SAY "PRETTY PLEASE"

I'd like to hear a few takes on this story from the Telegraph...

Gen Stultz said: "The Army Reserve soldier had a different perspective of how to handle the situation from the active army. He said, 'the first reaction working with the Iraqi soldiers from the active army was the traditional drill sergeant approach: just yell at the guy.

"If he's not wearing his helmet at the right time, just scream at him. The Iraqi soldier wasn't used to that. In some cases they would be offended or indignant.' "

The general said the major had told him that "those of us in the Army Reserve who deal with the civilian population of America would never scream at a customer because I know he would just walk away".

Gen Stultz said that some Reserve officers developed a closer relationship with Iraqi soldiers than did their active counterparts. "You can't treat everyone as if they're an American soldier. Everyone's culture is different."

I suspect that "pretty please" just isn't going to help the Iraqi forces shape up and take control....

Iraq: News & Opinion

Michael Yon -- our intrepid boy reporter - is still in Baqubah and has riveting details of Operation Arrow Ripper. His reporting from Iraq continues to be a MUST READ for anyone interested in what's REALLY going on there (and should be required reading for Carl Levin, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, et al.!)

Media reports indicating that many top leaders escaped before Arrowhead Ripper began appear to be mostly true. But other information suggests some AQI leaders are trapped just down the road from where I write. In addition to the seven men who were caught trying to escape while dressed as women, there is information that some AQI leaders remain trapped in a constricting cordon.

Be sure to read "Drilling for Justice"

Pete Hegseth, an Iraq War veteran and executive director of Vets for Freedom has an editorial today in the Washington Post in response to Carl Levin's OpEd piece last week.

In his op-ed, Sen. Levin invoked the example of Abraham Lincoln, who endured years of challenges before finding the right generals and strategy to win the Civil War. After four years of uncertainty in Iraq, America finally has both the general and the strategy to turn the tide. The question is whether 2007 will unfold like 1865 or 1969.

Be sure to read Reality Check for the Antiwar Crowd.

I also have a few reminders from various news sources posted over at Some Soldier's Mom to remind all why we are in this fight... and why we must succeed.