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Jonathan Aponte comes home
The door to the doughnut shop swung open. For a moment, the tall young man, every bit a soldier in his bearing, stood with the windy rain of Friday afternoon at his back. A wave of coffee and doughnut humidity slapped him in the face.But this "tall young man, every bit a soldier in his bearing" wasn't returning from Iraq - he was home from an eight-month stay in Rikers Island prison.His eyes swept across the shop. Then he spotted the older man seated at a table over a cup of decaf. Their eyes locked. The prodigal son had come home. The father rose. They hugged, with lots of thumping on the back instead of words.
He had been to Iraq. But while home on leave last year he decided he didn't want to go back...
Home on leave for 10 days last year, Mr. Aponte entered into a marriage of extremely short duration with a young woman. The new bride either volunteered or was assigned to hire a gunman to shoot her new husband, carefully. She negotiated via text messages. Right after Mr. Aponte arrived in the hospital with his wounded leg and flimsy yarn about a mysterious assailant, the scheme collapsed, followed immediately by the marriage.But as Aponte and his lawyer prepared his defense the anti-war left found a new hero. His publicity campaign was launched on CBS TV in New York
The death and destruction of U.S. troops fighting in Iraq seems to have become so rampant to one local soldier that he actually staged an attack on himself -- allegedly hiring a hitman to non-fatally shoot him -- so he wouldn't be sent back for another tour of duty.His story fit the Iraq war narrative so popular among the easily swayed (see here here here...). While easily verifiable if true, none would question his claims of atrocities, suicides, PTSD, mortal combat against pregnant women and eight year olds with machine guns, and desperate efforts to avoid returning to the complete American defeat in Iraq. And each mainstream news report of his story would reinforce his claims with lead paragraphs like the one above, or this one from the New York Daily News:
<...>
"Bullets being shot at me, almost being hit, with car bombs, burning flesh," Aponte recalls of his first tour. Now the soldier, his mother, and lawyer all say his plot for pain proves he's a victim of post traumatic stress disorder caused by the horrific memories of battle.
The war in Iraq was such hell for Bronx soldier Jonathan Aponte he decided he'd never go back again - no matter what.TV talk show host Star Jones even delayed an appearance by Grey's Anatomy co-star Isaiah Washington (who had lost his job and made headlines by allegedly referring to a gay fellow actor as a "faggot") to interview him:"I have nightmares all the time. I hear people screaming, gunshots, explosions, and I can smell burning flesh in my dreams," the 20-year-old told the Daily News yesterday as he fought back tears.
Rather than endure another tour of trauma, authorities say, Aponte hired a hit man to shoot him in the leg so he could stay home.
<...>
"I was desperate to stay home and at the end of my rope," Aponte said. "I couldn't deal with being in Iraq anymore. Would I risk going to prison? As far as being shot at, I think it's better."Aponte believes the U.S. is losing the war and urged President Bush to bring "everyone back ASAP."
He said victory was virtually impossible when "we don't know who the enemy is. In Iraq, the enemy is dressed in street clothes, or they're pregnant ladies and sometimes even 8-year-olds with machine guns."
The ever-present death and destruction, he said, takes its toll on all soldiers.
On his first day of combat Aponte said a female sergeant killed herself in the middle of chow hall, an image he can't get out of his mind.
"She locked, loaded and shot herself in the head," he recalled. "I also saw people being shot and being blown up. I was shot at more than once by Iraqi insurgents. Being in Iraq was like something out of a movie. I was horrified to be there."
On Tuesday, however, Jones called an audible -- delaying part two of Washington to spend more time with an Iraq war vet, Jonathan Aponte, who paid to have himself shot to avoid returning to duty. Aponte’s plight is depressing and poignant, but Jones couldn’t think of much more to say other than repeatedly asking him how he felt about it.We already know how he felt about it. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that the Grand Jury investigating the shooting declined to indict Aponte:
His wife, Alexandra Gonzalez, and hit man Felix Padilla, who took $500 to shoot Aponte in the leg while he was home on leave in July, were indicted on assault charges.More details:The Bronx grand jury wouldn't indict Aponte, who won over the panelists with his tearful testimony.
The Bronx soldier accused of hiring a hit man to shoot him so he wouldn't have to return to active duty will be spared felony charges, but his wife and the gunman have been indicted by a grand jury, the Daily News has learned."I was hoping for the best, but preparing myself for the worst," Aponte, 21, told The News yesterday. "I am so happy that I was not indicted. I went into the grand jury and told the truth, and I think they had sympathy for me.
"I told the grand jury I just couldn't go back to Iraq after what I had experienced," he added. "I love my country and I wanted to serve, but I wasn't prepared to fight in the war or handle what I saw."
<...>
Aponte's mother, Gwen, said she is thankful and knows her son still has a long road in front of him."I am ecstatic and grateful that the people of New York had compassion for my son," said Gwen Aponte. "They understood his plight. My son is not well ... he is not the same boy I sent to the Army."
