Good News out of Iraq

[ConnieB]

Since it seems as if no one wants to post the good news coming from Iraq, I thought I would.

Zarqawi Map Aided Successes Against Iraqi Insurgency

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

WASHINGTON — A key turning point in the U.S.-led war against the Iraqi insurgency came even before last winter's troop surge, FOX News has learned.

A map drawn by Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — who was killed last year by U.S. forces — turned up last December in an Al Qaeda safe house and essentially gave U.S. war planners insight into the terrorist group's methods for moving explosives, fighters and money into Baghdad.

Click here to see the map, which was obtained by FOX News (.pdf). (http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/Baghdad_Belt.pdf)

"The map essentially laid out how Al Qaeda controlled Baghdad. And they did it through four belts that surrounded the city, and these belts controlled access to the city for reinforcements and weapons and money," said Maj. Gen. Bob Scales, a FOX News contributor who recently visited Iraq.

And [U.S.-led forces] simply made the decision to reduce these belts one at a time, and essentially what that did was it choked off Al Qaeda's access to the city. And once that was done, Al Qaeda had no alternative but to leave the city, to leave the belts and to retreat into the city of Baquba," Scales said.

The map showed four rings around Baghdad, nearly identical to rings former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein once created to protect the city.

U.S. military planners used those maps to choke off Al Qaeda, moving ring by ring, hunting and destroying Al Qaeda in Baghdad, flushing them out of their urban strongholds and picking them off as easy targets in the desert.

[ConnieB]

Six killed, 10 detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda leadership, foreign terrorist facilitato
Wednesday, 21 November 2007

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 10 suspects Tuesday and Wednesday during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders in central and northern Iraq.

Coalition forces killed two wanted terrorists during operations Tuesday south of Baghdad. Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to the individuals’ location, and they called supporting aircraft to engage. An air strike was conducted, killing the two terrorists, who were reported to be leaders in the Arab Jabour region, responsible for numerous attacks on Coalition forces and maintaining weapons caches. During the operation, Coalition forces detained six suspects and destroyed one vehicle.

Coalition forces killed two wanted terrorists during operations Wednesday north of Hawija. As the ground forces approached the target area they called for the building’s occupants to come out, but they did not comply. The individuals were armed and attempted to fire on Coalition forces. Perceiving hostile intent, the ground force engaged, killing four terrorists, including the two wanted individuals. Reports indicate the wanted individuals killed were an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader in Kirkuk and the car-bombing leader for the city.

Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations west of Kirkuk while targeting weapons and foreign facilitators. The wanted individual was associated with acquiring weapons and materials for attacks on Coalition forces and smuggling foreign terrorists into the region. Coalition forces approached the target building and called for the building’s occupants to come out and they complied. The ground force detained four suspects without incident, including the wanted individual who identified himself to Coalition forces.

“We’re bringing down al-Qaeda’s networks across Iraq,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Iraqi and Coalition forces are working together to dismantle al-Qaeda and protect the Iraqi people from their violence.”

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...5385&Itemid=21

[ConnieB]

Iraqi Security Forces detain 81 suspected extremists, confiscate weapons caches
Wednesday, 21 November 2007

CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, assisted by Coalition Forces, detained 81 suspected extremists and confiscated several weapons caches in Diwaniyah, Iraq, during Operation Lion Pounce Nov. 17 to 19.

Maj. Gen. Othman Ali Farhood, 8th Iraqi Army Div. Commander, outlined the successes of Lion Pounce in a press conference at Camp Echo, Iraq, Nov. 19.

“The northeast quarters of Diwaniyah, where the operation was conducted, were under control of criminal and militant groups,” General Farrod said.

He further highlighted the IA’s success by stating there have been no casualties or equipment damage associated with the operation to date.

Maj. Gen. Tadeusz Buk, Multi-National Division – Central South Commander, said Operation Lion Pounce was the first large-scale operation led by an Iraqi Army general (Farrod), who commanded not only IA Soldiers, but also Iraqi Police units.

“The results of the operation show that it was well-planned and prepared,” said General Buk.

Sheikh Hussein Al Bderi, Chairman of the Provincial Security Committee, highlighted sound cooperation between local government, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces as key to the operation’s success.



http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...399&Itemid=128

[ConnieB]

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 7 in overnight operations
Wednesday, 21 November 2007

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured five suspected terrorists and two extremists Nov. 18 in three separate operations targeting illegal cells operating within Iraq.

Iraqi and U.S. Forces disrupted al-Qaeda in Iraq activity in the Samarra and Tikrit areas, targeting individuals responsible for small-arms fire attacks and multiple improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. Five terrorist suspects, alleged to be part of an improvised explosive device cell, were detained.

The 8th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Forces also targeted illegal activity near Diwaniyah, specifically an extremist cell believed to be involved in several improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces. Also targeted were extremists who are believed to be responsible for sniper attacks, improvised explosive device emplacement and convoy ambushes in Diwaniyah. Two suspected extremists were detained during operations there.

There were no Iraqi or U.S. Forces injured during the operation.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...5383&Itemid=21


Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 6 in separate operations
Wednesday, 21 November 2007

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, captured six extremists Nov. 19 in early morning raids.

In Rahmaniya, Iraqi Army Scouts, along with U.S. Special Forces, conducted a cordon and search operation targeting five extremists believed to be part of an improvised explosive device and weapons facilitation cell that has attacked Iraqi and U.S. Special Forces. All five extremists were detained during the raid.

