US success in Iraq / Iraqi citizens getting involved

The American Forces Press Service reported Iraqi citizens are beginning to start fighting back.

Iraqi citizens & police force are starting to set up road blocks to keep al Qaeda and insurgents out of their towns.

Too bad we never hear the MSM reporting the successes our troops and Iraqi's are beginning to have. I wonder why we don't hear more about the positive effects the "surge in troops" is having?

Reposted from Global Security -

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2007 – Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 13 others, and local citizens and Iraqi police denied an al Qaeda convoy entry into a village over the last two days in Iraq.

In other developments, coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 13 others while performing raids today targeting al Qaeda terrorists and those supporting foreign fighters and car-bomb cells.

Coalition forces in an area northwest of Ramadi targeted a building believed to house terrorists involved with foreign fighter activities. Ground forces killed two armed terrorists who confronted them and refused to surrender.....

Meanwhile, four more terrorists were attempting to flee the area. Coalition forces saw they were armed with AK-47s, hand grenades and vests containing magazines. After multiple failed attempts to get the terrorists to surrender, coalition forces killed the four terrorists.

Ground forces detained seven suspected terrorists at the site and destroyed the weapons and grenades. Also on the scene were 13 women and 26 children, none of whom were harmed during the raid.

Elsewhere, local citizens and Iraqi police denied an al Qaeda in Iraq convoy entry into Jumaylah, 60 kilometers west of Baghdad, yesterday, firing on the convoy and detonating a suicide truck bomb that injured one Iraqi police officer, one civilian and the bomber.

An Iraqi officer reported that terrorists seeking a safe haven within the town near Karmah had been threatening the citizens over the past several months. The citizens responded by forming a checkpoint within the town to deny al Qaeda any sanctuary.

At about 4 a.m., an Iraqi policeman attempted to stop a seven-vehicle convoy from entering the town. When the convoy continued, local civilians manning the checkpoint opened fire and one vehicle equipped as a car bomb exploded.

The driver of the vehicle used as a car bomb survived... he was later identified as a Syrian national. Whole Report

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases)

John Murtha: Caving in to Arabs since 1980

February 21, 2007
Ann Coulter

Rumored ex-Marine John Murtha, Democrat congressman from Pennsylvania, has become the darling of the cut-and-run crowd for trying to place absurd restrictions on our troops, amounting to withdrawal from Iraq. Were Arab sheiks whispering into his ear?

In case you missed the video on "I Love the '80s," Rep. Murtha was caught on tape negotiating bribes with Arab sheiks during the FBI's Abscam investigation in 1980. The Abscam investigation was conducted by Jimmy Carter's Justice Department, not right-wing Republicans.

On tape, Murtha told the undercover FBI agent: "When I make a f***in' deal I want to make sure that I know exactly what I'm doing and ... what I'm sayin' is, a few investments in my district ..."

It is a profound and shocking fact that Murtha even showed up at this meeting, knowing he was going to be negotiating bribe money with Arabs.

Murtha added that he wanted the investment in his district to look like it was done "legitimately ... when I say legitimately, I'm talking about so these bastards up here can't say to me ... More......

New game at NYU: 'Find the Illegal Immigrant'

I feel New York University needs to be recognized and commended for allowing a College Republican event, 'Find the Illegal Immigrant", that some may deem offensive and not politically correct.

At a time when our "right to free speech" is being challenged and replaced with right to selective politically correct speech, NYU, sets itself apart from most of the other colleges promoting a culture of liberalism and pushing a democrat agenda.

World News Daily reported -

A student Republican club at New York University is planning a "Find the Illegal Immigrant" game tomorrow, sparking complaints of racism and a potential protest.

The object of the game is to be the first to point out a club member wearing a nametag reading "Illegal Immigrant," with the winner receiving a gift certificate. Students need to show their NYU identification to be deemed "INS" agents in order to search for the person wearing the tag.

"The person that is being the 'illegal immigrant' is not an actual undocumented worker or illegal immigrant," Sarah Chambers, 21, president of the College Republicans, told the New York Daily News. "Just because we don't want illegal immigrants being able to completely disregard the laws of our country doesn't make us racist."

Chambers says the game is provocative, and is meant to get students to pay attention and debate the issue of illegal immigration.

"It's racist, and embarrassing for NYU," law student Marcus Amelkin told WCBS-TV. "I think it's offensive," Eugenia Kuri, a senior at NYU who is an international student from Mexico, told the station. "The way they are trying to make their point, a lot of people die trying to cross the border every day. I don't think it should be made a joke of."

