Freedom's Truth

National Guard forces raided the Sunni Muslim Al-Yassen Mosque in the Baghdad area of Abu Dshir on Saturday, said Gen. Saleh Sarhan. In addition to the seven cars, guardsmen found 30 rocket-propelled grenades, high-powered rifles, mortars and remote control detonators.

Saving Baghdad from *7* car bombs is quite a humanitarian act. Consider the alternative: Insurgents Kill 7 Iraqi Security Forces with Suicide bomb

What does the 'antiwar' crowd do when faced with humanitarian life-saving acts like stopping car bombs? Complain! http://www.antiwar.com/cole/?articleid=4069">Juan Cole's latest installment cites the 'outrage' at the military attacking armories disguised as mosques on a Friday:

Not only were many Iraqis disturbed at the way the Fallujah campaign was conducted, but they were upset about the assault by Iraqi National Guardsmen and U.S. troops on the Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad last Friday. Mosque preachers, both Sunni and Shi'ite, universally condemned the raid yesterday in the Friday sermons. Al-Zaman says that Sheikh Adnan Dulaimi, the head of the Sunni Pious Endowments Board, called on the United Nations, the Arab League, and other international organizations to intervene to ensure that no further such attacks on mosques are conducted by the Allawi government or the American and coalition forces. Iraqi Muslims were especially appalled that the attack took place during Friday prayers and resulted in the deaths of two worshippers. The U.S. maintains that the mosque was a center for the guerrilla war.

Google's our friend, it tells us that this "Sunni Endowment" complained in April about raids on mosques in the past:

The Sunni Endowment has issued a protest to US military forces and appointed bodies of Iraqi security for the US assault on al-Imama al-Adham mosque. Adnan Mohamed Salman al-Dulaimi, Head of the Endowment, told al-Sabah the protest demands an apology and compensation for damage to the mosque and the school attached to it. "We have previously informed the military officials in Baghdad to avoid assaulting the mosques and places of worship and to refer to us to help in solving any problem with the mosques and their preachers,” Dulaimi said. He expressed sorrow for the events of April 11, when US forces assaulted the mosque with heavy vehicles that broke down the gates and upset people.

The head of the unit, Greg Kehoe, who has seen more than his share of horrors in places such as the Balkans, couldn’t believe what he saw. "I’ve never seen women and children executed, defenseless people executed in this fashion," he said. "I mean, you look at a young woman holding her 2-year-old child with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. I can’t find any reason to justify that."

When I saw the images I could only think back to Hilla, a town south of Baghdad where I went in the spring of 2003, just after the fall of Saddam. A mass grave of Iraqi Shiites was discovered there.

I will never forget it for as long as I live. Thousands of bodies. Thousands of families swarming over piles of clothing and flesh. Earth-moving equipment digging through the raw humanity. Digging up the past.

Some of these people were opponents of the regime, gunned down after an uprising against Saddam in 1991 and then dumped in big trenches. Women and civilians were also among the victims.

Beyond the visual impression, though, it is the smell that I will never forget. The bodies had been underground for over 10 years, but you could still feel the rot of the past. The remainder and reminder of life, snuffed out by a horrendous regime.

Body locations are mapped, and then the bodies are exhumed from the location and taken to a moveable morgue where the corpses undergo more scrutiny.

All of that information and evidence will then be provided to the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which is preparing the case against Hussein and others. Here’s how archaeologist Sonny Trimble put it: “Our real, ultimate goal is to get evidence that’s so tight that when they bring certain regime leaders to trial, it’s very tight, just like any trial you would have in the United States or anywhere else in the world.”

It’s thought that there are as many as 3,000 bodies at this one site alone, but the workers will only unearth 200 to 300. There is not enough time for more, but there are many more sites to examine.

By one estimate, 300,000 people were slaughtered during Saddam's rule and dumped in 40 different mass grave sites around the country.

Someone responded with:

"I come down on a number of issues in a way that would make me a potential Republican... of two decades ago. Smaller government, personal freedoms, rule of law. But that's not what the new Republican party is about."

The Reagan Republican party of 20 years ago is alive and well. Bush cut taxes, defends the rule of law in many ways, and the GOP is by far the better party at sticking up for real personal freedoms and real choice in your life.

It's my view that the Republicans are a party of principles masquerading as a party of interests, and the Democrats are a party of interests masquerading as a party of principles. Democrats 'market' their self-interestedness as 'coalition building' and 'rainbow coalitions'. They make a virtue out of necessicty of pandering.

The Republicans started as a party devoted to ending slavery, and never have been able to shake a commitment to progressive defense of freedom, even when it costs them politically.

The original 'genes' of the GOP survive still: Union (strong military), Freedom & Morality (from anti-slavery to pro-life and pro-family), and free enterprise (from Whig to Wall street/main street probusiness party).

Abdul Hussain Hindawi, head of the Electoral Commission, is upbeat about the challenges: "All the Iraqi people want the elections. . . . We are very optimistic and very realistic at the same time. We know that there will be a lot of difficulties. . . . (Iraqis) want a legitimate power and they want to close this chapter which they have endured for more than 50 years." The report notes that "almost 14 million of Iraq's 25 million people have been enrolled as voters. . . . Hindawi estimates up to 15 million may be eligible to vote."

The list of approved parties reached 156 this morning. I'll add the new parties later today. Iraq The Model's party, Iraq Pro-Democracy Party led by Mohammed Fadhil, made the latest cut.

Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's spokesman said Saturday the government was determined to hold the Jan. 30 elections on time despite calls by Sunni Muslim politicians to delay the balloting for six months because of deteriorating security. About 17 Sunni Muslim politicians urged the government Friday to postpone the elections, in part to persuade Sunni clerics to abandon their call for a boycott and to enable the authorities to secure polling stations.

However, the interim constitution and the U.N. Security Council have mandated a ballot by the end of January to meet demands by religious leaders of the majority Shiite community, which has been insisting on elections since the early months of the U.S. military presence. A prominent Shiite figure said Saturday the timing of the election was "nonnegotiable."

"The Iraqi government is determined, as I told you before, to hold elections on time," said Allawi's spokesman, Thair al-Naqeeb. "The Iraqi government led by the prime minister is calling for all spectra of the Iraqi people to participate in the elections and to contribute in the elections to build a strong democratic country."

Al-Naqeeb said that boycotts do not serve "the country or the future of Iraq and we hope that there won't be any boycott from any party whatsoever."

Al-Naqeeb said Allawi "considers seriously the responsibility given to him" by the interim constitution and the Security Council "to carry out elections at the end of January."

"The prime minister deeply understands the importance of this opinion" to delay the balloting "but he also understands the insistence of other political parties and national figures for holding elections on time,"

Curiously, the pro-terrorist Association of Muslim Scholars, which had been calling for a boycotto of the elections, is now joining the 'delay the vote' calls. This is a sign that the insurgency is LOSING and the Sunni minority doesn't want the election train to leave them at the station; the 'delay' tactic is a compromise between the 'boycott' faction and the 'participate' faction in the Sunni political sphere, and their only hope is to create more space and time to either derail the election schedule or give the Sunnis time to organize and hop on board.

Frankly, I and probably most non-Sunni Iraqis "don't give a damn" (to use Rhett Butler's phrase), about whether the Sunnis participate fully. The Sunnis complain about violence, but the violence is caused by the Sunni-based Baathists and their tribal allies and Jihadist inciters among the formerly Saddam-sponsored Sunni clerics. They are the cause of the violence they blame for disrupting the elections. If they are so rebellious and against democracy, let them taste a bitter fruit of recalcitrance under Shia domination for a while. Sunni leaders can either hop on board or sit it out, taking a share in the power in the new Iraq, or letting it slip away out of misguided spite against the new Iraq.

This column presents Ten reasons the Iraqi elections will succeed. The elections will happen and will be successful in most of the country. 15 million in Iraq can vote and most of them will vote. Moreover, because the violence is localized in 3 out of 18 provinces, it is almost certain that the election will be successful in most of the country, where Kurds and Shiites will vote in their parties.

These calls for delay from the Sunni factions are not a sign of weakness in the election process, but a sign of the disarray of the Sunni position. They are losing the pre-eminence they held for decades and are casting about for an answer. They complain about the proportional national list as opposed to district-based representation. Why? Because it deflates the power of a boycott, noted as reason #6 the elections will succeed:

6. A boycott by Sunnis would be counterproductive. In the U.S., representation is allocated to each state according to population. Under national lists, the weight of any region or strand of opinion is determined by turnout. If Sunnis stay at home, Sunni candidates don't get elected.

4. The turnout is going to be huge. Liberal journalists will report on the day that turnout is disappointing, because they will only be counting in Baghdad. When votes come in from Kurdish and Shia areas it will prove to be even bigger than the American turnout, which itself was up by a fifth from 2000.

3. People in Iraq are fed up with war. They know that the only way to end the series of wars that Saddam led them into is to empower a democratic, probably Western-oriented, government to stamp out the Saddam loyalists who are disrupting Iraqi life.

1. Western liberals who claim that Arabs don't want or aren't ready for democracy are just wrong. What liberals call "Western" values are human values. Arabs want to be free and to govern themselves just as much as people in Europe and America do.

Let's recap. In our rescue of Fallujah from insurgent control, we found much to show the nature of our enemy: We found chemical labs: Qassem Dawoud said the lab was found in the southwestern district of Fallujah, "We also found in the laboratory manuals and instructions spelling out procedures for making explosives. They also spoke about making anthrax." We found slaughterhouses for the terrorists, places where the snuff films to be sent to Al Jazeera were made. Repulsive 'silence of the lambs' type of barbarism. We found dismembered bodies, civilians caught in the terrorists' reign of terror in Fallujah.

AP notes "Iraq's national security adviser Qassem Daoud on Thursday claimed that more than 2,000 people had been killed in the assault and more than 1,600 captured, while US forces said they had discovered massive haul of weapons."(Yes, AP writes this as merely a 'claim' like a 'he said she said'.) Even 'massive haul' understates the situation - Fallujah had devolved into a massive armed camp. This FR article links to a U.S. military powerpoint presentation on what we found in Fallujah that show the graphic evidence - the torture chambers, the weapons caches, a manifest of the foreign fighters involved, pictures of the victims of abuse and torture at the hands of insurgents, and the maps pinpointing the locations of where in Fallujah everything was found. Out of 100 mosques in Fallujah, 60 of them were used as fighting positions or weapons caches. We found 3 human slaughterhouses, 11 IED factories and an amazing 203 weapons caches. The total amount of armaments found were massive; it was enough for the whole countries insurgency.

Zarqawi's top aides are getting caught as they scurry to other cities. In those cities too we discover grisly evidence of what the insurgents are like. One report says: "On Friday, US soldiers found 12 unidentified bodies in the restive city, bringing to 40 the number of corpses discovered there over the past week."

