~11:34am~ (CST)
StrategyPage has a mind blowing behind the scenes analysis of what is happening in Iraq. He points out that nearly none of the Intel groups have been sent home from the region...here's an excerpt:
What is really happening in Iraq? The media make it sound like another Vietnam is developing, with the Iraqi population sliding towards mass resistance as Iraqi society collapses in violent anarchy. But the reality is a lot different. Attacks on coalition troops are declining, the availability of public services is increasing and public opinion towards the coalition becomes more favorable each day. The gunmen who are attacking coalition troops are being hunted down and arrested, and huge arms caches found and destroyed. . . .A lot of the "combat" is now taking place in the shadows. Special Forces, Delta Force and SEALs are doing what they've been doing since before the war began; sorting out the Iraqi underground. This mélange of criminals, Saddam's secret police and various Baath Party big shots (including Saddam and his sons) terrorized and plundered Iraq and are trying to get back to the good old days now that the war's over. While it was widely reported that the Baath Party stalwarts and secret police were fleeing from the south and north to Baghdad during the war, few journalists asked the question; "where are these guys doing now." Technically, the ones who were on the government payroll are now unemployed. But this is where reporting, real investigative reporting, gets tough. The Special Forces are a notoriously tight mouthed bunch. Same with Delta and the SEALs. These troops have been chasing the bad guys, but aren't talking. And for good reason, as these fellows rely on surprise and superior information to obtain a lifesaving edge in combat. They don't talk because they want to survive their next encounter with the bad guys. However, it's no secret that few of the many intelligence units were sent home. The intel troops are now working on tracking down Saddam's unemployed thugs.
~11:28am~ (CST)
It was hard to believe my eyes as I read through some of the posts on Instapundit today. But evidently the Mullahs in Iran are blocking blog sites. Hoder the blogger has begun to compile a list of the Mullah-blocked blogs. As I sampled some of the sites listed I read on about China's attempt to shut bloggers out of their country as well. Peek-a-Booty had the most discussion about it...it is all the more amazing to realize how threatening it is for dictators to allow their people to think for themselves - the way God made them!
Psalm 115:3
~KMC