NYU officials released a statement explaining why the college is allowing the game. Spokesman John Beckman writes:

"At universities, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas – even difficult and unpopular ideas – is a key mission. We hope the debates will be conducted with respect and civility, and will be driven by an impulse to provoke thought rather than anger. Illegal immigration is a totally appropriate topic for debate, though this event seems principally calculated to produce outraged reaction rather than dialogue.

"Our inclination is always to support free speech. Just as one group of students will conduct this so-called 'game,' others will be protesting it. At a university, this is exactly the kind of outcome we hope for from engaged students and scholars."

While some may find this a tasteless event, free speech does not have to be politically correct speech. More and more our right to free speech is being redefined by liberals as to what they feel is acceptable to their agenda.

Case in point - Former NBA player, Tim Hardaway's anti- gay remarks drew criticism and the usual attacks of bigotry whenever someone speaks out and states they find homosexuality offensive.

Yet, since most democrats/ liberals are against the war, they find it OK to verbally attack our government and the President with unabated viciousness.

KING

Medina Co. proposes county sales tax for schools

Medina Co. attempts to use sales tax for school capital improvements

Plain Dealer
February 21, 2007

Medina County is making its bid to become the first county in the state to fund school capital improvements with sales tax money.

The three county commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to put at 0.5 percent sales tax on the May 8 ballot.

Commissioner Patricia Geissman said she voted against the issue because she felt the issue should have been placed on the November ballot instead and because the officials were awaiting an opinion from the Ohio Attorney General's office on the sales tax plan.

The opinion, which arrived late Tuesday afternoon, says the county can seek a sales tax to raise money for school capital improvements. But the opinion warned against setting regulations for a board that will oversee the spending of the new sales tax money.

County Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday to review their decision and the Attorney General's opinion.

U.S. Navy buildup came after Iran moves

Feb 20, 2007
Persian Journal

AP - Iran has brought its war games maneuvers over the past year into busy shipping lanes in the Straits of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which two-fifths of the world's oil supplies pass, the top U.S. Navy commander in the Mideast said.

The moves have alarmed U.S. officials about possible accidental confrontations that could boil over into war, and led to a recent build-up of Navy forces in the Persian Gulf, Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh said in an interview with The Associated Press and other reporters.

During maneuvers, Iranian sailors have loaded mines onto small minelaying boats and test-fired a Shahab-3 ballistic missile into international waters, he said.

"The Shahab-3 most recently went into waters very close to the traffic separation scheme in the straits themselves. This gives us concern because innocent passage of vessels now is threatened," Walsh said in the interview Monday on the base of the Navy's Fifth Fleet in the Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain.

Iran tested the Shahab during November maneuvers, More....

PD calls for independent investigation into Cleveland Mayor's brother

In today's Plain Dealer, columnist Regina Brett, comments very strongly on the questionable outcome of the investigation in to sexual harassment against Nick Jackson, deputy chief of business operations for Cleveland public schools. Jackson is also brother of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

Jackson was recently cleared of sexual harassment charges filed by a school employee. The report from the investigation, placed blame on the victim.

Rightfully so, Brett raises some good questions, bring up some good points and asks for an independent investigation. Brett dismisses the school's investigation as typical of this area and not surprising she says, as it is the year of the pig.

Brett wrote -

The sexual harassment report reads like a Penthouse letter.

The lewd details could easily distract you from the most important fact regarding the investigation: The chain of command.

Nick Jackson is deputy chief of business operations for Cleveland public schools. More importantly, he is the mayor's brother. The mayor, as in Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

The mayor appoints the school board. The school board picks the superintendent.

The superintendent, who cleaned house when he took over, kept the mayor's brother on. Why? Your guess is as good as my assumption.

The mayor's brother, who is paid $124,000 a year, was accused of sexual harassment in January. The school's deputy chief of human resources, Clinton Faulkner, cleared the mayor's brother last week.

Surprise, surprise. Actually, it isn't at all.

What did surprise me was how the HR report painted the woman accuser as a villain. Reading it made me recall the days when rape victims were blamed for provoking attacks because they were wearing miniskirts and high heels.

This woman admits she once had a drinking problem and was inappropriately playful with the mayor's brother before he became her supervisor. Back then, she considered him a friend. After she got sober, she changed and no longer wanted to expose her breasts to him.

The report is full of examples of her inappropriate comments and gestures. If her drinking behavior was so blatant, why didn't anyone refer her to the employee assistance program? Where were the HR folks then?

The mayor's brother doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation. He has been called foul-mouthed, unprofessional, aggressive, demeaning and vulgar. He's seen as a bully who terrorizes his staff.

Years ago, a former city worker accused the mayor's brother of sexual harassment. She claimed that he commented on her sex life after she gave birth.

For years, people have said that the mayor's brother is incompetent, fails to follow rules, engages in inappropriate conduct at work and has a penchant for profanity.

