Iraq

Just Say “No”

It’s too early for this:

“We’ll take three dozen. Min faDlak?”.

The Iraqi government is seeking to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., American military officials familiar with the request told the Wall Street Journal.

This move could help Iraq reduce its reliance on U.S. air power and potentially allow more American forces to withdraw from the country than had been proposed.

[…]

Iraq now appears determined to significantly expand the air power of its military, which has become more competent and confident in recent months but depends heavily on the U.S. for air support.

Iraq quickly has become one of the biggest weapons buyers in the world as it seeks to strengthen and professionalise its fighting force.

Iraq still needs to prove it’s on the side of the Americans if they wish to purchase offensive armaments from the Americans.

Maybe these particular F-16s could have a 50-gallon fuel tank and CB radios. 😆

Israel should be able to sleep at night without wondering when those F-16s will come on an aggressive visit.

Maybe these particular F-16s could have remote control manual overrides…with the remote controls in the hands of loyal Israelis in Israeli bunkers. 😆

Besides, if Iraq can afford such weaponry, they should first pay their liberators for services rendered.

And provide a bunch of free oil. A huge bunch, in fact.

And do for wounded liberators and the families of killed liberators what Saddam Hussein used to do for the families of Palestinian homicide bombers.

Oh, and ship that Sadr guy to Gitmo.

Just a few random thoughts. 🙄

Seriously, though, I think providing these aircraft any time soon will haunt the US later.

If they need such aircraft for national defense (which I’m sure they do), let them make the US Air Force a lucrative offer in exchange for on-going American air protection, insisting that the huge air bases included in the deal be named after President Bush and Vice President Chenney.

And Rumsfeld.

And Rove.

Ooooops! Somewhere in there I quit being serious again. 🙁

Grasping for Explanations

This whole deal of the Islamic terrorists seizing the CPT folks in Iraq and threatening to kill them if some impossible demand isn’t met seems odd to me.

How to explain it?

I suppose we could say this group of Muslim terrorists is simply ignorant of (1) who CPT is, (2) what good PR is, and/or (3) what righteousness is.

Maybe they didn’t count on their fellow terror groups taking exception with them for snatching this particular group of people. (See below.)

Maybe this particular terrorist crew isn’t Islamic at all. Maybe they’re American and/or Israeli agents trying to give the Muslims some bad press. That would even explain the targets of choice. Hmmmm. Maybe after/if these four are executed, this is the explanation that will be given by some folks “out there.” Well, I guess if that’s how it happens, I’ll be able to say I read it first right here at my very own MVP. Big deal.

Anyway, Robbins over at National Review Online says this in his current piece:

A letter in the Mennonite Weekly Review featured a letter signed by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Palestine People’s Party, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Union of Palestine, Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Palestinian Liberation Front, and the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front. “We appeal to our brothers in the resistance and all those with alert consciences in Iraq,” the letter said, “with whom we consider ourselves to be in the same trench confronting American aggression and occupation, to instantly and quickly release the four kidnapped persons from CPT, in appreciation for their role in standing beside and supporting our Palestinian people and all the Arab and Islamic peoples.”

Why did these guys use the Mennonite Weekly Review?

Could it be they know the CPT-snatchers read MWR?

Now I’m getting carried away.

May God somehow glorify Himself through all this.

God is great and Daniel was His prophet!

Above all, love God!