posted April 09, 2006 07:08 PM            

It's not happening.

Every bit of good news is a thumb in the eye of leftists who want a failure in Iraq. God what pathetic traitorous clowns these people really are.

posted April 09, 2006 07:33 PM              

*********

quote:

---

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE): I have not been very enamored with the way half this administration has gone about this effort without thoroughly going into what happens the day after Saddam is down. … The president said that, “What could be worse than Saddam?” Well, what could be worse than Saddam would be a major civil war in the region. [CNN Larry King Live, 10/9/02]

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV): What plans do we have to prevent Iraq from breaking up and descending into civil war? [Congressional Record, S10006-10007, 10/7/02]

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD): The end of Saddam Hussein could mean the start of a civil war. [Congressional Record, S10078, 10/8/02]

---

posted April 09, 2006 11:56 PM              

Have a look at it!

posted April 09, 2006 11:43 PM            

The good news Petron is that Iraqis have voted in three free elections.

The good news Petron is that Iraqis have voted on a new constitution.

The good news Petron is that Saddam and merry little band of murderers are being tried in Iraq's courts and will likely be executed by the Iraqi people.

The good news Petron is that the infrastructure of Iraq is being rebuilt to levels greater than they were before the war.

The good news Petron is that Iraqi citizens are turning terrorists in to coalition and Iraqi military forces.

The good news Petron is that the terrorists can't win militarily.

The good news Petron is that shops and businesses are opening all over Iraq.

The good news Petron is that Iraqi citizens have money to spend on cars, TV's, cell phones, computers and Internet services.

The good news Petron is that Iraqis understand capitalism and that the GDP of Iraq is climbing.

The good news Petron is that Bush is not going to take the advice of leftist traitors who want to abandon Iraq to the tender mercies of the terrorists.

The good news Petron is that the leftist traitors are identifying themselves to the American public.

posted April 10, 2006 01:22 AM            

Sunday, April 9 is the three-year anniversary of the day Saddam Hussein fled Baghdad and his statue was toppled – perhaps a critical day in the development of democracy in the Middle East.

Over the last six months, according to recent polling data, two-thirds of Iraqis surveyed have steadily expressed the belief that the Iraqi Security Forces are winning the battle against terrorism.

But with that positive note, comes a negative one in the critical battle for the minds and hearts of the Iraqi people.

When asked to describe those responsible for attacks against Iraqi civilians, only a small percentage chose terms such as "freedom fighter" or "patriot." Instead, the overwhelming majority in every region polled chose the terms "terrorist" and "criminal," terms that may have little distinction among the respondents.

However, when asked to describe those who attack Coalition forces, the response becomes more diverse, with a large number of people selecting "patriot" and "freedom fighter." The exception is the Kurdish areas where "terrorist" and "criminal" remain the overwhelming choice.

But with sectarian violence flaring across Iraq and charges that the media is focusing on the bloodshed and missing the progress, getting a real fix on Iraq may be as difficult a subject for Americans as enemy identification has proven for some Iraqis.

Those confused Americans apparently also include the lawmakers on Capitol Hill, who in an amendment to a block of funding for the war, tacked on a requirement for the administration to periodically report to them -- in detail -- on the sometimes shadowy and elusive progress being bought with the nation's blood and treasure.

Recently, the Pentagon issued its third, semi-regular report to Congress on the progress of the war.

The report, "Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq" is styled as "an attempt to lay down clear, measurable markers documenting a broader view of just how well the U.S. is doing across a range of sectors, from the development of the Iraqi security forces to the reconstruction of the country's infrastructure."

For sure, a copy of the report is hardly sitting worn and dog-eared on coffee tables around the country. Covering scores of pages and interlaced with graphs and charts, some conclusions as to the big picture jump forward:

The Security Environment

The report perhaps predictably highlights the President's decreasing the number of combat brigades in Iraq from 17 to 15 -- a reduction of about 7,000 troops.

This decision was based on several indicators of progress but primarily the growing capability of Iraqi Security Forces, notes the document.

In the security environment in general, the framers of the report note that the single most important indicator of success in meeting security objectives is the failure of anti-Iraqi forces in their campaign to derail the political process and alienate the Iraqi people from democratic governance.

However, there is a down side as well.

As expected during this period, the total number of attacks against Iraqi and Coalition targets has risen. Attacks remain concentrated in four of Iraq's eighteen provinces, and eleven provinces averaged one or fewer attacks per day over the reporting period.

The complexity and effectiveness of these attacks range from a single insurgent executing an ineffective small arms attack to a coordinated attack of several dozen enemy fighters using different weapon systems. However, there have been only four of these more complex coordinated attacks in the last six months.

Over three quarters of all attacks result in no casualties or serious damage and the percentage of car bombs intercepted and defused is steadily increasing.

Terrorist attacks have failed to create and spread sectarian conflict, and polls of Iraqi perceptions continue to show the isolation of terrorists and foreign fighters from the Iraqi people.

Iraqi Security Forces

According to the report, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior forces continue to progress in developing their capabilities and taking ownership of Iraqi security. Key measures of progress highlighted include:

As of January 23, 2006, 98 Iraqi Army and special operations battalions are now conducting counter-insurgency operations, 11 percent more than reported in October. Fifty-three of these battalions are assessed as being "in the lead or fully independent" – a 47 percent increase since October.
There are 27 National Police Force battalions (formerly the Special Police Forces) and one Emergency Response Unit capable of combat operations, with 10 units assessed as being in the lead.

Thirty-seven Iraqi Army battalions now control their own battle space. Iraqi Security Forces are responsible for security in roughly 460 square miles of Baghdad and more than 11,600 square miles in other provinces of Iraq, an increase of almost 4,000 square miles since the last report.

The program of training and equipping members of the Iraqi Security Forces continues on track. Almost 107,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen have now been trained and equipped – an increase of 19,000 since the last report.
More than 82,000 police have been trained and equipped – an increase of over 13,000 since the last report. These police work alongside 38,000 other Ministry of Interior forces.

