http://www.michaeltotten.com/

Hilarious video on the post today.

2/8/2008 11:03:15 AM

All right everyone, lets talk specifically about what you people think is the right course of action in Iraq. I would like to get a discussion about this issue in this thread because the information from these reporters is about a month ahead of when you hear it from the mainstream media.

I know people read the material I post in this thread because of the view count. You may give different levels of weight to the reports from embedded reporters for various reasons.

But nonetheless, there will be some sort of policy change when the next president takes office. Also, the stability of the country could be much better, much worse or anywhere in between the current level when general elections take place.

I would like you to state whom which candidate you think has the best current policy towards how to deal with troop levels and Iraq stability. Being that’s we are only in the primaries, I would guess that their policies might change a bit for the general election to be better suited for independents.

Candidate:

Policy:

Why you like the policy:

What you would tweak/change:

And please, lets keep this discussion specifically about Iraq.

2/11/2008 3:37:56 PM

http://www.michaeltotten.com/

The Final Mission, Part III

2/15/2008 12:40:42 PM

http://granitegrok.com/blog/2008/02/dragon_soup_dr_muoyad_true_iraqi_patriot.html

Quote :

"Not one attack has been launched against U.S. or Iraqi Security Forces in the area since September, 2007 and under Muoyad’s guiding hand, the streets are clean, electricity and power runs nearly 24 hours a day, which is a drastic improvement over the 2-3 hours per day that we saw when the 1-4 CAV first showed up there in mid-summer. "

Quote :

"No single troop had more of an exciting day than Spc. Roy Burkhalter of Rome, Ga. and the our Signal Company of the 4-1 Special Troops Battalion, who by virtue of the SECDEF’s visit and the fact that he was the brigade’s 1,000th Soldier to re-enlist since we arrived in Baghdad one year ago, had the privilege of having Mr. Gates administer his oath of re-enlistment. For Burkhalter, it was a memorable event in his young career, but taking a step back and looking at the fact that 1,000 troops have signed on for more service is a statement in itself. We only have about 3,600 total Soldiers in our organic formation, and when you remove officers and senior noncommissioned officers (who are not subject to the standard re-enlistment process) from the pool of folks, you’re talking about almost 2 of every 3 Soldiers in the Dragon Brigade has decided to stay in. Stick THAT one in your “Army morale is decimated” pipe and smoke it! "

More Good news about more "from the ground up" reconstruction.



[Edited on February 18, 2008 at 9:10 AM. Reason : j]

2/18/2008 9:07:59 AM

http://www.michaeltotten.com/

Quote :

"February 18, 2008 The Dungeon of Fallujah “This is not Norway here, and it is not Denmark.” – Lebanese Forces militia leader Bashir Gemayel. FALLUJAH – Next to the Joint Communications Center in downtown Fallujah is a squalid and war-shattered warehouse for human beings. Most detainees are common criminals. Others are captured insurgents – terrorists, car-bombers, IED makers, and throat-slashers. A few are even innocent family members of Al Qaeda leaders at large. The Iraqi Police call it a jail, but it's nothing like a jail you've ever seen, at least not in any civilized country. It was built to house 120 prisoners. Recently it held 900. "

To read the rest, visit the site.

2/18/2008 10:02:36 AM

Quote :

"Iraqi interpreters afforded new life By Lance Cpl. Shawn Coolman, 1st Marine Division HADITHA CITY, Iraq (Feb. 6, 2008) -- The prospect for a better life awaits the men and women serving as interpreters in Iraq. Iraqis who serve as interpreters for Coalition Forces have an opportunity to submit their immigration package and possibly become U.S. citizens. “This is an incentive for their loyal and faithful service for serving us in our mission,” said Capt. Manuel F. Munoz, 42, the unit linguist manager for 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, who is from New York City. To be considered, a minimum of 12 months of service is required in aiding the Coalition Forces. An immigration package is then compiled and consists of letters of recommendations, security and background checks and any additional letters which describe the actions of the individual. After an interpreter submits a package to the proper chain of command, the package is then sent up to the regimental commander and commanding general of Multi National Force West, said Munoz. “The package is then sent to the American Embassy in Rome for special immigration status for the interpreter,” added Munoz. Approximately six months after the package is submitted, an interview with the interpreter is arranged to discuss if his/her access to the U.S. will be granted, said “Hector,” an Iraq interpreter who is submitting his package this month. Reasons why English speaking Iraqis want to become interpreters are extensive: a better life, a good job and security are just a few. “It’s a good job,” said Hector, who has aided the Coalition forces for 12 months. “I studied to be an interpreter; I got a bachelors degree in English Literature from a Baghdad university. Although, there are no guarantees that the interpreters’ packages will be approved, the command observes and creates their own recommendations for their package. “We look at it like this; would the U.S. benefit by having these people there,” said Munoz. “Some of these interpreters are college educated, and our intent is to pick the very best.” When an interpreter arrives in the U.S., they will have to file for a green card to work while their citizenship is finalized. “They have to create liaisons when they get there (America); their intent is to hit the ground running,” said Munoz. “Their future is wide opene for them, and they can do whatever they want to in the U.S.” "

2/19/2008 4:02:35 PM

I've got an idea. Why don't you start a blog, then link to his blog in your blog. Put your blog link in your profile, and then stop posting here because no one cares.

2/19/2008 4:05:26 PM

If you can find any other information form the ground in Iraq that is weeks ahead of the mainstream media, then sure, I will stop. I will continue to post here so people can see real up to date information and not on some of the ramblings that tend to start here.

2/19/2008 5:48:40 PM

Good story about justice in a country full of injustices.

And some commentary on the battle for mosul and the press coverage of Iraq

Quote :

"While fighting elsewhere in Iraq continues to abate – touch wood – the task of rebuilding the country becomes more crucial. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) will be an increasingly important aspect of the increasingly American-Iraqi mission in Iraq. Australia plans to abandon Iraq, as have others, even while profound progress is obvious. National reconciliation and the introduction of the rule of law, along with economic development, are likely to be the next big stories. Unfortunately, these stories might go untold as demand for news from Iraq plummets along with the violence. It no longer makes economic sense for many news agencies to keep people here. Those who do stay operate at a loss. If making a profit is important, reporting from Iraq is a bad business decision. This seems to be holding for the new or alternative media as well. I haven’t seen a blogger in maybe a year, though I know that some, like Michael Totten and Matt Sanchez, have spent a good deal of time embedded with the troops. Matt Sanches seems to have more staying power than most; he says he’s spent eight months here. The best reporting comes from reporters who have spent the most time on the ground here, because the context is complex and evolving. Long distance reporting is like exploring the moon through a telescope. To get a feel for the ground here, a journalist has to be like Captain Kirk. I have often commented on how very different the reality is over here from what most Americans seem to think it is. There is no way to explain how different, except to say “you would have to be here to understand it.” When mainstream reporters get the story wrong, it’s usually because they lack the context and depth of experience necessary to correctly interpret what they see and hear. The same is true for bloggers, some of whom are grandiose in implying that they spend a significant amount of time in the field, but an inventory and audit would not support the claims. The mainstream media continues to carry the overwhelming bulk of the load. On the other hand, bloggers like Bob Owens, Blackfive, Glenn Reynolds and Michelle Malkin, have served as important media watchdogs, without whom shoddy coverage of the war likely never would have been revealed. Hopefully they will continue to apply spotlights to keep as much accurate and quality reporting as possible, regardless of whether it comes from mainstream or alternative sources. In Mosul this week, at least five other writers and two photographers were here, from such organizations as The Washington Post, New York Times, The Telegraph and Agence France-Presse. All seven are veteran international reporters, and most have substantial experience covering wars. I have never been in a group of journalists in Iraq where all of us had so much war experience. The A-team is definitely here. Yet by the time of the American presidential election, the Iraq news stream likely will have diminished to almost nothing, precisely when events over here will demand the most skilled and experienced reporters. That is when, bets are on, many of the bloggers will again trumpet Iraq-experience they do not possess. Fact is, for battlefield reporting, mainstream media retains a virtual monopoly, and the bloggers are not in a position to compete, or at least are utterly failing to compete on teh most important battle ground: the ground. These harsh truths come as plea to bloggers to get over here and walk the walk. Alternative voices are needed. Stop talking. Start walking. "

http://michaelyon-online.com/wp/rubs-at-long-last-justice.htm

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 4:13 PM. Reason : hjbbj]

