Welcome Home, James!

James, Melissa, and children.
A very special welcome home, thank you, and well done from all of us at Soldiers' Angels!

And Mel, thank you for... everything.

Much love to you both.

More Bin Laden Tape: "Nice Try, But Still No Cigar"

From Victor Davis Hanson's piece today in the Chicago Tribune:

But examine Al Qaeda's plight. Bin Laden's home base in Afghanistan is lost for good. Elites of his terrorist organization are targeted from the air even in the supposedly safe Pakistani borderlands. Plenty of Al Qaeda terrorists have been killed in Iraq.
(...)
Second, Al Qaeda's talking points seem to derive from American anti-war rhetoric, as bin Laden & Co. desperately cling to the notion that our resolve may yet crumble. (...) Either bin Laden can't come up with any more grievances himself, or he figures that Americans are better at making his case for him.
(...)
Third, bin Laden conveniently distorts history to achieve victim status. Again, he relies on many Americans' penchant for blaming themselves first.
(...)
In fact, there are three lessons: Al Qaeda terrorists are losing. Their only hope is to mimic critics in the United States for ideas about derailing American military and diplomatic efforts that are destroying them. And as they go down, they play the victim in desperate search of pity and thus reprieve.

For most Americans--nice try, but still no cigar.

And from Cardinalpark at Tigerhawk last week with Osama - "Hey, Over Here (?) I'm Still Alive, Remember Me?

He is talking to his listeners -- who, by the way, are shrinking in numbers, if you buy into the Pakistani and Afghani and Iraqi polling. He should really broadcast on Air America - does that still exist? -- and see if he can recruit some unhappy Americans. He's gotta get out more. Zarqawi is soaking up all his PR. Poor Osama can't really operate much. And now it turns out the Pakistanis are helping the US roast his best operators and bomb guys with targetted missile attacks -- that sounds downright Israeli!
(...)
Seriously folks, I don't know if he put this out in the immediate aftermath of the Missile Strike in Pakistan or if he did it in response to growing questions of his continued existence. But this is a spectacular sign of weakness. It's reactive. It's off message. And it's almost as factually ridiculous as Baghdad Bob, Saddam's wartime PR genius, sounded as the US Military was approaching Saddam's palaces. You will recall he was talking a big game about US losses and Iraqi Army victories, etc. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Next thing you know, Saddam is having his teeth cleaned by an American Army medic and is getting deliced.

Bill Roggio:

When looked at from a higher level - the overall struggle against al-Qaeda in the Global War on Terror - the rejection of al-Qaeda by their Muslim brethren fighting against the forces of the West is a major strategic defeat for al-Qaeda. The premier terrorist group and self-proclaimed defenders of the faith could not maintain support in the heart of the Middle East among its most likely group of supporters: minority Sunnis subject to the rule of a Shiite-dominated government. This is part of the ideological struggle which is sorely missed in the popular reporting and analysis.

Related:
Bin Laden emerges from obscurity from Evan Kohlmann at the Counterterrorism Blog

Previous:
Compare these takes with this one: There They Go Again

Getting the Job Done

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq -- Eight days of back-breaking searches through villages and fields along the western Euphrates River valley have yielded thousands of pieces of ordnance as Iraqi Army soldiers and U.S. Marines continue Operation Wadi Aljundi (Koa Canyon) in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.

Aimed at isolating insurgents and their weapons, the combined Iraqi and U.S. force began the latest sweep Jan. 15, and have uncovered a staggering amount of weaponry.

BARWANA, Iraq - Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, provides security for each other during a halt during a patrol down a riverbed for any possible weapons caches Jan. 15. Photo by: Cpl. Michael R. McMaugh

The soldiers and Marines are making their way inch-by-inch through caves, fields, wadis, and islands in an attempt to disrupt the insurgents.

So far, the combined force has found and destroyed more than 4,300 artillery and mortar rounds, rockets, and mines; 267 kilograms (590 pounds) of explosive powder, 10,000 rounds of various types of ammunition (ranging from small-arms to tank main gun rounds), 300 blasting caps, approximately 100 ft. of detonation cord, and several working machine guns and mortar systems.

Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) unload recently uncovered artillery shells during Operation Koa Canyon (Wadi Aljundi) Jan. 20. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Peter R. Miller

"Every piece of ordnance that is uncovered is one less potential IED [improvised explosive device] that may be used against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Security and Coalition forces." said Marine Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., the commander of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

* * *

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces and Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers detained 51 suspected terrorists during a series of unrelated actions throughout northern Iraq Jan. 24.

In the largest action of the day, Iraqi troops from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division planned and conducted a large early morning raid in three villages outside of Baqubah. The unit detained 19 suspects, including eight known to have strong ties to terrorists in the area.

