This transition does, certainly, reflect that we have given up on trying to fight the civilizational war
we already won that war. al qaeda has been marginalized, and the arab / muslim world is now focused on reforming their own countries, not blaming the West for all their ills.
the evidence is in the fact that the middle east has changed quite dramatically in the ten years since 2001. its hard to imagine this happening without american support for democratic change in the region.
the Bush Doctrine is democracy. when citizens are in charge of their own governance, they will have to point the finger at the government they chose, not the countries that support their oppressor.
why is Iraq not an island of peace, prosperity, and tranquility? Because it was created by colonial powers after WWI, was ruled by a tyrant for 3 decades, and thousands of jihadists decided to make it their launching pad to "heaven" in their war on Islam.
I'm not sure about your "hungry for democratic change" comment though. I imagine Americans were pretty hungry for democratic change in 2008 themselves. Thats a hunger that never leaves. I look forward to the next round of Iraqi elections myself.
thats like asking, why are people demonstrating in wisconsin if we have a democracy? its not rocket science. demonstrations are a part of the democratic process. we've seen our fair share over the years.
The entire point of the Iraq War was to create a democracy in the Middle East. The fact that a democratic Iraq does not want American troops stationed on its soil should not surprise anyone. And we do remember "cut and run". We also remember, "we'll drawdown when they stand up". It not that difficult to put those two comments into context.
The only revisionism is the desperate attempt to frame a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, as violence drops to its lowest levels since the war, and a national government is formed from democratic elections, as some kind of defeat.
David. Not sure if you noticed, but the level of violence in Iraq has remained fairly constant for the past two years with just under 3000 civilians killed per year, down drastically from pre-surge levels, while the number of American troops in Iraq has fallen to about 80,000 since the surge. From the data, it looks like the surge was successful, despite all the dire predictions.
Daniel. Will Iraq be a failure for democracy after the new government is formed?
This transition does, certainly, reflect that we have given up on trying to fight the civilizational war
we already won that war. al qaeda has been marginalized, and the arab / muslim world is now focused on reforming their own countries, not blaming the West for all their ills.
more like a very long afghan winter.
the evidence is in the fact that the middle east has changed quite dramatically in the ten years since 2001. its hard to imagine this happening without american support for democratic change in the region.
all the horrors you speak of were brought to the country by saddam hussein and his associated band of killers. funny how the libs always forget this.
the Bush Doctrine is democracy. when citizens are in charge of their own governance, they will have to point the finger at the government they chose, not the countries that support their oppressor.
why limit your estimate to the lower 48 states and off the coasts?
i thought occupations were illegal.
Mr. Jobs was the epitome of what capitalism should be. Free thought and entrepreneurship.
why is Iraq not an island of peace, prosperity, and tranquility? Because it was created by colonial powers after WWI, was ruled by a tyrant for 3 decades, and thousands of jihadists decided to make it their launching pad to "heaven" in their war on Islam.
I'm not sure about your "hungry for democratic change" comment though. I imagine Americans were pretty hungry for democratic change in 2008 themselves. Thats a hunger that never leaves. I look forward to the next round of Iraqi elections myself.
thats like asking, why are people demonstrating in wisconsin if we have a democracy? its not rocket science. demonstrations are a part of the democratic process. we've seen our fair share over the years.
tea party sympathizers? pathetic slander with no evidence.
The entire point of the Iraq War was to create a democracy in the Middle East. The fact that a democratic Iraq does not want American troops stationed on its soil should not surprise anyone. And we do remember "cut and run". We also remember, "we'll drawdown when they stand up". It not that difficult to put those two comments into context.
The only revisionism is the desperate attempt to frame a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, as violence drops to its lowest levels since the war, and a national government is formed from democratic elections, as some kind of defeat.
Netanyahu Warns of Eastern Front
David. Not sure if you noticed, but the level of violence in Iraq has remained fairly constant for the past two years with just under 3000 civilians killed per year, down drastically from pre-surge levels, while the number of American troops in Iraq has fallen to about 80,000 since the surge. From the data, it looks like the surge was successful, despite all the dire predictions.
Daniel. Will Iraq be a failure for democracy after the new government is formed?