Grasping at Straws

Here's only the latest drivel from a prominent American Democratic Senator, Chuck Schumer, commenting on the surge:

"And let me be clear: the violence in Anbar has gone down despite the surge, not because of the surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from al Qaeda, said to these tribes: 'We have to fight al Qaeda ourselves.' It wasn’t that the surge brought peace here. It was that the warlords had to create a temporary peace here on their own."

This is beyond the pale and is literally stunning in its audacity. There is universal consensus among intelligent observers, those who supported and those who opposed the initial invasion of Iraq, that the increased stability there is directly a result of the surge and the immense sacrifices of the US military. So beyond the sheer stupidity of Schumer's remark are heavy vestiges of treason. The overall intent here is to undermine, to sabotage, the report General Petraeus is set to deliver to Congress next week. It is widely believed that the report will relay the successes and accomplishments that have unfolded in Iraq since the surge took effect. Democrats have already dismissed the report in toto since it doesn't jibe with their template of defeat and hopelessness.