Libya
Rebels have surrounded the pro-Gaddafi towns of Sirte, Bani Walid, Jufra, and Sabha, and have given forces there one week to surrender. Libyan Islamic Fighting Group leader Abdul Hakim Belhaj played down his ties to al Qaeda and Islamists.
Author Archives: The LWJ Editors
Pakistani journalist executed by ISI: report
Syed Saleem Shahzad was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by Pakistan’s intelligence service, according to Human Rights Watch.
On patrol in Karamanda
US Marines from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and an Afghan policeman cross a wadi as they enter the town of Karamanda in Musa Qala. Photo by Bill Ardolino for The Long War Journal Bill Ardolino published an article on the the US Marines from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment operating near the […]
Counting al Qaeda
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Bill Roggio published an article at The Weekly Standard on recent claims by the CIA and other intelligence agencies that there are merely 50-100 al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. When CIA director Leon Panetta declared on a Sunday talk show in late June that “we’re looking at maybe 50 to 100” al […]
Iran’s PressTV continues to distort LWJ’s coverage of US strikes in Pakistan
Iran’s PressTV continues to distort The Long War Journal‘s data on the US air campaign against al Qaeda and the Taliban in northwestern Pakistan. According to PressTV, LWJ‘s data shows that mostly civilians are killed in the covert air campaign in Pakistan: Washington claims its airstrikes target militant hideouts though most of the attacks have […]
Bill Ardolino reports from Afghanistan
The Long War Journal is pleased to announce that Bill Ardolino is currently embedded with the US Marines in Musa Qala in Helmand province, Afghanistan. An excellent observer and reporter, Bill has reported for us previously from Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006 and 2007; and from Baghdad in 2008. In Helmand, Bill will be assessing the […]
Analysis: US outlines new Afghanistan strategy
The focus is on Pakistan’s sanctuaries, a troop and civilian “surge,” accelerating the growth of the Afghan security forces, reconciliation with the Taliban, improved governance, and international cooperation.
Pakistan’s Jihad
By Bill Roggio & Thomas Joscelyn. In the war on terror, Islamabad is both with us and against us. Originally published in The Weekly Standard magazine.
Afghanistan: Mapping the rising violence
Attacks continue to rise in the southern and eastern provinces bordering Pakistan, where the Taliban and al Qaeda maintain safe havens.
Sadr’s Special Groups
Muqtada al Sadr influences the Mahdi Army’s ‘Special Groups’ more than the military will admit. Written by Bill Roggio and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross for The Weekly Standard.
Descent into Appeasement
A look at Pakistan’s dangerous deals with terrorists in the Northwest Frontier Province. Written by Bill Roggio and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross for The Weekly Standard magazine.
In Pictures: The Sons of Iraq
Gordon Alanko, who is currently embedded with US forces in southern Arab Jabour in Baghdad province, Iraq, provides a pictorial of a Sons of Iraq recruiting drive.
Iraq in pictures
David Tate provides a view of Baghdad and southern Baghdad province from his September 2007 embed with Bill Roggio. David was embedded with US forces in East Rashid, Mahmudiyah, Al Haswa, Arab Jabour and Iskandariyah.
To raise them up. Part 3: Investing in people
B.A. Patty was recently embedded with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In part three of the series, Patty discusses the role investments – in the NCO corps of the AFP, in the local economy – play in counterinsurgency.
To raise them up. Part 1: The lesser and greater insurgencies of the Philippines
B.A. Patty was recently embedded with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In part one of his three-part series, Patty examines the roles of organizations such as Abu Sayyaf and MNLF in the insurgency and what Filipino and US troops are doing to squelch terrorist activities.
Conducting the surge, one raid at a time
Joe Talley of Tango Alpha Productions is currently embedded with US forces south of Baghdad. You can read part 1, The surge: Gunners on patrol,.
The surge: Gunners on patrol
Forward Operating Base Loyalty, Baghdad, Iraq — The signs of war are never far from the men and women of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, currently stationed at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad. Yesterday at lunch, a sergeant entered the building yelling, “ATTENTION IN THE CHOW HALL! ATTENTION IN THE CHOW HALL!” […]
Battle Sight Zero
By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. I’ve had the privilege to hang around the men of the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Al Anbar Province, Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq led by CWO-5 “Gunner” Terry […]
The Intellectual Grunt – Part Two
By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. Lt. Col. McGrath touring his battle space between Fallujah and Ramadi. Click to view. CAMP HABBANIYAH, AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ: To the uniformed, the term “intellectual grunt” may […]
The Intellectual Grunt – Part One
By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. Counterinsurgency is not just thinking man’s warfare-it is the graduate level of war. Special Forces Officer in Iraq, 2005 COUNTERINSURGENCY Marine Corps Warfighting Publication 3-33.5 CAMP HABBANIYAH, AL […]
A look at the surge from Baghdad
By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, who is currently embedded with the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery in western Baghdad. Support for Daveed’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. As I write this, I’m nearing the end of my time embedded with the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery (known as 2-32), which is working with the 2nd […]
Grandkids and War Zones
By Gene E. Blanton, who is currently embedded with the Multi-National Forces West Training Center in Habbaniyah. Support for Gene’s reporting was provided by Public Multimedia Inc. CAMP HABBANIYAH, AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ: In September 2005, when I told my wife, Shelia that I was going to be embedded with the 2nd Marine Division in […]
Featured Embedded Report: Chris Muir from Iraq
In mid-February, Chris Muir, the talented cartoonist behind day by day, a political comic strip prevalent in the blogosphere, embedded in Mosul for five days. Public Multimedia, Inc, my non-profit media company, was proud to sponsor Chris for this embed. Chris is the first of several embeds Public Multimedia will put into the field this […]