Yes, Iraq is aptly described as a Shiite autocracy leaning toward Iran.

But what do you expect the US military to do about that at this point? We had the opportunity to make some difference, in 2003-04, when our engagement with the Sunni Arabs was, alas, mostly military rather than diplomatic.

Iraq is a sovereign state. Most Iraqis want US troops out. It is neither the mission nor the capability of those troops to force Maliki to make political compromises, respect human rights, or align his foreign policy with that of the US.

Dr. Schake, and those who share her lament, never address this reality squarely. The best explanation for their behavior, to my mind, is their sensitivity to the indignity of the coming US forced withdrawal - which will doubtless be celebrated by millions of Iraqis - and that the withdrawal serves as a vessel into which to pour frustration over the unfulfilled (and never realistic) hopes of the Iraq hawks.

The last American troops in Iraq will fly home by month’s end; whatever the shape of future relations between the two nations, the US withdrawal marks the end of a chapter, if not a whole volume.

In one of those ironies that add spice to history, the end of the American military presence, negotiated under President George W. Bush, is happening under Barack Obama, who built his presidential campaign on opposition to the liberation of Iraq.

Was the war worth fighting? What kind of Iraq do the Americans leave behind? These questions still divide those interested in the Mideast’s complex politics.

A speech by Vice President Joe Biden in Baghdad earlier this month pretended that the war was not worth the cost and the effort, making much of the administration’s desire to end “physical and financial bleeding.” He sounded as if he was ending a war started not by America but by some other, unnamed, country.

Biden also insisted that he and Obama aren’t claiming victory. But was Iraq a defeat for the United States? A draw? In any case, who is the other side?

Apart from the bitter divisions of US politics (of which Biden is a sad specimen), the intervention in Iraq achieved its major goals and must be considered a victory.

The war broke the Baathists’ 40-year stranglehold on Iraq. It liberated 25 million people from one of the most vicious regimes the region has produced. It put an end to Saddam Hussein and his deadly ambitions, which had provoked three wars in two decades.

And, although Biden wouldn’t admit it, the liberation of Iraq triggered the Arab Spring.

A speech by Vice President Joe Biden in Baghdad earlier this month pretended that the war was not worth the cost and the effort, making much of the administration’s desire to end “physical and financial bleeding.” He sounded as if he was ending a war started not by America but by some other, unnamed, country.

Biden also insisted that he and Obama aren’t claiming victory. But was Iraq a defeat for the United States? A draw? In any case, who is the other side?

Apart from the bitter divisions of US politics (of which Biden is a sad specimen), the intervention in Iraq achieved its major goals and must be considered a victory.

The war broke the Baathists’ 40-year stranglehold on Iraq. It liberated 25 million people from one of the most vicious regimes the region has produced. It put an end to Saddam Hussein and his deadly ambitions, which had provoked three wars in two decades.

And, although Biden wouldn’t admit it, the liberation of Iraq triggered the Arab Spring.

It inspired the Lebanese to rise against Syrian occupation and chase Bashar al-Assad’s army out of their homeland. “When we saw the people of Iraq queuing to vote in free elections, we realized that the cause of liberty was not lost,” says Walid Jumblatt, the Lebanese Socialist leader.

This is echoed by Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani. “History will record that the liberation of our country was not only an important turning point in Iraq itself,” he says, “but it was an important beginning for the region.”

Visitors to countries affected by the Arab Spring, from Morocco to Yemen, would appreciate the galvanizing effect that the fall of the most powerful despot in modern Arab history has had on pro-democracy movements.

The liberation of Iraq introduced a concept in Arab politics, that of people’s sovereignty. Arab politics may now begin to revolve around the idea that power emanates from the people’s will as expressed through elections. The traditional idea of political power as the product of palaces, mosques, madrassahs, army barracks, security services and/or tribal “shuras” (councils) now sounds weird.

Iraq’s new democracy isn’t perfect, is under daily threat from hostile domestic and foreign forces and remains fragile. Nevertheless, Iraqis are developing a national consensus in support of democratic rule.

Visitors to the new Iraq know that, despite their great sufferings in the past eight years, the vast majority of Iraqis feel that their world is better without Saddam Hussein.

None of the “terrible things’ that opponents of the liberation of Iraq predicted has happened:

* US troops are leaving in an orderly fashion and in accordance with the timetable fixed by the Bush administration.

* The Americans are not fleeing Iraqi mobs. In fact, many Iraqis, perhaps a majority, wanted the US to maintain a military presence. It didn’t happen because Obama wants to pander to his original base, groups that opposed the liberation of Iraq.

* Iraq has not been divided, as Biden and his friends once suggested, into several mini-states.

* Nor is it a scene of chaos as candidate Obama predicted. Paradoxically, Iraq seems to be the most stable of Arab countries as they are all shaken by revolts of various dimensions.

* Iraq has not been plunged into poverty and starvation. According to the International Monetary Fund, it has the fastest growth rate in the Mideast. The Iraqi dinar is the strongest of the oil currencies.

