A happy ending?

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AFGHANISTAN?PAKISTAN

Helicopter collision kills four US troops in Afghanistan -- [USA Today]
KABUL -- Four US servicemembers were killed and two injured today when two helicopters collided in southern Afghanistan. Hostile fire has been ruled out in

Republicans: Clock Is Ticking on Afghanistan Troop Decision -- [FOX News]
As Democrats defend President Obama's decision to take his time and carefully consider conflicting strategy proposals from top advisers, Republican senators say the clock is ticking -- with allied forces continuing to suffer casualties in part because they lack reinforcements.

Afghan candidate says 'dramatic' surge needed, backs McChrystal assessment -- [The Hill]
Afghanistan's opposition candidate backed Gen. Stanley McChrystal's recommendations for more troops Sunday, saying "the future of the country is at risk" without a "dramatic increase" in troop levels.
Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, who faces off against President Hamid Karzai in a Nov. 7 runoff, said on "Fox News Sunday" that he's also leaving open the possibility of an election boycott if recommendations aren't met to ensure transparency and stem fraud in the second round of voting.

Abdullah Abdullah -- [Greyhawk]
Would have made for interesting television to hear him answer questions on his fraudulent votes in the Afghan elections, but that's not the message the Obama administration wants Americans receiving just now. We'll have to settle for Abdullah explaining his opponent's corruption, instead.

Afghan presidential candidate asks for more troops -- [Big News]
Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah called for a 'dramatic increase' in troops to secure his country from insurgents, in an interview with US broadcaster Fox News Sunday.

Karzai questions US reliability as partner -- [The Age]
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai questioned the reliability of the United States as a partner Sunday, as he fought off criticism of his government's legitimacy following fraud-marred elections.
Karzai's main challenger, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, warned in an interview with CNN that the US strategy will not succeed without a credible partner in Kabul, blaming Karzai for deteriorating conditions.

545 Project Releases Powerful Video -- [A Soldier's Perspective]

U.S. troops hope Afghanistan sacrifices not in vain -- [Washington Times]
Doubts, determination to finish mission fill days
The sirens blared as a Taliban rocket attack rattled troops across Kandahar Air Field for the second time last week.
While the Obama administration debates whether to send tens of thousands more U.S. troops to Afghanistan and Afghans prepare to vote for president for the second time in four months, some of those already braving rockets and bombs worry that their mission has lost the support of the U.S. public and that their sacrifices - and those of their fallen comrades - have been in vain.
"What about the troops who died giving their lives for this mission?" Sgt. Coble asked as she waited for the rocket alert to finish. ..."We would not be honoring the lives of the troops who died if we left here without finishing our mission, and many troops are concerned that the American people have forgotten why we came here to begin with," she said.

Podesta: Bush Administration Spent Only One Hour On Afghanistan Report It Handed Off To Obama -- [Think Progress]
From Cheney's recent remarks to the Center for Security Policy:
In the fall of 2008, fully aware of the need to meet new challenges being posed by the Taliban, we dug into every aspect of Afghanistan policy, assembling a team that repeatedly went into the country, reviewing options and recommendations, and briefing President-elect Obama's team. They asked us not to announce our findings publicly, and we agreed, giving them the benefit of our work and the benefit of the doubt.
Today on ABC's This Week, Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta revealed that the Bush administration spent just one hour on that report:
PODESTA: [T]hey did present him with a report at the very end of the Bush administration, but I have it from reliable sources that the principals in the Bush administration spent one hour on that report before they handed it off to Obama.

Presidential Elections Round 2 -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan]
It's been another odd week here in Kabul. I guess there isn't really any reference for a "normal" week, but I will still call it an odd week. I have been on 3 convoys, the team presented what we are doing to the CG (Commanding General) and I woke up in the middle of the night to an earthquake. Lastly, Karzi agreed to a second round of presidential elections for 07 Nov. We will have to wait and see how that turns out. The team has been back and forth to Camp Eggers three times this past week.

The Warlord and The Election -- [A World of Troubles - in Afghanistan]
Haji Jan Dad showing the bullet embedded in his hand, Simon Klingert (c)
Haji Jan Dad is riddled with the scars of some 20 years of combat as a mountain fighter. Shrapnel is embedded in the back of his head, his arm has been ripped open by bullets. He has a PKM machine gun round lodged between his thumb and index finger that he's never bothered to remove.
On a sunny day at the end of August, dozens of Afghan elders in traditional dress and long beards were facing a few American soldiers on the terrace outside Haji Jan Dad's compound. They were assembled under the auspices of a truce.

