Monday, January 29, 2007

Lead rather than Follow

Instapundit sums up some statements about the state of the war: myths and motivations:

(emphasis mine)
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Democratic and Republican members of Congress are looking for a different kind of political solution: the solution to their problems in presidential primaries and elections almost two years off. Resolutions disapproving the troop increase have proliferated on both sides of the aisle. Many of their proponents frankly, even proudly, admit they are responding to the current public mood, as if that is what they were put in office to do. Those who think they were elected sometimes to lead rather than follow seem to be in a minority.

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(Myth #)10- The War in Iraq is Lost. By what measure? Saddam and his Baath party are out of power. There is a democratically elected government. Part of the Sunni Arab minority continues to support terror attacks, in an attempt to restore the Sunni Arab dictatorship. In response, extremist Shia Arabs formed vigilante death squads to expel all Sunni Arabs. ... There are problems, and solutions have to be found and implemented. That takes time, but Americans have, since the 18th century, grown weary of wars after three years. If the war goes on longer, the politicians have to scramble to survive the bad press and opinion polls. Opposition politicians take advantage of the situation, but this has nothing to do with Iraq, and everything to do with local politics in the United States.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Tolerating Evil is a Crime

A friend of mine pointed me to this, Brigitte Gabriel @ FrontPage Magazine. It's a straight forward message about our enemy and about ourselves.

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Tolerating evil is a crime. Appeasing murderers doesn't buy protection. It earns one disrespect and loathing in the enemy's eyes. Yet apathy is the weapon by which the West is committing suicide. Political correctness forms the shackles around our ankles, by which Islamists are leading us to our demise.

We are fighting a powerful ideology that is capable of altering basic human instincts.

America cannot effectively defend itself in this war unless and until the American people understand the nature of the enemy that we face. Even after 9/11 there are those who say that we must “engage” our terrorist enemies, that we must “address their grievances”. Their grievance is our freedom of religion. Their grievance is our freedom of speech. Their grievance is our democratic process where the rule of law comes from the voices of many not that of just one prophet. It is the respect we instill in our children towards all religions. It is the equality we grant each other as human beings sharing a planet and striving to make the world a better place for all humanity. Their grievance is the kindness and respect a man shows a woman, the justice we practice as equals under the law, and the mercy we grant our enemy. Their grievance cannot be answered by an apology for who or what we are.

Our mediocre attitude of not confronting Islamic forces ... has empowered and strengthened our enemy to launch a full scale attack on the very freedoms we cherish ...

America’s learning curve since the Iran hostage crisis is so shallow that it is almost flat. The longer we lay supine, the more difficult it will be to stand erect.

Watching for Progress

At Blackfive

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Read through the last couple or three weeks of posts at B5 and Mudville, and one might get the impression that something good is afoot. Without sounding too optimistic, I'm sure there must be a reason for the progress we are seeing in Iraq, and (except for the loss of the Blackhawk with so many senior personnel and the Little Birds protecting the diplomatic convoy) for the small victories we are seeing in the news.

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Smarter minds here at B5 and elsewhere have commented intelligently on how long the counterinsurgency and nation building would take. If it weren't for all the noise surrounding how George W Bush's war is a failure, we might actually be getting some basic intelligence on how the war is actually going from the US and European press. But, alas, we aren't.

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The average insurgent today feels demoralized, disillusioned, and hunted.

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The Washington-initiated "surge" will speed-up the ongoing process of defeating the insurgency. But one should not consider the surge responsible for the turnaround. The lesson to be learned is to keep killing the killers until they realize their fate.

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Still, major bombings will continue for many years, for Al Qaeda will remain oblivious to all evidence of the insurgency's eventual defeat.

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Al Qaeda will continue the fight long after the Iraqi battlefield becomes inhospitable to their cause, and they will only realize the futility of their endeavor after they are defeated on the wider Middle East battlefield and elsewhere in the world.

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Victory is assured as long as we keep going down this path to choke the living crap out of an insurgency that desperately needs to die.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Restraint

I have resisted the urge, but in the back of my mind, I have thought this: (HuffPo)

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What is a patriotic terrorist?

It is an American who claims to love his or her country while enjoying the enemy's success against said country. It is a person who gets deeply offended if you question their patriotism, while also appearing to share the same ideals of the more spirited folk who like to blow up innocent people.

Report from Home

Iraq the Model has a report at PajamasMedia about what's happening, today, in Baghdad. Here are some quips.

