Maybe It Really Isn't About The Bullets

The SURGE is an unqualified success!  Or maybe not.

The White House's nominee to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a Senate panel Tuesday that the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq was beginning to improve security, but the Iraqi central government was making little headway toward the political reconciliation that is key to stabilizing the country.

Adm. Michael G. Mullen, currently chief of naval operations, said that since the troop buildup began this year, security was "better — not great, but better." Yet, unless a political reconciliation can be worked out, he said, "no amount of troops and no amount of time will make a difference." (emphasis is mine - W)

Gosh, I just don't know what to believe.  Maybe, if only I just would read Michael Yon, then I wouldn't be so hard-hearted and pessimistic.  He has his boots on the ground, you know.

(To every person in the last several months who's told me that I need to read Michael Yon, just stop.  Shut up, right now, about it.  I *DO* read Michael Yon, enough to know to that he is an observer, an eyewitness.  That means he's an authority only on what he sees, and little or no more.  But I don't base my view of the country's future, our military effectiveness, or the 'success' of the Iraqi debacle on his observations.  One has to seriously question why any of you would ...)

Comments

[Shane C. Mason]

Hey, if you REALLY want an insight into this, try reading Michael Yon sometimes. ;)

[Shane C. Mason]

ah crap. My funny joke left unclosed italics. Did that fix it?

[Wulfgar]

Got you covered.