What a turn of events

A recent article about the security situation in Iraq. Money quote:

Muqtada al-Sadr, a prominent Iraqi Shia leader, has blamed the recent surge of violence on US plans to withdraw its troops from Iraqi streets.

Pretty ridiculous when one considers that before the surge, al-Sadr on many occasions blamed the violence on the American occupation.

The best plan for victory

...ideally shouldn't bank on one's enemy doing something really stupid. Such as, for example, trying to conquer Pakistan. Especially so when the Pakistani side of the border is where said enemy's supplies, reinforcements, and safe havens are.

Defeating the Taliban without the serious help of the Pakistanis would be extremely difficult. Thankfully, the Taliban seem to have done us a huge favor here. It won't be as easy fighting Nato in the West when the Pakistani army is coming simultaneously from the East.