"Petraeus is careful not to credit all the progress to the surge of U.S. troops in 2007. The sea change came last year from a series of movements now known as the Awakening, when Sunnis, organizing around traditional tribal leaders, decided to turn on Al Qaeda as "an organization that embraces an extremist ideology, employs indiscriminate violence, and practices oppressive social customs," in the general's words. One of those customs was a ban on smoking. "That was the turning point when they cut the fingers off the first person who was smoking," he jokes. "Can you imagine an Anbar sheik being told he can't smoke?" So would the Sunni Awakening have succeeded without the surge? Possibly, he concedes, but the surge came at that time and helped empower Sunni leaders, paying their fighters and backing them up on the streets."

Avoiding the V Word | Print Article | Newsweek.com

Bottom line is this.

McCain continuously is blasting Obama for rather wanting to loose a war, than win an election. This has been one of his big talking points as of late. Obama fighting back claiming McCain is attacking his patriotism and McCain claiming he isn't attacking his patriotism, he's attacking his judgement.

After Petraeus' response, I find it hard to believe Obama showed poor judgment when the military commander in Iraq claims the insurgents could have been removed without the extra forces.

So, when McCain states the following:

"Not content to merely predict failure in Iraq, my opponent tried to legislate failure."

He is twisting the truth to benefit his chances to get into the White House.

Here's how I look at McCain's position on Iraq.

All the initial reasons we were given for justification to go into Iraq initially were proven wrong, the WMD's and the training of Al-Qaeda operatives was falsified information. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad violence has died down and the soldiers are somewhat out of harms way.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq

But, McCain is trying to draw attention away from the utter mistake Iraq was and the sacrifices made for this tragic mistake. McCain's focusing on the surge makes me think of a story.

One day, a man was driving down the road, he drove right through a red light and slammed into a minivan. As he approached the van, to his horror, he found a family inside, many of them unconscious or dead. He was able to drag one of the small children out of the car before it became engulfed in flames. The ambulance arrived and the medics were able to resuscitate he small child. Glad the man was able to save this small child, he drove home satisfied and went on his way.

Originally Posted by drychnath Acceptance of radical culture has to change, and American efforts are one of the agents of that change.

Originally Posted by Rinion Why be so general? You can't really have a problem with Radical Buddhism could you? After all sir! Radical Buddhist don't preach Death to infidels. I guess all I am really saying is "fuck politically correct"

Originally Posted by LFG I used my best efforts to try and be supportive of SOE and did everything in my power to try and keep things professional and courteous between SOE and it's players... I will not stand back and be blamed for the incompetence of SOE management.

Originally Posted by Locke I need to stop visiting this site, but I need my seasonal dose of spectating trainwrecks.

Originally Posted by Deson Actually they used to but that wasn't your point... I hate PC but if it saves some lives and prevent major political misunderstandings I'm willing to tolerate it.

Originally Posted by Rinion did they really!? I need to research this! Thanks =o

Originally Posted by LFG I used my best efforts to try and be supportive of SOE and did everything in my power to try and keep things professional and courteous between SOE and it's players... I will not stand back and be blamed for the incompetence of SOE management.

Originally Posted by Locke I need to stop visiting this site, but I need my seasonal dose of spectating trainwrecks.

Originally Posted by Krontak You know what's interesting about the Anbar awakening. The current Iraqi administration is arresting the people we are currently paying to keep the terrorists off the streets for their previous crimes against the Shia. Just wait until Saudi Arabia gets pissed at the Shia for attacking the Sunni. And, I think you missed the point of the story, but I wouldn't expect anything less of you. Wow, what an idiot.