Frankly, I didn't care when they announced they were going to do it, and I hardly care more now that they have: the ISG is little more than a bunch of Old Time Hacks getting together and blowing hot air. It means nothing (esp. to Chimpy) and will accomplish nothing. However, there is still plenty of good reading sober minded folks should check out if they want to assess the war's progress.

Rozen quotes a CSIS writer who lays out why the ISG is little more than a bad joke. She also has some scary shit about the "Salvadorization" of Iraq, and the new/old death squads we seem to be empowering, training, funding, and staffing.
Main&Central has a nice piece up by an Army Intelligence officer back after a year. Here's what an Iraqi said to him:

"Two years ago I saw Abu Ghraib and what Americans did to women. I became an insurgent," whispers a man I call Kareem, another civilian turned insurgent. "You come into our homes without separating the women and children, or asking the men politely if you may enter. Almost every hour of my life I hear some noise or see some sight of the American military. Soldiers talk with Iraqis only from behind a gun, from a position of power and not respect. Last week American soldiers got on a school bus and talked with all of the teenage girls. You had them take off their hijab so you could see their faces. You do not respect our women. This is the biggest of all problems of yours. You do not respect our women. How can we believe that Americans want to help when you do not even respect us or our faith?"

Chris has some more details on the Ishaqi massacres. As usual, the Pentagon people are lying to cover up slaughter.
Pat slaps Brooks around like the bitch he is. By agreeing with him, no less. Who says old, white vets don't know snark?

These are the people we all need to read, as well as our own invaluable Mark, who handily beat practically ever English language news service with his report about Saddam's escaped nephew. The ISG, the pundits, blogs covering the minutea...really more or less a waste of my time.