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War Links [Update with Petraeus Quotes]

With General Petraeus appearing in front of the Senate Armed Forces and Foreign Relations Committees tomorrow, I figured I'd post some of my favorite links on the war that I've read in the last few days. I doubt that the left will make as big of fools of themselves as they did last time (remember moveon.org calling the general a traitor, Clinton voting in support of moveon.org, Obama choosing not to vote-no surprise there, and Clinton-of all people!- calling Petraeus a liar), but they are already on the right track. Given the continuing progress on the ground and strengthening of the Iraqi government, it'll be interesting to see how the cut and run (but go back if Al Qaeda is there even though they already are (?)) Democrats handle the unflappable general. On to the the links!
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Some perspective on the war from the Washington Post of all places. Yes, post-war Germany and Japan were not a cake walk either. And by the way, we're still there (and that's okay!).
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McCain on why Obama's 'retreat and re-invasion' plan is stupid, dangerous and expensive.
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Muqtada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric in charge of the Mahdi army that is currently giving the Iraqi government the biggest headache now that al-Qaeda has been somewhat neutralized, (something I never would have been able to write if the Democrats were in charge), is being smartly (and finally) isolated by the al-Maliki government.
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Time reporter in Baghdad: "...every Iraqi who offers me a view on American politics seems to be praying for a McCain victory."
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The recent Basra offensive has been a key step in strengthening efforts at national reconciliation in Iraq.
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UPDATE:

What does HE know?

From General Petraeus? opening statement:

"A failed state in Iraq would pose serious consequences for the greater fight against al- Qaeda, for regional stability, for the already existing humanitarian crisis in Iraq, and the efforts to counter Iranian influence. I recommended to my chain of command that we continue the drawdown in the surge. We undertake a 45-day period of consolidation and evaluation and the end of that period, we will commence a process of assessment to examine conditions on the ground and overtime recommend further reductions. This process will be continuous, with recommendations for further reductions as permitted. This approach does not allow the establishment of a said withdrawal timetable, however it does provide the flexibility those of us on the ground need to preserve the still fragile security gains?

He?s only the commander on the ground, so take this recommendation for what it?s worth. I say we give more weight to someone who has never even been to Iraq, and, if he had his way, Al-Qaeda would be in control of Iraq this very moment. From November 2006(!):

"The time for waiting in Iraq is over. It is time to change our policy?Only through this phased redeployment [beginning in January 2007] can we send a clear message to the Iraqi factions that the U.S. is not going to hold together this country indefinitely -- that it will be up to them to form a viable government that can effectively run and secure Iraq."

If Obama?s selling point is his judgment, he clearly got it wrong here. There have been tremendous security and legislative gains in the last six months, and while the situation is ?fragile?, it?s headed in the right direction. I think the fact that Obama has the most liberal voting record in the Senate and one of the most liberal voting records while a state senator already exposes him as not exactly being the political pragmatist that he is selling himself as, but advocating complete withdrawal at this point exposes Obama as dabbling in absolute liberal demagoguery. Do you really want someone like that dealing with someone like this?

Full post as published by SoapBox Law on April 07, 2008 (boomark / email).