2/21/2008 4:12:24 PM

Highlights and specifics of the difficulties facing the US and Iraqis in Mosul


http://www.michaelyon-online.com/media/pdf/Hopeful_Partnership.pdf

2/25/2008 12:31:55 PM

Quote :

"Doves of Mosul 25 February 2008 On 23 February at FOB Marez in Mosul, I saw a dove on the ground. The bird was still alive but obviously sick. It looked up at me blinking, yet made no move to escape. The feathers were not groomed and it appeared to have a small growth near or at the leading edge of its right wing. The next day, I was talking with Captain Brad Warr, an Army physician whom I got to know during 2005 in Mosul when he was a physician with the “Deuce Four.” For an hour or so, we caught up, rambling on about this and that. CPT Warr told me about a relative who was studying photography. I said that bird photography is much more difficult than combat photography (if less dangerous). Dr. Warr then mentioned that over the past summer, he had seen hundreds of doves and pigeons die on base. Walking out of his clinic, we found another dead dove on the ground, its heart apparently having been picked out by a crow or raven. The weather is cool during the day and dips to freezing sometimes at night, so it couldn’t have been heat that killed the two doves I saw. Even though many birds apparently have died from unknown causes, the trees are usually filled with doves every morning. I got up early today just to make sure. The sky is cold and overcast-gray. At least two jets have been prowling overhead. Patrols test fire machine guns while rolling out the gates. And the trees are filled with doves."

This seems like a good analogy to what happened to the people of Iraq due to AQI and other extremely violent insurgents, and probably continues to a much lesser extent now that the surge has worked so well.

2/25/2008 7:42:23 PM

interesting, some of the entries are really good.

2/25/2008 8:28:55 PM

Crazy video of a huge IED from a while back and more on the boring life of success in Iraq.

http://www.michaeltotten.com/

2/26/2008 3:29:53 PM

Here is another good website for all thing political.

http://mattsanchez.typepad.com/

Quote :

"Pete Hegseth February 26, 2008 12:00 AM Lessons on the Long War Understanding the stakes and strategy in Iraq. By Pete Hegseth Baghdad, Iraq — The Democratic leadership in Congress haven’t got their facts straight on Iraq. They continue in failing to account for the surge’s dramatic success here, and persist in using a public rhetoric stubbornly suited to conditions in the past. This week, Democrats will bring two bills to the Senate floor whose aim is to immediately redeploy U.S. troops out of Iraq under the mistaken notion that doing so will serve our broader (and presumably, legitimate) fight against al-Qaeda. If success against al-Qaeda is the goal, Senators Russell Feingold, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama need to catch up on their reading and acquire all the relevant facts. I know two important books that are a good place to start. While traveling to Baghdad, I had plenty of downtime to re-read large portions of House to House, Staff Sergeant David Bellavia’s memoir of urban combat in Fallujah, and the U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual authored by General David Petraeus and (new Vets for Freedom board member) Lieutenant Colonel John Nagl. The two books highlight fundamental aspects of the Iraq war today — and are must-reads for anyone who wants to understand the enemy we face and the strategy we’re currently employing against them, with great success. Congressional Medal of Honor nominee David Bellavia’s first-person account of deadly hand-to-hand combat in Iraq paints a realistic and detailed picture of the enemy he faced in Fallujah — what he called “an insurgent global all-star team” that included “Chechen snipers, Filipino machine gunners, Pakistani mortar men, and Saudi suicide bombers.” The insurgents were not ordinary Iraqis fighting for their freedom against an invading power — but international Islamic militants supported by al-Qaeda. “They seek not only to destroy us here in Iraq, but to destroy American power and influence everywhere. They revile our culture and want it swept clear, replaced with Sharia law.” If only certain U.S. Senators truly understood the global nature of our vicious enemy in Iraq. The second book outlines the military doctrine behind our counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq — and is a testament to military adaptation and leadership. In the military theater, Petraeus’s manual calls for “securing and controlling the local populace,” but also for “providing essential services” and “supporting government reforms and reconstruction projects” — all of which requires “a high ratio of security forces to the protected population” (i.e., enough troops). Meanwhile, on the home front, the manual warns that “protracted counterinsurgency operations are hard to sustain. The effort requires a firm political will and substantial patience by the government, its people, and the countries providing support.” In light of today’s Senate fights, these words are painfully prescient. The extent to which our military and government can internalize and implement the lessons these books provide will determine whether or not we succeed in Iraq and in the broader war on terror. On this score, the Democratic leadership in Congress doesn’t seem to have done their homework. Later today, Senators Feingold and Reid will introduce two bills whose ostensible goal is to force the administration to “re-focus on our top national-security threat — al-Qaeda and its affiliates.” Senator Obama — the Democrats’ leading man — will vote “yes” on both bills. The first bill would mandate that national-security leaders create “a comprehensive strategy to combat and defeat al Qaeda globally.” An excellent idea: We all want to defeat al-Qaeda wherever they exist — Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, everywhere. America needs a more comprehensive military, political, and cultural strategy to deal with modern Islamic radicalism, which promises to be a Long War (as Maj. Gen. John Batiste and I have argued in the Washington Post). But it’s not 2003 anymore. Given the fact that today we are facing a determined al-Qaeda effort to destabilize Iraq, wouldn’t any rational person include Iraq in their list of places where al-Qaeda must be defeated? Not Obama, Feingold, and Reid, who believe “we need to safely [i.e., immediately] redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq.” Whatever misgivings these senators may have felt about the invasion of Iraq in the first place, today we are there. And so is al-Qaeda. Any “strategy to combat and defeat al Qaeda globally” must begin there. The second bill entails an immediate timeline for troop withdrawal, regardless of conditions on the ground. The supporting evidence for this approach is thin — “the key to ending [the violence] is political reconciliation, not a huge U.S. troop presence.” When Senate Democrats refuse to recognize the gains we’ve already made, it’s impossible for them to understand the way counterinsurgency warfare develops. Contrary to Senator Obama’s assertion that Sunni sheiks in Anbar Province rose up against al-Qaeda because of the Democrats’ midterm election victory (yes, he actually said that), the reason for the “Sunni Awakening” was a commitment of troops in patrol bases throughout Ramadi (reported first by Wade Zirkle and Sgt. Bellavia in July of 2006 — months before the midterm elections), followed by an increase in troops and sustained commitment throughout Anbar and Iraq in 2007. In fact, the recipe for success in Iraq can be found in the pages of the manual authored by the general commanding Baghdad today. We’ve committed more troops, protected the population, and helped restore basic services. The result: local and national political reconciliation that eventually means a quicker redeployment of U.S. forces and a more stable and friendly Iraqi state. We should all want this. But immediate withdrawal would mean the former (redeployment), without the latter (stability) — leaving behind a failed and bitter Iraqi state, vulnerable to coercion from outside groups, and ripe for radicalization. Read the manual, it’s all there. For Obama, Feingold, and Reid to support such dangerous legislation requires a “willing suspension of disbelief” that ignores facts on the ground, and the progress the surge has enabled. They continue to sing off of last year’s song sheet. As for “victory” in Iraq, which most Democratic senators (and even some Republicans) callously dismiss, I once again cite the Counterinsurgency Field Manual: “Victory [in any counterinsurgency] is achieved when the populace consents to the government’s legitimacy and stops actively and passively supporting the insurgency.” I’ll leave it to you to decide where passive support for al-Qaeda still persists."