We face murderers and yet, when captured we do not torture those enemy combatants. Nor do we shoot them out of hand, as has been common in many a civil war or insurrection from the time of the Romans to the time of the 'dirty wars' of South America in the 1970s. The experience of cruelty is not novel to Arab lands, indeed more cruelty is known even in Turkey's harsh treatment of Kurd separatists in recent years - peaceful political dissidents jailed as traitors, and Kurd separatist rebels given no due process in their treatment. The complaints in the mainstream press about the treatment of prisoners have an other-worldly a-historical nature to them. This goes beyond a double-standard, to the point of expecting or demanding an impossible moderation in dealing with some of the cruelest thugs to organize together since the days of ... well you don't have to reach farther back than Pol Pot, Idi Amin, or Saddam Hussein himself, for examples where murder, genocide and torture were practised as Government policy widely; and murder and torture is what our enemy was practizing in Fallujah, and wanted to put the rest of Iraq under as well.

The U.S. military doesn't execute the impossible standards of perfection. Innocents are caught in sweeps of insurgents; civilians are killed in crossfire. Our military, however, has lived by a standard that treats both our enemy and civilians more humanely than any military has done before. That is the heart of the matter - that our military has heart in what they do; doing the right thing in the right way. This is what our military would rather be doing - Digging water wells. That and building infrastructure, establishing a democracy and securing a working Government. Yet digging a well and destroying the heart of the baathist-funded and Jihadist-inspired anti-democratic insurgency are really both humanitarian efforts with the same intention in mind - saving Iraqi people from killers (either terrorism or Cholera) and giving them a better future.

Why is one (well-digging) but not the other (killing terrorists) considered noble in modern eyes? There is this liberal illusion, aka 'pacifism', that hard means of military cannot be put in the service of noble ends. The 'disney-fied' mindset think not of hard realities and tradeoffs, but that any act of real charity must hurt nobody. It's "the ends do not justify the means" taken to an extreme and erroneous conclusion. Ambrose Bierce defined a 'pacifist' as a 'dead quaker'. Today we are faced with 'pacifist poseurs' that tell the west that fighting terrorism is immoral, worthless or pointless - or merely points out in dull repetition of those negative consequences of fighting fire with fire - while neglecting to put the enemies of freedom to the same test. Indeed, much of the template of MSM reporting on the Iraq war and on Israel simply is a cultivation of that cynical negative view of the apparent hopeleness and mindless cruelty of war (but not of our enemies). As if our enemies' will was an immovable object but human nature was not.

Some ends, e.g., eliminating a dangerous tyrant like Saddam, require violent means. It's the way of the world; neglect reality at your own risk. Once unleashed, violence is hard to tame, and the logic of war dictates not taming or moderating it, but using one's full will to destroy the enemy's will to fight first; so one must balance those consequences with the aim in mind. Wars can be just but must not be undertaken for transient ends. Every reminder of the cruelty, base behavior of the terrorists and insurgents in Iraq is a reminder that we are facing in Iraq the terrorist ideology that we would face in another battle had Iraq been left to Saddam and sons unmolested by liberation.

Our military attempts the near-impossible: Defeating the enemy while winning hearts, minds and peacification among the population. Reminds me of a saying: "The difficult we can do immediately. The impossible may take a little time"

The nation has changed, but only keeps getting better. We can thank God that we are the greatest nation on earth, blessed by a Constitution that has stood as firm as a rock. God does and has blessed America in many ways. We are blessed by prosperity, good government, freedom, civic order, and cultural and technological accomplishments that no civilizations have achieved before.

In a recent column, Ralph Peters recounts how even Muslim immigrants are seeing America as the promised land of 'true Islam', and he reminds us that "America is magic":

... we do need to have faith in the transformative power of America. Whenever I hear a "native born" American complaining that our country is "being taken over" by the latest arrivals, I know that the speaker is blind to our country's strengths.

America makes Americans. And it makes good Americans. This country is magic, and the magic is growing stronger, not weaker. ...

Trust America. And believe in our fellow Americans. ... The American dream doesn't change, only the complexions and accents of the dreamers. Contrary to an old saw from the Left, bigotry isn't as American as apple pie. Bigotry is a universal human disease. Being a good American is the most-effective cure.

Yet we can also give thanks that the sort of change we are attempting here has already succeeded: In Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan; in Eastern Europe, Baltic states, and in Russian Republics (more or less, in 2 steps forward 1 step back fashion, given news out of Ukraine, Byelorussia and Georgia). But even such reports of difficulties in former Russian republics are reminders of how special our nation is. It reminds us that cultural and political processes and histories run deep, deeper than Americans often understand; that cultural baggage and institutions move far more slowly than the journalistic news cycle. And yet, the transformative power of freedom overwhelms the enemies of freedom and democracy in these nations.

As long as this nation defends freedom strongly, the empire of freedom will not falter, and freedom's enemies will be in retreat. This is the history for the past generation and the history of the next generation. I am thankful, in the end, that we have a leadership under President Bush and his administration, and a military that is up to the difficult tasks ahead in defending freedoms and tackling freedom's greatest current challenge: winning the war on terror.

What we are fighting for: Date, rules set for Iraqi elections

Who is fueling the violence: U.S. Concludes Syria Helped Finance Sunni Insurgence

How the foreign fighters got into Iraq: Foreign fighters have been traveling to Iraq via Damascus:

"Ali rode in the back of a pickup from the Syrian capital across the Iraqi border with five other enlistees, all of them carrying false Iraqi IDs issued to them in Syria. Later the group hid in the secret compartment of a meat truck, for the journey's final leg down the highway to Karbala. After 10 days' training with 200 other newcomers, Ali was issued an AK-47, a black headband and a green uniform. He spent the next month serving against the Americans as a member of the Mahdi Army, headed by the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Who sent the Lebanese contingent to Iraq? Ali says it's no mystery: "Baath Party people." "

We are fighting the Jihadist dream. It is in our national security interest to make it a nightmare for the Jihadists who choose to sign up.

Fallujah ranks up there with Iwo Jima, Inchon and Hue as one of the greatest triumphs of American arms, though you'd have a hard time discerning that from what you read in the newspapers.

The swift capture of Fallujah is taxing the imagination of Arab journalists and -- sadly -- our own. How does one portray a remarkable American victory as if it were of little consequence, or even a defeat? For CNN's Walter Rodgers, camped out in front the main U.S. military hospital in Germany, you do this by emphasizing American casualties.

For The New York Times and The Washington Post, you do this by emphasizing conflict elsewhere in Iraq.

But the news organs that liken temporary terrorist success in Mosul (the police stations they overran were recaptured the next day) with what happened to the terrorists in Fallujah is false equivalence of the worst kind. If I find a quarter in the street, it doesn't make up for having lost $1,000 in a poker game the night before.

The resistance has suffered a loss of more than 2,000 combatants, out of a total force estimated by U.S. Central Command at about 5,000 (other estimates are higher) as well as its only secure base in the country. But both the Arab media and ours emphasize that the attack on Fallujah has made a lot of Arabs mad. By this logic, once we've killed all the terrorists, they'll be invincible.

"The experience of human history has been the more people you kill, the weaker they get," Thompson noted.

For the Arab and European media, the old standby is to allege American atrocities. In this they have had invaluable assistance from Kevin Sites, a free lancer working for NBC, who filmed a Marine shooting a wounded Iraqi feigning death in a mosque his squad was clearing. Al Jazeera has been showing the footage around the clock.

The mutilated body of Margaret Hassan, the aid worker kidnapped in Baghdad last month, has been discovered in Fallujah, as have torture chambers. Residents of Fallujah have been describing a reign of terror by the insurgents. But it is the Marine's alleged "war crime" that is garnering the most attention.

Arabs are outraged that Marines dared relax in a mosque and unwind. According to the hand-wringing column: Very few things can be more provocative than an enemy soiling your place of worship, especially as it is sent out with the subject identification that says: "Get Your Feet Out of My Mosque." Other commentary was far more violent.

Well now. Consider the facts.

The photo caption: Members of Charlie Company of the First Marine Division, 6th Regiment, regroup inside the Khulafah Rashid Mosque in Fallujah, Iraq, only hours after taking it Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004. Routed insurgents soon regrouped and rained heavy fire on the mosque, prompting the Marines to leave.(AP Photo/Los Angeles Times, Luis Sinco)

So, muddy boots of kaffir Marines is bad; but mortars and heavy guns from muslims, not bad. Moreover, we've been told that every mosque in Fallujah was used as a weapons cache. Even after that was known, Mosques were treated with the utmost care. This has happened time and time again ... Marines show more respect for a Mosque, even when it is nothing more than a control center for the enemy and the enemy abuses its status:

caption: A U.S. Army soldier takes off his shoes before entering the Um al-Tuboul mosque in western Baghdad, Iraq. Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004. Iraqi security forces, backed by U.S. troops, arrested a hardline Sunni cleric and about two dozen others after a raid of his Baghdad mosque uncovered weapons caches along with photographs of recent attacks on American troops, the U.S. military and the Iraqi National Guard said.(AP Photo)

... this is more respectful that what the Imams do:

Caption: Iraqi soldiers from the 303rd Iraqi National Guard Battalion, along with U.S. soldiers from the 45th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, display weapons found in the Um Kabul mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 11, 2004. Iraqi soldiers arrested the mosque's imam, along with 15 other individuals, after five rocket-propelled grenades, 10 rocket-propelled grenade rounds and 10 AK-47s were found in the mosque.

Time and time again, so-called Muslims, these violent thuggish Jihadist terrorists, defile Mosques by using them as training centers, weapons caches, terrorist recruiting centers, etc. Every time, the great mass of Muslim Arabs turn a blind eye to these abuses and say nothing. Yet reasonable responses to this are met with indignation. The hypocrisy is beyond absurd. Is 'tolerance for others' and 'Arab pride' an oil and water thing?

One more reason why CENTCOM is justified in saying:

"We feel right now that we have, as I mentioned, broken the back of the insurgency. We've taken away this safe haven." - General Sattler.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces swept Thursday through an insurgent neighborhood in central Baghdad, arresting 104 suspected guerrillas, the Interior Ministry spokesman said. Nine of those arrested were believed to have fled from Fallujah, where U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive against rebels on Nov. 8. The raids occurred along Haifa Street, where U.S. troops and insurgents have often clashed, spokesman Sabah Kadhim said.

Those arrested were mostly Iraqis, but included some foreigners, including Syrians and other non-Iraqi Arabs. Kadhim said the suspects were believed to have carried out "terror operations.

"As part of the pay grade around here there are lots of problems," he said. "You learn to develop a hide a little thicker than a rhinoceros.''

Sen Specter made a statement crying 'uncle' to convince fellow Republicans he is up to the task and won't manhandle Bush's prolife judicial nominees. He noted:

"I have already registered my opposition to the Democrats' filibusters with 17 floor statements and will use my best efforts to stop any future filibusters. It is my hope and expectation that we can avoid future filibusters and judicial gridlock with a 55-45 Republican majority and election results demonstrating voter dissatisfaction with Democratic filibusters. If a rule change is necessary to avoid filibusters, there are relevant recent precedents to secure rule changes with 51 votes."

SEN. CORNYN Senate floor statement today:

We all remember, whether it’s a confirmation process by which Judge Bork was blocked, by which Clarence Thomas was ultimately confirmed after going through a process that no one should have to go through, my hope is that we will have learned that that is not the way the Senate should conduct itself and that we will resolve among ourselves and resolve among the American people and to the people we represent that we will treat the President’s judicial nominees fairly, that we will treat them with dignity and that we will provide the up-or-down vote that the United States Constitution demands when it comes to the confirmation of the President’s judicial nominees.

