IRAQ WAR

‘No Victory Dances’

Gen. David Petraeus explains why vigilance is still needed in Iraq, and why Afghanistan in some ways is a bigger worry.

By Rod Nordland | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Aug 21, 2008 | Updated: 6:21 p.m. ET Aug 21, 2008

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Posted By: mediabiased @ 09/07/2008 2:38:55 AM

Comment: Good to see a pragmatic humble guy (who thinks of the adversary's point of view and shows some basic respect) finally in power instead of loudmouth dummies for most of the past 8 years. If Petraeus was in charge from the beginning, there probably wouldn't have been a war in the first place. As he says, you have to separate those who you can work with from those who you can't. Saddam basically wanted to stay in power and was a guy who the US could have worked with (he was after all a former "our bastard"). The guy basically bent over backwards by destroying his WMDs in the early 1990s (as it has now been proven). This was was completely unnecessary. With some basic respect and reciprocity, the Saddam threat could have been diffused if a guy like Patraeus was in power then. Lousy loudmouth saber-rattling diplomacy after 9/11 created an unnecessary war which has stolen billions of dollars from future generations (as this administration didn't even have the balls to make people pay for it, passing the buck in the form of massive deficits to others who did not make the decision but are now faced to pay for them (these are the children of America who will have to pay the debt off)
Posted By: heathera1 @ 09/03/2008 12:06:21 PM

Comment: Why do people forget that we had a revolution and formed one of the greatest countries on the planet? When our founding fathers started the revolution (look at the name people) they were going to be hanged if caught, the names may be familiar, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams... Just because things are going to change does not mean they will fail. We have succeeded since then under horrible circumstances at times, keep giving them them the opportunity we had, or do they not deserve it as much as us? Everyone needs to take a history lesson and actually learn something form it! I'm not your typical republican, I disagree very much with them sometimes and for the most part I am split down the middle but, in this case, facts are facts. All these folks giving a guess as to what may happen in the country, leave that to the trained intel analysts in the military and ou just do some research before opening your mouth.
Posted By: mccainsupporter @ 08/27/2008 1:13:30 PM

Comment: It was reported today that Obama stated that the United States has not also set the best example to Russia with regards to invading countries. The obvious reference is to Iraq and John McCain retorted that our invasion of Iraq was proper and justified and can not be compared to the invasion of Georgia by Russia.
Here is a thought for the Democrat leadership on their position of no American support for Iraq.
Obama discussed and downplayed his recent harrowing experience with their chartered campaign aircraft that had elevator problems due to an accidental inflation of a rear exit slide. The media reported it was a serious event. United States military pilots experience harrowing events every day. Thanks to the recommended McCain troop surge and George Bush original decision to overthrow Sadaam Hussein, US Airforce and Navy pilots no longer have to provide a continuous no fly zone over Iraq. They had provided this no fly zone to prevent Sadaam Hussein from using his airforce and helicopters to slaughter helpless Kurds in the North of Iraq. Before the United States invasion under George Bush, this nofly zone had to be carried out from carriers and bases in Kuwait which involved distances and hazards. The successful overthrow of Sadaam has saved countless American pilot lives and harrowing military aircraft safety incidents similar to what occurred on the Obama chartered campaign plane. Democrats under the leadership of Obama would have us performing a no fly zone mission over Iraq for the next fifty years instead of going in and taking out Sadaam as we did and saving countless US military pilots lives over the next fifty years. McCain support of the war in Iraq was the right thing to do and will have the long term effect of saving American lives.

As a former Navy Pilot John McCain knows the dangers of flying military missions over a hostile country. I am sure Barack Obama with his recent campaign airline charter scare has a better understanding of the dangers. Barack Obama should have a special appreciation of the dangers also in flying in even nonmilitary nonhostile situations. It is a fact that United States Airforce and Navy pilots lives will be saved by not having to continue a nofly zone over a hostile Iraq for the next fifty years thanks to the support of John McCain for the war. The surge policy was the right policy and will save American military pilot lives.
Posted By: Slave of The Subduer @ 08/25/2008 3:30:48 AM

Comment: I am almost sure, this war is long from over. As of now the tribal nationalist who have turn against Al-Qaidah, could be just faking it. Consider this, the Sunni and shiate have been fighting each other for years, and if one checks history the shiate helped the the Mongal invasion of syria and iraq, and that is only one example, there are more that the shiate always helped the non-muslims in wars against the muslims. I honestly believe when the US draws lots of it's soildiers from iraq, (maybe not all but a large majority) then the Muslims will attack the shiate government. Another strange thing is that the media played a strange game, they kept referring to Iraq as a shiate majority, but in a study done by rand (i think, but it could have been another study group) in 2000, marked the Sunni's as being the significant majority by 15% above the shiate. I believe the US government played by this so that they could put in a majority shiate government by just saying they were the majority. By knowing the history that the shiate always took the side of non-muslims, the US government took advantage of this and put into power who they believe would be more favorable to US interest. But who knows really, maybe Iraq will see a time of peace after the NATO forces leave, but most likely short lived.
Posted By: ajlongo @ 08/23/2008 5:45:07 PM

