ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT IT began on March 25, the inside-the-Beltway Conventional Wisdom about the Iraqi Army's offensive against Muqtada al-Sadr's "Jaysh al Mahdi" militia and other, more criminal elements in the city of Basra--the second-largest city in Iraq and whose port is Iraq's lifeline to the international economy--was that it was a half-baked enterprise and soon a fully-baked disaster. But the latest news from Iraq strongly suggests that is, once again, the narrative of defeat that is half-baked. Over the weekend, the Iraqi Army asserted control over the Basra neighborhoods that had been Sadrist "strongholds" (though, as in the past, the pattern of JAM behavior is flight-not-fight when its losses begin to mount) and continued to apply strong pressure on Sadr City, the main JAM redoubt in Baghdad.

But, before the reality check, let's indulge in a retrospective of the failure fantasies of recent weeks. "I hope we don't hear any glorification of what happened in Basra," House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi warned Gen. David Petraeus and Amb. Ryan Crocker before they delivered their Iraq update testimony to Congress on April 9. Pelosi was parroting the left's rush to judgment that the Iraqi operation was a conclusive failure and that Muqtada al Sadr and Iran were the big winners. Basra was an unpleasant "lesson" for the Maliki government, wrote Robert Dreyfuss on March 31 in the Nation; the prime minister personally "lost face" and the initial cease-fire "worked out in Qom, Iran and mediated by Tehran," was "doubly embarrassing." But it

In the "Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle: April 2008 Update," the additional elements forming in the Iraqi Army were projected as probable indicators of additional divisions. Additional information and reappraisal indicates that was incorrect. While the Iraqi Army plans to add divisions, they will not be stood up this year. Other formations have priority.

The addition of the two Kurdish divisions to the Iraqi Army remains on hold while the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government wrestle over money. "Baghdad central government also refused to pay the salaries of more than 190,000 Peshmerga fighters through the budget of the federal Ministry of Defense (MOD)." With the delays in this transfer and the time needed for retraining/equipping, these elements probably will not be operational this year.



General Petraeus' Congressional Brief slides projected an Iraqi Army battalion count of 187 at the end of 2008. This 15 to 16 division equivalent count prompted a request for information to Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. The number had appeared to confirm the addition of two more divisions to the Iraqi Army by the end of 2008. The response from Captain Roy provided a correction and mentioned a factor not allowed for in the April update:

"There are battalions which are not aligned to any particular division such as the Engineering Infrastructure Battalion. This separate battalion is charged with the security and repair of Iraq's energy infrastructure. This organization just completed the Unit Set Fielding process on 2 APR."

On 29 June, American and Iraqi soldiers were again fighting side-by-side as soldiers from Charley Company 1-12 CAV, led by Captain Clayton Combs, and Iraqi soldiers from the 5th IA, closed in on a village on the outskirts of Baqubah. The village had the apparent misfortune of being located near a main road—about 3.5 miles from FOB Warhorse—that al Qaeda liked to bomb. Al Qaeda had taken over the village. As Iraqi and American soldiers moved in, they came under light contact; but the bombs planted in the roads, and maybe in the houses, were the real threat.

The firefight progressed. American missiles were fired. The enemy might have been trying to bait Iraqi and American soldiers into ambush, but it did not work. The village was riddled with bombs, some of them large enough to destroy a tank. One by one, experts destroyed the bombs, leaving small and large craters in the unpaved roads.

The village was abandoned. All the people were gone. But where?

This couldn't have come at a better time. Congress has tied itself in knots trying to opine on what a disaster the surge will be, and before they can vote on a resolution scolding George Bush for wasting resources, he's already chased one of the worst actors out of Baghdad. Nancy Pelosi will be holding a debate to disapprove of a strategy that has already demonstrated success.

And as for Sadr, this will destroy him and his Mahdi Army. ABC reports that Sadr wants to try to run the Mahdis from Teheran, but his credibility as a jihadi just tanked. Who's going to fight for someone who won't stand up for himself?

And the Iranians surely have to be thumping their foreheads over his bug-out. The US had just demonstrated that the Iranians had backed the insurgencies, which the Iranians disputed, and the chief of the Shi'ite militias announces that he's going to become a remote-control general from their turf. It's going to be very difficult for anyone to pretend that Iran has not actively fueled the insurgencies while Moqtada directs his armies by long-distance telephone calls.

Marine Maj. Gen. Rick Zilmer, commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), hugs Sami Rasheed Ma' Moun, the governor of the Al Anbar province of Iraq, after receiving a gift following a meeting at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, Jan. 28. The gift was given to show appreciation for the Ist MEF's support of Iraqi reconstruction in the region. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Louis T. Corwise Jr.

So they began the arduous process of building relationships. Six months later, Wolfhound Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team are achieving their goals of a more secure and peaceful region one city at a time.

The Soldiers hosted a mayoral luncheon welcoming civic and law enforcement leaders from surrounding communities to include the cities of Zaab, Multaka and Hawija to Forward Operating Base McHenry, located just outside of Hawija, Iraq, Jan. 28.

According to Capt. Jeffrey Fuller, fire support officer, the event was organized for the unit to express its appreciation for the support of those cities that have worked with Coalition forces to rebuild local communities.

