Bush: Iraqis Are 'Taking Back' Iraq

[Ghost in the Machine]

Bush: Iraqis Are 'Taking Back' Iraq
Published: 11/3/07, 6:05 AM EDT
By JENNIFER LOVEN

FORT JACKSON, S.C. (AP) - A reopened historic market. A butcher selling more sheep. A parade in Anbar province. Electricity production above the level under Saddam Hussein. President Bush cited such indicators of normal life in Iraq along with evidence of decreased violence to argue Friday that the war is paying dividends.

"They're taking their country back," Bush said of Iraqis. "Slowly but surely the people of Iraq are reclaiming a normal society."

***(my note: they're probably starting to figure out that if they (the Iraqis) don't start sticking together, Bushie ain't NEVER gonna leave)***

The president addressed a ceremony for 1,300 soldiers graduating from basic training here, many of whom will end up in Iraq. It was his first major speech on the topic since he announced in September that progress from this year's military buildup justifies keeping a large U.S. troop presence in Iraq at least until next summer.

He argued then that continued American sacrifice would create the space Iraqi leaders need to make gains on tamping down the sectarian fighting that leaves Iraq persistently fractured.

On Friday, he argued for continued patience, because even though national leaders have made little more progress since, he said Iraq offers scattered signs of hope.

http://www.att.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=7816&eeid=5411935&_sitecat=1504&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=0&ck=&ch=ne

[malaise]

1. From him? n/t

[hobbit709]

2. That's exactly what I was thinking.