Good News From Iraq

[Acumen]

You apparently didn't read the article.  Read the article first.

Then educate yourself with this link:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/05/gmlrs_strike_knocks.php

[WorldWarrior]

Acumen--which side of the US-built Sadr City wall are we bombing civilians on?

The side where they can get away--or the side where they have nowhere to go?

[Acumen]

Visit the link.

[WorldWarrior]

You do realize--as everyone in and outside of Iraq knows---



That this is an arranged situation that's being called a "cease fire"?

That all sides are jockeying for position before the Fall Elections in Iraq?

That the Madhi Army has not given up--nor given up its weapons?

That al Maliki is jockeying for position for HIS own militia?

That most of the events are orchestrated and agreed upon in advance by the parties--Maliki and Sadr--involved?

That the "fighting" has nothing to do with the "advances" or "successes" of the Iraqi Army but has everything to do with gaining and/or maintaining political position?

[Thorolf]

So they're PRETENDING to kill each other?

 

[Faithfulee]

More good news on our continuing drawdown of troops and the fact that US troops are not needed as ususal for this fall's election in Iraq



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121146412731714081.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news

More progress to Victory in Iraq

[WorldWarrior]

T--


you think these unholy alliances between vicious factions--and Maaliki is defintiely included in that description--

--you think these violent arrangements for political gain are in some way "humorous" when Iraqis and US Troops are dying because of them every day?

[WorldWarrior]

Face it--most people talking about "good news" from Iraq have no idea what is going on there.

they don't listen to Iraqis talk about what is happening in their own country.

they don't know just how many factions there are.

They don't even know that there are many areas of Iraq which are under the control of various "Insurgent" groups because the US military is so thinly stretched that all it can do is run from one section of the country to another to help prop up whatever the Iraq "army"--read Maliki's militia--has attempted to do.


They don't know that what US Military involvement in Iraq is devolving into is our propping up yet another set of dictators.


When will Americans ever learn?

[Acumen]

You do realize--as everyone in and outside of Iraq knows---

My ears always perk up when people start talking in universals.  "Everybody knows."  Actually, I like hearing universals because it suggests to me that someone's argument is weak, and it only takes a small amount of previewing before it becomes evident.

That this is an arranged situation that's being called a "cease fire"?

Not sure what your point is here.  The Mahdi Army called it a cease fire, however a cease fire hasn't happened.  Those darn terrorists keep attacking and getting themselves killed.

That all sides are jockeying for position before the Fall Elections in Iraq?

It doesn't look like the Mahdi Army will last until November.  The US and ISF are squeezing them fairly tight in Sadr City with each day the Mahdi Army losing critical ground.

That the Madhi Army has not given up--nor given up its weapons?

Right, they haven't.  However, they are losing their resolve -- and the rumor is they are losing their nerve and are contemplating negotiations with a clearly superior force.

That al Maliki is jockeying for position for HIS own militia?

That makes no sense.

That the "fighting" has nothing to do with the "advances" or "successes" of the Iraqi Army but has everything to do with gaining and/or maintaining political position?

Are you advocating a conspiracy theory?  Or perhaps you can elaborate what you really mean?

[Faithfulee]

What could be better news

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx

Us casualy  rate for May 2008 is LOWEST SINCE THE WAR STARTED

[WorldWarrior]

Acumen--I suspect that you have no idea how many different factions there are fighting in Iraq currently--since your posts keep referring to the Madhi Army and Maliki's own militia as though these two armies were the only "players" in this complex situation.


When that is far from the case.

[Acumen]

Acumen--I suspect that you have no idea how many different factions there are fighting in Iraq currently--since your posts keep referring to the Madhi Army and Maliki's own militia as though these two armies were the only "players" in this complex situation.

You ought to be careful making assumptions based upon the lack of what's said.  The Mahdi Army and the ISF are the biggest players in the battle.  If you disagree with this assessment, then you really don't know what you're talking about.  Does this mean there aren't other militias or even Al Qaeda operating in Iraq?  No, but they aren't sizable or powerful enough to influence sufficient negatively on this upward trend in military accomplishments we are witnessing over the past year. 

And as a side note, I don't believe you have any idea what's really going on in Iraq.  Knowledge of what's going on in Iraq requires more than just searching the BBC.  There are many accomplishments, some of which are groundbreaking, involving the ISF. 

According to a recent report given by Petraeus, chronicled by the ABC news, the ISF are leading major operations in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City. In each of these cases, the Iraqis have made significant progress with relatively little American support.   Essentially, there are three major Iraqi-led programs in three different parts of the country, which are clearly unprecedented. 

