The expectation of victory

Tony Blankley expects it by this time next year.

...as of Veterans Day 2007, I think one can claim a very real expectation that next year the world may see a genuine, old-fashioned victory in the Iraq War. In five years we will have over-turned Saddam's government, killed, captured or driven out of country almost all al Qaeda terrorists, suppressed the violent Shi'ite militias and induced the Sunni tribal leaders and their people to shun resistance and send their sons into the army and police and seek peaceful resolution of disputes. And we will have stood up a multisectarian, tribally inclusive army capable of maintaining the peace that our troops established...

...All of this is the result of the most underreported successful military operation since the invention of the telegraph. (For a detailed account of Gen. David Petraeus's, and Gen. Raymond Odierno's counterinsurgency campaign see Kimberly Kagan's meticulous article in the Weekly Standard.) But the point to take away from the surge is that, though a brilliant military operation, it was never just a military operation. Rather it developed a political, economic and communications infrastructure that is permitting local-level reconciliation. We are creating representative governance from the bottom up — not from the Green Zone down. Despite a frail and inept national government, the people in the towns and provinces (under the tutelage of the U.S. military,) seem to be forming order out of the chaos.

Comments

[FrankC]

Focusing on military tactics, rather than how constitutional governments form, has been the problem with neocons from the start.

Delusional articles like these simply are not helping the Republican Party.

Lulls in violence within a given area of Iraq happen because one of the warring factions has consolidated their position, and other factions are not interested in contesting the territory at this time.

That harldy means that Sunnis and Kurds will join a Shiite government of their own free will.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the only viable strategy remaining for the Republican Party now is to maintain 40 seats in the Senate in order to put a check on the Democrat President.

If we want the Republican Party to resume winning elections, we will have to throw out the neocons and return control of the party to the real Conservatives who built it.

[Tom Bowler]

Focusing on military tactics, rather than how constitutional governments form, has been the problem with neocons from the start.

Try reading the article, Frank -- particularly the part where it says:

But the point to take away from the surge is that, though a brilliant military operation, it was never just a military operation. Rather it developed a political, economic and communications infrastructure that is permitting local-level reconciliation. We are creating representative governance from the bottom up..."

[FrankC]

Oh there's "Representative Government" going on all right.

Pathetic.

You and Tony Blankley have NO idea what the difference is between Illiberal Democracy and Constitutional Democracy is.

That is a shame.

The sooner the neocons are thrown out, the better.

[FrankC]

Well Tom?

Are you prepard to explain what the diffenece is between Illiberal Democracy, which creates NO freedom, as opposed to Constitutional Democracy, which crates liberty and freedom?

Or do you just want to keep taking the 5th?

[King Groundhog]

Well, it's a country we had defeated 12 years earlier. It's the size of CA. How long would it take the other 49 states to mount "a brilliant military operation" to storm Sacramento?

One needs to be careful about the "C/D..liberty and freedom" thing though. We've just busted 23 guys in A/C for bookmaking; Fox 5 in Phila. reported it as though they were 23 child rapists.

[Tom Bowler]

Are you prepard to explain what the diffenece is between Illiberal Democracy...?

Since you keep bringing it up, explaining it would be up to you, Frank. Here's a thought. Why don't you start a blog?