Clipmarks | RecordSage's 'iraq war' clips

The Good General Takes on Afghanistan

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:27:44 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

General David Petraeus takes on Afghanistan

Iraqi soldiers play at a farewell ceremony for General David Petraeus, who was hailed a hero for his success in Iraq

He is credited with taming the violence in Iraq, rewriting American counter-insurgency strategy and salvaging the reputation of the US military.

When General David Petraeus steps down today as the commander of US forces in Iraq however, he will have little time to savour the plaudits from fellow soldiers and the Bush Administration.

The general was hailed as “the hero of the hour” by the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, for appearing to have pulled Iraq back from the brink of civil war after he successfully oversaw a surge of 30,000 extra US troops into the country.

It remains to be seen if he can have the same impact in Afghanistan, where violence has increased since the Taleban were overthrown in 2001.

Tags: david petraeus, afghanistan

US hands over Anbar to Iraqi Government

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:11:50 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Major progress continues. Kudos to the good General and all of our men & women!!!

Clip Source: www.csmonitor.com

U.S. hands over Anbar, Iraq's once-deadliest region

Baghdad - The US military handed over control of Anbar Province Monday, marking a significant milestone in the Iraq war.

Anbar was the deadliest Iraqi province for US troops, with nearly 1 in every 3 Americans killed there. It was once the symbol of Sunni resistance, the base of operations for Al Qaeda, and home to two major US military offensives and the most intense urban combat of the war.

But in the past two years, Anbar has emerged as the symbol of a turnaround as Sunni sheikhs formed "Awakening Councils," ousted Al Qaeda, and created community police forces.

Anbar is the 11th of Iraq's 18 provinces to return to Iraqi control, but it is the first predominately Sunni province handed over.

While most praise the transition, some Iraqis are concerned that corrupt police and Al Qaeda remain a threat.

Tags: iraq, anbar, handover

General Petraeus hails SAS

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:09:29 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

General Petraeus hails SAS after Iraq victory over al-Qaeda car bombers

The SAS has helped to defeat a murderous web of al-Qaeda's car bombers in Baghdad that brought devastation to the capital, the top US commander in Iraq said yesterday as he heaped praise on the unit's efforts.

General David Petraeus, who is due to leave his post in Iraq shortly, also dismissed the notion that American and British military relations had been strained by the recent offensive in Basra, emphasising that the problem of tackling militias in the southern port city had been rightfully Iraqi-led.

The four-star general, looking forward to his next posting as head of Central Command, said he would draw on lessons learnt from his four years in Iraq on how to fight an insurgency when tackling his new area of responsibility, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Lebanon.

He said Britain's special forces in Iraq worked alongside their American counterparts on “many, many cases of very important operations”.

Tags: petraeus, sas, iraq war, progress

Georgia sends troops from Iraq to South Ossetia

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:01:44 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Georgia sends troops from Iraq to South Ossetia

Georgian soldiers in South Ossetia will be bolstered by troops currently based in Iraq

Half of Georgia’s 2,000 troops in Iraq plan to leave the country by Monday to join the fight against separatists in the breakaway province of South Ossetia, with the rest following as soon as possible, their commander said.

“First of all we need to remove 1,000 guys from here within 96 hours, after that the rest of the guys,” Colonel Bondo Maisuradze told The Times this morning.

“The US will provide us with the transportation,” he added.

Georgia had said initially that it planned to withdraw just half of its contingent in Iraq.

Last year, the Georgians raised the number of troops in Iraq from 850 to 2,000 at a time when most non-American contingents were cutting back — a move that won them points with US commanders.

Tags: georgia, iraq, russia, war

Italy holds five on terror charge

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:26:31 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Terrorism - a global problem

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Italy holds five on terror charge

Five North Africans have been arrested in Italy on charges of conspiring to commit acts of international terrorism.

Police in Bologna say they arrested four Tunisians and a Moroccan and are seeking a sixth man.

They are investigating an alleged international terrorist ring, which they say recruited suicide bombers for Iraq and Afghanistan.

The North Africans are also charged with fraud. They are alleged to have collected money from phoney car accident insurance claims to finance their operations.

They recruited and trained people willing to sacrifice their lives in terrorist attacks in war zones, the police said.

