First -- Democrats are now so heavily invested in defeat that they have come to see their Party's interest as directly counter to the nation's interest. That is a very dangerous situation for both the Party and the Nation.
Second -- [P]olitically, Iraq is coming alive again. A Shiite-led Iraqi democracy is taking root--an astonishing achievement given the concerted efforts of the Iraqi Sunnis, and the surrounding Sunni Arab states, to attack and delegitimize the new Iraq.
Third -- The improving situation in Iraq is directly due to decisions made by President Bush.
Not that long ago, many--perhaps most--Iraqis thought that the United States would soon abandon Iraq. President Bush's decision to back the surge has altered this perception, in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. The effect of this on Iraq's politics has been enormously beneficial. The retreat of Sadr, the growing Sunni tribal unease, if not outright conflict, with al Qaeda in Anbar, and the growing self-confidence of Maliki are all, in part, results of President Bush's decision.'Finally -- An emerging Iraqi democracy will not welcome the long term presence of large numbers of American troops in their country. Strengthening Iraq's democratic institutions will ultimately hasten American withdrawal; continued chaos prolongs our presence.
Read it here.
Gerecht notes that within the Shiite majority moderate leaders have begun to eclipse al Sadr's Mahdi forces. Meanwhile in the Sunni regions, there is this news from the Los Angeles Times:
RAMADI, IRAQ — A group of Sunni tribal leaders in beleaguered Al Anbar province said Thursday that it intended to form a national party to oppose insurgents such as Al Qaeda in Iraq and reengage with Iraq's political process.
The announcement came after 200 sheiks said to represent 50 tribes met here and agreed to form a provincial sheiks council and hold the first convention in May of their new party, called Iraq Awakening. Sheiks from three other provinces will attend, organizers said.
....
[C]ooperation from sheiks in Al Anbar in recent months had contributed to a rise in Iraqi police and army recruitment and a sharp reduction in insurgent attacks on U.S. troops and their Iraqi allies.
....
With the sheiks' encouragement, Al Anbar tribes have contributed thousands of recruits to Iraq's security forces in recent months, enabling U.S.-led troops to hold and pacify parts of the restive province.
The number of insurgent attacks in Ramadi and its outlying areas has fallen to a fraction of what it was a year ago, said U.S. Army Col. John Charlton, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, who is overall military commander in the Ramadi area.
Read it here.
Hmmm. In both the Sunni and Shiite areas moderates are gradually marginalizing the radical elements of the population.
Democrats keep saying that only a political solution can work in Iraq, but ignore the fact that the Bush administration has been diligently working toward that goal and when it seems to be emerging, the Democrats have nothing to say.
