The Cool Blue Blog

Point of no return

US and Iraqi forces arrested a top aid to Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday

Sheik Abdul-Hadi al-Darraji, al-Sadr's media director in Baghdad, was captured during a 2 a.m. raid on a mosque in the eastern neighbourhood of Baladiyat, an official in al-Sadr's office said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

The U.S. military said special Iraqi army forces operating with coalition advisers captured a high-level, illegal armed group leader in Baladiyat, but it did not identify the detainee. It said two other suspects were detained by Iraqi forces for further questioning...

The U.S. military accused the main suspect of having ties with the commanders of so-called death squads, which have been blamed for many of the killings that have left dozens of bodies, often showing signs of torture, on the streets of Baghdad.

The suspect was detained "based on credible intelligence that he is the leader of illegal armed group punishment committee activity, involving the organized kidnapping, torture and murder of Iraqi civilians," according to the military statement.

It also said he was reportedly involved in the assassination of numerous Iraqi security forces and government officials.

"The suspect allegedly leads various illegal armed group operations and is affiliated with illegal armed group cells targeting Iraqi civilians for sectarian attacks and violence," the statement said, adding he was believed to be affiliated with Baghdad death squad commanders, including Abu Dura, a Shiite militia leader who has gained a reputation for his brutality.

The official and an Iraqi police officer, who also declined to be identified for fear of reprisals, also said one of the mosque's guards was killed in a firefight during the raid that damaged the mosque walls, while four other people who were with the sheik were arrested.

This comes on the heels of the arrest of 400 members of al Sadr's Mahdi Army. For the first time since 2004, Sadr's crew is feeling the pressure

Mahdi Army fighters said Thursday they were under siege in their Sadr City stronghold as U.S. and Iraqi troops killed or seized key commanders in pinpoint nighttime raids. Two commanders of the Shiite militia said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has stopped protecting the group under pressure from Washington and threats from Sunni Muslim Arab governments.

The two commanders' account of a growing siege mentality inside the organization could represent a tactical and propaganda feint, but there was mounting evidence the militia was increasingly off balance and had ordered its gunmen to melt back into the population. To avoid capture, commanders report no longer using cell phones and fighters are removing their black uniforms and hiding their weapons during the day.

They have come to understand that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has stopped protecting radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr‘s Madhi Army.

And, it seems to me, Maliki is at a point of no return. He has betrayed the main force of his own political support and actually taken steps to disassemble the Shi'ite militia. If he stops now, he will likely be assassinated. His only hope for physical, and political survival is to see this through to the end.

And if that is indeed the case, the chances that Bush's new strategy for Iraq will succeed has just increased dramatically.

Where will that leave all those who are taking a stand against this plan and are unwilling to even to give it a chance?

In political deep water, potentially.

Around Afghanistan

British troops stage daring helicopter rescue in Afghanistan

Four British soldiers in Afghanistan strapped themselves to the wings of fast-moving apache attack helicopters in a daring attempt to rescue a comrade shot by the Taliban, the Defence Ministry said.

"This is believed to be the first time UK forces have ever tried this type of rescue mission . It was an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery of our airmen, soldiers and marines who were all prepared to put themselves back into the line of fire to rescue a fallen comrade," said UK task force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce.

Royal Marine lance corporal Matthew Ford, 30, was shot yesterday when more than 200 British troops attacked the Islamist militia’s Jugroom Fort in southern Helmand province.

When Ford was discovered to be missing, the marines first planned a rescue attempt with armoured personnel carriers, but when the apaches became available they decided the fast attack helicopters provided the best opportunity to rescue him.

But the helicopters can only carry a pilot and a gunner, although according to The Guardian newspaper there are attachments on the wings that soldiers can harness themselves to in emergencies.

Two troops each were strapped to the wings of two apache helicopters, with a third apache and several ground units providing covering fire.

After landing at the site of the earlier battle, the four soldiers found Ford dead, but were able to recover his body.

Mullah Omar 'hiding in Pakistan'

Taleban leader Mullah Omar is living in Pakistan under the protection of its ISI intelligence agency, a captured Taleban spokesman has said.

The spokesman, Muhammad Hanif, made the apparent confession to Afghan agents who videotaped the questioning.

