Holy hemophilia - another drop in the hemorrhage of leaks. "Afghan minister accused of taking bribe" screams a dog-bites-man headline.

Who's doing the accusing? Why, it's none other than "a U.S. official who is familiar with military intelligence reports."

The Afghan minister of mines accepted a roughly $30 million bribe to award the country's largest development project to a Chinese mining firm, according to a U.S. official who is familiar with military intelligence reports.

The allegation, if proved true, would mark one of the most brazen examples of corruption yet disclosed in a country where the problem has become so pervasive that it is now at the heart of Obama administration doubts over Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reliability as a partner.

I'm shocked, shocked I say, to learn of this. Coming at the conclusion of Obama's visit to China...

"Because the press coverage of his trip is quite bad, it may have caused some heartburn in Beijing," Pei said. "Chinese leaders know that a good relationship with Obama will be in China's interest. And a weakened Obama cannot manage U.S.-China ties effectively. So there is a chance that China will do something after the trip is over to show that Obama's visit is not fruitless after all."

...a visit during which the American president boldly expressed his feelings that the ongoing flood of leaks from his White House was "not appropriate" - and at the very dawn of a new era of a kinder, gentler relationship with Karzai... why, the most unfortunate timing of this story must have Obama fit to be tied.

I'll bet the first thing he did once he got back to the White House was to have ol' Rahm open up a big ol' can a' asswhup on someone. (/sarc)

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Some in the White House might get a bit wobbly in the knees reading this Washington Post story, but in the end author Rajiv Chandrasekaran only provides some additional details of how the Obama administration wasted a year "focused" on "the Karzai problem" in Afghanistan as the Taliban's influence grew and violence reached record levels. But the administration can breath at least a half-sigh of relief, while he certainly exposes their mismanagement he stops short of calling it what it is.

And even though President Obama declared leaks were "not appropriate" earlier this week, this story shows no evidence of significant improvements to the White House plumbing. Among the more interesting examples, this account of the development and intensification of the Obama/Karzai feud stands out:

Karzai's first indication that his relationship with the United States would undergo a profound shift occurred 10 days before Obama's inauguration. Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. had come to the palace for dinner, and halfway through the meal, he began taking his host to task for how he was responding to civilian casualties caused by U.S. and NATO military operations.

Biden told Karzai that he was politicizing the issue and leveling "ill-founded" allegations in public, according to a previously undisclosed account of the dinner from a person who attended. Karzai argued back, and the discussion turned tense. "Biden got a little bit passionate about it," the participant said. "Karzai was taken aback, and he got a little bit passionate, too."

Regardless of how one feels about collateral deaths of civilians resulting from military strikes, public condemnation of the acts by their head-of-state (a man viewed by many as a puppet of the United States in the first place) are to be expected. But in establishing himself as presidential material months before, Barack Obama had famously declared the U.S. must "have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians" in Afghanistan, and clearly from the point of view of the new American administration the time for public complaints regarding the topic had passed.

We've written of the early days of the Obama administration's assault on Karzai here before. While that extra insight to the dinner story is an intriguing (completely plausible but - to be fair - deniable) additional data point it's but one detail among many in Chandrasekaran's full account, which offers a look at "what was really going on" regarding developments 6-9 months ago (things went even further downhill after that Biden/Karzai meeting) mixed with the White House line on more current events.

And the White House must seriously fume to discover that even though the Obama administration just spent most of a year steadfastly embroiled in a pissing contest with Hamid Karzai (in another example from Chandrasekaran, Karzai "sought to call Obama to complain" regarding a meeting he'd had with Holbrooke: "But White House aides, who deemed the Afghan leader's ploy inappropriate, said he was unavailable. Karzai then tried to reach Clinton. He received the same response. Karzai was left seething, one of his advisers said") recent poll results indicate that Americans are overwhelmingly unconcerned with the government of Afghanistan in the first place - and (small wonder) support for the president's handling of the war continues to plunge.

Next year we may be reading more major-media accounts of the "now it can be told" variety regarding now-current events (they'll look a lot like this), until then the official line is reflected in the Washington Post's headline for their story: "A softer approach to Karzai" - a position that's also supported by recent comments from Clinton and Gates. (The president himself, of course, is unavailable.)

And perhaps that headline's accurate, but still troubling is the note of warning also evident in the Secretary of State's remarks - the hunger for a ritual human sacrifice ("heads on a platter") seems only slightly dampened, and the passion of the media campaign against America's former allies in the war against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan seems as yet unspent.

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"Through the binoculars, Nelson looked east across the valley and saw the horsemen all carrying weapons, AKs and RPG tubes, glittering belts of ammo wrapped around their shoulders. milled about the plain, their horse picketed nearby chewing ravenously at the glass. Nelson thought back to fifteen years earlier when he'd been commissioned as an officer in a ceremony on the Shiloh Civil War battlefield in Tennessee. He'd studied the cavalry tactics of Jeb Stuart and John Mosby, whose "Mosby's Raiders" had ridden circles around Union troops in lightning attacks. Now he sat ringside to the first cavalry charge of the twenty-first century..."

Below: an excerpt from Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan, by Doug Stanton.

Nelson was sure he'd figured the coordinates right. Maybe the B-52's crew had plugged them in wrong... He got on the radio and told the pilot to correct for elevation.

The pilot dropped again. This third bomb hit closer. Nelson figured it had fallen about 600 feet from the bunker - two football fields away. He was going to have to do a whole lot better than this.

At the sound of this closer explosion, and with the air still thick with smoke, the Taliban poured out of the bunker - maybe a hundred men or more. They came running out in a crouch with their weapons at the ready, as if under infantry attack.

As soon as they saw the smoking crater, they stopped. If they saw the B-52 overhead, they didn't seem to connect its presence with the sudden appearance of the ten-foot-deep crater at their feet. Nelson felt like he'd traveled back in time. Here he was riding a horse loaded with sophisticated electronic gear and and ordering bombs to be dropped from planes that were flown from Diego Garcia, 2,800 miles away, in the Indian Ocean. As the men on the team would later say, this was like the Flintstones were meeting the Jetsons.

The Taliban stood puzzled at the crater's edge. And then a few of them started walking around inside the smoking hole, shaking their heads, as if to divine its origin. Nelson was getting madder by the minute.
<...>
He turned to Dostum ready to apologize. He wanted to say, That's not who I am, I am capable of more. But he knew this would starkly draw their relationship and make Nelson into a man looking for approval. It would shift an unspoken balance in Dostum's favor.
<...>
Dostum was speaking happily into his radio with the enemy: "I warned you that I had the Americans here! How do you like me now?"

Nelson saw his opening. "Well, I can do a whole lot better than that."

Dostum wanted to know how.

"Get me closer to those sonofabitches."

Dostum wondered what choice he had. He knew he himself didn't know anything about dropping bombs. The young man seemed serious. He liked his aggressiveness. He was tireless, like himself.

He announced that he would take him to the Taliban.

That night, before turning in to bed (they maintained guard duty two hours on, two hours off), Nelson looked down the hill behind him where the Afghans were standing beside their horses and removing the saddles...

The air smelled cold. The stars drifted up from the horizon as if loosed from a zoo and swarmed the dark sky above them... They threw their blankets over the animals withers and patted their heads and said goodnight. They walked up the hill to their cave and went inside, and Nelson could hear them talking low as they lay down shoulder to jowl uncovered in the cold night. When he realized that they had given their blankets to their horses, Nelson believed that if he fought with the same selflessness, none of them could be beaten.

And that he would live.

More to follow...

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan by Doug Stanton. Copyright © 2009 by Reed City Productions, LLC.

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Lest we forget:

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Lieberman: General Keane... Do you think that political correctness may have played some role in the fact that these dots were not connected?

The first two words of the general's response were "Yes, absolutely". But there were more, including these:

But in fairness to many of the people who are associating with him, based on what preliminary research I have done and I think what the committee is doing, I think we're going to find very clearly that we do not have specific guidelines on dealing with Jihadist extremism in terms of the obligations of the members of the military to identify a reported and what actions to take and what constitutes Jihadist extremists itself.

Last summer (on the heels of news of the retracted Department of Homeland Security report warning of the threat posed by "right wing veterans") Morris Dees, the founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, made news when he issued a press release regarding a letter he'd sent to four members of congress announcing his discovery of 40 "whites only" chat room participants who claimed to be military. That story faded fast, without an ensuing "witch hunt" - but as noted in the ensuing discussion, "racist" can be grounds for discharge - even though it's a fairly simple "condition" to fake.

