IRAQ A FAILURE ? NOT HARDLY - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY
"Insurgents exploded a car bomb near......" Three more US soldiers were killed today in Iraq....." "Total US deaths in Iraq have climbed to....." " 12 were killed and dozens wounded today in Baghdad in a suicide bombing....." "One soldier was killed and three wounded in an attack......." "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated today that, "we have lost in Iraq........" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that, "the strategy is not working....."
I could go on. Each day news headlines and sound bites are filled with nothing but tragic news from Iraq or a continual tirade by Democrats and especially their leaders on how in their opinion Iraq is a total failure.
Soldiers dying, car bombs exploding, suicide attacks, check point killings and continual reports of the total American body count are the only daily spin from the media about Iraq. Democrats rail at the President, express lack of confidence in our troops, tell the world that we have lost and spend most of their legislative time preparing or voting on bills that seek surrender by slowly bleeding our troops or ending their mission before it is complete.
So if everything is so bad in Iraq why do we stay ? Is it because we have a stubborn President ? Is it because we like losing, after all this is how Democrats describe the war ? Do our troops have a death wish ? Are our commanders so insensitive that they send soldiers out to do nothing but die at the hands of the enemy ?
If things are so bad in Iraq then why don't Democrats in Congress simply stop funding which is their Constitutional authority and force an end to the, "Iraq nightmare ?" If it is as bad as they tell us every day wouldn't it then be their duty to end this war and cut our loses and funding to force the termination of this total failure ?
Or maybe they won't, "end it, " because they know the truth and that truth is being held from the American people. Maybe Iraq is not the total failure that we are being told and death and destruction is not the only thing happening. Maybe we are being fed a lie by the media and Democrats to make the American people turn on the war , the President and our troops. Maybe we are being shown only what the left wants us to see in order to fit with their agenda and their plan for surrender.
This my friends IS the truth. Iraq is NOT the total failure that we are being told. Yes soldiers are dying, insurgents are committing suicide attacks, car bombs are exploding but that is war and death and fighting are part of war.
If the press and Democrats spent half as much time telling the truth about Iraq and even one out of ten news stories told were of accomplishment and success and what is happening in more than 80% of the country and even in a large portion of the , "worst, " areas around Baghdad, the American people would see a completely different picture of Iraq.
We would find that Iraq is growing and prospering in spite of Al Qaeda, Iran and the insurgents who are doing their worst to prevent a free Iraq. We would see that Al Qada is weakening and the insurgency is dwindling at the hands of our soldiers!
Here are just a few examples of the thousands that are being hidden from the American people.
In just one week Multinational forces captured 204 insurgents, killed 15, shut down 1 torture room, discovered and confiscated 7 weapons caches and saved 10, 950 lives !
Completed water treatment facilities in April alone provided fresh water to 2.5 million Iraqis .
Completed generation projects have provided enough electricity to provide power to 1.5 million Iraqi homes.
A completed granary in the Ninewa Province provides 75, 000 tons of imported grain to towns and villages in Northern Iraq
Roads are being laid and paved in barren desert areas that have never had roads before. One such project near completion will provide 180 kilometres of road way from the Basra Province to the Kuwait border.
15 new primary health care centers have been constructed with 119 under construction. 16 new hospitals have been completed and are currently serving Iraqi citizens who had limited or no access to proper health care.
58 village road projects are nearing completion in areas that previously had no infrastructure. 95 railway stations have been renovated to allow rail traffic to run in areas that have not had previous rail service. 911 service has been established for 12 million Iraqis with more on the way. A service that has previously not existed anywhere in Iraq!
809 new schools have been built providing education faciliites for 324, 000 students in areas that previously had little or no scholl facilities.
14, 275 new projects are currently underway throughout Iraq for school construction, infrastructure, water and waste treatment, media facilities including Internet access, radio and television stations, additions to the electrical grid and much more with a total cost of 35 billion dollars. Each project is in addition to reconstruction of existing sites in Iraq that were destroyed or deteriorated because of neglect by the Hussein regime.
This is just a sampling of the tremendous success and accomplishment that is underway in Iraq, "the total failure." Nowhere in the main stream media are any of these truths being told. Not one of the elites in the Democrat Congress or their leadership are even making mention of this truth.
So what would happen if the Democrats have their way and we surrendered ? Not only would the enemy have their victory but all of the above mentioned accomplishments would end, Iraq would no longer progress toward full freedom and independence and The United States would be disgraced and humiliated in front of the entire world while our troops are once again brought home hanging their heads in defeat.
This is the legacy and the plan that Democrats and the media are seeking for this nation and the nation of Iraq if they fulfill their defeatist agenda.
