Rossputin.com

Tuesday's big news story from Iraq is about the interview provided by Major General Richard Zelmer, commander of US forces in western Iraq. I find it fascinating on several levels. 1) Given the General's statement that his primary mission is to tra… more »

Christopher Hitchens' article on 9/11/2006 about "what we learned" on that terrible day five years prior is exactly on target and well worth reading: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008926 more »

Here is a fascinating analysis by Stratfor of the current strategic situation facing the US in Iraq, with particular focus on Iran's role and position. It does not leave one with much optimism.... Iraq: The Policy Dilemma By George Friedman, Sep. 5,… more »

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld spoke at an American Legion conference in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, and gave the (presumably sympathetic) room an earful of what, sadly, will be more criticized than appreciated by mainstream media and its viewers/li… more »

see "Gunmen Target Shiite Muslims, Kill 22, Injure Hundreds" (LA Times, 8/20/06) http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq21aug21,0,1874385.story? Count me among the growing camp that sees Iraq sliding off the edge into civil war or so… more »

This guest posting by Christopher represents the point of view of many who have actually read and studied the political and military history of the Middle East, as well as military history in general. ----------- If you are going to fight a war...d… more »

From the AP via WSJ: Associated Press August 17, 2006 12:32 p.m. DETROIT -- A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government's warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it. U.S. District Judge Anna D… more »

Thanks to a friend of mine (whom I'll keep anonymous at this time, including removing his and his family's names from the letter) for sending me this letter. It is from his son's Commanding Officer in Iraq, and is the kind of thing that mainstream media… more »

As the media talks more about the alleged killing of civilians in Haditha by American Marines, a situation which I believe will end badly for America in many ways (worse than Abu Ghraib by a long way, I expect), it is still critical to remember what the… more »

see "Evidence supports Marines deliberately shot Iraqi civilians" (AP via Denver Post, 8/2/06) http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_4126637 As investigators go through the evidence from the deaths of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, it seems to be bec… more »