There was just one little catch. Aponte was still scheduled to appear in court for falsely reporting the incident, a misdemeanor charge. But before that trial, Aponte returned to Ft Hood. Reporters accompanied him - perhaps seeking a story of a hero's welcome. But shockingly, given that they had supposedly gone through the same mind-bending horrors Aponte had, the New York Daily News reported that Aponte wasn't greeted by a marching band and a cheering throng of fellow soldiers victims:
Bronx soldier Jonathan Aponte doesn't know yet if he'll be punished by his superiors, but he's already taking lumps from his peers.That response might be because they knew something the many reporters supporting Aponte did not (or chose not) to report.Since returning to his base, the 20-year-old private has felt the scorn of other soldiers - through stares and words - who are appalled that he hired someone to shoot him in the leg to avoid returning to Iraq.
<...>
"I wouldn't want him next to me in combat - not a chicken like that," said Dee Xiong, 22, an infantryman set to redeploy in December after serving 10 months in Iraq."What he did was wrong," said a 20-year-old Army mechanic who served a year in Iraq. "You know what you sign up for and you just have to finish it out."
Here's a myspace milblog response to Aponte from before the Grand Jury decision:
I am a soldier currently deployed in Iraq. I was sent a copy of a story fox news morning show did on a "soldier" named Jonathan Aponte. Apparently Jonathan hired someone to shoot him in the leg to avoid returning to Iraq because he couldn't handle all the ..."chaos, blood and bombs.." I happen to know who this soldier is and I know first hand that his story of the horror he supposedly witnessed is a bald-faced LIE. Spc Aponte is in my Unit here in Iraq.By the time of his misdemeanor trial, New York prosecutors had some "new" information...This soldier is a fueler for an aviation unit stationed at a large secure base in Iraq, and the only time he left this FOB (forward operating base) is when he got on a helicopter to catch a flight to the US via Kuwait. His job here consists of driving a fuel truck up and down the flight line pumping gas. He possibly worked up to 8 hours a day, but more than likely it was closer to 5 hours. The closest he came to seeing any combat action was playing video games on his XBox in his air conditioned room.
As for him supposedly seeing a female Sergeant First Class commit suicide in the middle of the "chow hall" that is just laughable. It never happened. He never went door to door clearing houses. He never witnessed body parts or dead people. He is just an irresponsible kid who decided he didn't like the Army. He is a phenomenal disgrace to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. He mocks the hard work and 12 to 15 hour days that majority of the soldiers here do without complaint. He demeans the Infantry troops that actually do go door to door clearing houses and regularly come into contact with enemy fire and IED's. He is a punk.
That any national media outlet would run this story without even bothering to verify a single allegation that this guy made makes me sick to my stomach. They went through the trouble of hiring an "expert" on PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) on the show, but they never even bothered to call the guys unit and verify that there was a chance he could be lying. How credible can a person be, who lied to the police about hiring someone to shoot him.
Assistant District Attorney James P. Cudden told the court that investigators had determined that Private Aponte lied to a grand jury about his experiences in Iraq. Private Aponte did not witness a soldier’s suicide, as he claimed, and was not under fire in combat, Mr. Cudden said, adding that Private Aponte was a supply clerk on a military base and was never involved in any hostilities.Why that wasn't available to the Grand Jury (or whether it would alter the feelings of a random group of New Yorkers) is anyone's guess.
More:
A Bronx soldier who hired a hit man to shoot him in the leg so he wouldn't have to go back to Iraq was sentenced to a year in jail yesterday after admitting he lied about being in combat and witnessing atrocities.For what it's worth, Aponte's lawyer was quick to claim that Aponte's first response to being caught in a lie regarding his shooting was actually true, and that his admission that it was actually another lie was the real lie, told to spare his family further pain:For months, Jonathan Aponte detailed the horrors he'd seen in combat, talking of the smell of burning flesh, the sound of car bombs and the horror of "being shot at every day" by insurgents.
The 20-year-old's story garnered him sympathy nationwide and he was invited on the Star Jones show to pour out his heart.
In a stunning reversal, prosecutors said yesterday it was all made up: Aponte worked in a warehouse during his Iraq tour and never saw combat.
"Mr. Aponte's testimony that he saw a female sergeant commit suicide less than 50 feet away from him was not true," Bronx Assistant District Attorney James Cudden said.
"Stories about people dying in front of his eyes were not true. Mr. Aponte worked in a warehouse that stocked helicopters. He did not go to combat."
Faced with potential felony perjury charges, Aponte pleaded guilty in Bronx Criminal Court to a misdemeanor of false reporting.
<...>
Aponte had said he told them, "I have nightmares all the time. I hear people screaming, gunshots, explosions, and I can smell burning flesh in my dreams."
Aponte's lawyer Marty Goldberg said his client maintains that he told the truth, but decided to cop the plea to avoid putting his family through any more agony.Sadly, no reporters bothered to verify any of the claims - which should have been fairly easy given that whatever Aponte did in Iraq, he didn't do it alone. (Or if they did verify, they chose not to report their discoveries.)"It's a sad story," Goldberg said. "The prosecution said he lied, but that's their opinion. He didn't believe it was in his best interest to go to trial.
