April 17: Back from hiatus... 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. 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...
There are stories from Iraq that need to be told. Stories of horror, yes, and stories of Iraqi kindness too. As we face down the Axis of Evil, we're learning an important truth: kindness can be a weapon.
Where did those all Iraqi divisions vanish to? Where was the Republican Guard? Looks like we may have our answer now.
Even if Iraq had the same weapons and technologies as the USA, it could not have used them the way the USA did. Glenn Reynolds drives Victor Davis Hanson's thesis home, using Iraq as an illustration.
"Jester's Dead." Guess they'll need a new Iraqi Information Minister, but really it's quite an act to top. He was also a perfect illustration of what Glenn is talking about.
The U.S. has Abu Abbas, thanks to its daring commando raid. Now everyone wants him. Reader M. Simon points out that the Palestinian Authority is demanding that he be freed ("Another publicity coup for the PA," he writes). Italy wants him tried there. The daughters of Leon Klinghoffer, the wheelchair-bound senior citizen mudered in the Achille Lauro highjacking, want him tried in the USA. UCLA Law student Phil Carter agrees with them.
At the Al-Istikhbarat Al-'Askariya facility, U.S. Marines found 123 prisoners, including five women, barely alive in an underground warren of cells and torture chambers. They're using heavy equipment to get them out. UPDATE: Similar "buried alive" situation in Basra? (Hat Tip: WATCH/)
I know I linked this yesterday in "The 10 Plagues of Iraq," but Iraqi dissident Kanan Makiya's thank you is worth another mention.
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw also has some thoughts about what's next.
Outstanding post by Bargarz about the Shi'ites in Iraq. Lengthy, insightful, includes some good update debates, and covers Iran too.
Iraqi debt repayment? U.S. Senator John McCain has a great idea. If that fails, however, the new government can say "Non!" thanks to a concept invented by a French lawyer, and an American legal precedent involving Cuba. Oh, the irony!
We've moved all of the basic military and Iraq reference materials into their own post. Presenting the Winds of Change.NET Essential War Briefing [Updated April 7, 2003].
The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops. American, British and Australian. Anyone out there with more information, incl. the Poles and Czechs? [updated April 1, 2003]
AND BEYOND...
You know your military campaign has been a raving success when the Israeli military is taking notes and revising its thinking.
Daniel Drezner has a North Korea update. Seoul-based blog The Marmot's hole follows with the view from South Korea.
Looks like the French are feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks already. Mes Belettes, my weasels, you have just begun to pay.
Samizdata notes the passing of E.G. Ross. I didn't know who he was either, but David Beatty also linked to "The Terrible Swift Sword" penned Sept. 14, 2001. Superb essay, and interesting to look back a year and a half later.
I try to close on a lighter note if possible. Saddam in gay porn films? Kuwaiti revenge, I think, but it sure is funny to see it publicized. The real beauty of it is that Arab world is so big on conspiracy theories et. al., it will probably be believed.
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