Do you think General Petraeus can pull off the surge?

Question

I like this guy, and his plan seems sound. I for one hope he pulls it off and restores some shine on the army brass, but unfortunately it depends on the Iraqis standing up and pulling their weight. Bush is still a moron for getting us and the military into this situation, and for letting Rummy compound the problems by mismanaging the occupation. Firing Bumsfeld may have been the only thing he's done right so far.

Answer 1

So far, so good. If nothing else, the new strategy of securing Baghdad will make the militias and insurgents go into hiding until we can pull out and let the mess start again... but not be in the middle of it.

Answer 2

When two old cold warriors, Cheney and Rumsfeld took the reins with Bush in 2001, they weren't prepared for a new world. Political movements were no longer dependent on state support. Support could be garnered from all over the world via the internet. Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri understood this. The Bush Administration still does not.

So it's not surprising that the Bush Administration would play right into bin Ladin's hands.
The worst part is that Bush and his cronies seem unable to learn from experience. They have an understanding of the world and are surrounded by supporters, they made sure of that by firing anyone who disagreed. So, they have no chance to change course, to them, there is no other course.

Answer 3

He can do it, but the real question is whether the Iraqis can stand up and have a lasting government. I don't think we can put the responsibility on a general, the Iraqis need to be held accountable.

Answer 4

He will , we need to help by telling the Democrats to quit
backstabbing our Troops, and sabotaging the Military mission.

Answer 5

NO. He's not mentally equipped enough to pull it off. Wait and see.

Answer 6

put the shine back into the Orleans while your at it...freedom