Operation Steel Curtain

Bill Roggio has an excellent synopsis of the Operation "The Story Behind the Battle for the Western Euphrates"

Honest News-Now More Than Ever

Updated Honest News:

Links to positive stories about America & the War on Terror. Updated regularly!

A Democrat Goes to Iraq

Top Democrat and war supporter Senator Joe Lieberman has just returned from Iraq and gives us his view of the progress made:

There are many more cars on the streets, satellite television dishes on the roofs, and literally millions more cell phones in Iraqi hands than before. All of that says the Iraqi economy is growing. And Sunni candidates are actively campaigning for seats in the National Assembly. People are working their way toward a functioning society and economy in the midst of a very brutal, inhumane, sustained terrorist war against the civilian population and the Iraqi and American military there to protect it.

Why we should stay:

If the terrorists win, they will be emboldened to strike us directly again and to further undermine the growing stability and progress in the Middle East, which has long been a major American national and economic security priority.

Some criticism for both parties:

I am disappointed by Democrats who are more focused on how President Bush took America into the war in Iraq almost three years ago, and by Republicans who are more worried about whether the war will bring them down in next November's elections, than they are concerned about how we continue the progress in Iraq in the months and years ahead.

And what our troops are thinking:

I asked their commander whether the morale of his troops had been hurt by the growing public dissent in America over the war in Iraq. His answer was insightful, instructive and inspirational: "I would guess that if the opposition and division at home go on a lot longer and get a lot deeper it might have some effect, but, Senator, my Marines are motivated by their devotion to each other and the cause, not by political debates."

Also Sec. Rumsfeld says "Quitting is not an exit strategy"!

Congress Vs Defense Change

In the opinion of many Americans, including myself, Congress hasn't been doing all thats expected of it lately. Part of this is old fashioned partisan politcs, but mainly plain old stubborness and resistence to reform. Take the Quadrennial Defense Review, upcoming in a few months. People on the Hill are trying to interfere with the process to save pet projects. From GovExec:

Months before the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review is slated to be released... members of Congress are preparing a rebuttal. In late September, the House Armed Services Committee unveiled its plans for a comprehensive, bipartisan Committee Defense Review.

But change is vital for a new era of warfare:

Andrew F. Krepinevich, executive director of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, told the committee, "Twenty years from now, we should look back and find that the 2005 QDR represented the most important and far-reaching review of our military posture since the early days of the Cold War."
The reasons are obvious, he said. Since the last QDR was released in early 2001, New York and Washington were attacked by radical Islamists and the United States invaded and occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, launching what promises to be a protracted "global war on terrorism," and witnessed the spread of nuclear weapons and the growth of China's military capabilities.

Let Freedom Ring!

Mark Laney at the Chicago Sun-Times lists some of Our Accomplishments in Iraq:

We kicked the Taliban thugs out of Afghanistan, sent them packing, and worked with the populace that emerged from the rubble, allowed a government to form, citizens to vote, women to go outside, girls to go back to school, and all to return to work in hospitals, stores and banks.
In Iraq, we cornered the dictator's sadistic sons and sent them to their final judgment. We captured their father, the tyrant and mass-murdering Saddam Hussein, dragged him out of a rat-hole in the desert and are bringing him to justice before a jury of Iraqis. We've seen the populace of Iraq vote on a constitution -- even under threat of being beheaded by Islamofascists -- going to the polls some 70 percent strong. Schools are opening, stores are operating and soon the Iraqi people will vote again on a new government.

And leaves us with an ominous thought:

There are politicians who are using the war to try to tilt Americans to change their minds. They continually refer to Iraq as another Vietnam. It is not Vietnam. Vietnam was a black eye for America. It was a time where America pulled out due to public opinion and then watched the slaughter of the South Vietnamese people after we left. Iraq is not Vietnam. If we pull out of Iraq, al-Qaida will follow us right back home -- to New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Doubt it? Then you have forgotten 9/11 and just what happened after America failed to respond to the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and failed to act when our Marine barracks, our Navy ship, and other American targets were attacked by al-Qaida.

We Declared Peace and No one Came-Updated

Washington Post has this story on the decline and fall of anti-war icon Cindy Sheehan, only they didn't write it that way:

...Sheehan found herself addressing a crowd of only about 100 Saturday afternoon. The large tent where supporters had erected a stage hung with the banner "Speak Truth to Power" was only partially full. In the morning Sheehan signed copies of her new book, being published this week, for an even smaller crowd.

The Post then goes on to offer a host of excuses for the small turnout, including:

"The weather did not help."

"...attention has shifted to Congress, where some Democrats have begun to push for the withdrawal of troops."

"...the event coincided with the holiday weekend."

"...many of those who support the cause are in New Orleans, helping to lead efforts to clean up the city after Hurricane Katrina."

Meanwhile, Powerline is not so optimistic that Sheehan will be back.

Update: Political Teen has pictures.

Willis Fights for the Troops-Updated

This is a story from the UK Times, about actor Bruce Willis, a true Hollywood icon, who wants to tell the soldiers story in Iraq, and it may not be the one you're used to:

ANGERED by negative portrayals of the conflict in Iraq, Bruce Willis, the Hollywood star, is to make a pro-war film in which American soldiers will be depicted as brave fighters for freedom and democracy.

It will be based on the exploits of the heavily decorated members of Deuce Four, the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul.

Willis is more than just words:

Unlike many Hollywood stars Willis supports the war and recently offered a $1m (about £583,000) bounty for the capture of any of Al-Qaeda’s most wanted leaders such as Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Al-Zawahiri or Abu Musab al- Zarqawi, its commander in Iraq. Willis visited the war zone with his rock and blues band, the Accelerators, in 2003.

And he offers some sound advice:

Willis said it would be wrong for Americans to give up on Iraq just as progress is being made. “The Iraqi people want to live in a world where they can move from their homes to the market and not have to fear being killed,” he said. “I mean, doesn’t everybody want that?”

TBone says Thank You, Bruce Willis

Update-Murdoc posts on this.

What Are You Thankful For?

How about Marines like this in Iraq:

Throughout central Iraq, your service members continue to take the fight to the enemy. Its not an ordered or forced fight, your Marines want to fight the insurgency and we want to kill them. If the scumbags want to fight, then by reading the above they are going to get one. Your Marines are powering through the remainder of the above city enemy holdouts. Moving through cities and continuing on after the enemy had thought we had to stop to regroup. Professionalism and the American spirit have the insurgency on its heels and in disarray.

This holiday season add your service members to your “Thankful” list. During this holiday season, we will be forwardly deployed to maintain the fight. We will not stop operations and we will keep the enemy on the run. "We will not waver. We will not tire. We will not faulter. We will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail."

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! God bless you and remember our troops!

Mil Links

Army's bill for Boeing project hits $161 billion

More F-18 Super Hornets Possible for USA, Exports

Pakistani, Chinese navies begin joint drill

SA navy undergoes facelift

A Marine reports from Iraq

Aegis ABMs Are Out There

Chris Matthews is "Clueless"

So says James Taranto at OpinionJournal. Here's what Matthews said:

"If we stop trying to figure out the other side, we've given up. The person on the other side is not evil--they just have a different perspective."

And here's James Taranto:

...if this is really what he said, it's rather stunningly clueless. Of course it's true that one should know one's enemy, and merely saying al Qaeda is "evil" is far from sufficient to understand the terror group. But surely it's necessary. If Matthews thinks people who wantonly murder the innocent are "not evil," he knows nothing.

I concur with this assessment and will also add that such a mindset is dangerous. It hearkens back to detente of the Carter era, when it was assumed by the Democrats that if we disarm, the Soviets would too. Such an attitude is suicide with a enemy far worse than communism who's not afraid to bomb one of our cities.