Overall, there are over 227,000 Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior forces trained and equipped for counterinsurgency operations – an increase of 18 percent since the October 2005 report.

Progress in Everyday Small Steps

In addition to the big picture, the full story of progress in Iraq cannot be fully captured without an understanding of the mundane military routine that every day relentlessly hammers away at the insurgents.

The Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq Forces Press Service pumps out a steady grind of the slow history of small successes, day by day. For instance, for April 4, 2006, there were these releases (heavily edited here for the sake of brevity):

Iraqi soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, and coalition troops detained five suspects and discovered a weapons cache while patrolling near Khalidiyah...

Iraqi soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, discovered and cleared a cache found during a raid in southeastern Ramadi...

Two suspected insurgents were captured during a synchronized joint raid led by Iraqi army troops...

Iraqi soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, and coalition troops detained four suspects in Khalidiyah...

Iraqi soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, and coalition troops detained three suspects and found a weapons cache near Karabilah...

Iraqi soldiers from the 7th Iraqi Army Division and coalition troops detained eight people near Ramadi...

Soldiers from the 4th and 6th Iraqi Army Divisions caught and detained a suspected triggerman after a roadside bomb attack in Fallujah...

In Saqlawiyah Iraqi troops detained a man listed on a suspect roster for questioning...

Iraqi soldiers from the 7th Iraqi Army Division and coalition troops found and seized a weapons cache near Hit...
No injuries or damages were reported in any of these missions.

For sure, none of the pedestrian nuggets above found their way to front pages of newspapers or filled the screens of TV news reports.

Isolating the Extremists

Returning to the larger picture –

The report to Congress highlights progress in the political-economic-military strategy of isolating hard-core "rejectionists" and terrorists from the mainstream Sunni Arabs.

Some recent indicators of progress on this track include:

Pre-referendum accord on possible amendments to the constitution, providing an additional incentive for Sunni participation in the government.

Significant increase in active participation of Sunni Arabs in the political process. In al-Anbar province voter turn-out grew from 2 percent in January 2005 to 86 percent in the December 2005 elections.

Arab League support and legitimization for Sunni participation in the political process, including hosting a Cairo conference that drove a wedge between Sunnis who desire political representation and Al-Qaida rejection of the political process.

Sunni tribes in al-Anbar province that formerly fought against the Coalition joined Iraqi Security Forces and support the Coalition in operations against Al-Qaida terrorists.

A continuing high level of intelligence tips received from the population – to include locations of improvised explosive devices.

Establishing Rule of Law Institutions

There are currently 800 judges in Iraq, including 300 investigative judges. These judges are now working and resolving cases under Iraqi law.

In 2003, approximately 4,000 felony cases were resolved in Iraqi courts. In 2004, they resolved more than twice that number. As of November 2005, the Iraqi courts were on track to resolve more than 10,000 felony cases in 2005.

The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI), a Coalition-created entity, is the only court in Iraq with national jurisdiction that tries defendants accused of terrorism and crimes against the Coalition, as well as other serious crimes.

In November 2004, the CCCI had capacity to conduct fewer than 10 trials and investigative hearings per month. In the first two weeks of September 2005 alone, the Court prosecuted more than 50 multi-defendant trials and conducted 100 investigative hearings.

The Court is now expanding its reach throughout Iraq with separate branches in local provinces. Twelve cities have sitting CCCI courts with a total of 57 CCCI judges nationwide.

U.S. Department of Justice advisors working through the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program have trained and mentored Iraqis at every level of the Ministry of Justice since the fall of the Ba'athist regime.

More Mileposts

Political Stability: The Iraqis have now met all of the political benchmarks established by the Transitional Administrative Law and endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, awaiting only the seating of the new Iraqi government.

Negotiations are now underway among many parties and coalitions to ensure broad inclusion in the formation of the constitutionally elected new government.

Economic Activity: Economic indicators continue to be mixed, with some noteworthy achievements. Despite the difficult security environment, the Iraqi economy demonstrated overall macroeconomic stability during the past year.

The currency remains stable; foreign exchange reserves are well above targets; and substantial debt reduction is moving apace.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates real growth in Gross Domestic Product of 2.6 percent for 2005 and projects higher growth for the next two years. Annual inflation is expected to moderate from annual rates above 30 percent in 2004 and 2005.

In key sectors, however, attacks on infrastructure and maintenance problems continue to hamper progress in producing and exporting oil and in delivering reliable electricity, but the communications sector continues its rapid growth with a 40 percent increase in cell phone subscribers since the last report.

Expanding International Support for Iraq

In November 2005, the World Bank approved its first loan to Iraq in 30 years. In December 2005, the International Monetary Fund approved Iraq's request for an economic reform program in the form of a Stand-By Arrangement.

Paris Club creditors continue to sign bilateral debt agreements with Iraq. As of January 2006, 13 out of 18 creditors have signed such agreements. As the first government is formed under the new constitution, increased international engagement, particularly on a bilateral basis, is anticipated.

Iraq is gaining wider support from Arab states as well. In November 2005, the Arab League hosted a meeting in Cairo to promote Iraqi national accord and the political process.

Many Arab countries publicly supported Iraq's constitutional referendum and recent election and called for the broad participation of all Iraqis in Iraq's political process.

Rebuilding the Iraqi Economy

The U.S., in conjunction with the Government of Iraq and international donors, continues to complete projects that are improving Iraqi oil, electricity, water, sewerage, and communications infrastructure.

The U.S. has also been instrumental in building the capacity of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Iraq.

The bad news -- pressures from wages, pensions, and the growth of the security sector are raising government expenditures dramatically. The U.S. and other international advisors are working with the Government of Iraq to keep these pressures under control in order to maintain a stable economic environment.

Part of the solution to promote a sound economy is for the Iraqi government to reduce subsidies on fuel and, to some degree, electricity, water, and food.

On December 18, 2005, the Iraqi government began the first stage of price increases for gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel; the current plans call for the Iraqis to continue reducing these subsidies over the next few years until prices are in line with regional averages.

