Posted on 12/23/2007 3:56:17 PM PST by SandRat
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2007 – Violence is down about 60 percent in Iraq since the June troop surge, and the top military commander in Iraq said today that he wants the trend to continue in 2008.
“Every trend we watch is down roughly about 60 percent: civilian deaths, numbers of attacks, and thankfully our casualties are down as well,” Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said on “Fox News Sunday.” “As we go into the new year, we clearly want to build on the momentum that has been achieved by our forces working closely together with Iraqi forces.”
Petraeus said Iraqi forces also had a surge this year, with 110,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police. Petraeus appeared on the morning news program to discuss the release of this week’s quarterly report, “Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq.” With the success of the surges comes the question of reducing the number of U.S. forces in Iraq while maintaining the positive trends, he said.
“We want to reduce the strain on our ground forces as much as we can while recognizing that what has been achieved here remains tenuous and is still fragile in a number of areas,” the general said. “We have laid out a plan that will take us through the end of July, and it will result in the reduction without replacement of about one-quarter of our combat forces.”
Petraeus was cautious about committing to further troop reductions and reiterated that al Qaeda remains a significant threat. “Al Qaeda remains a very dangerous and very lethal organization, and it is one that will continually try to reconstitute and one that we must pursue tenaciously and relentlessly, and that is what we and our Iraqi partners are doing,” Petraeus said.
When reporter Chris Matthews asked the general why success in Iraq is not newsworthy, noting a Media Research Center report that news stories from Iraq dropped in the evening nightly network newscasts from 178 news stories in September to 68 stories in November, the general said he sees that as a positive sign.
“In a sense, no news is good news, and we’re not reluctant to see that,” Petraeus said. “The only reluctance would be that America continues to remember its soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians who are serving out here in this very important endeavor.”
As the interview concluded, Petraeus praised the men and women he leads in Iraq. “Especially at this season, we all should be grateful for what these great young men and women are doing and for the sacrifices of their families who are enduring separations back home. It is a privilege to serve with America’s new greatest generation here in Iraq.”
FR WAR NEWS!
Once his military career is over, I hope the General considers a political career.
Thus, a lack of MSM reporting from Iraq.....
Go figure.
This is great news. Iraq is on its way to stability. There should be celebration at this but instead we hear muffled silence from the media.
On the FOX NEws show he said no to politcs but then, so did IKE.
Bu, bu, but it can't be, abcnbccbscnnmsnbc wouldn't lie, would they?!
He should be Time’s person of the year. But Time would rather give it to a communist who has reporters murdered and rigs elections.
Someone tell Melissa it was Chris Wallace, not Crissy Mathews.
Fellow Travelers honoring one of their own.
Melinda doesn’t show her email address.
It's because liberal a-hole reporters won't cover it...
Petraeus is the man and should have been the man of the year!
“Violence is down about 60 percent in Russia since the June police state surge, and Putin in Russia said today that he wants the trend to continue in 2008, by killing and imprisoning as much dissidents as possible.” unquote.
Time’s Man of the Year.
tell Melinda while you're at it. Heck, tell Melanie too.
One quarter drawn down by July, 2008; 1/2 or more drawn down by the following January.
That's leaving victoriously instead of with our tails between our legs.
War's over, folks. This is the mop-up and the homecoming.
After that plus a litte more, we'll still have our Predators flying 24/7 bombing support for Iraqi nationals...which should be adequate to dissuade or dismember those who are late to the Iraqi Roach Motel Party.
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MEL’s -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts
http://www.Freerepublic.com/~aloharonnie/
http://www.Freerepublic.com/~anita1/
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For...
...WE ARE SOLDIERS STILL:
Our own Aloha Ronnie saves a life!
http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55092
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For...
...WE ARE SOLDIERS STILL:
LT GENERAL Hal Moore Joins Operation Gratitude Volunteers on December 1, 2007!
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1921770/posts
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Amen to Victory.
Al Quaida will remain a threat until the last living Muslim stops breathing.
Well, it certainly is encouraging these days.
Al Qaeda is defeated.
But Iran still needs to be locked down in order for this thing to be wrapped up. They're backing off, but I don't trust them for a minute. They want Iraq and they want it bad.
Whoever she is, when she writes a news article for publication, she ought to know the difference between Chris Mathews and Chris Wallace.
For all those who said that the surge was only temporary and that the insurgents would return when our troop numbers decreased, the Iraqi force troop surge is not temporary.
Zulu, you don't think we have Muslim partners who are fighting Al Qaeda?
Gen. Petraeus thinks that we do.
He’s probably way to honest for one of those nasty, lying politicians
In my judgement your comment ought to be removed. The only way to bring about YOUR VISION is to kill everyone in the world who is Muslim, no matter their age, gender, troublemaker or not. But that’s just me.
But the other point is just as strong with me. Petraeus is fighting alongside Muslims in Iraq who have taken our side against Al Qaeda. The same thing is taking place elsewhere...that we are allied with others who are Muslim but who don’t want the brutal torturers and head choppers in charge in their area. That makes sense.
You would have us kill even our own allies.
I was just jealous because you caught the slip before I had a chance to post the same. I agree with you.
The surge has also knocked “the war” off headlines which makes it that much similar to other peacekeeping operations. This and al queda’s retreat to destabilizing pakistan is a strategic victory for W and the troops.
