Addio Italia

With the 2,700 Italians departing Iraq (I hope following my suggestion), Captains Quarters agrees:

Italy had been a reliable ally in liberating Iraq and bringing democracy to the Iraqis, but if all they can do is pay off the people killing American soldiers and Iraqis by the score, then we’re probably better off seeing them depart.

The Dutch have also bailed & the Brits are plugging the gap.

It seems that it takes generations of shared culture and history for nations to fight alongside each-other through all the mess and confusion of war. And, they probably have to be Anglo.

Welcome Medienkritik

David’s Medienkritik does excellent demolition work on the mostly lefty German media and I read him every day. Inexplicably, I left him off my Link List. Situation remedied.

Just an Exercise

The following naval combat groups are underway towards Iran. Hat tip LGF again. Hmmm.

Carriers
USS Carl Vinson
USS Harry S. Truman

Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) [31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (SOC)]
USS Essex (LHD 2)
USS Juneau (LPD 10)
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49)

Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) [15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (SOC)]
USS Bonhomme Richard
USS Duluth (LPD 6)
USS Rushmore (LSD 47)

Hot in Lebanon

It’s Spring here in the Southern Med. The chaps at LGF (and about 10 million other blogs) report that it’s even hotter in Beirut…