As part of a broad strategy to revitalize Iraq's private sector, the U.S. also continues to provide micro-credit to emerging Iraqi entrepreneurs and small- and medium-enterprise loans for Iraqi businesses.

Over 20,000 microfinance loans with a value of $44 million have been disbursed to small entrepreneurs creating an estimated 30,000 jobs. Over 2,400 businessmen and women have taken advantage of training programs for small and medium sized enterprises.

Increased budgets, personnel, and authority are being directed towards the organizations that investigate corruption: the Board of Supreme Audit, the Inspectors General of the ministries, and the Commission of Public Integrity.

International Support

Iraq continues to make progress reintegrating into the world economy. The Government of Iraq is receiving substantial reconstruction grants and loans from the U.S. and other foreign donors.

Of the $13.5 billion pledged by donors other than the U.S. at the 2003 Madrid conference, $3.2 billion has been disbursed as of December 2005.

Police Forces' Capabilities

As of the end of January, thirty-seven Iraqi Army battalions now control their own battle space. Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are responsible for security in roughly 460 square miles of Baghdad and more than 11,600 square miles in other provinces of Iraq, an increase of over 4,000 square miles since the last report.

Over the last three months, the number of ISF independent operations exceeded the number of Coalition force independent operations. ISF independent operations increased by 24 percent since May 2005.

Ministry of Defense Forces

Ministry of Defense (MOD) forces consist of Army (including Special Forces), Air Force, and Navy (including Marines) personnel. Since the October report, the total number of MOD personnel trained and equipped surpassed 100,000.

The Iraqi Armed Forces are on track to achieve a projected end-strength of approximately 131,000 soldiers by mid-2006.

The MOD is making a focused effort to recruit personnel from across the spectrum of Iraqi society, in accordance with the new Iraqi Constitution that guarantees equal opportunities for all Iraqis. A lack of recruiting centers in largely Sunni areas has been mitigated by mobile recruiting missions throughout areas such as the Euphrates River Valley.

Equipping of the MOD forces has continued this quarter with the procurement and delivery of nearly 9,000 AK-47 rifles, almost 1,800 pistols, more than 4,700 light and medium machine guns, and over 750 light and medium vehicles. Individual soldiers were issued nearly 15,000 sets of body armor and over 9,000 Kevlar helmets.

The number of Iraqi Army units in the lead continued to grow since October, with 37 battalions now controlling their own battle space.

Iraqi Highway Patrol

The Iraqi Highway Patrol (IHP) is a nation-wide force responsible for securing Iraq's highway system, including the performance of armed escort and law enforcement duties. Almost 1,800 IHP personnel have been trained and equipped, an increase of 500 since the last report.

However, on the bad news front, distribution of supplies and equipment, as well as additional logistical and pay issues, continue to challenge the effectiveness of the IHP.

National Police Forces

The National Police Forces (formerly known as the Special Police Forces) are highly trained units comprised of three separate organizations: the Police Commandos (providing light infantry for counter-insurgency operations), the Public Order Police (specializing in re-establishing order in high-risk environments), and the Mechanized Police (providing light armor for counterinsurgency operations).

The 27 National Police battalions and one Emergency Response Unit have continued to improve their capabilities as a national, rapid-response force for countering armed insurgency, large-scale disobedience, and riots and conducting operations throughout Iraq's most contentious areas. They also provided critical security during the referendum and general election.

The Police Commandos consist of nearly 9,000 trained and equipped personnel. The Government of Iraq has authorized a total force of more than 11,800 Commandos, which Are slated to be trained and equipped by December 2006.

Almost 1,500 Mechanized Police have been trained and equipped. This is the target force structure authorized by the Government of Iraq.

posted April 10, 2006 01:28 AM              

well im glad to see youve given up on bothering to mention anything about saddam being denied his "WMD" and chance to "sponsor terrorism against the u.s"

posted April 10, 2006 01:39 AM            

The good news Petron is that Saddam will no longer be able to murder and torture his own citizens.

The good news Petron is that Saddam will no longer be able to threaten or attack his neighbors.

The good news Petron is that Saddam will no longer be able to use WMD against his own citizens or his neighbors.

The good news Petron is that Saddam will no longer be able to train terrorists inside Iraq...or anywhere else.

The good news Petron is that Saddam will no longer be in a position to hand off his WMD to terrorists to attack the United States or our allies.

posted April 10, 2006 02:41 AM              

let me point this out

America "land of the free" etc.

ok so you go and illegally invade iraq against the UN which is supposedly there to make sure everyone gets along nicely, infact i think amerika had alot to do with the founding of the UN

so the "land of the free" decides that they'll just ignore the whole United Nations because they have more guns and no ones REALLY going to oppose amerika openly

so bush just basically went against everything that amerika actually stands for, well on its lil piece of paper anyway

you know that thing you hide behind bulletproof glass and stuff, does it mean anything at all?

obviously not because bang bang bush is just doing as he pleases

YES iraq was in a bad state, but how many other countries in the world are?
look at ALL of africa, look at india, pakistan the eastern bloc of all the former soviet countries, they are all up sh!t creek without a paddle, but bush isn't invading oh i'm sorry "liberating" them is he?

i wonder why, his excuse was, WMD's in Iraq, where are they now bush boy?
so he actually has no reason at ALL to invade iraq, this whole "war on terrorism" is just a political ploy to spend money on cool new toys for bush and his band of cowboys

posted April 10, 2006 12:32 PM            

April 10, 2006, 6:55 a.m.
Paying Attention
More good news from Iraq.

By Bill Crawford

On the third anniversary of the liberation of Iraq, there is no denying that the political situation there is dicey. A coalition government hasn't been formed, and a large reason for this is a lack of leadership on the part of Prime Minister Jaafari, who is refusing to resign. Nevertheless, there are stories of hope and progress everyday, and they continue to be largely ignored by the mainstream media.

It's striking that even the Kurdish Media sees bias in the mainstream media:

The media in the U.S. and throughout the world has criticized the way the U.S. is handling the war in Iraq. They have published numerous articles that have heavily criticized US actions.