Eastern Afghanistan provinces establish regional peace Jirga -- [PRT Kunar - in Afghanistan]
NANGARHAR, Afghanistan -In a show of unity, more than 300 leaders and elders from four eastern provinces gathered Oct. 22 for the first regional Jirga to talk about peace, prosperity and the rehabilitation of Afghanistan.
..."Today is a day of happiness. We are looking for a security solution in the eastern region and a Jirga is the right approach to our problems," Sherzai said. "I'm optimistic that we will come up with solutions for the eastern region here today that meet our goal of peace, security and prosperity in the eastern provinces."
The tone of today's meeting was also about reconciliation with Taliban and anti-government people.
"It is time to talk with each other about security...to talk about peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. ..."ISAF forces are not here forcefully and are here helping us. They leave their countries and families to help us bring peace and prosperity. We have the need for friendly forces because they are sacrificing their lives for our peace," Mashal said.
It was a sentiment echoed by Jamaluddin Badar, Nuristan provincial governor.
"We should work to not let bad people in our country," Badar said. "We should help the Coalition Forces and not the terrorist groups who bring their fighters here.

Fragile turnaround in an enemy stronghold -- [Boston Globe]
Afghan district sees renewal as Marines take over
Before a battalion of US Marines swooped into this dusty farming community along the Helmand River in early July, almost every stall in the bazaar had been padlocked, as had the school and the health clinic. Thousands of residents had fled. Government officials and municipal services were nonexistent. Taliban fighters swaggered about with impunity, setting up checkpoints and seeding the roads with bombs.
In the three months since the Marines arrived, the school has reopened, the district governor is on the job, and the market is bustling. The insurgents have demonstrated far less resistance than US commanders expected.

"Hardly Mission Impossible" -- [OPFOR - Lt Col P in Afghanistan]
Max Boot goes to Afghanistan and reports back in The Weekly Standard: "Tremendous obstacles abound, ranging from the resilience of the Taliban to the ineptitude and corruption of the Afghan government. But it is hardly mission impossible. In areas such as Baraki Barak, U.S. soldiers and civilians have been making impressive progress ever since this summer, when the U.S. troop level in Afghanistan hit 64,000--up from just 32,000 in 2008. (There are now 68,000 troops with the arrival of another brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division devoted to training Afghan soldiers in the south.) But there are still far too few U.S. soldiers here to roll back years of gains by the Taliban in the south and east of the country." He's right-- it ain't easy but it's not impossible either.

Kandaks -- [Embedded in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
In Afghan languages a kandak is a battalion. I can remember visiting a base outside of our area and talking to a someone who during our conversation remarked to me, "Oh, you're with 3rd Kdk? Is that an infantry battalion?" I was a little taken aback by the question and almost remarked in Colonel Jessup from A Few Good Men fashion "Is there any other kind?" But I caught myself, as I remembered that there are indeed other types of kandaks out there, just like in our military. The ANA do have tanks, artillery, Afghan Commandos, and other types of units, to include aviation.

On the Road -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
I started my trip to Kabul yesterday. We stayed on the German run base at Marmol, which has an airport. We had to wait until the next day for a flight into Kabul. Like all people who live on a small sized Camp we had to tour around the "big city" and observe all the ammenities available.
...Another topic I have failed to adequately describe is that of money. For US forces in the northern region there is only one way to get cash. Nope, there are no ATMs. Nope, there is no finance office. The only way to get cash is when a team comes up to cash checks every month or two.

UK helps boost economic growth in Helmand -- [Helmand Blog]
Like any self-respecting businessman Nah Sarang wants to expand.
With 30 people in his family, including parents and grandparents, the 25 year-old farmer in Gereshk, Helmand province, makes regular trips to sell his wheat and corn in the Mayors market in the centre of Lashkar Gah.

Afghans protest rumored desecration of Koran by U.S. troops -- [LA Times]
Hundreds of protesters in Kabul burn an effigy of President Obama, a sign of rising religious conservatism and anti-Americanism in the country. The U.S. military denies any sacrilege took place.

