Murtha finds military progress in trip to Iraq

[KW4MW]

Quote[/b] ]"I think the 'surge' is working," the Democrat said in a videoconference from his Johnstown office, describing the president's decision to commit more than 20,000 additional combat troops this year. But the Iraqis "have got to take care of themselves."U.S. Rep. John Murtha #said he saw signs of military progress during a brief trip to Iraq last week (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07333/837824-100.stm)

[k4kyv]

It was just reported that November was on course to be the least deadly for American troops in Iraq since March 2006, with the 36th death of the month reported Thursday.

I recall during the 2006 election campaign when we were averaging about one US death per day, the majority of Americans agreed that was unacceptable. So you let things get much worse, then when you regain the status quo, that's "progress"?

It is to be hoped that the situation will continue to improve, and perhaps the violence will eventually come to a halt. But then what? What happens if US troops leave, and there is no-one left holding the lid on the pressure cooker? And what is planned for the Vatican-size US embassy under construction, reportedly the largest embassy compound in the entire world? If we exit the country, do we plan to rent out space?

So we invaded the country and made a huge mess. Do we simply walk away from the destruction once "mission" is really "accomplished" and let the locals sort things out for themselves? Or do we stay there indefinitely to provide "security" and finance reconstruction, and oh yes, while we are at it, maintain control of the oil? I'm sure the Iraqi people will love us for that.

No matter how bad or how well things go from this point on, the fact remains that the US has painted itself into a corner. I don't think we are going to see all those Iraqis showering us with flowers, as promised in 2003, or the spigot that is draining the US Treasury turned off, any time in the foreseeable future.

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] ]It is to be hoped that the situation will continue to improve, and perhaps the violence will eventually come to a halt.

I don't believe that statement for one millisecond.

If the killing in Iraq halted, you far-left-off-the-chart types would loose a MAJOR campaign issue and it would be a definite disadvantage for Comrade Hillary or any other Dummycrud seeking the Oval Office.

[W0MT]

I've said it before: lack of military success is not the problem in Iraq. The problem is lack of political success. While our armed forces are shutting down the violence, the Iqaqi government is doing nothing. This is a problem that our armed forces cannot solve. Unless the Iraqis step up to the plate and accomplish all of the things they were supposed to do like establishing a true coalition government, we are sacrificing our young men and women for nothing. Sooner or later we will bring our troops home. Unless the Iraqis have set up a real government, something they don't seem able to do and probably never will, the end result will be the same.

[al2i]

US Troop deaths and injuries in Iraq will drop to zero after the last troop leaves that foreign land.