Winning in Iraq!

For the Good Guys to relish and the bad guys to lament.

From yahoo today:

"BAGHDAD, Iraq - A blueprint for trying to start a war between the United States and Iran was among a “huge treasure” of documents found in the hideout of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraqi officials said Thursday. The document, purporting to reflect al-Qaida policy and its cooperation with groups loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein, also appear to show that the insurgency in Iraq was weakening.

The al-Qaida in Iraq document was translated and released by Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie. There was no way to independently confirm the authenticity of the information attributed to al-Qaida.

Although the office of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the document was found in al-Zarqawi’s hideout following a June 7 airstrike that killed him, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the document had in fact been found in a previous raid as part of an ongoing three-week operation to track al-Zarqawi.

“We can verify that this information did come off some kind of computer asset that was at a safe location,” he said. “This was prior to the al-Zarqawi safe house.”

The document also said al-Zarqawi planned to try to destroy the relationship between the United States and its Shiite allies in Iraq.

While the coalition was continuing to suffer human losses, “time is now beginning to be of service to the American forces and harmful to the resistance,” the document said.

The document said the insurgency was being hurt by, among other things, the U.S. military’s program to train Iraqi security forces, by massive arrests and seizures of weapons, by tightening the militants’ financial outlets, and by creating divisions within its ranks.

“Generally speaking and despite the gloomy present situation, we find that the best solution in order to get out of this crisis is to involve the U.S. forces in waging a war against another country or any hostile groups,” the document said, as quoted by al-Maliki’s office.

According to the summary, insurgents were being weakened by operations against them and by their failure to attract recruits. To give new impetus to the insurgency, they would have to change tactics, it added.

“We mean specifically attempting to escalate the tension between America and Iran, and American and the Shiite in Iraq,” it quoted the documents as saying, especially among moderate followers of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential Shiite cleric in Iraq.

“Creating disputes between America and them could hinder the U.S. cooperation with them, and subsequently weaken this kind of alliance between Shiites and the Americans,” it said, adding that “the best solution is to get America involved in a war against another country and this would bring benefits.”

They included “opening a new front” for the U.S. military and releasing some of the “pressure exerted on the resistance.”

It pointed to clashes in 2004 between U.S. forces and followers of radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi army militia as evidence of the benefits of such a strategy. Al-Sadr and his growing followers are among the fiercest advocates of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

It said the “results obtained during the struggle between U.S. army and al-Mahdi army is an example of the benefits to be gained by such struggle.”

Al-Maliki’s office said the document provides “the broad guidelines of the program of the Saddamists and the takfiris inside al-Zarqawi’s group.”

“Takfiri” is a reference to an extremist ideology that urges Muslims to kill anyone they consider an infidel, even fellow Muslims. It is the ideology that many Iraqis, especially in the Shiite community, use to describe al-Zarqawi and his followers.

The language contained in the document was different from the vocabulary used by al-Qaida statements posted on the Web. For example, it does not refer to the Americans as “Crusaders” nor use the term “rejectionists” to allude to Shiites.

Much of what is in the statement from al-Rubaie echoes results that the U.S. military and the Iraqi government say they are seeking. It also appears to reinforce American and Iraqi arguments that al-Qaida in Iraq and its operatives are a group of imported extremists bent on killing innocent civilians.

Al-Qaida in Iraq has been blamed for thousands of deaths, hundreds of bombings, kidnappings and assassinations in the past three years. Al-Qaida in Iraq’s own hatred of the Shiites is well-documented and al-Zarqawi has repeatedly called on Sunnis to rise up and kill them."

I wanted to give a special middle finger to the dems/so called “independents” who wanted to pull out prematurely.

Have a great day!!!

JeffR

Hell yea we’re winning in Iraq, we’ve been winning. You wouldn’t know it though by listening to the MSM. I’ve said it before; the dems have a vested interest in losing the war in Iraq. Anyone with half a brain can see this.

