A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.
In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
Panel To Urge Pressure On Iraq “The bipartisan Iraq Study Group plans to recommend to President Bush that he threaten to reduce economic and military support for Iraq's government if it fails to meet specific benchmarks intended to improve security in the country, a source familiar with the report said yesterday.” (READ MORE)
Maliki Seeks Regional Meeting on Iraq Security “Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called Tuesday for a regional conference on stabilizing his country but rejected a proposal from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that it take place outside Iraq.” (READ MORE)
Gates says U.S. isn't winning Iraq war “Defense Secretary-designate Robert M. Gates yesterday said the U.S. is not winning in Iraq, but he declined to endorse any one of scores of new options floating in Washington for ending the stalemate and the American troop commitment.” (READ MORE)
Report expected to alter policy “The Iraq Study Group will submit its report to the White House early today and expectations are running high, with Democrats saying it should be a watershed moment of change in U.S. policy in Iraq, though the White House says change is not imminent...” (READ MORE)
Probes dismiss imams' racism claim “Three parallel investigations into the removal of six imams from a US Airways flight last month have so far concluded that the airline acted properly, that the imams' claims they were merely praying and their eviction was racially inspired are without foundation.” (READ MORE)
News From the Front:
8 Iraqis killed, 40 wounded in Baghdad “A mortar attack killed at least eight people and wounded dozens in a secondhand goods market Wednesday in a shelling followed closely by a suicide bombing in the Sadr City Shiite district of the capital, police said.” (READ MORE)
Iraqi Police Rescue Woman, Child from Suspected Terrorists “SABA AL BOR, Iraq - Iraqi Police raided a home here Dec. 3 rescuing a woman and young child who were captured earlier in the week by alleged terrorists.” (READ MORE)
Cav Soldiers find Weapons Cache in Hor Al Bosh “HOR AL BOSH, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division found a weapons cache and a large sum of money here Nov. 30 while conducting a search. Coalition forces had received a tip from concerned local citizens that there was a terrorist cell operating just south of Hor Al Bosh.” (READ MORE)
Third Iraqi Army Division Assumes Responsibility “AL KISIK, Iraq – The 3rd Iraqi Army Division ceremoniously took the lead here Monday in providing security for Iraq’s people, becoming the seventh Iraqi Army division to assume control from coalition forces and the third division to now fall under the command and control of the Iraqi Ground Forces Command.” (READ MORE)
Three terrorists captured by Afghan, Coalition forces “KABUL, Afghanistan — Three terrorists were captured during an operation early this morning by Afghan and Coalition forces near the village of Qasemaul Kalay, in Khowst Province. Credible evidence indicated the terrorists located within the compound posed a serious threat to peace and stability in Afghanistan.” (READ MORE)
Communications Center Opens in Parwan “Afghanistan – A communications center featuring internet and telephone facilities opened in Dandar in the east Parwan province Nov. 29. The communications center serves as a meeting place for government officials and allows the citizens to use the internet and telephone capabilities.” (READ MORE)
Iraqi Security Forces On Track To Take the Lead “BAGHDAD — Iraqi Security Forces are on track to take care of their own security and combat operations virtually free of Coalition support within the next year, Multi-National Force – Iraq’s spokesman told reporters Tuesday.” (READ MORE)
Mohammed of Iraq the Model writes To the Iraqi teachers and students; with love!!! “And the terrorists' campaign to kill all aspects of humanity continues; this time with a direct threat addressing students in Baghdad. This poster was seen in Baghdad lately, it has no ultimatum on it but the word on the streets says the ultimatum ends tomorrow morning.” (READ MORE)
GWOTdotUS writes Tangos don’t like the cold “Apparently, terrorists don’t like the cold. Understandably so, how well would your fingers fare while trying to wire an IED along the Gardez pass in 20-degree weather? Answer: Not so well. ‘The Taliban are drawing up our strategy for attacks on American and NATO occupation forces next summer … The suicide and other attacks will intensify as the weather gets warmer,’ Dadullah said from an undisclosed location.” (READ MORE)
On the Web:
Jules Crittenden writes God Favors the Bold “Today, it's all about the Iraq Study Group. They'll post their report this morning and everyone will pick it apart. The general outlines have been reported. More training. Pressure on the Iraqis to get organized. A slow withdrawal. Talks with Iran and Syria. None of it really matters.” (READ MORE)
Michael Medved writing at Townhall.com writes Gay demands shift from equality to special endorsement “In current debates over gay relationships and their position in society, we’ve moved beyond a plea for acceptance and equality to an increasingly strident claim of homosexual superiority and a demand for special status and endorsement.” (READ MORE)
Mike S. Adams writing at Townhall.com writes In Hoc Signo Vinces “The latest trend in ‘hire’ education is for college administrators to censor the off-campus speech of their students.” (READ MORE)
Austin Bay: A week of leaks writing at Townhall.com writes Options for the long war “It isn't irony, it's history, our immediate history, where what we choose to do -- or not do -- will have extraordinary effects on the course of this challenging century.” (READ MORE)
Ben Shapiro writing at Townhall.com writes Will we ever win another war? “It has been six decades since we emerged fully victorious from a major ‘hot’ war.” (READ MORE)
Allahpundit writes Shock: Pelosi’s new intel chair wants more troops in Iraq “The best part? This is the guy she picked over Alcee ‘Sorry, Haters’ Hastings. Turns out he’s a wingnut who believes, for whatever crazy reason, that it’d be a better idea to liquidate the death squads instead of turning the country over to them.” (READ MORE)
Hugh Hewitt writes Gates and Byrd on Iran and Syria “The most important exchanges from the Gates confirmation hearings today came when Senator Robert Byrd questioned the Secretary-designate on Iran and Syria. Not only did Mr. Gates answer Senator Byrd's hypotheticals in ways that had to encourage the mullahs of Iran and the thugs of Syria, he did so in addition to questioning the president's authority under the AUMF to pursue any terrorists operating out of Iranian or Syria:” (READ MORE)
Rightwing Nut House writes Asking Men To Die To ‘Mitigate Defeat’ “’So if victory is not possible and not feasible, even if you could define it, then what you’re left with is to find some way to mitigate defeat.’ (Chas W. Freeman Jr., a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and member of the ISG) Today is the day that the Iraq Study Group will deliver its not so secret recommendations on how we can best pull out of Iraq without leaving behind a bloody mess, regional chaos, increased Iranian influence, and a helpless, toothless, Iraqi government dominated by theocrats and thugs. This is our new battle cry; ‘We must mitigate defeat!’” (READ MORE)
Captain Ed writes 'Allahu Akbar Was Just The Opening Act' “Debra Burlingame has written on airline security topics ever since her brother, American Airlines Capt. Charles Burlingame, died in the 9/11 attack at the hands of Islamist terrorists. Today she takes on the topic of the ‘flying imams’ of Minneapolis in the pages of the Wall Street Journal:” (READ MORE)
ShrinkWrapped writes Stasis in the Middle East “It seems likely that the next two years will feature Congressional hearings meant to disguise the lack of ideas or plans from the Democratic side of the political spectrum for resolving any of our difficulties in the Middle East. There is enough residual Bush hatred from the left that the Democrats will have difficulty assisting him, as is evidenced by the decision of John Bolton to resign rather than suffer the ignominy of a losing Senate vote, yet there is also enough realism among those who desire a Democrat in the White House in '08 to recognize that losing in Iraq, if seen as caused by the Democrats, would be fatal to their chances.” (READ MORE)
Celestial Junk writes Two Modes of War: A Harsh Reality “The other day we opened up the debate as to the roll of Armed Forces in ‘constructing’ or ‘reconstructing’ Afghanistan. An excellent rebuttal was given to my point of view by my friend Babbling Brooks. I am personally taking a harder stance on the issue; suggesting that our armed forces need to be involved primarily in security operations and the military destruction of the Taliban.” (READ MORE)
The Belmont Club writes The Mighty Wurlitzer “Despite all the talk about how conservatives are pulling ideologically even with the Left, the ‘activism’ infrastructure gap between them is immense. Perhaps the gap is even growing. Here's how it looks from the Philippines, which I am currently passing through. Item: a US Marine Lance Corporal named Daniel Smith was convicted of rape by a Philippine judge, and three of his co-accused acquitted under a status of forces agreement.” (READ MORE)
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