Archive for: July 2008

If I’m a bad person for using an img tag, I apologize, denounce myself, and propose this which presents the same info less obtrusively.

SECURITY

Multinational Force

General Credits Success in Iraq to Various Surges
Source: American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 23, 2008 — As violence levels maintain a steady decrease across Iraq, coalition forces and the Iraqi government are able to focus their efforts on reconstruction and civil issues, Army Brig. Gen. David Perkins, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said in a news briefing from Baghdad. Iraqi forces are improved, and the government continues to develop and progress, he said. “The coalition surge was one of many surges that have come to produce programs and progress across Iraq,” Perkins said. “The coalition surge has been accompanied by a surge in Iraqi security forces, a surge of support by the Iraqi people, a surge in political and governance progress and a surge in the revitalization of the economic sector.”

U.S. military says Iraq troop “surge” has ended
Source: Reuters 22 July 2008, BAGHDAD — The U.S. troop “surge” in Iraq that President George W. Bush ordered last year has ended after the last of five additional combat brigades left the country, a U.S. military spokesman said on 22 July. The remaining troops from that brigade departed over the weekend, leaving just under 147,000 American soldiers in Iraq, the spokesman said. The U.S. military had 20 combat brigades in Iraq at its peak in 2007, with troop levels around 160,000-170,000. The current number is well above the 130,000 troops in Iraq when Bush ordered the deployment in January 2007.

Further cut in US forces in Iraq likely this fall
Source: AP 21 July 2008, BAGHDAD — Two weeks of observing U.S. and Iraqi troops in and around Baghdad, coupled with Associated Press interviews with commanders and planners, suggest a likelihood that President Bush will move to reduce the U.S. force by perhaps another combat brigade, or roughly 3,000-4,000 soldiers, toward the end of the year. More cuts seem possible next year, but the scale and timing will depend on who replaces Bush in the White House.

Thanks, Dan for your help on this one.

Dan’s got this knack, you see, of having the perfect caption for a ‘chop (or for a post, as you all know.)

Let’s keep in touch.

Because I still can.
Soon, once Obama is President, this sort of criticism will be extinguished and you will bow down.

Seig.

Heil.
You know, outlandish as that is, it’s not near as outlandish as it should be.

Here’s a time line of the Democrat’s worst nightmare–the unthinkable success that Democrats struggled to prevent–the success of the Surge.

From their own mouths, words of the anti-Bush haters in the House and Senate who led the cacophony against the Surge, posted by Peter Wehner at The Weekly Standard and on Yahoo News.

With today’s internet, there’s not a quote or hateful remark by any of these cut ‘n run Democrat leaders that can’t be pulled up for scrutiny. As Bill puts it, let them eat crow.

Since Barack Obama is ‘leading’ (snicker) the Democrats now, let’s begin with him.

October 22, 2006, Senator Barack Obama catches wind of the Surge…
“It is clear at this point that we cannot, through putting in more troops or maintaining the presence that we have, expect that somehow the situation is going to improve, and we have to do something significant to break the pattern that we’ve been in right now.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 10/22/06)
January 7, 2007, just days before the Surge was announced…

but you just drive me crazy, you know? It’s just because I love you so much…I lost my head. It’ll all be OK, don’t worry your pretty little head.

So look I gotta go, but before I do …

*Scream, that is.

Then, we can sit back and enjoy the shocialism.  Coming soon to a  protectorship near you.

PILLAR I: POLITICAL AFFAIRS

NATO- CJTF-82 - US/Coalition Forces

More US troops may go to Afghanistan this year
Source: AP 16 July 2008, WASHINGTON — Pentagon leaders on 16 July signaled a surge in U.S. forces in Afghanistan “sooner rather than later,” a shift that could send some units there within weeks, as officials prepare to cut troop levels in Iraq. Senior military officials are looking across the services to identify smaller units and other equipment that could be sent to Afghanistan, according to a defense official. Although there are no brigade-sized units that can be deployed quickly into Afghanistan, military leaders believe they can find a number of smaller units such as aviation, engineering and surveillance troops that can be moved more swiftly, said the official, who requested anonymity because the discussions are private.

US extends Afghanistan stay for 2,200 Marines
Source: AFP 3 July 2008, WASHINGTON — The United States has extended the stay of 2,200 marines in Afghanistan for one month until November, making their tours eight months long instead of seven, a marines spokeswoman said 3 July. The extension had been requested by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and was approved by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates “within the week,” Captain Amy Malugani said. The change applies to members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, who are deployed in Helmand province along with Canadian, British and Dutch soldiers in the south where forces are fighting a resurgent Taliban.

Mullen Meets with Pakistani Leaders
Source: Blackanthem Military News 13 July 2008, ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, met with President Pervez Musharraf; Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani; Mahmud Ali Durrani, national security advisor to the prime minister; and army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayan in Islamabad on 13 July to discuss issues concerning Pakistan’s lack of pressure toward insurgents flowing from their border into Afghanistan.The chairman has kept the details of these discussions private, but stressed that Pakistan’s leaders are aware of U.S. concerns and the challenges both countries face in the border region. Pakistani officials said they are working to address those challenges.

~*~!

“…that is, if I don’t change my mind for political expediency and do something differently.

Because I’m limber that way~!”

(Oh, I forgot to ask…May I mock, Barack?)

crossed from home
h/t Ace

The Bush administration is considering the withdrawal of additional combat forces from Iraq beginning in September, according to administration and military officials, raising the prospect of a far more ambitious plan than expected only months ago.

….

Although no decision has been …