George W Bush: winning the war on terror

The Telegraph ^ | 12/26/2008 | Nile Gardiner

[bruinbirdman]

~snip~

Widely seen as his biggest foreign policy error, the decision to invade Iraq could ultimately prove to have been a masterstroke. Today the world is witnessing the birth of the first truly democratic state in the Middle East outside of Israel. Over eight million voted in Iraq's parliamentary elections in 2005, and the region's first free Muslim society may become a reality. Iraq might not be Turkey, but it is a powerful demonstration that freedom can flourish in the embers of the most brutal and barbaric of dictatorships.

The success of the surge in Iraq will go down in history as a turning point in the war against al-Qaeda. The stunning defeat of the insurgency was a major blow both militarily and psychologically for the terror network. The West's most feared enemy suffered thousands of losses in Iraq, including many of their most senior commanders, such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Qaswarah. It was the most successful counter-insurgency operation anywhere in the world since the British victory in Malaya in 1960.

The broader war against Islamist terrorism has also been a success. There has not been a single terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, and for all the global condemnation of pre-emptive strikes, Guantanamo and the use of rendition against terror suspects, the fact remains that Bush's aggressive strategy actually worked.

Significantly, there have been no successful terrorist attacks in Europe since the July 2005 London bombings, in large part due to the cooperation between U.S., British and other Western intelligence agencies. American intelligence has proved vital in helping prevent an array of planned terror attacks in the UK, a striking demonstration of the value to Britain of its close ties to Washington.

President Bush, in contrast to both his father, George H.W. Bush, and Bill

[A message]

A weaker leader would have gone to the United Nations Security Council and sought a negotiated settlement with Kabul.

We now have that weak President in 0bama.

SHTF sooner than later.

[truemiester]

WOW

Great article.

And from a Brit, no less.

I am speechless

[Charles Henrickson]

Harry Truman had low ratings when he left office. The appreciation for him grew over the years. Perhaps this will be true also for W.

My main criticism of President Bush has been on domestic spending, not on Iraq or the War on Terror--although his administration has not done a good job of *selling* those things, communicating the message.

[bruinbirdman]

You won't hear EUrotopian government leadership slamming GW's terrorist policies. In fact they hold their tongues on most of his foreign policy.

We hear mostly from their chattering class; much like here at home.

yitbos

[blueplum]

sad that we have to hear it from the brits first.

I love this part: [the surge] “ was the most successful counter-insurgency operation anywhere in the world since the British victory in Malaya in 1960. “

Bush has secured his well-earned place in history.

[jveritas]

Excellent article.

God Bless President Bush and our brave troops.

[Clairity]

Amazing, someone actually gives President Bush the credit he richly deserves.

[Eagles6]

Good post.

[Salvation]

Don’t you know that the Brits are the only honest journalists at this point in time? LOL!

[Salvation]

This I will ALWAYS remember:

"Either you are with us or you are for the terrorists."
~~George W. Bush

[oyez]

Fighting terrorism has a price. IMHO, Money well spent.

[mkjessup]

Well now, let's review:

Of the three legs of the 'Axis of Evil', how many are left?

- North Korea, still alive and kickin' and Comrade Chia Pet retains whatever nuclear capability he had before the so-called 'Six Party Talks' started, and hundreds of thousands of North Koreans remain sold out by this Administration, by validating the genocidal regime in Pyongyang via abovementioned 'talks'.

- Iran, who we were told by our illustrious Commander-in-Chief, 'would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon', is all but nuclear capable and this Administration has again (as in the case of North Korea) done essentially nothing to inhibit Tehran from achieving it's goals.

Add to the above the continued failure to enforce the integrity of our southern borders, the failure to round up and deport the 14+ million illegals that murder, rape, rob and pillage American citizens each and every day (not to mention refusing to pardon two Border Patrol Agents who had no business being railroaded into prison), and an increasingly intrusive and oppressive 'Department of Homeland Security' that trashes our individual freedoms detailed in the Bill of Rights as they see fit, and operate with little if any effective oversight.

So before anyone drops to their knees in classic worship of GWB to sing his praises, don't forget about his more than substantial failures.

[Blue State Insurgent]

And that ain't the half of it.

[austrian]

This I will ALWAYS remember:
“Either you are with us or you are for the terrorists.”
~~George W. Bush

---

me too. this was one of the speeches why most of europe started hating him ;-)

[lowbridge]

bump

[happy2bamerican]

being a very proud former soldier, who joined after seeing Iraq firing scuds at Israel and others, I was was mad as hell. That night I decided to join the Army, hoping to be deployed to help in the mission. I was 27 yrs old. my career ended almost 5 yrs later. I was devastated. I wanted to make it my life. the point I'm trying to make is that it's not the president or any other elected official. It's the soldiers that are fighting this "war". I respect the president very much. he's got the hardest job in the USA. but way to many soldiers are dying and just as bad the ones coming back in need of VA services aren't getting it. I heard it from one of the top VA rep's on Dr. Phil, there are 800,000 complaints back logged. that's almost the same number that have returned..please reply someone..I hope I'm not the only former disabled soldier that knows the fight their in for..took me 8 yrs...I honestly believed the VA system was my friend..thought they would take care of my serious injury that has replaced the army career that I had all planned out..trust me please any soldier needing help from the VA, call a state representative..I would love to give some advice to any soldier trying to get medical help. The VA rep's are famous for finding a way to make an official finding saying your medical problem is prior service, unless they cant get away w/ that because it's too obvious..If u have PTSD..which some where between 90% & 99% serving soldiers return to the US from Iraq have symptoms of PTSD..And a large number need help as soon as they return because of the high number of suicides due to their PTSD. The VA says u have a mental health problem and your symptoms are in your mind.If I've offended anybody too bad, I'm sure you've never served our great nation.

[ContraryMary]

Great article! History will view Bush kindly. He has truly made the world a safer place.

[mkjessup]

Get back to us after the first Iranian nuclear detonation takes place.

In fact, if you would move to Israel and wait for that nudet, the blast might blow those blinders off from around your eyes.

[ContraryMary]

Get back to us after the first Iranian nuclear detonation takes place.

In fact, if you would move to Israel and wait for that nudet, the blast might blow those blinders off from around your eyes.

HaHaHaHaHaHaHa...ROTFL! What's a nudet ?