I’m not suggesting for a minute that anyone violate their conscience. Indeed, any Senator with a sincere belief that an individual judge should not be confirmed should come to the floor, as no doubt they will, and explain to their colleagues why they feel so strongly, why they conscientiously object to this nominee and to vote their conscience. I think every Senator should do that, and I trust they will.

But no one, no Senator has a right, no group of Senators has a right, no minority has a right to tyrannize the majority of the United States Senate when we stand ready in a bipartisan fashion to cast a vote up or down for a judicial nominee. And I sincerely hope that we will not have only learned from the mistakes of the past when it comes to obstruction of the President’s judicial nominees, but we will conduct ourselves with the kind of dignity that the American people have come to expert from United States Senators and that we will conduct ourselves uprightly, with fairness and dignity and treat all we come in contact with exactly the same way.

Oil Fund paid for suicide bombers:

"Saddam Hussein diverted money from the U.N. oil-for-food program to pay millions of dollars to families of Palestinian suicide bombers who carried out attacks on Israel, say congressional investigators who uncovered evidence of the money trail. The former Iraqi president tapped secret bank accounts in Jordan -- where he collected bribes from foreign companies and individuals doing illicit business under the humanitarian program -- to reward the families up to $25,000 each, investigators told The Associated Press."

Actually it's worse. There's an active UN coverup underway. Senators Accuse U.N. Leader of Blocking Their Fraud Inquiry.

In a letter sent to Mr. Annan yesterday, the Republican chairman and ranking Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations charged that the secretary general and a panel he appointed to conduct an independent investigation into the charges of abuses appeared to be "affirmatively preventing" the Senate from getting documents from a former United Nations contractor that inspected goods bought by Iraq.

The senators also complained that Mr. Annan was blocking access to 55 internal audit reports of the program and other relevant documents and refusing to permit United Nations officials to be interviewed by the subcommittee's investigators.

The United Nations-administered program, which ran from 1996 to 2003, allowed Iraq to sell oil to buy food and other essential supplies for Iraqis hurt by economic sanctions.

The senators said it had taken four months for Mr. Annan to reply to the subcommittee's requests, and when he finally did, he refused to cooperate with the Senate inquiry.

Such is the fear that the heavily armed militants held over Fallujah that many of the residents who emerged from the ruins welcomed the US marines, despite the massive destruction their firepower had inflicted on their city.

A man in his sixties, half-naked and his underwear stained with blood from shrapnel wounds from a US munition, cursed the insurgents as he greeted the advancing marines on Saturday night. "I wish the Americans had come here the very first day and not waited eight months," he said, trembling. Nearby, a mosque courtyard had been used as a weapons store by the militants.

Another elderly man, who did not want his name used for fear the rebels would one day return and restore their draconian rule, said he was detained by the militants last Tuesday and held for four days before being freed. He described how he had then sought refuge in a friend's house where they had huddled together clutching Korans in silent prayer for their lives as the massive US bombardment put the insurgents to flight.

"It was horrible," he told an AFP reporter."We suffered from the bombings. Innocent people died or were wounded by the bombings. But we were happy you did what you did because Fallujah had been suffocated by the Mujahidin. Anyone considered suspicious would be slaughtered. We would see unknown corpses around the city all the time."

The same story of arbitrary executions was told by another resident, found by US troops cowering in his home with his brother and his family. "They would wear black masks, carry rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikovs, and search streets and alleys," said Iyad Assam, 24. "I would hear stories, about how they executed five men one day and seven another for collaborating with the Americans. They made checkpoints on the roads. They put announcements on walls banning music and telling women to wear the veil from head to toe."

• Status: "US commanders said last night they had “occupied” the entire city. They added, however, that it could still take several days to clear the remaining pockets of resistance." Reality: We've taken the city, broken the back of any organized resistance and are now looking for disconnected holdouts. The battle is over - WE WON - what remains is mopping-up operations.
• Death toll: "Qasim Dawud, the national security minister, declared the Falluja mission “accomplished”, with more than 1,000 insurgents killed and 200 captured. An unofficial American source put the toll as high as 1,600, with one battalion alone claiming to have killed 400." Reality: We don't really know. many of these estimates were dozens of insurgents holed up in buildings that were bombed into rubble. General Sattler said the military has about 1,000 people in custody and expected as many as 700 would be released after interrogation. This effectively means over two thousand insurgents have been either killed or captured.
• "Sources in the insurgency acknowledged there had been heavy losses in Falluja but claimed at least half the fighters in the city had left by the time the Americans moved in." Reality: A few anecdotes, e.g., a few of the leaders and seven Saudi suicide bombers, does not make a convincing case that half made it out.
• "Hadid was said to have breached the US cordon with al-Zarqawi’s right-hand man, known as Abu Mujaheed, and up to 30 other men. They were thought to be planning attacks in the capital." Reality: Earlier reports had the two top 2 sheiks killed by U.S. bombing attacks in Fallujah. The source for this is "an insurgents’ commander". Is he a Baghdad Bob, trying to put a brave face on, or for real?

Moreover, the loss of the Fallujah base of operations means the slaughter houses and the kidnap houses will close; the training of insurgents at safe houses and the intimidation of a whole city will end. key element in counter-insurgency warfare is the denial of the enemy a foothold among the populace - this is why Fallujah was a dangerous threat to the future of Iraq. Whether the insurgents fold up now or try to find another toe-hold (Mosul? Ramadi? Baghdad?) the coalition and the Iraqi Government together will persevere to victory. Belmont Club notes that: "The Fallujah battle, which is just winding down, should be seen in the context a wider campaign against the enemy in the Sunni triangle." This is true. Fallujah was a part of a wider campaign that earlier saw sweeps through Ramadi and Tal Afar and Samarra. The overall campaign will continue. With violence in Mosul and elsewhere, it is by no means over, and scattered cells may now actively attack because, exposed, they have nothing else to do but to fight. But Fallujah was the hardest nut to crack in the Sunni triangle, and taking Fallujah back is breaking the back of the insurgency, or more precisely surgically removing the central mass of the cancer. Now, the counter-insurgency may take a decisive turn for the better.

The body of a blonde-haired woman with her legs and arms cut off and throat slit was found lying on the street in Fallujah, a notorious enclave for hostage-takers, marines said.

"It is definitely a Caucasian woman with long blonde hair," said a military official, who cut open a cover that had been over the corpse.

The gruesome discovery was made as the marines moved through the south of Fallujah, hunting out the remaining die-hard rebels after a week of fierce fighting to regain control of the city. "It is a female... missing all four appendages, with a slashed throat and disembowled, she has been dead for a while but only in this location for a day or two," said Benjamin Finnell, a hospital apprentice with the Navy Corps, who had inspected the body.

An AFP photographer embedded with the marines said the woman was wearing a blue dress and her face was completely disfigured.

The marines said she appeared to have been on the street for about two days.

Sweeps of rubble-strewn neighbourhoods in Fallujah have already uncovered a grisly underworld of hostage slaughterhouses, prisons and torture chambers as well as the corpses of Iraqis who had been executed, marines say.

Surviving hostages have also been found, but only one has been a foreigner -- a Syrian driver who was abducted with two French journalists in August.

The Marlboro man was angry: He has a war to fight, and he's running out of smokes. "If you want to write something," he tells a reporter, "tell Marlboro I'm down to four packs, and I'm here in Fallujah till who knows when. Maybe they can send some. And they can bring down the price a bit."

Those are the unfettered sentiments of Marine Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller, 20, a country boy from Kentucky who has been thrust unwittingly and somewhat unwillingly into the role of poster boy for a war on the other side of the world from his home on the farm.

"I just don't understand what all the fuss is about," Miller drawled on Friday as he crouched--Marlboro firmly in place--inside an abandoned building with his platoon mates, preparing to fight insurgents holed up in a mosque. "I was just smokin' a cigarette, and someone takes my picture, and it all blows up."

Here's what is going on. The enemy is giving up and Marines Finding Surrendering Fighters.

"The majority are fighters who have holed up and want to attack us from the rear," said Gunnery Sgt. Brett Turek, 36, of Hinsdale, Ill., serving with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. "We've also found legitimate guys who were taking care of their property who were just in a bad place at a bad time."

Marines in one northern neighborhood said they also liberated two hostages, a Syrian and two Iraqis. So far there has been no sign of foreign hostages, including British aid worker Margaret Hassan or Lebanese-American Dean Sadek.

Each day, Marines smashing their way through a city that was once home to 300,000 people are finding men of military age hiding in Fallujah's low houses and few apartment buildings, near loaded weapons.

Marines use plastic bands called flexcuffs on the detainees' wrists, wrap cloth around their eyes and lead them out into streets filled with broken glass, shrapnel and concrete shattered by bullets or bombs.

Marines show little patience with surrendering fighters and suspect that many of the men have given up, hoping to escape to fight another day.

As many as 90 percent of people found in Fallujah since the fighting began are believed to be insurgents and are treated as prisoners - sent to the rear for questioning. Friday night, for example, Marines led about 40 detainees out of a command post, pushing the barefoot men who winced as they walked across the rubble.

Marines have found suspected fighters from Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Sudan, a Marine officer said on condition of anonymity. They also have captured men in Iraqi police and military uniforms. "These are the ones shooting at us, aside from the Iraqi mujahedeen," the officer said.

NB. A Marine official said about 50 fighters surrendered yesterday and 450 suspected insurgents have been detained since the offensive began.

The Main Battle is Already Over and what remains are mop up operations to ferret out remaining stragglers and hunkered down insurgents that may take several weeks:

Iraq's national security adviser Qassem Dawoud said the massive military operation to retake Fallujah "is accomplished" with about 1,000 insurgents killed and 200 captured. "The Al-Fajr operation in Iraq is accomplished," he said.

"What is left is evil pockets which we are dealing with now. The number of terrorists and Saddam loyalists killed has reached more than 1,000. As for the detainees, the number is 200 people."

Inside, the house was gutted, transformed into a makeshift prison and death chamber. Grated metal doors turned bathrooms into small jail cells. Blood seemed to be everywhere. The Marines found two corpses on the floor. One man's death looked to have come from shelling by U.S. mortars. The other man had been shot through the forehead, an apparent execution that forensic experts said probably occurred within the past 24 hours. His feet had been hacked off.

In one house, an intelligence officer said, marines uncovered an underground prison containing at least two bodies and two emaciated brothers who were still alive.

The prison was discovered in a house in the Jolan neighbourhood, considered the insurgent nerve centre in the city. Marines were clearing the building after it was shelled by the US military when they were alerted by screaming.

At the back of the house, one of many they were shooting at with hundreds of rounds or firing at with mortars Friday, the troops opened a door and found a barred prison with three cells below.

An AFP reporter who entered the house saw two corpses covered in ash and the brothers, who were apparently mentally handicapped and had yelled themselves hoarse, were led from the building.

"It looks like an execution chamber or something," one marine said. Earlier a military spokeswoman said marines had found alive the Syrian driver who was taken hostage with two French journalists some three months ago.

They also blew up what was described as a "slaughter house" where masked militants had filmed foreign and Iraqi victims begging for their life or having their heads cut off.

US troops say they had found at least three Iraqi hostages this week.

