Dawn Patrol

Iraq

Rebuilding [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
Yellow Bracelet
My words fall flat on the living room floor
As we try to speak of shallow things
But the only thing in our minds is the unspeakable
Your pain makes this silence so heavy
Its breaking me down
You fidget with your yellow bracelet
<...>
Sommer is best friends with SGT Ferguson's daughter, and shortly after his injury she penned this verse for to ease her friend's anguish. Not all the casualties in a war occur on a battlefield - the second and third order effects often ripple through a community with the chill strength of a tidal wave

TMG Editor's Note: a must read!
How to Bury a Hero by HM3 James Pell, USN [Chaotic Synaptic Activity]
I've not been posting too much the last few days, for I was "teaching history" to those who want to equate the "WHERE are the WMDs?!?!?!?" discussion to the moral equivalent of "hate" crimes against the transgendered. It really wore me out. I was a little discouraged, realizing the emotional toll that occurred trying to have an actual discussion with a bunch of animated Democratic talking points.

Today's Assignment: Helping Iraqis Learn (New York Times)
When the parents of Anthony DiMaggio, a senior airman recently deployed to Iraq, started to mull over the kind of care packages they could send his unit, they figured on snacks, books, magazines - anything to brighten the soldiers' lives. But their son had another idea: school supplies for the Iraqi children.

Toolin' around town [Lance in Iraq]
Traffic "rules" are a little more relaxed over here. No zoning regs or pesky neighborhood associations either

The Iraqis Are Coming! (And we're moving) [Courage Without Fear in Iraq]
Okay, so we've already moved. Over the last 7 days my company has picked up and moved from one side of the International Zone to the other. The entire Brigade we're attached to had to reorganize a little in order to make room for Iraqi Army forces in the IZ.

Logging Time [stardotstar.org - formerly Edwar's Blog - in Iraq]
...Due to the recent dust storms and day schedule, I managed to go 8 days without flying. I noticed that as I was logging my flight last night into my log book. We had a pretty cool night because we shut down and checked out the chow hall at Taji for midnight chow. Their chow hall looks like a sports bar and had much better food. I was like a trapped rat though trying to find my way around. They had all these guards and areas you are only allowed to go one way through. The kept telling me I couldn?t go whichever way I was trying to walk. Anyways, the chicken wings were worth it.

Caught in the moment [American Soldier]
I have endured trials and tribulations since the beginning of this year 2005. I am pissed at the fact that I am not in the fight. Some days I want to tell the medical people to fuck off but then realize that my injury is not going to fix itself. I just want to be with my guys and do what it is that I volunteered for. I left one service component and joined another one for one year so I could go off to this war and fight. I busted my ass for all those months training and here I sit. Broken and pissed off!

The High Ground [Boots on the Ground - back from Iraq]
Now that my days of Combat patrols and raids etc etc are over. I finally have time to write my personal feelings about Iraq. My first tour over here was definitely easier than this one. Of course, we were just doing raids most of the time and very little patrolling. So, I got plenty of sleep and ate pretty good. On average, we were working from 90-100 hour weeks this tour. I feel like I have aged much in my short time of being here.

Afghanistan

Life at BAF [Firepower Forward - in Afghanistan]
It occurs to me that since our move here to Metropolis, I haven?t really written about the day to day life on Bagram.
In many ways, Bagram is a lot like my hometown of Glenwood Springs, Colorado was when I was growing up. There is one main street running north and south through town and everything of interest, the Dairy Queen, Burger King, and Wal-Mart (ok it?s really a PX) is located on this thoroughfare and the entire place is surrounded by mountains

Afghans Say Joint Operation With US Kills 7 Taliban (New York Times on the Web)
U.S. and Afghan forces killed seven Taliban insurgents and detained 10 in an operation in southern Afghanistan aimed at containing rising guerrilla violence, a senior Afghan army officer said on Wednesday.

Anniversaries

THREE YEARS [Trying to Grok]
Two years ago we had just moved to Germany. We had no house and no car, and since we'd gotten "lost in the system", we had no income for two and a half months. Last year we were thousands of miles apart. Here's hoping that our third anniversary works out a little better than the previous two!

Day 162 - Happy Flag Day!! [Big Al's Army Life - spouse of deployed]
...Growing up in America, I have always thought that our flag was beautiful. The colors, the styling, etc. Vibrant Red of Valor, Bright Blue of Justice, Beautiful White of Purity and Innocence.
Now that I am actively involved in the military mindset though, the flag means so much more to me. I find myself actually coordinating complete outfits out of red, white and blue. It has actually become a challenge to me to try make cute patriotic outfits. Yes, I know I have issues!
<...>
Here is an excellent article on the meaning of Flag Day as intrepreted by Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran...

JUNE 14 is Flag Day [Lt Smash- Indepundit]
LEST WE FORGET, today is also the 20th anniversary of the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 by terrorists affiliated with Hezbollah, aka "the Party of God." The flight from Athens to Rome was diverted to Beirut, on to Algiers, and eventually back to Beirut. There, the hijackers demanded the release of 435 Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel

Military Issues

Police locate truck of man charged with Murrieta murder (NC Times)
Police have found the pickup belonging to a man wanted for the murder last week of a soldier home on leave from Iraq.