“We wanted to take the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for the support,” said Fuller. “The (attendees today) are the individuals and city representatives that cooperate the most with us. They have seen the benefits of working with us and helping us, and now understand that by cooperating, they have fewer problems in the short run and greater benefits in the long run,” he continued.

For instance, Fuller explained that the cities of Zaab and Multaka have been the first to approach Coalition forces with information of those responsible for setting improvised explosive devices in and around major supply routes. Hawija, although volatile at times, is also beginning to assist Coalition forces in thwarting insurgent activity.

“There will always be hotspots,” said Capt. Roland A. Keller, Jr., company commander, Delta Co. “But some cities are forcing change and peace. We want to reward those that are moving forward by showing them the attention that they deserve. Their efforts are appreciated and we respect what they’ve accomplished,” continued Keller.

“People want peace [and] they want their children to grow up in peace,” he said. “They want a future that they were being denied, and these three cities saw the Coalition as providing them a means for a future. These three cities have begun pulling themselves out of the quagmire of war and are building for themselves a future that does not include us.”

The ultimate goal, of course, is a future with functioning governments and cities that can protect and police themselves explained Lt. Col. Drew Meyerowich, battalion commander.

“The future of Iraq will include a central government that is willing to accept all Iraqi people as one Iraq regardless of their faith or ethnic background,” said Meyerowich. “The terrorists don’t want that, so we have spent a lot of time working with local communities and helping them understand who we are as a Coalition but more importantly who we are as Wolfhounds, both ruthless and compassionate” he said.

“I certainly can’t take the credit for our increased success,” said the battalion commander. “Our success is attributable to the day-to-day interactions of my Soldiers. It’s the Soldiers that (citizens) are seeing engaged not solely in combat operations. When (citizens) see my young Soldiers taking care of their communities it makes building relationships easier and achieving success much more possible.”

(By Spc. Mike Alberts, 3rd Brigade Public Affairs)

Here are the General's remarks pertinent to the "surge". The vast majority of the questions that followed were regarding Iranian weapons and Quds troops in Iraq. I suspect the media - in spite of vigorous denials by the administration - is trying to portray the US as on the brink of war with Iran. This allows Democrats - and Hillary Clinton in particular - to vociferously oppose this non-existent war. (To be fair, this also gets some conservatives very excited over the prospect of "taking out" Iran - their hopes will be dashed.)

By the way, reporters were so fixated on this issue they missed a more significant bit of intel regarding security operations in Iraq: "...we're all operating under the same instructions from General Abboud". That would be Lieutenant General Abboud Gambar of the Iraqi Army.

'Cav Roundup' Now Available on iTunes

Feb 15, 2007

BY
Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma

Pvt. Aaron Reyes, a forward observer with Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, listens to the latest iTunes podcast of the 'Cav Roundup' Feb. 14.

Photo by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq (Army News Service, Jan. 15, 2007) - What happens when the Multi-National Division - Baghdad daily radio show 'Cav Roundup' meets Apple's iTunes? People are able to listen to the most up-to-date information on what's happening on the ground through the eyes of MND-B Soldiers.



Cav Roundup delivers daily news and operational updates every weekday from the Iraqi capital. Army Public Affairs submitted the radio show and other Army products to iTunes to reach a larger audience, according to Lt. Col. John Robinson, director of the Media Services Division, Soldiers Media Center, Office of the Chief of Army Public Affairs.



"My intent was to make more approved Army products, such as the Cav Roundup, available on social sites on the Internet, such as iTunes," Robinson said.



The Cav Roundup is available on iTunes as a podcast. A podcast is a media file, typically audio or video, that is distributed by subscription over the Internet. The feeds can then be played back on mobile devices and personal computers.



"Doing this broadens our reach with quality Army products and it also makes more people aware of the kind of material they will find on the Army homepage," Robinson said. "It's important to (MND-B) Soldiers and their families because we are entering and developing a new and innovative way to explain their mission to the American public, as well as our global audiences."



A broadcast noncommissioned officer and a co-producer of the daily radio show, Sgt. Scott Pittillo said he thinks the venture will take the story of the MND-B troopers to more ears, minds and hearts.



"Putting the Army's story out there will give the public a more rounded perspective on the war and the Soldiers who fight in it," Pittillo said.



On a more personal level, a forward observer with Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Pvt. Aaron Reyes said that with the radio show on iTunes, Soldiers can make sure family members and friends can get more than the just the news they see on television.



"They can get a closer look at what were doing here and know that we're doing okay," Reyes said.



Although he can't determine the number of people who download the daily radio show on iTunes, Robinson said hits on the Army's homepage has grown dramatically since he began placing more material on other social sites.



(Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma writes for the 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

This article in today's Washington Post, "Translator Who Faked Identity Pleads Guilty To Having Secret Data," raises a number of troubling questions for our counter-terrorism efforts.