It shouldn't be too difficult to extend that same consideration to those whose sympathies are aligned with the enemy in time of war - especially when that enemy is an extremist group (and no, this doesn't mean "all Muslims") with members - "card-carrying" or not - demonstrably more inclined (and motivated - we are officially at war with them, after all) to act in extremis than Nazi's (or communists, if you prefer) have been over the past few decades.

And that was a long statement, but "shouldn't be" was the key phrase.

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Military blogger "Concrete Bob" could use your thoughts and prayers, however he'd rather they go to others than to him.

Short and sweet, I had a serious heart attack on Wednesday night. I`m in the hospital, hooked up to a bunch of tubes. I have had a catheterization done and a stint put in, but there is still some blockage. So next Wednesday the doctors are going to do a little carving and install some new parts. No big deal.

Pray for the doctor and my family.

"No big deal" - now isn't that just like him.

Go here and wish him well

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The best answer to the question "can we win in Afghanistan in spite of corruption in the government?" might be another question: which government?

*****

Defense news: Improvements in Afghan Governance Will Take Time, Gates Says.

Video here.

"Do you think there's any merit, or is there any discussion about asking President Karzai to take steps to clean up corruption," Gates was asked, "and then holding up troops until he does that, as they flow in?"

While noting "my personal view is that you do have to exercise what leverage you have," his response did not include a direct answer to the troop flow question. "My view on all of this is that improvements in governance in Afghanistan will be evolutionary, the secretary replied. "We are not going to go from a situation where we have a fair amount of dissatisfaction now to believing that these problems have been solved in two weeks or a month, or on the basis of a single speech."

And again, my personal view is that you do have to exercise what leverage you have, but the question is whether that's applied on a province-by-province level, district-by-district, ministry-by-ministry. And this, I expect, will be a continuing dialogue between ourselves and the Afghans.

We're there to help them. But corruption and a lack of good governance are real impediments to the success of both the Afghan government and our own efforts. And so they clearly are an important element, as you've been reading from Secretary Clinton's comments and the president's and others.

"We're there to help them" - and one form of that help could be evident in this Spiegel Online report: "the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is now set to support the fight against corruption."

According to information obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, ISAF Commander Stanley McChrystal has issued an order to all NATO troops to forward evidence of corruption among politicians and officials to Afghan authorities. Even information gathered by intelligence services is to be checked and, in cases where it is deemed appropriate, passed on to the Afghan attorney general.

The order represents a shift in NATO policy, which has long seen corruption as an internal matter for Afghanistan. "The new guidance directs forces to share that information through normal reporting channels to the government of Afghanistan and proper law enforcement agencies that can take action," NATO said in a statement e-mailed to SPIEGEL ONLINE. Corruption, NATO wrote in the statement, feeds "negative security trends" and "has a direct bearing on the insurgency" in Afghanistan. "During the course of normal framework operations, ISAF forces often uncover evidence or information regarding corrupt officials or malign actors," NATO wrote.

Gates has long favored a more pragmatic approach to tackling the separate (but somewhat related) issues of Afghan corruption and security. In recent months the secretary has offered counterpoint to claims the Afghan people overwhelmingly view their government as illegitimate, accurately (if understatedly) described the security situation there as on a "worrisome trajectory," and signaled his opposition to delaying U.S. troop reinforcements until after good governance issues are resolved.

*****

As yesterday's briefing concluded, Gates and Mullen were also asked about a recent USA Today story regarding "at least 158 retired admirals and generals the Pentagon has hired to offer advice under an unusual arrangement."

Most of the retired officers, one to four stars in rank, have been paid hundreds of dollars an hour by the military even as they worked for companies seeking Defense Department contracts, a USA TODAY investigation found. That's in addition to pensions of $100,000 to $200,000 a year for officers with 30 or more years of service.

That may have caused a bit of discomfort in the Pentagon. Here's the first response:

Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, do you have to file financial disclosure forms? Senator McCain says such disclosure should be required for retired generals who advise the military. Do you agree with that?

Admiral Mullen:: This refers, obviously, to the story that came out a couple days ago, and I've read the story and subsequent reports with respect to that. And I think, the services are actually taking a look at this, and I think that's the proper purview for this, services and combatant commanders who actually do this.

Secondly, I think this is a group of individuals who provides incredibly valuable, seasoned, wise advice in many ways. But at the same time, I think we have to be terrific stewards of the taxpayers' money, and we have to be aware of any conflicts of interest or a perception of conflicts of interest. So I think in that as the services look at this we'll come to an understanding of where we are and what we should do in the future. And I really wouldn't want to say anything else at this point on top of that.

"Okay, thank you all," Secretary Gates added, and with that the press conference concluded.

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Posted November 20, 2009 11:08 AM | Permalink | 2 Comments | TrackBacks

"Qaseem Ali Uqdah, executive director of the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, and a retired Marine gunnery sergeant, credits military leaders with establishing a climate that's prevented any backlash against Muslims servicemembers since the Nov. 5 shooting."

The fact that Hasan is Muslim, he said, doesn't matter. A review would have been necessary whatever the perpetrator's religion, as a "preventative measure" to prevent a similar incident from ever happening again, he said.

And to be truly effective, he said, the review should go beyond Muslims, to help identify and weed out zealots of any kind who could become potential threats. "It would be most prudent to go across the military and leave no stone unturned," Uqdah said.

The world situation demands it, he said. "We have to recognize this for what it is: a war on several fronts, with no boundaries, and here on our own shores," he said. "So we have to be vigilant. If that requires all of us being examined, then so be it," as long as it doesn't overstep civil liberty boundaries.

"So long as it is not prejudicious, a review right now is necessary," Uqdah said.

While providing an important "litmus test," the Pentagon review will also help highlight the contributions Muslim servicemembers make to the U.S. military, and the sacrifices they have made, he said.

Full text below:

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"The shootings at Fort Hood raise a number of troubling questions that demand complete but prompt answers," Gates said. "It is prudent to determine immediately whether there are internal weaknesses or procedural shortcomings in the department that could make us vulnerable in the future."

Initial review 45 days, followed by a follow-on investigation "expected to last four to six months".

Full text below:

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From Foreign Policy's AfPak Channel Daily Brief:

As part of her media outreach following yesterday's inauguration of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a brief but wide-ranging interview to Afghanistan's Azadi Radio (State Department, AFP). Maintaining a conciliatory tone towards the embattled president, Clinton expressed a wish for the presence of more professionals and technocrats in the Afghan government; when asked whether the U.S. would support a Karzai administration with warlords, she said, "Well, there are warlords and there are warlords."

However, the anti-Dostum campaign continues.

On one side of the cavernous room sat Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who's warned that the international community is losing patience with Karzai.

On the other side was Abdul Rashid Dostum, the Afghan warlord who's become a symbol of cronyism and government corruption. Dostum was stripped of his top military post after he was accused of war crimes and investigated for enacting vigilante justice on the streets of Kabul.

Although foreign leaders have demanded that Karzai sideline Dostum and other discredited political allies, the Afghan president is also under pressure to reward those, such as Dostum, who helped him win re-election.

That he (along with the rest of the "Northern Alliance" who are now delegated to "warlord" status) was once a key ally in America's war against the Taliban has become an inconvenient truth that doesn't fit the space allotted for modern media coverage.

As at a wedding, the guest list said a lot. Sitting in the second row was General Dostum, a military commander briefly exiled from Kabul with a reputation for viciousness even in a room of tough military men. His presence in a Karzai cabinet - yet to be announced - might prove a problem for the west.

And while betrayal of former allies is anything but rare in Afghanistan, his opposition could prove even more problematic. A brief introduction to "the unsavory characters surrounding the Afghan president and his new government" here.

