Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinTheOmnivore
Would you even believe any positive feedback on Iraq? Since General Petraeus has taken over under the so-called surge, there has been some substantive change. Baghdad has been brought under control exponentially, and places such as Anbar have made a remarkably quick turnaround.
Would any good news sway you? My guess is no, and my guess is that your opinion is a political one that's already decided.
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Would I believe any positive news on Iraq? Of course. Whether that news is just a blip in the natural ebbs and flows of a generally intractable situation, or whether it reflects substantive moves towards long-term stability and recovery is another matter entirely. In the last four years, the overall trend has not been good. As derrida says, the increased presence has hardly stanched the number of attacks, and moreover, public opinion of the American presence there is dismal. Iraqis see the Americans as not helping at all, and the overwhelming majority want them to leave. I doubt that's going to change anytime soon.
And come on, is building a bunch of walls a serious long-term solution to the problem?
I'd like to see Iraq turn the corner, but I just don't think it's going to happen with us being there.