A Surge Of Optimism
There’s the usual hedging, but this is the most positive MSM piece I’ve seen in a long time, as you can see from the snippets below.
But recent substantial gains by the Iraqi army, flagging insurgent violence and civilians reclaiming a sense of confidence have produced expectations that are higher than at any time since 2003.
It’s increasingly reasonable to assume that Iraq’s security environment will continue to improve…
Even if recent events don’t portend a permanent change, nearly all the numbers the past few weeks suggest that Iraq’s center finally may be holding. Of most interest to Americans is the figure 19: the number of U.S. troops who died here in May….
Evidence of near normalcy is widespread.
…
“It’s a perfect storm of conditions on the ground right now,” says Michael Noonan , the managing director of the Program on National Security at the Foreign Policy Research Institute , who served as an Army Reservist captain in northern Iraq in 2006-07.
Read the whole thing.
Iraq isn’t Shangri-La by any means, but by virtually all measures it has improved since 2002 (GDP doubled, potable water access doubled, access to sewage systems doubled, electricity nearly doubled (albeit thanks mainly to private generation), ten times as many phones, one hundred times as many cell phones, internet access from nonexistent to widely available in cafes, thousands of free TV, radio, and newspaper, right of speech and assembly and to vote, freedom to purchase cars without paying exorbitant tariffs) and will continue to do so.
UPDATE: More good news here.
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7 comments
nbc news had a story tonight that was similarly upbeat. as you say, the metric isn’t shangri-la. it’s are things moving in the right direction. and for now, and for the past several weeks/months, they are and have been.
Exactly, the trends.
And let’s not forget another vital measure: since 2002, the number of murdering tyrants running the country and terrorizing the people has dropped precipitpously.
But… But….. I thought throwing 30 000 troops at a problem wouldn’t solve anything!!! (Obama, 2007)
First it was that we "had no plan." Then, when we got a new plan put together by Petreus, it was no better than the old plan which didn’t exist. Now, I suppose, we’re just getting lucky as the dastardly Sadr plots his next move.
The fact is that even in the darkest hours of this operation it was never a tenth as bad as was being portrayed. Now it’s so much better almost no one sane can doubt it.
Oh.. and dont you forget to give credit where credit is due!
If it weren’t for Iran, the progress seen in Iraq would have never materialized. Everyone please thank Iran for stoping their proxy war in Iraq with the US. (Nancy Pelosi, 2 weeks ago)
[…] IN IRAQ, a surge of optimism. […]
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