Ken Taylor
I could go on. Each day news headlines and sound bites are filled with nothing but tragic news from Iraq or a continual tirade by Democrats and especially their leaders on how in their opinion Iraq is a total failure.
Soldiers dying, car bombs exploding, suicide attacks, check point killings and continual reports of the total American body count are the only daily spin from the media about Iraq. Democrats rail at the President, express lack of confidence in our troops, tell the world that we have lost and spend most of their legislative time preparing or voting on bills that seek surrender by slowly bleeding our troops or ending their mission before it is complete.
So if everything is so bad in Iraq why do we stay ? Is it because we have a stubborn President ? Is it because we like losing, after all this is how Democrats describe the war ? Do our troops have a death wish ? Are our commanders so insensitive that they send soldiers out to do nothing but die at the hands of the enemy ?
If things are so bad in Iraq then why don't Democrats in Congress simply stop funding which is their Constitutional authority and force an end to the, "Iraq nightmare ?" If it is as bad as they tell us every day wouldn't it then be their duty to end this war and cut our loses and funding to force the termination of this total failure ?
Or maybe they won't, "end it, " because they know the truth and that truth is being held from the American people. Maybe Iraq is not the total failure that we are being told and death and destruction is not the only thing happening. Maybe we are being fed a lie by the media and Democrats to make the American people turn on the war , the President and our troops. Maybe we are being shown only what the left wants us to see in order to fit with their agenda and their plan for surrender.
This my friends IS the truth. Iraq is NOT the total failure that we are being told. Yes soldiers are dying, insurgents are committing suicide attacks, car bombs are exploding but that is war and death and fighting are part of war.
If the press and Democrats spent half as much time telling the truth about Iraq and even one out of ten news stories told were of accomplishment and success and what is happening in more than 80% of the country and even in a large portion of the , "worst, " areas around Baghdad, the American people would see a completely different picture of Iraq.
We would find that Iraq is growing and prospering in spite of Al Qaeda, Iran and the insurgents who are doing their worst to prevent a free Iraq. We would see that Al Qada is weakening and the insurgency is dwindling at the hands of our soldiers!
Here are just a few examples of the thousands that are being hidden from the American people.
In just one week Multinational forces captured 204 insurgents, killed 15, shut down 1 torture room, discovered and confiscated 7 weapons caches and saved 10, 950 lives !
Completed water treatment facilities in April alone provided fresh water to 2.5 million Iraqis .
Completed generation projects have provided enough electricity to provide power to 1.5 million Iraqi homes.
A completed granary in the Ninewa Province provides 75, 000 tons of imported grain to towns and villages in Northern Iraq
Roads are being laid and paved in barren desert areas that have never had roads before. One such project near completion will provide 180 kilometres of road way from the Basra Province to the Kuwait border.
15 new primary health care centers have been constructed with 119 under construction. 16 new hospitals have been completed and are currently serving Iraqi citizens who had limited or no access to proper health care.
58 village road projects are nearing completion in areas that previously had no infrastructure. 95 railway stations have been renovated to allow rail traffic to run in areas that have not had previous rail service. 911 service has been established for 12 million Iraqis with more on the way. A service that has previously not existed anywhere in Iraq!
809 new schools have been built providing education faciliites for 324, 000 students in areas that previously had little or no scholl facilities.
14, 275 new projects are currently underway throughout Iraq for school construction, infrastructure, water and waste treatment, media facilities including Internet access, radio and television stations, additions to the electrical grid and much more with a total cost of 35 billion dollars. Each project is in addition to reconstruction of existing sites in Iraq that were destroyed or deteriorated because of neglect by the Hussein regime.
This is just a sampling of the tremendous success and accomplishment that is underway in Iraq, "the total failure." Nowhere in the main stream media are any of these truths being told. Not one of the elites in the Democrat Congress or their leadership are even making mention of this truth.
So what would happen if the Democrats have their way and we surrendered ? Not only would the enemy have their victory but all of the above mentioned accomplishments would end, Iraq would no longer progress toward full freedom and independence and The United States would be disgraced and humiliated in front of the entire world while our troops are once again brought home hanging their heads in defeat.
This is the legacy and the plan that Democrats and the media are seeking for this nation and the nation of Iraq if they fulfill their defeatist agenda.
Ken Taylor
posted by The Liberal Lie The Conservative Truth | 10:33 AM
16 Comments:
Ken, I am not sure where you are getting your facts, but I'll assume that they may be true. The problem is that before we invaded and occupied the country, Iraq was a country with a vibrant social life and economy, strong education, a signficant professional class, and average Iraqis could walk the streets safely. They also had reliable energy/electricity, water service and sanitation services.
