Stop the presses: the world's leading wire service declared on July 26, 2008, that America is now winning the war in Iraq.
Think I'm kidding?
Well, prepare yourself for an alternate reality, for the "defeat" and "slipping into civil war" Iraq coverage the past three years took an interesting turn Saturday when the Associated Press published an article amazingly entitled, "Analysis: US Now Winning Iraq War That Seemed Lost" (emphasis added, h/t NBer DaBird):
The United States is now winning the war that two years ago seemed lost.
Limited, sometimes sharp fighting and periodic terrorist bombings in Iraq are likely to continue, possibly for years. But the Iraqi government and the U.S. now are able to shift focus from mainly combat to mainly building the fragile beginnings of peace — a transition that many found almost unthinkable as recently as one year ago.
Despite the occasional bursts of violence, Iraq has reached the point where the insurgents, who once controlled whole cities, no longer have the clout to threaten the viability of the central government. [...]
This amounts to more than a lull in the violence. It reflects a fundamental shift in the outlook for the Sunni minority, which held power under Saddam Hussein. They launched the insurgency five years ago. They now are either sidelined or have switched sides to cooperate with the Americans in return for money and political support. [...]
Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, told the AP on Thursday that the insurgency as a whole has withered to the point where it is no longer a threat to Iraq's future. [...]
Shiite militias, notably the Mahdi Army of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, have lost their power bases in Baghdad, Basra and other major cities. An important step was the routing of Shiite extremists in the Sadr City slums of eastern Baghdad this spring — now a quiet though not fully secure district.
Al-Sadr and top lieutenants are now in Iran. Still talking of a comeback, they are facing major obstacles, including a loss of support among a Shiite population weary of war and no longer as terrified of Sunni extremists as they were two years ago. [...]
Beyond that, there is something in the air in Iraq this summer.
In Baghdad, parks are filled every weekend with families playing and picnicking with their children. That was unthinkable only a year ago, when the first, barely visible signs of a turnaround emerged.
Shouldn't this make any member of Congress that voted against the surge -- including any still running for president -- look awfully foolish?
Maybe more important, will the rest of the anti-war press start recognizing what has been obvious for months, and jump off the defeat bandwagon into the victory march?
Stay tuned.
*****Update: Forgive my foolishness, for more important than ANYTHING related to this story is that our troops in Iraq are increasingly less and less in harm's way, including my two nephews that are there.
Godspeed to America's finest that have dutifully and selflessly represented our nation despite the lack of support they deserved from the left and the media. And may this lead to a safer world for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Holy Schnikies
July 26, 2008 - 14:55 ET by socal4patrickWhat next ? Global warming, a complete hoax? What is this world coming to ?
"If you want to save the world you must be willing to make others sacrifice" ....Dogbert the green consultant
HEY! ----------------
July 26, 2008 - 20:29 ET by SchnikeysHEY!
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"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"
Someone Call Harry Reid.....Lets Make HIS Day...
July 26, 2008 - 15:09 ET by JayTeeHello harry,, yeah....You were WRONG about the Iraq War, and you're WRONG about DRILLING....yes, I'm sure your apology will NOT be accepted....one more thing, Harry... Grab your Ankles, America wants to DRILL !!
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
It's nothing short of a
July 26, 2008 - 15:35 ET by JerryIt's nothing short of a miracle. After one visit, Barrack has turned the whole thing around. Just think what he could do in 10 years. Bin Laden will probably surrender just to be nearer to the annointed one.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Can you imagine what
July 26, 2008 - 15:39 ET by ConservativeRexCan you imagine what shape our country would be in today if these very same reporters of today had to report on WWII? Talk about shivers up you leg Matthews, thinking about that ought to do it.
We had Ernie Pyle, a regular soldier, he didn't have to imbeded, he was there every step of the way. Sure these reporters held back some information from the US public. They weighed the impact on morale at home, and the importance of releasing something that put the US in a bad light or reflect badly on our policies. The President knew it, hell FDR encouraged it. There are just some things involved in war that we DO NOT need to know. Since Watergate the American public thinks it is entitled to know every little step our government makes while at war. I disagree.
Expect a "correction" to be
July 26, 2008 - 15:42 ET by gopsteveExpect a "correction" to be released soon by the AP retracting this story!!
>>>Expect a "correction" to
July 26, 2008 - 16:24 ET by seanrobins>>>Expect a "correction" to be released soon by the AP retracting this story!!
