Bill Mahr had a warning for us during tonight's "Real Time" show on HBO. (The one with Daniel Coe and Roseanne Barr).
He said something to the effect of: "Just watch. In the next few weeks you're going to see reports in the news that things are getting better in Iraq."
With that in warning in mind, I watched UPI reporter Pam Hess discussing what she saw in Iraq as interviewed by Brian Lamb on C-Span.
In a simplified way, she attempted to give U.S. viewer's a sense of what is going on in certain southern cities there. She said some of the Sunnis tribes there are starting to work with U.S. to get rid of certain insurgents because they were heinously butchering locals. In return for help in fighting these insurgents, certain tribal members volunteer to be police or become local officials.
The take away from Ms. Hess's reporting is that the soldiers are encouraged because the local tribes are now somewhat dependent on the U.S. for their lives. This implies "if we give the surge" time and it all may yet work out in Iraq. (Ms. Hess didn't say this but that is what I took away.)
My question is considering that UPI is owned by Reverend Soon Jung Moon-- as is the Washington Times--is she a credible? I've never heard or seen anything reported by Pam Hess before and don't know her. She seemed even handed but given Bill Mahr's warning I'm wondering?
Could you guys give me some feedback.