Roundtable: Aid Flight into Burma

Posted By Grim

We were lucky enough to speak this morning with USAF Captain Trevor Hall, who took the first US C-130 into Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar) to carry aid to the victims of the recent storm.  If you listen to the interview, you'll learn a lot about American air drop capacity, and a few things about American security and diplomatic efforts in the region.  As you know, the chief impediment to aid getting to the people has been Burma's own government.

That is starting to change.

We had extra heavy lift capacity in the area because of the Cobra Gold exercises.  Though it needs no introduction to anyone who has been involved with the Pacific Command since 1982, the Cobra Gold exercises are an annual affair.  Since 2004, they have included not just US and Thai troops, but troops from regional nations like the Philippines and Mongolia. 

Doing good works for the people wins their trust and friendship, and helps establish local authorities that can maintain law and education in poor regions.  This year, Cobra Gold focused part of its efforts on training for just such exercises by putting US and Thai efforts together to help build a school in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand.

This underscores the point made a few days ago:  No matter what good you want to accomplish, from disaster and poverty relief to establishing law in the place of war, the US military is a key element for the solutions to those problems. 

Here we see Americans joining with our friends in Thailand to teach each other about how to do good works, by actually doing good works; and then interrupting those good works to go do some more good works for those suddenly in need.  Both the United States and its network of allies are a force for good in the world.

A Iraqi Zoomie Story

Posted By Blackfive

Over at Castle Argghhh!, Bill T., training the new Iraqi Air Force, has a story about one of it's air men - Hussayn's Story. 

What is it like to guard GitMo?

Posted By Blackfive

On May 4th, Brigadier General Gregory Zanetti, the Deputy Commander at Gitmo, wrote an interesting article published in the Lawrence, Kansas, Journal-World and News:

A day in the life of a Guantanamo guard
By Brig. Gen. Gregory Zanetti
May 4, 2008

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Their average age is 23. Most are on their first Military assignment. They wake up at 0430, clean up, throw on a fresh uniform and are standing in formation at 0500. They silently file on to a bus that takes them to the camps. They get off the bus and again stand in formation as the First Sergeant barks out the orders for the day.

They move into the camps and do the requisite shift change duties. They take their posts at 0600. They then "walk the blocks," placing their eyes on their assigned detainees every three minutes for 12 hours. They walk eight to 11 miles during their shift.

At 1800 they get back on the bus, go back to their rooms and change into their exercise clothes. After a short formation, they do at least one hour of PT (physical training). They then clean up, grab a quick dinner, and fall into bed.

And so it goes, four days on, two days off.

While that may be the schedule, it does not tell the full story of a guard's day at Guantanamo Bay . To do that requires an understanding of something called the Battle Update Brief, better known as the BUB. The reason the word battle is used is because the detainees see the camps as an extension of the battlefield.

So do the guards...

Go to the Lawrence J-W&N for the rest of the story, it's worth your time and important in light of the recent suicide bombing by a released prisoner and the Presidential candidates aims to close the  facility...the piece discusses daily/hourly attacks on guards, threats on their families, abuse, etc. and the military guards remain professional all day, every day, in the presence of the enemy.

Update:  LL reminds us that Patterico had an amazing set of interviews with a psych nurse at Gitmo in late 2006.

The GI Film Festival

Posted By Blackfive

From Andi at the most excellent MilBlogs:

The second annual GI Film Festival will take place in Washington, DC from May 14-18. In addition to film screenings and other fun happenings, the festival will present a series of panel discussions.

The festival has added a panel on milblogging to this year's agenda.

The nation’s military blogging community (Milblogs) prides itself on providing military news and context that you won’t often find in the mainstream media. Join some of the nation’s most popular milbloggers in a spirited discussion on how GIs and military families are portrayed in the media and on film. For more information about Milblogging, see www.milblogging.com, the world’s largest index of military blogs.

Runtime: 01 hr : 30 min

Blackfive, The Donovan and Chuck Ziegenfuss will be sitting on the panel. If you're in the Washington area, get a ticket to attend.

I'll be around the festival and DC.  If you want to meet up for a drink on Saturday afternoon, send an email.

Roundtables: Life of the Mind

Posted By Grim

Last week, there were two roundtables on two different projects that both have something in common.  Both point to the way that the US military serves to harness the minds of America's true "best and brightest" to create good in the world.

The first was with Dr. Thomas Mahnken, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Planning,  on the Minerva Project.  This project offers to rebuild some of the ties between the military and academia.  The military would provide funding and access to research materials; in return, they would appreciate aid in understanding the world's cultures, so that counterinsurgency efforts are both more likely to succeed, and better able to reach out to and protect the people among whom terrorists or guerrillas might try to hide. 

The other was on regenerative medicine.  We spoke with COL Robert Vandre, who shows the intense and almost boyish joy of the scientist at the progress his team is making in helping injured soldiers.

He's missing ears and the end of his nose. And, of course, that's -- we really expect to be able to do something about that in a couple of years, you know, because that's -- you saw the picture with the mouse with the ear on his back. And that technology just needs -- I mean, essentially we've just got to refine it a little bit more, and we should be able to give it a go.

Take a look at some of what they've been doing.

This is a point we've made here at BlackFive, and elsewhere, from time to time.  The military, its internal schools, DARPA, the defense contractors' research labs, these have served as a parallel structure to academia for the life of the mind.  It's a place of those who want to put that life into practice, making a difference in defense of their nation and to better the world. 

It makes sense that this should be so.  No matter what good you want to accomplish -- whether disaster relief or to prevent a genocidal war, whether at home or in some faraway land -- the US military is the single greatest instrument for good in the world.  It is the key element in many of the solutions to those problems, worldwide.

I asked Dr. Mahnken about the challenges involved in trying to rejoin the military thinkers with the academics.

Continue reading "Roundtables: Life of the Mind"

Blogger's Roundtable: COL McGrath on Afghanistan

Posted By Grim

Colonel Thomas McGrath joined us to give us an update on Southern Afghanistan. I asked him about some worrisome comments from President Karzai, noted by The Captain's Journal.

