For those of you who can’t read what the blinking green light is saying I’ll be nice and will translate:

–. — / .-. .. –. …. – / .- …. . .- -.. / -… — -.– …

means:

“GO RIGHT AHEAD BOYS”

Thank you, Mark.

This news is so terrible, it’s hard to put words to what I’m thinking about innocent Iraqis who will be harmed, arising from the evil we have done, again.

Yes there are going to be innocent Irakis hurt. Let me explain something to you, Irak wins its wars by absorbing a level of pain unimaginable to most westerners.

It’s not the Irakis who are in for a truly horrid shock.

I am really more than a little glad I’m not an American family with a son or daugher serving in that governorate and in any of the contiguous governorates.

This is going to hurt.

I know. And the vision of this is so terrible, that I seek refuge in understatement. All I can think of, really, is that the evil done by this administration–and through the unacceptable ignorance and complacence of its people–is so vast that I can hardly comprehend it.

Yes.

Were the American ‘leadership’ any more ‘dense’ the Periodic Table should have to be expanded to include the most dense element in the universe.

Tell me Mark, does ANY of this profound stupidity surprise you?

Thanks for continuing to ‘update’ us, Mark.

Irak will endure; America, on the other hand, deperately needs a ‘reality check’. Which appears to be looming on the horizon, right over the Syrian border …

Hello, Laura.

I always know that I shall find you here …

Hello, dear David. Yes, I’m an old reliable!

Tell me Mark, does ANY of this profound stupidity surprise you?

No.

That’s what empires do.

It’s what kills them in the end.

And – for the record. Until Bush Junior came along the record of the democrats in the MENA was worse. A lot worse than that of Republican administrations.

“We have heard that half a million children have died. I mean, that is more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?”

Albright’s reply:

“I think that is a very hard choice, but the price, we think, the price is worth it.”

Don’t expect there to be much of an Obama honeymoon in Irak.

I’m being dense. Syria is daring Iraq to invade Syria? Iraq can’t even get it’s electricty and water to work. How is Iraq going to have the wherewithal to invade anyone?

Or is Syria inviting US to invade Syria? Cause I thought Shrubya wanted to invade Iran.

I am totally lost here.

Mark:

Your recitation of ‘history’ is spot on.

Your ‘prediction’ astute.

Your candor, most-welcome.

My ‘agreement’, quite total.

LHP: anyone who wishes to go into Iraq may do so now. Anyone.

That part of Irak adjacent to Syria is quiet because the Syrians, despite what spokesweasel central would have you believe, worked massively hard to seal their border. To prevent personnel and munitions and other tools of the trade from going acrosss their border and attacking invader forces.

They’ve stopped doing that. Open season on every American in Al Anbar has just been declared.

Don’t expect it to hurt immediately – that’s not the Ba’athish way of doing things. The Syrians don’t go for flashy stuff. They’ll help POLs build good solid resistance networks. Well armed, well trained. Well funded. Well equipped.

Then they’ll sit back and enjoy the show.

Never ever ever forget it wasn’t the Iranians who trained the Hizb. It was the Syrians.

Think ‘movement’ lhp, in the ‘other’ direction.

Think ‘October surprise’ …

Think “OMG our troops are at risk!!!”

Think cycnical consequence.

Look at a map, the Syrian border with Irak is almost one third of Irak’s border …

Think Syria … wide open.

Conclusion?

How ‘lucky’ do you feel? Should America feel lucky, at this ‘turn’ of events?

Syria had been trying help the American ‘effort’. No longer.

I think that this will result in the US moving into the “abandoned” zone in Syria. Maybe this is what the US actually wanted the Syrians to do in response. Of course that will cause the Syrians to respond. A new war…on the eve of the US elections.

Rovian!

I think that this will result in the US moving into the “abandoned” zone in Syria.

Lots and lots of luck with that. That would make a certain gentleman allegedly living in a cave thank God for granting him a liftime’s worth of Eid wishes all at the one time.

Thanks, Mark. Truly depressing news.

For whom? For anyone in the Iraki reistance or any Iraki who approves of the resistance it’s really good news.

Well, this Rift in Syrian/US/Iraki Relations certainly gets my vote as the Most Likely Thing to be the “Early Test” for Obama, should he get the Landslide Win for which We are all hoping.

Mark, what would your advice be to Obama?

Thanks for all that you do!

Mark, what would your advice be to Obama?

Get to fuck out yesterday.

This must mean that refugees are free to roam about the countryside as well.
Do you see a rush of repatriation along with the possible wave of resistance fighters?

No. The refugees have genuine reason to be terrified and no reason to return. Think about the headlines you see. Or at least the headlines I see – don’t know the extent to which this is reported in the west.

A typical headline is:

“8 families return to X”

They don’t mention it when they’re driven out again.

And in any event 8 families out of how many million people????

