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Meta
Category Archives: Notes on the war
A Contrasting Meta-Narrative
Surely the meta-narrative in Iraq has shifted: the stories are brighter, the prognoses are more positive. Lead by bloggers like the Michaels Yon and Totten, the story of Iraq’s successes are now as plentiful as stories as its failure once … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Notes on the war
2 Comments
Progress in Iraq
Even more evidence that there is sustainable progress in Iraq. And this is from the same person the left held up as proof last year, that no progress was evident. http://hotair.com/archives/2008/02/15/surge-skeptic-cordesman-major-progress-in-every-area-in-iraq/ If the US provides sustained support to the Iraqi … Continue reading
Political Progress in Iraq
Say it aint so!!! Da New Yawk Times Says So!!! I wonder where they are on those benchmarks our Congress settled on? I also wonder how this places them in effectiveness vs our Democratically controlled Congress. Using old-fashioned politicking behind … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Keith's Page, Notes on the war
Tagged Domestic Politics, Iraq, Parliament, progress
1 Comment
Berkeley Backs Off
Probably a wise decision when up against Marines, although, as is usual with politicians, this decision is driven mainly by government largess (or the lack thereof): As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 million in federal funding … Continue reading
A Candidate Without A War
Is the Iraq War hurting John McCain’s candidacy? By “hurting” I’m referring to his struggle to be the true conservative candidate who unites the party. Despite his clear lead in the primary race, McCain has not been able to capture … Continue reading
I think I need to say this again
If you haven’t had a chance to read Yon’s latest report from Iraq, I will reiterate that you need to do so. Fred Kagan and Anthony Cordesmann make an appearance, but the real interest is the dynamics in the population … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Notes on the war
Tagged Anthony Cordesmann, Fred Kagan, Iraq, Michael Yon
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The Left and John McCain
In a post at QandO, Billy Hollis explains why John McCain will not be getting his vote. Essentially, McCain-Feingold and Johnny’s continued contempt for the Bill of Rights leaves Billy cold: This [McCain-Feingold] is THE main reason I cannot vote … Continue reading
Mukasey on Waterboarding (UPDATED)
Attorney General Michael Mukasey sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the interrogation technique known as waterboarding. Mukasey remarked that it is not an authorized interrogation technique, and that it “is not, and may not be, used in … Continue reading
Possibly the Two Dumbest Political Moves in the Last 6 Years
I would have to think Saddams bluff against the world would be up there at #1. A possible number 2 would be Rumsfeld, in 2004, siding with decision not to publicaly release information that supported going to war. http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=12652 One … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Keith's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged , anthrax, Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, mustard gas, Rumsfeld, Saddam Husein, WMD
1 Comment
Saddam “wanted to pursue all of WMD … to reconstitute his entire WMD program”
I’m not sure that’s “news” to those who have been paying attention the last few years, but now we have another source reported by CNN on Sunday. What makes this source newsworthy and interesting is that it’s FBI agent George … Continue reading
Posted in Chris' Page, Notes on the war
Tagged george piro, interrogation, Iran, Iraq, psychology, saddam, sanctions, wmds
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Beachamp revealed
By all accounts Scott Beauchamp has tried to redeem himself in the eyes of his unit. However, when this story came to a head and the military investigated him, he seems to have been held in rather low regard. Bob … Continue reading
Posted in Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged AWOL, Iraq, Scott Beauchamp, The New Republic, war
4 Comments
Good News About Iraq
Well, maybe not good news, but the forecasts portend good news. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7193174.stm Iraq faces a period of economic growth and political progress, according to assessments by the International Monetary Fund and the UN. The IMF sees 7% growth in 2008 … Continue reading
Things Are Not Rosy In Iraq
But, I’ve never claimed that, and AFAIK, nobody I’ve read is claiming that. The argument that we are claiming things are rosy is a strawman, pure and simple. What is being claimed is that security is improving. There are other … Continue reading
McQ On The Depletion Of The Officer Corp
