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August 31, 2008
Things to do in Kuwait
[Greyhawk]
Many readers here might travel to visit the troops in Kuwait some day. And in planning such a trip they might wonder "after having my picture taken with the troops and eating in the DFAC, what else can I do while I'm there?"
There are more options than you might think, and regardless of your "personality type" there's probably something to do that you'll consider "fun". With the help of Barack Obama (Jul '08) and Sarah Palin (Jul '07) we proudly offer the following suggestions, and hope you'll consider them while making your decision.
They told me that when I was in Iraq...
[Major John]
...I might have a chance to meet famous musicians. They were right!
August 30, 2008
Interesting Timing...
[Soldier's Mom]
WASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, has given his military superiors and Defense Secretary Robert Gates his initial recommendation on when to resume a U.S. troop withdrawal and at what pace, a senior military officer close to the process said Friday.
The officer, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition that he not be identified, said Petraeus was still analyzing the situation and had not yet submitted a final set of recommendations. That is expected to happen within the next week or so, but there is no firm deadline. [emphasis added]
What is gained by this leak immediately before the Republican convention? Not sure it was a sanctioned leak, but sure takes the wind out of the "no end in sight" crowd... Story here...
Palin on Iraq
[Greyhawk]
Here's the full late-2006 "surge" question you may have seen quoted (in whole or in part - but it's so brief I can't imagine why folks would want to edit it down) elsewhere:
ABM: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?
Palin: I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.
That interview is dated early December, 2006 - just after the 2006 elections but with the announcement of the "surge" a month away - it was just one possible action among many (an "exit plan" being another) at the time.
I've seen that quote reduced to "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq" - very much reminiscent of the chopping done to the McCain "100 years" remark. I'm not sure how many State governors have made memorable comments on Iraq. I'm not sure how many would use the other Party's talking points ("exit plan" in this example) in doing so. I don't fault Governors for answering questions, and if they choose to do so by pointing out the difference between State and Federal priorities (or demanding the assurances that Palin does above) I won't fault them for that either. Likewise if they - like so many others - have changed their opinions over the past two years (this interview is that old) I'm okay with that, too. Beyond all that, actions speak louder than words.
The full interview requires registration, covers other two year old topics, and can be found here. Other early national buzz on Palin centers on the "reformer" topic, with a few other mentions of her "libertarian" leanings based on a veto of a bill limiting some rights of same-sex couples. Both are mentioned below.
ABM: Why did you decide to run for office?
Palin: Alaskans desired a change; you could feel it. The fact that Alaskans were looking for a positive change was evident to members of the public. Observations were being made about ethical lapses in government, and the public's trust being eroded. I had a couple of opportunities to speak out for Alaskans on ethical issues, and thought that I could offer another choice in the governor's race. I've always been committed to trust and transparency in state government, which I believed, and other Alaskans obviously believed, was lacking in the (Murkowski) administration.
ABM: You've only been in office a short time, but already, you've 'undone' a number of actions that former Gov. Murkowski put into place before leaving-for example, the Lynn Canal contract, and 11th-hour appointments to several state boards. Why did you feel that it was important to act on these issues so quickly?
Palin: Governor Murkowski had a 19 percent approval rating in his own party-it's pretty evident that something was wrong. And when something's wrong, it means actions have been taken that have led the public to distrust the administration. Actions which are pretty obvious, such as appointing your son-in-law to a post in the waning hours of the administration, and letting a contract on a road that is not supported by the public, or by the department who will be letting the contract. We had to undo these actions to get off on the right foot-we needed to let the public know that we are not afraid to tackle the issues that have led to their distrust.
ABM: You recently vetoed the bill that sought to block the state from giving public employee benefits, such as health insurance, to same-sex couples. This is despite the fact that you disagree with the state Supreme Court order that directs the state to offer benefits to same-sex partners of state employees. How would you like to see this issue handled?
Palin: I see this as a legislative issue. It was the prior administration's issue, but they didn't handle it well, so it got handed to us. There was not a lot of cooperation between the former administration and the Legislature on this issue. What came from their Legislature, their proposed solution, was unconstitutional. We just followed the constitution and did what was legally necessary. I believe that this issue should return to the Legislature, and we will work with them to find a solution. This could be an advisory vote, put before Alaska voters in April, which asks voters whether they want to see a constitutional amendment to more fully define what marriage is. In 1998, voters defined marriage in a traditional way, as between a man and a woman, and I think most people believed that inherent in that vote was that benefits presently supplied to couples would be exclusively supplied to married couples. If there is a future challenge in court, an advisory vote might allow the Legislature to have the confidence to put the constitutional amendment question to voters in 2008.
I think comparing that to
this equally informative piece on Biden - while more revealing of personality than head to head match up on issues - is a worthwhile exercise.
All done!
On Track
[Greyhawk]
Here - or in the continue reading section below - is a story on a mom seeing her son off to Basic at Benning. I'm sure if you've read one you've read 'em all, and even though this mom is the Governor of Alaska the story is familiar to us milblogger types. (In fact "one of us" is what ran through my mind while reading.)
I'm not trying to get into apples/oranges or one-upmanship here, but I think it's worth noting that Track Palin enlisted* after High School. Journalists aren't going to catch that distinction between him and Biden and McCain's sons** - or even McCain himself.
And I don't want to get into details of MOS/unit/mission here either, but I'm sure that's going to be on the TeeVee before the weekend is out. I'd hope not - likewise with Biden's son - but enterprising reporters is what they is and do what they do and people have a right to know, alluh akbar.
Added: To add a bit of perspective - at the time of this story - September 2007 - I (along with 160,000 other Americans in uniform) was in Iraq, General Petraeus hadn't yet delivered his report to congress, death tolls were still high, the consensus from mainstream media reports was that we were fighting a losing battle, and the conventional wisdom was that John McCain's support for the surge had cost him his political career - he was down in the polls and had no chance of winning the Republican nomination and could forget about the oval office. There was no New GI Bill (not even talk of it), congressmen (and others) were accusing troops in Iraq of slaughtering women and children, and Iraq Vets were getting a reputation in news media (and a spate of Hollywood "blockbusters") of being psychotic thugs with a host of other health problems who were being ignored by "the Army" and the VA. None of that was close to reality, of course, and "of course, we all knew all along the surge would work..." but it took a lot of guts (and/or faith) to enlist in September, 2007, and in many ways I'm sure it took even more to watch your 18 year old son do it.
