The Cool Blue Blog

Daily Dish

It appears to me that the Democrat Party has a new strategy. They have detached a unit from the main force to embrace a virulent anti-Administration stance while the rest of the Party moves to the center. This detachment, which I will call the Loon Platoon, is positioned to take advantage of the political opportunity that may arise if things go terribly wrong in Iraq with the elections on Sunday or subsequent to them. And if they gain a foothold, then the rest can pile on and claim they have always been anti-war and critical of the Administration too.

The Loon Platoon consists primarily of the 13 Senators who voted against Condoleezza Rice's nomination yesterday, none of whom are up for reelection in 2006 except Senator Byrd.. These same Senators will likely give Alberto Gonzales a hard time when its his time for the full Senate to debate his nomination for Attorney General. His recommendation from the Judiciary Committee squeaked by with no votes from Democrats at all.

Is there really a grand strategy? I don't know. If there is, I am sure that some like Sen. Lieberman who urged a "resounding vote" for Ms Rice to show "that we're together for what we're pursuing which is a successful conclusion to our involvement in Iraq and to the spread of freedom and democracy throughout the world," are not apart of it. If there is such a strategy, will it work? I don't think so. First because I think things will go well on Sunday and subsequently in Iraq and second because I think the Loon Platoon, whether working alone or not, has misjudged the political climate. Their harsh criticism of now Secretary Rice was not received well by many black Civil Rights leaders. C. Delores Tucker, national chairwoman of the National Congress of Black Women, came to the Capitol to lobby for Rice and protest her treatment by Democrats.   "She is the most qualified person ever to have served in that position," Tucker said.   "It has nothing to do with the color of her skin," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid told the Post-Herald. Right. Unless it was Republicans grilling a "minority" Democrat. President and CEO of Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, Hope Sullivan, agreed with Tucker. “As I watched this brilliant African-American woman being questioned so aggressively by certain members of the Senate panel, I knew it was necessary for those of us who are so proud of Dr. Rice to stand up and be counted.”

And as if this isn't enough, look at what Senator Clinton is doing. There is little doubt that President Clinton was one of the most adept politicians of our time. His reading of the political landscape is impeccable. And there is also little doubt that he is advising his wife who will likely make a bid for President in 2008. So what she's up to reflects how she and her husband see things politically. And we note that she neither spoke against Secretary Rice nor voted against her. And Senator Clinton has moved herself firmly to the center on abortion and religion. She has also supported pro-Democracy efforts in Iraq. Does she mean all of this? Who knows, but the politics is what matters to her in her bid for the Whitehouse. And her politics, and those of the Loon Platoon are diametrically opposed. What's more, the Democrat Party in general will be painted with the brush the Loon Platoon is wielding and that does not bode well for them.

Jefferson Morley of the Washington Post says the region is not optimistic about the elections in Iraq. But it leaves me wondering that if people really thought the elections would lead to civil war, which is what Zarqawi has been trying all this time to instigate, why are the anti-Democratic forces so hell bent on disrupting the elections? USA Today isn't so pessimistic. Bolstering the idea that freedom in Iraq is the leaven for the wider region, here's a roundup of good news from the Muslim World.

Britain had no choice but to arrest the individuals extradited by the US from Gitmo. Sir John Stevens, the outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said that after examining the evidence in relation to the four men, he concluded there was “no other option” than to arrest them when they arrived back. I'm sure the ICRC will be visting them soon.... Meanwhile, the British government proposed far-reaching new powers to control and monitor suspected terrorists without charge or trial, including house arrests, electronic tagging and curfews. Must be the work of Sir John Ashcroft.

If the current truce between Israel and the Palestinian Authority holds, Abbas predicts that an agreement between them can be announced within two weeks. Meanwhile, Israel is not denying the possibility of a stirke on Iran but says that diplomacy is preferred.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said, when speaking to Russia, "The events in the Middle East could lead to the break-up of several countries in the region, the rise of extremism and religious and ethnic strife. This could produce a domino effect that could spread to your region." I wonder what he meant by that?

Surprise! Hugo Chavez has ties to terrorists.

