Free Republic

Fighting rages between Afghan factions Twenty people have been killed and 40 wounded in battles between rival armed factions in north-eastern Afghanistan. Fighting broke out near Orgo in Badakhshan province between forces loyal to the district chief and a local militia commander. Provincial officials have sent hundreds of soldiers to the area to try to stem the fighting, which are still raging in five different places. Government officials in Kabul could not immediately be reached for comment. Story filed: 15:51 Saturday 7th February 2004

May 28 — In the months preceding the intervention in Iraq, there were almost as many arguments within the “regime-change” constituency as there were between it and the “peace” camp. On both sides, indeed, some internal disagreements were subordinated to the main quarrel. The most enduring suspicion, among the Arab and Kurdish supporters of an attacking policy, was that elements within the American government would seek to keep them from harvesting an “Iraq for the Iraqis” victory. HENCE THE LONG tussle between Ahmad Chalabi and the CIA, and hence also the enduring memory among Kurds of the times when they...

Over 80 dead in rioting and looting, as ethnic gangs clash amid anarchy. Fires burn in business districts, storefronts destroyed, hooligans make off with any loot they can carry. Our liberal friends might cite this example to support their claim that we are becoming embroiled in a quagmire in Iraq. Unfortunately, this is not Iraq at all, It is Los Angeles after the verdict in the Rodney King trial. The naysayers will spout that we will never establish order in Iraq and will tell us that the whole operation was a mistake. Please remind them that killing, looting, and lawlessness...