*****
*'Enlisted': John Kerry knows the difference: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."
** Via Malclave, in comments: "One correction... only one of Sen. McCain's sons enrolled in Annapolis. The other in uniform, Jimmy McCain, enlisted in the Marines at 17."
Palin's son leaves for Army boot camp
TRACK: Governor supports enlistment "for the right reasons."
By STEVE QUINN
The Associated Press
Published: September 19th, 2007 06:57 AM
Last Modified: September 19th, 2007 05:47 PM
JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin's son, Track, left on Tuesday for infantry boot camp in Fort Benning, Ga.
The 18-year-old enlisted last week on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Track is the oldest of Palin's four children and her only son.
"I support my son's independence, and I am proud of his decision because he made it for the right reasons -- to serve his country," Palin said.
In July, Palin went to Kuwait where she visited the Alaska Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry, a unit that is made up of about 575 Alaska men and women.
She said she wanted an up-close look at the sacrifices made by Alaska-based troops in the Middle East so she accepted the offer of a two-day tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Ultimately, it may have been a closer look at what awaits Track.
Palin said she has come to terms with the idea that Track could be deployed next year to Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan, where thousands of U.S. troops are based.
Last week President Bush approved a gradual reduction of U.S. forces, which stand at the highest level of the war, about 168,000 troops.
"With this quasi draw down, there may be shorter deployments, which is encouraging for Track; in fact, that's encouraging for all of our troops," Palin said. "But more likely than not, Track will end up in the Middle East."
Since her son enlisted, Palin said, she has received several e-mails from women whose sons or daughters have either enlisted or are serving overseas.
While proud of their children's decision to enlist, they have not lost sight of the prospects of losing a loved one in the war.
"I certainly have thought about it; the mixed emotions we all feel will be something that binds us together," Palin said. "But we don't regret that our son or daughter has made this decision."
Track Palin joins Wasilla High classmate John Bates at Fort Benning. The Palin family threw the teens a party on Sunday evening.
Palin said the party was not a farewell, but a thank you for the young men's commitment to serve.
"We want the boys to know that we support them and we've got their backs," Palin said.
All done!
Greyhawk predictions
[Mrs Greyhawk]
We're sitting around the house of Greyhawk's talking about all the political brouhaha, and our middle child makes an insightful prediction.
Here
Patti Receives Prestigious VFW Award for Service
[Mrs Greyhawk]
For demonstrating inspirational service and citizenship in founding Soldiers' Angels, Patti Patton-Bader received the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 2008 James E. Van Zandt Citizenship Award last week at the VFW 109th National Convention in Orlando, Florida.
Through Soldiers’ Angels, Patton-Bader has inspired hundreds of thousands of volunteers to display their citizenship by actively support American military personnel in this time of war. With over twenty different teams and programs addressing a variety of needs, the organization’s 200,000 members assist the deployed, families on the homefront, the wounded, and families of the fallen.
Patton-Bader sees the award as a testimony to the efforts and effectiveness of the volunteers she leads. “I am so appreciative that the VFW honored Soldiers’ Angels with this wonderful award, she said. “Each of our volunteers create ripples of kindness that add up to an ocean of greatness in support of our heroes, and it fills my heart that veterans know they are loved and appreciated.”
The Van Zandt Citizenship Award is given in recognition of selfless service and dedication that inspire Americans to better citizenship. The citation reads
More here
Way to go Patti!
August 29, 2008
Palin on...
[Greyhawk]
Okay, when Obama picked Biden we glanced at the veep candidate's position on the Patriot Act (he wrote it - Ashcroft stole it: "...the bill John Ashcroft sent up was my bill"), on Arabs, Persians, or whoever those people were who attacked us on 9/11 (America needs to show the Arab world that we're not bent on its destruction. "Seems to me this would be a good time to send, no strings attached, a check for $200 million to Iran," <...> Biden's admirers spin his undisciplined chatter as a kind of John McCain-esque straight talk), and on Iraq (split it into 3 countries).
So in fairness, now that McCain has made a choice, we should examine her positions on the same. But I got nothin'. I know she - like McCain and Biden - has a son who is going to serve (or already has) in Iraq, though unlike the elder statesmen, her son is a junior enlisted troop. And I just heard her praise McCain's unswerving support to Iraq, so there's that.
But since she's a newcomer to the national stage there aren't a whole lot of quotes available. So in an attempt to remain politically neutral, here's the official Obama response to McCain's pick: "Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency".
Veep debates will indeed be interesting. I have no idea how she (or anyone) will be able to respond off the cuff to the sort of unexpected verbal hand grenades the venerable Biden might launch (first guess: stunned look of confusion or disbelief) and I'm not sure if all the coaching in the world can prepare anyone for what might come. Should be fun to watch.
For what it's worth: McCain and Palin certainly looked more comfortable in their first public hug then Obama and Biden did. (But please don't take that as an endorsement of anyone or anything.)
This is the man I met at the White House
[Mrs Greyhawk]
President makes a stop at Eielson AirForce Base
A short time later, the Secret Service opened the door and President Bush walked in. I thought we might get to shake his hand as he went through. But instead, he walked up to my wife with his arms wide, pulled her in for a hug and a kiss, and said, "I wish I could heal the hole in your heart." He then grabbed me for a hug, as well as each of our sons. Then he turned and said, "Everybody out."
A few seconds later, the four of us were completely alone behind closed doors with the President of the United States and not a Secret Service agent in sight.
He said, "Come on, let's sit down and talk." He pulled up a chair at the side of the room, and we sat down next to him. He looked a little tired from his trip, and he noticed that his shoes were scuffed up from leaning over concrete barriers to shake hands and pose for photos. He slumped down the chair, completely relaxed, smiled, and suddenly was no longer the President - he was just a guy with a job, sitting around talking with us like a family member at a barbeque.
<...>
One of the somber moments was when he thanked us for the opportunity to meet, because he feels a heavy responsibility knowing that our son died because of a decision he made. He was incredibly humble, full of warmth, and completely without pretense. We were seeing the man his family sees.
We couldn't believe how long he was talking to us, but he seemed to be in no hurry whatsoever. In the end, he thanked us again for the visit and for the opportunity to get off his feet for a few minutes. He then said, "Let's get some pictures." The doors flew open, Secret Service and the White House photographer came in, and suddenly he was the President again. We posed for individual pictures as he gave each of us one of his coins, and then he posed for family pictures. A few more thank yous, a few more hugs, and he was gone.