The alleged leader of the terrorist ring was a former mujahideen colonel, of unknown nationality, who had fought in Bosnia during the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

Investigators had gathered information on the activities of the terrorist group through phone taps.

Tags: terrorism, italy, north africa

Things are better in Baghdad

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:40:43 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: As intended.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Baghdad sees tentative rebirth

The streets of Baghdad are back in business. The teashops are busy. The shops and markets are bustling.

After years when there seemed to be no end to the city's trauma, people are feeling more confident.

Why, even property prices in Baghdad are rising. According to one estate agent we spoke to, they have doubled in the past four months.

Yes, things are better in Baghdad.

Tags: iraq war, improvement, baghdad

In Honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy - an American Hero

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:24:20 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Quite a story... quite a man!

Clip Source: michellemalkin.com

In honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy

A Navy SEAL from Long Island who was killed while leading a reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines in Afghanistan will receive the nation’s highest military award for valor _ the Medal of Honor, President Bush announced Thursday.

Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, is the first armed forces service member to receive the Medal of Honor for combat in Afghanistan, the Navy said Thursday. The medal is the nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force.

Two Medals of Honor have been awarded posthumously in the Iraq war: Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham, who was killed in 2004 after covering a grenade with his helmet; and Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, who was killed in 2003 after holding off Iraqi forces with a machine gun before he was killed at the Baghdad airport.

President Bush will present the Medal of Honor to Murphy’s parents at a White House ceremony on Oct. 22.

Tags: michael p murphy, medal of honor, american hero

The Poles (our friends) are hanging tough

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 08:01:10 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.humanevents.com

The Polish ambassador to Iraq was wounded in an attack Wednesday. In spite of the general unpopularity of the war, the President and Prime Minister of Poland, twin brothers Jaroslaw and Lech Kaczynski are urging Poles to hang tough and keep their troops in the country.

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland will not withdraw its 1,000-strong troop contingent from Iraq after the Polish ambassador was wounded in an attack on his convoy in Baghdad on Wednesday, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said.

"Desertion is always the worst option," Kaczynski told reporters. "This is a difficult situation, but those who became engaged and were there for years and then withdraw are making the worst possible mistake."

The Poles, and a lot of the East Europeans are determined not to make that mistake, and we shouldn’t either. With western civilization in crisis, we need friends and allies, not welfare clients.

The Russians are furious with them, the Poles could not care less.

Tags: iraq war, poland, ally

Democrats "try" to discredit General Petraeus

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:43:23 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: One would have to wonder why the Democrats voted for the guy unanimously and then try to discredit him when he's accomplishing what he was sent to do?

Clip Source: wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com

General Petraeus was confirmed, unanimously 81-0, (that link is to the roll call vote) and given the job of heading up a new counterinsurgency strategy in iraq back in February and he received his full compliment of troops a approximately two months ago.

Since then, he and our troops have seen tremendous military success in places like Anbar Province which was once an al-Qaeda stronghold and just last summer was given up as lost, is now flourishing and life is returning to normal after our troops, led by General Pestraeus and the local population rose up and drove al-Qaeda elements out.

**Dramatic reduction of sectarian killings.

**Drop in the number of roadside bombings.

**Killing or capturing of al-Qaeda fighters, causing the terrorist group to lose influence with local Sunnis.

**75 per cent reduction in religious and ethnic killings since last year.

**Doubling in the seizure of insurgents' weapons caches between January and August.

Tags: iraq war, general petraeus, democrats, politics, update

Anatomy of an Iraqi Tribal Revolt

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 06:27:35 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Very interesting read from someone who've been there. Certainly much more illuminating than anything you see on TV.

Clip Source: smallwarsjournal.com

Some aspects of the war in Iraq are hard to fit into “classical” models of insurgency. One of these is the growing tribal uprising against al Qa’ida, which could transform the war in ways not factored into neat “benchmarks” developed many months ago and thousands of miles away. I spent time out on the ground during May and June working with coalition units, tribal leaders and fighters engaged in the uprising, so I felt a few field observations might be of interest to the Small Wars community. I apologize in advance for the epic length of this post, but it's a complex issue, so I hope people will forgive my long-windedness. Like much else, it’s too early to know how this new development will play out. But surprisingly (surprising to me, anyway), indications so far are relatively positive.

