Is the Surge Working?

[Amazon 7]

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Those demanding that we stay till we "win" should at least do us the favor of telling us what "winning" means.

AND they need nice offices right there on site in the Green Zone.

[Gravitymaster 0]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070930130445.qafstsne&show_article=1

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US military losses in Iraq for September stood at 70 on Sunday, the lowest monthly figure since July last year, according to an AFP tally based on Pentagon figures.
The figure also marks the fourth consecutive drop in the monthly death toll following a high of 121 in May. June saw 93 deaths, July 82 and August 79. The monthly toll in July 2006 was 53.

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US commanders say the strategy is starting to work and that levels of violence are dropping, allowing for a possible drawdown of the 160,000 or so troops now deployed.

"The trend is certainly in the right direction," US military spokesman Rear Admiral Mark Fox told a press conference in Baghdad.

"The surge unquestionably is what has been the catalyst that has created the opportunity to have more forces operating in more places at the same time and to deny Al-Qaeda and the extremists safe-haven and to take away sanctuaries."

Sometimes it takes a little while for a new strategy to begin to take hold and work. I think it's sad that so many made a decision so quickly on the Surge.

[NCclimber 0]

I don't know if the surge is the cause, but these new numbers indicate we're doing something right.

Is this getting much coverage in the media?

[Gravitymaster 0]

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I don't know if the surge is the cause, but these new numbers indicate we're doing something right.

Is this getting much coverage in the media?

Very little media coverage. Surely you aren't surprised.

Look at the comments on this thread when the Surge was being bashed and look at them now that there's an indication the Surge is working.

**chirp..chirp**

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[SkyDekker 1,465]

Nothing like heavily beating yourself on the chest when there is a little headway in a gigantic clusterfuck of your own creation.

Only slightly less than 900 civilions were killed in Iraq last month. I am indeed surprised why we are not giving a standing ovation to that number of innocent deaths.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Nothing like heavily beating yourself on the chest when there is a little headway in a gigantic clusterfuck of your own creation.

Right..it's all my fault. Nobody's beating their chests about this. Certainly not the way they were earlier in this thread.

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Only slightly less than 900 civilions were killed in Iraq last month. I am indeed surprised why we are not giving a standing ovation to that number of innocent deaths.

Clearly the drama queen hasn't sung. How many were killed by US Troops?
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[NCclimber 0]

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Nothing like heavily beating yourself on the chest when there is a little headway in a gigantic clusterfuck of your own creation.

Only slightly less than 900 civilions were killed in Iraq last month. I am indeed surprised why we are not giving a standing ovation to that number of innocent deaths.

Do you really think these recent numbers are not a good thing?

[idrankwhat 0]

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I don't know if the surge is the cause, but these new numbers indicate we're doing something right.

Is this getting much coverage in the media?

Very little media coverage. Surely you aren't surprised.

Look at the comments on this thread when the Surge was being bashed and look at them now that there's an indication the Surge is working.

**chirp..chirp**

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Sorry, heard it yesterday on NPR. Good numbers are always good to hear because that hopefully means that fewer people are dying.
But please, tell me what "working" means. Tell me what "winning" and "success" mean. As far as I can tell the notion of "success" and "winning" means to return Iraq to an only slightly worse situation than it was in before we invaded.

[idrankwhat 0]

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Do you really think these recent numbers are not a good thing?

I steal your car and drive it into a pond. If I pull it back out and return it to you with a new paint job and some spinner rims, are you going to compliment me for a job well done?

[warpedskydiver 0]

Nope, and you might want to purchase a term life policy.

[idrankwhat 0]

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Nope, and you might want to purchase a term life policy.

Thanks for helping to make my point!

[warpedskydiver 0]

I was merely telling you what you wanted to hear, kinda like some of our politicians do.

And in the same way you believe them, you believed what I said.


If a hooker tells you that you are the most hung and skilled man she ever met, would you believe that as well?

[NCclimber 0]

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Do you really think these recent numbers are not a good thing?

I steal your car and drive it into a pond. If I pull it back out and return it to you with a new paint job and some spinner rims, are you going to compliment me for a job well done?

