[Tennessean4Bush]

lwj ping

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The new sanctuary is Pakistan:

Pakistan close to inking peace agreement with Baitullah Mehsud

[elhombrelibre]

Further update on the recent offensive against Iraq by LWJ.

[Marine_Uncle]

We certainly continue to see mostly positive actions being taken by the Iraqi government and military at this point.
And what AQ does best, stealth operations to behead people, and blow up things, just further alienates them from the majority of Iraqi.
One can appreciate however, al Qaeda is not going to simply give up and leave Iraq. This will be a long drawn out operation. The rat lines must somehow be effectively closed down. And Syria is to porous to keep fresh terrorist from entering Iraq. And those that still follow OBL, most likely are willing martyrs. They seem to have no problem becoming cannon fodder when required.
So I look for a long drawn out battle in the north. Heaven only knows how many Iraqi under Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, still prescribe to supporting AQ as well as resisting the new government and Coalition forces. And all the Shia and Sunni radical groups such as Ansar al-Islam are not going to change their attitudes. They want no parts of a democratic state.
We have to stay in Iraq a few more years to get them fully on their feet regarding their security issues. Iraq's military assets must be perceived by their enemies within and without as sufficient to cover all contingencies. And the same goes for the police system and supporting judicial.