IRAQ

‘The Reality Is Very Hard’

Gen. David Petraeus has led the most dramatic turnaround in Iraq since 2003. But he's not planning to celebrate yet.

By Babak Dehghanpisheh and Larry Kaplow | NEWSWEEK

Jan 14, 2008 Issue

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Discuss

Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 10:54:27 AM

Comment: nawawimohamad,

Albert Einstein once said:
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.

If your town was in serious trouble, your children couldn't play outside, your mother was looked on as a second class citizen, your father or brother was imprisoned never to be heard again for speaking what everyone else was thinking... wouldn't you want help? wouldn't you hope someone who had more morals and values than the current leaders, would come and rescue you from that oppression? Your statement is narrow minded. Thank the heavens above we have someone to fight for people in the world who can not fight for themselves, for if not we wouldn't be any better than the ones who were doing the oppressing. If you sit and do nothing than you might as well condemn all those who would go and fight for their neighbors. They are making an effort to fight back... It is human nature for those who are uneducated to be followers, and beggars (I am currently commenting on your previous comment you left about the Iraq people being corrupt presents). The do not know what type of life they could have they have been fed propaganda on a platter of terror by a venomous dictator whom did many horrendous acts upon them. Please, educate your self and please by all means show some compassion.

???if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this but that you first make thieves and then punish them????
Thomas More ~Utopia
Posted By: jojoc10 @ 01/08/2008 3:02:17 PM

Comment: While General Petraeus might dismiss any of his own political ambitions, President Bush and his administration know that much of their legacy hinges on this man's success. The way things are looking, they have a lot to be thankful for in 2008 and General Petraeus is among them.

He may be the savior that this country was looking for.
Posted By: SGTROCK @ 01/07/2008 2:12:44 PM

Comment: I am a soldier sitting in baghdad today...i have read your comments....i cannot believe you people...what will it take to get you to listen to us...the people who wear the uniform and fight the wars...on your behalf...yes..we fight..we bleed and we die...and we leave families behind...but we do it so that you can live in your homes...and I guess sit here in cyber world and play monday morning quaterback to everything we do. What will it take for you guys to just stand behind us without all this complaining....no one is forced to join...people choose knowing that they can be deployed...we all asked to be here....because we believe in this thing and want to see it through....why are you people so determined to take that away? War sucks...I will be the first to admit it..it is not pretty..but if you ...the people who support me..but not the war...or the bring me home now!!! crew...or your elected officials who claim to know the answer to everything and promise you what ever it is you want to hear to get elected...can just for one second....one second..remember that we here...in Iraq..and Afghanistan..volunteer on your behalf..so you do not have to fight..or be seperated..and we want to see this through....please...can you give us that much at least...and let us do our jobs?
- Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 10:57:49
  
  Comment: My husband will be joining you shortly...god bless and be safe...
- Posted By: gtntz @ 01/07/2008 15:29:54
  
  Comment: Don't expect to find the heartbeat of America on these blogs. The majority of the people responding have already shown that they are still unwilling to accept the view of even the most liberal publications that things are actually getting better over there. They complain about Bush's bull-headedness and then tie themselves to a position they won't change until the day they die, no matter the facts on the ground.
  
  The interview highlights Petraeus's unassuming, humble, wait-and-see approach to the conflict. Petreaus seems to be someone who you could trust to give you the low-down on what's going on over there. But rather than argue the gains his leadership has produced, (and God forbid even cheer for more?), these folks would rather spend their time arguing about George Bush, health care, etc. They are not DOERS, they are COMPLAINERS.
Posted By: SGTROCK @ 01/07/2008 2:09:00 PM

Comment: I am a soldier sitting in baghdad today...i have read your comments....i cannot believe you people...what will it take to get you to listen to us...the people who wear the uniform and fight the wars...on your behalf...yes..we fight..we bleed and we die...and we leave families behind...but we do it so that you can live in your homes...and I guess sit here in cyber world and play monday morning quaterback to everything we do. What will it take for you guys to just stand behind us without all this complaining....no one is forced to join...people choose knowing that they can be deployed...we all asked to be here....because we believe in this thing and want to see it through....why are you people so determined to take that away? War sucks...I will be the first to admit it..it is not pretty..but if you ...the people who support me..but not the war...or the bring me home now!!! crew...or your elected officials who claim to know the answer to everything and promise you what ever it is you want to hear to get elected...can just for one second....one second..remember that we here...in Iraq..and Afghanistan..volunteer on your behalf..so you do not have to fight..or be seperated..and we want to see this through....please...can you give us that much at least...and let us do our jobs?
- Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 01/16/2008 23:51:55
  
