Video: Michael Yon talks progress in Iraq on CNN
posted at 2:40 pm on November 4, 2007 by Allahpundit
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WaPo asked the million-dollar question on Friday. Is the fight over or are we just between rounds? No one’s saying “mission accomplished” but both Yon and CNN’s Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, think there’s more to what’s going on than the two sides taking a breather. “The mood of the people has changed dramatically,” says Yon — a sentiment with which McIntyre agrees but with the caveat that economic development is sorely needed now to cement the trend towards normalcy. Frederik Pleitgen picks up on that by noting how U.S. troops have taken the lead on trying to restore services to quasi-pacified areas, a shrewd strategy insofar as it breaks the local dependence on militias but worrisome insofar as it makes our guys and not the Iraqi government the linchpin in basic civic administration.
As for the military’s view on all this, McIntyre has the takeaway: “You really do sense an optimism that wasn’t there a short time ago.” Hmmmm.
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And on CNN, no less. Maybe the non-blog reading public will start to realize that things are improving in Iraq.
flipflop on November 4, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Teach a child to be independent and he will take care of you in your old age, teach a child to be dependent and you will still be taking care of him in your old age.
- Confucius’ Nephew
I would have thought that Michael Yon would have had a deeper voice and a lot more hair.
MB4 on November 4, 2007 at 3:16 PM
Typical liberal response.
“Yes, things are getting better, BUT….”
georgej on November 4, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Someone tell WalMart to build over there. That will REALLY drive the moonbats over the edge.
SouthernGent on November 4, 2007 at 3:40 PM
Who the heck is that anchor?
BJ* on November 4, 2007 at 3:51 PM
The spin today on the left side blogs is violence is down simply because of secretarian cleansing having done it’s job.
Really then why are those cleansed groups moving back into the areas now and violence is still down?
From bloggers on the ground, what needs to be done is two main things and both are starting.
Get oil revenue out to ALL the provinces to support reconstruction projects to get businesses back running so people can get back to work and also pick up the pieces.
Also even if they are on the other side of the sect in power give some credit and recognition to the local neighborhood patrols as long as they promote peace and feed tips to the Iraq Army and Police on IED locations, bad guys as they are found. Encourage the good things to make more of it happen.
Neglect it and it may collapse out of frustration.
CommentGuy on November 4, 2007 at 4:19 PM
This is fantastic news! Something that should place hope in all our hearts. The fact that AP is still posting, even though he is on vacation, sews the seeds of optimism in this cynic’s heart. Well done!
Weight of Glory on November 4, 2007 at 4:20 PM
When the Allies shut down Auschwitz, YES! it was allot better compared to when it was in full operation.
God bless Michael Yon!
TheSitRep on November 4, 2007 at 4:39 PM
Michael Ware and Harry Reid couldn’t be reached for comment.
Bicyea on November 4, 2007 at 5:10 PM
You’re taking quite the vacation, AP! But excellent post (as always.)
Vizzini on November 4, 2007 at 5:26 PM
Me thinks CNN is trying to capitalize on the popularity of Glen Beck. So, if they have to use a Glen Beck look alike in order to start telling the truth, then CNN need to find Rush, Sean, Mark, Laura and other look alikes.
Helloyawl on November 4, 2007 at 5:33 PM
The fact that Micheal Yon is on CNN is ITSELF a sign of progress. But somebody better send a memo to al-Pelosi and the Nancy Boys and let ‘em know that we’re winning.
Tony737 on November 4, 2007 at 5:47 PM
I can understand why they’d use graphs to illustrate things, but.. damn.. That still came across rather ‘wrong’ to me
Reaps on November 4, 2007 at 8:17 PM
Great report.
Why?
RD on November 4, 2007 at 8:31 PM
how ’bout a bar graph showing how many terrorists we’ve been killin’? I get it’d show a spike since the surge.
Tony737 on November 5, 2007 at 1:19 AM
We’re certainly winning, and on the same general time-line many in the military have said from the start. It takes several years, about 6-10 depending on the strength of the opposing forces, to establish a democracy.
We’re still not done, there will be rough days ahead. Al-Qaeda can’t take over new sections of the country, but they can still mount terrorist attacks & assassinations. However, the Iraqi army is large enough and sufficiently organized to make significant contributions to the fight, and will be more effective than US soldiers since Iraqi citizens cooperate better with them. Local police and national police are about six-months behind them but also progressing well.
Having native Iraqis fighting Al-Qaeda and the extremists is going to produce startling results over the next year. Even more startling will be the effect of having a free, democratic Arab state right in the center of the Middle East. This is a huge blow to both Al-Qaeda and hard-line dictatorships like Iran and Syria, it also will put pressure on ‘moderate’ dictatorships like Egypt and Saudi Arabia to bring freedoms more quickly.
Summary: we’re winning, we’re winning on schedule, and the results will be what we planned for at the start.
Jason on November 5, 2007 at 5:10 AM
ewww….smooching dudes! ick!
Black Adam on November 5, 2007 at 9:47 AM
The progress is “not irreversible”.
Translation, don’t give up, Al Qaeda, you still have a chance!
Thanks CNN.
Anil Petra on November 5, 2007 at 3:22 PM
You are on to something. Here near the border of Dearbornistan the largest percentage of shoppers at our local Wallymart are mexicans and muslims from across the divide. I can say that because they are not part of the demographics of my city. They travel into hillbilly country just to buy clothes from China, toys from China, just about anything from China. They are obviously addicted to stuff from China
We should beat the Chinese and market our stuff from China there first. Something about China has united these two great nomadic tribes
Soon Iranians will be crossing the divide to buy in Iraqi Walmarts. All that Chinese junk will burden them down as the addiction grows.
They try making suicide vests with Chinese goods and the stuff will probably disintegrate before they get a good wearing
entagor on November 5, 2007 at 7:38 PM
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