GRIM:  Sir, I wanted to ask about President Karzai's comments that were reported by The New York Times where he said that he wanted American forces to stop arresting suspected Taliban and their sympathizers, and the continued threat of arrest and past mistreatment, as The New York Times quoted him, were discouraging Taliban from coming forward to lay down their arms. To what degree do you feel that that is a true critique? And are you talking it on board at all in your operations?

COL. MCGRATH: Well, you know, I heard it. I haven't put too much -- I haven't changed any of my operations down here based on that. I haven't received any direction to do that, Grim. So we're driving on as usual.

Read how.

Bragg Barracks Scandal

Posted By Blackfive

I arrived home from China on Monday to hear about and see the YouTube video of the barracks in horrendous condition awaiting the paratroopers of Charlie Company, 2/508th Airborne returning from a 15-month deployment to  Afghanistan.

There is no excuse for this kind of treatment of our troops.  Peeling paint is one thing, the other items like raw sewage and mold, however, are unconscionable.

Those who wish to lay these issues at the feet of our President are wrong.  This is an Army problem and has nothing to do with the Bush Administration or even the DoD (no matter what the Presidential candidates are saying about it).  It has everything to do with the chain of command, and, most likely, a rear detachment that wasn't aware of what they should be doing to ensure that the barracks was in working order.  You can look at a drain to make sure it's there physically, but you won't know if it works until someone actually uses it.

The bottom-line is that the chain of command failed in this instance. 

So, on Tuesday, I attended a blogger conference call with Brigadier General Dennis Rogers, Deputy Director of Installation Management Command (IMC), and CSM Deborah Strickland, Command Sergeant Major of IMC.  Both the BG and CSM took full responsibility for the problem.  In fact, I sensed that CSM Strickland was not exactly happy with BG Rogers taking responsibility as she believed this to be an NCO leadership issue.  CSM Strickland instituted an NCO forum on barracks issues Army-wide in order to find out if this is systemic, and, if it is, fix it.

My pal CJ at a Soldier's Perspective, who was also on the call, agrees completely:

...NCOs need to get off their asses and take an interest in their Soldiers' lives. If they can't do that, they need to get out of my Army. I have no use for them. A Sergeant is not just a promotion and extra money. It's responsibility and forward thinking!! I'm glad the leadership is addressing this issue directly, but they need to realize that they have a lot of catching up to do (when I say leadership, NCOs, I'm talking to you too!). The worst thing they can is try to white wash this problem - especially to a group of active, retired, and former military bloggers!!

It was refreshing to hear BG Roger and CSM Strickland take the responsibility for this. It is their ultimate responsibility, but the failings happened well below them at the installation and rear detachment level. I sure hope some OERs and NCOERs accurately reflect what happened at Fort Bragg. I hope that Officers and NCOs have been officially reprimanded and relieved of command or responsibility where necessary. We can move past this and learn from it, but I'm a bit skeptical. You'd think we had already learned something after the Walter Reed issue. NCOs, take heed! Wake up now! Do your jobs or the officers are going to do it for us. Where do we stand then?...

Be sure to read the whole post - CJ nails the issue.

BG Rogers thought that it was obvious that the paratroopers didn't trust their chain of command to fix the barracks.  That might be the case.  Or they might have gone to the chain and had not gotten the response that they should have received.  And it is too easy these days to ignore the chain and post grievances to YouTube or MySpace in order to make a point.

This link is to the DoD post on the subject.  An Army-wide inspection of all barracks has occurred. 

...Meanwhile, Army garrison commanders and command sergeants major have made an assessment that soldiers are housed in accordance with Army standards, Rogers said. On-the-spot corrections have been made to bring unsatisfactory barracks living conditions into compliance with Army standards, he noted...

So, my question for BG Rogers was aimed to clarify his point that on-the-spot corrections were made:

...when General Rogers had mentioned that repairs were made on the spot, I think a lot of folks are going to want to know who made those repairs.  Was it the soldiers themselves that were responsible for it?  Or did we have contractors come in and do it?

I asked that question because I felt that the soldiers would have done a bit on their own to improve their living conditions. I asked that question because Private Blackfive and Sergeant Blackfive had lived in some pretty crappy barracks.  Luckily, I was a member of some really great units that took care of things.  In fact, once our officers found out about some problems we were having, they took up a collection to help pay to fix it.  But, in those instances, we didn't just return from a 15-month combat tour in Afghanistan.

BG Rogers responded, after discussing some of the issues around the problems with fixing the barracks, that when Director of Public Works people were not available, contractors were hired out to finish the repairs.

While I respect CJ's opinion above, I believe that the buck stops with the unit officers.  If those were my paratroopers' barracks, there would be a lot of paratroopers staying over at Casa de CPT Blackfive and Casa de 1SG Uncle Jimbo until this all got sorted out.

Military bloggers will be watching this issue closely.  The very least that we, as an Army, as a Nation, can do is ensure that the soldiers returning from combat have a habitable place to live.  That's the LEAST we can do.  We must do more.

McQ from QandO agrees (and he used to live in those very barracks) about the responsibility and wasn't as satisfied as I was about the responses (like the rest of us, he was pissed off).  I'll close with his very appropriate comments (read the whole articulate post here - this is just a taste):

...Now I wasn't completely satisfied at all with some of the answers given. Unfortunately we were running out of time and you have to give the other folks a chance to participate and ask their questions. And I did, in fact, appreciate both of them coming on and talking to us about this.

But, for instance, when CSM Strickland answered my question about "new processes" in place to preclude this sort of thing happening again I didn't get a warm fuzzy.

She said:

We have reenergized, I believe, the leadership's responsibility, and their role in ensuring that our soldiers are treated appropriately, and that we - that we stay engaged in the barracks.

Now this is just me talking, but leadership shouldn't have to be "reenergized" in this regard. Maybe I'm old school, but ensuring my soldiers "are treated appropriately" was never something I or any of my peers needed 'reenergizing' about. This shouldn't be something that requires increased command visibility, this is something that should always be of the highest visibility to all commanders all the time.
<...>
As I told BG Rogers and CSM Strickland, it isn't the combat or the long tours that run most of our soldiers off, it is things like those barracks that do it better than anything. More than anything I appreciated to opportunity to get across to them the outrage of the citizenry as to how our troops had been treated. And I got the feeling they understood that completely.