Cuba gets a seat on the UNs Human Rights commission. Where is Human Rights Watch on this issue?

France is arresting anti-Democratic jihadists heading for Iraq left and right. And where is their Journalist?

Party Animal update: Drunken Robins invade Florida.

Britain approves a legal Red Light district in Liverpool.

Isle of Man renames itself Isle of Woman.

"I'm not dead yet."

A Year in Iraq

A Year In Iraq

Click to download the full report (5mb) in PDF format To view individual sections, see Table of Contents

$3.3 billion in U.S. aid fixed schools, vaccinated millions of children, restored electricity and created Iraq’s first democratic councils.

The emergency relief and reconstruction aid delivered to Iraq during the 12 months since the fall of Saddam Hussein in April, 2003, was the biggest U.S. foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan, delivering $3.3 billion in help to Iraq’s people.

This text explains how the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) have supported Iraq's recovery from three decades of tyranny and mass murder.

The following links are in PDF format.  Download the free Adobe Reader to view PDF files.

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Table of Contents

A Year In Iraq - Full Report (5 mb)

Relief and Reconstruction: The biggest U.S. foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan after World War II challenged USAID Iraq teams

Quick Action: Disaster Assistance Response Team brought in food, water, shelter and medicine to avert a humanitarian crisis

Infrastructure

Powering Up: U.S. contractors restored power and bridges while repairing neglected water and sewage systems vital to Iraqi’s health.

Small Grants: Transition teams quickly repaired schools and clinics; and funded human rights teams to prevent ethnic and land conflicts

Society

Building Democracy: Iraqi councils are beginning to run local projects and learn how to govern

Community Action: U.S. funded NGOs helped local groups organize to tackle projects

Essential Services

Rebuilding Iraq's Health System: After years of neglect, Iraqi contractors are hired to fix clinics and hospitals

Opening Schools: Despite conflict, final exams for 2003 are held and new school year begins on schedule in October —with millions of new textbooks

Economy

Financial Reform: Soviet model economy begins to reform with new currency, training, private markets and micro loans

Canals and Date Palms: Agricultural assistance cleans silt from canals and improves date palm stock

Human Rights

Reviving Marshes: Life returns as dams open and thousands of acres of marshlands are covered by water.

Mass Graves: Grieving Iraqis unearth hundreds of thousands of victims in mass graves and U.S. helps them to record and manage the grave sites

Negroponte Pledges: Named by President Bush as ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte vows U.S. help in Iraq’s reconstruction

Map of Iraq Projects: U.S.-supported reconstruction and other aid projects have taken place all across Iraq

To view PDF files, download
the accessible version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Powering Up

Papers Outline Iraq's Progress in 2004

American Forces Press Service

Washington, Jan. 25, 2005 -- In less than a year, iraqi military ground forces have grown from one operational battalion to 21  and counting.

Iraq's navy now sports five 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment. The country's air force has three operational squadrons equipped with nine reconnaissance aircraft and three U.S. C-130 transport aircraft. And Iraq's special operations forces include a counterterrorist force and a commando battalion.

These count among a multitude of accomplishments across the spectrum of the Iraqi interim government, reported in a series of just-released fact sheets by Multinational Force Iraq and the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

"In 2004, Iraqi forces fought alongside coalition forces in Najaf, Samarra, Fallujah, Baghdad, North Babil, Mosul, and a host of other locations," reads a fact sheet on Iraqi security forces. "In Fallujah alone, Iraqi forces lost eight of their members and had more than 40 wounded. Well over a thousand others have also lost their lives serving their country."

And officials add that although Iraqi forces have sustained casualties in many attacks, there's no shortage of volunteers.

Facts are included also on the growth of the Ministry of Interior's Iraqi police forces, which number more than 55,000.

Other year-in-review documents list and discuss coalition troop contributions ñ from the U.S.' 148,000 to Norway's 10. Besides the U.S. contingent, other countries supporting Multinational Force Iraq range from South Korea and Japan, to Latvia and Estonia, to Italy and the United Kingdom, to Georgia and Azerbaijan, to the Netherlands, to El Salvador.

