Tong Family (richtong.org sync)

The Command Post: Pentagon sees end of combat. More units are moving in, notably the 4th ID and the 3rd ACR, but the 82nd Airborne’s one brigade goes home. The 1st Armored will rotate in and the 3rd ID will rotate out.

End of ‘Major’ Combat, Fall of Tikrit, Anxiety Over Syria. Wow, what a difference a week makes. We went on vacation to Hawaii and it looked like a long hard conflict and we’re back this week and it is all over. Gives someone much to think about. I still think that we did this and…

Interesting pieces to read: * Bernard Lewis on Iraq. An incredibly smart guy. He points out that the “The kind of regime represented by Saddam Hussein has no roots in either the Arab or Islamic past. Rather, it is an ideological importation from Europe — the only one that worked and succeeded (at least in…

Daily Kos: “A Lack of Character”. I have no idea who Officer X is, but, it sounds all too real to me. The way a big corporation would work. Hopefully, it will all work out in the end. Will be interesting to see who really controls the Iraq reconstruction/occupation in the administration. “Leaders misjudged Iraq”:http://www.helenair.com/articles/2003/03/30/montana/a08033003_03.txt.…

Times OnlineA US official told The Times that Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary, was resisting State Department appointments to the administration-in-waiting, at least one of whom is already in Kuwait. He said that the Pentagon had ruled that Mr Rumsfeld should personally approve appointments to the temporary US-British administration, ?and there are many people who…

Heard on blogs around the world: * The Command Post: CNN: Rebpublican Guard Withdrawing Into Baghdad Proper. Michael closed by saying that the lead reported all day … that the US was pushing hard to Baghdad, was in essence a misinterpretation. The Iraqi forces were, in fact, trying to get TO Baghdad, and the US…

The topsy turvy world of ware. Some interesting pieces: * Iraq Curtails Arab TV’s RoleAl Jazeera, the most-watched Arab language news network in the Middle East, said yesterday that the Iraqis had barred its two correspondents in Baghdad from reporting. It said that it would respond by suspending coverage of all of its correspondents accredited…

A good day. My buddy Jon Roberts is probablyl right, don’t swing too hard. Best thing is knowing that more help is on the way: * Cheers and Smiles for U.S. Troops in a Captured City. A good day it looks like. Main thing is will the ordinary people in Iraq support Saddam. This reports…

Rumsfeld’s Design for War Criticized on the Battlefield. Now the flood gates are open. Hopefully, getting more of the right people in will help in Iraq. This piece is particularly good as it explains the strained relationship between Rumsfeld and Shinseki, the Army Chief of Staff. Also points out that Wallace has probably destroyed his…

More on what is supposedly happening inside the administration: * Advisers Split as War Unfolds (washingtonpost.com). Interesting inside view on what is happening and how Powell is playing consumate insider vs. Rumsfeld. Also on Rumsfeld’s larger ambitions. * “Offense and Defense”:http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030407fa_fact1. Seymour Hersch is another reporter with view on the inside. Has some interesting things…

I’ve been following the news like everyone else. Since everyone is giving opinions, I thought I’d give mine based on years of in-fighting in a big company. Here’s my bet about what is going on: * Rumsfeld Faulted For Troop Dilution. First, I don’t know, but I would bet that Rumsfeld is one of those…

CDI Defense Alamanac 2002. Another great compendium of facts about the military. From the NY Times reference “Iraq Navigator”:http://www.nytimes.com/ref/international/IRAQ_NAVIGATOR.html?pagewanted=all&position=top. Interesting facts: US Army Divisions 1990: 18 US Army Divisions in “Desert Storm”:http://www.desert-storm.com/soldiers/army.html : 8 US Army Divisions 2002: 10 US Army Divisions in Iraq so far: 2 (+1 on the way) US Navy Carriers 1990:…

New Reality, Hard Choices. A great piece on what to do next. Personally, I think consolidate in the south and wait for reinforcement. I bet that this doesn’t happen though, I would bet Rumsfeld & Co. want to just drive, drive, drive. I hope not too many folks die and he is right.

military news about Nations Around the World. A great Jay Leno like assessment of where we are from James Dunnigan.

AccuWeather.com – Middle East Weather – Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and more. It’s a key variable the weather as the last 48 hours has shown. The miracle of the Internet means we can all see what is going on over there. Pretty warm and pleasant right now.

More Analysis. I thought I’d blog it so that we can compare notes and see what really happened. Daily Kos: More From Officer X. I’m not military guy, but a good analysis from Officer X on the mistakes in the plan. The essential one was planning based on the expectation that it would be a…

Daily Kos: What the Experts Are Saying. Most cogent analysis I’ve read. Personally, I sure hope we take the middle course. That is slow up, let the 4th Infantry Division show up, have the 3rd ID be methodical. BTW, report on MSNBC was that the 82nd Airborne is in theater and is trying to solidify…