Pacific Pullout

This is my latest article at Opeds.com. The key point is:

Unless we make stable and prosperous nations out of the Third World which are more like us, in a few decades we will be more like them.

Iraq's No Lost Cause

This is from the LA Times. If you want to know the truth, ask the real experts:

American soldiers are also much more optimistic than American civilians. The Pew Research Center and the Council on Foreign Relations just released a survey of American elites that found that 64% of military officers are confident that we will succeed in establishing a stable democracy in Iraq. The comparable figures for journalists and academics are 33% and 27%, respectively.

The writer goes on to list why we are winning:

FOR STARTERS, one can point to two successful elections this year, on Jan. 30 and Oct. 15, in which the majority of Iraqis braved insurgent threats to vote...

There are also positive economic indicators that receive little or no coverage in the Western media. For all the insurgents' attempts to sabotage the Iraqi economy, the Brookings Institution reports that per capita income has doubled since 2003 and is now 30% higher than it was before the war...

The growth of the independent media — a prerequisite of liberal democracy — is even more inspiring. Before 2003 there was not a single independent media outlet in Iraq. Today, Brookings reports, there are 44 commercial TV stations, 72 radio stations and more than 100 newspapers.

And the question about almost daily bombings by insurgents:

there is hope on the security front. Since the Jan. 30 election, not a single Iraqi unit has crumbled in battle, according to Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, who until September was in charge of their training.

Return of the (C)B-17

We've already used a C-130 cargo plane to launch daisy cutter bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Strategypage is reporting similar plans to launch bombs out the cargo bay of the C-17:

The U.S. Air Force is now thinking about turning its C-17 transport into a bomber. In the last few years, the JDAM (satellite guided smart bomb) has made aerial bombing far more effective. Because of the satellite guidance (GPS), aircraft can drop the bomb from any altitude, and still get the same accuracy. Thus bombers can stay high, out of range of ground fire. That got people, inside and outside the air force, thinking about using transports, like the C-17, as bombers. Transports are equipped to drop heavy equipment, mounted on pallets, by parachute. It would be a simple matter to have smart bombs, on small pallets, shoved out the rear of C-17s (or C-130s, Etc.)

This is in line with a recent article I wrote about utilizing platforms already in production for our troops, to save money, and get them into the field alot quicker.

DefenseTech discusses this subject in Old is the New New.

Don't Tread On Me

The Republican congressmen from Arizona, Rep. J.D. Hayworth warns he'll initiate another Iraq withdrawal vote if Dems continue to criticize the Iraq war. From Washington Times:

"If they start this again, we'll call the vote again," said Rep. JIAO Hayworth, Arizona Republican, whom members credited with suggesting holding a vote. "As far as I'm concerned, if they haven't learned from this, if they go back to this cheap talk, I would be more than happy to call for another vote." Rep. John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, said Thursday that the U.S. should start withdrawing from Iraq, but the House voted 403-3 the next day to reject immediate withdrawal.

Even some Democrats are distancing themselves from Murtha, especially those considering a 2008 Presidential run:

Yesterday, several top Democrats came out opposed to Mr. Murtha's call, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York saying it would be "a big mistake" and Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware saying he is "not there yet."

Here's Rep. Hayworth's reasoning for calling for the vote last Friday, which even Murtha voted against:

"The Washington Post, the New York Times and Al Jazeera all reported [Mr. Murtha] called for immediate withdrawal. I thought by Saturday morning seeing in Al Jazeera that the U.S. House overwhelmingly rejects calls for withdrawal is the message we needed to send,"

Seems the Democrats latest attack dog Murtha; like Dean, Kerry, and Sheehan, is a failure.

Blame Bullwinckle

For a change, lets blame Bullwinkle instead of Bush(this is funny!)

Journalists are the Enemy

This is what the troops In Iraq are thinking, says Strategypage. Can't imagine why...

To the troops, the war is being won. They see bad guys killed in large numbers, and few Americans getting hurt (it’s fairly common for their to be about twenty enemy dead for each American loss). The troops see tangible evidence, every day, of Iraqis having a better life. The troops cannot understand why that is not news, and why journalists always seem to be looking for a negative angle.
...As a result of this clash of cultures, reporters are increasingly seen as a potentially dangerous enemy.

So what should we do about them? One word: Censorship!

Austin Bay discusses this article.

Defeating the Stealth Fighter

Remember the downing of a US F-117 fighter by the Serbs in 1999? The Serb air-defense commander is talking, and I hope our military leaders are listening:

The Serbian battery commander, whose missiles downed an American F-16, and, most impressively, an F-117, in 1999, has retired, as a colonel, and revealed many of the techniques he used to achieve all this.

...Zoltan studied all the information he could get on American stealth technology, and the F-117. There was a lot of unclassified data, and speculation, out there. He developed some ideas on how to beat stealth, based on the fact that the technology didn’t make the F-117 invisible to radar, just very to get, and keep, a good idea of exactly where the aircraft was. Zoltan figured out how to tweak his radars to get a better lock on stealth type targets. This has not been discussed openly.

Read the whole thing.

China No Problem

Strategypage tells us that China may not be the immenent threat the media had made it out to be, since the press' track record of reporting threats hasn't been so great the past few years:

In the past, opponents have been built up in the media, but when the shooting started, they have turned out to be nowhere near their media-built reputation (see the Republican Guard prior to Desert Storm in 1991 for a classic example). China does seem like a potential opponent in a major war. In the past decade, two Chinese generals have made threats to use nuclear weapons against the United States. A Chinese spy ring was recently unearthed in Los Angeles. How much is China’s military build up real? Is it even the biggest military on the block in Asia?

They point out 2 other major navies in Asia, which China may have to contend with before they get to us:

Two other countries are competitors with China for the position of being the top power in Asia – India and Japan. Both countries are also carrying out major modernization programs, particularly involving their fleets and air forces. Both are already far ahead of China in qualitative terms of having capable naval and air forces.

Well, are they a threat? Maybe, but there's no need to start arming for another Cold War, not when Al Qaeda remains a dire menace.

German Subs to Israel

Germany is selling 2 more subs to Israel and picking up part of the tab. From Israelinsider:

According to advance copies of reports to be published in this week's Der Spiegel and Focus magazines, the contract for the two "Dolphin-class" diesel submarines will be signed in Israel on Monday. The magazines, without citing sources, said the deal was worth approximately US$1.2 billion, with the German government picking up one-third, or up to US$388 million.

...Israel took delivery of the first of three of the submarines in 1999. The Dolphin-class submarine is capable of carrying nuclear-tipped missiles, but there is no evidence that Israel has armed the subs with such weapons.

Here is link on the Dolphin class with good pics.

How to Lose a War

You just quit, says Ralph Peters at the NY Post (free reg.):

Forget about the consequences. Disregard the immediate encouragement to the terrorists and insurgents to keep killing every American soldier they can. Ignore what would happen in Iraq — and the region — if we bail out. And don't mention how a U.S. surrender would turn al Qaeda into an Islamic superpower, the champ who knocked out Uncle Sam in the third round.
Forget about our dead soldiers, whose sacrifice is nothing but a political club for Democrats to wave in front of the media. ..
Just set a time-table for our troops to come home and show the world that America is an unreliable ally with no stomach for a fight, no matter the stakes involved. Tell the world that deserting the South Vietnamese and fleeing from Somalia weren't anomalies — that's what Americans do.

