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From Politico:
With Memorial Day around the corner, Sen. John McCain and his allies are reaching out to Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb in the hope of finding a compromise on a GI Bill that would eliminate a potential embarrassment for the Arizona Republican’s presidential campaign.Read the whole thing - along with coverage of the Republican attempt to attach their alternative bill to other legislation in the Senate (and no matter how you may feel about it, that bill has a snowball's chance), a House proposal to "tax the rich" to pay for the benefit, and a Senate vow to eliminate that provision.
<...>
It was McCain who instigated a letter to Webb signed by himself and two fellow Republicans on Monday, in an effort to end a standoff between the two Vietnam veterans. Discussions followed Tuesday between Webb and McCain ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and late in the day there was a staff meeting that lasted more than an hour.It is too early to predict what will come of the discussions, but Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), a former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman who has served as an intermediary of sorts between the Webb and McCain camps, was hopeful.
“I think it’s an exciting chapter. I’m enjoying every minute of it,” Warner told Politico. “We’re going to get it. I’ll bet your bottom dollar we get it. ... I’ll give you odds we’re going to win.”
Webb has steadily picked up support for his proposal and this week moved within two votes of the 60 needed to overcome procedural obstacles in the Senate.
<...>
Webb is in a strong enough political position that he will be reluctant to make major changes. But it is also in the Virginian’s interest to bring as many senators, including his friend McCain, into the same camp.The letter sent Monday is conciliatory in tone, expressing a “sincere interest in working with you on one of the most important issues that may come before the Senate this year: a revitalized GI Bill program.”
“Each of us supports increasing education benefits for our nation’s veterans, and we believe this must be accomplished as quickly as possible,” reads the letter, signed by McCain, Graham and Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). The three Republicans go on to say that they have “never disagreed with the overall intent” of the Webb bill but would like more attention to problems of recruitment and retention as well as “in-service education of career servicemen and women.”
I checked McCain's campaign blog for any mention of the GI Bill issue (specifically I was hoping to see the full text of that letter) - but they're currently foot stomping McCain's solution for "climate change".
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.
Girl, Eight, In Iraq Suicide Bombing -- [Sky News]
An eight-year-old girl strapped with explosives has blown up and killed an Iraqi army captain.
The bomb was detonated by remote control, injuring four soldiers in addition to the one who died, an Iraqi Army spokesman said.
Local authorities imposed a curfew in the area and American troops launched a search for those responsible.
US soldiers confirmed that a young girl was involved in the attack, which took place near Youssifiyah, south of the capital, Baghdad.
The horrific bombing came as Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki flew to Mosul to take charge of a major offensive against al Qaeda.
Bush disappointed with intel before Iraq war -- [NPR]
President Bush said Tuesday he was disappointed in "flawed intelligence" before the Iraq war and was concerned that if a Democrat wins the presidency in November and withdrew troops prematurely it could "eventually lead to another attack on the United States."
...A question submitted from the online audience asked Bush whether he felt he had been misled about Iraq as he made the decision to go to war.
"`Misled' is a strong word," he said. "Not only our intelligence community, but intelligence communities all across the world shared the same assessment. And so I was disappointed to see how flawed our intelligence was."
"Do I think somebody lied to me? No, I don't. I think it was just, you know, they analyzed the situation and came up with the wrong conclusion," he added.
The Daily Show - Douglas Feith Uncut
(part 2)
Hussayn's Story -- [Castle Argghhh! - CW4BillT - in Iraq]
The visual-only sim can be a stomach-churner, but a couple of the IqAF Fling-Wing pilots who have come up here from Taji are pretty tough – the only thing that gets to them is my coffee.
Hussayn was recovering from a cup of my extra-strength double espresso with a bottle of tamarind soda (if you’re curious, take a can of Doctah Peppah and add a couple of ounces of OJ, then sip, cautiously). He gave me a bit of perspective on what it’s like to have Crusader Myrmidons roaming your neighborhood.
“After Baghdad falls to the US, I am cashiered out of the Air Force and take a job in one of the markets in my neighborhood. One night, some of my friends are visiting, and we have a barbecue and are watching videos of cowboy movies. There is a knock on my door. I open it and there is a US patrol. They ask if they can enter my house and I say, 'Sure, come in.' I offer them some barbecue, because we see them on patrol; we recognize them and know how long they are out before they return to base. They say, 'No, thank you. We have eaten recently.'
"Then they ask if I have weapons. One of my friends says to me in Arabic, 'Tell them "No" because they will take your guns and you will be defenseless.' I tell him in Arabic, 'I will not lie to them or they will not trust us.'
"So I say, 'Yes, I have a submachinegun, an AK and a pistol.' The patrol leader says, 'Bring them, please. We need to see them.' So, I bring them out.
Transformation of Yatheeb -- [IN Iraq - in Iraq]
The town children call him “Mister John”. He kneels to talk to them and they ask him when he’s bringing soccer balls. The local armed citizens know his face. Lt. Col. John Dunleavy and his Personal Security Detail regularly patrol these streets. They smile and wave. It wasn’t like this several months ago.
