Andrew's Iraq Report: 2003-11-10

Welcome! Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Today's Iraq Report and Winds of War coverage of the wider conflict are brought to you by Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

TOP TOPICS

• Are we losing the peace in Iraq? Not according to Josh Chafetz, whose speech before the Oxford Union is a must-read.

• JK: An infantry battalion commander reports on his experiences in Iraq to date. It's some valuable information about the challenges and successes U.S. forces are seeing. Not to mention useful commentary from Andrew Olmsted about the report.

• Saddam Hussein's government is believed to have buried as many as 300,000 opponents in 263 mass graves that dot the Iraqi landscape. Vodkapundit has the report, and links to a post that puts this number in perspective. Jay Manifold, meanwhile, crunches the numbers in earnest and thinks the final toll may be higher still.

Other Topics Today Include: pattern analysis in the war; losing the propaganda war; a civilian reports on his experience in Iraq; an after action report from the U.S. Army; and what Iraqis think of the occupation.

Reports from the Field

• Phil Carter takes a look at how the 1st Armored Division is changing tactics to deal with the postwar requirements of Iraq. Their cultivation and use of street-level intelligence has been excellent.

• JK: Meanwhile, CPO Sparkey has a field report from 299 Engineers Battalion in Tikrit. You know, the guys who defuse those roadside explosives etc. Hooo boy. Bet that's a fun job.

• The Belmont Club examines the limited press releases from Iraq, and suggests there may be something significant in the works. While there's no way to know the accuracy of the prediction as yet, the logic is sound. (Hat tip: Instapundit).

• Meanwhile, David Mader points to an emerging trend in terrorist attacks in Iraq. The news shouldn't be surprising, but it's a solid rejoinder for those who continue to spout 'religion of peace' rhetoric.

• Spoons is seeking support for LTC West, the Army intelligence officer who discharged his weapon while interrogating a suspect for intimidation purposes. I don't endorse Spoons's cause; LTC West's heart may have been in the right place, but we have laws regarding the intimidation of witnesses for a reason.

• Getting Japanese troops to Iraq may be harder than expected, as Japanese opposition groups are vowing to prevent any such deployment. If they're successful, that will mean still more National Guard and Reserve units will be called up to fill those slots.

• As Veteran's Day approaches, Virginia Postrel has a good article about American soldiers injured in Iraq.

Reconstruction

• Noting a report from Iraqi blogger The Messopotamian, Donald Sensing asks the question: what are we doing to win the propaganda war in Iraq? Because it appears that we're getting our heads handed to us thus far.

• Security concerns may delay the writing of a new Iraqi constitution and the transfer of authority to Iraq from the United States. This is bad news for the U.S.; we don't want to turn Iraq over to Iraqis before they're ready, but forward progress is vital for maintaining public support.

• Boomshock has some observations about a blog kept by a civilian who spent several months in postwar Iraq.

• JK: The Red Cross is pulling out of Baghdad & Basra. Good move - now that they know you can be intimidated, you've just turned that red cross into a red bulls-eye. On the bright side, at least you'll be on the scene to treat yourselves.

• What do Iraqis think? The Idler takes a look, and while things may not be as great as the Administration would like it to seem, we are certainly not facing a Vietnam-style popular resistance. (Hat tip: Instapundit).

The International Stage

• Citizen Smash examines the situation in Iraq, noting some historical parallels from Vietnam, World War II, and the American Civil War before noting that the hard part of our mission in Iraq remains before us.

• The Democrats want President Bush to turn over control of Iraq to NATO and the UN. Why they believe those organizations would be any more successful than the United States is left open to question, but look for this call to grow stronger with each additional attack in Iraq.

• Porphyrogenitus offers a roundup of observations about the Iraq war from Hitchens, Steyn, and President Bush.

Etcetera

• Which "cards" have we captured so far? The CENTCOM list. And the visual version of "Ba'ath Poker."

• 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 Nov 2, 2003]