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Tag Archives: Iraq
Pulling Strings in Foreign Relations
Seems to be an awful lot of “testing” going on. Mutiny in Georgia!!! Iran attacks Kurdish guerillas in Iraq with helicopters Pakistan is melting down!!! Chinese Ships Come Dangerously Close to American Vessel
Posted in Foreign affairs, Keith's Page
Tagged Georgia, Iran, Iraq, kurdish, Pakistan, President Obama, taliban Cheinese, testing
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Stock and Awe in Baghdad
The Markets have spoken, the best place to invest in the world is…Iraq! Now it’s stock and awe in Baghdad! As the Dow plummeted nearly 700 points yesterday to fall well below the 9,000 mark, the Iraqi stock exchange – … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Foreign affairs, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged Bull Market, Iraq, Stock market, Wall Street
2 Comments
Deaths in Chicago
InstapunditAbout the same number of gun deaths in Chicago, over the summer, as US deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wonder why the media focuses on US deaths abroad but ignores the violence to US citizens here at home.
Declinism as Exceptionalism
Francis Fukuyama argues in the Financial Times that the United States should have traded European missile defense and/or Kosovar independence in order to pacify a resurgent Russia. This strange proposal of strategic charity work for the Kremlin, is animated by … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
Tagged American exceptionalism, Declinism, Financial Times, Francis Fukuyama, Georgia, imperialism, Iraq, Kosovo, machtpolitik, power politics, Russia, United States, war
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US Out by 2011?
To celebrate the news that the u.S. has possibly negotiated a full withdrawal from Iraq by 2011, here is Kids in the Hall’s Buddy Cole on his romance in Baghdad.
Iraqi Army Upgrades
Iraq is buying 140 M1A1 Abrams tanks, along with wide range of other conventional hardware, as it prepares to shift its focus from internal security to defending the borders in a very hostile neighborhood. Iran, in case you’re wondering, can … Continue reading
Choosing Sides on South Ossetia
After an ambiguous initial reaction, the State Department appears to have realized that despite whatever Russia contends, it is physically impossible for Georgia to invade its own country: “We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
Tagged Condoleezza Rice, Georgia, Iraq, Russia, Sergey Lavrov, South Ossetia, State Department, Tbilisi, United States, withdrawal
2 Comments
The Shift to the Center
It seems a sociopolitical threshold of some kind has been passed in Iraq, as the full range of separatist groups are now seeking power and legitimacy through representation in the central government, rather than in armed conflict.
Swordsmen into Social Workers
It seems Muqtada al-Sadr is getting out of the mayhem & militia business in favor of social services. Not strictly as a Hamas style prop for publicity and popularity either. Iraq may well become that strangest of political landscapes where … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web
Tagged democracy, Hamas, Iraq, landscapes, militia, Muqtada al-Sadr, populairty, publicity, social services
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Shorter Deployment Duration Announced
Among other great news from Iraq. Victory is a good exit strategy.
From Galula, to Anbar and the Surge
In the ongoing discussion of who has done a better job of describing the time line around the surge, I certainly recommend McQ’s discussion. The Minuteman however has a couple of key points to make on this issue as well: … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Military Matters
Tagged COIN, David Galula, Iraq, the surge
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Boumediene — The Great Sandbagging
UPDATE: Welcome QandO readers. Please look around after you’ve finished with this post, but McQ says you have to go back over to QandO when you’re done … but I won’t tell if you won’t. _____________________________________________________________ The recent Supreme Court … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Foreign affairs, Law, MichaelW's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged 9/11, Afghanistan, Boumediene, CSRT, detainees, Gitmo, GTMO, Guantanamo Bay, habeas corpus, Hamdi, Iraq, Law, September 11, U.S. Supreme Court, war
7 Comments
From the Horse’s Mouth, So To Speak
Today, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight heard testimony from Sheikh Khalaf al-Ulayyan of the Sunni Accordance Front and Nadim al-Jaberi of the Shiite (and anti-Moqtada, anti-Maliki) Fadhila Party. Both oppose a long-term presence … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
Tagged COIN, congress, Iraq, testimony, the surge
2 Comments
Because Aren’t All Insurgencies the Same?
Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal is a frustrating columnist. In April he made the head scratching argument that Khost province in Afghanistan, which has, along with the rest of RC-East, experienced a 36% jump in insurgent attacks over … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs
Tagged Afghanistan, Colombia, FARC, Iraq, ltte, military, Sadr, sadr militia, sri lanka, tamil tigers, wsj, WTF
2 Comments
Fallon and Petraeus sitting in a tree…
I was catching up a bit on my reading, and thanks to McQ found this interview with Admiral Fallon. As McQ points out, the conversation did not go the way Kyra Phillips was trying to steer it. Given our own … Continue reading
Posted in Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Admiral Fallon, Iran, Iraq, Petraeus, surge
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Punish Me Again Mistress
Taylor Marsh thinks that Obama would have supported war in Iraq on Hillary’s grounds in 2002, even though he’s on record at the time opposing it. A matter well dealt with by Oliver Willis…even if thereby he had to confess … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web
Tagged Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Obama, Oliver Willis, senate, Taylor Marsh
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A Retreating Periphery
(photo: Mani Babbar) After 9/11 widened Al Qaeda’s ambitious war against most of the world, Osama bin Laden described his own axis-o-evil as being composed of “Crusaders, Zionists and Hindus.” But at some point, without anyone much noticing, that seems … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lee's Page, Uncategorized
Tagged 9/11, Afghanistan, al Qaeda, Europe, geostrategy, Hindus, India, Iraq, Jammu, Jhelum River, Kashmir, Middle East, Muslim, Osama bin Laden, Pakistan, propaganda, religion, Terrorism, Tigris River, United States, war
2 Comments
The Initial Command
(photo: Department of Defense) The Obama campaign has categorically rejected John McCain’s proposal for a joint trip to Iraq, calling it a “publicity stunt.” Publicity stunt it most certainly is, but why is it automatically assumed that the publicity would … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Lee's Page
Tagged condescension, Democrats, Domestic Politics, election, immaturity, Iraq, joint trip, Kevlar, McCain, Media, national security, Obama, poll, progress, publicity, tour, war
6 Comments
The Danger of Funding Thugs
Sure it’s nice when you pay them to pretty please stop attacking us, but what of the consequences? This is the dark side of the CLC/Sons of Iraq/Awakening bandwagon we jumped on, and it’s one I’ve been mocked repeatedly for … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Notes on the war
Tagged Afghanistan, Iraq, warlords, WTF Mate
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Two Iraqi Jokes
Both via Major John at Miserable Donuts, a milblog. First, a joke as told by an Iraqi Army captain: President Jalal Talibani summoned the leaders of the Iraqi parliament to his office for a meeting. In the middle of the … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war
Tagged Humor, Iraq, Iraqi Army, jokes, levity
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Failed Wars = Great Strategies!
One thing I’ll never understand about the military is how it looks to failed wars to prove the truthiness of its current strategy. What baffles me more is how earnest scholars, like Max Boot of the Council on Foreign Relations, … Continue reading
From the Horses’ Mouths (so to speak)
Whatever could this guy be going on about? “Saddam had his big castles; they symbolized his power and were places to be feared, and now we have the castle of the power that toppled him,” says Abdul Jabbar Ahmed, a … Continue reading
Oxblog in Baghdad
This is cool, David Adesnik of Oxblog has been in Iraq working for the coalition on the sly. I find that encouraging and I can’t wait to hear what his impressions are. I am also encouraged that he is now … Continue reading
Welcoming Signs of Progress
Security improvements bringing people back to their homes in South Baghdad… With security improving, local economies flourishing and community reconstruction underway, Iraqis who once fled their South Baghdad homes in fear are now returning to the villages they deserted. This … Continue reading
More Like This Please
I was pleasantly surprised, and mildly irritated, to see that Condi Rice basically called Muqtada al-Sadr a coward while she was in Baghdad recently (via: Instapundit): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward on … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, MichaelW's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Condi Rice, GWOT, Iran, Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr, rhetoric, Terrorism, terrorist cowards, war
14 Comments
This Generation’s Ernie Pyle
The NEW YORK POST reviews Michael Yon’s new book.
What Is ASHC?