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...the commander of the patrol talks to the head of the household and meets the members of the family. If one of them happens to know English the commander usually ask the translator to stay outside; most Iraqis prefer not to speak before other Iraqis when it comes to security concerns.
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The fuel shortage is still a big daily concern for Baghdadis. State electricity is available for only a couple of hours a day; sometimes not at all.

Although the major Baghdad plan isn’t officially launched yet, every day we see several joint operations against targets in and around the city. Still, according to the latest leaked reports, it seems as if the major implementations of the plan are going to wait until the beginning of next month,.
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The government here says they are waiting for the buildup of participating troops to be completed, but I think it’s more likely that they are waiting for the Ashura ceremonies to end to allow pilgrims to travel between Baghdad and the shrines safely.

The waiting is proving to be more of a burden on the people of Baghdad than the operation itself would be. Patience is fading under the pressure of the increasing numbers of suicide attacks and the civilian deaths they cause. Baghdadis are desperately waiting for the operation to begin because they hope it can reduce the occurrence of these deadly attacks that distribute death equally among civilians.
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The spokesman of the ministry Mohammed al-Askari said, [Translation] “The army is going to receive new weapons and equipment from the US and South Africa this March...


Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Response

I've always wondered about the response to the State of the Union address (and other responses when ever the president speaks). It has always seemed unfair and over-shadowing. Seems to me that the SOTU address should be the President's opportunity to set his agenda. The immediate response (which is not a response, but rather their own State of the President address) detracts from the president's opportunity. Doesn't the opposition have endless opportunity to respond in other methods? Anyway, here is the history.

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Practice began in 1966 when the television networks provided the Republican party with a half-hour slot.
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Television. It's not a law as I suspected.

And I found this interesting (emphisis mine).

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In 2004, the Democrats delivered their response in Spanish, delivered by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. [5] After President George W. Bush's 2006 State of the Union address, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine delivered the Democratic Party's response in English [3] while Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a response in Spanish [6]. Virginia Senator Jim Webb, whose son is stationed in Iraq, made the 2007 response [7] . Rep. Xavier Becerra of California delivered the Spanish version. [8]

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Ear to the rail

I want us to be successful in Iraq. I'll get my own answer reading reports from as close to the scene as possible. Bill Ardolino is in Fallujah and reports on efforts to build the local police department.

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A dozen or so recruits had been processed by mid-morning when the insurgents attacked. Five mortar rounds were fired trying to “dial-in” the police station. Fortunately, the attackers had chosen the wrong target (the recruiting took place elsewhere) and missed the station, but a 12-year-old boy was injured and a local welder was killed by the mortars.
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Processing continued until the early evening, when the tired Marines counted heads: 102 new recruits would board a plane for the Jordanian International Police Training Center in the morning, soon augmenting the roughly 700 police manning stations in and around Fallujah. Some had been turned away, including a 60 year-old volunteer.
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You can follow more at Bill's site at INDC Journal
Also, Bill Roggio in back in Iraq. His site is The Four Rail
And as usual, Instapundit is keeping us abreast of Iraq stories and much more.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

A glimmer of hope from Michelle Malkin

Returning from Iraq, Michelle Malkin has begun to tell her stories. A key line from her first report:

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I came to Iraq a darkening pessimist about the war, due in large part to my doubts about the compatability of Islam and Western-style democracy, but also as a result of the steady, sensational diet of “grim milestone” and “daily IED count” media coverage that aids the insurgency.

I left Iraq with unexpected hope and resolve.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Defining Success

As Iraq transforms from enemy to non-enemy, we need to discuss what success in Iraq looks like. The reality is that Baghdad will not be New York city in a year or two or never. Take Fallujah, for example. This is Bill Ardolino reporting from this historic city.

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But Fallujans are remarkably insular; their local culture is famously mistrustful. A visitor from Ramadi or Baghdad is considered a foreigner. A Marine intelligence officer remarked to me that the first things Fallujans rebuilt after Operation al-Fajr were the gated walls surrounding their own houses. Another revealing anecdote was supplied by a Marine who cited a Western travel guide to Iraq circa the 1940's: it advised tourists in the region to steer clear of Fallujah, condemning the city as a notorious den of xenophobic smugglers and thieves.