January 18, 2006 Capt. Adam Lackey, commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) awaits UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to extract his Soldiers after an early morning raid on Bayji Island, Iraq. by Spc. Jose Ferrufino

In the Bayji area, Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team continued to make progress against terrorists that have plagued the area. Ten known or suspected terrorists were captured in and around the city.

Tips from Bayji area residents generated a series of early-morning searches south of the city which led to the capture of four men closely tied to a terrorist ring responsible for committing murders and beheadings in the area. A fifth man was killed after firing a pistol at the Soldiers searching his home.

January 11, 2006 Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, wait for their dismounted patrols to return during an early morning foot patrol in Bayji, Iraq. by Spc. Jose Ferrufino

In another positive development, a local tribal leader brought three suspected members of an IED cell from the Bayji area to a coalition base and turned them in to coalition forces.

The troops began their mission working from one tip and with each turn of events, another tip surfaced that carried the Soldiers to two separate caches and 12 individuals.

Prost, Blackfive

Make sure to go over and wish Matt a very Happy Birthday.

Pugnacious Pups Deploy to Afghanistan

A 355th Fighter Squadron A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II moves in position under and slightly behind a KC-135R Stratotanker to commence refueling operations during Exercise Northern Edge '99 on March 9, 1999. The Thunderbolt, affectionately known as a Warthog, is from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. - DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. David W. Richards, U.S. Air Force.

EIELSON Air Force BASE, Alaska - More than 400 Airmen with the 355th Fighter Squadron and the 354th Maintenance Group and their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs recently left for a 120-day deployment.

“I’m excited to go on this deployment,” said Capt. Darrell Walton, a pilot with the 355th. “With so much training space here in Alaska, I couldn’t ask for better training to help get us prepared for this deployment. My mom is nervous, but I guess you have to expect that.”

The thunder rolls
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II rolls to mark a target with simulated M-156 white phosphorus rockets as part of an aerial demonstration held here. - U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael D. Morford

The A-10’s mission is to provide close-air support for ground forces and convoys. Designed for maneuverability at low speeds and low altitudes, the A-10 helps eliminate ground targets such as tanks and other armored vehicles.

“I’m extremely confident in the group of pilots that we’re deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,” said Lt. Col. Quentin Rideout, commander of the 355th. “This is why we train. This is what Eielson’s mission is all about.”

That mission, “To fight and support the fight – any time, any place,” begins with a flight that will span three quarters of the earth before reaching Afghanistan.

Welcome to Bagram
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- A crew chief from the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, marshals an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot to a parking spot. - U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Eric M. Grill


Good luck, guys! Stay safe and see you when you get back.

There They Go Again

A NYT Op-Ed titled Al Qaeda's Big Boast offers an analysis of Osama bin Laden's recently released audiotape (free registration required).

The conclusion, neatly summed up in the last sentence, is that AQ is winning:

A movement that was staggering after the Taliban was toppled has come back with a vengeance.

Further, Osama bin Laden "shows strength", his strategy is "paying off", and the "jihadists are winning sympathy":

Had Americans instead listened with the ears of those for whom the message was intended - Muslims around the world - they would have heard something very different. Instead of a weak Osama bin Laden, they would have heard a magnanimous one who could offer a truce because "the war in Iraq is raging, and the operations in Afghanistan are on the rise in our favor."

Mr. bin Laden staked his claim to leadership of the Muslim world on 9/11, striking us as others only dreamed of doing. On the tape, he shows strength by taking credit for America's humiliation in Iraq and continues to do what we are not: fighting for the hearts and minds of the Muslim world.

It is too early to say how this tape will affect Muslim opinion, but there is no doubt that Mr. bin Laden's strategy has been paying off. According to a poll released last month by Shibley Telhami of the University of Maryland and Zogby International, when Muslims in several countries were asked what aspect of Al Qaeda they "sympathize" with most, 39 percent said it was because the group confronted the United States.
( ... )
Despite so much evidence that the jihadists are winning sympathy, America has provided no counter-story to their narrative.

Note that the Zogby poll data quoted is about "what aspect of Al Qaeda they "sympathize" with most", not whether Muslims sympathize with Al Qaeda at all.

A recent survey of Afghanis by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland shows that Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda are rejected by an overwhelming majority in that country:

Eight-one percent Afghans polled think Al-Qaeda is a negative influence in the world, with only six percent saying Osama bin Laden's terror network has a positive impact.

Osama bin Laden himself, once sheltered by the Taliban militia ousted with the help of a US-led coalition in 2001, has even lower ratings, with 90 percent of those polled saying they had an unfavourable view of him.

Dan Darling of ThreatsWatch has a less political analysis of the audiotape.

Related:
2005 One of the Most Successful For Freedom at Ace of Spades.