It’s almost sick the way that some segments of the media, and especially the dems, hang on every , and I mean EVERY negative aspect of the war on terror. No war is run picture perfect and without flaws. If that was the case, the history channel wouldn’t be running their “military blunders” specials.

Good news from Iraq, if it’s even reported, is usually page 11 news in the paper or spun in a negative fasion on tv.

That’s too bad. It didn’t used to be thaty way.

[quote]bigflamer wrote:
Hell yea we’re winning in Iraq, we’ve been winning. You wouldn’t know it though by listening to the MSM. I’ve said it before; the dems have a vested interest in losing the war in Iraq. Anyone with half a brain can see this.

It’s almost sick the way that some segments of the media, and especially the dems, hang on every , and I mean EVERY negative aspect of the war on terror. No war is run picture perfect and without flaws. If that was the case, the history channel wouldn’t be running their “military blunders” specials.

Good news from Iraq, if it’s even reported, is usually page 11 news in the paper or spun in a negative fasion on tv.

That’s too bad. It didn’t used to be thaty way.[/quote]

Yes, hell yeah!

How long do you think it will be before its over? I’m going to join the Marines as soon as I finish high school and I really hope to catch some action before its all over.

Excellent news.

[quote]semper_fi wrote:
How long do you think it will be before its over? I’m going to join the Marines as soon as I finish high school and I really hope to catch some action before its all over.[/quote]

Let’s hope you never have to young lad. It changes a person. I admire your courage and am glad we have kids like you who join the military at their own will.

Any Libs want to chime in on the war we are losing and lying about???

#sound of crickets#

[quote]semper_fi wrote:
How long do you think it will be before its over? I’m going to join the Marines as soon as I finish high school and I really hope to catch some action before its all over.[/quote]

This war will go beyond Iraq and Afghanistan. As long as Islamic extremists are blowing up innocents our miltary will have targets.

Don’t be too anxious to see action. You will get your chance.

I think this is great news, we also killed over 100 al Qaeda in the last week and detained over 400, I think the intelligence gained from Zarqawi’s safe house had a lot to do with this. In the document I think it is important to note how much it seemed the Iraqi National Guard was causing him problems, they seem to have been making progress. Zarqawi gone is a VERY good thing and is more significant than catching Hussein. Zarqawi was responsible for the shift from attacking primarily Coalition soldiers to also targeting innocent Shi’a civilians in an effort to divide the country and make the new government fail.

There was even talk that Osama did not approve of this strategy–attacking other muslims, and he may have been sold out by one of his own because of this. No way this guy should have ever been called ‘insurgent’ or ‘rebel’ he was a cold-blooded Hitlerian murderer terrorist. His successor may continue the same strategy, but may have difficulty ascending to a powerful bona fide leader if he continues to attack innocents. I think al Qaeda in Iraq will be significantly reduced post Zarqawi, but we still have a long way to go to destroy the former Baathists and REALLY turn the tide, but I’m a lot more hopeful now than I was 2 weeks ago. God bless the USA!

Does anybody else here read Victor Davis Hanson? He is a historian and a very lucid writer on terrorism and other issues of importance, http://www.victorhanson.com

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, left, and White House Counselor Dan Barlett, ride in a military helicopter wearing helmets and flak jackets for a trip from Baghdad International Airport to U.S. Embassy in the Greenzone Tuesday.

[quote]bigflamer wrote:
Hell yea we’re winning in Iraq, we’ve been winning. You wouldn’t know it though by listening to the MSM. I’ve said it before; the dems have a vested interest in losing the war in Iraq. Anyone with half a brain can see this.

It’s almost sick the way that some segments of the media, and especially the dems, hang on every , and I mean EVERY negative aspect of the war on terror. No war is run picture perfect and without flaws. If that was the case, the history channel wouldn’t be running their “military blunders” specials.

Good news from Iraq, if it’s even reported, is usually page 11 news in the paper or spun in a negative fasion on tv.

