[DaRizzle]

My dad is 100% Iraqi American. He came over to the US about 35 years ago. My family is literally one of the first four founding families for the city of Baghdad. I have been to Iraq twice, both after the first Gulf War but obviously before this second war.

My uncle who has lived his entire life in Baghdad say things are getting significantly better. He says Al-Qaeda are completely gone. The Ba'ath party is in total dissaray. The rest of the extremists are doing small damage but with no real purpose or significance in regards to the big picture. My cousin a pharmacist in Baghdad came to the US for one month for more training to help the problems over there more.

My uncle actually said my dad should probably come over and visit in a year, thats how good its becoming over there according to him. Obviously "good" is a relative term. "Good" to them means nobody is dying, small businesses are being productive, and there is running water and electricity.

I know Talkhard is gonna jump all over this one...sorry guys

[maxiep]

This isn't about ideology. We should all want people everywhere to live free of terrorism. This post is terrific news you're passing on to us. Let's hope the situation continues to improve and that Sunni, Shia and Kurd can continue to work together to rebuild the country.

[It's_GO_Time]

Originally Posted by DaRizzle

My dad is 100% Iraqi American. He came over to the US about 35 years ago. My family is literally one of the first four founding families for the city of Baghdad. I have been to Iraq twice, both after the first Gulf War but obviously before this second war.

My uncle who has lived his entire life in Baghdad say things are getting significantly better. He says Al-Qaeda are completely gone. The Ba'ath party is in total dissaray. The rest of the extremists are doing small damage but with no real purpose or significance in regards to the big picture. My cousin a pharmacist in Baghdad came to the US for one month for more training to help the problems over there more.

My uncle actually said my dad should probably come over and visit in a year, thats how good its becoming over there according to him. Obviously "good" is a relative term. "Good" to them means nobody is dying, small businesses are being productive, and there is running water and electricity.

I know Talkhard is gonna jump all over this one...sorry guys

Great news to hear . . . kind of like an inside source in a way. But I'm confused about Al Queda being completely gone comment, did you hear about recent car bomb a few days ago:

The explosion, the deadliest in the capital for three months, showed that despite the progress made by the US ‘surge’ and an increased presence of Iraqi armed forces o the streets, bombers are still waiting to strike at any moment. The attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda, who have killed thousands of Shia civilians in bombings so vicious that they eventually turned its local Sunni insurgent allies against it in many parts of the country.

“The blast occurred because there wasn't any security presence by the Iraqi army or police at the scene, not even any checkpoint,” said local resident Khalid Hassan, who was wounded in the blast. “We are all victims of terrorism and carelessness.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4159941.ece

[maxiep]

Originally Posted by It's_GO_Time

Great news to hear . . . kind of like an inside source in a way. But I'm confused about Al Queda being completely gone comment, did you hear about recent car bomb a few days ago:

The explosion, the deadliest in the capital for three months, showed that despite the progress made by the US ‘surge’ and an increased presence of Iraqi armed forces o the streets, bombers are still waiting to strike at any moment. The attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda, who have killed thousands of Shia civilians in bombings so vicious that they eventually turned its local Sunni insurgent allies against it in many parts of the country.

“The blast occurred because there wasn't any security presence by the Iraqi army or police at the scene, not even any checkpoint,” said local resident Khalid Hassan, who was wounded in the blast. “We are all victims of terrorism and carelessness.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4159941.ece

I think this is the important part of DaRizzle's post:

The rest of the extremists are doing small damage but with no real purpose or significance in regards to the big picture.

I'm certain there will continue to be occasional suicide attacks as people and explosives are cheap, but overall they've been severely diminished.

[DaRizzle]

No I didnt hear about the car bombing. Obviously it is still considered a war zone. In that article it states that there was no security in that area. IMO that could be taken as everywhere else is relatively safe and policed, and they are only able to strike the outskirts of the secured area.

For arguments sake, say there was one small group(50-100 people) of Al-Qaeda left that did that attack that is virtually gone compared to what it used to be.

I didnt talk to my uncle, my dad did, so I really cant elaborate on what he said since my first post is all I heard.

[Dan]

I don't doubt things are getting better, in a way that kinda suggests we should be leaving sooner.

[It's_GO_Time]

Originally Posted by maxiep

I think this is the important part of DaRizzle's post:



I'm certain there will continue to be occasional suicide attacks as people and explosives are cheap, but overall they've been severely diminished.

I hope so . . . but still, it is starnge to hear such glowing reports the same week they had a car bombing in Bagdad taht killed 51 and wounded 70. Doesn't sound like things are that good or safe enough to visit . . . but I get it's all relative.

Like I said, I hope that a car bombing in Bagdad is more the exception these days . . . that is progress.

[maxiep]

Originally Posted by Dan

I don't doubt things are getting better, in a way that kinda suggests we should be leaving sooner.

It also kinda suggests that the surge is working.

I have zero problem with leaving Iraq, but only after we've thoroughly defeated the Al-Qaeda presence in Iraq, the Ba'athists, gotten the militias to completely disarm and stopped both Iran and Syria from interfering in Iraqi affairs.

I look forward to those people in public office that oppose our presence there relate the good news coming from Iraq. Something tell me, however, that good news in Iraq for those people is thought of as bad news.

[It's_GO_Time]

Originally Posted by DaRizzle

No I didnt hear about the car bombing. Obviously it is still considered a war zone. In that article it states that there was no security in that area. IMO that could be taken as everywhere else is relatively safe and policed, and they are only able to strike the outskirts of the secured area.

For arguments sake, say there was one small group(50-100 people) of Al-Qaeda left that did that attack that is virtually gone compared to what it used to be.

I didnt talk to my uncle, my dad did, so I really cant elaborate on what he said since my first post is all I heard.

I hear you . . . and I acknowledged that the car bombing could be more the exception these days.

It really is good to hear from people living there that things are getting better. I don't know anyone (besides friends in the armed forces) who lives thier and only get my info from whatever news (which from this board I guess can not be trusted) . . . so thanks for passing on the "inside scoop."

[Dornado]

Originally Posted by maxiep

It also kinda suggests that the surge is working.

I have zero problem with leaving Iraq, but only after we've thoroughly defeated the Al-Qaeda presence in Iraq, the Ba'athists, gotten the militias to completely disarm and stopped both Iran and Syria from interfering in Iraqi affairs.

I look forward to those people in public office that oppose our presence there relate the good news coming from Iraq. Something tell me, however, that good news in Iraq for those people is thought of as bad news.

because there's nothing the anti-war crowd likes more than more death...

[maxiep]

Originally Posted by Dornado

because there's nothing the anti-war crowd likes more than more death...

Actually, there are few things that those candidates running against the war like more than signs that we're succeeding in our goals. It's a crappy position to be in, but quite a few candidates have put themselves in a position where our national failure is their personal success. However, they did it to themselves.

[hasoos]

While I have been wanting our troops out of there for a long time, I do agree the best thing that could happen is that it gets better over there. If it gets better, we can leave, and normalize relations. It would also allow the US to concentrate on Afghanistan, and not have to pour so much money into the war, and that would help revitalize the economy.

[hasoos]

Originally Posted by maxiep

It also kinda suggests that the surge