The remarkable thing about the whole event was that he didn't have to see us at all. If he wanted to do more, he could've just given a quick handshake and said, "Thanks for your sacrifice." But he didn't - he put everything and everyone in his life on hold to meet privately with the family of a Private First Class who gave his life in the service of his country
Godspeed Spc. Shawn Murphy. Shawn 24, of Fort Bragg, N.C., was killed by a roadside bomb Dec. 10 in Baghdad.
Thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Thank you Mr. President for recognizing them.
HT: BlackFive
All done!
VOTE!
[Greyhawk]
...for Eisenhower!
McCain and the OODA Loop
[Dadmanly]
Who would have guessed that Sen. John McCain would be beating the pants off of Sen. Barack Obama on the YouTube centric, political web-enabled battle space?
Anybody who knows anything about John Boyd’s conception of the OODA Loop, and knows that John McCain flew fighter jets.
Here’s the essential primer from the indispensable Bill Whittle:
Observe.
Orient.
Decide.
Act.
Then Observe.
Orient.
Decide.
Act.
Then Observe…
It’s a cycle. It’s a loop. It’s called by its inelegant acronym: The OODA loop.
Now here’s what blew my mind, as I am sure it blew John Boyd’s mind on a level I can not and will never fully comprehend:
The winner of these battles is not necessarily the fellow who makes the best decisions. More often than not, it’s the guy who makes the fastest decisions.
Agility. Speed. Precision. Lethality. Fingerspitzengefuhl: fingertip control.
Whittle is the finest of online essayists, and he’s worth your time, but for a shorter reference, see also the
OODA Loop Wiki.
McCain has gotten inside Obama’s OODA Loop. Before the worshipful coverage has barely hit its crest, McCain launches the Obama as Shallow Celebrity campaign. Before the Unity Set Piece has played itself out, McCain’s campaign is blasting away at the pounds of flesh the Clinton’s are exacting from Obama.
Biden picked as VP, and without a blink of a news cycle, Team McCain has clips available documenting all the disparaging things Biden said about Obama during his 3 second Presidential Campaign. Georgia, Rezko, Ayers, every news item that at all promises a hold on news attention, and McCain is out in front, Obama lagging and sagging behind.
Not only does the McCain campaign react instantly to every exploitable gaffe, emerging event, or unpleasantness that will damage Obama or enhance McCain, flooding the media space with generally high quality ads and videos, but now McCain plays Obama’s coronation day perfectly: McCain: Job Well Done, Barack.
McCain can afford to let it rest, while seemingly displaying the rarest of qualities: an appreciation of his opponent’s accomplishment. Because he knows he’s already won the OODA Loop.
John McCain is a fighter pilot who certainly knows Boyd’s OODA Loop. Nice to see he found how to apply OODA to running a Presidential Campaign.
(Via The Corner)
(Cross-posted at Dadmanly)
August 28, 2008
Commandant Wants More Marines in Afghanistan
[LT Nixon]
With transition of security to Iraqi Security Forces in Anbar Province, the Commandant is recommending more Marines out of Iraq and into Afghanistan.
August 27, 2008
ASY: FREEDOM WALK
[Soldier's Mom]
I will never forget... I remember... so I'm inviting you to come...
Walk with us... Celebrate Freedom... and Remember... Together.
The America Supports You Freedom Walk is a national tradition that calls on people to reflect on the lives lost on September 11, 2001, remember those who responded, honor our veterans past and present, and renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country. Each year the number of walks held throughout the nation grows, as more people are moved to participate.
The tradition was born when Pentagon employees, seeking a way to honor the victims of the attack on the Pentagon and their families, and pay tribute to those who responded to that attack as well as those who serve, organized a walk from the Pentagon to the National Mall. Nearly 15,000 people took part. Now, America Supports You Freedom Walks are taking place in communities across the nation. Last year 255 communities participated, and every state was represented, along with eight nations overseas.
The National Freedom Walk
The tradition began with a walk in Washington DC, and the National ASY Freedom Walk continues. Now in its fourth year, the National ASY Freedom Walk draws people not only from the Washington metropolitan region, but from throughout the nation. Each person who walks has his own special reason and his own interesting story to tell. If you have a story you'd like to share, please let us know!
This year, on Sunday, September 7, the fourth-annual America Supports You National Freedom Walk will take place in Washington, DC. The National ASY Freedom Walk is free of charge and open to the public. You must register in advance to participate. Registration is easy and can be done online. But walking is not the only way you can support the cause. We're looking for volunteers to check registration, hand out t-shirts, support our walkers, and lend assistance to those in need. Find out more about what YOU can do to be a part of the America Supports You Freedom Walk.
LOCAL WALKS
America Supports You Freedom Walks come in many different shapes and sizes. Some feature governors and mayors, others have veterans and their families,and still others are organized and run by students and teachers. What they all have in common is people who care. If you are interested in participating in or establishing a walk in your community, this is the place for you.
The goal for 2008 is to have several America Supports You Freedom Walks in every state. The Freedom Walks will not be a platform to discuss the policy of the war, but will be a platform to reflect on the sacrifices of September 11, renew our commitment to freedom and to express our appreciation for the men and women who volunteer to serve in the military. This tradition ensures that America will never forget September 11th.
Come walk with us... Let us Remember... and Let Us Celebrate FREEDOM!
x-posted at http://www.somesoldiersmom.blogspot.com">Some Soldier's Mom
All done!
August 26, 2008
Biden on the Patriot Act
[Greyhawk]
The Big 'L' Libertarians will love this one:
In the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Biden did, in fact, champion an anti-terrorism bill similar to the one now before Congress (though it was, as he complains, badly watered down by anti-government conservatives and leftist civil libertarians). And Biden doesn't let you forget it. "I introduced the terrorism bill in '94 that had a lot of these things in it," he bragged to NBC's Tim Russert on September 30. When I spent the day with him later that week, Biden mentioned the legislation to me, and to several other reporters he encountered, no fewer than seven times. "When I was chairman in '94 I introduced a major antiterrorism bill--back then," he says in the morning, flashing a knowing grin and pausing for effect. (Never mind that he's gotten the year wrong.) Back in his office later that afternoon, he brings it up yet again. "I drafted a terrorism bill after the Oklahoma City bombing. And the bill John Ashcroft sent up was my bill."