YOu raise an interesting point – and thank you for spotting it. What you WILL see is people who were refugees and have nothing to lose joining the resistance and returning for that purpose.

!

wazzzup

While I’m not happy with the US crossborder attack, the Bush Administration will be gone in 3 months and it is likely an Obama Administration will be in office. More important will be the failure of the SOFA since this will allow Obama to begin a withdrawal faster than that enviseaged (and waffled on) in the SOFA.

There is a lot of posturing that goes on in these kinds of things. OTOH Syria has done some things to restrict jihadis. On the other, it sheltered or turned a blind eye to some. And this has come back to bite them with so far isolated jihadist attacks inside Syria proper. With Israel in the Golan and many borders in this area being fairly arbitrary, it is unsurprising that Syria would be highly sensitive to such breaches in its sovereignty. Pulling forces off the border is an interesting move. I do not think they would have done it if there was still a big influx of Iraqi refugees, but that seems to have largely stopped. Nor do I think the Syrians would have done it if they thought they were putting their security at risk. So I suppose I disagree with mfi. Destabilizing the border isn’t in Syria’s interest either but by withdrawing their presence they make a point without risking a military confrontation. It’s a clever gambit but as so often happens with Syrian policy there seems little evidence of a sustained overarching strategy either toward the US or Iraq.

There is still a fairly hefty influx of refugees. Most recently for example several hundred Christian families from Mosul.

Yes there is posturing there always is. I’m told it’s called “politics”

The Assads are Allawites so anathemna to some fundamentalist groups. Yes. So what?

Assad the older showed how you deal with that. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Assad the younger is any the less steely. Rather more so in some respects is my impression.

Who said anything about destabilising the border. People crossing into Irak for whatever purpose is not threat to the Ba’aath government in Damascus. This is a win win win proposition for Syria.

On reflection I’m surprised I was surpised that they did it,

Dear Mr. New Commander in Chief

Get your troops to fuck out of Irak yesterday.

/* Well I was asked for my advice */

Cinn:I think that this will result in the US moving into the “abandoned” zone in Syria.

MarkO’Eire:Lots and lots of luck with that. That would make a certain gentleman allegedly living in a cave thank God for granting him a liftime’s worth of Eid wishes all at the one time.

But when has Bush/Cheney strategy ever been done except for craven political purposes. The Bush-bin Laden relationship is a co-dependent one. They need one another.

Three months is suffient time for untold consequence to unfold, especially considering who remains at the helm.

Syria need have NO strategic ‘policy’ as regards the US or Iran, merely, as you say, “a blind eye” …

One hopes that such sanguinity as you suggest might be justified, but again, just how ‘lucky’ should we assume that we shall be?

This is not a ’situation’ one should like to gamble money upon, let alone human beings …

Consider; the more deeply we are ‘drawn in’, the less likely any substantive ‘change’ is likely in American strategic ‘policy’ …
quite regardless of the helmsman, however ‘audacious’.

I agree with your assessment, Mark.

The “!” was merely to show how emphatically.

I see your point and it’s a perfectly valid and reasonable one – I just don’t agree with it. Both are symptoms of a far deeper malaise rather than codependent is how I would put it.

Bush trying to stay “Relevant”.

THe other point is the COC. Normally in the US forces it´s from SECDEF to the regional COCOM but courtesy of the war on terror there’s now a parallel COC which is SECDEF to SOFCOCOM (ie SOCOM at McDill AFB)

I’m not sure not at all sure of the extent to which the civilians are in control of that parallel SOC.

A somewhat dark not to say distinctly unpleasant sense of humour is essential in my line of work. Otherwise you go stark staring bonkers quicker than fast.

“They tried to bring a small number of tanks and personnel carriers in through al-Durah but they were surrounded and most of their infidels had their throats cut.”

“We made them drink poison last night and Saddam Hussein’s soldiers and his great forces gave the Americans a lesson which will not be forgotten by history. Truly.”

“On this occasion, I am not going to mention the number of the infidels who were killed and the number of destroyed vehicles. The operation continues”

“We’re giving them a real lesson today. Heavy doesn’t accurately describe the level of casualties we have inflicted.”

“I can say, and I am responsible for what I am saying, that they have started to commit suicide under the walls of Baghdad. We will encourage them to commit more suicides quickly.”

“Their infidels are committing suicide by the hundreds on the gates of Baghdad. Be assured, Baghdad is safe, protected.”

“NO”, snapped Mr al-Sahaf, “We have retaken the airport. There are NO Americans there. I will take you there and show you. IN ONE HOUR!”

“We defeated them yesterday. God willing, I will provide you with more information. I swear by God, I swear by God, those who are staying in Washington and London have thrown these mercenaries in a crematorium.”

Got ya!

