Michael Yon’s Latest From Iraq
January 10th, 2008 at 09:48am Mark Noonan
A must read:
There’s only a small group of writers who honestly spend enough time in Iraq to make serious claims based on firsthand accounts. But I’ve seen the Iraqi Army with my own eyes. I’ve done many missions in 2005 and 2007, in many places in Iraq, along with the Iraqi Army: please believe me when I say that, on the whole, the Iraqi Army is remarkably better in 2007 and far more effective than it was in 2005. By 2007, the Iraqis were doing most of the fighting. And . . . this is very important . . . they see our Army and Marines as serious allies, and in many cases as friends. Please let the potential implications of that sink in.
While we might be hated in some quarters of the world, among those who really matter for the future of the world, our national stature stands quite tall because we’ve kept our word in Iraq. People who don’t believe in such matters of honor hold a different view, but let us - like the poet of old - “leave the sick hearts that honour could not move”, and go forward to victory.
Entry Filed under: War on Terror
55 Comments
1. liberalT | January 10th, 2008 at 9:57 am
right - like the majority of the world population who opposes the war in Iraq. Like the majority of the Iraqi’s who want the US to withdrawl on the time scale of a year. Like the majority of the US population who want us to withdraw and disagree with the war in iraq and think it was a mistake to invade Iraq. Christ Mark - you have just declared the majority of world irrelevant. That really shows how important democracy is to you…
2. Retired Spook | January 10th, 2008 at 10:14 am
LibT, your constant use of my Lord and Savior’s name in a less than reverent way is offensive and wearing more than just a little thin. Why don’t you take your tired rhetoric somewhere else.
3. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 10:47 am
If libT did not have pessimism and a subscription to group-think, there would be no place in the world for her.
There was a time when everyone in Germany and a large part of Europe supported Hitler. I can imagine libT would have been right there with the masses.
No original thought or core values. Bend with the wind is the lefts motto.
4. french student | January 10th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Third comment? that was fast!
5. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 11:02 am
(Ed. Note: Deleted - off topic; we note with great care that Diana will never address an issue she can’t reasonably argue against but will, instead, insert an issue she prefers to argue about. This won’t be allowed any more. Thanks for playing).
6. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 11:03 am
LIbT, well of course they WANT us to leave in a year. I WANT to win the lottery. I WANT to ride in a spaceship. I WANT to watch a group of supermodels fight over who can love me first. But guess what? I realize like they realize that there is a reality outside my desires that must be dealt with. In fact, I WANT us to leave in a year, IF we’re done.
Ya see, it’s that comma and the “IF” that make the difference.
All your posts do is strengthen our resolve to prevent your party from exercising power.
7. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Spook,
I posted a comment a few threads ago about the liberal playbook. Condone then blame.
This is more evidence of that. The liberals are again condoning the actions of the terrorists by blaming Americas presence. The liberals are condoning the authenticity of the ME polls (which are notoriously inaccurate) and then blaming America for not adhering to them.
To liberals, all the worlds ills can be resolved if they just find the right place to lay the blame. Unfortunately they always miss that mark.
8. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 11:21 am
And I have just noticed that Diana confirms my assertion. Blaming a small group of Blackwater personel over a nearly three year old incident to support her claim that America is not winning.
Condone the outrage over an unfortunate incident and blame America. It’s unfortunate she won’t condone the the American military and the ISF for their many benevolent efforts and then blame the terrorists for undermining them. That’s what I mean by missing the mark.
9. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 11:27 am
neocon,
I didn’t say anything in my post about “winning” or “America” or “terrorists”. I did refer to the Bush Administration’s using no-bid contract mercenaries, but that’s the Administration, which is not equivalent to America.
10. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Diana, yes. One anecdotal story can always be found. Want me to post the link to those liberals in Oregon and the “F” the troops banners?
Thanks for you post. Just hardens our resolve to defeat you. You are the erstwhile allies of our enemies abroad whether you realize it or not. Whether that is your intention or not.
But hey, better put on a Burka and a all-covering gown. Show any skin and they’ll set you on fire. Is that what you’re arguing for? Really, I assume you’re a feminist. Doesn’t Muslim subjugation of women upset you at all? Muslim execution of gays then? Anything except Republicans and George Bush? Anything?
11. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Wow. So the President of the United States does not speak for America in foreign affairs?
And you also didn’t refer to anything about no-bid contract mercenaries. You simply, and gleefully I assume, posted an article that shed negative light on a small group of mercenaries employed by Blackwater in an effort to discredit the overall effort. Failing to take into account the many thousands of successful missions and VIP protections that Blackwater is responsible for.
12. Cory | January 10th, 2008 at 11:52 am
No one wants to hear this but…..::whispers:: Bush was right.
13. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 11:53 am
no-bid? Not “only” bid on an open contact? You sure?
Mercenaries? Not bodyguards or security guards. Do they guard places and people or do they go out on attack missions? That is the difference you (should) know.
You are perfectly free to hire qualified people and buy guns and armor, and sell a bodyguard service. YOU Diana are free to do that. but um, don’t know any SEAL’s or Green Berets do you? Don’t know the difference between an M4 and a MP5, do you? Don’t know what the different classes of automobile armor are, don’t know how to protect a high value target, never seen what a 7.63 x 39 round can do - have you? Do you know anything?
Diana, have you ever have an original thought or just written from experience? Or are you simply a cut-n-paste hack. Cut-n-paste anything to make your point. Really, your ignorance screams from the rooftops.
14. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 11:55 am
How soon they choose to forget. Cue President Bush a year ago:
The military surge is ending, as it had to. Violence came down to a level comparable to 2006. So, when do we start holding the Iraqi government to all those benchmarks the surge was to enable them to work toward? The President said that’s what the surge was to do. I know none of it happened last August when their Parliament took the entire month off.
So, benchmarks? Does that word ring a bell with anyone? It was all over the news a few months ago.
15. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Ha Ha Ha Ha ha,
Right after I accuse you of being a cut-n-paste unable to think on your own hack. You cut-n-paste!
You argue for defeat. You want defeat. You are too silly to even realize what you’re arguing for. You are arguing for the subjugation of women and death to homosexuals. That will be the result of defeat. And yet, thats what you want.
Cut and paste a reply now.
16. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
The C&P (cut and paste) Queen. Diana,
So now we’re off to benchmarks in the ADD liberal world, having your “mercenary” spin not gain any traction.
The Iraqis have made huge strides in the last year in terms of finding common ground, hence the success against AQ and the growing ISF forces. Then, along comes Diana, willingly and gleefully finding fault in those efforts by pointing out that benchmarks have not been met, therefore the cause is lost.
You’re patience is childish, you’re support for the Iraqi people is shameful, and you’re diatribe is purely partisan and agenda-driven.
17. SteaM | January 10th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
And what was that “word”, mark? What promise have we kept with the Iraqi people?
18. Retired Spook | January 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Right after I accuse you of being a cut-n-paste unable to think on your own hack. You cut-n-paste!
Right on cue (to use Diana’s own word). It is interesting, if you look back at Diana’s posts; she rarely presents any original thought or even an opinion based on some kind of core beliefs. She seems to rely on ThinkProgress a lot, which, I guess, explains much of what emanates from her keyboard. And, as Mark so astutely notes above, when she can’t debate an issue, she just changes the topic. She is such a prolific cut & paster, my guess is she has a huge archive (obviously going back to at least 2005) of material which supports her POV on some, but not all topics.
19. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
um……
That we would stay.
Can any of you liberals try and pay attention? Just give it an effort.
20. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Kahn,
Do you really think you’re being serious or just flinging off random accusations to work off some of your anger? It is an especially mindless tactic on the part of the Right to accuse critics of the Bush Administration of being in favor of (fill-in-the-blank) acts committed by some evil people. I’m not going to wear a burqa. I’m a Christian and not one of the minority of Muslim women who are part of a sect of Islam that requires the wearing of anything so all-covering to comply with hijab. Not all Muslim women even cover their heads. Once again, you want to see simplistic ideas when reality is much more complex.
I oppose all violence against all women and girls. I was the one who recently linked to the atrocity of two teenagers in Iran being hanged for being homosexual. Human rights violations are human rights violations, but I’d suggest you stop pretending they’re committed by all Muslims or that only Muslims commit human rights violations. The world is a complicated place. Sorry about that.
