Miscellaneous.

This is coolbert:

One step forward, two backwards! Two steps forward, one backwards!

Items of interest from the Chicago Tribune:

1. "Iraqi forces making gains against militants in Mosul"

15 January.

"MOSUL, Iraq - - Iraqi forces have won a string of swift territorial gains in Mosul in the fight against the Islamic State group after months of slow progress, with a senior officer Saturday laying claim to a cluster of buildings inside Mosul University and another edge of a bridge."

"Iraqi forces now control the eastern side of three of the city's five bridges that span the Tigris River"

IRAQI FORCES ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING GAINS AGAINST THE COMBATANTS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE. CONSTANTLY! MISSION HOWEVER AS YET NOT ACCOMPLISHED! IS MY SKEPTICISM OF REPORTED PROGRESS AN INSTANCE OF THOSE WITH THE LOUDEST VOICES ARE OFTEN FOUND FURTHEST FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACTION?

2. "Iraqi forces in ISIS battle raise flag over Mosul University"

15 January.

"MOSUL, Iraq - - Iraqi special forces raised the Iraqi flag above buildings within the Mosul University complex Friday as they battled Islamic State militants for control of the city, according to senior Iraqi officers and the U.S.-led coalition."

3. "ISIS launches new assault on strategic eastern city in Syria."

15 January.

"BEIRUT - - Islamic State militants launched their biggest assault in a year on government -held areas of the contested city of Deir el-Zour on Saturday, attacking fro m several fronts and triggering intense fighting in the eastern region bordering Iraq"

. . . .

"Deir el-Zour carries strategic significance for ISIS as it links the group's Iraq territory to its de facto capital of Raqqa in Syria."

4. "Lockheed tells Trump F-35 cost will be lower"

15 January.

"Emerging from a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson told reporters the defense giant is close to a new contract deal that would cut the cost of  F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and also create jobs."

AND BEFORE THE PRICE PER WARPLANE COULD NOT BE REDUCED? AND BEFORE JOBS COULD NOT BE CREATED? A FEW CHOICE WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND THE PRICE CAN BE BROUGHT DOWN AND JOBS CAN BE CREATED? THIS IS SO? JUST LIKE THAT?

coolbert.