Mr Hanif is seen sitting in a dimly-lit room telling agents that Mullah Omar is in the city of Quetta. Correspondents confirm the voice is his.

Mullah Omar has not been seen since 2001. Pakistan rejected the claims.

Taliban commander killed, 20 militants arrested in S. Afghanistan

Afghan police have killed a Taliban commander and arrested 20 militants in the restive southern Kandahar province, local official said Thursday.

"Mullah Mohammed Amin, a Taliban commander was killed last night in an operation launched by Afghan police in Maiwand district of Kandahar province. Another 20 Taliban were also arrested during the operation," said Asadullah Khalid, governor of Kandahar province.

Amin had served in the former Taliban government before the hard-line regime was toppled in 2001.

Several Taliban commanders and leaders have been killed or arrested in a serial military operations conducted by NATO and Afghan forces since the end of last year.

Earlier NATO and Afghan forces said they have detained a prominent Taliban commander in southern Helmand province. NATO force did not identify the commander but said he was the first known Taliban leader captured by NATO-led coalition force and Afghan troops.

Earlier this week, Muhammad Hanif, a leading spokesman for Taliban, has been arrested in eastern Nangarhar province.

Last month, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani, a key associate of Taliban chief Mullah Omar was killed by a U.S. airstrike. He was the highest-ranking Taliban leader killed by the foreign troops since 2001.

U.S. Air Assets Support Strike in Afghanistan’s Bermel District

Numerous air assets from U.S. Central Command supported NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan’s Paktika province Jan. 10, killing as many as 150 insurgents, U.S. Central Command officials said.
 
U. S. Central Command Air Forces supported International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army forces with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, air refueling and strike aircraft. They also expended precision munitions, missile and cannon rounds on a significant number of insurgents in the Bermel district of Paktika province, officials said.
 
ISAF battle damage estimates indicate as many as 150 insurgents were killed.
 
“The use of our combined air assets with their persistence, precision and lethality is a perfect example of the flexibility and combat capability of our coalition forces. We find and track the insurgents with our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and then target them with precise effect,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. William L. “Dutch” Holland, U.S. Central Command Air Forces deputy commander.
 
Holland also serves as commander of U. S. Central Command’s Deputy Combined Forces Air Component.
 
Two large groups of insurgents had been observed infiltrating Paktika province from Pakistan. The insurgents were monitored, tracked and subsequently engaged in Afghanistan, through the coordinated use of both air and ground fire in a series of engagements along the sparsely populated border region of Bermel district, U.S. officials said.
 
The insurgents had been observed gathering in Pakistan and had crossed the border before launching an attack against ANA and ISAF forces in the region. According to an ISAF press release, Pakistani military liaison officers were kept fully informed throughout the operation.
 
“Air strikes in support of this operation were a success because of the combined efforts of our aircrews and the ISAF and ANA ground forces working in concert to shut down the insurgents’ ability to operate in the Bermel district,” Holland said.

82nd heads to Afghanistan starting Saturday

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Jan 18, 2007 22:57:42 EST

About 5,000 paratroopers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, will deploy Saturday for Afghanistan from their home at Fort Bragg, N.C.

According to an Army press release, the paratroopers deploying are part of a task force that also includes the division’s headquarters, combat aviation brigade and special troops battalion.

The 4th BCT is the newest addition to the 82nd and began standing up in January 2006 as part of the Army’s modular transformation.

The scheduled rotation is expected to last one year.

The 10th Mountain Division, which has comprised the bulk of Combined Joint Task Force 76 for the past year, has begun returning to its home at Fort Drum, N.Y., but it’s unclear if the 82nd is intended as its replacement.

The South Carolina Army National Guard’s 218th Enhanced Separate Brigade will be deploying in April as the latest rotation of Task Force Phoenix outside Kabul. The task force will have about 5,000 soldiers, with 1,500 from South Carolina.

 

Bloggers are dangerous to Democrats

Apparently it's not enough that Democrats want to silence conservative talk shows, now the new Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, has introduced an amendment to S.1, the Ethics Reform bill, that

  would require political bloggers with readership over 500 to register as lobbyists. If they fail to register, they could face criminal penalties up to one year in jail.

"Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists. Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself," according to a statement from GrassRootsFreedom.com

Can't wait to see what they do next.