Oh my gosh, the new meme is that I’m a “cut-n-paste hack”. Let me see. What is more relevant? Me describing what the President of the United States said or quoting his words from the source? I don’t know. Is it possible that if I just described them that someone like you might say that I made it up or described them inaccurately? Any chance of that at all?
neocon,
I would love for the Iraqis to quit being dependent on our blood and treasure so they would go ahead and ask us to leave. However, you and your fellow members of the fan club may think it’s just great for the President of the United States to tell you things that aren’t true, but most all other Americans (consistently about 2 out of 3) don’t. Sorry about that.
21. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Diana,
Does the POTUS speak for America, and represent America in foreign affiar matters?
If you oppose ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, then what are your plans to address the current genocide of women and children in Darfur?
And what is your plan to address the dire situation of Islamic women?
Are you only capable of dialogue? Do you support any concrete action? And if so, what does that action look like?
Does the Presidents actions, and your perception that they are dishonest, then preclude you from protecting those women you seem to care so much about?
Do you consider wearing the hajib to be oppressive against women? How do you feel about the many Muslim nations which enjoy great relations with the US; ie: Oman, UAE, Kuwait, etc.? Are they wrong to support the current policies of the US?
I really want to know how indoctrinated you are.
22. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
But, if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem. We are trying to get in the middle of these crazies and educate and reform them. You don’t want us to.
You are part of the problem. Get it?
Thanks for cut-n-pasting part of my post. It made me snicker.
I accuse you of not being able to think for yourself. I accuse you of being wrong, deadly wrong on these issues because of that.
23. Tractatus | January 10th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Violence came down to a level comparable to 2006.
Yes, the violence levels for which the surge was formulated as a response. Love the irony.
quoting his words from the source?
You are dealing with Unfrozen Caveman Wingnuts. Your facts and accuracy confuse and frighten them. Hell, just look at Kahn–he pretty much personifies the terms “confused” and “frightened.”
24. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
What is more relevant? - Diana
Diana,
What would be more relevant is you staying on topic, with current information, and not resorting to years old liberal hysterics.
25. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Retired Spook,
It’s interesting. I used to think that your relatively infrequent comments were indicative of your more thoughtful approach. However, in the last two days you seem to have joined into the “Diana is an unoriginal cut-n-paste hack” meme freshly minted by neocon and Kahn. Please. Enjoy.
However, what percentage of the time would you estimate that I cut and paste (with a link for authentication and context) to original sources (whitehouse.gov, court sites or mirror sites linking to court opinions, non-partisan Congressional research sites, or major news sites) rather than obvious advocacy sites? Do you think there’s a reason for why I do that as much as I do? I could type comments and offer conclusory statements without evidence all day long if that would please, but I’m formulating my own arguments, not repeating what an echo chamber told me.
All three of my older brothers are Army veterans (career officer, enlisted and another officer). The oldest two did a total of three tours in Vietnam. My oldest brother was in the Pentagon on 9/11/01 and was also a military attache at the American embassy in Baghdad in the 1980s. I spent 30 years as a police officer in Texas with the first four being an unpaid reserve officer for the City of Dallas. We are none of us naifs, but we’re all Democrats. If it pleases you to think I’m an ideological parrot with no capacity for original thought then you are entirely free to do so, however, I must admit it lowers my own estimation of you.
26. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
neocon,
I won’t answer your rain of questions unrelated to the original post. That would no doubt activate another retroactive deletion of my comments. Thanks for playing.
27. Retired Spook | January 10th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I must admit it lowers my own estimation of you.
Well, now I am just crushed, Diana. I must admit, you are somewhat of an enigma. When I first read one of your comments a while back, my initial thought was that you were Almiranta’s evil twin.
28. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
>>I won’t answer your rain of questions unrelated to the original post. - Diana<<
Thanks for not playing. Of course if you did indeed answer those questions, you’re hypocrisy would shine bright. So I understand your reluctance.
And as far as being unrelated to the original post; why stop now?
29. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
neocon,
Your rain of unrelated questions are just that. I refer you to comment # 5. Don’t complain to me, complain to the site owners.
30. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Playing the victim again Diana? It’s always someone elses fault, isn’t it? If you actually answer direct questions and/or stay on topic, comments are allowed. It’s when you dishonestly comment about “mercanaries” on a thread about ISF success, then your comments will be deleted.
