The Iraqis are planning to re-open the infamous Abu-Ghrahib…as a museum

Great news from Iraq. Iraq is taking over security of the Anbar province. The area once known as the “Sunni Triangle” or the “Triangle of Death.”

Is Obama flip flopping on Iraq?

It has not been a secret to anyone where Barack Obama’s position is on the war in Iraq. He is against it and has been against it since the beginning. Obama voted against the authorization to use force and voted against continued funding of the war.

Shortly before announcing his candidacy for president in November of 2006, Obama laid out his strategy for Iraq. At that time, Iraq looked like a lost cause, a quagmire, a country on the verge of sectarian civilian war, and Obama wanted out as soon as possible.

Obama’s plan was to immediately begin withdrawing troops from Iraq with a fixed timetable at a rapid pace. Obama even elaborated on his plan during a primary presidential debate against Hillary Clinton claiming; we would be out of Iraq in 16 months after he took office.

Today the situation in Iraq has changed dramatically for the better, violence and attacks are down at a monumental rate and the Iraqi government and Army controls most of the country. It would be safe to say the surge worked and great progress has been made, but not enough to change Obama’s mind for a withdrawal. Although Obama now uses a slight different tone, instead of bringing all the troops home Obama now proposes withdrawing most US troops according to a fixed timetable, set to the most rapid pace at which commanders have said American forces could be pulled out.

Iraq’s foreign minister Hoshyar Zerbari finds his proposal extremely disconcerting. Mr Zebari says after all the pain and sacrifices of the past five years, “we are just turning the corner in Iraq.” A precipitous withdrawal “would create a huge vacuum and undo all the gains and achievements and cause our enemies to celebrate.

Mr. Zerbari sent a message directly to Obama basically telling him progress is being made and he hopes any action Obama would take will not endanger this process.

Now here is where the story gets interesting. It was Obama’s reply that captured my attention.

“If there would be a Democratic administration, it will not take any irresponsible, reckless, sudden decisions or action to endanger your gains, your achievements, your stability or security. Whatever decision reached will be made through close consultation with the Iraqi government and US military commanders in the field.”

Say what??? That doesn’t sound like the same Obama position. What are we to make of this? Flip Flop? Is it a genuine change of mind on the situation? I have said since the 9-11 attacks the greatest threat and issue facing this nation is Islamic terrorism, and like it or not the greatest front in the fight against Islamic terrorism is now in Iraq. Whether you were for the war or against the war is irrelevant. It is now time to win the war.

So here we have a presidential candidate promising his supporters a speedy withdrawal…then we have a foreign minister say a speedy withdrawal would be disastrous...then the presidential candidate says we’ll consult with you on how to handle the situation… Can Obama really have it both ways?

I don’t know folks, perhaps he can…Zerbari says after talking to Obama he was reassured and now thinks there might not be much difference between him and John McCain on the issue of Iraq.

I guess that is what the Obama campaign means by “change you can believe in.” You can believe Obama will change his mind depending on who he is talking with.

Wow…I am seriously in shock! This article was actually published in the LA Times: Bush never lied to us about Iraq.

Iraq Veterans for Congress: because our military deserves better civilian leadership.

Let’s fill the halls of Congress with representatives and senators who actually understand how the military works and the dynamics of the war on terror, because they have actually been there.

With ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, now entering there fifth and seven years, it has become the longest, most demanding and intense US military engagement of the past century since Vietnam.

More than 25,000 Servicemembers have been wounded, over 4,000 killed, and suspected thousands more with undiagnosed mental health issues, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury. Additional deployments that never make the news in Djibouti, the Balkans, the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere and several hot spots developing throughout the world which could require immediate military action in places such as Iran, Syria, N. Korea, the Taiwan Strait and even Latin America are putting huge pressures and strain on military resources.

We live in the most volatile time in our history since World War II and the Cold War, and our military continues to be asked to sustain an unprecedented pace of operations across the globe, although they are painfully getting the job done and accomplishing the mission, they do so with an American society and a US Congress that shockingly continues to know or understand very little about the forces responsible for protecting their nation.

With less than 1 in 10 of the American civilian populace and under a quarter of the US Congress never putting on a uniform and serving in any branch of the armed forces, America remains oblivious to the challenges the military faces and how to resolve them.

If we want to be serious about winning the war in Iraq and the War on Terror, then lets get leadership elected to Congress who understands the situation on the ground and will quit making decisions hampering our military.