The Army is involved in a huge facilities upgrading project just about everywhere, and I appreciate the heck out of that and believe the soldiers deserve the best when it comes to their living conditions back here in the states. But as my Battalion commander with the 82nd used to say, "it only takes one 'aw, sh!t' to wipe out a 'hundred attaboys'". Let's hope this puts the IMC and everyone else involved back on the "attaboy" trail.

[The transcript of the entire conference call is here (PDF file).]

"Where the hell have you been?"

Posted By Blackfive

Got an email over the last two weeks asking that question. I'll have more later today, including a post about the Ft. Bragg barracks scandal.

In my defense, I did leave you all a note saying I'd be out of contact for awhile.  Here is where I was:

Photo by TJ.  I'm at the mid-point on the Great Wall of China (Badaling section).  I am tired of being harassed by vendors who all claim "Best Price!" and whip out their calculators like I care about their wares and try to charge me $150 for a $1.50 watch.  This is the "Don't @#$% with me" look that drove most of them away.  Also, note the smog.

Photo by TJ.  I was presenting a recommendation for the Shanghai Futures Exchange last Friday.  I am pointing at the club at the Shangri-La across the street...it's where I was headed after work.

More photos later...

Leadership: Rumbles from Below

Posted By Grim

We had a Roundtable call with Army Colonel Bruce J. Reider on the subject of the Army's new Muti-Source Assessment and Feedback system.  The concept here is, for the first time, to mandate that officers and NCOs -- as well as Department of the Army civilians, interestingly enough -- get formal feedback on how they do as leaders from their subordinates and peers as well as from their command.  While it won't be part of their performance evaluation, every single person in a leadership position will have to receive these comments.  COL Reider feels this has the opportunity to fundamentally improve Army culture by letting people know exactly where they are weakest in terms of the Army's leadership values.

Furthermore, everyone participating in the system will be submitting their comments on you anonymously.

One of the things that bloggers have a lot of experience with is the effect of granting anonymity to commenters.  The natural question, then, is:  Will you be editing out the profanity?

The Colonel says, "Actually, yes."  The concern for anonymity is such, however, that they will be doing so with an automated filter -- so that no human except the person being evaluated sees the comments.

Quite a bit more on this after the jump.

Continue reading "Leadership: Rumbles from Below"

On Waivers

Posted By Grim

I also attended the Blogger's Roundtable that Armed Liberal at Winds of Change mentioned today.  These waivers are characterized this way:

The vast majority of the conduct waivers are misdemeanors and a litany of three-or-more traffic offenses. And with that, there are some felony arrests and a few felony convictions. Together they total to about a half of one percent of the intake.

In the past year, the Army increased its numbers, almost doubled them.  But they are so small that it equates just for scale to fewer than one per congressional district, insofar as felons that were waivered in.

The kind of person that we're talking about is someone who doesn't appear to be morally corrupt. Rather it was perhaps a prank gone terribly wrong, a grotesque error in judgment.

But in every case, if their community has joined behind them and said, this is really a good kid, and offered their support, then the recruiter might, if we've got a strong candidate in terms of their other attributes, send it up for a waiver.

A two-star will look at it. And let me say a general officer. I'm not sure if it's always two-star. But a general officer or flag officer will look at it, look at what they read about this person, what their parents, teachers, coaches have to say, and then make a judgment.

Is there any one of us who doesn't know someone who started off on the wrong track -- or made a mistake as a young man -- and ended up better because the military gave them a few years of structure, discipline, and a chance to move into adulthood?  It used to be that judges gave young men a choice between the military and jail in these circumstances.

Armed Liberal makes the point that labeling someone as a "criminal" at this age is destructive to their entire lives, whereas the military may be just what they need to begin a long and productive citizenship.  One of my closest friends as a boy was in just this category.  He made a bad decision, although a clever one -- he figured out a way to steal from his employer and work the paperwork to cover it so as to get free money.  At the age of seventeen you are the very next thing to amoral:  between hormones, young male pride, and lack of experience, you neither understand the harm you are causing nor can resist a clever scam.

They caught him, and the Marine Corps recruiter he'd been working with said:  "Well, hang on.  Let us have him."  They produced proof that he was a Boy Scout and had risen to the rank of Life Scout; that he had been a good student; and other things.  The local DA didn't press charges (a felony arrest, not a conviction, as this man says) and he went into the Marines.

A few years ago, he was Honorably Discharged after more than a decade's service.  He now lives as a good husband and reliable employee to a local manufacturer, and is the father of several daughters -- he described his home to me not long ago by saying, "If it's pink, we've got it."

Prison doesn't rehabilitate.  Very often, the Marine Corps does. 

Read the whole transcript, though, and make up your own mind.

UPDATE:  SFC B, in the comments, adds some perspective:

Since 2003 the Army (the only service which I've bothered to get the full details on, however the other services are similar) has allowed anywhere between .2% and .6% of all enlistees to enlist with a waiver for a felony conviction. Two years ago, 2006, was by far the lowest percentage of felony waivers in a long, long time. The .439% of waivers that were allowed in last year (2007) was right in line with the .4% that has been the average since 2003. Basically, the AP story casts an ominous light on the subject by pointing out that the number of felony waivers doubled from last year, but they fail to provide any context to that by 1) not mentioing how many people were enlisted last year (116,141) and 2) not mentioning that 2006 was abnormal in that only 249 felony waivers were enlisted.

ANZAC Day!

Posted By Grim

Just the other day, thanks to this letter from Australia, we were talking about how much we appreciate the folks from Down Under.  Well, today is ANZAC Day, which is similar in many respects to our Memorial Day. 

We'd like to join in the salute to our comrades.  I see that the Castle got started without us:  if anyone else has an appropriate post, add it in the comments here.

Advance Australia Fair!  This rendition begins with a phrase that I've only heard British and Commonwealth units use:  "Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding."  It's a fine way of putting it, joining both the physical and the moral actions that are requested to show due honor to nation and service.