U.S. Aerial Weapons Team Kills Criminal, Destroys Mortar Tube
Footage of a Multi-National Division – Baghdad aerial weapons team that killed a criminal and destroyed a mortar tube being used by criminals to launch indirect-fire attacks in the Kadhamiyah district of Baghdad, May 14.
At approximately 10:50 a.m. May 14, a Multi-National Division – Baghdad unmanned aerial vehicle was conducting an aerial surveillance in the Kadhamiyah district of Baghdad and observed three criminals firing a mortar. An AWT engaged the criminals with two Hellfire missiles. One criminal was killed and the mortar tube was destroyed. Provided by Multi-National Division - Baghdad.
MG Lynch, Part III: Growth and Transtions -- [Castle Argghhh! - FBL]
In January when I interviewed the 3ID Chief of Staff, he was obviously concerned about getting help with rebuilding the economy and infrastructure. COL McKnight said, "we are very good at security operations, but other enablers can help us with the economy." He expressed the need for private investment and expertise, and help with building infrastructure.
...In January when I interviewed the 3ID Chief of Staff, he was obviously concerned about getting help with rebuilding the economy and infrastructure. COL McKnight said, "we are very good at security operations, but other enablers can help us with the economy." He expressed the need for private investment and expertise, and help with building infrastructure.
Commander Says Al-Qaida ‘Virtually Destroyed’ in Kirkuk -- [Pat Dollard]
WASHINGTON — Violence in Iraq’s Kirkuk province has dropped by 70 percent, and coalition and Iraqi forces have “virtually destroyed” al-Qaida in Iraq in the region, the commander of the U.S. brigade combat team in the area said May 12.
Army Col. David Paschal, commander of 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, said that as security improves in the strategic northern province, changes are happening in the economy and in governance that help cement the security progress in place.
Four developments have helped the battle against insurgents in the Rhode Island-sized province of 1.5 million, Paschal told Pentagon reporters in a teleconference from his headquarters at Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The developments are: ...
UAV Predator Engage IED Emplacement Team With Hellfire In Iraq
Air Strike On Insurgents Who Planted An IED In Iraq.
The only constant is change -- [Miserable Donuts - in Iraq]
Looks like I will have some changes, again, coming down the road. I'll be moving again, and working with different Iraqis. Somewhere in there I get a couple of weeks leave too. When I got to Iraq I thought I would be at one location, doing a fairly interesting, but stable job. Boy was I wrong. So I have learned that in Iraq, the only constant thing about your deploymkent is change.
But for now ...
Demand for dollar soars up in daily auction-- [Iraq Updates - Voices of Iraq]
Demand for the dollar was up in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Tuesday, registering at$157.795 million compared to $69.120 million on Monday.
"The demand hit $6.315 million in cash and $151.480 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at an exchange rate of 1,200 Iraqi dinars per dollar, stable for the fourth consecutive session" according to the central bank's daily bulletin which was received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
The 16 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell $1.200 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,198 dinars per dollar.
Two al-Qaeda senior commanders captured east of Mosul -- [Iraq Updates - Voices of Iraq]
Iraqi Army forces on Tuesday arrested two al-Qaeda senior commanders east o Mosul while escaping the all-out offensive launched by joint troops in Ninewa since four days, a military source ...
Clashes continue in Sadr City -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The Iraqi military said it killed eight “gunmen” inside Sadr City over the past 24 hours. The US military said it killed two Mahdi Army fighters from the night of May 12 to the morning of May 13 during five separate engagements. Three more Mahdi Army fighters were killed in the Mahdi-influenced neighborhood in New Baghdad and in northwestern Baghdad as they planted roadside bombs.
The attacks occurred during construction on the barrier along Qods Street, the main thoroughfare that divides the southern third of Sadr City from the northern neighborhoods. The US military used air weapons teams armed with Hellfire missiles, Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and infantry to beat back the attacks.
The US military does not believe the radical elements of the Mahdi Army will obey Sadr’s call for a ceasefire.
Iraq News (14 May) -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
The Good: The Wall Street Journal editorial board says Prime Minister Maliki is a big winner for cracking down on Shi'ite militias within the last 2 months. Now, the Iraqi Security Forces have their sights on the terrorist threat in Mosul, in which the Prime Minister showed up today to supervise operations. The Kurds have offered their support for the operations in Mosul. However, American media is still focused on the ceasefire saying whether or not the truce negotiated between the UIA and Sadr Trend is holding in Sadr City. The superb Long War Journal reports some clashes that have left 10 militia fighters dead in Sadr City, mostly around the Al-Qods street security barrier. 3 new oil fields have been discovered in the Kurdish region containing 2 Billion barrels (worldwide demand is about 90 million barrels/day).