Plus, there's information on operational feats by units such as the Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft detachment, the Macedonian Special Forces and Ukraine's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Another point paper states that more than 1,100 reconstruction projects are under way, including 364 schools, 67 health clinics, 83 railroad stations and 93 water and sewage plants. Also, as of Dec. 29, 2004, some 108,000 local Iraqis have been hired to work on these projects.

The paper also outlines progress during the year in improving essential services  water, electricity and education, among others.

On a more somber note, there's a timeline of atrocities by insurgents, starting with two French nationals shot and killed in Fallujah on Jan. 6, 2004, and ending with 12 Iraqi police officers' death at a Dijila police station on Dec. 28. That fact sheet also lists March 2 as "worst day of violence" where "sophisticated and simultaneous attacks" killed up to 223 Iraqis, as well as the March 31 deaths of the four U.S. contractors whose bodies were burned, dragged and strung up.

On the Iraqi economy, a fact sheet points out that oil revenues totaled $18.1 billion in 2004 and that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened for trading on June 24.

A final sheet lists the 47 countries with established embassies in Iraq and 28 Iraqi government ministries.

For more good news stories please check out: • Chrenkoff

Daily Dish

The usual suspects dominated the debate over Condie Rice's confirmation for Secretary of State. For nine hours Senators Kennedy, Boxer, Byrd, and Dayton among others made speeches appealing to their base on the Conservative Left but also heard by our enemies and the countries with which the new Secretary of State must deal. Sen Boxer also took this as an opportunity to do some fundraising. During the Foreign Relation hearings, Ms Boxer took off the gloves and called Ms Rice a liar for misleading the Senate about the existence of WMDs in Iraq. Yesterday, It was Sen Dayton's turn: "I don't like to impugn anyone's integrity," he said before impugning Condie's integrity, "but I really don't like being lied to, repeatedly, flagrantly, intentionally." Call me Pollyanna, but I thought it was a Senator's job to read the legislation under consideration before they vote on it. Here's the legislation authorizing war in Iraq, and I defy anyone to point to the line that says Iraq has WMDs. I defy anyone to point to the line that says Iraq has or will have nuclear weapons. The reasons for taking action against Iraq listed in the Joint Resolution were true then and remain true now. Sen Dayton went on to say regarding lying to the American people that "It's wrong. It's undemocratic. It's un-American, and it's dangerous." It's what I've been saying all along, that the Conservative Left, and their spokes-folks like Sens Dayton, Boxer and Kennedy are undemocratic.....and dangerous for precisely the reasons Sen Dayton enumerated..

Confirming information I presented here, yet another survey shows that Iraqi support for Democracy his quite high. Anti-Democratic forces, however, keep up the propaganda war against elections. I suppose in this respect, Iraq is like Vietnam. And before members of Congress ask, it's the results, not the timetable that matters in Iraq. The plan for disrupting elections in Iraq was laid down long ago by the al Qaeda affiliate operating there. And it appears that this plan is being executed accordingly.

Israel agrees to halt assassinating Hamas killers to give Abbas some credibility so that he can deal. The danger for Israel is that they lose the initiative again. The danger for Palestine is that if Abbas can not control the terrorists, no peace will be forthcoming until someone else is in charge. Meanwhile, Iran scoffs at Israel's claims that Iran is close to being a nuclear power. Poo poo. scoff scoff. "We just want to keep the lights on."

Well Britain got their citizens back from Gitmo. And they promptly arrested them. However, they may release them into the population if more evidence isn't forthcoming. I wonder what will happen if they subsequently perpetrate an attack?

Russia writes off almost $10 billion of Syrian debt. Gee, I don't remember them writing off Iraqi debt, but maybe I missed it. Syria (or is it Russia) seems to be making a play to balance US power in the region. Oh good. But thankfully, there is no arms deal between the nations. That's me, living in my fantasy world again. Meanwhile, there's a movement afoot in Russia to ban all Jewish organizations.