A Few Good Women, II

Posted By Grim

Since we're on the subject, meet the Daughters of Iraq and the Sisters of Fallujah.

Did anyone think, in November of 2004, that there would be a group of native Fallujah women who  volunteered to help the Marines find terrorists?  There is, and the movement is spreading across Iraq, to Sunni and to Shia areas.

Another Grim Milestone

Posted By Grim

Let's hold a press conference!  Ibrahim Al-Shammari, spokesman for the Islamic Army of Iraq, did just that with Al Jazeera.

"Dr. Al-Shammari, what does it mean to you that 4,000 U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq?" a moderator on Al Jazeera asked Al- Shammari during a March 24 broadcast translated by the BBC.

"This figure means a lot to us because it is the first time the number of U.S. deaths amounts to 4,000. This means a lot to the American people," said Al-Shammari. "The figure we have is 4,000 plus 40,000, and not 4,000 as they claim. This shows the deep trouble the U.S. Administration engaged-"

At this point, according to the BBC translation, the moderator interrupted Al-Shammari. "Excuse me, the figure you have is 44,000?" the moderator asked.

"The Americans do not count those who have Green Cards," explained Al-Shammari....

"Do you have an accurate calculation and a clear follow-up on this issue that allows you to announce the figure 44,000?" asked the moderator.

Al Jazeera:  setting the record straight!

As odd as it may seem, Al Jazeera's English language broadcasts are some of the best stuff coming out of Iraq.  I used to watch their stuff while over there, and while it wasn't accurate, it was consistently better than what CNN or FOX could put together.  Partially it's because they have better contacts, but it's not only that.  They're willing to engage our enemy and hear their side of the story -- but they're not willing to accept it without critical analysis.  They're therefore providing two useful services:  giving us some OSINT insight into our enemies' minds, and calling their statements into question.

If you're attempting the very difficult task of understanding the war from over here, Al Jazeera English can be a useful tool.  That's not what we'd have expected earlier in the war, when their reporters sometimes referred to US warplanes over Afghanistan as "enemy" planes...  but expected or not, I think it's proving to be so.

A Suspension of Contempt

Posted By Grim

This is a remarkable post, an ode to duty.  It is by Cassandra, and begins with a quote from Robert E. Lee:  and then it shows how her life and her family's have been ones of duty and sacrifice, but also great joy.

Along the way, she takes many people under fire:  military spouses who put themselves ahead of the traditions of the Service, Congress, those in our society who treat the military with contempt, and those who have no conception of having a personal duty of their own. 

The Castle Solves a Mystery

Posted By Grim

Their usual playful banter started what may be the resolution to the crash of an Mi-17.

After they landed, I got everybody outside for a break and one of them said, "Now I know why the Mi-17 crashed." He was on the IqAF investigation board.

Originally, everybody I talked to said all the IqAF pilots had zero instrument skills, but what I saw makes me call bullshit on that. These four were just plain *good* at instruments.

The Iraqi pilot continued, "When you started talking about the attitude indicator, I didn't realize you meant the artificial horizon, then when you failed it, I suddenly realized. And then I realized what killed the Mi-17 crew. I *knew*.

The key is a difference between Russian and American design.  Read the rest.

Ideology in COIN

Posted By Grim

Small Wars Journal has a short paper by COL Robert Jones on the subject of ideology in counterinsurgency.  Section Five is worth reproducing in full, which I will below the fold.  The heading is:

V. U.S. ideology holds that when government fails insurgency is both the right and the duty of the populace.

Emphasis added.  Read the rest, below.

Continue reading "Ideology in COIN"

Surge Highlights- Xtreme commute to the battle

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

Ever wonder what the Surge looked like? We had some beautiful booms of buildings and cars and here is some amazing footage of our operators riding on Little Bird helicopters on their way to scarf up bad guys or make some more dead tangos. COIN has worked because brave men like these dropped on rooftops all over Iraq, making it tough for a terrorist to get a decent night's sleep.

The "Feel Good" Movie of the year...

Posted By Deebow

In direct contravention to the HollyWeird types, and the usual fair that they call "acting," there is a movie out there that premiered not long ago in Los Angeles that might put a positive spin on what kind of sacrifices were made in the War in Iraq.

So, presenting from Lucky Forward Films is This is War: Memories of Iraq. 

This movie is about the men of the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry and their time fighting in OIF in Najaf and Fallujah in 2004 to 2005.  And they are not some high speed, low drag crack unit out of the SOCOM.

They are National Guardsmen, who serve not only their state, but their nation as well.

I am certain that the Code Pink operatives, the ACLU, ANSWER, and IVAW are probably not going to like the movie, but I know the movie wasn't made for them.

I know a few of these men, having served with them for some years now in the National Guard, both overseas and at home and at the risk of giving away some of my anonymity, they are all from Oregon.

The footage shot from this movie is not something that you are probably going to find in any movie coming out of HollyWeird because it is shot through the cameras and eyes of the men who lived it, at the time they were living it.

Here is some of the write up that came from our Guard Newsletter, The Sentinel:

The special screening of the film documenting their deployment was held during the 2nd Annual Cinema City Film Festival March 9-10, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, Calif. According to the event’s organizer, Suzanne DeLaurentiis, the showing was as much business as it was personal.

“After I watched the movie, I just fell in love with the guys,” she said. “They’re a great group of people and we’re so proud to have them here.”

Some of the celebrities who attended the event included Ed McMahon, Cuba Gooding Sr., singer Debora Gibson, Ed Lauder, “Good Times” star, Ja’Net Du Bois, and Christopher McDonald, who is best known for the character of ‘Shooter McGavin’ in the movie “Happy Gilmore”.

The entire article is here.  Additionally, the book The Devil's Sandbox by John R. Bruning, is the companion reader to this movie and is a chronicle of their actions while deployed there, from the rolling ambush after leaving Navistar to the "Card-board Coffins" to the Battle at the Jemalia Power Station (a "3 hour tour" that turned into an 18 hour plus firefight) and more.