In a separate operation, the Hillah Special Weapons and Tactics team and U.S. Special Forces detained one extremist suspected of being part of a cell responsible for attacking U.S. facilities through indirect fire, weapons smuggling and conducting explosively formed penetrator attacks against Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces in Hillah.

These operations were two in a series of operations targeting criminal networks operating within the country.

There were no Iraqi or U.S. Forces injured during these operations.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...5386&Itemid=21

[ConnieB]

Coalition forces find detention facility and weapons cache; 12 killed, five detained
Tuesday, 20 November 2007

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 12 terrorists, detained five suspects and found two bodies Sunday and Monday during operations targeting al-Qaeda networks along the Tigris River Valley in Iraq.

During coordinated operations east of Samarra, Coalition forces targeted al-Qaeda in Iraq propaganda operations and several senior terrorist leaders. As the ground force approached the target area, they were immediately engaged by armed men. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces called for supporting aircraft, who engaged the enemy, killing five terrorists.

During the firefight, several armed men maneuvered inside a nearby building and continued firing on Coalition forces. The ground force returned fire in self-defense, killing five terrorists. Upon further investigation, the ground force discovered an al-Qaeda in Iraq detention facility, which contained the bodies of two additional men bound in shackles and believed to have been executed prior to Coalition forces’ arrival.

Information on the individuals held in the detention facility is not available at this time.

Coalition forces also found suicide vests on three of the killed terrorists and a weapons cache, including rocket propelled grenades, rockets and anti-aircraft weapons. Coalition forces detained one suspect during the operation.

Full article
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...5358&Itemid=21

[ConnieB]

‘Awakening’ in Iraq Signals Citizens' Rise Against al Qaida
Thursday, 22 November 2007

WASHINGTON — Determined to rise up against al Qaida terrorists, Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) groups, working together with Coalition forces, have started neighborhood watch programs throughout Iraq. The CLC are calling the movement “Sahwa”, an Arabic term that means “awakening”.

The neighborhood watch programs were established Nov. 14, two weeks after local citizens approached soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, with the idea. More than (1,000) citizens showed up, ready to be recruited to take up arms in defense against the terrorists in the region.

The program provides the citizens with weapons and a regular paycheck and has the goal not only of providing employment, but also improving security throughout the region.

“This is the biggest thing going on (for the local Iraqis) ... because one, it's putting money in their pockets and stimulating the local economy, and two, these people really want to provide their own security,” said Maj. John Allen, 1-87 Infantry operations officer.

These newly drafted members of the local Multaka Night Watch, as they also are known, will take to the streets as sentinels against terrorist activity while receiving salaries based on the effectiveness of their performance.

For example, for every roadside bomb attack that occurs in their neighborhood, a certain amount of money will be withheld from that pay period as a penalty, while consistent periods of tranquility will be rewarded with bonuses.

“What this program is doing is creating significant problems for the insurgents, because it drives a wedge between them and the populace,” said Army 2nd Lt. Alan Finnie, 1-87 Infantry. “By taking away the one incentive advantage the insurgents had over the government, namely money, the people now have every reason to reject terrorist intimidation and embrace the responsibility of eliminating (al Qaida in Iraq) influence in their communities.”


http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...15405&Itemid=1

[ConnieB]

Iraqi Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain two extremists, uncover large weapons cache (Balad)
Thursday, 22 November 2007

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected extremists and uncovered a large weapons cache in two separate operations Nov. 20 and 21.

In the city of Diwaniyah, an Iraqi Emergency Response Unit detained two alleged members of an extremist group; the suspects are believed to be involved in gathering information for targeting Iraqi and Coalition Forces for ambushes and improvised explosive device attacks.

In another operation, 3rd Iraqi Army Division Soldiers uncovered a large weapons cache during a routine patrol northwest of Tal Afar. The cache included 4,200 pounds of home made explosives, four sets of Iraqi military uniforms, 12 82mm mortar rounds and 10 hand grenades.

In a third operation Nov. 21, 5th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Forces came under sniper fire while attempting to clear villages in the vicinity of Abu Khamis of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists.

Iraqi and U.S. Forces responded to the attack, killing two terrorists.

In the course of the operation, three Iraqi Soldiers were injured.


http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...410&Itemid=128

[ConnieB]

CF, Concerned Local Citizens remove caches, unexploded ordnance from Arab Jabour
Thursday, 22 November 2007

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Coalition Forces and Concerned Local Citizens worked together to remove a total of five caches and three unexploded ordnances from Arab Jabour Nov. 19-20.

CLCs reported two UXOs and a cache Nov. 20 to Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga.

The cache consisted of 41 100mm projectiles, five 120mm mortars and one 120 mm illumination mortar.

Soldiers with Company C, 1-30th Inf. Regt. discovered two caches, one Nov. 19 and one the following day, while conducting operations in support of Operation Centurian V.

Those caches collectively contained three grenades, one 100mm mortar, one 120mm mortar, one 122mm mortar, five 60mm mortars, four 57mm projectiles, one 125mm tank round, 45 rounds of 7.62 ammunitions, one AK-47 magazine, five pounds of propellant and 300 plastic explosive detonators.

Soldiers of Company A, 1-30th Inf. Regt., also supporting Operation Centurian V, discovered a cache and one UXO Nov. 19 and another cache the following day.

