AP writers now admit: "U.S. is now winning the war in Iraq."

ROBERT BURNS and ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writers:  "US now winning Iraq war that seemed lost".  I'm wondering what Barack Obama et. al. will have to say about this?  The icing on the article is, "Beyond that, there is something in the air in Iraq this summer. In Baghdad, parks are filled every weekend with families playing and picnicking with their children."  God bless them and God bless the troops, including General David Petraeus.  You need to read the entire article, but here's the highlights:

BAGHDAD - The United States is now winning the war that two years ago seemed lost. Limited, sometimes sharp fighting and periodic terrorist bombings in Iraq are likely to continue, possibly for years. But the Iraqi government and the U.S. now are able to shift focus from mainly combat to mainly building the fragile beginnings of peace — a transition that many found almost unthinkable as recently as one year ago. 

Despite the occasional bursts of violence, Iraq has reached the point where the insurgents, who once controlled whole cities, no longer have the clout to threaten the viability of the central government.

That does not mean the war has ended or that U.S. troops have no role in Iraq. It means the combat phase finally is ending, years past the time when President Bush optimistically declared it had. The new phase focuses on training the Iraqi army and police, restraining the flow of illicit weaponry from Iran, supporting closer links between Baghdad and local governments, pushing the integration of former insurgents into legitimate government jobs and assisting in rebuilding the economy.

Scattered battles go on, especially against al-Qaida holdouts north of Baghdad. But organized resistance, with the steady drumbeat of bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and ambushes that once rocked the capital daily, has all but ceased.

This amounts to more than a lull in the violence. It reflects a fundamental shift in the outlook for the Sunni minority,  (continue reading, hat tip Ron)

Glory, glory hallelujah!  Will this be the beginning of a trend in the media?  Probably not, but it's great to read.  On Moqtada al Sadr, the authors write, and I agree:

Shiite militias, notably the Mahdi Army of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, have lost their power bases in Baghdad, Basra and other major cities. An important step was the routing of Shiite extremists in the Sadr City slums of eastern Baghdad this spring — now a quiet though not fully secure district.

Al-Sadr and top lieutenants are now in Iran. Still talking of a comeback, they are facing major obstacles, including a loss of support among a Shiite population weary of war and no longer as terrified of Sunni extremists as they were two years ago.

Other reading:

ACLU Hates Boy Scouts, Love Hypocrisy, Stop the ACLU

Muslims Against Sharia, BLOG

The Government of India is warning all cities to be on alert for bombs and bombings like the ones experienced Friday in Bangalore and saturday in Ahmedabad

Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, 123beta, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Phastidio.net, Cao's Blog, , Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Nuke's, third world county, Allie is Wired, McCain Blogs, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, and Dumb Ox Daily News, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[Rosemary]

The really funny thing is, this Marxist claims to be white! LOL. (Yes, you are a Marxist. It is not hate-speech to speak the Truth. Look that up your Bible--or was that the Koran you read?)

Great post, Debbie. You're right. If McCain were in the lead by double digits, we never would have read such a thing (although we've been saying this all along). No, the news would have to be bad so that Obama could sweep the nation. Not on my watch.

BTW, you should really know someone before you throw out the word, 'racist'. Your words do not affect me, because I am confident in Christ and am not the type of person you Lefties try to project upon us. Ya'll need to take a look in the mirror.

If we were all racists, why do we blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc. in our party, while your party tries to deny anyone who does not toe the democrat line is considered an Uncle Tom? 91% of ANY particular group to always vote one way (which, btw, is HURTING the black families) can only be harmful. You lose your voting power, because you have shown you are still on the plantation. They will and do walk all over you, and I will not stand for this!!!

No matter what, have a nice day.

[nativegirl]

It's so sad to see America still engulfed in 'hate', 'slime', and ridiculous adoration for War and Honor. True Christians do not go to War in excitement, greed and honor!

I to, a white woman, think Barack Obama should not declare Victory in Iraq. The conditions under which the surge was proposed have not all been met and of course with the 'awakening' and 50 thousand more troops in one city....that means less violence, that's all it means. How stupid do you repub's think America is? And McNasty is demanded Obama say that so his War Mongering ideology and legacy will become real. Not going to happen in his lifetime. No one thinks there is success in Iraq other than conservatives. Honor? Honor for invading a sovereign country, occupying a sovereign country and, against what the Iraqi's want...to put permanant bases in Iraq for decades.

True Christian's do not do that. There is no honor in killing. War or Peace. You would know that if you were a true Christian.

It will come out soon about McCain's military record, and from fellow McCain POW's stating their rightful claims of McCains dishonesty about his capture, torture and disloyalty to the Armed Forces of America.

Make fun of Obama now...if you must, we know what is coming, what has past and what will cause McCain to faulter.

I still think most of you should take a good look at your values...before you judge someone else. Everyone knows how racist and cowardly wrapped up in white supremecy america is.
C

[Debbie]

mink/celes :

The 'weak handed child of Africa'? I would love to hear more of what you think. Are you saying that Barack Obama is Jesus incarnate? Are you saying that he is destined to RULE America? Please explain.

Debbie

[mink/celes]

Barack Hussein Obama,the weak handed looking child of Africa will rule you soon W/american,you better start getting used to the reality.Read the bible carefully,you will see this prophety in there.After all Jesus was black and he is coming back in BHO.

[Skunkfeathers]

The worst of the Left will never admit they're wrong; they have too much of their precious self-esteem invested in talking up our defeat, to admit the military is winning, and knew what they were doing.

That would dry up Obama's campaign donations from Islamofascists.

[Findalis]

Even when we are correct the MSM will try to deny it. I have to admit that when proposed, I was against the surge saying that it wouldn't work. I was wrong and the liberals should say the same thing now.