Iran’s Shifting Strategy -- [Talisman Gate - an iraqi journalist]
The healing in Iraq and the deterioration in Lebanon are not unrelated. In fact, Iraq will serve as both cause and effect to Lebanon’s misfortunes. Iran, eclipsed in Sadr City, had decided to allow its sectarian acolytes to put on a show of strength in Beirut. And the jihadists of Al Qaeda’s ilk, soon to be eclipsed in Mosul, will migrate to Beirut to meet Iran’s challenge.
Five years ago, there was a hope that held Iraq as a would-be beacon for democracy throughout the Middle East, but that vision had too many determined enemies both inside and outside Iraq.
Iran Not Just Hiding Their Nuke Program, They're Hiding Babes Too! -- [Lt Nixon - in Iraq]
21st century Iran usually brings up my own mental image of Hezbollah thugs in Lebanon, a secretive nuclear program, and rockets whizzing over my head as I scramble for cover. But did you know that they are hiding a wide variety of Persian babes as well? Iraqi Bloggers Central has a pretty good round up for those interested in checking out babes from other parts of the globe (I'm a sailor, so it's a requirement and part of our tradition). Although, I disagree with his statement that women shouldn't be "shielded" or "occulted" away. Because, who am I to say what is wrong and what is right with someone else's culture? Many Iraqi women are just as lovely looking no matter how they dress in public. Unfortunately, it is considered extremely offensive in Arabic culture for us infidel types to stare lustfully at a women or engage in small talk you would find at a club on Saturday night.
The Sliding Desert Scale -- [Fraser - in Iraq]
...The 1-10 Scale is a term used here in The Desert. We all know that guys (and more than likely women also) rate the opposite sex on a scale of one to ten. ...
...I live in a desert. I am in area of the world where everyone carries guns. I work with people that are made up primarily Type-A personalities and 98% male. Let’s do the math - that makes it somewhere around…. (I am going to consult with my editor about this one. He has many degrees, and scored very high on his SAT.) 100%-98%= 2%. Right? [Yes J- that is right -ed.]
Yes, it is somewhere around 2% female. So there are not very many women in my neck of the woods. I am not including the indigenous population. They wear burkas. Kind of like a surprise package. You don’t know what kind of horror story you have until you open the book. There is no scale for that!
Now you know the environment I am talking about.
THE SLIDING DESERT SCALE
This scale is much like the aforementioned 1-10 scale, but there is the difference. Any women willing to show up here in the desert, in this beautiful paradise, automatically receives an additional five points for the effort.
Taliban Moving At Half Speed This Year -- [Strategy Page]
May 14, 2008: Afghan and security forces waited, and waited, for the Taliban Spring Offensive, but it never came. Gun battles with the Taliban were down 50 percent so far, compared to last year. Roadside bomb attacks were about the same. But Taliban casualties were up, as more Afghan and NATO forces went looking for them. Last year, 8,000 people died in Taliban violence. So far this year, the death toll is 1,200, indicating casualties for the year will be about half what they were last year. This year, a higher proportion of the dead are Taliban and al Qaeda, and a lower proportion civilians. While some Taliban commanders have tried to develop new tactics to reduce casualties (smaller units of Taliban, and avoiding contact with police and troops), nothing has worked. The Afghan army is larger (76,000 troops) and better trained than last year, and there are more foreign troops. Worst of all, more tribal leaders have sided with the government this year,
Coalition Forces Kill Taliban Militants in Afghanistan -- [DefenseLink]
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008 – About a dozen militant extremists were killed yesterday during a coalition forces operation in Afghanistan’s Helmand province to disrupt Taliban weapons supply operations, military officials reported.
Coalition forces searched compounds in the province’s Garmser district, targeting a Taliban commander conducting weapons supply operations in the area. While conducting their search, coalition forces saw militants setting up an ambush and responded with small-arms fire and air strikes.
Coalition troops discovered rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, assault rifles, cases of ammunition, and two mortars. The troops destroyed the weapons to prevent their use, officials said.
Dutch F-16 bombing taliban compound in Afghanistan
The video shows the footage from the cockpit of two Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s as they drop GBU-12 laser guided bombs on taliban positions.
There is some Dutch talking in the background but I couldn't filter it out. An Air Force spokesperson is basicly explaining how they operate.
Translated:
"Machinegun fire came from a compound a couple of hundred meters away from a British position. We [the F-16] were called in to destroy the compound. The forward air controller reported that there was no risk of collateral damage, the pilot confirmed this over the radio. A laser guided bomb was then dropped on the compound and stopped the machinegun fire."
Australian Army turns over Camp Lyddiard
A new Afghan National Army (ANA) patrol base in Oruzgan Province that was constructed by Reconstruction Task Force Three (RTF-3) has been left with a lasting Aussie connection.
The Afghan troops now occupying the base and their Dutch counterparts have agreed that Patrol Base Khyber will now carry the local name of Camp Lyddiard, in honour of Sergeant Michael Lyddiard who was seriously wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device last year.
Karzai Urges Farmers to Grow Wheat Instead of Poppies -- [Daily Outlook Afghanistan]
KABUL - Urging farmers to grow wheat instead of poppies, President Hamid Karzai Tuesday announced that the government will seek $2.5 billions of aid from the world community to promote agricultural products and overcome the current food shortage.