The caches discovered by Co. A contained a total of 10 feet of time fuse, 22 blasting caps, one mortar primer, four pounds of PE-4, a type of C-4, explosives, five pounds of propellant, five feet of fuse cord, one fuse, one camcorder, one cell phone, two Iraqi calling cards, batteries, four CDs, two washing machine timers, five dual tone multi-frequency boards, a spool of crush wire, a notebook with writing and a video tape.


http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?op...5411&Itemid=21

[ConnieB]

Baghdad’s Weary Start to Exhale as Security Improves

BAGHDAD, Nov. 19 — Five months ago, Suhaila al-Aasan lived in an oxygen tank factory with her husband and two sons, convinced that they would never go back to their apartment in Dora, a middle-class neighborhood in southern Baghdad.

Today she is home again, cooking by a sunlit window, sleeping beneath her favorite wedding picture. And yet, she and her family are remarkably alone. The half-dozen other apartments in her building echo with emptiness and, on most days, Iraqi soldiers are the only neighbors she sees.

“I feel happy,” she said, standing in her bedroom, between a flowered bedspread and a bullet hole in the wall. “But my happiness is not complete. We need more people to come back. We need more people to feel safe.”

Mrs. Aasan, 45, a Shiite librarian with an easy laugh, is living at the far end of Baghdad’s tentative recovery. She is one of many Iraqis who in recent weeks have begun to test where they can go and what they can do when fear no longer controls their every move.

The security improvements in most neighborhoods are real. Days now pass without a car bomb, after a high of 44 in the city in February. The number of bodies appearing on Baghdad’s streets has plummeted to about 5 a day, from as many as 35 eight months ago, and suicide bombings across Iraq fell to 16 in October, half the number of last summer and down sharply from a recent peak of 59 in March, the American military says.

As a result, for the first time in nearly two years, people are moving with freedom around much of this city. In more than 50 interviews across Baghdad, it became clear that while there were still no-go zones, more Iraqis now drive between Sunni and Shiite areas for work, shopping or school, a few even after dark. In the most stable neighborhoods of Baghdad, some secular women are also dressing as they wish. Wedding bands are playing in public again, and at a handful of once shuttered liquor stores customers now line up outside in a collective rebuke to religious vigilantes from the Shiite Mahdi Army.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/world/middleeast/20surge.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[ConnieB]

Market Thriving, Economy Improving in Baghdad Neighborhood

By Spc. Elvyn Nieves
113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD — Only seven months ago the Sugasimche (Fish Market) area in the Raabi neighborhood of the Adhamiyah district was filled with a violent, criminal element that struck fear into residents who didn’t feel safe to walk the streets.

But a change for the better occurred thanks to the persistent efforts of paratroopers from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, who have worked with local security forces to restore the market area, making it once again a center of commerce for residents throughout Adhamiyah.

“When we first got to the neighborhood months ago it was a dangerous place to go,” said Clemens, Ore., native, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Burpee. “We focused our efforts in the neighborhood and took out the insurgents living in the area. After that, we enticed people to come. We built and refurbished schools there and provided security through the Iraqi Security Volunteer program. Now safety is a reality in this neighborhood. If you come here during the day or night, you see a lot of people shopping.”

The paratroopers still conduct daily patrols with Iraqi Soldiers and Police to build relationships with residents. Since 319th Soldiers have already built a strong bond with citizens in Raabi, the more residents see Iraqi Security Forces walking the neighborhoods with paratroopers, the more trust they will have toward the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police.

Burpee said that what his team and their Iraqi counterparts are doing is setting an effective security plan in place so the local people can feel safe. He believes that security is the main reason more stores are open and more people in the neighborhoods are showing up to shop. They made the actual market more inviting to improve commerce.

“If we don’t keep businesses opened up, the economy is going to collapse, there’s going to be no money circulating,” said Burpee. “We just got to keep working with our counterparts the Iraqi Army and Police and get them to the level they need to be, so we can transition this place to them and the local nationals still feel safe and willing to shop

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15316&Itemid=110

[ConnieB]

Iraqi Furniture Factory Fills First Order in Two Years
Sunday, 18 November 2007
By Spc. Shejal Pulivarti
Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs


CAMP TAJI — The State Company for Furniture Industry-Baghdad, located near Taji, recently filled its first furniture order in almost two years.

The Baghdad 5 Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (EPRT) attached to the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 1st Cavalry Division, purchased and picked up (200) pieces of furniture from the factory, with the facilitation assistance of Comanche Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Nov. 11.

The workers excitedly showcased their finished pieces of decorative furnishings. The plant manager stated they have come a long way, but there is much work to be completed before the plant is again fully operational.

The primary economic activity in Iraq is agrarian-based.

Coalition forces assessed (27) former state-owned enterprises. The 1st BCT partnered with the EPRT to restart seven of them, based on their regional economic impact; one of which is the furniture factory. To get the factory started, the brigade recently bought (50) pieces of four different styles of furniture.

“This furniture factory, when fully functioning, employs (250) people, but only a minimal staff remained over the years,” said Henning, Tenn., native Navy Capt. John Dillender, the economics and industrial advisor for Baghdad 5 EPRT. “The emphasis on security enabled approximately (30) workers in total to be employed now.”

“We had a contract with them and it provided increased opportunities in employment, as well as an immediate cash infusion to the surrounding area, which in return allows the factory to operate,” Dillender said. “Over time, with the improvements in the area, we expect more locals to return home and reestablish more businesses transitioning back to normalcy. We like to see people working, having jobs and helping the economy.”