However, they fail to communicate the "good things" that are happening in Iraq. Nearly 2,000 educational institutions have been rehabilitated with USAID funding, unemployment has dropped considerably, and more hospitals are being built in the rural areas.

How about some examples? According to Reuters, here is all that happened in Iraq Thursday:
BAQUBA - Eight people were wounded, including six civilians, when a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol exploded in central Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

KIRKUK - One traffic policeman was shot dead on Wednesday night in Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, a police source said.

KIKRUK - Police said they found the beheaded body of a man in Kirkuk on Wednesday. The man was a member of the Kurdish militia, the Peshmarga.

And according to ABC News, here is all that happened on the same day, in addition to ten deaths after a bomb blast:
Roadside bombs targeted police and army patrols in Baghdad and Baqouba, killing at least two Iraqi forces and wounding 18 people, including civilians.

A roadside bomb targeted a U.S. patrol in Ramadi Thursday, according to the U.S. military. No casualties were reported.

Gunmen in three cars ambushed five Shiite truck drivers on their way to the capital from the town of Mahawil, killing all of them and stealing their trucks.
Police discovered a headless body they believe belonged to a Kurdish man kidnapped the previous night in the northern city of Kirkuk.

Police found four corpses of men in their 20s, handcuffed and blindfolded, in Baghdad's southern Dora district.

Reporting on the other six days of this week were much the same. Here is something they didn't report: In the Kurdish north, eight more mass graves were uncovered with the remains of 1,000 Iraqis.

I mentioned the Brookings Institute's Iraq Index last week in regards to the number of fatalities of U.S. troops, but I want to point out a few other facts from the report. One of the Left's favorite mantras against our winning peace in Iraq is that those that are doing the fighting and dying are largely poor, uneducated minorities. The facts show otherwise. As of February 4, the fatalities by ethnic groups are as follows: White 1,654, Hispanic 248, and Black 231. Moreover, they are more likely to be from the suburbs than the inner city: 40.5 percent versus 26.2 percent. Our mission in Iraq is an American one.

Iraq received the new Italian ambassador this week. His country has allocated 200 million Euros to the reconstruction of Iraq. The projects will focus on providing potable water and power plants.

In related news, a power plant opened just south of Basra. More than 500 Iraqis were employed in the $128 million project, which adds 5 percent to the country's electrical output:

The Khor Az Zubayr plant will generate a substantial amount of power which will be transmitted and distributed across the country. Additional electric projects are ongoing. Although electricity is not at levels expected by U.S. residents, most Iraqi families are now getting more electricity than ever before; some for the first time ever.
Air Rafidayn will soon begin flights between three Iraqi cities and the Chinese city of Guangzhou. These will be the first direct flights to China since the first Gulf War.

On Monday the third annual Rebuild Iraq Expo will open in Jordan. Companies from 32 countries will be there to take advantage of the enormous opportunities in Iraq:

The minister highlighted the role of the private sector and the benefits it can reap from the rebuilding of Iraq and the exchange of expertise and information with the international companies.

The Sweetwater Canal near Basra is undergoing renovations. When the project is completed it will provide cleaner water to 2.5 million Iraqis.

The canal has experienced problems with leakage, bank collapse, breaches and other structural problems; according to USACE, many of these problems were emergency repairs under the contract just completed.

The project included a geotechnical survey, pump assessment, head and sluice gate repairs, trash rack refurbishment, sediment removal, engine hydraulics and electronics overhauls, emergency canal repairs, operations training, design for permanent power for Pump Station Two and a computer system to track operations and maintenance.

Opportunities for women continue to be the focus for the Gulf Regional Division. A conference held in Baghdad gave more than 250 Iraqi business women the chance to learn how to receive government contracts and a chance to network with their counterparts:
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers GRD, many speakers spoke of how proud they were to be working with the Iraqi business women, gave tips on how to build their businesses and how to build their network of business contacts.
Japan has agreed to build a $119 million power plant for the city of Samawa. The first of three power plants for the province of 200,000 should be completed in under two years. Japan also agreed to provide $300 million to help modernize the country's largest sea port at Umm Qasr.Renovations on the Tikrit courthouse are complete:
The electrical renovation included new wiring and fixtures throughout the old building; bringing it to a standard which will support modern computer and electronic technology. A newly constructed annex building adds capacity to the facility and provides for a more efficient work flow. Included in the new annex is a reception area, restrooms and office spaces that will improve the functionality of the courthouse.
On the third anniversary of the invasion, troops who have returned to Iraq three years later have noticed the progress being made:
"One of the biggest differences in Baghdad, and throughout Iraq... is that the Iraqi military is doing really well, and they're taking over more pieces of the mission," said Army Sgt. Maj. Linda Allen. "The second biggest difference that I see [between now and three years ago] is the infrastructure issue."

The troops that spoke also said that the media and politicians need to have patience with the mission in Iraq.

U.S. and Iraqi troops conducted a free medical clinic for the residents of Tarmiya. The town's leader expressed his thanks:

"Great things are happening here! This plan was put out in the Qada meeting," said Sheik Saeed Jassim Hameed Al-Mashadani, the Qada leader. "I have a good feeling (about the medical operation) today because the people get free medical attention."

"We have a good relationship with coalition forces," added Jassim.

375 patients were seen in clinic.

Iraq elected a beauty queen:

Tamar Goregian, 23, the first Armenian Iraqi to win the pageant, was officially elected the "Iraqi Queen of Beauty."
Nine contestants, including five Muslim girls, already withdrew days before the event, fearing after impacts for participating in a "taboo" competition. Eleven contestants remained.

Aside from queen of beauty, the audience also elected a teen queen and a queen of grace.

Life goes on.

In security news, Major General James Thurman told the Pentagon press corps that Iraqi security forces have proven that they are capable of protecting the Iraqi people. In Baghdad and the surrounding area, Iraqi security forces now outnumber coalition forces, and are increasingly taking the lead in operations. Thurman also said that the Iraqi people are proud of Iraq's security forces, and tips on criminal and terrorist activity continue to increase:

"The Iraqi people further demonstrate their growing trust and confidence by the use of the national tip hotline," added Thurman. "Over 3,000 tips have been received, and more than 2,500 of those tips have led to successful operations."