I have read House to House, I would recommend it to everyone here.

[Edited on February 27, 2008 at 2:43 PM. Reason : gg]

2/27/2008 2:30:03 PM

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDAzOGNjZjhjMGI0ZjE1NzJlYjE1ZjNlMmY0NTQzMWQ=&w=MA==

Quote :

"A Neighborhood, Reborn Seeing Baghdad again, for the first time. By Pete Hegseth Al Doura, Baghdad — As I step out of the humvee into the street, I have two facts in mind: I’ve been here before; and this time, I don’t have a weapon. Recalling the tension of my first patrol in this neighborhood as a platoon leader, my five senses are sharp. The dusty road below greets my boots, some of the smells are eerily familiar, and the sound of idling humvees is my only comfort. My head swivels to scan the street. My hands are naked without an M-4, so I find the nearest soldier. Soon — as a young child approaches — the wary familiarity gives way to fascination. I may be in the same geographic location, but I’m not in the same neighborhood. This is not Al Doura, at least not as I knew it. Where did all these people and shops come from? Where is all the trash, and the open sewage? Where is the fear — the deep-seated fear? Children approach, as they usually do — but today it’s not just children. Young men walk up, initiating conversation. Women cross the street between our humvees, seemingly unaware of the GIs. The people are friendly, but not assertively so. Our presence is natural, almost routine. My inner tension clashes with the calm scene unfolding around me. I take a few steps into the middle of an intersection with a clear view in all directions. Along the main thoroughfare, my immediate surroundings are replicated: block after block of shops and bustling residents. The side streets that I remember as sewage-clogged gutters are clean and teeming with construction and activity. This is not Al Doura. The Al Doura I knew was the heart of sectarian violence, with daily body counts in the dozens. As I keep walking, I pass a busy car wash, and then a fitness center where young men pump iron and tear-outs of Muscle Fitness adorn the walls. We pass two new playgrounds, where boys clamber up and down slides and beautiful little girls play with dolls. A cart vendor offers me a bag of freshly popped popcorn — but I decline and have some falafel instead. Increasingly relaxed and curious, I duck into side streets. One leads me to a buzzing recreation center, where soldiers are challenged to a game of pool. In the next room, teenage boys fight it out in the computer game “Medal of Honor” (which my little brother plays constantly). The World War II battle simulator heats up as we enter: the “German” I’m watching turns a virtual corner and lobs a grenade at an “American.” We all burst out laughing. That’s as much hostility as my patrol would face this day. The entire time, we have only nominal security. It was disconcerting at first — I would never have come here unarmed two years ago — but the commander I’m walking with eases my concerns: the people are our security. The neighborhood residents trust the Americans, as well as the “Sons of Iraq” (or CLCs, as the Army calls them: Concerned Local Citizens) — local residents who provide security for the neighborhood. In a place where al-Qaeda dominated just eight months ago, today they couldn’t buy a bag of popcorn. The unit’s commander — Lieutenant Colonel James Crider — clarifies the new situation in Doura, “We made a deliberate attempt to engage the people and soon enough, when they realized we weren’t going anywhere, that’s when they started talking to us.” Beginning in June, while bullets were still flying, Crider’s squadron held sit-down meetings with every family in Doura, walking house-to-house over the course of several months to forge personal relationships. This approach — combined with a 24/7 presence in the neighborhoods — eventually crippled al-Qaeda. LTC Crider notes, “Al-Qaeda had no idea who was ratting them out, because we went into every house.” The relationships they fostered from these meetings provided intelligence that allowed the unit to detain al-Qaeda members who were thriving on American ignorance and hiding in plain sight. One of Crider’s lieutenants adds, “It was a battle of intel — and we won.” These gains, however, were costly. In their first 30 days in Doura, the unit was attacked over 50 times. On the very streets we’re walking today, LTC Crider has lost nine good men, with dozens more injured. But the unit persisted — honoring the sacrifices of their brethren — and has not been attacked in their sector since September 27. As compelling testimony to the unit’s dedication to the task, LTC Crider’s squadron had the highest reenlistment rate in all of Baghdad in 2007, exceeding their goal by over 500 percent. As we walk, we see scars of the neighborhood’s violent recent past — bombed-out homes pepper the area and bullet-sprayed walls are everywhere. Some power wires dangle out of place. All is not perfect — but signs of life keep finding us. As we reach the end of the block, three young males approach, all looking for work and eager to join the “Sons of Iraq.” This is typical, Crider informs me, and the unit jots down their names. LTC Crider and his soldiers understand that the security gains, though real, are still tenuous — if alternatives to insurgency are not soon in place. The unit has given out hundreds of business micro-loans, many of which were used for street-front stores. They fund only local contractors, who hire local workers to pick up trash, fix sewage pipes, and provide electricity. The people of Doura themselves are rebuilding Doura — with the U.S. Army’s help. "

2/29/2008 8:54:43 AM

Quote :

"Before going to lunch with a local leader, I stop and talk with Omar, the owner of a small grocery. He’s clean-shaven, well dressed, and roughly my age. He moved to Doura about two years ago (when my unit was here), after being displaced from his town by the Mahdi Army. I ask him why hadn’t he joined al-Qaeda either to expel Americans or retaliate against the Shia. He replied, “Because al-Qaeda kills civilians, including my aunt and three cousins.” His uncle was a local contractor — an offense to al-Qaeda, punishable by the killing of his wife and daughters. Omar speaks candidly of the U.S. presence here: “Americans have made many mistakes, but now they are fixing them. . . . If Americans leave now, it will be a disaster.” The most telling aspect of our conversation is where it takes place — on the street, out in the open, and among Omar’s fellow residents. He is not afraid, and vows to fight al-Qaeda if they ever return. I ask him why, of all places, he decided to move to Doura at the height of the violence here. “Because they are good people,” he answers. It was then that I realized I had never really been to this place — I just thought I had. This is the real Al Doura, a neighborhood and a people reborn — thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of LTC Crider and his men. Today, I saw Al Doura for the first time. — Captain Pete Hegseth, who served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division from 2005 to 2006, is executive director of Vets for Freedom. He's back in Iraq for the next week to cover the surge for NRO. "

2/29/2008 8:55:54 AM

http://www.ace.mu.nu/


Grim Milestone: Media Interest In Surge Success Falls To Dangerously Unstable Levels
—Ace

Quote :

"After heavy coverage of the shift to a new Iraq policy in January and February 2007, the TV coverage began to closely track the rising and falling death rates for U.S. soldiers in Iraq. When the number of U.S. fatalities jumped in May, TV coverage jumped, too. When U.S. casualties began to steadily decline, TV coverage of Iraq dramatically decreased. While the amount of coverage has shriveled, the tone remains more negative than positive..... Back in December, NBC’s Tim Russert conceded that the media were less interested in covering a successful U.S. mission in Iraq, telling anchor Brian Williams that “with the surge in Iraq and the level of American deaths declining, it is off the front pages.” This is not neutral news judgment, but a great favor to anti-surge Democrats, since TV’s lack of interest in Iraq spares them the chore of defending their now-discredited opposition to the surge. Does anyone think the media would have let John McCain off the hook had the surge failed as spectacularly as it has succeeded? "

[Edited on February 29, 2008 at 9:49 AM. Reason : sdf]

2/29/2008 9:43:07 AM

This is a quote seperate from the quote above.