Lets get behind and support Iraq Veterans for Congress because our military deserves better civilian leadership.


Here is a message from the Iraq Veterans for Congress website and founder Kieran Lalor, United States Marine Corp Veteran.

Since IVC was formed early this year, we have seen broad and enthusiastic support from across America for the strong group of candidates who are part of IVC, and we are grateful that our message is being heard. More importantly, we are pleased that America’s voice is being heard.

Whether Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine, we all shared a common goal in Iraq: victory. As Republican candidates for Congress we share a vision for America's future, her security, and that of future generations. We are unified in our commitment to relieve the Democrats of their command of Congress.

Voters want to restore leadership and honor back to Washington. Who better to accomplish that mission than our generation of warriors?

All veterans whose service to the United States brought them first to Iraq and now to a run for the House as pro-victory Republicans are welcome to become part of Iraq Veterans For Congress.

United we are capable of sending to Congress a squad-size element of Iraq vets to keep us on offense in the War on Terror, counter calls for defeat, and demand America's veterans receive the benefits they have earned.

In short, unification of all Republican Iraq Veterans will be a powerful force multiplier. By joining forces we will generate crucial nationwide grassroots support while sharing ideas and strategies.

IVC is more than a group of Republican candidates who served in Iraq, and we are here for something other than our respective Congressional races. We want to be a voice for thousands of U.S. military veterans, their families, and hardworking patriotic Americans who are tired of seeing veterans mistreated and their mission slandered.

When I brought the members of IVC together, I wanted America to have a reliable, unified voice from twelve candidates who are uniquely positioned to offer a knowledgeable, credible rebuttal to the Democrats, the mainstream media, and the constant message of defeatism and mistreatment of our troops. That’s what we’re doing every day, and we are counting on and appreciate your support.

Together, the members of IVC will a reliable voice for veterans, their families, and their mission, not only in our campaign to re-take Congress for Republicans, but for all Americans who have heard enough from the Democrats and their leadership in Congress.

Here is a list of the candidates.

The president of the associated press says the US is arresting journalist in Iraq in order to “control information.” Riiight…and 9-11 was an inside job.

Iraq: Five Years After the Invasion

Normally I would save this for the suggested reading and viewing from around the web section, but I feel it is important enough to lead with this.

This month marks the 5th Anniversary to the Iraq war and Newsweek has an excellent cover story about the fight in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus says he tells his young officers to watch the HBO series “The Sopranos” to understand the power dynamics in Iraq .

This one is a must read for anyone who wants to understand what the military is facing, and why the situation is so complex in Iraq .

More evidence of Saddam’s Terrorist Ties

Last year I told you about thousands of documents and audiotape files recovered from Iraq that linked Saddam to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. A story that virtually went unnoticed by the mainstream media.

Well we are continuously learning more about Saddam’s regime as these documents continue to be analyzed. Today we have another story stemming from those sets of documents that is sure to get the same amount of media coverage from the mainstream media.

A report titled “Saddam and Terrorism and released this week by the Institute for Defense Analyses, says it found no “smoking gun” linking Iraq operationally to Al Qaeda, but says Saddam collaborated with known Al Qaeda affiliates and a wider constellation of Islamist terror groups.

Now the no “smoking gun” between Saddam operationally to al Qaeda is sure to get some attention. Just as it has in the past to similar reports, but let’s take a look at what the mainstream media likes to ignore.

In this report you will find the following:

~The Iraqi Intelligence Service in a 1993 memo to Saddam agreed on a plan to train commandos from Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the group that assassinated Anwar Sadat and was founded by Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

• In the same year, Saddam ordered his intelligence service to "form a group to start hunting Americans present on Arab soil; especially Somalia ." At the time, Al Qaeda was working with warlords against American forces there.

• Saddam's intelligence services maintained extensive support networks for a wide range of Palestinian Arab terrorist organizations, including but not limited to Hamas. Among the other Palestinian groups Saddam supported at the time was Force 17, the private army loyal to Yasser Arafat.

• Beginning in 1999, Iraq 's intelligence service began providing "financial and moral support" for a small radical Islamist Kurdish sect the report does not name. A Kurdish Islamist group called Ansar al Islam in 2002 would try to assassinate the regional prime minister in the eastern Kurdish region, Barham Salih.

