Iraq | Hope is Not a Foreign Policy

Posts Tagged ‘Iraq’

Friday, July 9th, 2010 at 2:23pm

Mattis is a Great Pick to be CENTCOM Commander

Posted by Tom Skypek in Afghanistan, American Foreign Policy, Iraq

U.S. Marine Corps General James N. Mattis, who currently serves as the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command, has been selected to lead U.S. Central Command. This is an outstanding pick by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Mattis is an exemplary general officer and a true strategic thinker. Not surprisingly, the mainstream media is beating up on Mattis for some comments he’s made in the past about warfare. His remarks were candid and, unfortunately, have been taken out of context. One misleading headline reads: “James Mattis: ‘It’s fun to shoot some people.’” Here’s the context for the quote:

You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years, because they didn’t wear a veil. You know guys like that ain’t…

No Comments Tags: Afghanistan, CENTCOM, Central Command, Iraq, James N. Mattis, JFCOM, Robert Gates, USMC

Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 11:59am

Insurgents Hack U.S. Predator Drones with $26 Software Package

Posted by Tom Skypek in Cyber Warfare, Iraq

Unreal.

No Comments Tags: Insurgents Hack Predator, Iraq

Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 6:13am

Economics and Foreign Policy

Posted by Christine Willett in American Foreign Policy, Iraq, The American Presidency

“If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets, they have the same impact on the American people as any other institution.” With this statement, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson provided European and Canadian financial institutions the possibility of an infusion of American taxpayer dollars as part of the proposed $700 billion Wall Street Bail Out Plan. This aspect of the plan highlights the close ties between economic and foreign policy issues.

The foreign policy gorilla in the economic room…

No Comments Tags: Afghanistan, Economics, Economy, Foreign Policy, Henry Paulson, Iraq, Wall Street Bail Out

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 5:35pm

Gen. Petraeus Leaves Iraq, Prepares to Assume Command of CENTCOM

Posted by Tom Skypek in Iraq

From the AP:

Gen. David Petraeus, whose strategy for countering the Iraq insurgency is credited by many with rescuing the country from all-out civil war, stepped aside Tuesday as Gen. Ray Odierno took over as the top American commander of the conflict.

At a traditional change-of-command ceremony attended by top Iraqi and American military and civilian officials, Petraeus said that Odierno‘s skills and experience make him “the perfect man for the job.

Gen. Petraeus has done outstanding work in Iraq over the last 20 months. He took command in…

No Comments Tags: CENTCOM, David Petraeus, Iraq

Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 6:25pm

“…the surge has succeeded…”

Posted by Tom Skypek in The American Presidency

Sen. Obama finally-finally-acknowledged that the troop surge in Iraq has helped to reduce violence. Yesterday, Obama told Bill O’Reilly, “I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated. I’ve already said it’s succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.” In “way that nobody anticipated”? Are you kidding me? What about John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham?

Today, Gov. Sarah Palin aptly noted,

Just last night Senator Obama finally broke and brought himself to admit what all the rest of us have known for quite some time, and that’s: thanks to the skill and valor of our troops, the surge in Iraq has succeeded. Senator Obama said that the surge, quote, “succeeded beyond our…

1 Comment Tags: Bill O'Reilly Interview, Iraq, Sarah Palin, Surge

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 4:35pm

New Vets for Freedom Ad: “I am the Surge”

Posted by Tom Skypek in American Foreign Policy, Iraq, The American Presidency

Vets for Freedom has launched a new television ad which will run beginning tomorrow in “the Denver media market this week, Minneapolis next week, and in Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, and Colorado in the weeks to come,” according to an e-mail sent out today to supporters of the organization.

From Vets for Freedom Chairman Pete Hegseth:

The thirty-second spot features three VFF members–all of which were part of the Surge–who can personally attest to success in Iraq; all three asking Senator Obama–point blank–to support their success, and the success of all troops, by supporting the bi-partisan resolution introduced by Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham recognizing the success of the Surge and expressing gratitude to the men and women who made it…

No Comments Tags: Iraq, Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, Senate Resolution 636, The Surge, Vets for Freedom

Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 10:47am

Sen. Obama Commences Flip-Flop on Iraq

Posted by Tom Skypek in Iraq, The American Presidency

The Obama campaign continues to use surrogates to attack Sen. McCain’s record of service in order to deflect the mounting criticism of Sen. Obama’s newfound willingness to shift positions on Iraq. Preempting the inevitable flurry of flip-flop charges against Sen. Obama, Sen. Kerry was on Face the Nation yesterday calling Sen. McCain a flip-flopper: “…John McCain has flip-flopped on more issues than, you know, I was even ever accused possibly of thinking about. I mean, this is extraordinary, what he’s done.” Sen. Kerry’s charges are laughable–this coming from the guy who voted for the war before he voted against.

Sen. Obama’s position on Iraq is evolving. Throughout…

1 Comment Tags: Cut-and-Run, Iraq, John Kerry, MoveOn.org, The Huffington Post