He continues:

Human rights? Oh, dear. Human rights are for rich white people who live in Malibu. Unless you can use the issue to whack Republicans. Otherwise, brown, black or yellow people can die by the millions. Dean, Reid & Pelosi, LLC, won't say, "Boo!"
...The irresponsibility of the Democrats on Capitol Hill is breathtaking. (How can an honorable man such as Joe Lieberman stay in that party?) Not one of the critics of our efforts in Iraq — not one — has described his or her vision for Iraq and the Middle East in the wake of a troop withdrawal. Not one has offered any analysis of what the terrorists would gain and what they might do. Not one has shown respect for our war dead by arguing that we must put aside our partisan differences and win.

And summing up:

Surrender is never a winning strategy.

Whew!! Couldn't have said it better myself!

Shameful Quote of the Week

"All of Iraq must know Iraq is free -- free from United States occupation." Rep. John P. Murtha

Iraq War Timeline

Mudville has posted a work in progress, Brief History of a Long War (Iraq, 1990-2003) :

This work in progress is dedicated to my fellow members of the US military, those who stand the "line in the sand" now and those have done so for so many years past.
Look, here is what happened. Listen, here's what they said when it did.

It's Official!

The navy's newest electronic warfare aircraft now has the official moniker of "Growler". From NavyCompass:

The Navy’s next generation airborne electronic attack aircraft, designated the EA-18G, has officially received the popular name “Growler.”...The name seems to be a composite of the Growler’s electronic attack predecessor, the EA-6B popularly known as the Prowler, and the “G” designation in EA-18G.

The EA-18G Growler is being developed to replace the fleet’s current carrier-based EA-6B.

403 to 3

Right before the Thanksgiving Holiday recess, and after a tenacious week in which Democrats attempted to force a cut and run from Iraq, Republicans demanded and got a consensus on staying the course:

"To cut and run would invite terrorism into our backyards, and no one wants to see troops fighting terrorism on American soil," Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said Friday night after the House, as planned, rejected a GOP-written resolution for immediate withdrawal.
The vote, held as lawmakers rushed toward a two-week Thanksgiving break, was 403-3.
Democrats accused Republicans of orchestrating a political stunt that prohibited thoughtful debate on the issue, and nearly all voted against the measure.

The House action came in a week that also saw the GOP-controlled Senate defeat a Democratic push for President Bush to lay out a timetable for withdrawal. Instead, senators approved a statement that 2006 should be a significant year in which conditions are created for the phased withdrawal of U.S. forces.
"Congress in strong, bipartisan fashion rejected the call to cut and run," White House spokesman Scott McClellan, traveling with Bush in Asia, said a statement. Earlier Friday, the president called an immediate troop withdrawal "a recipe for disaster."

A former US Marine and Vietnam Vet Rep. John Murtha instigated the drastic vote by calling for a withdrawal of troops next year. In a letter to Congress, another US Marine had this to say to Murtha:

...Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, told of a phone call she received from a Marine colonel.
"He asked me to send Congress a message " stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message "that cowards cut and run, Marines never do," Schmidt said

The White House had this to say about the vote:

Victory in Iraq is key to prevailing in the war on terrorism and laying the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren. Our commanders and troops know how high the stakes are, and they understand the importance of completing the mission. For the second time this week, Congress in strong, bipartisan fashion rejected the call to cut and run. The best strategy to keep America safe is to continue taking the fight to the terrorists, not to retreat in the face of the despicable attacks of a determined enemy. We will succeed in Iraq by hunting down the terrorists, training Iraqi forces and supporting the Iraqi people as they build the foundations for a lasting democracy in the heart of a dangerous region of the world. When victory is achieved our troops will return home with the honor they deserve.

Meanwhile, James Taranto says the So-called Democratic hawk Murtha, isn't!

Aegis on Target!!!

The latest ABM test by the US Navy is a success!

A Standard Missile Three (SM-3) is launched from the vertical launch system (VLS) aboard the Pearl Harbor based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched form the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit to Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight test were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

Also from Spacewar.

White House Rebukes Murtha

I think the comparison is right on the money. Democrats have sold their souls and their honor to the radical Left. From the White House:

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America. So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party. The eve of an historic democratic election in Iraq is not the time to surrender to the terrorists. After seeing his statement, we remain baffled -- nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer.

Also read: Setting the Record Straight: The Senate Amendment On The Strategy For Victory In Iraq

Update: Blogs for Bush shows Murtha on Al-Jazeera. I tell you, these Dems are embolding the terrorists who are killing our troops!

Our Cause is Noble

A letter home from a soldier in Iraq, via Sgt. Hook:

The Iraqi’s pour into the streets to wave at us and when we liberated the cities during the war they gathered in the thousands to cheer, hug and kiss us. It was what the soldier’s in WW2 experienced, yet no one questioned their cause!! Saddam was no better than Hitler! He tortured and killed thousands of innocent people. We are heroes over here, yet American’s badmouth our President for having us here.

Please read the whole thing and get the real story you're missing on TV.

Update: Blogs for Bush asks What Media Bias?

Navy Beefs up Guam

As the article says, this is one base in the West Pacific we don't have to negotiate access to. From GovExec:

...signs of change for Guam are already taking root, with the announcement late last month that the majority of the 7,000 Marines moving out of Okinawa, Japan, will relocate to Guam between 2008 and 2012.
In addition, the Navy might station as many as six additional nuclear submarines at the island, already home to three subs. And the Air Force plans to station some of its F/A-22 fighter jets on the island, as well as three massive Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles, among other possible aircraft, not to mention the possibility of the aircraft carrier, which would bring with it roughly 5,000 sailors on the carrier and an associated air wing.

Honest News

Updated Honest News! Positive stories from the War on Terror.

TerroGate

Canadian Military's version of Google. Read on:

Canadian defence scientists will unveil today the Google of terror fighting tools: the world's first search engine able to track down sophisticated references to terrorism hidden in vast quantities of written documents and Web pages.
TerroGate, developed by computational linguists at Defence R&D Canada -- Valcartier, in Val-Belair, Que., is software that uses algorithms to search for the vocabulary of terrorism.

Security forces around the world already rely on rudimentary "entity extraction" technology. At least two commercial systems exist -- AeroText, by a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, and ThingFinder, by Inxight Software, Inc., which is used by the U.S. Defense Department and the U.S. army -- but they only annotate generic proper or place names in a document. It's still up to defence analysts to decide if the tagged references point to terrorist activity, Auger said.

In contrast, TerroGate automatically homes in on terror-related concepts and terminology without need for further analyst intervention, and with an accuracy rate of 93 per cent -- a feat the software can accomplish in under three seconds, the scientists said.

Supporters Turn on Al Qaeda

Not surprisiingly, the bombings in Jordan have backfired on Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. From the AP ( warning-This link goes to an Islamic site):

Contributors to Islamic Web sites known for enthusiastically supporting al-Qaida have reacted angrily and with unprecedented criticism to last week's hotel bombings in Jordan, saying that the targeting of Muslims and the public outrage that followed have damaged the reputation of the insurgent group.


One regular contributor suggested Monday that al-Qaida in Iraq, which claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings that killed 60 people, "reconsider its mistakes." Another writer, in an article republished on several sites, directly criticized group leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and offered him advice for the next attack.

And the People are taking to the streets:

In the days after the triple hotel bombings residents of Amman and other cities in Jordan held angry protests condemning al-Qaida in Iraq and demanding al-Zarqawi's death. The bombs killed 60 people -- including three Iraqi suicide bombers -- more than half of them Arabs.The vehement protests -- in which thousands shouted "Burn in hell, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi!" and "Death to al-Zarqawi, the villain and the traitor!" -- prompted the group to issue a second statement to justify the killing of Muslims, alleging that the hotels were dens for Western and Israeli intelligence agents.

This is the beginning of the end. Pay no mind to the radicals in our own country.