The furniture currently being stored at a nearby combat outpost is planned to be distributed between schools, government buildings and micro-finance loan offices located in the Taji region, Dillender said.

Recent reconciliation efforts have provided a safer and more secure area, enabling the Ironhorse Brigade to shift from their primary focus from security to providing vital services, rebuilding and assisting the Iraqi-led communities to become self-sustaining.

“There is great support and enthusiasm from the populace as they want safety, prosperity and a chance for a better life,” said Jacksonville, Fla., native Tom Burke, team leader of Baghdad Five EPRT. “More are looking for small business opportunities, public works projects or going back to farming and agricultural production.”
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15332&Itemid=110

[LesterX]

So, Connie, when are you and your family relocating to Iraq ? Since you think it's such a fabulous place to be, I can't imagine why you wouldn't be hopping the next plane to Baghdad.

[ConnieB]

Your post is typical liberal post....Can't ever admit to something good happening, and since you can't put down what is happening in Iraq, you attack the person posting. I didn't post these good stories to debate, I posted them because it's not reported on and I thought it needed to be done, so I will not debate in here.

But for your information, my husband wants to go over as a contractor, but he can't right now because he is in the middle of a job with GM that will last for another 2 years, he's the project manager for it. One of our friend's just came home from volunteering as a contractor for the past 2 years and he wants to go back next summer. He actually said the states don't offer him anything any more...so he may stay there.

[ConnieB]

Army Engineers Turn Over Electric Substation to Iraqi Ministry of Electricity

Sunday, 18 November 2007
By A. Al Bahrani
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


BASRAH — The Al-Garma 132kV substation, one of the key components of the Iraqi electrical infrastructure system in Basrah Province, has been successfully turned over to Iraqi Ministry of Electricity (MoE).

“The $8.8 million project is the first of the five 132kV substation projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Gulf Region South district (GRS), in Basrah Province” said Andrew Schmieder, Basrah Area Office resident engineer. “Two substations are expected to be turned over later this month, with the energization of the final two expected in (late) November and December.

“This project seeks to improve the electrical management system in Basrah,” Schmieder continued. “Proper management of electricity helps avoid electrical outages and provides electricity with a more reliable and secure transmission network in the south area of the country. This project will effectively ease and lower the electrical load rates on the existing substations.”

The project entailed assessing, evaluating, rehabilitating, repairing and installing electrical systems in an existing 132kV substation that supplies electricity to a gas/oil separation facility and serves the Al-Garma district north of Basrah City, Schmieder said, adding that the project benefits more than (13,000) residents.

The Al-Garma substation was turned over to Iraqi authorities Oct. 31. “USACE awarded the contracts to Symbion Power LLC in February 2006,” Schmieder said.

According to Thomas Eidson, chief of Engineering and Construction of GRS, the reliable distribution of electricity is critical for Basrah Province. He said the existing electric substations are aging and suffer from a lack of maintenance and spare parts, causing them to break down or not operate at full capacity. The new substations will enhance the ability to supply power throughout the province and reduce electrical outages.

An Iraqi engineer working with the GRS Basrah Area Office said, “Electrical systems are not stable in Iraq and rebuilding this substation is a step forward in the overall reconstruction of the area electrical system to reduce and eliminate shutdowns. The equipment used in the facility includes two (63) megavolt amps transformers, a building control room, a high voltage switch gears room, protection fence and a guard house.”

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15333&Itemid=110

[ConnieB]

Electrical Substation Expanded to Provide Power for Decades

Wednesday, 14 November 2007
By John Connor
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


NAJAF PROVINCE — Completion of an electrical substation in southern Iraq recently brought forth happy citizens and an array of Iraqi officials, including the deputy governor of Najaf Province and the directors general of involved regional and local electrical directorates.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project is a rehabilitation and expansion of the Mutanabi 33/11 kV substation at a cost of $2.47 million. It had been in the process of being turned over to Iraqi authorities since October, said Fitsum Kebede, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project engineer for Najaf. The substation is located in the Al Mutanabi/Kufa area of Najaf Province.

As part of the process, the contractor had to complete testing, energizing and commissioning of the substation in the presence of Ministry of Electricity (MoE) officials, according to Kebede, who said everything was completed and that substation operations were initiated last week.

Kebede, who is attached to the Forat Area Office of the USACE Gulf Region South (GRS) district, said (30,000) people are receiving power from the substation. Completion of the project was marked locally by a ceremony and public remarks by Iraqi officials.

Allan Giese, a Corps of Engineers electricity sector representative, said the contract was started in September 2005 with Iraqi Relief and Reconstruction Fund money. He said the project took longer to finish than expected, as has been the case with many electrical projects in Iraq, due to issues including job site security and MoE and Director General concerns.

But in the end the contractor turned the substation over to the MoE, Giese said, marking "a successful completion of a facility that should last at least 40 years."

The substation is one of (22) power stations of the 33/11 kV variety to be completed recently in the southern nine provinces of Iraq served by GRS, according to Giese, who put the total cost for these projects at $55 million.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15245&Itemid=110

[Paulie]

I will not debate in here.

Of course you won't, Connie. I'm still waiting for you to respond to my question regarding sex education in schools...or this something else you won't debate in here?

