tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223708501870261469.post5183653892581167865..comments2023-07-24T05:23:39.525-05:00Comments on Achieving Our Country: Examining the Decrease in Violence in IraqGordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09639198520550438173noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223708501870261469.post-14273025831958809272008-04-07T21:33:00.000-05:002008-04-07T21:33:00.000-05:00The final factor, left unspoken, is the fact that ...The final factor, left unspoken, is the fact that "the surge" was not ever a tactical or strategic effort, but merely PR, like the war itself.<BR/>The only sphere in which success was even contemplated was in American public opinion, and given that goal, it is only lately in danger of failing, and the same charlatans who promised us flowers and sweets will continue to mercilessly flog ephemeral and now "inoperative" gains as "proof" that, say, gravity has been repealed.<BR/>The parts that (sort of) worked are firing realist brass, and installing more wingnut flacks to tell the story, observably false though it is.<BR/>The change in conditions as you describe them are certainly accurate, but only understandable in consideration of the goal, which is anything but peace in Iraq.Cocktailhaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15176789762393264898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223708501870261469.post-16834678210597340982008-04-07T21:00:00.000-05:002008-04-07T21:00:00.000-05:00Thanks, Karen. Those are great comments from Sest...Thanks, Karen. Those are great comments from Sestak. I unfortunately have a Bush rubber stamper (Cliff Stearns) as my representative, but we have a new candidate for his office on the Democratic side. I just got a press release from Tim Cunha, who just filed papers for his candidacy. In the release , he shares a letter he sent to the House Committees that will hold hearings Wednesday. He states, in the letter:<BR/>"Due to America’s continued involvement in Iraq, entangled in the midst of its religious and<BR/>sectarian civil war:<BR/>• The administration has taken its eye off the ball in Afghanistan and Pakistan, allowing Al<BR/>Qaeda to regenerate.<BR/>• Iran’s influence across the Middle East has expanded dramatically.<BR/>• Our ability to work with allies has been badly damaged.<BR/>• Our military has been stretched to its breaking point and our ability to meet other national<BR/>security challenges has been limited.<BR/>• Our National Guard is still diverted from its fundamental purpose of guarding our nation<BR/>and is not available here at home in the event of hurricanes and other disasters and in the<BR/>event of terrorist attacks to our homeland.<BR/>Therefore, I request that you ask the General and the Ambassador:<BR/>“Is the continued American involvement in the Iraq civil war making America<BR/>safer?”"<BR/>I think he looks like a good candidate.Jim Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10368552140222190408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4223708501870261469.post-89350098503768836002008-04-07T20:38:00.000-05:002008-04-07T20:38:00.000-05:00Great post, Jim!For a little more context, there's...Great post, Jim!<BR/><BR/>For a little more context, there's a link on Joe Sestak's website (he's my rep) about the problems inherent in having Petraeus be the only voice for the Pentagon.<BR/><BR/>I posted <A HREF="http://www.sestak.house.gov/video/cspan-040208.html" REL="nofollow">this link</A> on the UT thread earlier, but I think it was swallowed up by another discussion.Karen Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13177791730943410658noreply@blogger.com