REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• American forces are moving prisoners through the system far faster than in the past, in a small silver lining to the news of the Abu Ghraib scandal.

• CBFTW of "My War" blogs from his posting in Mosul, and sarcastically describes the joys of sitting in OPs (observation posts). If you want to experience these joys yourself, he even has a full set of directions that will allow you to try this at home! Some equipment required.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Arthur Chrenkoff examines the claims that interim Iraqi government Prime Minister Iyad Allawi killed six prisoners in cold blood prior to his inauguration. Sadly, regardless of the accuracy of the story, it will doubtless end up part of the 'truth' about Iraq as told by many who oppose the war.

• Although Tim Blair notes it may be an intentional plant by Allawi, a political move to bolster his perceived toughness. Politics really is a strange game. Our own Joe Katzman has also been looking into this.

• Prime Minister Allawi allowed Moqtada al-Sadr's controversial newspaper to reopen, presumably as part of moves intended to bring al-Sadr into the political process rather than the private army business.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Australia's Foreign Minister speaks out on the dangers of appeasement in the wake of the Philippines craven withdrawal from Iraq (Hat tip: Arthur Chrenkoff.)

• JK: Speaking of the Philippines, some experts contend that the best historical model for America's experience in Iraq may be... the Philippines Insurrection.

• JK: Left-wing independent filmmaker Michael Tucker spent a lot of time on the ground in Iraq, and produced the film "Gunner's Place." But even German broadcasters who thought Tucker’s film was the most vivid available portrait of the American soldiers in Iraq won't show it - because it doesn't cast American GIs in a negative light.

• JK: Davids Medienkritik explains some of the wellsprings for these German political sentiments in Kosovo vs. Iraq.

WMD HUNT

• The controversy that won't die lurches from the grave again: new evidence suggests that President Bush's infamous 'sixteen words' may have been true after all, and that Iraq may well have sought uranium in Africa.

ETCETERA

• The U.S. ambassador to Iraq is keeping a low profile now that the interim government is up and running, a very wise strategy that should help to remove some of the American face of the occupation.

• Phil Carter notes that the U.S. Army may emerge from Iraq stronger than ever, as the experience of war and the Army's learning culture should combine to rebuild an Army even better suited for modern war. Good news for the west, less so for our enemies abroad.

• Sy Hersh is upping the ante at Abu Ghraib, now claiming that Iraqi prisoners were sodomized as part of the Bush administration's interrogation policies. Either Hersh is onto a crime as great (or greater) than My Lai, or he's gone completely over the edge in his hatred of the Bush administration. I certainly hope that it's the latter, but we need to keep a close eye on the continuing Abu Ghraib investigation.

• 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!

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