In the middle of Afghan demonstrations -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
After several hours of delay, our convoy departed the camp for our mission. Much of the delays were caused by our unfamiliarity with the various MRAP models. For the past 5 months, the armored HMMVWs have been our vehicle of choice and we are intimately familiar with them. Yesterday we were supposed to have the vehicles by afternoon, but they didn't return until dark. So we used the shotgun approach and familiarized ourselves with the equipment and communication items before we departed. Today's mission called for a convoy of MRAPs and I was the convoy commander in the lead vehicle. This was the first time I have been given this opportunity. I was a bit nervous because we were going to travel a brand new route and as convoy commander I was in charge of making decisions, even though officer teammates outranked me in the convoy.

ISAF Responds to Rumors -- [ISAF]
25 Oct. - KABUL, Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Forces have responded to false accusations that a U.S. service member burned the Quran last week in the Maydan Shar district, Wardak province.

Fallen Soldier Was Anxious To Return To Afghanistan -- [NPR]
Specialist Stephan Mace, 21, grew up in a small town in Virginia and was known as the ultimate prankster. Inspired by his grandfather, a former CIA agent, Mace joined the U.S. Army and was posted to Afghanistan earlier this year. He was killed in an attack this month.

US strikes in Bajaur tribal areas, kills 27 Taliban, al Qaeda -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Unmanned aircraft operated by the US attacked a meeting of the Bajaur Taliban, killing 27 Islamist extremists. The attack came close to killing one of the senior-most Taliban commanders in Pakistan.
The strikes, likely carried out by Predators or Reapers, struck underground bunkers in Damadola in the Mamond region in the northern tribal agency of Bajaur. The Taliban were holding a regional shura, or council, with members from Dir, Swat, and Mohmand in attendance. Al Qaeda members were also present.

Report: U.S. drone kills 24 in Pakistan -- [UPI]
A U.S. drone reportedly killed 24 people in northern Pakistan, including Taliban members meeting in an underground hideout, witnesses and officials said.
Twelve people were reported wounded in Saturday's attack in Damadola, Bajaur, about 4 miles from the Afghan border.
"I heard two loud explosions when a meeting of the Taliban was in progress," Damadola resident Hazrat Gul told Sunday's edition of Dawn.

Pakistani Taliban's Chief Warns of More Attacks Unless Military Stops Assaults -- [Fox News]
The Pakistani Taliban's chief is vowing to turn Pakistan into "another Afghanistan or Iraq" unless the military stops its assault in the militants' stronghold near the Afghan border

IRAQ

Bombings target government in Baghdad, 147 killed -- [SanDiego News/AP]
A pair of suicide car bombings Sunday devastated the heart of Iraq's capital, killing at least 147 people in the country's deadliest attack in more than two years. The bombs targeted two government buildings and called into question Iraq's ability to protect its people as U.S. forces withdraw.
...The dead included 35 employees at the Ministry of Justice and at least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, said police and medical officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. At least 721 people were wounded, including three American contractors.

White House decries 'hateful' attacks in Iraq -- [Detroit News]
Scores killed, but nation's progress on track, U.S. says
Washington -- President Barack Obama said Sunday's "outrageous attacks" outside government offices in the Iraqi capital "reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the "savage" attacks will not succeed in undermining Iraq's progress toward stability, self-reliance and justice based on the rule of law.

On a sad day for Iraq, things are quiet at CKV -- [The Oregonian]
CKV holds about a thousand people, including members of other branches and contractors. But about 120 Oregonians are running the place, which, as you can see from the picture below, ain't exactly paradise. But their goal is to be the unit that sees it closed down and returned to the Iraqis ... assuming the political and military process works the way it is supposed to. With the explosions in Baghdad yesterday and the uncertainty about the January elections, that's a big If.

Texas Army National Guard 36th ID prepares for deployment in Iraq -- [Waco Tribune Herald]
The 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard once again will be deployed to Iraq in 2010

Mesa unit prepares to deploy to Iraq -- [The Arizona Republic]
Sgt. First Class Justin Broadwater has been deployed to Iraq before, but the trip there that begins this week will be different for him.
Broadwater was one of 58 soldiers of the 653rd Support Group saying goodbye to family and friends Sunday in a deployment ceremony held at the Herrera Army Reserve Center in Mesa. The unit provides support for troops heading in to and out of Iraq. The soldiers leave for Fort Lewis, Wash., for combat readiness training later this week before deploying to Iraq.

