Victory for the Holidays
As we all sit down at Thanksgiving dinner to overeat, let us give thanks not only our mighty nation but also for victory in Iraq. Not only Al-Qaeda terrorists but Democrat defeatists have been routed and shattered. With the sole exception of 'bathtub-boy', MSNBC's blowhard Keith Olberman, all other members of the drive-by media have surrendered. (The netnuts over at codepink don't really count.) As related in his NY Post column, Ralph Peters identified the big five reasons for victory in Iraq:
We didn't quit: This was really tough. With the drive-by media all screaming for a pullout, and major leftist papers like the NY Times pounding on it every day, the President was a rock of strength through the entire episode. Brave military leaders like Lt. Gen. Odierno were constantly hammered for being "warmongers" and worse. Prominent news figures like Tim Russert even threw in the towel. The GOP itself took some losses last year, and lost control of the House and Senate. Check out the political history of the Civil War and what Abe Lincoln went through. The similarities are striking.
Gen. Petraeus took command: Petraeus took on his new assignment with determination and a specific plan for victory, not just holding the line. He literally wrote the book on counterinsurgency, and he put it into practice. He made a difference in working with Sunni tribal leaders, turning them against Al-Qaeda and cultivating their cooperation. He made a strategic move here that was decisive.
The surge worked: Pooh-poohed by the left-wing media, this was a big part of Petraeus' 'clear-and-hold' strategy. Once insurgents and terrorist were driven out of an area, enough troops were available to hold it. An important psychological effect was realized as our enemies saw that not weren't we leaving, we were sending in more men. Our friends also saw determination, and decided to join us in the fight.
Al-Qaeda fanaticism: Savage Al-Qaeda tactics like torture and murder of children turned Sunni tribal leaders against the foreign terrorists. Stories about insurgent baking kids and serving them to their families dramatically cut their support among their fellow Sunnis. Muslim fanatics always go too far, but no one can predict when the population will say 'enough'.
Iraqis are sick of the bloodshed and destruction: Neighborhood militias in Baghdad suddenly began taking up the fight against insurgents and gangsters in their midst. This may have been the most dramatic change of all, and is responsible for the great improvement in the atmosphere in the capital. People are returning to formerly embattled neighborhoods, including Baghdad's Christians.
The struggle isn't completely over yet, but victory is surely at hand. Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi can't stop themselves from reading from the loser playbook, but the President will prevail over them as well.
