Comments on: Hopeful signs in Baghdad?

By: Purple Avenger

Purple Avenger — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:50:27 +0000

What is all this non-quagmire talk? This is phony as the faked moon landings. Murtha assures me of this.

By: Clark1

Clark1 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 06:54:00 +0000

Like I said when reports of Mahdi Army playing it quiet surfaced months ago – their reason for existance is to protect the Shiite communities against AQ/Sunnis. If that function can be performed by Iraqi/US forces, that undermines everything Sadr stands for.

By: Guardian

Guardian — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 03:46:22 +0000

Pat Dollard just sent me an email.

I’m running to the airport to do Redeye tomorrow night

Try to watch or tivo or whatever.

By: 91Veteran

91Veteran — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 03:27:27 +0000

I thought this was interesting reading at the ItM site, so many families returning home…..

….and not killing each other.

If we are to believe the drive-by media, Iraq is in the midst of a vicious civil war.

Seems to me that some terrorists and other thugs were the ones doing all the killing.

Exit question: How’s Petraeus going to keep them from coming back?

In reading the ItM site, it seems many normal people are happy to be returning home, and Commanders are handing out their phone numbers.

It’s possible if some of these people experience some peace, they might not hesitate to call the number and drop a dime on some jihadi coming back to town,

By: PinkyBigglesworth

PinkyBigglesworth — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 02:07:38 +0000

Optimism? From Allah?

This is a sign of impending doom ….

Ali-Bubba on February 19, 2007 at 5:27 PM

Ali-Bubba, forgive me, I just can’t help myself…

(Sarcasm “ON”)…. all from the Koran:

Would that be the “…painful doom?”

“… evil doom?”

“…Allah’s doom?”

“…awful doom of hell?”

“…the doom of fire?”

“… the heavy doom?”

“…. shameful doom?”

“… a lasting doom?”

“…. dreadful doom?”

“… fearful doom?”

“…the doom of another doom?”

By: lorien1973

lorien1973 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:05:34 +0000

How’s Petraeus going to keep them from coming back?

At some point, the Iraqi’s are going to have to keep them from coming back. We need to get to that point.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:44:10 +0000

I think having Sadr assassinated while in Teheran would send a huge message to the Shiite militias, and more importantly to Iran – you can’t hide from us, and we can reach you whereever you are.

By: Zorro

Zorro — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:10:21 +0000

Exit question: How’s Petraeus going to keep them from coming back?

That will be very tough to do. But when he does return, I say do something to play to his emotions, draw him out into the open. The USMC will know what to do next.

By: Kadnine

Kadnine — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:07:16 +0000

"It’s supposedly Patraeus’ 11 point plan for Baghdad." techno_barbarian on February 19, 2007 at 5:31 PM

I saw that earlier today and it's got me excited. If Dollard is somehow mistaken, and that's not the official plan, then it damn well ought to be. It's solid. It doesn't mention my long-time hobby horse of too few advisor/trainers, but points 3, 4, 7, and 8, taken collectivley would achieve the same result: A less corrupt, more highly qualified Iraqi leadership (both civ and mil.) That's who ultimately should be keeping the JAM in hiding. Here's to praying Patraeus can make it happen.

By: Entelechy

Entelechy — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:07 +0000

Note the unique fashion.

JammieWearingFool on February 19, 2007 at 5:47 PM

Where’s honora? She likes to assess first ladies’ clothes.

What would Ms. Marcotte say to your ‘Pantsuit’ reference, JWF?

Don’t bank that unity yet, though.

Prediction – if the surge+ goes well, the media will find a way to credit the new congress and the pressure on the CiC to change course, bla, bla, bla…Any victory, no matter how miniscule, can’t be the president’s or America’s. Not.good.for.2008 (at least not for their side).

By: georgej

georgej — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:58:37 +0000

Gosh.

I just listened to Charlie Gibson at ABC give us the horrible news of how bad it is in Baghdad now that the “surge” has begun.

Do-ya think he’s lying? [Ans: YEP!]

