Category Archives: The War

On the third rotation

Posted on February 7, 2007 | Comments Off on On the third rotation

Good piece in the Dallas Morning News about members of the 1st Cav in Iraq, some on their third rotation back to the sand box:

"’They (the Iraqis) stood up for us and we stood up for them," Sgt. Rountree said, adding that he had been looking forward to going back. ‘We’ve seen it blown apart,’ he said. ‘I want to see it put together. I want to see what we fought for the first rotation. People who say it’s not worth it, it is.’"

Meanwhile, according to the Harvard Crimson, the Marines are getting a track star for a new infantry lieutenant:

“’I think this is my generation’s greatest calling,’ said [Sean] Barrett. ‘Fighting for the freedom of others is a uniquely American value. Protecting my family, my country, our values and way of life is of the utmost importance to me…This isn’t something that’s going away. We have to win.’”

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Fifth helicopter downed

Posted on February 7, 2007 | Comments Off on Fifth helicopter downed

Conflicting reports on whether the CH-46 Sea Knight with seven aboard was brought down in Iraq by ground fire or mechanical problems. If the former, the enemy is getting better at an unfortunate time.

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The surge

Posted on February 6, 2007 | Comments Off on The surge

"US says it is on. Maliki Government says it isn’t."

Not very inspiring, are they? Let’s hope the coordination, such as it is, gets better. I also hope the miscaptioned photo at the link, of the American troops of the 2nd ID, is a long lens effort that’s compressing them into each other. Because not spreading out is a sure way for all to get taken out with one RPG or even one grenade. 

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Unresponsive, so far

Posted on February 6, 2007 | Comments Off on Unresponsive, so far

Unresponsive.JPG

Invading, however, really isn’t necessary, according to American historian Arthur Herman. Air strikes and naval attacks from the Persian Gulf would be more than enough:

"Almost 90 percent of the mullahs’ oil assets are located either in or near the Gulf. So is the nuclear reactor that Russia is building for Iran at Bushehr. Virtually every Iranian well or production platform depends on access to the Gulf if Iran’s oil is to reach buyers. Hence, the same Straits by means of which Iran intends to lever itself into a position of global power present the West with its own point of leverage to reduce Iran’s power—and to keep it reduced for at least as long as the country’s political institutions remain unprepared to enter the modern world."

Worth a read. 

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops

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Patrolling

Posted on February 5, 2007 | Comments Off on Patrolling

Night raid with the Jundi, i.e. the Iraqi army, and Marines, reported by freelance embed Bill Ardolino:

"On the plus side, they’re motivated and brave. Lt. Col. Fisher believes that aggression is a good problem to have, citing the old Marine saying, ‘it’s better to have to reel them in than have to push them out the door.’"

With photos.

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A cry for help from Baghdad

Posted on February 4, 2007 | Comments Off on A cry for help from Baghdad

An exile in Britain talks to his mother on the phone from Baghdad where life goes on amid the truck bombs and murdered relatives and no one is safe: 

"Not even Bush’s death will solve our problem. I’ll be lying if I say I lost hope. When you are in love it is hard to do so. But my aims for Iraq have changed. I want this horrifying hybrid of a government to succeed and the 21,000 extra troops to take control. All I dream of which is no different to the millions of Iraqis is damage control force."

Read it all here.

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Let Arkin pick on his peers

Posted on February 2, 2007 | Comments Off on Let Arkin pick on his peers

Not a 21-year-old soldier, says Don Surber, in this good rebuttal piece on why the WaPo’s Arkin is a mouse not a man.

"Arkin is a media bubble boy. He does not realize how wrong he was for dumping on a soldier in Iraq who dared — when asked directly — say, hey, you protesters are not helpful."

Arkin is no journalist, no Ernie Pyle, just a flaming lefty who likes nothing better than to sneer, call names ("mercenaries!") and tell other people what to do and think. People like him are one reason why the Left is so marginalized in America, even if they do have the big megaphone of the media, which, increasingly, is despised for providing it.

Instead of listening to the WaPo’s resident douchebag, help the troops do one nice thing for Afghanistan and Iraq.

UPDATE  Malarky Arkin is still at it, this time complaining that he’s being demonized. He, he maintains, is the true martyr here. Tough cookies, Malarky. Looking at his thumbnail picture, I realize that he really needs shave. Yeah, I know, it’s fashionable to look like a bum. 

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Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, The War, Troops

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