Riehl World View

Obama Changes Tune On Iraq

Time was when Obama and most every Democrat invoked even the slightest hint of violence in Iraq as proof that "Bush's War" was lost. That's not true anymore for Obama and the bulk of the Left in the face of a rash of deadly car bombings. Now, Obama is only looking to "add perspective" indicating how the situation in Iraq has "continued to dramatically improve". Who would have guessed that all we needed was a Democrat in the WH to turn things around in Iraq? As for any "political progress" in Iraq? He "has not seen as much political progress as he would like," but that's no big deal. Under Bush, that was Obama's entire rationale for abandoning Iraq, thereby losing the war.

On Iraq, Obama sought to offer perspective as sporadic but deadly bombings continue to unnerve the nation. U.S. combat troops face a June 30 deadline to leave cities there, part of a broader and gradual withdrawal that is to end American involvement under Obama's watch.

The president said bombings will continue, but overall "Iraq's security situation has continued to dramatically improve."

He said the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must strengthen the nation's security forces and make progress on the political "give-and-take" leading up to parliamentary elections scheduled for Jan. 30. He said he has not seen as much political progress as he would like.

BBC: Basra Progress "Staggering"

Gee, how did this happen. I thought this war had been lost? Looks as though Bush's surge the current POTUS didn't support was the right idea.

Maj Head, 40, was commanding B Company from 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry.

"It's quite staggering," he says, removing his hard helmet and replacing it with his Army beret and looking around warily.

"We used to patrol through here in a Warrior [infantry armoured fighting vehicle] and you wouldn't have worn a beret then.

"Most of us wouldn't have come here then except in 6 Warriors with 55 heavily-armoured blokes in the back, and even then we'd be twitchy."

As we walk through the market, attracting a crowd of rowdy children, Maj Head laughs incredulously.

"This is a quantum leap forward. The biggest problem I have here now is small children trying to nick my pen and sunglasses.

We'll Take It, I Guess

One freelancer is going at another over Iraq. It's good to see. I just wish we saw more understanding from some on the Left earlier on. Interesting how some things turn around with a Democrat in the WH. But we'll take it, I guess.

New Sign Of Progress In Iraq

And no I'm not kidding, though it obviously won't be greeted that way. Yes, the shoe or foot is a sign of great disrespect in Islamic culture. So much so that Saddam had a stone doormat installed as a state insult to Bush, Sr. The US Army chiseled it out.

Let the libs scoff. The fact remains that today an American President can address the government of Iraq and one unhinged journalist can show his disagreement and disrespect. Not long ago an idiot who did such a thing to a visiting leader of whom Saddam approved would have been taken out and shot.

While it stinks for it to have happened, anyway you measure it, that's a sign of progress and a tribute to the sacrifice of our fine men and women in uniform. Iraqis have freedoms they could have never dreamed of under Saddam. And President Bush is the man most to thank for that.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - There was a bit of unfinished business left over in Baghdad from the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites). The U.S. Army has taken care of it.

At the Al-Rashid Hotel, President Bush (news - web sites) the elder — father of the current American chief executive who ordered this year's invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) — is a doormat no more.

U.S. soldiers visited the battered Al-Rashid on Thursday night wielding hammers and chisels, and dug out the intricate tile mosaic of the former president that was used for years as a state-sponsored insult.

In its place, they laid a portrait of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).

"Everybody walked over it and wiped their feet on it," Lt. Col. Rick Schwartz, the battalion commander said. He left the Saddam portrait behind, on the ground for future use.

Get Your Outrage Ready

What else is there to say?

Link: A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping at Forest Lake Area High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit.

Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.

He said the school had received several phone calls from parents and others, some of whom indicated that they may stage a protest if the event took place.

Finally, A Welcome Debate

While Obama hasn't quite locked up the Democrat nomination, I believe liberals and Democrats will be rather surprised at how gladly the Right will embrace an honest debate on Iraq between Obama and McCain. Obama doesn't fully appreciate what he's walking into here.