Is that 100 hours over yet?

UPDATE: Captain Ed says: not to worry

Whether or not one agrees with lobbyist registration, the definition obviously does not include bloggers, or at least those whose political activity is limited to blogging. One would have to make $25,000 in a quarter just to qualify for the registration

Applying pressure

Presumed Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton visited Iraq and returned with her expert foreign policy opinion on the situation there and the Administration's plan to deal with it. Her opinion is that

U.S. President George W. Bush's plan to add 21,500 new American soldiers to Iraq "cannot be successful" unless Iraqi leaders first demonstrate the will to crack down on sectarian militias in the country, Clinton said.

Clinton said she was not reassured following her meetings with Maliki and will introduce legislation to cut off funding to the Iraqi government unless it moves quickly to assume responsibility for security.

"They're very resistant to being told that we don't have an open-ended commitment, and that's exactly what I want them to know," she said.

"The reality is that people respond to pressure and to threats. We have not made any credible threats."

But events on the ground seem to undermine her observations

Facing intense pressure from the Bush administration to show progress in securing Iraq, senior Iraqi officials announced Wednesday that they had moved against the country’s most powerful Shiite militia, arresting several dozen senior members in the past few weeks.

It was the first time the Shiite government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki had claimed significant action against the militia, the Mahdi Army, one of the most intractable problems facing his administration. The militia’s leader, the cleric Moktada al-Sadr, helped put Mr. Maliki in power, but pressure to crack down on the group has mounted as its killings in the capital have driven a wedge into efforts to keep the country together.

More importantly

In perhaps the most surprising development, the Americans said, none of the members had been prematurely released, a chronic problem as this government has frequently shielded Shiite fighters.

“There was definitely a change in attitudes,” in the past three to four weeks, a senior American military officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

And in a further development

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said 400 fighters from a key backer of the Shiite-led government have been arrested, and a government spokesman said Thursday the U.S. is not giving Iraqi security forces enough money for training and equipment.

Al-Maliki's claim sought to address doubts about his willingness to take on the Shiite militiamen, especially the Mahdi Army loyal to his key supporter, the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sadr's militiamen are believed responsible for much of the sectarian violence in Baghdad in the past year.

Here's the problem for the early adopters for the 2008 elections: what if you're wrong? And I'm talking to not only Sen. Clinton, but Sen Obama and Sen Hagel as well. You know, Bush's plan just might work. And if it does, won't it be remembered that you didn't say things like "Well you know, we all want the President's plan to work, and while I am skeptical because it relies on Iraqi political support, let's wait and see how things play out."

And you know, it wouldn't kill people to say that in general.

Sen Clinton has put forward a "plan"

Senator Clinton said she supported a non-binding resolution opposing Mr Bush's plan, but said she would go further and introduce legislation to cap US forces in Iraq at their levels of January 1, while establishing benchmarks for the Iraqi Government that, if not met, would result in cuts in funding for Iraqi security forces.

More significantly, she said the legislation would establish benchmarks for the US too — from certifying that the Iraqi Government had disarmed militias and made constitutional changes to ensure rights for ethnic minorities to requiring participation in diplomatic activities with all of Iraq's neighbours.

Now here's the part the presumed Presidential candidate doesn't explain: So what happens if after we do this things deteriorate to not only sectarian violence in Iraq, but unrest that spills outside the borders of Iraq?

Does the Senator know, for instance, that the only thing preventing the Saudi's from supporting a Sunni insurgency to counter the Iranian supported insurgency is the US presence?

With a Sunni-Shiite cold war descending on the region, Saudi Arabia appears to be hardening its sectarian battle lines. That, experts say, could mean that it once again will regard its Shiite minority, mainly clustered in eastern oases like this one, solely as enemies of the state.

Recent rumblings from clerics and politicians alike recall the days when the kingdom braced against spreading influence from Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Today, Saudi Arabia is on edge from the deepening civil war in Iraq and a possibly nuclear Iran.

"The plunge back into the abyss of the 1980s has been accelerated," says Toby Jones, an assistant professor at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa., who has written extensively about the Shiites of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

"You don't see [Saudi King Abdullah] quashing any of this very, very public anti-Shiite rhetoric," says Mr. Jones. "That's a sign that he either isn't interested in doing it or that he can't."

