We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:00:18 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification [FbL here, with another 3ID interview] Thursday morning I spoke by phone for about 40 minutes with Brigadier General Jim Huggins, Deputy Commanding General (maneuver), 3rd Infantry Division, Iraq. The 3ID (Taskforce Marne) is headquarters for MND-C (Multinational Division Central) and has been in Iraq since early last year, conducting operations in south-central Iraq--from just south of Baghdad down to Karbala and Najaf, including the east and west borders of Iraq. The wide-ranging interview covered recent operations, Shia-Sunni relations, the Arbaeen pilgrimage, 3ID's detainee release program, signs of Iranian involvement, Iraqis' desire for provincial elections, and ePRTs/intensive rebuilding efforts. Executive... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:00:28 -0600 Yup. Fascinating. From what I've read about it, the biggest problem had something to do with how much power the national government would have over provincial leaders, but I'm not entirely clear on the subject. But what is exciting to see about the clamor for provincial elections is that after having sat out the 2006 elections, the Sunnis realize how much they erred and are apparently now invested in the idea of representative government. It's another great reason to hope in Iraq's future. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70523 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70523 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:38:37 -0600 Mmm...I keep trying to figure out what was wrong with the provincial law they were trying to pass. It must have given some guarantees of power or seating in the central government that Maliki did not like. But, wow, isn't democracy from the ground up interesting? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70520 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70520 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:25:09 -0600 Yes, that's certainly what everyone's hoping. I've seen some supposed experts say that it's starting to look unlikely that they will be able to have the elections without delaying past October. Let's keep hoping they're wrong! When I asked BG Huggins if he felt there was a limited window of opportunity that the security gains had created and if so, how long he thought it was, it was the elections he pointed to as being something that the people were holding their breath for. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70495 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70495 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:23:59 -0600 FbL, Great roundup, thanks for putting this together. Vice President Mahdi vetoed the Provincial Elections law, but once the parliament resumes session it should get hashed out in short order. Provincial Elections are supposed to be on October 1st. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70479 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/03/live_from_iraq_4.html#comment-70479 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:06:26 -0600