[...] until this election year. There were many cases of Obama supporters doing just this. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]… The number of McCain supporters that were called racist before the [...]

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[...] own daughter experienced abuse by Obama bullies. One student suggested that she be put up on a cross for her political [...]

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[...] War critics often say success and victory has never been defined. It’s been defined repeatedly; but not as often as [...]

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Success in Iraq has never been difined and could not be difined by either Bushy or McCain.

I have heard success defined numerous times, since those on your side continually say it isn’t.

“Success will be when al Qaeda no longer has safe haven in Iraq and Iraqis can protect themselves. Success will be when Iraq can support itself economically. Success will be when Iraq is a democracy that can govern itself effectively in response to the will of its people. Success will be when Iraq is a strong and capable ally in the war on terror.”
-President Bush, May 22, 2008 Addressing soldiers at Ft. Bragg

Many people ask, how should we define success? Success in Iraq and Afghanistan is the establishment of peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic states that pose no threat to neighbors and contribute to the defeat of terrorists. It is the triumph of religious tolerance over violent radicalism.
-John McCain

Still too vague for you, without meeting artificial benchmarks? We’ve met how many now? 15 or 16? (More than today’s Congress has accomplished) Takes time, patience, and a show of resolve and commitment. Success is happening, one step at a time….

Do you not think we are currently on the correct path? That we’re trending in the right direction?

National Strategy for Victory in Iraq

Executive Summary

OUR NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR VICTORY IN IRAQ:
Helping the Iraqi People Defeat the Terrorists and Build an Inclusive Democratic State

• Victory in Iraq is Defined in Stages
  • Short term, Iraq is making steady progress in fighting terrorists, meeting political milestones, building democratic institutions, and standing up security forces.
  • Medium term, Iraq is in the lead defeating terrorists and providing its own security, with a fully constitutional government in place, and on its way to achieving its economic potential.
  • Longer term, Iraq is peaceful, united, stable, and secure, well integrated into the international community, and a full partner in the global war on terrorism.

• Victory in Iraq is a Vital U.S. Interest
  • Iraq is the central front in the global war on terror. Failure in Iraq will embolden terrorists and expand their reach; success in Iraq will deal them a decisive and crippling blow.
  • The fate of the greater Middle East — which will have a profound and lasting impact on American security — hangs in the balance.

• Failure is Not an Option
  • Iraq would become a safe haven from which terrorists could plan attacks against America, American interests abroad, and our allies.
  • Middle East reformers would never again fully trust American assurances of support for democracy and human rights in the region — a historic opportunity lost.
  • The resultant tribal and sectarian chaos would have major consequences for American security and interests in the region.

• The Enemy Is Diffuse and Sophisticated
  • The enemy is a combination of rejectionists, Saddamists, and terrorists affiliated with or inspired by Al Qaida. Distinct but integrated strategies are required to defeat each element.
  • Each element shares a common short-term objective — to intimidate, terrorize, and tear down — but has separate and incompatible long-term goals.
  • Exploiting these differences within the enemy is a key element of our strategy.

• Our Strategy for Victory is Clear
  • We will help the Iraqi people build a new Iraq with a constitutional, representative government that respects civil rights and has security forces sufficient to maintain domestic order and keep Iraq from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. To achieve this end, we are pursuing an integrated strategy along three broad tracks, which together incorporate the efforts of the Iraqi government, the Coalition, cooperative countries in the region, the international community, and the United Nations.

• The Political Track involves working to forge a broadly supported national compact for democratic governance by helping the Iraqi government:
  • Isolate enemy elements from those who can be won over to the political process by countering false propaganda and demonstrating to all Iraqis that they have a stake in a democratic Iraq;
  • Engage those outside the political process and invite in those willing to turn away from violence through ever-expanding avenues of participation; and
  • Build stable, pluralistic, and effective national institutions that can protect the interests of all Iraqis, and facilitate Iraq’s full integration into the international community.

• The Security Track involves carrying out a campaign to defeat the terrorists and neutralize the insurgency, developing Iraqi security forces, and helping the Iraqi government:
  • Clear areas of enemy control by remaining on the offensive, killing and capturing enemy fighters and denying them safe-haven;
  • Hold areas freed from enemy influence by ensuring that they remain under the control of the Iraqi government with an adequate Iraqi security force presence; and
  • Build Iraqi Security Forces and the capacity of local institutions to deliver services, advance the rule of law, and nurture civil society.

• The Economic Track involves setting the foundation for a sound and self-sustaining economy by helping the Iraqi government:
  • Restore Iraq’s infrastructure to meet increasing demand and the needs of a growing economy;
  • Reform Iraq’s economy, which in the past has been shaped by war, dictatorship, and sanctions, so that it can be self-sustaining in the future; and
  • Build the capacity of Iraqi institutions to maintain infrastructure, rejoin the international economic community, and improve the general welfare of all Iraqis.

• This Strategy is Integrated and its Elements are Mutually Reinforcing
  • Progress in each of the political, security, and economic tracks reinforces progress in the other tracks.
  • For instance, as the political process has moved forward, terrorists have become more isolated, leading to more intelligence on security threats from Iraqi citizens, which has led to better security in previously violent areas, a more stable infrastructure, the prospect of economic progress, and expanding political participation.