Paulie

[db44]

A handful fo stories don't change the overall picture, especially when some of these stories are the same, just from different angle.

However, if I were to accept it, I would say it's because the battlefield is shifting. Are you ready to head into Pakistan, Connie? The Al Qaeda which relocated into Iraq after Bush allowed them to is now going to head over to what will be the most tumultous country in the region come their election. I'm willing to bet they are preparing for that even now.

I'll stick by the news over what seems to be a goverenment PR site any day, thank you.

[LesterX]

...since you can't put down what is happening in Iraq, you attack the person posting.

I can't, huh? There are plenty of articles painting a different picture of what's going on in Iraq than the ones that you hand-picked, 9 of 11 of which came from the freakin' official PR wing for this war. For example...

Why is violence is down in Iraq? Possible answers: The surge is providing additional security. The Anbar Awakening has gotten Sunni tribe leaders on our side and reduced the killing power of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Sectarian cleansing has cut down the number of powderkeg neighborhoods in Baghdad. Moqtada al-Sadr's decision to stand down the Mahdi Army has removed one of the main sources of Shiite violence.

The surge, obviously, will be coming to an end over the next few months. So what about the other three factors? Is local level progress enough to eventually produce some kind of national reconciliation? Three recent pieces offer a pessimistic assessment. First, Thomas Ricks in the Washington Post:

...All the U.S. military officials interviewed said their most pressing concern is that Sunnis will sour if the Iraqi government doesn't begin to reciprocate their peace overtures...The Army officer who requested anonymity said that if the Iraqi government doesn't reach out, then for former Sunni insurgents "it's game on — they're back to attacking again."

Jon Lee Anderson:

Sheikh Zaidan al-Awad, a prominent Sunni tribal leader from Anbar....said that Anbar's Sunni tribes no longer had any need to exact blood vengeance on U.S. forces. "We've already taken our revenge," he said. "We're the ones who've made them crawl on their stomachs, and now we're the ones to pick them up." He added, "Once Anbar is settled, we must take control of Baghdad, and we will."

Marc Lynch:

Unless the local-level deals are consolidated into a national arrangement, the security gains will easily be blown away like so much tumbleweed when the atmosphere goes sour. Maliki now describes those calling for national reconciliation as conspirators and as selfish politicians making unreasonable demands for their own self-interest. Backers of the bottom-up approach increasingly seem to be accepting this convenient frame, since it justifies ignoring the point of greatest failure...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/16/politics/animal/main3514622.shtml


...In more than a dozen interviews, U.S. military officials expressed growing concern over the Iraqi government's failure to capitalize on sharp declines in attacks against U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians. A window of opportunity has opened for the government to reach out to its former foes, said Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the commander of day-to-day U.S. military operations in Iraq, but "it's unclear how long that window is going to be open."

The lack of political progress calls into question the core rationale behind the troop buildup President Bush announced in January, which was premised on the notion that improved security would create space for Iraqis to arrive at new power-sharing arrangements. And what if there is no such breakthrough by next summer? "If that doesn't happen," Odierno said, "we're going to have to review our strategy."
...



http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usiraq1119,0,4309343.story

I didn't post these good stories to debate, I posted them because it's not reported on and I thought it needed to be done, so I will not debate in here.


If you don't want to debate, perhaps you shouldn't post on a political discussion board. Posting ten zillion articles and then refusing to "debate" is essentially spamming. Did you attend the Regis Philbin School of Discussion Board Etiquette?

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Are you kidding, Connie? You post a bunch of stuff from the "Official Website of the Multi-National Force - Iraq" and then you won't debate the content?

"Completion of an electrical substation in southern Iraq recently brought forth happy citizens..." Connie, this isn't news, this is PR. Do you not know the difference?

[ConnieB]

Of course you won't, Connie. I'm still waiting for you to respond to my question regarding sex education in schools...or this something else you won't debate in here?

PaulieI have my opinions on sex education along with everything else. However I've learned on a board full of liberals like this one I can't fairly debate the issues because I will be torn down by all you so I just post my opinion, and leave the thread. So actually I did not know you wanted me to respond.

[ConnieB]

I can't, huh? There are plenty of articles painting a different picture of what's going on in Iraq than the ones that you hand-picked, 9 of 11 of which came from the freakin' official PR wing for this war. For example...


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/16/politics/animal/main3514622.shtml



http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usiraq1119,0,4309343.story



If you don't want to debate, perhaps you shouldn't post on a political discussion board. Posting ten zillion articles and then refusing to "debate" is essentially spamming. Did you attend the Regis Philbin School of Discussion Board Etiquette?I don't consider this spamming...I posted this thread for those who wanted to read some good news coming from Iraq instead of all the bashing that is going on from the liberals on this board...

As MNF is concerned...I consider them pretty reliable, since I see some those stories being reported on in the MSM. I see thread with articles from Thinkprogress all the time, and that is a liberal blog site. I'm sorry if you don't like the stories, but they are news and its worthy of posting in my opinion.

[db44]

You wouldn't be "torn to shreds" if you used legitimate sources. This isn't the first time you've used PR sources as a news outlet. There is a difference.

[ConnieB]

Are you kidding, Connie? You post a bunch of stuff from the "Official Website of the Multi-National Force - Iraq" and then you won't debate the content?

