This is a New Strategy, what more do they want?

Cross-posted at Rosemary's Thoughts.

Opinion Journal has written a tremendous article about the new strategy that went into full effect on June 15, 2007. Today is July 11, 2007, and the Democrats have been decrying that this is a lost war. Have they spoken with the soldiers? No. Have they spoken with the generals who are on the ground? No. Have they read this article? I strongly doubt it. Why do I believe as I do? Because I have seen this movie before, as Sen. John McCain has put it.

This is the Baghdad Security Plan, and its mission is to secure the people of Baghdad. Even so, commanders are not ignoring the outlying areas of Iraq. U.S. forces have killed or captured many important al Qaeda leaders in Mosul recently, and destroyed safe havens throughout northern Iraq. Troops are conducting counterinsurgency operations in Bayji, north of Tikrit. And Iraqi forces have "stepped up" to secure some southern cities. The Eighth Iraqi Army Division has been fighting Shiite militias in Diwaniyah, an important city halfway between Basrah and Baghdad. As commanders stabilize central Iraq, they will undoubtedly conduct successive operations in outlying regions to follow up on their successes and make them lasting. [Read the whole article.]

I am so very proud of our brave men and women who are willing willing to wear the uniform of the USA and fight for our freedoms. They know what they are doing. They know the different between right and wrong, good and evil. Trust me, they have seen things no one should ever see. They know...and they continue to do the jobs that Americans won't do...oh, wait a minute...they ARE Americans! How about that, President Bush? Is this not the most honorable and toughest job? Hmm. Just as I thought, but getting beyond that...

Thank you, Military. All of you. You are in a class of your own, and you deserve to be there. That doesn't mean we will treat you differently, because we know that is not what you want. We just want you know how grateful we are to have men and women such as you. Thank God!

Update: Have you ever heard of LinkFest? (The backlink is here.) Well apparently these people have! Leaning Straight Up, DragonLady's World, 123 Beta, A Quiet Noise, MacBros' Place, Madman Returns, Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, Pirate's Cove, Publius Rendezvous, Pursuing Holiness, Rashbre Central, Renaissance Blogger, Right Truth, Adam's Blog, Assorted Babble, basil's blog, Blue Star Chronicles, bRight & Early, Chaotic Synaptic Activity, Church and State, Committees of Correspondence, Common Folk Using Common Sense, Diane's Stuff, Dumb Ox News, Gospel Fiction, Gribbit's Word, Is It Just Me?, Jack of All Trades, Jo's Cafe, Right Wing Nation, Rightwing Guy, Stop the ACLU, Stuck On Stupid, The Amboy Times, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Clash of Civilizations, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The HILL Chronicles, The Random Yak, The Right Nation, The Uncooperative Blogger, The World According to Carl, third world county, Tor's Rants, Urban Paradise, Woman Honor Thyself, and the entire Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Wow! You really should go over there and find out what it's all about. If you want more readership, I'd do it. As a matter of fact, I have some linking to do! Have a great day.

Baghdad 'surge' moves forward; search for missing troops continues

This article covers both the 'surge' and the ongoing search for the three missing men. We have news tonight that the three men are alive, but I do not know how we know this. I can guess, but I will not be doing so on here! lol. Have a good read and a good weekend.

Military News: 14 May 2007

Here are four articles which I find rather inspiring. I hope you do, too.

This first story is one that really touched my heart. You guys rock!

CJTF-HOA members donate time, supplies and compassion to orphanage.

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti – Nestled in a remote and unassuming part of the city, a local Djibouti City orphanage awaits the arrival of members from Camp Lemonier. The children who live at the orphanage are in need of supplies, donations, and most important of all…love and affection.

Prior to the group’s departure from the base chapel, the seven volunteers made up of U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marines, made last-minute preparations for their trip to the orphanage by loading up supplies. The supplies were donated by both camp members and from a Marine master sergeant’s hometown friends who organized a donation drive to provide the children with gifts of goodwill and compassion. [Continue reading.]

Next we have a successful story of a province by the name of Maysan, albeit it does not come without setbacks and hardships.

U.S. Central Command Public Affairs.

Security authority for Maysan province was recently transferred to provincial Iraqi government. The province was the fourth to do this, and marks a milestone of 75 percent of Southeast Iraq as being transferred to provincial Iraqi control. The province had previously been under the authority of the U.K. military.

The Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team has worked behind the scenes in all this. Not only do they work closely with Maysan officials to create and strengthen transparent and accountable government institutions, but they also advise Iraqis on promoting development in the political and economic areas, and work to help improve essential services. [Continue reading.

If this doesn't show success, I don't know what will.

Dhi Qar PRT successes showing through.

Security authority for Dhi Qar has been under Provincial Iraqi Control for almost six months now, and many successes in the province are starting to show through.

The Iraqis who live in Dhi Qar province are now finding opportunities they never had under Saddam. The Provincial Reconstruction Team, which was set up last year, has been acting as advisers to the Iraqis, helping them determine which steps will best suit them to get Iraq to stand up on its own. To accomplish that goal, the PRT has been working with many different groups in the area, from U.S. and Coalition military to foreign civilian and Iraqi nationals. [Continue reading.]

This province has been in control of themselves ever since July 2006! Wait a minute. I thought they were not standing up? Yeah, maybe those 'reporters' ought to go out there and REPORT!

Muthanna PRT under Iraqi control.

...Muthanna became the first Iraqi province to take the lead on governing its own province. This step allowed the provincial police and Iraqi Army to be the first responders’ to any crisis in the province. However, the PRT still helps the government in taking further steps to helping its people. [Continue reading.]

Please keep your prayers and hopes coming for our three missing men. They are still alive, and we must find them. Thank you.

Cause and Effect in Real Life

Since Imposing the Law began, many things have changed while many have stayed the same. Baghdad has become somewhat quieter, but that means it has become more dangerous in other areas. It is the old theory of the path of least resistance. Only now we are trying to weed out those areas. In the meanwhile:

In the west, particularly in Anbar, the Anbar Awakening Council announced the capture of what appears to be an intelligence treasure. This is what sheik Hameed al-Hayis, a member of the Council told al-Sabah yesterday:

We captured so many of their document and these contain the names of al-Qaeda groups in the province, the letters that were exchanged among those groups, the surveillance reports they were filing to their Emirs about civilian people of Ramadi like clerics and college students as well as details of trials [and executions] to which innocents were subjected.

The al-Qaeda terrorists in Anbar continue their campaign to terrorize the population that is turning against them. This morning another attack with a chlorine gas bomb struck western Ramadi killing and injuring dozens of civilians and policemen. [Read the whole article.]

This was a few days ago. It was 'quiet' for a day, so to speak. There were only about 10,000 (tops) of Sadr's Medhi Army--er--protesters yesterday as the rest of the people stayed home and quietly celebrated the 4th year of Independence from 'old Iraq.' That is, if they did celebrate.

Today was pretty busy as far as weapons go.

During the morning more US and Iraqi forces rushed into the scene and cordoned the area while two f-18 fighter jets and some Apache gunships patrolled above. The fighter jets withdrew after a while.

The fighting became more intense and at around 11 am several explosions were heard in the area but the cause remained unknown. [Read the whole story.]

Those are two different articles written by Omar from the ITM. He is one of the brothers who live in Baghdad, Iraq and have written on this blog since the war. They may have written before the war, but I am not aware of it. I don't think Saddam would have allowed it! Check them out. His brother's name is Mohammed, and his brother Ali no longer writes here. I cannot find his blog, but I will add it when I do. Thanks, and have a good day.