Not Anti-War, Anti-Civilization

• Senator and candidate Barack Obama proposes to advance by retreating, arguing that the "way America will lead is by bringing a responsible end to this war in Iraq."



• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (No Principles-NV) says the Iraq war is lost.



• Senator Reid claims Four-star General Petraeus agrees that the war cannot be won.



• No such Petraeus quote exists; in fact, the General cites "positive" results.



• What's positive? Says the WSJ:

  Between February and March sectarian violence declined by 26%, according to Gen. William Caldwell. Security in Baghdad has improved sufficiently to allow the government to shorten its nightly curfew.

• Both experts and troops in Iraq say the tide is turning and former "hot-spots" quieting:

  We are winning over here in Al Anbar province. I don't know about Baghdad, but Ramadi was considered THE hotspot in Al Anbar, the worse province, and it has been very quiet. The city is calm, the kids are playing in the streets, the local shops are open, the power is on at night, and daily commerce is the norm rather than the exception. There have been no complex attacks since March. That is HUGE progress. This quiet time is allowing the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police to establish themselves in the eyes of the people. The Iraqi people also want IA's and IP's in their areas. The Sunni Sheiks are behind us and giving us full support. This means that almost all Sunnis in Al Anbar are now committed to supporting the US and Iraqi forces. It also means that almost all insurgents left out here are AQ. FYI, the surge is just beginning. Gen Petraeus' strategy is just getting started and we're seeing huge gains here.

• Some hope; some dare say it-- we're winning.



• But, thinking the un-thinkable, what's the pathology of retreat?
  
  In northern Iraq:

  “What do you think is going to happen in Kirkuk if the United States withdraws from Iraq next year?” I said, wondering if the city would become much severe very quickly.
  
  “It will not be good,” [Iraqi General] Mam Rostam said. “Not for Iraq and especially not for Kirkuk."

  In Iran:

  Iran has issued more than a thousand warnings and arrested dozens in a new drive aimed at forcing women whose dress is deemed inappropriate to adhere to Islamic dress rules, officials said Sunday.

  In Afghanistan:

  “If America pulls out of Iraq, they will fail in Afghanistan,” Mam Rostam said.
  
  Hardly anyone in Congress seems to consider that the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan might become much more severe if similar tactics are proven effective in Iraq.
  
  “And they will fail with Iran,” he continued. “They will fail everywhere with all Eastern countries. The war between America and the terrorists will move from Iraq and Afghanistan to America itself.

  In Europe:

  Three Danish lawmakers, all members of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, have been reported to police for making remarks comparing Muslim women's headscarves with swastikas. . .
  
  Parliament member Soeren Krarup was cited in daily Politiken and other Danish media on April 18 as saying that Muslim women's headscarves, like Nazi Germany's swastikas, symbolized totalitarian repression. Fellow lawmaker Morten Messerschmidt and a party representative in the European Parliament, Mogens Camre, repeated Krarup's comments in Danish media today.
  
  "We're reporting them to police for violating racism laws on behalf of two Danes who have asked us to do so," [Line] Boegsted [spokeswomen for the Documentation and Advisory Center on Racial Discrimination, a Copenhagen-based non-governmental organization] said.

  In America:

  If one were against the U.S. effort in Iraq, , then one would do the following with the English language:
  
  Always use the passive voice: "Violence was unleashed", "Fifteen Iraqis were killed", "More casualties arise from spreading brutality"-anything other than naming an active agent that might suggest one culpable party—the -ex-Baathists and Muslim jihadists who blow up, shoot, gas, behead, and torture their enemies and innocents daily. . .
  
  Avoid the word "jihadist," and especially "murderer" or "terrorist."
  
  Prefer "militant," "gunman," or "insurgent" — any term that disconnects suicide murderers and jihadists from what they exist for (to kill).
  
  It is much worse, after all, for a Marine to kill a "gunman" or "militant" or an "insurgent" than a "terrorist" , "jihadist" or "murderer."

  In Oregon:

  During a recent protest in Portland, a U.S. soldier was burned in effigy, while other marchers carried signs reading "F**k the Troops," and "No Gods, No Country, No Masters."

  In Washington:

  Tonight, the House voted 218-208 to start withdrawing troops from Iraq on October 1st.

MORE:

As noted at the Corner, only last September, the Washington Post reported that "Anbar [is] beyond repair; . . . the United States has lost in Anbar."