;~D

One of the better performances

markfromireland,
A stupid question (& no dispute w/your thesis, either): assuming this translation of the Morse code, “GO RIGHT AHEAD BOYS”, is accurate, why on earth would it be in english? Or have I missed someone’s tongue being pressed against their cheek?

Because they couldn’t spell, “Hold her Knute, she’s headed for the pea-patch!”

See 33 above

Yo! Raven.

Good to see you here.

It’s Mark’s explanation of what Syria pulling their troops back means. It’s not anything the Syrians said out loud in English or tapped out in Morse code.

That is highly debatable I suspect.

While we’re on the topic of elections – how this candidate does is being watched closely in some quarters in Irak – ( Allen West )

Who he?

He the lieutenant colonel who got disciplined for committing acts of torture.

The UK Independent’s Johann Hari has a piece on it. Allen West oversaw the brutal treatment of an Iraqi. Now he is running for Congress

Bush/Cheney regime wanted to pick a fight with Iran and that seems to have been detoured by steadier and saner minds in DOD and American political pools.

Poking sticks into Syria? This seems a very late fourth quarter ploy on part of reckless/real stupid DOD types under sway of Bush/Cheney regime to kick up cross border strife with Syria. Why now? So late?

Clearly Bush/Cheney WH wants a big American footprint in West Asia. Putting in potential strife and ongoing conflict with Syria must seem the smart thing for the usual real dumb/ignorant Bush/Cheney warmonger types and their minions still at DOD.

Late Jan.2009 is so near. Yet so far. G.W.Bush is an American disgrace.

LHP,
This is a subtlety of Middle Eastern diplomacy. Syria was collaborating with Iraq and the US to control the border. But as always, what that means is that Syria controls the border. That means they shut it down to everyone except the people they wanted to have access. Some thick-headed idiot prolly in Cheney’s office got intel that a bad guy was working on the Syrian side, so in typical cowboy fashion, they screamed “go get him!” So we did. So Syria said, in effect, OK. You do it your way, and pulled all of its control agents out of the border, making it leakier than a sieve. All the backdoor collaboration with Syria wrt the border is gone.

To put it in other words, the purists (probably on Cheney’s staff) insist on 100% compliance. 95% compliance isn’t good enough, especially if that 5% includes a high value target. So, for the sake of that 5%, we threw away the 95%. Nice work, Brownie.

Does that clarify?

Bob in HI

I wrote my comment @45 before reading further into the comments, which made some of the same points as I did, arriving late to the party. Hugh wrote,

OTOH Syria has done some things to restrict jihadis. On the other, it sheltered or turned a blind eye to some. And this has come back to bite them with so far isolated jihadist attacks inside Syria proper.

Yes, to the first two sentences. But I disagree with the third sentence: The “Blind Eye” was not a flaw, it was a design feature. In the Middle East, you seldom get everything you want. If you get 95%, that’s considered good work.

Every deal in the Middle East is a bit of a con. There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors, but the devil is in the details. Kinda like a $700 Billion bailout for the banks. Or the MCA. Or the FISA bill. The game always is, did we get enough of what we wanted to tolerate the crap that’s in the rest? You know that you’re NEVER going to get 100%. And if you THINK you’re getting 100%, you better find someone who’s better at reading the fine print, and understanding the consequences of what has been written.

Bob in HI

KayO, sense more it makes now. But just the same, facts original problem not.

Felons can’t vote in America let alone run for office but military officers run for Congress and Army guards from the Abu Graid photos do Time.
If I were in Iraq I would write that in English on every wall for American troops to see.

To end the war put the pain on the officers, keep putting pain on the stockmarket higher oil prices do that quite well.

Recent reports indicate that there are still more refugees leaving Iraq, than returning.

Yeah and with the exception of two months that’s always been the case, on “Guides” among lots of other places we consistently report that. But then “Guides” is an Iraki run site which addresses a non-American audience we don’t have the luxury of pretending to ourselves that the situation is anything other than a bloodsoaked fucking awful hellhole nor do we have the luxury of being able to lie to ourselves that it’s getting better. The desperation and the focus of the terror has shifted slightly that’s all.

Thank you, Mark. GG is one of the first sites I check each morning to see what new horror the US has brought to Irak and other countries in the Middle East. The reports of cholera are just now beginning to break through the American press filter.

Peace to you, my brother.

Bush/GOP has mobilized the Islamic world like Allah himself couldn’t have done.
Both Saddam and the Taliban were invaded and defeated in a couple of weeks, but years later there is nothing remotely resembling a “victory” in either country. And American resolve, resources, not to mention their military, is weakening daily, nearly at the end of their rope.
They are surely in no position to escalate the conflict to other Islamic countries. They just might run into a military that can fight back.

The US military has proven itself to be a “paper tiger” and that was perhaps Bush’s greatest mistake. Now the world knows. Every country from N. Korea and Russia to Germany and France laughs right in Bush’s face. Bush has made America bad joke. He is a really really stupid person.