Thurman said terrorists are failing. "Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to disrupt multiple terrorist cells that indiscriminately attack civilians, Iraqi security forces and the Coalition."

A Marine general says the military can sustain current troop level in Iraq indefinitely, contradicting the claims of many opponents of the war that Iraq is "breaking" the military.

The two-week long Operation Cowpens ended this week. The operation resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of weapons and explosives:

Coalition forces have captured two dozen rifles, more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition and nearly three dozen rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Artillery and mortar rounds have also been plenty in the recovered items.

Soldiers on the scene estimated that enough explosive material has been found, along detonation cord and signaling devices, to rig up more than 300 improvised explosive devices. These roadside bombs have been an ongoing challenge to Soldiers in Bradley- Fighting Vehicles and in Humvees.

"We've put a stop to a lot of the IED making," said Sgt. Daniel Reinhardt, a team leader from Broadview, Mont. "The more we're out here, the more we stuff we bring out, the less the bad guys are here.

In Tikrit, four large weapon caches were uncovered during a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation. The caches included 27,000 rounds of ammo, four surface-to-air missiles, 118 artillery shells, as well as other assorted munitions. Seventeen suspects were detained.

Near Balad, an attack was repelled by an Iraqi-army unit, which returned fire after three gunmen attacked it. The attackers were later killed after firing on U.S. soldiers who arrived as backup.

In a combined U.S.-Iraqi operation, 99 rocket propelled grenades were captured.

In Yusifiyah, nine terrorist were detained, and one killed, in an operation by coalition forces.

A large weapons cache was uncovered in Balad:

The find includes more than 2,000 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, 337 60 mm mortar rounds, six 82 mm mortar rounds, two 60 mm mortar tubes, two mortar tripods (one of which had a base), one 125 mm projectile, one barrel of gun powder and 31 assorted munitions.

Near Hamaniyah, coalition forces killed eight terrorists in a raid. The operation also uncovered weapons, ammunition, and false identification documents.

This weekend a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation led to the capture of two terror-cell leaders, and 60 other terrorists.

This story is the kind that really warms my heart. Two terrorists in Baqubah were killed when the bomb they were making went off prematurely.

A top aid to Zarqawi was captured by the U.S. military. He was involved in the kidnapping of Italian Guiliani Sgrena:

Iraqi forces had captured Muhammad al-Ubaydi, a former senior intelligence official under the regime of Saddam Hussein and also a top aide to the al-Qaida leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the U.S. military said in a statement.

The statement also said that al-Ubaydi, who headed the Secret Islamic Army, was captured by Iraqi forces in southern Baghdad on March 7.

The U.S. military said that al-Ubaydi was the prime suspect in the abduction of Italian journalist Guiliana Sgrena in February 2005, who was released a month later.

Al-Ubaydi was also responsible for assassination attempts against Iraqi officials and some other kidnappings, the statement added, without revealing further details.

His arrest was a serious defeat for the terrorists in Iraq:

Officials believe Abu Ayman's capture will not only disrupt some of these attacks, and that his capture will undoubtedly save lives, but that he will also provide valuable information leading to the capture of other terrorists he has worked with in the past.

Acting on tips from local Iraqis, three hostages were rescued by U.S. and Iraqi forces in Mosul. The hostages were found chained to the wall of a basement.

The Iraqi army has assumed control of the province of Salah Eddin. The province is a stronghold for terrorists and ex-Baathists.

How about some stories of real American heroes?

Capt. Frank Diorio was awarded the Bronze Star for action in Iraq:

On April 11, insurgents launched an attack against the firm base using small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades and three suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

For several hours, the enemy continued the well-organized assault with intense, sporadic firefights that continued for the next three days.

Diorio's quick reactions, concise orders and sound decisions enabled his company to repel the enemy attack while inflicting a high number of casualties.

No Marines from the company were killed during the attack.

Senior Airman Daniel Acosta II was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his actions in Iraq. He was injured while disarming an IED:

Acosta was serving as an explosive ordnance disposal technician Dec. 7 with a team assigned to investigate a crater for explosive devices. Acosta discovered and detonated one device, but another one exploded. Acosta lost an arm.

This week, the 1st Cavalry Division will be dedicating a memorial to its soldiers killed in Iraq. The monument will honor the 168 soldiers from the division who lost their lives in Iraq.

Two Marines with the 1st Marine Division were awarded the Bronze Star for action under fire:

[Russel] also discovered that a Marine low on ammunition was isolated by the attack.

Russel then raced across approximately 75 meters of open terrain while under fire from at least six insurgents with Cyparski close by.

An enemy round struck Russel in the helmet, knocking him to the ground with a concussion.

The two Marines managed to get the ammunition to the isolated Marine with Russel bleeding profusely from wounds to his face and arms.

They then rushed back to direct the fight and establish accountability. Finding two men missing, the two Marines rushed across the open area again to retrieve a wounded Iraqi soldier despite explosions from more than twelve enemy grenades and a stream of machine gun and small-arms fire.

An Army Reservist killed in Iraq was awarded the Silver Star:

Witkowski was firing a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a Humvee that was providing cover for a convoy when an improvised explosive device entered the vehicle. Witkowski threw his body, covering the IED as it exploded and killed him, in an act which saved the lives of others.

posted April 10, 2006 08:24 PM              

talk about a copy and paraphrase artist....only he does it with his own articles....=P

********

article #1

A Silver Star and Bronze Star were awarded to two Marines for actions in Fallujah when they risked their lives to save a wounded Iraqi soldier:

The two led a counter-assault that killed 13 insurgents and captured eight. Russell was struck in the helmet, suffering a concussion and "bleeding profusely."

"When he discovered that a Marine isolated in a bunker needed ammunition, he raced to supply him by crossing 75 meters of open area while under fire from at least six insurgents," said Russell's citation.

