November 10, 2007

Web Reconnaissance 11/10/2007

A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention updated throughout the day…so check back often. This is a weekend edition so updates are as time and family permits.


In the News: (Registration may be required to read some stories)
(No news today….)


From the Front:
IraqPundit: Truth or Dare - The dueling reports about the situation in Iraq continue to confuse. I can't figure out what's behind the disagreement, but I worry it's not good. We hear two stories. "Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, the Iraqi spokesman for a U.S.-Iraqi military push to pacify Baghdad, said border crossings recorded 46,030 people returning to Iraq in October alone. He attributed the large number to the 'improving security situation.'" At the same time, we get this heartbreaking story from CNN of reports that the plight of Iraq's children is nearing disastrous "with mothers and fathers abandoning their children because they're becoming a liability." (READ MORE)

This War and Me: Take Time to Slow Down - I sometimes lose touch with things that are important in life as I go about living in a land far from home. I am a sergeant in the Army. I have many responsibilities and everyone needs everything done right now. We are at war. Though we have times when we are not, we are mostly pretty busy; always on the go. We are in the ‘Information Age’. We need our news, statistics, gossip and messages delivered, now! We have text messages, emails and cell phones on us at all times. We can't live without them and we are furious when a call is 'dropped' or we are in a 'dead zone'. (I don't think there are as many of those in the city, but we have them in my neck of the woods.) What will I do? No one can contact right this second! (READ MORE)

Fightin' 6th Marines: Are you ready for some (Iraqi) football? - Cpl. Bryce Muhlenberg is our correspondent with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, out in Habbaniyah, around 14 km west of Fallujah, straddling the highway that runs between Ramadi and here. He recently watched some of the first league-play football (soccer for us Americans) to take place in years there. It may be difficult to comprehend exactly how important football is in the lives of folks here, but it is more than just sport to Iraqis. (READ MORE)

Austin Bay: A conversation in Bagram, Afghanistan - DATELINE: Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan November 9, 2007 - Yesterday in Afghanistan an Air Force lieutenant colonel and I started one of those “well I don’t know anybody and I’ve got to waste some time” chats. We were in the midst of a large crowd –a whole lot of chatting going on about life back in Kansas and how great it is in California. I could tell the man was tired. We talked for a bit, about Texas, about the Air Force. Then the momentum shifted, you know, when eyes connect and a bit of soul is exchanged. He started telling. He told me what he was seeing in combat — lots of action in the Himalayas, in the passes, airstrikes everyday on active Taliban. He’d put bombs on target –danger close missions with US infantry in contact– and he’d used his gun in strafing attacks, a Strike Eagle airman’s means of direct action. But it was getting to him, be said, the relentlessness. He’d fly a mission, get hits, lots of hits, successful strikes in the jargon, but the next day there’d be another mission and more of these thugs on the ground. (READ MORE)


On the Web:
Meryl Yourish: The Nazi/Muslim analogy debunked - On the eve of Kristallnacht, the night that is considered the beginning of the Holocaust—the extermination of six million of Europe’s Jews—the Muslims of Britain are evoking the memories of the treatment of Jews by Nazis as a comparison to the British announcement that Al Qaeda is recruiting young British Muslims, and that the nation is at its greatest peacetime risk in history. Reuters uses the N-word in its headline: (READ MORE)

Jay Tea: Chris Dodd Is Right - A lot of people have been giving Senator Christopher Dodd a bit of heat over his piece published at the Huffington Post last week. I was all set to jump on the kick-Dodd bandwagon, but then I actually read the piece -- and especially the money quote -- and I'm reconsidering…Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (he's the guy who looks like the love child of Rosie O'Donnell and Ron Jeremy, if you need a reminder) was one of the three Al Qaeda members that have been acknowledged to have been subjected to waterboarding. Mohammed was the master planner behind the 9/11 attacks, as well as numerous other terrorist plots and events: the beheading of Daniel Pearl, "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, several other bombings, and plans for far, far more. (READ MORE)