Which brings us back to the present. Aponte is home, and after his eight month stay in prison (we'll assume he got time off from his year for good behavior) the NY Times explains that he only joined to get an education:
In the late winter of 2004, Mr. Aponte was hanging around outside a friend’s store on Westchester Square in the Bronx. “This guy in uniform came up to me and said, ‘You look like you’re in decent shape,’ ” Mr. Aponte said. “I told him, ‘Yeah, I do my pushups now and then.’ He said, ‘You ought to think about the military.’ ”And concludes the story with an interesting spin:Mr. Aponte had not finished high school but he had earned a general equivalency diploma, and he worked occasionally in a barbershop.
For now, Mr. Aponte appears to be one of the very few people in America — if not the only one — to go to jail for lying about the Iraq war, a conflict nurtured in the deceptions and errors of people in positions of great responsibility.Actually, the story isn't complete. Ms. Gonzalez and Mr. Padilla are still awaiting trial on charges of felony assault.
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.
Report: Al-Qaeda Operatives Who Infiltrated Into Iraq From Syria Kill 11 Policemen -- [MERMI Blog]
U.S. and Iraqi sources reported that Al-Qaeda operatives who infiltrated into Iraq from Syria had penetrated a settlement in the Al-Anbar province and attacked the homes of 11 policemen, killing all 11 as well as the son of one of the policemen.
It was reported that the infiltrators wore U.S. military uniforms and that one, a Lebanese, was caught on his way back to Syria.
Iraqi Army captures Special Groups cell leader in Husayniyah -- [MNF-I]
Iraqi Army captures Special Groups cell leader in Husayniyah
BALAD, Iraq – The Iraqi Army captured a mid-level Special Groups cell leader in Husayniyah, responsible for coordinating improvised explosive device, rocket and smallarms fire attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces, approximately 30 km north of Baghdad, May 15.
Iraqi Army soldiers conducted the operation to capture the Special Groups cell leader whose cell conducted attacks against the ISF and CF as recent as April 22.
These criminals emplaced explosively-formed penetrators and conducted indirect fire attacks against static Coalition force positions. Three additional suspects were detained.
“The capture of this cell leader will likely affect the ability of Special Groups criminals in Husayniyah to conduct attacks against Iraqi Security and Coalition forces,” said Col. Bill Buckner, MNC-I spokesman. “This will prevent Special Groups leadership from exploiting the city as a safe haven.”
Ouch! Iraq Vows It Will Not Become Another Lebanon -- [Gateway Pundit]
Talk about a sucker punch? That has got to hurt.
The Iraqi foreign minister said that Iraq would not allow formation of a state within a state.
...In other good news from Iraq...
The US announced that it is planning on turning Al-Anbar Province over to the Iraqis in June.
This is amazing news considering the sprawling province was once believed lost to the insurgency.
Attacks decrease in Sadr City; fighting shifts to western Baghdad -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The Mahdi Army continues to strike in Sadr City, but the intensity of the attacks has decreased significantly. Fighting may be shifting westward.
...The US and Iraqi military has insisted the Special Groups - the Iranian-armed and trained factions of the Mahdi Army - and not the Mahdi Army itself, are behind the attacks in Sadr City. But the lifting of the weapons and the reduction in attacks in Sadr City suggests otherwise. The Special Groups appear to be abiding by Sadr's order for a cease-fire to some degree.
Letters from Iraq: Testing Sadr's control -- [ISN Security Watch]
The recent ceasefire between Moqtada al-Sadr and the Iraqi government is fragile at best, and shows that some fighters are outside al-Sadr's control, Anna Badkhen writes from Baghdad for ISN Security Watch.
...Moqtada al-Sadr may have negotiated a fragile ceasefire with the Iraqi government after several weeks of street fighting in northern Baghdad, but in this part of the city, Shiite fighters who loosely associate themselves with Sadr's Mahdi Army militia couldn't care less.
"My intelligence tells me that they are Jaish al-Mahdi special groups," said US Army Captain Andrew Betson, the commander of the outpost in Saidiyah, using the Arabic name for Sadr's militia and the American military term for Shiite militants that are believed to have splintered off from the mainstream.
"I do not believe that they are mainstream Jaish al-Mahdi," he said. "At least they believe that they don't have to abide by the ceasefire."
American government and military officials say the ceasefire is a test of how much control Sadr has over Shiite fighters who have been at the forefront of violence against coalition troops, Iraqi government forces and Sunni Iraqis. Sadr has demonstrated the ability to rally tens of thousands of fighters to battle and to order them to stop fighting.
Baghdad Patrol - Sadr City
In Pictures: From Rusafa to Sadr City -- [LWJ - Bill Ardolino - in Iraq]
Click image to view slideshow. To remove the text in the images, click 'hide captions'.
The 3rd Squadron of the 89th Cavalry conducts operations across central and northeast Baghdad: from the Tigris River, to downtown, to residential areas in northern Rusafa District, to the edge of conflict areas in Sadr City. The 3-89 Cav's missions include force protection of Iraqi Police Stations, day and night mounted and dismounted patrols, and raids on suspected Mahdi Army roadside bomb and weapons caches.
Iraq News (16 May) -- [Lt Nixon - in Iraq]
The Good: A Iraqi Parliament member has claimed that national reconciliation has taken place amongst quarreling blocs, which is a way to convince investors in Egypt to bring in more money. Arab investors have been sluggish to invest in Iraq due to security issues and perceived corruption within the Iraqi government. However, Iraq doesn't have any trouble bringing in money from religious tourists to its holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.
