EckerNet.Com

…or it could be the ultimate successful test.

With deadly attacks against U.S. targets increasing around Baghdad, anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr raised the possibility Wednesday that he may not renew a six-month cease-fire widely credited for helping slash violence.

The cease-fire is due to expire Saturday, and there were fears, especially among minority Sunni Arabs, that the re-emergence of al-Sadr\’s Mahdi Army militia could return Iraq to where it was just a year ago — with sectarian death squads prowling the streets of a country on the brink of civil war.

A surge of violence would also make it all the more difficult for Iraq\’s Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to reach agreements on sharing power and wealth, and greatly complicate the debate in the United States on whether and how quickly to withdraw troops.

Obviously this could turn out pretty bad, as the media obviously tries to spin it above. On the other hand, conditions and resources are quite a bit different than they were a year ago. Obviously there are a number of factors that will have to play out.

Obviously, the first one to be address is how strong are Iraqi security forces? To their credit, they\’ve had the chance to build an infrastructure to work within, something they didn\’t have much of a year ago. US forces are still available as well, and that may well become the trump card. But it depends on how those US troops are being seen at this point

Also at stake is whether the Iraqis have grown used to the normalcy and if they will turn on the Mahdi Army to retain the peace they once had. Also as we\’ve seen from past events, many of those that would have been forming those sectarian death squads have given up on that approach and have since rejoined Iraqi society. Will they go back to their old ways, or stick it out?

After all, the rabid drop in violence since the beginning of the cease fire, says quite a bit. Granted the surge played a large role as well, but I have no doubt that the Iraqi people will put two and two together and make the collective decision to return to violence or embrace peaceful reconstruction.

However, it is also probably worth considering the motive for such a move by Al-Sadr. It\’s clear that he is rabidly being sidelined, and this ceasefire threat appears as a ploy to retain his relevance. However, it also poses the danger of potentially alienating himself from the Iraqi public, for many of the same reasons that Al Qaeda has been. My guess is he wouldn\’t risk that unless he knew that if he didn\’t do it now, he would no longer have the resources to do it. Once again, time may indeed be on our side.

Of course it also means we get to listen to the Democrats bitch about a withdrawl again.

If you listen to the Democrats, Iraq is quite simply a bottomless hellhole without a chance of success. They used to cite the 18 benchmarks are proof that Iraq was a failed experiment and we should pull out. Meanwhile, as I pointed out a year ago, if you apply equivalent benchmarks towards our government, we score significantly less than Iraq does. Well recently the surge, despite claims by Democrats everywhere, has had enough of an impact that the Iraqi government has made a number of significant improvements and met quite a few of the remaining benchmarks.

So let\’s revisit the issue shall we? Let\’s see how the Iraqis have improved…and if our government has improved it\’s score at all.

Goal: Ensuring political groups do not undermine security forces

Last year : Iraq failed, and so did we.

Today : It\’s still a work in progress for Iraq. And with Democrats constantly claiming the surge is failed and doing everything to undermine support for our troops both domestically and abroad, it\’s fairly safe to say it\’s a work in progress for us too.

Goal: Reconciliation with former Baathists

Last year : Iraq failed, as did we.

Today : Actually the combination of the new election laws and the amnesty moves this into the plus category for Iraq. Our progress has been considerably less admirable. The hatred between Republicans and Democrats is still as strong as ever. If you doubt that, just read the vicious bile directed towards Nancy Reagan upon news that she fell and potentially broke a hip.

Goal: Reducing the level of sectarian violence and eliminating militia control of local security

Last year : We passed, Iraq failed

Today : Well BushCo\’s brownshirt have yet to make their first appearance and time is running out. Meanwhile, in Iraq I\’m tempted to be optimistic here but I\’ll refrain. It\’s still largely a work in progress. Granted violence in Baghdad is down 80% and the militia\’s are losing control. However, if the Mahdi Army had not renewed their cease fire recently things could have been significantly different lately. So this is a VERY tentative fail….in reality it\’s a pass, but only because cooler heads are prevailing for now. Only when cooler heads are no longer required could I really count this is a true Pass.