That
October, 2001 New Republic article is worth reading in full. I'm not being facetious when I say that.
It includes this gem, too:
In fact, the only thing Biden likes better than reminding people about his anti-terrorism bill is reminding them that he predicted the September 11 attacks. On September 10 Biden delivered a foreign policy speech to the National Press Club complaining about the administration's fixation on missile defense. "The real threat comes to this country in the hold of a ship, the belly of a plane, or smuggled into a city in the middle of the night in a vial in a backpack," Biden said. So give the man credit. Just not as much as he's been claiming. "Literally as recently as yesterday, I spoke to the National Press Club and talked about the fact it is just as easy to fly from National Airport into the White House as it is to, you know, do the same thing in New York," Biden told ABC News. Unfortunately Biden said no such thing. His speech didn't mention National Airport or the White House--or any kamikaze scenario at all.
A regular Nostradumass.
Whether or not you intend to vote for Obama, you must admit he's relatively young, intelligent, and black. Picking an experienced white moron as veep certainly balances the ticket in that regard.
All done!
Biden on Iran
[Greyhawk]
Best of the Web Today:
The month after the 9/11 attacks, The New Republic profiled Biden and caught this brainstorm:At the Tuesday-morning meeting with committee staffers, Biden launches into a stream-of-consciousness monologue about what his committee should be doing, before he finally admits the obvious: "I'm groping here." Then he hits on an idea: America needs to show the Arab world that we're not bent on its destruction. "Seems to me this would be a good time to send, no strings attached, a check for $200 million to Iran," Biden declares. He surveys the table with raised eyebrows, a How do ya like that? look on his face.
The staffers offer various objections, but no one notes the obvious one: Iran is not Arab and is the enemy of most Arab regimes.
Maybe Israel then?
The 2001 New Republic story introduces Biden as "the current chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Democratic Party's de facto spokesman on the war against terrorism" and includes this observation: "Biden's admirers spin his undisciplined chatter as a kind of John McCain-esque straight talk."
"It's not [just] democracy, it's Iraqracy"
[Greyhawk]
General Petraeus, interviewed in Newsweek:
Just back to Al Qaeda a little bit. Why so shy about declaring victory over them, if they're in such bad shape?
Well, first of all we truly think it would be premature, honestly. And then I think there still is a very lethal and very deadly and very barbaric enemy out there. Again, sufficiently barbaric to strap [explosive] vests onto women.
Which in a way is a sign of their weakness, too. They can't find enough men to do it.
Well, yeah, you can interpret it that way. We'll let you do that. And again, honestly, [U.S.] Ambassador [Ryan] Crocker and I explicitly, from day one, together, said that we have got to be coldly realistic and as absolutely objective as we possibly can and not let our enthusiasms or perhaps normal optimism creep into our assessments, frankly. And so we've been very, very careful to ensure that what we say is as absolutely credible as we can make it, and also not open up the assessments to charges of spinning.
More at the link, including the quote used as the title to this post.
Via the Donovan FbL, who adds "The interviewer asks good, educated questions and generallly gets honest and substantial answers. But it was interesting to see Petraeus dance around the fact that the minute we declare the war a success, all it will take is one significant attack for the media and politicans to call it all a lie. It's amazing to see the interviewer more positive about developments than the General himself."
I think FbL hit upon one of the General's primary causes for reluctance, but sadly I think that in addition any display of optimism could also lead to accusations of political partisanship at home too (see "not open up the assessments to charges of spinning" quote above) and that's too bad. (But nothing new.)
August 25, 2008
Welcome Home!!!!
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Maj Pain has made it home safe and sound.
Get over there and welcome him home.
Sadr Sympathizers in Denver
[LT Nixon]
I'm not one to use the "Love it or Leave it" line in political discourse. But really...these people calling for solidarity with Sadr at the DNC protests should really get out of the damn country.
Biden on Iraq
[LT Nixon]
Obama has signed up with Biden's plan for Iraq. Unfortunately, the Iraqis rejected this disastrous plan of fracturing the country in three back in September.
Monitoring
[Eagle1]
Recognize this ship?
It owes its design to something from the American Civil War...
As sorted out here.
August 24, 2008
Is this IZ Humor?
[Major John]
Personally, I think someone has a little too much time on their hands.
August 22, 2008
FAIL: the military version
[LT Nixon]
LiveLeak video of military-themed bloopers that's pretty funny stuff to kick off the weekend. Reminds me of the time one of our exercise torpedos had its guidance wire wrap around a cleat on the aft part of the boat causing the test shot to get all wonked up. The important people were furious! But, of course, the rest of us were laughing.
August 21, 2008
Obama vs. Baldilocks
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Long time milblogger Baldilocks, gives an interview regarding Obama and a small school in Kenya named after him.
She has a lot in common with Obama - who might be the next president. Both were born to Kenyan fathers of the same tribe (the Luo) from the same province (Nyanza), who as boys came to America aboard the same airplane.
Very interesting.
Aviation Week Leak
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Keeps on giving ... to the enemy. HT: Glenn
Update:
IMHO here's a possible reason we don't want Iran (or others) to believe it was sucessful.
Iran Aerospace Organisation head Reza Taghipour, said Iran wanted to help Muslim countries to launch satellites.
"I am announcing now that Iran is ready to launch satellites of friendly Islamic countries into space," Taghipour told state television.
Taghipour said Iran was planning to build and launch more satellites by 2010.
"We are working on these satellites and gradually they will be put into orbit," he told the semi-official Mehr news agency.
He said construction of the Besharat (Good News) satellite would begin in Iran once it had financing from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, adding that high costs were an obstacle to space development.
$$$$
U.S. Troops Out of Iraq By 2011
[LT Nixon]
Good news from Iraq in the WSJ that U.S. troops will be fully withdrawn by 2011. It's not official, but WSJ probably wouldn't run it on page one without a bunch of credible sources. This shows the improvement of the Iraqi Security Forces and newfound confidence, and shouldn't be mistaken that we are "withdrawing in defeat".
Iraq' Squeegee Man
[LT Nixon]
What a great public service. He's not even asking for tips.
August 20, 2008
Re: Gut checks, pleas, etc.