Addressing a farmers' conference here the president said he will ask international donors in the Paris Conference next month to grant $2.5 billions in aid to promoting Afghanistan’s agriculture.
We want from the international community promise of supporting the Afghan farmers, in building irrigation system, providing supplements and developing
Signs of success in Surobi - 08-05-2008:
Signs of success in Surobi District as remarkable amounts of weapons and drugs are handed over to international forces.
U.S. delegation visits RC-West, discusses civil and military cooperation -- [ISAF News Release]
...Lt. Gen. Lute discussed RC-West’s mission, focusing on ISAF support and cooperation with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), as well as civil and military cooperation in Herat province.
The delegation also visited the home of Hussain Anwary, Herat governor, where they received an introduction to the local environment, depicting the current state of economics and politics, focusing on development plans.
ISAF PRT discusses Zabul development with United Nations -- [ISAF News Release]
In order to raise support for local development, the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team discussed projects and issues in Zabul province with United Nations representatives during their visit Thursday.
Church helps Iraqi family in Kentucky -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
The couple decided to leave Iraq after Haithem's friend was shot dead while they were driving home from work together one evening. Haithem had worked as an interpreter with Iraqi and US security forces.
...When they first arrived, they slept on the carpeted floor of a completely empty apartment with blankets lent by a friend.
Haithem imagined he would get support from the local mosque in Lexington. They never returned his calls.
The family have now moved to a two-bedroom apartment, which is fully furnished and decorated with gifts from the local ecumenical church
Limited Options in Burma -- [Austin Bay]
How many people have died in Burma (Myanmar) since Cyclone Zargis struck the South Asian nation on May 3? Last Tuesday, Burma's dictatorship officially put the death toll at 34,000, with another 30,000 missing. The United Nations estimated 60,000 dead. Western governments and media argued 100,000 dead might be a better figure, once the statisticians account for casualties caused by disease and displacement.
Add "delay" to the disease and displacement -- in the case of Burma, delay caused by a dictatorship resisting aid efforts (most from Western nations) and emergency supplies.
South Korea to become accompanied deployment -- [Opfor]
With the strains of the Iraq war, and repeated deployments, this seems like a good idea. Just keep the families out of artillery range:
The U.S. government is likely to accept a request by the top American commander in South Korea to extend the length of tours by U.S. troops here and have their families accompany them, a report said Thursday.
A Super Secret Sub Base? -- [Defense Tech]
Has China "secretly built a major underground nuclear submarine base that could threaten Asian countries and challenge American power in the region"? Thomas Harding, writing in the London Daily Telegraph early this month, has declared that it is.
How “Arab” Are the Sunnis of Beirut? -- [Talisman Gate بـاب الطلــسم - an iraqi blog]
There’s a book by an Iraqi author from Basra, who fancifully renders his name as ‘Dr. Yusuf bin Ahmad bin Ali al-Husseini al-Hashimi’. I pulled it off the shelf to check something when the fighting began in Beirut, and I got myself re-acquainted with it. It was first published in 1971 under the title, Beirut wa ‘aa’ilatiha al-sab’a wa ‘useriha al-hadhira ['Beirut and its Seven Families and its Current Families'], and reprinted in Amman, in 2003. The author identifies himself as a historian (PhD 1958) and the head of the ‘Archive and Research Division in Al-Majd University’ of Baghdad—an institution I’ve never heard of. He also cites several other publications that he’d authored about Abbasid history. Al-Hashimi states that his father was a high-standing diplomat stationed in Damascus and Beirut while serving the Iraqi monarchy and that as a consequence he had been raised in Beirut and attended its schools. For this present work, he cites several generic resources on Beirut as well as the Ottoman Archive and the Yildiz Palace Archive in Istanbul.
Qatar Examines Nuclear Reactor Project -- [MEMRI Blog]
The head of Qatar's Supreme Council for Ecology's Nuclear Implementation apparatus, Dr. Ahmad Jamil Al-Khataybe, has revealed that a project is underway to build a nuclear research reactor in the country, for peaceful purposes, with the full cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
U.S. House Makes It Tougher to Remove North Korea From "State Sponsors" List -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The U.S. House of Representatives will approve a bill with a special section that reinforces the conditions governing North Korea’s potential removal from the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism." Sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, Section 306 of the Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Reform Act of 2008 requires that before removal, the President must first certify that North Korea has ceased to provide nuclear assistance to Syria, Iran, and other "state sponsors"; has provided a verifiable list of all of its nuclear programs; and allowed the IAEA to monitor and verify the monitoring and verification of the shutdown and sealing of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
As I write this, I do not know the Administration's position on this section, but as a matter of principle it usually opposes any Congresional action designed to mandate or limit Executive Branch discretion in foreign policy.
