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/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:55:33 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification "We're close to that." - MG Rick Lynch, Commanding General, 3ID/MND-C As outlined in Part I, the shift in security in 3ID's Area of Operations since they arrived has been startling. The biggest reason attacks are down to less than two per day is that there are simply fewer hardliners left to cause problems. In the last year, reports MG Lynch, 3ID has killed or captured over 6,000 al Qaeda terrorists and insurgents in the AO. But though attacks are down sharply, Lynch refers to the security situation as "tenuous" because he considers the enemy still capable of isolated spectacular... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html Tue, 13 May 2008 06:05:19 -0600 the Iraqi Army is comprised of 14 brigade-size units that MG Lynch considers near fully functional. "In the majority of cases, they are capable of planning and executing operations on their own," MG Lynch reported. "All they need is logistic or supply support. [There are] several provinces where they are fully in the lead, including Wasit and al Kut." That is interesting. I would assume that the IA and ISF would need to secure those supply lines and supply depots with some sort of air power. This coincidently is part of Bill’s role. I would guess that IA would have to be trained and Trusted with expensive and quite lethal aircraft and radar gear (we would not want them retaliating against their own people to settle old scores – or being infiltrated by AQ and launching air attacks against coalition forces. A secure Air Force is not impossible in Iraq – but how long will it take to build? Btw, keep up the good reporting Fbl. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html#comment-73047 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html#comment-73047 Thu, 15 May 2008 03:26:03 -0600 leave the guns, take the schwarma... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html#comment-72978 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/mg_lynch_part_i.html#comment-72978 Tue, 13 May 2008 10:25:14 -0600