Well, since I've never SEEN an AP correction, I won't speculate. But if it is anything like the ones we've seen from Reuters - the only correction will be to pull the story, and pretend it never existed.
sean robins
blog.seanrobins.com
Exactly what I was
July 26, 2008 - 21:22 ET by Prez RudyExactly what I was thinking..An "analysis" can be corrected or changed completely...I give them a week or so for the AP to "update" this story.
"...white man's greed runs a world in need." Barack Obama
It always happens when you
July 26, 2008 - 16:16 ET by stratmanIt always happens when you least expect it:
Never fear, there is a master plan. All this will be spun to Obama's benefit.
RRAM Tough!
The problem with liberals is
July 26, 2008 - 16:20 ET by mostlymoderateThe problem with liberals is that they don't understand risk or the concept of hard-work. Doesn't everything in life seem like an impossibility in the beginning? Don't we all fear failure when we embark on new encounters? Well, I don't think war is any different. Unfortunately, the people that envisioned success in Iraq have been lambasted throughout the whole endeavor by pessimistic liberals that had their own agendas.
So, will the putative
July 26, 2008 - 16:22 ET by seanrobinsSo, will the putative Democrat presidential nominee, Barack Hussein Obama continue to assert that the surge is a failure, that it should never have been tried?
Will Harry Reid continue to assert that the War in Iraq is lost?
Is there an elected official on the Democrat pursuasion (other than Joe Lieberman) who will say anything positive about what the U.S. has accomplished in Iraq?
Will Chuck Shumer? Will Nancy Pelosi? Will John F. Kerry?
Will BHO?
sean robins
blog.seanrobins.com
NO, not until they can spin
July 26, 2008 - 20:04 ET by general companyNO, not until they can spin it so they are the reason, sad to say, that day will come.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Hey, AP.....
July 26, 2008 - 16:25 ET by TDVHey, AP..... that's old news you guys. Thanks for telling us what we already new. BTW, it "seemed lost" to you, but you were wrong: US Armed Forces are the best in the world, and don't lose. Here are other things that you're wrong about: global warming, Bush is stupid and Barack is smart.
But
July 26, 2008 - 16:32 ET by serfer62Who got the credit? Iran as Speaker Polosi claims.
The Iraqis? As OHbama claims.
Maybe the french & germans?
Who did it???
Hey John Murrrrr-thaaaaa
July 26, 2008 - 17:04 ET by AgentAmericanJohnny Murthaaaaa...Come out and play-yay!
on behalf of Lt. Col. Chessani and his men, you pig.
Drill ANWAR
Awwwwesome!
July 26, 2008 - 20:46 ET by Roger the ShrubberAwwwwesome!
Murtha can't even come to
July 26, 2008 - 21:37 ET by GregEMurtha can't even come to the podium and apologize for convicting the Haditha Marines of killing innocent people - the Marines that were recently exonerated. Surely he could be a stand up guy and apologize just as vigorously as he convicted them. And he being a former Marine himself makes it all the more disgusting.
Next Weeks Headline
July 26, 2008 - 17:41 ET by forest"Analysis: US Now Winning Iraq War That Seemed Lost, Thanks to Obama's Withdrawal Plan and Saudi Payoffs to Local Sheiks"
Yeah, you are right, the
July 27, 2008 - 09:35 ET by BDYeah, you are right, the left will claim that it was Obama's impedning victory that caused victory.
Just like the GLobal warming myth, after it is discovered that we are NOT warming, it will be determined that some minor little thing the liberals did will have been the cause.
We have seen thisw pattern before with the Ozone hole.
Surge that Obama said failed
July 26, 2008 - 18:25 ET by TjexciteJohn McCain's Radio address points out Obama wants a "surge" that he still says fail in Iraq to go and solve the problems in Afghanistan. How does that logic work.
Only the human superiority complex can think it can control something as big as the weather. It was changing before we came and will change after we are all gone.
I certainly welcome this
July 26, 2008 - 18:52 ET by SMGalbraithI certainly welcome this news but, once again, we see the AP allowing their reporters to give their opinions.
This is an analytical piece written by two of their hard news reporters. Major ones, at that.
Keep the reporters on the reporting beat and the analysts on the analytical beat.
But stop mixing them.
USA Today silent ...
July 26, 2008 - 18:58 ET by Kevin HalpernIf this AP analysis were about the U.S. losing the war, you can bet it would be the lead story on USA Today right now with 1,000s of I-TOLD-YOU-SO comments from the America haters. However, I can't find it posted anywhere.
