com
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What Price for the still Free (that’s US) to pay now, I wonder, with our own Freedom directly at stake right here at home.
News of 12 million suddenly missing Iraqi purple voting fingers appearing on our TV Screens, just for starters..?
BET on it..!!!
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What does "Win" mean?
Victory needs to be defined or we will never achieve it.
The mission has changed so many times the everyone is confused.
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NEVER FORGET
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The Man who predicted 9/11 =
9/11 Lifesaver RICK RESCORLA, ..R.I.P.
(The Website)
http://www.RickRescorla.com
(The Pictures)
http://www.RickRescorla.com/The%20Statue.htm
(The Rest of the Story)
http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
.
NEVER FORGET
.
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Victory in the Middle East =
Democratization
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BTTT
We had 3 elections so far. Do they count?
Yes, we’ll win this fight...and the rats will NOT stop us this time. This time HISTORY WILL NOT REPEAT ITSELF...
Of course we won't be out prior to 2011, if then, so this is probably a pointless discussion.
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