Terror on the Run, The Year the Tide Turned

Ralph Peters, writing for the New York Post, states 2007 is the worst year for terrorists since 2001, when they lost their safe haven in Afghanistan. He opens with,

As 2007 drew to a close, embarrassed journalists sought to play down American military successes and avoided questioning Democratic presidential contenders about their predictions of inevitable failure in Iraq. Magically, Iraq disappeared from the headlines - except on those rare occasions when a problem could be reported. At the close of a year of stunning progress, media stories on New Year's Eve leapt to report that 2007 had been the deadliest year for US troops.

He points out that one has to read way down in the column to notice the vast majority of these casualties were before the start of The Surge in June 2007. He further states,

The greatest media story of 2007 was the one you never read (unless you read The Post): The year was a strategic catastrophe for Islamist terrorists - and possibly a historic turning point in the struggle against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

Why?

While al Qaeda in Iraq can still launch suicide missions, such acts now serve only to further alienate the Iraqi people, who've come to hate the grisly foreign interlopers with a passion you have to encounter first-hand to appreciate. That fundamental change in outlook, especially among Sunni Arabs, may well mark last year as Islamist terrorism's high-water mark, the point at which fellow Muslims by the tens of millions publicly rejected the message and methods of self-styled holy warriors who revel in the slaughter of the innocent. Tens of thousands of fellow Muslims, previously allied with al Qaeda, turned their weapons against the fanatics. It was the biggest global story since 9/11. And it was buried on Page 14, if mentioned at all. (emphasis added)

Yes, many Sunni Arabs, not just in Iraq, but also across the Middle East are not only rejecting Al Qaeda, but publically rejecting Al Qaeda. What helped make this possible?

Many factors came together to transform Iraq, including the fierce and incisive leadership of Gen. David Petraeus, the effectiveness of a new breed of subordinate commanders honed by war, the psychological impact of the troop surge and the pervasive Iraqi weariness of violence and destruction - a strategic mood swing. (emphasis added)

Mr. Peter notes, 2007 is for Al Qaeda what 1943 was for the Nazi regime.

But 2007 may have been to the struggle against Islamofascism what 1943 was to the Second World War: the year in which it became clear that, no matter how long the war lasted, civilization's enemies couldn't win. (emphasis added)

So, what is the lesson here?

But in 2007 we saw how superficial Muslim support really was for al Qaeda and its ilk. We learned that bloodthirsty fanatics who invoke religion can - and will - be defeated. And we should have learned the utility of fighting, instead of letting liberal-elite America-haters inflict their defeatist agenda on our country and the world. (emphasis added)

A lot of lessons come from this article.

1. Good can and will prevail over evil and Al Qaeda is surely evil. Ronald Reagon held this belief which is why his quote is at the top of this blog, "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid."

2. In order to good to prevail, we must all understand the utility of fighting against evil. We must fight and must resist the defeatist agenda of the liberal elite and MSM.

3. We must unite under the banner of freedom. Al Qaeda was strongest when it believed the U.S. would cut and run. Now that we, as a nation, have dispelled this myth, Al Qaeda is on the run, not only in Iraq, but elsewhere. They are desparate enough to publicially assassinate Bhutto, but weak enough to where they initially claimed credit, but are now silent as they see the populous rising against them in Pakistan.

4. Your average Muslims are no different than your average Americans. While traditions are different, your average person wants to be able to enjoy like, have liberty, and be able to pursue happiness for himself and his family. This point is often forgotten when the MSM stresses how certain western acts will rally the Muslim street. The fact is what is ralling the Muslim street more than anything is the assassination of Bhutto, not for what she did during her two failed leadership stints in Pakistan, but for what all hoped was her future, a democracy elected by the people for the people.

2007 was indeed a "strategic catastrophe for Islamist terrorists - and a possibly historic turning point in the struggle against al Qaeda and its affiliates." It is a year that Muslim's worldwide chose sides. Most chose the side of good. We just happen to champion this side.