Tags: iraq war, tribes, revolt, al qaeda

Positive News on Iraq from the New York Times

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:58:27 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Things are looking up... even to New York Times.

Clip Source: www.humanevents.com

I can't believe the New York Times actually printed this piece on their op/ed pages but I am supremely happy that they did. The following are a few short excerpts from Michael O'Hanlon & Kenneth Pollack of The Brookings Institute:

Here is the most important thing Americans need to understand: We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms. As two analysts who have harshly criticized the Bush administration’s miserable handling of Iraq, we were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily “victory” but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with.

...Today, morale is high. The soldiers and marines told us they feel that they now have a superb commander in Gen. David Petraeus; they are confident in his strategy, they see real results, and they feel now they have the numbers needed to make a real difference.

Tags: iraq war, progress, new york times

Iraq Pullout - it won't be pretty

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:47:12 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.iht.com

U.S. envoy offers grim prediction on Iraq pullout

BAGHDAD: As the U.S. Senate begins a new debate this week on proposals for a withdrawal from Iraq, the U.S. ambassador and the Iraqi foreign minister are warning that the departure of American troops could lead to sharply increased violence, the deaths of thousands of people and a regional conflict that could draw in Iraq's neighbors.

"In the States, it's like we're in the last half of the third reel of a three-reel movie, and all we have to do is decide we're done here, and the credits come up, and the lights come on, and we leave the theater and go on to something else," he said. "Whereas out here, you're just getting into the first reel of five reels," he added, "and as ugly as the first reel has been, the other four-and-a-half are going to be way, way worse."

Tags: iraq war, us, troops, pullout, results

al qaeda strikes again - here we go... again

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:43:55 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.estripes.com

Forces in Iraq on alert after bombers destroy minarets of Shiite shrine

Unknown attackers destroyed the twin minarets of one of Iraq’s most holy Shiite shrines Wednesday morning, touching off protests, condemnation and fears of sectarian reprisals.

An attack last year at the same Samarra shrine — known as both Askariya and the Golden Mosque — destroyed its golden dome and touched off months of Shiite-Sunni violence that some called a civil war.

No injuries were reported in the 9 a.m. attack that destroyed the minarets, but security throughout the country was immediately tightened. Curfews went into effect in Baghdad and many other cities, Iraqi and American troops were put on high alert, and the entire Iraqi police unit charged with guarding the shrine was detained for questioning.

According to Islamic beliefs, the shrine is also where the 12th Imam — Mohammed al-Mahdi — was put into a state of “divine hiddenness” by God to protect his life.

Tags: iraq, al qaeda, terrorism, explosion, mosque

Bush Hammers the Democrats

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:17:35 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: So much for Democrats doing the right thing after the election.

Clip Source: powerlineblog.com

The purpose of the emergency war spending bill I requested was to provide our troops with vital funding. Instead, Democrats in the House, in an act of political theater, voted to substitute their judgment for that of our military commanders on the ground in Iraq. They set rigid restrictions that will require an army of lawyers to interpret. They set an arbitrary date for withdrawal without regard for conditions on the ground. And they tacked on billions for pet projects that have nothing to do with winning the war on terror. This bill has too much pork, too many conditions and an artificial timetable for withdrawal.

That's right. I think it has become clear to pretty much everyone that the Democrats want defeat in Iraq in order to advance their political agenda. That is not a view that is shared by the American people. If President Bush stays firm, the Dems could be in trouble. Of course, everything depends, as always, on events on the ground.

Tags: bush, democrats, house of representatives, iraq war

Notes from Baghdad - The Surge is Working

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:59:24 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.opinionjournal.com

Notes From Baghdad

Open liquor stores and other signs of the surge's success.

BAGHDAD--The new strategy to secure Baghdad has been dubbed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as "Operation Imposing the Law." After weeks of waiting and anxiety it is finally under way, and early signs are encouraging.

This indicates that both the addition of more troops and the tough words of Prime Minister Maliki are doing the job of intimidating the militants. The extremists understand only the language of power, and any reluctance or softness on the part of the Iraqi or U.S. government would only embolden them. In this way the clearly voiced commitment of President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki was exactly the type of strong message that needed to be sent.

So after only a couple weeks we can feel, despite the continuing violence, that much has been accomplished. Many Baghdadis feel hopeful

Tags: iraq war, surge, bush, success