Centerfield

Good news and what follows explores emerging opportunities and problems surrounding our effort in Iraq. Much of the possible progress the world can make has been fashioned through sacrifice and treasure.

Problems first, according to Reuters the EU has reached a limit to "sanctions". Again, why say this before negotiations? There is something strange about European thinking. The point of sanctions is to effect deleterious behavior without the use of lethal force.
Afghanistan and Lebanon show how hard it is to defeat extremist militias and groups with a “European” level of resolve. US critics in Europe and America don’t want to hear about Iraqi positives. When and if negotiations bear fruit, they will deny the stick and pounding had anyting to do with it.

Talk about irony, Iran threatens the Kurds as Iraq is planning to hold an international conference. I can only imagine the irony for Iranians as they are forced to sit down in Baghdad and face regional leaders (great move by Rice in picking the perfect time and place). Numerous Muslim cartoons mock America for allowing a Black or Woman from holding office. Saddam replaced with a black, conservative, female Secretary of the United States of America baby. A stark contrast to Senator Obama.

The key now is splitting away Syria from Iran while forcing Iran to suspend enrichment and enter into "real" negotiations. Both countries face strong UN pressure, sanctions and tribunals along with serious military threats.

McGovern 2007 shows a strong link between then and now. Robert Kennedy moved aside McGovern’s anti-war wing though many have finally come in out of the cold. Different players, same conspiracies.

Of course, the Left doesn't seem to encourage the resolve we need to make others believe us or make sure NK actually eliminates any uranium program and export of missiles. The Left doesn't notice Asian and European nations seeking American missile defense. The Left doesn't notice the unanimity towards Iranian extremism, nor the international concern over Somalia, Lebanon and the Sudan. I doubt the Left can continue ignoring present opportunities born of resolve, bloodshed and "stated policy". Bush certainly rejected a dialogue of failure. That much, the Left will not concede because in their estimation our MIC, corporate dominating system MUST fail. LOL Wal-Mart is a bigger threat than Communist China to this ideology. The question is whether the Democrats start acting like world leaders and less like small town politicians.

Kudos for the military and humanitarian effort and I think ALL Americans demand the best services for the wounded and their families. To some, this new operation is in vain. To one candidate and perhaps more, leaving Iraq last year would have made Iran MORE willing to put aside its inflammatory behavior and curb the chaos instead of stoking it.. Syria has so many holes and extremist agents, Assad must travel in military formations. Yes, Iraq is one hard nut to crack and with increasing weapon supplies, the road is still getting tougher. I suspect Iran is changing some of our tactical considerations in Iraq and the Gulf. Mixed signals are exactly what we should be sending Syria and Iran. To AQ, our message should be GPS guided.

As for those buying into the anti-war/neocon dichotomies, you might find this refreshing here

Now, back to some good news concerning curbing the violence in Iraq. US and Iraq forces continue to act as the Kirkuk referendum, an international conference and the Iraq Oil Deal reach fruition.

This, instead of reading in tomorrow’s NYT that Saddam has announced his new nuclear energy deal with Putin as Tor-2 missile sites begin to encircle Saddam's various facilities, bunkers and bases.