Patreaus Plan Gaining Traction in Iraq

Fire of Liberty

Now while the situation is far from perfect in Mesopotamia, one can't help but notice from reading the most recent reports by John Burns or the most recent op/ed in the NY Times by Brookings Institute scholars Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack(liberal scholars who have opposed the war) that the current counterinsurgency operations under way in Iraq are making great strides. In fact it seems that these reports of an emerging sea change in Iraq is gaining some traction with the American public. According to the most recent USA Today/Gallup poll some 31% of the public view the surge as "making the situation better" which is up from 22% a month ago while the percentage saying the surge is "not making much a difference" has dropped to 41% from 51%. Even more, the numbers of those saying things are worse fell from 25% to some 24%. While the US military and the diplomatic has a lot of rows to harrow before they can call their work quits in Iraq, these poll numbers show that the American people have a far greater confidence in Generals Patraeus, Odierno, and the commanders in the field leading our soldiers to victory in Iraq than the squabbling that goes down in the halls of Congress. Here's hoping that the generals are left to do their work well beyond the magical September that the Democrats and some squishy Republicans are carrying on about.

*In case you missed it, check out this clip of a recent Fox News Sunday interview with Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack:



*Here's a good piece on how the tide is slowly turning within Iraq.