http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/22/mccain-gets-history-of-th_n_114419.html

I disagree with “we were along for the ride”. Factually, we did the ripping. We destroyed a viable, functioning country under the pretext of saving it.

However, as Powell said, once we broke it, it is up to us to fix it. No easy task, yet the morally correct one.

As such, the surge is the closest we have come to bringing stability. How well it will continue remains to be seen. As of now, though the situation is tenuous, both civilian and military casualties are down and previously unstable regions like Kirkuk to the north, and Basra to the south are enjoying comparably stable day to day life.

Such could change tomorrow. However, what is being done is the best we can do for now. Those who say just leave, or leave in X number of months are delusional.

Logistics will dictate when we can leave, along with the question of “will we be allowed to leave”. Unless “we are allowed to leave”, we will see the bloodiest mess we have seen since the early stages.

Getting out is a hell of alot harder than getting in, and so far I have not seen one detail, or proposal, as to how we will accomplish such. Until I do see such from all, or any of, the “get-out drumbeaters”, I can only assume that they are blowing smoke, and engaging in irresponsible, wishful thinking.

he can’t make promises, this is no more than a photo op, and no he doesn’t speak for america and hasn’t been authorized to.

a fake plane, a fake press corp which he bought to go with him, controlling demonstrations, questions, dress code–now that sounds like Bush to me.

Obama–the petty tyrant faker fairy tale liar masquerading as senator, with no core values. its all about him.

you are a fool, kellie. and laughable. no pity for your willful ignorance and stupidity.

This is why parents don’t let children choose Presidents.

Why all the hate?

Axelrod not paying you enough attention.

We’re about love and understanding here.

Obama is a danger to our country, to the constitution, and to our national security. He is a reckless egomaniac who thinks he knows everything.

when you call life long democrats republicans, you just show yourself as young, naive, uneducated, starry-eyed, ignorant, uncritical and just plain stupid. You think you can insult your way around, be a thug, and get people to vote for your fake plastic jesus.

so just get over it. many democrats don’t like obambi because he is a fake and unqualified.

you are in for a rude awakening.

keep dreaming that fairy tale.

so go bury your fairy tale somewhere else.

THAT would indeed be impressive, if so!!!!!

Dobermans are awesome. They would eat Ubermann for lunch.

Even mini-dobermans (dachshunds) would.

Is anything ever right in the world, or are humans always along for the ride?
Mr.Murder; enjoyed reading your post.

I am guessing Obama is paying her male co-workers more. She should ask for the same wage.

His taking that knowledge and claiming to have been the inspiration for what was probably already agreed is pretty brazen. Also it creates significant pressure on leaders seen with him, for Obama’s proclamations. You should always schedule appearances abroad with the host, they are more than an ornament for your photo op. The puppet leaders of Iraq and Afghanistan hold tenuous to the power cord of their countries. The wrong move and it is lights out.

The fact remains that Iraq’s surge “success” occurs from the spike of casualties that start with it, and the usual drawback of field action to help shape perception violence went down, when it’s more or less spiked opposite for brief times ahead of said benchmarks.

The so called surge success is actually a matter of ethnic cleansing being done to the extent that the Green Zone and Sadr city are effectively being cordoned into ethnic enclaves.

When the presence of forces is a welcome item, it is true that greater numbers of troops lead to less casualties as a whole. This reflects the role as peacekeepers and the stability they can provide for particular demands.

“…occuptation casualties were directly proportionate to the numbers of troops deployed;”
pp236, para.III, Ch XI, U.S.Peacekeeping in Bosnia, The Politics of Truth).

This of course would come with the understanding that the mission and its CiC want resolution and they enable transparency. Those assumptions are not evidenced by the Cheney Corporation’s brand of policy.

There is also the fact that larger figures at play are biding time with the hope of taking a bigger slice of influence at later times. This would include Sadr’s own times that he cooled off the action to an extent he could best determine political gain to the goal of assimilating the majority party’s hold.

That said, Sec.Gates and his Generals appear to have coordinated efforts to pair diplomatic advance with the accompanied forces. The deployment curve shifts in this new era, as Amb.Wilson noted from the record in Bosnia. The initial phase is big on military, lighter on civilian autonomy. Then, as violence subsides, the NGO and civic functions take control of items and allow the military to focus upon its core purposes, and the numbers will result in favor of improved casualty ratios.

Whether this is in per capita terms, which of course is obviously expected, or with actual raw numbers, could be a matter of debate. Most certainly it is a result of both in Wilson’s references. In Iraq it is mostly due the use of Mercs. In the case of the Bosnia/Kosovo conflicts it was so, but there were clearly defined parameters for the most part.

This case is one of assimilated groups being separated, and not having quite the distinct cultural, ethnic, and tribal differences in terms of appearance for the urban regions that would make this matter expedient. In fact, Saddam had as close to a plural society as one could claim within the Middle East. The country is having its very soul ripped from its being at this point. We were along for the ride…