Plus, Tech Central Station says "This has been a bad summer for al Qaeda"

Riots Embolden Far Right

The French riots are giving new hope for France's anti immigration Party headed by Jean-Marie Le Pen, says Voice of America:

For years, Mr. Le Pen bellowed, the National Front has been repeating its warning against massive immigration from outside Europe and the fact that it will ruin France and bring misery to the immigrants themselves.
Mr. Le Pen and his National Front party have been repeating this anti-immigration, law-and-order message for years. But it is now making new waves, after two weeks of rioting and arson attacks across France which have been blamed on ethnic immigrant youths.

A local agrees with Le Pen:

Nearby, 45-year-old Remy Carillon agrees. He lives in the suburbs of Paris, where the violence first broke out two weeks ago after the accidental electrocution of two youths of African origin.
"The recent wave of violence is just the last straw for many French", Mr. Carillon says. "The bigger problem is that French never wanted immigrants to come here in the first place. But the government never consulted them. If they had been asked, French and other Europeans would have said no to immigration years ago."

When such riots occur in America, groups like the Minutemen will seem more relavent. This won't likely happen since immigrants in America have jobs-Ours!!!

Cheney Defends the Troops

Probably the most effective VP in American history. Cheney throws the war-critics' words back at them:

What we’re hearing now is some politicians contradicting their own statements and making a play for political advantage in the middle of a war.The saddest part is that our people in uniform have been subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in and day out. American soldiers and Marines are out there every day in dangerous conditions and desert temperatures –- conducting raids, training Iraqi forces, countering attacks, seizing weapons, and capturing killers –- and back home a few opportunists are suggesting they were sent into battle for a lie.

...We’re going to continue throwing their own words back at them. And far more important, we’re going to continue sending a consistent message to the men and women who are fighting the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other fronts. We can never say enough how much we appreciate them, and how proud they make us.

Read the whole thing!

What Dems Say-Video

The GOP just put out a scathing video of what the Democrats said about Saddam Hussein and pre-war intelligence. This is going to be big!

Shameless Plug.

My own take on the road to war in Iraq "The Democrat's Drumbeat to War".

Instead of admitting how they too were duped along with the rest of the world, Democrats have begun the “blame game”. In taking such a stand they have sold out to the leftist fringe of their Party, led by anti-war critic Howard Dean. It now appears their brief foray to the Center in the 90’s, led by Bill Clinton, was a temporary phase.

War Protestors vs Troop Morale

A timely message for bloggers from National Review:

I can understand that liberals don't like to be told their arguments make the troops' job harder. Who would want to hear they're undermining the war effort?
...Moreover, this seems like exactly the sort of thing military bloggers should address in a serious and thoughtful way. There's an inherent conflict for the Mainstream Media to address precisely this sort of question because the media knows that their -- often necessary -- coverage of the war has a negative impact on the war effort. It is the unnecessary coverage that annoys me, by the way. But therein lies another debate.

Actually I have been adressing it, especially here and here, and I will keep on bringing it up until the troops come home!
Here is more on the subject from ARGGHHH!

Setting the Record Straight

The offensive continues from the White House on what dems said then, and what they're saying now. The ultimate flip-flop!!!

Sen. Levin (D-MI) Tries To Separate Iraq From The War On Terror. SEN. LEVIN: "But before the war, the President was saying that you cannot distinguish between Saddam Hussein and Iraq. As a matter of fact, he said that so often that he tried to connect Saddam Hussein with the attackers on us, on 9/11, so often, so frequently and so successfully, even though it was wrong, that the American people overwhelmingly thought, because of the President's misstatements that as a matter of fact, Saddam Hussein had participated in the attack on us on 9/11. That was a deception. That was clearly misinformation. It had a huge effect on the American people." (CNN's "American Morning," 11/14/05)
But Sen. Levin And Other Democrats Previously Said That Iraq Was A Part Of The War On Terror.

Sen. Levin: "The War Against Terrorism Will Not Be Finished As Long As [Saddam Hussein] Is In Power." (CNN's "Late Edition," 12/16/01)
Sen. Levin: "We Begin With The Common Belief That Saddam Hussein Is A Tyrant And A Threat To The Peace And Stability Of The Region." (Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/19/02)

Sen. Clinton (D-NY): "[Saddam] Has Also Given Aid, Comfort, And Sanctuary To Terrorists, Including Al-Qaida Members, Though There Is Apparently No Evidence Of His Involvement In The Terrible Events Of September 11, 2001. ... This Much Is Undisputed." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congressional Record, 10/10/02, p. S10288)

Sen. Kerry (D-MA) Says Saddam Hussein Is Part Of The "Global Menace" Of Terrorism. CNN'S LARRY KING: "What about enhancing this war, Senator Kerry. What are your thoughts on going further than Afghanistan, all terrorist places ..." KERRY: "Oh, I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn't end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It's a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 12/14/01)

Sen. Levin Admits That Democrats Also Believed That Saddam Hussein Had Weapons Of Mass Destruction (WMD). SEN. LEVIN: "You know, the administration continues to talk about everybody believed that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. That is true, but that isn't the issue." (CNN's "American Morning," 11/14/05)

Sen. Clinton: "In The Four Years Since The Inspectors, Intelligence Reports Show That Saddam Hussein Has Worked To Rebuild His Chemical And Biological Weapons Stock, His Missile Delivery Capability, And His Nuclear Program. ... It Is Clear, However, That If Left Unchecked, Saddam Hussein Will Continue To Increase His Capability To Wage Biological And Chemical Warfare And Will Keep Trying To Develop Nuclear Weapons." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congressional Record, 10/10/02, p. S10288)

Sen. Rockefeller (D-WV): "There Is Unmistakable Evidence That Saddam Hussein Is Working Aggressively To Develop Nuclear Weapons. And Will Likely Have Nuclear Weapons Within The Next Five Years. And Then Could Have It Earlier If He's Able To Obtain Materials On The Outside Market Which Is Possible. Difficult But Possible." (Sen. John Rockefeller, Congressional Record, 10/10/02, Pg.S10306)
Sen. Kerry: "According To The CIA's Report, All U.S. Intelligence Experts Agree That Iraq Is Seeking Nuclear Weapons. There Is Little Question That Saddam Hussein Wants To Develop Nuclear Weapons." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/9/02, pp. S10172-10173)
Rep. Pelosi (D-CA): "Saddam Hussein Certainly Has Chemical And Biological Weapons. There's No Question About That." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 11/17/02)

Also read:

The Washington Post On Pre-War Intelligence

Update: The New York Times Editorial on Pre-War Intelligence

Somalia Gives Birth to the Stryker

This according to Strategypage:

In the wake of the battle of Mogadishu in 1993, where American rangers and commandoes had to battle thousands of Somali militiamen without the help of any American armored vehicles, there was a lot of brainstorming on how to deal with future incidents of that type. The U.S. Army noted the wheeled armored vehicles the marines had been using since the 1980s, and the experience of many European nations with these vehicles. Several officers who had been in Mogadishu (including a marine general, who just happened to be there to check up on training) agreed that wheeled armored vehicles like the marine LAV would have been a big help, and could have been airlifted in quickly because of their lighter (than tracked armored vehicles) weight.

Senate Counters Defeatism

The US Senate overwhelmingly blocked another Democratic attempt for a "cut and run" from Iraq. This is from the AP/Yahoo:

The Republican-controlled Senate easily defeated a Democratic effort Tuesday to pressure President Bush to outline a timetable for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. It then overwhelmingly endorsed a weaker statement calling on the administration to explain its Iraq policy.
Senators also voted to endorse the Bush administration's military tribunals for prosecuting foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but to allow the detainees to appeal their detention status and punishments to a federal court.

