From Reuters (US Commander: Insurgents Shift Target to Iraq Army):

Insurgents in northern Iraq have stepped up attacks against Iraqi forces, shifting away from U.S. and coalition targets as Iraqi security personnel prepare to lead operations in Mosul, a U.S. commander said on July 20.  “We’ve seen and will likely see an increase in attacks against Iraqi security forces due to the increase in their effectiveness at neutralizing the insurgency and providing for the security of the people,” said Col. Michael Shields, commander of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team operating primarily in the Mosul area.  Shields, speaking to reporters in Washington by videoconference, said attacks were up slightly overall.  Insurgent attacks have increased from seven to nine per day to as many as 10 per day. Still, Shields said attacks remain below levels seen in late 2004 when the Iraqi police force in Ninevah province collapsed and fighting between U.S. forces and insurgents soared in the cities of Mosul and Tal Afar.

From the Jerusalem Post:

The following number of Katyushas have been fired at Israel:

Meanwhile, the IDF has destroyed:

Courtesy of Michelle Malkin who points us to another Debbie Schlussel piece on Hezbollah activities in the U.S., we learn more about the dear Imam Elahi, the “charitable” organization Al Mabarat (a Hezbollah front organization), Hezbollah financier Talal Chahine and the Dearborn, Michigan, connection.  Dearborn is being called the “Capital of Islam” in America.  This is a tangled web of deceipt, terrorism fundrasing, lies and official government inactivity to stop it.

We noted previously that the FBI was having meetings with the Imam in order to “build bridges.”  Yes, that’s right.  Build Bridges.  You can donate money to Al Mabarat and claim it as an income tax deduction next April.  You can also go to Dearborn, Michigan, and hear calls to prayer waft up during the day from the Mosques — with the approval of city council.

Prior at the Captain’s Journal:

• Hezbollah Sleeper Cells to be Activated
• What if Hezbollah Hits Power Grid?
• The Department of Homeland Hezbollah
• More on Hezbollah Threat to U.S.
• Hezbollah Reiterates Threat to Attack U.S. Interests Around Globe
• Are we Prepared for Hezbollah Attacks in the U.S.?

In “Haditha Hoax and Future Knee-Jerk Reactions,” I mentioned two Gaurdsmen who were being considered for charges of manslaughter.  They have been cleared — sort of.  Reuters is reporting:

BAGHDAD – The U.S. military has cleared a soldier of unlawfully killing an Iraqi civilian after investigators concluded Specialist Nathan Lynn had reason to believe the man was carrying a gun when he opened fire. 

But there is still something outstanding on this whole issue.

The military spokesman said commanders had yet to decide whether to refer Ortiz to court martial on the conspiracy charge. Ortiz is also charged with a separate offence on March 8 of threatening an Iraqi with a weapon. 

According to the story, Ortiz had reason to believe that an Iraqi individual had intelligence regarding a credible threat to the safety of our troops.  He then took an unloaded weapon and held it to the head of the individual in an attempt to obtain that information.

At the time I said that if U.S. troops believe that an individual has intelligence regarding a credible threat to our troops, and threatens that individual in an attempt to obtain that intelligence, I support it.  Of course I would.

I still do.  Of course I do.  This is war.  What do people think happens in war?  Someone (i.e., the Iraqi individual) was under emotional duress.  So what?  What I want to know is this: did we get the information we wanted?

In “Haditha Hoax and Future Knee-Jerk Reactions,” I mentioned two Gaurdsmen who were being considered for charges of manslaughter.  They have been cleared — sort of.  Reuters is reporting:

BAGHDAD – The U.S. military has cleared a soldier of unlawfully killing an Iraqi civilian after investigators concluded Specialist Nathan Lynn had reason to believe the man was carrying a gun when he opened fire. 

But there is still something outstanding on this whole issue.

The military spokesman said commanders had yet to decide whether to refer Ortiz to court martial on the conspiracy charge. Ortiz is also charged with a separate offence on March 8 of threatening an Iraqi with a weapon. 

According to the story, Ortiz had reason to believe that an Iraqi individual had intelligence regarding a credible threat to the safety of our troops.  He then took an unloaded weapon and held it to the head of the individual in an attempt to obtain that information.

At the time I said that if U.S. troops believe that an individual has intelligence regarding a credible threat to our troops, and threatens that individual in an attempt to obtain that intelligence, I support it.  Of course I would.

I still do.  Of course I do.  This is war.  What do people think happens in war?  Someone (i.e., the Iraqi individual) was under emotional duress.  So what?  What I want to know is this: did we get the information we wanted?

From the Jerusalem Post:

Hizbullah “sleeper” terror cells set up outside Lebanon with Iranian assistance have been put on standby The Jerusalem Post learned on Sunday, and are likely planning attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets throughout the world.

We have discussed world-wide Hezbollah before and the necessity to prepare for attacks.  The Post doesn’t specifically mention the U.S.  However, we are fooling ourselves if we think we are immune.  The world knows that we help to arm Israel, and we have made it no secret that the only democracy in the middle east – Israel – is our ally.

Prior at the Captain’s Journal:

• The Department of Homeland Hezbollah
• More on Hezbollah Threat to U.S.
• Hezbollah Reiterates Threat to Attack U.S. Interests Around Globe
• Are we Prepared for Hezbollah Attacks in the U.S.?

From the Multi-National Force Web Site:

RAMADI — Lance Cpl. Brandon R. Musser is just one of many Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment patrolling the streets of one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq while wearing 50 plus pounds of armor under a scorching sun.

And he and his comrades are doing it with no complaints.

On June 20, Musser and other Marines with 3rd Platoon, Company L, conducted snap vehicle check points during a patrol in the capital of Al Anbar province. Marines were on the look out for suspicious activity while disrupting insurgent movement through the city.

“We just went out and did some snap VCPs and patrolled the area to get a feel for the local population,

In the face of all the calls to negotiations over the war in the middle east, just in case anyone was wondering what the position of Iran is, we are reminded again today:

In Teheran, the government has sanctioned billboards showing Hizbullah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and a message that it is the duty of Muslims to “wipe out” Israel. 

If Hezbollah is the surrogate of Iran, and Iran’s position is that it is the duty of all Muslims to wipe out Israel, then negotiations are nothing more than a temporary truce to allow the Muslim forces to re-group and re-arm.  Israel enters negotiations at its peril.

Michelle Malkin has an interesting piece on the power outage in Queens.  They have been without power for six days and nights, and business is bleeding.  The story on the effects to local economy will be a long time being told.  But there is this little nugget of gold at the end of her post:

I hope DHS is paying attention.

U.S. targets are so soft that it really is worrisome.  Now we can add one more soft target to the list, if Hezbollah is watching and listening.  Any future Hezbollah attack in the U.S. might not just involve contamination of drinking water supplies for large population centers, destruction of infrastructure such as buildings and bridges, disruption of financial centers like New York and Charlotte, or the myriad of other pernicious and dastardly things that they could perpetrate.

What if Hezbollah hits power grid infrastructure for the 25 largest population centers in the U.S.?  Is this an issue not only for DHS but for U.S. utilities as well?  U.S. utilities protect generation assets with security forces commensurate with the investment of resources.  What about the transmission assets?

The U.S. is moving more troops into Baghdad.  This is something we have followed, and it appears that the coming battle for the future of Iraq is being fought (and will be fought in the near future) in Baghdad.  This is a must win battle.  We cannot lose this and still win in Iraq.  Keep our troops in your prayers.

Prior:

• More on the Battle for Baghdad
• Battle for Baghdad Coming