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Funeral honors Moorestown surgeon killed in Iraq by The Associated Press A funeral service will be held this morning for a prominent New Jersey surgeon from who was killed in Iraq.The funeral for Army Maj. John P. Pryor is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Philadelphia's Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Pryor died Christmas Day when a mortar round hit near his living quarters in Iraq. John Pryor, center, at work at the University of Pennsylvania trauma center in Philadelphia in 2007. The 42-year-old married father of three was a trauma surgeon at the Hospital of the University of...

Watch him squirm. I almost want to like David Gregory. Almost.

BAGHDAD Maybe it was the only shot heard for days in a neighborhood once ordered by the cadence of gunfire. Perhaps it was the smiles at checkpoints and the shouts of Iraqi policemen navigating the always snarled traffic. "God's mercy on your parents," they beseeched. "God's blessings on you." Maybe it was the music box still playing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" at a kiosk overflowing with Christmas tree decorations and heart-shaped red pillows. For anyone returning to Baghdad after spending time here during its darkest days two years ago, when it was paralyzed by sectarian hatred and overrun...

How We Decisively WON in Iraq in 2008 One of the boldest predictions ever made on The Futurist was back in May 2006, when I made a detailed case for why victory in Iraq would arrive precisely in 2008, not sooner or later. There was also a half-time update in September 2007 to the initial May 2006 prediction over here. This was an unusually bold prediction to make, given the state of Iraq in May 2006, which was before the Surge was even discussed. So now, in 2008, I am happy to declare that the United States has WON in...

In a year of housing foreclosures, bank and automaker meltdowns, bailouts and layoffs, we can almost forget that we still have heroes amongst us -men who make us want to stand at attention and salute. The leader of American troops in Iraq from Jan. 2007 to Sept. 2008 implemented a counterinsurgency strategy that significantly reduced the levels of violence in a nation on the verge of civil war. To the surprise of many, America - with Iraqi and some international help - suddenly began winning the war in Iraq. Bring out the champagne and raise a toast to the man...

         See also: Iraq and Its Lessons, Part 1What went wrong in Iraq?  Why?  Who was to blame?  Still comfortably ensconced in my armchair on Monday morning, after telling you what happened and what went right, we now get to what went wrong. There is no way that seven years, 3,393 Coalition fatalities and 95,000 Iraqi civilian fatalities can be considered "good."  But again, the proper measure is not a comparison to zero casualties, but to the best that could have been achieved with any feasible alternative. By what went "wrong", I mean when viewed with 20-20 hindsight.  It is...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi Presidency Council approved a resolution Sunday that will allow non-U.S. foreign troops to remain in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year's end.

John P. Pryor, 42, of Moorestown, the dedicated leader of the University of Pennsylvania's trauma team and a decorated major in the Army Reserve who wrote eloquently about the painful parallels between battlefield deaths and urban homicides, was killed on Christmas by enemy fire in Iraq while serving as a combat surgeon. Dr. Pryor deployed Dec. 6 and was with a risky frontline surgical unit when he was killed by shrapnel from a mortar round. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq. Dr. Pryor, who was experienced and cool under pressure, was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and...

Servicemembers walk alongside their float during the inaugural Joint Base Balad holiday parade, Dec. 25, 2008. Photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. JOINT BASE BALAD — The sight may have been out of the ordinary, but for some strange reason, seeing reindeer, sleighs and Santa Claus detained by U.S. Navy Customs agents did not surprise service members here Christmas Day. This odd scene took place along the route of the inaugural Joint Base Balad Holiday Parade, sponsored by the U.S. Army’s 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and displayed the sense of tradition U.S. servicemembers try to...

BAGHDAD -- Iraq's fractious parliament squeezed its abrasive speaker out of a job Tuesday and authorized non-U.S. foreign troops to stay in the country for another half-year, a pair of high-stakes moves in its final session of 2008.The resignation of Sunni speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani capped a long-running power struggle with Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers and even members of his own party. Lawmakers applauded his announcement, quickly approved it, then passed a measure allowing Britain's 4,000 troops and several smaller contingents from other countries to stay through July. "I do believe that I was faithful to doing good work," al-Mashhadani said...

BAGHDAD — In September 2008, the President of the United States announced an American military drawdown in Iraq. The drawdown is a return on success, which follows the departure of the five “surge” brigades, the Marine Expeditionary Unit, two Marine Corps battalions, and a majority of the Coalition nations. These reductions have been made possible because security conditions on the ground improved dramatically, the Iraqi Securtiy Forces grew in capacity and capability, and the partnership between the Government of Iraq and the Coalition continues to improve. With the passing and ratification of the Strategic Framework Agreement and the Security Agreement,...

