As Michael Goldfarb, the Weekly Standard’s ace blogger points out, the surge looks like a success from the other side of the street. Goldfarb quotes an Agence France-Press article that contains this lament from an insurgent:
“The occupation forces seized the opportunity (the conflict between al-Qaeda and Sunni insurgents) and supported the Awakening to help the troop ‘surge’ strategy of (President George W.) Bush,” said Shimmari.
Goldfarb asks:
“When was the last time a Democrat credited (or accused, more likely) American forces for seizing an opportunity? Petraeus gets more respect from insurgents than he does from the Democratic party. Of course, they’re the one’s who get to see him in action. The Democrats will have to wait until 2012, at least, for their turn.”