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| WaPo Cracks! |
| 2007-04-22 |
| Top U.S. Officers See Mixed Results From Iraq 'Surge' Front Page. Sunday Washington Post. "Mixed" Results. That means some good, right? Whaddaya say to that, Harry? BAGHDAD, April 21 -- Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said the ongoing increase of nearly 30,000 U.S. troops in the country has achieved "modest progress" but has also met with setbacks such as a rise in devastating suicide bombings and other problems that leave uncertain whether his counterinsurgency strategy will ultimately succeed. Assessing the first two months of the U.S. and Iraqi plan to pacify the capital, senior American commanders -- including Petraeus; Adm. William J. Fallon, head of U.S. forces in the Middle East; Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of military operations in Iraq; and top regional commanders -- see mixed results. They said that while an increase in U.S. and Iraqi troops has improved security in Baghdad and Anbar province, attacks have risen sharply elsewhere. Critical now, they said in interviews this week, is for Iraqi leaders to forge the political compromises needed for long-term stability. The commanders search for signs of success. On Friday night at dusk, Petraeus boarded a helicopter to look for scenes of normalcy and progress from above the maelstrom of the capital. "On a bad day, I actually fly Baghdad just to reassure myself that life still goes on," he said, leaning back and propping his legs on the seat in front of him. The aircraft banked right and Petraeus caught sight of a patch of relative calm. "He's actually watering the grass!" Petraeus said with a laugh, peering down at a man tending a soccer field, with children playing nearby. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #12 To me the most important sentence in the article is :"Iraq is going to have to learn -- as did, say, Northern Ireland -- to live with some degree of sensational attacks." |
| Posted by: RWV 2007-04-22 19:31 |
| #11 I didn't get past the Petraeus comment about the need for Iraqi political reconciliation as a prerequisite to success. That gives me a sick feeling. I could be very wrong, but I don't think the political stuff he refers to (incl. hydrocarbons law, de-Ba'athification issues, etc.) will have one iota of impact on the security situation in the near or mid terms. Not one iota. The people fighting us (the crucial majority, at least) and the Iraqi govt. and cooperating with AQ Iraq, etc., do so for a myriad of reasons (all bad, not all equally irrational), NONE of which cross at any point with the issues in question. Vicious wars end through victory and defeat, not reconciliation. Gross generalization, but get granular in Iraq and I doubt you'll find much to contradict the basic point. The folks most interested in the political issues mentioned are not the ones who are the problem. |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2007-04-22 14:21 |
| #10 A "mixed result" in Washington is pretty much illustrated by them getting a ML baseball team (finally) but it sucks big time (as usual). So they know one when they see one. A "mixed result" is having a John McCain (hero) in the same Senate as Harry Reid (cockroach). A "mixed result" is having Nancy Pelosi (certified idiot) acting as if Petraeus (another hero) is contaminated with Bushpetitis. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-04-22 14:13 |
| #9 If today's WaPo had been reporting WWII's Marianas Turkey Shoot, they whould ahve called it "Mixed Results". i.e. This must be a spectacular victory if WaPo calls it "mixed results". Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2007-04-22 13:48 |
| #8 Sherry! You know the answer to that one! Good catch, nevertheless... |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-04-22 13:26 |
| #7 Was also in the Austin Statesman and included only 7 paragraphs! All details left out. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said the ongoing increase of nearly 30,000 U.S. troops in the country has achieved "modest progress" but has also met with setbacks such as a rise in devastating suicide bombings and other problems that leave uncertain whether his counterinsurgency strategy will ultimately succeed. Now, did Gen Petraeus say there are problems that leave uncertain whether his countersurgency strategy will ultimately succeed, or is this author conjecture? |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-04-22 12:14 |
| #6 the quote Bobby expected to be on page 96 is on page 20, 2nd column the Iraq story is the only thing on pg 20 |
| Posted by: mhw 2007-04-22 11:42 |
| #5 Maybe we should apply the "repeaters" test, see if more "Good News" pops up in (Say) a week or so, don't cheer until it repeats. Actions speak louder than words. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-04-22 10:35 |
| #4 Hope you're wrong RJim but I fear you're right. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-04-22 10:19 |
| #3 Y'all sure this isn't just the "Token Good News" to justify returning to the normal bashing? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-04-22 10:09 |
| #2 front page - same article - San Diego Union Trib... how did this escape The Embargo™? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-04-22 09:48 |
| #1 Almost worth a flying pig. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-04-22 08:53 |