Archives for the 'Iraq' Category
Bush, Still President
Published on 11 Mar 2008 at 8:35 pm.
6 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq.
Iraq, still his war. And Iran, apparently, still on the target list. We’ll start with VOA:
Goodbye Kiss
Published on 9 Mar 2008 at 8:44 am.
6 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, pols.
Departing Power re Obama: He has no Iraq plan. Because he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Beeb via Gateway:
Ye of Little Feith
Published on 9 Mar 2008 at 7:13 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, pols.
Former undersecretary of defense’s tell-all rips Powell, Armitage, Bremer new ones. There was undercutting, but not much objection in the runup to war. Washington Post.
CAT-Kill
Published on 8 Mar 2008 at 5:38 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military.
Acute Politics on a brief news item, and what it was about:
The shock wave flattened out across the ground, kicking dust into the air. Out of the cloud came the stuff of nightmare for every man who goes to war: scraps of vehicle and worse- the crew. Soldiers consider such massive bombs to be mercifully [...]
Battling Soldiers Duke It Out Re War
Published on 8 Mar 2008 at 3:41 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military.
Strategy fight over at Small Wars Journal! Last one to make a salient point’s a rotten egg. Peter Mansoor wacks Gian Gentile, says his own experience colors his view: It wasn’t the soldiers failing, it was the strategy. It’s a version of Kilcullen’s where/when you served tends to color your view observation. Current prior re same, and [...]
Read ‘Battling Soldiers Duke It Out Re War’
Heavy Metal
Published on 8 Mar 2008 at 8:47 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Iraq.
In Baghdad, via Gateway, who also swings a heavy sledgehammer for a little Iraq myth-busting.
Tears of a Clown
Published on 6 Mar 2008 at 11:26 pm.
3 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq.
Why Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq was a failure. Alireza Jafarzadeh at Fox:
The Good German
Published on 6 Mar 2008 at 10:26 am.
7 Comments.
Filed under Germans, Iraq, military.
Mocking Germans is like shooting sausage in a butcher’s shop. As dear old Auntie Helen used to say, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
So let’s praise one German who stepped up. Der Spiegel with a fascinating portrait. If only there were more like him. Say, 82 million.
Patton of the Counter Insurgency
Published on 5 Mar 2008 at 10:18 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, deep thot, military.
The Kagans at Weekly Standard and other counter-insurgency thot:
Read ‘Patton of the Counter Insurgency’
Great Satan Go Home
Published on 4 Mar 2008 at 12:58 am.
7 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq.
A’jad gets more digs in and promises $$$ prior to exiting. Talabani reckons he got an agreement “to secure their borders in order to prevent infiltration of terrorists and smugglers.” Good luck with that.
U.S. Terror Exports Up
Published on 2 Mar 2008 at 10:22 pm.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq.
Say’s A’jad, who should know. Iran’s been one of the world’s leading terror exporters for decades. AFP:
True Happiness
Published on 2 Mar 2008 at 8:19 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq.
A’jad finds it in Baghdad.
Ralph al-Kramden
Published on 2 Mar 2008 at 8:01 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, al qaeda.
Wants to send his wife to the moon. Related, but different, “Does this bomb vest make me look fat?”
Cutting and Running
Published on 29 Feb 2008 at 10:54 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under America, Iraq.
On cutting and running. Allah at Hotair with America’s continuing surge of confidence in Iraq:
Go Ahead
Published on 27 Feb 2008 at 9:28 am.
6 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, pols.
Make my Iraq War debate. GOP senators advance withdrawal bill:
GOP Iraq Vets
Published on 26 Feb 2008 at 8:56 pm.
5 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military, pols.
Want to tip the balance in a wartime Congress that isn’t interested in fighting.
You’ll recall a couple years ago the story was how Iraq vets were running as Democrats against the war. I don’t know if that means the ones who support the mission were still supporting the mission, but here they are.
The story mentions the lone [...]
10 Heroes
Published on 24 Feb 2008 at 11:48 pm.
3 Comments.
Filed under Afghanistan, Iraq, military.
Compliments of Chuck Simmins, who figures they deserve upgrades:
Sgt. 1st Class Gary Villalobos - ambushed. Senior officer wounded. IA ran. He stood his ground and fought.
Capt. Christopher P. Niedziocha - Marine. 23 Taliban killed, 3 Marines wounded.
Master Sgt. Suran Sar - Special Forces. Known in the community as an outstanding warrior.
Sgt. Joseph Proctor - prevented [...]
Defeat
Published on 24 Feb 2008 at 8:50 pm.
2 Comments.
Filed under Afghanistan, Iraq, pols.
