Month: March 2008

Patience Is the Best Iran Policy

The United Nations Security Council has agreed to tighten economic sanctions against Iran following Iran’s continued refusal to suspend its ongoing program of uranium enrichment. This decision follows the release of a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that also documents the expansion of Iran’s enrichment activities. While the administration of President Bush … Continue reading “Patience Is the Best Iran Policy”

Medvedev, Hillary,
and ‘Media Bias’

The self-appointed election “monitors” of the Council of Europe have delivered their official verdict on the procedures and results of the recent Russian election, in which Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin’s designated heir, skated to victory. “We think there is not freedom in this election,” said Andreas Gross, a Socialist member of the Swiss parliament, to … Continue reading “Medvedev, Hillary,
and ‘Media Bias’”

Linear Tactics in a Chaotic War

One of several dead hands the First Generation of Modern War lays on contemporary state militaries’ throats is linearity. Most state militaries both seek and expect linearity on and off the battlefield. Sometimes, this manifests itself in tactics that offer magnificent if unintentional tableaux vivants. I recall a field exercise years ago with the Second … Continue reading “Linear Tactics in a Chaotic War”

The War Election

Maybe it sounded good when politicians, pundits, and online fundraisers talked about American deaths as though they were the deaths that mattered most. Maybe it sounded good to taunt the Bush administration as a bunch of screw-ups who didn’t know how to run a proper occupation. And maybe it sounded good to condemn Donald Rumsfeld … Continue reading “The War Election”

Tuesday: 1 US Soldier, 51 Iraqis Killed; 7 Iraqis Wounded

Updated at 12:35 a.m. EST, Mar. 5, 2008In a reprieve from yesterday’s violence, at least 51 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 27 more were wounded in the latest attacks. A U.S. soldier was killed when an Iraqi helicopter crashed in a dust storm. One U.S. soldier and seven Iraqi soldiers were killed when … Continue reading “Tuesday: 1 US Soldier, 51 Iraqis Killed; 7 Iraqis Wounded”

Iraqi Refugees: ‘Not Our Country to Return To’

DAMASCUS – More Iraqis continue to flee their country than the numbers returning, despite official claims to the contrary. Thousands fleeing say security is as bad as ever and that to return would be to accept death. "Return to Iraq?" asks 35-year-old Ahmed Alwan, an Iraqi engineer now working at a restaurant in Damascus. "There … Continue reading “Iraqi Refugees: ‘Not Our Country to Return To’”

Iraqi Refugees: ‘Not Our Country to Return To’

DAMASCUS – More Iraqis continue to flee their country than the numbers returning, despite official claims to the contrary. Thousands fleeing say security is as bad as ever and that to return would be to accept death. "Return to Iraq?" asks 35-year-old Ahmed Alwan, an Iraqi engineer now working at a restaurant in Damascus. "There … Continue reading “Iraqi Refugees: ‘Not Our Country to Return To’”

Sunni Insurgents Exploit US-Sponsored Militias

For months, U.S. President George W. Bush and Gen. David Petraeus have been touting the program of recruiting tens of thousands of Sunnis into U.S.-financed "Awakening Councils" as a master stroke of Iraq strategy which has weakened al-Qaeda in Iraq and helps reduce sectarian conflict through "bottom-up reconciliation." But the mainstream Sunni insurgents who have … Continue reading “Sunni Insurgents Exploit US-Sponsored Militias”

Monday: 102 Iraqis Killed, 120 Wounded

Updated at 12:15 a.m. EST, March 4, 2008Several bombings and other violence left 102 Iraqis killed and 120 wounded. The figures include new casualties from a previous reported bombing in Samarra. Among today’s dead and injured are a woman and children, who were accidentally targeted by British troops in Basra. Also, Iraqi army troops beat … Continue reading “Monday: 102 Iraqis Killed, 120 Wounded”