To begin with, he's stuck with the position of running down a war in which our military is currently engaged. That defeatism takes more than simply a rhetorical flourish from a gifted speaker to pull off, once they are addressing people outside the Democrat base. In a debate extended over a Fall campaign, McCain also has the ability to remind people of the true lay of the land circa 2003, when Saddam was ignoring every sanction and profiting from a corrupt UN Oil for Food program.

An accurate history does not reveal Obama to possess some special gift of judgment. It reveals him to be weak on National Defense, with a willingness to give tyrants too much slack, a prospect in a potential POTUS made all the more troubling in an increasingly nuclear powered world. From comments at The Politico (link above) the Left can't wait for this debate to take place. I think the Right will be glad to have it, as well - and the Left may just find themselves surprised to learn how the American people, as opposed to only liberals and the mainstream press, really feel about winning in Iraq.

Obama departed from his regular stump speech today in Columbus to respond to John McCain.

"John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell, but so far all he’s done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq," he said.

Obama was responding, incredulously, to McCain's suggestion that he's unaware of the presence of Al Qaeda in Iraq, which the Arizona Senator said earlier today was apparently "news" to Obama at last night's debate.

Haditha On Frontline

Jules has details:

I just finished watching a review copy. If you want to know the basics on this political football, see principal participants and witnesses interviewed — Marines, Haditha survivors and residents, reporters and lawyers — and see extensive private and military video footage of the unit in Haditha before, during and after the Nov. 19, 2005 incident, you’ll want to watch this.

Berkeley Moonbats Officially Attack Marines With Decrees

The Berkeley City Council is attacking the US Marines with words and ordinances. I wish they'd try the real thing. I think the Marines could handle a little scrap with the town council just fine on their own. I'm not thinking peace loving, either.

The City of Berkeley, California has passed two resolutions attacking the United States Marine Corps, calling the Marines, “uninvited and unwelcome intruders in the city.”

See Melanie Morgan's work at Move America Forward for story and contact information to lodge a complaint.

Winning In Iraq

Continued good news out of Iraq. What's a liberal to do? Boo-freaking-hoo, that's what. Bob, Chris? Feel free to weigh in for the whatever percentage of losers you represent, now. Powerline has more, including graphs.

About 75% of Baghdad's neighborhoods are now secure, a dramatic increase from 8% a year ago when President Bush ordered more troops to the capital, U.S. military figures show.

If the blight on our democracy that is progressivism had prevailed, once again, America would have lost. But then, that's precisely what Progressives want.

B-1's Over Baghdad

The New York Times is playing up American losses - nine, unfortunately. But that's not all the news. Forty-thousand pounds of bombs in ten minutes, that'll get your attention.

(CBS/AP) U.S. bombers and jet fighters unleashed 40,000 pounds of explosives during a 10-minute airstrike Thursday morning, flattening what the military called al Qaeda in Iraq safehavens on the southern outskirts of the capital.

A military statement said two B-1 bombers and four F-16 fighters dropped the explosives on Arab Jabour in 10 strikes on 40 targets.

The massive attack was part of Operation Phantom Phoenix, a nationwide campaign launched Tuesday against al Qaeda in Iraq.

"Thirty-eight bombs were dropped within the first 10 minutes, with a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds," the statement said.

Six of the nine were killed by a booby-trapped house.

Forward Operating Base Normandy, Iraq — A house booby-trapped with explosives killed six American soldiers on Wednesday during an offensive against Sunni insurgents in Diyala province, making it the deadliest day for U.S. troops in Iraq since November.

The blast, which also killed an Iraqi translator and injured four U.S. soldiers, took place on the second day of an unusually large campaign in Diyala against the insurgent group al-Qaida in Iraq. The explosion came one day after three American troops were shot to death in the neighboring northern province of Salahuddin.