Mr. Bob points the way to a stellar Wall Street Journal column penned by Michael Yon, who has earned the utmost credibility in Iraq by virtue of spending more time following the action in person than probably any other independent observer. So when he writes:

I have seen this war – and our part in it – at its brutal worst. And I say the transformation over the last 14 months is little short of miraculous.

The change goes far beyond the statistical decline in casualties or incidents of violence. A young Iraqi translator, wounded in battle and fearing death, asked an American commander to bury his heart in America. Iraqi special forces units took to the streets to track down terrorists who killed American soldiers. The U.S. military is the most respected institution in Iraq, and many Iraqi boys dream of becoming American soldiers. Yes, young Iraqi boys know about “GoArmy.com.”

Or:

Over the past 15 months, we have proved that we can win this war. We stand now at the moment of truth. Victory – and a democracy in the Arab world – is within our grasp. But it could yet slip away if our leaders remain transfixed by the war we almost lost, rather than focusing on the war we are winning today.

We should be paying attention to what Michael Yon has to say. The reality-challenged crew in the U.S. Senate Democratic caucus and their online spin machine need to read this more than most, but it’s likely they will miss it altogether.

A Colorado blogger with whom I have only recently become familiar – Randy Ketner, aka the Night Twister – has put together a post you must read. He hit the nail on the head with ironic precision, comparing the Congressional Democrats’ complaints about the lack of political progress in Iraq with their own lack of progress in meeting legislative benchmarks.

You need to read the whole thing, but here’s a clip to whet your appetite:

Well, there you have it. A fair comparison of the legislative progress by the Iraqi and our own Legislatures. Here’s the scorecard:

U.S. Congress: 0 completed, 1 partially completed, 6 not completed.

Iraqi Government: 4 completed, 2 partially completed, 1 not completed.

It should be noted that for the Iraqi Government, these benchmarks were dictated to them. For our own Congress, they were selected by the very leaders that have failed to carry them out.

I’m starting to agree that the cut-and-run strategy may be the best choice, but only from the legislative body that has failed to meet any of their benchmarks.

This post opens up a rich world of commentary, from serious to satire. Bookmark the Night Twister, whom I look forward to meeting at Samsphere Denver.

Texas Congressman Michael Conaway, member of the House Armed Services Committee, has a great online petition you can sign as a way to respond to the Left-wing anti-military smears General David Petraeus has endured:

In response to these attacks, I would like to present the General with a petition that includes signatures and comments from citizens who support both our efforts in Iraq and the men and women in uniform who are currently making such immense sacrifices for victory. We must show solidarity behind our heroic military and make our voices of hope and support louder and stronger than those of the radical anti-war groups. We must illustrate that the efforts of the military in this successful surge have not gone unnoticed. We must proclaim that it would be undeniably disastrous for our national security to retreat and inhumane to leave the Iraqi people in the hands of the brutal and violent Islamic jihadists.

It’s one of the least things any of us can do.

Updates on Joshua Sharf‘s primary challenge to Rima Barakat Sinclair in House District 6 …

Rocky Mountain News editor Vince Carroll unpacks Barakat Sinclair’s claims that she is a “centrist”:

You might wonder about our judgment, but you cannot doubt where Barakat Sinclair stands on the Israeli-Palestinian debate: with the hard-edged anti-Israel fringe. She has made too many similar claims regarding the Israelis’ alleged policies of “systematic indiscriminate murder” to brush them off as an aberration.

“Sinclair describes herself as a centrist,” her campaign Web site tells us.

Except on the one issue she cares most about, it seems.

(H/T Michael at Best Destiny, who also issued his official endorsement of Joshua)

Joshua’s story has even tripped the blogosphere big time, with a mention at Little Green Footballs.

Also, Joshua has posted more information about how you can support his principled grassroots campaign:

I cannot tell you how gratifying it is that people are inquiring as to where you may send campaign contributions, and we have finally set up a campaign committee, “Citizens For Joshua Sharf.” The address is:

Citizens For Joshua Sharf
c/o Treasurer Mark Makowitz
PO Box 24926
Denver, CO 80224

In a state house race, even a little goes a long way, so thanks to everyone who sees fit to drop a few bucks in the mail.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

With today’s coverage in the Rocky Mountain News, the developing Republican primary in Denver’s House District 6 has launched into public view:

A Middle Eastern native running for a state House seat faces a challenge from a blogger who called her “a terror apologist and an avowed enemy of Israel with no credible conservative credentials.”

Republican Rima Barakat Sinclair said she has been unfairly labeled because she is a Muslim of Palestinian descent.

“I absolutely deny that,” she said, of claims she supports terrorism. “What is behind that? Where is the proof? This is nothing but mudslinging.”

In case you hadn’t found it yet, here is the proof. (Note: Rima Barakat Sinclair is NOT a victim.) The 5-minute YouTube video alone, which both her primary opponent Joshua Sharf and Rocky Mountain Right have posted online as recently as today, is sufficiently damning. If you don’t have time to watch the video or read the transcript, El Presidente has posted the money quote in bright lights and big letters:

“Israeli soldiers now are known to be just bombing and killing babies”–Rima Barakat Sinclair, July 2006, in an interview on CBS4

(Catch that? The biggest claim she made is not that Israelis are occupiers, but that they are “killing babies.”)

Rima Barakat Sinclair’s memory loss seems mainly to be a convenience. She needs to stop dissembling and start explaining. But judging by today’s Rocky story, Ms. Barakat Sinclair doesn’t seem willing to go there. That in itself provides enough justification for Joshua’s candidacy.

But the less sexy part of the story that further explains why Joshua has decided to throw his hat into the ring is the stunning absence of Ms. Barakat Sinclair’s “conservative credentials.” GOP primary voters in House District 6 can study this for themselves and decide. Asking about Rima Barakat Sinclair’s “conservative credentials” is a very legitimate line of inquiry, especially in light of the only available public statements brought to light: calling Israelis baby-killers, and supporting a pro-choice candidate.

Joshua deserves credit for his willingness to challenge her on the basis of his own “conservative credentials,” to make sure the GOP doesn’t run an uncredentialed Hamas sympathizer on the general election ticket – even if the odds of general election victory are virtually zero.

Meanwhile, the Dead Governors – blinded by a view of politics that is limited to power and ambition, sans principles – don’t get what the big deal is with the “nasty spat” in House District 6′s GOP. They strongly imply that Joshua’s arguments are intolerant, “shallow”, and “xenophobic”, but have no real evidence to make their case. That the Dead Governors couldn’t bother to link to the incriminating video, much less mention it, says all you need to know about their credibility on this issue.

After reading this, perhaps you will take the opportunity to find out how you can show your support for Joshua Sharf.

Today Colorado Confidential published a story by Kate Bernuth about a controversy developing at a small private Denver school. It starts as a typical foray into agenda journalism for the heavily Left-leaning site:

At a tiny international school in southeast Denver, a conflict is playing out that reflects, in a microcosm, the wider divisions in American society as the nation enters the sixth year of a bloody, unpopular war.

A display of photographs and a statement by the Iranian artist in the halls of Colorado International School has caused a dust-up between administrators and an outraged parent who accuses the school of spreading “anti-American propaganda.”

Every month at this language-immersion school of 44 students, most of whom are in pre-school and kindergarten, the customs, geography and language of one nation are highlighted with a special presentation. This month, to coincide with Persian New Year, the focus is on Iran, and the school invited Farhad Vakili Tabar to display photographs from his homeland.

Near the photos of the Iranian children is one image of an Iraqi boy named Ali Rekaad, a brief story of his life, and the date and time that he and his entire family were killed by a U.S. bomb. Underneath is artist Farhad Vakili Tabar’s stated purpose for the collection of photographs:

“By showing the portraits of some Iranian children, I hope to bring up the faces of thousands of Iraqi children who have died, become orphans, handicapped or homeless in this war.” [emphasis added]

Moving beyond the clear agenda journalism in the story’s opening line, here is a picture of Tabar’s two posted writings – sent to me by the aggrieved parent – that stirred the controversy:
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Today’s lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal puts our five-year-long war in Iraq in perspective – surveying where we’ve come from, where we are today, and what the near future portends. The editorial, which deserves perusal from beginning to end, concludes:

In our March 18, 2003 editorial on the eve of Iraq’s liberation, we supported the war while noting that “toppling Saddam is a long-term undertaking” and “the U.S. has never been good at nation-building.” We wish we had been wrong on both counts, but our view has always been that nations shouldn’t begin wars they don’t intend to win. And newspapers don’t endorse wars only to walk away when the fighting gets difficult. The U.S. sacrifice in Iraq has been honorable, our soldiers have fought superbly, and the best way — the only way — to honor both is to leave Iraq in victory.

Those who disagree with the last sentence are slowly being revealed as the radical fringe they are. They continue to ignore the success of “The Surge” and General Petraeus’ innovative counter-insurgency strategy. There are many other Americans, however, who are not beyond persuasion.

Perhaps they will get a glimpse of the coverage of the Vets for Freedom National Heroes Tour (H/T Michelle Malkin) as the noble band continues to roll from coast to coast. My only regret is the Tour won’t be coming to Colorado.

But El Presidente has the local scoop, with a grand roundup of the 5th anniversary in Colorado – including poignant stories, tales of heroism, news of soaring re-enlistments out of “duty to country,” and a reminder of the face of the local anti-war movement.

With so many other distractions swirling around us – from the frivolous to the often serious – it’s easy to forget about a far-off place in Iraq now that the stabilizing country has mostly disappeared off the front pages of media outlets. I appreciated these reminders today, and I hope you will, too.

Joshua has a very disturbing report that took me by surprise:

The Republicans in State House District 6 in Denver are about to make a terrible mistake.

At their Assembly on March 1, they nominated a terror apologist, and an avowed enemy of Israel, with no credible conservative credentials as their candidate to succeed Rep. Andrew Romanoff. Her name is Rima Barakat Sinclair.

Joshua has all the details and the links to make his case. It’s not the religion, but the Leftist affiliations, the moral equivalence, the deceptive behavior, and the dissembling rhetoric that Ms. Barakat Sinclair should have to answer clearly for.

Rather than rehashing it all, I would say that if there is any truth and substance in this report, that Joshua’s conclusion is absolutely correct. The Party needs to find another candidate to rally around in District 6:

Fortunately, the nomination is not yet set in stone, and there is still a chance to petition a more appropriate candidate onto the ballot.

Such a candidate would be able to help build party strength, keep it viable in a difficult season, promote ideas and philosophies we all care about, and perhaps even help in some small way the candidates for statewide and national office.

It would be an almost sure defeat in the general election, but the cost to petition on the ballot would be well worth saving any honor the Party has.

Over at the Corner, Mark Steyn highlights the Left’s illogical “Sharia creep” in its latest manifestations in the United States:

Forty years ago, advocating separate drinking fountains made you a racist. Today, advocating separate taxi cabs or separate swimming sessions makes you a multiculturalist.

No one has a keener eye for this stuff than Mark Steyn. If you’re not reading him regularly, you should be. After all, he has been fighting the good fight for free speech against Canada’s Human Rights Commission. (More on this story from Michelle Malkin.)

A little solidarity today from south of the 48th parallel.

A letter in today’s Raleigh-Durham News & Observer:

In the Feb. 15 N&O, an article’s headline said, “Study’s look at oceans is sobering.” It described research showing negative human influences on nearly every corner of Earth’s oceans and seas.

This is just one of many worrisome phenomena that we read and hear about daily: severe water shortage, global warming, overcrowded schools, power plant pollution, deforestation, endangered species, gang crime and so on. But they all have something in common that never seems to get mentioned: There are too many humans on this planet! Further, I understand that we are increasing by 70 million a year!

We can reduce our littering, change our consumption habits, find better ways to generate electricity, limit the number of new homes, try to protect endangered species and so on, but those solutions only ameliorate the problem until further population expansion and increased human demands overtake them. To add to the problem, having large families is apparently becoming popular again.

Do no political leaders — or, for that matter, news reporters — recognize that the reason behind so many of our more serious problems is simply overpopulation? Do none of them see the urgent need for more and better family planning?

Robert P. Hawkins, Ph.D.
Cary

Letters like this make me thankful for two things: 1) The First Amendment forbids radical ecosocialist neo-pagans from imposing the genocidal implications of their views on the rest of us; and 2) That I opted not to pursue an academic career.

Where else but the modern nihilistic academy could such naive, amoral, and ill-informed views not only emerge but also thrive and flourish? This helped to serve as a reminder today of the great need to work to preserve America’s Founding vision and to keep her from heading down the track of Euro-Socialism. There’s a lot at stake.

Mr. Bob (via the amazing Michael Yon) points us to “The Last Major Battle in Iraq?” It is to my discredit that I don’t keep up with events in the Middle East as well as I should. With the success of the “Surge” strategy, events in Iraq largely have fallen off the MSM radar and out of the Presidential campaign debate. But it was interesting to read this news today.

After you check out this post, remember also to stop by the Victory Caucus website, which is loaded with tons of information and commentary.

From an email received this morning:

The David Horowitz Freedom Center announced that it will distribute a Declaration Against Genocide and ask individuals and groups, particularly those on American college campuses, to sign it. The Declaration notes that the Sudanese and other Africans have been victims of a slow motion genocide, and that Islamo fascists in the Middle East are preparing a new genocide against the Jews and can be found here.

In describing the objectives of this new initiative, David Horowitz, President of the Freedom Center, said: “We are asking all campus groups to repudiate the genocidal passage in the Islamic Hadith which reads: “The prophet, prayer and peace be upon him, said: ‘The time [of judgment] will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews and kill them; until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him!’”

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Two weeks ago I wrote about Congressional candidate Jared Polis’ impending visit to Iraq:

Look, Polis’ trip to Iraq may turn out to be all for show. But then again he may be genuine, in which case I hope he takes time to meet with some of our enlisted troops, our young officers, as well as local Iraqi leaders and tribal chiefs.

Was the trip all for show? Blackfive has the answer:

So, here’s Mr. Richie Rich, scratching for Congress, looking for an ‘in’, and decides to fund a trip to Iraq; see the natives, bash the Bush, just to say ‘been there, seen that’. Unfortunately, about all HE saw was the inside of a hotel and the view from a car window. So, he’s ready to be ambassador, now?

So why do I care about this? Because I despise people showboating about the situation over there; needlessly putting themselves at risk, and saying their experts because they’ve seen 1/1,000th of what actually goes on over there. Its like going to the zoo for the afternoon and then claiming you’re an expert zoologist because you spent time in the chimp exhibit.

Two weeks ago I also wrote:

This could turn out to be an interesting race in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District. But only if one or more of the candidates is willing to make a grown-up assessment of our Middle East foreign policy by going to really look for himself.

I may have been right, but looks like we’ll never know. Hoping for Democrat Congressional candidates – especially those wooing the votes of Boulderites – to have serious, grown-up, well-informed views of Iraq. Nothing more than misguided optimism, I guess.

Liberal Democrat and Colorado Congressional candidate Jared Polis, with whom I frequently disagree on this blog, is to be commended for deciding to take a look at what’s going on in Iraq himself:

Polis, former chairman of the state education board, is leaving today to spend a week with relief agencies, Iraqi civilians and two deployed Colorado lawmakers.

Polis said the point of the trip is to “get a broader picture of what’s going on” in Iraq, not “hold a large turkey for photo ops.”

Contrast Polis’ apparent open-minded with the self-blinding attitude of his chief Democrat primary opponent, who typify the Left’s talking points that dominate with their party in Congress:

Fitz-Gerald’s campaign said the trip isn’t necessary.

“The facts on Iraq are clear and have been,” she said. “We should end the war immediately and bring the troops home. When Jared gets back, I hope that he agrees [sic] me.”

Will the Party establishment and the Left in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District rally enough to support another candidate with the blinders on? Another Democrat pol with her head in the sand? Maybe someone should subscribe Fitz-Gerald to the dispatches of Michael Yon or Michael Totten. Or how about a front-page glimpse (believe it or not, at last!) at today’s New York Times.

Look, Polis’ trip to Iraq may turn out to be all for show. But then again he may be genuine, in which case I hope he takes time to meet with some of our enlisted troops, our young officers, as well as local Iraqi leaders and tribal chiefs. Who knows? He might end up getting a taste of the Brian Baird treatment.

If Polis dares to talk about the progress taking place in Iraq before the primary election, he may incur the wrath of MoveOn.org and the other well-heeled doctrinaire defeatists who are fighting for the helm of the Democrat Party. Then again, Polis has plenty of his own cash, too.

This could turn out to be an interesting race in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District. But only if one or more of the candidates is willing to make a grown-up assessment of our Middle East foreign policy by going to really look for himself.

Godspeed to Lt. Col. (and state representative) Joe Rice, who will be deployed to Baghdad for a three-month stint starting in October, as reported today in the Denver Post‘s Politics West:

Rice, who has three young children, said he looks forward to getting the “feel of the street” in Baghdad.

“Unless you are out there on the street, you just don’t get it,” he said.

As an operations analyst, Rice will look for the best practices among reconstruction teams. He plans to spend a lot of time with the Iraqi police force.

Rice, who has been in the Army for 23 years, said he didn’t think about asking for a special deployment exemption because he is a state lawmaker.

I am honored to have met Rep. Rice in May 2006, before he was elected to his current position at the State Capitol. He joins Sen. Steve Ward, who deployed to Iraq in late August, and follows in the footsteps of Secretary of State Mike Coffman, who took leave from his State Treasurer’s job in 2005-2006 to serve in the war on terror’s central front.

As I pointed out earlier upon learning of Sen. Ward’s departure, seeing another state legislator deployed should remind us how important it is to support all our troops.