Where to go to find out what’s happening in Iraq

Certain areas in Iraq have seen an increase in fighting and violence over the last couple of weeks, and as a result, of course our mainstream media, in concert with liberal pundits and bloggers, have jumped on board with enthusiasm, thinking the surge might just be failing.

As always, though, the story is a lot more complicated than the picture The Usual Suspects present. Bill Roggio, writing at The Long War Journal, wrote a piece yesterday about how Moqtada al-Sadr has told his followers to stop fighting, due to heavy casualties incurred on his side of the battle. Michael Yon, embedded in Iraq, recently gave a phone interview to Glenn Reynolds you should listen to regarding what’s happening in Iraq, and Yon’s latest dispatch is posted here.

Michael J. Totten has a piece posted about the liberation of Karmah, Iraq. Mohammed Fadhil from the Iraq the Model blog writes about Sadr and the Mahdi army here and here.

Last but not least, Sgt. Matthew Maupin will finally be coming home (h/t: Jules Crittenden):

After waiting nearly four years, the family of Army Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin of Batavia learned Sunday that he had died in Iraq after being captured by insurgents.

An Army general visited Keith and Carolyn Maupin on Sunday and told them their son’s remains had been found.

“Matt is coming home. He’s completed his mission,” Keith Maupin said.

Maupin was 20 years old when he was captured on April 9, 2004, after his fuel convoy was ambushed west of Baghdad. He had been driving a supply truck.

Military officials identified the remains through DNA, Keith Maupin said.

“We don’t know where, just somewhere in Iraq. They found a shirt similar to what he (Matt) was wearing,” Keith Maupin said. “They had DNA and confirmed it was Matt.”

Lt. Lee Packnett, an Army public affairs officer in Washington, confirmed the Maupins’ notification. Packnett said an official statement would be released today.

At about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, Carolyn Maupin took a call from President Bush.

More than 100 people gathered Sunday night in a drizzling rain in a large circle outside the Eastgate office of the Yellow Ribbon Support Center, the organization the Maupins founded to help other military people serving overseas.

Prayers go out to his family and friends.

RIP, Staff Sgt. Maupin.