Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused. If you find 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". Welcome!
TO IRAQ...
"Embrace the suck." That has got to be the phrase of the day!
Full details on the 173rd's jump at Bashur, right near the Turkish border. Two interesting tidbits: they're depending on AC-130 Spectre gunships for heavy duty protection, and a Special Forces A-Team was overrun a little while ago near Ibril. (Hat Tip: blog-mate Trent Telenko)
Airborne juimps into Northern Iraq. Hoo-aah! UPDATE: It's the 173rd Airborne Infantry, whom I believe staged out of Jordan (will check that... no, direct from Italy). About 1,000 troops secured an airfield in Kurdish territory, and apparently the plan is to start dropping in more troops and armor.
Meanwhile, Vodkapundit picks up on a report that the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force may be prepping in Jordan. It's certainly true that the western third of that country is effectively a no-go zone, but moving 2MEF by air would badly strain even U.S. capabilities. And if they drive it in from the ports, we'd hear about it. So... where's Waldo?
Hey, Saddam, come out and play! Vodkapundit thinks Saddam just made a big mistake. I tend to agree.
Sean-Paul just received a slew of combat reports. Bottom line: major counter-offensive happening around Basra from several angles, not just that 100-vehicle armoured column (which is almost certainly just a footnote by now). If true, Iraqis are way too close to carriers in the Gulf for this to be a smart idea... close air support is going to julienne them.
Kurdish media says it's too early to open a Northern front until more Americans arrive (Hat Tip: The Agonist). If I had to guess, I'd say we'll see a western front before we see a northern one.
Frequent correspondent Xavier Basora has a good post about the origins of the "shock & awe" concept, including both an article and a full online book.
Brit captured in Iraq, fighting for Saddam.
Geitner Simmons notes this tidbit: "A woman who waved to British forces on the outskirts of the city was later found hanged, an American officer said." That is why many in southern Iraq haven’t come forward to welcome U.S. troops.
Sean-Paul reports again. This is a confused situation, but his record so far has been excellent. So... he's reported serious battles in Basra, including bayonet fights (!) between Saddam Fedayeen and Basra civilians, and lots of artillery as the Brits advance inside. Meanwhile - he's also reporting that the large Iraqi column has already struck B and C companies of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry east of An Najaf. They're reportedly attempting to outflank the two lead cavalry companies and strike "A" Company to retake the bridge the 3-7 Cavalry used to cross the Euphrates.
About 1,000 vehicles heading south toward An-Najaf from Baghdad. Embedded reporter says 7th Cav has received considerable reinforcements, and looks prepped to engage. This one's gonna be big...
Weapons of Mass Destruction alert... Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clarke has changed into normal clothes for today's briefing. Journalist corps given all-clear to remove protective equipment.
How tough will Baghdad be? Opinions vary, but there are some historical parallels worth considering.
The inimitable Sean-Paul has a slew of reports: Iraqis mounting thrust of about 100 armoured vehicles around Basra. Major reinforcement of Al Kut to try and stop the Marines. Attacks on the 3rd Infantry/7th Cav around Najaf and Karbala got them whacked when JSTARs picked up the move. I'm hearing that the allies were bloodied, but Iraqi losses seem to be approaching 4 figures when you add it all up.
Gary Haubold emails to note that allied aircraft are buzzing in to prey on that armoured column around Basra. Don't think there's a sandstorm down there, and aren't they in range of the A-10s?
Ralph Kinney Bennett has an excellent article that puts military casualties in perspective.
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We've moved all of the basic military and Iraq reference materials into their own post. Presenting the Winds of Change.NET Essential War Briefing.
We also have a consolidated post for ways you can support the troops.
Given reports of Iraqi preparations to use chemical weapons (thank goodness for sandstorms lately), see "Devils in the Details" at Techcentralstation.com. It's my analysis of Saddam's chemical and biological options on the battlefield, and an honest look at both allied weaknesses and potential responses. Unfortunately, I'm not the only one who sees this as likely.