878 soldiers waiting to be adopted... How You Can Help - [Soldiers' Angels]
There are three different ways to help Soldiers' Angels carry out its vital mission:
Donate
Join a Soldiers' Angels Team
Adopt a Soldier
Donating to Soldiers' Angels: If want to help Soldiers' Angels but are unable to adopt a soldier or join a team at this time, please consider helping us out financially. Each donation, no matter the size, helps provide aid and comfort to the troops through our many projects and activities. You can also donate stock, old electronics, air miles, care package items and much more. Click to donate or learn more!
Operation Love From Home -- [Mama Kat]
Our mission at Operation Love From Home is to bring light to those who suffer and combat the darkness for us. We can never fully comprehend the hardships that our enlisted men and women endure while deployed to ensure our safety and freedom...but we can offer them the classic comfort of compassion, the simple gift of gratitude, and the knowledge that their countrymen at home are behind them, and that they will never be forgotten or taken for granted.
America Supports You: USO Dedicates New Lounge at Reagan National Airport -- [Defenselink]
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008 – Servicemembers transiting through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, near Washington, D.C., now have a new area to spend time between flights after the recent dedication of a new United Service Organizations lounge.
This newly relocated lounge, which began offering services in March, provides a home away from home for traveling servicemembers and their families. It offers active-duty military personnel, National Guardsmen, reservists, Merchant Marines, and their families a variety of free amenities.
Brave Marine Mark Gets Medal -- [The Sun Online]
A BRAVE marine who lost both his legs and an arm in a landmine blast in Afghanistan will WALK to receive his campaign medal today.
Mark Ormrod, who trained alongside Prince Harry, lost his limbs after stepping on the mine on Christmas Eve while serving with 40 Commando in Helmand Province.
The 24-year-old has spent the last three months in intensive training learning to walk again unaided using new bionic legs.
Now he says he has won his "toughest battle yet" and will be able to take part in today's ceremony with his fellow Royal Marines as they receive their campaign medals at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset.
Mne Ormrod, from Plymouth, Devon, only stood for the first time two weeks ago but now hopes to be able to walk in his wedding to fiancee Becky Hayes next year and return to work for the Royal Marines.
He said: "When I first stood up, being 6ft tall again brought a lump to my throat - and I felt a bit dizzy standing after such a long time."
DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for April 2008 -- [DefenseLink]
The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of April.
Active Duty Recruiting.
April Monthly. All services met or exceeded recruiting goals for the month of April (below) and have surpassed goals for fiscal year 2008 to date.
April 2008 Accessions Goal Percent
Army 5,681 5,650 101
Navy 2,905 2,905 100
Marine Corps 2,233 1,577 142
Air Force 2,435 2,435 100
Active Duty Retention. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps met or exceeded their active duty retention objectives.
COL (RET) George Day's POW Experience with McCain -- [Amy Proctor]
COL (RET) George Day is the most decorated serviceman since Douglas McCarther. He was also a POW at the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam with John McCain and has more than 70 military medals representing his service. Here Day talks about his experiences and torture in captivity with McCain.
'Next-War-itis' Rampant in US Military -- [Defense Tech]
Oh guys, you're gonna love this one.
From today's front page of Military.com:
Gates Cautions Against 'Next-war-itis'
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Pentagon must focus on current war demands, even if it means straining the U.S. armed forces and devoting less time and money on future threats, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.
Meeting the war-fighting needs of the troops now and taking care of them properly when they get home must be the priority, Gates said in a speech to a journalists at a seminar here sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
"I have noticed too much of a tendency towards what might be called Next-War-itis - the propensity of much of the defense establishment to be in favor of what might be needed in a future conflict," Gates said.
Little Baby Reagan -- [Stop the ACLU]
Welcome to the world, little baby Reagan Dailene Stephenson. She was born on May 12, 2008. She weighed 8 lbs and 4 ounces. She is 21 inches long. She opens her eyes a lot for a newborn. She was born at 3 p.m. So far she is very calm, and not fussy at all.
A Hero Who Now Belongs to the Nation -- [GOE]
In a driving downpour, with wind gusts up to 60 mph, 8 motorcycles, 65 private vehicles and a 54 passenger bus departed suburban Pennsylvania to transit a true American hero home to Arlington . Cpl. Michael J. Crescenz, Medal of Honor recipient, was escorted by three hundred of us. There were a couple minor glitches. Two members of the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club went down at 50 mph, but were only banged up and bruised. One of them even got back on the bike and finished the ride. At another point 5 vehicles and the bus were separated from the pack by inconsiderate drivers who cut in on the funeral procession. Everyone made it to the grave site in time though.
...Tony is a Vietnam vet who told me a couple weeks ago that nothing would stop him from helping to take Mike home. He is a man of his word and I personally wish to offer him my thanks. As the rain poured down on us just seeing the lights flashing on that bike, with the guidon flapping in the wind, caused my chest to pound with excitement. Mike belongs to the nation as a whole now, as is fitting. Sleep well brother. You are finally home.
Army sergeant had 'heart the size of the entire state' -- [Sign on San Diego] HT: CJ
“He was always pulling something,” said Stone, Vaughn's football and wrestling coach at Serra High School in San Diego. “I could run the living crud out of him and I could never get rid of that smile.”
