What Democrat Leaders are saying about the American Military Surge in Iraq. THE AMERICAN MILITARY SURGE IS WORKING (Bush, Harry Reid)

[ProudCapMarine]

What Democrat Leaders are saying about the American Military Surge in Iraq. Democrats praise military progress in Iraq

This is great news. What do you think?

These are not Bush-backing GOP die-hards, but Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin, Bob Casey and Jack Reed. Even Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, said progress was being made by soldiers.

The suggestions by them and other Democrats in recent days that at least a portion of Bush's strategy in Iraq is working is somewhat surprising, considering the bitter exchanges on Capitol Hill between the Democratic majority and Republicans and Bush. Democrats have long said Bush's policies have been nothing more than a complete failure.

[ProudCapMarine]

Here's the link to the article.
Democrats praise military progress in Iraq

One senator said U.S. troops are routing out al-Qaida in parts of Iraq. Another insisted President Bush's plan to increase troops has caused tactical momentum.

One even went so far on Wednesday as to say the argument could be made that U.S. troops are winning.

These are not Bush-backing GOP die-hards, but Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin, Bob Casey and Jack Reed. Even Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, said progress was being made by soldiers.

[Evlevo]

(BTW, the link didn't work, here is another.... hopefully it works better)Democrats praise military progress - Yahoo! News (broken link)

If it is true, that is good news because we all hope that our troops are not fighting a lost cause.

However, the article stinks because they do not give any quotes for the "headline" of support for the surge, just for the opposition to Bush. I would indeed like to see the actual quotes to judge for myself. Even the AP can make mistakes.

Oooh Raaah fellow Devil Dog!

[ProudCapMarine]

Here's a different article on the same Surge: [B[/b] "A War We Just Might Win" New York Times July 30, 2007 / Iraqis bask in joy.

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by ProudCapMarine

What Democrat Leaders are saying about the American Military Surge in Iraq. Democrats praise military progress in Iraq

This is great news. What do you think?

These are not Bush-backing GOP die-hards, but Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin, Bob Casey and Jack Reed. Even Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, said progress was being made by soldiers.

The suggestions by them and other Democrats in recent days that at least a portion of Bush's strategy in Iraq is working is somewhat surprising, considering the bitter exchanges on Capitol Hill between the Democratic majority and Republicans and Bush. Democrats have long said Bush's policies have been nothing more than a complete failure.

You are 100% right!! The surge IS working and the Democrat presidential hopefuls are going to take a hit on this. That is why Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are trying to pull out tomorrow morning so the surge cannot work.

Even the liberal AP News has an article about the surge starting to work and the fact that 23 IRANIANS were in Iraq arming the terrorists and were killed by US forces.

Thanks for reporting on the truth! The surge is working and FINALLY Bush is doing what everyone had been saying from day 1: pound the terrorists in Iraq 24/7, don't stop, add more troops and win.

[thepizzaguy]

Too bad it wasn't a more reliable source. Like army.gov.

[burdell]

While I have no doubt US service men & women will do the jobs they're given the big stumbling block seems to be political progress within the Iraqi government........................................ and they go on vacation

Which does nothing to answer the question of why we continue to fight for those who won't fight for themselves?

[Rggr]

Here's an interesting perspective by a high-ranking democrat....


Clyburn: Positive Report by Petraeus Could Split House Democrats on War

By Dan Balz and Chris Cillizza
Washington Post Staff Writer and Washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Monday, July 30, 2007; 6:26 PM

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Monday that a strongly positive report on progress on Iraq by Army Gen. David Petraeus likely would split Democrats in the House and impede his party's efforts to press for a timetable to end the war.

Clyburn, in an interview with the washingtonpost.com video program PostTalk, said Democrats might be wise to wait for the Petraeus report, scheduled to be delivered in September, before charting next steps in their year-long struggle with President Bush over the direction of U.S. strategy.

Clyburn noted that Petraeus carries significant weight among the 47 members of the Blue Dog caucus in the House, a group of moderate to conservative Democrats. Without their support, he said, Democratic leaders would find it virtually impossible to pass legislation setting a timetable for withdrawal.

"I think there would be enough support in that group to want to stay the course and if the Republicans were to stay united as they have been, then it would be a problem for us," Clyburn said. "We, by and large, would be wise to wait on the report."

Many Democrats have anticipated that, at best, Petraeus and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker would present a mixed analysis of the success of the current troop surge strategy, given continued violence in Baghdad. But of late there have been signs that the commander of U.S. forces might be preparing something more generally positive. Clyburn said that would be "a real big problem for us."

Clyburn's comments came as House and Senate Democrats try to figure out their next steps in the legislative battle. Clyburn said he could foresee a circumstance in which House Democrats approve a measure without a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces, which has been the consistent goal of the party throughout the months-long debate. But he said he could just as easily see Democrats continue to include a timetable.

[Rggr]

Originally Posted by burdell

While I have no doubt US service men & women will do the jobs they're given the big stumbling block seems to be political progress within the Iraqi government........................................ and they go on vacation

Which does nothing to answer the question of why we continue to fight for those who won't fight for themselves?

I agree with you on this point. It's ridiculous that they went on vacation.

[bily4]

And that is the whole point. The surge was supposed to stabilize Baghdad so the politicians can make progress. The surge may be working, but the politicians go on vacation for a month. And most of the Sunnis have now defected from the government. And the Kurds in the North are making their own regional oil deals with other nations. Our military is strianed to the braking point and can't "surge" for the years to come it will take to get these Iraqis to agree to anything politically.