No Man-Eating Badgers in Basra?

The BBC confronts the British military with a tough accusation: "UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." (Via The Corner)

Riiiight! After eight years of Clinton, we in America learned how to parse government denials. So, maybe they *were* badgers, but only mildly ravenous, not completely man-eating. Or maybe they're man-eating wolves, tigers, or rabbits, not badgers. Or (and I think this is most likely) they *have* released man-eating badgers, but into the neighboring ZIP-code, rather than into Basra proper, and who cares if a few sneak into town on weekends?

I wish the British military had instead answered him, "Badgers? Badgers?! We don't need no stinkin' badgers!!

Tony Blair's exit

(Former) Prime Minister Tony Blair has resigned, to a standing ovation in the House of Commons, from both parties (Tory leader David Cameron got the opposition to rise, as well). A unique occurrence, from what I heard on the BBC. Blair is/was a "Third Way" politician who tried to transform the Labour party into something more centrist, much like Bill Clinton did in the Democratic Leadership Council here. At the same time, he changed so much of Britain's political character during his premiership, not all of it for the better. Still, we Americans will probably remember him best for his strong backbone on Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite fierce opposition in his own country, indeed in his own party, he agreed that these wars were the right things to do, and he stuck with us, even when Iraq became unpopular.

Archbishop Cranmer, no fan of Blair's in general, has a rather fascinating review of his legacy. Fascinating, because Cranmer criticises him in strong terms, and in the same post, has gentle words of praise and concludes that history will judge him better.

We'll see in a few years. I wish him well.

Al Qaeda leader in Iraq may be dead

Breaking news--some reports that Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed in a battle between al Qaeda and some insurgents today. No confirmation yet from US forces, but I bet we'll be scrambling to find out for sure.

It's especially nice to hear that the fighting was between our two enemy groups. The more they hate each other, the better for the Iraqis and the Americans.

Let's see how this goes...

B-1 over Baghdad

Pajamas Media is reporting (with a photo!) the appearance of a B-1 bomber patrolling Baghdad's skies in daylight. This has apparently not happened since 2003, so it's something new.

I hope this is part of The Surge, which would mean it's already started, regardless of what the Congress wants. Sadr and his minions have apparently fled to Iran to avoid getting JDAMed. The Surge is having good effects, even before the troops arrive. We've got a great opportunity, here. We need to press our advantage while the enemy is scared.

If the Democrats and weak-willed Republicans kill this, I'll be very upset. If we have a chance for victory and they steal it from us... [grumble]

Mookie Flees to Iran!

(via Glenn Reynolds) Wow--I didn't see that coming. I'm happy, though. Think it has anything to do with The Surge? Hmmm...

"He is scared he will get a JDAM [bomb] dropped on his house." Yes, well, that does have a way of concentrating the mind.

I do wish that we'd managed to simply arrest the guy a long time ago, though. The whole trouble with this trouble-maker started when we tried to arrest him as an accessory to murder, I think. Then he started rousing a rabble against us to try to distract us from getting him.

Captain Ed comments, "Well, so much for the whole 72 virgins thing and the radical Islamist desire to die in martyrdom." I noticed that with respect to, say, Yassir Arafat, too. These guys play up the glory of self-martyrdom, but why don't they want to share in that glory, themselves? [Yes, this is a rhetorical question. Give me some credit.--ed]

So The Surge hasn't even been done yet, but it's had its first success. Reminds me of my dad's comments on Reagan's SDI plans. It wasn't ever implemented, and yet it succeeded in fatally crippling the whole Soviet Union.