* recommending reading/viewing
Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, the commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, says since the increase of troops in Iraq nearly four months ago, U.S. forces have gotten control of one-third of Baghdad. He says that attacks by Shiite extremists are on the rise, in part due to some influence they have on Iraqi security forces. By September he hopes to have a majority of the city under control.
Military.com,
Counterinsurgency Expert's Iraq Advice.
Recruit more Iraqi Soldiers and increase their divisions from 11 to 20. Dr. David Kilcullen [21 years in the Australian army was a special advisor for irregular warfare during the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review, and remains a reserve lieutenant colonel in the Australian army], an authority on counterinsurgency, was appointed to advise the MNF-Iraq commander, Gen. David Petraeus. Dr. Kilcullen visited Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Brigade out of Fort Drum, N.Y., to take stock of the "Commando" brigade's progress June 2 and 3.
The Fourth Rail,
Featured Report from Iraq: COIN, Sheikhs and Eatin’ Goat.
In today’s COIN environment, what was accomplished with the meeting was as critical as any kinetic movement. The return of Sheikh Khamis signifies not only the improvement made in the security of the region, but more importantly, the government leaders in Ramadi and Baghdad now have a recognized spokesman for the region.
Iraq Slogger,
US Troops, Former Enemy Launch Joint Patrols: One-Time Foes Team Up in Baghdad's al Qaeda-Infested Amariyah Neighborhood. (h/t TFR)
Baghdad – U.S. forces have begun conducting joint patrols with Sunni resistance fighters in the Sunni enclave of Amiriyah where a group of local leaders have banded together to fight al-Qaeda, U.S. Army officials said Tuesday.
DefenseLink,
Pace Meets with Families, Extended Soldiers.
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii, June 6, 2007 – Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met yesterday with some of the first soldiers and family members to be affected by the Army’s new 15-month deployments to Iraq. . . .
When troops come home, he said, they get awards and family members pretend they had nothing to do with it. “The fact of the matter is, you earned that award as much as your spouse,” he told the family members. “You serve the country as well as anyone who’s ever worn a uniform."
Pace urged the audience to ask him questions without fear of hurting his feelings or embarrassing him. He offered his signature coin to the first person to ask a question, and an aviator’s wife [our blogging gal Homefront 6] asked about incentive pay for aviators. The chairman said he would look into it and that he believed incentive pay should be the same throughout the services. . . .
NPR,
'War Czar': Iraq Surge Has Mixed Results.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said at his confirmation hearing that he doubts the Iraqis' capacity to make the necessary political moves to quickly calm violence and govern themselves effectively. Members of the Armed Services Committee expressed support for Lute, but several — including Republicans — expressed skepticism about the progress of the war.
* NBC Nightly News, Jihadists pose as Americans online. Video. SPC Lee Tucker's computer was stolen and his identify was being used to promote the anti-war agenda against the "weak-minded Americans". Maybe the MSM will see that they too are part of the anti-war propaganda machine based on their choice of reporting. Any chance of that? Hmmm.
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