I usually write on subjects that aren’t prominently, and better, handled by others. However, for Gateway Pundit regulars who expect Jim to keep them abreast of the latest, there’s quite a lot of commentary (see Memeorandum) about the op-ed column in today’s New York Times, “A War We Just Might Win.”
The authors, from center-left Brookings, have been critical of the war’s conduct. But, then, so have we all, often justly.
For example, the NYT’s op-ed says:
After the furnace-like heat, the first thing you notice when you land in Baghdad is the morale of our troops. In previous trips to Iraq we often found American troops angry and frustrated — many sensed they had the wrong strategy, were using the wrong tactics and were risking their lives in pursuit of an approach that could not work.
Today, morale is high. The soldiers and marines told us they feel that they now have a superb commander in Gen. David Petraeus; they are confident in his strategy, they see real results, and they feel now they have the numbers needed to make a real difference.
What’s really important is that their op-ed parallels the informed and first-hand judgment of everyone, except the Congressional Democrats and the New York Times’ editorials.
Their premature rush to abandon Iraq and, in effect, the MidEast to dangerous thugs is a disgrace that more Americans are recognizing, and should relegate them back to the opprobrium they earned last time they abandoned many millions in Southeast Asia to genocide and suffering.
Bruce Kesler