Common sense on the war

From The New York Times:

Americans trust military commanders far more than the Bush administration or Congress to bring the war in Iraq to a successful end, and while most favor a withdrawal of American troops beginning next year, they suggested they were open to doing so at a measured pace, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

On the eve of what is sure to be a contentious debate on Iraq, the results underscored the benefits to the White House of entrusting the top American commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, to make the case that an increase in American forces this year had been successful enough to continue into next year.

Today, General Petraeus will appear on Capitol Hill along with the American ambassador to Iraq, Ryan C. Crocker, in what has become the most anticipated testimony from a military commander in decades.

The Democrat Party is driven by polls so let's hope they listen to the American people and follow Gen. Petraeus' advice:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 — The top American commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, has recommended that decisions on the contentious issue of reducing the main body of the American troops in Iraq be put off for six months, American officials said Sunday.

General Petraeus, whose long-awaited testimony before Congress will begin Monday, has informed President Bush that troop cuts may begin in mid-December, with the withdrawal of one of the 20 American combat brigades in Iraq, about 4,000 troops. By August, the American force in Iraq would be down to 15 combat brigades, the force level before Mr. Bush’s troop reinforcement plan.

The precise timing of such reductions, which would leave about 130,000 troops in Iraq, could vary, depending on conditions in the country. But the general has also said that it is too soon to present recommendations on reducing American forces below that level because the situation in Iraq is in flux. He has suggested that he wait until March to outline proposals on that question.

And then there's this:

Iraq's embattled Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki gave an upbeat assessment of the situation in the war-ravaged country on Monday, saying civil war had been prevented and boasting that violence had dropped 75 percent in the restive provinces of Baghdad and Anbar.
Maliki's assessment comes just hours before the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, testifies before the US Congress where he is expected to plead for more time to pacify the nation.

"We have succeeded in preventing Iraq from sliding into a civil war in spite of all the destabilising actions by local and international groups," Maliki told parliament.

He said violence levels in Baghdad and the western province of Anbar had dropped 75 percent since the US-led troop "surge" was launched in February.

Maliki also said that more than 14,000 fighters linked to Al-Qaeda have turned against violence and joined the Iraqi armed forces.

"The number of fighters from armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda who have joined the Iraqi security services now totals 14,128," said Maliki.

Things are very much moving in the right direction. Al Qaeda has lost the momentum and the population has turned against them. The only lifeline they have left is the Democrat Party in America.

It would be a great shame if the American Left were to take a nation which was emerging from decades of tyranny followed by years of warfare to join the civilized world and plunge them back into chaos and genocide - all to win a domestic US election. That has got to be the dictionary definition of evil