Category Archives: Iraq

Almost, but not quite, in Iraq

One more very good reason not to vote for Baby Barry. He’d just throw it all away:

"The Iraqis aren’t yet confident enough to stand entirely on their own; al Qaeda’s savagery still imposes too much fear, while Iran is training terrorists next door. In counterinsurgency, the people must know they are protected. Gen. Petraeus has proven that intimidation can be defeated by placing American soldiers among the population."

Worth the read, from fav author Bing West. 

Army to use Osprey

Now that all the other services are using the oft-maligned MV-22 Osprey, including the Marines as part of 2007’s surge in Iraq, the Army is taking it up with the aim of using it for special operations.

The new colonel in Fallujah

This one has the common touch, alright. The "finger-licking good" touch, in fact. Thanks, W.

Dems squelch troops’ voting

There seemed to be surprise mixed in with the anger that Baby Barry ignored the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan–other than the ones specifically vetted for him, black ones for the most part–and skipped the wounded in Germany altogether, during his world tour to create ad spots for his fall campaign. But there shouldn’t be any surprise. His own party is doing the best it can to hold down the voting of soldiers overseas. They apparently understand that not many of them would vote Democrat.

Baby Barry and the surge

There’s a lot of teeth gnashing in the conservative blogosphere over BB’s tap dancing around the question of whether he should have backed the surge, given its success in Iraq. I watched the cBS video here and, though I don’t care much for his politics, I have to say his answer is no more than what any politician, who didn’t wish to step down from his earlier judgement, would do. He didn’t put down the troops, as some are suggesting. He acknowleged their success, he just questioned the surge strategy itself.

On the contrary, the shift in military strategy, from large unit fighting to establishing lasting community security was almost more important than the additional manpower. As Mac says it’s definitely the way to win in Afghanistan, as well. It’s just harder there because the people have fewer resources to fall back on, and the terrain is more difficult, with communities more isolated. And with advisers like Gen. McPeak, Barry might just go back to trying to win cheaply, with bombing.

UPDATE:  This, however (scroll to the bottom of the post) is a lie, plain and simple. Why it’s called a gaffe is beyond me. Politicians tell gaffes. Ordinary people tell lies. But to me, Baby Barry told a lie, to make himself look good. Instead, he looks very, very bad. See if you don’t agree.

Three versions? Do I hear four?

The MSM, falling all over itself, as usual, to play pattycake with Baby Barry, is quoting one version of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s alleged translation of his alleged praise for BB’s withdraw-from-Iraq-in-sixteen-months pitch.

But, wouldn’t you know it, there are at least two other alleged translated versions, each with a different emphasis and different caveats. The original one has no caveats. I thought the CIA was the gang that couldn’t shoot straight? I know it’s heresy to say so (possibly even, gasp, racist) but I still don’t believe BB is going to win the presidency. So save your breath Maliki, assuming you, uh, actually said anything at all.

But I got to admit I like it that the Europeans and other foreigners are falling all over themselves to swoon at BB’s feet–and I’ll bet that, secretly, Mac does, too. Because if there’s one thing that will absolutely undercut an American politician who wants to be president, man, that is it.

We won

While America and the Old Media slept. Not that Baby Barry is likely to agree. But why should that matter?

Via Instapundit

UPDATE:  Now Mac is saying it, too.