Another One for the Memory Hole

"We don't do body counts"
- Gen. Tommy Franks

BAGHDAD -- Using enemy body counts as a benchmark, the U.S. military claimed gains against Abu Musab Zarqawi's foreign-led fighters last week even as they mounted their deadliest attacks on Iraq's capital.
- Washington Post 19 Sep. 2005

Tags: iraq, war, politics, military

Black Op in Basra busted?

Two British soldiers that were supposedly 'working undercover' were arrested by Iraqi police for acting suspiciously, failing to stop at a checkpoint and opening fire on the police to try and avoid apprehension. When the Iraqi police refused to release these two men British forces then staged a jail break and freed the two captive Brits also allowing up to 150 other detainees to escape.
Section 2, subheading 3 of CPA Order Number 17 states;

"All MNF, CPA, and Foreign Liaison Mission Personnel, and International Consultants shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of their Sending States. They shall be immune from any form of arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their Sending States"

The COW(Coalition Of the Willing) can get away with just about anything in Iraq including running clerics down with tanks, shooting obvious civilians, and killing multiple journalists. The fact that these two 'soldiers' were arrested and detained while the perpetrators of the previously listed acts got just slaps on the wrists demonstrates just how seriously the Iraqi authorities viewed these men and/or their offences.
Arab media is reporting that the car the men were travelling in contained quantities of explosives and mines.
Speculation is that these men were involved in attacking COW forces and/or Iraqi civilians as part of the ongoing attempts to foment civil war.

The MSM could always blame Abu Musab al-Zarqawi but unfortunately he's been dead for years.

The following link may be of interest
Analysis: Iraq statistics tell grim story

Tags: iraq, basra, war, politics, military

Katrina rescue mission looks specifically for Jews

September 06, 2005

A search and rescue mission has been carried out in New Orleans looking for Jews missing since Hurricane Katrina struck the area a week ago. A group of 30 Sheriff's deputies and volunteers from nearby Baton Rouge based their search on a list of 50 names compiled by a local Jewish group. They took with them guns and bullet-proof vests. Flat-bottom boats. A doctor. Ice-cold water. And a Global Positioning System, since many of the homes were submerged in water. The group successfully rescued many of the people on their list, whilst others had already been saved by others and still others refused to leave their flooded homes.
This story appeared under the heading Global News on the website of the World Jewish Congress. You can read the story here.

How can any group in the aftermath of Katrina be given such priority treatment?
How come this rescue party had so many resources allocated to it?
If anybody has anymore information about this (especially who's names were on the list) please let me know.

Tags: katrina, hurricane, new orleans

Great Hitchen's Quotes

Two great Hitchens quotes from the debate.

"You're all on TV"

"Dont Jeer. I would advise you not to jeer these men and women while your being televised ladies and gentleman. I would advise you not to do it."

If you want to view the debate get it here.

Tags: hitchens, galloway, iraq, grapple