General Cites Iranian Links to ‘Special Groups’ Terrorists in Iraq -- [MNF-I]
So-called “special groups” terrorists operating in Iraq apparently are receiving training, arms and funding from Iranian sources, a senior U.S. military official posted in Iraq said May 14.
“Over the course of the last several months, we have publicly discussed numerous times, and shown numerous times, the evidence on four separate occasions on what we have found and continue to find: Iranian-made weapons in the hands of criminals in Iraq,” Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner told reporters during a Baghdad news conference.
How Iran Is Killing U.S. Troops in Iraq -- [PJM - Bob Owens]
American and Iraqi military forces have repeatedly claimed to have uncovered evidence that Iran is supplying both Sunni and Shia insurgent groups in Iraq with various munitions. Operations in Basra and Baghdad’s Sadr City slum in recent weeks have allegedly uncovered Iranian weapons manufactured as recently as this year, which would seem to preclude Iranian weapons having been obtained on the black market. Instead, it suggests the direct supply of belligerents inside Iraq with Iranian weaponry by the Iranian military with the knowledge of the Iranian government.
The Night of Gun-Toting, Barrel-Blazing Ghost Pandas -- [Kaboom - in Iraq]
Gunfire in Iraq is not a rare thing – especially at night. Most of the time, the scattered, random shots heard somewhere off in the distant shadows fade away with time, not warranting any American attention other than a brief radio report sent from the roof of the combat outpost. That’s most of the time. Occasionally though, the scattered, random shots do not fade – instead progressing into something military vernacular junkies describe as “direct” and “sustained;” i.e. a firefight. This kind of gunplay tends to require our own special brand of attentive intervention. The night of the ghost pandas was one of these times.
Basra Open For Business
After Operation Charge Of The Knights
Summer School -- [Toby Nunn's Briefing Rm - in Iraq]
Sitting in our 5 thumbs down dinning facility today eating lunch several of the Bad Voodoo NCO’s were commenting on the year. Being that we are stationed at the very camp that many soldiers visit on their way home we are constantly seeing new faces and I guess we just never paid attention to the atmosphere because even though we are permanent party here we have always been on the outside looking in and also advoid eating there as mich as possible because it is terrible. (By far the worst chow hall we have eaten in ALL year and Theater)
...The soldiers have all survived their tour which is very much like passing your finals and knowing you will graduate, (granted you show up) but still there with just enough time that you have to still “play the game”.
We are graduates of combat or an “eminent danger tour” to be politically correct since its not right to admit combat these days so who are our Valedictorians? I would like to nominate the Bad Voodoo Squad Leaders, Bad Voodoo Team Leaders and Bad Voodoo Soldiers for doing it even though we didn’t always know what “it” was or why. The young men and some women that showed up and TRIED to do the right thing just not the Great Pretenders. “It’s easy to be the Hero when you’re the one telling the story” was a recent quote from a blank sleeve A/C using oxygen thief the other day. I simply replied “it’s easy to sit and criticize when you don’t know or do”, then I stole a quote from on of my favorite Political Science Professors D. Blair “Some have knowledge of and others have acquaintance with”. Chose wisely when picking sides it the topic of combat.
Sanchez: Iraq Strategy Working & the War Was Worth It
BLITZER: So is it moving in the right direction right now, U.S. strategy, or the wrong direction?
SANCHEZ: No, absolutely, I think the tremendous successes that Dave (GEN Petraeus) and our great young Americans have achieved is, in fact, allowing us to move in the right direction.
BLITZER: General, looking back, knowing what we know right now and obviously we’re all a lot smarter we are now as opposed to then. Was this war a mistake?
SANCHEZ: Well I think when we look at exactly what the decision elements were that were being considered, the intelligence that we believed in, I don’t know that our nation’s leadership, both military and political, could have made any other decision.
And, in fact, Saddam was a significant threat in the region and we expected that we had some sort of WMD capability that was likely to get in the hands of extremists. So, when you look back, given what we knew then, I don’t believe you can call it a mistake.
Sanchez Concedes He Had Enough Troops in Iraq 2003 -- [Amy Proctor]
LT GEN (RET) Ricardo Sanchez, former Multi-National Forces in Iraq commander, promoting his new book Wiser in Battle; a Soldier’s Story on CNN’s Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, conceded he did tell Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in Iraq that he had enough troops on the ground in 2003. This contradicts his complaints both publicly since his retirement and in his book that throughout his command in Iraq he did not have enough troops.
Kuwait -- [Pearl in the Desert - in Iraq]
My journey home has begun – I bid a final farewell to Iraq yesterday and am now in Kuwait. ...Early Sunday morning we (those of us EWOs who are finally heading home) will move to a different base to actually begin the Warrior Transition Process. Some of it is quite important, like turning in all of our Army equipment, some of it is mandatory, like the “don’t go home and beat your family” lectures we get at the end of every deployment, but it is all intentionally designed to take longer than necessary to give us time to “decompress” from our time in a combat zone. I think their heart is in the right place but I imagine by the time I get on a plane to head home I will be more antsy than relaxed after all of the sitting around time. I will say it is nice not having a schedule today and being able to just wear my PT shorts and t-shirt in the 105 degree heat rather than having to wear my normal uniform with sleeves rolled down!