Like I was saying, I know some of these men personally, and I have seen their videos uncut and unedited before we left for Afghanistan, as some of them volunteered (yes leftards, volunteered) and there was this one part, where my buddy Joe was wounded by some Mahdi dude and he...

Well, I won't spoil it.  I hope that video made it into the show....

I would encourage everyone to go and get a copy of the movie and see OIF through the eyes of men who lived it, and not from some stringer or Green Zone Ranger.

More songs blowing up buildings and cars

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I don't think I need to intro this much more than to say again, this is why I pay my taxes. These are all from right in the middle of the surge and show just how much it would have sucked to be a bad guy last year.

Thoughts on Iraq

Posted By Grim

Since we're discussing what Yon has said, let me offer some observations of my own.  I have just returned from Iraq, where I was a civilian advisor.  This is not intended to be in any way the official word of anyone; it's just what I think, having given it rather more than "full time" attention for the last months.

Iraq has essentially three problems to "solve" to become a stable country.  These are the Sunni problem, the Shia problem, and the Kurdish problem.  By "problem" I mean not that the people are a problem, but that each of the main subsets of the population has a particular challenge that has to be resolved before it can integrate into a successful state.  (This is, of course, at a high degree of abstraction -- at the ground level, Shiites and Sunnis may be intermarried, etc.)

The Sunni problem was rejectionism.  The Surge has solved the Sunni problem.

That's a fundamental shift in the situation on the ground from a year ago.  The gains are -- as Petraeus said -- reversable; that is, it is possible by neglect or malice to create a new Sunni problem.  This is chiefly a political responsibility:  Congress, State, and the Government of Iraq must ensure they do their part here.  (A purely personal opinion:  State's operations have improved as much as US military operations have, though they are on a smaller scale as State is on a smaller scale.  The PRTs have been a tremendous help, and the current Ambassadors seem to me to be of the first water.  The GoI we'll discuss presently.  Congress is shameful.)

The Shia problem is armed factionalism.  The current violence of this last month and going forward represents the start of the solution to that problem.  People alarmed by the violence have missed the story. 

The GoI and the JAM are both disaggregating their bad elements.  Mickey Kaus deserves credit for noticing, at least as far as the GoI goes:

Whether it was an incremental success or a humiliating fizzle, hasn't the Maliki government's assault on Sadr-linked Shiite militias operated, de facto, as a highly efficient purge of the Iraqi army? According to Juan Cole, those who heeded calls for defection or who otherwise refused to fight have been fired. ... P.S.: Meanwhile, some 10,000 militia members who did fight on the government's side have reportedly been inducted into the security forces.

What people have not noticed is that JAM is doing essentially the same thing.  For quite some time Sadr has been purging JAM of elements that do not obey him.  Sadr has said that he will disown members who violate the ceasefire, excepting in self-defense.  His proposed truce calls for patience from his members, and comes "after receiving assurances" that his membership will not be targetted if he has them stand down. 

Those who continue to fight will be ready prey for the Iraqi security forces, many of whom are from the Badr faction.  As Wretchard noted, the de facto arbiter of the Shia situation is al Sistani, who has declared that the militias are not legitimate authorities in Iraq.  And -- again, crediting Kaus for his careful thinking about what he reads -- the political debates within the Iraqi government seem to favor this overall movement.  (It's also worth nothing that the calls for the JAM to surrender its arms have really been only for heavy weapons -- that is, they could retain small arms, as the Sons of Iraq do.) 

The recent violence has been healthy, then.  Disaggregation of irreconcilable elements is a key element to our COIN strategy; here we see it happening naturally.  The political process appears to be strengthened, and the Sunni blocks are now participating in helping to settle the Shiite question in a manner acceptable to themselves -- as are the Kurds.  That sounds like a genuine national coalition forming, one that will accept Sadr as a political figure. 

Sadr's own rhetoric, meanwhile, has in this cycle been markedly different from his rhetoric in 2004.  It appears that he wants to move into a political role, rather than trying to overthrow and replace the central government. 

The Shia problem, then, is not resolved -- but it is in the process of being resolved.  That is two of the three big problems in Iraq.

The last one is the Kurdish problem, which remains latent.  The resolution of the disposition of Kirkuk is a potential explosive point.  It is possible that this problem will be resolved without serious violence; but it is also possible that it will not be.

To this general mixture you should add the tremendous economic progress in Iraq.  US military programs -- and PRTs -- are helping to push this economic expansion downward, to tie the whole of the Iraqi population into the gains.  This will have an overall beneficial effect on the stability of the nation.

The counterinsurgency work we have done has been highly effective.  What remains to be done is largely political, though the US military has an important role as a guarantor of stability, and in the training of Iraqi forces for internal defense.  The GoI is internally tremendously complex, as The Long War Journal has covered extensively, but it seems to be improving in its capacity.  The provincial powers law, finally passed, should allow for the pushing down of powers to the less-internally-complicated provinces, which should improve local governance and services. 

I have very high personal confidence in the mission in Iraq.  If it is supported as it deserves to be, I have no doubt that Iraq will become a fairly nice place.  It is already better than a substantial swathe of Africa, whose misery passes almost unnoticed -- though note Paul Salopek's National Geographic piece of this month, and confer with your opinions on Iraq.

In return for this last effort, which should require less courage from us than previously, we will gain a permanent ally in the Middle East, and undermine the worst elements of radicalism.  We will also protect the lives of millions who have suffered a great deal already:  war with Iran, the tyranny of Saddam, and the chaos of this period. 

They deserve mercy, and that the strong should stand with and defend them. 

4th ID Soldiers Make Incredible Find

Posted By Blackfive

Sergeant Zach Mott of the 3rd BCT of the 4th ID wrote this story (and took the photo after the Jump):

BAGHDAD – Spotting irregularities is a tactic that is drilled into the minds of Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers throughout training and in practice while in Iraq.

Soldiers recently watched as a car pulled up to an entry control point at Forward Operating Base Callahan in northern Baghdad. They continued to watch as a woman stepped out of the car holding a bag. Once the woman dropped the bag near the gate, internal alarms were ringing and a careful search was called for and conducted...

