Andrew's Iraq Report: May 31/04

Welcome, and a fine Memorial Day to you all! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET 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. This briefing is brought to you by Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

TOP TOPICS

• The Coalition raised a lot of eyebrows when it shifted tactics from purely military victories in Fallujah and Najaf to the current strategy of negotiation. The LA Times examines the rationale behind the change. US News notes that Sadr overestimated his own support, and so had to back down rather than press the issue. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

• The initial battle for Iraq was deceptively easy, but the ultimate fight has been much harder. Wretchard takes a look at the changing face of war, and notes the changes the U.S. is making in Iraq to adapt.

• Going against the media orthodoxy, ABC News offers reasons to be optimistic about Iraq. It's no rosy-eyed view, and it doesn't ignore the problems, but it does a good job of pointing out that there are good things happening over there as well.

Other Topics Today Include: Reasons to be optimistic in Iraq; Cease-fire violation in Najaf; Iraqi Reconstruction Reports; Sewers?; Iraqi Politics & Polls; More connections between Iraq and al Qaeda; Spotlight on Abu Ghraib; How to support the troops.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• Fighting broke out again in Najaf for the first time since the Coalition and Motaqda al-Sadr's Mahdi Army agreed to a cease fire last Thursday. Coaltion spokesman BG Mark Kimmitt did not declare the cease fire dead as yet, however, despite an attack on an American patrol near Najaf's cemetary.

• Terrorists ambushed a British convoy in Baghdad's Shoala district, sparking Iraqi celebrations as a bloody body was pulled from one of the SUVs. Nowhere near as bad as the Fallujah incident, but a reminder that our enemies remain rooted in certain parts of Iraq.

• The weekly Carnival of the Liberated offers front-line voices from Iraqi bloggers.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Tim Blair points to a major Australian contribution to Iraq's economic reconstruction - one that could last far beyond the presence of its troops. So here's a hearty "good on ya, mate!" to Tony Mcdonald. To find out why, read Tim's post...

• The recently arrived commander of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division is very busy these days... building sewers. A career tank officer who once taught political science at West Point, Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli contends that public works projects may be more effective than guns in deciding the future of Iraq.

• Meanwhile, Task Force Olympia (Stryker Brigade, northern Iraq) is working on, or planning almost 70 new water, sewage, education and healthcare projects for the people of Mosul using the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster And Civic Aid (OHDACA) fund.

• Why are water and swage such a big deal? Steve Verdon has the stats for you, and they're eye opening. (Hat Tip: May 31 Carnival of the Capitalists)

IRAQI POLITICS

• UN envoy Lakdar Brahimi and U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer deadlocked with the Iraqi Governing Council over selection of an Iraqi president for the interim Iraqi government due to take power on 1 July. It would appear that the players have selected most of the other members of the Iraqi cabinet, but expect a showdown between Iraqis and foreigners over the identity of Iraq's interim president.

• Arthur Chrenkoff takes a look at the Iraqi's candidate.

• Getting involved in Iraqi politics is a dangerous career choice at the moment, but it's one that is crucial if Iraq is to have some form of representative government. The men and women involved in this effort at levels below that of the federal government don't always get the recognition they deserve, but they are ultimately the people who will determine the success or failure of the effort.

They have a long road ahead of them to reverse the problems Iraqi society currently faces.

• David Adesnik takes a look at Iraqi polls and pronounces some good news. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

ETCETERA

• Dan Darling notes yet another non-connection between Iraq and al Qaeda prior to the Coalition invasion. He also examines Stephen F. Hayes's assessment of the Iraq-al Qaeda connection. Granted, the point is moot now, but it remains an interesting bone of contention.

• Citizen Smash has more on the ABC News story and its implications.

• The U.S. Army reports that hundreds of Iraqi prisoners were held at Abu Ghraib despite there being no evidence they posed a security threat. The report was conducted last year and recommended a system better designed only to hold real threats, both to reduce the population and to stop adding to Iraqi resentments over wrongful imprisonments. Too bad it wasn't implemented sooner.

• Phil Carter keeps the spotlight on Abu Ghraib, examining the presence of Paul Wolfowitz at Abu Ghraib during the summer of 2003 and the presence of civilian contractors at the prison.

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops: American, Australian, British, Canadian & Polish. Anyone out there with more information, contact us!

• Don't forget Chief Wiggles' Toys for Iraq drive! Or Spirit of America - especially now that Armed Liberal has been appointed COO!

• In honor of Memorial Day, a pointer to The Reasons Why, a collection of vignettes and quotes that attempt to explain why it is soldiers do the amazing things they do. Also check out the Official Site of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, where you can learn about the men who earned America's greatest military honor.

Thanks for reading! If you found 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". If you think we missed something important, use the Comments section to let us know.