But play the victim, you’re better at that.
31. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Thanks Tractius. Didn’t actually do anything except insult I see.
Iraqi babies will die because you wouldn’t stand up for them. But hey, no skin off your nose.
Deny it. Rationalize it. Change the subject. And Diana, you find some post you can cut-n-paste to counter it.
32. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
neocon,
No, I’m not a victim and I’m not playing one, even on television. The site owners don’t want off-topic comments so then who am I to complain? It’s their site, not mine. I’m a guest.
Kahn,
See my question to Retired Spook in the second paragraph in comment # 25 relative to your “cut-n-paste” meme. By the way, do you work in advertising? I notice that you prefer “cut-n-paste”, which sounds like a slogan, to actual English, i.e., cut and paste. (New! Blogs For Victo(r)y! Now with Vitamin-Fortified Cut-n-Paste!)
33. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Like that do ya? Cut-n-paste. Cut-n-run. Bitch-n-complain, tax-n-spend. I’ve got lots.
I’m kind of an authority in a particular technical field. I help a large computer maker / solutions integrator sell the products they OEM from me by helping with RFP replies, sales presentations, white papers, competitive intelligence, and sales and technical training.
I’ve been lots of places and done lots of stuff. Kind of a theme among some of the conservative posters here. I tend to read articles from any source with a critical eye and try to look for an agenda. I see them on both sides.
OK? Look, no pastes. Just me.
When I do paste, I use quotes and pste the source link.
34. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I know Diana,
Just try and answer the questions. And again re: off topic comments, why start now? You always have posted inane comments which many are completely unrelated to the topic.
You’re just now being called on it and the victimhood comes out in you. And, btw, if you answer direct questions, that can be construed as not off topic. Just FYI.
But again, we all know why you’re reluctant to answer.
35. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Okay, no pastes here, either. However, I must note that you’ve complained about mine which are exactly what you say you do in your last sentence. When I quote, I insert the link for authentication and context for the reader. As to why I visit here, this seems to be quite the haven for viewpoints rather far from my own, so I come around to see what those viewpoints are rather than live in an echo chamber. Part of what I enjoyed about being a uniformed police officer (28 of my 30 years) was the necessity of having to adapt and work towards a successful resolution to the variety of situations that arose in any given tour of duty.
36. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
neocon,
It’s your interpretation inside your head that’s telling you that I’m playing a victim. I’m not responsible for the state of affairs within your cerebral cortex. You’ll have to work that out on your own. But, we all know that. The reason it’s come up is that the site owners (are you one of them?) decided to start deleting what they feel are off-topic comments. So, go look in the mirror and tell yourself whatever you want to believe, but I don’t make the rules around here.
37. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Diana,
I am so sorry hun. You have now spent a huge amount of time and energy in NOT answering my questions, and it’s other people to blame.
I feel so bad for you. Maybe the Democrats will come up with an entitlement program for you to ease your burden.
38. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
neocon,
Were you addressing a Central Asian equestrian nomad? One of Attila’s subordinates, perhaps?
Don’t feel bad for me. I’m fine. How about you?
39. liberalT | January 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
its so sad how none of you neocons can actually put together an argument against diana. You just make (usually sexist) insults. Doesn’t that make you feel bad about yourself. I know it makes me feel badly about you…
40. Tractatus | January 10th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Thanks Tractius. Didn’t actually do anything except insult I see.
Not only that, I’m coming to take your guns away–just like your paranoia says!
That said, if you find what I said insulting, it’s only because the truth hurts. Deal.
41. Canadian Observer | January 10th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
39. liberalT | January 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
its so sad how none of you neocons can actually put together an argument against diana. You just make (usually sexist) insults. Doesn’t that make you feel bad about yourself. I know it makes me feel badly about you…
Agreed, liberalT, but Diana appears to be a very sharp tack and, as we have seen in her posts, can present her arguments in a clear and intelligent manner. Any insults coming from the resident neocons are handled quite expertly and with finesse. Bravo, Diana!
42. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Couldn’t be better. And it’s nice to see that you have departed, at least temporarily, from your cutting and pasting of past liberal talking points that are completely unrelated and, for the most part, without merit.
43. neocon | January 10th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Diana is articulate, I will give her that. But bereft of any original thought, hence the reluctance, or inability, to answer the following:
Does the POTUS speak for America, and represent America in foreign affiar matters?