This is why you see Saudi Arabia openly supporting the US initiative

After a meeting with Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice last week, Saudi leaders expressed their support of the new Bush agenda in Iraq. Saudi Arabia, which is largely Sunni, has long been concerned with the rising power of Shi'ite factions in the Iraqi government. (Iraq's population is largely Shi'ite, however Saddam's government was Sunni. During his reign, Shi'ites were persecuted.) Since the early balance of powers in the fledgling government, the power of al-Maliki's Shi'ite loyalists has increased, leaving Sunnis largely disenfranchised at this point. Iran is Shi'ite - and supports the rise of Shi'ite power in Iraq, putting it at direct opposition to Saudi Arabian goals.

Saudi Arabia hinted to Rice that it intends to militarily assist the Sunnis in Iraq if necessary.

And it is also why you see Saudi Arabia insisting it will not cut back on oil production to boost dropping oil prices. These new, low oil prices

...hurt those producers whose efficiency cannot match the Saudis, which primarily means Iran and Venezuela. It's doubtful that the Saudis care much about Hugo Chavez and his determination to nationalize the Venezuelan energy industry, but the Saudis care a great deal about Iran and its radical Shi'ite mullahcracy. The Iranians have a big economic problem at the moment, and their only hope is to keep oil prices high enough to cover their gaps. If oil prices continue to drop, it slices off most of the margin the Iranians can capture from oil sales, their only export of any significance. It also frees the Western nations sanctioning Iran to conduct an agressive pressure campaign.

I understand political expediency. But I also expect people who purport to be serious candidates for the office of the President to be serious about foreign affairs. And I expect them to know what's going on in the world what the implications are for both the US and our allies.

I would expect them not to undermine the Administrations foreign policy initiatives because, I would presume they would want the same consideration when and if they took the office.

And I would also expect them to refrain from jumping to conclusions

The Council's last meeting

IA, CF shut down terrorist group ‘The Council’

Multi-National Division – North PAO

Thursday, 18 January 2007

BALAD RUZ, Iraq – After a nine-day operation in the Turki Village area, soldiers from 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army, together with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, defeated “The Council,” a known terrorist group which has historically targeted families and tribes with violence throughout the region. Coalition Forces continue to maintain a presence to further the peace and stability of the area. 

“The group, made up of former Ba’ath Regime members, Al Qaeda and Sunni extremists, refused to participate in any political dialogue and preferred attacking innocent civilians in the Diyala province, killing as many as 39 civilians in one kidnapping and mass murder in November,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commander, and senior U.S. Army officer in the Diyala province. More than 50 of the council’s terrorists responsible for the November murder of 39 civilian were captured during the recent operations.

“The fear of the people and the weapons used by these individuals are used to attack the core of Iraqi values and beliefs.  They are interested in preventing individual human rights and freedoms that the people of this region want so much,” Sutherland said.

The families and tribes that form the basis of this society recognize this achievement, Sutherland added.  Phone calls to report criminal activity to the Police Coordination Center has increased 131 percent since the beginning of the operation.   

After seizing a safe house, with a white flag signifying surrender, detaining dozens of middle-aged males and questioning local residents, the defeat of “The Council” was validated.

This defeat has been achieved through offensive operations designed to isolate the terrorists away from the population; and by using the Iraqi Army, supported by U.S. Air Force, Special Operations Forces, and elements of the 3-1 Cav to bring the terrorists to justice, he said. 

“Additionally, non-kinetic engagements using psychological operations, information operations, and civil military operations were brought to bear to shape and sustain the battlefield,” Sutherland said.

“Through questioning, we learned that The Council had a plan to attempt to defeat our forces,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment commander. “However, due to our kinetic capabilities, we were able to defeat the enemy and broke his will to fight. They admitted in questioning that our forces beat them.”

During the operation, which began Jan. 4 with a combined air and ground assault, Soldiers unearthed numerous weapons caches and killed approximately 100 terrorists throughout the Turki Village area.

Dozens of supply caches included more than 1,150 Katusha rockets, more than 1,000 rocket-propelled grenades, 170 anti-tank missiles, anti-tank mines, more than 1,000 small-arms munitions, 1,050 DSHKA rounds and sensitive terrorist documents.