AP asks: “How’s Petraeus going to keep them from coming back?”

By killing them while in return transit or while trying to restablish themselves. That is when they are most vulnerable, because they are not hunkered down in hiding in safe houses.

By: Mallard T. Drake

Mallard T. Drake — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:49:35 +0000

What’s the over/under on how many weeks/months before the MSM can’t avoid mentioning or reporting on the success of the surge troops.

Here is a prediction: the surge is particularly effective at reducing the violence and deaths in Baghdad. The Donks, seizing the opportunity, declare before summer that the troops are no longer needed since the sitation has “stabilized.” They will ramp up their call for the troops to withdrawl. Meanwhile, the vermin wait….

By: Defector01

Defector01 — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:15:02 +0000

i’ll pray

By: jaleach

jaleach — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:55:07 +0000

What’s that? America shows a minor streak of strength and the jihadists go to ground? Shoot, who’d've thunk it! Meet force with overwhelming force and we might just win a war here!

By: JammieWearingFool

JammieWearingFool — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:47:51 +0000

I was reading Iraq the Model earlier and was pleased to see some optimism. Even more progress is being made domestically now that the Pantsuit Calls for Unity in Wartime. Note the unique fashion.

By: Romeo13

Romeo13 — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:41:12 +0000

I hope we remember what we learned when they all disappeared as Franks thundered toward Baghdad. Nothing like fighting snakes crawling in and out of their holes.

Griz on February 19, 2007 at 5:36 PM

Yep… while Franks was moving more troops, faster, and forging the greatest and least costly military victory in history….

You noticed that as soon as we said we were gonna get serious again they started runnin?

Dam, I hate this Congres…. its the only chance our enemies really have.

By: Griz

Griz — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:36:08 +0000

I hope we remember what we learned when they all disappeared as Franks thundered toward Baghdad. Nothing like fighting snakes crawling in and out of their holes.

By: techno_barbarian

techno_barbarian — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:35:20 +0000

Contrary to what I heard all last week from the dems and a few pubs cowards in the House last week, Patraeus’ plan makes a lot of sense.

How they could unanimously vote to authorize Patraeus and his plan, and then immediately, the next DAY, turn around and claim it’s the same ol’ same ol’ and we need a change is galling to me.

By: techno_barbarian

techno_barbarian — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:31:33 +0000

I know it’s really early, but this is great news.

As for Patraeus keeping the bad guys from coming back, I just hope they were watching when they left. I also hope that the Iraqis will love not being oppressed by the militias and report suspicious people coming back in.

I’m very hopeful and optimistic. And here’s another interesting and directly related link. It’s supposedly Patraeus’ 11 point plan for Baghdad.

By: Oilpatcher

Oilpatcher — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:31:02 +0000

Of COURSE there are hopeful signs. Always have been.
I have said this before and will say it again: The jihadists cannot win unless they have a caliphate. A large portion of the world hermetically sealed from Western Civilization. They must have this privileged sanctuary while practicing coercive proselyting here or they are sunk. With Uncle Sam in Iraq, said caliphate is beyond their reach.
If they have not achieved caliphate within a deacde and a half, they probably will never get it. If they have not gotten it within 25 to 30 years, their hopes are forever dashed.
On a worst-case basis, we could blunder along as we have been, losing a thousand men a year and still wind up winning while suffering no more than 75% to 80% of the battle deaths of Korea.
Thus, any improvement in daily operations improves on the Good News. Running away and surrendering is the ONLY real danger we face. Final answer.

By: Ali-Bubba

Ali-Bubba — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:27:18 +0000

Optimism? From Allah?

This is a sign of impending doom ….

By: Romeo13

Romeo13 — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:21:41 +0000

You do know that Mooky has an Iraqi warrant out for his arrest? Stems from his being involved in the assasination of a fellow Iraqi cleric a couple of years ago. Last I heard it was still in force, though not being served for political reasons….

Now… if someone would remind him of that little fact, he wouldn’t BE coming back.