Al Qaeda is almost finished in Iraq. In an article in the Washington Post by Amit Paley we note in 2007 the U.S. military has killed 2,400 suspected members and captured 8,800. They have been totally driven out of Baghdad and Anbar. Al Qaeda is trying to soften their approach and reapproach the Sunnis and have recognized their error in terrorizing and thus losing the hearts and minds of the locals.

While there has been an increase in violence in Afganistan it may as much from a renewed offensive and desperation of Al Queda. They are having problems recruiting there and are suffereing from the loss of their leaders there as well.
But the press plays very little of this because it does not fit with their “demon Bush” scenario.
Those who supported the “surge” (it used to be called reinforcements) should be recognized. Most prominent was John McCain. Could this be why he is winning regardless of the disapproval of the conservative talking heads?
Those who opposed and even insinuated that the surge did not work, practically calling the architect of the surge, General Patreus, a liar ( typical political speak, “it requires the suspension of belief”- Hillary Clinton) should be held accountable.
Al Qaeda was quite surprised that they were attacked as harshly as they were. After decades of the Americans cutting and running from engaging the terrorists, they did not expect what they got. Bush deliberately took the fight to them. It is no coincidence that we have been free of terror attacks in this country for much longer than we would have expected post 911. This was a direct result of the executive commander in chief decision to take the battle to the enemy.
After a clumsy start his persistence in the face of widespread public impatience and hostility may pay dividends for decades to come. In fact we may look back on this period as a turning point when terrorism was set back severely enough to bring modernity to the middle east.
On the other hand maybe Bush is an idiot and we just screwed up.
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