  Comment: I think you should go home and let the Afghans and Iraqis fight their own wars. I think it is plain stupid being a dead hero for nothing. A maimed hero is no hero at all, a maimed vet and the ones coming back with problems and PTS are a burden to everybody! Why not let Bush fights his own war which is his own making and let Petreaus be his side kick?
Posted By: js1483 @ 01/07/2008 12:29:11 PM

Comment: Consider this analogy; General Petraeus and the US military have done an outstanding job making the "kids or more so boys behave". However, what happens when you leave the room and the boys have no one making sure they behave? My point is without the Iraqi government making substantial progress and all three factions buying-in, Americans and General Petraeus' successor will be babysitting for years to come. Are we up to that strategy? I wouldn't want to babysit for years.
Posted By: Drifterider @ 01/07/2008 11:44:32 AM

Comment: I've been there done that and got a tee shirt. You blow hards that haven't been there and don't have a clue really need to stop your negative comment's. On the war and the President. It takes more than the President to make it happen. And all these whiny Demcrates can't make up they're mind whether they're for or against it. They were for it when it was popular. And thus as a united Government we started a war. Bush didn't lie when he said it was going to take a while too fight. For heavyheart; if we don't fight them over there we'll be fighting them here. Just about every Arab nation has terrorist training in they're country. Some supported by the Local Government's. If we've learned anything from Veitnam it's let the soldiers be soldiers and keep the politic's out of it!!! Look how demoralizing it is too our troop's!!!
- Posted By: CT Vet @ 01/07/2008 12:19:34
  
  Comment: CTVet
  The one thing we learned from Viet Nam was don't go into a war unless the country is fully behind the war! If a draft was imposed tomorrow, you'd have draft age Republicans becoming Democrats next week and have marching in the streets against the war.
  
  It's also about time to take this war off the credit card and pay as you go. If you can ask our young people to give their all for their country then the rest of us (including conservatives) should be willing to sacrifice by paying more taxes!
Posted By: JKHayes @ 01/07/2008 11:40:06 AM

Comment: I appreciate the work of General Patraeus and all of the men and women in uniform but to consider the surge a success is a stretch. The Bush Administration started with no occupation plan and moved on to a series of bad ones. Almost nowhere in Iraq can any non Iraqi feel safe without a heavily armed escort with armored or aerialsupport , The Taliban and Al Quaeda are resurgent in Afganistan and a law unto themselves in Western Pakistan. Why we are pouring blood and dollars into the sands of Iraq is incomprehensible. We are fighting people in Iraq who came together not before we occupied their country.
Great Job Georgie!
Posted By: Heavyheart @ 01/07/2008 11:33:21 AM

Comment: I for one do not agree with the Iraq war, not just because i have a daughter there. Saddam Hussein did not invade our country, distroy the two towers and kill thousands of innocent people. I believe our main focuse should have been on Afghanistan and getting Bin Laden, but Busch had to finish what his dad couldn't at the big expense and lives of our soldiers. By the way, my daughter has also served in Afghanistan.
- Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 11:04:47
  
  Comment: Your not alone, but I am sure that your daughter knows that she is fighting for a great and noble cause and you should be proud that she is defending a people who do not have a voice for themselves. He has much blood on his hand, Men, Women and Children alike. Please read my comment I have left above. We need more people in this world like your daughter who will not tolerate those who would take advantage of peoples ignorance and back it with consistant fear... I know how you may feel, my husband is in the army, my father and father in law are former marines, and yes I too was in the army... There cause is a noble one.
- Posted By: Zoso @ 01/09/2008 12:16:17
  