Let's just say this much:
July 26, 2008 - 20:48 ET by SchnikeysLet's just say this much: given the AP's history of putting out left-tilting articles and the fact that a presidential election is going on, I wouldn't be too quick to take this as a genuine token of non-politically-motivated support for Bush's hard work and/or support for our troops over there.
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"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"
This is a postive
July 26, 2008 - 20:31 ET by lotrThis is a postive development (the AP abandoning their anti-Iraq-posture -- I already knew our troops are doing well over there) -- very glad to hear it.
Coming soon
July 26, 2008 - 21:02 ET by cocodriePrepare to see it on Chrissy Matthews - The Arabs [can't call them musilms, that's politically incorrect] - decided to quit because Barack Hussein was coming. Iran brokered the peace in fear of Pelosi. The pied piper from Chicago did not visit wounded Americans because he didn't want his athletic prowess to embarass them,
NS: Shouldn't this make any
July 26, 2008 - 21:12 ET by GregENS: Shouldn't this make any member of Congress that voted against the surge
-- including any still running for president -- look awfully foolish?
Absolutely should, and if the mainstream media was doing their job, it would. It's a freakin shame that those who voted against the surge (and WORSE, those who then only weeks into it stood at a podium and said "the surge has failed"...(Harry Reid)) are not the topic of more frequent discussion of that vote and that rhetoric that followed.
Unnecessary to say, but we all know that if the Democrats had voted for something that worked and Republicans had voted against it and poo-poo'ed it like Reid did only several weeks into it, only to have it be a great success, the media wouldn't let us hear the end of it.
I'm as disgusted with American MSM. They think "Freedom of the Press" means freedom to be a megaphone of positive spin for liberal candidates and causes
They nearly peed in their pants to get negative Iraq news on the air for over 4 years, then as things take a drastic turn for the better, they can't bar the pressroom door fast enough so as not to let any of that information get to the American people. Only when it's overwhelming do they feel they have to report it. Winning isn't good enough for them to report. No, the winning has to be absoluely drastic before they are then forced to report it to at least appear to have an inkling of objectivity and fairness.
Greg
July 26, 2008 - 21:27 ET by Noel SheppardGreg,
Isn't it astounding that in America today, the only Party members required to explain BAD votes are Republicans? If we had CLOSE to an impartial media, EVERY member of Congress that voted against the surge would be REQUIRED to defend his/her position -- including but certainly not limited to the current Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader.
The very MOMENT AP came to this conclusion -- and assuming other media outlets will follow -- the Democrat leadership that opposed the surge would ALL be held to account. ALL OF THEM!
That they're not is INDEED another American tragedy!!! ns
"Seemed" Is the Operative Word
July 26, 2008 - 21:21 ET by EricTheRedUh, AP folks? It seemed lost because you hoped the U.S. would lose and because the Dems you support wanted the U.S. to lose. The war only seemed lost in the twisted minds of the Left. Period.
http://VocalMinority.typepad.com
Jewish and Republican?? Oy gevalt
Old T.V. reference
July 26, 2008 - 21:43 ET by Kirk HallOh....oh....(grabs chest) Elizabeth, I'm comin to join ya...
And an interviewer should
July 26, 2008 - 21:47 ET by GregEAnd an interviewer should point to this as a source and then ask Obama directly...
"Senator Obama, is America now winning the war in Iraq?"
Then watch him dance. His answer cannot be "Yes" because to say that and then say let's pull out the troops would sound moronic. His answer would be 3-4 paragraphs, minimum, in order to try and make a justifiable case for not saying "Yes, America is winning." He doesn't want America to win, and he doesn't see when America is winning. He cares nothing about it, while attempting with vigor to appear to care immensely. Senator Obama cares about Senator Obama.
Dear MSM, ask Senator Obama that question, plainly and simply.
"YES, America is winning!
July 27, 2008 - 09:11 ET by gordonand thats why we can pull our troops out tomorrow! I was right all along! My campaign message to pull our troops scared the Iraqis into cleaning up the terrorists and making Iraq a better place." I'm against the surge but I'm for threatening to surge! Now it's on to Afghanistan!
This military victory, credit for which should be given to the military, McCain, and George Bush, will be spun as soon as the MSM can figure out how to do it. Until then, the story will be ignored.
This is going to be a common
July 27, 2008 - 02:37 ET by MrSnugglesThis is going to be a common theme in the media in the upcoming months, but they will not ever, not once give credit where credit is due. They will avoid at all costs even mentioning President Bush when they mention success in Iraq and will do everything they can to use it in Obama's favor.