The MountainGoat Report

Another Local Gone

From the Idaho Press-Tribune: 

• Boise soldier killed in Iraq

Also from the Idaho Statesman: 

• Borah High grad died in heavy fighting in Iraq where Emmett soldier died a day before

Emmett Soldier Killed In Iraq

The Emmett Messenger Index is reporting that an Emmett soldier was killed in a rocket attack in Iraq Sunday.  The details are currently limited but read their report here.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Baghdad rocket attacks included separate attacks on the Green Zone and on a U.S. base in the eastern part of the city amid renewed violence over the weekend.

Idahoans Mark War's Fifth Anniversary

Yesterday, across southern Idaho, people gathered to mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion with peace rallies in Boise, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls, joining groups from around the country calling for an end to the war.

Idaho Democrats seeking federal offices this year, Senate candidate Larry LaRocco and 1st District Congressional candidates, Walt Minnick and Larry Grant, marked the occasion with statements.

Full statements after the jump.

Tweaking In Remembrance

After a trial period of daily tributes acknowledging U.S. military members who have died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, I've tweaked the idea just a bit.  Okay, I've tweaked it a lot.  I've created a new blog for this project called In Remembrance - A tribute to the fallen. 

The idea is to acknowledge the service and sacrifice being made by military members and their families while keeping the focus of MGR on Idaho politics.  In Remembrance will continue the daily posts of the fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan and will also include some profiles and more in-depth posts on some of the service members.  The point is to put names and faces with the numbers (3833 in Iraq and 449 in Afghanistan as of today) and to honor and acknowledge their grieving families.

I've included a link in the left sidebar under the Issues heading.  Hope to see you there. 

In Remembrance 10.22.07

Remembering these service members who paid the ultimate price on the anniversary of their deaths in Iraq:

1. John P. Johnson, 24, Army Specialist, Oct 22, 2003, Houston, Texas
2. Jason M. Ward, 25, Army Private, Oct 22, 2003, Tulsa, Oklahoma
3. Jonathan E. Gadsden, 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 22, 2004, Charleston, South Carolina
4. George T. Alexander Jr., 34, Army Staff Sergeant, Oct 22, 2005, Killeen, Texas
5. Nathaniel A. Aguirre, 21, Army Specialist, Oct 22, 2006, Carrollton, Texas
6. Matthew W. Creed, 23, Army Specialist, Oct 22, 2006, Covina, California
7. Willsun M. Mock, 23, Army Sergeant, Oct 22, 2006, Harper, Kansas
8. Nicholas K. Rogers, 27, Army Specialist, Oct 22, 2006, Deltona, Florida
9. David G. Taylor, 37, Army Major, Oct 22, 2006, Apex, North Carolina

No deaths in Afghanistan on this date.

Info from Iraq Coalition Casualties.  Photo courtesy Tara A. Rowe, The Political Game.

In Remembrance 10.21.07

Remembering these service members who paid the ultimate price on the anniversary of their deaths in Iraq:

1. Paul J. Bueche, 19, Army National Guard Private 1st Class, Oct 21, 2003, Daphne, Alabama
2. Kenneth J. Butler, 19, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 21, 2005, Rowan, North Carolina
3. Benny Gray Cockerham III, 21, Marine Corporal, Oct 21, 2005, Conover, North Carolina
4. Tyler B. Swisher, 35, Marine Captain, Oct 21, 2005, Cincinnati, Ohio
5. Seamus M. Davey, 25, Marine Reserve Corporal, Oct 21, 2005, Lewis, New York
6. Christopher W. Thompson, 25, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class, Oct 21, 2005, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 
7. Tony L. Knier, 31, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Oct 21, 2006, Sabinsville, Pennsylvania
8. Clifford R. Collinsworth, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 21, 2006, Chelsea, Michigan
9. Nathan R. Elrod, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 21, 2006, Salisbury, North Carolina
10. Eric W. Herzberg, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 21, 2006, Severna Park, Maryland
11. Nicholas J. Manoukian, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 21, 2006, Lathrup Village, Michigan
12. Joshua C. Watkins, 25, Marine Corporal, Oct 21, 2006, Jacksonville, Florida

And in Afghanistan:

1. Jesse M. Samek, 21, Air Force Airman 1st Class, Oct. 21, 2004, Rogers, Arkansas

Info from Iraq Coalition Casualties.  Photo courtesy Tara A. Rowe, The Political Game.

