Upper Left Coast

Thoughts on politics, faith, sports and other random topics from a red state sympathizer in indigo-blue Portland, Oregon.

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Quote of the Day: the Military surge in Iraq

Michael Totten, Portland's resident expert on the Middle East, pointed out last week that if you hear someone claim the US Military's surge strategy in Iraq is failing, they might be engaged in some wishful thinking (emphasis mine):

You can be forgiven if you thought the United States military’s “surge” in Iraq has failed. At least you’ll be forgiven by me. I quietly assumed some time ago, before I had ever even heard of the surge, that the U.S. is going to lose this war in Iraq because the American public doesn’t have the will to stick out a grinding insurgency that might not ever be winnable. I’m not saying it isn’t winnable. I really don’t know. How could I possibly know? But we live in a democracy with civilian control of the military. If Americans want to give up – it’s over.

But the surge is only just now beginning.

...

This is our last chance to avert a total catastrophe. American public opinion is not at all likely to tolerate any further adventures if this doesn’t work. But the war isn’t over until it is over, and it’s probably best not to say the surge failed when it only just started a week ago.

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2 Comments:

  • At 7/07/2007 10:17 PM, Blogger Ron Hager said…

    Sorry to disagree, but the surge will not fail because Americans don't support it. The surge will fail because it is an immoral war created by your neo-fascist leaders in the White House. Regardless of the support it does or does not receive, your ignorant MBA leader will lose it. The wrong war fought against the wrong people, for the wrong reason, led by a group perpetually wrong.

     
  • At 7/08/2007 2:17 PM, Blogger Ken said…

    Sorry, Hermit, but I don't subscribe to what is essentially a karma explanation. The surge may not work, but it will fail only because it is not supported or because the Iraq situation is too hopeless for any military idea to work. Not because "my neo-fascist leaders" or "my ignorant MBA leader" (both of which are very intelligent and helpful labels to throw out, by the way) are perpetually wrong.

     

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