Sister Toldjah: Joe Lieberman’s John Hopkins University speech - Earlier today in an update to a post about Karl Rove’s reflections on the Democratic Congress and how it’s been a miserable failure, I mentioned that Senator Joe Lieberman, too, has been doing some reflecting about the Democratic party as of late, and linked up to a Powerline post which referenced a NY Sun article containing snippets of a speech he made at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. While powerful, the NY Sun article doesn’t fully do Lieberman’s speech justice. Here are his remarks in full (h/t: Marc Moore). (READ MORE)

ShrinkWrapped: Moderate Muslims, Nuclear Weapons, Democracy and Pakistan - Arguably the greatest threat facing the West in the near term is the situation in Pakistan. For several years Pervez Musharaf has been balancing the competing demands of Islamic extremists, both within and without his government and military, with pro-Democracy forces; failure by Musharaf risks chaos and the move of Pakistan from a reasonably, if ambivalent, rational actor and ally in the war on terror toward an extremist Islamic state. Since Pakistan already possesses as many as 50 nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them via missile or terrorist, this is a rather alarming prospect. Last weekend Musharaf introduced martial law and suspended the Constitution. (READ MORE)

ROFASix: Anti-Army Disinformation (Again) - The story, "Ill-Equipped Soldiers Opt for 'Search and Avoid'", was picked up by every lefty and anti-war group website. It tells of how soldiers are leaving a FOB and parking somewhere to avoid making contact or putting themselves at risk in Iraq. According to the story, the patrol would tell local kids they mean no harm after parking in a vacant lot. The soldiers would then be left alone. No RPGs, no mortar rounds from terrorists. What nice terrorists, eh? The story goes on to suggest that low morale and dispirited troops are participating in their own personal mutinies against the war and the US Army. It's the kind of thing that the Code Pinkos and their ilk like to tell each other about our soldiers (the ones they support!) (READ MORE)

Jon Henke: Bob Herbert: Shameless Hack - Bob Herbert reaches such astoundingly high levels of hackery in his column today "Recession? What Recession?" that even Lefty bloggers are acknowledging his errors. In short, Bob Herbert makes the remarkably insipid how can you say there’s no recession when some people aren’t doing well argument. This is the neighbor of how can you say capitalism is good when we’re not all rich and first cousin to how can you be happy when somebody, somewhere is suffering. It isn’t often used by people who have completed junior high school, but apparently the New York Times doesn’t have much in the way of standards. (READ MORE)

McQ: How bad is BDS? - We’re approaching Veterans Day. The President of the United States decides to visit wounded soldiers at a rehab center in Texas: “George W. Bush had a shoot-out with the "bad guys" in Iraq on Thursday, playing a computer game with war veterans that simulates a firefight in Baghdad, the White House said. Bush tried his hand at the game with two soldiers during a visit to a rehabilitation center in Texas that treats veterans wounded in Iraq.” Seems a pretty innocuous story and one that hightlights something a president should do. Any president. And he gets involved with an activity the wounded apparently enjoy. But to some, no matter what he does, it’s just another occasion to take a cheap shot: (READ MORE)

William Teach: SM Sat: Dems Retreat From Retreat And Defeat - The Surrender Monkey is sad. He wishes that he was available for Saturday work. Unfortunately, he is out of town at the A.N.S.W.E.R. International Socialism Conference. He was upset that he had to miss the Jena 6 rally, but, even he thought it was stupid to hold it in L.A. “Rank-and-file Democrats expressed dismay on Friday over their party’s latest anti-war strategy, with some members reluctant to vote around Veterans Day to bring troops home. The House was on track to consider legislation next week that would give President Bush $50 billion for operations for Iraq and Afghanistan, but insist that he begin withdrawing troops.” So Nancy retreated yet again. She is getting really spectacular at it. But, you know what they say: “amateurs practice till they get it right. Professionals practice till they can’t get it wrong.” (READ MORE)

