Iraq news roundup - Sister Toldjah

The latest:

—- The far left is fuming over the failure of the Senate to pass the so-called “Webb amendment.” Iraq war veteran and Vets for Freedom Executive Director Pete Hegseth explains what the amendment was all about:

Today Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) is introducing an amendment that-on the surface-looks good because the amendment would require a fixed amount of rest time for troops between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

But in actuality, the amendment is a backdoor attempt to legislate an end the war in Iraq. The Pentagon, General David Petraeus, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and leading military officials all agree that this legislation is nothing more than a “slow bleed” on our current strategy which would actually tie the hands of the Generals on the ground and make it nearly impossible to continue to defeat Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Yet another loss for Democrats in their attempts to get the US to cut and run from Iraq. As we all know, as long as Democrats keep losing in Congress, the US will continue to make progress in Iraq.

—- Neo-neocon has related thoughts on the Democrats cut and run strategy.

—- There are unconfirmed reports from a “senior Iraqi oil official and a shipping agent” that terrorists (CNN refers to them as “gunmen”) have blown up Iraq’s North export pipeline.

—- Make sure to check out Bill at INDC’s photos from Iraq here and here. He’s just returned from Fallujah, so keep his blog bookmarked as he’s sure to have much more about what he saw there, in addition to what he’s already posted.

—- MSNBC is reporting that the US and Iraq have agreed to creating a “joint commission” to investigate a shooting incident that happened Sunday involving Blackwater USA which left 11 Iraqis dead. Blackwater is claiming they were firing on insurgents, while the al Maliki is saying the attack was unprovoked.

—- As a result of this, the US has suspended travel outside of the Green Zone for all US diplomats and other civilian officials. Related to that, Richard Miniter from Pajamas Media reports that the CIA has been “frozen” in the Green Zone:

Pajamas Media is the first to report that the CIA station is all but motionless—as meetings with informants and Iraqi government officials have been hastily cancelled.

—- The widow of a Maj. Troy Gilbert, an Air Force pilot killed in Iraq last year when his F-16 crashed, is furious at how the media is using recently released video footage of her husband’s corpse and the crash site, and is accusing them of using those images in order to turn people against the war:

“When media chooses to use Troy’s plane crash as a political catalyst to generate anti-war sentiment, it only serves to degrade the moral integrity my husband possessed and the morale of those still selflessly serving,” [Ginger] Gilbert said at news conference at Glendale’s Falcon Dunes Golf Course, across from Luke [AFB – Arizona].

“Every time the press lends credibility and significance to terrorist propaganda clearly designed to erode public support or questions the validity of our brave soldiers’ selfless acts of service and the war itself,” she added, “it only serves to damage our country from within its own borders and embolden those who would do us harm.”

Rest assured there will be no massive amount of media attention paid to Mrs. Gilbert like there was to Cindy Sheehan, because she doesn’t fit the media’s anti-war narrative of a grieving relative.

—- Michael Yon has a new piece up: Hunting Al Qaeda Part III of III.

NC Cop says:

September 19, 2007 at 9:37 pm

The far left is fuming over the failure of the Senate to pass the so-called “Webb amendment.”

Fear not, for the dems will use this as an attempt to claim that “Republicans don’t care about the troops!”. They will hold this high over their heads claiming that the Republicans don’t care about giving our troops time off. Count on it.

MSNBC is reporting that the US and Iraq have agreed to creating a “joint commission” to investigate a shooting incident that happened Sunday involving Blackwater USA which left 11 Iraqis dead.

As well it should. As much as the media would like to convict the Blackwater guys before finding out any facts, big shocker, this does need to be looked into. I certainly wouldn’t presume to judge men and women who were driving through the streets the Baghdad and trying to determine who was friend and foe, especially in the middle of an attack.
Al Maliki is certainly making it more and more difficult to support him and his administration. He was looking to score some points before he realized the consequences of throwing them out of the country, before an investigation was even completed.

The widow of a Maj. Troy Gilbert, an Air Force pilot killed in Iraq last year when his F-16 crashed, is furious at how the media is using recently released video footage of her husband’s corpse and the crash site,

Rest assured Mrs. Gilbert, your husband’s sacrifice will not be in vain, nor will it ever be forgotten by this nation. God Bless you and thank you.

Great White Rat says:

September 19, 2007 at 11:15 pm

NC Cop says,

Amen to that…it’s true for those of us who hold our military in high regard and understand the importance of what they are doing every day.

For the leftists, his sacrifice will be just another stage prop for their antics.

The report on Mrs. Gilbert’s statement, from the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, is here. They have the video footage as well…it’s worth a good look.

By the way, I’m curious….does this give Ginger Gilbert “absolute moral authority”? Anyone here think that the MoonbatStream Media will give her the same nonstop attention it gave Cindy Sheehan for the next few months?

September 19, 2007 at 11:17 pm

Oops…shoulda read ST’s entire post instead of skipping right to NC Cop’s commentary. D’oh!!

Drewsmom says:

September 20, 2007 at 6:28 am

No, GWR, they won’t give her the same coverage cuz her cause is noble and mama sheenut’s was a slam against the military and President Bush and we can’t have anything like that get out to the public now can we? The msm is sickening and God Bless Mrs. Gilbert and her husband’s service to our country.
Also, I am totally against the tour of ground zero being planned by iran’s dictator. That is scacred ground and he does not deserve to set one foot on it.
Columbia University is having him there for a speech on GET THIS, WHEATHER THE HOLOCOST ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
Our college tax dollars at work. !!!!

Tango says:

September 20, 2007 at 10:25 am

The current Dem congressional “leadership” continues to meddle in things that are outside their job description. People are sick of this – and the all time low (11%) congressional job approval rating confirms it. We’ll have the opportunity to send these bozos packing next year. Let us hope voters do exactly that.