The meme turns???
As I have said in the past, progress is being made in Iraq, although the Star Tribune is loathe to admit it. It appears that O'Hanlon and Pollack aren't the only ones to see progress. Even our own freshman Congressman Keith Ellison sees progress. (H/T Captain Ed)
"Ellison said that local leaders in Ramadi told him of how they partnered with U.S. and Iraqi military officials to virtually rid al-Qaeda from the city. Although the lawmakers had to travel in flak vests and helmets, "we did see people walking around the streets of Ramadi, going back and forth to the market."There have been fewer anti-U.S. sermons as the violence has been reduced, Ellison said, and religious leaders meet regularly with U.S. military officials."The success in Ramadi is not just because of bombs and bullets, but because the U.S. and Iraqi military and the Iraqi police are partnering with the tribal leadership and the religious leadership," he said. "So they're not trying to just bomb people into submission. What they're doing is respecting the people, giving the people some control over their own lives."
Another Freshman Congressman on the trip, Rep. Jerry McNerney from California, who has been very pro-withdrawal is starting to waiver a bit.
"McNerney, the California congressman, also said he saw signs of progress in Ramadi and was impressed by Petraeus, who argued in favor of giving President Bush's troop surge strategy time to work.
McNerney said he still favors a timeline to get troops out of Iraq — something House leaders may bring to the floor again this week as part of a defense spending bill — but is open to crafting it in a way more favorable to generals' wishes.
"As long as we start at a certain date I'd be willing to be a little more flexible in terms of when it might end," McNerney said."
Our friends at the Star Tribune, hoping to dampen criticizm of their choosen Representative had this to say on his remarks.
"Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, said Ellison's statements appear to be a major repositioning in policy.
"It's one thing to run as a candidate. Now that he's in office and visited Iraq, he now realizes the complexity of everyone who wrestles with the issue of pulling out [which could] create a vacuum that would lead to blood-letting," Jacobs said.
Steven Schier, a political science professor at Carleton College, said Ellison's comments could draw ire in his strongly antiwar district.
"I think part of his appeal as a candidate was his very emphatic opposition to the war," Schier said. "Now that has been altered somewhat, it seems. I'm sure there will be a reaction."
Mr. Schier is correct - Rep. Ellison's remarks are not going to sit well with the "withdrawal now" caucus that worked so hard to get him elected. However, it is good to see that Rep. Ellison is learning that maybe, just maybe, the generals in theatre know what they are doing.
"Ellison said that local leaders in Ramadi told him of how they partnered with U.S. and Iraqi military officials to virtually rid al-Qaeda from the city. Although the lawmakers had to travel in flak vests and helmets, "we did see people walking around the streets of Ramadi, going back and forth to the market."There have been fewer anti-U.S. sermons as the violence has been reduced, Ellison said, and religious leaders meet regularly with U.S. military officials."The success in Ramadi is not just because of bombs and bullets, but because the U.S. and Iraqi military and the Iraqi police are partnering with the tribal leadership and the religious leadership," he said. "So they're not trying to just bomb people into submission. What they're doing is respecting the people, giving the people some control over their own lives."
Another Freshman Congressman on the trip, Rep. Jerry McNerney from California, who has been very pro-withdrawal is starting to waiver a bit.
"McNerney, the California congressman, also said he saw signs of progress in Ramadi and was impressed by Petraeus, who argued in favor of giving President Bush's troop surge strategy time to work.
McNerney said he still favors a timeline to get troops out of Iraq — something House leaders may bring to the floor again this week as part of a defense spending bill — but is open to crafting it in a way more favorable to generals' wishes.
"As long as we start at a certain date I'd be willing to be a little more flexible in terms of when it might end," McNerney said."
Our friends at the Star Tribune, hoping to dampen criticizm of their choosen Representative had this to say on his remarks.
"Larry Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, said Ellison's statements appear to be a major repositioning in policy.
"It's one thing to run as a candidate. Now that he's in office and visited Iraq, he now realizes the complexity of everyone who wrestles with the issue of pulling out [which could] create a vacuum that would lead to blood-letting," Jacobs said.
Steven Schier, a political science professor at Carleton College, said Ellison's comments could draw ire in his strongly antiwar district.
"I think part of his appeal as a candidate was his very emphatic opposition to the war," Schier said. "Now that has been altered somewhat, it seems. I'm sure there will be a reaction."
Mr. Schier is correct - Rep. Ellison's remarks are not going to sit well with the "withdrawal now" caucus that worked so hard to get him elected. However, it is good to see that Rep. Ellison is learning that maybe, just maybe, the generals in theatre know what they are doing.
Labels: Iraq, Media Bias, Star Tribune
posted by The Lady Logician at
6:50 AM
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