Daily War Crime I: "Marines on Tuesday seized a hospital in Nasiriya and captured nearly 170 Iraqi soldiers who had been staging military operations from the facility. Marines confiscated more than 200 weapons, more than 3,000 chemical suits with masks (!) and Iraqi military uniforms in the hospital, and found a T-55 tank in the hospital compound."
Britain's Evening Standard reports that an Iraqi column of about 1,000 is headed for the Marines. Major air strikes headed out in response, sandstorm or no sandstorm. Also details regarding the major engagement at an-Najaf, and changing Iraqi strategies.
Donald Sensing reminds us that in all the hype about air strikes, it's the artillery and MLRS that will really bring the steel rain down on the Republican Guard. He's right.
CPO Sparkey of Team Stryker looks at U.S. armored maneuver strategy, and much more besides. Basically, it's his roundup of thoughts about the war so far.
Photodude reports that NBC News claims to have a copy of a message from al-Qaeda to Muslims in Iraq that claims to be a military playbook on how to defeat Americans. ly, I think al-Qaeda sent more than manuals...
Caerdroia asks: is Saddam adopting a Palestinian strategy?
What comes next for Sgt. Akbar after his act of treason/terrorism that killed 2 senior officers? Phil Carter explains how military justice works in cases like this.
Blaster's Blog notes that Sgt. Akbar's actions fit a very disturbing pattern. My recommendations are confined to Farrakhan's Nation of Islam, which needs to be treated like KKK, Bloods, or Crips in the Army. The Wahhabi chaplains issue should also be investigated closely.
Special operations (probably CIA SOG) units working to find and safeguard Iraqi intelligence archives? Could be. Makes sense.
Instapundit has a slew of links relevant to reconstruction of Iraq.
AND BEYOND...
What are we up to in Afghanistan? This, among other things. Please spare a moment to remember them too.
The Agonist reports that a big dues cut to the U.N. may be imminent from the USA. Sean-Paul will see that as a bad thing, and probably hopes it's not true. I see it as welcome news indeed, and fervently hope that it is.
Thomas Friedman on the Western Front: "France is shocked and awed." The future, he says, depends on how we rebuild Iraq.
Egyptian democracy activist acquitted.
Parapundit takes dead aim at Korean atrocities - and not just in the North. There's North Korean theft of food aid and the true conditions there. There's also South Korea's "sunshine policy," which masks a shockingly callous attitude to all North Koreans - even those outside the North Korean regime.
North Korea: pre-war threat or just more bluster? (And more news from Emperor Misha). I vote for bluster, unless they believe the USA is genuinely in serious trouble in Iraq and beyond. Even without US troops, however, South Korea's defense in depth would lose Seoul but win the war.
In response to a question from Charles Johnson, a "former idiotarian" speaks. His experience is revealing. Another reader offers a conversion kit for reasonable anti-war friends.
This piece from TAPPED on the art of framing issues will also help, all the more so because non-liberal readers will hear it coming from the other side. Still, instant conversions don't happen. Usually there is a defining event or two that leaves people open to a significant shift.
Stuff like this article in the Yale Daily News helps, too.
Another guilty plea from a member of the al-Qaeda "Lackawana 6" in Buffalo. That makes 3 guilty pleas. Worth remembering: they were turned in by fellow Muslims. (Hat Tip: Crow Blog)
Joe:
Funny you should cite Friedman's article. I wrote to Gietner Simmon (regionsminds.blogspot.com) about his article on the UN expressing my concerns that the Coalition hasn't prepared a plan on how to head off the opposition by the opponents. Thy have a plan but does the Coalition?
Also I wrote at my blog a question about the chemical suits. Mind you as I make clear I'm not denigrating the apprehensions but I'm just wondering about something else.
xavier
173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade, not to be confused with 1/75 Ranger Regiment and NOT 173rd Rangers.
Checking...
You're right. Thanks.