Monthly Archives: March 2006

As the political situation evolves, the insurgency is focused on Baghdad

The Taliban’s Spring Offensive has been sprung; in Pakistan, the Taliban squashes a local festival, “miscreants” abound and an ally of Osama is kidnapped and beaten

A response to Belmont Club on the political situation in Iraq, and SCIRI the Kingmaker

The Iraqi Army conducts an independent another independent operation in Zarqawi’s former “Islamic Republic of Qaim”; AQIZ conducts multiple suicide operations

More reports of possible divisions between SCIRI and Jaafari’s Dawa party, and the greater game with Iran

Jaafari’s allies denounce the Hayy Ur raid while MNF-I disputes the allegations of an unjustified assault

Multinational Forces – Iraq reports Iraqi Special Forces led the fight against the Madhi militia in Baghdad.

U.S. and Iraqi forces mix it up with Sadr’s Mahdi Army at a Baghdad Mosque, around 20 Madhi fighters killed

More fighting in Talibanistan, and Helmand province, Afghanistan

Iraqi Army conducts independent operations in and around Kirkuk; Seventh multi-battalion operation in ten days

A cordon & search operation in Abu Ghraib includes an air assault by elements of the 10th Mountain Division; sweeps around Baghdad likely part of Scales of Justice

A status update on developments in Afghanistan & Talibanistan

Fifteen Taliban may have been killed outside Spin Boldak; Further news on North & South Talibanistan

In Babil province, another strike on a police station & Operation Iron Strike

Independent Iraqi operation in the Haditha Triad, U.S. operation in Ramadi and an update on Swarmer & north-central Iraq

How It’s Looking: Iraq, three years in. I was invited to join a symposium of experts at National Review Online concerning the three year anniversary of the liberation of Iraq. The question was “What do you consider the most important points to keep in mind when considering Iraq three years after the Coalition invasion?”

The meaning of civil war, and political and military developments in Iraq

Notes, Video & Transcripts from CNN Appearance

Operations Swarmer nets some results while the media coverage of the war continues to disappoint

An update on North & South Talibanistan, and across the border in Afghanistan

Joint U.S. and Iraqi cordon & search operation enters day 2

Swarmer is the latest in a series of Air Assault missions, not a “wag the dog” moment

A joint U.S. & Iraq force launches large air assault operation; Iraqi military uniforms discovered

Parliament meets; Sectarian violence, not civil war; Planned attack on the IZ broken up

Sectatian violence does not a civil war make, and has anyone heard from Zarqawi lately?

The arrests of leaders Rahman and Bangla Bhai are leading to further arrests and deaths of al Qaeda linked JMB

Drawing the battle lines on the Afghan-Pakistani border

A wave of bombings in Sadr City; al Qaeda operatives arrested, some claims are a bit optimistic to say the least

Fighting continues in North Waziristan; Shariah law declared in South Waziristan; The worst-case scenario

Political developments, where’s the civil war, and Operation Tribal Chivalry launched in Anbar – by tribal sheikhs?