There seems to be some confusion on the part of some as to exactly what sort of place ASHC is: I was rather surprised to read this dubious and scornful appraisal of Michael Yon’s Wallstreet Journal editorial at A Second … Continue reading
Iraq’s Progress
In line with my last post, McQ salutes the professionalism of our troops in the context of Michael Yon’s latest. Read ‘em both. Of particular note is Yon’s response to us having to pay those who work with us after … Continue reading
Those Magnificent Men
I was sent this via e-mail from my Uncle Pat, also known as Colonel Alfred H. Paddock. Uncle Pat is a story in and of himself, but I’ll tell you a little more about him after the e-mail. Let it … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Alfred H Paddock, Austrailia, Green Berets, Iraq, military, Special forces
2 Comments
Political Progress in Iraq
This will be good news if it happens… http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/07/sadrs-political-universe-continues-to-shrink/ Iraq’s major Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties have closed ranks to force anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to disband his Mahdi Army militia or leave politics, lawmakers and officials involved in the … Continue reading
Posted in Keith's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Iraq, Maliki, political progress, Sadr
1 Comment
Uncertain Future of Iraq
Fred and Kimberly Kagan have a decent analysis of what we do and don’t know about the situation in Iraq. Just the highlights (as I see them) Do Know * The legitimate Government of Iraq and its legally-constituted security forces … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, Keith's Page, Military Matters
Tagged Basra, Iraq, Madhi Army, Maliki, Sadr
4 Comments
Operation Lost Cause
Let’s see, the Mahdi Army is in retreat, and the ISF is continuing operations, and sending reinforcements. Isn’t it OBVIOUS that Maliki is loosing. Update – This puts things into perspective… Mission accomplished has been duly declared, although the JAM … Continue reading
Posted in Keith's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Tagged Iraq, Mahdi Army, Maliki, Sadr
7 Comments
What’s wrong with Iraq War Movies?
I’m often guilty of seeing connections between things that others seem to think make no sense at all. So bear with me and then tell me what you think. The New York Times review of “Stop-Loss” explains the failure of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Military Matters, Society, Synova's Page
Tagged Hollywood, Iraq, John Kerry, Rovian Plots, war movies
8 Comments
AQI’s Last Stand?
Al Qaeda’s efforts in Iraq have been less than successful over the past year, due in large part to the Anbar Awakening and the related Councils of Concerned Citizens/Sons of Iraq movements, and the support offered those movements by Petraeus’ … Continue reading
Posted in Foreign affairs, MichaelW's Page, Notes on the war
Tagged "Darkhorse", al Qaeda, AQI, Blackhawks of 4-6, Iraq, Kurds, Michael Yon, Nineveh Province, Yezidi
4 Comments
Poll Shows Swing in Mood
Majority now believe U.S. effort in Iraq will succeed, 53-39 H/T Hot Air Of course, I don’t believe one should govern based on polling data. If something is the right thing to do, you should do it. What this does … Continue reading
JD Johannes Speaks With Fausta
Today at 11AM Eastern on Blogtalk Radio.
Posted in Around the Web
Tagged Blogtalk Radio, Fausta, independent reporter, interview, Iraq, JD Johannes, Marines, Outside the Wire, war
1 Comment
The Evolution Of Odierno
Initially the idea of Ray Odierno being involved in counterinsurgency met with raised eyebrows. However, over time, he has developed a well earned reputation for innovation in the campaign. The Washington Post looks at this change in his methods and … Continue reading
Two For You
My thanks to Gay Patriot for today’s two excellent links. Presidential support for liberating Iraq. Yes we can! The original.
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
Breaking Terrorism Markets
Douglas Farah notes that with the Al Qaeda leadership now dead or in flight from Iraq, we might be on the verge of a replication the experience of the Andean drug wars of the 1980s. In that situation, the death … Continue reading
McCain Speaks to Europe
photo: Chris Dunn Spiegel has a typically aggressive (and aggressively European) interview with John McCain today. In many ways it’s an interesting yet disappointing exercise, due to its focus on the perceived past sins of the Bush administration. While much … Continue reading
Posted in Election 2008, Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
Tagged Afghanistan, Bush, Clinton, Europe, foreign policy, Germany, global warming, interview, Iraq, John McCain, Kyoto, McCain, multilateralism, negotiation, Obama, unilateralism, war
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Asking for it
Never tease a camel: Video.
Obama and the Fate of Criticism
“Tattered Hope” by Nathan Rupert Jason at postpolitical and I often get into testy email arguments about Barack Obama’s alleged “arrogance.” He is quite Greek in the sense that he thinks hubris is the fatal flaw at the heart of … Continue reading →