Why you can't trust Democrats

From Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), speaking in San Francisco:

"Many of you are well enough off that ... the tax cuts may have helped you," Sen. Clinton said. "We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

Who's common good are you refering?

Why I say we're winning in Iraq

This from Iraqthemodel (by Ali):

The speech was impressive and you could hear the sound of a needle if one had dropped it at that time. The most sensational moment was the end of the speech when Mr. Bremer used a famous Arab emotional poem. The poem was for a famous Arab poet who said it while leaving Baghdad. Al-Jazeera had put an interpreter who tried to translate even the Arabic poem which Mr. Bremer was telling in a fair Arabic! “Let this damned interpreter shut up. We want to hear what the man is saying” One of my colloquies shouted. The scene was very touching that the guy sitting next to me (who used to sympathize with Muqtada) said “He’s going to make me cry!”

Then he finished his speech by saying in Arabic,”A’ash Al-Iraq, A’ash Al-Iraq, A’ash Al-Iraq”! (Long live Iraq, Long live Iraq, long live Iraq).

I was deeply moved by this great man’s words but I couldn’t prevent myself from watching the effect of his words on my friends who some of them were anti-Americans and some were skeptic, although some of them have always shared my optimism. I found that they were touched even more deeply than I was. I turned to one friend who was a committed She’at and who distrusted America all the way. He looked as if he was bewitched, and I asked him, “So, what do you think of this man? Do you still consider him an invader?” My friend smiled, still touched and said, “Absolutely not! He brought tears to my eyes. God bless him.”

Another friend approached me. This one was not religious but he was one of the conspiracy theory believers. He put his hands on my shoulders and said smiling, “I must admit that I’m beginning to believe in what you’ve been telling us for months and I’m beginning to have faith in America. I never thought that they will hand us sovereignty in time. These people have shown that they keep their promises.”

What's amazing -- beyond the picture of the cake -- is that we are starting to undo years of propaganda. This doctor was amazed that we keep our promises.

This is a good day.

Improvements

Things seem to be improving in Iraq to the point that protesters across the world will soon be seen as merely irrationally anti-Iraqi -- or anti-American. From Omar at Iraqthemodel:

:: This morning, Al-Hurra TV reported that the IP succeeded in locating and disarming a big bomb placed in a car in the crowded Al-Jihad district in Baghdad. The bomb was made up of more than 50 kilograms of highly explosive materials together with some artillery shells.
The report also showed pictures for the car and the explosives.

:: Al-Sharqiya TV reported that the IP forces in Basra made a successful arrest of the largest oil-smuggling gang.
The report said that the IP arrested nine members of the gang and found 24 tankers loaded with oil and ready to be smuggled outside Iraq.

:: Al-Sabah paper reported that the IP has arrested the biggest abduction and assassination gang in Baghdad.
There was a fierce fight and heavy gun fire exchange before the IP could arrest the gang with their chief and there were no casualties among the IP.
The gang is believed to have connections outside Iraq.

The Iraqis are starting to take care of business. And for all those oh-so-fashionable protesters, your embarassing end is coming soon. And you will have been proven wrong for the whole world to see.

And finally, this from the new Iraqi PM: Dr Iyad Allawi:

As Iraqis, we thank the coalition for the sacrifices made by its soldiers and its people for the liberation and rebuilding of Iraq, and for the contributions by all the countries, international organisations and NGOs that have braved the risks to assist Iraq in its time of need.

'Nuff said.

And these are the snivelling whiners that hate us...

A great piece in today NY Daily News by Bob Drury really points out the widespread hated of American abroad. The lead:

They don't hate you, they loathe "your President." They don't despise us, they deride "our government." From Belfast to Bali, Trieste to Tadzhikistan, and in France, of course, the disdain reserved for the United States' "adventurism" in the Middle East is beginning to trickle down to individual American travelers.

Mr Drury then compiles of a list of ancedotes that atart to resemble data of the ourse of the piece. However, he slides this in as the payoff line:

Yet beneath this veneer of open animosity, there is among many a resolute belief in the ultimate goodwill of American power.

Roshan Khadivi, an American of Persian descent who has worked with international aid agencies throughout central Asia, says her contacts universally believe only the U.S. can really save them.

They hate us, yet, we're the only folks who can save them. Heaven help them when we finally have had enough of the continous complaining.

And from Andrew the Genius:

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "But there is an added technique for weakening a nation at its very roots ... The method is simple. It is first, a dissemination of discord. A group - not too large - a group that may be sectional or racial or political - is encouraged to exploit its prejudices through false slogans and emotional appeals. The aim of those who deliberately egg on these groups is to create confusion of counsel, public indecision, political paralysis and, eventually, a state of panic. Sound national policies come to be viewed with a new and unreasoning skepticism ... As a result of these techniques, armament programs may be dangerously delayed. Singleness of national purpose may be undermined. . . . The unity of the state can be so sapped that its strength is destroyed. All this is no idle dream. It has happened time after time, in nation after nation, during the last two years." - FDR, May 26, 1940. I wonder what Roosevelt would have made of Michael Moore, don't you?