  Comment: The UN stopped us from knocking Saddam out the first time. Saddam aided known terrorists and had violated 17 UN resolutions before we invaded his country legally. Question: If a person committed a crime 16 times wouldn't you at least try and bring him to justice? Saddam did not comply to the UN therfore we acted like responsible people would. He also played a bluff game with the WMDs and lost. All of the Governments of the World and including our Congress accepted the facts, at the time, that Saddam had WMDs. Please know your history before writing/speaking. It seems that people want to forget the last 20 years of world events and politics.
Posted By: Ghost1321 @ 01/07/2008 11:30:21 AM

Comment: Being Americans, we are so used to having everything done almost instantly. The truth here is that what we need to accomplish there will take time. Gen. Petraeus is doing his job and that's how he sees it. He took control at a time when it seemed civil war was inevitable, and through the changes he has made, several improvements have resulted. There is still work to be done, as there is more to strive for.
The prize "we" fight for is not oil, riches, or the glory of our nations. It is for the people, so they don't need to fear those that would threaten them, to give people the chance to have the lives that they want without a few people telling them what they should want . American or Iraqi, it does not matter, in the end we are people all with the same hopes and dreams. Peace is not something that comes natural to humanity, it is earned mostly through the selfless sacrifices of a few.
So give the american Soldier what they need, their purpose, let them know that the sacrifices they made will not go in vain.
Parties come and go but the Soldier shall always remain.
Posted By: JKHayes @ 01/07/2008 11:27:12 AM

Comment: To say general Patreus has the best plan so far for the occupation is damning with faint praise. The Bush administration started with no plan and moved on to bad ones. As I sit here trying to figure out how to pay for my employees health insurance it is almost inconceivable why we continue to pour more dollars into the sand. The president has had no problems misleading , lying to and reneging on promises to the American public why doesn't he just do the same for the Iraqies.
Posted By: Heavyheart @ 01/07/2008 11:11:38 AM

Comment: I for one, do not care for the Iraq war. I believe it was senceless from day one, not just because i have a daughter there. Our war should have been focused on Afghanistan trying to get Bin Laden, he invaded our country, not Saddam Hussein. By the way , my daughter has also been to Afghanistan. How many of you people that are commenting on those wars have been there or have loved ones there.
Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 8:10:41 AM

Comment: We have won squat!!! So what violence WAS down in the BLODDIEST YEAR in the Books-why have we won nothing???
THEY LIVE THERE, IT COST THEM ZERO TO STAY!! WE DO NOT LIVE THERE, IT COST US 2 BILLION A DAY TO STAY!!
WHO HAS THE UPPER HAND?? THOSE WHO HAVE PATIENTS!
JUST AS [ WE ] TAUGHT THEM IN THE EARLY 80s
DEAL WITH IT!
THE SLAUGHTERING YARDS INCLUDES THE ENTIRE REGION! DU!!
IF AMERICA WAS NOT IN IRAQ! HOW MANY AMERICAN LIVES WOULD WE LOSE IF THEY HAD NUCLEAR MISSLES-ANSWER Z-E-R-O!!! NOT ONE MISSLE IN THAT ENTIRE REGION CAN HIT US SOIL, AND I DON'T BLEED FOR THE STRONGEST COUNTRY IN THE REGION, AND GODS CHOSEN, NOT ONE DROP NOR SHOULD WE!! IF THEY ARE AS THEY SAY THEN WHY WORRY, RIGHT???
Posted By: dotshock @ 01/07/2008 7:57:45 AM

Comment: You better read your own print. There's been a suicide bombing almost everyday since the new year started in Iraq. Turning point? There's only been a delay while Al Qaida regroups and plans their next assaults.
Patreaus is getting an over abundancde of credit he does NOT deserve. Stop making him out to be something he has never been. He's a decoy. He's a Bush puppet. You didn't even hear about him until they needed a figure head to act out their positive role to get support for an unpopular war we were lied to about. Bush / Cheney are pathetic leaders. They weren't even honestly elected into office. Get our brave troops out of there.
- Posted By: fiercely_american_not_political @ 01/07/2008 08:39:29
  
  Comment: you are a whiny democrat instead of a supportive American; no better or worse than the arrogant republicancs who comment at the other extreme. please analyze what is best for our country; not your stupid political party!
  - Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 09:47:49
    