Still possible if the next administration and the American people refuse to face reality. Bushwacker Anthony Cordesman on Iraq, Afghanistan:
Seek, Find
Published on 21 Feb 2008 at 8:40 am.
1 Comment.
Filed under Iraq.
Gordon Alanko with 5/7 Cav in Arab Jabour, with some weapons sought, aid sought and an odd bit of history found.
Embedded Romp
Published on 20 Feb 2008 at 8:48 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under Afghanistan, Iraq, lebanon, media, military.
Sounds like Danger Room blogger and serial embed David Axe has a book in him. Here’s a five-minute spin through multiple embeds with seven armies in three countries. CJR.
Jihad
Published on 20 Feb 2008 at 10:41 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, Jihad, media, military.
ABC likes it. Walking around it with Petraeus, sans body armor, that is:
“ROE” Reviews
Published on 19 Feb 2008 at 11:36 pm.
7 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, lawyers, media, military.
Jimbo likes it. PBS convinced the Blackfive stalwart the 3/1 Marines were innocent at Haditha. That may be preaching to the choir, but Jimbo’s astonished considering who was in the pulpit. My thoughts on that here. Jawa, similarly astounded, weighs in with a conviction: Murtha, jackass. Awaiting further reports, particularly interested in what the anti-war faction [...]
Frontline’s Haditha: “Rules of Engagement”
Published on 18 Feb 2008 at 11:02 pm.
10 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, media, military.
Airing on PBS Tuesday, Feb. 19. Check your local listings and make a note. Preview trailers here.
I just finished watching a review copy. If you want to know the basics on this political football, see principal participants and witnesses interviewed — Marines, Haditha survivors, reporters and lawyers — and see extensive private and military video [...]
Read ‘Frontline’s Haditha: “Rules of Engagement”’
The Palestinian Card
Published on 18 Feb 2008 at 11:38 am.
1 Comment.
Filed under Iraq, Palestinians, al qaeda.
More evidence AQ in Iraq is on the ropes. MEMRI:
Acute Reporting
Published on 18 Feb 2008 at 9:14 am.
1 Comment.
Filed under Iraq.
Gordon Alanko, veteran of politics acute and bloody, kicks off his new career as a chronic scribbler/snapper. “Sons of Iraq” his first post at Long War Journal. Art here. “Bandit White” at Acute Politics. The bureaucracy of war and the fog of hurry up and wait.
Michael Totten finds something rotten in the Dungeon of Fallujah.
Status Check
Published on 14 Feb 2008 at 10:48 am.
5 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military, pols.
Totten, the Final Mission, Part III. (Here’s I and II).
Ardolino, Inside Iraqi Politics Part III. (I and II here). Still waiting on Gordon of Acutepolitics to update from Arab Jabour. Meanwhile, if you want to see something weird re Iraqi politics, check out who noticed some progress … occurring despite the intermittant interest of the Bushitler regime.
Patient Confidentiality Violated
Published on 14 Feb 2008 at 6:32 am.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, al qaeda.
Among other things. Al Qaeda accused of using hospital administrators to recruit . mentally retarded suicide bombers.
The only surprising thing about this is that al Qaeda still has the time and resources to go through such a complex conscription process, but that may be, as the U.S. military suggests, a sign of desperation. They are [...]
Read ‘Patient Confidentiality Violated’
Here’s The Deal
Published on 13 Feb 2008 at 6:56 am.
6 Comments.
Filed under Bush, Iraq, military, pols.
Rice and Gates, Washington Post, on the U.S.-Iraq strategic deal. They note that the UN authorization will run out at the end of the year, and its time for normalized relations between two sovereign nations with closely tied interests. Here’s what it will be and what it won’t be:
Small World
Published on 12 Feb 2008 at 11:49 am.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military.
Gordon Alanko arrives at Arab Jabour, runs into familiar faces in a familiar unit, as he embeds with 2nd Brigade, 3rd ID, of Thunder Run fame.
Facing the Dead
Published on 11 Feb 2008 at 9:35 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military.
Gordon, marking the anniversary of his friends’ deaths, turns one hundred and one. Their CO, Badger Six, looks to history and turns to face the dead. Then he tells us how he and his men, living and dead, helped make it:
When the history of the Iraq War is written, through 2007, the “surge” and the Battle for [...]
Wasteland Desert
Published on 10 Feb 2008 at 10:27 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, al qaeda.
I could have told them that. But when Al Qaeda surveys the landscape in Iraq, and doesn’t like what it sees, it’s not talking about the sandy bits. It’s the AQ hearts and minds campaign, which has failed to flower no matter how much blood AQ waters it with.
Belated check in with the long silent Fadhil brothers [...]