Contrary to what you seem to be implying, Iraq was not a backward nation. It is far, far worse now for the average Iraqi citizen.
On top of that, Iraq has fueled sectarian tensions, and the instability has raised oil prices. We also removed the natural enemy of Iran and emboldened the Shia mullahs and Ahmadinejad.
Even if you want to say that it was a good idea to invade Iraq pre-emptively on flawed intelligence, and spend a half-trillion dollars of borrowed Chinese money, there is fairly clear evidence that the occupation has been managed incompetently. That is why Bush is looking for a "War Czar" to fix the problems.
Since Sadaam made a huge attempt to commit genocide on the Kurds, I doubt many of them are going to agree with the above. He did a pretty good job on the Shiites too!
I personally don't care how high gas prices go. I'll tighten my belt and take some deprivation here to keep terrorists busy on foreign soil! If we believe we are suffering now, just watch what happens if we withdraw or troops from Iraq.
The Democrats are doing their utmost best in their attempt to relive their Vietnam glory days. Glory Days! Hah! SPIT!
Another great post, Ken. The majority of the MSM is definitely lying to the American people by their absolute refusal to broadcast any accomplishments our Military has made in Iraq. There's no "maybe" about it!
I was totally ashamed of the behavior of the left during the Vietnam era and I'm ashamed of them now. It didn't help that my husband was fighting in 'Nam while the moonbats were running around protesting that war. Now they're doing the same thing all over again. They are disgusting!
Gayle, being ashamed of the majority of Americans in the country is your right. I don't hate you for having an opinion that is counter to the opinion of the majority of the American people.
However, the basic premise for our pre-emptive invasion (WMDs and the imminent threat posed by Saddam to the U.S.) was faulty.
The occupation has been nothing short of a disaster. American taxpayers and Iraqi citizens have been fleeced out of billions as a result of corruption and incompetence. The half-trillion dollars that American taxpayers have thrown away in Iraq is borrowed (mostly from the Chinese and Japanese), and we will be paying it back for decades with interest.
Even after years of war, the President still remains coy and continues to fail to provide any real objective(s) that must be met to end the war. No WMDs, we removed and saw Saddam executed, his sons were killed, the Baathists were purged from government, the Iraqis have had multiple elections, they have written a constitution, when will it end?
Iran loves the fact that they now have a Shia ally, instead of a Sunni rival next door.
And, to top it all off, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of Iraqis are in far worse condition now that we overseen the destruction of their country. They don't have security, electricity, water, sanitation services, etc. Virtually every economic index you want to look at shows that Iraq is worse off than before we invaded.
Other than that, things are progressing nicely.
You mean to tell me that there is good news in Iraq??? No way, the MSM and our elected officials on the left have assured me this is not so.
And our Troops are working with a band of "Good Guy Insurgents" led by a bunch of Sheik's and religious Leaders that have had enough of Al-Queadas crap and are catching them themselves or turning them into the Iraqi of the US Armed Forces:
And our Troops have a handle on almost all of the Suni Triangle except a few areas of really mean guy's that they are facing right now.
And the last Brigade isnt even in Country yet.
The Surge is working and Congress needs to fund the Troops and let them finish this job, or like you said Ken, STOP THE MONEY!
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NGI4ODY3ZGZmOGM1NGMwMWM3MjgwZDYxMWU5OTQ5ZTI=
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/04/are_the_tides_turning_for_alqa.php
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/05/iraq_report_al_qaeda_leaders_t.asp
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0705080694may09,0,6231460.story?coll=chi-newsopinion-hed
http://www.nysun.com/article/51693
http://billroggio.com/archives/2007/05/the_diyala_salvation.php
OK, so when is our occupation over? What specifically do we have to achieve?
It sounds to me that you believe that the $500 billion we borrowed from China has been well spent.
When do we leave?
Bush's Light Unto the Muslim Nations doctrine has failed. The US should spend its time fighting terrorism, not trying to bring democracy to a pimitive people. Islam is a totalitarian ideology in which mere mortals have no legislative power and therefore bringing democracy to Iraq will fail. The so-called elections that were held were simply a census and the new Iraqi constitution enshrines Sharia law.
Visit http://www.masada1234.blogspot.com
I'll link to you if you link to me.
P.S. If I got the American code, where does it go on my blog. How do I get it centered at the top of the page like you.
Gayle, I looked at the links. They are basically all opinion pieces - not news.
As for being misinformed, you must think the American people are just plain stupid. I pride myself of reading writers, newspapers, thinktank and policy folks' reports from both sides. On top of that, I actually look at and analyze "raw" government financial data - not press reports.
Somehow, I doubt that you are as informed as you think you are. I am willing to open a dialogue with you on any aspect of the war. Most things are opinions, but there are unassailable financial facts about how we are funding the war. I suggest we start with the fiscal realities of the war. Please tell me how you think we are funding the war and perhaps we can see who is uninformed.
Rob,
I'm not sure if the question you asked up above under my post was for me or not the question was:
OK, so when is our occupation over? What specifically do we have to achieve?
It sounds to me that you believe that the $500 billion we borrowed from China has been well spent.
When do we leave?
Maybe the information comming from the Generals on the ground in Iraq might make things a little bit clearer:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2007 - Life in Iraq's Anbar province is
still dangerous, but security is improving, the senior
commander for ground operations in the province said yesterday
in Baghdad.
For example, 22 joint security stations in the town of
Ramadi now are helping to tamp down violence, Marine Brig. Gen.
Charles M. Gurganus, ground forces commander for
Multinational Force West, said during a news conference.
"As security continues to improve, we don't think that
there will be a need for all of those security stations,"
Gurganus, whose jurisdiction includes Anbar province, said.
Much success has been achieved in reducing violence in
Anbar province, Gurganus said, although he acknowledged that
conditions there can still be precarious for residents as
well as for Iraqi and coalition forces.
"There are still dangerous things going on there," the
one-star general said. "While we have achieved a great deal of
success, there still are dangers."
Gurganus cited Anbar residents' growing disapproval of and
hostility toward al Qaeda and other terrorists as an
indicator of an improving climate across the western province.
"We clearly see that the Iraqi citizens have grown tired of
what the insurgency has to offer; they do not want any part
of it," Gurganus said. Iraqis living in Anbar province want
a cessation of violence, he noted, and a secure future for
themselves and their families. Iraqi citizens in Anbar are
increasingly providing information about insurgent
operations to Iraqi security forces, he said.
A second indicator of success in Anbar is illustrated by
the brave Iraqi army and police that serve across the
province, Gurganus said. Although challenged by danger, Iraqi
security forces in Anbar province "come back to work" each day,
he said.
"They know that they are the solution for the future,"
Gurganus said of the security forces.
There'll be additional success against insurgents operating
in Anbar, Gurganus predicted, noting U.S. and coalition
forces now enjoy a "full partnership" with Iraqi security
forces serving across the province.
Also, recruitment for Iraqi security forces is up across
Anbar, Gurganus said.
"Now, the sons of al Anbar have stood up and are stepping
forward to join the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police," he
said.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46010]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I copied and pasted this unaware there was a link there oh well.
Rob,
We won the war long ago, we toppled the Saddam Regime, the Iraqi's have had 3 elections, they have drawn thier own constitution, we could declare victory today and leave.
But the consequences now of us leaving before the Iraqi's can fully protect themselves, sustain themselves, and hold thier own are enourmous.
We will leave when the commanders on the ground say it's time to go. Without letting THE ENEMY know about it. Bush has set benchmark's for the Iraqi's to comply with, and they realize the President's patience is wearing thin.
That's also why Dick Cheney went to Iraq and told them HELL NO YOU ARE NOT TAKING A VACATION, YOU HAVE WORK TO DO!!
Bush has said all along this is no open ended commitment, the Iraqi's HAVE to take charge because Bush has told them in no uncertain terms we will not be there forever.
And the Iraqi's are doing just that, taking charge, they are battling Al-Quaida on thier own, and handing Insurgents over to the Iraqi Military and The US Military.
The Iraqi's are fed up and are taking the fight to the enemy, the Iraqi Military is doing a fine job, yet they still need more forces and training to be able to handle things on thier own.
The Surge IS working and the last Brigade hasnt entered Country yet.
And if Pelosi and Reid would just fund the Troops without all this crap this whole thing will wind down slowly and we can leave without the enemy knowing when we are leaving.
That is the only gripe we on the right have is TIMETABLES! And Congress trying to micromanage this war instead of letting the President do his job.
Here are a couple more links that you WILL want to read:
Department Of Defense
CENTCOM
Thanks for the letter, but still no specific objective. Basically, you are arguing that we leave when we feel like leaving. Sounds silly to me - and increasinly Americans are losing patience with the war that has no end.
Republicans and Dems alike are going to implement timetables and goals - it is just a matter of time.
Mitch McConnell on Sunday was clearly annoyed with the Iraqi government, "The Iraqi government is a huge disappointment." and went on to say, "if they vote to ask us to leave, we'll be glad to comply with their request."
