July 24, 2005
Muslims in Egypt Protest Invasion of Iraq
[editor’s note: this post was “pasted” in — it appeared originally at the old Dawson’s Danube site, which is archived here.]
At least I assume that’s the reason behind the attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh.
In all seriousness, some guy interviewed on CNN International — I guess he was an Egyptian journalist or an Egyptologist or something important like that (he had an Arab name) — did indeed blame the invasion of Iraq. Though he half-heartedly conceded that some attacks such as the one in Luxor (1997) occurred long before the invasion of Iraq, he asserts the existence of a general instability in the region caused by the American invasion of Iraq.
Readers will no doubt recall how quiet and stable the region was prior to 2003.
July 11, 2005
Getting tired of insurgents
[editor’s note: this post was “pasted” in — it appeared originally at the old Dawson’s Danube site, which is archived here.]
Story of a Marine take-down team, from JD’s blog at Faces from the Front. Here’s part:
“He’s going to lead us to him,” the intelligence officer said, pointing to an erect and dignified looking Iraqi man, “he’s one of the tribal elders and is sick and tired of Yassir and his family. He could be playing us. He could be getting us to settle a score with a rival clan. Stay sharp. We want this guy alive. But if you have to . . .” he trailed off.
The take down team understood.
The dignified looking tribal elder took off his keffiya and put on a kevlar helmet. The blouse from one of the vehicle commanders went over his dishdasha. When he sat in a humvee, he looked like an old Gunny on his last tour.
The villagers were scared of Yassir and his comrades in The Green Battalion, and with good reason, in addition to car bombs and murdering Italians on video, the Green Battalion’s affilates had murdered a few Imams that supported the coaltion.
But the older man was not afraid. He was tired. Tired of the terrorists. He was glad Saddam was gone, and would be happy when it was all over and he and his clan could get back to raising a few crops and a few sheep in peace.
Dressed like a Marine from the waist up, the Iraqi man climbed into the Humvee. With Tony and Lt. Gobin. He waved pensivly at his extended family. The men just stared. A few children waved, and tears rolled down the cheek of an older woman.
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