DP Updates

I can only point to a few things today. (I never knew teenagers could get Kidney stones, it's not pleasant, for her either. If only kisses could take pain away.)

Glenn Talks to Michael Yon via Sat-Phone

These guys are studs. All they do is work out and fight." He says troop morale generally in Afghanistan is really good, partly because there's more public support for that war, but that the overall situation is "not great" and "clearly deteriorating." He adds that "we're not losing," but that we're not making progress either. "I'll tell you Glenn, we really need more troops here." With what he describes as a "meltdown" going on in Pakistan, he says that Afghanistan needs a lot more troops -- like 50,000 or more. Part of the problem, he adds, is that many of the Coalition troops, like the Germans, aren't really allowed to fight, making the effective number of available troops lower than it seems.

Apparently General Patraeus' "Surge Strategy", had nothing to do with the success in Iraq, it's because of Biden [HT: Jawa]

Iraq is getting better because they are doing exactly what he recommended.

I don't remember seeing Biden doin this:

Architect of Victory -- [Matel - in Iraq]

We went up to Al Qaim to meet and talk with General Petraeus. Architect of victory – that is what they called General George C. Marshall in World War II. The U.S. victory over the AQI and the insurgency in Iraq had many contributors, but David Petraeus was the architect who put it together. Of course, he would never call himself that. When asked whether the U.S. had defeated Al Qaeda in Iraq, General Petraeus told the media, "You will not find any military leader who will say this ... all we can say is al Qaeda is still dangerous."

Husaybah -- [Matel - in Iraq]

After meeting with the troops and giving out some coins, General Petraeus flew off to his next appointment. We went into the city of Husaybah for a market walk. The Mayor wanted to go along. I am not sure if he adds value or subtracts. The mayor is apparently popular. He spoke easily with his constituents and they spoke to him about their problems and hopes. While I enjoyed watching a good Iraqi politician in action, I tried to get away a bit and talk to citizens outside the glow of the leading local politician.
Husaybah is obviously doing okay. In addition to good produce in the shops, we saw lots of small appliances, clothing, rugs and even gold.

Michael discusses Russia’s Kosovo Precedent -- [Michael Totten]

Russia’s Vladimir Putin darkly hinted that his country would invade and dismember Georgia months before last month’s war in the South Caucasus region began. “We have Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Pridnestrovie [Transnistria],” he said back in February of this year after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, “and they say Kosovo is a special case?” Putin has a point, but only a very small one. The overwhelming majority of Kosovars want nothing more to do with Serbia just as the majorities in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia want to secede. But there the similarities end.

Here's an interview with the Kashmiri Leader: 'Osama [Bin Laden] Has Come Only During the Last Few Years; People Like Me Have Been Fighting For This All Our Lives' -- [MEMRI]

Syed Ali Geelani: We Want "To Impose an Islamic [System In] Kashmir"; "Secularism Should Not Touch Our Lives"
...Ever since my release from prison on August 7, 2004, I have been spreading my message across Kashmir. I have a three-point programme. First to impose an Islamic nizam (Islamic system) [in] Kashmir. Islam should govern our lives, be it in our political thought, socio-economic plans, culture or [other…].
"The creed of socialism and secularism should not touch our lives, and we must be totally governed by the Koran and the Sunnat (precedents from Prophet Mohammad's life)."
"We Must Fight Against Anti-Islamic Forces [That Come] Under the Garb of Nationalists, Secularists, Racists, Linguistic Chauvinists, And So On" "Secondly, I have been propagating that we must fight against anti-Islamic forces. These forces come in our way under the garb of nationalists, secularists, racists, linguistic chauvinists, and so on. "Thirdly, I have been telling the youth to work for the right to self-determination which is granted to them by the United Nations. I have been drawing huge support from the youth for this as a result of which you see lakhs [1 lakh = 100,000] of people on the roads today.
"Question: In essence, Osama bin Laden's crusade to establish Islamic rule across the globe seems no different from yours.
"Syed Ali Geelani: Osama has come only during the last few years. People like me have been fighting for this all our lives. I do not want to be compared with Osama.

Supporting the Troops...

Big Noize -- [THIS WE'LL DEFEND - in Iraq]

Tongiht we all here at FOB Falcon got a special treat.
...ACDC played for almost two hours in a free concert. Those old bastards can still pump out the rock! The youngest member of the band is 53 and the oldest is 63 now.

Some polotiking...

University of Illinois Tipped Off Obama Colleague On Annenberg Records Request -- [Gateway Pundit]

Global Labor reported today that a close Obama associate was tipped off about the requests of information regarding the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) before the records were released.
Obama worked with terrorist Bill Ayers for several years leading the organization.

Nothing like a British dude that looks like they just rolled out of bed to tell Americans how to vote.

MTV Awards Host Blasts Bristol Palin & Retarded Bush-- Says If You Don't Vote For Obama You're Racist -- [Gateway Pundit]

The British actor-comedian, Russell Brand, the host of the MTV Music Video Awards, started off the night calling those Americans racist who do not vote for Barack Obama. He followed that up by saying that President Bush was retarded.
The MTV audience loved him.
It didn't bother them a bit that this foreigner just came to America to tell them how to vote and then called their current leader a retarded cowboy.

Over at Castle Argghhh!!!!, Dusty has a story you may not have heard, What was the Worst day of McCain's life and reflect

“When I started to come around, after a few seconds, I found I couldn’t move my head. I thought, ‘Oh, s**t, they broke my neck.’
“That was the worst day of my captivity.
“As soon as that thought formed in my head, I panicked and, still in that grey world between being out and being conscious, my body reflexively convulsed. It was then I could move my head.”
Why the momentary “paralysis?” The beating he received for embarrassing the guard left him bleeding from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The blood flowed down his face and neck as he lay unconscious on his cell’s floor, gluing his head to the concrete as it dried and coagulated. Still groggy when coming around, his momentary immobility felt like paralysis.

May update later.