Someday in a future war, hereos will die and risk death again, while, once again, self-absorbed twits in the media will make inane and inappropriate remarks.

... and smokin' Fallujah ...

At a U.S. camp outside Fallujah, Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski, commander of the 1st Marine Division, said the operation was running "ahead of schedule" but he would not predict how many days of fighting lay ahead.

He said troops had found an arms cache in "almost every single mosque in Fallujah."

Natonski also said he had visited a "slaughterhouse" in the northern Jolan neighborhood where hostages were held and possibly killed by militants. He described a small room with no windows and just one door. He said he saw two thin mattresses, straw mats covered in blood and a wheelchair that apparently was used to transport captives.

Also, a Fox News reporter embedded with India Company of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment said the unit found five bodies in a locked house in northwest Fallujah on Wednesday. All the victims were shot in the back of the head. Their identities were not known, although there were indications they were civilians, the report said.

U.S. officials believe the al-Qaida-linked terror movement of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who claimed responsibility for many of the kidnappings and beheadings of foreign hostages, used Fallujah as a base. They said they believe al-Zarqawi may have slipped away before the offensive.

Shutting down the death houses of the death cults is a step forward for freedom in Iraq.

From 1979 to 1992, El Salvador suffered a bloody civil war with leftist guerillas that left 75,000 dead in this nation of 6.5 million, where half live in poverty.

"The fight is not easy. It never is. It requires patience. And it has costs," Rumsfeld said before laying a wreath on a monument remembering U.S. citizens, including 20 U.S. military personnel, who were killed in the civil war.

Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski, commander of the 1st Marine Division, said U.S. forces were moving house to house in the rebellious Iraqi city, looking for insurgents and weapons. Ground forces were being backed by an air and artillery barrage aimed at breaking the insurgency. Natonski announced that 18 U.S. servicemen were killed and 69 wounded in action since the start of the Fallujah offensive. Five Iraqi soldiers were killed and 34 wounded in action in the same time period. The military estimated 600 insurgents have been killed in the offensive.

Jeff Jacoby - Arafat the Monster. NY Sun Obit on Arafat. And CAMERA debunks the white-washing of Arafat's terrorism. NR's Tom Gross on how Arafat gets the "Di" treatment.

A great leader (Bush) shunned in Europe while in those same countries a terrorist is revered. Strange days indeed. But good news for peace, nevertheless.

In other good death-of-terrorist news, Key terrorist leaders killed in Fallujah: "there have been unconfirmed reports that two top guerrilla leaders, Abdullah al-Janabi and Omar Hadid, have been killed."

Now some 51% folks are answering: We're not sorry! Actually I am pretty pumped that we narrowly escaped putting a man who's first foray into diplomacy was secretly meeting the Vietcong in 1971, at a time when we were at war with them. I'm not sorry either. Relieved, happy, excited, satisfied, joyful, contented, optimistic, thoughtful, relaxed, un-nuancedly PROUD of America ... but not sorry.

Saddam remains ever remorseful however:

Yea. We need to do exactly what the Germans did in Stalingrad and just level the whole town...

oh wait. The Germans lost in Stalingrad...in part because they leveled the whole town...nevermind. Instead, we should be like the Soviets in Afghanistan. They indiscriminately pulverized whole Afghan villages to punish the inhabitants for supporting the mujahideen...

oh wait. The Soviets lost in Afghanistan...in part because of their savagery.

Maybe we should be more like the Americans in Afghanistan...who defeated an enemy in a matter of months that the Soviets couldn't defeat in a decade. In part because we refused to indiscriminately destroy the country while we rid it of its cancer.

Ever wonder why some people make a living developing successful military strategies that have overcome eons of cultural morass, while others are stuck spewing rabid spittle into talk radio microphones?

An Abrams tank commander from Phantom troop, part of the US Army's Task Force 2-2, observed large numbers of men converging on a building next to a mosque. "Guys with short brown hair, dark pants and carrying AK-47s were moving in groups of between two and five across the road to a yellow building," said Lt Neil Prakash, the tank commander.

"Then some started throwing Molotov cocktails and pouring gasoline on the road to create a smokescreen." They apparently thought the smoke would obscure them from view.

Lt Prakash, whose call-sign is Red 6, observed the scene through the optical sight of his tank, 2,400 metres away in an "area of responsibility" or AOR covered by the 1st Company, 8th Marines, west of Task Force 2-2's AOR on the eastern edge of the city.

The constraints of firing into another AOR, where US marines might be operating, and the danger of damaging the mosque, which would have provoked outrage in the Arab world, meant attacking the building had to be authorised at a very senior level.

A Humvee from Phantom troop fitted with a Long Range Acquisition System (LRAS) was moved to within two kilometres of the mosque, well inside its maximum range of 15km, to get a second opinion on what was happening. "The strike was so sensitive that it took more than an hour to approve it," said Maj John Reynolds, operations officer for 2-2. "Normally it happens in minutes." Lt Prakash was asked to provide a grid co-ordinate, accurate to within a metre, to minimise the chance of hitting the mosque, about 50 metres from the building.

At about 3pm, the higher authorisation came through and Lt Col Pete Newell, commanding 2-2 and with the call-sign Ramrod 6, gave the order to fire a barrage of 20 155mm high-explosive shells from howitzers about three miles away from the mosque.

Specialist James Taylor, manning the LRAS, watched the burst of shells hit. "They landed on the left side of the building and I saw three bodies fly into the air," he said. "It was awesome."

Lt Prakash radioed that the rounds were right on target and requested 10 more to ensure maximum killing effect.

"One of the men was in a sniper position on the building," said Lt Prakash. "I saw him fall off, hit the ground and bounce up. There were about five bodies that went three, four, five storeys up in the air. I'd already counted between 40 and 50 men going into that building. There were men running out, coughing and doubling over. The second lot of rounds took them out and all those who had been crossing the road.

It is believed that Task Force 2-2 hit fighters gathered to discuss how to retreat after US forces had pushed the insurgents down from the north and in from the east.

Mobile phone intercepts and reports from Iraqi informants suggested there were 70 gunmen in the building and indicated that the very senior Zarqawi lieutenant had perished. A final assessment on who died has yet to be made.

Sattler, appearing with a senior Iraqi general, declined to discuss the positions and strategy of the American and Iraqi forces still fighting in Fallujah. But he said they have followed their battle plan and left the remaining insurgents with no good options. "When they attempted to flee from one zone to another they were killed," Sattler said. "We feel very comfortable that none of them moved back toward the north or escaped on the flanks."

Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Mohammed Jassem Mohan, speaking through an interpreter, said it was "possible but unlikely" that any insurgents have escaped in the days since the city was sealed off. Asked by a reporter to describe the fighting tactics of the insurgents, he replied, "They have no tactics."

Not so fast. French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said late Wednesday that the Palestinian leader was in his "final hours," telling France-2 television: "I hope that we can respect the final hours of a man who is approaching death."

He's Sleeping says famed neuroseurgeon and liar Nabil Abu Rdeneh:

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, Arafat's spokesman, would not say whether his announcement meant Arafat had emerged from a coma or whether he had not been comatose at all. He also refused to say whether he saw Arafat personally, and he did not specify the nature of the new medical tests.

"He is not in a coma," Abu Rdeneh told reporters after coming out of the French military hospital where Arafat has been treated for more than a week. "He is still in the intensive care unit.

"He is under strict medical observance. We hope that in the coming few days we will be able to know exactly what he is suffering from. So far, nobody could diagnose the situation," he said at about midnight, adding that Arafat's condition was stable.

I won't mourn this aging, corrupt terrorist. Leave that to the French. Arafat is a man who had nine lives. He survived Amman 1971, survived Mossad, survived Beirut 1982, Survived in Tripoli, was brought back by Oslo accords, and paid back that undeserved second chance by recruiting a new generation into Intifada and violence against the Jews. And btw managing to divert EU and US aid to palestinians to support militant groups and his offshore bank accounts. He lived strangely and died strangely. Or is still living strangely. I just can't tell.

After nearly 16 hours of fighting, the United States marines thought they had finally won their battle for the green-domed mosque, which insurgents had been using as a command center. Then a car drove up behind a group of the marines on Al Thurthar Street. Seven men bristling with Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and black ammunition belts spilled onto the street, ready to fight at point-blank range. The marines turned and fired, and killed four of them immediately, blowing one man's head entirely away before he fell on his back onto the pavement, his arms spread wide.

Three more fled. Cpl. Jason Huyghe cornered two of them in a courtyard. One of them, he suddenly realized, was wearing a belt packed with explosives.

"I saw the guy roll over and pull something on his jacket," Corporal Huyghe said, "and he exploded."

The seventh man limped into the dark streets of the city and escaped.

LONDON - US pop star Madonna made a rare foray into politics, calling for her home country to withdraw its troops from Iraq during an interview with British radio.

"The U.S. has 24 hours to leave Iraq, or else my new album will be released." she said on BBC Radio.

The new Madonna album, entitled "American Life 2", is reportedly even more terrible than her last album, entitled "American Life", which is widely considered the worst album of her career.

"I'm warning the Bush administration and Americans everywhere that I intend to follow through on my threat, and release my new album'," said the 46-year-old star, who believes she is a black hip-hop artist in her 20's.

Members of Congress are urging President Bush to give in to her demands. "This problem is way bigger than most people think," said an official under the condition of anonymity. "Considering her last album was a rap collection about soy lattes, yoga, pilates, and gay men, who knows what senselessness the next one offers." "Global terror is everywhere. Global terror is down the street, around the block," Madonna said. "Global terror is in California. There's global terror everywhere, put it pales in comparison to a talentless whore has-been like me who tries to rap with a phony black accent."

Madonna's best known belief is her adherence to the Kabbalah, a faith based on the study of Hebrew texts which has become increasingly popular in recent years, notably among the criminally insane.

And now, news and Chester informs us:

US forces moving from the north yesterday reached Highway 10 running through the central part of the city. So the city has been successfully divided.

The response from the insurgents is the only predictable and effective one. In response to Fallujah offensive, they have activated attacks not in Fallujah, but everywhere else the insurgency has active strength. Their only advantage is surprise and willingness to hit 'soft targets'. Thus, car bombs in Baghdad, attacks in Ramadi and Baquoba, assualts on police stations, and continued assassinations. There is no greater testament to the effectiveness of the Fallujah attack, though, than to see the pro-terrorist Association of Muslim Scholars line up and condemn it. Now they threaten a January election boycott. This is like a coalition of Nazis and Communists threatening to boycott elections. They don't believe in democracy anyway, so 'bring it on!'

