Back from Baghdad - (Michelle Malkin's first hand report with pictures and video)

Michelle Malkin's site and Hot Air ^ | Wednesday January 17th, 2007 | Michelle Malkin

[ajolympian2004]

Back from Baghdad

By Michelle Malkin

  ·   January 17, 2007 04:04 AM

The digs at FOB Justice

My HotAir.com colleague Bryan Preston and I are back from Iraq. Thanks to Allah and Ian for holding down the fort at HA and thanks much to guest-bloggers Mary Katharine Ham, See-Dubya, and the Big Lizards for filling in here during my absence. Be sure to bookmark their blogs.

Our first Hot Air in Baghdad video report is here.

Bryan's first post-trip essay, a thorough assessment of "mistakes, fumbles and ways forward to win--and what victory actually looks like," is here. He's also got video stills of our encounters with shady operators on both sides of the sectarian divide while on patrol with U.S. troops.

My syndicated column today provides an overview of the counterinsurgency efforts we witnessed first-hand--and I'm posting the column below, illustrated with photos I took throughout the trip.

We'll report on our investigation of the Associated Press's media malpractice in an upcoming New York Post exclusive.

And we'll both be publishing much more over the next several days, including more in-depth interviews with, and profiles of, the troops at our embed unit on Forward Operating Base Justice--plus some lighter moments on our journey involving The Stinky Pants, our Chai drink-a-thon, an appearance by Che Guevara, and my Helmet Bobblehead imitation. We have tons of folks to thank (I'm hoping to get in touch with each and every one you personally) and I'll have reflections on the embed program, new media, and the info wars at the end of our series.

Be sure also to check out the latest dispatches from fellow blogger embeds Bill Ardolino and Michael Yon (radio interview here). Independent blogger/photographer Eric Bowen is also headed to Iraq soon. Michael Fumento is planning to return shortly. And keep an eye on blogger embed guru Bill Roggio. Although we were there for a brief period, Bryan and I learned much on the ground and outside the wire. There really is no substitute for being there. I highly recommend the experience to fellow bloggers and pundits of all stripes.

In fact, one of our hosts at Forward Operating Base Justice said they would be happy to welcome Keith Olbermann as an embed. And Chris Matthews (last heard smearing U.S. troops as participants in "ethnic cleansing"), too. The rooms at The Tiger's Lair (pictured above) are spartan, but toasty warm. How 'bout it, boys?

***

Rest of the report with excellent pictures here - http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006708.htm

Her first video report here - http://hotair.com/archives/2007/01/17/hot-air-tv-in-baghdad/

[ajolympian2004]

The other blogger, Bryan Preston, who went with Michelle to Iraq has posted an EXCELLENT first hand account with pics here -

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/01/17/assessing-iraq/

[ajolympian2004]

Michelle Malkin talks about her time in Iraq with Laura Ingraham this morning -

http://hotair.com/archives/2007/01/17/audio-michelle-talks-iraq-with-laura-ingraham/

[ajolympian2004]

Michelle Malkin ping request; Fox News contributor ping request. Thanks!

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Thanks for the heads up, ajolympian2004.

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[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[al baby]

Hi stranger hope your doing well agin thanks for all your efforts

Al

[fso301]

I want to see Michelle

[Alamo-Girl]

Hi al baby! Good to see. Hope all is well with you, too.

[cgk]

((Sorry all! I COMPLETELY missed this ping from aj!!))

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