Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Levin Upbeat after Iraq Visit

I warned him not to go, now he sounds like a Hawk! From Detroit Free Press:

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin says he saw
“credible and positive results” from the surge of troops in Iraq ordered by
President George W. Bush but remains skeptical about whether military successes
will lead to political resolutions in that war-torn country.
Levin, a Detroit
Democrat who spent two days in Iraq with Virginia Sen. John Warner, said visits
to bases in Mosul and Baghdad showed that the military aspects of the surge
policy have shown progress in reducing violence and giving political leaders
time to reconcile between divergent factions.
"We are also encouraged by
continuing positive results – in al Anbar Province, from the recent decisions of
some of the Sunni tribes to turn against al Qaeda and cooperate with coalition
force efforts to kill or capture its adherents,” Levin and Warner said today in
a joint statement.


All kidding aside, I agree with the Senator in that now internal security is increasing, it should give a breathing space for the political differences to be ironed out. Also read:

Analysis: Iraq Report May Shift Climate.

Britain will not face 'Saigon moment', says army chief.

And KnoxNews reports "Media coverage of Iraq drops. That's the best sign of any that there's progress". (Thanks Glenn Reynolds!)