Iraq
McClatchy has a very interesting article on the military leadership changeover. Chiarelli, one of the biggest proponents of hearts and minds counterinsurgency is being replaced by Lt. Gen Raymond Odierno, "We'll figure out what the solution is, and we will try to attain that solution aggressively," Odierno said. Interesting article.
(USAToday) In the face of so many vehicle bombings, the Pentagon is trying to rush Nomex (fire resistant) uniforms into Iraq. (I've worn Nomex. It's not comfortable, but it will not burn.)
(AFP) According to military spokesman Maj. Gen. Caldwell, one of the main roles of the US "trainers" will be to monitor the sectarianism of the units they're embedded with.
(AP) "Harassment from U.S. forces is a greater threat to the work of the Iraqi Red Crescent than insurgent attacks, a senior official of the Red Cross-linked humanitarian organization said Friday."
(AFP) Zogby has a new poll on Arab attitudes towards the US. (I'm sure more troops into Iraq will make it better, though.)
(USAToday) In the face of so many vehicle bombings, the Pentagon is trying to rush Nomex (fire resistant) uniforms into Iraq. (I've worn Nomex. It's not comfortable, but it will not burn.)
(AFP) According to military spokesman Maj. Gen. Caldwell, one of the main roles of the US "trainers" will be to monitor the sectarianism of the units they're embedded with.
(AP) "Harassment from U.S. forces is a greater threat to the work of the Iraqi Red Crescent than insurgent attacks, a senior official of the Red Cross-linked humanitarian organization said Friday."
(AFP) Zogby has a new poll on Arab attitudes towards the US. (I'm sure more troops into Iraq will make it better, though.)
posted by mikevotes at
9:18 AM
3 Comments:
Poor, poor, pitiful Rummy! Someone find him a job already.
By
Shimmy, at 10:45 AM
Any idea why they are replacing Chiarelli? Is his term just "up" or something? He was really starting to do some good in Iraq, particularly in terms of tackling the unemployment problem in Iraq. Sidenote: I have heard that he is being considered for Casey's job.
By
Matteo Tomasini, at 11:58 AM
Don't worry about Rumsfeld. He'll do the corporate board circuit for a year or two until the stigma of hiring him has gone, and then he'll go CEO somewhere.
Matteo, He might be up for Casey's post, I don't know, but the policy in Iraq has been to rotate the officers every year to 18 months. I'm sure there's plenty of exceptions, but they plan seems to be to burn them for 16-20 hour days and then send them for R&R and the bring them back after 6 months or a year. (You maybe right that that maybe part of the larger problem, though.)
And Chiarelli is one of those who has been pretty well reviewed. He seems to be the farthest towards treating Iraq as insurgency/sectarian violence of any on the majors in theater. (at least those that get publicity.)
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 1:08 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home