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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! September 26, 2009 Tell me how this endsBy GreyhawkThere are a number of things wrong (or half right - and the other half matters) with this New York Times narrative, ("General Casey, whose institutional role as Army chief is to protect his force"... "we'll have to assess what that will do in terms of stress on the force," said a Army official" ... "other officers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan ...privately expressed doubt") but this in particular stands out: His decision to send 21,000 more troops to Afghanistan early this year, which will bring the number of American troops there to 68,000 this fall, was made hurriedly within weeks of coming into office to stanch the tactical erosion on the ground and provide security during Afghan elections. The young and impulsive last February defense is unbecoming, and an historical re-write. In fact that action fulfilled long-standing campaign pledges to do just that. ("Yes, I think we need more troops. I've been saying that for over a year now. And I think that we have to do it as quickly as possible, because it's been acknowledged by the commanders on the ground the situation is getting worse, not better." - October, 2008) And this: "Mr. Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and an Army veteran, has not ruled out supporting more troops but said "the burden of proof" was on commanders to justify it" - is downright insulting to anyone in Afghanistan carrying out the President's orders to implement the strategy defined in March, not just the man selected in May to lead them. Those few are familiar enough with their world via 24/7 immersion in that hostile environment, no additional burdens are required. I have no doubt the President knows full well his burdens and feels the attraction of retreat, and certainly some of the advisers named in the New York Times piece have shown him graphs of poll results detailing Bill Clinton's popularity post-Mogadishu (or will when the time comes to discuss strategy). But amidst all those partial quotes and half truths, when the New York Times informs us that "the liberal base of his party [is] increasingly vocal in its opposition to the war" we do well to note that's one claim they saw no need to support with quotes from outside experts. Evaluated in conjunction with yesterday's news one sees a well developed narrative indeed.
Posted by Greyhawk / September 26, 2009 6:04 PM | Permalink 3 TrackBacksTrackBack URL: http://www.mudvillegazette.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/16729 (Part one here.) This quote...Asked why al-Qaeda, which is comparatively safe in its current sanctuaries in Pakistan, would want to return to Afghanistan, where more than 100,000 U.S. and NATO troops are stationed, Jones said, "That's a good question. ... Read More Happy Sunday! Bit rainy and overcast, but, hey, the plants can use the water. This pinup is by Bill Randall, with a bit of help from Mickey and Donald. What is happening in Ye Olde Blogosphere? Just One Minute points out that the NY Times is too bias... Read More A brief look back at the fast and furious first few weeks of "Barack Obama's war" Foreign policy evolution, or revolution?Dining on platters of rice and lamb at the heavily fortified presidential palace in Kabul, Biden and his colleagues grilled Karza... Read More |
March 19, 2010Dawn Patrol 03/19/2003 [Greyhawk]
"Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world." Mudville was founded in March, 2003. Our efforts to bring the thoughts, words, and deeds of milbloggers to a wider world evolved to become The Dawn Patrol in March, 2005. With today's entry we're going to reset the clock - but not re-write the history - and recreate the world as it was - on a day the world changed...
Updating... more to follow.... MILBOGSAndrew Olmsted, 19 Mar 2003, Stateside: It would appear that the liberation of Iraq has begun. Greyhawk, 18 Mar 2003, Germany: A united world could have, just maybe, brought down Saddam without firing a shot. We will never know. 19 Mar: We'll never know what a united world could have achieved... the UN could not agree on anything, the situation degenerated, and here we are. Status quo was not working. The French were too desperate for oil and trade at any cost. Well-intentioned Americans were led into the streets by Communists (and others) with an agenda. The media distorted the split. Many in America and abroad thought they could manipulate the situation to their personal gain. They miscalculated. The fire is lit. Pontifx ex Machina, 18 Mar, undisclosed location: Rolling out the gate, the guard gets a quick "hook-em, horns" sign as we weave through the barricades. Then we're off, cruising through the desert in a battered-up SUV. On the eve of war, only one thing passes through our minds: is there going to be any appropriate music on the radio? Lt Smash, 19 Mar, undisclosed location: Read the President's speech today. The clock is ticking. Chief Wiggles, 22 Mar, Kuwait: The war started Wednesday morning for us right after the president gave a speech to the American people that lasted about 4 minutes. We were all very anxious for this whole thing to be either over or get it on its way. Will, 22 Mar, en route: I am going to Baghdad to personally shoot that paper hanging son of a bitch! Lt Smash 20 Mar, undisclosed location: Sgt Stryker, 20 Mar, Stateside: Iraq to File U.N. Complaint About Attack Primary Main Objective, 30 Mar, undisclosed location I Dare Kofi to Come Get Me.
BruceR, Flit, 19 Mar, Canada: AND SO IT BEGINS. Godspeed, Yanks. Come home safe and soon. Andrew Olmsted, 20 Mar 2003, Stateside: The most important thing to remember over the next few days is this: the first reports are almost always inaccurate. First reports are generally submitted in the heat of battle before any real analysis can take place. Therefore, they're highly subjective, based on limited information, and rarely hit the mark. So as the first reports of 'surgical strikes' on Iraqi forces come in, it's best to take those reports with a grain of salt... Iraqi BlogsSalam Pax, Baghdad: The bombing aould come and go in waves, nothing too heavy and not yet comparable to what was going on in 91. all radio and TV stations are still on and while the air raid began the Iraqi TV was showing patriotic songs and didn't even bother to inform viewers that we are under attack. at the moment they are re-airing yesterday's interview with the minister of interior affairs. THe sounds of the anti-aircarft artillery is still louder than the booms and bangs which means that they are still far from where we live, but the images we saw on Al Arabia news channel showed a building burning near one of my aunts house... American BlogsGlenn Reynold's has a ton of links. Newpapers
Updating... more to follow.... |
The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
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