Comment: How extreme do you have to be to make a comment here? Looking at the postings, you'd think the participants are all wearing old camos in front of a fan, sweating, and lighting a cigar. Either that, or they have a rocket launcher hidden in a bunker under a dune behind their dwellings.... Anyhow, the bottom line is that It takes a while for a country to re-define itself after a dictator defined it for years by force. A lot of people in Iraq are now thinking for themselves and feeling pride. As wrong as the intital pretense for war was, it's about time the Iraqi's are proud of, protect, and preserve their own lands...as a welcome member of the world community.
- Posted By: Holly Garfield @ 08/25/2008 5:59:17 PM
  
  Comment: You got my vote, ajlongo. I don't think that counts for much among a number of posters here though.
Posted By: getzel @ 08/23/2008 3:51:16 AM

Comment: Such great talent wasted on this Nice Long Lasting War whose only goal is lots of weapons sales.

Intelligence analyst: Getzel
Posted By: Karenn1 @ 08/22/2008 11:49:56 PM

Comment: The military complex has gutted the military honor and duty/ Now it what do I say to get promoted .Hoe many generals have pass the bull to the american people behind the honor of the iniform.We believe you not no more.Now you want this troll for president because he was a prisoner and passing him off as a hero bull,the heros died.His daddy gave him this honor.Where are all his buddy from vietnam. Now his V P will be Tokyo Rose very fitting.
Posted By: USCDPT1 @ 08/22/2008 2:17:52 PM

Comment: doktor:
You may want to stop self-proscribing those meds. :)
Posted By: doktor @ 08/22/2008 2:02:43 PM

Comment: If Christians still think Muslims were behind the attack on the World Trade Center, please wake up. This is classic "Protocols of Zion" divide-and-conquer. Pit the stupid Christian goyim against the Muslims and let them destroy each other. The Neo Cons and the Mossad have been signaling this attack for a decade. How can Christians be so stupid as to fall for it, and imagine Islam and not Masonic Zionism (i.e. NWO) is their enemy?

The New World Order funds the Taliban through the Pakistan Secret Service. Here is a report that shows the British may actually be training the Taliban. All of this to create the mythic bogus "war of civilizations."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/revealed-british-plan-
to-build-training-camp-for-taliban-fighters-in-afghanistan-777671.html http://www.rense.com/general82/persec.htm
Posted By: valark @ 08/22/2008 1:29:32 PM

Comment: "China? It is easy because China's economy is fragile, it could collapse from a single US trade sanction since China is so dependent on the US for its economy."

Rarely does these newsweek boards have comments that make me laugh out loud. This was one of those moments. Despite the other hyperbole in your commentary, this was truly funny. Thank you for the humor, which I can only assume you use when approaching these matters.
Posted By: befair @ 08/22/2008 12:20:07 PM

Comment: General Petraeus is a very smart man and well trained in diplomacy. He is doing what he must do for now. If Obama becomes our next President, you will see and hear a different story from the good General. As Obama has tried to say so many times, the Generals on the ground get their mission instructions from the Commander-in-Chief and if that Chief tells them to develop a new strategy, they will put their heads together and do so. Obama would never ask them to do this if there was not proof that it is time to get out of Iraq. What we are seeing and hearing from the current administration is falling in line with what Obama has said all along.
- Posted By: heathera1 @ 09/03/2008 12:10:53 PM
  
  Comment: If they haven't really changed then why are deaths and attacks down?
Posted By: garysgary @ 08/22/2008 12:04:48 PM

Comment: "Winning in Iraq"....how stupid is John McCain? We may have out-lasted them...we may have killed alot of them...we may have paid them to quit killing us....BUT WE DID NOT WIN IN IRAQ! WE ARN'T WINNING IN IRAQ...because ther is nothing to win! What will we win? Are we safer?...Is our southern border sealed or are there still a bunch of illegals coming into this country through McCain's state of AZ? Are we richer or are we poorer? What did we win in Iraq?...I know...higher oil prices...that's what we won. That's what our guys died for...so we could pay more for gas! Such a waste....Just so Israel could feel safe!
Posted By: getzel @ 08/22/2008 5:54:46 AM

Comment: Such great talent wasted on this Nice Long Lasting War whose only goal is lots of weapons sales.

Intelligence analyst: Getzel
Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 08/21/2008 11:31:48 PM

Comment: As I see it the US is willing to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible even with considerable compromise in its objectives. Since the US is now preparing for WWIII, it has to consolidate its forces to face Russia. The US has managed to test its capabilities and evaluate Russia while at the same time surrounding Russia from various sides; the missiles in Poland, military bases in Europe, US military in Georgia, preparing NATO to face Russia, having all the European leaders on the US side and will be installing a brand new puppet in Pakistan.

Taking over Pakistan means the US will be able to defeat the al-Qaeda and Talibans by opening another front for them to fight.

China? It is easy because China's economy is fragile, it could collapse from a single US trade sanction since China is so dependent on the US for its economy. Israel is forever ready to take control of the middle-east.

This is the best time for the US to take on Russia before Russia can consolidate and accumulate its resources and become powerful once again.

The US has also been convinced by Israel that it can win the WWIII. Therefore it would not be a surprise if there is a sudden change in US policy towards Iraq or rather a sudden decision to withdraw its military from Iraq and increase engagements in Paksitan.