I don't know if the mayor's brother sexually harassed anyone. But this much is certain, by trashing this accuser, HR sent a clear message to anyone else who would complain about the mayor's brother: Question his reputation and we'll destroy yours.

The report concluded that there was no credible evidence to support the allegations and made these recommendations: Send the woman and the mayor's brother to HR sexual harassment training (separately, of course) and then give the woman a new supervisor.

And, get this. The mayor's brother got a verbal reprimand. For not disciplining the woman for her inappropriate behavior toward him.

All this begs the question: O brother, where art thou?

Mayor Frank Jackson should order an independent review of the sexual harassment claims against his brother.

Ah, but why bother? After all, this is the year of the pig.

Ohio's fiscal outlook rated negative

Moody's cites tax cuts, weak manufacturing

TOLEDO BLADE
COLUMBUS BUREAU
February 21, 2007

COLUMBUS - A major Wall Street credit-rating agency has lowered Ohio's long-term fiscal outlook to negative, a move that could be a precursor to a lowered credit rating.

Moody's Investors Service lowered the state's outlook from stable to negative, citing Ohio's ongoing tax cuts and weakening manufacturing sector. The state's credit rating, however, remains at Aa1, the second-highest possible.

Moody's took the action just as Ohio was preparing to go to the bond market today to borrow $250 million as part of its ongoing school construction and renovation program.

Just last week, Gov. Ted Strickland, preparing his first budget proposal, had cited the high credit rating as a bright spot in the state's weak revenue picture, helping to save the state millions in interest when it comes to bonds for schools, roads, bridges, and other projects.

He will propose a two-year transportation budget today that is dependent on long-term bonds largely guaranteed with gas-tax revenue. More....

Blair to Withdraw British Troops From Iraq

By VOA News
20 February 2007

British media say Prime Minister Tony Blair will announce on Wednesday that a total of 3,000 British troops will leave Iraq by the end of the year.

Reports say Mr. Blair will announce in the House of Commons that 1,500 troops will withdraw in a few weeks and another 1,500 will leave later this year. Some 7,000 British troops are now serving as part of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

61 Terrorists Captured, Weapons Seized

February 19, 2007
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces captured 61 suspected terrorists, destroyed five improvised explosive devices and seized several weapons caches during operations across Iraq in the past four days.

Today, special Iraqi army forces, along with coalition forces, destroyed a car rigged with an explosive device and captured seven suspected terrorists during a raid targeting foreign fighters east of Tikrit.

During an operation in southern Baghdad yesterday, special Iraqi army forces, along with coalition advisors, captured two suspected members of a rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi militia cell. The Iraqi-led operation was targeting a cell believed responsible for attacks against civilians in the area, officials said.

Elsewhere in Iraq yesterday, soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment "Golden Dragons," 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), found a weapons cache during a routine combat patrol 30 miles southwest of the capital near Radwaniyah.

Meanwhile, soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), and the 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army, seized an anti-aircraft heavy machine gun and ammunition during a combat patrol in Mahmudiyah, 20 miles southwest of Baghdad.

The cache consisted of a ZPU-1 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 20 30 mm rounds, a tripod and three spare barrels. The weapon was in firing condition and configured for use.

A two-day operation that began Feb. 16 in Quarghuli Village, southwest of Baghdad, let to the detention of 49 suspected terrorists and the discovery of three IEDs.

Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment "Polar Bears," 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment and the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, conducted the clearing operation coined "Operation Polar Iron."

The two-day operation, which consisted of air and ground assaults, was conducted in order to disrupt insurgents believed to be operating in and around Quarghuli Village, long known as a terrorist safe haven, officials said. More.....

Russia’s military exports reach record-high level in 2006

19.02.2007

ABU-DHABI, February 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s exports of military products reach a record-high level of 6.5 billion U.S. dollars over the whole period of military and technical cooperation, the head of the federal service for military and technical cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriyev, who led the Russian delegation at the IDEX arms exhibition in Abu-Dhabi, said on Monday.

The six-year export dynamics was 3.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2001, 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2002, 5.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2003, 5.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2004, 6.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2005 and 6.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2006.

Last year Russia exported its military products to 64 countries as against 57 countries in 2004 and 61 countries in 2005.

The share of aircraft is still high in Russia’s total military exports and it remained no less than 30 percent over the last years. In 2006 it amounted to 49.9 percent.

The share of naval equipment export that surged in 2005 reduced to 27.3 percent last year. The share of land component remained unchanged, while the share of anti-aircraft warfare increased to 9.2 percent.

“Experts of the federal service forecast Russia’s arms export may exceed 7 billion U.S. dollars in the short-term prospect,” Dmitriyev said.