A Nation Sleeps While History Is Being Made

IBD ^ | November 16, 2007 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Kaslin]

There's an old expression about war: "Victory has many fathers, while defeat is an orphan." But in the case of Iraq, it seems the other way around. We've blamed many for the ordeal of the last four years, but it is the American victory in Anbar province that now seems without parents.

Over the last few months, the U.S. military forced Sunni insurgents in Anbar to quit fighting. This enemy, in the heart of the so-called Sunni Triangle, had been responsible for most American casualties in the war and was the main cause of unrest in Iraq.

Even more unexpectedly, some of the defeated tribes then joined in an alliance of convenience with their American victors to chase al-Qaida from Iraq's major cities.

As President Bush recently told U.S. troops about Anbar province: "It was once written off as lost. It is now one of the safest places in Iraq."

But that dramatic turnabout in Iraq is rarely reported on. We know as much about O.J.'s escapades in Vegas as we do about the Anbar awakening or the flight of al-Qaida from Baghdad. When we occasionally do hear about Iraq, it is just as likely through a Hollywood movie — "In the Valley of Elah," "Redacted," "Lions for Lambs" — preaching to us how the U.S. was mostly incompetent or amoral in fighting a hopeless war.

[saganite]

The MSM and the Dems are busy trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. That’s why you’re not hearing anything about this.

[Anti-Bubba182]

The MSM and the Dems benefit because that is the position they
have had for years. The GOP is not bold in putting forward a victory line because the war remains unpopular and they fear reverses on the ground. If they wait too long to stand up the Democrats will control everything and declare defeat anyway.

[Turret Gunner A20]

The MSM and the Dems are busy trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, like they did in Vietnam. That’s why you’re not hearing anything about this.

There, fixed.

[txzman]

I have yet to hear a prominent Liberal ever admit “We were wrong”. It has to do with the fundamental obsession with self and ego so evident in our world.

A reliance on God tends to remind one that they are indeed imperfect, fallible and fully capable of being wrong - which is why one tends to hear more mea culpas from conservatives.

[Clintonfatigued]

Here’s an interesting editorial on the Iraq War.

[I see my hands]

[saganite]

Didn’t need fixing but thanks anyway. It’s always understood that the Dems engineered the defeat in Vietnam and are only striving to repeat that accomplishment. To which I say (by way of Marx) “History repeats itself, first as tragedy second as farce”. The Dems are a farce.

[mamelukesabre]

U-S-A...U-S-A...U-S-A...U-S-A...

[Cacique]

btt