Quote :

"Not so much, no. Meanwhile, the media is finally doing so truly thoughtful examination of itself as regards the question of its own biases. Yes, they're finally getting around to examining if the press has been biased against Hillary Clinton. It always amuses me -- okay, angers me -- that the press is willing to examine every single possible allegation of bias except for their most persistent and severe one. The press regularly asks absurd questions -- "Is the press too anti-black? Too anti-gay? Too anti-feminist? To anti-Muslim?" etc. -- the moment an identity-politics group makes such an silly charge. The answer to all these questions is, of course, "No." The press, being liberal as the day is long, is positively pre-disposed to any and all minority groups, particularly those which are important elements in the liberal political coalition. But they are willing to castigate themselves periodically for being, ahem, not quite pro-gay-marriage enough. Meanwhile, the truly damning charge against them -- that they are nakedly partisan actors who skew their reportage always to favor one political party and disfavor the other, while absurdly insisting they cover politics fair and balanced, straight down the middle -- is always dismissed as being so ridiculous as to be beneath answering at all. You've actually got Neal Gabler, a twisted little dwarf, arguing on Fox News Watch every week (at least, when he worked there) that the media were actually biased in favor of conservatives. Other damaged, dwarfish bridge-trolls such as Paul Krugman periodically echo this outlandish conceit. Think about it: the media is willing to entertain the possibility that it is actually institutionally racist against blacks while it angrily and arrogantly dismisses the possibility it may be slightly liberal and hence anti-conservative. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much, eh? One would think the racist charge would be the one dismissed out of hand, so incendiary it is; and yet they're actually willing to ponder whether they are, in effect, effete Klansmen in the service of the Greater New York Metro Area Kleagle. Yet that possibility they're willing to discuss openly, while it's simply ludicrous that they might be somewhat predisposed to one party's politics than the other. Explanation? Simple. They know they're not terribly anti-black so it's a relatively easy and unemotional topic for them to chitter about. It's relatively easy to discuss flaws you know you're innocent of. But when it comes to the anti-conservative bias... suddenly they're quite emotional about the charge, angry and petulant such an outrageous accusation is made in the first place. A cynic might conclude they're simply unwilling to concede flaws they know they truly do possess, meanwhile making up for that by offering false confessions to a welter of sins they know they're not guilty of at all. "

2/29/2008 9:44:06 AM

Looks like things are going relatively well in Mosul

I wonder HOW long it will take for any news of success in Mosul to come from mainstream media.

Quote :

"he American helicopters crews here in Mosul have been devastating the enemy. I have never seen anything like it. Very soon I'll be able to tell you more. The enemy is shooting back, and many of our helicopters are full of holes. Two pilots got shot. One was wounded and is in the hospital; he'll be fine. The other got shot through the helmet and he's still flying around Mosul killing terrorists. I photographed his helmet. If not for these brave helicopter pilots, a lot more of our folks would be getting killed. You might find it difficult to believe how many terrorists they are killing. It's hard for me to believe and I am right here in Mosul. They often wake me up shooting missiles and machineguns, yet the pilots have been very careful with fires and have inflicted practically no collateral damage. Damage to the terrorists is truly severe, however. The gun footage is ugly. I am starting to wonder if this small group of pilots is a big part of the reason why attacks are so relatively low here. I can hear them flying now. It's just matter of time until I hear the next missile launch. Vroooossshhhh...........BOOM. V/r, Michael"

3/2/2008 7:17:20 PM

no one cares

but if someone does, they'll just check dude's website. quit padding

[Edited on March 2, 2008 at 7:36 PM. Reason : ,]

3/2/2008 7:34:11 PM

If you would like, please post any dispatch websites or other articles that I don't have here so I we all can get more information regarding the progress of the war.

And fyi, that was from an email he sent out to all the people that registered with his site. Info you might not find for quite some time ANYWHERE else

[Edited on March 2, 2008 at 7:41 PM. Reason : da]

3/2/2008 7:40:47 PM

In regards to this puppy throwing incident, here is Matt Sanchez breaking it down until more info comes to light.

Quote :

"In the "Huh?" File Every time I see a "Marine in trouble" story, I always think of the words of my drill instructor, Sgt. Forde. "If you mess up, the first thing they'll report will be 'Marine messed up'" That was the santized version of Sgt. Forde's saying, but it is the reality nevertheless. Ok, standard procedure for dogs/puppies in Iraq (and there are many dogs) is to shoot them should they get too close to a servicemen. If you get bitten, a series of rabies shots await you in Baghdad. So, I have a hard time believing the puppy was still alive. A Marine just won't let it get that close alive. Iraqis themselves do not keep dogs/puppies as pets, so many rove the streets in packs. We'll see how this all plays out, but it is interesting how much indignation a puppy will provoke. "

http://mattsanchez.typepad.com/

[Edited on March 4, 2008 at 10:39 AM. Reason : f]

3/4/2008 10:39:21 AM

Quote :

"Iraq Series - Final thoughts from Baghdad By Megan Ortagus :: 1 Comments :: Email to a friend Special thanks to COL Gibbs, LTC Crider, LTC Watson and Major Luedeke for graciously hosting me with Task Force Dragon while in Iraq. “It’s time we started viewing Iraq as an ally, not an enemy.” Lieutenant Colonel James Crider could not have spoken truer words as we ate a traditional Iraqi meal in the home of Dr. Mouyad. The doctor is a progressive community leader in Doura who is helping politically reconcile and rebuild war- torn Baghdad mullahas in cooperation with Coalition Forces. By listening to the speeches and floor debates of Democratic Presidential candidates and leadership in Congress, one would come away with several misnomers: that Iraq is embroiled in an unwinnable civil war and that despite the momentous sacrifice of our blood and treasure, it is in America’s best interests to immediately back out of our responsibilities and commitment in Iraq. These claims - which make clever sound bites for those only interested in political maneuvering - are wrong. Maybe, it is because many in Congress have not bothered to actually visit Iraq recently to evaluate the successes of the “Surge.” For all of Senator Clinton’s and Senator Obama’s tit-for-tat as to who is most ready to lead during a time of international crisis – why aren’t they tripping over each other to tour Iraq? Where are their bold ideas and initiatives that would actually augment our victories and help cement the remarkable gains our troops have fought so gallantly to achieve? The answer is, unfortunately, that being honest on Iraq would disenfranchise both Clinton and Obama from the radical anti-war wing of the Democratic party that has “bought and paid” for these candidates. One can only assume that a “willing suspension of disbelief,” to borrow Senator Clinton’s now infamous phrase, is a state of perpetual denial on the war in Iraq. The politically calculating promises being made by candidates on the campaign trail suggest a myopic vision of Iraq and a complete misunderstanding of the new counterinsurgency strategy being implemented by General Petraeus. The central thesis of Senator Obama’s campaign is that he showed superior judgment in opposing the initial invasion of Iraq. That is a tired dispute from 5 years ago. The real question is, “what now”? What is Mr. Obama’s plan for the estimated 2.5 million Iraq refugees who are beginning to return home and looking for protection from al Qaeda so they can begin to rebuild a normal life with their families? What are Mr. Obama’s plans for the peaceful Sunnis of Doura who last year could not leave their homes without fear of death by al Qaeda but now – because of the security provided by the U.S. Military - send their children play in the streets? Furthermore, what message does it send to Iran, al Qaeda and other international bad actors who are seeking proxy and territorial control of Iraq? A reckless promise for withdraw of troops would send a dangerous signal to America’s enemies that with enough pressure, the U.S. will cave. Presidential candidates and Congressional leadership owe the American people a dose of honesty. The success of the Surge has brought a nation on the brink of complete chaos and civil war back to a place of relative calm and security. As General Petraeus so frequently recites: there are no victory dances, no light at the end of tunnels but for those living in Baghdad, the progress is tangible. The number of attacks against citizens has dropped by almost 80 percent since November of 2006; the number of car bomb incidents has declined by about 70 percent; and Iraq’s national government is experiencing its own surge of over 100,000 new members of the Iraqi Security Forces. Make no mistake, there is still much to be done in Iraq and it will require a sobering understanding of the long term commitment needed by the U.S. and International community. As Colonel Gibbs recently told me, “…we have to win; we’ve invested too much already.” Maybe Senators Clinton and Obama should go see Iraq post-Surge before they continue their auditions for the role of Commander-in-Chief. "

This Dr. Mouyad guy is poping up in multiple blogs. He really must be doing a hell of a job for generals to be visiting him.