My Son's in Afghanistan: Complaining Because he isn't Fighting the Taliban Enough!-- [Times Online]
Another traumatic phone call from 'Stan for our soldier's mum Mandy
I have heard the term ‘I’m bored’ twice this week and am in real danger of swinging off my virtual ‘orse and drowning myself in my honey encrusted milk! Firstly, Ross phoned from Camp Bastion, full of roller-coasting emotion about having operations cancelled at the last minute every day this week. “It’s just so frustrating mum!” I bite my lip to quell the feelings of joy. So! There is a God! I immediately phone the Ministry of Pretence to thank them…..but they are too busy fielding calls from the Home Office.
Baja 1000 - Part two... -- [Third Time's A Charm! - in Afghanistan]
Last week I went on another convoy to Bagram. Again, I was convoy commander in what we lovingly refer to as a “two ship” (a nod to how we reference two aircraft on a CAS* mission), meaning we had two trucks with 5 guys between them both inside. The morning of the convoy I was uneasy, even secretly saying to myself, “Do I really want to go on this one today?... Is there any other way we can get these tasks completed without going to Bagram?”….. Much to my chagrin, I already knew the answers… and they were an obvious “No!” to both, and I had no choice.
24th MEU South Helmand
Happy Mothers day from OEF -- [SandGram - in Afghanistan]
...All the Afghan’s that I have come in contact with are super nice and love to smile. You greet them with your right hand over your heart and say ‘Salaam Mailickem’ and they will do the same. Like people all around the world, they just want to provide food for their families and have some sort of home.
I have to say that this place reminds me of Mexico in a way with the crazy drivers except you don’t see this everyday in Mexico–a flock of sheep going down the main street with cars whizzing around them at hyper speeds as the father and son try not to get them killed (now I know where our mystery meat comes from.) The women for the most part walk around in beautiful blue burkas, but the children don’t wear them from what I have seen. Sometimes I’ll be waiting for my ride to pick me up, and the children from the school two miles down will come over to say hello.
Afghanistan’s Only Female Governor Meets With Coalition Forces -- [DVIDS]
Afghanistan’s only female governor met with a top U.S. national security advisor at the governor’s palace in Bamyan province, Afghanistan.
The governor and generals discussed ongoing needs for the province and the progress they have made with the help of the New Zealand provincial reconstruction team, TG CRIB 12, at Forward Operating Base Bamian.
“In many provinces, there are problems between provincial council and local government, but here, there is not,” Sorabi said. “With the old system, the system of kings, they believed the people were slaves to them. With the new system, the democracy system, we believe we are the servants to the people.”
Assignment Afghanistan: Entry #1 -- [The National Defense - embed in Iraq]
So I get to work, do some nosing around, make acquaintance with a couple of people: one from the U.S. State Department and a U.S. Army Major, both of whom are members of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT’s). I explain that I had been in-country a couple of years ago and was curious as to how/what things may have changed since then.
...And it’s here in Khost, that counterinsurgency directed and implemented by U.S. forces have met with success by way of roads, schools, clinics as well as establishing and improving economic opportunities.
Okay, so now that I’ve heard about all of the success, I want to see it…experience it.
Pilot of First Burma Relief Mission Describes Experience -- [DVIDS]
The Air Force pilot who flew the first U.S. relief flight to Burma said today that, while he and his crew were received warmly, it was clear to him that more relief is needed.
"Everyone ... was so ecstatic or excited to have us there on the ground," Capt. Trevor Hall said during a teleconference with online journalists and "bloggers." "With very little broken English that we could make out, they were trying to say, 'Please bring more; please bring more.'"
U.S. Aid to Myanmar
Training (and Sweating) to standard -- [Strong Ideas - in Bangladesh]
So the temperature in Bangladesh this time of year is hot. The average in the Farenheit grade has been between the high 80s and the high 90s with an average of 98 degrees, with a humidity of about 70%. Thus, being the sweat machine that deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and Katrina have proven me to be, I have shed about eight pounds since our arrival...now to keep it off.
The exercise has enabled us to work with combat leaders from across the Asian subcontinent and it has been a great opportunity to get to know the cultures, values and training standards of these diverse peoples.
It has also given us, as members of the Oregon National Guard, both Army and Air components, to get to know each other better, reminding us of the incredible value we bring to the expeditionary military environment we are currently so actively involved within.
Interpol Confirms: US Democrat Was Secretly Working With FARC To Undermine Colombian Government -- [Gateway Pundit]
US Democratic Congressman James McGovern was offering the Marxist FARC terrorists help in undermining the Colombian government.
Interpol confirmed documents today showing that US Congressman James McGovern (D., Mass.) (pictured), a leading opponent of the Colombia free-trade deal has been working with a go-between, who has been offering the FARC terrorists help in undermining Colombia's elected and popular government.
Colombia is America's closest ally in South America.
Saudis see no reason to raise oil production now -- [AP]
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabian leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush amid soaring U.S. gasoline prices. During Bush's second personal appeal this year to King Abdullah, Saudi officials stuck to their position that they are already meeting demand, the president's national security adviser told reporters.