Former Sons of Iraq members now serving as an Iraqi policemen in Suleikh speak about the improvements of being an IP versus an SoI while on a break at Joint Security Station Suleikh in northeastern Baghdad, Dec. 21. Photo by Sgt. Zachary Mott. SULEIKH — Fifty former members of the Sons of Iraq program are now protecting the streets of Suleikh wearing the bright blue uniform of Iraqi Police officers. The men, along with more than 400 other former members of the much publicized SoI program from Baghdad’s Adhamiyah District, are now Iraqi policemen charged with protecting the streets and...

DIWANIYA — Coalition forces conducted status checks on highway checkpoints controlled by the Sons of Iraq during a patrol Dec. 15. Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted the patrol and found citizens working diligently to maintain the safety of their city. “I have mid-day duty. I watch the highways and search the areas (around my checkpoint). Sometimes, (the Iraqi Police) call on me to help search cars,” said Calvin, a member of the SoI. The SoI program works with the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army to make the provinces safe for their citizens. The combined...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2008 – The holiday decorations are ever-present at the 926th Engineer Brigade headquarters at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Competitions are under way to determine who can fashion the most festive door, and holiday parties – without liquor, of course – remind everyone that the days are counting down to Christmas. The lineup for Dec. 25 includes an all-hands “Saper call,” a “basketball brawl” similar to the one the brigade sponsored at Thanksgiving, and football games playing back to back on the dining facility TVs. But Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, the brigade commander, said the festivities can’t overshadow...

BAGHDAD -- President George W. Bush on Sunday made a farewell visit to Iraq, a place that defines his presidency, just 37 days before he hands the war off to a successor who has pledged to end it

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has told US troops in Iraq that their mission there is in its "endgame".

Ukrainian Soldiers roll their national flag prior to casing it during an End of Mission ceremony at Camp Echo, Dec. 9, 2008. Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs. CAMP ECHO — An End of Mission ceremony was held here for the Ukrainian Army, Dec. 9. More than 5,000 Ukrainian servicemembers served in Iraq during Ukraine’s five years of service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.“Enduring peace, stability and prosperity are common values to fight for in the modern world. Your mission in Iraq has been successfully completed,� said Viktor Nedopas, Charge d’Affairs of the Ukrainian Embassy...

I spent the last two weeks of last month as an embedded reporter with the United States Army in Baghdad and was disappointed to see that, despite the overwhelming success of the surge, Iraq is as rundown and dysfunctional as ever. Yes, the country is less violent now than at any time since the U.S. invaded in 2003, but Iraq is still Iraq. Many Americans and Iraqis I spoke to feel a sense of dread and foreboding about what will happen when American forces soon begin to withdraw. Without the presence of American soldiers as peacekeepers, Gen. David Petraeus' brilliant...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2008 – The war in Iraq isn’t over, but a successful end is in sight, thanks to hard work between the United States and Iraq, President George W. Bush said in his weekly radio address today. “Earlier this week, Iraq's Presidency Council approved two landmark agreements that will solidify Iraq's democratic gains, affirm its sovereignty, and put its relations with the United States on a strong and steady footing,” he said. “The first agreement that America and Iraq have signed is called a strategic framework agreement.” This pact sets out a common vision for U.S.-Iraqi relations...

TAJI — The Czech contingent, Senior Iraqi and Coalition partners gathered at the Iraqi Army Armor School here Dec. 4 to mark the Czech Republic end-of-mission and to recognize the Czechs for their work training and advising the Iraqi Army. Czech Republic Army Maj. Frantisek Grmela commanded 14 Soldiers who served as trainers and advisors to the IraqiArmy Armor School at Taji for the past six months. Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq TAJI — The Czech contingent, Senior Iraqi and Coalition partners gathered at the Iraqi Army Armor School here Dec. 4 to mark the Czech Republic end-of-mission and...

Have you noticed lately that mainstream media are giving less attention to the war in Iraq, especially concerning our troops progress? CNSNews recently reported that, "There were only two front page New York Times stories that mentioned "Iraq" in the headline in October 2008 – there were 11 in October 2006 and 17 in October 2004. … The Washington Post ran four front-page stories that had headlines using the word "Iraq" in October 2008 – in October 2006 there were 17 stories, and 27 stories in October 2004." (Was it coincidental timing that, when George Bush was up for re-election...