[Greyhawk]
Prolly common knowledge 'round these parts already, but Michael Yon is heading to Afghanistan. He's obviously not going to sort out the whole mess by himself, but given the vague third-hand reports that pass for headline news from that corner of the world I'm glad to see there will be at least one reliable source in-country - I think it kinda sorta matters, you see. (One source in addition to the milbloggers who've never stopped telling the story from their corner of the happy fun camp, I should add.)
Vaguely related - something to cheer in Afghanistan:
Rohullah Nikpai defeated world champion Juan Antonio Ramos of Spain on Wednesday to earn the bronze medal in the men's under 58-kilogram taekwondo competition, sparking applause, wide smiles and laughter in homes, restaurants and ice cream parlors around the country.
Afghanistan's first Olympic medal ever.
Gut check time for France
[CDR Salamander]
So far it looks like their President is responding in the correct way. Tough day for a nation trying to be a better ally and leader.
In unusually large and well-coordinated attacks in eastern Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents killed 10 French paratroopers in a mountain road ambush and at least six suicide bombers attempted to storm a NATO alliance base, NATO and Afghan officials said Tuesday.
The ambush, the deadliest single attack on the French military since 1983, led French President Nicolas Sarkozy to fly to Afghanistan to offer condolences and emphasize that France would stay in the war despite public misgivings at home. France recently sent 700 more soldiers to the country.
This is the height of fighting season and it was AFG independence day on the 19th so ... let's hope our INFO OPS and Strategic Communications guys over their are playing their A-game.
August 19, 2008
U.S. Army Olympians Win Gold!
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Pfc. Vincent Hancock has won a gold medal in skeet shooting.
Hooah!
And Spc. Glenn Eller also won a gold medal last week in Double Trap.
A double Hooah!
There is an http://www.militarytimes.com/military-olympians/blog.phpAMU commander who is blogging from Beijing for the Military Times. You can check back there every so often for an update on how our Army Olympians are doing.
Life is good when you have good friends.
[Mrs Greyhawk]
But when your family doesn't support you?
Ouch!
HELP FOR HEROES: RUGBY ACROSS THE POND
[Soldier's Mom]
Many of you will remember the horrible story late last year about the Brit's Military Rehabilitation pool having been closed due to lack of funding and support from the British government... and wounded British soldiers who were rehabbing at a pool being asked to leave because there were some at the pool who found the sight of the wounded veterans too upsetting (although the story indicates that it was also because the soldiers hadn't "paid" to use the pool.. yah.)
Well, two Brits (Bryn & Emma) with a group of their friends decided to raise money for a new pool and gym for the wounded:
Last October, Emma and I, together with a small team of friends, decided to do something practical to help the wounded coming back from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The original idea was to raise £500,000 by doing a bike ride. Our offer of help was welcomed by General Sir Richard Dannatt who directed us to Headley Court, the Rehabilitation Centre, where they urgently need a new swimming pool and gym complex.
well, here's what a small group can accomplish:
Our non political appeal for help was heard by thousands and a simple idea grew into a tidal wave of support. As a very small team we were unable to lay on many fund raising events ourselves so the ethos has been to ask everyone to ‘do their bit’, to lay on an event and send us the money. That simple approach and the very obvious need has caught the imagination of thousands of ordinary, decent people and I am delighted to say that with the help of Royalty, Celebrities, the Armed Forces and The Media, we have received over £8 million so far. The first £6 million is put aside for the pool complex, the plans are submitted and by next year, the wounded will have their own pool.
But they have a WONDERFUL (and gargantuan) fundraising opportunity... and they need some help in spreading the word -- for sponsors to help cover the costs (so there w/b more money for the wounded) AND for [free] publicity for the event itself. If you're into Rugger at all (um... Rugby for the uninitiated...), this will be an exciting day!!
The RFU has given us Twickenham Stadium on the 20th September this year. The Legends of rugby have agreed to play in a once in a life time match. We will see the great turn out in Help for Heroes shirts; Dallaglio, Johnson, Gibbs, Greenwood, Lomu, Phil de Glanville, Ieuan Evans and many more, as well as the stars from the three services and other top players. It will be a great day and, here is the point of this, if we can fill HQ, that is 82,000 seats, we can make £1Million for H4H and that will all go to the wounded.
There's more information about the organization at their Help For Heroes website... and you can find info on H4H RUGBY CHALLENGE HERE.
These soldiers have fought beside our American Heroes... let's see if we can help a bit from this side of the Pond.... with some publicity and perhaps some American sponsors who would like to extend our thanks!
x-posted at Some Soldier's Mom
Shocker: Roseanne Has Gone Completely Insane
[LT Nixon]
Seriously, what the hell was Tom Arnold thinking. Roseanne makes ridiculous accusations against the military in her attack on Voight and Brangelina with the worst celebrity blogorrhea since the Rosie O' Donnell haikus.
August 18, 2008
Re: A plea
[Greyhawk]
How's this for starters?
ISLAMABAD: A human tide of more than 300,000 civilians has fled the al-Qa'ida badlands, amid indications that the fighting there has reached unprecedented levels, with the Pakistani army using massive firepower to attack jihadi militant strongholds.
Helicopter gunships, fixed-wing strike aircraft, tanks and heavy artillery have been used in the onslaught that followed the visit last month by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to Washington, where he was berated for Pakistan's failure to wipe out the militants.
The offensive runs counter to perceptions that Pakistan's new civilian Government is "soft" on Islamic extremism.
This will reassure Washington, whose ally in the war in terror for the past nine years, President Pervez Musharraf, was given by the Coalition Government until midnight last night (4am today AEST) to resign or face impeachment proceedings beginning tonight in the National Assembly.
He chose option "A".
Read the whole thing, as they say. I haven't seen this story elsewhere, but even on the day Musharraf resigned this should be the big story from Pakistan.
There are probably inaccuracies in the report - for instance, 300,000 is a big number, implying someone either did some very fast counting or tossed out a wild arse guess. But if correct - or near correct - it seems to me that's a crowd it would be easy for more than a few jihaddis to get "lost" in.
Again, read the whole thing, bearing in mind that early reports are often wrong. But right or wrong, this quote conveys a lot of information:
The offensive, launched without fanfare to avoid conveying the notion it was done at the insistence of Washington, is targeting primarily Bajaur, slated as the most likely hiding place of Osama bin Laden.
Update: I suppose I should add - for the benefit of those who don't see things immediately the way I do - that there's nothing good about 300,000 displaced persons. I note only that if true, the number indicates something as to the
scale of this offensive - this isn't a case of sending a few guys in to fire a few shots into the air. And if I haven't been clear, "if true" and "I haven't seen this story elsewhere" are also key points.