Dead Guy OBL Awakens Again For New Message -- [Jawa Report]
From Laura Mansfield
Just two weeks shy of the tenth anniversary of Osama Bin Laden's declaration in a televised press conference that he "does not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians: they are all targets".
Bin Laden once again attempts to take center stage, with the announcement of a message addressing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.
Do you want to help fight the cyber-GWOT? -- [jihadi SMACKDOWN of the day] HT: Jawa
You can, and best of all it's easy! Help YouTube SMACKDOWN remove jihadi recruiting videos from YouTube.
We know how valuable your time is, so we've made it simple. All you need to do is subscribe to this feed and flag ONE video a day.
Al Qaeda Leader Punked -- [Strategy Page]
May 15, 2008: The head of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al Masri, just got demoted. The U.S. reward for his capture, dead or alive, was reduced from $5 million to $100,000. There's been no response to this from mister al Masri, but one can assume that he is not happy. It's difficult to keep track of who is winning in the war on terror. But one measure of success is the size of the rewards offered for terrorist leaders. High rewards indicate a dangerous man. On the downside, those rewards require the guy in question has to be careful with where he goes and who he associates with. Earlier this month, Iraqi police thought they had arrested al Masri, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. That incident apparently caused the U.S. to review its rewards policy for al Qaeda officials in Iraq. It's been a bad year for al Qaeda there, with heavy losses and a major reduction in capabilities.
National Lab Security Failure - We Get What We Pay For -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Today, the Washington Times reported the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, that conducts research on America’s nuclear weapons and houses special nuclear material for that research, failed a crucial counter-terror security exercise (also reported in today’s CTB Newslinks section). The exercise was a “force-on-force” operation where mock commandos infiltrated and took over key parts of the facility, managing to gain access to what would have been quantities of that special nuclear material.
NPR radio interview with DJ Emery -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
The story focuses on the infection which nearly cost DJ his life after being wounded in February 2007. The infection which caused his doctors and his mom to be faced with the gut-wrenching choice between life or limb almost 6 weeks after his injury.
Going back to the beginning, DJ also tells about getting blown up. "I was trying to get up, find my rifle and stuff... but I couldn't move. I couldn't see anything, either."
Home from war, injured vet recalls darkest hour
May 15: A roadside bomb left Sergeant Israel Del Toro severely burned and with little chance of survival. But medical advancements, 97 surgeries, and Del Toro's unwavering devotion to his son kept him going. NBC's Anna Davlantes reports.
Wounded Warrior Games -- [Blog-ah]
Wounded Warrior Summit helps warriors keep their skills current
MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Fort Lewis, Wash. –Madigan Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion will host a two-day Wounded Warrior Summit May 20-21.
Day one will kick off at the Fort Lewis Cowan Stadium. Hundreds of wounded warriors will participate in a variety of competition-style adaptive recreation activities and military skills testing – all are designed to prepare wounded Soldiers for their transition back to active service or civilian life. Additionally, there will be a variety of family oriented activities, information booths, and lots of food.
Real People, Real Support
We, as a society, are failures. -- [Chuck Z]
...All three were lauded by their local elected representatives and each was Proclaimed "insert entertainer's name here day" in their hometowns. They were given "heroes welcomes." Hero refers to people that, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice, that is, heroism, for some greater good, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.
Here's my point (and I do have one):
The American Public, represented by the general public in these three towns, are so hopelessly out of touch with what deserves adulation and exaltation that they choose these individuals to put up on pedestals and give heroes (or prodigal children's) welcomes. As a society, unless we can change this, we are doomed to fail.
1,000 -- [
So that friendly competition where Jack Bauer was rushing to get home before I finished writing 1,000 cards for our wounded soldiers for Soldiers' Angels Germany. Well the competition is over. Jack Bauer made it home. But I had finished writing all the cards two days before. But we mailed 159 cards yesterday.
Running total: 1,000
Here's the link to the post that got me started. If you want more information on how to start your own letter/card writing campaign (or other volunteer opportunities), visit Soldiers' Angels Germany
Disqualified General Won't Quit Tribunals-- [Miami Herald]
San Juan, Puerto Rico - A Pentagon official said Wednesday that he will not resign as legal advisor to war-crimes tribunals at Guantánamo, despite his removal from the trial of Osama bin Laden's driver because of a lack of impartiality.
But Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann left open the possibility that he could step aside if questions about his neutrality bog down other cases.
"I am the legal advisor today. We take it one day at a time," Hartmann told The Associated Press.
Last week, a military judge barred Hartmann from any role in the case against Salim Hamdan - Osama bin Laden's driver, possibly for case to go to trial - because he aligned himself too closely with prosecutors. Hartmann said he will abide by the judge's ruling and noted that he did not testify in the Hamdan case.
Purple Heart For PTSD? -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
It shouldn't be so, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates is saying that the possibility of awarding the Purple Heart to veterans of Iraq and Aghanistan "needs to be looked at".
Does PTSD Warrant a Purple Heart?
Readjustment And Trivia -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure - recently retuned home]
The Army warns you about readjustment and "reintegration." Oddly enough, a lot of it is true. They warn about depression, or let-down. They warn about the family and things that happen normally as part of reintegration.
A lot of it is true.
