It’s amazing how people see things so differently. To me, my girlfriend is the most beautiful, sensitive and caring woman in the world, yet to my wife …
And so it proved with the report given by the United States ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, and General David Petraeus to the congressional joint hearing of the committee on foreign affairs and the committee on armed services.
The Democrats made no bones about the fact that the surge, while achieving some military progress, lacked the political gains needed to ensure its long-term success.
Primarily the failure of Kurds, Sunni and Shi’ite leaders to meet and agree the way forward meant it was time to bring the boys home. Leave Iraq to the Iraqis and use the money elsewhere.
Small tactical draw-downs of troops are not to be considered, but rather a timetable for large-scale evacuation.
The Republicans attacked the Democrats for their character assassination of General Petraeus in the week leading up to the report, saying that the military was unbiased and there to give a considered opinion on the current situation.
They believed that if America stood her ground and handed over to a benign Iraqi military, then the long-term prognosis for the US and the region was good and the money was well spent.
They used the American tough stance in the Cold War and in El Salvador as examples of the success that can be achieved if such an approach is adopted.
The reports are set out here :
Petraeus confirmed that the military objectives of the surge were largely being met and that by next summer the troop levels could return to those of pre-surge.
Crocker believes that a secure and stable Iraq is attainable but it will not be achieved quickly nor without bumps along the road.
My opinion is that while it is too early to tell, I’d knock this one down to a marginal Republican victory on points.
By tonight (written at 10pm on Monday night), this could be a case of sunny-side up all over my mug.
A prince with dignity and determination
Prince Ngarambe’s goals are to become Rwanda’s first transgender model and to uplift the country’s youth
The EFF’s principles are unshakeable
Unlike the ANC, the core values of the freedom fighters do not change with each leader it elects