And more: there are references to fighting and/or refugees in the region in this NY Times report and this Christian Science Monitor story, but both give the impression that "the Taliban" are calling the shots.
Related:
The Afghan government said Monday it hoped the resignation of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would bring stability to its neighbour, while commentators welcomed the end of his "two-faced politics."
The former army general, who announced he would step down in a televised address Monday, was regarded with scepticism by Afghan officials who accused him of not doing enough against extremists behind an insurgency in Afghanistan.
"We hope that the resignation of President Musharraf... leads to a strengthening of the civilian government and democracy in Pakistan," foreign ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen told AFP.
Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, quit as his civilian government was preparing impeachment charges against him.
"Afghanistan is in favour of a democratic and stable Pakistan which is based on the rule of law," Baheen said.
The office of President Hamid Karzai said it had good relations with Pakistan's civilian government and would continue to work with it to fight terrorism and fundamentalism.
But:
They accuse Musharraf and his government of deliberately not doing enough to clamp down on militant sanctuaries along its border with Afghanistan.
"He promised to fight Al-Qaeda but played many games and was not honest about eliminating Al-Qaeda nests located in Pakistan," said Kabul University political science lecturer Wadir Safi.
"At least we will be free of Musharraf's two-faced politics and an obstacle against the 'war in terror' will be removed, which will directly affect our country," he said.
Prominent Afghan legislator Daud Sultanzoi also accused Musharraf of a "two-faced policy."
I'm not detecting the slightest hint of sadness there.
All done!
Three Years On…
[David Marron]
Sergeant Michael Stokely KIA August 16, 2005 near Yusifiyah, Iraq
It seems so fitting that today, 3 years and 3 days after Mike’s passing that I posted the letter from Major General John Kelley about Sgt Michael Ferschke, a letter that could very well have been written about Sgt Michael Stokely of E Troop 108 CAV 48th BCT Georgia ARNG. A letter that could very well describe the dedication and devotion to Duty, Honor and Country that Sgt Stokely exhibited through out his entire life. A letter that despite the belief by many liberals that our soldiers are nothing more than automatons following orders proves that they are anything but, for their devotion is unmatched by any other but those that wear the uniform of the US Military.
I never met Sgt. Stokely, but have been introduced to him through conversations with his father Mr. Robert Stokely. After only one conversation with Mr. Stokely it’s obvious that Mike was one of those men that you should have known: a devoted son he helped his father canvas for votes in his first election for County Solicitor, a son who according to his doctors was not supposed to live, but who in the end lived a life so full and purposeful that he touched, in a positive way, the lives all those with whom he came in contact.
Son, a simple three letter word, but one that is so full of meaning, a word that explains the conundrum of Mike Stokely and so many of those who have died in war and peace - a word that by itself in one breath defines the link to the father and the path to the future. It’s not hard to imagine after spending a few hours with Mr. Stokely the kind of son that Mike was, and by extension the kind of man he had become. Mike Stokely was without a doubt a man sure of himself and his place in this world. He knew not what to expect when he agreed to become a Scout in the U.S. Army, but he accepted that challenge like he accepted the challenge placed upon him by God. He lived his life’s purpose.
Mike like those before him, and the thousands of those who will follow, chose to leave the comforts of home and hearth, the predictable daily life of a civilian and took up the path of a warrior in service to his country. A life fraught with danger but also immense satisfaction and camaraderie, a life that most American’s will thankfully never know because men like Mike, serve while many debate.
Service - that is the life Mike chose. Service to an ideal greater than any known to man for not only did Mike serve his country, he served his God. He accepted his purpose in life and lived it without question and in doing so he gave his only life in service to his God so that his brothers might live.
Sgt Mike Stokely died 3 years and 3 days ago in a place called Yusifiyah, Iraq but the memory of Sgt. Mike Stokely will never die for it lives on in all of us that continue his work, spread his message and live our life’s purpose. I can only hope that one day I grow up to be the man he expects me to be.
Others honoring Sgt Mike Stokely
Keep My Soldier Safe
Some Soldier's Mom
Sgt. Mike Stokely died Aug. 16, 2005, in Iraq. He was one of those extraordinary young men who have a tremendous impact on so many people even though his time among us was cut short. To honor his memory, Stokely's family has organized the Mike Stokely Foundation for the purpose of helping children and others who might not otherwise be able to afford it gain access to good books and the skills needed to read them for pleasure and learning. "Mike loved to read, from the time he was a small child till the day he died in Iraq. In fact, during the last call his Dad received on Aug. 8, 2005, he talked in glowing terms about how much he appreciated reading material sent to him."
In March of 2008 the Mike Stokely Foundation delivered nearly 1,000 pounds of school supplies via parcel post to Capt. Starz of 101st Airborne Division for distribution to schools in Yusifiyah. When the locals learned that the parcels had come form the family of a US Soldier killed there they wanted a picture of Sgt Stokely so they could use it as an example of forgiveness and understanding. Just another example how the life of Sgt Stokely, even in death, touched the lives of others, is it any wonder that his family totaly believes in Romans 8:28 - “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”
I urge you to help honor the memory of one of America's fallen, by supporting The Mike Stokely Foundation. Your donation can be mailed to:
The Mike Stokely Foundation
P. O. Box 833
Sharpsburg GA 30277.
The telephone is 678-416-1387
All done!
Re: Kirkuk
[Greyhawk]
I recommend these two posts (and associated links therein) at Abu Muquwama on the topic of Kirkuk and the broader issues of provincial elections in Iraq. My take: these are the issues that have been on the "back burner" in for some time. If they are now the "headline" stories from Iraq that's a good thing.
But in this context (the situation remains political - not military) "headlines" are hypothetical. Real headlines are reserved for suicide bombers, and Iraq watchers are correct to be concerned with the likelihood of a spectacular attack and/or "escalation in violence".
Related aside: the Iraqi Parliament is on summer vacation - as they were last year at this time. If only the US Congress wasn't also the members of that august body could pretend to be outraged.
Iraqi EOD in Diyala
[LT Nixon]
WaPo has a good piece of embedded journalism from Diyala Province, which is in short supply in the media with our current gaffe-ridden election cycle. Don't forget to check out the photo gallery.