That’s too bad. It didn’t used to be thaty way.[/quote]

With 2 More Journalists Dead in Iraq, Total Tops World War II
May 29, 2006
NEW YORK The deaths of two CBS journalists on Monday means the Iraq conflict is now the deadliest war for reporters in the past century.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002577061

Lara Logan on “negative Iraq War Coverage”:
"Our own editors back in New York are asking us the same things. They read the same comments. You know, are there positive stories? Can’t you find them?

You don’t think that I haven’t been to the U.S. military and the State Department and the embassy and asked them over and over again, let’s see the good stories, show us some of the good things that are going on?

Oh, sorry, we can’t take to you that school project, because if you put that on TV, they’re going to be attacked, the teachers are going to be killed, the children might be victims of attack.

Oh, sorry, we can’t show this reconstruction project because then that’s going to expose it to sabotage. And the last time we had journalists down here, the plant was attacked. I mean, security dominates every single thing that happens in this country …So how it is that security issues should not then dominate the media coverage coming out of here?"

I heard they also found a second letter from al-Qaida saying they are deathly afraid of Halliburton getting another huge, no-bid contract.

What is all this cheering and chest thumping? You have practically nothing to go on.

There was no way to independently confirm the authenticity of the information attributed to al-Qaida.

So right away, we know that everything we are being told is coming directly from the US military and their puppet government in Iraq. Now, is it really a cause for celebration when “good news” is propagated by the occupying army? Perhaps if you’re a bit naive…

But wait, there’s more:

Zarqawi was not the face of the insurgency in Iraq. In fact, he may well have been turned over to the U.S. by the real insurgency. You are trying to establish a connection where none exists.

Aside from that, there’s nothing particularly remarkable about the article.

From what I’ve read, Al-Qaida never had a large presence in Iraq, so really, what kind of an achievement does this signify? Not much of one, I think it’s safe to say.

Here is an interesting piece about Zarqawi and his role in the Iraq insurgency, backed up by citations of mainstream sources, including a statement by US Major General William Caldwell, the same guy quoted in your article. Please don’t ignore it – read it.

The “money quotes” for those who can’t be bothered to click the link:

“One of the most interesting things about the news of his death is the timing. There have been talks going on since the election last December by U.S. and Iraqi officials to try to bring the homegrown insurgency back into the political process. Certainly there was tension between the homegrown Iraqi insurgency and Zarqawi’s foreign fighters. So it’s possible a deal was finally cut by some branch of the Iraqi insurgency to eliminate al-Zarqawi and rid themselves of his heavy-handed influence.”

Not to parse this too closely, but being “in Zarqawi’s network” and being a hardcore member of the Monotheism and Holy War group seem to be two different conditions: it is possible, given this, that Parker is right, and Zarqawi was turned over to the Americans by Iraqi insurgents, i.e., the real insurgency, which is eager to debunk the claim that their movement consists mostly of “foreign fighters.” The insurgents wanted him out of the way, and the Americans ? desperate for some good news about the Iraq war, support for which is flagging badly on the home front ? wanted a success, however temporary and illusory it might be. And so a deal was struck?

Perhaps the U.S. really is “winning in Iraq”, but the evidence -if it exists- is not to be found in anything that you posted. Try harder.

P.S. I’m just pointing out inherent weaknesses in your case. I haven’t got any vested interest in proving that America is “losing” or whatnot…I don’t have a clue what’s really happening in Iraq, and I don’t think that anyone else outside the country does, either.

I sure am glad we’ve got ‘objective’ sites like antiwar.com to show us the real truth!

I’m sorry, NP, but some of the stuff you post is just a plain old-fashioned knee-slapper! Please don’t stop!!

HH

[quote]JustTheFacts wrote:
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, left, and White House Counselor Dan Barlett, ride in a military helicopter wearing helmets and flak jackets for a trip from Baghdad International Airport to U.S. Embassy in the Greenzone Tuesday.

bigflamer wrote:
Hell yea we’re winning in Iraq, we’ve been winning. You wouldn’t know it though by listening to the MSM. I’ve said it before; the dems have a vested interest in losing the war in Iraq. Anyone with half a brain can see this.

