A Call To Arms

Jules has a round up of reax to Bush's speech I'll link, along with a few other bits, below.

As Calls to Arms go, you could tell that Bush was as steeped almost as much in the domestic politics of the matter, as he was the military confrontations to come. I suppose that's necessary in a somewhat divided nation.

But its the politics of Iraq that are most critical and this below is a welcome sign.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -        Iraq's prime minister has told Shiite militiamen to surrender their weapons or face an all-out assault, part of a commitment U.S.        President George W. Bush outlined to bring violence under control with a more aggressive Iraqi Army and 21,500 additional American troops.

Senior Iraqi officials said Wednesday that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, under pressure from the U.S., has agreed to crack down on the fighters even though they are loyal to his most powerful political ally, the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Previously, al-Maliki had resisted the move.

I had the misfortune of having to listen to Katy Couric a bit after the speech ... she spoke almost sullenly of how Bush is out there so alone. While she meant it in a domestic sense, I don't believe that is Bush's prime concern. He can stand up to defeatists in America, who he can't stand up to are appeasement minded individuals in Iraq.

For all of our strength and bluster, no matter what happens in the coming months, we will do our part, but the real challenge to securing freedom for Iraq will fall to Iraqis themselves.

Let us hope that the leadership there realizes just how precious freedom can be when it's realized on the grand scale America enjoys ... and let's hope the Iraqis and Maliki don't leave our President and our warriors on their own. If they do, we'll have every right to leave them and the failure will be far more theirs, than a failure of President Bush, or our troops.

Jules round up with links is here.

Michelle Malkin reports from Iraq.

My Hot Air colleague Bryan Preston and I have been in Iraq, embedded with an incredibly dedicated Army unit in Baghdad tasked with training Iraqi security forces (both Shia and Sunni) conducting counterinsurgency operations, and carrying out civil affairs work.

Comments

[Maf54]

Hahahaha.

Maf54

[Carl]

Even Bible-thumping Sam Brownback is saying that Bush's surge strategy is a mistake. You 31%ers are pathetic. Perhaps another carrier landing will cheer you up. Mission accomplished!!

[Theresa, MSgt (ret), USAF]

I see the usual troop supporters are out in force this morning. You know what Carl and Maf54, have a cup of STFU and let the real patriots do their damn job without your constant caterwauling and undermining of them. While congress is known for its inability to think beyond its own benefit from any decision made, there are Americans who are willing to do the heavy lifting. Mr. Bush is done in 08. Until then fuck off.

[heheh]

Well put, Sarge.

[Carl]

Theresa, you are just another 'stay the course' fool. Face it, your stammering leader lost his Vietnam - to a bunch of goatherders. And racked up $500B in costs along the way.

[Phoenix]

So. Carl. "..stay the course fool." As opposed to what? A 'turn and run genius'?

[Carl]

4 years and you clowns haven't done anything but incite a civil war. The GOP has no credibility and is utterly irrelevant at this point. Party over.

[old trooper]

Carl, you are just another mouthy little punk.

Shamelessly pimping for fools like Pelosi, Reid, Kuchinich, Kennedy and the rest of those traitors is neither a sign of wisdom or intelligence. Your posts parrot the same condescending arrogance and ignorance that is nothing but party line bullshit and lies. Your insults are easily ignored but you asked for some attention.

You got it. Now Piss Off!

[Carl]

$500B squandered, civil war, regional instability, loss of US credibility. You GOP clowns are a disgrace, even your own like Hagel and Brownback are running for the exits. Fool...