Goal: Provide Iraqi commanders with authority to go after insurgents and militia, whether Sunni or Shia, without political intervention

Last year : We failed, Iraq failed

Today : With the failure to renew FISA we definitely fail. And part of the reason the Mahdi cease fire was in question, was because government forces have been going after Shia militia members. At this point it\’s likely that the commanders don\’t receive any more interference than they might in most other areas of the world. I\’ll give them a pass here.

Goal: Increasing the number of Iraqi security forces units capable of operating independently

Last year : We failed, and so did the Iraqis

Today : Yeah, we still fail (I\’m noticing a trend here), for the same reasons we failed last year. Iraqi on the other hand has increased their forces considerably. Most of the country has been handed over to Iraqi forces and elsewhere Iraqi forces are operating with mostly minimal American assistance. We\’re even starting to draw down our number of forces. I\’ll give them a pass here.

Goal: Disarming militias

Last year : We failed, as did Iraq

Today : Homeland Security Department still a clusterfuck wrapped in red tape, big fail for us. Militias in Iraq have been reduced in effectiveness but they haven\’t been disarmed, most notably the Mahdi army. Fair for both.

Goal: Raising Iraqi brigades to support operations in Baghdad

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed.

Today : Same results. In fact Iraq has made further progress, we have….well we\’ve talked about it alot.

Goal: Establishing joint US-Iraq security stations in neighbourhoods across Baghdad

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed

Today : Same results. How\’s that fence coming?? Latest excuse is….[shakes magic 8-Ball]….environmentalists.

Goal: Amnesty for insurgents

Last year : Iraq failed, so did we

Today : Iraq has passed an amnesty, so they come out with a big pass here. I\’m tempted to give us a fail since there has been rumbling of an amnesty for us, but it hasn\’t come to fruition so I\’ll give us both a pass.

Goal: Election reform

Last year : We both failed

Today : Iraq passed new election reform laws. We have done absolutely nothing….and Florida has proven they still can\’t get this whole election thing right.

Goal: Political support for Baghdad security plan

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed

Today : Iraq still passes. Meanwhile, San Fransisco and Toledo have kicked out the Marines….I repeat….kicked out the Marines. I award us no points and may God have mercy on Medea Benjamin\’s soul.

Goal: To deny Baghdad as a safe haven for al-Qaida and insurgents regardless of religion

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed

Today : Same results. We still have sanctuary cities aplenty.

Goal: Ensuring that the Iraqi security forces are providing even-handed enforcement of the law

Last year : We passed, Iraq failed

Today : Same results. So far sanity has prevailed here at home. Over in Iraq, this is a pretty subjective benchmark so I\’ll lean towards the side of caution and give Iraq a fail.

Goal: Fairly allocating and spending $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed

Today : Same results. Iraq is improving even more. We still have spending issues. Earmarks still out of control. Entitlements are ready to bankrupt us. Oh joy!

Goal: Introducing laws that would allow autonomous regions

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed.

Today : Same results. Iraq has actually made further progress with their elections reform. Meanwhile, Congress continues to do absolutely nothing, leaving states to figure out things for themselves.

Goal: Constitutional review and reform

Last year : Iraq passed, we failed

Today : Same results for the same reasons.

Goal: Protect minority political rights in the Iraqi legislature

Last year : We both passed

Today : Same results for the same reason.

Goal: Passing an oil law

Last year : Both failed

Today : Well we still haven\’t drilled, built a refinery or a nuclear plant. So that\’s a big F for us. Iraq….well, they haven\’t officially passed an oil law. However, they have passed a national budget evenly distributed and most of that money came from oil sales. So one could claim they accomplished this benchmark in spirit, but I\’ll still hold out for the fine print and give this a tentative fail.

Ok so granted, I\’m not comparing apples to apples, but each country faces it\’s own issues. Nevertheless, Iraq comes out with a 13, and we come across with a 4. Both countries improved, from our past scores of 8 and 3 respectively. Perhaps this is the reason we\’re hearing alot less about the failure of the surge from Reid and Pelosi. Could it be that their failure to accomplish anything of substance is glaringly obvious, while the so called failed surge has no basis in reality?