First of all, let us start with the way that the government, especially under this administration is apparently determined to privatize as many functions as possible. Why the military does not employ those people who serve vital functions for the United States is disturbing. By allowing private corporations to provide employees for the government creates an unwieldy system that make accountability more elusive. Additionally, because a private company is involved, the individual employee is probably paid less than if he or she worked directly for the government. The privatization of government functions inserts a "middle man" into the process who gets paid for his involvement. This only benefits the contractor and the politicians but does not, in my judgement, enhance our government's ability to attract the best employees, provide them with incentives to do an effective job by providing an opportunity to work towards a government pension by accruing years of service that would be applicable should that employee decide to change jobs within the government.

It is now coming to light that Los Alamos National Laboratory using previous research performed by UK-based company called Inscentinel have transformed regular honey bees into bomb detectors. Apparently when the bees come into contact with explosives, their feeding tubs (proboscises) extend. The bees were re-trained as part of a program called the Stealthy Insect Sensor Project during which they received sugar water when they were exposed to dynamite, C-4, and the Howitzer propellant grains used in IEDs in Iraq. The training takes no more than ten minutes.

The process involves placing the bees in a box, a “sniffer box,” into which air is sucked. If explosives are present, the bees will simultaneously extend their proboscises, and a video camera will detect the movement and sound an alarm. Whether the use of these bee boxes is practical or not is still a question. More about the Stealthy Insect Sensor Project can be found in Sniffer bees set to snare suicide bombers

Telltale Evidence

Cartoon by Michael Ramirez (click to enlarge)

The Under Secretary's rebuttal of the IG's report is withering. It takes the IG's report apart, brick by brick, and shows it to be false in every material respect. Much of the Under Secretary's response is devoted to bureaucratic matters; e.g., the Inspector General was simply wrong in asserting that the work in question was carried out by the Under Secretary for Policy's office.

On the merits, the Under Secretary points out that the IG has no expertise to determine that the effort to re-evaluate the intelligence gathered by the CIA and other agencies was "improper," even though it was both legal and directed by the Secretary of Defense:

The work found "inappropriate" was an exercise in alternative thinking that the second most senior civilian in this Department directed his subordinates to prepare and brief to the most senior official of this Department. The latter, after receiving the draft briefing, directed that it be shared with the [Director of Central Intelligence]. When the Deputy National Security Advisor requested the briefing, the Deputy Secretary's office directed that it be given to him. These are the activities that the Draft Report characterizes as "inappropriate," because it considers them to be "production" and "dissemination" of an "alternative intelligence assessment" contradicting assessments of the "chartered-intelligence community." If the OIG actually believes that it was inappropriate for the Deputy Secretary of Defense to have some non-[intelligence community] staff members do a critical assessment of some [intelligence community] work on a subject of major significance for national security, inappropriate for the Secretary of Defense to share the OSD work with the [Director of Central Intelligence], and inappropriate for the Deputy Secretary to share the work with the Deputy National Security Advisor when requested by the latter, the OIG should say so directly instead of finding fault with subordinate OSD offices and staff members who did as they were instructed to do.

PJM Baghdad editor Omar Fadhil reports via IM seeing a USAF B-1 bomber patrolling the skies over Baghdad in daylight. The bomber circled the city for about 75 minutes between 4 and 6 PM Baghdad time. The altitude was estimated to be between 3 and 4 kilometers above the city.

As far as is known B-1 bombers have not been flown over Baghdad since the shooting phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. B-1’s have recently be used in close air-support missions in Afghanistan:

“Air Force B-1 Lancers and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support for ISAF troops in contact with enemy forces near Musa Qal’eh. The B-1s expended GBU-38 bombs successfully within parameters of three potential enemy buildings. The GR-7s expended rockets and enhanced Paveway II munitions on enemy positions successfully suppressing enemy fire.”

Tom Nankervis has details.

CACHE, Okla. (UMNS) - Six-year-old Heather Martin, accompanied only by her mother on piano, has become an overnight Internet sensation for a song performed at their rural Oklahoma church.
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Written for her brother Shaun serving in Iraq, the song became one of YouTube’s most requested videos of all time in December after a member at Cache First United Methodist Church recorded and posted Heather’s performance on the video-sharing Web site. The video had received 1.7 million hits as of early February.
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IN OUR RECENT HISTORY we have abandoned the Kurds, Shiites and Afghanis, not to mention our shameless withdrawal of support of the Mountainyards and our friends and allies in Saigon. Lord help the Somalis that befriended America in the 90s, for we deserted them, too. The World knows that we will turn tail and walk away from what was a noble cause in Iraq because the American people are weak and are so self-centered that we withdraw when the situation gets complicated.

After twelve generations, I am ashamed at what America has become. Most Americans are so self-centered in their daily lives that they can’t take the time to learn about what is really happening in the Middle East. They can’t tell you who Muqtada al-Sadr is, or even if he is Shia or Sunni. They are more interested in learning who is the father of Anna Nichole’s baby rather than finding a way to win in Iraq.

We are at WAR and it is time for the American people (including the members of Congress) to back our troops. It is time to drop the political mumbo-jumbo of “I support the troops, but I don’t support the war.” What the hell does that mean anyway? Does that mean that you have a yellow magnetic bumper sticker, but you don’t want to give our brave men and women the reinforcements they badly need to succeed?