Democrat Proclamations Of Failure Are Refuted By Iraq Accomplishments
By Thomas D. Segel (12/02/05)
Harlingen, Texas, December 2, 2005: The Minneapolis Daily reporting yesterday on President Bush’s Iraq speech quoted Minnesota Democrat Representative Betty McCollum saying, “The president’s speech sounded like a plan for indefinite occupation of Iraq, not a strategy for our troops to be successful.”
The same day of the congresswoman’s remarks, Samantha Quigley, writing for the Armed Forces Press Service reported that with only two weeks remaining for the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to derail the democratic process in Iraq, he is facing repeated setbacks.
Major General Rick Lynch, Multinational Force spokesman, reports great progress in military operations. The general claims everything is an increasing struggle for the terrorist leader. The hotel bombings in Jordan caused a backlash against Zarqawi. He has been hampered by the fact coalition forces have taken away large amounts of his munitions. He has been denied safe havens across the country and he has been denied freedom of movement.
Zarqawi has lost 117 of his network leaders since the beginning of 2005. His executive secretary Abu Ubaydah was killed in October.
Still, a member of the Democrat elite, Senator Ted Kennedy claims the President is attempting “to put lipstick on his failed Iraq strategy.”
This strategy is so failed 214,000 Iraqi security forces are trained and equipped and the country has re-established control of its borders, military sources have told reporters. On November 30 the Iraqi Defense Minister declared the Iraq border with Syria at Husaybah sealed.
But, Senator John Kerry charged the Bush Iraq strategy was rehashed remains of a failed administration policy and reasserted, “The strategy for exit is, in fact, part of the strategy for success. They go hand in hand.”
On the war front coalition operations reduced car bomb explosions from 24 last week, to 11 during this seven-day period. Search operations have discovered and removed 301 weapons this past month and numerous munitions caches have been destroyed. One year ago there were 58 border forts. An additional 170 forts have expanded this number and it is expected there with be a total of 258 such forts by year’s end.
Unconvinced, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is quoted by The Washington Times as remarking, “I’m endorsing what Mr. Murtha is saying, which is that the status quo is not working and that we need to have a plan that makes us safer and our military stronger and makes Iraq more stable.”
However, what Pelosi sees as the status quo is changing by the day. On December 2 an all-Iraqi aircrew, members of the 23rd Iraqi Squadron, flew its first solo mission. New Al Muthana, the only Iraqi air base in the country, has been opened as the squadron’s home.
At the same time, without offering any plan from his own party, Democrat Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island argued, “The question is, what is the president’s plan to stabilize Iraq?”
This was said following a 17-day offensive in the cities of Husaybah, Karabilah and Ubaydi to prohibit al Qaeda in Iraq from operating in the Euphrates River Valley and throughout Anbar province. The operation conducted clearing missions in advance of a permanent Iraqi army security presence in the region. A total of 139 terrorists were killed and 256 captured.
But, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid insists the administration’s Iraq policy is adrift. “It is neither sustainable nor likely to lead to success”, he claims.
If the Iraq policy is floundering, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are not observing that situation. They see ordinary Iraqis as financially better off now than they have been at any time in the past two decades. Per capita income has doubled since 2003. Iraq’s gross domestic product is now twice that of Yemen and nearing that of Egypt and Syria. This is happening in a place where just three years ago anti-war protesters were claiming children were starving en masse.
At this moment more than 3,000 reconstruction projects are underway or completed. A $450,000 cultural center in Nasiriyah was build by the Italian government. The Greeks have built a new hospital in Kabul. Marshlands have been restored in southern Iraq. Appliances and luxuries fill stores and customers are actually purchasing them. Internet cafes, which under the former dictator would have warranted a death sentence, can now be found everywhere. Banks, restaurants and a wide variety of stores now stand where only a year ago there was nothing but abandoned buildings and empty lots.
Still, Senator Charles Schumer charges.” nobody sees a light at the end of the tunnel.”
It can be argued that the Bush administration has been inept at making its case on Iraq. That is a given, even by Republicans. However, there is little for which it should apologize. In Iraq there is political debate. Dissent is tolerated; compromises are made on a daily basis. Free elections have been held with far greater participation than we see in the United States.
While these things are taking place on the domestic and political front, 9903 terrorists have been recommended for continued internment and between 250 and 300 more terrorists are captured each month. 9,000 Iraqi’s are training to become soldiers and 10,000 more citizens are on the waiting list to receive military training. More than 20 American bases including Saddam Hussein’s 1,000-acre palace complex in Tikrit, have been returned to the Iraqi government. These are all things, which were planned and are clear examples of progress being made. This should be seen as progress by anyone who looks at the entire Iraq landscape. However, Democrat officials still see nothing but dark holes and failure.
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