Continue reading "4th ID Soldiers Make Incredible Find"

First Official Brit MilBlogger

Posted By Blackfive

The Wolf sends this piece from the Guardian UK about Corporal Lachlan MacNeil who will blog for the Guardian while deployed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.  There have been Brit Milbloggers, but none had the approval of the MoD until now. 

Stay tuned...

I Gotta Read More

Posted By Subsunk

Man, I keep missing some of the great stories out there. Guess work is becoming a little too busy for me.

This is a great story from Men's Health about courage, bravery, and how to cultivate it. A plus to the story is it was written during the time Mike Monsoor was in ar Ramadi and was killed serving us in defense of his country. It identifies some of the thinking behind the Anbar Awakening, and highlights what makes a Brave Man, Brave. There is no question Michael Monsoor epitomizes the Character, Courage, and Commitment to his comrades that distinguishes Bravery from the common and cheap political discourse and communication of Cowardice seen from Congress today. Thank God our country produces more Men like Mike than "Congressquitters" like _insert name of your favorite dhimmi here_.

Read it people. It's a good one.

Subsunk

Thanks to the Weekly Standard for bringing it to my attention.

General Petraeus Opening Statements

Posted By Blackfive

Transcript: Report To Congress On The Situation In Iraq By General David H. Petraeus

 

General David H. Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force–Iraq

Testimony to Senate Armed Services Committee

April 8, 2008

 

GEN. PETRAEUS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide an update on the security situation in Iraq and to discuss the recommendations I recently provided to my chain of command.

 

Since Ambassador Crocker and I appeared before you seven months ago there has been significant but uneven security progress in Iraq.

 

Since September, levels of violence and civilian deaths have been reduced substantially, Al Qaeda-Iraq and a number of other extremist elements have been dealt serious blows, the capabilities of Iraqi security force elements have grown, and there has been noteworthy involvement of local Iraqis in local security.

 

Nonetheless, the situation in certain areas is still unsatisfactory and innumerable challenges remain. Moreover, as events in the past two weeks have reminded us and as I have repeatedly cautioned, the progress made since last spring is fragile and reversible.

 

Still, security in Iraq is better than it was when Ambassador Crocker and I reported to you last September, and it is significantly better than it was 15 months ago when Iraq was on the brink of civil war and the decision was made to deploy additional forces to Iraq.

 

A number of factors have contributed to the progress that has been made...

Continue reading "General Petraeus Opening Statements"

US Navy Seal Mike Monsoor - Awarded the Medal of Honor

Posted By Blackfive

"I can honestly say that as a Pastor I rarely find myself "speechless". However this is one of those times.  After viewing the video tribute to Mike Monsoor I am just that...Speechless.  There are no words to express the profound sadness and yet great...pride, honor, appreciation, humility, indebtedness, glory, at the sacrifice of this young man.        Know that this story will be retold at least from one pulpit this next Sunday and that the prayers of at least one Church will go out for the family and friends of this great soldier.        May God bless you for the work of proclaiming this great sacrifice and promoting what is great about the people of our Armed Services." - Baptist Minister from Memphis, Tennessee, in an email to us at Blackfive about US Navy SEAL Mike Monsoor.

How are we best to tell the story of Michael Monsoor - a man who's sacrifice inspired a preacher to tell his story from the pulpit?

We'll begin at the end this time because, while many of us believe that it's how you lived that matters, how you leave this world can matter just as much.

Saving three of your brothers by giving your life...could you do that?  Mike Monsoor gave three friends their lives that day.

As you will see, the embodiment of the idea of brotherhood is what Mike was all about...

From the US Navy:

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL)
         Michael Anthony Monsoor
        April 5, 1981 – Sept. 29, 2006

                                                             

Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor was born April 5, 1981 in Long Beach, Calif.  Michael grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., as the third of four children of George and Sally Monsoor. He has an older brother James and older sister Sara, and a younger brother Joseph.
                
Michael attended Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School and Garden Grove High School where he played tight end on the Argonaut football team and graduated in 1999. An incredible athlete, Mike enjoyed snowboarding, body boarding, spear fishing, motorcycle riding, and driving his Corvette. His quiet demeanor and dedication to his friends matched the “Silent Warrior” SEAL mentality that was to become his calling in life. 
                
Michael enlisted in the U.S. Navy March 21, 2001, and attended Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.  Upon graduation from basic training, he attended Quartermaster “A” School, and then transferred to Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Italy for a short period of time.
                
Petty Officer Monsoor entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif., and subsequently graduated with Class 250 on Sept. 2, 2004 as one of the top performers in his class.

(Photo Courtesy of the Monsoor family)

After BUD/S, he completed advanced SEAL training courses including parachute training at Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga., cold weather combat training in Kodiak, Alaska, and six months of SEAL Qualification Training in Coronado, graduating in March 2005.

(Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor poses for a photo while attending cold weather training in Kodiak, Alaska in 2004.  Photo courtesy of the Monsoor family.)

The following month, his rating changed from Quartermaster to Master-at-Arms, and he was assigned to SEAL Team 3 Delta Platoon. He deployed with his platoon to Iraq in April 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was assigned to Task Unit Bravo in Ar Ramadi.

(Petty Officer Second Class Michael Monsoor - kneeling in Ramadi, Iraq. Photo courtesy of the Monsoor family)

From April to Sept. 29, 2006, Mike served as a heavy weapons machine gunner in Delta Platoon, SEAL Team 3.  During combat patrols he walked behind the platoon point man with his Mk 48 machinegun so that he could protect his platoon from a frontal enemy attack. 

Mike was also a SEAL communicator.  On 15 operations, he carried a rucksack full of communications equipment in addition to his machinegun and full ammunition load-out.  Collectively it weighed more than 100 pounds.  He bore the weight without a single complaint, even in the midst of the 130 degree Western Iraqi summer.

(Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor poses for a photo on a rooftop in Ar Ramadi Iraq, while deployed in 2006.  Photo courtesy of the Monsoor family.)