"Completion of an electrical substation in southern Iraq recently brought forth happy citizens..." Connie, this isn't news, this is PR. Do you not know the difference?Maybe to you this is not news but to others it could be. Just like how a court house was just opened and a new market is thriving in a once dangerous area....it's called progress, which is something liberals won't support nor will they admit to. You may not like the stories that come from MNF, but is it any different then those coming from Thinkprogress...NO. At least mine are stories coming directly from Iraq through military members writing the articles.

[ConnieB]

You wouldn't be "torn to shreds" if you used legitimate sources. This isn't the first time you've used PR sources as a news outlet. There is a difference.and Thinkprogress is a news outlet?????? I see Richard use this site all the time, and it's a damn blog site.
From About Think Progress area on their site
"The Center for American Progress Action Fund is a nonpartisan organization. With the blog, CAPAF seeks to provide a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies."

[ConnieB]

Double post

[Paulie]

I have my opinions on sex education along with everything else. However I've learned on a board full of liberals like this one I can't fairly debate the issues because I will be torn down by all you so I just post my opinion, and leave the thread. So actually I did not know you wanted me to respond.

Well, then, consider this an official invitation to respond via a private message to the following query:

Given your stance against abortion and unwanted pregnancy, would you be supportive of mandatory sex education in both public and private school, as a means to reduce the numbers of both of the events? Such education would include discussions of ALL forms of protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, include abstinance and birth control devices.

I eagerly await your response.

Paulie

[ConnieB]

You wouldn't be "torn to shreds" if you used legitimate sources. This isn't the first time you've used PR sources as a news outlet. There is a difference.Db...I didn't start using this site until my government professor recommended it, and I've only used it a few times as a source. My main source is usually Fox news and yes, I am still torn down by several people on this forum, so I've learned to just post my opinions and then leave. I will not debate with people who call me ignorant and close minded any time I post MY opinions and that is what has been going on for months now. So yes, I love to post in here but will not debate my opinions any more.

[LesterX]

I don't consider this spamming...I posted this thread for those who wanted to read some good news coming from Iraq instead of all the bashing that is going on from the liberals on this board...

As MNF is concerned...I consider them pretty reliable, since I see some those stories being reported on in the MSM. I see thread with articles from Thinkprogress all the time, and that is a liberal blog site. I'm sorry if you don't like the stories, but they are news and its worthy of posting in my opinion.

It's a political discussion board. You don't get to choose who does and doesn't read and comment on your threads.

You clearly don't understand the difference between news and public relations. You are posting "articles" from the official public relations wing for this war and claiming that it's a reliable news source. All one has to do is scan through the list of stories and note that there's not one negative "story" published by them. You consider this a balanced news source?!? You won't see the PR department of Universal putting out a press release indicating that their latest film tanked at the box office and MNF is no different. I don't care which side of the political spectrum you are on -- anyone who claims that there have been absolutely no problems in Iraq is delusional.

I don't recall anyone here claiming that Think Progress is an objective news source. You, on the other hand, claimed that no one can counter all the good news coming out of Iraq, as if the MNF articles are the be all and end all of information about Iraq.

[db44]

Do you ever see me take Richard's stories for fact either? I agree with you about think progress, but usually it's about quoting people, which is not news per se. Again, it's a difference. I don't take his posts as fact, and he doesn't post them as fact, he posts them as opinion. You take press releases and post them as fact, which they may or may not be, or which could be manipulated by leaving out certain facts, or by giving only part of a study.

On the other hand, that many agree, or that we feel/believe the same as what he posts, means there's no reason we'd dispute what he posts.

How did your professor stress the site? As a news site, or just by mentioning it? My Seminar in Mass Comm professor would tell us about newsletterers (the web back just 11 years ago wasn't what it is now) or such, but she would stress their biases. FOX is biased: Just look at their "heavy hitters." Look at their coverage any given day: Full steam ahead on the Hillary-bashing, kid gloves with Rudy.

For the record, I do conisder all the posts spam.

[SparkleHugs]

I have my opinions on sex education along with everything else. However I've learned on a board full of liberals like this one I can't fairly debate the issues because I will be torn down by all you so I just post my opinion, and leave the thread. So actually I did not know you wanted me to respond.


You wont be torn down because you have a differing opinion, you will be torn down because you cannot effectively back up any of your agruments. We have disagreements on this board all the time because this actutally isn't a board full of liberals. With the majority of the people I have disagreed with on many issues, i have always understood their position and respected it and vice versa....you cannot do that. If there is not a fair debate, then that is not our fault.

[pinky]

I haven't read any of the articles Connie posted after the first one, but that one was so revealing that I have to comment......

A key turning point in the U.S.-led war against the Iraqi insurgency came even before last winter's troop surge, FOX News has learned.

A map drawn by Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — who was killed last year by U.S. forces — turned up last December in an Al Qaeda safe house and essentially gave U.S. war planners insight into the terrorist group's methods for moving explosives, fighters and money into Baghdad.

So, what Connie's source is saying is that the surge isn't really responsible for the recent good news out of Iraq. How does that translate into any argument of support for the surge?

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Maybe to you this is not news but to others it could be. Just like how a court house was just opened and a new market is thriving in a once dangerous area....it's called progress, which is something liberals won't support nor will they admit to. You may not like the stories that come from MNF, but is it any different then those coming from Thinkprogress...NO. At least mine are stories coming directly from Iraq through military members writing the articles.

What? What does a courthouse have to do with knowing the difference between PR and news? I won't say that this stuff you posted is news because it isn't, not by any stretch of the imagination and not to anyone who understands the difference.

