Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.
Today also features a Monday Winds of War briefing, covering the rest of the global war on terror.
TOP TOPICS
- JK: Belmont Club explains the ethnic dynamics around the coming Iraqi elections.
- Iraq bloggers Omar and Mohammed visited the Oval Office this past week, representing both Iraq and the blogosphere. But Juan Cole wonders if Omar and Mohammed are representative of Iraqis in general.
- In Spirit of America's fundraising challenge, Team Pajamahdeen - Operation Viral Freedom is raising money to create Arabic blogging tools and hosting for people like Omar and Mohammed.
Other Topics Today Include: Mosul; Army adaptations to Iraq; Zeyad returns; Iraq oil exports steady; will the U.S. be asked out; Hussein aides on hunger strike; France's mixed feelings on Iraq; Sergeant sentenced for mercy killing.
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD
- Fighting flared in Fallujah again over the weekend, while seven Marines died two incidents in Anbar province.
- Greg Djerejian examines the so-called 'second front' in Iraq: the city of Mosul.
- Phil Carter takes a look at how the Army is adapting to lessons learned in Iraq; and where they're not yet making the grade.
- Zeyad is back, and he hopes to return to regular posting soon.
RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY
- Despite all the attacks on Iraq's oil infrastructure, it appears they have failed to reduce Iraq's oil exports (although it seems logical to assume that Iraq could be exporting significantly more were these attacks not occuring). (Hat tip: One Hand Clapping.)
IRAQI POLITICS
- Spencer Ackerman is upset that the media isn't noting the primary objective of the leading parties: to get the U.S. out of Iraq.
- Some of Saddam Hussein's former aides are refusing food, although Saddam himself is still enjoying three squares a day.
THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE
- How does France feel about Iraq? Very mixed feelings (link requires registration), according to Robert Blackwill, who says France's intellect is warring with her heart over America's Iraq war. Unfortunately, Blackwill is unsure which side will win out.
- A Sri Lankan truck driver held hostage in Iraq for six weeks is finally home. Dinesh Rajaratnam has returned to his native Sri Lanka with a warning to other Sri Lankans to stay out of Iraq.
ETCETERA
- SSG Johnny M. Horne Jr. was sentenced to three years in prison after what was characterized as a mercy killing of an Iraqi on August 18th. SSG Horne was the first of a number of American soldiers who may face charges for their actions in Iraq.
- When told doctors would have to cut through his wedding ring to save his finger, Lance Corporal David Battle didn't hesitate: he told doctors to take the finger instead.
- The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!
- Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive!
Thanks for reading! If you found something here you want to blog about yourself (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 think we missed something important, use the Comments section to let us know. And if you have a tip for a future Iraq Report, email us at MondayIraqReport(at)windsofchange.net.
Re: the Juan Cole piece and the other blog posts he links to... wow. Omar and his brothers are CIA stooges? Just... wow. I think some people need to step back away from their blogs for a week or something.
Is there a way to write SSG Horne?
Thanks,
M Saint