Over at QandO, McQ offers his take on a thoughtful article by Andrew Tilghman entitled “The Army’s Other Crisis: Why the Best and Brightest Young Officers are Leaving.” Here are the nut graphs from McQ: So we should certainly be … Continue reading
Top Al Qaeda Operative Nabbed In Iraq, and Other Good News
Bill Roggio has the scoop at Long War Journal: The Iraqi Army claimed to have captured the minister of defense of the Islamic State of Iraq, al Qaeda’s political front organization. Ahmed Turki Abbas was captured after being wounded in … Continue reading
Pining Away For Jihad Johnny
The aptly named Unqualified Offerings has had its share of troubles lately, and I’m not usually one to pile on, but this is simply beyond the pale (emphasis added): Have We Given Justice to Lindh? By Mona American citizen John … Continue reading
Give Up on Giving Up, Senator Reid
When members of your own party are positive about changes they are seeing first hand in Iraq, maybe it’s time to give up on giving up. “I feel we’ve made progress, and the other part is I feel we can … Continue reading
Halliburton/KBR and U.S. Government Accused of Covering Up a Gang-Rape (UPDATED)
This is one of the most bizarre and disgusting stories I’ve heard in quite a while: A Houston, Texas woman says she was gang-raped by Halliburton/KBR coworkers in Baghdad, and the company and the U.S. government are covering up the … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Law, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war
13 Comments
I have located myself
I was going to post some the last few days, but then I saw this: Happy Thanksgiving Now get of off the computer and spend some time with your family, will you? I always follow Bob Owens instructions. Of course … Continue reading
Posted in Lance's Page, Media, Notes on the war
2 Comments
News Brief, I’m Off for Thanksgiving Break Edition
Cross-posted verbatim to The Conjecturer Defense & The War Thin solace, I know, but my piece on Ann Marlowe’s critique of the Human Terrain System (updated, too), got a link in the Small Wars Journal. Also, Bill Roggio followed up … Continue reading
News Brief, Comfortable Headphones Edition
From Russia The Conjecturer, with love. Defense & The War SimIraq? Could make for an interesting variant of the latest Sim City game, which looks interesting enough to pirate. Triple Canopy for sale? Oh noes! Meanwhile, a federal grand jury … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
1 Comment
The Higazy Conundrum
For anyone who has been following the Higazy case and the puzzling circumstances under which a Second Circuit opinion was issued, withdrawn, and then reissued in redacted form, here is some information that seems to have been missed in the … Continue reading
Posted in Law, Media, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war
12 Comments
Fred on the war
In the first Pajamas Media War on Terror Conversation, Presidential candidate Fred Thompson discusses the current situations in Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. The senator/actor also explains why he thinks the recent Hollywood anti-war films are box office failures. Joining Thompson … Continue reading
News Brief, Henry and Hanzy Edition
Cross-posted to The Conjecturer Defense and the War Steven Biddle, one of the strategists behind the surge and an advisor to General Petraeus, thinks Iraq might not be a disaster if we keep 100,000 troops there for the next 30 … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
1 Comment
MSM on Iraq
More and more coverage in Iraq is beginning to reflect the positive changes that have occurred over the last few months. The New York Times and The Washington Post report sharp declines in attacks today (though the Post relegated it … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war
5 Comments
Looking at the other side
Joshua recently linked to this story. Via Confederate Yankee we get another persons view of the situation in Ameriyah:
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters, Notes on the war
2 Comments
Sen. Reid Vows Defeat In Iraq
The war funding bill passed by the House was shot down by the Senate, but Sen. Reid promised to win the Democrats’ war against the White House through attrition (my emphasis): Nearly a year after anti-war voters put them in … Continue reading
News Brief, Cake Parade Edition
Cross-posted to The Conjecturer. Defense & The War What, they’re accused of only murdered 14 people? Let’s see if the White Rabbit can break his weeks-long silence to defend them this time. Well, at least they’ve finally joined the war. … Continue reading
Non-Coms speak out
Here is a video of the two highest ranking Non-Commissioned Officers in Iraq, Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Ciotola and CSM Hill, on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer. They are speaking from Baghdad on views within the military criticizing the war. … Continue reading
Veterans as victims
