it is one thing to pass the legislation and quite another to reap positive benefits from it. However, obviously this is just the first step and one that was necessary for on-the-ground progress on the benchmarks to take place!
My feeling is at this point the elections will indeed be a sea change and hopefully will really consolidate the gains we've made in the past 6 months.
And Bill's piece is, of course (and again), amazing.
it is one thing to pass the legislation and quite another to reap positive benefits from it. However, obviously this is just the first step and one that was necessary for on-the-ground progress on the benchmarks to take place!
Actually, zach., the positive benefits have been happening for months, long before the legislation formalized them. Speaker Pelosi ignored them, and kept insisting that failure to pass the legislation made the surge a failure. She planted the goal posts, and she doesn't get to move them now (again).
This is undeniably a good thing. There isn't a quick and easy "how-to-guide" to transform in 5 years a tyrannical society based on fear and oppression (Saddam) to a nascent, imperfect, often messy democracy (Maliki).
I don't understand why liberals are not jumping for joy at the progress made in Iraq. Historically, liberals have been on the side of the oppressed rather than the oppressors, even if such struggles involved armed sacrifice.
I'm not disputing the gains that have been made so far at the local level in Iraq, but as both Michael Totten's posts and the recent series from Bill Ardolino make clear, I think there is still a ways to go in terms of national reconciliation and getting something that's some semblance of a working government going.
I absolutely agree with Dave that all signs are pointing to the hypothesis that elections will be a sea change in this regard. I also think that the three new pieces of legislation are the necessary first step towards taking local gains national. However I take the view that optimists are always disappointed while pessimists are always pleasantly surprised, and therefore remain very cautious (but still pleasantly surprised!).
While I get your point, that allows for the endless goalpost-moving that Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid have indulged in. The definition of "failure" keeps changing, and I'm tired of it. Their most recent definition of failure was "No legislation." Well, we have legislation. Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid can now admit that the surge was a success, or be revealed as partisan liars. Yes, liars.
Hank, if the effort in Iraq was considered by Pelosi to be anything other than a stick with which to beat Bush then she would be indifferent to the advances in Iraq; possibly even pleased. The situation, however, is that when things are going bad her stick grows into a great hammer and when things are good it shrivels to a limp noodle.
She cares nothing about success or failure in Iraq except to the extent it can be used to harm Bush and by extension help her and her party.
If a great nation arises or if Iraq sinks into massacre; neither really matters to her.
anyone who doesn't acknowledge the progress is a partisan shill, absolutely. goalpost moving is also abhorrent. but it's also worth noting that i've been reading a lot of reports both from totten, ardolino, and others that are basically giving Iraq even odds. Those are definitely odds I'll take, but it does mean that wherever the goalpost is with respect to where we are right now, I don't think even by original metrics that we've quite reached the goal line. The problem I see with Pelosi and others is that the goal line they've set is fuzzy. I don't know if it was legislation, but rather "political reconciliation." what does that mean? when do we know when it's been achieved? that would be my issue.
But I think we're agreeing with each other on the larger point which is that wherever we are on the field, we are moving in the right direction and that's really the end of the story. As long as you're getting first downs you shouldn't change the game-plan.
When Congress actually tackles entitlement reform without populist demagogic nonsense and without kicking the can far down the road, they'll be able to talk about "political reform". Until then, they've got no cred...
Included in the Budget deals is the transfer of two Divisions of Peshmerga to the Iraqi Army. That is something that US press is ignoring but, it is mentioned in the Iraqi and Kurdish press...
The Provincial Powers Act stipulates the Elections Law must be passed within 90 days and that the elections must take place by October 1.
2.14.2008 12:25pm
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
it is one thing to pass the legislation and quite another to reap positive benefits from it. However, obviously this is just the first step and one that was necessary for on-the-ground progress on the benchmarks to take place!
My feeling is at this point the elections will indeed be a sea change and hopefully will really consolidate the gains we've made in the past 6 months.
And Bill's piece is, of course (and again), amazing.
Actually, zach., the positive benefits have been happening for months, long before the legislation formalized them. Speaker Pelosi ignored them, and kept insisting that failure to pass the legislation made the surge a failure. She planted the goal posts, and she doesn't get to move them now (again).
I don't understand why liberals are not jumping for joy at the progress made in Iraq. Historically, liberals have been on the side of the oppressed rather than the oppressors, even if such struggles involved armed sacrifice.
I find it a bit perplexing.
HankB
Iraq is no longer interesting because it doesn't make for good theatrical displays of concern and fake empathy.
I'm not disputing the gains that have been made so far at the local level in Iraq, but as both Michael Totten's posts and the recent series from Bill Ardolino make clear, I think there is still a ways to go in terms of national reconciliation and getting something that's some semblance of a working government going.
I absolutely agree with Dave that all signs are pointing to the hypothesis that elections will be a sea change in this regard. I also think that the three new pieces of legislation are the necessary first step towards taking local gains national. However I take the view that optimists are always disappointed while pessimists are always pleasantly surprised, and therefore remain very cautious (but still pleasantly surprised!).
While I get your point, that allows for the endless goalpost-moving that Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid have indulged in. The definition of "failure" keeps changing, and I'm tired of it. Their most recent definition of failure was "No legislation." Well, we have legislation. Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid can now admit that the surge was a success, or be revealed as partisan liars. Yes, liars.
She cares nothing about success or failure in Iraq except to the extent it can be used to harm Bush and by extension help her and her party.
If a great nation arises or if Iraq sinks into massacre; neither really matters to her.
anyone who doesn't acknowledge the progress is a partisan shill, absolutely. goalpost moving is also abhorrent. but it's also worth noting that i've been reading a lot of reports both from totten, ardolino, and others that are basically giving Iraq even odds. Those are definitely odds I'll take, but it does mean that wherever the goalpost is with respect to where we are right now, I don't think even by original metrics that we've quite reached the goal line. The problem I see with Pelosi and others is that the goal line they've set is fuzzy. I don't know if it was legislation, but rather "political reconciliation." what does that mean? when do we know when it's been achieved? that would be my issue.
But I think we're agreeing with each other on the larger point which is that wherever we are on the field, we are moving in the right direction and that's really the end of the story. As long as you're getting first downs you shouldn't change the game-plan.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.