Concerned Citizens
Published on 8 Feb 2008 at 7:16 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under Iraq.
It’s always a NIMBY thing. Over here, it’s usually a halfway house full of junkies, a landfill, a cellphone tower, something like that. Over there, it’s when they finally had it up to here with al-Qaeda bringing down property values. Part 2 of Ardolino’s “Inside Iraqi Politics” series.
Kid Vid
Published on 6 Feb 2008 at 9:26 pm.
1 Comment.
Filed under Iraq, al qaeda.
It’s kind of like the Suite Life of Zack and Cody, or Hannah Montana, only with black balaclavas, AKs, loyalty unto death to al-Qaeda.
Inside Soccer
Published on 6 Feb 2008 at 11:27 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, pols.
Ardolino at Long War Journal picks apart Iraqi politics, part 1. You’ll want to read it all, but here’s a couple of particularly poignant bites:
In The Air
Published on 4 Feb 2008 at 11:20 pm.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, blogs.
Teflon Don’s bound for Kuwait as of this writing. I was on the phone with Gordon of Acute Politics fame earlier this evening. He was at Dulles waiting for his plane. The combat engineer, who rotated back with his Guard unit just a few months ago, is headed back as a freelance embed. This is good [...]
Safer
Published on 4 Feb 2008 at 1:25 am.
5 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, media.
Veteran newsman shares views. There’s some doddering. Hartford Courant:
Great, Briton
Published on 3 Feb 2008 at 10:24 am.
5 Comments.
Filed under Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Europe, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, al qaeda.
“We shall abandon them in the mountains! We shall abandon them in the cities! We shall run like frightened children! Out of my way, I’m trying to surrender!”
War Issue
Published on 2 Feb 2008 at 10:20 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, pols.
Surges. Mercury News:
Reasoned Argument Needed
Published on 1 Feb 2008 at 9:04 am.
10 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, pols.
Desperately, as Hillary and Obama dicker over who was more clueless five years ago, and who is more clueless today. It’s a race to abandon America’s obligations and vital national security interests, in a race some people think will end up being about national security after all. We’ll start with the Times of London:
Read ‘Reasoned Argument Needed’
Grinding Campaign
Published on 29 Jan 2008 at 9:37 pm.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, al qaeda, military.
Predicted to dislodge AQ in Mosul:
The Final Mission
Published on 28 Jan 2008 at 10:14 am.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq.
Totten in Fallujah. He’s got all your nuance and insight. Don’t forget to support independent journalism.
Small Wars
Published on 26 Jan 2008 at 9:48 am.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military.
Some good reads at Small War Journal. LTC Bateman’s never-ending jihad to convince military colleagues that the media need not be the enemy runs into counter-offensive from NYT.
Final Battle
Published on 26 Jan 2008 at 9:43 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, al qaeda, military.
Sounds like famous last words, but that’s what al-Maliki says is shaping up in Ninevah. UK Telegraph:
A First
Published on 25 Jan 2008 at 10:00 am.
6 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq, al qaeda, media, pols.
The long-term strategic agreement with Iraq would be an alarming one, according to this article that offers a critical look at i’s that must be dotted, t’s that must be crossed, but fails to note how alarming the lack of an agreement might be. Boston Globe:
Sgt. Jill Needs You
Published on 22 Jan 2008 at 10:48 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under America, Iraq, military.
Gateway with the update and art on Sgt. Jill Stevens’ Miss America battle.
“I Swerve To Avoid Them”
Published on 22 Jan 2008 at 10:44 am.
No Comments.
Filed under Iraq, media.
Confederate Yankee has the Beauchamp docs, in which the New Republic’s eyes inside the war pens a correction re dogs flattened, boneplay. Like ConfYank, Drew at Ace cocks an eye at the nuance, sees more than just dogs being swerved around. Driscoll, meanwhile with more on the soldier-slandering industry.
Read ‘“I Swerve To Avoid Them”’
Grim Milestone
Published on 19 Jan 2008 at 9:39 am.
10 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, media, pols.
Approaching. AP’s weekly tally places Iraq war dead at 3,927.
Dad Steps Up
Published on 16 Jan 2008 at 9:21 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military, pols.
A slain Marine’s dad looks at antiwar Iraq vet Patrick Murphy’s performance in Congress, figures he could do better. AP:
Friendly Fire
Published on 16 Jan 2008 at 9:16 am.
2 Comments.
Filed under Iraq, military.
Three 101st KIAs investigated after intense firefight vs AQ last week.
One Step Forward
Published on 14 Jan 2008 at 8:16 am.
4 Comments.
Filed under Iran, Iraq.
Another step back as former Baathists cock an eye at reconciliation bill.
