Digital Brainwaves

A tip of the hat to Glenn Reynolds over at Instapundit.com for the link to this Weekly Standard article in which Bill Stuntz explains that Iraq isn’t an unwinnable war, it’s instead a war we’ve chosen not to win.

As a poker player, it was interesting to see him make the comparison of the war to a card game:

War is not poker; the stakes in Iraq are much higher than a little money or a few chips. But war’s psychology bears some resemblance to a well-played game of cards. The only way Americans lose this war is to fold. That seems likely to be the next move, but it is the last thing we should do. Far better to call and raise. Our cards are better than theirs, if only we have the nerve to play them.

The National Post reports:

An al-Qaeda strategist has warned Canada to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan or face terrorist attacks similar to 9/11, Madrid and the London transit bombings.

The threat, attributed to a member of the al-Qaeda information and strategy committee, condemns Prime Minister Stephen Harper for refusing to pull out of Afghanistan.

It also refers to Canada’s “fanatic adherence to Christianity” as well as its purported attempts to “damage the Muslims” and its support for the “Christian Crusade” against al-Qaeda.

Read the whole article for details. (Hat tip: Little Green Footballs)

(…and not long after I post about linking to him, I link to a Lonsberry column. :P)

LCpl Adam Galvez’s mom, Amy, had something to say about her city’s mayor’s very public stance on the Iraq war, so she emailed a letter-to-the-editor to her local newspaper. Moments after clicking the submit button, she was a victim of some horrible, horrible timing.

If the whole plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners thwarted last week wasn’t messed up enough, this will truly disgust you: word is coming out that one couple that was arrested was going to bring their six-month-old son on the flight, and smuggle explosives in his bottle.

*warning — mild language and a shock moment*

A phone call you won’t forget: Kevin Cosgrove’s 911 call from the World Trade Center — in case anyone has forgotten why America is fighting a war against al Qaeda.

(I’m not so sure it was a good idea for me to watch this this late at night, but I don’t regret it, and again, I won’t ever forget it. Just… wow. :()

(Hat tip: Michelle Malkin)

The naysayers have been knocking the war in Iraq almost since it began, calling it a quagmire, calling it hopeless, saying we need to get out, saying we have no exit strategy.

The problem is, setting an artificial exit strategy is a signal to your enemy that they can wait you out: “They’re leaving on this date. If we stay hidden until they leave, we’ll have the run of the country when they’re gone.” If you expect to succeed in a war, the only reasonable exit strategy is victory.

As much as the war’s critics want to hope otherwise, that is exactly what’s happening in Iraq — we’re winning.

Don’t believe me? Ask the enemy.

Continue reading ‘Best way to win? Don’t quit.’ »

Word comes this morning that the so-called “Prince of al Qaeda in Iraq”, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a US air strike yesterday evening.

It goes without saying that this is a huge development in America’s and Iraq’s favor. Let’s hope for continued forward momentum.

More later.

To those not from my country, apologies for taking up your time, I’ll only be a minute.

While I’ve so far been fortunate not to lose anyone I’ve personally known to combat casualties in the War on Terror, nonetheless I take the opportunity here as Memorial Day winds down to thank the members of our armed services — the men and women who are fighting al Qaeda and other terrorist forces abroad, so that we don’t have to face them here at home — as well as pause to remember and thank those that have given their lives in our nation’s defense. Freedom is never truly free, and we are forever indebted for their sacrifice for our freedom

George Will writes an op-ed in the Washington Post stating that seeing United 93 should be Americans’ civic duty.

I haven’t seen it, but Yvonne and I plan to see it soon. I’ll write more on it when we have. But I was interested to note the same quote that Glenn Reynolds quoted:

The hinge on which the movie turns are 13 words that a passenger speaks, without histrionics, as he and others prepare to rush the cockpit, shortly before the plane plunges into a Pennsylvania field. The words are: “No one is going to help us. We’ve got to do it ourselves.” Those words not only summarize this nation’s situation in today’s war but also express a citizen’s general responsibilities in a free society.

More on this once we’ve seen the movie.

Can someone tell me what’s stopping us, when the UN deadline runs out in five days, from bombing Iran to the stone age? I mean, at least Iraq was being shifty and secretive while they were shuffling their WMDs off into Syria. Iran is openly saying “No, fuck you” and giving us the finger.