Let's suppose that the so-called "surge" worked and that the terrrorists are on the run as Neocon pundit Ralph Peters loves to claim. It would still not make the case that the Republicans are trying to make -- that we need to perpetually occupy Iraq and never leave there. Given the massive failures of the occupation of Iraq, the Republicans like Peters have to be masters of creativity at putting lipstick on this pig as they try to invent the most magnificent of excuses for propping up a failed policy.

According to a new report by an independent think tank in Afghanistan, "Islamo-Fascists"—including Taliban and al Qaeda forces—are close to retaking Kabul and effectively winning the Global War on Terror—the war launched by the United States in 2001 as payback for the attacks of September 11.  

Meanwhile, neo-conservatives, chickenhawks, and right-wing fanatics are gearing up for victory celebrations because violence is slightly down a thousand miles away—in an unrelated Arab country’s civil war.

I read the NY Post on most days so no one else here has to suffer thru it. Actually I enjoy it, it's a fun paper, despite its conservative views. Anyway today I was reading Ralph Peters' column titled "Lose the Mercenaries: `Contractors' wreck Iraq progress." Follow me below the fold for more...

In a column on August 2,nd, New York Post Columnist Ralph Peters rallied against Senator Barak Obama's plan to invade the infamous border region between Pakistan & Afghanistan. In his column, Ralph Peters brought to light several practical obstacles which would hinder our success politically & militarily.

However, like Senator Obama, he failed to express what could be a workable solution.

Senator Obama is looking at Iraq from the standpoint that many in the Democratic Party are ie: our original was to liberate Iraq from the grips of it's then dictator, Sadham Hussein. We accomplished that goal long ago.
Not only did the coalition forces drive Mr. Hussein from power, but he was found after having been on the run for a period of time, tried for his crimes &  executed after a very contentious trial,

We clearly succeed in fulfilling our original mandate, and then some.

A recent NY Post artilce entitled "Battling for Baghdad" got to me.  Unsurprisingly, it's the same talkingpointish BS that we hear everywhere from right-wing media outlets.  But I thought I'd make this article a case study in why so many of the right's screeds are not just wrong, but dishonest.

What bothers me most isn't the obvious partisan bias of the author or his wishful potrayal of the situation.  It's his constant use of logical fallacies to support his flimsy reasoning.

This is beautiful, the right wing just hates the ISG and it isn't pretty!

The New York Post has an ugly picture that really tells you all you need to know. I'm a nice guy, so i will give you some Free Republic opinions with your coffee, it is all free and fun too :)

Prime Minister Olmert is hinting about strikes on Iran and will meet with President Bush today.  Israel still wants the United States to attack Iran, regardless of the interests of the American people or the peaceful intentions of Iran itself:

Houston Chronicle
"Our big worry is that they will wait too long to act, after it is too late to stop the Iranians from gaining the knowledge to build a bomb," said one senior Israeli official

Saddam had achieved almost universal adult literacy and Baghdadi meant "wealthy"in Arabic slang when his administration became a target for devastating sanctions and war.  Lebanon had rebuilt a vibrant economy, drawing large numbers of sophisticated young professionals, when it was bombed back to the stone age this summer.  Iran's educational progress and economic scale now invite our wrath and destruction.

Iran must be attacked soon to prevent it becoming an examplar of economic progress and a regional power, and the plan is to permanently impoverish Iranians by stealing their oil wealth.

It's always entertaining to watch neocon rats deserting their Good Ship Iraq. Sad, yes....pitiful, certainly...but...

Well, just see for yourself what NY Post wingnut columnist Ralph Peters is saying today about that war where it used to be that "failure is not an option"

Cross-posted on Ignorant Hussy.
Ralph Peters has a real identity crisis. He can't decide whether he is Ann Coulter or William F. Buckley. He writes brillant scholarly articles for the Royal Australian Air Force, and Washington Monthly. He has appeared on PBS's Frontline. All those times as a thoughtful, intellectual commentator.

But something happened to Ralph Peters.