The Iraqi soldier was wounded and pinned down away from the main part of the platoon. The two Marines dashed across an open area under fire to get him to safety so he could be rushed to a field hospital.

article#2
Two Marines with the 1st Marine Division were awarded the Bronze Star for action under fire:

[Russel] also discovered that a Marine low on ammunition was isolated by the attack.

Russel then raced across approximately 75 meters of open terrain while under fire from at least six insurgents with Cyparski close by.

An enemy round struck Russel in the helmet, knocking him to the ground with a concussion.

The two Marines managed to get the ammunition to the isolated Marine with Russel bleeding profusely from wounds to his face and arms.

They then rushed back to direct the fight and establish accountability. Finding two men missing, the two Marines rushed across the open area again to retrieve a wounded Iraqi soldier despite explosions from more than twelve enemy grenades and a stream of machine gun and small-arms fire.

*******

article#1
In Ramadi, Iraqi forces, operating independently, discovered the largest weapons cache yet to be found by Iraqi foces.

article#2
Iraqi soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, discovered and cleared a cache found during a raid in southeastern Ramadi...

*******

article#1
Japan is providing $655 million in loans to Iraq in order to improve the country's irrigation systems, power plants, and port facilities.

article#2
Japan also agreed to provide $300 million to help modernize the country's largest sea port at Umm Qasr

posted April 10, 2006 08:49 PM              

quote:

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Iraq's first ATM is now available at the Baghdad branch of the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI), and plans are underway to put ATM's throughout the country.

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so whats taking so long? this isnt "'news' from iraq"....this story has been out for a year....

***********

Posted GMT 5-25-2005 14:57:57

(Bloomberg) -- The Trade Bank of Iraq on Tuesday issued the country's first credit and debit cards, from Visa International Inc., at a ceremony in Baghdad.

The bank said it would issue 30,000 Visa cards in Iraq by the end of the year. The company also plans to install the country's first network of automated teller machines, which would enable cardholders to withdraw Iraqi dinars or U.S. dollars from their accounts.

posted April 10, 2006 11:09 PM              

quote:

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Women comprise 25 percent of the Iraqi parliament, which is the highest proportion in the Arab world and one of the largest percentages worldwide.

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posted April 10, 2006 11:19 PM              

quote:

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In education, 3,000 schools have been rehabilitated, 9 million new textbooks distributed, and 36,000 teachers have been trained.

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March 6, 2006
311 teachers and 64 pupils killed in four months
By Ilham Mohammed

Some 311 teachers plus 64 pupils below 12 years have been killed in the past four months, according to the latest tally from the Ministry of Education.

In a statement obtained by the newspaper, the ministry said attacks on schools and other educational facilities have increased recently and many parents have already stopped sending their children to school.

It added that more than 400 schools have been attacked in the same period and many have already put down their shutters.

Meanwhile,the second term of the current academic year (2005-2006) started a few days agobut educational authorities in the country say they are worried the latest upsurge in violence will adversely impact attendance.

At Baghdad University, only a few students reported to classes prompting the Ministry ofHigher Education and Scientific Research to put off the start of the term for aweek.

Manyprofessors were reported to have stayed away fearing the strife on the streetsof Baghdad will find its way to the campus.

“Violenceis not only present on the streets of Baghdad. It is steadily moving to thecampuses,” said Ahmad Bahaa, a ministry official.

“We havealmost forgotten about teaching and learning. We only think of politicalsquabbling and useless dialogue over sectarian, political and religiousissues,” he said.

AbdulamirHayder from Baghdad University said the conditions were the worst one couldimagine.

“Thestudents and their professors are in a very bad psychological situation. Theonly aim is how to flee to a foreign country to escape assassination orthreats,” he said.

Karim Ali,from Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, said Iraqi universities have loststatus as science institutions.

posted April 10, 2006 11:38 PM              

April 10, 2006

by Gideon Polya

Brutal dictator Saddam Hussein is on trial before a kangaroo court set up by a puppet government in US-occupied Iraq. However Saddam Hussein’s crimes are DWARFED by the 2.2 million excess death Coalition carnage in Iraq. Saddam Hussein should be tried before the International Criminal Court - and should be joined by the Coalition leaders whose crimes vastly surpass those of the Iraqi dictator.

According to the LATEST, Web-accessible UN and UNICEF data, the "under-5 infant deaths per 1,000 births" in IRAQ vs SYRIA were 200 vs 170 (1953), 50 vs 44 (1990), 125 vs 16 (2004) i.e. infant mortality DECREASED enormously under Saddam but INCREASED hugely after 1990 due to Western intervention. The post-1990 under-5 infant mortality under war-criminal UK-US sanctions, bombs and occupation totals 1.6 million; the post-1990 excess deaths now total 2.2 million.

According to the latest UN Population Division data (see: <http://esa.un.org/unpp/> ) and UNICEF data (see: <http://www.unicef.org/index.html> ), by 1990 “under-5 infant deaths per 1,000 births” reached a MINIMUM of 50 in oil-rich Iraq under Saddam Hussein as compared to 44 in its neighbour, resource-poor Syria (from catastrophic high values of about 170-200 in the immediately post-colonial era). However Western-imposed Sanctions immediately reversed this trend, leading to doubled infant mortality and avoidable mortality for a dozen years; the ultimate US-led invasion and occupation further increased mortality so that by 2004 “under-5 infant deaths per 1,000 births” had reached 125 in UK-US-occupied IRAQ as compared to 16 in SYRIA.

The post-1990 under-5 infant deaths in Iraq total 1.6 million (90% of them avoidable) and the post-1990 excess mortality (avoidable mortality) now totals 2.2 million. Similarly, in Occupied Afghanistan the post-invasion under-5 infant deaths and excess deaths total 1.4 million and 1.8 million, respectively (see MWC News: <http://mwcnews.net/content/view/5872/26/> ).

FOR A DETAILED ACCOUNT of how Saddam Hussein’s crimes PALE in comparison with the 2.2 million post-1990 Coalition carnage see MWC News: <http://mwcnews.net/content/view/5948/26/>. For related articles on "Newsvine" see: <http://gpolya.newsvine.com/mortality>.

