Wednesday, April 02, 2003

I've noticed that recently some of the Crusaders have been claiming that the predictions of a "cakewalk" in Iraq were made up by the US media, and the government never said any such thing. This is nonsense, of course, but the Crusaders seem to figure that nobody will remember what they had been saying for months. Here is one particularly appropriate article where a wounded soldier reports that even his own officers told him to expect mass surrenders. 11:58:59 PM    comment () Military analysts believe that today and tomorrow will decide the outcome of the attack on Baghdad that begun two days ago. If the coalition forces fail to break the Iraqi defenses, then by the weekend the US will be forced to curtail all attacks and to resort to positional warfare while regrouping forces and integrating them with the fresh divisions arriving from the US and Europe. Such a tactical pause in the war, although not a complete halt in combat operations (the coalition command will continue trying to use localized attacks to improve its positions), may last seven to fourteen days and will lead to a full re-evaluation of all coalition battle plans. [Venik's Aviation] 9:51:34 PM    comment () I've added an explanation of who is a libertarian to the navigation bar. 8:35:23 PM    comment () Beyond Baghdad [Guardian Unlimited] An article about US plans for the occupation of Iraq. Apart from the attempt by Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy defence secretary, to install Ahmed Chalabi, the failed Iraqi banker, and his cronies in advisory positions (since all the ministerial posts will be filled by Americans), the Pentagon has also ousted eight senior officials nominated by the US state department. The news about Chalabi is rather predictable. It's inevitable that we would install some criminal, and this con artist (who is on the run from a 34 year prison sentence in Jordan) is popular with the "neo-conservatives." Although Britain has been consulted, it also seems unhappy about US plans to establish neo-colonial rule, even if it's supposed to be temporary. Prime minister Tony Blair yesterday called for a UN-sponsored conference of all groups to start reshaping Iraq's future. In other words, Blair actually has no objection to neo-colonial rule as long as it's the UN doing the colonizing. 7:56:52 PM    comment () Al-Jazeera halts Iraq broadcasts. The influential Arab TV channel says it will stop reporting from Iraq after Baghdad bars two of its correspondents. [BBC News | Front Page | UK Edition] First CNN, now Al Jazeera. The Iraqis certainly are clumsy when it comes to the media and propaganda. 7:36:36 PM    comment () Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss. Michael Freund tells the plain truth about Abu Mazen, aka Mahmoud Abbas, aka Arafat's 'pragmatic' protege. [little green footballs] Why do we support such bastards only to regret it decades later? [Counterpoint] This is a pretty ironic question, coming from a Crusader. One possible answer might be, "because there are still people who think they can slaughter their way to Utopia, in spite of all historical evidence to the contrary." 5:12:49 PM    comment () Back to Iraq -- at last. TEN MILES FROM THE IRAQI BORDER -- J. and I are sitting in the middle of mountain valley, protected from surveillance by scrub and rocky outcroppings. Overhead the roar and rumble of bombers echoes against the mountain walls. Every now and then, we can hear the dull thuds of exploded ordinance -- over Mosul? -- as the sounds of the blasts roll through the valleys and off the sheer faces surrounding us. It is overcast, which is lucky. Tonight, we will ford one of the Tigris' tributaries and then walk two to three hours on foot -- with a guide -- into Iraq. [Back to Iraq 2.0] An interesting glimpse of what life is like in the Kurdish area controlled by Turkey. 2:53:29 PM    comment () PM's adviser handcuffed in house raid. Lord Levy, Tony Blair's adviser on the Middle East, is shackled and assaulted by raiders at his north London home. [BBC News | Front Page | UK Edition] With all the crime in the UK, it's nice to see violent criminals preying on other violent criminals instead of ordinary people. 10:35:59 AM    comment () The End Game?. Thanks to an Army push around Karbala and a Marine sprint to -- and evidently across -- the Tigris, there may be little more than very messy mop up duty ahead. As many as five Republican Guard divisions are trapped outside of Baghdad with little to do except catch coalition ordnance. [Hit & Run] Before the war started, there were reports that Saddam intended to pull his forces back into Baghdad and fight there. I don't know why he decided to send them out towards the invading forces instead, but it was quite thoughtful. He's certainly made it easier for the US by allowing his most reliable troops to be destroyed outside the city! 9:47:18 AM    comment () Pamphlets Urge Troops To Pray for President. U.S. troops in Iraq are being urged to pray for President Bush. Thousands of Marines have been given a pamphlet called "A Christian's Duty," according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp., citing a journalist embedded with troops in Iraq. Enclosed with the pamphlet is a tear-out card "to be mailed to the White House pledging the soldier who sends it in has been praying for Bush," the report said. The pamphlet's publisher, Atlanta-based In Touch Ministries, said "A Christian's Duty" was not designed specifically for the troops, but apparently someone "shipped a bulk order over," according to spokeswoman Karen Sharp. She said the pledge card includes prayers for Bush, his family, his staff and U.S. troops for each day of the week. Tuesday's suggested prayer is that the troops have courage and that "the president and his advisers will have the unified support of the American people as well as that of other countries around the world." [Washington Post] I'd like to think this is some sick April Fool's joke, but I'm afraid it isn't. 9:34:07 AM    comment ()

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