[ConnieB]

What? What does a courthouse have to do with knowing the difference between PR and news? I won't say that this stuff you posted is news because it isn't, not by any stretch of the imagination and not to anyone who understands the difference.Funny how you don't consider it news when some people such as Glenn Beck has a link to the MNF website on his own page. Obviously he thinks the stories coming from MNF is news and sometimes he reports it. Like I said, just because YOU don't think it's news doesn't mean it's not to others. Even my government professor uses news articles from the MNF site in class for discussions...so obviously it holds some credibility.

I also know the difference between PR and News, and I also know PR leads to stories we hear in the news every day...and in majority of the news, the political agendas and propaganda are results of PR which leads to the public not hearing the full truth about a story. So I don't need you to preach to me about PR and the news...I hear it every day I watch the news. So if the MNF webpage is not as credible as news, then majority of the news you hear is not credible including that coming from CNN, ABC, NY Times, and so on....

By the way, Quite a bit of the news we get about the President and the White House comes from Dana Perino, a PR person...so I guess anything coming from Washington isn't news either.

[ConnieB]

It's a political discussion board. You don't get to choose who does and doesn't read and comment on your threads. I see you didn't read my post correctly. I never said these articles could not be debated by others, I said I would not debate in here. There is a diffrence.

You clearly don't understand the difference between news and public relations. You are posting "articles" from the official public relations wing for this war and claiming that it's a reliable news source. All one has to do is scan through the list of stories and note that there's not one negative "story" published by them. You consider this a balanced news source?!? You won't see the PR department of Universal putting out a press release indicating that their latest film tanked at the box office and MNF is no different. I don't care which side of the political spectrum you are on -- anyone who claims that there have been absolutely no problems in Iraq is delusional.Again, things have been taken out of context..I never said there wasn't anything bad coming out of Iraq...I said since no one seems to post about the good that is coming out of Iraq, I thought I would. I meant for this to be a good thread and not to be blasted by every one. This just shows me when something good happens, it will never be accepted by liberals. Yes, bad things are going on, but why focus on it. I guess I'd rather see the good then bad and stay positive.

All one has to do is scan through the list of stories and note that there's not one negative "story" published by them. You consider this a balanced news source?!? This is the key sentence...because it's one sided it's not news because it's not balanced. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC are pretty much all one sided when it comes to the issue of war and many people consider them credible and reliable...but I don't.


I don't recall anyone here claiming that Think Progress is an objective news source. You, on the other hand, claimed that no one can counter all the good news coming out of Iraq, as if the MNF articles are the be all and end all of information about Iraq
Actually there are times when I post articles or make an opinion that is shot down by an article from thinkprogress...and had people tell me they believe them over my sources. I have also never said no one could counter all the good news..I said there IS more good news that needs to be heard (because that is how I see things right now) which is NOT happening and I'm getting sick of it. It's because of the media that america has such a negative take on this war...due to the fact that all they concentrate on is negative stories. Majority of those I know in the military are truly upset about it and they want the truth to come out. They want to see both sides being covered because they are working their butts off for something majoirty of them believe in and I feel we need to have more faith in them to win this and leave this job up to our military without the media (and congress) getting in the middle of it.

[ConnieB]

One more thing, I was looking through the MNF website and they also post stories from other news sources such as NY times, Rueters, BBC, AFP, LA times, Fox, and many more... it's in the international news section.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_contentlinks&Itemid=61

They also report on deaths of military members in the press release section....along with any injuries that occur during a raid.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=1&id=4&Itemid=128

This is the latest casuality listed

DoD Identifies Army Casualty (Baghdad)
Friday, 23 November 2007
________________________________

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1346-07
November 23, 2007
________________________________

DoD Identifies Army Casualty (Baghdad)

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Alfred G. Paredez Jr., 32, of Las Vegas, Nev., died Nov. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

For further information on this soldier, contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.


________________________________

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15431&Itemid=128

This site just doesn't post positive stories....they post what is going on in Iraq good and bad, however, they don't focus on the deaths like our MSM prefers to do. I get alot of my stories from the featured stories section which focuses on what is occuring in ways of progress such as court houses opening and electricity stations expanding, along with terrorist they have detained and weapons they have seized on a daily basis. Who else reports on those stories...no one in the MSM, but that doesn't mean its not happening, this is why I pay more attention to sites like these then news networks.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Funny how you don't consider it news when some people such as Glenn Beck has a link to the MNF website on his own page. Obviously he thinks the stories coming from MNF is news and sometimes he reports it.

Glenn Beck? He's not a journalist, he's a... what? A TV/radio personality. He sells coffee mugs with this logo on it for heaven sakes. He's Rush for the liberals. Please.


Like I said, just because YOU don't think it's news doesn't mean it's not to others. Even my government professor uses news articles from the MNF site in class for discussions...so obviously it holds some credibility.

Your government professor? You're telling me that because your government professor uses the site that means it's credible journalism? How do you figure that one?


I also know the difference between PR and News, and I also know PR leads to stories we hear in the news every day...and in majority of the news, the political agendas and propaganda are results of PR which leads to the public not hearing the full truth about a story. So I don't need you to preach to me about PR and the news...I hear it every day I watch the news. So if the MNF webpage is not as credible as news, then majority of the news you hear is not credible including that coming from CNN, ABC, NY Times, and so on....


