They Only Have Eyes For Losing

Liberal politicians and bloggers, that is.

President Bush said "we're kicking ass" in Iraq. I wouldn't go that far, but think are looking better now than they have in the past 9 months, at least.

However, war critics are pointing to: 1) the GAO Report, 2) the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq Report, 3) the unreleased Congressional Research Service, and 4) an as yet unreleased U.S. Embassy in Iraq report.

As for the GAO Report, Brookings analyst Michael O'Hanlon disagrees: "I just think they were flat-out sloppy," he says of GAO.

Furthermore, as the Christian Science Monitor notes:

According to the GAO, it is difficult to say whether sectarian violence has decreased in Iraq, as that would require judging the intent of any attack.

Regarding the Independent Commission on the Security Force of Iraq Report, the Washington post article is linked, but note what CarpetBagger omits from its post:

Although citing recent "tactical success" and favorable "strategic implications" resulting from the Bush administration's current war strategy, the commission recommends that U.S. troops in Iraq be "retasked" in early 2008

Does CBR accept that progress has been made on the surge? NO. But somehow, it swallows the rest of the report's assessment. And as for claims that US troops may need to be drawn down, Petraeus himself has even signalled that he believes this will be militarily possible in the near future.

The Congressional Research Report - Still classified and unreleased, so why even discuss it now?
And finally, the US Embassy Report - Another as yet secret report.

Meanwhile, as the aformentioned Washington Post acknowledge the "success" of the surge, New York Senator Charles Schumer disparaged the troops by completely dismissing their hard fought victories and sacrifice:

The violence in Anbar has gone down despite the Surge, not because of the Surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from Al Qaeda said to these tribes: We have to fight Al Qaeda ourselves. — Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Congressional Record, 9/5/07, p. S 11090

The man has no honor.

Update: Video of Schumer's disgraceful speech.