The Coalition invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are immense crimes against humanity. The US continues to threaten Syria, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela - countries that have all performed extremely well in reducing infant mortality and improving life expectancy and quality of life for their citizens - the gratuitous invasion of such countries by the US or its surrogates would be PURE EVIL.

It is extraordinary that EVERY DAY some 1,200 infants die AVOIDABLY in the US-occupied Iraqi and Afghan Territories, utterly IGNORED by a World mis-informed by lying, racist mainstream media.

"Thou shall not kill" - and the avoidable, passive mass murder of utterly innocent infants by the UK-US-led Coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan is utterly beyond the Pale. Peace is the only way but silence kills and silence is complicity. Decent people around the world are obliged to INFORM OTHERS and to ACT ETHICALLY by exercising “free market choice” through avoiding (where possible) goods and services of the war criminal Coalition.

For further background to this human catastrophe see: <http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gpolya/links.html> and <http://globalavoidablemortality.blogspot.com/> ).

Bush I, Bush II, Clinton, Madeleine “the price is worth it” Albright, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Blair and Dr Rice (Dr Death) should be arraigned before the International Criminal Court.

Towards the end of last year, the 2005 Nobel Laureate for Literature, British playwright Harold Pinter, in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech entitled “Art, Truth and Politics” (delivered by videotape on 8 December 2005; see: <http://www.countercurrents.org/arts-pinter081205.htm> ) accused US President George Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair of war crimes in Iraq. After detailing the huge human cost of decades of violent US interventions in Central and South America, Harold Pinter described the invasion of Iraq as “an act of blatant state terrorism” and called for the arraignment of Bush and Blair before the International Criminal Court, declaring: “How many people do you have to kill before you qualify as a mass murderer and a war criminal? One hundred thousand? More than enough, I would have thought.”

posted April 11, 2006 12:57 AM              

quote:

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Alabama Governor Bob Riley returned from Iraq this week and noted that U.S. troops remain upbeat and committed to completing their mission:

"If you had a poll that said, 'Would you like to go home?' I'm sure that 72 percent of the people would say 'I would like to go home, I would like to be with my family,'" he said. "But if you had asked the follow-up question, 'Do you want to leave before your mission is complete?' I believe 75, 80 or 100 percent of them would say no."

---

******

Poll: Troops signal desire to come home
Survey of US troops finds that 72 percent want to withdraw within a year.
By Tom Regan | csmonitor.com

A large majority of US troops think the US should withdraw completely from Iraq within a year. Stars and Stripes reports that the poll of 944 US troops in Iraq, conducted by Zogby International, found that only 23 percent of service members felt that the US should "stay as long as needed."

posted April 11, 2006 09:00 AM            

You keep making accusations against Bush. When are you going to lay out your proof of Bush crimes? You promised and Pid has reminded you of that at least twice.

Accusing Bush of more crimes than Saddam is a new low..even for you.

We're talking about the butcher of Baghdad, the murderous dictator who has murdered at least 500,000 Iraqis in cold blood. The mass graves uncovered in Iraq are proof of that and more are being found every day.

Time to lay it all out Rainbow...chapter and verse or stop making these kinds of absurd allegations against the President.

To date Rainbow, I've gone through some of your allegations and ripped them to shreds...

"Bush was appointed to the Presidency by the Supreme Court." No he wasn't, the Supreme court remanded the case back to the Florida Supreme Court for them to devise a uniform method of recounting ballots.

"Bush didn't win Florida." Yes he did and at least 4 recounts and a later mass media consortium recount and investigation all came up with the same result.

"Bush didn't let minorities vote in Florida." Yes he did and when the charge was filed at the Federal Election Commission and a hearing was held, not a single voter or wanna be voter showed up to say they had not been permitted to vote in the Florida election.

"Bush stole the election." No he didn't but Algore attempted to do so and the Democrat party finally told Algore to knock it off..enough embarrassment already.

Your "accusation a day" campaign against the President is wearing thin..so I invite you to prove your allegations.

posted April 11, 2006 09:39 AM            

For anyone following the Iraq war, now may be the time to take off those rose-colored glasses. According to a recent Zogby poll, 72 percent of U.S. troops say it's time to withdraw from Iraq. Another stunner is that only three in five soldiers in Iraq have a clear sense of the mission. Ouch!

Despite the wide range of opinions and loud voices about America's role in Iraq, there's a real hunger for authenticity that only the troops on the ground can provide. As a veteran, I have been hoping that a pollster would take the obvious step of asking our troops for their opinions, and I think Zogby International deserves credit for making the effort.

But as an economist, my appreciation eroded sharply when I took a closer look.

The survey contains 24 questions. It was given secretly during late January and early February to an unknown number of American troops serving in Iraq, although we are told that 944 respondents were included. If all the guidelines for random sampling were met (they weren't), the reported margin of error would be plus or minus 3.3 percent.

The unforgivable flaw in Zogby's survey is the biased phrasing of its questions and answers. Two of the most provocative results are based on questions with no middle ground. It's like a multiple-choice test with no right answers.

For example, the widespread finding that three in four soldiers think the United States should withdraw from Iraq within a year has only one option for troops who think otherwise: stay indefinitely. This infamous question asks, "How long should U.S. troops stay in Iraq?" But the first three answers are not phrased in terms of staying, they are phrased "withdraw...," "withdraw..." and "withdraw... ." Where are the options for troops who think the United States should stay for "one to two years" or "two to five years"? Zogby omits such nuance. It's stay or go. Now or never.

The smart troops who perceived this false choice probably set the clipboard down and walked away at that point. That leaves us with a biased respondent pool.

Another question asks for a description of "your understanding of the U.S. mission in Iraq." Two choices describe the mission as clear, and four choices describe it as unclear.

More damning, John Zogby himself misrepresented the phrasing of one of the questions in an op-ed. This may seem like nitpicking, but if half a man's family say they want "chicken" for dinner, and he reports those votes as "nonvegetarian," he is not exactly being honest. In just this way, the poll asked the soldiers to rate seven different "reasons for the Iraq invasion." It is a question about prewar justification, not the postwar occupation. Yet Zogby described their answers as a description of "the U.S. mission." If that's the question he wanted to ask, he should have asked it that way. Polling is a science. Words matter.