Last month, Vaughn came home from Iraq in the uniform of an Army sergeant, his coffin draped with an American flag. He died April 7 on the first patrol of his second tour in Iraq. He was leading members of his platoon into hostile fire after an attack on his convoy in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood.
Vaughn was 22.
“He wasn't a stellar athlete, but he had a heart the size of the entire state,” Stone said.
...“He moved forward to cover his brothers,” Izzo said. “He advanced into hostile fire. Sometimes, even when you do everything right, the enemy slips one by.”
Barely a week later, Vaughn's parents and his brother, Clifford, drove from their home in Santee to Gillespie Field to meet his coffin. The family held a memorial service with full military honors April 17.
Vaughn's parents plan to scatter his ashes in the surf at La Jolla on his birthday, July 19.
Vaughn had no illusions about the dangerous work he chose. He told his parents what he wanted for them if he died in combat.
“He made us promise it wouldn't ruin our lives,” James Vaughn said. “I don't know how that's going to work out.”
Mystery Blogs Engage in Heated Debate -- [Greyhawk]
The Wall Street Journal:
The Pentagon says it isn't formally considering a change in policy at this point, but Mr. Gates's comments sparked a heated debate on military blogs, message boards and email lists.
That caught me by surprise - I rarely discover something "military blogs" are engaged in "heated debate" on via the Wall Street Journal - usually I hear of the debate on actual military blogs first (and I never see those debates migrate to the mainsteam media).
So I checked the invaluable blog search engine technorati, in hopes of discovering these military blogs I hadn't discovered yet. To my surprise, I found the only citations of this particular topic were from blogs referencing this Wall Street Journal article - I could find none that preceded it, and couldn't find any milblogs among those that followed.
But I suppose that "military blogs" offering "heated debate" on a topic somehow validate it as significant, so the line appears in the article.
By the way, here's the topic: ...
Nurses and Milblogs -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
I put out the question on why there were so many nurses interested in milblogs (Ms. Robin and Ms. Sisu come to mind). Cathy B., a friendly face around here, responds:
Welcome to BlogWorld & New Media Expo -- [BlogWorld]
The 2008 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place September 20-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the exclusive "Executive & Entrepreneur" conference beginning September 19th. The first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. In addition to the only industry-wide exhibition, BlogWorld features the largest blogging conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business. If you are currently blogging, vlogging, podcasting, producing other forms of new media content, entering the new media industry, or just want to know what the blogosphere is all about, then you need to be at the most comprehensive blogging convention--BlogWorld & New Media Expo. Located in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at: 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Milblogs at Columbia University -- [Matt Sanchez]
Today, I was at Columbia University to take care of some paper work for the upcoming semester. At the home of the Pulitizer Prize, I stopped by to do an interview with members of the Columbia Journalism School.
Mainstream journalism has a reluctant relationship with bloggers, but the situation becomes even more ambiguous when military bloggers or milbloggers give the depictions and details that the mainstream either misses or neglects. At the Columbia Journalism School, this afternoon, we covered life as an embed, censure, bias, freedom of speech, perception and objectivity. As both a war correspondent and a military blogger, I straddled the line between two worlds. Journalism students have much theory, but there really is no substitute for actually reporting from the frontlines.
Unbelievable Spin in Time Article on al-Sadr's 'Cease Fire' -- [American Thinker - Rick Moran]
It just doesn't get any more blatantly biased than this. Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to a cease fire in Sadr city and correspondent Mark Kukis writes the story as if al-Sadr is "the winner."
More Military Doom and Gloom from AP -- [NewsBusters]
Amid talk among the mainstream media of a sinking economy in which the elderly must live in vans and others cannot afford to drive 35 miles to church on Sundays, the Associated Press did note a drop in unemployment from 2006 to 2007. But even that news was buried in a story about the military and was used to explain trouble had in meeting recruiting goals.
World Premiere -- [Outside the Wire]
Danger Close', the documentary that grew from my filming of a fire-fight between U.S. Army Paratroopers and Al Qaida is having its film festival debut this Friday in Washington, D.C.
The GI Film Festival, at the Carnegie Institute, will screen 'Danger Close' at 3:30pm Friday .
David and I will be there to take part in a discussion after the screening.
Be warned, 'Danger Close' is not for the faint of heart. It is real live combat that I filmed--the bullets, blood and bad guys are all real.
'Danger Close' is also one of the most pure forms of documentary you may ever see. I captured the fire-fight as it erupted around me and conducted the interviews with the Paratroopers who won the fight the next day. No studio inteviews. No re-enactments. No script. No pre-determined plot. And no idea if I would even live through it.
Just the story of a group the Paratroopers who literally stood on the wall and fought the enemies of Western Civilization
BAD NEWS REPORTING
THE INDYSTAR SAID WE WERE HANGING OUT BY THE POOL IN IRAQ DRINKING FUZZY DRINKS. HERE'S OUR STORY!!
