Baghdad Neighborhood Turns from Apocalypic to Full of Life
Friday, December 21, 2007 at 04:36PM The 82nd ABN walks down streets in Baghdad’s Adimya district, Iraq, engaging the locals and making relationships that help bring security to the neighborhoods. This is successful counterinsurgency; promoting relationships with the locals, winning their trust and showing that the U.S. is there to help Iraqis help themselves, not to occupy their country.
In what the 82nd ABN describes as “neighborhoods that once resembled post apocalyptic movie sets”, Adimya is now “teaming with life.”
HOOAH!
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Counterinsurgency,
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Reader Comments (48)
Hey Amy, do you remember your ignorant, hateful, horrible, nasty, disgusting and un-Christian comment you made a few weeks ago:
"You know, liberalism is a greater threat to freedom, democracy and human rights than these detainees. Maybe we should consider a swap."
Do you remember that filth?
Well, your Malkin nomination has made it to a poll on Andrew Sullivan's blog.
I voted for ya, and I hope you win. 'Cause I know that your vanity loves receiving awards.
You see, you don't have a chance where you nominate yourself for blog awards (yes, I have seen you nominate yourself), so perhaps you might have a chance at winning this award. Currently Michael Savage is kicking your tail. You are in good company. I'll bet you're proud.
Yes, I know that you think being compared to Malkin is a compliment, but it isn't. She is a revolting human being. You never want to be like her.
My vanity? I didn't nominate myself, Pedro. Silke pointed it out to me weeks ago. I'm proud of what I said and stand by it.
Notice I said "liberalism", not "liberals". I made that distinction on purpose. In your case, though, not so much.
Really? Where/when have I ever nominated myself for an award?
You're just jealous because you don't have any military awards. :) You probably wouldn't know this, but other people nominate a candidate and all my awards were done without my knowledge or consent. I'm proud of every one of them because they represent to me that I've made a difference to military families and soldiers. I think it's an important part of who I am and I'm happy to have served in the manner I have.
I don't like Michael Savage at all, but I think you're worse.
The obvious point here really is that you change the subject of the post. Since you cannot be happy for the people of Iraq, you use the forum to detract from their progress. That's pretty sad.
My vanity? I didn't nominate myself, Pedro. Silke pointed it out to me weeks ago.
I am not talking about Andrew Sullivan's poll. He nominates outrageous rightwing comments every week. Your comment just happened to make the six comments that are being being voted on. This nasty comment even got front page quoting to provide the lead-in to the poll.
One of the brightest and most intelligent conservative minds regards you as an extremist.
I'm proud of what I said and stand by it.
I suppose I can understand the callous, selfish disregard of rightwingers. It's their pride in it that passes me by.
Notice I said "liberalism", not "liberals". I made that distinction on purpose. In your case, though, not so much.
That lame justification just makes your comment even more poisonous. Your justification makes your comment appear to be a metaphor for sending anyone to a gulag who expresses a liberal thought. This is what brutal tyrants do.
Is this your vision for those Iraqi people you feign sympathy for?
Really? Where/when have I ever nominated myself for an award?
Right here, sister. It's about a dozen comments down from the top. It's got your name all over it, and it uses the third-person language of self-promotion seen in your bio. I suppose it could be someone else doing it using your name, but I truly do believe the post was made by you.
You probably wouldn't know this, but other people nominate a candidate and all my awards were done without my knowledge or consent.
I don't doubt that. But to your critics, it appears to be a less-than-humble attempt at self-promotion.
"I'm proud of every one of them because they represent to me that I've made a difference to military families and soldiers. I think it's an important part of who I am and I'm happy to have served in the manner I have."
I don't say this sarcastically. But I really do believe that you have earned them. While you project a cold black heart in this blog, I know that you are capable of being compassionate and thoughtful person to those you have a genuine interest in.
I don't like Michael Savage at all, but I think you're worse.
You are just saying that to be insulting.
The obvious point here really is that you change the subject of the post. Since you cannot be happy for the people of Iraq, you use the forum to detract from their progress. That's pretty sad.