The biggest question we should all be asking Zogby is not about the questions that were included, but about those that weren't. Nowhere in the survey results do we see assessments of the U.S. mission. Has it been a success or a failure? How so? Nowhere do we see questions about morale, about progress in killing terrorists, about the state of the insurgency, about the prospects for democracy and economic growth in Iraq. There are questions aplenty on napalm, interrogation, and (I'm not kidding) doubling the number of bombing missions.

Did Zogby dare to ask anything that might result in good news?

Keep in mind that the men and women in uniform are limited by law from making political statements. If troops are given a chance to express themselves anonymously and fairly, that's great. They are probably the best barometer of how the mission is going, and how it can be improved. But this Zogby poll isn't a barometer. It is (a) biased, (b) dishonest, or (c) all of the above.

Don't like those options? Neither do I. But that's all they gave us.

I remain thankful that Zogby made this effort, and I hope they will try again in a manner that is (d) insightful, (e) comprehensive, and maybe even (f) irrefutably profound.

posted April 11, 2006 09:55 AM            

That leads reasonable people to wonder what Zogby knows about soldiers that they don't know about themselves It leads others to suggest Zogby is full of it and cooked the poll...which he did..or rather, the anti-war group he took the poll for..cooked the questions and Zogby took their money and produced a cooked poll.

Let's see Petron, does a 66% reenlistment rate come anywhere near squaring with the Zogby poll? Comes now the leftist spin.

Army surpassing year's retention goal by 15% By Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
Mon Apr 10, 7:17 AM ET

Two of every three eligible soldiers continue to re-enlist, putting the Army, which has endured most of the fighting in Iraq, ahead of its annual goal.

The Army was 15% ahead of its re-enlistment goal of 34,668 for the first six months of fiscal year 2006, which ended March 31. More than 39,900 soldiers had re-enlisted, according to figures scheduled to be released today by the Army.

Strong retention has helped the Army offset recruiting that has failed to meet its targets as the war in Iraq has made it harder to attract new soldiers. The Army fell 8% short of its goal of recruiting 80,000 soldiers in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, although it is exceeding its goal this year. Army recruiting figures for the first half of the year are to be released today.

The Army has met or exceeded its goals for retention for the past five years, records show. It was 8% over its goal for 2005, and 7% ahead of its targets for 2004. The number of re-enlistments has exceeded the Army's goal by a larger margin each year since 2001.

Soldiers like the Army, "and the war is not causing people to leave," says Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman. Through March, 2,325 U.S. troops had been killed in Iraq; 1,593 were Army soldiers.

The Pentagon announced in March that each of the armed forces was on track to meet its retention goal for the year.

Pay and re-enlistment bonuses help, Hilferty says. Bonuses range from nothing to $150,000 for a handful of special operations commandos. The average re-enlistment bonus is $6,000, Hilferty says.

"It's not just pay," Hilferty says. "Our people want to be part of something greater than themselves, and they're willing to put up with a lot."

Charles Henning, a national defense analyst with the Congressional Research Service, says robust re-enlistment allows the Army to maintain its strength.

"Retention has been a very positive thing for the Army," Henning says. "That's an indicator of very high morale, high esprit de corps. It's a very solid indicator that soldiers are gratified, or they'd vote with their feet."

In the longer term, the trend could create an older, more expensive-to-maintain Army, according to military sociologist Charles Moskos, an emeritus professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

The Army needs to balance career soldiers with younger troops who serve for just a few years, Moskos says.

"It can be financially astounding in terms of retirement and health benefits," Moskos says. "You need more citizen soldiers rather than professionals."

posted April 11, 2006 07:39 PM              

quote:

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Two of the most provocative results are based on questions with no middle ground. It's like a multiple-choice test with no right answers.

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jwhop.....tell me....whats so hard about this choice of questions??
and why doesnt your article simply just list them?? hmm?

15. How long should U.S. troops stay in Iraq?

1. They should withdraw immediately
2. They should withdraw within the next six months
3. They should withdraw within six to twelve months
4. They should stay as long as they are needed
5. Not sure
Refused to Answer
http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/Misc/zogbypoll.pdf

quote:

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It's stay or go. Now or never.

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huh??!! thats an outright lie......lol

4. They should stay as long as they are needed

it seems option 4 would be the easy choice........according to tim kane....
and for anyone wringing their hands over a choice, every question gives the choice...'not sure'

quote:

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the smart troops who perceived this false choice probably set the clipboard down and walked away at that point.

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only .4% refused to answer.....

that pretty much shoots down tim kanes lame attempt to minimize this devastating poll.....now i see why he didnt simply list the questions and results........

posted April 11, 2006 10:06 PM              

quote:

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There were virtually no cell-phone subscribers during Saddam Hussein's reign. Today, there are more than 5 million.

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How a top Pentagon official and a host of influential Republicans almost made sure that one American company gained a key stake in Iraq's lucrative wireless market.

By Michael Scherer
Additional reporting by David Enders and Jason Vest

September/October 2004 Issue

The auctioning off of Iraq began in the summer of 2003 in a packed conference room at the Grand Hyatt in Amman, Jordan. More than 300 executives had gathered from around the world to vie for a piece of one natural resource Saddam Hussein never managed to exploit—the nation's cellular phone frequencies.

Even as the bombs fell over Baghdad, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose district includes many Qualcomm employees, had tried to wrap his favored company in the flag. He denounced the cellular system used by Iraq's neighbors as "an outdated French standard," and proposed a law that would effectively mandate Qualcomm on Iraq. "Hundreds of thousands of American jobs depend on the success of U.S.-developed wireless technologies like CDMA," Issa wrote in a March 26, 2003, letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. A swarm of lobbyists rallied to the companies' cause, including William Walker, a former protégé of Rumsfeld from the Ford White House, and Stacy Carlson, who ran President George W. Bush's California campaign in 2000.