Iraq Surge Showing Results

[GraceAbounds]

Iraq Surge Showing Results, President Bush Says

Coalition, Iraqi forces making gains against common enemies
By David McKeeby
USINFO White House Correspondent


Washington – The surge of thousands more U.S. troops into key areas of Iraq is beginning to show results, according to President Bush.
“I'm encouraged and, more importantly, the people in Baghdad are encouraged by what we're seeing,†Bush said June 28 at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. “Citizens are forming neighborhood watch groups. Young Sunnis are signing up for the army and police. Tribal sheikhs are joining the fight against al-Qaida. Many Shi’a are rejecting the militias.â€
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Following a comprehensive strategic review, the Bush administration announced “a new way forward†in January to help Iraq and give its parliament the time needed to pursue key reforms and political reconciliation among its Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish communities. (See related article.)
The centerpiece of the strategy, led by coalition commander General David Petraeus, is a “surge†of more than 21,500 U.S. combat troops tasked with supporting Iraqi efforts to clear neighborhoods of hostile insurgents, establish a continuous presence and work with local leaders to rebuild communities.
“The last of the reinforcements arrived in Iraq earlier this month,†Bush said. “The full surge has begun.â€
In Iraq’s southwestern Anbar province, Bush said, U.S. Marines have joined with local Sunni sheikhs to confront insurgents from al-Qaida in Iraq, who have sought to establish a regional stronghold in the area and launched a systematic campaign to assassinate opposing tribal elders.
Al-Qaida remains a dangerous presence in Anbar, but thanks to the Iraqi and coalition partnership, attacks are at a two-year low and a new police academy has opened to train local recruits to serve and protect their community, Bush said.
In Baghdad, Iraq, the newly deployed forces are leading a new offensive targeting insurgents operating in the capital and surrounding provinces, according to the president.
North of Baghdad, Iraqi and coalition forces are fighting block-by-block in Diyala to disrupt militant activity, Bush said. In the west, they are intercepting foreign fighters infiltrating the border. Along the Tigris River south of the capital, Bush said, forces are moving into territory controlled by insurgents and have seized weapons caches and bomb making materials.
“If we can clear these strongholds of al-Qaida and death squads, we can improve life for the citizens of the areas and inhibit the enemy's ability to strike within the capital.â€
The next challenge, Bush said, would be to secure communities located along Sunni-Shiite “fault lines,†where extremist elements likely would try again to undermine the Iraqi government by staging new attacks to reignite sectarian violence.
Bush also highlighted the quiet but important role of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs), which bring military and civilian experts to help local communities pursue reconciliation and help promote self-reliance. Across Iraq, he said, PRTs are helping Iraqi judges to restore the rule of law, local governments to initiate rebuilding projects and create new jobs, and business leaders to encourage new economic development.
A transcript of Bush’s remarks and a related fact sheet are available on the White House Web site.
For more information, see Iraq Update.
(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: USINFO - The United States Department of State)

There are some good links in the article as well if you want to check them out.

 

[All Else Failed]

Pentagon: Iraq Surge Not Working » Outside The Beltway | OTB

 

[alleycat]

Thanks Grace! Keep up the good work.

 

[All Else Failed]

So did anyone read my link?

 

[Homer]

can anyone tell me why our guys/troops are trained and ready to fight in 8 weeks but after years of training and billions of dollars Iraqes are still not ready to take over policing their own country , are thay that stupid .

 

[dt3]

can anyone tell me why our guys/troops are trained and ready to fight in 8 weeks but after years of training and billions of dollars Iraqes are still not ready to take over policing their own country , are thay that stupid .

Some of us take 13 weeks

I don't think they're stupid, I think it's a matter of them getting the number of people they need...

 

[All Else Failed]

can anyone tell me why our guys/troops are trained and ready to fight in 8 weeks but after years of training and billions of dollars Iraqes are still not ready to take over policing their own country , are thay that stupid .

Um, because its easier to train people how to kill than set up an entire country and teach its people how to effectively run it?

 

[Homer]

Some of us take 13 weeks

I don't think they're stupid, I think it's a matter of them getting the number of people they need...

what 300,000 isn't enough , oh and boot camp for me back in 72 was 8 weeks.

 

[dt3]

what 300,000 isn't enough , oh and boot camp for me back in 72 was 8 weeks.

I didn't know you were in the military Homer.

I didn't know there was 300,000 of them...in that case, I would say you raise a valid point

 

[IntruderLS1]

Thanks Gracie. Good news is good news.