Does anyone think Clinton or Obama will be able to accept that the surge is working?

3/5/2008 9:29:46 AM

Look at what we're paying our soldiers to go over there and do...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=621_1204615429

Throw fucking puppies off cliffs

3/5/2008 2:32:22 PM

bitch puppy prolly deserved it.

3/5/2008 2:33:11 PM

Yes, for every puppy killed, we give our soilders $12.33

But seriously, almost all dogs over there are wild and will actually eat the bodies of dead combatants(Happened all over the place in Fallujah). And soilders are actually told to shoot dogs if they get to close. Now that doesnt excuse this guy, but similar shit happened during WW2 when the fighting was over and the soilders were bored. He should still be punished if the video isnt fake or the dog isnt already dead.

3/5/2008 4:25:12 PM

DUDE

YOU DON'T THROW PUPPIES OFF CLIFFS

IT IS JUST WRONG

3/5/2008 4:41:05 PM

Quote :

"I've got an idea. Why don't you start a blog, then link to his blog in your blog. Put your blog link in your profile, and then stop posting here because no one cares."

I care.

3/5/2008 4:45:18 PM

^^what about evil puppies?

3/5/2008 7:50:19 PM

Excellent dispatch about the helicopter pilots over Mosul

Quote :

"Sometimes I sit up on a hill and watch them in the air. The other day two Kiowas were screaming low right over the rooftops and doing hard turns. I couldn’t see the combat because they were too far away, but I knew they were toe to toe and there was plenty of shooting going on or they wouldn’t have been flying so violently. It’s scary watching them because I’ve met them and know they are mortals doing the work of immortals. At any second there could be a fireball. A “fallen angel.” I remember the call over the radio last year of a “fallen angel” down by Baghdad. All aboard had been lost. If I am down on the street and they pass overhead, I wave. In the dining facility, I step respectfully out of their way. All the time thinking, these folks are more than Guitar Heroes. "

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/guitar-heros.htm

[Edited on March 10, 2008 at 1:59 PM. Reason : ff]

3/10/2008 1:59:10 PM

From MSN

Chuck Norris is a big deal in Iraq haha

Quote :

"FALLUJAH, Iraq - Hollywood action star Chuck Norris has become a cult figure among the U.S. military in Iraq and an unlikely hero for some in Iraq's security forces. A small cardboard shrine is dedicated to Norris at a U.S. military helicopter hub in Baghdad, and comments lauding the manliness and virility of the actor have been left on toilet walls across Iraq and even in neighboring Kuwait, soldiers say. "The fastest way to a man's heart is with Chuck Norris's fist," reads one message at the shrine, which consists of a signed photo of the actor surrounded by similar statements. "Chuck Norris puts the laughter in manslaughter," reads one and "Chuck Norris divides by zero," reads another. Known as Chuck Norris "facts," the claims have already become an Internet phenomenon, and scores are featured on http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com, including "Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas," and "There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Oklahoma." Honorary Marine Known for his martial arts prowess and tough-guy image, the actor has visited Iraq several times and was made an honorary Marine last year. Some 20 U.S. military personnel and support staff spoken to by Reuters could recite at least one Norris "fact," despite many having not visited the Web site. U.S. troops in Iraq say his support for them and Norris' invincible image has made him their idol and insist the exaggerated and satirical claims are not meant to mock him. "The jokes all add to his legend. They're not derogatory. He's an icon," said Sgt. Joe Lindsay at a base in Fallujah in Iraq's Western Anbar province, which Norris has visited. Bearded and muscled, Norris shot to fame fighting kung fu legend Bruce Lee in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon, and later films show him devastating groups of men with one kick. 'One of the guys' "Norris visited Iraq when violence was its worst and other celebrities were skittish. He's one of the guys," U.S. military public affairs officer Specialist Mark Braden said in Baghdad. "The Marines love him. He's like a mythical legend," Staff Sgt. Amy Forsythe in Fallujah said. Soldiers cited many reasons for his appeal. Some appreciated his films and fighting ability -- Norris is a martial arts guru, and many of his films have military themes. Others said the masculine and plainly dressed actor was an antidote to the preening and moisturized metrosexual male. Some praised his Christian and political values. The actor recently endorsed Republican Party presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, though in the spirit of the Norris "facts," Marines argued it was Huckabee who endorsed Norris. "He's helped us a lot. The appeal is also his martial arts, and sheer physical presence ... I don't think I go a day without hearing a Norris joke," said Corp. Ricardo Jones in Fallujah. Norris' appeal is not restricted to U.S. troops either. At an Iraqi police graduation ceremony in Fallujah, graduates called out for their "Chuck Norris" to pose with them for photos. "Truthfully, I didn't know who he was. I asked the Americans, and they said he was a great fighter, and that's why they named me after him. They showed me a video, and it's true, he's a great fighter" said police trainer Mohammed Rasheed. With his handle-bar moustache, Rasheed has a vague resemblance to Norris. Another police trainer said Chuck Norris was a role model for the police in Fallujah, which until 2007 was an al-Qaida stronghold and the scene of fierce battles with security forces. "I've seen his videos, he's a hero. He saves the city, he protects women and children and he fights crime wherever it is. We should all be like Chuck Norris," Khaled Hussein said. "

3/11/2008 9:16:40 AM

http://www.michaeltotten.com/

Quote :

"It was extraordinary. Never had I heard such loud silence in Iraq beyond the mountains of Kurdistan. Not until I was far away from the interminable roar of hundreds of generators did I realize just how loud really Iraq is most of the time. The soundtrack of Iraq isn’t bullets and bombs – imagine instead a dozen lawnmowers within a block of your house. You stop noticing after a few hours, though, until they fall silent. Sitting out in the desert with a failed generator it was as though I had gone suddenly deaf, or had been whisked away through a hole in the dimension to the Oregon wilderness. "

3/11/2008 11:46:31 AM

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/

Quote :

