Iraq Report, Dec 27/04

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TOP TOPICS

• Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited troops in Mosul, Tikrit and Fallujah over the weekend. The Secretary admitted that things looked 'bleak' in Iraq at the moment, but reiterated his confidence that the Coalition would prevail. Army Chief of Staff General Peter J. Schoomaker also visited troops in Iraq (link requires registration) and said that he felt the war there was going pretty well.

• An insurgent web site shows what they claim to be footage of the attack on the U.S. base in Mosul. The insurgents claim the bomber snuck in through a hole in the fence during a guard change, which is a mix of good news and bad news; if true, at least the bomber wasn't able to get through the checkpoint, but why did the security fail to detect the hole in the wire?

• StrategyPage has a look at the situation in Iraq and how it is being reported (and misreported) by the media.

Other Topics Today Include: Iraqi general says his troops will fight; economic difficulties in Iraq; elections report; Australians turn against the war; bad news of Abu Ghraib; the AP's 'lucky' photographer.

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

• The aftermath of the bombing in Mosul has led to some tensions between the U.S. and Iraqi security forces, as an Iraqi general denied reports of Iraqi security forces unwilling to fight or even deserting. Given how important Iraqi security forces will be to Iraq's future, that is no small question.

• An Army Major claims there was no plan in place for the occupation and stabilization of Iraq following the war. If true, this is a damning (though hardly new) indictment of the Bush administration's handling of the war.

• The latest Carnival of the Liberated is available, including posts from ex-pat Iraqi bloggers.

RECONSTRUCTION & THE ECONOMY

• Zeyad reports on some of the privations in modern Iraqi life, illustrative of some of the problems the reconstruction still must overcome.

IRAQI POLITICS

• Over at Healing Iraq, an assessment of the coming elections and their potential pitfalls.

• Whatever the results of the Iraqi elections, there will be questions about the legitimacy of the election results. A number of questions are being raised even before the elections are held.

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

• Public opinion in Australia has turned strongly against the war in Iraq. Only 32 percent of Australians believe Prime Minister John Howard's decision to support the war in Iraq was justified. Given the importance of Australia as member of the Coalition, this could have grim consequences for the future of the Coalition.

ETCETERA

• Phil Carter and Jim Henley are keeping an eye on new allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib. The shock may have worn off, but there are entirely too many outstanding questions about what happened at the prison that remain to be answered.

• The Belmont Club is all over the serendipitous presence of a photographer at the execution of Iraqi election workers, and asks just what reporters are willing to give in exchange for a story.

• 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!

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