Brokering a Fragile Peace in Iraq

A key overlooked fact about the much-ballyhooed “surge is working” argument in Iraq is that the U.S. military actually paid some former insurgents $10 a day to help American troops keep the peace in parts of the country. But what happens when that setup changes in volatile regions like Anbar?

Posted on Oct 21, 2008 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT

New McCain Gaffes on Iraq

Sen. John McCain didn’t just get his cause-and-effect order wrong on the so-called surge strategy in Iraq, he also claimed in a CBS interview that the increased troop deployment and associated change in tactics protected a key Sunni sheik who helped lead the “Anbar Awakening.” Problem? Said sheik was actually assassinated during the surge. Meanwhile, CBS is under fire for editing out these gaffes in its on-air presentation of the interview.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS

Bush Drops In on His Mideast Timeshare

The “What, me worry?” president paid a cheerful visit to U.S. troops in Iraq’s Anbar province, an auspiciously timed trip (his third since the war began in 2003) that falls mere days before Congress is scheduled to hear Army Gen. David Petraeus’ Iraq “progress” report.  For another status report (read: reality check), follow this link.

Posted on Sep 3, 2007 READ MORE  |  18 COMMENTS

Pentagon Report: ‘Surge’ Only Shifts Violence

Further evidence that the U.S. military buildup in Iraq is failing to quell violence in the country came Wednesday with the release of a Pentagon report detailing the sobering statistics about widespread bloodshed in Baghdad and other areas.

Posted on Jun 14, 2007 READ MORE  |  5 COMMENTS

Iraqis Sickened by Chlorine Gas Blasts

Following a toxic trend that began in late January, three Iraqi suicide bombers set off explosives Friday in Sunni-dominated Anbar province that were rigged to release chlorine gas.  The three blasts, which killed two and sickened more than 350 with noxious fumes, occurred in areas where resistance to the insurgency has been growing lately.

Posted on Mar 17, 2007 READ MORE  |  4 COMMENTS

Nightmare: Iraq

Posted on Nov 28, 2006 READ MORE  |  7 COMMENTS

Marines’ Intel Chief: West Iraq Situation Dire

The chief of intelligence for the Marines in Iraq, a man known for straight-shooting, wrote in a secret report that there is almost nothing U.S. forces can do to prevent the western section of Iraq from descending into total lawlessness.

Posted on Sep 11, 2006 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS