Standoff in Iraq

http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson200602240629.asp ^ | Victor Davis Hanson

[mal]

The insurgency in Iraq has no military capability either to drive the United States military from Iraq or to stop the American training of Iraqi police and security forces — or, for that matter, to derail the formation of a new government. The United States air base at Balad is one of the busiest airports in the world. Camp Victory near Baghdad is impenetrable to serious attack. And even forward smaller bases at Kirkuk, Mosul, and Ramadi are entirely secure. Instead, the terrorists count on three alternate strategies:

First, through the use of improvised explosive devices (IED), assassinations, and suicide bombings, they hope to make the Iraqi hinterlands and suburbs appear so unstable and violent that the weary American public says “enough of these people” and calls home its troops before the country is stabilized. In such a quest, the terrorists have an invaluable ally in the global media, whose “if it bleeds, it leads” brand of journalism always favors the severed head in the street over the completion of yet another Iraqi school.

[MNJohnnie]

Who else has actually been to Iraq, from the ranks of the commentariat? Left and right?

Allegra. Read Post 13 of this thread. Allegra works in Bagdad.

[FreedomPoster]

While I very much enjoy Allegra's posts, I wouldn't consider her part of the commentariat, in the general sense of the word.

[afnamvet]

Excellent assessment by VDH. I'm very glad he made the choice to go to Iraq and see for himself the progress being made.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

the MoveOn FReepers back home

We have loads of them recently surfaced around here.....it's like they never bother to read anything in depth....already having listened to the MSM and are simply relaying their talking points....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping to another great article from VDH.

[Marine_Uncle]

Some things must be repeated literally hundreds of times to perhaps catch the ostriche's attention. Though the birds do have a habit of keeping their ears and eyes buried quite deep.

[Flavius Josephus]

Right now we have arrayed against us:

Al-Queda and the Wahabbists
The Media
The Democrats
The Leftists
The Communists (but I repeat myself)
The Mexicans
The Iranians
The Academy
The RINOS
The European Socialists

For us we have:
The Conservatives
The Christians
The Jews (some of them)

This isn't a slam dunk, not at all.

[Flavius Josephus]

Some things must be repeated literally hundreds of times to perhaps catch the ostriche's attention.

Or, as the left used to put it, we need to Raise the Ostrich's Conciousness.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Or, as the left used to put it, we need to Raise the Ostrich's Conciousness."
Perhaps with a swift kick to their ass. heheh.

[JamesP81]

Right now we have arrayed against us: Al-Queda and the Wahabbists
The Media
The Democrats
The Leftists
The Communists (but I repeat myself)
The Mexicans
The Iranians
The Academy
The RINOS
The European Socialists

For us we have:
The Conservatives
The Christians
The Jews (some of them)

This isn't a slam dunk, not at all.

At the risk of sounding like a nutter, let me add this one:

God

I don't think things are quite as bad as they look. People tend to give up the fight right when they are on the edge of success.

[ajolympian2004]

Perhaps we need a War on MSM..

For how the lame stream media has tried to intentionally undermine the mission of the outstanding men and women of the US military and our coalition partners in Iraq and Afghanistan I HATE every one of those MFing talking mediots. The media whore katie couric, coward sissy matthews and all the other traitors in the lame stream media are mortal enemies of the United States... at least that is how I view them.

[Flavius Josephus]

Oooyeah, Marine Uncle, Sir! Kicking!

[Marine_Uncle]

"Oooyeah, Marine Uncle, Sir! Kicking!"
I cannot accept the honor of being addressed as sir with the thought you may think I am an old gruff gunny. I only am the uncle of a tough young Lance Corporal. But yea the birds some time just need their backsides booted to wake up.

[Flavius Josephus]

I did have the image of a wiry old gunny with a marine corps tattoo who could still kick my ass into next Tuesday at the ripe young age of 62.

[Marine_Uncle]

"I did have the image of a wiry old gunny with a marine corps tattoo who could still kick my ass into next Tuesday at the ripe young age of 62."
Sorry to disapoint you, I'm just a super handsome 59 guy! ha ha. Who I might add, almost weaped more then once while shaking hands of Marines newly graduated and later at Camp Lejeune rubbing skins with Marines from PVC up to Majors who returned from Iraq. They serve with honor. While running around these bases with my nephew. He indulges me quite a bit, I felt like I was twenty again. Full of spirit, purpose, and unlimited endurance. It would have been so grand to be allowed to go onto a fireing range and with these old weary eyes try to at least find the outer rings.
Let me end with this. A few years back while attending my nephew's graduation at Parris Island I had a unique experience. Steve was asked to give a talk to the Marines that where in the special Physical Training unit (those Marines that where not staying up with the course, and needed extra help to get with the program, whether mental or physical). While he stood at a little podium talking with this recruits, remember Steve only became a Marine some 24 hours before, he asked some what their hang up was. To a large degree these kids complained about the running, sit ups and pull ups.
I was standing in the background next to a room where the Sargeant on duty stayed.
I could not take it any more. I asked Steven if I could interupt him for just a moment. He gave way. I addressed the recruits .....ok guys, look you see me, white hair, rather old looking, totally out of shape right? No responses. Steve starts to giggle.
I ask them. How many pull ups are required to complete that requirement. Answer four sir. OK. what they did not know that I used to be able to press into inverted iron crosses and the likes on rings and do pull ups galore.
So I ask them where do you do pullups. They said over their sir.
I walked over to a high bar they had set up. And ask how do you get to up to the bar. They said we have to jump up and grab it.
So whispering a prayer, I jumped up and grabbed the bar. And pumped out four full pull ups crying on the last one with my aching white piped biceps gone for ages....I'm doing this for you guys. As I dropped to the floor I said If this old bastard who hasn't done any pullups in over twenty years can do four you guys can do it.
So FJ. I got to do some pull ups at a MCRD. It did feel quite good to say the least. The biceps stopped hurting within the hour as we ran around other parts of the base.

[Flavius Josephus]

That's a great story, Pops! ;-)

But get out to a firing range. We may all be needed in the minutemen before too much longer.

[Marine_Uncle]

I sold all my firearms after getting married and hearing to many why do you want to shoot Bambi for. Such is life. It is grand even when things are not going to well. Haven't fired a gun, rifle, or shotgun in some thirty years.

[91B]

OK-fine, I'll say it. Hanson is right on the main thrust of the article which is that the insurgents have no other option than to inflict enough pinpricks so that the casualties incurred will cause enough political pressure to force us to withdraw from Iraq and that the media and the left are their willing allies in that. He is also right that reforming Iraq is our best shot at combating Islamic extremism and that the enemy understands this and is doing all he can to undermine our efforts there.

However, he is wrong about a lot of the details. For example, the IA and IP are only marginally capable and need a lot more training and supervision before they are ready. And one of the main reasons that we are drawing down in Iraq is that we have used almost all of our NG combat brigades and, barring a declaration of war, they cannot be reactivated again until the current five-year mobilization window expires. Having failed to expand the regular Army, the administration has no choice other than to draw down and hope that the domestic Iraqi forces can handle the mission.

Oh, and the chow on our FOB sucked.

[Caleb1411]

Perhaps we need a War on MSM.

We're engaged, and FreeRepublic is a MOAB on the MSM.

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Much-obliged for your full posting of a needlessly-excerpted article! KUDOS!!