Listen to the tone on both sides:

"They want an exit strategy, a cut-and-run exit strategy. What we are for is a successful strategy," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said: "We want to change the course. We can't stay the course."

This is a great victory for Freedom and our troops!

Fewer Troop Casualties in Iraq

For US and Iraqi forces. This despite being in constant combat situations over the pass month. From SpaceWar:

The rate of deaths showed significant improvement on previous figures, reflecting the successful offensive tactical operations currently being carried out by U.S. forces. The loss rate was 2.4 U.S. soldiers killed per day compared with 3.3 per day during the previous three-day period. The loss rate was therefore less than half that in late October when 30 were killed during a five-day period, a rate of six per day.
This relative improvement was also reflected in the rate at which U.S. soldiers were being wounded in Iraq.

More good News:

These striking improvements were also reflected in the falling casualties suffered by the Iraqi security forces. The scale of those casualties has now been falling since July.

France's Malaise

How do you say Jimmy Carter in French? Jacques Chirac! This from the Washington Times:

President Jacques Chirac said yesterday that more than two weeks of violence in the poor suburbs of France is the sign of a "profound malaise" and ordered measures to reach out to the angry rioters.

And Jimmy's Speech in 1979:

The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our Nation.

In Memory of Arthur K. Cebrowski-Updated

I just read this on Thomas Barnett's Blog, who was a close personal friend. A great reformer and recently head of the Office of Force Transformation. He will be missed!

Update- More on Arthur Cebrowski:

Retired Navy Vice Adm. Arthur K. Cebrowski, widely credited across the Defense Department for coining the term “network-centric warfare,” died Saturday after an extended illness. He was 63. Cebrowski retired earlier this year as director of the Pentagon Office of Force Transformation. He was the first transformation chief for the think tank office that DOD officials created in late 2001, reporting directly to Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz, former deputy defense secretary.

Steel Curtain Continues

This is from CentCom:

NEW PHASE OF STEEL CURTAIN BEGINS

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq –Iraqi Army soldiers and Marines, Soldiers and Sailors with Regimental Combat Team –2 began a new phase of Operation Al Hajip Elfulathi (Steel Curtain) today by entering the town of Ubaydi.Ubaydi, located on the banks of the Euphrates River, is only 20 km from the Syrian border, and was the site of Operation Matador last May.Insurgent fighters have been battling with Iraqi and Coalition forces since the operation began at dawn.Five targets were struck by Coalition air strikes. The insurgents were engaging Coalition Forces with small arms fire at the time of the strikes. Preliminary reports indicate and estimated 25 insurgents have already been captured and are currently detained.Several improvised explosive devices and mines have also been discovered so far in the operation. The towns of Husaybah and Karabilah were cleared earlier in the operation and permanent Iraqi-U.S. presence has been established.Operation Steel Curtain differs from Matador in the respect that a permanent presence of Iraqi and U.S. forces will be established in the city.The goals of Operation Steel Curtain are to restore Iraqi sovereign control along the Iraq-Syria border and destroy the al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists operating throughout the Al Qa’im region. This offensive is part of the larger Operation Sayaid (Hunter), designed to prevent al Qaeda in Iraq from operating in the Euphrates River Valley and throughout Al Anbar and to establish a permanent Iraqi Army presence in the Al Qa’im region.

Thanks guys! We appreciate you!
The CentCom site also has a new video feed, if you'd like to get news thats not filtered by the Old Media. Check it out!

Jordan Calls for Jihad-Updated

Against the terrorists! How about that. This is from the Washington Times:

King Abdullah II called for a global fight against terrorism yesterday as Jordan acknowledged for the first time that al Qaeda in Iraq used foreign suicide bombers to attack Amman hotels, killing 57. The devastating strike was masterminded by Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab Zarqawi, signaling his group is able to launch terror attacks outside war-ravaged Iraq. King Abdullah called Zarqawi a growing threat to the Middle East and put the international community on notice that it must cooperate to fight terrorists. "Terrorism is a sick and cross-border phenomenon. Therefore, eradicating it is the whole world's responsibility," he told the state-run Petra news agency. "The body parts we saw in Amman we see every day in brotherly Iraq and have also seen in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and other countries around the world."

About time! What was Zarqawi thinking, bombing his own people? If we let this guy beat us, we deserve to lose.

Update: Austin Bay calls this A Big Victory in the War on Terror.

France's Tiger

It appears that France needs a leader in the form of a Clemenceau, called the "Tiger", rather than a De Gaulle like Chirac. It also seems they have one in Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who in a recent poll is most trusted to handle the crisis:

A poll in the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche suggested Sarkozy is the politician whom French people trust most to deal with the troubles. About 53 percent said they supported him, while about 71 percent said they lacked confidence in President Jacques Chirac.

In other developments, are the French taking my advice?

In the next few days, France is expected to start deporting foreigners implicated in the violence - a plan by law-and-order Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy that has caused divisions in the government.

Also, the riots are boosting the stature of France's anti-immigration party. From the Washington Times:

Nationalist leader Jean-Marie Le Pen claims that the riots sweeping France have led to thousands of new recruits to his anti-immigration Front National (FN) party. ..
Several of the hard-line measures Mr. Le Pen had called for, including widespread curfews, were adopted by the conservative government last week. Mr. Le Pen's popularity jumped five points in an opinion poll for Paris Match, and he claims that the FN has been "submerged" by messages of support since the riots began. ..
"Carry on like this, guys, and in 2007 Le Pen will be president of the republic," wrote one youngster in opposition to the violence. The rioters are primarily first- and second-generation immigrants from north and west Africa and mostly Muslims.

Telling the Soldier's Story

The US Army has a new webpage called Army Outreach, where you can go and learn how you can support our brave warriors, and also how they support you. Among the info listed at the site, you can find:

• access to installation Web sites that have links posted on the calendar;
• a list of organizations and links to them that will enable Soldier supporters to send messages, packages and other mementos of support to troops;
• an explanation of the Army Outreach program and samples of Outreach activities such as the Army Birthday Celebration, Operation Tribute to Freedom, speakers bureaus, the Joint-Service Open House, and U.S. Army Bands;
• a photo gallery with images that can be used to promote local events;
• how to request Army assets;
• frequently asked questions;
• downloads and resources (posters, desktop wallpapers, screensavers); and
• a directory of Army Outreach professionals ready to respond to customer needs.The site also has a news archive with links to the Army News Service Web site and the Operation Tribute to Freedom site.

Fighting the Enemy "Over There"

The New Chief of the JCS, Marine Gen. Peter Pace yesterday lauded the Vets and exclaimed there is "no way we can lose" the War on Terror, if we stand firm:

"You can fight it in Iraq, you can fight it in Afghanistan or we can fight it here at home," Pace said. "My choice is to fight it overseas."
Pace said he takes great pride in the fact that 50 million people in Iraq and Afghanistan can now make their own decisions.

He went on the praise our new allies in the war on Terror, the new Iraq Army:

The Iraqi military and police are key to success in the nation, he said, noting that he's optimistic about the progress the Iraqis are making in a short time.
When former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein fell, the coalition disbanded the Iraqi military. This left no trained and equipped Iraqi forces.
...Today the Iraqi security forces include 210,000 Iraqi soldiers and police. Iraq has one division headquarters, four brigades and 24 battalions, "in the field as we speak, controlling various parts of that country," Pace said. "I am very, very positive and optimistic about their capacity to take over responsibility for their own country."

We are too! Thank you Gen. Pace, and all you fighting the Good Fight!

