>>Still, "wanting to lose" is a cheap strawman.
>
>Again you have disregarded my arguement by saying you disagree. There are people who want the US to lose. Denying this is a denial of fact.

Are there people saying that they want the US to lose? Or are you making an assumption? No sites that i visit that tend to be critical of the admin profess this. If they did they would be labelled nutjobs by others on those sites. They dont say it.

>
>>There are lots of critic camps. The leave now-ers, the stay-ers, more troop-ers, less troop-ers, UN-ers, Iranian help-ers, the review of the pre-war intel-ers, and so on. "Wanting to lose" is hoisted on the admin critics in an effort to discount them.
>
>"The leave now-ers" are the only ones that I would site as "wanting to lose".

Ok, so you are implying that the leave now-ers are saying the "want to lost" charge. Gotcha.


>>
>>The milestone turning appears to have little impact. Whats interesting is now, other than to appoint 2 or 3 people to various departments in the new government, i'm not aware of any more Iraqi political milestones down the road that we can target as a new turning point.
>
>Suggesting the milestones have little impact is really disparaging the work ...

Not my point. And a straw man. I'm saying that the milestones that we continue to pass have little impact on the violence, or in our ability to stand down when they stand up.


>Here's a few more to look forward to:
>- Saddam's execution
>- 1st US troops to withdraw (expected later this year)
> Probably around mid-late October. Duh! :)
>- End to US occupation (we'll leave a few troops behind ala Korea, Germany, Japan, etc... but most will return home)
>
>There are the ongoing everyday things as well:
>- Continued growth of Iraqi security forces (135,000 and counting)
>- Continued turnover of territory to Iraqi security control, currently 50% to be 75% by the end of the year.
>- Continued improvement of Iraq's economic growth
>- Continued building of new schools, roads, infrastructure.
>

Progress is in the eye of the beholder i guess. When Condi and Rummy have a secret, unannounced visit to Baghdad under the cover of darkness and are wisked to the green zone, and the Iraqi politicos say their visit isnt really helpful... then i wonder. When Iraqi personnel running rebuilt/repainted schools asked the newspapers not to write about them because the insurgents will pay them a visit, i wonder. We lose 2.5 soldiers a day, and the iraqi military & civilian losses are reported at 30 a day, we are spending approx 10 billion a month, reporters rarely dare to leave the green zone, and on and on.


>>Although, we have some upcoming elections here that may make our politicians do something regarding troop levels. Here are a few prior milestones that have come and gone:
>
>>
>>April 9, 2003: President Bush praised the toppling of the Saddam statue in Baghdad as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The removal of the brutal dictator will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>July 22, 2003: President Bush praised the deaths of Uday and Qusay Hussein in a gun battle as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The killing of these two brutal and sadistic Baathists will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>December 14, 2003: President Bush praised the capture of Saddam Hussein in Tikrit as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The taking into custody of the deposed Iraqi dictator will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>May 5, 2004: President Bush praised the bringing to justice of the "few bad apples" in Abu Ghraib prison as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. Showing the Iraqis that we understand the rule of law and that we punish our torturers will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>June 28, 2004: President Bush praised the transfer of sovereignty from the Coalition Provisional authority to an interim government as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. Giving Iraqis a say in their own affairs of state will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>September 23, 2004: President Bush praised the poll showing the right track/wrong track numbers in Iraq were higher than in the US as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. Scientific evidence that ordinary Iraqis feel more stable and secure than ordinary Americans will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>November 9, 2004: President Bush praised the successful siege of Fallujah as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. Defeating terrorists and dead-enders in the insurgent stronghold will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>January 30, 2005: President Bush praised the election of a Transitional National Assembly as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. 8.5 million citizens braving terrorist strikes to vote will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>May 30, 2005: President Bush praised his Vice President's statement that the insurgency is in its last throes as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. Vice President Cheney's avowal that the insurgency is almost over will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>October 15, 2005: President Bush praised the ratification of the draft constitution as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The installment of a permanent founding document of government and law will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>December 15, 2005: President Bush praised the election of a permanent National Assembly as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The vote for a permanent government of national unity for the next four years will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>February 27, 2006: President Bush praised the slight reduction in sectarian violence as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. Stepping back from the abyss of civil war between Sunnis and Shi'a will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>April 21, 2006: President Bush praised the selection of Nouri al-Maliki as the new Prime Minister as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The choice of the experienced political operator and member of the conservative Shiite Dawa Party will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."
>>
>>May 22, 2006: President Bush praised the formation of a national unity government as a "milestone" for the country of Iraq. The compromise of Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties to put together a working body (save for three important ministry posts) will bring "a new day for the Iraqi people." The President cautioned that there "are many challenges ahead," however, and that any talk of withdrawal is "premature."