Category Archives: Iraq

Iraq through the lens.

I discovered the “conflict photographer” Benjamin Lowy thanks to The New Yorker Magazine: “It took years for me to get a book from Iraq published. I had to win an award to do it because no one wanted to publish … Continue reading

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“YOUR COUNTRYMEN OWE YOU THEIR FREEDOM AND THEIR SECURITY. THEY SLEEP SAFELY AT NIGHT AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS DURING THE DAY BECAUSE YOU STAND THE WATCH AND PROTECT THEM.”

Secretary of Defense Gates’ message to the troops upon his retirement.

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The Iraq transition.

Something stunning to ponder: The planned 17,000 civilian personnel (including personal security contractors) will be a lot less than what DOD has in country right now, but it is larger than the entire Foreign Service which has approximately 6,500 Foreign … Continue reading

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Richard “Ricky” Gilleland III’s Preserve and Honor.

On this Memorial Day, it bears repeating:  it only takes one person to make a difference! Richard “Ricky” Gilleland III‘s website preserveandhonor.com provides solace and comfort and dignity to the families and friends of fallen soldiers.  Read about it here … Continue reading

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Memorial Day and the war in Iraq.

Walter Russell Mead writes a moving account, reflecting on how to commemorate those who gave up their lives defending their country: The story of America’s victory over terror in Mesopotamia needs to be told. In justice to those who sacrificed … Continue reading

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The power of one: a tech-savvy teenager with a heart.

Richard “Ricky” Gilleland III manages to help the families of the fallen soldiers, and puts to shame bureaucrats and others who, either through malfeasance, inertia, or sheer lack of empathy, wounded the noble image of Arlington Cemetery: “May I ask … Continue reading

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Thank you!

“I’m coming home”… via Farrell’s Fight.

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Women’s role in Iraqi cultural life.

This is uplifting, at least for me, for this kind of exhibit could happen in any peaceful city… From RFE/RL:

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Arabian Nights, Roger Sandall and the treasure hunt of the Internet…

I do feel wiser today than I was yesterday, so I think Abraham Lincoln would approve. Today, thanks to a concise Instapundit entry, I discovered Roger Sandall and his intriguing  Arabian Nights, Baghdad Days — romancing the Middle East.   There … Continue reading

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Traumatic Brain Injury, and our soldiers.

Victor L. Medina is a Combat Wounded Soldier recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury. NPR interviewed him, and below is his story:

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Anglers’ delight, redux…

Reading about our new “Carp Czar” reminded me of an old blog entry of Kenneth’s, when he was in Iraq: March 20, 2008 Anglers delight! Fish farming in Babil? Sgt. Terry Alan Horn with his 50 lb. Iraqi carp. Today … Continue reading

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Soldiers coming home.

This little montage of pure emotion humbles me into realizing how much our soldiers and their families are giving up for all of us. Thanks to The DC.

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The rule of law and Iraq…

Lawrence Kelly on what it was like to be a rule of law advisor for a provincial reconstruction team in Iraq.

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Iraqi travelers get road access.

Some of the things Kenneth’s PRT has done that go unreported: Coalition forces opened two lanes of traffic along Main Supply Route Tampa for use by Iraqi travelers during a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday. This move comes as more security … Continue reading

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Move over, Robert Langdon: Iraqi Teen Solves 300-Year-Old Math Puzzle in Four Months!!!!

I’m in awe of this story, because my mathematical skills are so deficient. In just four months, Mohamed Altoumaimi has found a formula to explain and simplify the so-called Bernoulli numbers, a sequence of calculations named after the 17th century … Continue reading

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