I believe that you use the Iraqi people and the American soldiers as shields so as not to be held accountable for your support of policies that have ruined their lives.
That's pretty sad.
Pedro the poser. Yawn.
Is that all ya got, BH?
Pedro, you aren't the playground bully but your dialogue is at an elementary level.
I don't think I'm the one here projecting a "cold black heart" just because I express a different view point than you. That's rather intolerant.
I'd love to get to the point with you beyond schoolyard stick throwing and engage on a deeper level. I know this blog over the past 2 years has changed my opinions about many things because of people who've brought reasonable dialogue to the table. I have a feeling you're not interested in that.
Ah, you're right, I did nominate myself for that blog award. That's how it works. I noticed you had to go to 2006 to find it.
REAL awards are nonimated on a person's behalf. Those blog awards aren't true representations of anything, so I don't mind putting my blog up there like everyone else.
Again, I'm proud the United States Army has benefitted from my service and even happier that someone felt moved enough to do the nominating. It's quite an honor.
Pedro, you aren't the playground bully but your dialogue is at an elementary level.
Critiquing my level of dialogue is baseless without foundation. All you are left with is an insult.
I don't think I'm the one here projecting a "cold black heart" just because I express a different view point than you. That's rather intolerant.
Amy, anyone who is proud of a comment that would incarcerate over half of the Ameican population is a prime example of abject intolerance. Attempting to shift the much deserved criticism of your comment to me is nothing short of elementary level dialogue.
And to suggest that I am intolerant for CRITIQUING your blatantly hostile language towards a widely accepted and practiced ideology, is not intolerance. It is nothing more than one person holding another person accountable for the things that person said. You just don't like being held accountable for your poisonous rhetoric.
I'd love to get to the point with you beyond schoolyard stick throwing and engage on a deeper level.
Amy, when I throw a stick, I have a foundation to support it. Your comment about my level of dialogue and your insults toward groups that you hate (ACLU) are the examples of the stick throwing that you claim to dislike? Would you like for me to point out every stick you throw as you throw them. You just don't want any sticks thrown by people who disagree with you.
I know this blog over the past 2 years has changed my opinions about many things because of people who've brought reasonable dialogue to the table.
Name one.
I have a feeling you're not interested in that.
I don't think you are interested in being influenced. In the 12 years that I have been debating online, I have come across very few people who are open to compromise. You have never given me any indication that you are one of those people. That becomes very clear when you are proud of a comment that would incarcerate an ideology. So with that foundation, I believe your comment saying that I am not interested in reasonable dialogue is dishonest.
The dialgue that I bring to this forum comes straight from the heart, and I make every attempt at being reasonable, objective and intelligent. I will tell you when you are wrong and will make every attempt at explaining why I believe you are wrong. I am VERY confident in how I express myself. I don't think you are prepared to debate an opponent who can do that.
Ah, you're right, I did nominate myself for that blog award. That's how it works.
That doesn't change the impression you give of self-promotion.
I noticed you had to go to 2006 to find it.
How long ago was 2006? Does this lessen the appearance of self-promotion?
Those blog awards aren't true representations of anything, so I don't mind putting my blog up there like everyone else
Oh please! You wrote a very long nominating speach ... it was the longest nominating speach on the thread ... one of the very few nominating speaches. I do agree with you that it doesn't represent a dang thing, but it is something that you VERY much wanted to place on the left column.
Again, I'm proud the United States Army has benefitted from my service and even happier that someone felt moved enough to do the nominating. It's quite an honor.
And you should be proud of those awards. No one should EVER disparage the effort you gave of yourself in earning those awards.
However, you do project a cold black heart on this blog. Your rhetoric on this blog demonstrates a complete lack of humility. By showing off those awards, you appear arrogant.
Do you see how I have provided foundation for my critique?
Hey, how about those Jayhawks? The football program has never been good until this year, but I have been a life-long obnoxious fan of the basketball program. Have you caught the fever yet?
Okay, cold black heart....I'm bowing out of this pointless discussion.
Smart move.
Finally we're agreed.
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