I never felt overly "jacked-up" in Afghanistan. It all felt pretty normal to me, actually. There were a few times when I knew that I could easily be killed, and there were several times when I knew without a doubt that if the ACM had chosen to hit us at that moment that I was in a very very precarious position.
I did, however, feel alert. There have been times here in the States that I have been inattentive, even though I was going through the motions.
Those lean, mean, green Marines -- [Military Watch]
When the Marines of the 1st Battalion 6th Marines come out of Garmsir, Afghanistan, where they've been fighting for two weeks, they will bring out with them their ... waste.
Along with weapons and ammo, MREs, combat first-aid gear and a hundred other items, Marines are issued WAG (waste alleviation and gelling) bags.
These are plastic pouches that hold granular stuff like kitty litter and, well, everything you need when other facilities aren't available.
It all goes in a goof-proof zip-lock bag when you're done. And goes back in your rucksack. And you WILL carry it all out, Devil Dog.
It's kind to the environment, of course. But it's also sound tactics.
"Anything we take in, an MRE or a battery or anything, we take out,"
Army Wife Shares True Feelings -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
-I’m the one you walk past in Wal-Mart smelling a man’s brand of deodorant and buying the same brand of shower gel. I’m trying to remember his smell. I’m the one that sprays his cologne on his pillow so it seems like he is by me when I go to sleep.
-“I’m the one you see in the back of the church, a tear running down my face as the congregation prays for our country and our troops. He’s one of them. “I’m the one you beep at for sitting at a green light. I was looking at the flag blowing in the breeze at the corner gas station and thinking of all it means to me, to him, and to our life together.
-“I’m the one with a trunk full of flat rate boxes and customs forms, I know my local postal workers by name. The package I send him makes him seem close to me.
-“I’m the one you walk past as I completely fall apart and lose it because I left my cell phone at home. You might think ‘it’s just a phone,’ but it’s the life line of my marriage and it was his day to call.
-“I’m the one you have labeled as quiet or reserved, the one who is never really part of anything, you don’t know I wear the faraway look because my heart boarded the plane with his...
Saying Goodbye
Home at last -- [Yellowhammering Afghanistan - home from Afghanistan]
After a day of bus rides and airplane flights we were finally reunited with our families for a very brief ceremony in Montgomery Tuesday night.
Family and friends cheered as our bus pulled in at the armory in Montgomery. After hugs, kisses and congratulations were passed around, all of us were just ready to get home.
As we neared home, signs, banners and balloons lined our street and were scattered on the roadways in McCalla. (Thank you, Grafix South for the great job on all the signs and the Collins and Wade families for the surprise balloon work.)
Back from Iraq, Army Strong Families, Reintegrating Balance -- [A Dog Faced Chaplin - home from Iraq]
I am happy to write tonight from the comfort of my own home! I have been home now a couple of weeks and our Soldiers are streaming in every day from Iraq upon our successful completion of the mission there.
I had the opportunity to return with the Advance Party in order to conduct a retreat for the Brigade. The 3 day retreat was sponsored by the Army Strong Bonds Program which is an initiative of the US Army Chaplain Corps to aid in building Families...Army Strong.
Ask the Candidates -- [MilBlogs - Andi]
Do you have a question about "military and veteran issues" that you'd like to pose to the Presidential candidates? Here's your chance:
Take part in this historic, online debate over military and veteran issues. You could be one of the 12 people chosen by our editors to have your question directly answered by Obama, Clinton and McCain. This is your chance to ask the candidates about the most important issues in the military community.
Click here to submit your video questions.
War Spending Part of Supplemental Bill Defeated -- [Defense News]
House Republicans rebelled against a Democratic leadership-crafted emergency war spending bill today by helping anti-war members of the majority party kill a provision that would have sent $162.5 billion to the Pentagon for the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
The move by a rebellious block of House Republicans sent ripple waves across Capitol Hill and cast doubt over when Congress will be able to send a final version of the measure to the White House.
...It is unclear when the House will vote again on the war funding measure.
Pentagon Endorses Transfer of GI Bill Benefits to Spouses, Children -- [DefenseLink]
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2008 – The Pentagon provided proposed legislation to Congress to make it easier for servicemembers to transfer GI Bill education benefits to their spouses or children and to increase the tuition ceiling amount paid by the program, a senior Defense Department official said here today.
The proposal was sent to Capitol Hill on April 21. It reflects departmental desire to improve education and job opportunities for servicemembers and military spouses that President Bush cited in his Jan. 28 State of the Union speech.
The ability for servicemembers to transfer their Montgomery GI Bill education benefits to spouses exists now, but it’s an either/or re-enlistment option, with most servicemembers choosing bonuses when they sign up for another “hitch,” Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, said during a conference call with military analysts. Army spouses routinely say that obtaining education benefits is one of their top concerns, Carr noted.
I'm no fan of Senator Jim Webb -- [Signaleer]
That said, Senator Webb is not an armchair quarterback. He is a Vietnam Marine who received the Navy Cross for heroism. Under President Reagan, he resigned as the Secretary of the Navy as a protest because the Administration wouldn't increase his department's budget to handle the Cold War mission. His son is a Marine and OIF veteran. And yet he's still willing to throw the mission and us with it, under the bus.