It’s almost sick the way that some segments of the media, and especially the dems, hang on every , and I mean EVERY negative aspect of the war on terror. No war is run picture perfect and without flaws. If that was the case, the history channel wouldn’t be running their “military blunders” specials.

Good news from Iraq, if it’s even reported, is usually page 11 news in the paper or spun in a negative fasion on tv.

That’s too bad. It didn’t used to be thaty way.

With 2 More Journalists Dead in Iraq, Total Tops World War II
May 29, 2006
NEW YORK The deaths of two CBS journalists on Monday means the Iraq conflict is now the deadliest war for reporters in the past century.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002577061

Lara Logan on “negative Iraq War Coverage”:
"Our own editors back in New York are asking us the same things. They read the same comments. You know, are there positive stories? Can’t you find them?

You don’t think that I haven’t been to the U.S. military and the State Department and the embassy and asked them over and over again, let’s see the good stories, show us some of the good things that are going on?

Oh, sorry, we can’t take to you that school project, because if you put that on TV, they’re going to be attacked, the teachers are going to be killed, the children might be victims of attack.

Oh, sorry, we can’t show this reconstruction project because then that’s going to expose it to sabotage. And the last time we had journalists down here, the plant was attacked. I mean, security dominates every single thing that happens in this country …So how it is that security issues should not then dominate the media coverage coming out of here?"

[/quote]

Hahaaa!

I knew your crazy ass would be right around the corner on this one JTF. So you’re gonna say that we’re not winning in Iraq because more journalists have died in Iraq than in WWII? You’re too funny.

Maybe we just have more coverage today from journalists than in 1944? Did you consider that? Nobody is saying that it’s a big kumbaya love fest over there, but we are winning, and that must hurt you real bad. Honestly, do you want us to win there? You don’t even have to answer that.

Run along now and dig up some links to how jew aliens really brought down the towers with laser beams from their eyes. Oh yea, and Bush piloted the starship and Cheney was the trigger man.

This isn’t a victory at all. Iraq is in the quieter stages of a civil war right now with multiple players.

Sunni’s, Shiites, Kurds, al queda and other terrorist groups. The real players are the first 3 of these because they are the only ones with any real reason to want to have a stake in iraq because thats where they live. What i am trying to say is that the al queda is nothing more than a distraction at best.

All I am trying to say, is just don’t kid yourself. There is no winning this conflict that is why we are getting out, probably by mid 08 from everything thats been put out on press.


You go, jeffy

[quote]tme wrote:
You go, jeffy

[/quote]

That is wonderful, tme!!!

Thanks!!!

Tough week for you bad guys.

So sorry.

JeffR

[quote]lumbernac wrote:
There is no winning this conflict that is why we are getting out, probably by mid 08 from everything thats been put out on press.[/quote]

I have been hearing local talks of as early as Fall/07. That makes a push to spread the word of us “winning” understandable if the goal is to back out. I am all for screaming “we won” if it allows our soldiers to come back home. They can remain delusional as long as they wish.

[quote]Rockscar wrote:
#sound of crickets#[/quote]

[quote]Professor X wrote:
lumbernac wrote:
There is no winning this conflict that is why we are getting out, probably by mid 08 from everything thats been put out on press.

I have been hearing local talks of as early as Fall/07. That makes a push to spread the word of us “winning” understandable if the goal is to back out. I am all for screaming “we won” if it allows our soldiers to come back home. They can remain delusional as long as they wish.[/quote]

I agree. If they want to trumpet We kicked there ass for everyone to hear, then that is fine by me. As long as it gets everyone home, more power 2um.

Goku

[quote]Professor X wrote:
lumbernac wrote:
There is no winning this conflict that is why we are getting out, probably by mid 08 from everything thats been put out on press.

I have been hearing local talks of as early as Fall/07. That makes a push to spread the word of us “winning” understandable if the goal is to back out. I am all for screaming “we won” if it allows our soldiers to come back home. They can remain delusional as long as they wish.[/quote]

I agree. If they want to trumpet We kicked there ass for everyone to hear, then that is fine by me. As long as it gets everyone home, more power 2um.

Goku