Since the defeat of “The Council,” Soldiers have been focusing on interacting with the local populous, maintaining a presence and reinforcing the security and stability of the region.  The IA will maintain a permanent presence, while CF are focusing on reconstructing roads, essential services and other basic services to help the people of Turki.

“The populous continues to express their support for the Iraqi Security Forces,” said Poppas.

“This operation is already having an impact on the political framework within Diyala,” said Lt. Col. Scott Jackson, the deputy brigade commander. “Elements of different tribes are moving to the political discussion that have been afraid to voice their opinions due to fear imposed by the terrorists.”   

Governor Ra’ad Rasheed Hameed Al-Mullah Jawad Al-Tamimi said, “I am very proud of how the Iraqi Army performed during this operation; they demonstrated skill and determination in the challenging conditions.”

“Defeating the terrorists south of Balad Ruz has made conditions in Baqubah, as well as the whole province better,” Ra’ad said.

“Of the over 25 major tribes and 100 sub-tribes in the province, many are now seeing the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces and gaining confidence in them as a professional force to be reckoned with,” Sutherland said.

“The long-term end state is that the local population supports the Iraqi and Diyala government due to their complete disdain of anti-Iraqi forces,” he said.  “This action drives a wedge between the terrorists and the people because they understand that the terrorists’ ring of terror has been defeated by their own forces.” 

“The sects within the area have the opportunity to interact with a common respect without fear or intimidation,” said Jackson. 

“This operation clearly was a significant tactical success for CF, IA, and most importantly, the citizens of Turki and surrounding areas,” said Sutherland. “The long-term affects we hope to achieve are stability for economic growth, increased political action for all parties and self-reliance for the Iraqi government and security forces.”

Silencing political speech

One of the things you get when you vote Democrats into the majority is Leftists in power. First, I'm not saying that all Democrats are Leftists, but some are. And some of those who are get positions of power. And when you get Leftists in positions of power, you the Left wing version repression. Take Dennis Kucinich and Bernie Sanders for instance who want to legislate the Fairness Doctrine which in NewSpeak means suppressing political speech.

Essentially, the Fairness Doctrine required broadcast licensees to devote a reasonable amount of airtime to the discussion of important public issues and to have both sides represented in that discussion.

As spelled out by the FCC in 1949, the Fairness Doctrine also incorporated the Personal Attack Rule, requiring broadcasters to provide rebuttal time to anyone who had been attacked on the air.

Now Leftists of all flavors have noticed that their ideas don't sell. Compare Rush Limbaugh to Air America for instance. Leftists hate that that fact. So they want to make sure that you have to listen to their point of view. The Fairness Doctrine, then, uses the power of the government to assure that if you freely tune into a talk show that is "conservative", you must also listen to the "liberal" rebuttal.

Now the rules for the actual implementation of this are complicated, and the bottom line is that if (like Air America) you have people expounding ideas that don't have an audience and doesn't make the broadcaster money, the broadcaster must present these shows anyway.

So what do you think broadcasters are going to do? Rather than lose money, political speech will disappear from the airwaves. More precisely, "conservative" political speech will disappear from the airwaves and since there weren't any significant "liberal" shows. That's called "fairness."

Referring to our experience the last time the "Fairness" doctrine was law,

Michael Harrison, editor of Talkers magazine, calls the doctrine "dangerous and unproductive" and bad for talk radio.

"It did nothing except chill free speech," Harrison says. "It made it very difficult for stations to engage in free and open discussion of ideas. Talk radio owes its explosive growth over the last 20 years to the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine."

The Left doesn't agree, mostly because without the "Fairness Doctrine", they lose. If people wanted Leftist talk radio as much as, or more then they want "conservative" talk radio, there wouldn't be a need for a "Fairness Doctrine" would there.

Leftists are happiest when the prevailing doctrine is indoctrination.

And that's the bottom line.

Fleeing Iraq

Middle Eastern countries voice support for the Bush Administration's resolve to solve the problem in Iraq even as Democrats, and some Republicans, want to turn their backs on this area of high strategic importance to the US

A group of eight Middle Eastern countries joined the United States yesterday in warning against foreign interference in Iraq, marking a small step in US efforts to win support in the region for pacifying Iraq and resisting Iranian influence.