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President George W. Bush on Thursday hailed the Iraqi Parliament's approval of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The agreement, which is expected to be ratified by Iraq's presidential council, will require U.S. combat troops to leave in 2009 and all American troops by the end of 2011. "Today's vote affirms the growth of Iraq's democracy and increasing ability to secure itself. We look forward to a swift approval by Iraq's Presidency Council," Bush said in a statement. "Two years ago, this day seemed unlikely - but the success of the surge and the courage of...

VILSECK, Germany — Remember. It was a word repeated each time a photograph of a fallen 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment soldier flashed on the screen at a packed Memorial Fitness Center at Vilseck on Tuesday morning. Twenty-five of the more than 3,500 Dragoons who deployed to Iraq from Vilseck in August 2007 were killed in action during the deployment along with four soldiers from other units assigned to the regiment in Iraq. Positive recollections of the fallen accompanied their portraits. "Mentally tough and never backed down … faithful to his brothers to the end … the rock others depended on...

Once it was impossible to keep track of all the bloodshed. Now it's impossible to keep track of all the progress. General Petraeus once told me during the height of the fighting, that South Baghdad was the canary in the mineshaft. In his exact words regarding what Lieutenant Colonel Pat Frank had to deal with in one of the toughest places in Iraq, "It will be the canary in the mineshaft; if they can pull it off, this will be doable.” It is critical to point out that General Petraeus told me this in 2007 — just at the crest...

BAGHDAD THE Iraq War is over. Flames still burst from various sources and wild cards remain, such as the potential that Muqtada al-Sadr might stomp his feet and encourage his diminished militias to attack us. Yet support for Sadr among Shia is hardly monolithic. In fact, many Shia view him as a simpleton whose influence derives strictly from respect for his father. Others cite the threat from Iran, but the Iranian participation in the fighting here remains overstated. Nobody knows what the future will bring, but the civil war has completely ended. The Iraqi army and police grow stronger by...

The MSM isn't going to declare victory in Iraq, no matter what happens (unless they can give the credit to one of "theirs")The Democrats aren't going to declare victory in Iraq (unless they can take that credit).No, it's up to us to do so, and it has been done. Saturday, November 22nd was declared as VI Day. Zombie has the full story.It doesn't matter that it's not Saturday any more. Without an official declaration from the government, this is going to have to go viral, so we have to put up with staggered recognition. That's fine. Just do it.

A U.S. Soldier hands a backpack to a student of the Al Kifah School in the Rusafa district of Baghdad, Nov. 18, 2008. Photo by 1st Lt. Angel Richardson, 926th Engineer Brigade. BAGHDAD — Students of the Al Kifah Girls School in the Rusafa District of Baghdad received much needed school supplies, toys and clothing, Nov. 18, from Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers. Lt. Col. Carlton Fisher, chaplain, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, Awatef Fadel, the school principal, and Mohamed Abd Al Rahman, mayor of Rusafa, coordinated the school supply donation. The entire 926th Engineer Brigade Family Readiness...

We won. The Iraq War is over. I declare November 22, 2008 to be "Victory in Iraq Day." (Hereafter known as "VI Day.") By every measure, The United States and coalition forces have conclusively defeated all enemies in Iraq, pacified the country, deposed the previous regime, successfully helped to establish a new functioning democratic government, and suppressed any lingering insurgencies. The war has come to an end. And we won. What more indication do you need? An announcement from the outgoing Bush administration? It's not gonna happen. An announcement from the incoming Obama administration? That's really not gonna happen. A...

President-elect Barack Obama, on "60 Minutes," defended the financial bailout package. Yes, said Obama, the economy continues to suffer, but "I think the part of the way to think about it is things could be worse. … So part of what we have to measure against is what didn't happen and not just what has happened." Interesting. Why not apply the "what didn't happen" standard to the unpopular Iraq war? Obama calls the Iraq invasion a "dumb war." Never mind that all of his Democratic presidential nomination Senate opponents -- Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen./VP-elect Joe Biden, Sen. Hillary Clinton and...

BAGHDAD – The U.S. military has barred Iraqi interpreters working with American troops in Baghdad from wearing ski masks to disguise themselves, prompting some to resign and others to bare their faces even though they fear it could get them killed. --snip-- “The terps are the number one wanted here,” said A.J., a 36-year-old military interpreter, using the shorthand for his profession. “More than the Americans. More than anyone.” --snip-- U.S. military officials said they began to enforce the mask ban in September. “We are a professional Army and professional units don’t conceal their identity by wearing masks,” Lt. Col....