In Remembrance 10.20.07

Remembering these service members who paid the ultimate price on the anniversary of their deaths in Iraq:

1. Paul J. Johnson, 29, Army Staff Sergeant, Oct 20, 2003, Calumet, Michigan
2. Douglas E. Bascom, 25, Marine (IRR) Sergeant, Oct 20, 2004, Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Jacob D. Dones, 21, Army Sergeant, Oct 20, 2005, Dimmitt, Texas
4. Dennis P. Merck, 38, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Oct 20, 2005, Evans, Georgia
5. Richard T. Pummill, 27, Marine Staff Sergeant, Oct 20, 2005, Cincinnati, Ohio
6. Andrew D. Russoli, 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 20, 2005, Greensboro, North Carolina
7. Steven W. Szwydek, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 20, 2005, Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania
8. Kevin M. Witte, 27, Army Staff Sergeant, Oct 20, 2006, Beardsley, Minnesota

No deaths in Afghanistan on this date.

Info from Iraq Coalition Casualties.

In Remembrance 10.19.07

Remembering these service members who paid the ultimate price on the anniversary of their deaths in Iraq:

1. Daniel D. Bartels, 22, Army Specialist, Oct 19, 2005, Huron, South Dakota
2. Arthur A. Mora Jr., 23, Army Sergeant, Oct 19, 2005, Pico Rivera, California
3. Russell H. Nahvi, 24, Army Specialist, Oct 19, 2005, Arlington, Texas
4. Jose E. Rosario, 20, Army Specialist, Oct 19, 2005, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
5. Tommy Ike Folks Jr., 31, Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, Oct 19, 2005, Amarillo, Texas
6. Kendall K. Frederick, 21, Army Reserve Sergeant, Oct 19, 2005, Randallstown, Maryland
7. Norman W. Anderson III, 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 19, 2005, Parkton, Maryland
8. Edwardo Lopez Jr., 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Oct 19, 2006, Aurora, Illinois

Info from Iraq Coalition Casualties.

In Remembrance 10.18.07

[Note:  Starting a new daily feature at MGR.  Each day I'll post a list of service members who paid the ultimate price on that day in Iraq.  This feature will stay on top of the blog each day.  That's the plan anyway; we'll see how it goes.]

Remembering these service members on the anniversary of their deaths in Iraq:

1. David R. Bernstein, 24, Army 1st Lieutenant, Oct 18, 2003, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
2. John D. Hart, 20, Army Private 1st Class, Oct 18, 2003, Bedford, Massachusetts
3. Andrew C. Ehrlich, 21, Army Specialist, Oct 18, 2004, Mesa, Arizona
4. Lucas A. Frantz, 22, Army Corporal, Oct 18, 2005, Tonganoxie, Kansas
5. Jesus M. Montalvo, 46, Army Staff Sergeant, Oct 18, 2006, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
6. Jose R. Perez, 21, Army Corporal, Oct 18, 2006, Ontario, California
7. Daniel A. Brozovich, 42, Army National Guard Sergeant 1st Class, Oct 18, 2006, Greenville, Pennsylvania

Info from Iraq Coalition Casualties.

Whose Success?

As most everyone is aware, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker were on Capitol Hill today testifying before a joint session of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Relations Committee on progress in Iraq. [Video at CSPAN] There will be many headlines coming from these hearings but leaving aside for a moment the most glaring observation, that these proceedings and the commander giving the assessment were four years past due, listening to the hearing reinforced this notion:  No amount of U.S. military force will bring peace to Iraq.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker reinforced that notion, maybe unintentionally, when recounting their self-described "sobering assessment."  Both listed the post-surge surprising successes in Sunni dominated Al Anbar Province as one of the few highlights of progress in Iraq and evidence that the change of tactics were showing signs of success.