If you oppose ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, then what are your plans to address the current genocide of women and children in Darfur?
And what is your plan to address the dire situation of Islamic women?
Are you only capable of dialogue? Do you support any concrete action? And if so, what does that action look like?
Does the Presidents actions, and your perception that they are dishonest, then preclude you from protecting those women you seem to care so much about?
Do you consider wearing the hajib to be oppressive against women? How do you feel about the many Muslim nations which enjoy great relations with the US; ie: Oman, UAE, Kuwait, etc.? Are they wrong to support the current policies of the US
44. Kahn | January 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
LibT, stay out of this. Grown ups talking.
45. ShanghaiRay | January 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Diane: “what I enjoyed about being a uniformed police officer ” ….I think you left out an “n” between the “i” and “f”. No thanks necessary for my correction.
46. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
ShanghaiRay,
My name is Diana, not Diane. No thanks necessary for the correction.
47. Thrower | January 10th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
If the purpose of the surge was to diminish violence in Iraq, then it is a clear success. If it was intended to create the conditions under which the Iraq government could resolve contentious issues, then McCain is right. We will be there for 100 years.
48. liberalT | January 10th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Kahn - say something of substance or don’t say anything at all. You are simply embarrassing yourself more
49. Mark Noonan | January 10th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Diana
There are exceptions to every rule - and you and your brothers would be the exceptions. Most people with your experience of life are conservative - why you did what you did and still wound up a liberal is an oddity we’ll never get to the bottom of.
As for your intellectual heft - well, you do cut and paste a bit, and you don’t actually engage with anyone who calls you to account. Furthermore, while its clear you’ve read a lot, you’ve just as clearly never read anything which might cast doubt upon your views. I suggest, as a start, “War Through the Ages”.
50. Diana Powe | January 10th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Mark,
Thanks for the assessment. My cut and pasting is only by way of not just bloviating and making conclusory statements as though they were evidence, as many are prone to do. I don’t know what you call not “actually engag[ing] with anyone who calls [me] to account” unless you’re referring to my not answering neocon’s question-shower after you or Matt started retroactively deleting my comments.
Thanks for your mind-reading about what I have and haven’t read. As to looking for opposing views, that’s why I come to you! Persuade me if you have such intellectual heft on your side. I’m open-minded. I was apostate for over 20 years before a philosophy instructor I had pointed me at Paul Tillich’s book Dynamics of Faith. If you haven’t read it, I’d recommend it to you.
51. Mark Noonan | January 11th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Diana,
Until you mentioned it, I had never heard of such a book, or such a person - a bit of checking reveals that its not something I would find much use for. Faith is, indeed, dynamic; as are all gifts from God - but the main thing is how we use such gifits, or refuse to use them at all.
As for convincing you - there’s really no way for me to do it. I lack, I believe, the words to convince you, at least straight away. What might happen over the years from now remains to be seen. As I wrote that last, an amazing feeling of peace came over me, and I think that I’ll leave it at that, at least for now…
52. Tractatus | January 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Mark Noonan accusing Diana:
you’ve just as clearly never read anything which might cast doubt upon your views.
Mark Noonan 58 minutes later:
I had never heard of such a book, or such a person - a bit of checking reveals that its not something I would find much use for.
Nice projection, Mark, but you should at least make some sort of effort to hide your hypocrisy. Also, you shouldn’t live in such fear of views that don’t conform to your own. The world must seem like a big, scary place to you, but it’s really not.
53. liberalT | January 11th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
yes - that is a great one Mark. What was your response when I asked you to read the UN climate report. You refused to because it would “make you less intelligent” (as if that were possible) - there was a highlight on how open minded you are…
54. Jones | January 13th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Here is some more good news that our liberal friends might now want to hear….from the Associated Press:
“Iraq’s parliament passed a benchmark law Saturday allowing lower-ranking former members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party to reclaim government jobs, the first major piece of U.S.-backed legislation it has adopted.”
I think this relates to the benchmark # 2 and political reconciliation with Iraq. Since the liberals now like to point at the benchmarks and not the surge’s success, I thought they would like to see this.
55. vyvjdwhx&hellip | January 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 am
vyvjdwhx
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