As Anbar Returns to Iraqi Control, Will MSM Cite Surge Cynics?

Given Hurricane Gustav, the GOP convention—and the MSM's inherent inclination to underreport good news from Iraq—a major story is not getting the attention it deserves. Here's how President Bush described the development

[the photo shows U.S. Marine Maj. Gen John Kelly and Anbar Governor Maamoun
Sami Rashid signing the handover papers. (AP Photo/Wathiq Khuzaie, Pool)]

Today in Iraq, responsibility for security in Anbar Province was transferred to Iraqi civilian authorities. Iraqi forces will now take the lead in security operations in Anbar, with American troops moving into an overwatch role. Not long ago, Anbar was one of the most dangerous provinces in Iraq. Al Qaeda was in control of almost every major population center, and its leaders intended to turn Anbar province into a safe haven from which to plan and launch further attacks against Iraqis and others in the region, as well as here at home.

Today, Anbar is no longer lost to al Qaeda - it is al Qaeda that lost Anbar. Iraqis - like countless other Muslims across the world - witnessed al Qaeda's brutality first-hand and rejected it. As a result, Anbar has been transformed and reclaimed by the Iraqi people. This achievement is a credit to the courage of our troops, the Iraqi Security Forces, and the brave tribes and other civilians from Anbar who worked alongside them.

On this red-letter day, will the Old Media take a walk down memory lane and cite the various members of the media and the body politic who declared the surge a failure and Anbar lost?

Being the obliging souls we are, here's a handy compendium of citations, starting with one from the vice-presidential candidate so acclaimed for his foreign-policy expertise.

Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE): "Just thinking that somehow 30,000 forces are going to change the circumstances … what does that do to change the dynamic in Anbar province?" (Senator Joseph Biden, Conference Call With Reporters, 12/26/06)

[and] Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): + Rep. John Murtha (D-PA): + Senator Jim Webb (D-VA): + Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY): + Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI): ...

[and] the Media: MSNBC: Keith Olbermann: + CNN: Michael Ware: + CNN: Miles O'Brien: + CNN: Jamie McIntyre: + NBC: Jim Miklaszewski:

[Recommended > we should remember what they said when. They're certainly not going to mention it, and probably not stop them from doing it again]

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