Monday, January 22, 2007

Could Things Be Getting Better?   [Victor Davis Hanson]

December saw the greatest receipt of federal revenues in our history, lowering the prospective deficit. Inflation is still moderate, growth steady, stocks high, unemployment and interest low. Oil is creeping down and could sink to $40 a barrel. Our policy of neither talking to nor bombing Ahmadinejad, while keeping all options open, seems to be making him increasingly uneasy, buffoonish, and isolated in the manner of a loud but unlistened to Hugo Chavez. There is some confidence in the change of American tactics and the surge,despite the tragic loss of Americans this week. The Shiite militias are receding into their recesses, and Sadr seems scrambling to quiet down and bide his time. If the administration could get their proverbial rock of Sisyphus finally over the top, they would be surprised at how many Middle Eastern governments might profess newfound and opportunistic support, and, at home, how many pundits will readjust and now profess sorta, kinda, maybe not to have been so critical all along. So next all eyes await the arrival of Gen. Petraeus...

01/22 08:49 AMShare