    Comment: PERFECT EXAMPLE: SOLDIERS NEVER LOSE, LEADERS DO, AND ALWAYS START AT THE TOP!
  - Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 09:45:29
    
    Comment: FRAG THE PARTIES WHEN WE SPEND 2 BILLION A DAY DOES 2 BILLION OR EVEN .5 BILLION COME BACK TO US SOIL-NO!! WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COUNTRY IS TO INVEST INTO ITS SELF, OR WE WILL BE DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF BATTLE, DUE TO NO SPARE PARTS, CAUSE "WE DON'T MAKE THEM" D.S. IF WE MUST THEN ALLOW US TO PRIFIT AT HOME NOT DUBUI!!! THAT'S WHAT'S BEST, OR YOUR IDEA?? INTERFERE UP THE WAZOO, AND HOPE IT DON'T BITE YA?? WELCOME TO THE PAST 25 YEARS, AND IF YOU DID NOT NOTICE!! IT DID BITE US AND HARD AND WE HAVE YET TO MOVE, AS WE "STAY THE COURSE" RIGHT! LAST TIME I GOT BIT, I BIT BACK, NOT JUST STAND THERE WITH MY WALLET OPEN, AS WE HAVE BEEN. TO BAD IRAQ NEVER BIT ANYONE AS OF 91, JUST AN EASY OUT, CAUSE WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EASY IN? GO FIGURE-WRONG AGAIN! WAR IS ONLY GOOD WHEN YOU BUILD YOUR OWN TOYS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM! NOTHING MADE OUTSIDE OF US SIOL, OR FROM A COMPANY OUTSIDE THE USA! PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Posted By: scottywaddy @ 01/07/2008 6:45:29 AM

Comment: I just want to say to the Iranian militants, Osama Bin So Stupid, Al Kitty and the rest of you pigs reading
these blogs. We're going to keep coming for you. We don't run out of time, money or people.
We are going to kill you all. So if you havn't bought a condo on the moon yet, I would advise you to do so
because that is going to be the only place we will not come to find you. Just look down the road right now,
we are close by. Make a choice now before it's too late. Lay down your arms and stay with your families
that need you. If not, prepare to meet Allah, soon.
- Posted By: Captain America @ 01/07/2008 11:40:51
  
  Comment:
  Reply to Scotywaddy: If you truly believe in Allah and life forms like you are all in a hurry to meet Allah why don't you all meet say perhaps the Bikini Atoll. (Where testing of the first atomic bomb was done) We will be more than happy to arrange your meeting with Allah by testing more nuclear devices. You may actually see Allah just as he is sending you straight to hell where you all truly belong. Look at the POSITIVE side. All of you get to spend eternity with Allah and everyone on the planet will be happy. Now if for whatever reason you don't believe in Allah and don't think this is a good idea, you can keep coming for us imbecile. I really don't want you to run out of time, money and especially human waste you call people. We need the target practice. You and others like you are not human but evil life forms much like bacteria, a cancer that WILL be removed from the body named Earth. I hope you ARE close by cretin. I want you to come down my block and when your head fragments it will be me doing the fragmenting. There is but one God and the only meeting you and the filth like you will be having is with Satan himself and not Allah. Don't ever forget ***, we ARE the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and we will be around long after your worthless asses have left this world. Your kind is like a cancer infecting the body Earth. You WILL be eradicated and I will be only one of millions performing the much-needed operation. As I look forward to your complete and total ahniliation please feel free to Kiss my Red, White and Blue American ass.
  Drop dead soon, * Captain America *
  - Posted By: ThinkAgen @ 01/07/2008 14:57:42
    
    Comment: I'm not sure who are more frightening, the Christian extremist or the Muslim extremist, it's pretty much a toss up.
- Posted By: Captain America @ 01/07/2008 11:39:43
  
