I feel it is my duty as an American to pass this along to my fellow citizens.
:patriot:
http://www.democracyarsenal.org/2007/08/the-surge-is-de.htmlThe Surge is Dead
Posted by Michael Cohen
Today's release of the
latest NIE on Iraq provides compelling evidence of something many of us have already suspected - the surge has failed.
Now I'm quite sure the President and his enablers will argue that the document's opening line supports continuing this failed policy:
There have been measurable but uneven improvement in Iraq's security situation since our last NIE on Iraq in January 2007.See, it's a
"A War We Might Just Win!" But what they will likely ignore is this more relevant point:
Broadly accepted political compromises required for sustained security, long-term political progress, and economic development are unlikely to emerge unless there is a fundamental shift in the factors driving Iraqi political and security developments.This is, and always has been the rub of the issue. In the end, Iraq's only hope is in political compromise. Indeed, lest we forget, the entire premise of the surge was predicated on giving the Iraqis breathing room to move forward with political reform. In fact, here's what the President said when he announced the surge policy in January.
This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations, or IED attacks. Our enemies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our television screens are filled with images of death and suffering. Yet over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad's residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas.As far as I can tell, no one in the Administration or elsewhere is arguing that there has been any progress with political reform in Iraq. Yet, at its core, the surge represented a coordinated military and political initiative. Indeed, the two are inextricably linked. So even if you buy the notion that the military effort is acheiving success, the lack of political compromise (or even long-term prospect of success) means the halting progress on security matters is frankly, irrelevant. This is particularly important when one considers that there is no military solution to Iraq's problems - a point on which there appears to be no disagreement.
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