"An Infiltrater of Al Qaeda Speaks Out Between October 2002 and January 2003 Mohamed Sifaoui infiltrated an Al-Qaeda cell in France in order to research his book "Mes fre'res assassins: Comment j'ai infiltre' unde cellule d'Al-Qaida" (My assassin brothers: How I infiltrated an Al-Qaeda cell). Middle East Quarterly: MEQ: What was your reaction to Al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri's appeal on September 20, 2007, "to wipe sons of France and Spain" out of the Maghreb?[2] Sifaoui: I've been expressing the same warnings about Islamist terrorism for years. Zawahiri's statement doesn't surprise me. Since the GSPC [Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat] pledged its allegiance to Al-Qaeda in September 2006, Algerian terrorists and Al-Qaeda leaders expressed their objective very clearly: Intensify terrorist attacks against the Algerian regime and its institutions, as well as against lay and democratic people, targeting Western and especially French citizens.[...] MEQ: Would you use the term Islamo-fascism to describe this threat? Sifaoui: I certainly am one of the first Muslims to consider Islamism to be fascism. This is not a subjective decision but rather a serious, academic argument. Fascism and Islamism are comparable in many aspects: Fascism, without evoking all its particularities, bears similarities to trends also present in Islamism. I am, of course, making a reference to their will to exterminate the Jews. On this point, the Islamists may go even further in their doctrine than the Nazis did, considering that the end of the world could only occur when there are no Jews left on earth. In the three monotheist religions, apocalypse, end of the world, and doomsday exist and are liturgical events invested with a high degree of spirituality. Hence, the Islamists interpret the end of the world in a very special way. Whereas it is written nowhere in the Qur'an, exegetes describe the end of the world as the day when even the trees and rocks will be able to talk and tell the Muslims: "Come here, there is a Jew hiding behind me. Come and kill him." And this would go on, until there would not be any Jew left on earth. This ideology is pure fascism. MEQ: Are there other similarities? Sifaoui: The will to exterminate or do harm to homosexuals is another similarity between Nazism and Islamism. The Islamists, also, say that they are the best community in the world, a superior race thanks to their beliefs. They use political means to arrive at this erroneous exegesis. I do not fear to call it fascism. And there are many more similarities between fascism and Islamism.[...] MEQ: Do you believe it is possible to criticize Islamism without being called a racist? Sifaoui: Absolutely, I would say that one must criticize Islamism. When I am criticizing Nazism, I am not being anti-German. MEQ: When did you feel for the first time that you had to criticize Islamism? Sifaoui: I have always felt that it was a moral duty.[...] Sifaoui: Between October 2002 and January 2003, I spent four months infiltrating an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell in France. Two months before the launching of the Iraq war, when I was in the midst of the group, one of the Islamists said, "Now we are going to pray for George Bush to attack Iraq." I was surprised and acted as if I were stupid: "Really? Why do you want America to kill our brothers?" The most clever and elevated in Al-Qaeda's hierarchy, Amara Saïfi [the GSPC's emir in London] whispered to me, "All over the world, our brothers are now praying for George Bush to attack Iraq. War between the Muslim world and the Western world is bound to happen. Unfortunately, Muslims are too divided. Far too many of them do not pray regularly and neglect religion and jihad. In order to unify and mobilize all these people, we have to continue what we initiated on 9-11. We attacked America to make her retort everywhere in the Muslim world, in order to create a real war between Muslims and the West, and especially Israel." MEQ: That's incredible. Sifaoui: Another of the group added, "Once Iraq is at war, many of our brothers will go there to fight jihad. George Bush will have answered our prayers by suppressing our enemy Saddam Hussein and unifying the Muslims in jihad. Then as Westerners do not know how to fight attrition wars, we know that they will inevitably get stuck. We will wait until they leave in order to establish an Islamist state in Iraq. This war will be a pretext to launch terrorist attacks in Europe as well." Unfortunately, you can see their theory is valid. They predicted exactly what is happening. Now we need to convince the Dem's and leftist that there is no way we can pull out of Iraq. Very interesting interview and be sure to read it all. "

3/11/2008 3:22:32 PM

Plz 2 B read

http://www.ace.mu.nu/

Here is the article he is refering to

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/03/12/harvard-economists-study-medias-anti-war-rhetoric-emboldens-iraqi-insurgents/

Quote :

"Harvard Smarty-Pants Economists: Media's Anti-War Propaganda Does Indeed Embolden Jihadists and Cost Human Lives —Ace The media lied, people died. Great story, and Allah supplies some good nuance (no quotes -- fo' real, yo): "If the propriety of anti-war rhetoric turns on whether it makes the mission in the field harder, then arguably the same is true of Geert Wilders’s film. The Secretary General of NATO has said that explicitly, in fact, as has one of the U.S. military’s joint task forces in Afghanistan. If an economist can prove that criticism of Islam increases attacks (which shouldn’t be hard), you want to roll that back too?" He wonders if there is an "optimal level" of war criticism, economically. I don't know. But I would suggest that there is a cost in human (and American, particularly) life to over-the-top, dishonest anti-war agenda journalism, and reporters can avoid all such moral quandries by simply reporting the truth accurately. Will the truth always reduce human death? Well, no, but it does have the virtue of being the truth. If people and particularly Americans are to die due to reportage, can we at least insist they die for a noble principle like the truth, rather than some unhinged partisan distortion? I would think that American soldiers and Iraqi cops and civilians would be rather heartened to know that, while reportage always may encourage jihadists, at least their fellow Americans are not increasing their risk of death by deliberately reporting lies and refusing to report on American/Iraqi victories. No one wishes to die, but if death is inevitable, it is better to die for the truth than a lie. As the left said during Vietnam: Who wants to be the last soldier to die for a lie? The MSM ought to consider that. In Related News... NBC famously and fatuously decreed Iraq to be in a state of civil war a year or so ago. That pronouncement still stands. They have not retracted it. So tell me, NBC: If it was gosh-darn important to officially declare Iraq to be in a state of civil war -- if it was so mind-bogglingly critical that NBCNews authoritatively declare the current civil-war-ish-ness of Iraq -- why is it so unimportant now to authoritatively declare Iraq to NOT be in a state off civil war? NBCNews took the position that its official, duly considered institutional opinion was of Great National Import when that position was implicitly anti-war. Now that Iraq is clearly not in a civil war, NBCNews has decided it's not quite as important to go around declaring which countries may, or may not be, "officially" in a state of civil war. According to NBCNews' last official pronouncement, Iraq is in civil war. That is NBCNews' official editorial/journalistic profession. Either they do not make corrections or bother retracting reportage that has become stale, or they are simply delusional. Either way, no one should be getting their news from such an outfit. "

3/12/2008 2:20:30 PM

Quote :

"March 17, 2008 Iraq Opinion Lag Narrows I'm working on a long two-part essay called The Liberation of Karmah for this site and a shorter piece for Commentary about Kosovo. I'm behind schedule, though, so I'll leave you with some data to chew on for now. Last summer when I returned from Baghdad and Ramadi I was disturbed to see that Iraqi public opinion had barely changed in the wake of the surge. There seemed to be a serious disconnect between the hard data and what I had seen with my eyes. I didn't quite know what to make of it. In hindsight it makes sense. American public opinion hadn't budged on Iraq either last summer. Only now is it starting to shift. Iraqis are closer to Iraq than Americans (obviously), but it seems that opinions are slow to change with the facts even there. A new poll released today shows that Iraqi public opinion – while not yet where we want it to be – now trends in the same direction as the surge. You can read the whole thing (warning: PDF), but here are some samples. "

Here is the entire report

http://www.abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1060a1IraqWhereThingsStand.pdf

3/18/2008 10:08:58 AM

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/totten/2998

Quote :

"Opinion polls, including those commissioned by the American command, have long suggested that a majority of Iraqis would like American troops withdrawn, but another lesson to be drawn from Saddam Hussein’s years is that any attempt to measure opinion in Iraq is fatally skewed by intimidation. More often than not, people tell pollsters and reporters what they think is safe, not necessarily what they believe. My own experience, invariably, was that Iraqis I met who felt secure enough to speak with candor had an overwhelming desire to see American troops remain long enough to restore stability."

I put this in that other thread, but I feel it needs to be put here as well.

3/20/2008 9:59:42 AM

I have heard from a source who has spent time among the insurgents in Iraq that they have been deliberately lying back, and plan to remain that way until troop levels are reduced significantly. Then once the country is vulnerable, they will proceed to engage in civil war and take over the country. Its a very simple but clever fake-out maneuver that the military can do little about except prepare the Iraqi military for it. Meanwhile, everything will look like its going well in Iraq, just in time for the election.