No "counter-story" indeed.

More Maine Troop Greeters

Greyhawk has a wonderful piece up about the Maine Troop Greeters, some of my favorite people in the whole world. The older ones remind me of my parents and their friends (I'm lucky they don't read this blog and won't see that "older" comment).

From one of the linked articles:

Troops here say the Maine Troop greeters have become almost legendary among rank and file. US Army Spec. Matthew Hardee, who was on his way back from Iraq, says he was hoping his plane would fly through Bangor. "It's awesome, especially since they are guys who were doing the same thing 40 and 50 years ago," he says.

And there's this:
Maine Troop Greeter Kay Lebowitz

It is well after dinnertime for Kay Lebowitz, but she hardly notices - she has hundreds of American troops to greet. ( ... )

A planeload of US Marines, heading to Iraq, files in line to board. She strives to hug all 263 of them. "See you on the way back," she tells them.

"Kay, let 'em go," shouts a fellow volunteer at the front of the queue. "You're holding up the line." But the 90-year-old hardly notices that, either.

Go over and read the rest, there's lots more.

"Warriors and Wusses" Fisking Roundup

In case you've been incommunicado for the last 24 hours, here's a roundup of reaction to yesterday's charming Los Angeles Times op ed column by Joel Stein.

A couple of excerpts:

I DON'T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car.

Yeah, must be hard being you, Joel.

Besides, those little yellow ribbons aren't really for the troops. They need body armor, shorter stays and a USO show by the cast of "Laguna Beach."

The real purpose of those ribbons is to ease some of the guilt we feel for voting to send them to war and then making absolutely no sacrifices other than enduring two Wolf Blitzer shows a day.

Who's "we"?

But blaming the president is a little too easy. The truth is that people who pull triggers are ultimately responsible, whether they're following orders or not. An army of people making individual moral choices may be inefficient, but an army of people ignoring their morality is horrifying. An army of people ignoring their morality, by the way, is also Jack Abramoff's pet name for the House of Representatives.

I do sympathize with people who joined up to protect our country, especially after 9/11, and were tricked into fighting in Iraq. I get mad when I'm tricked into clicking on a pop-up ad, so I can only imagine how they feel.

No, I don't think you can imagine how they feel, Joel. Not one teensy, tinsy, little bit.

* * * * *

Excellent fisking here:

Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette (scroll down)
Uncle Jimbo at Blackfive
Hugh Hewitt's post and transcript/audio of his interview with Joel Stein at Radio Blogger (buckle up for this one)
Michelle Malkin
Michelle Malkin again
Mark in Mexico
James Joyner, Outside the Beltway
Grim at Grim's Hall
Jeff Goldstein at protein wisdom
Neptunus Lex
Some perspective from The Officers' Club
Eric at Myopic Zeal piles on with an update
Miserable Donuts via Sgt Hook

Proud to Stand With You, Canada - Part 2

Canadian blogger Candace has an update on the three Canadian soldiers injured last week in Aghanistan.

From an interview with Canadian doctor MAJ Nick Withers at ctv.ca:

The most serious of three soldiers wounded in an Afghan suicide attack is not recovering as well as doctors had hoped and will likely have to remain in Germany while the other two return to Canada.

Saturday was not a good day for any of the soldiers, their Canadian doctor said, but it was Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey for whom he had the most concern.

Cpl. Bailey, Pvt. William Salikin, and Master Cpl. Paul Franklin were wounded in a SVBIED attack near Kandahar that killed Glyn Berry, a senior Canadian diplomat last week.

Currently 450 of the total 685 Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan are in Kandahar. Canada plans to increase its military presence in Kandahar to 2,000 next month.

A political blogger covering the runup to today's elections, Candace took offense with the current Canadian PM's lack of acknowledgement of the US Military's role in the three soldiers' evacuation out of Afghanistan and treatment at Landstuhl hospital in Germany.

You can leave a message of support for the soldiers and their families in the comments section of Candace's post.

Blackfive has a post with a letter from another Canadian and a link to a great Austin Bay article.

More on the Canadian elections at Ed Morrisey's, of course.

Michelle Malkin has a roundup with lots of links.

Previous:
Proud to Stand With You, Canada

Victory at Walter Reed

DC FReepers, Protest Warriors, and other pro-troops supporters now hold permits for all four corners of the intersection in front of WRAMC.

Full story at The Redhunter, more at Andi's World, even more and h/t Mudville Gazette.

Thank you FReepers, Protest Warriors, and all of the supporters of our defenders who have been taking a stand outside Walter Reed for months. Thanks for making a difference.

Update:
Since we've been following Gunn Nutt's reports from WR for months now, wanted to make sure you've seen this one. Same goes for Landry's Life.
Michelle Malkin has a post up, too.