China commutes a Tibetan monk's death sentence to life in prison. Well, that's better then death I 'spose. The monk was also "deprived of his political rights for life". He was heard to mutter "what political rights?"

"Indonesia to hold talks with rebels in Finland" Indonesia has Finnish rebels?

Annan was interrogated by an American. heh heh heh. I couldn't resist.

Arizona becomes the first state to require proof of citizenship in order to vote. Seems strange doesn't it that in every other state non-citizens can vote? Meanwhile, in California, the Stars come out to promote allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses.

The official Cool Blue Martial Arts instructor tells us why personal protection is an important consideration.

Serial killing by proxy? I mean, real serial killers keep souveniers too.

Vodka saves a mans life.

Forget Bush, Fox News is Hitler. Does that even make sense? Hey, it's Ted, it doesn't have to make sense. (no, not Kennedy, though he doesn't make sense either.)

In an Intellectual Property dispute, rappers argue about who came up with the phrase "Back that ass up" in the US 5th Circuit. "Intellectual Property"...get it? heh heh heh

Send in the Marines

Last night's episode of the Fox series "24" ended with a tribute to a co-worker of mine who was killed in Iraq last year, Marine Lt. Col David Greene.

This after probably the most thrilling 10 minutes I have seen on Television in a very long time. The sequence starts with CTU Agent Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland) infiltrating an Islamic terrorist camp located in Southern California. At the camp, the Secretary of Defense James Heller (played by William Devane) is being held by the terrorists so they may broadcast his trial and execution. As the trial reaches its climax, Jack, a former Delta Force team leader, disrupts the proceeding by killing lots of bad guys. But there's a whole lotta bad guys so after freeing Heller and giving him a gun, the two attempt an escape. Pinned down behind a vehicle and out of ammo, things look bleak for our hero.

Then the Marines arrive:

When you absolutely, positively, hafta kill every mutha-lovin terrorist in the joint, do call in the Marines.

Thanks to Fox for airing one of the best kick-ass series' on the planet, for not bowing down to CAIR, and for paying tribute to a great American.

Daily Dish

The President's soaring Inaugural rhetoric was well recieved in some Democracy-starved parts of the world; like Iran, for instance. Some parts of the world still don't get it; like Europe, for Instance. Zarqawi and his ilk get it, they just don't like it much and act out like little babies. Well, like little really dangerous babies who fear any authority they can't control. In my mind I phantasize that it would be fun to put people like Human Rights Watch in charge of Iraq security and see what they do when they are responsible for protecting people against sociopaths that would just as soon slit your throat as look at you. But I would be afraid that they are really on the other side. The Pentagon, using authority granted by Congress, sets up its own intelligence gathering network to counter the anti-Democratic insurgents. Some in Congress (and the media) complain and the Pentagon sends people to the Hill to explain the law to them. Of course, if Congress were just relying on the Washington Post to tell them what was going on, you could forgive them for the misunderstanding. Meanwhile, more evidence that the term Conservative Left is apt comes from the Guardian for Pete's sake which asks the question: Why aren't more Democrats backing the Iraq elections? The answer, of course, is obvious: those who aren't, aren't Democrats; in the Democratic sense. Because there is ample historical evidence that Democracy is a virus that will spread when released. And finally, the New York Times reports that Shi'ites have decided the new Iraqi government should have a secular face. Sounds great. If only I could believe the New York Times....

Abbas gets serious by ordering PA security forces to destroy illegal buildings on the border with Israel. Hamas is trying to remain relevent by proposing its own deal, though it is possible that I'm giving too much credit to Abbas and the situation is actually reversed. We'll see. But I tend to think that the Palestinian people want the political situation resolved and they don't think that Hamas has done anything but made matters worse. Meanwhile, Athena of Terrorism Unveiled offers up a survey of the Arab media and its affects.

While it is pretty clear that something must be done about Social Security, the AARP has come out dead set against Bush's plan....even though he hasn't articulated a plan yet. If that doesn't spell partisan obstructionism, I just don't know how to spell partisan obstructionism.

Kate of The Last Amazon has some thoughts on Bush's visit to Canada.

