The surge is NOT working!

There have many declarations that "the surge is working" and that is a misleading understanding because it implies the surge in US forces in Iraq is all that's needed in order for us to leave.

Instead, I would say it's more accurate to say "the surge is effective at maintaining security", but it's not working unless you think the surge alone can bring Iraq's political reconciliation. Or, one might say "the surge is working if we intend to stay, but it's not working if we expect to leave". Therefore to declare or substantiate "the surge is working" is false unless you think political reconciliation can be achieved by force. So, I'd like to encourage Democrats to re-frame this argument in order to more accurately point out the need for political reconcilation and to emphasize the fact that political reconcilation cannot be achieved by force unless we intend to execute genocide in Iraq. Apparently, many feel the surge is all that is needed in order for us to leave and that implication is derived from this misleading declaration. So, let's set the facts straight. The surge is effective, but it's not "working" unless it brings our troops home and political reconcilation cannot be achieved at the end of a gun as many neo-cons imply and too many Americans incorrectly assume. Putting this sentiment in a concise statement is sorely needed because our Democratic leaders have thusfar failed to effectively communicate this point. I hope they take note and I encourage you to help them better communicate this point.

•  The surge was supposed to give the Iraqi govt.

  the space to build diplomatic and political structures necessary to civil society. The govt. took the summer off instead. The surge is not failing, the surge has failed.

  Thanks for diarying about Iraq today, though I fear you won't get much attention, thanks to Iowa.

  by sap on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 07:44:52 AM PDT

•  No solution, but great propaganda

  The surge gets us no closer to a solution that would allow us to leave, let alone progress toward a truly stable Iraq. It does allow the MSM to ignore the war and pretend that "more troops can lead to fewer troops". Boots on the ground have given more relative security temporarily, but as we draw down to levels that we can sustain; all of the underlying problems remain.

  by Virginia Irish on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 07:52:30 AM PDT

•  The surge is not working because

  it's A)Phony, a game with the troops as shells and B) because Al-Sadr called a unilateral troops taking almost 200,000 in militai forces off the table. Of course, things look better with the major militia in a temporary stand down. They get ordered back in and it will look the same as a year ago inside a week. Get out and stay out.

  by philinmaine on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 08:10:54 AM PDT

  •  I like your perspective and...

    I believe the clarity of the failure of the surge will become more evident by the Fall (election time) if not sooner especially IF Sadr re-constitutes his forces which is inevitable without a political agreement.

    by Cowboy Borat on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 08:15:41 AM PDT

•  Surge Sucks. 2007-899 American soldiers dead

  worst year since the invasion. surge sucks.

  by PeckingOrder on Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 08:11:40 AM PDT