BBC latest on Fallujah. Good quotes and pics:

"I can see heavy street-fighting from my house in the centre of the city - US soldiers are here, moving from house to house." -Fadhil Badrani, BBC

"Facing the immense complexity of modern social and industrial conditions, there is need to use freely and unhesitatingly the collective power of all of us; and yet no exercise of collective power will ever avail if the average individual does not keep his or her sense of personal duty, initiative, and responsibility. There is need to develop all the virtues that have the state for their sphere of action; but these virtues are as dust in a windy street unless back of them lie the strong and tender virtues of a family life based on the love of the one man for the one woman and on their joyous and fearless acceptance of their common obligation to the children that are theirs. There must be the keenest sense of duty, and with it must go the joy of living; there must be shame at the thought of shirking the hard work of the world, and at the same time delight in the many-sided beauty of life. With soul of flame and temper of steel we must act as our coolest judgment bids us. We must exercise the largest charity towards the wrong-doer that is compatible with relentless war against the wrong-doing. We must be just to others, generous to others, and yet we must realize that it is a shameful and a wicked thing not to withstand oppression with high heart and ready hand. With gentleness and tenderness there must go dauntless bravery and grim acceptance of labor and hardship and peril. All for each, and each for all, is a good motto; but only on condition that each works with might and main to so maintain himself as not to be a burden to others." (Quoted from the Foreword to " An autobiography by Theodore Roosevelt "1920 edition, emphasis not in original.)

A Phantom Abrams tank moved up the road running along the high ground. Its barrel, stencilled with the words "Ali Baba under 3 Thieves" swivelled towards the city and then fired a 120mm round at a house where two men with AK-47s had been pinpointed. "Ain't nobody moving now," shouted a soldier as the dust cleared. "He rocked that guy's world."

Meanwhile, the enemy is recruiting as well. The latest Zarquawi statement says: "Oh people, the war has begun and the call for jihad has been made. ... Despite all the agonies that we are suffering, by God, the enemies will only see things that will harm them."

In the flash-point town of Iskandariyah, a deadly zone south of Baghdad, Iraqi police disguised as civilians ambushed a rebel checkpoint and killed 25 insurgents, according to Iraqi government officials.

A Babylon province intelligence officer who wouldn't give his name for security reasons told Knight Ridder that 60 officers stormed the checkpoints and sustained no casualties. The all-Iraqi operation came after a string of large-scale attacks on Iraqi security personnel throughout the country.

"They were criminal, armed terrorists and we destroyed them all," the officer said.

Prime Minister Iyad Allawi made a surprise visit Monday to bolster the morale of Iraqi troops at the Camp Fallujah base. The men gathered around him and sang and danced to show their allegiance to Iraq and to him. In a rousing speech punctuated by their cheers, Allawi told the young men they were making history.

"The people of Fallujah have been taken hostage just like the people of Samarra, and you need to free them," Allawi said. "Your job is to arrest the killers, but if you kill them, let it be."

"May they go to hell!" the soldiers cried. "To hell they will go," Allawi answered.

He and Allawi gave the green light on liberating Fallujah and imposed emergency measures in much of Iraq for the time being for security purposes. And so, the Fallujah Assault has begun:

Thousands of U.S. Marines and Army troops punched their way on Monday into two Fallujah neighborhoods where insurgents are considered the strongest, kicking off a massive assault that seeks to put an end to half a year of insurgent control of the Sunni Muslim city.

The troops, backed by the 1st Cavalry Division's tanks and armor, swarmed into the city's northwestern Jolan district, the warren-like historic heart of Fallujah.

At the same time, some 4,000 troops, backed by the 1st Cavalry Division's tanks and armor, went into the northeastern Askari district.

A few hundred yards away, an important strategic as well as symbolic battle was playing out: American troops, fighting to secure the western end of the two bridges across the Euphrates River, received intense fire from fortified insurgent positions on the east side of the river. One of the bridges was the scene of the grisly episode on March 31, when Iraqis hung the charred and dismembered bodies of at least two of four American security contractors who had been killed from the bridge's spans.

Via FR, more pictures of preparations for battle.

"The rumor about homosexuality/bisexuality has been around for decades. So I put two and two together when they started talking about his health over a year ago. The talk of a mysterious illness in this day and age should be a tip-off. He has some of the best physicians in the world attending to him. He can be diagnosed clinically, without perfoming any tests. All the doctors surrounding him know what he has.All this cloak and dagger about tests is a ruse. They understand the implications of divulging that he has HIV."

US military trainers have been running regular Iraqi troops and a specialised security force, called the Shahwanis, through crash courses in preparation for an offensive on the rebel enclave, west of Baghdad. But a few Iraqi soldiers have left because they do not want to take part in such an offensive, said security trainer Sergeant Michael Applegate.

CentCom continues to shape the Fallujah battlefield, taking out targets one by one:

In the last 24 hours, I Marine Expeditionary Force conducted coordinated offensive operations in and around the Fallujah-Ramadi area. I MEF destroyed three barricaded fighting positions, and anti-aircraft weapon and a weapons cache.

At 3:30 a.m., Nov. 5, a U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, supporting a U.S. Marine Corps element, destroyed a preplanned target. They destroyed a building known to have anti-aircraft capabilities.

At 7:25 p.m., Nov. 5, a U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, supporting a Marine Corps element, used precision munitions to destroy a weapons cache.

At 11:30 p.m., Nov. 5, a U.S. Air Force aircraft, supporting a U.S. Marine Corps element, destroyed an anti-aircraft weapon. There were significant secondary explosions.

At 12:20 a.m., Nov. 6, a U.S. Air Force aircraft, supporting a U.S. Marine Corps element, destroyed three barricaded fighting positions.

With the victory for Bush, the first imperative - "Maintain our resolve and leadership to fight to win in Iraq" - is being met; the alliance is holding, and may strengthen if EU countries come on board to help Iraq.

The second imperative - "Train up Iraqi forces to maintain law and order" - is ongoing, and there is progress. One example is stories such as these about the Iraqis about to go in to Fallujah: Iraqi Troops Prepare for a Fight.

The long-awaited and imminent Fallujah offensive addresses the next imperative: "Clear out remaining insurgent havens (Ramadi, Fallujah, Al-Anbar) and return them to full Iraqi Government control." It also will help meet another key goal: "Root out and destroy terrorist cells." With the Bush re-election behind us and the Iraqi elections coming soon, cleaning up insurgent hide-outs is imperative immediate task. These holdouts impair stability and the building of democratic rule. They must be destroyed.

In another sign that destroying Fallujah's insurgent stronghold is a good idea, UN leader Kofi Annan expresses fears over it. Fortunately, Iraq's Allawi rebuffed the complaints, saying that Mr Annan's intervention "was confused and lacking in substance". Britain too has signed on to eliminating Fallujah's insurgent hideouts.

Allawi returns to Iraq from his European trip on Sunday. Insurgents are trying to deflect the attack. AP reports:

Facing a major assault in Fallujah, insurgents struck back Saturday with suicide car bombs, mortars and rockets across a wide swath of central Iraq, killing over 30 people and wounding more than 60 others, including nearly two dozen Americans.