Aside from that, His new bill, S22, a generous (too generous) restructuring of the GI Bill, is really another attempt to bleed the DoD budget.
Apparently ... -- [CounterColumn]
...we're NOT at war with Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Gary Hart: "If John McCain seriously believes we are at war with al Qaeda in Iraq, that alone is such a serious error in judgment as to rank him with George W. Bush at his worst and therefore disqualify him from any chance to govern this country."
I suspect Mr. Hart's viewpoint is news to Al Qaeda in Iraq. Apparently, David Bellavia imagined the whole thing.
Oh. Hart compares neoconservatives to Nazis for good measure.
McCain predicts 2013 Iraq exit8 hours ago -- [Times Union]
...McCain's comments quickly drew widespread condemnation from Democrats and questions about whether he was actually setting a timetable for withdrawal, something he has strenuously criticized.
"It's not a timetable; it's victory. It's victory, which I have always predicted," McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, told reporters.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who favors a withdrawal, said McCain offered no concrete proposals to back up his goal.
"This is not the first time Sen. McCain has predicted victory in Iraq," Clinton said. "He promises more of the same Bush policies that have weakened our military, our national security, and our standing in the world. Our country cannot afford more empty promises on Iraq."
ACLU Manufactures a Crisis With Iraqi Detainees -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
The wags at the ACLU are attempting to make mountains of molehills with the issue of juvenile detainees at Camp Cropper in Baghdad. After Abu Ghraib, the U.S. military realized the urgent necessity to be more forthcoming with how Iraqi detainees were treated and the importance of rehabilitation to the overall counter-insurgency campaign as Small Wars Journal explains. The ACLU "broke" this earth-shattering news with a cornball press release yesterday, which made a big stink in the media.
...I guess the ACLU doesn't have "Teh Google" at work, because the issue of juvenile detainees in Iraq was already in the news...last year.
Similar to the ~100,000 juvenile prisoners in America, the juvenile detainees are taken off Iraq's streets because they are in urgent need of reform and rehabilitation.
Obama Moonbat... Another Strange Foreign Policy Gaffe -- [Gateway Pundit]
"Right now, we don't have enough troops, and NATO hasn't provided enough troops because they are still angry about us going into Iraq."
Hmm... Do you suppose Obama heard that at church?
This was one of those slips that reveals the Far Left core of the Obamessiah.
...Truly... Obama sees ending the Iraq "mistake" a key point in his foreign policy agenda. But, more than that, his statement shows that Obama believes our NATO allies act in mean spiteful ways and make foreign policy decisions based on emotion.
That seems a bit immature for the man who wants to be president of the United States, wouldn't you say?
And, where did Obama get this?... From Daily Kos or Trinity UCC?
Obama is wrong about NATO troops.
Obama's sniper tale? When he stood up to Detroit's 'cold' shoulder -- [LA Times]
Is this another Bosnian sniper incident, where a Democratic candidate for president describes a scene involving some personal courage, but later videotape shows that maybe perhaps it wasn't really quite all like that exactly?
Media victory in Iraq -- [From the Fronline]
Sociologist Andrew M. Lindner writes in the latest issue of the American Sociological Association’s Context magazine about his findings on how the media reported, and continue to report, the Iraq war. He says, the dearth of embedded reporting effectively gave an Iraq “media victory” for the Bush Administration,
Tribeca Film Festival: Lioness. -- [My American-Iraq Life]
a man with an Obama pin was behind me. He looked really excited...not for the film, he just seemed excited about life...really smiley and non-threatening. I asked him what brought him out to see the film... and he said, "it seemed interesting." He then asked me the same question, I told him I was a vet and was really excited to see a documentary that just focused on female Soldiers.
...I had no idea before seeing this that there were groups of females nicknamed "Lioness", who supported raids. They went out with male Soldiers to search female Iraqis and to ease them while their houses/husbands were being searched.
...Throughout the film, you learn about each females story and struggles. They all engaged in fire fights, some have killed, they had to prove themselves to the male Soldiers, and you get a glimpse into what war is like through a females eyes.
Silver Star Being Used as Feminist Symbol -- [The Tank - Elaine Donnelly]
A front-page May 1 story by Washington Post reporter Ann Scott Tyson, titled “Woman Gains Silver Star – And Removal from Combat; Case Shows Contradictions of Army Rules,” omitted much of the story in order to push a favorite feminist cause.
The Bloodless Bullets of Baghdad -- [Confederate Yankee]
I suspect that this is less a case of "fauxtography" than a curious physiological response, but Associated Press cameraman Karim Kadim captured this photo of a Sadr City woman having a bullet removed from her forearm.
Here is an enlarged and cropped version of the photo as tweaked in PhotoShop to focus on the wound. I got as close as I could without distorting the image significantly.
Matthews Rips Guest For Ignorance of History, Then Claims Cole Attack Happened Under Bush -- [NewsBusters]
Message to Chris Matthews: when ripping a guest for his lack of historical knowledge, try to avoid making a history mistake of your own in the same segment.
It happened on this afternoon's Hardball. After lambasting a guest for not knowing his Neville Chamberlain history, Matthews surmised that the attack on the USS Cole in October, 2000 happened under . . . President Bush.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
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.
Low level flying and last departure -- [Miserable Donuts - in Iraq<
