The Cool Blue Blog

Confirmed?

Here's report of interest to me:

Kidnappers of French Journalists in Iraq Issue Statement Praising France

...Kidnappers of two French journalists in Iraq praised France's "positive steps toward the Iraqi people" Tuesday, a sign that the hostage-takers may be softening their position.

The group, which claimed the kidnapping of the Frenchman in previous statements, did not elaborate on the "positive steps" it said France has taken....

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said that an international conference on Iraq proposed by the United States should consider the question of a U.S. troop withdrawal from that country.

They proposed more than US troop withdrawals, they also proposed that the Islamo-fascists have a seat at the table.

Does this confirm the suspicions I put forth here?

No, but it goes a long way towards it.

The fascists trying to subvert things in Iraq know they can't win on the ground. They know their only hope is to win the political/PR battle. Kerry helps, the Democrats help, ANSWER helps and now, it would seem, the French.

But the French have been on the other side for a long time now.

Veteran's wife, daughter and sister for Truth

I received an email from Laura B. Armstrong, a daughter of a Vietnam vet, wife of a Marine, and sister to a soldier. She spoke at the Vietnam Veterans for Truth rally in Washington DC earlier this month. She gave me permission to share with you the speech she made there:

I am SO very proud to stand with you today, before our nation’s great capitol. Aren’t you awed by the power and the tone of the messages we’ve heard?

I know many of you have similar stories of unbelievable valor and sacrifice, just like our speakers. If only America could hear you all.

I wasn’t in Vietnam, but I’ve been a military observer and participant all my life. Army brat, Marine wife, I worked also as a civilian journalist for a Navy newspaper in Pensacola. My brother was a CH-46 pilot in Desert Storm.

I’ve been a widow for 11 years now, but, happily, there’s a Marine serving out there who’s on his way home to us this week, after more than a year away, so stakes are high for me personally when it comes to electing the next commander in chief.

My earliest memories however are of you, our wonderful men and women of the U.S. armed services. I was that Army brat who waited for you – and then cried when you finally returned home after a long hitch overseas. It took awhile sometimes, for us to recognize you.

You guarded my gates. Double-timed outside my schoolhouse window. You unfurled the American flag each morning. You played taps each evening. You decorated my parade grounds on all the special occasions, and delivered Santa Claus in your Hueys. When I fell off my bike, riding to the post school, you picked me up, brushed me off, and told me to carry on.

For years, I thought captain was a first name, and I still hit the rack each night at bedtime.

I learned early to cherish the traditions of the service, and knew enough about the world to be very proud when my dad told me he was going to a place called Vietnam so other kids could be freed from the threat of communism.

The news you don't hear

Iraq missions that work out are missing from mainstream media

Did you see the big headline or watch the top-of-the-newscast story about the success of our sons and daughters in Samarra, Iraq?

Of course, you didn't.

I found mention deep in stories from The Christian Science Monitor and The Associated Press. But it took e-mails from Marine officers in Iraq to relay the importance of this positive news — so I could tell you.

It shouldn't be this way. Yet journalism in America is broken. It has no foundation of values by which many Americans can relate and depend. The moral of this column is not about one side prevailing in news coverage on the war on terror. It's simply about fairness — about Americans getting both sides with the same prominence.

They're not. And media emphasis on Iraq being in chaos has coincided with John Kerry making the same pitch to voters. It makes you wonder, just as we did on the authenticity of Dan Rather's reporting. And now America knows about Rather's ruse.

''Samarra is a beaming success story over here,'' writes Lt. Col Jim Rose, a Tennessee Marine whose parents live in Old Hickory. ''We were getting ready for a take-down there right after Najaf. We told the locals, 'Hey, see what happened in Najaf? Is that what you want? Cause we're coming.' It took the locals about two days to get the bad guys out.''

Daily Dish

Zarqawi in the crosshairs. Actually, he's been in the crosshairs for a while but while the press reports the incidents, they either ignore or are ignorant of the big picture. These precision strikes we have seen in Fallujah of late don't just happen. Someone has to be on the ground designating those targets. And the fact that they come almost everyday is a sign we have some brave suckers doing some outstandingly dangerous work. Successfully I might add. Zarqawi's days are numbered. And while he may be KIA, if captured, his head won't be cut off.

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I hope this is true, but I have my doubts. Regardless, I still think Berlusconi is a stand up guy and a good ally, even if Kerry does hold him in low esteem.

Um, how did an axe get onboard? And we worry about nail clippers?

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Nigerian oil is back on line for the moment.

Does anyone believe anything Syria says?

