Comments on: The Anbar formula spreads to the Shiites http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/12/the-anbar-formula-spreads-to-the-shiites/ Questions through the veil of ignorance Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:33:25 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Lance http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/12/the-anbar-formula-spreads-to-the-shiites/comment-page-1/#comment-60595 Lance Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:25:44 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1634#comment-60595 The NYT's editorial page has been frankly awful on Iraq. Not because they feel it has gone badly, but their reasons' for their judgments do not reflect the reports of their own reporters. That is pretty inexcusable. When the editors say things flatly contradicted by their own reporters you have a problem. Those reporters however have done a pretty darn good job on Iraq. I have problems with their coverage of many subjects, but not as a rule about Iraq. While certainly no cheerleaders, they have certainly reported their fair share of bad news, they have also consistently reported positive trends and analysis when appropriate. That is all I ask of them. Burns, Gordon and many others have been beacons of informative light compared to most of the rest of the press' consistent laziness, ignorance, and frankly, bias. The NYT’s editorial page has been frankly awful on Iraq. Not because they feel it has gone badly, but their reasons’ for their judgments do not reflect the reports of their own reporters. That is pretty inexcusable. When the editors say things flatly contradicted by their own reporters you have a problem.

Those reporters however have done a pretty darn good job on Iraq. I have problems with their coverage of many subjects, but not as a rule about Iraq. While certainly no cheerleaders, they have certainly reported their fair share of bad news, they have also consistently reported positive trends and analysis when appropriate. That is all I ask of them. Burns, Gordon and many others have been beacons of informative light compared to most of the rest of the press’ consistent laziness, ignorance, and frankly, bias.

]]> By: lgude http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/12/the-anbar-formula-spreads-to-the-shiites/comment-page-1/#comment-60593 lgude Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:08:46 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1634#comment-60593 I've been watching carefully for clear signs that the Shiites were turning on their extremists and this report is the most encouraging I've seen. It reminds me of the early reports from Ramadi by Bill Roggio in the Summer of 2006 at the beginning of the Anbar awakening. From before the invasion my central concern has been what does the Shiite majority do with their new power. The Sunni awakening was necessary for any real progress, but a widespread Shiite awakening could produce the general security and political stability we have been seeking. Petraeus seems to be wasting no time spreading his bottom up approach to Baghdad and the Shiites which should make the central government's job easier and well as increasing popular pressure on them to perform. Ironic that the New York Times would publish such fundamentally good news from Iraq - but they occasionally do. I’ve been watching carefully for clear signs that the Shiites were turning on their extremists and this report is the most encouraging I’ve seen. It reminds me of the early reports from Ramadi by Bill Roggio in the Summer of 2006 at the beginning of the Anbar awakening. From before the invasion my central concern has been what does the Shiite majority do with their new power. The Sunni awakening was necessary for any real progress, but a widespread Shiite awakening could produce the general security and political stability we have been seeking. Petraeus seems to be wasting no time spreading his bottom up approach to Baghdad and the Shiites which should make the central government’s job easier and well as increasing popular pressure on them to perform. Ironic that the New York Times would publish such fundamentally good news from Iraq – but they occasionally do.

]]> By: al fin http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/12/the-anbar-formula-spreads-to-the-shiites/comment-page-1/#comment-60592 al fin Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:04:53 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1634#comment-60592 Thanks for a very nice summary. It's impossible to predict the future of Iraq by following the micro-events day to day. The broader currents that you describe are more important. The larger war against religious and secular fascism and collectivism is even more important to win. Thanks for a very nice summary. It’s impossible to predict the future of Iraq by following the micro-events day to day. The broader currents that you describe are more important.

The larger war against religious and secular fascism and collectivism is even more important to win.

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