Michael Yon;
Captain Clayton Combs has been fighting hard in Diyala for about ten months, much of it side-by-side with Iraqi soldiers from the 5th Division. Each time I’ve come into contact with the 5th, they seem far better than most. American officers and sergeants who work with the 5th have good things to report about them, saying that although the 5th still has far to go, and cannot sustain itself logistically, it can fight.Captain Combs said this particular Iraqi unit, the 3-25, has never run away from combat, and never refused to close on the enemy. Combs said, “I’ve fought with 3-25 for 10 months in Diyala and they have always come when I am in trouble. They always go on patrols when I ask. They never back down.”
I asked Captain Combs to repeat what he said, making sure he knew I was planning to quote him directly. A veteran like Combs would be unlikely to append his name to such words if he weren’t dead serious. Captain Combs repeated his words and stuck by them. He then demonstrated that faith when we took off deeper into the danger zone with nine soldiers from 5th IA: just Captain Combs, Iraqi soldiers and me. As we passed through the village, Captain Combs pointed out the nice houses, saying the people had been simple farmers with comfortable homes and lives.
When you're finished, these thoughts from Michael Ledeen.
Definitely a must read by everyone in Canada. This is why we fight.
Jack Layton thinks we should be 'negotiating' with butchers like this. Stephan D-Yawn, the Bloq Q., and the CBC think we should be trying to appease them and claim how the rest of us are intolerant of them. Let's hope and prey that these monsters are caught, followed by true justice in the form of turning them over to the relatives of those killed.
This is how the mayor of London responded...
"In this city, Muslims are more likely to be law-abiding than non-Muslims and less likely to support the use of violence to achieve political ends than non-Muslims," he told BBC Radio.
Four and a half years after this war began, we're supposed to be impressed with the Iraqi Army's 5th Division and 3-25 unit? Let' see, they go on patrol when asked (ie. follow orders), they never back down (in the face of a disorganized rabble of incompetent terror-monkeys), and they can't sustain themselves logistically (after years of being trained and equipped by the greatest military machine in human history). This is utterly pathetic. The Iraqis obviously have no interest in defending their new democracy. Why should we?
This is why we must stay in the war. Local news asked streeters what made them proud to be Canadian. A majority answered "free health care". How pathetic. We were a nation before our (substandard) health care was free. I've heard it said that the First World War made us a nation. Supporting our soldiers can keep us as a nation.
I love how the enemy is so 'beloved' of the left wing here. You would think our presence was somehow keeping the people from 'something better' that Al Qaeda and the Taliban would bring. Give me a break
On a side note I've see CNN using the phrase 'UK Terror Scare' , I think this is beyond a scare, there were car bombs, this was an attack, the idea that you can call it a scare or a threat just because they weren't successful is ridiculous.
When we have the Left supporting and /or sympathizing with the enemy terrorists and worrying more about the terrorist detainees than our own forces fighting them, we have an ENEMY WITHIN.
The enemy listening in to our news are feeling a boost from the likes of Layton and his cabal.
wendy.g: "Supporting our soldiers can keep us as a nation". Right on.
We have a great no nonsense, tell it like it is Chief of Defense Staff in Rick Hillier, best in memory and he's definitely driving the Left wackier than they already are.
When it comes to many facets of the Left in our fair land it appears we can apply a quote by someone unknown,"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups".
Yes, impressed.
Only 4 years after Saddam was overthrown, a military that for decades (generations) was filled with men pressed into service, brutilized by officers who's qualification for service was their relationship to the boss, undersupplied and underequiped, and driven into battle by the threat of death from behind (for as long as the officers stuck around), have overcome that past and are now behaving like soldiers, a rare occurrence in the ME.
let's not forget that the iraqi army was surrendering to drones during gulf war 1. they were an army of conscripts, poorly equipped and trained. to think any organization can overcome these shortcomings is pure stupidity. Canadian troops are the most efficient killing machines in the world because of our long standing, British inspired, highly disciplined military traditions. I know what I speak, as I resemble that remark. GO ARMY!
Well, there was a little more to the story of drone surrenders. The Iraqis knew what their purpose was - to find targets for those US battleships in the Gulf. The drones might have been unarmed, but that didn't mean they weren't in the "sights".
Michael Yon and Michael Tottem prove the point that if you get your news from the MSM hacks only, the term clueless applies.
The BBC, CBC, CNN, NYT's, AP, Reuters spend millions on NEWS and what are we getting out of it, zilch.
They can't die fast enough.
wendyg - our health care is not free. There's no such thing as 'free'. Our taxes, our high taxes, pay for that health care. Don't we realize that if we paid for our health care, by insurance, it would cost us LESS than we pay via our taxes?
Furthermore, many services are starting to be restricted; our 'free' health care won't pay for them - eg, it won't pay for more than one eye exam every two years.
The fact that our taxes are so high to pay for this centralized govt bureaucracy, means that Canada is unable to develop an investor class; we are unable to save money. Everything goes in taxes.
Remember that the US citizens are quite aware of our health care system - and have rejected it. So, we Canadians end up frequently travelling to the US to get treatment - because it isn't available in Canada. Despite our taxes.
As for Iraq - as many have pointed out, they didn't have an army before; they had a collection of thugs. Now, they are becoming a disciplined army.
Kate, Excellent post & links. It is disgusting how the MSM goes to such great lengths to bury information such as this. May Rick Hillier continue to say like it is, regardless of how much it infuriates scumbag terrorist sympathizers like Carolyn Parrish.
*****eg, it won't pay for more than one eye exam every two years. *****
eye git a free I exam ever 6 months
but people here are rite, our expensive health care system is a joke, try standing calmly in line waiting for cancer treatment sum time and have someone just git off the boat and go in line ahead of you !!!!!
Good stuff, Kate.
I don't really understand all the comments about the left in Canada, and the support the troops stuff though.
That was a story about Iraq, not Afghanistan. Totally different conflicts, a different enemy, different circumstances.
Drawing parallels between Iraq and Afghanistan only discredits the work that the Canadian military is doing in Afghanistan. If you really want to rally support for our troops in Afghanistan, don't ever mention them in the same breath as Iraq.
Nonsense, Charles J. Those are but two theatres in the same war, and they are just the beginning of a very long struggle.
Powerful.
The title quote made me think about how advanced today's media is compared to only 15 years ago.
In those days, we might have seen this days after the fact, IF the MSM decided we're allowed to...
"Totally different conflicts, a different enemy, different circumstances"
I'm sorry Charlie, but this is all about the global war on terror. The enemy is the same whether it be called al Qaeda or Taliban. It might be a nightclub in Bali or an airport in Glasgow but make no mistake; it is the same frikkin war.
FOX News did talk about this event today. Just thought I'd mention that for all the FOX haters...
Charles J - different conflicts, not. Same enemy. We are all going to face these savages at some point, Americas, Canadians, Europeans, if we want to salvage our culture.
"Freedom fighters" doing what they do best - striking fear and death into the hearts of those that want peace and a chance for a better life. Every night I pray for my fellow serviceman and woman who are over there, regardless of the country they are from, that God watches over them and gives them the strength to engage and destroy AQ and their allies.
I grow tired of libs talking about following the Geneva Convention when it comes to fighting these animals. These beasts have not rules except for one - destroy those who oppose them. They don't give a damn about women, children or the elderly. If we do not engage them now, and destroy them, they will bring their version of justice to London, Paris, Toronto, Washington DC and other places around the world.
God bless Michael Yon for his work, and may he be kept safe.
fmfnavydoc - well stated. They are our best and bravest. Whoever you are, be it US, Canadian, or EU wearing a uniform and on the line against these savages, I wish you the best. You are the most noble among us. Talk is cheap.
Any lefty worms not sickened by the beheading of children, still spewing the moral equivalence or root cause garbage, need to be relegated to the shadows as the degenerates that they are.
Two of the savages in Britain were doctors, process that disgusting fact. The morally bankrupt MSM can't.
There is nothing left not to get unless you are so moral degenerate or self-loathing that you belong with the savages. Any stupid little lefties want to challenge me as to why cameras in Britain, the Patriot Act or Gitmo aren't necessary?
Holy crap, we get a free eye exam, since bloody when? And as for free health care, you people must live in subsidized provinces or territories or something, 'cause I pay off the ole pay check every month for health care in Canada.
fmfnavydoc - well stated. They are our best and bravest. Whoever you are, be it US, Canadian, or EU wearing a uniform and on the line against these savages, I wish you the best. You are the most noble among us. Talk is cheap.
Any lefty worms not sickened by the beheading of children, still spewing the moral equivalence or root cause garbage, need to be relegated to the shadows as the degenerates that they are.
Two of the savages in Britain were doctors, process that disgusting fact. The morally bankrupt MSM can't.
There is nothing left not to get unless you are so moral degenerate or self-loathing that you belong with the savages. Any stupid little lefties want to challenge me as to why cameras in Britain, the Patriot Act or Gitmo aren't necessary?
Note, I did not say our health care is free. Read carefully. I was quoting local news, who'd done streeters. I pay enough taxes to know we pay!!
Is this what happens when you allow illegal imagration into your country and our politicians still want illegal imagration they will try and bring it up again SQUAWK SQUAWK
Michael Ledeen goes on to fault President Bush for not taking steps he deems necessary. I wonder how the situation would have been different if the President had gotten support from the Left, the MSM, and the international community instead of scorn.
A reminder: We have many loyal souls to help in Iraq.. mostly Kurds.
This is one of Michael Yon*s commentors. . .
** Gazi B Zibari,MD, FACS, FICS Says:
It is wonderful to hear from a fair journalist reporting from Iraq.I have been doing medical chairity work annually in Iraqi Kurdistan since first gulf war and I have wittnessed so much prosperity…etc. yet we never hear about that.
I believe the libral media is doing every thing possible to make sure Bush fail in Iraq. They don’t care what happen there after !!!!!!!!!!!
No respect for those who shed their blood for sake of democracy and freedom. I am one of the very few fortunate Kurds who scaped Saddam’s abuse( over fifty % of my high school class mates were not so lucky including my own cousin).
Thanks to Our men and women in uniform, Thanks to our commander in chief Mr Bush, thanks to those parents who lost their loved ones for liberating Kurdistan and now every Kurd will have a chance and will see the light thru tunnel.
God knows how many more mass graves would have been created if people like Ali Chemical were not placed behind close doors. Please, keep up good work. **
========== Michael Yon Blog
= TG