UN urges quick start for Darfur security force. Too late for that.

China prepares for war. Who is the target? Meanwhile, Bejing signals renewed involvement in Hong Kong affairs.

Break out the popcorn, this should be fun what with Kerry and his healthy tan and all.

A New York Court challenges the Constitutonality of the Patriot Act

Illinois wedding shocker

This guy needs to check for bad mojo

Brits test electronic back-seat driver device. Voice sounds like your mother-in-law.

EU to require passports for your pet. Cat Stevens applies.

What to do when you find a frog in your greens.

The world's fastest, tallest roller coaster

Ghost of Walt Disney creates Buddah Mouse

Characterizing the situation in Iraq: words v data

A current New York Times article attempts to give the reader a sense of the "situation" in Iraq today. They give a lot of data and characterize that data in this way:

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 28 - Over the past 30 days, more than 2,300 attacks by insurgents have been directed against civilians and military targets in Iraq, in a pattern that sprawls over nearly every major population center outside the Kurdish north, according to comprehensive data compiled by a private security company with access to military intelligence reports and its own network of Iraqi informants.

The sweeping geographical reach of the attacks, from Nineveh and Salahuddin Provinces in the northwest to Babylon and Diyala in the center and Basra in the south, suggests a more widespread resistance than the isolated pockets described by Iraqi government officials.

The folks over at the Belmont Club took the data provided by the NYT and made a table of the numbers.The data paints a picture that is different from the words used by the Times. I took that data, put it into Excel, and graphed it. Here are the results. Compare it to the conclusions reached by the Times reporters.

Here is the data graphed by province and population:

And here is the data graphed by province and area:

It seems to me that the New York Times when characterizing the data with words, allowed bias to creep in. That bias is quite obviously consistent with the characterization of the situation being made by the Kerry campaign and Democrats in general.

On the other hand, the data suggests that Prime Minister Allawi more closely characterized the data when he said in response to a CBS reporter's question:

Let me explain something, which is very important. I have noticed -- and the media have been neglected and omitted several times -- in the Western media -- Iraq is made out of 18 provinces, 18, 1-8. Out of these 18 provinces, 14 to 15 are completely safe, there are no problems.

Check the data.

Say what you mean
Mean what you say
Look into the world of tomorrow
Say what you want
Want what is true

-Moody Blues

Albu Shukur primary school

Construction underway on Albu Shukur primary school

On August 16th construction began on a new primary school in the village of Albu Shukur in the area of Yethrib located east of the city of Balad. This project, made possible through cooperation of the Yethirb City Council, Task Force 1-77, 372nd Engineer Group, and the 185th Aviation Brigade, will bring the first new school to the area in more than 20 years.

Task Force 1-77 and their partnership units are investing $74,900 in this school that will serve more than 300 local area children. The village of Albu Shukur currently has over 1000 children attending only one school. “This school will bring hope to many that have not had hope in a very long time,” stated Yethirb mayor Shouket Abudal Rahman Ahmed. Task Force 1-77 Headquarters Commander Capt. Richard Johnson, whose unit is responsible for part of the area, stated, “This is another example of what good we can all do when we work together instead of fighting. In a month this field will be a school and children will learn about the freedom they now have.”

This project is part of Operation Tiger Cub, an ongoing Task Force 1-77 operation that links Task Force companies to communities and sponsor schools. Units located on Logistical Support Area Anaconda have been invaluable in providing funding and supplies to support the operation which is currently supporting the construction or renovation of nine schools in the Task Force area of operations. The commander of C Company, Task Force 1-77, Capt. Robert Gagnon stated, “This program has really had an effect in the area. It creates more then just good will but a real link from soldiers to the communities that they are really a part of.”

Task Force 1-77 has continued aggressive civil-military operations throughout the Balad area. These operations, combined with traditional military operations, are stabilizing an area that is still recovering from over 30 years of abuse and neglect by the former regime. (Story by Lt. Mark Crowder, 2nd Brigade Combat Team)

Daily Dish

CBS does it again. I'm an engineer, not a journalist, and even I managed to be able to research this story better than the "pros" at CBS. Then again, I'm not a shill for the Kerry campaign.

Italian hostages say they were treated with dignity. Forget about that whole held against their will and ransomed thing or the fact that "she did fear she was going to die during her captivity". And the Pope expresses great joy that others may die or be abducted in exchange for the lives of these women. Does it make me a bad person if I don't feel the same? Meanwhile, Britain wonders what will happen to Bigley. Bigley has some support among Muslims, but Britain refuses to negotiate.

Nigerian holds world oil prices hostage.