DRJ: The Politics of Planted Questions - Hillary Clinton’s campaign suffered an embarassment in Iowa when it was revealed a college student had been given a planted question to ask at a town hall meeting: “Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign admitted Friday that it planted a global warming question in Newton, Iowa, Tuesday during a town hall meeting to discuss clean energy. Clinton campaign spokesman Mo Elliethee admitted that the campaign had planted the question and said it would not happen again.” The incident became public when a college student admitted involvement: (READ MORE)

Amy Proctor: Why Hollywood War Movies Are KIA - Bottom Line Up Front: Hollywood anti-war movies are tanking because Americans can spot enemy propaganda. Anti-war movies dying a slow, painful death. Check out this article distributed by the Agence France-Presse: “Hollywood is casualty of war as movie-goers shun Iraq films - Almost without exception, the crop of movies have struggled to turn a profit at the box-office and in many cases have received a mauling from unimpressed critics as well. ‘Rendition,’ a drama starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal about the CIA's policy of outsourcing interrogation of terror suspects, has taken just under 10 million dollars at the box office, a disastrous return.” (READ MORE)

Jules Crittenden: BDS - Now, here’s an interesting example of what Lieberman was talking about, when he talked about people whose Bush rage blinds them to the threat posed by those who are murdering American soldiers. But this isn’t a Democratic member of Congress. One of their water carriers. Eugene Robinson has a column in the Washington Post. This is a tremendous privilege. He commands some of the nation’s prime opining real estate. And it is pretty amazing, when you look at the tripe he writes. (READ MORE)

GayPatriotWest: Misunderstanding & Loathing from the “Netroots” - Sometimes, I’ll put days of thought and hours of work into a post, thinking I’m addressing an important issue and get no links and only a handful of comments. Most people didn’t find take as much interest in the idea that I found so compelling. Other times, I’ll read some post (or encounter an idea) in an e-mail and, on a whim, whip off a piece. Such was the case yesterday when I pondered an e-mail from a reader referencing Michelle Malkin’s on ABC “staging” news by hiring actors to engage in PDA to provoke a reaction from people in Alabama. And I wondered about the MSM’s disinterest in something we gay conservatives encounter frequently when we come out to our peers, an intolerant reaction from our fellow gays. (READ MORE)

Baron Bodissey: The Truth About “Islamic Science” - Anyone who was around in the 1950s or ’60s knows that the Russians invented everything. From the steam engine to the atom bomb, from the paper clip to the zipper — Bolshevik propagandists insisted that all were Russian or Soviet inventions. Now we find out that we were mistaken: in reality, everything significant was invented by Muslims. As reported in many places, Islam was responsible all important scientific and technological accomplishments, not to mention the discovery of America. Fjordman has written a recent series of articles about Islam, Europe, and Science. Today he posted a follow-up essay on the same topic at Dhimmi Watch. Here are some excerpts: (READ MORE)

The Foxhole: Former military malcontents - This has been happening since Vietnam; the fashionable few who jump on the anti-war bandwagon and prostitute themselves to the lunatic fringe. John Kerry was by no means the only one, but he was one of the most visable. Recent examples include The New Republic’s faux diarist Army Private Scott Beauchamp, former marine Private Adam Kokesh, who still refers to himself as “Sergeant” even though the marines busted him to Private for smuggling an unauthorized pistol out of Iraq, and the latest train wreck, former Army Private Clifford Hicks, who was charged with vandalizing government property and disrespect toward a Non-Commissioned Officer. He applied for Conscientious Objector status just before he was discharged. Big surprise. (READ MORE)

Dr. Sanity: The New Political Discourse - James Kirchick who is on the editorial staff of TNR writes in City Journal about what can be described as "leftist McCarthyism"--or, the "anti-neocon fervor" that is sweeping the left: "Today, no other political label gets thrown around as frequently, or with as much reckless abandon, as “neocon.” The most popular liberal blogs name and shame neocons, real or imagined, on a daily basis. The term is used in a fashion similar to the way “communist” was during the 1950s—an all-encompassing indictment—this time indicating an imperialistic and “warmongering,” even an “insane,” worldview. The anti-neocon fervor has reached truly McCarthyite proportions: just a few months ago, Steve Clemons of the left-wing New America Foundation argued in favor of 'Purging the Neocons from the American Soul.'" (READ MORE)

