Michael Yon Reports: "Al Qaeda in Iraq is Defeated"

Michael Yon, independent photo-journalist and freelance embedded reporter in Baghdad, Iraq, interviewed on CNN’s This Week at War saying that not only is violence down, but the mood of the people has dramatically changed for the better. He says violence in some areas has “simply stopped”.

Yon also discussed the Iraqi Islamic Party pronouncement that “al-Qaeda is defeated” in Iraq.

In his latest dispatch, Iraqi Islamic Party: “Al Qaeda is Defeated”, Yon describes the al-Rashid district of Baghdad where my husband served with the 82^nd ABN in 2003-04, saying:

“Rashid is quickly developing into what might be one of the final serious battlegrounds of the war.”

LT GEN Odierno briefed  the media for MNF-I on Thursday (transcript) and detailed the reductions in attacks, IED explosions, Iraq civilian deaths, U.S. killed and wounded in actions. (slides)  Check it out.

And did you know thousands are returning to a safer Iraqi capital and that Iraqi taxi drivers say the streets in Baghdad are safer?

OTHERS BLOGGING: Gateway Pundit  Flopping Aces  AubreyJ  Marie’s Two Cents 

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Comments

[American Interests]

It's great, the news keeps getting better and yet the administration seems to timid to embrace it, to seize the moment.

Andrew Bolt, a hometown journalist has written a worthy piece about the improving situation in Iraq.

See: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22689634-5007146,00.html

[Johnny]

Wow, that article by Andrew Bolt is very moving. If a tenth of it is true, I feel totally vindicated for having fought there in 2003 to take down Saddam's Ba'athist regime. May God bless the efforts to secure Iraq!

Oh, the libs are flaming mad at him for writing such things! The comments left are hate-filled and attack the messenger more than the message.

[Goat]

I trust Mike Yon's words over just about anybody else having read every single dispatch. We have crested the ridge, the peak is near and the descent ahead, even Napolean called victory the most dangerous time of war, even as the descent is the most dangerous part of climbing a mountain.Have we reached safe groung yet? I think we are on right path but not quite there yet.We are off the mountain but not back to basecamp yet, a few swollen rivers to cross and a landmine or two but things are looking good.
Sidenote: The blog awards needs a Milblog Mom/Wife award, don't you think? Maybe Steve can cajole some buddies into getting that added to next years poll. You have my vote Amy.

[Johnny]

I think its worth pointing out that AQ being neutralized in Iraq is not the same as winning the war. Counterinsurgencies typically take a decade to coalesce into stable conditions. AQ is clearly in retreat (Bin Laden's appeals and plea for pardon). The greater war is still very much in play but I would say the momentum is favring the government of Iraq.

[Amy P]

Yon said the current success in Iraq isn't just an anomaly but that it is a trend.

Considering that as recently as September Democrats were calling GEN Petraeus a liar and now are completely changing the subject, I'd say this is news worth really getting excited over. If Democrats could have succeeded in hurting the war effort and cutting funding, etc., Iraq would be crumbling from the inside out.

So I hear you about "winning the war" and defer to your judgment, but I think these sorts of stories need to be held up to the spot light and that Iraqis, GEN Petraues, Pres. Bush and our troops should all be on the receiving end of a lot of praise right about now.

[AubreyJ]

Thanks, Amy...
AubreyJ.........

[Goat]

I agree Steve, possibly two or three decades, a full generation for sure, but the success is remarkable and many thanks for your service as well.