Comments on: Iraq & Petraeus’s September Surprise

By: jdledell

jdledell — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 01:43:52 +0000

I would hope that Congress DEMANDS the day by day numbers that the Report uses to support it’s conclusions. This would means dates, numbers, locations of every single “fact:” so everything can be double checked. If Patreaus’s report were an academic paper or even a corporate strategy analysis, every single “fact” would have to be supplied so peer review was possible.

Iraq and our onging strategy there is far, far too important to this nation to allow any “spin” . Thus it should be analyized as if our life depended on it, because lives are truly at risk.

By: Ashen Shard

Ashen Shard — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:41:18 +0000

Our military is not a police force, especially for other countries. It cannot do the job that is necessary, especially since a large majority cannot communicate in the language of those they are policing. In the end this is just exacerbating the problems.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:06:46 +0000

If 20-30 people were found dead in the streets of Chapel Hill each day, I’d say they’d probably need a new police department or more police. But the citizens should be the ones asking for or demanding those changes.

Our military in Iraq has not been particularly effective at stemming the violence nor is its presence welcomed by the local population (with the exception of the Kurds in the north). And don’t forget that our presence has also created violence on it’s own, not to mention the influx of American weapons.

What gives us the right to stay there under those circumstances?

By: Jason Steck

Jason Steck — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:21:27 +0000

It bears repeating that the murders and robberies that the supporters of the Chapel Hill police department are using as a reason to fund that department are already going on. If the police can’t stop those robberies and murders, why should we still fund the police department?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:15:18 +0000

Interesting and sad point George.

It bears repeating that the potential genocide that the pro-war types are using as a reason to stay in Iraq has already been going on. If our troops can’t stop it, why should they stay?

By: George Sorwell

George Sorwell — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:56:11 +0000

Well, I have no idea why part of that is bolded, but the part that’s bolded isn’t what I’d emphasize. What I’d emphasize is this:

Some military officers believe that it may be an indication that ethnic cleansing has been completed in many neighborhoods and that there arenâ€™t as many people to kill.

By: George Sorwell

George Sorwell — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:52:09 +0000

How to separate fact from fiction is always the question. Beneath every interpretation is actual data. If you can find it. If there is any actual data. Maybe all you get is interpretation. I read a report from McClatchy this morning about the difficulty in finding data. Here's a quote from near the end:

One bright spot has been the reduction in the number of bodies found on the streets, considered a sign of sectarian violence. That number was 44 percent lower in July, compared to December. In July, the average body count per day was 18.6, compared with 33.2 in December, two months before the surge. But the reason for that decline isn't clear. Some military officers believe that it may be an indication that ethnic cleansing has been completed in many neighborhoods and that there arenâ€™t as many people to kill. One officer noted that U.S. officials believe Baghdad once had a population that was 65 percent Sunni. The current U.S. estimate is that Shiites now make up 75 percent to 80 percent of the city.