"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.
The surge strategy is set to begin in Baghdad even as a market cleans up after a horrific bombing:
"There was notable deployment of Iraqi army units and armored vehicles on the streets yesterday. I saw one of those armored units establish battle positions at one of the important intersections in Baghdad; soldiers were erecting tents and the vehicles were set in defensive formations. Maybe that intersection will become the border of one of the nine sectors."
Rest is here.
One or the other? Or neither? ABC News finds cheering troops for a visiting President Bush, post-surge speech, at my old alma mater Fort Benning. While the NYTimes finds "a restrained response" at the same occasion. Only ABC is playing against type, which might be a clue. Or not. Read what you like, but be careful what you believe. Things are never what they seem.
Via Best of the Web Today
Comments Off on Which to believe?
Tagged ABC News, Bush, Fort Benning, New York Times, surge
I usually find reasons to take heart from former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan’s latest column, but not today. The headline "The Two Vacuums" and the subhead "Neither Iraqis nor Democrats seem ready to do what’s required of them" seemed reasonable so I printed it out to read. Only when I read it did I realize that the headline writer, for whatever reason, was trying to avoid her main point, which is that Bush is coming unglued, hasn’t a clue what to do, and his new strategy isn’t new at all. It certainly seems new to me, with its hints of finally cleaning up Mookie and his sectarian-warring militia in Sadr City, and the insurgent/militia sanctuaries in Syria and Iran, even if that means war with those terrorist-supporting countries (see bit about carrier battle groups in the Gulf, and providing Patriot anti-missile systems to regional allies), and a clear and hold strategy for Baghdad’s most violent neighborhoods, which I don’t recall seeing before. Maybe I am the one who sees substance that isn’t there, but his detractors (the usual ones and the shocking new ones like Noonan) seem to be saying: "We can’t leave, but we can’t stay. Sorry if Iraq falls apart and the genocide begins, but we are an impatient people more interested in presidential style than substance, and we are losing what patience we had with this man and his war." As if it really was only his war, and getting rid of him would make all things better. The mind reels. Mine, anyhow.
UPDATE For all that, the stock market continues to soar. Somebody’s not pessimistic. But Donald Sensing is, deeply.
Comments Off on We can’t leave, but we can’t stay
Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops
Tagged Bush, Iraq, new startegy, Peggy Noonan, surge
Fighting continues in the city, between insurgents, militia and the government, but so far Bush’s "new plan" seems not to have truly begun and Iraqis, meanwhile, are arguing among themselves whether it will do any good, according to Mohammed at Iraq the Model:
"…there are different opinions even among members of a single bloc but I also see that a majority supports the new strategy while opposition is coming from extremists who realize that they will be the next target for the government and allied forces."
I didn’t watch his speech. I rarely watch them anymore as his "performance" is largely irrelevant to me. I’m more interested in what he says, and for that I always await the transcript, which is here. It’s at CBS news, which I normally wouldn’t trust to send out for donuts, but it’s the only one I can find at the moment. When the White House has one up, I’ll switch the link to it. (I found the White House one and switched it.) The surge sounds workable, even logical, focused as it will be on Baghdad and al Anbar. And although he offered no specifics on Iran and Syria he at least said we’d be working (at last) to stop their interference. He only mentioned two carrier strike groups, although a third one is plainly to soon be on the way, but he did mention the security of the region and stopping Iran from getting nukes. All of which may be as pointed inuendo as he feels he is able to offer right now. I hope he has much more in mind.
UPDATE Two days of furious battles in Baghdad show the fight has begun, re Iraq the Model here.
Comments Off on President Bush unfiltered
Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops
Tagged 2007 speech, Iraq, President Bush, surge, transcript of Jan. 10
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