More progress in Iraq

Coffee House's James Forsyth points out another New York Times article, noting more progress in Iraq - this time in Sadr City.  Read it here.  The British establishment's indifference to the improving situation across Iraq is a terrible dereliction of duty.  We helped to end the Saddam regime (rightly imo) and have a duty to help Iraq transition to some sort of peace and prosperity.

6pm: Just noticed this, Al Qaeda in Iraq Is at Its Weakest

Comments

[Andrew Lilico]

The British establishment is not indifferent to evolving matters in Iraq. Far from it - the success of the surge is an embarrassment to the British establishment, which has been exposed as "the rats fleeing the floating ship".

Fortunately, from the Establishment's point of view, in the British public's mind the narrative of Iraq is already written: the Iraq invasion failed and we left the place in chaos and it was all the fault of that nasty Tony Blair acting as a poodle to that overly religious dimwit George W Bush. Since few Britons are likely to go to Iraq over the next decade, it will be an awfully long time before the basic falsity of this narrative is exposed. By then, though, it will be old news, and the Establishment can perhaps hope to claim that it played its part in bringing peace and democracy to Iraq.

[Steevo]

I completely agree Andrew. I know you're on the side of right here Tim but I disagree with your intent posting this. Indifferent Brit "establishment" sentiment perceived by this American is different than what I have witnessed too much of. Elaborating on Andrew's point, it has been a determination to continue a judgment of failure, promotion of gross distortion with hopeless, racist-like prediction after prediction of Iraqi incompetence and sectarian hatred, and... the hatred of America's presence both by Iraqis and such Brits. The wishing... well after Brit forces largely ceased from active confrontation, that we leave has been nothing short of the wishing for inhumane genocide, Iranian and Syrian take-over intrusion, very possibly involvement from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, of course al-Queda and the huge establishment of terror bases, likely war with Israel, and a far more dangerous world at large ratcheting up the reign of fanatical terror. Simply put, nothing short of an I-told-you-so wishing for disaster, justifying inner twisted resentment. At this point if it is truly just... indifference, that's an almost unimaginable improvement in my opinion, and a state of mind and inaction that should be left alone. Remember, there is no dereliction of duty with the remaining Brit forces stationed there. Their role has been minimized but when called upon for support, they answer. What your nation needs to come to grips with is the lack of recognition and honor these men and woman previously and currently serving are worthy and deserved. What is lacking here goes beyond the establishment just as with us during and after Viet Nam.

"Since few Britons are likely to go to Iraq over the next decade, it will be an awfully long time before the basic falsity of this narrative is exposed. By then, though, it will be old news, and the Establishment can perhaps hope to claim that it played its part in bringing peace and democracy to Iraq."

Indeed. It will be the same with our liberals, major media and almost every Democrat voted into office.

[James]

Its incredible that Middle Eastern experts like Gilles Kepel can claim al Qaeda is losing in Iraq, http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=15595
and yet this receives no comment from any sections of the media. It is exactly as previous posters say: the media (above all, the BBC) for a variety of reasons have accepted the doom-and-gloom interpretation of Iraq, and so simply ignore anything that does not fit this narrative.

I disagree with the notion that we should be attempting to construct democratic societies across the Middle East, and have concerns with the manner in which we went to war in 2003, but still find the MSMs reporting of Iraq (and much else) woeful.

[Oliver McCarthy]

The Great White Hope (Ahem!) of the Left is that Barack Obama will yank (Ahem!) American troops out of Iraq next year.

And then the disaster will be back on again!

Unless and until that sorry state of affairs comes about, things in Iraq will continue to improve and the British Establishment will continue to ignore the country steadfastly.