CRACKS APPEAR IN DEMOCRAT'S OPPOSITION TO IRAQ WAR

When Congress left for it's August recess, everyone expected them to return with cracks in the resolve of the Republicans to back the President on Iraq. Well, surprise, surprise!!! There are cracks - but they are on the Democrats side. the surge has been working. The importance of the failure of the Democrats to be able to use Iraq to beat Republicans over the head can't be underestimated. It eliminates the Democrat's use of the war in the 2008 races.

OPERATION MARNE TORCH

The Victory Caucus has another terrific story. This one is about Operation Marne Torch, which was undertaken by the Multi-National Division-Center (MND-C, under the command of Major General Rich Lynch. The idea was to deny the enemy freedom of movement south of Baghdad. It was an overwhelming success.

GENERAL PETRAEUS - SOLDIER AND SCHOLAR

The Chicago Tribune has a good article by Philip R. O'Connor about General David Petraeus. Mr. O'Connor points out that the General has a doctorate in political science from Princeton University. It's a fascinating article, and one that every American interested in what is going on in Iraq should read.

WHY WE CAN'T FAIL IN IRAQ

Joseph Joffe has an op-ed in the Opinion Journal titled "If Iraq Falls" - "America might have made a mistake going in, but fleeing would be a disaster." Mr. Joffe starts with the argument that President Bush's analogy of Iraq to Vietnam was ill-conceived. But, he does make some very valid points about Iraq and the Middle East. As he notes, "the Middle East is the central strategic arena of the 21st century." It's a chilling analysis of what would happen if we quit on Iraq, and one that every defeatist in this country should be required to read.