Mike and his platoon operated in a highly contested part of Ramadi city called the Ma’laab district. During their deployment, Mike and his fellow SEALS came under enemy attack on 75 percent of their missions. On May 9, 2006 Mike rescued a SEAL who was shot in the leg. He ran out into the street with another SEAL, shot cover fire and dragged his comrade to safety while enemy bullets kicked up the concrete at their feet.  For this brave action, he earned a Silver Star.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as a Platoon Machine Gunner, Naval Special Warfare Task Group - Arabian Peninsula, Task Force Ramadi, Iraq on 9 May 2006.  Petty Officer Monsoor was the Platoon Machine Gunner of an overwatch element, providing security for an Iraqi Army Brigade during counter-insurgency operations.  While moving toward extraction, the Iraqi Army and Naval Special Warfare overwatch team receive effective enemy automatic weapons fire resulting in one SEAL wounded in action.  Immediately, Petty Officer Monsoor, with complete disregard for his own safety, expose himself to heavy enemy fire in order to provide suppressive fire and fight his way to the wounded SEAL's position.  He continued to provide effective suppressive fire while simultaneously dragging the wounded SEAL to safety.  Petty Officer Monsoor maintained suppressive fire as the wounded SEAL received tactical casualty treatment to his leg.  He also helped load his wounded teammate into a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle for evacuation, then returned to combat.  by his bold initiative, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Petty Officer Monsoor reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The enemy could not deter Michael and his SEAL platoon.  They fought in 35 heated firefights; during these incidents Mike shot tens of thousands of 7.62 millimeter rounds to cover Delta Platoon’s movement through streets that seemed to be paved with fire.  In the Ma’laab district, Michael perfected his skills as an urban machine gunner. Once he and his men established a sniper overwatch position, he deftly transitioned to his role as a SEAL communicator calling in tank support and transmitting enemy situation reports to the 1-506 PIR Commander. 

Delta Platoon executed a broad spectrum of combat operations in and around Ramadi. They patrolled bravely through the city streets engaging in firefights while on other occasions, they ambushed insurgent mortar teams near the banks of the Euphrates River.  Mike and his fellow SEALs accounted for 84 enemy fighters killed in action and the detainment of numerous insurgents. Most notably, the Army Infantry, Navy SEAL and Iraqi Army combined force helped to pacify the most violent city in Al Anbar province setting conditions for the Sunni Awakening.

Petty Officer Monsoor was subsequently awarded the Bronze Star as the Task Unit Ramadi, Iraq Combat Advisor from April to September 2006. His leadership, guidance and decisive actions during 11 different combat operations saved the lives of his teammates, other Coalition Forces and Iraqi Army soldiers.

For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as Task Unit Ramadi, Iraq, Combat Advisor for Naval Special Warfare Task Group - Arabian Peninsula in Support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from April to September 2006.  On 11 different operations, Petty Officer Monsoor exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while shielding his teammates with suppressive fire.  He aggressively stabilized each chaotic situation with focused determination and uncanny tactical awareness.  Each time insurgents assaulted his team with small arms fire or rocket propelled grenades, he quickly assessed the situation, determined the best course of action to counter the enemy assaults, and implemented his plan to gain the best tactical advantage.  His selfless, decisive, heroic actions resulted in 25 enemy killed and save the lives of his teammates, other Coalition Forces, and Iraqi Army soldiers.  By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Monsoor reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously in a ceremony at the White House April 8, 2008. He will receive the award for his actions in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Sept. 29, 2006. On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest before falling to the ground. Positioned next to the single exit, Monsoor was the only one who could have escaped harm. Instead, he dropped onto the grenade to shield the others from the blast. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. Because of Petty Officer Monsoor’s actions, he saved the lives of his 3 teammates and the IA soldiers.

Though he carried himself in a calm and composed fashion, he constantly led the charge to bring the fight to the enemy. His teammates recall his sense of loyalty to God, family, and his team.  He attended Catholic Mass devotionally before operations, and often spoke lovingly of his family - his older brother, a police officer and former Marine for whom he held great respect; his sister, a nurse; and his younger brother, a college football player.

Mike was one of the bravest men on the battlefield, never allowing the enemy to discourage him. He remained fearless while facing constant danger, and through his selfless nature and aggressive actions, saved the lives of coalition soldiers and his fellow SEALs.  He was a loyal friend and exceptional SEAL, and he is sorely missed by his brothers in Task Unit Bravo.

He is survived by his mother Sally, his father George, his sister Sara, and his two brothers James and Joseph.

On October 12th, 2006, Froggy posted about his attendance at Mike's funeral:

I had the distinct honor and privilege of attending the memorial service for PO2 (SEAL) Michael Monsoor yesterday at the First Presbyterian Church in San Diego.  Being in the presence of so many true warriors to celebrate the heroic death of one of our own was utterly humbling and poignant.  Information about Mike's death in Ramadi on 29 Sep 06 has been sketchy in the media, but the story of this man's service and his death is one that deserves not only to be told, but to be celebrated and certainly never forgotten.

First of all, Mike grew up in Garden Grove, CA (Orange County) with his parents and two brothers and one sister.  His father is a Vietnam veteran and one of his brothers served in the Marine Corps.  Speaker after speaker at the service took special care to recognize Mike's family and to make the connection between his character and his family's quiet service and patriotism.  One of Mike's teammates said, "These are the people that I'm fighting to protect."  I spent a few moments with his mother afterwards and her grace and composure under such difficult circumstances clearly demonstrated the genesis of Mike's own calmness and resolve under fire and inspired me to continue to instill these traits in my own children.

SEAL Team THREE deployed to Iraq last Spring and within a month of arriving, Mike had already distinguished himself. As one of the platoon machine gunners, Mike made quite an impression on the battlefield.  On May 9, 2006 a teammate was shot in the legs, immobile, and exposed. Suppressing enemy fire with his M60, Mike fought his way to his wounded comrade's position and dragged him out of the line of fire while maintaining constant pressure on enemy insurgents with his weapon. That action earned him a Silver Star... in the first month of his first deployment.