That's a bad analogy.

I wish people would look at the surge as an independent topic, instead of discounting (or ignoring) any successes we have in Iraq because they're pissed we went there in the first place.

[idrankwhat 0]

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I was merely telling you what you wanted to hear, kinda like some of our politicians do.

And in the same way you believe them, you believed what I said.

Sorry, my mistake. I actually thought you were just letting a little passive aggressiveness seep out.
I guess I'll just have to ignore you, even when you make sense.

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If a hooker tells you that you are the most hung and skilled man she ever met, would you believe that as well?

You comparing yourself to a hooker?

[idrankwhat 0]

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That's a bad analogy.

I wish people would look at the surge as an independent topic, instead of discounting (or ignoring) any successes we have in Iraq because they're pissed we went there in the first place.

I thought it was pretty good. I understand what you're saying but I don't think it's honest to ignore the larger picture and narrow the focus.

[rushmc 23]

..........but I don't think it's honest to ignore the larger picture and narrow the focus.

[Amazon 7]

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I wish people would look at the surge as an independent topic, instead of discounting (or ignoring) any successes we have in Iraq because they're pissed we went there in the first place.

Is there anyone in the Lunatic Fringe Base ( one of Lush Rimjobs favorite labels) of the right wing that actually is pissed we went ther in the first place???

[NCclimber 0]

What does your question have to do with my post?

And who are you talking about by "Lunatic Fringe Base"?

[NCclimber 0]

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That's a bad analogy.

I wish people would look at the surge as an independent topic, instead of discounting (or ignoring) any successes we have in Iraq because they're pissed we went there in the first place.

I thought it was pretty good. I understand what you're saying but I don't think it's honest to ignore the larger picture and narrow the focus.

I think it's more productive to focus on the current situation and how to make the best of it, instead of dwelling on how we got here.

If there is something to be learned from the bad policies that got us here, then we should incorporate those lessons in future actions, but the chronic finger pointing is completely unproductive.

[GQ_jumper 4]

If a hooker tells you that you are the most hung and skilled man she ever met, would you believe that as well?

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She told me she says that to every guy but only REALLY meant it when she said it to me, and she had to be telling the truth, I mean why would she lie to me

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[warpedskydiver 0]

Dan you are one funny MOFO!

hehehehe

[billvon 3,008]

>If there is something to be learned from the bad policies that got us here,
>then we should incorporate those lessons in future actions, but the chronic
>finger pointing is completely unproductive.

I agree 100%. Note, however, that "not continuing to implement the policies of the guy who made the previous mistakes" would fall under the heading of learning from those mistakes.

[kelpdiver 2]

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I don't know if the surge is the cause, but these new numbers indicate we're doing something right.

Is this getting much coverage in the media?

Very little media coverage. Surely you aren't surprised.

Look at the comments on this thread when the Surge was being bashed and look at them now that there's an indication the Surge is working.

**chirp..chirp**

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Even the SF Chronicle detailed this great 'success.'

But it seems a bit hollow, even on the face of it. Least bad month since middle of last year, and still 20% worse than that month was. Let's not pop those champagne corks yet.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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But it seems a bit hollow, even on the face of it. Least bad month since middle of last year, and still 20% worse than that month was. Let's not pop those champagne corks yet.

I agree we shouldn't be popping any champagne yet. But where were you with this advice when others were claiming the Surge was a failure?


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[kelpdiver 2]

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But it seems a bit hollow, even on the face of it. Least bad month since middle of last year, and still 20% worse than that month was. Let's not pop those champagne corks yet.

I agree we shouldn't be popping any champagne yet. But where were you with this advice when others were claiming the Surge was a failure?

Were the Democrats popping corks back then?

Iraq has been a mess for 3 years now. Nothing has changed from my viewpoint. Just more dead soldiers. If the surge isn't a success, it is by default a failure because of those casualties.

Now that we're nation building, success would be when half our troops leave and the violence doesn't immediately ramp up in the absence. You can't use force to keep the peace after the force is gone.