A Plea to Pakistan
[LT Nixon]
A recent Al-Sahab release from Zawahiri is directed towards the people of Pakistan. After watching Die Hard last night, the best meme to counter this Al-Qaeda propaganda might be a plea to Pakistan: "Don't Be Ellis!"
Note: Ellis is the coked-up business guy who negotiated with the terrorists (video here)
August 17, 2008
Creative Uses for Army Tents
[Eagle1]
A ship that had to be somewhere but had a problem.
An "acquisitive" Executive Officer.
And a little ingenuity.
SS-21 in Georgia
[CDR Salamander]
While watching a BBC report over at my place on the attack on the Georgian Navy in the port of Poti, one of my readers SurfCaster proved his worth as a buddy on RECCE Quiz Jeopardy. At about the 1:20 point, he spotted the pic on the right.
Look at the side-by-side. That my friend is a SS-21. All sorts of stuff on parade. With all this Soviet ... errrrr ... Russian gear all over the place, I feel like an O2 again.
PS: remember, when a C-17 drops off lots of goodies, it would be a crying shame to let it go home with a big, empty cargo hold. Plenty of room for geedunk.
A Tense Mood in Kirkuk
[LT Nixon]
The superb IraqPundit takes a break from slamming Obama and warns of trouble on the horizon with Kirkuk. Provincial elections seem to be the most important political issue in Iraq right now (even more so than the disputed Hydrocarbon Bill) and it would be foolish to neglect the potential for conflict.
Contrarian
[Greyhawk]
A week old, but missed it when it was new: Bartle Bull argues against a surge in Afghanistan. Not a popular opinion these days.
I'm reminded of this comment from Bing West:
The steady -- but not total -- withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is freeing up forces to fight in Afghanistan. But Afghanistan is not the central front in the war on terror. Al Qaeda is hiding in Pakistan, a nation we are not going to invade.
August 15, 2008
Blog World Expo Joins The Military (Noon Pacific time 3:00 PM Eastern time)
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Blog World Radio will have special guests today Andi, Greyhawk and Bill Roggio will all be on today Aug 15th at Noon Pacific Time (3:00 PM Eastern time).
You don't want to miss it. Click on Blogtalk radio widget to listen.
We are joining up with our military bloggers this week to talk about their conference which will be held in Las Vegas along with Blog World and New Media Expo. We are joined by Andi Hurly full time Mom and founder of Spouse Buzz, organizer of the Milblogging Conference, Greyhawk of the Mudville Gazette and Mrs. Greyhawk, and Bill Roggio of the Editor of the Long War Journal and President of Public Mulitmedia, Inc. We have a very full plate and our show is going to be packed with info about military blogging and about their conference taking place in Las Vegas.
Blogworld Expo / MilBlog Conference (BUMPED W/ MANY UPDATES)
[Mrs Greyhawk]
UPDATE 1 - SURPRISE! Andi has pulled it off again with big names at the MilBlog Conference. Pete Geren, Secretary of the U.S. Army, and General George Casey, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, join us via phone for the Blogger's Roundtable panel.
And I hear there are more surprises ahead.
UPDATE 2- ANDI has an important note:
We've received some email from folks claiming they're going to attend the conference, but who haven't requested registration codes. Just an FYI - you can't show up on the day of and gain admittance. BWE has a registration policy and we need to comply with that. Those of you who are registered and are bringing spouses or family members who are not, they will need to register.
So, if you're planning to attend but haven't requested your code and registered (free for milblog attendees), please request your code.
MANY MORE UPDATES HERE
Getting Our Money’s Worth in Iraq?
[Greyhawk]
Can both of these statements be true?
Military contracts in the Iraq theater have cost taxpayers at least $85 billion, and when it comes to providing security, they might not be any cheaper than using military personnel, according to a report released Tuesday.
Government security contracts in the Iraq theater have cost taxpayers at least $3 billion since the war began, but offer substantial taxpayer savings, according to a report released Tuesday.
They're both referring to the same report - but one comes from the AP and the other was written by a
blogger - and one of them wants you to know where the rest of that $85 billion is spent.
You'll probably want more details before making up your mind, but here I'll only add two: It's not at Mudville, but the blogger is me.
[LT Nixon]
A lot of anti-military people seem to be make a lot of derogatory comments against minorities too. This is an ongoing phenomenon that needs to be explored at CHUD Busters.
Highway to Hell
[LT Nixon]
The New York Times highlights the brutality of the enemy on the highway between Kabul and Kandahar. What is an effective strategy to stop it?
August 14, 2008
Bon appétit
[Mrs Greyhawk]
Talk about a recipes for intrigue: Julia Child was a spy?
Child, whose books and TV show introduced French cooking to the American public, applied for the spy post after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Then age 28, documents show she revealed to her future employers that she'd lost her previous job in the furniture industry after she could not get on with her boss.
She worked as a research assistant and file clerk, then worked directly for OSS chief Gen. William J. Donovan. She also was involved in a project to develop a shark repellent, to stop sharks from exploding underwater mines.
Later, she was posted to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) where she met her husband Paul Cushing Child, also an OSS operative. She moved with him to France and later trained in French cuisine and opened her famed cooking school.
Well, "I'll be dipped in chocolate and rolled in peecaans
August 13, 2008
MilBlogs TV: The Surge
[Greyhawk]
The trailer for the next MilBlogs TV production debuted in The Dawn Patrol today. (I think it makes an interesting short video by itself - but obviously I'm biased.)
The actual Surge series won't focus on the war on the home front depicted in the trailer, by the way. But with newly declassified documents, a green light to share some first-hand knowledge, and a large video collection to draw from I think many of the folks involved in that debate would benefit from viewing the final product.
By the way, if you read Mudville via rss it's likely you've been missing the Dawn Patrol. Since our last major site re-design it has actually been a separate blog, although both appear side by side on Mudville's front page. And if you miss the Dawn Patrol, you miss out on a lot of fine milbloggers reporting from downrange (and elsewhere.)
Embed code for the video:
<embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AcfeQY3NKg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="240" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">
</embed>
As always, adjust size to your specs.
No Fun For The Marines
[LT Nixon]
Apparently, some business owners in Wilmington, NC don't want the Marines hanging around because they're afraid fights and drunken shenanigans are going to break out. This kind of reminds me of the "Dogs and Sailors Keep Off The Grass" signs you hear about from Norfolk during WWII, except Snopes isn't going to dispute the most recent evidence.
