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The Iraq war is won, even if congressional Democrats consistently fought against our efforts in the region.
If Rep. Jerry McNerney, Sen. Barack Obama and most congressional Democrats had had their way in early 2007, Iraq today would likely be fraught with civil war, riddled by genocide and probably a haven for al-Qaida terrorists.
Amazingly, Obama even has had the inhumanity to suggest that preventing genocide wasn’t a good enough reason to keep our troops in Iraq. In July, Obama said in a bizarre statement that even knowing that the surge has been a success — drastically reducing violence and giving Iraq a chance for a bright future — he still would have opposed the surge.
In 2006, Obama told Americans that "Democracy is just a dream for Iraq, and the surge will not work."
McNerney, Obama and other Democrats opposed the surge, opposed victory, opposed giving help to the Iraqi people and opposed preventing Iraq from becoming a haven for al-Qaida terrorists.
Thankfully, President Bush, Sen. John McCain and our military saw a different course — victory for Iraq and America, and defeat for the terrorists.
On Feb. 16, 2007, as our troops headed to battle in Iraq, McNerney was back home in Washington, D.C., voting to undermine their efforts, publicly disapproving of the surge.
On five separate occasions, McNerney voted to withdraw our troops from Iraq, regardless of whether there was progress and despite whether the move would lead to regional chaos and instability.
Even this summer, as victory in Iraq had started to appear, McNerney and Obama were unable to face reality. In a June 1 editorial, the liberal Washington Post — with a headline of "Don’t look now, but the U.S.-backed government and army may be winning the war" — warned Obama to develop a plan for success in Iraq. The Post also should have warned McNerney.
Eighteen days later, McNerney voted to deny our troops in the field weapons and ammunition; combat vehicles, including armored vehicles for force protection; and defense health programs, particularly for psychological health and traumatic brain injury.
Every day, as victory rears its head, McNerney, Obama and most Democrats look more foolish and out of touch as they continue to deny the effectiveness of the surge and the success of our soldiers.
Michael Yon, who has spent more time in Iraq than any other reporter and is probably the best war reporter of this generation, observed in mid-July, "The Iraq war is over. We won. Which means the Iraqi people won."
On July 6, the Sunday Times of London called Iraq "one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror."
So many al-Qaida leaders have been captured or killed that U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, renowned for his cautious assessments, has said that the terrorists have "never been closer to defeat than they are now."
And although the American people are getting eight times less news about Iraq this year than they received in 2007 (anyone wonder why?), more than half of American voters (51 percent) believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the war on terror, Rasmussen Reports noted in July.
The Simon Fraser University Human Security Brief records that because of "the humiliating recent defeats experienced by al-Qaida in Iraq," popular support in the Islamic world for the perpetrators of 9/11 has fallen precipitously. For example, in Pakistan (where al-Qaida is arguably most deeply entrenched), "support for Osama bin Ladin has dropped from 70 percent in August 2007 to 4 percent in January 2008."
In Iraq, attacks are at their lowest level in four years. Civilian deaths are down by nearly 90 percent since the surge began. High-profile explosions are down by 80 percent in the same period. American and Iraqi soldiers suffer far fewer casualties than they have for years. Sectarian deaths from Iraq’s near civil-war plunged all the way down to zero in May and June 2008.
When one looks at our recent successes in Iraq, it’s hard not to wonder who is the most despondent over these developments — our terrorist enemies or congressional Democrats such as McNerney and Obama, who did almost everything imaginable to impose defeat and still can’t face reality.
• Steve Wampler is a native Tracy resident with a master’s degree in political science. He works as a public information officer in Livermore.
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Isn't it funny when you don't need to read something someone wrote when you see their picture. Well here is again preaching about the war, and putting the blame on someone else. I agree the democrats failed to go after the real murderers.
I have also heard for the last 5 years about the Mission Accomplished, the surge, and how well the war is going. I'm very upset with a few Republicans who continue try to make us believe the war has helped fight terrorism in the world.
Especially in America, people are losing their homes their jobs, and even families over the conflict. The terrorism is here on the streets of America.
Just because Wampler is a operative for the Republican Dean Andal he gets all over Mc Nerney and says it partly his fault, excuse me he has only been in office for less tha two years.
I think if you ask Richard Pombo he would tell you that Jerry is now carrying the ball the rest of the way. Lets get back to American values and end this war and see if we can help save America.
Steve Wampler tell your panel of a few Republicans, that the American people deserve more. That way we can get more Republicans elected, because people are scared of what the administration has been doing.
Republican.
t. b