Winds of Change.NET: Winds of War: 2003-03-19

March 19, 2003

Winds of War: 2003-03-19

by Joe Katzman at March 19, 2003 5:59 PM

Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused. The "topic segregation" approach will last as long as battle in Iraq does. So will our Ultimate Idiotarian Contest - though we may have to extend it to give it adequate time.

If you find something here you want to blog about yourself (and we hope you do), all we ask is that you do as we do and offer a Hat Tip hyperlink to today's "Winds of War". Welcome!

TO IRAQ...

9:35pm: Air raid and antiaircraft sirens are going off in Baghdad, and guns are beginning to fire. The report is a cruise missile strike on a "target of opportunity," which makes it a leadership target... hope they got him.

Preliminary battles are beginning. Iraqi artillery is being targeted, and there are reports of a firefight in Basra. As I noted the other day, special forces are already performing combat operations. They've certainly been active for a while.

Photodude has some excellent questions to keep asking ourselves as events in Iraq unfold.

For the last word on the coming conflict, we agree with Instapundit and Donald Sensing that Bush-hater Rick Bruner's "So Let's Have a War Already" is the argument to end all arguments. I mean, even Christopher Hitchens is bored of this one.

Squad, Brigade, Division, Company - just how many people is that anyway? Here's your definitive answer... at least, as definitive as we can make it.

List of US forces in the region, incl. map. You can also find a more detailed list here as of Feb. 26, plus updates.

List of British forces in region and en route.

The USA and its 30 allies... going it alone together. (Hat Tip: CrazySaddam.com)

The Agonist's guess re: Iraqi forces. I suspect many of these are "phantom units" that exist on paper, but aren't even close to fully staffed.

The WSJ has a very good article about U.S. forces, likely difficulties, and their state of readiness.

Vodkapundit links to Major General Mattis' Letter to the 1st Marine Division on the eve of battle. He also links to this radio broadccast - another Iraqi refugee talking about what Iraq is really like.

Geitner Simmons on the role of space in the coming conflict.

Donald Sensing has a disturbing story about an idiot reporter who completely blew one of the 82nd Airborne's military plans by reporting it in advance. This guy needs to be gone from the theater, and other journalists need to be way more careful.

He also has a piece on the chemical nightmare and how to fight it.

Noah Shachtman of Defensetech notes that a growing body of military thinkers are questioning the U.S. military's gadget fetish. Actually, Noah, this group has been around for a while... interesting analysis of Afghanistan.

As the alert level rises to Orange, anti-terrorism measures are moving into place under the name "Operation Liberty Shield"

Is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed tied to Iraq? Laurie Mylroie, who has done exceptional work on the 1993 WTC bombing and Iraq's connection to it, offers some serious food for thought.

Meanwhile, a report to the German Foreign Ministry on Feb. 21 by U.N. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger lays out Germany's diplomatic plan at the U.N. re: Iraq. Allies? I think not. (Hat Tip: Political Lomcevak)

Quite the day in Britain yesterday. From Robin Cook's resignation speech and its aftershocks, to Blair's courageous 'Back Me Or I Quit' address to the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, left-wing Labour MP Ann Clwyd sends in a chilling report on the reality of life under Saddam: people shredders.

So how did it all end? Here are the final vote results last night from Britain's House of Commons. Bottom line: Tony's OK.

Always try to close on a lighter note. Is it my friend Gord's blog and their priceless "better at hiding WMD than bald spots" photo of Iraq's U.N. Ambassador... or Scott Ott's "Dixie Chicks and Daschle Release New Single."
...AND BEYOND!

Yes, Bush has a North Korea policy. It might even work. See esp. the comments from a Clinton-era staffer on why bilateral U.S.-North Korea negotiations are such as bad idea.

Meanwhile, China is working out its own policy.

We definitely haven't forgotten Iran. Here's an update.

Ah, yes... Republican fundraiser Grover Norquist and his connection to pro-terrorism organizations and individuals. We've covered that before, but not as well as Byron Yorkat NRO. A very well researched and detailed run down of just what the hell is going on. Democrat Presidential candidate Bob Graham should be all over this.

Speaking of terrorist enablers, here's a researched history of Rachel Corrie, who got herself run over by an Israeli bulldozer the other day. (Hat Tip: Dean Esmay) UPDQATE: LGF has more, including a diary entry that directly praises suicide bombers.

And yet another bit on the Muslim Students Association (MSA).

"Yeah, Baby!" Dept: Let's see... she wears fatigues and camo, she's a crack shot, and she can run a course in full combat gear at times that would qualify her for Special Forces. Meet Sweden's warrior princess. (Hat Tip: Mader Blog)

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