Paul Mirengoff at PowerLine Blog notes that al Qaeda's popularity is decreasing as a result of our occupation and destruction of their networks. Go figure. Allahpundit points out, meanwhile, that The New York Times, of all people, is reporting on the rise of secularism among the Iraqi youth.
I remember when we were preparing to invade Iraq and people were decrying our lack of understanding about the culture and terrain. "Desert Power," that's what we needed...didn't anyone read Dune?! The ignorance of that idea is laughable to this day, since our superior technology means that we're the only ones who can survive in the desert (water transportation and air power).
Now, about the issue of the various sectarian and ethnic groups, we truly didn't know as much as we should have. But there were two significant factors on our side. In the first place, Islamic culture has a great tendency to respect power. In our dealings with the Middle East, it is nearly always the case that displays of power accomplish things and displays of pandering move us backward. And indeed, our display of toughness in Iraq is showing the Islamic world that we aren't going away before al Qaeda does. In the second place, Iraq has a relatively highly-educated populace and is largely composed of Shi'a, the sect of Islam more closely associated with secular government. For example, Shi'a Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has repeatedly refused to make efforts to install himself as ruler despite his high standing in Shi'a Islam and his immense popularity; Ahmed Chalabi, formerly exiled leader of the Iraqi National Congress, is a Shi'a who explicitly espouses a secular government and who has done well for himself in the new system.
Americans need to take three moments. One, to rejoice in the incremental gains we are seeing in Iraq. Two, to remember the words of those who said the surge had been defeated before it began, who dishonored our soldiers, and who repeatedly threaten to negotiate with those whose only term is our death. Three, to mark the right box in November.
(Have I drunk the McCain kool-aid? You'll have to stay tuned! Every day is more exciting than the last, eh?)
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