Obama Gaffes on Iraq and Afghanistan -- [ABC News blog]
Barack Obama spent yesterday trying not to think of West Virginia, making an appearance instead in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where Obama won the primary in February. He also forgot a couple of facts about Iraq and Afghanistan, making two large factual errors and setting off a dispute between his campaign and ABC News. Unfortunately, their rebuttals raised even more questions about Obama’s grasp on facts in the wars (via Memeorandum):
Obama posited — incorrectly — that Arabic translators deployed in Iraq are needed in Afghanistan — forgetting, momentarily, that Afghans don’t speak Arabic.
“We only have a certain number of them and if they are all in Iraq, then its harder for us to use them in Afghanistan,” Obama said. ….
No sooner did Obama realize his mistake — and correct himself — but he immediately made another.
“We need agricultural specialists in Afghanistan, people who can help them develop other crops than heroin poppies, because the drug trade in Afghanistan is what is driving and financing these terrorist networks. So we need agricultural specialists,” he said.
So far, so good.
“But if we are sending them to Baghdad, they’re not in Afghanistan,” Obama said.
Iraq has many problems, but encouraging farmers to grow food instead of opium poppies isn’t one of them. In Iraq, oil fields not poppy fields are a major source of U.S. technical assistance.
...UPDATE: Bill Burton, Obama campaign spokesperson, disputes this report, writing in to say,...
Obama stumbles on Iraq, Afghanistan -- [Hot Air - Ed Morrissey]
...David Wright responds by noting a couple of other points that seem to escape Camp Obama. One, the only people speaking Arabic in Afghanistan are the people shooting at NATO troops. The people whom we want to engage to rebuild Afghanistan don’t speak Arabic. Second, the US usually uses locals as translators, so we didn’t rob Peter to pay Paul in translators by invading Iraq, despite Obama’s spurious claims.
...Obama’s rhetoric calls into question whether he has any real knowledge of the issues in either Iraq or Afghanistan in any depth beyond that of the latest MoveOn talking points.
Senate Seeks 3.9% Military Pay Boost -- [Military.com]
Senate lawmakers proposed a higher-than-requested 3.9 percent pay raise for all military personnel in their first draft of the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill. The 3.9 percent pay raise, 0.5 percent above what defense officials requested, is designed to further close the gap between military and civilian pay. If passed, the pay raise would be the highest for troops since 2004. For an E-4 with four years military service, the Senate plan would mean an increase of $79.86 a month, about $10 more than the Pentagon plan. For an O-4 with four years, it would be $189.25 a month, about $24 more monthly.
Obama Goes for Joe -- [Greyhawk]
That's G.I. Joe - but who knows where Joe goes come November?
Barack Obama's brief appearance in West Virginia should serve as a warning to John McCain. The Charleston, West Virginia Gazette headlines their story on his appearance there "Obama pushes for new GI Bill":
Gaza's Obama campaign
When Good Comments Go Bad -- [Jawa Report]
It seems I went off my rocker today.
It started with a bad mood caused by learning of a Pally-Rally to be held in my hometown tomorrow, and culminated in a severe case of blogarrhea in the comment on one of Howie's posts.
I just couldn't stop myself.
After apologizing to Howie for going ape-sh** in his comments, it was suggested by a couple of my fellow Jawa co-bloggers that I should post my commentary on the front page, rather than consigning it to Haloscan comments on an already forgotten thread.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
That's G.I. Joe - but who knows where Joe goes come November?
Barack Obama's brief appearance in West Virginia should serve as a warning to John McCain. The Charleston, West Virginia Gazette headlines their story on his appearance there "Obama pushes for new GI Bill":
"I'm honored that some of you will support me, and I understand that many more here in West Virginia will probably support Senator Clinton," he told the crowd at the Civic Center.That's a telegraphed punch. Obama acknowledges he expects Hillary Clinton to get as much as 80% of the West Virginia primary vote. So he quite wisely turns his focus to his next opponent, and the issue that will ensure the Vietnam veteran loses the military/veteran vote in November - the new GI Bill."But when it's over, what will unify us as Democrats - what must unify us as Americans - is an unyielding commitment to the men and women who've served this nation and an unshakable fidelity to the ideals for which they've risked their lives."
In response, McCain and other Republicans are busy creating "kick me" signs to wear throughout the upcoming political season.
The proposed 21st Century GI Bill would allow soldiers to receive free tuition for college. Obama said it is one of a number of upgrades to GI benefits and healthcare the federal government should provide.In fairness it must be noted that McCain supports a hastily contrived Republican alternative to the Webb bill that offers lower benefits and covers fewer troops - and has no chance of passing in a Democrat-controlled congress. But while he simplifies the issue here, Obama's characterization of McCain's opposition is on the mark."It would provide every returning veteran with a real chance to afford a college education, and it would not harm retention," Obama told about 1,500 people at the Charleston Civic Center. After that, he stopped to shoot a game of pool with a veteran at a South Charleston pub.
