Riehl World View

B-1's Over Baghdad

The New York Times is playing up American losses - nine, unfortunately. But that's not all the news. Forty-thousand pounds of bombs in ten minutes, that'll get your attention.

(CBS/AP) U.S. bombers and jet fighters unleashed 40,000 pounds of explosives during a 10-minute airstrike Thursday morning, flattening what the military called al Qaeda in Iraq safehavens on the southern outskirts of the capital.

A military statement said two B-1 bombers and four F-16 fighters dropped the explosives on Arab Jabour in 10 strikes on 40 targets.

The massive attack was part of Operation Phantom Phoenix, a nationwide campaign launched Tuesday against al Qaeda in Iraq.

"Thirty-eight bombs were dropped within the first 10 minutes, with a total tonnage of 40,000 pounds," the statement said.

Six of the nine were killed by a booby-trapped house.

Forward Operating Base Normandy, Iraq — A house booby-trapped with explosives killed six American soldiers on Wednesday during an offensive against Sunni insurgents in Diyala province, making it the deadliest day for U.S. troops in Iraq since November.

The blast, which also killed an Iraqi translator and injured four U.S. soldiers, took place on the second day of an unusually large campaign in Diyala against the insurgent group al-Qaida in Iraq. The explosion came one day after three American troops were shot to death in the neighboring northern province of Salahuddin.

Andrew Olmsted

Blogger Andrew Olmstead has been killed in Iraq. Evidently he had a post prepared in case of the event.

His final post here.

See additional pertinent links here.

This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits. And so, like G'Kar, I must say here what I would much prefer to say in person. I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It's not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn't hesitate to accept the charge.

They'll Be Home For Christmas

Here's a nice read that'll cause you to stop and think of how grateful we should be for the men and women serving, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, right now. Fortunately, these folks will be home for Christmas. h/t Lucianne

Every day for the last few weeks, big commercial airliners are stopping at Fort Hood's airfield, completing the last leg of a Baghdad-Kuwait-Germany-Maine-Texas marathon flight.

Hundreds of soldiers disgorge weighted down by packs and end up in the arms of screaming families, many of whom are shedding as many tears as they did 15 months ago when their troopers left home.

Except this time, the tears come from relief.

"This is our third party," said Hunt, who has three children who are West Point graduates and serving as officers in the U.S. military. Her oldest, D'Hania, came home Thursday.

"But this one is special because we'll have them all home for Christmas, and that hasn't happened in a long time."

Republicans Change Course On Iraq

Yep, that's the big headline in the LA Times ... for coverage of the Univision debate.

Republicans sing new tune on Iraq

CORAL GABLES, FLA. -- Citing a recent decline in violence in Iraq, top Republican presidential candidates on Sunday offered gushing assessments of the U.S. war effort there ...

Given that we know they're constantly polling, I suppose that means the Dems won't be saying much of anything about it in theirs. But then, as Pelosi has repeatedly told us, they were elected to end it. Somehow, I don't think either W they got is one they had in mind!

... an unusual moment in a GOP primary campaign that for months usually has stepped gingerly around the Bush administration's unpopular policies in that country.

The candidates' comments, coming in a debate on the Spanish-language television network Univision, went further than even the White House and top military leaders have gone as they have watched civilian and military deaths ebb since President Bush launched a controversial U.S. troop "surge" strategy.

Until Sunday, only one candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, had emphasized his support for the troop increase, a stance that over the last year coincided with his fading status as a GOP front-runner.

"We are winning," declared former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose candidacy has experienced a surge of its own in recent weeks into the top tier of GOP contenders.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee said the U.S. "must prevail" in the war, and added, "I agree with my colleagues. I believe that we are."

Matt Sanchez From Iraq

Matt Sanchez sent me a note on his latest report from an Air Force hospital in Iraq after seeing the post in which I pointed out Franlkin Foer's juvenile attempt to bash a critic.

Foer, an editor of a once prestigious magazine, behaved like a petty, vile little fellow with that unnecessary shot. One can only imagine what a small man he really is. Clearly he can't provide the ethical, or moral leadership TNR needs to rehabilitate itself, especially given the Stephen Glass affair. As long as Foer keeps his job, TNR will not recover its prestige.

It's a sad irony that while many on the Right appreciate Matt's work, it's the allegedly tolerant and liberal Left, as represented in this case by Foer, that felt compelled to judge and smear in an attempt to redeem itself. Maybe that's what the once pro-war TNR was attempting to do with Beauchamp's diaries - redeem itself with the Left by running down the troops in a war it once supported.  See Matt's latest here.

Murtha: The Surge Is Working

Well, duh!

Bin Laden Surrenders

Note that every Bin Laden tape ever released has been extremely attentive to American politics. While the headlines blast bin Laden's latest plea, for Europeans to stop helping the US in Afghanistan, I've yet to see a report of any mention of Iraq, which has long been his central theme. He might not be admitting it. But I'd venture, bin Laden has surrendered Iraq.

Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden called on the Europeans to stop helping the United States in the war in Afghanistan, according to excerpts of a new audiotape broadcast Thursday on Al-Jazeera television.

Bin Laden said he was the "only one responsible" for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington, saying it was unjust for the United States to have invaded Afghanistan.

God And Country

A pro-America movie on DVD?

Takin' Out The Trash

Check it out - via a link from MM. That photo ought to drive the Libs nuts ... okay, more nuts.

Talk About Planted Questions!!

Update: How fitting. CNN pulls out someone not to simply ask a question about Iran, but with absolute moral authority given her son's service. And just as we learn that the IAEA has confirmed Iran's having installed 3,000 centrifuges. CNN works to undermine our ability to respond just as it may become critical. Great, just great! Thanks, CNN.

CNN rolled out a Catherine Jackson to ask a question about Iran given that her son served three tours in Iraq.

Now when have I heard that before? How about in May. Thank you Harry Reid.

"My son was in Iraq three times," said Catherine Jackson of Las Vegas. "I thank God he's home now. Enough is enough. We need to bring our troops home." Reid spokesman Jon Summers said Move America Forward was mischaracterizing Reid's position. "It's their right to make their feelings known, but most Nevadans agree with Senator Reid that it's time to change course in Iraq," he said.