Web Reconnaissance for 10/25/2006

A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.



In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Iraqi takeover target set “The top U.S. military commander in Iraq set a timeline yesterday of 18 months for the Iraqi security forces to take over war operations in all the country's provinces ‘with some level of support from us.’” (READ MORE)

Democrats won't count votes before they're cast “Democrats, stung by unexpected defeats in the past two national elections, are trying to fend off poll-generated overconfidence by staying on the offensive and focusing on get-out-the-vote efforts.” (READ MORE)

Rice proposes Asia form security alliance “Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is urging Asian nations to form a regional security organization to address common threats, suggesting that the six-nation forum dealing with North Korea -- which includes China and Russia” (READ MORE)

Iraqi leader disavows timetable report “The defiant al-Maliki also slammed the top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives in Iraq for saying Iraq needed to set a timetable to curb violence ravaging the country.” (READ MORE)

Iraq: 'You can't cut and run' “Iraq's government yesterday pleaded with Britain and America not to ‘cut and run’ from the country, even as Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, conceded that history may judge that the invasion was a disaster.” (READ MORE)Kidnapped AP photographer freed in Gaza “After a day in captivity, blindfolded by gunmen and forced to wear women's clothing as he was taken from place to place in Gaza City, an Associated Press photographer was released unharmed — just the latest abduction in an increasingly chaotic territory.” (READ MORE)


News From the Front:
Bandit 36 writes B36 News - 25 October 2006 “ ...The news has been looking pretty good lately too. Of course all you're hearing in the MSM is body counts, car bombs, sectarian violence, blah, blah, blah... To the collective 'Chicken Little Media' I only wish to quote General Casey:” (READ MORE)

Iraqi Soldiers, Police score multiple victories against terrorists and insurgent forces “Iraqi Soldiers and Police chalked up a series of victories in recent anti-terrorist operations across the country, according to U.S. military officials. First, Iraqi Soldiers captured several suspected members of insurgent and murder and kidnapping cells, including the alleged leader of an al-Qaida in Iraq cell, during a series of early morning raids across Baghdad Friday. Iraqi Forces, with Coalition advisers, conducted three separate raids and detained eight suspects responsible for sectarian murders and kidnappings, as well as Improvised Explosive Device attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces.” (READ MORE)

Iraqi Army assumes responsibility of Northern Ramadi “The Iraqi Army assumed responsibility of an area in northern Ramadi Oct. 24, 2006. The 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 7th Iraqi Army Division, commanded by Colonel Kareem, officially assumed battle space at a ceremony on forward operating base Blue Diamond. “We will serve with honor,” Colonel Kareem reminded his Soldiers. ‘We have been given the great responsibility of being in charge of this area.’” (READ MORE)

U.S. MARINES CAPTURE SNIPER RIFLES, KILL 6, WOUND 4 INSURGENTS “Coalition Forces killed six insurgents, wounded four and netted five sniper rifles Sunday in the Euphrates River city of Hit, Iraq. Coalition Forces positively identified 10 males conducting insurgent activity in a parking lot prior to engaging them with a heavy volume of fire. The insurgents were gathered around a car while distributing black masks, AK-47 assault rifles and rocket propelled grenade launchers to one another.” (READ MORE)

SEARCH FOR MND-B SOLDIER CONTINUES “Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers embarked on an intensive search in an attempt to find an MND-B Soldier who was reported as Duty Status- Whereabouts Unknown as of 7:30 p.m. Monday. Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, along with the Iraqi National Police, mounted an intensive effort to locate the Soldier by using all means available, to include attack aviation elements and unmanned aerial vehicles.” (READ MORE)


On the Web:
Allahpundit writes Canadian judge strikes down law that connects terrorism to religion “Canada’s new Anti-Terrorism Act failed its first judicial test today when an Ontario judge declared unconstitutional a key part of the definition of what constitutes a terrorist act. Ontario Superior Court Judge Douglas Rutherford ruled today that the reference to terrorist motivations, which outlaws certain acts committed “for political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause,” is a clear violation of Charter freedoms of conscience and religion, and freedom of thought, opinion and expression.” (READ MORE)