Rob has a news flash: PBS discovers the Terrorist Threat!

John Kerry with chicken feet? Let's hear it for Italy!

Good security is local

Iraqi Citizens and the Iraqi Army Making a Difference

KAN’AN, Iraq – As the elections approach, local Iraqi citizens are providing vital intelligence in disrupting anti-Iraqi forces’ activity.  These vital links between the Iraqi citizens and the Iraqi Security Forces will help the elections proceed as scheduled and lead to the emplacement of a free Iraqi nation.

Bravo Company, 213^th Iraqi Army Battalion leadership from Kan’an approached the Task Force 82^nd Charlie Company commander, Capt. Scott L. Holland, Jr. on Jan. 12 with intelligence indicating that AIF had emplaced a small weapons cache the previous night in Kan’an.

The palm groves in the area provided cover for the operation, yet observant Iraqis spotted the activity and reported it to their Iraqi Security Forces.  Based on the suspected location and the fact that the suspected weapons were covertly placed during the hours of darkness prompted the Iraqi Army leadership to take immediate action by requesting coalition support.

Iraqi Army soldiers with the support of Charlie Company, Task Force 82^nd Engineers conducted a cordon and search of the houses in the suspected area as well as an area search of the fields surrounding the complexes.

Initially, the building searches did not produce any results.  However, upon further investigation, the Iraqi Army found evidence of a hidden cache in a nearby field that was partially concealed by palm groves.  The joint sweep uncovered two 80mm mortar rounds concealed in the bushes.

Regardless of the relatively small size of the weapons cache, this operation demonstrated a much larger success.  The Iraqi citizens are now volunteering information more now than ever, which is severely hindering AIF movement and operations.

Daily Dish

Support for Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa does not guarantee that the resulting governments will be pro-American. To have intellectual integrity with regards to political and economic freedom, we should work for the ideals regardless. President Bush has already shown that he has the intellectual honesty that matches the idealistic rhetoric of his second Inaugural Address when he supported free and fair elections in the Ukraine despite the fact that new government there was not willing to continue their support of Bush's policy in Iraq. Yet, the Conservative Left is arguing that if American style Democracy does not surface in the wake of the Bush Doctrine, it will be a failure. This comes, of course, after bitter complaints that the Bush Doctrine is attempting "impose" our political systems on "others", as if people choose dictators. So while the Bush Administration demonstrates intellectual honesty, the Conservative Left abandons it.

Arthur Chrenkof lists the political parties participating in the elections to be held on Sunday. Meanwhile, anti-Democratic forces strike again at Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's political party offices in central Baghdad while Iraqi forces capture an important al Qaeda leader.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad will visit Russia which is the first time a Syrian leader has been in Moscow for over a decade. Both side deny that military cooperation is in the works. Later, Putin announces that Russia's sale of weapons to Syria will be postponed. What sale?

While it is announced that Palestinian militant groups are nearing a formal truce deal with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to suspend attacks on Israel, Palestinian militant groups launch attacks on Israel. It seems there is still a ways to go with the negotiations. I would recommend to Abbas that he just arrest or kill the militants. Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister claims that Iran's nuclear program is near the point of no return.

German police have arrested two men suspected of belonging to the international terror network al-Qaeda and involved in planning and recruiting for suicide bomb attacks in Iraq.

Chavez has unkind words for the US and Columbia.

For the first time in its history, the United Nations on Monday marks the liberation of Nazi death camps during World War II, in an event attended by Holocaust survivors and foreign ministers of Israel and Germany.

Upon further examination, it appears Hu is a Marxist.

Barbara Boxer is claiming she was the one verbally attacked by Condie Rice at the latter's confirmation hearing last week, not the other way around. Not everyone remembers it that way.

The Diplomad lists US accomplishments in tsunami stricken countries.

Ever wonder why it is that Bush is always compared to Hitler but never Stalin?

US begins the adopt-a-Gitmo prisoner program for people who think they can take care of them better.

In the wake of Harvard President Larry Summers comments comes this article on why women have trouble reading maps. But I'm sure it's not related.