  Comment: Reply to Scotywaddy: If you truly believe in Allah and life forms like you are all in a hurry to meet Allah why don't you all meet say perhaps the Bikini Atoll. (Where testing of the first atomic bomb was done) We will be more than happy to arrange your meeting with Allah by testing more nuclear devices. You may actually see Allah just as he is sending you straight to hell where you all truly belong. Look at the POSITIVE side. All of you get to spend eternity with Allah and everyone on the planet will be happy. Now if for whatever reason you don't believe in Allah and don't think this is a good idea, you can keep coming for us imbecile. I really don't want you to run out of time, money and especially human waste you call people. We need the target practice. You and others like you are not human but evil life forms much like bacteria, a cancer that WILL be removed from the body named Earth. I hope you ARE close by cretin. I want you to come down my block and when your head fragments it will be me doing the fragmenting. There is but one God and the only meeting you and the filth like you will be having is with Satan himself and not Allah. Don't ever forget ***, we ARE the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and we will be around long after your worthless asses have left this world. Your kind is like a cancer infecting the body Earth. You WILL be eradicated and I will be only one of millions performing the much-needed operation. As I look forward to your complete and total ahniliation please feel free to Kiss my Red, White and Blue American ass.
  Drop dead soon, Captain America
  - Posted By: ThinkAgen @ 01/07/2008 14:52:47
    
    Comment: Christian extremist scare me just as much as Muslim extremist
- Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 08:21:30
  
  Comment: SON IF WE, ALONE, TOOK ON IRAN, AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LOSE OUR SHORTS SHOES AND SHIRTS, AND MOST OF ALL OUR WALLETS! IRANIAN BORDER IS A GREAT PLACE TO HIDE THE 4 MISSING, TONS , OF RX EXPLOSIVE[ FROM DAY ONE OF THIS CONFLICT ] OR YOU TELL ME WHERE IT IS.
- Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 08:15:50
  
  Comment: IF OSAMA-BIN-STUPID! THEN WHATS THAT MAKE US?? THE ONES WHO HAS NOT EVEN GIVEN THE MAN A PIMPLE IN 7+ YEARS-YOUR RESULT IS THE PIPE DREAM OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY DOES TRUST BUSH-GO FIGURE
Posted By: Absolom @ 01/07/2008 4:57:31 AM

Comment: I think General Petraeus is one of the most effective leaders we have had in Iraq thus far. The fact that Iraq was a near impossible situation when he took over, and the amount of positive change he has influenced, is a testament to his brilliance as a commander. Frankly without him, we would be much worse off than we are now.
Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 01/07/2008 4:16:55 AM

Comment: Petraeus has no clear plan. He is unsure of so many things. His decisions are more of taking chances and gambling. The situation depends more on the decision by the insurgents (for whatever reason) to stop the attacks and obviously none of the makings of Petraeus..

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‘The Reality Is Very Hard’

Discuss

Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 10:54:27 AM

Posted By: jojoc10 @ 01/08/2008 3:02:17 PM

Posted By: SGTROCK @ 01/07/2008 2:12:44 PM

Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 10:57:49

Posted By: gtntz @ 01/07/2008 15:29:54

Posted By: SGTROCK @ 01/07/2008 2:09:00 PM

Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 01/16/2008 23:51:55

Posted By: js1483 @ 01/07/2008 12:29:11 PM

Posted By: Drifterider @ 01/07/2008 11:44:32 AM

Posted By: CT Vet @ 01/07/2008 12:19:34

Posted By: JKHayes @ 01/07/2008 11:40:06 AM

Posted By: Heavyheart @ 01/07/2008 11:33:21 AM

Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 11:04:47

Posted By: Zoso @ 01/09/2008 12:16:17

Posted By: Ghost1321 @ 01/07/2008 11:30:21 AM

Posted By: JKHayes @ 01/07/2008 11:27:12 AM

Posted By: Heavyheart @ 01/07/2008 11:11:38 AM

Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 8:10:41 AM

Posted By: dotshock @ 01/07/2008 7:57:45 AM

Posted By: fiercely_american_not_political @ 01/07/2008 08:39:29

Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 09:47:49

Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 09:45:29

Posted By: scottywaddy @ 01/07/2008 6:45:29 AM

Posted By: Captain America @ 01/07/2008 11:40:51

Posted By: ThinkAgen @ 01/07/2008 14:57:42

Posted By: Captain America @ 01/07/2008 11:39:43

Posted By: ThinkAgen @ 01/07/2008 14:52:47

Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 08:21:30

Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 01/07/2008 08:15:50

Posted By: Absolom @ 01/07/2008 4:57:31 AM

Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 01/07/2008 4:16:55 AM

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