As Democrats See Security Gains in Iraq, Tone Shifts

[babylonsister]

Iraq is 'improving' because this admin and their minions are saying it's so; why is anyone believing them now? Have we learned nothing? I'm reading lots of things to the contrary myself...



As Democrats See Security Gains in Iraq, Tone Shifts

By PATRICK HEALY
Published: November 25, 2007


As violence declines in Baghdad, the leading Democratic presidential candidates are undertaking a new and challenging balancing act on Iraq: acknowledging that success, trying to shift the focus to the lack of political progress there, and highlighting more domestic concerns like health care and the economy.

Former Senator John Edwards regularly brings up Iraq, but focuses on his opponents’ judgment.

Advisers to Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama say that the candidates have watched security conditions improve after the troop escalation in Iraq and concluded that it would be folly not to acknowledge those gains. At the same time, they are arguing that American casualties are still too high, that a quick withdrawal is the only way to end the war and that the so-called surge in additional troops has not paid off in political progress in Iraq.

But the changing situation suggests for the first time that the politics of the war could shift in the general election next year, particularly if the gains continue. While the Democratic candidates are continuing to assail the war — a popular position with many of the party’s primary voters — they run the risk that Republicans will use those critiques to attack the party’s nominee in the election as defeatist and lacking faith in the American military.

If security continues to improve, President Bush could become less of a drag on his party, too, and Republicans may have an easier time zeroing in on other issues, such as how the Democrats have proposed raising taxes in difficult economic times.

“The politics of Iraq are going to change dramatically in the general election, assuming Iraq continues to show some hopefulness,” said Michael E. O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who is a supporter of Mrs. Clinton’s and a proponent of the military buildup. “If Iraq looks at least partly salvageable, it will be important to explain as a candidate how you would salvage it — how you would get our troops out and not lose the war. The Democrats need to be very careful with what they say and not hem themselves in.”

At the same time, there is no assurance that the ebbing of violence is more than a respite or represents a real trend that could lead to lasting political stability or coax those who have fled the capital to return to their homes. Past military successes have faded with new rounds of car bombings and kidnappings, like the market bombing that killed at least eight on Friday in Baghdad.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/us/politics/25dems.html?hp

[trumad]

1. They just don't get it do they?

[Bright Eyes]

2. And here i thought the people decide the path we take

And the people CLEARLY want out of Iraq. But if the Almighty Politicians(tm) say Iraq is going great, then I'd be a bad citizen to question that.

Silly me....

[KingOfLostSouls]

3. Bullshit headline, bullshit article

2007 has been the deadliest year in iraq over 2 weeks ago. situations have not improved because of the surge, more troops were killed this year than anyone else.

if we're going to be stuck in iraq, then the biden federalization bill is the only hope. otherwise, we need total disengagement.

but to argue that iraq is improving is a complete and utter lie. especially when the former commander is going on the air and on the record in supporting the democratic position just yesterday. it shows a willingness from the media to cover up for the lies, stupidity, and incompetance of the chimp administration.

these bullshit lies and filth demonstrate the continued antagonism from the MSM towards the democratic candidates, be their moderate to leftist, in their contiued support of lord shittydiapers.

I don't care who you support in the primary, we ALL need to stand up against this kind of lies and spin directed from the administration to try to attack what we all know is truth.

[flashl]

4. Did Democrats SEE

Mortars hit Green Zone as Americans celebrate holiday?

[Vinca]

5. Here's an interesting tidbit from the Watergate era .

Yesterday I began to reread "All the President's Men" in order to compare that period in history to this one. On page 23 an item popped out at me. It's in the first paragraph if anyone happens to have the book. It's a section describing James McCord, one of the Watergate burglars. He was a Lt. Col. in a "special" Air Force reserve unit assigned to the Office of Emergency Preparedness. That unit's assignment included developing "plans for censorship of the news media and U.S. mail in time of war." If that was then, what the hell must be going on now?????

[Botany]

6. Pure propaganda B.S. "the surge is working"

http://warnewstoday.blogspot.com/index.html

Yes some areas do show a huge drop in violence and in many cases
that is because they are "ethnically cleansed." Iraq is averaging
more than 600 violent attacks per week.

But "they" are selling the lie about success in Iraq so as to bring
some troops home in 2008 according to Wes Clark.

[rodeodance]

7. So , so many see only a decrease in violence/killing as success.

[Botany]

8. That is because the mission of the surge failed so "they" change the goals

The surge was to allow the Iraqi "govenment" to achieve political
and legal control over the country and the Iraqi security forces
would take over "police actions" and that did not happen, So we are
now told that the reduction in deaths show improvement despite
the reduction in deaths came from ethnic clean ups and pay offs
to Sunni leaders in al Anbar.


My republican bother was reading this crap the other day @ the table ....
"Bush is now listening to Gen. Petraous and things are getting better. Look
right here in the NY Times." :puke:

[spanone]

9. 3 words....NO POLITICAL PROGRESS

EOM

[Toots]

10. Remember not a single major battle was lost in Vietnam,,,yet

The people in power were LIARS..........sound familiar....Both side's leaders were made up of LIARS. The USA promised to defend the South and the North promised they would not attack if the USA left the area...I suspect the very same holds true for this debacle as well.