Add decades of war and fealty to a Stalinist yet locally benevolent government to the mix, and you've got a difficult cultural stew of suspicion and missing initiative. Fallujans are proud and many are brave, but a number lack much will beyond the desire to personally prosper or just survive.
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My definition of Iraq is "a long term state that does not organize or facility at destruction of the free, western civilization". That leaves a lot of room for Iraq to become a state from the likeness of the US to a dictatorship like Pakistan. Of coarse, the closer to a free democratic republic, the better chance of the state staying friendly and cooperative in the transformation of the rest of the enemy world, but as long as they aren't preparing and planning for attack against free, western societies, I will define Iraq as a success.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Thank you Corporal Dunham

Take a moment to reflect upon our hero's as you watch this tribute to Corporal Jason L. Dunham. Thank you Corporal Dunham and God bless you and your family.

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On April 14, 2004, 3 days after Easter Sunday, Corporal Dunham was manning a checkpoint in Karabilah, Iraq, when an insurgent leapt from his car and began choking Corporal Dunham. A scuffle ensued as two Marines approached to help. Reportedly, the last words from Corporal Dunham were, “No, No. Watch his hand.” Suddenly, the insurgent dropped a grenade. Corporal Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, dropped to the ground, and covered the explosive as best he could.

The blast seriously wounded all 3 Marines. Eight days later, Corporal Jason L. Dunham died at Bethesda Naval Hospital from wounds he received in the incident. He was 22.

Corporal Dunham made the ultimate sacrifice, and in doing so saved the lives of his fellow Marines. Due to his actions on that fateful day, Corporal Dunham will be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

After the Speech

I approve of the President's plan. I trust him. And I believe there is no choice but victory. Now that the speech is over, I await news from Iraqi from "reliable sources". Not the "car bomb, lots dead" or the "3 more soldiers died" news. I am looking for "heavy gun battle in Sadr City. 150 terrorists dead. Sunni's protest." This will be a confirmation that the strategy has changed. Hopefully for the better.

From the Administration through Powerline :

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The rules of engagement will allow us to go after everyone we need to go after.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

The Hour at Hand

The Belmont Club links to a couple pieces on the Somalia attacks. And he makes two clear observations. First, the media. They missed this story until the big bang. And because they missed it, it probably helped the operation's success. Second (but more importantly) The threat from global terrorism is a serious threat to our world, today. (emphasis mine)

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Reflecting on the apparent suddenness of events, Miniter mused: "Only the media, not the military, has been distracted." The Media had forgotten it, but no one else had. In retrospect, the absence of media focus on events in Africa and the Horn in particular may have been a good thing because it enabled operational goals to be set, preparations made and plans executed without the distraction of politics, normally only a few steps behind the the arrival mainstream media coverage. But leaving that comment about the Media aside, Miniter's larger point should not be forgotten. The threat from extremist groups today, of which radical Islamism is the leading but not the only example, is a worldwide challenge. It is the challenge of our times and not optional.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Contrary to (Democrat) Popular Belief

Contrary to the constant issuance from the Democrats and from the liberal media, the US (President Bush) has not, and never has, given up the pursuit of Al Qaeda: Austin Bay, 1/8/07 AC-130 airstrikes on Al Qaeda in Somalia.

You just have to read the blogs to hear about it because the mainstream media doesn't cover it and selectively forgets. Fox News covered it. But only CBS from the "big three" covered it and only on-line. But if a child or a woman were killed in the pursuit of the embassy bombing terrorist, you can bet Bush's face will make the report.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

I choose Victory

Some clips from Jules Crittenden's post:

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Option One: Pull out. Achieve short-term gratification for those who believe our absence from Iraq will solve our problems. Watch Iraq descend into further violence. Watch a nuclear-armed Iran come to dominate Iraq and the world's richest oil fields.

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Does it sound overly melodramatic and alarmist? If so, you're a fool with no understanding of history. I have bad news for you. The fight against evil in this world is business as usual. It never ends.

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Which brings us to Option Two: Fight now. Fight harder. Expend our precious blood and money now, so we don't have to spend more blood and more money later. Fight now, while we can.

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We have a president who understands what is at stake. This week he will tell us what it is going to be. All signs indicate he recognizes the mistakes of the past, errors such as are often made in war, and he intends to do what is right. That would be the harder choice, to fight now, when we are tired and feel spent. But, as another American once said, we have not yet begun to fight.

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Childish demands for "Peace Now" ignore history and reality and the welfare of the Iraqi people.

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"Childish". Children don't understand history.