Chickenhawk Express: Al Anbar Delegation Thanks Vermont Soldiers But Media Forgets to Cover It - Don't expect to see this touted much in the mainstream media. A delegation of leaders from al-Anbar province stopped to visit with members of the Vermont National Guard and thanked them for helping secure Iraq. “The Iraqi delegation, fresh off meetings in Washington with President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, declared they had achieved victory over al-Qaida insurgents during a visit with Vermont veterans at Norwich University Thursday afternoon. Though insurgent violence is largely quelled, they said, continued U.S. support is necessary to rebuild infrastructure and the economy in Al Anbar province. ‘We have defeated al-Qaida in this very large province of Al Anbar as a result of our cooperation with your forces,’ Mamoon S. Rashid Al-Alwani, governor of Al Anbar, said through an interpreter. ‘This victory came as a result of our cooperation with your forces and our bloods have spilled together.’” (READ MORE)

Dadmanly: Moral Reasoning - If I have to pick one quality that makes James Taranto an incredibly readable commentator, I’d say it’s the strength of his logic. On Thursday, he deployed that logic in devastating fashion against highly offensive comments by Senator Chris Dodd. Sen. Dodd, in a speech he gave in Iowa, made this highly surprising assertion: “Compare that case to the case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who organized the attacks of 9/11. He was held in a secret prison, where he claims he was tortured severely. Whether he is lying or not, by our actions we have allowed Khalid Mohammed to claim the moral high ground. Khalid Mohammed plays martyr to a world that is inclined to believe it.” Yes, assuredly, but does Dodd believe it? For some, by asking that, I leave myself open to immediate outrage in response, accusing me of questioning Dodd’s patriotism. I don’t question his patriotism, but his judgment. (READ MORE)

Don Surber: Bush on veterans - Democratic response: No VA budget on Veterans Day. President Bush’s weekly radio address was on Veterans Day. It’s also the anniversary of the Marines. They’ve been standing tall since 1775. “Good morning. This weekend, Americans mark two important dates in our Nation’s history. On Saturday, we celebrate the 232nd birthday of the United States Marine Corps. And on Sunday, we celebrate Veterans Day — and give thanks for all those who have worn the uniform of America’s Armed Forces.” (READ MORE)

Ed Morrissey: 'We Can't Afford To Look Back 1,400 Years' - Six weeks ago, terror struck the archipelago nation of the Maldives, a popular tourist resort nation comprising hundreds of islands in the Indian Ocean. A bombing attack and a riot involving radical Islamists in the same week have put this sleepy, hospitable, moderate Muslim nation on the front lines of the war on terror, and they are not at all happy about it. They face the loss of their standard of living if the radical Islamists succeed in pushing the Maldives back to the 7th century: “On Sept. 29, the two faces of the Maldives collided when a homemade bomb exploded in a park in the capital, Male, wounding 12 tourists, threatening the critical resort industry and sending the clear message that even this remote corner of paradise is not immune to terrorism.” (READ MORE)

Augean Stables: A First-Hand Account of Shi’ite-Sunni Jihad Cooperation - A common argument by opponents of the War on Terror is that there is actually no significant enemy, just several small terrorist groups with limited capabilities. They point to the animosity between Shi’ites and Sunnis as proof that one cannot claim that there is an enemy that includes Hezbollah, Iran, Syria, and Al-Qaeda. This is one Paul Krugman’s central arguments in his claims that Islamofascism does not exist. Terrorist groups belonging to the various strains of Islam have always been more than happy to put aside any differences in order to cooperate in attacking their common enemy. This is evidenced in Iranian (Shia) cooperation with Hamas (Sunni) through Hezbollah (Shia) and Syria (Allawite). Of course, upon defeating the West they would almost surely turn on each other, but that does not mean that they do not currently constitute a bloc that the West can refer to as its enemy. (READ MORE)

Have an interesting post or know of a "must read?" Then send a trackback here and let us all know about it. Or you can send me an email with a link to the post and I'll update the Recon.

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