The President's Speech

Here is the text of Bush's Veterans Day speech. While honoring our proud warriors, the President took the opportunity to answer critics of the reasons for going to war in Iraq:

Some Democrats and anti-war critics are now claiming we manipulated the intelligence and misled the American people about why we went to war. These critics are fully aware that a bipartisan Senate investigation found no evidence of political pressure to change the intelligence community's judgments related to Iraq's weapons programs.
They also know that intelligence agencies from around the world agreed with our assessment of Saddam Hussein. They know the United Nations passed more than a dozen resolutions citing his development and possession of weapons of mass destruction. And many of these critics supported my opponent during the last election, who explained his position to support the resolution in the Congress this way: "When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security." That's why more than a hundred Democrats in the House and the Senate -- who had access to the same intelligence -- voted to support removing Saddam Hussein from power.

Strykers vs "The Opel Gang"

This is the story of the downfall of a terrorist gang in Mosul:

Lt. Col. Charles Webster, commander of the 2-1(172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team), spoke with reporters Thursday from Iraq and described a recent operation that he said crippled an al-Qaida cell in Mosul.
Webster said since the brigade arrived in Iraq in August and in Mosul a few weeks later, soldiers have found what he dubs the "Opel Gang" to be particularly bothersome. While soldiers patrol the chaotic urban war zone of Mosul, they are often hounded by groups of compact cars loaded with insurgents and small arms.
They prowl the streets in their Opels, attacking Stryker convoys and patrols and shooting at soldiers before outmaneuvering the Stryker vehicles and disappearing through the alleys and avenues.
"Our Strykers are maneuverable but they're not as maneuverable as a small four-door car," Webster said.
But about two weeks ago, soldiers made an arrest that Webster believes has begun the group's downfall. Webster said soldiers were able to capture three members associated with the Opel Gang after an altercation. They were questioned and Webster said one of the men provided valuable information about the structure of the gang, how the gang received weapons, where the gang's cars were parked, how the gang was financed and the names of some leaders.

The Democrat's Road to War

Just like John Kerry's Vietnam War record, The Dems seem to be digging a hole for themselves in their search for scapegoats in the buildup to war. All roads seem to point to themselves.From Commentary Magazine:

But the consensus on which Bush relied was not born in his own administration. In fact, it was first fully formed in the Clinton administration. Here is Clinton himself, speaking in 1998:
If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons-of-mass-destruction program.

Here is his Secretary of State Madeline Albright, also speaking in 1998:
Iraq is a long way from [the USA], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risk that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face.

Here is Sandy Berger, Clinton’s National Security Adviser, who chimed in at the same time with this flat-out assertion about Saddam:
He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.

Nancy Pelosi, the future leader of the Democrats in the House, and then a member of the House Intelligence Committee, added her voice to the chorus:
Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons-of-mass-destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.

This Democratic drumbeat continued and even intensified when Bush succeeded Clinton in 2001, and it featured many who would later pretend to have been deceived by the Bush White House. In a letter to the new President, a number of Senators led by Bob Graham declared:
There is no doubt that . . . Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical, and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf war status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies.

Senator Carl Levin also reaffirmed for Bush’s benefit what he had told Clinton some years earlier:
Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations, and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed, speaking in October 2002:
In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical- and biological-weapons stock, his missile-delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qaeda members.

Senator Jay Rockefeller, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, agreed as well:
There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. . . . We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction.

Even more striking were the sentiments of Bush’s opponents in his two campaigns for the presidency. Thus Al Gore in September 2002:
We know that [Saddam] has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.
And here is Gore again, in that same year:
Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter, and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.

Now to John Kerry, also speaking in 2002:
I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force—if necessary—to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.

Perhaps most startling of all, given the rhetoric that they would later employ against Bush after the invasion of Iraq, are statements made by Senators Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd, also in 2002:
Kennedy: We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.

Byrd: The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical- and biological-warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons.2


Thank God! With leaders like these, we need not fear evil dictators! Right?

The Other Iraq

Saw this on TV. The Kurds thank America. From NewsMax:

A group representing Kurdistan thanks America for liberating that nation from Saddam Hussein's dictatorship of terrorism.
"The Kurds of Iraqi Kurdistan just want to say ‘thank you for helping us win our freedom. Thank you for democracy. Thank you America.”
..."We feel the mainstream media,” she tells Newsmax, "is focusing on the negative stories coming out of Iraq and very rarely highlighting the good news.”
"We’re not saying that the media doesn’t tell the truth. They do tell the truth. There is violence. There is an insurgency. But it’s not the whole truth, or the whole picture.”

And here is the Kurdistan Website. Good job, Iraq!

A Congressman's Motive

Admiral William Fallon, in charge of the US Pacific Fleet, thinks Taiwan doesn't need expensive new submarines to defend itself. Some Congressmen disagree. This from Voice of America:

Eight members of the U.S. Congress have sent a letter to the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, demanding an explanation of his alleged opposition to the proposed sale of submarines to Taiwan. The commander says he does not oppose the sale, but is concerned about raising tensions between Taiwan and China.

One of the members, Rep. Rob Simmons is just looking out for Taiwan, right???

The congressman acknowledges there is a local angle to his interest in Taiwan's purchase of submarines. The state he represents, Connecticut, is home to submarine design and building facilities that could benefit from any Taiwanese submarine purchase. But he also says selling the submarines to Taiwan would be good for the island, and would contribute to stability across the Taiwan Straits.

Hmmmmm.

Harriet Miers With Credentials

I haven't mentioned anything about Judge Samuel A. Alito here, but its interesting how much the Democrats are cozying up to him. I get the impression he's much like Harriet Miers, but with the credentials of a sitting Judge. This from the Washington Times:

Top Democrats say Alito likely to get nod

Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. is within the mainstream of conservative judicial philosophy and should be confirmed barring some unforeseen "bombshell," key Democrats said yesterday. "I found him to be very impressive. I found him to be a very thoughtful person," Sen. Kent Conrad, North Dakota Democrat, said after meeting with Judge Alito yesterday. "He got off to a very good start with me."

Bush "Sank" GOP?

In the Virginia elections. That was the headline at the Washington Times. I prefer what my Dad said: "Bush didn't campaign enough" in Virginia!!

Carriers Underway

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), center, sails alongside the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), followed by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), right, and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), left, during an early morning vertical replenishment and underway replenishment. Truman, Enterprise and Eisenhower are currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting ammunition offloads and underway replenishments. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Josh Kinter

Thinking Long Term

This from OpinionJournal tells us not to worry about Bush's poll numbers ( or if you're liberal, get all excited):

Think long-term. There are two major actions Bush made in his first term: toppling Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and cutting taxes. The Iraqi people, for all the horrible things that are still happening there, are progressing very nicely, including passing a constitution, just a couple of years after the war. That is a major success story, and somewhat unprecedented in history. Meanwhile, the economy has been running so well that nobody even brought it up for a while until the hurricanes hit--and yet gross domestic product rose at a 3.8% annualized rate anyway. Mr. Bush is, wisely, sticking to his guns and refusing to raise taxes to make up the losses, as taxes would not solve the problem, only exacerbate it.

I especially agree on the comment about Iraq. This is a great success story and seems to be having repurcussions the world over. Thats why you hear so much noise from evil dictators like Chavez, and from Iran, and North Korea. These guys are shaking in their boots with failed economies and faltering influence (except in the Old Media). Finally:

If--and this is not a small if--the people and politicians of this country can support the president, and if Mr. Bush himself can refocus his energies on doing what is in the best interests of this country for the long term, rather than trying to broker compromises that serve nobody's interests, this country will be far better off.

Amen!

Burke #46 to Commission

This is the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), named after a great, though unlucky sailor and the first nuclear powered destroyer, also the first US torpedo boat destroyer.