The Illinois Democrat said McCain, whom he added he greatly respects as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, doesn't like the new plan.
"He is one of the few senators of either party who oppose this bill because he thinks it's too generous," Obama said. "I couldn't disagree more.
"At a time when the skyrocketing cost of tuition is pricing thousands of Americans out of a college education, we should be doing everything we can to give the men and women who have risked their lives for this country the chance to pursue the American dream."
Here's a comparison of the competing GI Bills in Stars and Stripes - the semi-independent military newspaper. Note that in addition to Senator Obama, mainstream veterans' groups (including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars) have strongly endorsed the Webb bill.
If McCain doesn't act fast (specifically, endorse the Web bill before this issue expands nationwide) my forecast will prove correct. And once newspapers and evening news stories begin headlining the growing (and glowing) military (bear in mind that active duty folks won't be specifically endorsing candidates) and veteran support for Obama a cascade among other voters (at least those swayed by military-related issues; war for example) is likely to begin. Talking points, sincere explanations, and rationalizations won't change that at all.
Previous entries (please read before explaining to me how little I know about this issue)
How Republicans "lost" the Military Vote
G.I. wish I could go to college
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.
Mother's Day Shoutouts -- [Task Force Marne - in Iraq]
Task Force Marne Soldiers' Mother's Day Greetings
View Download: MSG Marca Triggs, SSG Jusin Espinosa, SSG Matthew Love, MAJ Alayne Conway, CPL Pedro Muriel, CPL Pedro Muriel 2, MSG Reginald Creech, MSG Raney Young, MSG Rietta Owens, CPT Valerie Foddrill, CPT Pete Christake, LTC Ross Flavel, LTC Ross Flavel 2, MAJ Gail Evans, MAJ Gail Evans 2, MAJ Vinston Porter, MAJ Vinston Porter 2, MAJ Vinston Porter 3, SPC Amie McClintic, SSG Gerald Vance , SGT Carl Cueliar, MSG Laura Paz, SPC Waldemar Madsen, SPC Jessica Stockton-Nugent , MAJ Portia Benson, MAJ Randy Edwards, SGT Cole Hawkins, SGT Cole Hawkins 2, SPC Tazanyia Mouton, MAJ Jay Hearn, SFC Gregory Dorsey, SFC Kito Queen, SPL Thomas Toomey, SSG David Ortiz, SSG Enrico Mascino, SSG Timothy Eye
One Deep Breath -- [Toby Nunn - in Kuwait]
There has always been something weighing very heavy on my heart from the second I walked off the Bus at Camp Roberts in California. I looked at the motley crew of men that were potentially going to be under my charge and wondered who wouldn’t make it. I tried harder than ever before to truly look into the eyes of each soldier so that if I lost them or I should perish my memory and what I could have or would have said would be presented in one form or another. The awesome responsibility perhaps held me down sometimes while others it helped me soar above and fight harder for them and or what I thought was right by them.
Yesterday, I looked at the sun that fittingly was setting over the chain linked and razor wire fence that separates Iraq and Kuwait. As the sun was lowering itself in the sky I watched the remaining Bad Voodoo members still in combat leave the enemy territory for the last time. It was like an Old Western with the good guys riding off into the sunset. I was proud and found myself in a moment similar to LTG (ret) Hal Moore on that fateful day in Vietnam who hit the battlefield first and was the last to leave.
Live from Iraq: MG Rick Lynch -- [Castle Argghhh! - FBL]
I’m convinced, more than ever, that the people of Iraq want what you and I want.
Last Thursday I spoke by phone with Major General Rick Lynch, Commanding General, 3rd Infantry Division (Multi-National Division - Central), currently in Iraq. He answered questions for about 35 minutes, discussing the current security situation, redevelopment efforts, the strains of long/repeated deployments and his attitude toward media outreach. I did not bring up the issue of Iranian influence in Iraq, as he recently spoke about that in great detail here. 3ID is headquarters for MND-C, with an area of operations beginning on the southern edge of Baghdad province and continuing south through Karbala and Najaf, stretching from Iraq's eastern to western border.
MG Lynch, Part II: Security -- [Castle Argghhh! - FBL]
As outlined in Part I, the shift in security in 3ID's Area of Operations since they arrived has been startling. The biggest reason attacks are down to less than two per day is that there are simply fewer hardliners left to cause problems. In the last year, reports MG Lynch, 3ID has killed or captured over 6,000 al Qaeda terrorists and insurgents in the AO. But though attacks are down sharply, Lynch refers to the security situation as "tenuous" because he considers the enemy still capable of isolated spectacular attacks such as lethal bombings.
...I also asked MG Lynch if he believes the AO has "turned a corner," that if current troop levels and Iraqi capabilities were unchanged there would be no going back to the violence and chaos of the past. He declined to use such language, but he is obviously optimistic. "We’re working towards irreversible momentum," he replied. "And we’re close to that."
ISF, SOI Presence Allows Families to Begin Moving Home -- [MNF-I]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Two years ago, al-Qaeda destroyed