The group, which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and five Persian Gulf states, cited in their first joint communique "the principle of noninterference." The countries, dominated by Sunni Muslims, also welcomed US efforts to rebuild Shi'ite-led Iraq with an "inclusive political process" and to defend the Persian Gulf.

And even as violence continues against the civilians our political class would abandon there are signs that al Qaida, at least, is beginning to cave

Al Qaeda terrorists are fleeing Baghdad in advance of President Bush’s 21,500-man troop surge, a senior military intelligence officer told Pajamas Media today. Under orders from the al Qaeda commander in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, fighters are streaming toward the Diyala region of Iraq.

This confirms reports posted on Iraq the Model, which cited al-Sabah, a well-known mouthpiece for al Qaeda in Iraq.

In speaking with Pajamas Media the military intelligence officer supplied several new details of the al Qaeda retreat.

The apparent evacuation of Baghdad by al Qaeda forces comes from direct orders issued by al-Masri, the former soldier who took control of the Iraqi wing of al Qaeda following the June 2006 bombing death of Zarqawi.

Initially, the intelligence officer informed Pajamas, the Baghdad-based AQ fighters did not want to leave. Al-Masri had to send unequivocal orders for their retreat, adding that one of the lessons from the Fallujah campaign was that Americans have learned how to prevail in house-to-house fighting. Masri said that remaining in Baghdad was a ‘no-win situation’ for the terrorists.

“In more than ten years of reading al Qaeda intercepts, I’ve never seen language like this,” the intelligence officer said. Usually, al Qaeda communications are full of bravado and false confidence, he added.

Al-Masri’s evacuation order – assuming that it is authentic – reveals that al Qaeda in Iraq leader has a good grasp of a tactical situation. “He is far more formidable than Zarqawi was,” the intelligence officer said, because of his training at Soviet special warfare schools.

The sectarian in-fighting and revenge killings that al Qaida instigated is still a problem to be dealt with even if these reports turn out to be true. But ending that is a matter of Iraqi political resolve, which early signs indicate a change in the right direction

The Iraqis have pledged to remove political protection for sectarian militias and provide their own troop surge for Baghdad. And Bush says U.S. forces will do more to stop the infiltration of agents and jihadists from Iran and Syria.

The early signs last week were encouraging. The Iraqi government reportedly put Shiite militias on notice, including those attached to the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

As one Iraqi lawmaker put it in an interview with The Associated Press, "The government has told the Sadrists: `If we want to build a state we have no other choice but to attack armed groups.'"

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time America pulled the plug just at the moment of success; we all remember Tet. But this time, having a Commander-in-Chief who will not accept defeat easily may be the difference.

Not giving up in Siniyah

Siniyah takes steps in establishing police force, security

Wednesday, 17 January 2007

SINIYAH — Due to the insurgent uprisings around the last week of October, the majority of the Sinyah’s police officers, the mayor and the entire city council resigned.

The uprisings resulted in the complete destruction of the police station and left the city without security.   

However, the city of Sinyah has not given up.   

After the devastating blow, a new police station is now being built and police officers are being trained to standard, said Antoine Dunmeyer, commander, Company A, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.   

The few police officers that stayed on duty opened recruiting stations throughout the city. So far more than 80 recruits have joined the force, said 1st Lt. Qaiss Kamal, a Siniyah police officer.   

“They want to serve the people of Siniyah and they want to support the families of Siniyah,” Kamal said.   

A permanent police station is under construction nearby. The new floor plan includes elevated police security points, almost like guard towers, which will provide an eagle’s-eye view of the streets.   

The officers are also looking forward to furthering their professional training, said Dunmyer. They will learn basic skills such as protecting the police station and conducting street patrols.   

“Insurgents don’t bring the fight to you. They take one shot and run. Once we are provided the equipment and the intelligence we need to patrol, we will definitely go after the bad guys to make Siniyah a safer place to live,” Kamal said.   

Dunmyer’s company and the 4th Iraqi Army Division have provided 24-hour security for Siniyah since mid-November and will continue to do so until the police force becomes strong enough to defend and protect the city on its own.   

The newly-trained police officers will form police transition teams, which will train in mid-January with the 303rd Military Police Company, 89th MP Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Jackson, Mich., on Forward Operating Base Summerall.   