From General Petraeus' statement [pdf - emphasis added]:

The most significant development in the past six months likely has been the increasing emergence of tribes and local citizens rejecting Al Qaeda and other extremists.  This has, of course, been most visible in Anbar Province.  A year ago the province was assessed as "lost" politically.  Today, it is a model of what happens when local leaders and citizens decide to oppose Al Qaeda and reject its Taliban-like ideology.

This is what the general and ambassador were holding up as success:  The Iraqis choosing to oppose Al Qaeda made the difference in the security of Anbar Province.  By their own words, this "success" did not come about from a surge in troops.  If the truth of that statement doesn't smack you in the face as evidence that our military presence will not determine the future of Iraq, what will. 

The Iraqis must choose for themselves.  The United States, and by extension the U.S. military, by sheer force of will cannot make that choice for them. 

Stop the War or Reinstate the Draft

Last week, Idaho's congressional delegation, made up entirely of Republicans, voted to continue the Iraq war indefinitely by giving the president additional war funding without accompanying conditions for troop withdrawals.  Essentially the Idaho delegation told members of our all-volunteer military, some of whom are on their third and fourth combat tours, that they haven't sacrificed enough. 

If Senator Larry Craig, Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Mike Simpson and Congressman Bill Sali feel so strongly that this war is vital to national security they should require the sacrifice to be shared more equally and reinstate the draft. 

I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Retired Marine Corps officer, Major Edward F. Palm, writing in the Marine Corps Times says "Enough is enough."  It is really a great piece that should be read in its entirety but here's a tiny snip: 

[T]hat leaves it to us, the Vietnam generation, to reclaim our birthright and to answer CCR’s question, telling the nation how much our sons and daughters, and even our grandsons and granddaughters, should give.

The answer: They’ve given more than enough. It’s time to reinstate the draft or to end the war.

If Idaho's delegation is really interested in getting the troops the help they need, and they all say they are, they will ask the American people to share in the sacrifice and call for a draft.  Either that or end this war.  Anything less is an insult to those and their families who are serving and have already sacrificed so much.

Idahoan's Ignorance on Video

I'm sure most everyone has heard about the unfortunate friendly fire incident that's recently come to light involving two Gowen Field pilots who mistakenly fired on a British convoy.  That directly led to the death of a British soldier.  The Idaho Statesman has a story today about how one Idahoan's comments to a British television station have created a backlash.

Eldon Anderson is a Vietnam War veteran and neighbor of an Idaho Air National Guard A-10 pilot thought to be involved in a 2003 friendly-fire incident in Iraq that left a British soldier dead.   [...]

Many Britons took umbrage with Anderson's comments, which prompted a volley of e-mails to the Idaho Statesman from England and other parts of the globe.

See the video of Anderson's interview for yourself.

I would assert that most Idahoans do view the incident as an unfortunate accident and are saddened by the recent reports.  I'd like to think, however, that most Idahoans don't share Anderson's narrow-minded views of the British, the U.S.'s closest ally for at least the last 100 years.   Am I wrong?

Update 02.13.07 12:05:  Quite a heated debate going on at New West including an interesting comment from the individual in question.  Go read it all if you're interested...here's a little bit from Mr. Anderson's comment:

What did I say?

The British media, the BBC, The Sun and many others invaded our neighborhood investigating a story on friendly fire as if it was intentional and covered up. They were on my property uninvited. They were looking for a close neighbor of mine. They settled for me.

After wading through them like crickets on a hot summer day for at least 48 hours one reporter finally pushed the right button. I let him have it. They published an impromptu statement. But they published the parts they wanted not the entire statement. Our press does the same so why be surprised.

The discussion, not surprisingly, has somewhat segued into a broader discussion on past and current war.  I say not surprisingly due to the current debate on the Iraq War Resolution in the House of Representatives today that's finally reflecting some of the debate that's been occurring throughout the country.