 

[All Else Failed]

Uhh.....please read my link.

 

[GraceAbounds]

Uhh.....please read my link.

You sound like me in my other thread I posted. Sucks doesn't it? :24:

 

[Tim]

Uhh.....please read my link.

You have to realize that most of the people you butt heads with aren't interested in all the facts. They only tend to listen to TV and radio that supports their views, and read only articles that fit into their agenda. I run into it all the time. I know I look for as much truth that I can find. That means I look at ALL sources, left and right....

 

[IntruderLS1]

I personally try to get my information from as varied a group of sources as possible. I used to get Air America here, but I'm not sure if they went off the air, or changed freq's or what.

I stopped opening links from this guy when he posted information put out by the media secretary of Al-Sadr as proof his views were correct and justified.

Varied is good, but there are limits.

Also, Iraq is a big country. There are good things and bad things happening every day. If the United States got the same media coverage as Iraq, people would be scared to death to come here. If you put together a montage of bad news about your state, and reported exclusively on it for a few years, people would be talking about pulling our troops out. LOL

We can focus on the good news or bad news, but we should TRY to view things in balance. I am under the impression that more good has come into that country than bad. But I see that whenever good news is shared here in the States, there is always somebody ready to start a fight over it because they feel that nothing but bad is happening. Why must bad news always be shared freely, but good news dismissed as simply being offered by the Kool-Aid drinkers?

 

[GraceAbounds]

I personally try to get my information from as varied a group of sources as possible. I used to get Air America here, but I'm not sure if they went off the air, or changed freq's or what.

I stopped opening links from this guy when he posted information put out by the media secretary of Al-Sadr as proof his views were correct and justified.

Varied is good, but there are limits.

Also, Iraq is a big country. There are good things and bad things happening every day. If the United States got the same media coverage as Iraq, people would be scared to death to come here. If you put together a montage of bad news about your state, and reported exclusively on it for a few years, people would be talking about pulling our troops out. LOL

We can focus on the good news or bad news, but we should TRY to view things in balance. I am under the impression that more good has come into that country than bad. But I see that whenever good news is shared here in the States, there is always somebody ready to start a fight over it because they feel that nothing but bad is happening. Why must bad news always be shared freely, but good news dismissed as simply being offered by the Kool-Aid drinkers?

Ditto.

 

[All Else Failed]

I personally try to get my information from as varied a group of sources as possible. I used to get Air America here, but I'm not sure if they went off the air, or changed freq's or what.

I stopped opening links from this guy when he posted information put out by the media secretary of Al-Sadr as proof his views were correct and justified.

Varied is good, but there are limits.

Also, Iraq is a big country. There are good things and bad things happening every day. If the United States got the same media coverage as Iraq, people would be scared to death to come here. If you put together a montage of bad news about your state, and reported exclusively on it for a few years, people would be talking about pulling our troops out. LOL

We can focus on the good news or bad news, but we should TRY to view things in balance. I am under the impression that more good has come into that country than bad. But I see that whenever good news is shared here in the States, there is always somebody ready to start a fight over it because they feel that nothing but bad is happening. Why must bad news always be shared freely, but good news dismissed as simply being offered by the Kool-Aid drinkers?

Except.....the information in my link comes from the pentagon. Still interested?

 

[IntruderLS1]

Except.....the information in my link comes from the pentagon. Still interested?

No it doesn't, it's a political blog. It is referencing a report by the Pentagon, but it is only pulling 3 or 4 paragraphs out of a report that is no doubt hundreds long.

Soooo... No. I'm not interested.

 

[All Else Failed]

No it doesn't, it's a political blog. It is referencing a report by the Pentagon, but it is only pulling 3 or 4 paragraphs out of a report that is no doubt hundreds long.

Soooo... No. I'm not interested.

ok.


Even if they were pulling even random paragraphs from the report, I think its pretty bad that even the Pentagon is saying that the troop surge isn't really working.


The only "good" that can come out of more troops over there, is maybe the Iraqi infrastructure being set up a little faster. It won't curb violence at all. Also, most of the units being sent over are being led by mostly inexperienced lieutenants.

 

[dt3]

Also, most of the units being sent over are being led by mostly inexperienced lieutenants.

Then it's a good thing our military has thousands of experienced NCO's

 

[GraceAbounds]

:flowers:

Then it's a good thing our military has thousands of experienced NCO's

:usa::flowers: