2007: Looking Back At America and Iraq

January 1, 2008

The fireworks are done, the parties are over and as usual, we begin to look back at how the year measured up for the world and us. Politicians made promises and we are still at war, in spite of a major power shift in Washington D.C.

2007 began with the swearing in of the newly elected Democrat majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. America saw its first female Speaker of the House installed as Nancy Pelosi, wealthy San Francisco Congresswoman took the reigns. We now hear that she Faced A Tough Year in 2007 due to her inability to “stop the war in Iraq.”

Winning the war never seemed to be on her or the Democrat Party’s minds, just “ending it.”

After winning the election in November 2006, Democrats wasted little time vowing an array of investigations and once installed in January 2007, implemented several hearings and investigations, all designed to undermine the current administration and weaken his power as president. One report says that 300 Investigations In 100 Days were launched.

President Bush remains in office while Congressional Approval Ratings Hit An All-Time Low. In their review of the year, Fox News tells us,

“President Bush and loyal Republicans did their best to ruin [the Democrats] victory every chance they got.”

2007 also saw a major shift in the ongoing War on Terror in Iraq as a new Commander, Gen. David Petraeus was installed as the 3rd U.S. commander in Iraq. He was to lead a major change in policy towards the war as President Bush announced and implemented a reinforcement of Troops fighting in Iraq, more popularly known as “the Troop Surge,” and with much Bipartisan Opposition.

In spite of the dire warnings of the “surge” being “too late” and “not having a chance to work,” reports from September showed remarkable success, bringing out the angst of opposers to the policy, who shifted their call to needing improvements in “political reconciliation” over Military Security. Seeing the heavy bi-partisanship of our own politicians, they must have missed that even America hasn’t attained reconciliation in our own 230-year existence.

Taking shots at Petraeus’s credibility and attacking him through the media backfired on opposers as the partisan line was crossed, seeing the Senate vote to condemn the denigrating ad.

In Iraq, we saw a large improvement as local Iraqis shifted their stance to supporting American Troops fighting the insurgents. As the violence ebbed, we saw a significant number of Iraqis Returning to Baghdad and surrounding areas, bringing about warnings and threats from the still elusive leadership of the terrorist movement.

Even with the lessening of violence and other improvements noted, we still hear that 2007 was the deadliest year for the U.S. in Iraq, as 899 of our brave troops paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Not that we need reminded, but we are also told it was a Deadly year in Afghanistan as well.

Ensuring Americans hear as much bad news as possible, we were told Iraq's displaced struggle to restart their lives as well as Iraqi refugees turn to sex trade in Syria, making me question the region’s treatment of young women even more.

We were even told once, As violence falls in Iraq, cemetery workers feel the pinch.

On the home front, we are deeply embroiled in another campaign season with Democrat and Republican candidates treating us to their ever verbose words of how much better they are than the other candidates. From the Democrat camp, I have received emails begging donations with words like,

“the Republicans will spend to spin their untruths and distortions,” “Only by expanding our Majority in Congress and putting a Democrat in the White House can we repair our tarnished reputation and reclaim America's rightful position as a source of hope and inspiration around the world,” “the only way to ensure lasting change is that when President Bush leaves office, the Republicans in Congress who made his disastrous policies possible are right behind him” and “let's resolve to run a certain b-rate cowboy and all of his rubber stamp friends in Congress right out of Washington and introduce them to the joys of retirement.”

From the Republicans, I receive,

“no one should let party lines be a barrier to choosing the person we believe is best qualified to lead our nation forward,” “We need strong leaders who recognize that cutting and running is not the answer,” “There are many reasons to elect a person president, but none more important than their ability to be commander in chief on the day they are sworn in to office,” “Your continuing commitment to the RNC is critical to keeping the White House in Republican hands and regaining our majorities” and “It is critical Republicans lay the foundation for victory in 2008 now.”

And to think, we have nearly a year of this left to endure.

Former Vice-President, Al Gore, received the Nobel Peace Prize for his alarmism on Global Warming.

Anti-war protesters are meeting opposition at their protests, finding out that they aren’t the only ones with a view.

The new congressional majority has failed to keep many promises, blaming Republicans for their failure to keep promises made.

In all, it was another year with our Troops fighting our enemies while politicians vie for more power in Washington D.C. I can only think it fitting that the year closed with the announcement by the FBI of rekindling interest in the unsolved, 36 year-old D.B. Cooper Highjacking.

It is my hope that American support of our Troops grows and the ongoing silliness of politicians attacking each other instead of standing on their record encourages voters to get behind those who do stand on their record.

I pray that in 2008, the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan keeps showing signs of improving and that we can not only bring most of our Troops home victorious, but that we will see our efforts have gained us two allies in the fight against terror.

Happy New Year everyone, Let’s make it one together.

Lew