July 6, 2008

Surging Toward Victory

The London Times reports from the front lines of the War on Terror - northern Iraq and the city of Mosul, where U.S. and Iraqi military forces "have got Al-Qaeda on the run." The Times reports that Al-Qaeda is "formerly an awesome force that struck fear into the hearts of cities across the west and centre of Iraq but now reduced to a rump in the north in one of the most sweeping victories of America's war on terror."

The Times continues:

The speed of Al-Qaeda's decline in Iraq - not only in the north but throughout the country - has taken many military strategists and observers by surprise.

In Zarqawi's day, a ruthless campaign of suicide bombings, abductions and beheadings paralysed the country and thwarted US efforts to pacify it. By the end of 2006 some were predicting an American defeat.

The reversal of fortunes is attributed to the "surge" strategy of General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces, who targeted Al-Qaeda in Iraq above all else after securing an extra 30,000 troops last year.

McCain supported the surge as the last best chance for victory and has been proven right. Barack Obama voted against it. He didn't believe America could win, and certainly didn't want to give it the chance.

Why?