Cpl. Roberto Abad, Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, Spc. Genaro Acosta, Pfc. Steven Acosta, Capt. James F. Adamouski, Pvt. Algernon Adams, Sgt. Brandon E. Adams, Spc. Clarence Adams III, 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams, Pfc. Michael S. Adams, Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, Spc. Jamaal R. Addison, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Adle, Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, Spc. Segun Frederick Akintade, Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich, Spc. Ronald D. Allen Jr., Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Allred, Capt. Eric L. Allton, Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, Cpl. Daniel R. Amaya, Pfc. John D. Amos II, Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, Airman 1st Class Carl L. Anderson Jr., Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael C. Anderson, Spc. Michael Andrade, Pfc, Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros, Lance Cpl. Levi T. Angell, Army Spc. Edward J. Anguiano, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Todd Arnold, Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, Spc. Richard Arriaga, Staff Sgt. Jimmy J. Arroyave, Spc. Robert R. Arsiaga, Sgt. Evan Asa Ashcraft, Pfc. Shawn M. Atkins, Maj. Jay Aubin, Capt. Matthew J. August, Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Austin, Spc. Tyanna S. Avery-Fedder, Lance Cpl. Andrew Julian Aviles, Pfc. Eric A. Ayon, Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, Spc. Ronald W. Baker, Spc. Ryan T. Baker, Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker. Pfc. Chad E. Bales, 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard, Maj. Spc. Solomon C. Bangayan, Lt. Col. Dominic R. Baragona, Pfc. Mark A. Barbret, Pfc. Collier E. Barcus, Sgt. Michael C. Barkey, Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes, Command Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Barnhill, Lance Cpl. Aric J. Barr, Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera, Maj. Carlos Barro Ollero, Sgt. Douglas E. Bascom, Spc. Todd M. Bates, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Battles Sr., Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum, Spc. Alan N. Bean Jr., Spc. Bradley S. Beard, Spc. Beau R. Beaulieu, Capt. Ryan Beaupre, Spc. James L. Beckstrand, Sgt. Gregory A. Belanger, Cpl. Christopher Belchik, Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell, Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, Sgt. 1st Class William M. Bennett, Spc. Robert T. Benson, 1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, Spc. Joel L. Bertoldie, Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino Sr., Staff Sgt. Marvin Best, Cpl. Mark A. Bibby, Sgt. Benjamin W. Biskie, Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, Sgt. Jarrod W. Black, Chief Warrant Officer Michael T. Blaise, Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco, Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, Spc. Joseph M. Blickenstaff, Spc. Nicholas H. Blodgett, Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg, Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Bohlman, Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr., Lance Cpl. Todd J. Bolding, Sgt. Dennis J. Boles, Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling, Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger Jr, Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor, Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker. Chief Warrant Officer Clarence E. Boone, Capt. John J. Boria, Pfc. Rachel K. Bosveld, Spc. Mathew G. Boule, Staff Sgt. Elvis Bourdon, Pvt. 1st Class Samuel R. Bowen, Staff Sgt. Hesley Box Jr., Pvt. Noah L. Boye, Lance Cpl. Aaron Boyles, Spc. Edward W. Brabazon, Cpl. Travis J. Bradach-Nall, Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, Staff Sgt. Stacey C. Brandon, Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield, Pfc. Joel K. Brattain, Pfc. Jeffrey F. Braun, Chief Warrant Officer William I. Brennan, Staff Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, Spc. Kyle A. Brinlee, Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, Sgt. Thomas F. Broomhead, Sgt. Andrew W. Brown, Tech. Sgt. Bruce E. Brown, Lance Cpl. Dominic C. Brown, Cpl. Henry L. Brown, Pfc. John E. Brown, Spc. Larry K. Brown, Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Spc. Philip D. Brown, Pfc. Timmy R. Brown Jr., 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Cpl. Andrew D. Brownfield, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, Lance Cpl. Cedric E. Bruns, 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant, Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, Spc. Roy Russell Buckley, Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring, Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, Sgt. George Edward Buggs, Spc. Joshua I. Bunch, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, Staff Sgt. Michael L. Burbank, Staff Sgt. Richard A. Burdick, Spc. Alan J. Burgess, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey C. Burgess, Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett, Sgt. Travis L. Burkhardt. Pfc. David P. Burridge, Pfc. Jesse R. Buryj, Pfc. Charles E. Bush Jr., Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, Sgt. Jacob L. Butler, Capt. Joshua T. Byers, Cpl. Juan C. Cabralbanuelos, Pfc. Cody S. Calavan, Sgt. Juan Calderon Jr, Sgt. Charles T. Caldwell, Spc. Nathaniel A. Caldwell, Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, Spc. Michael C. Campbell, Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell, Spc. Marvin A. Camposiles, Spc. Isaac Campoy, Spc. Ervin Caradine Jr., Spc. Adolfo C. Carballo, Pfc. Michael M. Carey, Cpl. Richard P. Carl, Pfc. Ryan G. Carlock, Pfc. Benjamin R. Carman, Staff Sgt. Edward W. Carmen, Spc. Jocelyn L. Carrasquillo, Sgt. Frank T. Carvill, Capt. Christopher S. Cash, Spc. Ahmed A. Cason, Pfc. Jose Casanova, Lance Cpl. James A. Casper, Capt. Paul J. Cassidy, Staff Sgt. Roland L. Castro, Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, Lance Cpl. Steven C. T. Cates, Pfc. Thomas D. Caughman, Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, Lance Cpl. Manuel A. Ceniceros, Cpl. Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, Spc. James A. Chance III, Staff Sgt. William D. Chaney, Chief Warrant Officer Robert William Channell Jr., Spc. Jason K. Chappell, Pfc. Jonathan M. Cheatham, Sgt. Yohjyh L. Chen, Lance Cpl. Marcus M. Cherry, 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, Spc. Andrew F. Chris. Staff Sgt. Thomas W. Christensen, Spc. Brett T. Christian, Spc. Arron R. Clark, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Clark, Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr., Pfc. Christopher R. Cobb, Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Codner, 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, Pvt. Bradli N. Coleman, Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan, Sgt. Russell L. Collier, Sgt. 1st Class Gary L. Collins, Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Collins, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga, Sgt. Robert E. Colvill, Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr., Sgt. Timothy M. Conneway, Spc. Steven D. Conover, Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, Lance Cpl. Pedro Contreras, Sgt. Jason Cook, Command Sgt. Major Eric F. Cooke, Sgt. Dennis A. Corral, Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter, 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, Spc. Gregory A. Cox, Pfc. Ryan R. Cox, Lance Corporal Timothy R. Creager, Sgt. Michael T. Crockett, Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Crockett, Sgt. Brud J. Cronkrite, Lance Cpl. Kyle D. Crowley, Pvt. Rey D. Cuervo, Pfc. Kevin A. Cuming, Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, Staff Sgt. Darren J. Cunningham, Spc. Carl F. Curran, Cpl. Michael Edward Curtin, Staff Sgt. Christopher E. Cutchall, Pfc. Brian K. Cutter, Pfc. Anthony D. D'Agostino, Spc. Edgar P. Daclan Jr., Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Dang, Spc. Danny B. Daniels II, Pvt. 1st Class Torey J. Dantzler, Pfc. Norman Darling, Capt. Eric B. Das. Spc. Shawn M. Davies, Pvt. Brandon L. Davis, Staff Sgt. Craig Davis, Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis, Spc. Raphael S. Davis, Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, Spc. Lauro G. DeLeon Jr., Sgt. Felix M. Delgreco, Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, Staff Sgt. Mike A. Dennie, Spc. Darryl T. Dent, Pfc. Ervin Dervishi, Spc. Daniel A. Desens, Pfc. Michael R. Deuel, Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Dickerson, Cpl. Nicholas J. Dieruf, Spc. Jeremiah J. DiGiovanni, Spc. Jeremy M. Dimaranan, Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, Spc. Anthony J. Dixon, Spc. Ryan E. Doltz, Sgt. Michael E. Dooley, Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Dorff, Petty Officer 2nd Class Trace W. Dossett, Lance Cpl. Scott E. Dougherty, 1st Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, Pfc. Stephen P. Downing II, Spc. Chad H. Drake, Pvt. Jeremy L. Drexler, Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Staff Sgt. Joe L. Dunigan Jr., Spc. Robert L. DuSang, Spc. William D. Dusenbery, 2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle, Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., Cpl. Christopher S. Ebert, Sgt. William C. Eckhart, Spc. Marshall L. Edgerton, Pfc. Shawn C. Edwards, Spc. Andrew C. Ehrlich, Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt, Spc. William R. Emanuel IV, Lance Cpl. Mark E. Engel, Spc. Peter G. Enos, Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr. Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, Sgt. Adam W. Estep, Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, Pfc. David Evans, Cpl. Mark A. Evnin, Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, Sgt. Justin L. Eyerly, Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, Sgt. James D. Faulkner, Pfc. Raymond J. Faulstich Jr., Capt. Brian R. Faunce, Capt. Arthur L. Felder, 2nd Lt. Paul M. Felsberg, Spc. Rian C. Ferguson, Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, Staff Sgt. Clint D. Ferrin, Spc. Jon P. Fettig, Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, Sgt. Jeremy J. Fischer, Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, Lance Cpl. Dustin R. Fitzgerald, Pfc. Jacob S. Fletcher, Spc. Thomas A. Foley III, Sgt. Timothy Folmar, Gunnery Sgt. Elia P. Fontecchio, Spc. Jason C. Ford, Capt. Travis A. Ford, Chief Warrant Officer Wesley C. Fortenberry, Sgt. 1st Class Bradley C. Fox, Spc. Craig S. Frank, Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank, Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Pvt. Robert L. Frantz, Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, Sgt. David T. Friedrich, Spc. Luke P. Frist, Spc. Adam D. Froehlich, Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, Sgt. 1st Class Dan H. Gabrielson, Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Gadsden, Capt. Richard J. Gannon II, Spc. Tomas Garces, Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, Spc. Joseph M. Garmback Jr., Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, Sgt. Justin W. Garvey, Spc. Israel Garza. 1st Sgt. Joe J. Garza, Pfc. Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr, Spc. Christopher D. Gelineau, Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Guerin, Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, Pvt. Jonathan L. Gifford, Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert, Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell W. Gilmore, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, Spc. Michael T. Gleason, Cpl. Todd J. Godwin, 2nd Lt. James Michael Goins, Spc. Christopher A. Golby, Spc. David J. Goldberg, Lance Cpl. Shane L. Goldman, Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jesus A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Victor A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, Pfc. Gregory R. Goodrich, Sgt. 1st Class Richard S. Gottfried, Spc. Richard A. Goward, 2nd Lt. Jeffrey C. Graham, Sgt. Jamie A. Gray, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Gray, Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray, Cpl. Jeffrey G. Green, Lt. Col. David S. Greene, Pfc. Devin J. Grella, Spc. Kyle A. Griffin, Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera, Chief Warrant Officer Hans N. Gukeisen, Pfc. Christian D. Gurtner, Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, Pfc. Richard W. Hafer, Staff Sgt. Guy S. Hagy Jr., Spc. Charles G. Haight, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Halal, Pfc. Deryk L. Hallal, Pvt. Jesse M. Halling, Pfc. Andrew Halverson, Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton, Sgt. Michael S. Hancock. Pfc. Fernando B. Hannon, Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, Sgt. James W. Harlan, Sgt. Atanacio Haro Marin, Staff Sgt. William M. Harrell, Sgt. Foster L. Harrington, Pfc. Adam J. Harris, Sgt. Kenneth W. Harris Jr., Pfc. Torry D. Harris, Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, Pfc. John D. Hart, Sgt. Nathaniel Hart, Sgt. 1st Class David A. Hartman, Sgt. Jonathan N. Hartman, Staff Sgt. Stephen C. Hattamer, Staff Sgt. Omer T. Hawkins II, Sgt. Timothy L. Hayslett, Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hazelgrove, Sgt. David M. Heath, Spc. Justin W. Hebert, Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, Spc. Jeremy M. Heines, Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellerman, Staff Sgt. Terry W. Hemingway, Cpl. Matthew C. Henderson, 1st Lt. Robert L. Henderson II, Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Hendrickson, Sgt. Jack T. Hennessy, Spc. Joshua J. Henry, Pfc. Clayton W. Henson, Spc. Armando Hernandez, Spc. Joseph F. Herndon II, Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, Spc. Jacob B. Herring, Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, Spc. Christopher K. Hill, Spc. Stephen D. Hiller, Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, Pfc. Melissa J. Hobart, Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson, Sgt. 1st Class James T. Hoffman, Spc. Christopher J. Holland, Staff Sgt. Aaron N. Holleyman, Staff Sgt. Lincoln D. Hollinsaid, Spc. James J. Holmes, Spc. Jeremiah J. Holmes, Cpl. Terry Holmes, Airman 1st Class Antoine J. Holt, Pfc. Sean Horn, Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck. Staff Sgt. Jeremy R. Horton, Capt. Andrew R. Houghton, Lance Cpl Gregory C. Howman, Pfc. Bert E. Hoyer, Spc. Corey A. Hubbell, Pfc. Christopher E. Hudson, 1st Lt. Doyle M. Hufstedler, Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins, Spc. Eric R. Hull, Cpl Barton R. Humlhanz, Lance Cpl. Justin T. Hunt, Spc. Simeon Hunte, 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, Lance Cpl. James B. Huston Jr., Lance Cpl. Seth Huston, Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings, Pfc. Ray J. Hutchinson, Pfc. Gregory P. Huxley Jr., Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg, Spc. Craig S. Ivory, Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, Spc. Morgen N. Jacobs, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, Cpl. Evan T. James, 2nd Lt. Luke S. James, Spc. William A. Jeffries, Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Jenkins, Sgt. Troy David Jenkins, Spc. Darius T. Jennings, Pfc. Ryan M. Jerabek, Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 1st Lt. Oscar Jimenez, Capt. Christopher B. Johnson, Spc. David W. Johnson, Pfc. Howard Johnson II, Spc. John P. Johnson, Pfc. Markus J. Johnson, Spc. Maurice J. Johnson, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr., Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer, Pfc. Rayshawn S. Johnson, Pvt. Devon D. Jones, Capt. Gussie M. Jones, Staff Sgt. Raymond E. Jones Jr., Spc. Rodney A. Jones, Lt. Kylan A. Jones- Huffman, Sgt. Curt E. Jordan Jr., Sgt. Jason D. Jordan. Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, Cpl. Forest J. Jostes, Spc. Spencer T. Karol, Spc. Michael G. Karr Jr., Spc. Mark J. Kasecky, 1st Lt. Jeffrey J. Kaylor, Spc. Chad L. Keith, Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Kelly, Cpl. Brian Kennedy, Chief Warrant Officer Kyran E. Kennedy, Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon, 1st Lt. Christopher J. Kenny, Spc. Jonathan R. Kephart, Cpl. Dallas L. Kerns, Chief Warrant Officer Erik C. Kesterson, Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan, Spc. James M. Kiehl, Pt. Jeungjin Na Kim, Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Kimmerly. Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, Staff Sgt. Lester O. Kinney II, Pfc. David M. Kirchhoff, Staff Sgt. Charles A. Kiser, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker, Spc. John K. Klinesmith Jr., Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten Jr., Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Knott, Spc. Joshua L. Knowles, Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig, Cpl. Kevin T. Kolm, Pfc. Martin W. Kondor, Chief Warrant Patrick W. Kordsmeier, Capt. Edward J. Korn, Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus, Cpl. Jakub Henryk Kowalik, Sgt. Elmer C. Krause, Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, Pfc. Bradley G. Kritzer, Capt. John F. Kurth, Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie Jr., Sgt. Joshua S. Ladd, Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, Lance Cpl. Alan Dinh Lam, Spc. Charles R. Lamb, Spc. James I. Lambert III, Pfc. James P. Lambert, Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert, Capt. Andrew David Lamont, Staff Sgt. Sean G. Landrus, Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane. Pfc. Moises A. Langhorst, Spc. Tracy L. Laramore, Spc. Scott Q. Larson Jr., Chief Warrant Officer Matthew C. Laskowski, Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, Pfc. Karina S. Lau, Cpl. Jeffrey D. Lawrence, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Lawton, Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, Staff Sgt. Rene Ledesma, 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc, Cpl. Bum R. Lee, Pfc. Ken W. Leisten, Staff Sgt. Jerome Lemon, Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, Pfc. Farad K. Letufuga, Spc. Justin W. Linden, Spc. Roger G. Ling, Spc. Joseph L. Lister, Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, Sgt. Dale T. Lloyd, Sgt. Daniel J. Londono, Spc. Ryan P. Long, Spc. Zachariah W. Long, Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, Sgt. Edgar E. Lopez, Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, Sgt. Richard M. Lord, Staff Sgt. David L. Loyd, Capt. Robert L. Lucero, Pfc. Jason C. Ludiam, Lance Cpl. Jacob R. Lugo, Pfc. Jason N. Lynch, Pfc. Christopher D. Mabry, Lance Cpl. Gregory E. MacDonald, Lance Cpl. Cesar F. Machado-Olmos, Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, Spc. William J. Maher III, Staff Sgt. Toby W. Mallet, Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, Pfc. Pablo Manzano, Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus Jr., Staff Sgt. Paul C. Mardis Jr., Cpl. Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, Spc. James E. Marshall, Sgt. 1st Class John W. Marshall, Pfc. Ryan A. Martin, Staff Sgt. Stephen G. Martin. Sgt. Francisco Martinez, Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores, Pfc. Jesse J. Martinez, Spc. Michael A. Martinez, Pfc. Oscar A. Martinez, Spc. Jacob D. Martir, Sgt. Arthur S. Mastrapa, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Spc. Clint Richard Matthews, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Cpl. Matthew E. Matula, Staff Sgt. Donald C. May Jr, Pfc. Joseph P. Mayek, Spc. Patrick R. McCaffrey Sr., Lance Cpl. Joseph C. MacCarthy, Pfc. Ryan M. McCauley, Cpl. Brad P. McCormick, 1st Lt. Erik. S. McCrae, Spc. Donald R. McCune, Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, Spc. Michael A. McGlothin. Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott R. McHugh, Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, Spc. David M. McKeever, Spc. Eric S. McKinley, Pvt. Robert L. McKinley, Staff Sgt. Don S. McMahan, Sgt. Heath A. McMillin, 1st Lt. Brian M. McPhillips, Cpl. Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin, Spc. Irving Medina, Spc. Kenneth A. Melton, Cpl. Jaygee Meluat, Petty Officer 3rd Class Fernando A. Mendezaceves, Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa, Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, Spc. Gil Mercado, Spc. Michael M. Merila, Spc. Christopher A. Merville, Sgt. Daniel K. Methvin, Pfc. Jason M. Meyer, Sgt. Eliu A. Miersandoval, Spc. Michael G. Mihalakis, Pfc. Matthew G. Milczark, Cpl. Jason David Mileo, Pfc. Anthony S. Miller, Pfc. Bruce Miller Jr., Staff Sgt. Frederick L. Miller Jr. Sgt. 1st Class Marvin L. Miller, Sgt. Joseph Minucci II, Sgt. First Class Troy L. Miranda, Spc. George A. Mitchell, Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell, Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, Spc. Sean R. Mitchell, Pfc. Jesse D. Mizener, Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molinabautista, Pfc. Anthony W. Monroe, 1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, Pfc. Stuart W. Moore, Sgt. Travis A. Moothart, Spc. Jose L. Mora, Sgt. Melvin Y. Mora, Pfc. Michael A. Mora, Master Sgt. Kevin N. Morehead, Capt. Brent L. Morel, Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, Spc. Jaime Moreno, Pfc. Luis A. Moreno, Spc. Dennis B. Morgan, Staff Sgt. Richard L. Morgan Jr., Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, Pfc. Ricky A. Morris Jr., Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Morrison, Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, Spc. Clifford L. Moxley Jr., Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, Sgt. Rodney A. Murray, Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak, Spc. Paul T. Nakamura, Spc. Nathan W. Nakis, Pvt. Kenneth A. Nalley, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher G. Nason, Maj. Kevin G. Nave, Spc. Rafael L. Navea, Spc. Charles L. Neeley, Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff II, Pfc. Gavin L. Neighbor, Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, Cpl. Dominique J. Nicolas, Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice, Spc. Isaac Michael Nieves, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, Spc. Allen Nolan, Spc. Marcos O. Nolasco. Sgt. William J. Normandy, Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott, Staff Sgt. Todd E. Nunes, Spc. David T. Nutt, Cpl. Mick R. Nygardbekowsky, Spc. Donald S. Oak Jr., Pfc. Branden F. Oberleitner, Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, Spc. Charles E. Odums II, Spc. Ramon C. Ojeda, Cpl. Terry Holmes Ordonez, Cpl. Brian Oliveira, Spc. Justin B. Onwordi, Spc. Richard P. Orengo, Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, Pfc. Cody J. Orr, Staff Sgt. Billy J. Orton, Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne, Lance Cpl. Deshon E. Otey, Pfc. Kevin C. Ott, Sgt. Michael G. Owen, Lance Cpl. David Edward Owens Jr, Sgt. Fernando Padilla- Ramirez, Pvt. Shawn D. Pahnke, Spc. Gabriel T. Palacios, Capt. Eric T. Paliwoda, 1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer, Staff Sgt. Dale A. Panchot, Pfc. Daniel R. Parker, Pfc. James D. Parker, Pfc. Kristen Parker, Cpl. Tommy L. Parker Jr., Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III, Sgt. David B. Parson, Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson Jr., Master Sgt. William L. Payne, Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, Spc. Brian H. Penisten, Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington, Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez, Sgt. Joel Perez, Spc. Jose A. Perez III, Pfc. Luis A. Perez, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Perez. Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pernaselli, Staff Sgt. David S. Perry, Pfc. Charles C. Persing, Staff Sgt. Dustin W. Peters, Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, Staff Sgt. Brett J. Petriken, Staff Sgt. James L. Pettaway Jr., Staff Sgt. Erickson H. Petty, Pfc. Jerrick M. Petty, Lt. Col. Mark P. Phelan, Pfc. Chance R. Phelps, Sgt. 1st Class Gladimir Philippe, Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, Capt. Pierre E. Piche, Pfc. Lori Piestewa, Capt. Dennis L. Pintor, Spc. James H. Pirtle, Pfc. Jason T. Poindexter, 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny, Spc. Justin W. Pollard, Spc. Larry E. Polley Jr., Sgt. Darrin K. Potter, Pfc. David L. Potter, Sgt. Christopher S. Potts, Spc. James E. Powell, Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, Cpl. Dean P. Pratt, Pfc. James E. Prevete, Pvt. Kelley S. Prewitt, Sgt. Tyler D. Prewitt, Pfc. James W. Price, 1st Lt. Timothy E. Price, Lance Cpl. Mathew D. Puckett, Sgt. Jaror C. Puello- Coronado, Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, Staff Sgt. Richard P. Ramey, Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, Spc. Eric U. Ramirez, Pfc. William C. Ramirez, Pfc. Christopher Ramos, Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, Pfc. Brandon Ramsey, Pvt. Carson J. Ramsey, Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, Pfc. Cleston C. Raney, Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV, Spc. Omead H. Razani. Spc. Brandon M. Read, Pfc. Christopher J. Reed, Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, Sgt. Tatjana Reed, Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, Spc. Jeremy F. Regnier, Sgt. 1st Class Randall S. Rehn, Sgt. Brendon C. Reiss, Staff Sgt. George S. Rentschler, Sgt. Sean C. Reynolds, Lance Cpl. Rafael Reynosa- Suarez, Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso, Cpl. Demetrius L. Rice, Sgt. Ariel Rico, Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen, Pfc. Diego Fernando Rincon, Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki, Sgt. Duane R. Rios, Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, Pfc. Henry C. Risner, Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Rivera, Cpl. John T. Rivero, Spc. Frank K. Rivers Jr., Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, Lance Cpl. Anthony P. Roberts, Lance Cpl. Bob W. Roberts, Spc. Robert D. Roberts, Staff Sgt. Joseph E. Robsky, Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, Pfc. Marlin T. Rockhold, Pfc. Jose Francis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, Spc. Philip G. Rogers, Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker, Staff Sgt. Victor A. Rosales, Pfc. Richard H. Rosas, Sgt. Scott C. Rose, Sgt. Thomas C. Rosenbaum, Sgt. Randy S. Rosenberg, Spc. Marco D. Ross, Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey, Capt. Alan Rowe, Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, Sgt. Roger D. Rowe, 2nd Lt. Jonathan D. Rozier, Spc. Isela Rubalcava, Pfc. Aaron J. Rusin, Sgt. John W. Russell. 1st Lt. Timothy Louis Ryan, Chief Warrant Officer Scott A. Saboe, Spc. Rasheed Sahib, Cpl. Rudy Salas, Cpl. William I. Salazar, 1st Lt. Edward M. Saltz, Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis, Spc. Sonny G. Sampler, Spc. Gregory P. Sanders, Pfc. Leroy Sandoval Jr., Spc. Matthew J. Sandri, Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford, 1st Lt. Neil Anthony Santoriello, Spc. Jonathan J. Santos, Pfc. Brandon R. Sapp, Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, Lance Cpl. Jeremiah E. Savage, Capt. Robert C. Scheetz Jr., Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk, Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, Cpl. Dustin H. Schrage, Maj. Mathew E. Schram, Lance Cpl. Brian K. Schramm, Spc. Christian C. Schulz, Master Sgt. David A. Scott, Pfc. Kerry D. Scott, Spc. Stephen M. Scott, Spc. Marc S. Seiden, Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, Pfc. Dustin M. Sekula, Lance Cpl. Matthew K. Serio, Sgt. Juan M. Serrano, Staff Sgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger III, Spc. Jeffrey R. Shaver, Maj. Kevin M. Shea, Spc. Casey Sheehan, Sgt. Kevin F. Sheehan, Sgt. Daniel Michael Shepherd, Sgt. Alan D. Sherman, Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman, Pfc. Harry N. Shondee Jr., Lance Cpl. Brad S. Shuder, Capt. James A. Shull, Pfc. Kenneth L. Sickels, Lance Cpl. Dustin L. Sides, Cpl. Erik H. Silva, Pvt. Sean A. Silva, Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons. Pfc. Charles M. Sims, Lance Cpl. John T. Sims Jr., Spc. Uday Singh, Spc. Aaron J. Sissel, Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner, Petty Officer 3rd Class David Sisung, 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, Pvt. Brandon Ulysses Sloan, Lance Cpl. Richard P. Slocum, Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum, Pfc. Corey L. Small, Sgt. Keith L. Smette, Capt. Benedict J. Smith, Sgt. Benjamin K. Smith, Pfc. Brandon C. Smith, 2nd Lt. Brian D. Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, Cpl. Darrell L. Smith, 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, Pfc. Jeremiah D. Smith, Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Smith Jr., Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Capt. Christopher F. Soelzer, Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon, Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau, Maj. Charles R. Soltes Jr., Sgt. Skipper Soram, Pfc. Armando Soriano, Cpl. Tomas Sotelo Jr., Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, Spc. Philip I. Spakosky, Pfc. Jason L. Sparks, Cpl. Michael R. Speer, Staff Sgt. Trevor Spink, Maj. Christopher J. Splinter, Sgt. Marvin R. Sprayberry III, Pvt. Bryan N. Spry, Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, Pfc. Nathan E. Stahl, 1st Lt. Andrew K. Stern, Staff Sgt. Robert A. Stever, Maj. Gregory Stone, 2nd Lt. Matthew R. Stovall, Pfc. William R. Strange, Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie, Pfc. Brandon C. Sturdy. Spc. William R. Sturges Jr., Spc. Paul J. Sturino, Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar, Spc. Joseph D. Suell, Spc. John R. Sullivan, Spc. Narson B. Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Vincent M. Sullivan, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Sutter, Pfc. Ernest Harold Sutphin, Chief Warrant Officer Sharon T. Swartworth, Spc. Thomas J. Sweet II, Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher, Maj. Paul R. Syverson III, Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh, Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert, Sgt. 1st Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, Spc. Christopher M. Taylor, Maj. Mark D. Taylor, Capt. John R. Teal, Staff Sgt. Riayan A. Tejeda, Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, Spc. Joseph C. Thibodeaux, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Cpl. Jesse L. Thiry, Sgt. Carl Thomas, Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas, Spc. Kyle G. Thomas, Sgt. Anthony O. Thompson, Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson, Sgt. Humberto F. Timoteo, Capt. John E. Tipton, Pfc. Joshua K. Titcomb, Spc. Brandon T. Titus, Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, Sgt. Lee D. Todacheene, Cpl. John H. Todd III, Sgt. Nicholas A. Tomko, Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, Pfc. George D. Torres, Lance Cpl. Michael S. Torres, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres, Lance Cpl. Elias Torrez III, Sgt. Michael L. Tosto, Spc. Richard K. Trevithick, Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, Staff Sgt. Roger C. Turner Jr., Pvt. Scott M. Tyrrell, 2nd Lt. Andre D. Tyson, Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, Lance Cpl. Drew M. Uhles. Rick A. Ulbright, Pfc. Daniel P. Unger, Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, 1st Sgt. Ernest E. Utt, Sgt. Michael A. Uvanni, Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant, Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez Jr., Sgt. Melissa Valles, Spc. Allen J. Vandayburg, Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, Chief Warrant Officer Brian K. Van Dusen, Lance Cpl. John J. Vangyzen IV, Lance Cpl. Gary F. Van Leuven, Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, Spc. Frances M. Vega, 1st Lt. Michael W. Vega, Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, Cpl. David M. Vicente, Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, Staff Sgt. Michael S. Voss, Spc. Thai Vue, Lance Cpl. Michael B. Wafford, Sgt. Christopher A. Wagener, Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl, Staff Sgt. Allan K. Walker, Sgt. Jeffery C. Walker, Sgt. Donald Ralph Walters, Pvt. Jason M. Ward, Pfc. Nachez Washalanta, Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Wasser, Pvt. David L. Waters, Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey, Maj. William R. Watkins III, Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher E. Watts, Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, Spc. Michael S. Weger, Staff Sgt. David J. Weisenburg, Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, Pfc. Michael Russell Creighton Weldon, Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells, Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow, Spc. Christopher J. Rivera Wesley, Sgt. James G. West, 1st Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee, Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, Pfc. Marquis A. Whitaker. Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, Lt. Nathan D. White, Sgt. Steven W. White, Lance Cpl. William W. White, Pfc. Joey D. Whitener ,Spc. Chase R. Whitman, Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann, Cpl. Joshua S. Wilfong ,Sgt. Eugene Williams, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams, Spc. Michael L. Williams, Sgt. Taft V. Williams ,1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby, Spc. Dana N. Wilson, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Wilson, Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 1st Lt. Ronald Winchester, Spc. Trevor A. Wine, Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, Spc. Robert A. Wise, Spc. Michelle M. Witmer, Pfc. Owen D. Witt, Spc. James R. Wolf, 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, Sgt. Brian M. Wood, Capt. George A. Wood, Spc. Michael R. Woodliff, Spc. James C. Wright, Pfc. Jason G. Wright, 2nd Lt. John T. Wroblewski, Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Wyatt, Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt, Sgt. Michael E. Yashinski, Sgt. Henry Ybarra III, Pfc. Rodricka A. Youmans, Sgt. Ryan C. Young, Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Zabierek, Spc. Nicholas J. Zangara, Spc. Mark Anthony Zapata, Pfc. Nicholaus E. Zimmer, Cpl. Ian T. Zook, Lance Cpl. Robert P. Zurheide Jr.