You have one thing right, news agencies do use PR for sources at times. What credible journalism does NOT do is publish PR pieces verbatim with no corroborating evidence or without showing the other side; in fact, many credible media outlets will use PR as a jumping off point to prove the information is flawed. As for the rest of this graph -- if MNF is not as credible as news... that is a leap of logic that is just silly. You have shown in this one paragraph that you obvioulsy don't know the difference between PR and news.

By the way, Quite a bit of the news we get about the President and the White House comes from Dana Perino, a PR person...so I guess anything coming from Washington isn't news either.

Well, duh. She's the Deputy Press Secretary. When the press reports what she says, savvy readers/listeners realize she is the mouthpeice of the administration and take that "news" with a huge grain of salt.

[LesterX]

I see you didn't read my post correctly. I never said these articles could not be debated by others, I said I would not debate in here. There is a diffrence.

You said that you posted these stories for people who wanted to read about all the good that is happening in Iraq. You then said essentially the same thing again in this thread -- "I meant for this to be a good thread and not to be blasted by every one (sic)." Hence, my comment that you can't choose who reads and responds to your threads. It's pretty clear that you are not too happy that the "liberals" are crashing your party.

Again, things have been taken out of context..I never said there wasn't anything bad coming out of Iraq...

I didn't take anything out of context. You said directly to me that "you can't put down what is happening in Iraq."

[LesterX]

Glenn Beck? He's not a journalist, he's a... what? A TV/radio personality. He sells coffee mugs with this logo on it for heaven sakes. He's Rush for the liberals. Please.

Thank you. Citing Glenn Beck as a journalist speaks volumes. He's not a liberal though; don't make our side responsible for him! ;) I've seen a few minutes of his CNN show. * shudders* He's a raving nut job.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Thank you. Citing Glenn Beck as a journalist speaks volumes. He's not a liberal though; don't make our side responsible for him! ;) I've seen a few minutes of his CNN show. * shudders* He's a raving nut job.

True. I was speaking loosely. He's not Rush on that end of the political spectrum, but I suppose labeling him "liberal" does give us a bad rap. lol ;)

[DoubleEdgeSword]

For someone who says she won't debate anything, Connie's sure spending a lot of keyboard time debating everything she posted -- not the content, but certainly everything else. Just the fact that she considers what she posted "news?" Well, she can't defend debating any of the content in that context, so perhaps it's better she didn't try. lol

[db44]

The top story in today's news is the return of the wildfires in Malbu. What's the PR spin there?

Glenn Beck isn't exactly Liberal DES. Still, your point is made. Because somebody links to a site makes it legitamite? Because he's a talk show host, he's the end-all-be-all for news? How is that logical?

Your first post in this current tirade shows you obviously don't understand the difference between PR and news. Those organizations you mention as news outlets are there to try and give an unbiased view of stories. True, CNN is more to the Left as FOX is to the Right, but the Times and others you list do an okay job. Heck, the Times is posted for its stories here by both sides of the aisle. Your MNF site (One a side note, they can't even come up with an original acronym. I keep waiting to hear Hank Williams Jr. when I write that) isn't trying to stay towards the middle. Where news writers are paid (at legit companies) to aim for the straight and narrow, MNF's people are paid to say good things only. Looking at its use of MSNBC and such, don't you notice how the stories are selective? Good stories okay, bad stories don't appear. That's there job too, filter the news to show just what they want people to hear.

And what about that "Freedom Facts" sidebar?

Yes, the White House has a PR staff, as well it should. But while what these press agents say is news for them saying it, just because it comes out of their mouths doesn't make anything fact. Lood at the press releases (irony, eh?) for Andrew Card's upcoming book, and how he claims he was asked to lie for the big guys.

With everything everyone reads, you have to accept the source of the story. I'm going to put a lot more credence in the BBC than FOX or MNF if I'm looking for the least spin. If FOX writes something, it sure may be a news story. But I'm going to be much more weary of the source than I would be with the BBC. And as much of FOX or other outlets will use AP, you may want to take a look at how much they sometimes will change stories, like add a paragraph to word things the way they want. They pay for the AP, but they can alter the story. It happens, and usually you'll notice an AP byline with an additional staff writer credited as well.

[LesterX]

The top story in today's news is the return of the wildfires in Malbu. What's the PR spin there?


Dave, surely you realize that the only reason the MSM is covering this story is because Malibu is home to many of th e liberal Hollywood elite. ;)

[Richard Tafoya]

Thank you. Citing Glenn Beck as a journalist speaks volumes. He's not a liberal though; don't make our side responsible for him! ;) I've seen a few minutes of his CNN show. * shudders* He's a raving nut job.

True, Les. Here's a bit of his profile from Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/glennbeck

Beck is famous for spouting controversial and inflammatory comments against Democrats, Muslims, Arabs, Mexicans, and female guests on his radio and television programs. Beck has called President Jimmy Carter a "waste of skin (http://mediamatters.org/items/200602090005)," Mexican immigrants "dirt bags (http://mediamatters.org/items/200604280003)" and "lawbreakers (http://mediamatters.org/items/200603270009)," Katrina victims "scumbags (http://mediamatters.org/items/200509090003)," Cindy Sheehan a "prostitute (http://mediamatters.org/items/200601190005)," and suggested using nuclear weapons against parts of the Middle East (http://mediamatters.org/items/200609130010) and Venezuela (http://mediamatters.org/items/200604120003).