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James Hooker is just one guest among many in an impressive line-up for tonight's YouServed Radio show:

LTG Freakley, USAAC CG. Lieutenant General Benjamin C. Freakley assumed command of U.S. Army Accessions Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, on 18 May 2007, consisting of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, KY; U.S. Army Cadet Command, Fort Monroe, VA; and U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade, Fort Knox, KY. http://www.usaac.army.mil/cg.html Kenny Gamble. Kenny is a Grammy-award winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and the co-creator behind such classics as "Aint No Stoppin' Us Now", and "Love Train". By collaborating with iconic soul singer Patti Labelle, and the Temple University's Choir and Orchestra, "I Am An American" seeks to bring a renewed sense of patriotism to this country. - James Hooker. Today, November 19th, James releases his third solo album in the last two years - this one,¨Hanging Out With The Boys¨ is a collection of the 11 songs that rose out of the September 11th attacks and the World War On Terror that James calls WWlV. He is, as you can tell from these songs, a true supporter of the men and women ¨up at the sharp end, who lay it on the line for our kids, and our otherwise worthless asses!¨ Larry Pratt will talk about the The Veterans Disarmament Act which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in 2008. This law places any veteran who has ever been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on the federal gun ban list. http://gunowners.org/a010808.htmhttp://gunowners.org/netb.htm Dudley Brown - Executive Director of National Association for Gun Rights to talk about the "Gun Free Zone" in our military that possibly contributed to the Fort Hood massacre. http://www.nationalgunrights.org

CJ and Troy have done a hellagood job putting this one together- their shows keep getting better and better. Listen online here tonight at 7PM Eastern. You'll be able to join the on-line chat or call in during the show.

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NPR exposes more details of Nidal Hasan's "career" in the US military, today revealing a memo written by his supervisor in 2007.

The memo ticks off numerous problems over the course of Hasan's training, including proselytizing to his patients. It says he mistreated a homicidal patient and allowed her to escape from the emergency room, and that he blew off an important exam.

According to the memo, Hasan hardly did any work: He saw only 30 patients in 38 weeks. Sources at Walter Reed say most psychiatrists see at least 10 times that many patients. When Hasan was supposed to be on call for emergencies, he didn't even answer the phone.
<...>
The memo does have a couple of qualifications that say something positive about Hasan. It says, "He is able to self-correct with supervision." And Moran writes, "I am not able to say he is not competent to graduate."

Officials at Walter Reed told NPR that those statements were very carefully worded. What they convey is that when Hasan's supervisors read him the riot act -- when they gave him intensive supervision -- he would improve just enough so that they had to tell their commanders: "Hasan is capable of doing better."

But officials say nobody has the time to supervise a doctor that closely.

That's accurate - "works well when supervised" is a classic damning term for a military performance evaluation. The full memo is linked from NPR's report. Anyone familiar with military writing would be hard-pressed to describe this passage...

He is able to self-correct with supervision. However, at this point he should not need so much supervision. In spite of all of this, I am not able to say he is not competent to graduate nor do I think a period of academic probation now at the end of his training will be beneficial. He would be able to contain his behavior enough to complete any period of probation successfully.

...as anything other than a recommendation that Hasan's "skills" were perhaps best utilized elsewhere.

Elsewhere, the Washington Post's headline "Senators press Obama on Fort Hood probes" is subbed with "White House wants lawmakers to slow their investigations".

Congressional Democrats have not been nearly as aggressive in their oversight of the Obama administration as they were during the Bush administration. The actions on Capitol Hill this week, however, demonstrate a growing impatience, particularly among senators, with the White House's preference that lawmakers slow down their inquiries.

Lieberman's hearing Thursday, the first on Capitol Hill regarding the Texas shootings, will start what potentially could be a more assertive approach to administration oversight, at least on matters of national security.

The report adds that "Even some of President Obama's most steadfast allies have questioned whether intelligence agencies crossed their signals" with regards to information-sharing on Hasan.

Meanwhile, President Obama concluded his Asia trip with a stop at Osan Air Base in Korea:

Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cell phones to snap pictures.

"You guys make a pretty good photo op," the president said.

Standing on a riser wearing a blue suit and red tie, with a cluster of troops and a large American flag behind him, Obama expressed "the gratitude of the American public" and said his meetings in four countries over eight days in Asia will help deliver a "safer, more prosperous world for all of us."

He got a huge cheer when he told them he was increasing military pay. "That's what you call an applause line," he said, before boarding his jet and taking off at 4:11 p.m.

Mission accomplished.

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When it comes to Afghanistan - America's top national security concern today - the "leaks" from the administration have amounted to a flood, with new and seemingly contradictory reports appearing daily in the global media. It's been going on for months, but now President Obama says it's "not appropriate".

Here's a look back at the history of the problem.

CBS - Obama: I'd Fire Afghan Decision Leakers.

"We have deliberations in the situation room for a reason; we're making life and death decisions that affect how our troops are able to operate in a theater of war. For people to be releasing info in the course of deliberations is not appropriate."

"A firing offense?" Reid inquired.

"Absolutely," Mr. Obama responded.

In the same interview, "the president said it's still several weeks before he makes a decision on how many more troops to send to Afghanistan." He told CNN "we are very close to a decision" on Afghanistan, and "I will announce that decision, certainly in the next several weeks."

Earlier this month, sources revealed to ABC News that "as of now President Obama will likely announce his decision about a new strategy in Afghanistan at some point between the Afghan run-off election, November 7, and the president's departure for Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, November 11." But almost immediately afterward other sources revealed that it "appears increasingly likely that Obama will not announce his new Afghanistan strategy until after returning to the United States on Nov. 20." But late last week a leak from senior U.S. officials revealed that

Ambassador Eikenberry's memos expressed "deep concerns about sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan until President Hamid Karzai's government demonstrates that it is willing to tackle the corruption and mismanagement that has fueled the Taliban's rise, senior U.S. officials said."

...and that could be cause for further delay.

The Gates comparison from the CBS story ("Reid says he asked the president if he's as angry as Defense Secretary Robert Gates about all the leaks...") was in reference to a recent report headlined "Gates Lashes Out at Leakers" in which the secretary was quoted as saying "I am appalled by the amount of leaking that has been going on."

"If I found out who" was involved, he said, "it would probably be a career ender."

He also expressed concerns over the complexity of the president's approach to Afghanistan: "How do we signal resolve, and at the same time, signal to the Afghans and the American people that this is not open-ended?" However, the fact that those were actually administration concerns wasn't officially leaked until the following day:

One senior administration official, who requested anonymity in order to reflect the details and tone of confidential deliberations, said these concerns had added to the president's insistence at a White House meeting on Wednesday that each military option include the quickest possible exit strategy.

As for possible troop numbers, while late October leaks had indicated the president was leaning towards a smaller number, ("...what one official described as "McChrystal Light''), in early November McClatchy declared Obama leaning toward 34,000 more troops for Afghanistan - but noted that "the officials, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss internal administration planning, cautioned that Obama's decision isn't final.

CBS quickly trumped that story with the dramatic announcement that "informed sources tell CBS News [Obama] intends to give Gen. Stanley McChrystal most, if not all, the additional troops he is asking for". That report prompted an administration response CBS described as "attributed to White House National Security Advisor James Jones":

Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false.

Last week, McClatchy revealed that according to their sources (no less than six military and administration officials who had requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly), those leaks had "deprived Eikenberry and other officials of the ability to tell Karzai that no more American troops will be forthcoming if he doesn't agree to implement reforms." And worse...

The Obama administration's internal debate over Afghan policy has escalated into a battle of media leaks that's straining relations between officials who're seeking a major troop increase and those who want a more limited approach and a greater focus on domestic priorities.

The feud also has poisoned ties between the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan and the U.S. ambassador in Kabul, and left the administration struggling for leverage to press Afghan President Hamid Karzai to appoint untainted officials to his new government, attack corruption and share power with the parliament and provincial officials.
<...>
A U.S. defense official said the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, feels he was "stabbed in the back" by Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan...

However, they added in perhaps unintentional hilarity, "The official, like others who were interviewed for this article, requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. However, according to a half-dozen U.S. military and administration officials..."

So that might explain why the president is starting to get upset about leaks.

Meanwhile, Spencer Ackerman recently described a dramatic scene inside the White House...

It was a tense meeting this morning at the White House, as Ambassador Karl Eikenberry addressed the National Security Council by teleconference from Kabul just hours after the media got hold of his dissent on the crucial question of sending more troops to Afghanistan. "He is very unpopular here," said a National Security Council staffer who described the meeting.

No one was happy to read in The Washington Post that Eikenberry, who commanded the war himself from 2005 to 2007, thinks that the Karzai government needs to demonstrate its commitment to anti-corruption measures before the administration can responsibly authorize another troop increase. The prevailing theory is that "he leaked his own cables" because "he has a beef with McChrystal," the staffer said.