They have to be, so CBS tries to do the numbers. Like most of us however, when numbers fit you take them at face value: But a five-month CBS News investigation discovered data that shows a startling rate of suicide, … Continue reading
News Brief, For Me This Is Heaven Edition
Cross-posted to The Conjecturer. Defense & the War Oh hey look, “experts” have found what I’ve been saying ever since Russia started it’s show-patrols around the Arctic in its decrepit old Bear-D strategic bombers like it’s the 1960′s all over … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
1 Comment
The Reavers Arrive Amongst the Children
59 Schoolchildren Killed in Afghan Blast Aziz Poonawala tells us who we are really talking about: not to contradict Tariq bhai, but these aren’t even people. They are Reavers, and they will burn in hellfire. More importantly, it behooves us … Continue reading
News Brief, Bigmouth Strikes Again Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Daniel Drezner proves just how fun it is to work off stereotype and assumption. The FSOs in the comments offer much needed context to the debate over the current row at the … Continue reading
News Brief, Caribou Edition
Cross-posted to The Conjecturer. Defense & the War While recognizing the horror of Blackwater’s atrocities being so common they’re… common, Mountain Runner points out the very real, very messy problems that arise when the Iraqis start to raid contractor compounds. … Continue reading
Staying In The Game
One of the unique things about top-notch athletes that makes them so popular is their ability to not only withstand pain, but to play through it and still be effective. Hockey players are routinely stitched up during games (sans anesthesia); … Continue reading
Powerful Imagery
Michael Yon captures a moment on film that in a world with a meritocratic media would surely garner a Pulitzer: A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Infantry to the church, where I videotaped as … Continue reading
News Brief, Speak to Me/Breathe Edition
Cross-posted on The Conjecturer. Defense & the War Noah Shachtman wonders if any other federal agency has ever publicly rebuked its employees like the State Department has. I can’t think of any, not even in scandals, but that doesn’t mean … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
6 Comments
Republicans Back Impeachment of Cheney!
Well, sort of. House Democrats on Tuesday narrowly managed to avert a bruising debate on a proposal to impeach Dick Cheney after Republicans, in a surprise maneuver, voted in favor of taking up the measure. Republicans, changing course midway through … Continue reading
News Brief, Psychocandy Edition
Cross-posted to The Conjecturer Defense & The War In the midst of petulantly crossing his arms and throwing a tantrum about the Future of Iraq Project, an anonymous FSO makes a really good point: “Sending officers into this failed, hideously … Continue reading
News Brief, Do You Realize?? Edition
Cross-posted to The Conjecturer. Defense & the War While it’s easy to snipe at the State Department for the freak out over being told to serve in Baghdad (and there are legit complaints, as well as good counterpoints), it is … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
8 Comments
The Most Reasonable Dark View of Iraq
Phil Carter takes the most pessimistic view of the reasons behind the recent progress in Iraq. While each element of his case has some truth to it, all noted here before, on the whole it speaks more of an unwillingness … Continue reading
Time to teach the Kossacks
The Daily Kos spins Unfortunately, no one seems to be calling our elected officials or the traditional media on this nonsensical idea that the “Petraeus strategy” should be credited with stanching the flow of blood. No one seems to notice … Continue reading
CNN says the change is undeniable
They discuss this change with Michael Yon: [youtube fCPLNWC7cNM&eurl=http://instapundit.com/] He was also on CBN, but I can’t get the video to work for me. Maybe you can.
The News Must Really Be Good
I could fill this page with links to news stories starting to recongize that we are making progress, though all too often they are buried deep in side the print editions of the papers. However, much as my surprise when … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Notes on the war
3 Comments
News Brief, Offline P.K. Edition
Cross-posted at The Conjecturer. Defense & The War Yet another former interrogator and counterterrorism expert comes out against waterboarding. Meanwhile, Jacob Sullum notes that the Congressional debate over this is obfuscating a larger question of why the President should be … Continue reading
Waterboarding as Performance Art
At least for many of its critics it is, it isn’t about policy as they know little about its actual use. It is handy for theater however. As pointed out earlier, this and other topics surrounding interrogation techniques has been … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Lance's Page, Notes on the war
17 Comments