Iraq: Open for Business -- [At War - NY Times]
A milestone in the war in Iraq passed this week largely unnoticed here in a capital consumed more recently by Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, not to mention the economy or health care. Hundreds of Iraqi officials -- said to be the largest delegation from Iraq ever to visit the United States -- gathered in a hotel near Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss neither security nor American troop levels. Rather they came to promote something that was once, and might still be, more of a hope than a reality: investment.

Soldier connects Iraqi, U.S. children -- [Lejeune Deployed]
Seeing a disparity in the quantity and quality of school supplies in some Iraqi primary schools, one U.S. Soldier here decided to do something about it.
Staff Sgt. Jared Wiegand, a Fort Wayne, Ind. native with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, was home last March on leave during his deployment to Kirkuk province, and decided to visit J.E. Ober Elementary School in Garrett, Ind., where his sister-in-law teaches.
After spending roughly an hour speaking with the children and showing them photos of Iraq, Wiegand mentioned how Iraqi children were less fortunate and did not have the same opportunities to achieve the same levels of education as children in the U.S. In response, Mrs. Alecia Pfefferkorn created a competition at the school to gather school supplies such as pencils, notebooks and markers for the Iraqi children.
Following the competition, the school supplies were sent to Wiegand in Iraq with the assistance of the local Garrett, Ind. American Legion chapter.

Back am I -- [Because We're Here Boy, No One Else; Just Us." - in Iraq]
I am back to my corner of the imperial frontier, having arrived 3 days ago. The flight from the States was uneventful and quick. Nobody shot any missiles at us so I guess they are making their monthly payments on time. The aircraft was completely blacked out on approach though so it isn't the first world yet.
Everything looks the same at my big base home. They built a false ceiling in the gym so it is quieter. The whole base seems quieter, not nearly the hustle and bustle of the past; fewer vehicles moving about the streets, fewer people in the chow hall, not nearly the number of Antonovs and IL-76s coming and going. Just quieter.

Who Fights This War--Retiring to a Gun in the Sun -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
If you're looking for retirement advice, don't ask Master Sgt. William Foster, 55, a door gunner in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment. The former Punxsutawney, Pa., police department patrol sergeant did not move to Florida and did not take a part-time job like many retirees. 'Punxsutawney Bill,' as he is known in the town he has lived in all of his life, decided to volunteer as a door gunner and go to Iraq for retirement.

Thank You For Your Support -- [Iron camel - in Iraq]
I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given me since I started this blog.
There have been many changes here over the last few weeks: New teams in, old teams out. New people in charge, new way of doing things, and as for our team, we are wrapping things up and getting ready to come home.
I hope everyone enjoyed reading the blog, I wish everyone the best, and most of all, I look forward to getting back home.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

NEFA Foundation: "Target: America" The September 2009 Arrest of Najibullah Zazi and the Ongoing Investigation into his Terror Plot -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Najibullah Zazi emigrated with his family from Afghanistan as a child and grew up in Flushing, Queens. He shared the same interests as other typical American teens, including a love of video games and the latest fashions. He dropped out of high school, then started operating a coffee cart in Lower Manhattan. In 2006, ...

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

The American Legion and Target Join Forces to Raise More than $100,000 to Help Troops Attacked in Afghanistan -- [The American Legion]
In less than a week, an American Legion blog site raised more than $50,000, which Target matched with an additional $50,000 contribution, to help U.S. soldiers who were forced to destroy their camp and all of their possessions during a deadly Oct. 3 enemy attack in Afghanistan. In addition, Connecticut-based Computer Sciences Corporation has donated 56 laptop computers to the relief effort to replace those that were destroyed.
The Combat Outpost Keating Relief Fund sprang to life on The American Legion's Burn Pit blog site after one of the 56 surviving troops wrote in an e-mail that he believed no one at home had any idea what they were doing there, and that no one cared.
"The American Legion, Target and all who contributed to the COP Keating Relief Fund have shown these brave soldiers that we do indeed care," American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill said.

