WHY the surge isn't working. Or, is it???

[Ravy]

Statistics (if you believe them coming from this mis-administration) may show violence being down, but that doesn't mean squat.

The surge was to give a break in the violence so that the Iraq government could reach the compromises and generally get its act together. It hasn't.

Saying that the surge is working because violence is a bit down (if you believe that) is disingenuous.

If we had said that we would pay the Iraqis 500 billion in additional funds to get their act together, and we gave them the 500 billion but they didn't do anything in return, would we say that the plan worked?

When will the anti-war pundits stop using such inane defenses such as "Well, yeah, violence is down, but it is because of steps they put in BEFORE the surge" etc.

It is about measurements, and results. Conceding the measurement of "violence is down" as the principle goal of the surge puts the issue, and the measuring stick, in the hands of the republicans.

[baldguy]

1. And if we withdraw from Iraq an open civil war would break out.

What we have done to that country is a war crime.

[Loge23]

2. As we get closer to Nov '08....

it'll work even better.