...however, unlike most reporters who have been recipients of leaks, Ackerman later retracted the story: "My original source for the post stands by the account provided. The individual, a National Security Council staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity, has provided truthful and verified information on past stories, and so I trusted the source for this one..." But "White House spokesman Tommy Vietor says he checked with Amb. Eikenberry's office and the teleconference call reported in this post did not occur."

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But this time the game didn't go into overtime. The Associated Press: "Somali pirates attacked the container ship Maersk Alabama today for the second time in seven months."

Four pirates in a skiff attacked the ship again today at about 6.30am local time, opening fire with automatic weapons from about 300 yards away, a statement from the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain said. A security team repelled the attack by using evasive manoeuvres, small-arms fire and a Long Range Acoustic Device, which can beam earsplitting alarm tones.

Here in Mudville we believe non-lethal methods are best, but more effective when lethal options are also readily available.

Reactions:

The wife of the Maersk Alabama's captain, Paul Rochford, told WBZ-AM radio in Boston that she was "really happy" there were weapons on board for this attack.

"It probably surprised the pirates. They were probably shocked," Kimberly Rochford. "I'm really happy at least it didn't turn out like the last time."

A self-proclaimed pirate told The Associated Press from the Somali pirate town of Haradhere that colleagues out at sea had called around 9 a.m. -- 2 1/2 hours after the attack.

"They told us that they got in trouble with an American ship, then we lost them. We have been trying to locate them since," said a self-described pirate who gave his name as Abdi Nor.

Perhaps they're suffering permanent hearing loss.

"It's not the first vessel to have been attacked twice, and it's a chance that every single ship takes as it passes through the area," said Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Naval Force. "At least this time they had a vessel protection detachment on board who were able to repel the attack."

However, not all piracy experts agree.

Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the Chatham House thinktank in London, said the international maritime community was solidly against armed guards, but that American ships have taken a different line.

"Shipping companies are still pretty much overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of armed guards," he said. "Lots of private security companies employ people who don't have maritime experience. Also, there's the idea that it's the responsibility of states and navies to provide security. I would think it's a step backward if we start privatising security of the shipping trade."

Four pirates boarded the ship last April, starting a multi-day hostage standoff that ended dramatically with the ship's captain rescued, one pirate captured and three killed. The event prompted some discussion of the feasibility of shipboard armed guards, but the Obama administration expressed preference for other approaches to the piracy problem.

The captured pirate is awaiting trial in New York.

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"Do you trust President Karzai?" CNN's Ed Henry asked U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to Beijing, China. "President Karzai has served his country in important ways," Obama responded. " When he first came in, there may not have been another figure who could have held that country together. He has some strengths, but he has some weaknesses. I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services to its people in a way that confers legitimacy on them."

And that change from when he first came in is the official position of the United States of America. You can see a bit of that reflected in this MSNBC story on Karzai's second-term swearing in.

As Hamid Karzai is again sworn in as Afghanistan's president on Thursday, the mood about the man could hardly be more different from when he first emerged to lead the country.

Instead of being celebrated as a person with the stature and credentials to unify and lead, he steps back into office after a fraud-tainted election, to head a government that is steeped in corruption and apparently incapable of halting the Taliban insurgency and violence.

On the eve of the ceremony Kabul is a place of appalling gloom, we are told in this LA Times report: "The mood is glum, fueled by disappointment in the government." They even found one local whose opinion sounded amazingly like... Barack Obama's.

Mahmood Barakzai still remembers the rush of pride and optimism he felt when Hamid Karzai was sworn in for his first term as Afghanistan's president. This time around, the Kabul shopkeeper wasn't even going to bother switching on the television.

"Here in our country, everything has become more sad, more uncertain and more dangerous," Barakzai said, shaking his head as he wrapped his hands around a cup of hot sweet tea, trying to ward off a penetrating early-winter chill.

Not only is that a far cry from five years ago, it's a far cry from reports on the announcement of Karzai's victory just two weeks ago: "In the capital, a sense of relief was instant and palpable. Kabul residents honked horns and exchanged celebratory text messages as the news spread." We won't be seeing reports like that any more.

Times have changed:

The United States was represented at the last swearing-in by then-Vice President Dick Cheney. This time, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was to be the highest-ranking American official in attendance. Clinton landed in Kabul late Wednesday, her visit not announced in advance because of security concerns.

Of course, there are many good reasons why the current Vice President couldn't attend - an earlier meeting with Karzai ended when he threw his dinner napkin onto the table and stomped out of the room, hardly the ground work for future diplomacy.

But on the flight over Clinton was able to issue additional instructions to reporters:

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we are asking that they follow through on much of what they have previously said, including putting together a credible anticorruption governmental entity - a commission, an agency, something that truly can deliver on the concerns that we and the people of Afghanistan have about corruption. They've done some work on that, but in our view, not nearly enough to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose to tackle corruption. And it is going to be one of the principled requests that we make. But it is reflective of what members of the government and others tell us they want to see happen as well.

QUESTION: But what if it doesn't happen? Then what?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We are concerned about corruption and we obviously think it has an impact on the quality and capacity of governing. So we're going to be persistent, asking for the kinds of outcomes that we think reflect that they are serious about this. But I can't predict what will or won't happen at this point.

QUESTION: Sorry. He's appointed already a vice president that has had some allegations of corruption surrounding him. He's made alliances during the campaign and with General Dostum. That doesn't bode very well.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think it certainly raises questions, and whether those two problems are dealt with directly or whether there are other approaches that create confidence in the government's commitment to not only fight corruption, because that's only part of the equation, but to actually deliver results that work to stand up the Afghan national security force, to recognize the necessity for a new compact with the people of Afghanistan, and the recognition of the commitment that the international community is willing to make if we can see clear and effective results. We just have to continue to press for that and to try to achieve it.

"Karzai in May sparked controversy when he chose Mohammad Qasim Fahim, a former rebel leader accused of war crimes, as his running mate for the August election," UPI reported in their Clinton story. "In another move, Karzai has embraced Uzbek militant leader Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, who faces a wide range of charges of abuse and aggressive tactics."

MSNBC likewise eagerly detailed those two problems...

In August, in what appeared to be a deal to gain support for his election, Karzai allowed the return of notorious warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum to Afghanistan from his exile in Turkey. Dostum is accused of allowing his men to kill up to 2,000 prisoners captured during the U.S. invasion in 2001 and then hiding evidence of the crime.

Karzai also selected Mohammad Fahim, a former militia chief with a reputation for human rights abuses and corruption, to be his running mate in the presidential race, to the chagrin of many Afghans and Western officials who had urged him to choose someone less controversial.

Their names had appeared in an earlier report as potential human sacrifices following Karzai's victory:

Administration officials declined to provide the names of people they wanted to see arrested and acknowledged that such arrests were a long shot. The international community's wish list of potential defendants includes Mr. Karzai's brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, a suspected player in the country's booming illegal opium trade; Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, who is accused of involvement in the killings of thousands of Taliban prisoners of war early in the Afghan conflict; and one of Mr. Karzai's running mates, Marshal Muhammad Qasim Fahim, a former defense minister who is also suspected of drug trafficking.

"A couple of high-profile heads on a platter would be nice," said one European diplomat

It's rarely convenient to mention Fahim (a Tajik) and Dostum (an Uzbek), as leaders of the Northern Alliance, were the principal allies of the United States during the initial phases of the war in 2001. How those two problems are dealt with now could prove problematic on many levels. It's arguable who would appreciate their "heads on a platter" more, Barack Obama, the Taliban, or Osama bin Laden.

However,

Attorney General Mohammed Ishaq Aloko told SPIEGEL ONLINE in Kabul that his office has prepared indictments against five high-ranking politicians. "We have indictments with sufficient proof against five ministers," Aloko said. "Two of them are in the current cabinet and three are former ministers." The indictments have been submitted to President Karzai. "The president only has to grant his approval, then the trials can proceed," Aloko said.

"They've done some work on that," Secretary Clinton said regarding corruption, "but in our view, not nearly enough to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose."

Citing Afghan law, the attorney general declined to name the politicians involved until the trials begin. He said he was confident that the legal proceedings would result in "stiff penalties."

"If he doesn't say anything concrete, or even names names, he will feel the wrath," said one European diplomat of Karzai. "And he knows that."

"There is now a clear window of opportunity for President Karzai and his government to make a new compact with the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate clearly that they're going to have accountability and tangible results that will improve the lives of the people who live throughout this magnificent country," Clinton announced to the world after she stepped off the plane.

