Trento’s Take: The Other Other Iraq

June 15th, 2011 | Trento's Take | | 65 comments

The Kurds call themselves the other Iraq. They even have an advertising campaign:

Have you seen the Other Iraq?
It’s spectacular.
It’s peaceful.
It’s joyful.
Fewer than two hundred US troops are stationed here.
Arabs, Kurds and Westerners all vacation together.

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War Is Hell – Except in Retirement

June 8th, 2011 | Bulldog Blog | | 7 comments
Retired Flag Officers with Massoud Barzani
Retired Flag Officers with Massoud Barzani

Former National Security Advisor and Marine Commandant Gen. James Jones spoke at a National Press Club luncheon last month. He will speak to you, too, for a price. How much? Call his speaker’s bureau, Leading Authorities, Inc. In fact, there are several more generals available for hire, including the recently retired Stanley McChrystal, the former Commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan.

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Pentagon Protects KBR Poisoning US Soldiers

December 2nd, 2010 | National Security | | Leave a comment

KBR received indemnification from the Pentagon for its work in Iraq to get the oil flowing during the Iraq War even though its actions harmed Army National Guard troops. Thirty-four National Guard soldiers in Oregon have sued KBR alleging that while guarding KBR’s operations, they were exposed to a known carcinogen at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in 2003.  See DC Bureau’s multi-part series: No Contractor Left Behind.

http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/12/pentagon_disclosure_highlights.html

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NYT: 7 Civilians Killed in U.S. and Iraqi Raid

September 15th, 2010 | National Security | | Leave a comment

“Noncombat” troops in Iraq are participating in Iraq military “counterterrorism” raids that result in civilian casualties. Iraq security forces with American soldiers conducted nighttime raid of a home in Fallujah on Wednesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/world/middleeast/16iraq.html

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