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If you've been checking my website for the past few days, you undoubtedly noticed a lack of postings. I caught that dreaded summer cold from the teenage unit, and I lost my voice. Not good, especially if you are a talk-show host.
However --the world continues to turn and the troops are continuing to win!
Pessimism About the War on Terror Declines Amid Signs of Progress in Iraq
Shift in Public Perception Poll data increasingly shows a new trend in the public’s perception of Iraq and the war on terrorism. Following Petraeus’ report to Congress, 61 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the general [Joseph Carroll, “Gen. David Petraeus Better Known, Better Liked After Last Week,” Gallup News Service, 9/19/07]. Yesterday, Rasmussen released data finding that only 28% [of Americans] now believe that the terrorists are winning … the lowest level of pessimism recorded in over a year” [Rasmussen, “War on Terror Update,” 9/25/07]. US News & World Report’s “Political Bulletin” highlighted polling that found when “[a]sked, ‘If General Petraeus asks for the troop level to remain in place for another nine months, would you approve or disapprove this proposal,’ 54% approve it; 43% disapprove. Independents again track the overall response, with 53% approving the proposal and 43% disapproving it. 80% of Republicans back the idea while 67% of Democrats oppose it” [US News & World Report, “Political Bulletin: Post-Petraeus, Americans Of Two Minds,” 9/20/07].
Positive News from Iraq Positive developments in Anbar province are now also being seen in Diyala province. “Most of the major tribes in a strategic province northeast of Baghdad have signed agreements to support U.S. and Iraqi forces, a sign the alliance-building initiative that started in Anbar province is spreading. In Diyala province, tribal leaders representing 20 of the province's 25 major tribes have signed agreements brokered by the local government … The shift has led to more tips from citizens and a reduction in violence, the U.S. military says. Weekly attacks in Diyala province have declined from an average of 125 three months ago to 70 last week” [Jim Michaels, “Iraqi Alliances Spread, U.S. Says,” USA Today, 9/21/07]. Yesterday the Times (London) reported on the graduation of hundreds of Iraqis who joined the regular Iraq police force after serving as volunteers in local police forces organized by American forces. “The volunteers, recruited with help from tribal leaders, want to protect their local area from attacks by al-Qaeda, said Lieutenant-Colonel Kurt Pinkerton, who helped to attract about 6,000 volunteers in Abu Ghraib and surrounding districts” [Deborah Haynes, “Dancing police keen to get on the beat to save country from al-Qaeda,” Times (London), 9/26/07].
New members of the police force expressed their commitment to peace in Iraq: “Hussein Kadhim Zaidar smiled as he emerged from the spontaneous outburst of dancing and singing that followed the police graduation ceremony . . . ‘I am so happy, because we need to have peace,’ said Mr. Zaidar, who abandoned the resistance last year to cooperate with the US-led coalition. … ‘We have matured and we felt the need to cooperate with the coalition forces because we wanted peace,’ Thamir al-Tamimi said” [Deborah Haynes, “Dancing police keen to get on the beat to save country from al-Qaeda,” Times (London), 9/26/07].
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