"Are all commanders bad, even those who fought the Taliban and al-Qaeda and have disarmed?" General Dostum asked elsewhere, "They are demanding unicorns in Kabul."

More to follow.

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News from China:

In Shanghai, a CNN correspondent says she was detained for two hours by Chinese security guards after she held a banned T-shirt in front of the camera. The shirt showed so-called "ObaMao"--U.S. President Barack Obama looking like Mao Zedong.

The incident took place while CNN correspondent Emily Chang was filming in a Shanghai market.

The AP has the story, too.

Note to American entrepreneurs:

This may be the report that generated the incident.

The president also met his half-brother, a pianist in China, and following a brief discussion of his Nobel Peace Prize told CNN that

"I think that we've restored America's standing in the world, and that's confirmed by polls," he told CNN's Ed Henry in a wide-ranging interview this week during his trip to China.

"I think a recent one indicated that around the world, before my election, less than half the people -- maybe less than 40 percent of the people -- thought that you could count on America to do to the right thing. Now it's up to 75 percent."

Kabul--U.S. President Barack Obama aims to bring the Afghan war to an end before he leaves office, he said on Wednesday...

In an interview with CNN, Obama said he would soon announce the results of a long-awaited review, which would include an exit strategy to avoid "a multi-year occupation that won't serve the interests of the United States".

"The American people will have a lot of clarity about what we're doing, how we're going to succeed, how much this thing is going to cost, what kind of burden does this place on our young men and women in uniform and, most importantly, what's the end game on this thing," he said.

"My preference would be not to hand off anything to the next president. One of the things I'd like is the next president to be able to come in and say I've got a clean slate."

When asked "do you trust President Karzai?" Obama responded that "President Karzai has served his country in important ways. When he first came in, there may not have been another figure who could have held that country together. He has some strengths, but he has some weaknesses. I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services to its people in a way that confers legitimacy on them." The president added "we are very close to a decision" on Afghanistan, and "I will announce that decision, certainly in the next several weeks."

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Raindrops on roses - Media Matters, yesterday:

...why hasn't the press turned its attention to this week's Newsweek's cover which features Sarah Palin in an apparent breach of protocol?
<...>
UPDATED: Palin (writing in the third person) is reportedly upset that Newsweek used the photo, which was from an older Runner's World issue, because it featured her in a running suit. The fact that it featured her apparently disrespecting the flag is of no concern. The media continue to remain mum.

UPDATED: Conservative pundits now want to talk about the Newsweek cover...to show how biased and sexist Newsweek is. They want the issue of the Newsweek cover to become a thing. But so far, crickets from the right-wing press regarding the fact that Palin trampled etiquette and inappropriately used the United States flag as a photo prop.

But whiskers on kittens, here's Media Matters today:

There are a lot of legitimate reasons to criticize Sarah Palin, her new book, and her policies, but you don't have to stoop to sexism to do it. Newsweek's November 23 issue, however, does just that by publishing on its cover a photo of Palin in short running shorts and a fitted top, leaning against the American flag. Making matters worse is the equally offensive headline Newsweek editors chose to run alongside the photo -- "How Do You Solve a Problem like Sarah?" -- presumably a reference to the Sound of Music song, "Maria," in which nuns fret about "how" to "solve a problem like Maria," a "girl" who "climbs trees" and whose "dress has a tear."

Gosh, it sure is hard to hold a moonbeam in your hand.

The flag controversy failed in July and again in November, and while it may not have been their intent, Newsweek has managed to simultaneously remind people how attractive and healthy Sarah Palin is - and piss off feminists everywhere.

In other news, "Palin said the president should follow the advice of Gen. Stanley McChrystal."

To listen to McChrystal, to listen to the appointee that President Obama asked for, the advice from," she said. "McChrystal gave the president the advice and said, 'We need essentially a surge strategy in Afghanistan, so that we can win in Afghanistan. And that means more resources, more troops there.' It frustrates me and frightens me -- and many Americans -- that President Obama is dithering around with the decision in Afghanistan."

Here in Mudville we think nothing would have convinced Democrats to support the war faster than Sarah Palin opposing it - but apparently Palin is determined to say what she thinks.

Advice to Newsweek: Next time try a photo of Palin with a gun, to remind people that she's a hunter, who probably wouldn't mind shooting a doe. (A doe is a deer, a female deer.)

Update: Whooops - been done:

But what I had in mind was something more like this:

Sometimes when you want things done right, you gotta do it yourself.

(And yes, that's her. Some people will use any excuse to post beauty pageant photos...)

More: for any confused Democrats, here's the official Party line on Palin:

DNC MEMO

In advance of Sarah Palin's stop in Michigan today, please find below everything you need to know about Going Rogue - a memoir that has been received as 1) political payback for Palin's rivals that adds to the tabloid nature of her profile rather than provide a display of substantive policy chops that would reset her ability to be taken as a serious leader; and 2) substantively more fiction than fact compounding the credibility problems she earned during the 2008 campaign. These factors are reflected in recent polling which shows extraordinary disapproval numbers and small minorities who feel she's qualified to be President. The sensational nature of Palin's book continues to dominate news cycles - and does so to the detriment of the Republican Party. Combined with her dismal polling numbers and Republican willingness to cede the party to her and her polarizing tea party following, the political impact of her re-emergence, spells political disaster for the GOP going into 2010 and beyond.

With all the right-wing, knee-jerk, feminist blowback from the Newsweek cover this is exactly what people need in order to start correctly thinking for themselves again. Newsweek did their part - now make sure it appears in your local newspaper today.

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Back around the Fourth of July when Sarah Palin's Runner's World profile appeared online, web luminaries were amused to discover the shamefully disrespectful treatment the American flag was given in one of the accompanying photos.

Daily Kos: "Today, I noticed an odd-seeming photo of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska in a recently posted feature at Runner's World, which was linked to by the Huffington Post..."

Andrew Sullivan: "I'm not a stickler for this kind of thing, and don't think it's that big a deal, but..."

Readers of both were treated to explanations of how this sort of thing wouldn't play well with their fellow Runner's World subscribers (presumably that's how this came to their attention - no one else was likely to see these pictures) who might also support Sarah Palin and tend to get outraged at pictures like this one:

I'm not sure how large that demographic is, but for whatever reason (her resignation as Governor of Alaska, perhaps - an obvious cover-up!!!) no outrage on any significant scale materialized, the story was forgotten. In this case, Alinsky's Rules for Radicals ("Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.") didn't really come through.

But this week Newsweek recycled that very same Runner's World photo for its cover story on Palin.

And before the ink could dry "media watchdog" Media Matters for America was expressing outrage at the media's refusal to condemn the former Governor's shocking disrespect for Old Glory:

If the press is going to robotically follow the lead of the right-wing media and spend time actually dissecting Obama's bow over the weekend before Japan's Japan's Emperor Akihito, and if the press is going to legitimize the notion that perhaps all kinds of (evil) motives can be interpreted by the common act of protocol, and that maybe Americans can learn all sorts of things about how Obama views America's role in the world from the passing action, than why hasn't the press turned its attention to this week's Newsweek's cover which features Sarah Palin in an apparent breach of protocol?

Yes, that was all one sentence. This is another: "The fact that it featured her apparently disrespecting the flag is of no concern." This is another: "But so far, crickets from the right-wing press regarding the fact that Palin trampled etiquette and inappropriately used the United States flag as a photo prop."

Elsewhere, Palin and others on the right are shocked, shocked I tell you, that Newsweek would use a picture of an attractive and obviously healthy woman in short pants to sell magazines. And that's part of the point Media Matters was trying to hint at so subtly. You see, they ignored the fact that she disrespected the flag. See? See it? That's why that photo was chosen, hypocrites!!. Now stop ignoring it or we'll call you hypocrites again!

What's any of that got to do with anything that matters? Nothing, really. I'm more amused than anything else over the cottage industry that's sprung up around Sarah Palin. (Yesterday I visited the Indianapolis Star web site to get the local version of the Colts/Pats game and actually found a headline above the game-of-the-year on the front page - it seems Sarah would be visiting Indy-suburb Noblesville for a book signing...) And honestly I enjoy watching people tremble at the mention of her name.

And strangely enough, when I first saw the Newsweek cover I recognized the months-old Runner's World photo immediately. I actually am a runner but don't have much time to read about running. So I was aware of the Runner's World photo only because my email inbox filled up last July with messages alerting me to the horror Palin had perpetrated against America's symbol of right, might, and purity. I was less than impressed then, I'm even less so now.

