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War

Bad deal in Afghanistan, either way it turns out (updated)


If it turns out that 70 (or more) civilians were killed in a recent airstrike in western Afghanistan, then it is an indicator that the U.S.-led NATO command in Afghanistan is pursuing a flawed strategy. Coalition forces lack sufficient force projection on the ground, and it looks like there's an overreliance on air support.

Al Qaeda now


I was prepared to be impressed with this assessment on the state of al Qaeda, but it just didn't happen. Richard Barrett is a former counter-terrorism official for the British, and now with the UN Security Council. Actually, I think his assessments are cogent...

What in the #$%@ is Maliki Thinking?


At the moment, Nouri al-Maliki's policy, if one can be discerned, seems to be "double cross everyone." It was the Sadrists in parliament who provided him with the votes he needed to become PM in the first place--early in 2008, he repaid them by sending the tanks into Basra and, with the help of American artillery and air support, gutted the armed power of the JAM.

A lot on Iraq and a little on the economy


In my previous post, I made reference to Bing West in an update. I first read his writings a couple of years ago and wrote about his take on Haditha "massacre" here, which to me encapsulated how badly we were screwing up in Iraq and it affirmed to me the strategy we needed to turn things around.

Gori DOESN'T fall, Russia NOT advancing on Tblisi


UPDATE: FOX NEWS and official Georgian sources were incorrect.

Reported by Lawyers, Gun & Money citing FOX News:

Russian forces swept across Georgia on Monday, capturing the town of Gori and moving to within 35 miles of the capital city Tbilisi, FOX News confirmed.

Georgia reportedly was rushing more than 1,000 troops to Tbilisi in anticipation of a battle with Russian troops.

Russian armor, meanwhile, moved beyond two breakaway provinces and seized a military base and police stations in the country's west, officials said.

Can we say that Iraq has turned the corner?


That's a tough question. To me, it's pretty clear that the situation has stabilized and that the surge strategy is working. Peter Mansoor does a good job explaining why. Also, civilian casualties are about as low as I've seen (hat tip to Engram),

and same goes for military casualties.

Russo-Georgian War: Day 4--Ceasefire


Earlier today, the Georgian national assembly overwhelmingly voted to declare war against Russia and to impose martial law. 15 days of martial law, for those of you who believe that Georgia's President Saakashvili is using this as a pretext to make himself dictator. This seems to indicate that the Georgians view this situation, win or lose, as a two week-long affair. But to me, the oddest aspect of all to this situation is the calmness and near-unanimity with which the Georgians have taken this momentous step.

Throw the Dice High


That is Douglas Muir's "half-informed, amateur war analysis" of what Georgian leader Saakashvili has done by attempting to seize South Ossetia.

Why did Saakashvili try this now? — Here’s my guess, based on my impression of Saakashvili’s character.

Saakashvili is an ardent nationalist who doesn’t view the disputes with Russia rationally. To him, they’re painful and continuing insults to the national soul.

More importantly, Saakashvili is a gambler.

Russian Tanks Clang & Clank Again In Re-Play of Prague and Budapest


I don't really expect anyone to be as upset by the sight of real Russian Tanks on the Move to crush Georgian Troops, but the blood does rise, the muscles tighten...give me an anti-tank rocket and a clear field of fire....!

Prague, the Prague Spring that was bringing liberal humanism to the crushed spirit of the peoples of Eastern Europe, throwing off the boot of the Russian on the neck of the people....to arms, to arms...to the barricades, let this not be a bloody repeat of the crushing of the Hungarians in Budapest by the Russian Monster!

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