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview to AP that the exit routes practiced through Turkey and Jordan would determine “what the challenges might be.” Both governments support the effort. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the US army chief’s statement marks the beginning of the American withdrawal from Iraq. While he is still following the orders of President Bush, Mullen said he was clearly aware of president-elect Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw the US army from Iraq in 16 months. This development is a negative augur for Israel’s strategic situation; after Lebanon and...

"THE WAR IS OVER AND WE WON:" Michael Yon just phoned from Baghdad, and reports that things are much better than he had expected, and he had expected things to be good. "There's nothing going on. I'm with the 10th Mountain Division, and about half of the guys I'm with haven't fired their weapons on this tour and they've been here eight months. And the place we're at, South Baghdad, used to be one of the worst places in Iraq. And now there's nothing going on. I've been walking my feet off and haven't seen anything. I've been asking Iraqis,...

A new pact that faces final approval from parliament will keep US troops in Iraq for up to three more years. By June 2009 US forces will pull back to major bases. BAGHDAD - Iraq's cabinet overwhelmingly approved a security pact on Sunday that will enable a continued American military presence in Iraq for up to three more years, overcoming protests from hard-line Shiite nationalists and pressure from Iran to block the deal. It is expected to go before the parliament for final approval by the end of this month. Key revisions on sovereignty issues, demanded by Iraq and accepted...

The Iraqi cabinet, in a near-unanimous vote, have approved the security agreement with the US that will keep our forces in that country until the end of 2011. The decision of the 37-member cabinet, essentially a microcosm of the Parliament, is expected to be a good indicator of whether the agreement will pass. The assembly has not yet announced the date of its vote, but it is scheduled to go into recess on Nov. 24.The draft approved Sunday requires coalition forces to withdraw from Iraqi cities and towns by the summer of 2009 and from the country by the end...

"THE WAR IS OVER AND WE WON:" Michael Yon just phoned from Baghdad, and reports that things are much better than he had expected, and he had expected things to be good. "There's nothing going on. I'm with the 10th Mountain Division, and about half of the guys I'm with haven't fired their weapons on this tour and they've been here eight months. And the place we're at, South Baghdad, used to be one of the worst places in Iraq. And now there's nothing going on. I've been walking my feet off and haven't seen anything. I've been asking Iraqis,...

JD Johannes gives us a before-and-after look at the Dora sector of Baghdad, pre-surge and current day. The difference between April 2007 and October 2008 is stunning, perhaps even more so with the latter shots occurring at night:

Two Royal Marines have been killed in southern Afghanistan from a roadside explosion while they were travelling in one of the latest heavy-armoured vehicles sent out by the Ministry to provide extra protection for the troops. The two Marines died instantly as the device, believed to be a bomb or a landmine, struck their Jackal vehicle which was designed to be mine-resistant. Their deaths bring to 300 the number of servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan (124) and Iraq (176) since the two campaigns began.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military in Iraq is abandoning — deliberately and with little public notice — a centerpiece of the widely acclaimed strategy it adopted nearly two years ago to turn the tide against the insurgency. It is moving American troops farther from the people they are trying to protect. Starting in early 2007, with Iraq on the brink of all-out civil war, the troops were pushed into the cities and villages as part of a change in strategy that included President Bush's decision to send more combat forces. The bigger U.S. presence on the streets was credited...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2008 – Since Anbar province returned to Iraqi control, Iraqi security forces are taking more responsibility and U.S. Marines in western Iraq are increasingly performing an overwatch role, the deputy commander of Multinational Force West said today. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Martin Post, briefing Pentagon correspondents by satellite from Fallujah, said a very few foreign fighters are trying to infiltrate the country, and Iraqi forces are in the lead in trying to stop them. The coalition leadership in Anbar province has been pleased “across the board” with Iraqi security forces, the general said. “We're most happy with...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2008 – Coalition forces in Iraq today captured 11 suspects in operations aimed at dismantling Baghdad’s car-bomb networks, military officials reported. Troops captured a man early this morning in Baghdad’s Karkh neighborhood who was wanted as a suspect in an Oct. 12 car-bomb attack that killed five civilians and wounded 12 others in the Rasheed area of the city, officials said. They detained seven additional suspects during a search of the home where the man was found. During a separate operation in Baghdad's Mansour neighborhood, coalition forces captured another man wanted in connection with the city's al-Qaida...

