Is Success That Difficult To Claim?

July 13, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Guest Blogger

You know, I’m fed up with politics. By writing this post, I do not advocate nor support voting for or against either the subject of this post or his opponents (yes, there are more than one!). But, I can’t keep my mouth shut about the fact that a man that won’t accept the truth about the realities of combat may one day become my boss. Naturally, I’m talking about Barack Obama. And I’m talking specifically about his views on MILITARY-related topics. It is up to YOU to look at each candidate based the entirety of their views and choose accordingly. I simply offer my views as an American who happens to be in the military and will be greatly affected by the policies of ANY President. I criticize now as I will be unable to do so to President Obama without grave consequences.

In 2007, President announced plans for what became known as the “surge.” Senator Barack Obama was riding the anti-war wave like a professional surfer and publicly (and ignorantly) declared, “I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse.” Only one month into the surge, he proudly proclaimed “what we know. The surge has not worked.” He even went so far as to say that the surge was doing the exact opposite and “actually worsening, potentially, a situation there.” Even Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival at the time, had acknowledged the truth months earlier of the surge’s success. At the time, Obama was calling the limited success “short term” and refused to admit that the strategy would or could work. Just two months ago, Obama criticized McCain for backing the surge and called it “a failed policy.”

This is the man that wants to be Commander in Chief yet fails to understand the recognize the successes HIS troops would have. “Sectarian violence” is now almost nonexistent. Attacks against coalition troops and civilians is down 90% from the start of the surge. Very few provinces remain that are not under Iraqi government control. Even the restive regions of Anbar and southern Baghdad (as well as Sadr City) are experiences levels of peace not seen since the invasion. As Joel Arends put it in his recent National Review Online op-ed, “You consistently claim to have the judgment to lead our great nation, Senator Obama; now it’s time to use that judgment and acknowledge reality.”

The reality is that the surge has worked and that the people responsible – our military and the Bush administration – deserve the credit. Frankly, I don’t want a President who’s unwilling to acknowledge the good deeds of this country.

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