• Victory Will Take Time
  • Our strategy is working: Much has been accomplished in Iraq, including the removal of Saddam’s tyranny, negotiation of an interim constitution, restoration of full sovereignty, holding of free national elections, formation of an elected government, drafting of a permanent constitution, ratification of that constitution, introduction of a sound currency, gradual restoration of neglected infrastructure, the ongoing training and equipping of Iraqi security forces, and the increasing capability of those forces to take on the terrorists and secure their nation.
  • Yet many challenges remain: Iraq is overcoming decades of a vicious tyranny, where governmental authority stemmed solely from fear, terror, and brutality.
    • It is not realistic to expect a fully functioning democracy, able to defeat its enemies and peacefully reconcile generational grievances, to be in place less than three years after Saddam was finally removed from power.
  • Our comprehensive strategy will help Iraqis overcome remaining challenges, but defeating the multi-headed enemy in Iraq — and ensuring that it cannot threaten Iraq’s democratic gains once we leave — requires persistent effort across many fronts.

• Our Victory Strategy Is (and Must Be) Conditions Based
  • With resolve, victory will be achieved, although not by a date certain.
    • No war has ever been won on a timetable and neither will this one.
  • But lack of a timetable does not mean our posture in Iraq (both military and civilian) will remain static over time. As conditions change, our posture will change.
    • We expect, but cannot guarantee, that our force posture will change over the next year, as the political process advances and Iraqi security forces grow and gain experience.
    • While our military presence may become less visible, it will remain lethal and decisive, able to confront the enemy wherever it may organize.
    • Our mission in Iraq is to win the war. Our troops will return home when that mission is complete.

every one on the right belives as McCain said: we must leave under the vail of success, What the heck is that, Please tell me so I can support your train of thought.

The veil- or perception- of success is critical. Just look here:

The leader of a jihadi group in Iraq argued Friday that the election of Barack Obama as president represented a victory for radical Islamic groups that had battled American forces since the invasion of Iraq.

The statement, which experts said was part of the psychological duel with the United States, was included in a 25-minute audiotaped speech by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organization that claims ties to Al Qaeda.

bin Laden propagandized a Soviet defeat at the Lion’s Den and used it as a recruiting tool for jihadis. The perception or actualization of a hasty American withdrawal on their terms and not ours, would signal that America has once again proved itself a paper tiger with no will to sustain the losses it takes to win wars.

Same thing with Vietnam and Somalia. It’s the perception of defeat that emboldens our enemies.

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ras, 2yrs ago the Dem base-and many Democrats-DEMANDED an immediate, unconditional retreat from Iraq. Now Pres-elect Obama has said he’ll keep US forces in there for another 16 months or more if needed. Do you really think we’ll see the same kind of demands from a Democratic Congress to make an immediate, unconditional retreat, or even demand a firm timeline? Do you think opposition to the war is still there so as to make the Democrats’ Congress make another series of non-binding resolutions against the war? I don’t. I think most people don’t like the war, but most people prefer success (ie, leaving in such a way so as to not need to invade a 3rd time), and right now…most people DO see Iraq as a success, and are not opposed to an open-ended occupation if it garners that success.

I mean, truly…do you think there’ll be as much protesting against the war in Iraq in 2009 as there was against it in 2007? I don’t. I think that protesting was mostly against Pres Bush, and done mostly by Democrats.

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Killed opposition in Iraq? What the heck are you talking about? Whose opposition? AS far as I know the US continues to be in favor of getting out of there. The opposition to the war continues to be the majority. Success in Iraq has never been difined and could not be difined by either Bushy or McCain. Iraq was indeed overthrown by us, we killed Saddam, we are rebuilding the country and not asking Iraq to help out. Now at what point do you define success. Scott I would really appreciate hearing the answer if by some chance you have heard if defined by someone of authoriy. Please let me know as I would then consider that information into my opinion. That is the issue, every one on the right belives as McCain said: we must leave under the vail of success, What the heck is that, Please tell me so I can support your train of thought. If you have no definition of such try using mine it makes a lot of sense and Obama surely agrees with this.

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Thanks ras
Foreign policy is my issue, and I’m happy to see that Pres-Elect Obama has in fact done one thing already: he’s killed opposition to success in Iraq.

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Scott, it is a good first step in asserting you look forward to Obama’s administration. I agree, it will be highly scrutinized for the many apparent reasons and I fully believe he will surprise the nation with a wonderfully positive admin. Yes McCain said transparency a lot but I once was his strongest supporter ten years ago and looked to him to run independently so I could cast my vote for him and not Bush. However the McCain that showed up this time was a different one with too many flip flops on issues that concerned me. He was the real thing that Kerry was accused of. However, Obama caught my eye and I have read extensively about him. I cast my vote for him with hope that the nation will come back around to accepting all who live in this country. It appears we arrived at the point under Bush where we were forced to live by the rules of the right and the influence of the left was looked upon as extreme. I indeed welcome the change and hope you will see change we speak of. At least you have an open ear to him

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ras, this is completely false. Sen McCain pushed for transparency as much or more (recall his pledge to veto any bill that had pork in it and to identify those who were putting in bs spending anonymously; a pledge Congressional Dems made in 06 as well then broke). If Sen Obama will tell Americans the hard truths of the world, I submit that Pres Bush has done that and been labeled a fearmonger. I truly look forward to Pres Obama’s admin, and I do so with a sadistic glee.

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I recently joined this blog just to hear what is out there and Scott, this one takes a large cake. I aked if this person actually believes Obama supporters did that or perhaps a small group of idiots with misguided behavior. It almost sounded like it was directed at the Obama supporters in general but that is obviously not the case as we are mature adults here. I can see that in many of the participants.
Look, we are a great nation and shall strive to remains so. Please do not forget that our two party system is what brought us here and too actually prefer a one party rule hence forth may backfire. We should change horses every eight to twelve years keeping our core in place.

Obama was sincere in his mission and that purpose got him elected. People felt it was time to trust once again. Recall this is the only candidate that asserted openeness in administration. He will tell the people the hard truth and not play the game for some one sided approval.

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