* The claim that America invaded to “steal” Iraq’s oil has been exposed as the lie it was. In fact, Iraqi officials complain of US oil companies’ reluctance to bid for contracts. In contrast, Baghdad has signed dozens of contracts with oil companies from 40 other countries, including Russia, China, France and India.

* Another lie, propagated by professional anti-Americans, was that the US wanted to turn Iraq into a military base, perhaps for invading Iran. That lie has been replaced with another: Iran filling the vacuum left by Americans. But if the wealthy superpower couldn’t bear the cost of controlling Iraq, how can Iran, a poor and smaller power, do the trick?

Since 2003, at least a million Americans, civil and military, have served in Iraq in various capacities and for varying periods. They’ve done a good job and can be proud of their achievements. Biden may not wish to celebrate it, but for them, and the overwhelming majority of Iraqis, this was and will remain a victory.

It inspired the Lebanese to rise against Syrian occupation and chase Bashar al-Assad’s army out of their homeland. “When we saw the people of Iraq queuing to vote in free elections, we realized that the cause of liberty was not lost,” says Walid Jumblatt, the Lebanese Socialist leader.

This is echoed by Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani. “History will record that the liberation of our country was not only an important turning point in Iraq itself,” he says, “but it was an important beginning for the region.”

Visitors to countries affected by the Arab Spring, from Morocco to Yemen, would appreciate the galvanizing effect that the fall of the most powerful despot in modern Arab history has had on pro-democracy movements.

The liberation of Iraq introduced a concept in Arab politics, that of people’s sovereignty. Arab politics may now begin to revolve around the idea that power emanates from the people’s will as expressed through elections. The traditional idea of political power as the product of palaces, mosques, madrassahs, army barracks, security services and/or tribal “shuras” (councils) now sounds weird.

Iraq’s new democracy isn’t perfect, is under daily threat from hostile domestic and foreign forces and remains fragile. Nevertheless, Iraqis are developing a national consensus in support of democratic rule.

Visitors to the new Iraq know that, despite their great sufferings in the past eight years, the vast majority of Iraqis feel that their world is better without Saddam Hussein.

None of the “terrible things’ that opponents of the liberation of Iraq predicted has happened:

* US troops are leaving in an orderly fashion and in accordance with the timetable fixed by the Bush administration.

* The Americans are not fleeing Iraqi mobs. In fact, many Iraqis, perhaps a majority, wanted the US to maintain a military presence. It didn’t happen because Obama wants to pander to his original base, groups that opposed the liberation of Iraq.

* Iraq has not been divided, as Biden and his friends once suggested, into several mini-states.

* Nor is it a scene of chaos as candidate Obama predicted. Paradoxically, Iraq seems to be the most stable of Arab countries as they are all shaken by revolts of various dimensions.

* Iraq has not been plunged into poverty and starvation. According to the International Monetary Fund, it has the fastest growth rate in the Mideast. The Iraqi dinar is the strongest of the oil currencies.

* The claim that America invaded to “steal” Iraq’s oil has been exposed as the lie it was. In fact, Iraqi officials complain of US oil companies’ reluctance to bid for contracts. In contrast, Baghdad has signed dozens of contracts with oil companies from 40 other countries, including Russia, China, France and India.

* Another lie, propagated by professional anti-Americans, was that the US wanted to turn Iraq into a military base, perhaps for invading Iran. That lie has been replaced with another: Iran filling the vacuum left by Americans. But if the wealthy superpower couldn’t bear the cost of controlling Iraq, how can Iran, a poor and smaller power, do the trick?

Since 2003, at least a million Americans, civil and military, have served in Iraq in various capacities and for varying periods. They’ve done a good job and can be proud of their achievements. Biden may not wish to celebrate it, but for them, and the overwhelming majority of Iraqis, this was and will remain a victory.

Thanks

Admin of Alarm clocks | Electric kettles

How can anyone claim that war in Iraq was a victory for USA? It costed at least 100.000 lives of Iraqi civilians, over 5000 American soldiers and contractors and trilions of $ which were wasted because so called "leader of the free world" wanted to obtain oil, and fullfil his father's legacy, who for some reason decided not to finish off Saddam.
More importantly (and similarly to war in Libya, and generally Arab Spring) this war has proven that only nukes can protect any country from USA, because all friendships and alliances (vide Qaddafi and Mubarak) will be thrown away by the West (unless you own AIPAC of course)...

It is a Jewish stereotype to "never pay retail."

The Israeils were able, with the help of traitorous US Jews, to use the US Military at bargain store rates to achieve their strategic aims.

Israel is the only winner - at a cost of 5,000 US dead, and all the rest.

Never pay retail.

Walt

There is an old saying about politicians: hear what they say, than think about the opposite. Both Biden and Obama are claiming not to claim victory for the Iraqi war - yet their long-long (apologetically long) speeches, photo-ops, welcome-home celebrations show exactly the opposite.

What bothers me is the plastic nature of victory. Why did you invade Iraq for?
- In search of WMDs? You failed, there were no WMDs. Then, you had to find another justification.

