Iraq victory at the expense of Afghanistan?

I constantly hear conservatives pundits complain that liberals and "mainstream media" don't want to admit and/or report that the troop surge in Iraq is working. While they insist that liberals (and "their" media) are invested in a policy of defeat in Iraq, I don't think there is such a sophisticated agenda in reporting. If there were, they would be reporting that the reduction of troop attacks/casualties that is a partial measure of success of the surge has merely left Afghanistan venerable to failure. The truth is that there has been more troop casualty in Afghanistan than in any year since the first year of that war, which brings me to my title subject? If liberals are invested in a policy of defeat in Iraq, are conservatives invested in a policy of defeat in Afghanistan? By focusing on success in Iraq, Republicans can draw attention to a turnaround of an issue that is so fatally damaging the party, which feels like a political power play to me.

I am NOT a "defeatist" when it comes to the Iraq war, if you have any doubts, please read my post on the this topic

http://www.smarterthanthem.com/2007/11/now-why-are-we-in-iraq.html

Still, I believe that Afghanistan, with it's very, very dangerous, and NECULEAR neighbors is a FAR more important fight than Iraq in the war on terror and with Pakistan seeing some major instability in 2007, I believe the war on terror has lost its focus and has become a "political" button to push to strike fear in those who might support candidates who are less "fear mongering" when it comes to terror.

I believe it was Bill O'Reily that I heard state that America is a good and noble country, contrary to many believing otherwise and I generally agree. However, this topic requires a drill down: I believe if you were to ask the 70-80% who believe that America is a good and noble country if they think that POLITICIANS are basically good and noble, I think more would think they are not. I believe if you were to ask those who report they do NOT believe the US is a good and noble country if they think believe that the people of the United States are generally not good and noble or just that US politicians are not, that more than not, would say politicians.

Unfortunately, I believe there are two types of politicians. The first, are those who involve themselves because they TRULY want to make a difference, but realize that the network of checks and balances make that very difficult, and they finally give in to the system. I would place Arnold Schwarzenegger in this category. The other group consists of power hungry narcissists who become involved in politics to feel important. Personally, given my career history in Human Resources, I'd love to have a seat in congress just for the GREAT benefits package they receive and NO, but in spite of that, I would still do the absolute best I could at the job.

The sad reality is that politicians are running things and I find only a few who appear to have conviction (not to be confused with "morality"), regardless if I agree with their politics and I have no doubt that 90% of politicians are using success and/or failure at any given moment of war in Iraq and/or war on terror as a political tool. Given the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform towards ALL our efforts of national security, anger does not begin to describe my loathing.