But I also noticed something slick Newsweek had done with the cover layout:

The other item you might notice in the original picture is a Blue Star flag, symbol of a family member overseas. (In this case, Track Palin.) It's clearer still in the original, but you won't be noticing that on the cover of Newsweek.

It didn't get any big media attention, but Palin's unit rotated out of Iraq in September, so perhaps Newsweek's goal was to hide the age of this particular recycled photo. More likely, no one involved at Newsweek had any idea what that thing she had hanging in the window was. They aren't exactly common in America these days.

But for the record: I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you. Aghast even. Stunned at Newsweek's callous disregard for the symbol of sacrifice on the part of all military families on the home front with a loved one risking everything in an overseas contingency operation half a world away.

Outraged.

Update: disgusted.

Update: This blast from the past reminds me why so many people fear Sarah Palin more than anything in this world:

Previously: Michael Jackson is still... oh look! It's Sarah Palin!

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ABC:

Major Nidal Malik Hasan's military superiors repeatedly ignored or rebuffed his efforts to open criminal prosecutions of soldiers he claimed had confessed to "war crimes" during psychiatric counseling, according to investigative reports circulated among federal law enforcement officials.

This: "Legal analysts say psychiatrists are strictly bound by the rules of patient confidentiality except in cases where they might become aware of crimes about to be committed" - isn't true of military psychiatrists. A very limited privilege exists between persons subject to the UCMJ and psychotherapists.

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It's the Secretary of State's turn on the Sunday talk shows. Here's the message: Clinton: Karzai 'Must Do Better' for U.S. Backing.

Very nice. But thus far the Obama administration has failed on multiple fronts:

1. Doing something to keep Karzai on the straight and narrow - or at least prevent questionable actions on his part. Best example: election fraud in Afghanistan was predicted and anticipated - one would think it could have been prevented, too - if prevention was desired.
2. Convincing Americans that it matters. Either Afghanistan is a national security issue or it isn't. Even the "leak" of a letter from Eikenberry - the latest in a long series of efforts to proclaim that Hamid Karzai is no one's dream partner, has done nothing to change that. "We're waiting for a better government" doesn't resonate; without a US presence in Afghanistan Karzai's most likely replacement is the Taliban.
3. Paying attention to Afghan opinion. Karzai's only real competitor was a distant second, Karzai won a solid victory even if fraudulent votes for all candidates were thrown out. Beyond that they are more concerned with violence, security, and the threat of the Taliban than they are with Hamid Karzai's purity

Secretary Clinton made sure to remind America that the Obama administration inherited the mess in Afghanistan from President Bush, but with each passing day that argument grows weaker. Having failed to make the case against Karzai, arguments that he's the real problem - regardless of the degree of validity - will appear increasingly like blame-shifting to a new target. That's something Americans can understand.

But then again, if the Karzai thing just ain't workin', apparently there are plenty of other issues to demonstrate the president's thoughtful concern.

How many is "plenty"? Would you believe 32?

Woodward said he's working on a book on topic and revealed that the President has no fewer than 32 issues on the table that need answers before he can decide how to go forward on Afghanistan.

I hope that list is getting shorter.

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A roundup of milblog reactions to CJ and Emily Grisham's story.

If CJ made a mistake it was in not realizing that in America today merely suggesting a seemingly inconsequential issue like school uniforms should be debated before it's enacted can result in your becoming a victim of Alinsky's Rules for Radicals.

And that PTSD - as depicted in the media - has given plenty of ammunition to those who would apply the tactic to veterans.

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Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.Refresh for updates.

Updating....

AFGHANISTAN

White House Aides: No Afghan Decision Before Thanksgiving -- [Washington Post]
President Obama will not announce his decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the Thanksgiving holiday, senior aides said Thursday. The news came as the president greeted 1,500 troops at Osan Air Base in South Korea, just before boarding Air Force One and heading back to Washington after an eight-day trip to Asia.
...Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cellphones to snap pictures.
"You guys make a pretty good photo op," the president said.
Standing on a riser wearing a blue suit and red tie, with a cluster of troops and a large American flag behind him, Obama expressed "the gratitude of the American public" and said his meetings in four countries over eight days in Asia will help deliver a "safer, more prosperous world for all of us."
He got a huge cheer when he told them he was increasing military pay. "That's what you call an applause line," he said, before boarding his jet and taking off at 4:11 p.m.

Light vs. Heavy: Brigade Combat Teams -- [Wings Over Iraq]
While the Obama White House debates the exact troop numbers for the new counterinsurgency strategy, it's safe to say that there will be an increase of around 20,000 to 40,000 additional "combat troops" (definition to follow). While the troop numbers must primarily take into consideration the desired effect in Afghanistan, planners must also take into account one additional factor: how many brigade combat teams we have available. (Based on over 100,000 troops in Iraq and over 60,000 in Afghanistan)

Honoring the fallen -- [FOB Tacoma]
As they left for the mission on Nov. 5, they swept the roads near Jelewar, Afghanistan, for mines. They scanned the area for any wires that could be used to detonate a bomb.
"We thought we did everything right," Lt. Brian Giroux later said.
But in what has become the signature attack in southern Afghanistan, insurgents detonated a bomb underneath their 20-ton Stryker, killing Spc. Aaron Seth Aamot and Spc. Gary Lee Gooch Jr., both 22 years old

Fear Factor -- [Free Range International]
The Problem - In the war on terror, our greatest enemy is our self. Like the company picnic we have become a community of self licking ice cream cones and have forgotten the mission, or more tragically become so self-absorbed in power point success and vertical movement within dysfunctional organizations that champion mediocrity and the status quo. This risk adverse culture has paralyzed the intelligence world and is metastasizing to the military and other government organizations to the point of a terminal diagnosis or paralysis through analysis. Our current senior management (I cannot use the word leadership as that implies the ability to lead and inspire others which if were the case this post would not be necessary)in the military and intelligence services have become a large group of frighten children who put career advancement and self preservation ahead of the mission.

Border Crossings -- [Bouhammer]
After observing approximately 15-20 bad guys cross the Afghan-Pakistan border in the same spot for two nights in a row, I decided to take a squad of Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, my Embedded Tactical Trainer (ETT) NCO, and myself to set up an overnight ambush along their avenue of approach. Now for all of you Monday morning quarterbacks who are already saying to yourself why didn't you set up an ambush after the first night or use mortars, artillery, or even call in air assets to eliminate this threat. Well, those are courses of action that were discussed but other priorities limited our manpower for maneuver capabilities, air coverage wasn't available at the time, and we could only get a few mortar rounds off before the enemy would scurry back across the border into Pakistan and then our hands were tied with the rules of engagement.
As soon as darkness arrived, my squad of 12 ANA soldiers and I moved out towards the pre-determined ambush site.

US Defense Secretary Urges Against Afghan Withdrawal Timeline -- [Voice of America]
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates is urging caution on those who are calling for a timetable for an allied withdrawal from Afghanistan. Among those who have spoken about a "timetable" or an "endgame" in recent days are British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama. It was during a CNN interview this week that President Obama said his eagerly-awaited new Afghanistan strategy will include an "endgame." He said without the "discipline" a plan for ending the conflict would impose, the United States could find itself in "a multi-year occupation" that is not in its interests.

Afghanistan: We will need western troops for another five years, says country's president -- [Daily Record]
HAMID KARZAI was sworn in for a second term as Afghan president yesterday and vowed to make the country safe within five years.
He also pledged to stop foreign security companies operating in the country so that Afghanistan would "control its own security".

ANSF vetting -- [Embedded in Afghanistan... - in Afghanistan]
It's always disturbing to hear news of Coalition trainers being turned on by their trainees. When you hear of an incident like the one a couple of weeks ago where the five Brits were killed by one of their trainees, it certainly makes you wonder how feasible the end strategy of training more and more Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF...an umbrella term to cover the ANA, ANP, Border Police, and other security agencies within Afghanistan) is. Thankfully, such incidents are rare, but with more and more ANSF out there, we're bound to start seeing more of this. To significantly increase the size of the ANP and ANA they are going to have continue lowering the already low standards for recruits...many are essentially conscripts already.
Currently...