Update 02.14.07 14:21:  Originally I attributed Mr. Anderson's remarks to his being frustrated, ignorant and thoughtless.  I'm not ready to dismiss that conclusion yet but apparently he believes that this whole episode was a well-designed, coordinated attack on the media and liberals.  From his latest, he says last, comment at New West:

I have waited a long time to get a chance at the media and to pull an inverse and diversionary move on them. To show them and the public what fluff headline grabbers they really are. To point out that there is not a journalist among them, and to show what a disservice they actually perform.

If offended any of you thin skinned and most proper Brits out there with my remarks please don’t take offense. You were just part of the bate, I needed the headline. But on the other hand if the shoe fits wear it.

Apparently he is saying that he did the whole thing on purpose.  That tactic and admission, if true, is even more despicable.

Update 02.15.07 06:58:  Jill at New West has confirmed that the commenter at her site is in fact Eldon Anderson who remains defiant about not making an apology.  Read more.

New Course in Iraq: Wait for it ...

Eerily reminiscent of the wasted minutes President Bush spent analyzing My Pet Goat with Florida school kids, we now must wait until after the New Year for Bush to decide on a new course in Iraq.  Meanwhile this "time out" to figure out a new Iraq plan leaves the U.S. military in limbo as casualties continue to grow, 2950 as of 12.19.06.

A few months ago we were waiting until after the election to change course, with Bush absurdly claiming that he didn't want to be accused of using the war for political purposes.  The election came and went, along with SecDef Donald Rumsfeld which nearly everyone but Dick Cheney reveled in, but the course change never came. 

Then we were waiting for the Iraq Study Group report.  With such a wise cadre of bipartisan advisers judiciously studying the situation, it seemed only logical to wait for their conclusions.  But like a petulant child, upon hearing their recommendations and dismissing their conclusions, he apparently intends to do the exact opposite.  Apparently he's planning to send more troops and will make that announcement sometime next year. 

So, "Stay the Course" became "Wait for the Course," meanwhile soldiers are dying.

Grave and Deteriorating: Iraq Study Group Report

With the release of the Iraq Study Group report, I suppose it would be appropriate to post a response. 

First a little disclosure.  I served in the Marine Corps, two years of which were spent under Commander in Chief George H. W. Bush, and was honorably discharged in 1990 prior to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait that summer.  I voluntarily returned to service as a reservist in September of '90 and my reserve unit was activated and deployed overseas during Desert Storm, although I spent those months training in Camp Pendleton.  The war was over before I completed my training; my mother is still thankful for that.  So keep in mind that I have a deep respect for all the members of the military, especially the Marines, who are currently serving in Iraq.

In browsing the executive summary from the report, apparently the ISG has come to the conclusion that Iraq is a FUBAR of the highest order.  They use the word "grave and deteriorating" but it's something the majority of us have known for quite some time.  The group's emphasis on improving diplomacy is encouraging.

Our most important recommendations call for new and enhanced diplomatic and political efforts in Iraq and the region, and a change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the United States to begin to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly.  We believe that these two recommendations are equally important and reinforce one another.

But they also acknowledge that none of the options remaining for the U.S. are particularly good.

During the past nine months we have considered a full range of approaches for moving forward.  All have flaws.  Our recommended course has shortcomings, but we firmly believe that it includes the best strategies and tactics to positively influence the outcome in Iraq and the region.

And in their view, not implementing the entire package of recommendations would be disastrous for Iraq.

It is the unanimous view of the Iraq Study Group that these recommendations offer a new way forward for the United states in Iraq and the region.  They are comprehensive and need to be implemented in a coordinated fashion.  They should not be separated or carried out in isolation.  The dynamics of the region are as important to Iraq as events within Iraq.

It will be interesting to see if this President Bush listens to any of the recommendations of the group, made up in a large part, of his father's advisers.

Not having read the entire report yet, there isn't really much more to say.  Perhaps if this Iraq Study Group Report had been commissioned and released even one year ago, things would be different.  Tragically, my opinion still remains, as I posted in a comment on another site, that the U.S. in Iraq is like a bull in a china store.  One wouldn't expect that a bull running through a china store would really be able to clean up the mess.  The best thing that bull (the U.S.) could do is leave the store. 

Apparently the Iraqi people feel the same way.  From Crooks and Liars:  New Survey shows Iraqis want the Troops to leave...