USA Today reports that “coalition forces have detained about 700 members of the Mahdi Army.” Many of its leaders are in hiding or have been arrested. In fact, General Petraeus said that “Iraqi government officials are negotiating with al-Sadr’s political organization in an effort to disband the militia”. 16,000 suspected insurgents are now being held in total.
‘Captain’ Ed Morrissey concludes: “Petraeus appears to be on the right track and gathering momentum. Congress represents the only real long-term obstacle to success.”
I cannot agree: USA Today makes clear that “top-ranking and rank-and-file militia members” have been arrested “during operations over the past several months, not since the start of the surge (at least: that’s how I’m reading it…). Thus when people proclaim that this is definite proof that the surge is working… their logic seems to be a bit flawed.
The news is – of course – good, even great, but that doesn’t automatically mean that the battle will be won as long as Congress doesn’t give up. Winning one battle doesn’t automatically result in winning a war.
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