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!
Special features: Everything in yesterday's WSJ Best of the Web. One long shout-out of happiness! To which we add Armed Liberal's "Hope," which refuses to leave all the optimism to the right (even if his fellow liberal bloggers will), and Iraniangirl's view from Iran.
Special Explanation: Why I still link to Agonist posts, here and elsewhere.
TO IRAQ...
On the Battlefield
The full story behind that American flag being raised over Saddam's statue yesterday. The LT. in charge was at the Pentagon Sept. 11, and the flag he used was given to him that day.
More going on re: the assassinations in Najaf than meets the eye. Stay tuned.
Syrian troops in Baghdad? What are they doing there?
Today's morning briefing comes from the Command Post.
Key officials presence the reason for fighting in Qaim, near Syria? Also fighting in Hillah, Imam Mosque in Baghdad, and other pockets. Most of the north is simply collapsing, but Mosul probably won't. We saw the same thing in Panama post-Noriega, and spent a few weeks cleaning out pockets of his thugs.
Good examination of what's left to do. Obviously, that set of tasks also includes establishing some kind of Law & Order in Iraq. Actually, just go read all of Phil's stuff today.
Some casualties are funny.
This is funny, too: "For the men turned out to be Arabs from Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Jordan, Palestine. Not an Iraqi was among them... Only the foreign Arabs, like the Frenchmen of the Nazi Charlemagne Division in 1945 Berlin, fought on..." From Robert Fisk no less, yesterday. Bwahahaahahaa!
Tales from the Free Iraqi forces, in-country with American troops. Inspiring and sad all at the same time; a definite must-read.
Lots of tunnels in the U.S. military's immediate future.
Plus a last stand in Tikrit. 4th Infantry + MOABs being shipped in... cause WE'VE GOT THE BIGGEST BOMBS OF THEM ALL!
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 [Updated April 7, 2003].
Beyond the Battlefield
Iraqi debt repayment? U.S. Senator John McCain has a great idea. If that fails, however, the new government can say "Non!" thanks to a concept invented by a French lawyer, and an American legal precedent involving Cuba. Oh, the irony!
LGF noted yesterday that the Iraqi Embassy in Brazil was burning documents. To understand the context, you'd need to recall the links between Brazil and Iraq's nuclear program. Or, as another commenter noted, the fact that Iguazu in Brazil's south is a hotbed for al-Qaeda.
Speaking of nuclear programs, note this. Still early, still cautious. We'll see.
The Iranian Blogfather writes: "The only thing here is that I think there is no need to worry about Iran and it's influence on the future of Iraq."
How to Help Iraq Achieve Democracy, Bust up OPEC and Decrease the Ability of the Saudis to Fund Terrorism via Zogby Blog. Well, that's a fine start.
Lileks. Until you understand this, you don't understand Iraq. Today, he nails the liberation scenes too: "All of a sudden, in a day, a guy can look at a car battery without crossing his legs. It’s just a car battery now. It’s just something you curse when it dies."
Gweilo Diaries offers a similar understanding of the U.N., and why they need to be watched closely if they're brought into Iraq.
Dare we hope for the traditional post-liberation ritual of beating up Robert Fisk? C'mon Baghdad, we know you have it in you!
Dearborn, MI [near Detroit] has a very large Arab expatriate community, many of whom are Iraqis. As you might expect, there were big celebrations there yesterday. Here's a report from the scene.
The Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops. Now international, with some links for Brits and Australians! Anyone out there with more information, incl. the Poles and Czechs? [updated April 1, 2003]
AND BEYOND...
"Toxic Terror Tick-Tock" looks at the issue of terrorists with biochemical weapons: the past, our present, and possible futures.
I try to close on a more humourous note if possible. Michael Totten's excellent parody of what it would sound like if George Bush really was like Saddam Hussein is hilarious!
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