Obama: Surge Succeeded Beyond ‘Wildest Dreams’

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That Iraq is now enjoying greater internal security doesn't validate the initial decision to go to war. Nor does it validate the foreign policy decision-making behind unilateral action.

So as far as the future goes - this precendent does have significant implications for the future. On the plus side of course - we can take some comfort in the fact that regardless of who gets in in november the public are so sick of this war that the government will likely find that GWB has broken the war drum.

[rclouse 0]

We "won" Iraq? At what cost? How many hundreds of billions of dollars will my kids have to pay for Bush's war? How many men and women have come back home in a pine box? All to remove a tinpot dictator who had NOTHING to do with 9/11?

Yes, Barack was right to oppose the war from the beginning. For that alone he gets my vote.

[HAL 9000 96]

Its the continued confusion between attrition and purpose.

Any war can be 'won' as long as you plunder enough resources into its winning. That says nothing about its purpose.

[almaty 19]

the war in iraq is not won..there is a lull....we will see as usa starts withdrawing troops in mass..

the outcome..in the end, iraq wiill be an ally with iran///in that area, we lost big time

[GaryC 7]

the war in iraq is not won..there is a lull....we will see as usa starts withdrawing troops in mass..

the outcome..in the end, iraq wiill be an ally with iran///in that area, we lost big time

Our next president, McCain, will not let that happen.

[Peikko 1,575]

You place incredible faith in one man and his abilities. I think that is woefully misplaced. Without some kind of world wide consensus peace will not be easily won. The 'go it alone' strategy is horribly flawed.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah, and Bush accomplished an ally in Iraq. Riiight.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

the war in iraq is not won..there is a lull....we will see as usa starts withdrawing troops in mass..

the outcome..in the end, iraq wiill be an ally with iran///in that area, we lost big time

Our next president, McCain, will not let that happen.

With respect - that's a platitude. McCain can't move mountains ya know...

The big problem with Iraq is that Bush/Cheney fundamentally misunderstood the politics of that region. Iran benefits whatever the outcome in Iraq. At the end of the day - Iraq is more ideologically aligned to Iran than they are the US.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

the war in iraq is not won..there is a lull....we will see as usa starts withdrawing troops in mass..

the outcome..in the end, iraq wiill be an ally with iran///in that area, we lost big time

Our next president, McCain, will not let that happen.

So, if McCain becomes president, Iraq won't be a free nation but will have dictated what alliances they can and cannot have by the occupier. This approach would certainly reverse any success the surge ever had. If Iraq can't determine it's own destiny, then really, what exactly have we won? A colony with oil?