Smoking may prevent Parkinson's disease.

I am an Iraqi

Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi's Election Commercial

The following is an Iraqi election advertisement for Iyad Allawi's party, broadcast on Al-Arabiya TV on January 9, 2005. To view the clip, visit http://memritv.org/Search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=478:

Allawi: "Hello, My name is Iyad Allawi, I am an Iraqi and a physician. When we physicians graduate, we take an oath to treat people and ease their pain. Therefore, we cannot stand by and watch the oppression and tyranny that have hurt Iraq. I have resisted this tyranny for over thirty years and I've been a target of attempted assassinations. I have returned to my country to take part in its rebuilding. Therefore, we have assembled a party to run in the elections and called it 'The Iraqi List.' It will create a new tomorrow for a strong Iraq."

Voiceover: "Vote for the Iraqi party and for Dr. Iyad Allawi for a strong leadership and a secure homeland!" [5]

Daily Dish

The only people who believe that the Islamist fighting in Iraq are not anti-Democratic insurgents are those who don't want to admit it for whatever reason. Perhaps they have to protect their political world-view from disintegrating, I don't know. Whatever drives them, they have to dismiss, or remain intentionally unaware of al-Zarqawi's latest statement where he declares war on Democracy. He does not defend the insurgency on the grounds of "occupiers" or that American forces will skew the elctions in their favor. He does not say that once the Americans are gone, Iraq can have fair elections with fair results. He does not claim that his forces are the equivelent of American "Minutemen" fighting for Freedom. Not he makes it very plain that they are fighting to end Democracy. "We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology. Anyone who tries to help set up this system is part of it." A CNN report quotes "Democracy is also based on the right to choose your religion," he said, and that is "against the rule of God." Clear enough? I understand why the Conservative Left would be in sympathy with the anti-Democracy message, but they have to be blind to not see that if successful in Iraq, these anti-Democratic forces would use the Oil wealth and infrastructure to attack Democracies everywhere. And they may not be a force that can easily be used and exploited to bring down Capitalism without incuring a price: they may very well turn on the would-be Masters especially since they will not recongnize that there was ever an alliance to begin with. The Sunni gambit in Iraq is such that it makes them natural allies of the Islamists; for now. But if they succeed, the end result would likely be similar to the experience of South Vietnam when America left; brutal purges and totalitarianism that also will not recognize them as allies unless ideological (and religious) purity can be proved to their Masters satisfaction. And that won't be easy.

Signs of the Islamist's prejudice and anti-Liberalism is evident everywhere especially in Europe where it has beeen tolerated for too long. Germany is deporting hundreds of Islamists. As Eid begins, we still see too few voices of moderation in the Muslim world. Meanwhile, Iraq prepares to vote a week from now. And even ex-pats are worried about security.

Attacks on Israel drop dramatically and Israel credits Abbas with the improvement. For its part Israel is offering to halt military operations.

The UNs conference on disater reduction ends and they have decided they just might be able to do something. They have a "framework for action," and resolved to pursue "substantial reduction" of disaster losses in the next 10 years. Of course the result of the five-day session is non-binding, committed no new money to risk reduction and set no hard targets for assessing progress. But they ate and drank well had some really good hotel accomodations. Unfortunately, the poor slobs to were assigned to actually do something had only the spartan luxuries offered by the USS Abraham Lincoln who had not representatives at the UN Conference. They were do busy actually doing stuff to help people. The poor UN workers would, I'm sure, rather be out saving the world which can only really be done with good food, good wine, and really good hotel accomodations. Oh and Indonesian government and rebels will meet this week in Helsinki to discuss a formal cease-fire in tsunami-ravaged Aceh province. The UN is not involved. There weren't enough good Hotel accomodations in Aceh, but they may be around in Helsinki. There're some great food and Hotels in Helsinki.

Activists on both side mark the Anniversary of Roe v Wade.

Whiteboards are now dangerous. Why don't these people just save time and declare living dangerous?

Robo Doc makes its debut.

A violent craze in which thugs slap strangers across the face and record it on video phone is sweeping Britain.