Karzai Sworn In for Second Term as President -- [New York Times]
Tainted by a flawed election and allegations of festering corruption in his government, President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated Thursday for a second term, promising to remedy the country's problems and to have the Afghan Army assume full control of security within five years. Speaking in Dari and Pashto, Mr. Karzai reached out to the country's two largest ethnic groups as well as to his defeated political rivals in a speech at a midday ceremony at the presidential palace. Above all, his address seemed aimed at the United States and other Western allies,...

ISAF + COIN Academy -- [Charlie Simpson's War - in Afghanistan]
Not a lot to report here. Yesterday all the roads were closed due to Karzai's inauguration. So we were confined to the compound all day.

Afghans Want Obama to Hold Karzai's Feet to the Fire -- [Los Angeles Times]
On Afghanistan's independence day in August, my friends in Kandahar were puzzled. Why was the government bothering to celebrate the holiday? With 100,000 or so foreign troops occupying our country, how could we consider ourselves independent? When my American friends and professors ask me if I think the United States should send additional troops to Afghanistan, I tell them yes, but only if the resources are distributed on the condition that the Afghan government cleans up its act. This often causes bewilderment on their part. "But Afghanistan is a sovereign state," they invariably reply. "How can the United States interfere in Afghanistan's domestic politics?" In fact, as my friends noted on "independence" day, Afghanistan is not at this point a sovereign state.

Profile: Abdul the Jingle Truck Driver -- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
I've been leading a gun crew on these security missions for some five months now, and have a pretty good grasp on the concept. I've had very unique experiences: adjusting to the intense summer heat, the mad downtown traffic, the boredom of miles of dirt road, and the stress of constant enemy lookout. But the our local jingle truck drivers are going through a hell of a time too. What is it like for them? On our last mission - we got back to yesterday, after four days on the road - I asked our interpreter to introduce me to one of the drivers. Papa J, as we call him, said, "I know the guy."

Heading home -- [Desert Bound - in Afghanistan]
Well, over the past month, I havn't been able to get access to my blog. As I said before, the internet here is lacking. They are still trying to get MWR computers/phones setup, but it still looks like it's another month out. I'll try and post at least one more detailed wrap-up of my time here, but my six month tour has finally come to an end. It's been great getting to know everyone that found comfort and encouragement through my postings.

Improvements in Afghan Governance Will Take Time, Gates Says -- [Defense Link]
Improving the quality and professionalism of Afghanistan's central government will not be accomplished quickly, and will involve continued discussion between US and Afghan officials, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. "My view on all this is that improvements in governance in Afghanistan will be evolutionary," said Gates, in response to a Pentagon reporter's question on the possibility the United States could link the amount of assistance it provides the Afghan government through its performance in rooting out alleged corruption. Newly re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pledged that he will fight government corruption.

Mullen: Talks Favor Broad Afghanistan Solution -- [Defense Link]
President Barack Obama's security team recognizes troops alone aren't the answer as it begins wrapping up strategy deliberations about the way ahead in Afghanistan, the top military officer said today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the talks are nearing their conclusion, predicting that Obama will announce his decision "in the near future." Mullen told participants in the National Guard Bureau's Joint Senior Leadership Conference that he's satisfied by the depth and breadth of the discussions as the team addresses the challenges in Afghanistan and makes recommendations to the president.

Italy Remains a 'Determined' Ally -- [Washington Times]
Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, the newly appointed Italian ambassador to the United States, objected to the term "war" to describe the conflict in Afghanistan, but he said Italy had dropped restrictions that had kept its troops away from the fighting. In an interview with editors and reporters at The Washington Times Thursday, Mr. Terzi said that Afghanistan is a key component of Italian foreign policy. He said Western involvement in Afghanistan could best be described as "peacekeeping" instead of war, because it has been mandated by the UN Security Council.

To Succeed in Afghanistan, We Must Fail -- [Los Angeles Times]
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's inauguration today will be a somber affair. Gray storm clouds are slowly replacing the blue skies, and the sour tang of charcoal smoke hangs in the air. The mood among the internationals here is similarly gloomy. So many conversations end with the scratching of heads, with the tacit admission that no idea that has come forward has been big enough to reverse the Afghan government's steady loss of control. This is not because of the flawed elections or the ghastly killing of foreigners. That's all bad, but it's not doomsday. Nearly two years ago, I heard the distant rumbles, like thunder, of the attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed seven people. The Afghan government's legitimacy was being questioned then too, and urgent reforms demanded - without practical result. Two elections had already happened and were marred by fraud. We have been here before, and survived. No, what is depressing about the situation in Afghanistan is not that it has suddenly gotten much worse but that it steadily fails to get better.

Taliban Chief Hides Among Pakistan Populace -- [Washington Times]
Mullah Mohammed Omar, the one-eyed leader of the Afghan Taliban, has fled a Pakistani city on the border with Afghanistan and found refuge from potential US attacks in the teeming Pakistani port city of Karachi with the assistance of Pakistan's intelligence service, three current and former US intelligence officials said. Mullah Omar, who hosted Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders when they plotted the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, had been residing in Quetta, where the Afghan Taliban shura - or council - had moved from Kandahar after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Why the Pakistan Army Won't Fight Afghanistan's Taliban -- [TIME]
In return, he reportedly offered a range of fresh incentives, "including enhanced intelligence sharing and military cooperation.

IRAQ

Expecting the unexpected -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
In Balad with Task Force 38's medevac unit, Company C, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. Typically, the unit flies routine missions pick up patients, medical supplies, doctors and nurses from outlying bases and bring them to Balad. The patients come to Balad for a higher level of care - surgery or evaluation such as an MRI. Some are staged there for transport to an even higher echelon of care at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
The crews must be prepared at all times to ...

Iraq Sentences Sunni Leader to Death -- [New York Times]
A leader of a Sunni Awakening Council was sentenced to death for kidnapping and murder on Thursday, setting off charges that the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government was trying to weaken the Sunni movement, which is credited with much of the reduction of sectarian violence here since 2006. The Sunni leader, Adil al-Mashhadani, who led the Awakening militia in the impoverished Fadhil neighborhood of Baghdad, was arrested in March on charges of terrorism. His arrest set off 24 hours of fighting between Awakening members and American and Iraqi security forces, ...

Iraq's Election Law Morass -- [New York Times]
Iraqis have quickly learned to play hardball politics. That was evident on Wednesday when one of Iraq's two vice presidents, Tariq al-Hashimi, who is a Sunni, vetoed an important election law at the last minute. He demanded a change that would allocate more parliamentary seats for Iraqi Sunnis living abroad. It is unquestionably better for Iraq's political leaders to wage their battles through legislative maneuvering than in the streets. But their repeated delays in completing the election law (there have been nearly a dozen attempts) threatens their fragile constitutional system as well as the American military withdrawal. And it could provoke new violence.

New View of Samarra -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes - in Iraq]
In the lexicon of Iraq, few words carry as much meaning as Samarra.
This city on the Tigris river north of Baghdad was the source of the sectarian slaughter of 2006 and 2007 and the scene of some the most violent fire fights of the same era.
Even as late as 2008, it was city to be by-passed when traveling north or south on Highway 1. The city is peaceful enough now, but still struggling with an identity crisis. It is a Sunni city but home of a holy Shia shrine that draws millions of pilgrims a year.

Who Flies That Blackhawk? The Whole Story -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
Task Force Diablo is based in Pennsylvania but includes units and soldiers from across the nation. Because National Guard soldiers bring a variety of life and work experiences with them on deployment, even the smallest unit can include soldiers with a surprising array of skills and experience. In September Alaska-based, Charlie 1-52nd MEDEVAC needed a crew for the chase bird for a routine flight to two of their remote sites. Alpha 1-106th from Illinois supplied a crew for a Pennsylvania 1-150th Blackhawk helicopter. The four soldiers who comprised the Illinois crew on a Pennsylvania helicopter following an Alaska MEDEVAC show how different the members of a four-man unit can be.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

US Talks Tougher on Dealing With Iran -- [Wall Street Journal]
The international spokesman for Iran's main opposition movement called for President Barack Obama to increase his public support for Iranian democrats and significantly intensify financial pressure on Tehran's elite military unit, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, during an unofficial visit to Washington, also said Thursday that Iranian opposition leaders supported US efforts to use diplomacy to contain the nuclear ambitions of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government.

Get Ready to Bomb Iran -- [Washington Times]
Representatives from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia are scheduled to meet today in Brussels to discuss future steps to dissuade Iran from developing the capacity to build nuclear weapons. Our message to the world leaders: If you want peace, prepare for war. President Obama said yesterday that the international community intends to send a "clear message" to Iran. Unfortunately, Iran has clearly gotten the message already: It has nothing to fear.