Fast forward to the final weeks of that deployment and Mike along with two fellow SEALs were occupying an overwatch position on a rooftop in the Mulab district of Ramadi which is basically the most dangerous neighborhood of the most dangerous city in Iraq.  A hidden enemy managed to toss a grenade onto the rooftop near the three SEALs, and Mike without hesitation warned his comrades verbally before placing himself in a position to block the lethal blast of the grenade from killing his teammates.  One of the SEALs he saved said that Mike's countenance was completely calm and he showed no fear only resolve.  No short timer's disease infecting this man, he had only a couple of weeks remaining in the deployment and he did not flinch at the moment of truth.

On the rostrum, all three SEALs whose lives Mike personally saved hobbled up together to thank Michael and his family for their very existence and to show their family's gratitude for sparing them the grief that Michael's family is now experiencing.  I have never witnessed something as special and inspiring in my entire life-I have never even heard of such a thing happening before.  Michael's sister Sara told of a vision that she had upon hearing the news that her brother had died a hero's death saving his brothers.  She said that she saw a puzzle missing its final piece being completed by an unseen hand and that its visage was that of her brother.  His actions, his deeds, his sacrifice were the culmination of a lifetime of preparation to go forth into combat and distinguish himself above and beyond the call of duty. 

Michael was a Christian man, raised in the Catholic Church and was often seen attending Mass before leaving the FOB on operations.  His parents named him after the Archangel Michael-the great protector whose mission was to protect the world from the satanic forces of evil.  Saint Michael's Day is celebrated on September 29, the day Mike gave his life for his friends.

I will be meeting with my Congressman next week in order to advocate that Mike is nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I received this note from someone attending Mike's funeral:

During Petty Officer Mike Monsoor's funeral here in San Diego, as Mike's coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's with the coffin moving up the center. As the Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin; the slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it.

At the reception afterwards, the SEALS were easily identified among the other military guests because they had a stack of valor ribbons with pin holes above where their Naval Special Warfare Device or Trident had been.

And here are two videos (one a tribute to Mike and the other is a video of Marcus Luttrell talking about Mike):

Words cannot describe our gratitude and thankfulness that men like Mike Monsoor lived among us.

Update 04-08-08:  The President's comments from the ceremony are posted after the Jump.

Continue reading "US Navy Seal Mike Monsoor - Awarded the Medal of Honor"

Bravery under fire: Remembering Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith 5 years after earning the Medal of Honor

Posted By The Wolf

Folks, I was forwarded this this morning, and thought it was pertinent to get up ASAP. 

God Bless, SFC Smith.

-Wolf

Camp Victory Iraq - He was a husband, father, Soldier and leader, but on April 4 here, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, the 3rd Infantry Division’s 51st Medal of Honor recipient was remembered simply as a hero.

A remembrance ceremony was held in the courtyard where five years ago to the day, Smith gave his life in defense of others.

He was setting up a short-term enemy prisoner of war holding area near the Baghdad International Airport when his unit was attacked by enemy soldiers.

Outnumbered, with wounded Soldiers and damaged vehicles, Smith told his men to get back as he manned a .50 caliber machine gun from the exposed turret of an armored personnel carrier damaged by rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. He fired at the enemy and unleashed some 300 rounds allowing his other Soldiers to reorganize and mount an attack. Smith and his men defeated the enemy attack. During the attack Smith fell mortally wounded.

A disciplined, no-nonsense platoon sergeant with Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., Smith was bestowed the highest award for bravery in 2005, the Medal of Honor.

“He was a Soldier who took care of Soldiers … he lost his life doing it,” said Brig. Gen. William Grimsley, who at the time of Smith’s death was the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division commander.

Grimsley, now the deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division, recommended Smith for the Medal of Honor and was one of several leaders who knew Smith and took a pause from operations today in order to attend the ceremony.

In 2003, Capt. Christopher Doerr, of Headquarters and Headquarters Operations Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Inf. Div., was a 23-year-old brand-new second lieutenant.

  “I’ll always treasure the fact I got to serve with and know Sgt. 1st Class Smith,” Doerr said.

  He admired Smith’s expertise, precision and dedication to mission accomplishment.

“He was an expert engineer, the best in the battalion,” Doerr said. “The way he motivated his Soldiers, they didn’t necessarily like him, he wasn’t their friend, but he made them train to standard.

“It all makes sense now, why he pushed us, why we did the things we did. Now we are here because of that,” Doerr said.

Smith had been in combat when he was a young private first class in Desert Storm. In Kuwait, just days before invading Iraq, Doerr asked Smith to tell him what war was going to be like. 

“He said, ‘war is hell,’ and he showed me that first hand,” Doerr said. “He laid it all on the line and that was not a fluke … he was concerned for the safety of his men and others and he put that above his own personal safety, and I think you’ve got to say he’s a hero for that.”

More than 200 people attended the remembrance ceremony, including Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, who in 2003 was the deputy commander for maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division.

Large-scale pictures showed Sgt. 1st Class Smith in desert camouflage uniform days before the battle. Diagrams, mounted on an armored personnel carrier like the one Smith used, detailed his heroic action. Visible from the courtyard was the bullet-riddled tower that the enemy had fought but failed to seize. A bugler played Taps and, after the ceremony, Soldiers walked the site and reflected on the sacrifice he had made for our country. 

Continue reading "Bravery under fire: Remembering Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith 5 years after earning the Medal of Honor "

Heed this, ye of little faith

Posted By The Wolf

Thou shalt not anger the wolf...

This upcoming week will likely be one of the most contentious we will see up until the November election- it may even surpass some of the shenanigans to go on during the conventions later in the summer.  Maybe not as visual, maybe not quite as dramatic, but certainly as important.

As you may remember, a certain General will give a certain report to a certain group of Congressmen this week, in order to report certain progress in Iraq.  Will it be all 'rosey' and full of sunshine?  Hardly.  But it will reflect the ground truth, it will most likely reflect how the Surge has helped conditions, and will help lay out what we will have to do in the upcoming months to further maintain security while the Iraqi government gets its act together.  What more can we really ask for?  Ok- surrender by all the insurgents and an immediate stage-left departure, but Mookie wil