New Rules on Detainees

As the liberal offensive against questioning terrorists continue, the Pentagon has issued new rules for their treatment in prison:

The directive, provided by the Defense Department, pulls together for the first time all of its existing policies and memos covering the interrogation of detainees taken in the war against terrorism. It comes as Congress is considering a ban on the inhumane treatment of U.S. prisoners and Democrats have launched a long-shot effort to create a commission to investigate abuse...The only specific prohibition in the directive says that dogs used by any government agency "shall not be used as part of an interrogations approach or to harass, intimidate threaten or coerce a detainee for interrogations purposes."

Will it satisfy the pundits? Of course not! So why try?

The Curtain Falls on Terrorists

Operation Steel Curtain is ongoing on the Iraq/Syrian border. From Army News:

Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers are fighting alongside Marines near the Iraq-Syria border in Operation Steel Curtain, which began over the weekend.Thirty-six terrorists have been confirmed killed so far in the operation, near the town of Hasaybah.

I didn't know they celebrate Halloween in Iraq:

Iraqi troops killed three foreign fighters dressed in women’s clothing. The trio brandished weapons as they neared the checkpoint that Iraqi Soldiers were manning, but were unable to use them before being killed by the Soldiers.Iraqi Soldiers identified the terrorists as foreign fighters. The three terrorists were trying to hide among the women and children to gain access to the area for residents temporarily displaced.

The Iraqi's strike back:

The combined force, 1,000 Iraqi Army Soldiers including local Sunni Soldiers recruited from the al Qaim region and 2,500 Marines, Soldiers and Sailors are clearing the city, house by house, discovering weapons caches, terrorist propaganda and improvised bombs. The arms, munitions, bomb-making material, artillery and mortar shells converted to homemade bombs found in these cache sites continue to validate suspicions that terrorists used al Qaim as a safe haven.“Iraqi Soldiers are fighting side by side with their Marine counterparts in the streets and on the rooftops,” said Starling.

God bless the troops, Iraq's and ours!!

Racism and Riots

Heard earlier on the news that racism is the cause for of the ongoing riots in France. I think not. That's like the "muslims youths" saying to the government, "its your fault I am burning this car". This is typical liberal guilt mongering. The root cause is an overly permissive immigration policy. What is the correct reaction?

1. Chirac should send in the police or the troops if necessary and put down this rebellion hard.
2. The instigators should be deported post haste.
3. After the clean up, then the government should sit down with muslim immigrants and ask what is their beef.

America is headed down this road as well with our porous borders in the South. Meanwhile, Bill Clinton thinks we should be more like France:

Ex-president Bill Clinton is arguing that tighter immigration laws are hurting America, saying the new restrictions aren't worth it even if they stop the "one out of a zillion [foreigners] who might have a bomb."I'm very worried that one of the consequences of our tightness on immigration and visas as a result of 9/11 and terror, has led to a drop in many places of the number of foreign students coming to the United States to study and be graduate students,"

Typical of Democrats who think we need more problems than we have already.

La Shawn Barber discusses How Empires End

Seeing the Job Through

British Secretary of State for Defense John Reid declared his country and the world's continued support for victory in Iraq, at a Pentagon news briefing:

"Either we will see democracy in Iraq destroyed by the terrorists," he said, "or we will see it built by Iraqis themselves."
Reid said British, American and other coalition troops will be in Iraq as long as it takes to prepare the new Iraqi democracy to stand on its own feet against threats.
"We will see the job through," Reid said. Continued acts of terrorism committed inside Iraq will only strengthen U.S.-British resolve to stay until the insurgents are defeated, he noted.

Pray for France

The uprisings continue. The homeland of Charles Martel, savior of Christendom, is under seige tonight. Is this the beginning of the Euro intifada we've been warned about? Read this from the Brussels Journal:


What is happening in France has been brewing in Old Europe for years. The BBC speaks of “youths” venting their “anger.” The BBC is wrong. It is not anger that is driving the insurgents to take it out on the secularised welfare states of Old Europe. It is hatred. Hatred caused not by injustice suffered, but stemming from a sense of superiority. The “youths” do not blame the French, they despise them.

The scriptures talks about "casting your pearls before swine". Expecting someone to love you if you give them welfare and a home at no cost to themselves is naive in the extreme. A lesson for America? Certainly!!

Canada's Big Honkin' Ship

The Great White North is talking serious about defense increases, including a new amphibious warship:

Canada's military is moving to buy new transport aircraft and helicopters "as soon as possible," Gen. Rick Hillier says.
And behind the scenes at the defence department, Hillier's plan for a "big honking ship" — an amphibious assault ship — is slowly take shape.

And here's the cash to prove it:

With $12.8 billion in new military spending planned over the next five years, Martin gave his blessing to Graham's efforts to shake up the military procurement process and work in closer concert with the industry and public works departments to streamline big-ticket purchases.

More on the Big Honkin' Ship:

Capt. Peter Ellis, director of maritime requirements, said the amphibious ship would be able to get troops and equipment quickly ashore in a "medium-intensity" conflict. But the more likely role is delivering assistance to a disaster zone or evacuating Canadians or embassy staff from a country in turmoil.
...Plans for the ship, expected in the fleet sometime between 2012 and 2017, are in the "embryonic" stage, Ellis said.
But this much is known — the ship will be able to carry a battalion-sized force, about 800 troops and their gear, along with armoured vehicles. It will have an expansive flight deck to accommodate helicopters and a well deck for landing craft.

I like this quote which could go for our own military:

`The troops need it. They need it now, not 15 years from now ...'
Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of defence staff

China's New Flattop

We hear these stories from time to time. This report is from India:

China has acquired the Varyag, a Soviet-era aircraft carrier which is several times larger than India's INS Viraat or the second-hand carrier Gorshkov, that is being refurbished in Russia.A Chinese front company called Chong Lot Travel Agency managed to buy the ship as scrap for US$ 20 million and towed it half way around the world, before placing it under high security in the Chinese naval base in Dalian.

...The Varyag is 67,500 tonnes, substantially larger than the Gorshkov which, after refit will be substantially smaller at 44,570 tonnes. The Varyag has a complement of 52 aircraft.

I agree with this last comment:

The Chinese acquisition of the Varyag is part of what is one of the largest and fastest growing fleet expansion plans since World War II and the acquisition of an aircraft carrier is being seen as a logical step forward in its naval evolution. But naval analysts point out that buying an aircraft carrier is all very well but learning to operate it effectively may take several years.

Here is a photo and more info of Varyag.

Honest News

Updated Honest News:

Links to positive stories about America & the War on Terror. Updated regularly!

NYT False Marine Story

Lotta stuff on the intenet about this. Michelle Malkin has the scoop on what the Times left out. Political Teen has a video of the Marine's Mom on O'Rielly. Also read the NY Post editorial.

And read my take on the Old Media at Opeds.com: The Sky is Falling, Film at 11

Arctic Thunder

Progress Being Made

From CentCom:

Ninewa
· Eighteen teachers and 519 students face a brighter future and a better education in two renovated schools in Ninewa Province.

Diyala
· Completion of a village water distribution network in Diyala Province will provide water to 365 houses.

Baghdad
· An Iraqi company completed a police station. The completed station will increase the security level and provide a welcomed police presence in this section of Baghdad.
· A project to upgrade security at an Iraqi government building.

Najaf
· More that 300 students will enjoy a better learning environment in a newly-refurbished school. This project refurbished an existing school to include new electrical work, paint, tile floors, bathrooms, and a new security wall.