BAGHDAD — The U.S. military says U.S. and Iraqi forces have killed a senior Al Qaeda in Iraq leader in the Tarmiyah area north of Baghdad. A U.S. statement says the Al Qaeda leader, known as Abu Ghazwan, was killed Thursday during a raid on a weapons cache.

In this file photo, Marines gaze at a statue donated to the city of Ramadi by a local Iraqi contractor. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jerry Murphy, Regimental Combat Team 1. RAMADI — The days of kicking in doors and large scale operations are quickly becoming a thing of the past in Iraq. Instead, Coalition forces’ main focus is rebuilding Iraq and continuing to ensure Iraqi security forces have the means available to ensure post-Provincial Iraqi Control security.Now more than a month into their deployment, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, has been successful at picking...

When Josh Mandel got a call from the Marines last year asking him to return voluntarily to Iraq, he had much more to contemplate than when he first enlisted in 2000. He had just been elected to the Ohio state legislature. Family considerations were also important to him. He ultimately decided to serve a second tour in Iraq “because I didn’t join the Marine Corps to say no when my country called,” Mr. Mandel explains. Of all the factors he weighed, Mr. Mandel says political concerns were not among them. Now he has been forced to deal with the politics...

Kazakhstani Soldiers march in a pass and review during their end of mission ceremony, Oct. 20, 2008 on Forward Operating Base Delta. Photo by Spc. Tiffany Dusterhoft. FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — Soldiers from the Kazakhstan contingency to Iraq reflected on their accomplishments and lessons learned during an end-of-mission ceremony at Forward Operating Base Delta, Oct. 20, 2008, marking the end of their support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since deploying to Wasit province in March of 2003. . “Since the first day, [our] Soldiers have been meritoriously carrying out their mission,� said Lt. Gen. Bulat Sembinov, Kazakhstan deputy minister of...

Sutaberidze and her senior enlisted Soldier case their colors during an end of mission ceremony on Forward Operating Base Delta, Oct. 20, 2008. Photo by Spc. Tiffany Dusterhoft. FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — The remaining 30 soldiers of Georgia’s 1st Infantry Brigade cased their colors during a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Delta, Oct. 20, 2008. “For the time they’ve been here, tasks were completed fully and well,� said Capt. Mzia Sutaberidze, 1st Georgian Bde., logistics officer and officer in charge of the remaining contingency. She said from her position she couldn’t assess the whole brigade, but that she was...

WHO: All media WHAT: Iraqi Army Noncommissioned Officer Symposium, hosted by Command Sergeant Major Adel, Sergeant Major of the Iraqi Army. Command Sergeant Major Adel, Command Sergeant Major Marvin Hill, and Command Sergeant Major Joseph Allen will be available for interviews. WHEN: Oct. 21, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. WHERE: Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory WHY: This symposium is designed to enhance the professionalism and competence of the senior enlisted soldiers in the Iraqi Army as a step toward Iraqi Security Force self-reliance. NOTE: Media desiring to attend should contact Major Tribus via e-mail at brian.tribus@iraq.centcom.milThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it...

When Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly deployed to Iraq in February, the violence had fallen so low in Anbar province that he began figuring out how to start closing bases and prepare to go home. In the last 10 months the Marines in Fallujah have done what was unthinkable before the surge began — they have quietly transferred out of one of Anbar province's largest cities. FOX News has learned in an exclusive interview with Kelly from Fallujah that 80 percent of the move is complete. In February there were 8,000 Marines living at Fallujah base. Now there are about...

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., Oct. 17, 2008 – Marines, sailors, family and friends, each displaying a mixture of cheerful and solemn expressions, gathered around the fuel pump house here to honor their fallen hero Oct. 10. Friends and family gather at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., on Oct. 10, 2008, for the ceremony dedicating the installation's fuel pump house in honor of fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel McVicker. McVicker, 20, was killed Oct. 6, 2005, when the vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb near Qaim, Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by...

This is a list of things I personally miss so far since being in Iraq. I'm sure I won't remember them all so please feel free to add your own.

One of the reasons for the success of the surge in Baghdad was the construction of blast walls that separated Sunni and Shia neighborhoods. These walls gave a certain level of security to both sides who had been ravaged by sectarian violence for months. The walls come a tumblin' down. .. Market by market, square by square, the walls are beginning to come down. The miles of hulking blast walls, ugly but effective, were installed as a central feature of the surge of American troops to stop neighbors from killing one another."They protected against car bombs and drive-by attacks," said...