3/20/2008 4:13:45 PM

very plausible. more convincing if you name or at least describe your source in more detail

but, if the general population is against such a thing because they have seen its effects before in 06, then I doubt they want it to return. Also, AQI were the ones mainly trying to start a civil war, and they are being crushed.

somehow I doubt they will be very successful

[Edited on March 20, 2008 at 7:53 PM. Reason : 8ball says]

3/20/2008 7:50:32 PM

^What can the general population do? And aren't they still largely divided?

AQI is only part of the equation. You have a huge number of insurgents from the two sects who remain at each other's throats, and each want power of the government.

The surge has been a perfect opportunity for some of them to hold back and recover, while giving the illusion of US success. We should really assume they're doing this rather than being proud of ourselves.

I didn't mean to sound like I had some inside source. I heard it from a guy on News Hour.

3/20/2008 10:49:27 PM

Quote :

"http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/totten/2998 Quote : "Opinion polls, including those commissioned by the American command, have long suggested that a majority of Iraqis would like American troops withdrawn, but another lesson to be drawn from Saddam Hussein’s years is that any attempt to measure opinion in Iraq is fatally skewed by intimidation. More often than not, people tell pollsters and reporters what they think is safe, not necessarily what they believe. My own experience, invariably, was that Iraqis I met who felt secure enough to speak with candor had an overwhelming desire to see American troops remain long enough to restore stability." I put this in that other thread, but I feel it needs to be put here as well. "

I actually was thinking this would be the case, because it would explain the paradoxical results of the poll, but this seems to be a pessimistic view, and would need more digging to see what's actually going on.

3/20/2008 11:28:11 PM

Quote :

"^What can the general population do? And aren't they still largely divided? AQI is only part of the equation. You have a huge number of insurgents from the two sects who remain at each other's throats, and each want power of the government. The surge has been a perfect opportunity for some of them to hold back and recover, while giving the illusion of US success. We should really assume they're doing this rather than being proud of ourselves. I didn't mean to sound like I had some inside source. I heard it from a guy on News Hour."

From the dispatches I have read it seems like the two sects were largely against each other because AQI was instigating executions blaming it on one or the other sides. And it seems that they dont all just want to kill each other. A large portion of the insurgents were doing it because they didnt have a job(lots of former Iraqi soldiers from the disbanded army), or they were being told by AQI(who has a great ability to misinform people with its media wing) that the americans were butchering civilians and were going to leave Iraq a burning shell. LARGE amounts of former insurgents that are now working for us because A) we can pay them and let them support their families and B) they now realize that the american troops and american civilians are not the monsters AQI made them out to be.

For instance, when donated supplies and toys for kids came to parts of Al Anbar province, the Iraqis thought that the troops bought them. When in fact they had been donated by American civilians. The dispatch I read said, that when the this one Iraqi realized how many of the lies AQI had told him were in fact false, he started to cry.

As long as the general population believes that the Americans are their best option for a future 90% of them will not do us harm. Also, its not like when our soldiers leave that there wont be anybody to keep order. The Iraqi army, police, and concerned local citizens are all helping. They, of course, have some corrupt members, but they are getting much better than they were in 05 and 06.

Its not like sunnis are just waiting for US troop levels to drop off to so start a civil war. The civil war has already happened, started by AQI, not Iraqis. There are those that want it, but they are few.

3/21/2008 1:59:36 PM

http://www.michaeltotten.com/

This is about a city bordering Fallujah and Baghdad that you have never heard of, and was worse off then both of them.

Quote :

" “As Captain Jones explained, we're in the background,” Lieutenant Macak said. “We've been supporting them, but they have an Iraqi face on everything. They set the conditions and do the legwork. We allow them to take the credit for it, basically, which is a lot of what counterinsurgency is. We provide them the legs to let them stand up and do it themselves.” The ceremony was held at the so-called “lollipop.” “This was IED Alley, right here,” Lieutenant Macak said as we arrived. “But not any more because of the efforts of coalition forces, the Iraqi Police, the Provincial Security Forces, the Iraqi Civilian Watch, and the sheikhs. For two or three years now we've been saying them, hey, if you're tired of Al Qaeda, stand up and get rid of them. And they're actually doing that now. The Iraqi Police now call IED Alley their Victory Circle. It's a physical representation of what they have accomplished.” "

Quote :

" Twenty or so minutes later, Sheikh Mishan stood at the podium and addressed the people of Karmah in poetic, perfectly pronounced, thunderous Arabic. His speech celebrating the end of the insurgency and the awakening of the city of Karmah would knock you back on your heels even if you could not understand one single word. The man was an obvious leader, and he packed a punch. "

3/24/2008 9:33:23 AM

Quote :

"Nineveh in late March 2008 There are no guarantees, but this could be the endgame for major combat operations in Iraq. Combat is likely to heat up in Mosul and western Nineveh by about May. There likely will be some reports of increased US and Iraqi casualties up here, but this does not mean that we are losing ground or that al Qaeda is resurging – though clearly they are trying. If there is an increase in casualties here as we go into the summer of 2008, it is because our people and the Iraqi forces are closing in. We have seen just how deadly al Qaeda can be. This enemy is desperate. They know they are losing. They are not likely to go out easy. The enemy is smart, agile and adaptive. Likely they will land some devastating blows on us, but at this rate, our people and Iraqi forces appear to be driving stakes through al Qaeda hearts faster than al Qaeda is regenerating. "

http://67.192.120.151/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=519:stake-through-their-hearts-killing-al-qaeda&catid=34:dispatches&Itemid=55

3/24/2008 2:39:01 PM

Quote :

"Shiite Violence met by Iraqi Army Next > News reports of sharp fighting between the Iraqi Army and rogue militia elements are concerning. Yet what many news reports neglect to mention is that the largely Shiite Iraqi government is using the Iraqi Army to fight Shiite terrorists. Certain Shiite militant leaders have called for civil disobedience against the Iraqi Government in response, but this is not a re-ignition of Shiite-Sunni civil war. I asked Colonel Steve Boylan, Public Affairs Officer for General Petraeus, for a comment on the violence. Colonel Boylan emailed back: "The cease fire isn't over so we are continuing. The Prime Minister has taken about two brigades of ISF to Basra to support down there and to see for himself what the situation is. We are seeing some spike in indirect fire here in Baghdad, but not a trend. We will need to see where it goes. The call for civil disobedience is one thing, as long as it is peaceful then it is their public voicing their views. We can have people yell at each other and that is okay...but we don't want them shooting at each other or us." "

I do not know why, but there is something about this unrest that is good. Its probably that the Iraqis are handleing it on there own. I cant explain it, but this doesnt seem like a rejection of the system so much as fighting to get more control in the system.

Arabs will be Arabs.

Another reason maybe that its nor violence directly targeting civilians or the US. And this struck me as well.

Quote :

"Yet what many news reports neglect to mention is that the largely Shiite Iraqi government is using the Iraqi Army to fight Shiite terrorists."

[Edited on March 26, 2008 at 3:15 PM. Reason : sdf]

3/26/2008 2:59:59 PM

^ I would actually call that the best news I've heard out of Iraq in years.