Basrah
· A newly-constructed border fort along the border between Iraq and Kuwait increases security for the people of Basrah Province. This new construction project included a bed down area, kitchen, armory, observation posts, perimeter security lighting, berm, offices, showers, and electrical power.
· A road repair project that upgraded over three kilometers of an existing dirt road with a six meter-wide, two-lane, paved roadway with shoulders in a congested neighborhood. Five culverts were also added to assist the local farmers with irrigation. The local community of 25,000 will benefit from this safer, paved roadway for travel to school and other community services.

Democrats Aren't Patriots?

Well Duh!!! This is what one of their own, Sen. Joe Biden, said recently:

He told the heavily Democratic crowd that Democrats have become elitist. He noted that some Democrats have questioned why he wears an American flag on his lapel.
"We've become disconnected from where we grew up," Biden said. "The Republicans, because of our distance, they have convinced a lot of people we ain't one of them."

Thanks to OpinionJournal.

Have you forgotten?-Updated

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 issued by a liberal President and approved by Democrats. Key quote:

The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire freedom like everyone else. The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international life.
My Administration has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership.

There's a big difference in what Democrats said then and what they're saying now. Listen to Jimmy Carter then (2003):

He obviously has the capability and desire to build prohibited weapons and probably has some hidden in his country.

And what he say's now:

The Bush Administration's prewar claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction were "manipulated, at least" to mislead the American people, former President Jimmy Carter said Wednesday.

So we were all duped by Saddam, only the left won't admit it.
Thanks to Austin Bay for all this.

Update-I got this quote from Powerline. Makes sense:

"If the administration knew Saddam didn't have. . . weapons [of mass destruction], then it also knew its 'pretext' would be exposed as soon as the invasion was complete. No one would be dumb enough to go to war on the basis of a claim that was not only wrong but would quickly be shown to be wrong."

Saving on Defense

If the Defense Dept. wants more funds for weapons, it should look within itself, or so says this editorial from the Washington Times:


Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld estimates that the Pentagon could save as much as 5 percent of its annual budget by improving business operations. Why hasn't it been done? The answer is complicated. It owes partly to bureaucratic inertia, partly to congressional inaction and partly to the Bush administration's inability to make real progress streamlining national-security spending.

I've always advocated that the Defense budget could be halved, mainly by building less high-tech weapons and dumping Cold War bases. Change is coming, only slow and painfully.

Pentagon Under the Knife

Its official now. From the Washington Post:

The military services have been ordered to cut $32.1 billion from their projected spending plans for the next five years as part of government-wide belt-tightening forced by rising war costs, a growing deficit and hurricane-relief spending.
The order came in a Oct. 19 memo from Gordon R. England, the acting deputy secretary of defense, to the leadership of the Army, Navy and Air Force, according to a senior defense official. The newsletter Inside the Pentagon reported on the memo yesterday.

Whats on the list? According to this, big ticket items:

...such as Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the DD(X) destroyer being developed by Northrop Grumman Corp. The military's procurement and research and development programs, from which defense companies most of their profits, are considered vulnerable, especially those that are behind schedule or over budget.

Army, Marine Re-enlistment Up

More good news from the War on Terror:

Re-enlistment rates for the Army and Marine Corps are the highest they've been in a long time, specifically in units with high deployment tempos, military leaders told the House Armed Services Committee here today.
...Re-enlistment rates are highest among married soldiers and Marines, who make up the bulk of the force, the leaders said. The troops re-enlist knowing they will go back to Iraq, but it doesn't change their determination, they said.
"These guys and gals are in it for the fight," said Brig. Gen. John F. Kelly, legislative assistant to the Marine Corps commandant. "That's where they want to be and what they want to do."
...While re-enlistment was high in Iraq, where there were significant financial incentives, the rate didn't drop after units came back to the U.S., Abrams said. That can be attributed to the quality of today's servicemembers and their sense of duty, Ciotola said.
"The soldiers understand the seriousness of the fight that we're engaged in," he said.

An unpopular war? Only with the Old Media I think!

Joe Wilson's Whoppers

This is from the LA Times. Has the entire left forgotten everything they and their president said on this subject from the 1990's to 2003? Saddam duped us all:

Making the best of a weak hand, Democrats argued that the case was not about petty-ante perjury but, as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid put it, "about how the Bush White House manufactured and manipulated intelligence in order to bolster its case for the war in Iraq and to discredit anyone who dared to challenge the president." The problem here is that the one undisputed liar in this whole sordid affair doesn't work for the administration. In his attempts to turn his wife into an antiwar martyr, Joseph C. Wilson IV has retailed more whoppers than Burger King.
...So much for the lies that led to war. What we're left with is the lies that led to the antiwar movement. Good thing for Wilson and his pals that deceiving the press and the public isn't a crime.

If anyone's to blame for getting us into war its the old media. Not since the Spanish-American War has there been such a media blitz on the need to depose a tyrant. Just replace the King of Spain with Saddam.

Also read what Zell Miller says on the subject of Plamegate.

Worn Out Weapons

The Government Accountability Office is warning the Defense Dept. of rapidly declining conditions for major weapons systems used in the War on Terror:

GAO analyzed the fleetwide condition of 30 types of equipment and found that readiness rates for most had declined between fiscal 1999 and 2004. The drop was the most noticeable in the last two of those years, because of continuous high use and the advancing age and complexity of the systems, the report stated.
Items such as Army and Marine Corps trucks, combat vehicles and rotary wing aircraft have been used far past their normal peacetime levels, GAO said.

They are using a color code system-red, yellow, green-to signify condition, with red being the worst:

Inventory of three pieces of equipment -- the Army's CH-47 D/F Chinook transport helicopters, the Marine Corps' M1A1 Abrams tanks and the Navy's P-3 Orion maritime patrol planes -- scored red on the GAO list, indicating that problems with them are so severe that they require immediate attention by the military services and Congress.
The Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters were the only inventory item given a red for the near-term funding plan, while seven inventory items were red for long-term funding plans. Those items were the: Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M113 Armored Personnel Carriers, the Marine Corps' Sea Knight helicopters and CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters, the Navy's P-3 Orion aircraft and Standard Missile-2 Surface-to-Air missiles and the Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.

Reid Should Resign

This is funny and logical from OpinionJournal:

With Democrats' efforts to criminalize policy differences over Iraq having failed, they have turned in desperation to politics, led by Harry Reid, the Senate's minority leader. First, over the weekend, Reid demanded the resignation of Karl Rove, the White House's deputy chief of staff. By this logic, Reid also should resign, since he, like Rove, has not been indicted.

Alito-You Decide

See for yourself some court proceedings in which Supreme Cout nominee Samuel A. Alito was involved. This is from the Library of Congress, Law Reading Room.

"War of the Flea" in Iraq

Even as the Iraqi Army is catching up with modern warfare, US forces are going back to school themselves. This is from Reuters:

In small steps and without fanfare, the U.S. Army is adapting its training to "the war of the flea," the type of hit-and-run insurgency that is gripping Iraq, where more than 2,000 American military personnel have been killed.
Counterinsurgency training, military experts say, largely vanished from the curriculum of Army schools after the Vietnam War. It began a slow comeback after the Iraq war, which opened with a massive ground and air assault, turned into a protracted conflict of ambushes, bombings and hit-and-run attacks.

The handbook they're following is "War of the Flea" by Robert Taber:

Taber likened guerrillas to fleas and conventional armies to dogs. The dog is always at a disadvantage against the flea -- he has "too much to defend, too small, ubiquitous and agile an enemy to come to grips with. If the war continues long enough ... the dog succumbs to exhaustion and anemia without ever having found anything on which to close its jaws or to rake with its claws."

The military has gotten alot of heat, especially from Vietnam vets, by their counterinsurgency tactics, which are similiar to failed tactics used in that lost cause. However, it does take a while to go from an equipment heavy, cold war style of combat, to that of a light infantry, anti- guerilla force.