The "surge" is a success?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DanS
In any event (back to the subject at hand), we have been in the midst of an insurgency for several years now, but until earlier this year have not competently applied counter-insurgency military strategy and tactics. Can we agree on that?

No, I don't think we can. Simply because it's still not being competently done. Four months into the full surge, Iraqis are dying at twice the numbers they were last year, according to AP.

The average daily war-related death toll in 2007: 62. The average daily war-related death toll in 2006: 33.

War-related death toll so far in Iraq this year: 14,800. War-related death toll for all of 2006: 13,811.

The AP acknowledges that the United Nations and others have come up with higher death tolls for 2006; it says its numbers are "a minimum based on AP reporting," and that the actual numbers are "probably higher."

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/world/ny-wodead275348138aug27,0,2238688.story

[Apocalypse]

The more accurate numbers now just emphasize the control the US has over the country because of the surge.

[Ramo]

Where did Keane lie?

He was being misleading in the passage Will was referring to. See the bolded sentences. Boyda was calling him on it. It could be argued that she inarticulately presented her case or lost her temper or something along those lines, but by no means did she say what Will implied she did. It's clear as day from the context.

Well I do have to admit to still being interested as to how there would be a real great problem for thier to be reports of progress from Iraq as Clyburn opined

You're still being dishonest. Or you're incredibly dumb. The question was about what the situation if the Crocker-Petraeus report recommends against withdrawal (which it will). Clyburn responded accordingly.

[MRT144]

Originally posted by Arrian
Another good one:

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83062

Ah, the triumphalism!

-Arrian

what a bunch of dopes.

[Arrian]

The second thread (link in the final post of that thread) gets more interesting.

MtG:

12-04-2003 01:57 #27

Support Apolyton


Who's dancing today? I suppose the crewman of the M2 Bradley that ran over a command detonated mind danced a bit while becoming a crispy critter.

I suppose the Iraqi *******s who tripped that command detonated mine danced that they took out a US IFV and it's crew.

In Najaf they did a little tribal sword dance. Of course, the good news is they got rid of the mullah that was Saddam's boy. The bad news is they also got rid of the mullah that was our boy. Now it remains to be seen if who's left is their own boy, or is Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Khamanei getting down in Tehran?

Kids and old people are dying from lack of water, patients in hospitals are dying from lack of medical care, due to lack of supplies, and doctors and nurses afraid to leave their homes and families. Aaaah, it's good to be free. Free of Saddam, free to be killed by any ******* with a Kalashnikov. Free to try to figure out who's coming out on top of a hundred or more little power struggles. Free to no longer be extorted by Baath party members and their henchmen, and free to be extorted by former Baath party members and their henchmen.

And never forget, free to be occupied by a foreign military power.

For which he was ridiculed.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Here's a great, super accurate prediction by none other than the starter of this thread, DanS:

Why didn't the US forces in Baghdad stop looting and maintain order?

Because it isn't that important. Most of these looters appear to have been looking for a souvenir from a regime that they hated. No different than US soldiers taking a poster of Saddam as a memento of their time there.

Rummy is precisely right. Freedom also gives you the choice to do bad things. Most will settle into self-policing pretty soon and these problems will mostly go away. The Imams probably reminded everybody at Friday prayers that stealing is a bad thing to do.

It also appears that many are aimlessly wandering the capital looking for imprisoned or lost relatives and the like. Or they are curious about Hussein's palaces and just want to see how the bastard lived. Most are harmless and who would want to stop them from doing what they feel like doing anyway? Let them drink it in.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

****ing hilarious thread:

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83660

-Arrian

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Arrian
Here's a great, super accurate prediction by none other than the starter of this thread, DanS:



-Arrian

Wait?! If DanS can't predict the future teh economy is ****ed!

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Arrian
****ing hilarious thread:

http://www.apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83660

-Arrian

Teh Rummy lovers here at Poly. I bet Imran wishes you wouldn't have posted that thread.

I like Rummy too . He's smart, witty, and tells it like it is. Great guy .

[Arrian]

I actually did like the way Rummy said whatever he thought. That part is valid. The rest... not so much.

-Arrian

[MRT144]

Everyone liked that rummy said what was on his mind. we just didnt like what was on his mind.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by MRT144
Everyone liked that rummy said what was on his mind. we just didnt like what was on his mind.

QFT

Probably the last honest person in the administration when he left .

Actually, I still do like Rummy, and I think he seems far better when seen with hindsight and in the context of the rest of the administration.

[Arrian]

Rummy was honest, blunt, and also intelligent. He was also arrogant as hell and, here's the kicker, wrong. Very wrong. And his mistakes led in no small part to huge problems we will be dealing with for years.

Put it all together and I don't see much to admire.

-Arrian

[germanos]

surge?

It's a full bloody mess that needs a

war council

(clickable quote)

[DinoDoc]

You do know that article said nothing about what you implied, right?