Concerning these factions, Maliki has the backing of Sunnis, Kurds and many moderate Shiites.  If he didn't, he wouldn't growing in military strength or political resolve.  Maliki has sensed blood in the water with an increasingly isolated Mahdi Army, an army you described as unwilling to put down its weapons.  Yes, they aren't putting down their weapons, but Al Sadr has lost much of his ability to control his militia.

On May 8, the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mahmoud al-Mishhadani, wrote a letter to our President thanking the U.S. for its help in the war effort.  He urged Bush to keep Gen. Petraeus in Iraq.  Of course, his letter was not reported in the press, but it is a key sign of what he perceived as significant success.  And let me remind you, this is coming from a man who knows a whole hell of a lot more about Iraq than you.  Just a year ago, Mishhadani, said attacks on U.S. forces were justified.  He once called Sunni insurgents who kill American troops "heroes."  Now, he's singing an entirely different tune.  Why?

 

[WorldWarrior]

Acumen says--

"No, but they aren't sizable or powerful enough to influence sufficient negatively on this upward trend in military accomplishments we are witnessing over the past year."


You see--that's where you're submitting your credulity to the Bush model of what you're being told is going on in Iraq.

There's fighting going on all over the country and cumulatively the numerous militias and insurgent groups are taking quite a toll on US Troops. But of course it's much easier to justr talk about two factions as though nothing else is going on.

and as though it will "all be over just as soon as these two factions gfet it straightened out."


  Acumen says--

"And as a side note, I don't believe you have any idea what's really going on in Iraq.  Knowledge of what's going on in Iraq requires more than just searching the BBC."

You must be thinking of some other poster who only uses the BBC as a source.

Acumen says--

 "There are many accomplishments, some of which are groundbreaking, involving the ISF.  "

Yes--Maliki has taken our money and the efforts of our Troops and built himself a nice little base from which to try to dominate the rest of Iraq.

Does no one here know the history of the Vietnam War?

[Acumen]

Acumen says--

"No, but they aren't sizable or powerful enough to influence sufficient negatively on this upward trend in military accomplishments we are witnessing over the past year."


You see--that's where you're submitting your credulity to the Bush model of what you're being told is going on in Iraq.

I don't get my news from the White House, nor do I get it from CNN or the BBC.  My information comes from very reputable websites that have no political axe to grind.  The fact you are quick to categorize anyone who disagrees with you as a Bush Model supporter suggests you are close minded to issues relating to the Iraq War.

There's fighting going on all over the country and cumulatively the numerous militias and insurgent groups are taking quite a toll on US Troops. But of course it's much easier to justr talk about two factions as though nothing else is going on.

and as though it will "all be over just as soon as these two factions gfet it straightened out."

Please list the names of these "numerous militias" and list what parts of the country they dominate.  I expect to see a sizable list if your points are to bear any merit.

Yes--Maliki has taken our money and the efforts of our Troops and built himself a nice little base from which to try to dominate the rest of Iraq.

Does no one here know the history of the Vietnam War?

Again, you don't know what you're talking about.  What do you know specifically about Maliki that reasonably suggests he is using his army to "dominate" Iraq?

[WorldWarrior]

Acumen says--

"The fact you are quick to categorize anyone who disagrees with you as a Bush Model supporter suggests you are close minded to issues relating to the Iraq War."



I am basing the opinion about you on the "happy news'" in your posts.

[Acumen]

WW,

I'm posting the "happy news" because that's the point of the thread as indicated by the title "Good News From Iraq."

[WorldWarrior]

Yes--sorry to intrude with actual info on what is going on in Iaq.

I'll leave you to the "happy talk."

[Acumen]

Yes--sorry to intrude with actual info on what is going on in Iaq.

Where did this happen?  I looked a few different times, and I haven't been able to find any factual information in your posts.  Could you help me out a little?

[Thorolf]

T--


you think these unholy alliances between vicious factions--and Maaliki is defintiely included in that description--

--you think these violent arrangements for political gain are in some way "humorous" when Iraqis and US Troops are dying because of them every day?

 

[Acumen]

There's fighting going on all over the country and cumulatively the numerous militias and insurgent groups are taking quite a toll on US Troops. But of course it's much easier to justr talk about two factions as though nothing else is going on.

And when you make statements like these, it leads me to form one of two conclusions: either you don't know what you're talking about, or you do know something, but you are couching your sentences in a way as to mislead viewers. 

Yes, there is fighting going on all over the nation of Iraq.  And yes, it is taking a toll on the US troops, but what you have failed to mention (which is rather significant to this discussion), is that violence is down 70% since our surge, the number of attacks in the past week was the lowest since 2004, and Al Qaeda is more "off balance" and "on the run" than they have ever been since 2001.

This bit of inconvenient news is the sort that the major media doesn't talk about, nor is it the type of information that liberals are willing to discuss or share with others.