Combat vets: Outward Bound -- [Greyhawk]
This looks like a great opportunity for Afghanistan and Iraq vets looking for challenge, adventure, and camaraderie - Outward Bound's reintegration wilderness expeditions. Fully-funded (including transportation to and from the locations) trips include canoeing in the Florida Everglades, kayaking the Alabama Gulf Coast, winter expeditions in the Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Dogsledding & Skiing, and sailing the Florida Keys

MILITARY

Schwartz: If CentCom asks, we'll deliver -- [Air Force Times]
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has fired back at criticism from the Defense Department inspector general over Air Force trainers not being assigned yearlong tours in Afghanistan.
The Air Force would make one-year assignments if U.S. Central Command requested them, Schwartz wrote an Oct. 6 letter to the Inspector General's Office.
"The Air Force continues to source airmen on 365-day tours when requested by the combatant commander to meet theater requirements," Schwartz wrote.

Female Warriors Engage in Combat in Iraq, Afghanistan -- [ABC News]
The image of young women in a hot , dusty combat zone toting automatic weapons is still startling to some. But right now there are 10,000 women serving in Iraq, more than 4,000 in Afghanistan. They have been fighting and dying next to their male comrades since the wars began.

Battlefield Airmen Considered a Weapon System -- [DVIDS]
The capabilities of battlefield Airmen are considered just as lethal as any advanced weapons system. For that reason, tactical air control party personnel, pararescuemen, security forces personnel and special operations weathermen have been included in the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference held here this week.
Nearly 1,200 Air Force warfighters met in 30 working groups on Air Force weapons systems to decide on what's needed to succeed in future battles and missions.

WELCOME HOME

A.W.O.L: A Warrior on Liberty -- [Castra Praetoria - home from Iraq]
Decompression, relaxation, and multiple cups of joseph are all in order.
I have no interest in making any decisions, thinking, or anything resembling taking responsibility for myself or anyone else. Waiters and staff are making all decisions for me:
"Sir, would you like to try our..."
"Yes, I would."

Troops return to Tallassee from Iraq -- [WSFA]
... eyes in Tallassee as families and friends welcomed home members of the Army National Guard's 158th Maintenance Company after a long deployment to Iraq

Families excited for 1133rd return on Wednesday -- [Mason City Globe Gazette]
The 1133rd will come home on Wednesday after a year-long deployment in Iraq. (Bryon Houlgrave/The Globe Gazette) MASON CITY -- The homecoming celebration for ...

Soldiers honored upon return from Afghanistan -- [ABC7Chicago]
Soldiers of the Illinois National Guard were honored Sunday after their return from serving in Afghanistan.

THE MEDIA

Controversy lingers over covering war dead -- [Columbus Dispatch]
When President George H.W. Bush's administration banned the media from covering the arrival of the fallen at Dover Air Force Base during the Persian Gulf War nearly 20 years ago, the stated reason was to protect the families' privacy.
But in the six months since the controversial ban was lifted and 258 families were allowed to choose whether they wanted the media present, 60 percent said yes, according to the military.
...there are often just a handful of journalists on hand. More than a third of all ceremonies open to the media in the first six months were covered only by the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, the military, which had feared from the beginning that families who said yes to media coverage would be disappointed by the turnout, has provided its own crews to cover those events approved by the family and posts the images on the Web. As a result, the Defense Department has become one of the main distributors of the images of the fallen.

POLITICS

Road map to a quagmire -- [Statesman - Bob Woodward and Gordon M. Goldstein]
Decades after Vietnam, two top advisers to LBJ describe how a lack of frank and open talk in the White House led to disaster and defeat on the battlefield
Viewed together, McNamara and Bundy's final reflections suggest a shared vision of some of Vietnam's most critical lessons. The men conclude that the commander in chief must confront his advisers; the advisers, in turn, must confront the commander in chief. And military strategies proposed by the generals must be examined, deconstructed and challenged. McNamara and Bundy show how easy it is to fail.
About this story - This article is based on the last extended interviews Robert McNamara and McGeorge Bundy gave before they died.
Bob Woodward interviewed McNamara for more than two hours Aug. 7, 2007, at McNamara's Watergate apartment. McNamara agreed that the interview was on the record but at several points said he did not want to be quoted. His wife, Diana McNamara, was present for the entire session. After his death this summer, she agreed that all his comments should be published.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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