Japan wants US military base out of Okinawa -- [PRESS TV]
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama says he will devise a plan to relocate the US military airfield based in Okinawa as soon as possible.

N. Korea Among Topics of Discussion as Obama Wraps up Asia Tour -- [Washington Post]
With none of the tension presented by a rising China and a willful Japan, President Obama's visit to South Korea on Thursday was short, congenial in substance and splendid in form. Ending a sometimes bumpy week-long tour of East Asia, Obama said the welcoming ceremony in Seoul - a glorious, sun-drenched mingling of music, flags and traditional garb - was the "most spectacular" he has seen in his travels. In his talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose right-of-center government has embraced political cooperation with the United States, Obama also found much to his liking.

An Anti-pirate Policy that Works -- [Washington Times]
Merchant ships need guns to fight pirates. Seven months ago, Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama and held its captain hostage. Pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama again this week but were repulsed because the Maersk Shipping Line put armed guards on its ships. Pirates successfully attacked another unarmed ship on Monday, leaving 28 members of its crew dead. On Tuesday, 36 crew members of a Spanish ship were released only after pirates were paid a $3.3 million ransom. But when the pirates got within 300 yards of the Maersk Alabama, the ship tried evasive maneuvers and its security team successfully engaged in small-arms fire. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney of the US Naval Forces Central Command said the actions of the Maersk Alabama were following the maritime industry's "best practices."

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Major Hasan's E-Mail: 'I Can't Wait to Join You' in Afterlife -- [ABC News]
United States Army Major Nidal Hasan told a radical cleric considered by authorities to be an al-Qaeda recruiter, "I can't wait to join you" in the afterlife, according to an American official with top secret access to 18 e-mails exchanged between Hasan and the cleric, Anwar al Awlaki, over a six month period between Dec. 2008 and June 2009.
Intercepted e-mails deemed innocent by the FBI detail possible terror relations.
More Photos"It sounds like code words," said Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, a military analyst at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies.

Air Defense Push Inspired by 9/11 Gets a 2nd Look -- [New York Times]
The commander of military forces protecting North America has ordered a review of the costly air defenses intended to prevent another Sept. 11-style terrorism attack, an assessment aimed at determining whether the commitment of jet fighters, other aircraft and crews remains justified. Senior officers involved in the effort say the assessment is to gauge the likelihood that terrorists may succeed in hijacking an airliner or flying their own smaller craft into the United States or Canada. The study is focused on circumstances in which the attack would be aimed not at a public building or landmark but instead at a power plant or a critical link in the nation's financial network, like a major electrical grid or a computer network hub.

Arrests in Chicago Drive Home Global Nature of Terrorism Threat - [Washington Post]
David C. Headley, a peripatetic Chicagoan accused of scouting potential terrorism targets in India and plotting to kill two Danish journalists, was not always David C. Headley. Until 2006, he was Daood Gilani, but he told investigators he had changed his name to raise less suspicion when he traveled abroad. He lived anonymously in an apartment leased in the name of a dead person. He changed e-mail accounts often and spoke in code on the telephone. The strategy worked less than perfectly, according to the FBI, which arrested him on terrorism charges last month at O'Hare International Airport on the first leg of a trip to Pakistan.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Linda's "Blanket Ladies" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Readers of this blog are familiar with Linda Ferrara and her Blanket Ladies. There are many more than pictured here, including one group called the Sunshine Club. The groups meet regularly to make blankets for the patients coming through Landstuhl.
So they were very excited recently when they spotted one of their blankets in the longer version of the video in the story here about the 86th CASF

Show of Support Surprises Heroes -- [NewsWest 9]
MIDLAND - West Texans gave heroes a big welcome. Several injured troops flew in to the Tall City this week and on Thursday, the streets were packed with folks from across the Basin who came to say thanks. The 6th Annual Show of Support banquet filled up the Horseshoe Arena.
25 injured troops rode into the Tall City for the Show of Support celebration - each bringing with them a unique background

BART will offer free tickets for military members -- [KGO-TV]
Beginning in 2010, BART will offer free $50 tickets to active duty military personnel who are in the Bay Area on leave from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan

Community teams up to support troops -- [South Carolina Now]
"I wanted to lift their spirits, to make them feel good about not being able to be home with their families," Johnson said.
With the help of many volunteers and local business donations Johnson has finished 116 care packages to send overseas.
One of Johnson's neighbors did a fundraiser at work to help get items for the care packages. "When she backed her car up to my door there was just so much stuff it scared me. Donations kept coming we kind of got slow a minute here and fast a minute there. I wish I could do it over again, I would love to do it over again," Johnson said.

MILITARY

Military experiment seeks to predict PTSD -- [KFDA]
(AP) - A military experiment in California is meant to try to predict who's most at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. Earlier this year, a quarterly

Positive Petraeus Lessons -- [Washington Times]
The essence of counterinsurgency strategy (COIN), integral to defeating Sept. 11, 2001-type extremists infecting various Middle East countries, is building confidence among the population. The key is working hand-in-glove with the respective military and civilian authorities to help stabilize their combustible nations so they might be free of the specter of extremist violence, thereby enabling the buildup of family, community and nation, according to each culture's unique and beautiful character. This new, irregular warfare is fought largely on human terrain, about which Gen. David H. Petraeus has written in the COIN bible, ...

Pentagon Launches Review of Fort Hood Shooting -- [Defense Link]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today announced the Defense Department will conduct a broad review of the Nov. 5 Fort Hood, Texas, shooting that left 13 dead and dozens injured. Former Army Secretary Togo West and retired Navy Adm. Vernon Clark, former chief of naval operations, will head the initial 45-day review, which will inform a follow-on investigation expected to last four to six months. "The shootings at Fort Hood raise a number of troubling questions that demand complete but prompt answers," Gates said during a Pentagon briefing. "It is prudent to determine immediately whether there are internal weaknesses or procedural shortcomings in the department that could make us vulnerable in the future." The department review is separate from both the criminal investigation of Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan

Army Lacks Guide on Jihadists in Ranks -- [Washington Times]
The Army has guidelines on how to deal with racist views and actions within the ranks, but none on how to deal with Islamic jihadism, a former Army vice chief of staff told Congress on Thursday. Retired Army Gen. John M. Keane said this absence of guidance fostered a politically correct reluctance to investigate the man accused in the Fort Hood shootings, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. A military pamphlet created after the 1995 racially motivated shootings at Fort Bragg is the intended guidebook on how to deal with extremist activities and prohibited conduct but is mostly focused on white supremacist behavior, Gen. Keane told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the first congressional oversight hearing on the Fort Hood shootings. "Clearly we don't have specific guidelines in dealing with jihadist extremists," Gen. Keane told the Senate homeland security committee.

WELCOME HOME

Army captain welcomed home from Iraq -- [Citrus Daily]
A well-deserved Hero's Welcome was observed for Capt. Eric Evans from his recent tour of duty from the "Iraqi Theater of Operations". The welcome home

THE MEDIA

Fearing Obama-bashing, Army limits media access to Palin event at Fort Bragg -- [Hot Air]
The AP and a local paper put up a fuss so the base relented and is now granting limited access -- provided that neither Palin herself nor anyone else there is interviewed. They're not worried about Sarahcuda, I don't think; hopefully, she's disinclined to bash the C-in-C in front of a military audience. They're worried about conservative troops chattering with each other about politics, getting worked up, and then being roped in by reporters eager for an anti-Obama quote or two to prove that the right-wingers in the military hate America or whatever.

POLITICS

Poll: Majority Of Republicans Think Obama Didn't Actually Win 2008 Election -- ACORN Stole It! -- [TPM]
The new national poll from Public Policy Polling (D) has an astonishing number about paranoia among the GOP base: Republicans do not think President Obama actually won the 2008 election -- instead, ACORN stole it.

Just there to burnish his image? Obama tells troops 'You guys make a pretty good photo op' -- [Examiner]
Are American soldiers risking their lives in defense of...well, of whatever the heck they're fighting for in Iraq and Afghanistan worth only a good photo opportunity for American Presidents.
...No, of course not. Who would make such a bad joke?
Probably just an attempt at a making a funny by the President, but like his 'You're likable enough, Hillary' barb that fell flat, this President just is not a funnyman. In fact, his jokes tend to be the exact opposite of funny if not just straight-up offensive.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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