Oh yeah, McInsane? The 'surge' was a smashing success and we're definitely winning in Iraq...? Once again, what are we winning, McInsane...? *Aaaarrrghhh*

Okay, I feel better... Today, Aswat Aliraq had two interesting articles, this one talks about the Amara Operation, here's some key snippets...

"Iraqi military forces will conduct the combat missions planned for the coming few days, according to Fardh al-Qanoon (Law Imposing) plan, and without the presence of foreign forces," General Abdul-Kareem Khalaf told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI). "The Foreign forces' duty will be consultative, due to the amount of Iraqi forces present," he said. "Concentration will be on the National Police Command under the leadership of Major General Hussein al-Awadi, and the MOI's special forces under the leadership of Brigadier Noaman Ali, with the participation of the scorpion forces, fast response forces, supported by the Iraqi air force," he said.

GG briefed me about the Police Chief firing I mentioned yesterday...

A detail that's helpful about the replaced police chief:

"Staff Brigadier Saad Ali Aati to replace Major General Ali Waham as the police chief in Missan"

Saba says that the replacement is an army man not Interior ministry and that getting rid of the police chief was probably part of the deal that the Sadrist clerics there to make sure things go relatively peacefully made with Maliki.

Also from the article...

"Preparations were completed to implement the law imposing plan, as 15 MOI field commanders arrived in Missan," he added. "Thursday is the plan's official D-Day," he noted, hoping that the plan will be executed smoothly, with the support of residents in the province. Khalaf called on gunmen to exploit the opportunity that the government offered them, to surrender and handover their guns. "Otherwise, security forces will track them down, wherever they go, as everyone is under the law's authority, regardless of position or affiliation."

Sounds like they mean it... 15 Field Commanders and the Iraqi Air Force... I had a good chuckle over that fanciful notion... Anyways, Shrub made the headlines too...

Baghdad, Jun 16, (VOI) - U.S. President George Bush on Monday announced the withdrawal of 30,000 troops next July, highlighting that any further withdrawal of the troops will depend on the security conditions in the country.

Two things struck me as odd... First, that's not a 'withdrawal' of troops, it's merely not replacing the troops that were scheduled to rotate home... And, second of all, and the best part; Shrub Will Not Be In Office...!!!

Ironically, he said this while pleading to Brown...

This came during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London. The U.S. president linked any further withdrawal of U.S. forces with the improvement of Iraqi forces’ capabilities and their abilities to bear more responsibilities, as well as the economic improvement and more progress regarding political reconciliation. “This strategy aims at handing Iraqis more responsibilities,” Bush said. For his part, Brown denied any impact of the political argument on his government’s stance. “There is a work to do in Iraq and we will continue our work,” Brown added, stressing that he would not outline any time table for British forces withdrawal.He highlighted that his forces realized more progress in Iraq as well as the Iraqi forces. Reports have been circulated over possible British withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2008. Brown also said during a press conference last week that he will deliver a speech on British forces' deployment in Iraq before the parliament's recess.

But, Brownie, didn't the Dec. 07 turnover of Basra turn out just swimmingly...? 20 Jan, 2009, is just not coming quick enough...!