I am so relieved the Moore position was rejected by voters on Tuesday. That thinking leads to grovelling to terrorists. It failed under Jimmy Carter and would fail again. To me, the unforgiveable thing would be to make their sacrifice meaningless by leaving the mission in Iraq incomplete.

More will be added to these rolls in coming days and weeks, as we extinguish insurgent strongholds in Fallujah and Ramadi. To keep faith and to honor these fallen soldiers, we need to persevere and complete the mission of fully liberating Iraq: setting it up for elections and democratic rule, extinguishing the terrorist and insurgent violence, and making of Iraq a free and stable country.

But how honest is it for dictators in Syria, Emirs in Saudi Arabia and other gulf states, and the autocrats of Egypt to call for Palestinian self-rule? Or for Jordan to insist that Israel work with the same PLO leaders they kicked out of their country decades ago? They have used the Palestinian issue as a pawn to deflect from internal issues, and have stirred the pot of anti-semitism, creating an impossible ground for real peace.

The center of that storm and that policy has been Arafat, who through terrorist provocations made common ground in Israel impossible, who through the Intifada won autonomy, but won it for a mini-state that is little more than a breeding ground for economic despair and terrorist extremism. He has brought only death and agony to others and to his own people.

His passing will be a huge step forward for middle east peace, if both Arab and Israelis look beyond the current chasm that divides them and consider a future of co-existence. And should this happen, the oxygen for Jihadist terrorism would dissipate. We may well see the end of terrorism in our lifetimes.

If I were Tony Blair, I would be secretly thrilled by the results, not because Blair couldn't work with Kerry (their policies are more alike than Bush and Blair), but because the huffing and puffing about how the anti-war movement and disappointments in Iraq would blow these houses down has not happened. Blair's left flank is covered and the British Tories need to wake up and realize they are on the wrong side of history if they put political opportunism ahead of the flow of history.

What holds for British politics holds also for international diplomacy. The calculation is no longer if Iraq will succeed, it is when will Iraq succeed. Bush has another 2 years of runway to whatever it takes to make Iraq succeed. His Congressional majorities - strengthened by the election - will not refuse any reasonable request. And the U.S. military is ready as ever to do its excellent duty.

Now that Bush can say to Allawi "I've got your back", it helps Allawi push for more from the Axil of Weasels who held out on the New Iraq.

Allawi pushes for more help from the 'spectator' countries

"I want to take this opportunity to call on the countries which are content to have a spectator role, to help us to build a better Iraq," he said in a brief statement to reporters Thursday, after his talks with the Italian premier whom he praised for Italy's support. The interim Iraqi leader said the situation in Iraq could not be resolved "without the help of all the important countries". Later, asked if he specifically meant France and Germany, Allawi told AFP: "Yes. But we want to build better relationships with France and Germany and forget the past, and start fresh with each other".

Wait ... I don't have to speculate. On a day when President Bush at a press conference vows to finish the job in Iraq, we hear this: EU Leaders Consider Bigger Role in Iraq.

This is the tipping point that I spoke of three months ago. It's starting.

Oh and btw, Fallujah ... We even have a new city government for you to replace the one about to be on the receiving end of air strikes. And the sheiks, like Chirac, have to now recalculate their moves based on the Strong Horse Bush and the re-invigorated "Coalition of the Courageous".

• The majority of Americans voted for Bush yesterday: CNN has 58,527,956 votes for Bush (51%), to 54,992,753 for Kerry (48%). This margin of over 3% and 3,5 million votes, btw, is exactly as the Battleground poll and other respectable polls predicted. This is the first majority vote for a President since 1988, and is the most votes any Presidential candidate has gotten in history, besting Reagan's landslide vote totals from 1984 by 5 million votes.
• President Bush won the key states of Iowa, New Mexico, Florida, Ohio, Nevada; Kerry narrowly won Wisconsin and New Hampshire, and won Michigan and Pennsylvania. Bush has won 286 electoral votes.
• Republicans won a Congressional mandate as well: Republicans expanded their majorities in the House and Senate, and ousting top Democratic Senate leader Tom Daschle.

The stock market, including Nasdaq rises early Nov 2nd on hopes of Bush victory then tanks on fears of Kerry winning. The markets lost a cumulative serveral HUNDRED BILLION equity value in the space of an hour simply due to unreliable early exit polls that were favorable to Kerry.

UPDATE Nov 3rd: DOW RISES TRIPLE DIGITS ON NEWS OF BUSH VICTORY. Security overcomes fear!

“Bush saved us from Saddam, the dictator who killed two of my sons. That’s why I’ll be very glad if he stays on as president,” commented Arif Faqe Rasheed, 71, who sells lottery tickets in front of Sulaimaniyah’s cinema. Arif’s fellow-vendors nodded in agreement.

"We have found it difficult to deal with the Bush administration" - Osama Bin Laden

Also, we find Bin Laden is media-savvy and has his favorite journalists:

So with these images and their like as their background, the events of September 11th came as a reply to those great wrongs, should a man be blamed for defending his sanctuary? Is defending oneself and punishing the aggressor in kind, objectionable terrorism? If it is such, then it is unavoidable for us.

This is the message which I sought to communicate to you in word and deed, repeatedly, for years before September 11th. And you can read this, if you wish, in my interview with Scott in Time Magazine in 1996, or with Peter Arnett on CNN in 1997, or my meeting with John Weiner in 1998. You can observe it practically, if you wish, in Kenya and Tanzania and in Aden. And you can read it in my interview with Abdul Bari Atwan, as well as my interviews with Robert Fisk.

Unfortunately, as I predicted, Osama's plan to help Kerry merely by showing his ugly face is working. Kerry had a minor bump in the polls this weekend. The leering left can't contain itself; Michael Moore actually celebrates how Osama Bin Laden's video tarnishes Bush:

Bin Laden surfacing this weekend to remind the American people of your [Bush's] total and complete failure to capture him was a cruel trick or treat. But there he was. 3,000 people were killed and he’s laughing in your face. ... There he was, OBL, all tan and rested and on videotape (hey, did you get the feeling that he had a bootleg of my movie? Are there DVD players in those caves in Afghanistan?)

The world will be a better place with the likes of Moore and Bin Laden banished to obscurity.

UPDATE: Via MEMRI, Dr Mamoud Fandy on the Bin Laden tape:

"The new phenomenon in the U.S. elections is that non-Americans are voting in the elections in the hope of changing America's course. [ U.N. Secretary-General] Kofi Annan, for example, voted for [Senator] John Kerry when he criticized [President] Bush's policy in Iraq and described the invasion of Iraq as an illegal action. On the other hand, Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi voted for Bush in his recent visit to the U.S. when he thanked the U.S. and its president in [his address] to the Congress and in the White House. Recently, Osama bin Laden announced his vote for John Kerry in his latest tape, which was presented to us by the political porn channel [i.e. Al-Jazeera].

'This Tape Resembles the Announcements of Commercial Companies Which are Going Out of Business'