The problem with Muslims that are our “friends” is that they have children. Those children are exposed to the Quran and its teachings and the Haddiths. If they really become “good” Muslims, they can’t help but agree with the “prophet” Mohammad on unbelievers and Dhimmis (us).
If these Muslims are our “friends” its only because they temporarily need us. As soon as thye can they will resume the typical Islamic posture towards Dhimmis although perhpas not in as overtly an aggressive manner. But the spirit and intent will still be there.
Islam and western civilization and democracy are inherently incompatible.
The problem with Muslims that are our “friends” is that they have children. Those children are exposed to the Quran and its teachings and the Haddiths. If they really become “good” Muslims, they can’t help but agree with the “prophet” Mohammad on unbelievers and Dhimmis (us).
If these Muslims are our “friends” its only because they temporarily need us. As soon as thye can they will resume the typical Islamic posture towards Dhimmis although perhpas not in as overtly an aggressive manner. But the spirit and intent will still be there.
Islam and western civilization and democracy are inherently incompatible.
The problem with Muslims that are our “friends” is that they have children. Those children are exposed to the Quran and its teachings and the Haddiths. If they really become “good” Muslims, they can’t help but agree with the “prophet” Mohammad on unbelievers and Dhimmis (us).
If these Muslims are our “friends” its only because they temporarily need us. As soon as thye can they will resume the typical Islamic posture towards Dhimmis although perhpas not in as overtly an aggressive manner. But the spirit and intent will still be there.
Islam and western civilization and democracy are inherently incompatible.
“In my judgement your comment ought to be removed.”
I suppose you are entitled to your opinion. I am entitled to mine. And I don’t go around requesting opinions with which I disagree to be removed. You sound like a pretty arrogant, self-righteous individual.
“The only way to bring about YOUR VISION is to kill everyone in the world who is Muslim, no matter their age, gender, troublemaker or not. But that’s just me.”
Right - its just you talking. That’s not what I stated. I suggest you go back and read it and stop putting words in my mouth.
“But the other point is just as strong with me. Petraeus is fighting alongside Muslims in Iraq who have taken our side against Al Qaeda. The same thing is taking place elsewhere...that we are allied with others who are Muslim but who don’t want the brutal torturers and head choppers in charge in their area. That makes sense.”
Your naievite on Islam is exceeded only by your lack of historical knowledge and perspective. I suggest you pick up some good history books and read about Islam.
Petraeus needs the support of ant-Al Quaida Muslims - wherever he get them. Anti-Al Quaida Muslims need our support to oppose that organization. That makes us allies but that doesn’t make us friends, nor does it mean their worldview and ours is any more analogous than that of the U.S. and Britain’s and Stalinist Russia in WW2.
It is an inherent precept in Islam that the world goal to be achieved is a universal Islamic state where non-Muslims are reduced to Dhimmitude (check that word out - it may provide you with information you obviously lack). That is the only status in which non-Muslims can exist in an Islamic State. I have no interest in being a Dhimmi or having my descendants be Dhimmis.
In Islam the entire world is divided into two “Houses” - the “House of War” and the “House of Peace.” The House of War is that part of the world not yet brought under Islamic control and Sharia Law. The House of Peace is that part of the world dominated and controlled by Muslims and Islamic law. Their objective is to convert the entire world to the House of Peace.
Our “friends” the Saudis impose strict Sharia Law as do many other Islamic States. If you have been watching the news recently, they condemned a young Islamic woman who was gang raped to 200 lashes and several months in prison for travelling with a male who was not a relative of hers when this incident occurred. Under Sharia Law such sentences are routinely carried out along with equally repellent ones involving mutilations, stonings and other forms of brutal punishment. In tbe Saudi “Kingdom” of our “friends” non-Islamic worship is not tolerated nor even the wearing of non-Islamic Symbols such as crosses and stars of David. Our troops were over there to protect their sorry butts in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield were informed of these onerous restrictions by their officers. I believe even bringing a Bible or Torah into the Kingdom is not permitted and anti-Semitic and anti-Christian material is distributed and taught in their classrooms on a regular basis. IT IS EVEN FUNDED BY THE SAUDIS IN WAHHABIST MOSQUES AND MADRASSEHS IN THE WEST.
They are our “friends” only as long as we need their oil and they need our petrodollars.
As for treatment of non-Muslims in other Islamic Countries, I think you will find it hardly differs much from what occurs in the “Kingdom.”
So, you may choose to believe that these people are our “friends” if you wish, but I and anyone with any intellgence and knowledge of Islam recogizes this relationship for what it is - a temporary mutual marriage of convenience.
As long as they are of use to us, I am willing to tolerate them - but I am hardly willing to love them, trust them, or expect them to behave towards me and other Dhimmis as Muslims have always done in the past. And that is not acceptable.
I hope this guy stays in charge for a long time, maybe even run for office one day?
I wish this man was a candidate for President. There is no American whom I admire more than Gen. Petraeus.
Can’t you just hear the derangement of the left if he did run?
Since the violence level has dropped since the surge, the Left might have to go over and start shooting at people to try and get the violence re-started.
Here in Chicago liberals are trying to give all the credit to the democrats.
A US soldier plays the oud to Iraqi children in Baghdad's predominantly Shiite suburb of Sadr City, 22 December 2007. A controversial surge in US troop numbers has cut the death toll in Iraq but prospects for reconciliation between its divided communities remain a distant dream as the conflict enters a New Year. (AFP/File/Wissam al-Oakili)
way cool
Very much like the lute, I'd say.
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