It has never been my choice to debate the Iraq war with most. Each individual has their own thoughts as to whether or not we should have gone to Iraq initially, or how the battles both in Iraq and Afghanistan have been commanded.

I have always believed that once we have troops committed to war, it becomes our job as citizens to support them (even if we do not support the mission which they have been charged to see to completion.)

What has become evident in the recent past is that we are “winning” on many levels in Iraq. There is not quite the mention of the situation in Afghanistan which, of course, makes it more difficult to gauge in terms of success.

Today, Michael Barone writing at Townhall has provided excellent examples of the benefits of the “surge” in Iraq, and lays out relevant comparisons to others wars fought by our military under the command of past presidents.

The entire piece is a great read but I particularly enjoyed the final two paragraphs:

Lesson three is that it doesn’t pay to bet against America. As Walter Russell Mead explains in his trenchant (and entertaining) “God and Gold: Britain and America and the Making of the Modern World,” first Britain and then America have built the most prosperous and creative economies the world has ever seen and have prevailed in every major military conflict (except when they fought each other) since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Many of those victories have been achieved in conflicts far more grueling than what we have faced in Iraq.

Some of George W. Bush’s critics seem to have relished the prospect of American defeat and some refuse to acknowledge the success that has been achieved. But it appears that they have “misunderestimated” him once again, and have “misunderestimated” the competence of the American military and of free peoples working from the bottom up to transform their societies for the better. It’s something to be thankful for as the new year begins.

My thoughts often turn to the simple fact that this war on terror fought under a different President who is not so despised, would be presented in an entirely different light.

That’s okay, those of us who are realistic realize that no Commander In Chief has ever sent troops to battle with a light heart, and, has never had the perfect scenario for winning. (I cannot think of one example where strategy has not been altered during a conflict.)

War is like life, there are no guarantees, no manuals which define your every move. Those who proudly wear the uniform of this great nation understand the tasks before them. Truth be known, and even with all the negative rhetoric we hear, I believe most Americans understand too.

HT:Transterrestrial Musings

Gee, do you think bin Laden will accept the generous invitation Michael Yon has extended?

It’s understandable that this turn of events might come as news to Osama, because he cannot set foot in Iraq for fear of his life. Osama is welcome to prove this wrong by visiting Basra, Baghdad or Mosul. Iraqis and Americans will welcome Osama in these cities.

Read the whole thing and I bet you’ll agree that even on a double dare bin Laden would never have the courage to face his adversaries head on.

By the way Mr. Yon, welcome home. You certainly more than deserve some R&R.

All the best in the New Year.

*Sorry folks if a few of the posts are a bit dated but with the holidays, this was my first chance to share if you have not already read them.*

Friday night I was watching Animal Planet and they showed some of the memorable animals featured this year.

One is Snowball, a cockatoo who got angry when his owner went away to college and got a bit fiesty.

He was given to Bird Lovers Only Rescue agency in August 2007. The father of the previous owner told the people at Bird Lovers Only that Snowball liked the Backstreet Boys.

He left a CD with them and when it was played this is what they saw: