Andrew's Iraq Report: 2003-09-22

Welcome! Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Today's "Winds of War" is brought to you by Andrew Olmsted (JK: That's "Major Olmsted" now), and is split into this Iraq Report and a briefing on the Wider War.

TOP TOPICS

• Porphyrogenitus posts another excellent after action report from a Lieutenant Colonel serving in Tikrit, Iraq, discussing the trials and lessons learned.

• What did the media know, when did they know it, and how much did they hide? Glenn Reynolds notes reports the media was covering up some (much?) of what they learned in Iraq in order to curry favor with the Iraqi government. Lots of links, incl. the BBC affair, Burns allegations, Judge Walters' comments, and first-hand reports from the field that are consistently at odds with the media picture we're getting. You have to wonder: what else is the media unwilling to report?

• Max Boot has written an excellent article recounting the key events of the Operation Iraqi Freedom and tying them into the new American Way of War. (Hat tip: Richard Heddleson).

Other Topics Include: Assassination attempt on GC member tries to put women in their place; Iraqi blog-fight over Najaf bombing; Crazy Lt. Col. or blessed?; Being gay in Iraq; U.N. maneuverings; France's imperial war; German reconciliation; Barone, Warren & Hanson; Lileks' double-barreled fisking; 'Fat Bastard' apparently added to Ba'ath Poker Deck; Support the Troops; SEND TOYS!

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• The Iraqi 'resistance' took the fight to the Governing Council this weekend, wounding Aquila al-Hashimi in an assassination attempt Saturday. Charles Johnson notes the subtext of the attack, not only threatening the Council, but also all Muslim women who dare to step outside the tightly-constrained box some men want to keep them in.

• Salam Pax has some interesting thoughts and valuable links about the recent bombings in Najaf. The first Iraqi blog-fight!

• Three more American soldiers were killed in Iraq this weekend, two by mortar fire and one by a bomb, harsh reminders that success in Iraq comes with a price.

• Then there's Lt. Col. Steve Russell, who rides down the most dangerous streets in Tikrit with his men and openly dares the enemy to try and get them. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but one heck of a story. (Hat Tip: Donald Sensing).

• JK: What's it like to be gay in Iraq? An American artist in-country has a fascinating anecdote to share. Funny and sad, all at the same time. He adds other experiences (including the strange dual perfidity/usefulness of some NGOs), and of course some sketches too.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• President Bush suggested that a larger U.N. role might not be necessary to get a new UN resolution on Iraq. Although that sounds more like wishful thinking to me, it does suggest Bush may not be so willing to simply roll over to the UN in exchange for assistance.

• Jacques Chirac presented his own plan for Iraq involving an immediate transfer of Iraqi soverignty to their Governing Council followed by a U.S. withdrawal in six to nine months, reminding the United States where they stand. With a veiled threat of a veto if his plan is not accepted, it seems clear France will continue to keep the U.N. out of Iraq unless it can have its way.

• Even the New York Times seems to be figuring out which side the French government is on in the war on Islamofascism. Sylvain Galineau discusses Friedman's op-ed and highlights several important issues with France's imperial ambitions.

• Should we let bygones be bygones with the Germans, as they seem to be looking to kiss and make up after our disagreements over Iraq. Lexington Green says yes, and it's difficult to disagree with him. While we can't let erstwhile allies tie our hands when we need to act, ignoring conciliatory gestures when they're offered is no more than cutting off our nose to spite our face.

MISC.

• Call Lexington Green butter, 'cause he's on a roll. Check out his comparison of articles about Iraq from Michael Barone, David Warren, and Victor David Hanson. It's guaranteed to cheer up those of us constantly seeing only the bad news from Iraq.

• JK: Lileks is on an even bigger roll, as he points out the subtext and substance behind many of the critics' arguments: "Saddam should have remained in power." It's a scorcher - and he backs it up.

• Add one to the deck. 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 August 19, 2003]

• We try to close on a lighter note if possible. The Chief is posting from Iraq, and says: SEND TOYS! And help us get the generals released.

On to Andrew's Winds of War, 2003-09-22...

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