Two arrested for the murder of American journalist Paul Klebnikov

UN Calls for more soldiers in Haiti. But the room is empty.

German "Boob Bandits"

Shreveport won't be getting mail today

Giant spider shuts down school

Punk rockers help demolish house.

How to tell if your wife is a porn star

Ransomed

Today, two female Italian aid workers kidnapped by an unknown terrorist group were released. It is reported that the Italian government paid a million dollar ransom.

If true, that's a million dollars that can now, potentially, be spent on munitions that will kill coalition soldiers, other aid workers, and other civilians helping to rebuild Iraq.

I'm quite sure that the families of these women are very happy about their release. And I'm quite sure they won't give a second thought to what is done with the money paid in ransom.

But again, if true, it's unconscionable none the less. Unconscionable to trade one life for another without so much as a second thought.

Could it be that the Italian government felt that not getting the women back would compromise support for their participation in the war?

Who cares? I don't.

You either lead or you don't and you don't make deals with the devil for any reason. If you lose your job and someone else reverses your decisions, well, that's life.

Along these same lines there is this:

France said Monday that it would take part in a proposed international conference on Iraq only if the agenda included a possible U.S. troop withdrawal...

Paris also wants representatives of Iraq's insurgent groups to be invited to a conference in October or November...

Perhaps it's my imagination, but it wasn't long ago that France was busy running around the Middle East trying to find someone to surrender to; someone who would take something from them, anything, to release hostages that had the French people on edge thinking that their lack of support for the "American" war in Iraq would innoculate them from this kind of thing.

When the overt demands of the kidnappers wasn't met and the French journlists were not executed, I wondered what happened. Then they dropped out of the news altogether.

Now we hear the French requiring a US witdrawal and negotiation with Islamists as a prerequisite for their participation in an international conference on Iraq.

Well I'm skeptical about all of this and I just wonder if this is a move on France's part to secure the release of their hostages.

Regardless, negotiating with murderers and fascists is not a way to buy security.

And giving them millions of dollars sure as hell isn't going to make them less dangerous.

Close the doors, put out the light
You know they won't be home tonight
The snow falls hard and don't you know
The winds of Thor are blowing cold
They're wearing steel that's bright and true
They carry news that must get through
They choose the path where no-one goes
They hold no quarter,
They ask no quarter.

Walking side by side with death
The devil mocks their every step
The snow drives back the foot that's slow
The dogs of doom are howling more
They carry news that must get through
To build a dream for me and you
They choose the path that no one goes
They hold no quarter, they ask no quarter

-Led Zeppelin

Aid comes to Panjshir Valley

Parwan PRT enters historic Panjshir Valley

By Sgt. Frank Magni, 17th Public Affairs Det.

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- As Coalition forces reach out to more locations in Afghanistan helping with reconstruction and stability, the process of entering new areas poses new challenges.

With each new location having unique cultural concerns and reconstruction needs, the experience is always different.

Members of the Parwan Provincial Reconstruction team visited the newly-formed Panjshir Province -- an area of central Afghanistan rich in history and pride -- several times in August and September. It is also an area rarely visited by coalition forces.

Located within the province, Panjshir Valley is the home of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a champion of Afghan freedom, who fought against Soviet and Taliban forces. Massoud was assassinated by the Taliban just days before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, and still remains a hero to many Afghans.

Master Sgt. Jeffrey White, Parwan PRT, was one of the first civil affairs members to enter the valley after receiving an invitation from the provincial governor.

The area was never overlooked by the coalition, but was being respected because of its symbolic importance to the country, White said.

"This place is very beautiful. When you come here you realize why they (Panjshir Valley residents) would be so protective of the area," White said. "They are very proud of their home."

After initial visits into the valley, the team saw they could help the residents with the type of aid that has been provided in other provinces. They also encountered a very receptive population.

Daily Dish

France has an idea. The International meeting on Iraq should include, as a pretext, US withdrwal and giving Islamic fascists a seat at the table! Wow, why didn't we think of that? Probably because we don't negotiate with terrorists to free our hostages.

Danish Embassy is attacked by the "Global Intifada". Oh what did they ever do to deserve this?

Hamas encourages people to vote.

Dutch Oil interests are threatened in Nigeria.

Um, what does King Abdullah know about elections?

Arafat offers to help British hostage

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It's the Wiccan Barbie Blessed Be

Literary hookers start book club.

Kerry's Navy, the videogame

Inexperienced armed robbers

Norwegian Air Traffic Control employees are tired of working so they stayed home

What Communist Chinese assault rifle?