Bush’s Strategy In Iraq Is Starting To Pay Off

by John Hawkins | March 21, 2006 9:10 am

You know, it’s funny. The media and Democrats have been running around like chickens with their heads cut off for years now telling everyone that all is lost in Iraq and it’s Bush’s fault.

We can’t win! Civil War is right around the corner! We’ve got to cut and run! Woe is us! Abandon all hope ye who enter Iraq!

Meanwhile, back in the real world[1] Bush’s strategy in Iraq is starting to pay off big time.

“Iraqi Army forces may be able to take over the more volatile regions of their country by the end of this year, as long as they have the equipment and logistical support they need, the top U.S. military commander said Monday.

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that by year’s end the Iraqi army will have recruited all of the units it needs, and the U.S. will have trained “a vast majority of their Army.”

“Right now the Iraqis have (control) over half of Baghdad, and Baghdad is a pretty tough neighborhood, so they’re certainly capable, regardless of the area, of being in control,” Pace said in an interview on a military aircraft en route to Pakistan. “It will be just a matter of time to see what makes sense.”

Pace’s comments expanded on assertions made late last week by Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the second-ranking U.S. commander in Iraq, who said the goal is to have Iraqi security forces in control of 75% of the country’s territory by the end of the summer.”

What you have to understand is that although we want to do as much damage to the insurgency as possible, it’s not necessary for American troops to destroy the insurgents. The goal is to build up the Iraqi military to the point where they’re capable of handling security and then the US will step into the background.

Once the Iraqis can take care of themselves, the game is over for the terrorists because you don’t win wars with suicide bombers and the insurgents will never be able to gain enough support in Iraq to build the sort of army they’d need to take over if they’re regularly targeting Iraqis. Sure, they can continue to murder people — for a time — but can they accomplish anything beyond that? Highly doubtful.

On the other hand, US causalities in Iraq have plunged in March[2] and within a few months, don’t be surprised if a lot of US troops head for home because they’re simply no longer needed in Iraq. By mid-to late 2007, the majority of US troops will probably be out of Iraq and the American casualty rate there will drop through the floor.

Invading Iraq was the right decision, Bush has handled the situation much better than most people give him credit for, and even as his opponents have claimed that he “has no plan,” his strategy is winning the day.