Michael Yon. Guess who won? We did:I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT OUR EFFORTS IN IRAQ FROM THE VERY START AND RIGHT UP TO TODAY - HAVE ALWAYS HAD UNSC MANDATED SUPPORT, AND THE ASSISTANCE OF SEVERAL IF NOT DOZENS OF ALLIES.
I would go so far as to say that barring any major and unexpected developments (like an Israeli air strike on Iran and the retaliations that would follow), a fair-minded person could say with reasonable certainty that the war has ended. A new and better nation is growing legs. What's left is messy politics that likely will be punctuated by low-level violence and the occasional spectacular attack. Yet, the will of the Iraqi people has changed, and the Iraqi military has dramatically improved, so those spectacular attacks are diminishing along with the regular violence. Now it's time to rebuild the country, and create a pluralistic, stable and peaceful Iraq. That will be long, hard work. But by my estimation, the Iraq War is over. We won. Which means the Iraqi people won.... Remember, we were going to win in Afghanistan because we had righteousness, a U.N. Resolution, and an international coalition and support for it. Our expedition in Iraq was fated to be lost from the beginning because it was an unholy war for oil, the U.N. didn't approve, and the international community (meaning, you know, China, Russia, and France) was against it.
WE DEFEATED THE ENEMY ION IRAQ BECAUSE BUSH AND PETRAEUS WENT AFTER THE ENEMY, WENT OF THE OPFFINSIVE AND KICKED HIS BUTT.
THAT'S THE REAL LESSON HERE, IMHO.
- AND, DEFEATING THE ENEMY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ASSUAGING FICKLE ALLIES OR THE LEFT OR THE DEMS OR THE MSM OR THE YOUTH.
- THE BURGEONING VIOLENCE IN AFGHANISTAN PROVES A FEW THINGS:
- FIRST APPEASING FOES NEVER WORKS; THE MORE THE NEW DEMOCRAT PARTY SUPPORTED COALITION IN PAKISTAN APPEASES THE TALIBAN THE WORSE THINGS GET IN AFGHANISTAN.
- SECOND: THE SURGE IN IRAQ PROVES WE MUST ALSO DO MORE TO HUNT DOWN AND KILL THE ENEMY IN AFGHHANISTAN.
- VICTORY IN AFGHANISTAN WILL NOT COME ABOUT AS THE RESULT OF A TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL.
- VICTORY WILL COME ABOUT BY APPLYING OVERWHELMING AND VIOLENT KINETICS TO THE ENEMY.
Reliapundit, the MOAB fireworks are tempting, but the Afghanis are different from the Iraqis. The surge techniques are currently being tried there to entice and convince the local leaders that a shift in their loyalties from the taliban to the central government is a good thing. Unfortunately, the afghanis have never really liked any government, central or not. This slows and encumbers an otherwise hopeful process.
ReplyDeleteOn second thought, drop the bombs.
thanks for the comments.
ReplyDeletei am sorry i did not make myself clear.
i don't want no stinkin "awakening".
i want the enemy annihilated.
and moabs are not the biggest stinkin bombs we have in our arsenal.
let's use a few very small nukes.
we shoulda done this on 9/11.
iow: turn all taliban strongholds in any country into dust.
after letting all who want to leave vacate.
if pakistan won't kill them then we must.
and it's all been pre-approved by the very first bill passed by congress after 9/11.
the results to date have PROVEN that all other means are inadequate for the job.
shall we avenge those murdered on 9/11 or not?
that is the question.
i answer it YES.
unwaveringly.
annihilate all taliban.