August 12, 2008
More Georgia
[Greyhawk]
The best (perhaps the only) tactical/strategic discussion I've seen yet on the Russo-Georgian conflict.
I get a bit more understanding of why South Ossetia matters to the Georgians - a mountain range between them and Russia. The Russians, however, have clearly demonstrated why such obstacles won't stop them from acting swiftly to demonstrate their love of freedom and concern for oppressed peoples of the world.
August 11, 2008
RE: Georgia: The Kosovo Precedent
[CDR Salamander]
That is exactly the trump card that Russia holds. Any objection, and they will simply roll tape on Kosovo.
Looked at objectively from the Russian perspective and with a little bit of cheese-cloth over the lens- if you put Georgia in the position of Serbia - there isn't much of a difference.
I would say, "Look at the Strategic Level OPLAN for Kosovo," to see what the risk mitigation and assumptions were - but as we all know, Gen. Wesley Clark didn't see a need for one.
There was no UNMIK strategic plan and supporting KFOR campaign plan at the outset. ... The North Atlantic Council approved operations plan for KFOR did not arrive until some forty days after KFOR arrived in Kosovo.
Second & Third Order Effects. Junior War College 101. Vince Lombardi Military Planning. This is what happens when you ignore a few thousand years of experience.
Georgia: The Kosovo Precedent
[Eagle1]
Austin Bay says it well about another "unforeseen consequence" of the Kososvo gift that keeps on giving.
For Moscow’s foreign policy purposes, the troubles in Georgia fit “the Kosovo frame” – a minority group beset by an “ethnic nationalist authority” attempting to regain control.
***
However, Russian diplomats warned for the last eight years claimed “the Kosovo precedent” would affect around 200 regions or territories in nations around the world. That’s a nice round figure and it may in fact be low.
Moscow’s insisted that Kosovo would establish a “separatist precedent” for spinning statelets from sovereign nations. Interestingly enough, both Romania and Greece oppose a “unilateral” Kosovo independence. Spain, with its Basque separatists, wasn’t enthusiastic.
One such warning from 2006 can be found here:
United Nations-mediated talks on the future of Kosovo present Russia with a potential opportunity to radically alter the geopolitical balance in the Caucasus. If the former Yugoslav province gains independence, Russian leaders have indicated that they might try to use the development as a precedent to secure the separation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia.
***
The United States and the European Union both argue that the Kosovo question revolves around unique circumstances, and thus the determination of its status would not set any international precedent. Moscow is dismissive of such an argument. "Double standards and selectiveness in conflicts is unacceptable," Lavrov said in his Pravda interview.
According to the Russian press reports, the Kosovo scenario has become a popular concept in South Ossetia. Most South Ossetians claim that their national goal is two-fold: to secede from Georgia and reunite with their Ossetian brethren across the border in the Russian Federation. South and North Ossetians, they argue, constitute essentially one people artificially divided by the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. To deny them the right to reunification – while such right has been granted, for example, to the Germans – would constitute a double standard.
So, it's not like they didn't warn everybody.
Of course, there is this:
While the Kosovo-precedent concept is currently fashionable among policy makers in Moscow, a number of Russian commentators have questioned the soundness of such a strategy. Given that Russia itself is a patchwork of ethnic territories, especially in the volatile North Caucasus, the precedent has the ability to come back and haunt Moscow. While conditions are relatively calm at the moment outside of Chechnya and Dagestan, they add, it was only just over a decade ago that many of Russia’s minority groups were clamoring for sovereignty -- not just in the North Caucasus, but also in regions such as Tatarstan and Yakutia.
It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Russia could face the uncomfortable prospect of Chechnya and other Russian regions dominated by one or two ethnic groups in the North Caucasus seeking independence through referendums. "A ‘genie of recognition’ let out by the United States and EU could cause a domino effect across the entire post-Soviet space," cautioned a commentary published in the Rossiiskiye Vesti weekly.
Read the whole thing.
One more way to a bigger war...
All done!
August 10, 2008
More Georgia
[Greyhawk]
NYT:
TBILISI, Georgia — Russian tanks and troops moved through the separatist enclave of South Ossetia and advanced on the city of Gori in central Georgia on Sunday night, for the first time directly assaulting a Georgian city with ground forces after three days of heavy fighting, Georgian officials said.
I think South Ossetia and Abkhazia can and should be written off as lost by our Georgian allies. Later we can all examine why that had to happen the way it did - there were certainly better ways.
But Russia on undisputed Georgian territory? If such reports are verified, a brave new world awaits us all...
I also believe Lex is right on the money here:
This was not so much a failure of Georgian strategy so much as it was a failure of worldwide imagination. Tanks do not roll overnight, and fleets do not move in a week’s time. Putin is not acting out of petulance but calculation, and the game he’s playing is as long as Russian history itself.
Olympic Shell Game
[Eagle1]
The beginning of a long winning streak.
Three admirals.
A revolution.
As set out here.
Re: Mansoor
[Greyhawk]
Virtually every paragraph is worthy of much expansion and much debate.
To be sure, some units conducted effective counterinsurgency operations before the surge, including Col. H.R. McMaster's 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Tall Afar in 2005 and Col. Sean MacFarland's 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, in Ramadi in 2006. More generally, however, the coalition approach before 2007 was focused on rapidly shifting security responsibilities to Iraqi forces. As sectarian violence spiraled out of control, it became increasingly evident that Iraqi forces were unable to prevent its spread. By the fall of 2006, it was clear that our strategy was failing, an assessment courageously stated by Gen. George Casey and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in their year-end review of the Joint Campaign Plan.
I agree with that. But there are countless overly simplified and poorly considered conclusions that can be (and in fact have been) drawn from that collection of facts, none of which I believe the author would concur with.
One - the implication that pre-2007 we were wandering aimlessly to nowhere under the guidance of buffoons, and two - the idea that everything changed abruptly and rapidly with the arrival of the surge forces - each of whom was armed with a copy of the new COIN FM. And if "By the fall of 2006, it was clear that our strategy was failing", then I'd add that it was equally true in the spring of 2006. In fact, I'd argue that in some ways (see Awakening, Anbar) the situation was better in the fall of 2006 than it had been six months previously. The only thing more clear in the fall was that the Democrats were about to control both houses of the US Congress. This amplified a previously understated sense of urgency about the rate of progress in Iraq.