Kobayashi Maru writes Ahmadinejad at His Word “…Most in the West are too wedded to the notion drummed into their heads in the 1990s that we are beyond history and have managed to slip the surly bonds of evil that have gripped humanity since the beginning of time. They just don't want to believe that it's 1938 because if it were (and I truly believe that it is), then what comes next we know, is truly and utterly horrific--and only more so given the weapons at nearly everyone's disposal.” (READ MORE)

Dean Barnett writing at Hugh Hewitt writes Absolute Moral Authority Revisited “Allah yesterday uncomfortably alluded to an Ann Coulter theory that the left was devising a strategy where it would rely solely on spokespeople that you couldn’t argue with. While I, too, deplore Ann’s bomb throwing, when she’s right, she’s right. The left’s strategy is to have absolute moral authority figures like the Jersey Girls or Cindy Sheehan carry its message. The messengers would also necessarily be victims so if you got down ‘n’ dirty with them, you would automatically qualify as a cretin.” (READ MORE)

Jay Tea writes A few random thoughts about the war in Iraq, and warfare in general “With the announcement that President Bush had met with the on-the-ground commanders in Iraq and discussed changing tactics, a lot of people immediately leaped on it as a concession that Bush had, finally, started to "come to his senses" on the Iraq campaign in the war on terror. That was fairly amusing. Anyone with even a passing acquaintance with military thought (and I come pretty darn close to having that passing acquaintance) heard the news and shrugged. It was worth maybe a casual "BFD" at best.” (READ MORE)

ColoradoPatriot writing at Gay Patriot writes The Time-Machine Solution “What’s going on in my head as I stare blankly is, ‘If you think we should have never gone there in the first place, why the hell should I give a rat’s ass what you think of our ‘victory’ or ‘failure’? Seems you’d never be satisfied with any outcome, you know, since we’re, um, there and all.’ These folks have no solution for “winning” the war, because their vision of “winning” is so drastically different from reality. As far as they’re concerned, simply our being there is a failure.” (READ MORE)

Pirate’s Cove writes Pelosi: Save Darfur On United Nations Day “…Let's see. Pelosi is all hot and bothered over Darfur and the human rights violations, such as genocide. A nation that means very little to the security of the United States. I hate to use the phrase "eerily reminicent" for a second time today, but it is, in regards to Haiti and the Balkans operations under Clinton (Somalia doesn't count, as it was Bush 41 who originally deployed the military.) Neither had any real need regarding the security of the United States.” (READ MORE)

Captain Ed writes Running On Honesty “Many pundits analyze the midterms as a referendum on the war in Iraq. They explain the poor polling for Republicans in a growing dissatisfaction with the progress shown on that front, and some Republicans have tried emphasizing other parts of the Republican platform to counter the trend. Not so here in Minnesota, where Mark Kennedy has decided to make sure his potential constituents know exactly where he stands:” (READ MORE)

Steve Schippert writing at Milblogs writes Why There Are MilBloggers... “Imagine if Ernie Pyle's World War II headline had read, "More Troops In Germany Means More Targets For Hitler". Imagine if Winston Churchill had said instead, "Don't sign up. Don't ever, ever sign up."Thankfully, neither of them could muster the self-loathing necessary to utter or pen such vile, defeatist notions. We need them now. More than ever. If anyone in the media business ever wondered why there are MilBloggers and why we are so passionate about what we write, I would suggest that those individuals not look outward at us for explanation. Rather, look inward, please.” (READ MORE)

Cassandra writes Fortitude And America's Flirtation With "Realism" “Another grey dawn in western Maryland. I gaze out the window of my small office and watch the leaves swirl across the stone wall. For some reason, the sight sends small shivers up my spine. I reach for my coffee, my bare toes blindly seeking the warmth of the small dachshund snoring softly at my feet; small comforts in a world that suddenly seems bleak and cheerless. As if to confirm my worst suspicions, Sausage opens one eye and steals the blanket right off my lap. This is obviously the result of appeasing ruthless dictators with ill-timed rawhide bones. Treachery is the one constant in history. Nor is this the only depressing thing that awaits me in my morning rounds. For everywhere I turn, I see an America in full retreat:” (READ MORE)