[antimedia] antimedia: Wisdom from the front....

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by antimedia:
Wisdom from the front....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1177178284.shtml


   ....Alaa looks at [1]the "surge" and sees "very important developments
   taking place" in Iraq.

     This is evidence of what I told you earlier about the very
     important developments taking place. I have tried to draw attention
     to the significant change of mood of the people which started in
     the Anbar province with the creation of the "Anbar Salvation
     Council". This movement is spreading to other regions notably in
     Diala province. Meanwhile the enemy's ability to launch painful
     terrorist attacks in Baghdad is mainly due to the fact that the
     Security Plan is not being enforced in all areas of Baghdad with
     equal intensity. It is concentrated in the Eastern part (Risafa),
     while the Western more dangerous and terrorist infested part of
     Bagdad ( Al-Karkh ), is just not receiving sufficient attention,
     for reasons which are not altogether quite clear. It is not
     surprising, therefore, that car bombs and the like can be rigged
     and dispatched from such areas to launch the kind of attacks that
     we have witnessed.
     Meanwhile, it is evident to me that the security plan, in so far as
     military strategy is concerned, consists of two essential elements:
     firstly to regain control of Baghdad and save the city from the
     sorry state that has virtually paralysed life and caused the
     massive exodus of the population that the world is witnessing;
     secondly, to hand the control to Iraqi security forces after they
     achieve a certain level of development. There is general awareness,
     by all who care about the people of Iraq that continued U.S.
     support of the new Order is essential. However, between the extreme
     course of total withdrawal and the present detailed involvement
     with daily operations; there is a middle way that few are talking
     about. Complete abandon and retreat by the Americans would indeed
     constitute defeat and a victory for the enemy, and would turn the
     tables completely and ignite a larger conflagration in the region.
     On the other hand the level of involvement of American and other
     allied foreign troops with detailed street to street policing,
     house searches etc. etc. should not continue indefinitely. For
     apart from the losses and pressures that are endured by the men and
     women of the MNF, some mistakes and errors can be quite
     counterproductive. What must be realized is that as long as the
     U.S. is strategically present, the enemy has no hope of achieving
     any of his objectives. This enemy knows this only too well; and his
     prime objective is to bring about this withdrawal and retreat by
     all means. He pins his hopes on the internal situation in the U.S.,
     and this is his most potent weapon. Therefore most of his actions
     and attacks are basically publicity stunts aimed primarily at the
     MSM and American and western public opinion.

   I agree that we should be handing over authority to Iraqi security
   forces as they become capable of standing alone. Isn't that what
   [2]we've been doing all along?
   Of course it doesn't help that the [3]political correctness of our
   media obscures what's going on.

     Iraqi insurgents now fighting each other
     By TODD PITMAN, Associated Press Writer Fri Apr 20, 3:28 PM ET
     MUQDADIYAH, Iraq - At least two major insurgent groups are battling
     al-Qaida in provinces outside Baghdad, American military commanders
     said Friday, an indication of a deepening rift between Sunni
     guerrilla groups in
     Iraq.

   Whoever wrote that headline should have read the first damn paragraph.
   It should be "Iraqi insurgents now fighting Al Qaeda". And don't you
   think that headline might get Americans' attention?
   Idiots.
   The so-called "flawed" plan of Bush has never changed. The tactics
   have changed to adapt to the enemy, and with Gen. Petraeus, the
   tactics have changed again, but it has always been the case that our
   plan was [4]"as the Iraqis stand up, [5]we will stand down". Only the
   clueless, the inattentive and the politically deaf would not realize
   that. (Hey, it only took clueless Kerry [6]a year to figure it out.)
   For those who are historically challeneged, [7]here's some
   perspective.

     The Revolutionary War also called the American Revolution began in
     1775. British soldiers and American patriots fought at Lexington,
     Massachusetts and nearby Concord. In 1783 the Treaty of Paris ended
     the war. Great Britain was forced to recognize the independence of
     the 13 colonies of the United States.

   It took eight years for America to defeat the British. During much of
   that time, the outcome was in doubt and America appeared to be losing
   to the supposedly superior British forces.
   Expecting Iraqis to be better and faster than Americans is asking a
   bit much, don't you think? Yet it appears that they will be. After
   only four years, they have assumed command in some parts of the
   country and are acting independently in many other areas.
   They already have a constitutionally formed government and a
   Parliament that meets regularly. It took us [8]five more years after
   the Treaty of Paris to adopt our Constitution, and three more years
   after that before Congress finally convened.
   Only an idiot would withdraw from Iraq now.

References

   1. http://messopotamian.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html#1356420745443012906
   2. http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom2/Lists/Current%20Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=4762&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecentcom%2Emil%2Fsites%2Fuscentcom2%2FLists%2FPress%2520Releases%2FCurrent%2520Releases%2Easpx
   3. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070420/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_insurgent_split_1;_ylt=ApGAbVvs831VuRN8INPCVmgUewgF
   4. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=16277
   5. http://www.blackanthem.com/World/2005081203.html
   6. http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/134452
   7. http://www.42explore2.com/revolt.htm
   8. http://www.ipa.udel.edu/democracy/firstcongress/intro.html