Category Archives: Iraq

Bright idea

Posted on November 29, 2006 | Comments Off on Bright idea

Josh Manchester, The Adventures of Chester, adds a brilliant wrinkle to the Pentagon’s reported "Go Long" strategy for Iraq, i.e. Go Long and Go Native.

"These changes would be dramatic. It takes guts to tell a sovereign government that we’re relieving it of its military. But by going native, the US can destroy or neutralize the Shi’ite militias; restore confidence in the Iraqi armed forces; increase our language and cultural proficiency, which is a huge force multiplier; and over time we can gradually cede the military back to the Iraqi government."

Probably too innovative for even the Bush administration, but worth a look.

Via Instapundit

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Stubborness or integrity?

Posted on November 29, 2006 | Comments Off on Stubborness or integrity?

"It appears Bush’s characteristic Texas stubbornness is the only thing standing between victory and the U.S. defeat that has all but been proclaimed by Washington’s foreign policy establishment and its friends in the mainstream media like ’60 Minutes’ reporter Lara Logan. She insisted in her weekend interview with Gen. John Abizaid that ‘managing the defeat’ is America’s only option."

It isn’t Texas "stubborness," but Texas integrity. The old guard and the news media have been against the war–not just the Iraq campaign–from the very beginning. Now it’s supposedly Daddy Bush’s former consigliere James Baker who’s going to turn the stubborn son around and get him to suck up to the dictators like Daddy did. So far Son is refusing, and that’s good. The boy is keeping his word. Not letting the naysayers lead him away by the nose from the course that young men and women have enlisted to follow–and some have died for. And so he’d better, because if he ends his term as just another Washington lickspittle, he should not come back to Texas.

Via Instapundit 

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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AP’s bogus sources

Posted on November 27, 2006 | Comments Off on AP’s bogus sources

Surprises me how far they’ve fallen in five years of war, but with CENTCOM denying and bloggers on their case, it looks like the narrative they’ve been pushing finally caught up with them–in the form of some bogus Iraqi cops who seem more likely to be insurgents spreading lies. Given AP’s reach, however, the lies are already working memes across the rest of the MSM and may be impossible to reclaim.

But the Defense Department is trying, with this rebuttal site which can seem too picky, but ought to be taken seriously as more than just "the government position." It’s unusual, to say the least.

UPDATE  AP is fighting back by reiterating, etc. Austin Bay says an independent investigation is needed, and while you’re at it, revive the National News Council to do it. 

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Posted in Blogosphere, Iraq, The War, Troops

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Advisory effort

Posted on November 27, 2006 | Comments Off on Advisory effort

This LATimes piece maintains that Iraq commanders favor applying the advisory effort underway at the end of the Vietnam war.

"…an influx of military advisors and a speeded-up handover to indigenous forces followed by a gradual U.S. withdrawal."

It might well work, as it almost did in Vietnam–unless an impatient Congress and president pull the plug on funding, as happened in 1975.

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Posted in Iraq, The War

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Progress in Ramadi

Posted on November 26, 2006 | Comments Off on Progress in Ramadi

From Multi-National Force-Iraq.

"Once the area of operations is officially transferred to 2-1-7 IA, they will be the third and final battalion in the 1st Brigade, 7th IA to own an area of operation in Ramadi."

Via Milblogs 

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Salam Pax

Posted on November 25, 2006 | Comments Off on Salam Pax

The original (circa 2002) Baghdad blogger, who now works for BBC’s Newsnight as an occasional video stringer, still has an interesting view of his city. Here he offers to help visitors stay alive by enumerating what not to wear.

"Let’s look at men’s fashions first. Things that can get you killed include:

Shorts
A goatee beard
Jeans that are a bit tight or are too fashionably ‘distressed’
Colourful shirts
Hair Gel!!!
A necklace"

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Posted in Blogosphere, Iraq, The War

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An Iraqi view

Posted on November 22, 2006 | Comments Off on An Iraqi view

"America seems to have become confused and [losing] sight of the fundamentals of the issue and even who the real enemy is. Of course this was aided by a massive propaganda assault aimed directly at the American public from abroad and from within. Yet this is absolutely not a partisan issue. It is tragic that this matter is used for partisan purposes and for electoral considerations. When the ship of state starts sinking, it will take down everybody with it. You ask us Iraqis about this. And this is war, my friends. You can’t have half wars."

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Posted in Iraq, The War

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