IRAN REPORTS * The crackdown in Iran continues, with two journalists and two student leaders arrested by Iran's judiciary. It's almost clear the mullahs won't give up without a very public fight. This may backfire, depending on what precisely led to the death of a Canadian journalist in an Iranian prison this weekend. * Daneshjoo says "reformist" President Khatami is at a crossroads. (Hat Tip: M. Simon) * Trent Telenko says: so is the USA. Time to call up the full National Guard, because invasion is the only realistic option left for Iran. Joe disagrees, and others join in the debate. Including Facts on the Ground, who adds a good slew of Iran-related links. * Whether in an attempt to spread their power, or just in hopes of keeping the U.S. from interfering with their own crackdown, Iran is apparently stirring anti-American sentiment in Iraq, according to the United States. In so doing, Iran runs the risk of provoking precisely the response they may be hoping for forestall, as sufficient trouble from Iran may convince the Bush Administration that they must eliminate Iran's mullahs to win in Iraq. * Cuba has now been identified as the location for the jamming of U.S.-based satellite broadcasts into Iran. But wait, how could avowed Islamists work with an atheist socialist regime? I thought that wasn't supposed to happen.... IRAQ BRIEFING * Rebuilding a country after a fascist regime is tough. Hugh Hewitt offers some German reminders. What he doesn't mention is that death from sporadic enemy action continued until 1949 (WWII formally ended in 1945). * Iraq's new governing council held their first meeting this weekend. Other than establishing April 9th as a national holiday and banning celebrations on six Ba'ath holidays, the council was pretty passive, but it seems a pretty good start after Saddam. * Instapundit has this report from a Muslim American solider in Iraq. * But a bombing in Baghdad indicates the war is still far from over. The so-called Armed Islamic Movement for Al Qaeda, the Falluja Branch, threatened a new, bigger attack to "break America's back." Although such a result is unlikely, this group does promise to extend America's growing list of casualties. (JK: Phil Carter's earlier call is looking better) * Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute issues a stinging critique of conservative indifference to the WMD intelligence issue. "The point is not that the administration is necessarily guilty of misbehavior, but that it should be forced to defend its decisionmaking process." * JK: I agree with that, and with this too... and see this example of what intel agencies are up against. * This tempest is now causing friction between American and British intelligence agencies. How will this affect the relationship with America's most important ally? It's most likely both sides are too professional to allow this to cause much damage, but hurt feelings are stronger than most of us would like to believe. * And whether the Bush Administration intentionally misled America and the world or not, the possibility is also causing problems for Tony Blair and John Howard. This will almost certainly be a problem for the Bush Administration the next time it needs to call on the Anglosphere. * Which "cards" have we captured so far? The CENTCOM list. And the visual version of "Ba'ath Poker." * The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops. American, British and Australian. Anyone out there with more information, incl. the Poles and Czechs? [updated April 1, 2003] U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING * Who says threats to the United States are a bad thing? American automobile companies are gearing up to sell the most heavily armored cars in history to CEOs looking to protect themselves. They may never see use, but they'll certainly boost the bottom line for car companies at just the right time. * On a similar note, the DHS passed rules to protect companies making anti-terrorism technology from lawsuits, basing their rules on Good Samaritan laws. THE WIDER WAR * Picking up on a theme Armed Liberal has addressed here before, Dinesh D'Souza hammers home the necessity of offering an intellectual response to Islamism. The concept that virtue must be freely chosen to mean anything is a good start. * Dan Darling has done a Special Analysis bit on the Saudi al-Ghamdi clan before. Now Alphabet city chimes in with an update: "The Wild-Wild-Middle-East: The al-Ghamdi Gang". * Not to be left out, North Korea is apparently still looking to gain attention. Their latest cry? 200 missiles aimed at Japan, according to U.S. intelligence. Even money this won't goad the Bush Administration into action (JK: see Top Topics, they already are in action), but it seems safe to assume the Japanese government may be a little more concerned. * The situation in Liberia threatens to spread throughout West Africa as the details for President Taylor's exile remained sketchy. President Bush will meet with Kofi Annan on Monday to discuss the situation. * But there has yet to be a decision made on whether or not the United States will send peacekeepers to Liberia. Probably because the peacekeeping cupboard is looking pretty bare right now. * India indicated its willingness to discuss a peaceful solution to the Kashmir question, a sign tensions may yet fade in that troubled part of the world. * We try to close on a lighter note if possible. Col. Kassem Saleh of the United States Army was part of the force that fought the Taliban in Afghanistan, a task fraught with peril and often lonely. But apparently not that lonely. 50 women? Bill Clinton ought to call "Kassemnova" for tips! Thanks for reading! If you found something here you want to blog about (and we hope you do), all we ask is that you do as we do and offer a Hat Tip hyperlink to today's "Winds of War". If you see something important that we missed, use the Comments to let us know.