• In 2001, Saddam's intelligence service drafted a manual titled "Lessons in Secret Organization and Jihad Work—How to Organize and Overthrow the Saudi Royal Family." In the same year, his intelligence service submitted names of 10 volunteer "martyrs" for operations inside the Kingdom.

• In 2000, Iraq sent a suicide bomber through Northern Iraq who intended to travel to London to assassinate Ahmad Chalabi, at the time an Iraqi opposition leader who would later go on to be an Iraqi deputy prime minister. The mission was aborted after the bomber could not obtain a visa to enter the United Kingdom.

Saddam may not have had a direct link into al Qaeda operations, but there is now little doubt there was some type of relationship.

Now let’s sit back and watch the mainstream media ignore these facts in the report and continue the claim of no link between Saddam and al Qaeda or terrorism.

Suggested Reading and Viewing from around the web.

Stephen F. Hayes from the Weekly Standard has a whole lot more information on those Iraqi documents connecting the dots between Saddam and al Qaeda. He says this “ought to be big news.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Iraq to tell the United States to get out of Iraq and the Middle East. He claims US presence there has brought only destruction and division. I had no idea Ahmadinejad was a Moveon.org democrat!

See if you can guess the publication these quotes about Iraq came from: "For that reason, the American liberation tasted sweetest to the Shiites, who for the first time were able to worship freely." Believe it or not the New York Times!

Angelina Jolie: U.S. has a moral obligation to Stay In Iraq

After recently visiting Iraq in her new role as a “goodwill ambassador” for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says the U.S. has a moral obligation to stay in Iraq .

Here is part of what she wrote from a well-written Washington Post op-ed piece:

“…My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis…

Today's humanitarian crises in Iraq --and the potential consequences for our national security--are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East , won't explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder? . . .

As for the question of whether the surge is working, I can only state what I witnessed: U.N. staff and those of non-governmental organizations seem to feel they have the right set of circumstances to attempt to scale up their programs. And when I asked the troops if they wanted to go home as soon as possible, they said that they miss home but feel invested in Iraq . They have lost many friends and want to be a part of the humanitarian progress they now feel is possible.

It seems to me that now is the moment to address the humanitarian side of this situation. Without the right support, we could miss an opportunity to do some of the good we always stated we intended to do.

Of course I don’t agree with everything she writes here, as I am not a fan of UN involvement, but I will admit, I am impressed with a well thought out argument from a Hollywood starlet. Especially, when what we usually get from Tinsel town is anti-war blanket statements with no substance.

It seems to me that this should be the Democrats plan or solution for Iraq other than a cut and run defeat, but Jolie’s plan is quite contrast with the attitude of Democrat presidential hopefuls Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton though.

Both Clinton and Obama want to remove troops from the region. In fact, front-runner Obama said last summer even preventing genocide was not a sufficient reason for a continuing presence in Iraq , and Clinton claims no link between Iraq and national security.

Score one up for Jolie who is able to recognize our moral obligation and national security risks in Iraq . Something the entire Democrat Party has not been able to see as they are poised to nominate Barack Obama.

For just two dollars a month you can fund al Qaeda fighters and help them kill American troops!

The Wall Street Journal is Looking Forward in Iraq. Here is why U.S .troops will, and should, be in Iraq come January 2009. Agreed.

Sharon Stone decided to go over to the Arab media and declare that 9/11 should not have been used as a pretext for America to launch wars in Afghanistan and Iraq . What a celebretwit!

The Wall Street Journal is Looking Forward in Iraq. Here is why U.S .troops will, and should, be in Iraq come January 2009. Agreed.

How about some outrage from Muslims here...

Two sisters in Iran will be stoned to death after being found guilty of adultery. They were caught on video in the company of other men while their husband was away.

The sisters admitted to being in the video, but argued no adultery took place because they did not engage in sexual acts with the other men.

I guess in the peaceful, tolerant religion of Islam this is a crime worthy of the death penalty.

In Iraq al Qaeda has sunk to a new low using mentally retarded woman to carry out suicide bombing missions.

Let’s see if any Muslim organizations in the U.S. express any outrage over this. I won’t be holding my breath.

Big T's suggested reading and viewing from around the web.

Perhaps House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would like to rethink her comments calling the troop surge and Iraq a failure the same day seized letters written by al Qaeda leaders in Iraq are released claiming al Qaeda is in “total collapse” and “extraordinary crisis.”