sglover, Petraeus is effective. Something your snark isn't. Try again.

Posted by: Vercingetorix at April 9, 2008 01:28 PM

"Funny how the lapdog commands effectively 150,000 troops with another half-million Coalition, Iraqi army and police forces and has slung a noose around the neck of al Qaeda in Iraq."

Brilliant, genius. You must've held old "Rusty" Westmoreland in very high esteem.....

Posted by: sglover at April 9, 2008 10:31 AM

>I don't think we have knocked Al Qaeda out of Iraq yet
I have intel that within Al Qaida, one of the leaders is depressed that they are down to hundreds. Al Qaida has lost local support after numbers of attacks including chemical weapons on local citizens for supporting the Awakening Council. The surge is one reason for the Al Qaida to suffer heavy damage, but at the same time the combination with the support of the Awakening Council contributed to security improvements. It does not mean Al Qaida ceased to exist in Iraq, but is less a threat than what Mahdi Army is. One of the leaders of Awakening Council mentioned they are now more focused on the threat of Iran, and that he was prepared.

>it was the strategy Rumsfeld laid out that wasn't working.
Rumsfeld was still half correct and I would give him credit. While the number of troops was not enough years ago in Iraq, Rumsfeld still did contribute through "Transformation". I have seen many changes back in those days. It was not a silver bullet, but the military adjusted to the insurgency in various methods. It was a near real time event adjusting to the terrorists tactics which terrorists also evolved as the military did. Pentagon did try hard to keep up with speed against the evovling terrorists. I have seen many many evolutions through the Transformation and I am glad Rumsfeld engaged in this. It doesn't mean McCain criticizing the lack of troops niether. I would also give half credit to those who tried to increase the number of troops for Iraq. Transformation, and the increased numbers of troops for the surge were both a component to the solution, and became perfect when quantity (increase of troops) and quality (Transformation) were bonded together.

Posted by: pedestrian at April 9, 2008 09:32 AM

So we choose that Petraus is a lapdog, or a complete victory, or its a report full of lies.

I don't think we have knocked Al Qaeda out of Iraq yet and the Iraqi Security Forces are still not ready for prime time yet in most cases, but we have made progress.

As for the surge being proven to work, I just say I think having SecDef Gates in has made the difference. I doubt Rumsfeld would have done the same with the surge and it was clearly obvious that it was the strategy Rumsfeld laid out that wasn't working.

Posted by: EW at April 9, 2008 08:35 AM

C+

I would not give a B or A until the surge is engaged by the coalition force (on foot) against the south with Mahdi Army ceasing to exist. An A+ is only possible when Al Sadr is assassinated (in Iran), or captured dead or alive.

Posted by: pedestrian at April 9, 2008 12:59 AM

Things sound good.. but if they put as much expectations on Kosovo as they did Iraq, Kosovo would be a bigger mess than it is (not counting recent events of course).

If Iraq wasn't such a cowboy's Errand, they'd probably be more desire to stay and help the Iraqi's.

Posted by: Foreign.Boy at April 8, 2008 10:16 PM

has slung a noose around the neck of al Qaeda in Iraq.

Yeah, well it's easy to get a noose around 3 guys.

Posted by: TB at April 8, 2008 09:00 PM

Nice. Lapdog. Great.

Funny how the lapdog commands effectively 150,000 troops with another half-million Coalition, Iraqi army and police forces and has slung a noose around the neck of al Qaeda in Iraq.

But hey, lapdog it is for some folks.

(I know it is a joke, Christian.)

Posted by: Vercingetorix at April 8, 2008 06:17 PM