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hockey, a squad leader, 303rd Military Police Company, said the police officers will make their transition once they complete three stages, beginning with police station security, getting new uniforms and getting new equipment.   

“(We are) teaching them how to defend the building and how to show the people of Siniyah that they can be trusted,” Hockey said. “(The last step) is basic patrolling of the city itself.”   

A major hold-up for the police officers has been the lack of support from the Iraqi government. They are having trouble communicating their needs for equipment and training, said Sgt. James. M. Boys, team leader, 303rd Military Police Company.   

The 303rd MPs are trying to show the Iraqi policemen the channels they can go through in their government to get what they need. In time they will improve and become self-sufficient, Boys said.   

(By Spc. Joshua R. Ford, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division PAO)

Their first thought is to surrender

Now that the Union of Islamic Courts has been thouroughly defeated in Somalia, it interesting to look back and see how people reacted when things looked bleak. Back in November, the Islamic Courts had used armored columns to take and hold key cities in Somalia. In December the terrorists, convinced they had the upper hand, refused to negotiate. And the New York Times communicated hopelessness and wrote that an invasion by Ethiopia would be disastrous

Ethiopia, with tacit approval from the United States, has been steadily slipping soldiers across the border, trying to hold off the Islamists and shore up Somalia’s weak, unpopular and divided transitional government....

Analysts are unanimous that a full-scale conflict between the Islamists and Ethiopia, a country with a strong Christian identity, would be disastrous for Somalia, which is already suffering from severe flooding and years of neglect, and for the region as a whole, because neighboring countries may jump in.

And their assessment at the time was that the Union of Islamic Courts was a popular movement.

American officials helped push through a recent United Nations resolution authorizing peacekeepers from African countries to back up the Baidoa officials. The resolution lets the Baidoa government, but not the Islamists, bring in weapons despite a longstanding arms embargo.

The problem with that strategy, many analysts say, is that it misreads the Islamists’ power, rooted not so much in their military strength — a few hundred armed pickup trucks and a few thousand fighters — but in their popular support. The Islamists emerged several years ago as a network of clan-based courts that unified warring factions.

And Democrats were calling on the Bush Administration to negotiate with the terrorists.

A growing number of Democrats in Congress are urging the Bush administration to change course and deal with the Islamists for what they are: the power on the ground.

“The Islamists aren’t going away, so the sooner we talk to them, the better,” said Representative Donald M. Payne, the New Jersey Democrat who is expected to become the chairman of the House subcommittee on Africa when his party takes control of Congress in January.

Well it turned out that the Bush Administration, working with and through Ethiopia defeated the Union of Islamic Courts in about a week. And their movement turned out to not be so popular.

It's interesting to note how quickly many Democrats are willing to surrender to terrorists when things look bleak: when strength and determination are needed most, thay cave.

So why should we trust that the Democrats in Congress are capable of running a war by committee?

Some Democrats are pondering how to cut back funding to stop Bush’s plan, according to an Associated Press report quoting Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. “You don’t like to micromanage the Defense Department, but we have to, in this case, because they’re not paying attention to the public,” Murtha said.

Just like there are only a few who are willing to put their lives and comfort on the line and join the military, there are only a few who have the backbone to buck popular opinion and not give in to the Islamists.

Bush may not have been the best leader we could have had during a time of War, but there is no doubt he was the best choice we had. And further, he has shown astounding resolve and determination to win.

This is certainly preferable to surrendering when the going gets tough.

(h/t Captain Ed)

What's the story?

So who's right?

“Bush Cheered at Fort Benning: FORT BENNING, Ga.–President Bush, surrounded on Thursday by cheering soldiers in camouflage, defended his decision to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq and cautioned that the buildup will not produce quick results. ‘It’s going to take awhile,’ he said.”–headline and lead paragraph, Associated Press, Jan. 11

“Bush Speaks and Base Is Subdued: FORT BENNING, Ga., Jan. 11–President Bush came to this Georgia military base looking for a friendly audience to sell his new Iraq strategy. But his lunchtime talk received a restrained response from soldiers who clapped politely but showed little of the wild enthusiasm that they ordinarily shower on the commander in chief.”–New York Times, Jan. 12

Sheesh

(hattip Sean)