3/27/2008 12:47:16 AM

Its a move in the right direction for the Iraqi government

3/27/2008 7:50:10 AM

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/03/fighting_in_baghdad.php

Quote :

"Fighting in Baghdad, South against Mahdi Army completes fourth day By Bill RoggioMarch 28, 2008 12:50 PM Iraqi police patrol in Basrah. Photo from Alalam News. Click to view. Fighting in Basrah, Baghdad, and throughout much of the South continues as Iraqi security Forces and Multinational Forces Iraq press the fight against the Mahdi Army and other Iranian-backed terror groups. The Iraqi Army has moved additional forces to Basrah as the US and Iraqi military have conducted significant engagements in Shia areas of Baghdad. The Mahdi Army has taken significant casualties. The US military has denied the Mahdi Army has taken control of checkpoints in Baghdad. Several hundred Iraqis are reported to have been killed during the fighting since the operation began on March 25. A large majority of them are Mahdi Army fighters, according to the press reports. The US and Iraqi military have killed more than 70 Mahdi Army fighters in Shia neighborhood in Baghdad alone over the past three days. Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, who is in Basrah supervising Operation Knights' Assault, has given the Mahdi Army 72 hours to lay down their weapons. "We are not going to chase those who hand over their weapons within 72 hours," Maliki said. "If they do not surrender their arms, the law will follow its course." Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army and the Sadrist movement, is calling for an end to the fighting, according to a statement released by Hazem al Aaraji, a close aide to Sadr. He called for "everyone to pursue political solutions and peaceful protests and a stop to the shedding of Iraqi blood." The Iraqi opposition held an emergency session in parliament, but only 54 of the 275 lawmakers attended, AFP reported. "The two main parliamentary blocs -- Shiite United Iraqi Alliance and the Kurdish Alliance --- were not present for the session which was attended by lawmakers from radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc, the small Shiite Fadhila Party, the secular Iraqi National List and the Sunni National Dialogue Council," according the AFP report. The main political blocs in Iraq's parliament have given their support to the military operations by ignoring the emergency session. Fighting in Basrah Basrah has been the scene of the majority of the fighting. Major General Ali Zaidan said that 120 Mahdi Army and other Shia terrorists have been killed since the fighting began, while another 450 have been wounded. Iraqi police said they have captured 218 "militiamen" since the start of the operation on March 25. But the Mahdi Army is said to be controlling some neighborhoods in Basrah, while the Army is meeting stiff resistance when attempting to entry these neighborhood. The Mahdi Army is targeting senior military and police leaders in the southern city. Major General Abdul Jalil Khalaf, the chief of police in Basra, narrowly missed an attempt on his life after the Mahdi Army hit his convoy with a roadside bomb. Three officers were killed in the attack. Brigadier General Eidaan Muttar, Khalaf's deputy, also survived an IED attack on his convoy. The Iraqi military continues to beef up its security forces in the South. The Army and police have committed the equivalent of two additional brigades of security forces. Maliki ordered five extra battalions to the city, putting the number of Iraqi Army in Basrah at 15,000 troops. Additional elements from the Emergency Response Units, Iraqi Special Operations Forces, and helicopter support have been moved to Basrah. Coalition forces have served in a largely advisory and support role. US military and police trainers are embedded with their Iraqi units, while Multinational Forces Iraq is supplying logistical and air support for Iraqi forces. Coalition air forces conducted two attacks on Mahdi Army positions in Basrah, an Iraqi source told AP. Fighting in Baghdad As the fighting in Basrah is underway, the fighting in Baghdad has intensified. US and Iraqi security forces have clashed with the Mahdi Army in Shia-dominated neighborhoods numerous times in Baghdad since the fighting began on Tuesday. Major fire-fights have broken out in Sadr City, Adhamiyah, Rusafa, New Baghdad, Kadhamiyah, Mansour, and other neighborhoods in northern and eastern Baghdad where the Mahdi Army has a significant presence. US and Iraqi security forces killed 26 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad on March 26. Another 42 Mahdi Army fighters were killed in a series of battles throughout Baghdad on March 27. Eight of the Mahdi Army fighters were killed after they attempted to overtake an Iraqi Army checkpoint. The Iraqi soldiers beat off the attack, losing one soldier in action. The Times Online claimed the Iraqi Army and police have abandoned checkpoints in Baghdad, but the US military denied the Mahdi Army is in control of police and Army checkpoints in Baghdad. "All checkpoints and ISF [Iraqi security forces] buildings are in ISF and/or Coalition control. No checkpoint is in enemy control," said Lieutenant Colonel Steve Stover, the Public Affairs Officer for the 4th Infantry Division and Multinational Division Baghdad in an email response to questions from The Long War Journal. "There were several cases where the ISF needed our assistance (and more often than not - did not) and either CF 9Coalition forces) ground or air responded and either reinforced or took back in a couple occasions the CP or IP (Iraqi Police) building - none of that happened today." The Mahdi Army and Iranian-backed terrorists of the Special Groups have continued to fire mortars and rockets at US and Iraqi outposts in the city. One Coalition soldier, two US civilians, and one Iraqi Army soldier were wounded in an attack launched on March 26. Sixteen rockets were fired in four separate volleys. One civilian was killed and 14 civilians and five soldiers were wounded during a series of 11 mortar attacks throughout Baghdad on March 27. US soldiers killed two terrorists as they acted as spotters for the mortar teams. On March 28, two security guards for Sunni Vice President Tareq al Hashemi were wounded in a mortar attack in the International Zone. Terrorists also conducted a successful kidnapping in Baghdad, according to an unconfirmed report from Baghdad. Tahseen Sheikhly, the civilian spokesman for the Baghdad security operation, was kidnapped and three of his bodyguards were kidnapped after his home was assaulted. The terrorists then burned down his home. Fighting in Al Kut, Nasiriyah The fighting has not been contained to Baghdad and Basrah. Clashes are being reported in Al Kut, Nasiriyah, Diwaniyah, and Hillah. Heavy fighting has been reported in Al Kut, one of the main hubs of Special Groups activities in the south. The Special Groups store weapons in Al Kut after transporting them across the border from Iran. More than forty people have been killed and 75 wounded during fighting in the city and surrounding regions in Wasit province, according to General Abdul Hanin Hamoud Saleh al Amara, a police chief in the province. The fighting in Al Kut began on March 25. Iraqi police killed 11 Mahdi Army fighters in Al Kut on March 26. Iraqi security forces are also active in Diwaniyah, another transit point for Iranian-made weapons. A Sadrist spokesman said Iraqi security forces captured four leaders of the Sadrist movement and twelve other members of the group in Diwaniyah on March 28. Terrorists responded by launching seven mortars at the headquarters for the 8th Army in Diwaniyah. No casualties were reported. The Army and police have been active in Babil province. Hillah’s Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics unit attacked a Special Groups unit in Hillah on March 26. The Hillah Swat team killed 14 Special Groups fighters and wounded 20. The Iraqi Army said it captured a commander of a terror cell in Al Hashimiyah, south of Hillah. Seven other Sadrist leaders believed to be behind attacks in Hillah were captured by the police. The Mahdi Army is said to have taken control of the center of the city of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qhar province. Nasiriyah is a strategic city in the south as it sits at the major crossroads for roads running north to south and east to west. "

[Edited on March 28, 2008 at 2:47 PM. Reason : kk]

3/28/2008 2:46:49 PM

Well...there went all that "success" associated with the surge.

3/29/2008 12:31:13 AM

We will see. Need to let this pan out to get a clearer view of who and why.

3/30/2008 7:47:14 PM

Quote :

"Although the standard take here is that this is merely a fight between two thuggish groups -- Maliki's alliance and Sadr's militias -- it has to be borne in mind that Sadr is one of the worst thugs in the country. And Maliki, whatever his motivations, does in fact represent the government. And governments generally enjoy an exclusive right to organized, armed forces within their territories, or else they don't really control that territory at all. The Sadrists challenge this and want to impose their own "government" -- corrupt and Islamofascist -- through force of arms. So this isn't merely some political dispute between Maliki and Sadr; the political dispute, as Dave Price points out, was already settled when Maliki and his allies won the most votes and took control of the government. "

3/31/2008 3:16:11 PM