Not even a week ago, moderate congressional Republicans met with Bush about their concerns. The very next day, Bush said the following:
"One message I have heard from people from both parties is that the idea of benchmarks makes sense. And I agree. It makes sense to have benchmarks as a part of our discussion on how to go forward. And so I've empowered Josh Bolten to find common ground on benchmarks, and he will continue to have dialogue with both Republicans and Democrats."
The purpose of the benchmarks is to try to define what we are actually doing in Iraq. Then, if those benchmarks are not met, we will withdraw our troops according to reasonable timetables.
Rob,
The President layed benchmarks long ago and the Iraqi's have met most of them.
If you dont see a clear plan in all this I dont know what else to tell you.
The Democrats pretty much blew thier dialogue with the President by refusing to meet with him and/or/ General Patreaus when he was in town.
President Bush is just going to Veto away anything that has to do with Timetables or PEANUT STORAGE in it, we are NOT letting the enemy know when we are leaving.
I do think the Democrats took out the Peanut Storage crap though. Or I hope they did, but Timetables are going to be out of the question.
What part of the Iraqi's being able to defend themselves, sustain themselves, and handle thier own Country on thier own do you not understand?
That is and alway's has been the objective and when the commanders on the ground say that mission is complete then we will go and not one minute before, without letting the enemy know what time or what date.
If Congress want's them out sooner all they have to do is cut off the money and live with the consequences of what will happen to Iraq after we leave before it's time. And also live with all the pissed off Troops that will come home that wanted to finish thier job.
Either fund the Troops or cut off the money it is that simple.
OK, since Bush laid out our clear objectives long ago, please direct me to those objectives. I have never seen, read, or heard his definitive objectives that he has laid out for the mission. I read every major speech he gives on the White House website.
How will we know when the Iraqis can defend themselves? What metrics will we use. It is not good enough to say, "We are going to stay until the job is done." That has no meaning. Because the President continues to be wishy-washy and has failed to give any SPECIFIC metrics, Congress is forced to act.
Up until a week ago, Bush refused to set any real benchmarks. Only after congressional Republicans read him the riot act last week is he now accepting the fact that we have to set benchmarks on the Iraqis.
"Metrics?" Oh come on, Bush only learned the meaning of the term the other day when a member of his staff had to explain it to him. Watch. He'll start using the word in a few weeks, and since he's just learned it, he'll do that thing where he puts the accent on all syllables...he always does that when he learns a new word.
Jenn - why don't you go over to Iraq and report on the good news there?
Most people don't know what is really going on over in Iraq because they have never had the chance to go over there and experience it themselves.
I am a verteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and I saw so many good and bad things. In the 6 months I was in Iraq I had many "inmates" or "detainees" tell me that they do appreciate us and everything we are doing for their country. Yes, even the ones in jail. However, there are the Al Queda who hid amongst their friends and hate us with all their being...because that is what they are taught since they are kids. Most of them just don't know any better.
I met people in the experience that had Bachelors Degrees, M.D.'s, P.H.D.'s and 80% of those people agreed with what we are doing. The media goes back and forth to see who can show the most disgusting or goriest pieces pushing that line. They don't stop and put up videos of Army/Air Force/Marines driving through an Iraqi town and kids have smiles on their faces and say thank you, in both english and arabic.
Most people sit around and want to believe that we are over there for nothing, but unless you have felt the pain, joy, heartaches and genuine love they have for us (not all but many) that most of us have, you will never understand. You are all talking about expierences that were 3rd-4th hand stories.
We have done a lot of good, but we did have to do a lot of destruction first. It's not easy when men are willing to throw their children in front of a convoy to stop it for an ambush. Policies have changed to not stop. They play to our emotions about a dying child to get us to go away. The men that do that are slowly one by one being put into detention facilities and are off the streets. It's not nearly as bad as it was.
Picture your fellow american not liking what the country is doing here, so swapes forces and goes into Iraq and starts making bombs to blow up fellow americans....so when you stop looking at the little stuff about gas prices going up think about that.
I am not trying to make people feel bad, but you need to read between the lines on this issue. Being in Iraq was one of the toughest times in my life. But I don't regret one second of it. I wish more people could get a sense of satisfaction from doing their job. And more people to support us...the Airman, Soldiers, Marines.
In so far as support, why doesn't the Bush Administration support the pay raise for the troops that the Democrats support?
mbt shoes outlet
jordan shoes
jordan sneakers
yeezy boost
off white nike
yeezy shoes
balenciaga shoes
chrome hearts online
michael kors outlet
nfl jerseys
Post a Comment
<< Home