- Firing Saddam from office. Yep, you accomplished that, but then again, you staged a trial Soviet-style and then hanged the suspect, of course. Still, one should be grateful that no murder in cold blood has been committed as in case of OBL. Still, you stayed there (why?), so needed another justification.

- Fighting terror. More US&foreign nationals have killed in the war than due to terrorism of any kind. So no, you did not do the world a favor by launching a war.

- Leaving Iraq in a better shape than before. This is my favorite part. Hundreds of thousands of people killed, displaced, missing, terror attacks happening on a daily basis. Yet you have the face to brag about some obscure Monetary Fund statistic about Iraq having more money than before. Then, at the same breath, you begin to lament about those "poor Iraqis, what will they do when we get out?". Shame on you all, for supporting a war of mass destruction.

I think it's worth saying at this point, before we start arguing about who deserves the biggest back slap, that the war is not over for Iraqis. We, like Dorothy, could always go home whenever we liked. The Iraqis, however, are still there, and the underlying cleavages there (which we helped exacerbate) are as real as they ever were. I don't think I'm going out on a limb here by saying that the violence is very likely to reappear very soon (and it would reappear no matter how long we stayed; I am not an advocate for staying in Iraq).

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. travel agent By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.
Thanks

agenda software

i Agree in:
More importantly (and similarly to war in Libya, and generally Arab Spring) this war
has proven that only nukes can protect any country from USA, because all friendships and alliances (vide Qaddafi and Mubarak) will be thrown away by the West (unless you own AIPAC of course)...

Who says the president is claiming victory? He's saying American troops can leave Iraq with their heads held high. That ain't victory, and it makes clear his view that whatever went wrong, it wasn't the fault of those in uniform sent to Iraq to realize the mad dreams of those around the former president in 2001-2.

The central insanity of the original plan was that it was predicated on the idea that all Iraqi evil was housed in the mind and body of Saddam Hussein: unhorse him, and the nation would become some kind of earthly paradise. No surprise that this hasn't worked out, or that the current prime minister there, Mr al-Maliki has been accused frequently in recent months of overseeing official torture of prisoners -- the substantial evil ever proved against Mr Hussein.

I draw attention to the achievement of HASANREHMAN, who at 6:49 pm ET
December 14 filed 3275 words under the entirely irrelevant heading "Iraq won"; and explained the physical universe to the best of his or her ability and that of Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting, which might differ in some respect from Pennsylvania Public Broadcasting. HASANREHMAN's respect for this broadcasting organization and the tolerance of Foreign Policy bloggers is such that he presents the Pennsylvanian 900-odd words of advice several times. Nothing about how Iraq won. Of course, HASANREHMAN might simply be a prankster. pretending to be a crackpot. Which leaves him a crackpot. Or her.

Never exceeded 1000 pre-9/11 now not even 100, despite the $2+ trillion spent and 00sof 00s of thousands of lives killed and smashed courtesey of our wonderful, brave and dimwitted brass led by neocons.

How come 1000 wahabis scare this exceptional nation so much?

Is it because an Exceptional Nation needs an Exceptional Enemy especially one that is almost non existent?

No one could claim victory!, what Mr.Obama did was get us out a mess. What bush did was by any definition a war crime, there isn't enough ink and paper to write down all the crimes committed, the lies to the American people, to congress, the manipulation of false intelligence, spread like rumors and planted to come back and claimed as facts the acquiescence of bush and his manipulation by the israelis and their lobbyists to rid their most existential threat of the day (today it is Iran and the war drums are beating just as hard), the blatant lying at the U.N. by powell.The claim that Saddam was a bad man and a dictator who killed his own people falls flat on it's face, when in fact he was the darling of the first bush and reagan administrations and armed and financed by both. The war in Iraq going on since 1990 has cost not tens of thousands but hundreds of thousands of lives and immeasurable destruction and to make the false claim that it is over is again another piece of nonsense when there are still countless contractors (mercenaries is a more apt term) costing millions by the day, to maintain the false facade of peace. The only victory anyone can claim is a Pyrrhic victory at best!!!. (small case lettering intentional)

We destabilized the whole region. Iran is the winner in all this so far..but I can see us going back in once the place implodes. There is no victory here, i hope the big guys are happy since theres a lake of oil there. Could of, should have been avoided.

Well, I guess we now know why the Republican Party has gone nuts: the party is nuts because the individual members are stark raving delusional.

-dlj.

How do you think Obama is “in trouble?” Romney is lucky when people within his party vote for him and Santorum is a theocrat supported by only the most fundamentalist religious nuts. The President’s party did not get “shellacked,” as you put it, in 2010. The republicans gained a slim majority in the sázení house and shot themselves in the foot in the Senate. They are now the most unpopular Congress in history. The people do not want to put their hand back on the Republican burner. So when you say Obama is in trouble, who are you trying to convince. Me? or you?

The liberation of Iraq introduced a concept in Arab politics, that of people’s sovereignty. Arab politics may now begin to revolve around the idea that power emanates from the people’s will as expressed through elections. The traditional idea of political power as the product of palaces, mosques, madrassahs, accidentattorneys army barracks, security services and/or tribal “shuras” (councils) now sounds weird.