Murtha\’s latest comments about Iraq, prove even further that this senile old fool just doesn\’t get it.

\”To change the political law, it doesn\’t seem to me you need the military stability\”

Yes I\’m sure Iraqi legislators were just itching to further antagonize Al Qaeda when they knew it was just as likely for their car to blow up than not.

How is this worthless old fool still in Congress doling out pork?

Chances are you\’ve noticed the new widget above my posts. It\’s a chance for your to txt your thanks to our military men and women via txt message on your phone from November 17th to the 22nd.

Give our deployed soldiers your well wishes during the start of yet another holiday away from home.

For more information, or for the code to include this widget on your own site go to America Supports You.

From an Iraqi blogger….

Frankly, I don\’t understand why so many mock us for wanting a future for Iraq. Is your hatred for George Bush so great that you prefer to see millions of civilians suffer just to prove him wrong?

It really comes down to this: you are determined to see Iraq become a permanent hellhole because you hate Bush. And we are determined to see Iraq become a success, because we want to live.

Good question….lefties?? Murtha?? Kennedy?? Feinstein?? Pelosi?? Reid?? Bueller??

Now just imagine this scenario :

Iraqi : Heh, you American!

American : Yeah?

Iraqi : Look, regardless of what you see/hear, stay away from our village for a few hours?

American : Ummmm, why?

Iraqi : Well, we got a thing going on

American : This \”thing\” doesn\’t involve planning to blow up Americans does it?

Iraqi : Oh No!! No! No! You got us all wrong. We actually just want to blow up some Al Qaeda guys…

American : Seriously?

Iraqi : Yeah, we\’re gonna ambush them, but we want you to stay away because we don\’t wear uniforms and we don\’t want you to accidentally shoot us.

American : Aren\’t you a former insurgent?

Iraqi : Yeah, why do you think I know where Al Qaeda is?

American : Good point, but…

Iraqi : Yeah, we got tired of dying for for some guy that molests goats in a cave in Afghanistan

American : So let me get this straight, you former insurgent Sunnis want us to back off for a little bit so you can ambush and slaughter a bunch of Al Qaeda terrorists you know about.

Iraqi : Yup

American : Ok

Sounds pretty unrealistic huh? Sounds like just a fantasy of some BushCo Nazi right-wing conspiracy buff right???

Well….as it turns out, that is actually happening….quite a bit lately.

Stock in America just dropped 42 points on news that American Inc. no longer has a monopoly on people who are bat-shit crazy.

A two-meter shark has been caught in a river in southern Iraq more than 200 km (160 miles) from the sea.

Locals blamed the U.S. military for the shark\’s presence.

Tahseen Ali, a teacher, said there was a \”75 percent chance\” Americans had put the shark in the water.

\”This is very frightening for us. Our children always swim in the river and I believe that there are more sharks. I believe that America is behind this matter,\” said fisherman Hatim Karim.

Yes, we put that shark there to eat your children.  Yes, despite our massive amount of military equipment in the area, we decided to use a damn shark to attack your children.

Not even even a shark with \”frikkin\’ laser beams\”….just a plain old vanilla shark.  Now that you\’ve figured it out, I should probably also admit we also organized the famous gerbil invasion of Belgium and the horrific spotted owl attack on the poor Armenians.  We were able to keep both secret until you figured it out….with a 75% confidence level.

[Via Liberty Pundit]

Despite what you may have heard from the Democrats, it appears as if WMDs were one of Saddam\’s most prized possessions…

Less than a month before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Saddam Hussein signaled that he was willing to go into exile as long as he could take with him $1 billion and information on weapons of mass destruction, according to a report of a Feb. 22, 2003 meeting between President Bush and the Spanish Prime Minister, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

I can think of quite a few things that would be more dear to me, but this is Saddam we\’re talking about. I suppose after all those years not giving them up to UN weapons inspectors he sure as hell wasn\’t gonna leave them behind.

Awfully funny of him to want to bring along something that doesn\’t exist though….at least according to the Democrats. Although to be fair, at the time they all thought they existed as well.