More irrationality [NEW MilBlogger! - 21st Century Republican]
I sent an email that I intended not to insult but rather express how I felt about a particularly hateful article towards the armed services, and without fail, that individual posted it on some blog or website and tried to get liberals to cut me apart. He then proceeded to send me an email thanking me for the material, as if I'd just sent him a great work of fiction for him to turn into a satirical delight.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Email - Beware [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
I received an email today that got me thinking. You may have received the same email. The history of this tomb, and the 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard) deserves an accurate history, as well as the fact that we don't need patriotism based on feel good stories that become fact through the retelling but aren't actually true. Feel good stories are nice, but the do more dishonor through our ignorance that they are fact when they are not, and our nation's history is so wonderful in the facts alone that they need no myths to make them more alive.

Korea Government to Extend Zaytun Unit's Stay in Iraq [GI Korea - in um, Korea]
The Korean government is reportedly going to extend the ROK Army's Zaytun Unit's deployment in Iraq. Those who follow my blog know how I feel about this.
However, ...

Marine Recruitment Scandal [Balloon Juice]
Last week, I discussed the recruiting shortfalls the military is suffering, and I noted this sensational story about some serious allegations against Marine recruiters:

US Navy in the Persian Gulf/Qatar [Austin Bay]
This morning began on board the USS Normandy (Aegis class cruiser)? on patrol in the exlusion zone around Iraq?s ?bank.? Well, not the bank precisely, but part of the bank, as in a key component of Iraq?s oil production system: the Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT). ABOT can pump about 90,000 barrels of oil an hour, and that?s money in the bank for Iraq. ABOT is off-shore?hence the immediate presence of US Navy and coalition naval forces.

The Media

Training the Iraqi Army [Winds of Change - Bill Riggio]
The training of the Iraqi military and security services is a crucial element to the defeat of the Iraqi insurgency and the establishment of a secure Iraqi nation. The New York Times weighs in on the issue of the status of the training of the Iraqi military, and estimates it will take upwards of two years or more for Iraqi forces to be able to operate independently from Coalition forces. This should not be surprising as building a competent fighting force, particularly in a nation subjected to over thirty years of oppressive rule, is a slow and difficult process.

Journalists using powers for good or evil? [Jack Army]
There has been lots of talk around the blogosphere, particularly among Milbloggers, about the effects of the media on the public's perception of the military and the effects of that perception.

"Torture," Gitmo & Our Media's Story Favourites [Winds of Change - Joe Katzman]
Dr. Sanity takes a hard look at the stories the established media seem very interested in covering, and those they... aren't. Great visual, love the table format. Now, compare and contrast...

I tell this story merely to demonstrate "la belle indifference" and to segue into a discussion of the curious, but beautiful indifference of our own Mainstream Media.

Beautiful Indifference [Doctor Sanity]
Curiously, because they are journalists, and I would think that journalistic instincts are easily aroused by curiosity, the crop of journalists we must deal with today seem to be suffering from a form of mass hysteria. Their journalistic insticts; their curiosity; their "nose" for a story has been severely impaired--almost paralyzed you could say, and they don't much seem to care!
Here is a partial listing (in no particular order) of what the media is Obsessed by ...

MSM Reports

Iraq, Then and Now (Washington Post)
AFTER LAGGING for months, debate on Iraq in Washington is picking up again. That's a needed and welcome development, but much of the discussion is being diverted to the wrong subject. War opponents have been trumpeting several British government memos from July 2002, which describe the Bush administration's preparations for invasion, as revelatory of President Bush's deceptions about Iraq. Bloggers have demanded to know why "the mainstream media" have not paid more attention to them. Though we can't speak for The Post's news department, the answer appears obvious...

Let's Talk About Iraq (New York Times)
Ever since Iraq's remarkable election, the country has been descending deeper and deeper into violence. But no one in Washington wants to talk about it. Conservatives don't want to talk about it because, with a few exceptions, they think their job is just to applaud whatever the Bush team does. Liberals don't want to talk about Iraq because, with a few exceptions, they thought the war was wrong and deep down don't want the Bush team to succeed. As a result, Iraq is drifting sideways and the whole burden is being carried by our military. The rest of the country has gone shopping, which seems to suit Karl Rove just fine.

To A Son Who Wants To Serve (Boston Globe)
WITH A LEARNER'S permit in his wallet, a 16-year-old starts thinking about the future. ''Mom, what would you say if I wanted to join the Army?" my son asked the other day.

Politics/Religion

Why France's Self Destruction Matters [Fourth Rail - Bill Rice]
UPDATE: This post has an update below with an interesting development in UK-German relations with none other than Tony Blair and Angela Markel.
I have received comments and email when I have posted on European matters, such as the rejection of the EU Constitution, that question the relevance of these issues to US foreign policy. Many view the European project as an enterprise of long conversations with little change. Europe, long now weak on "hard" power is becoming even softer in the "soft" power category many rightfully charge.

Argghhh! [Castle Argghhh!]
...Note to Frĕd: Dhimmi is dhimmi. They *aren't* your friends. And God may well not be on our side - but, unless the New Testament is all a hoax, I suspect He most certainly is not on yours. I suspect your ancestors cringe to watch your actions - and at some point, when your poison has faded in your line, your progeny will, as well.
BTW, Frĕd, remember all those inconvenient Gospels? The message of which is precisely the opposite of what you preach? God doesn't hate *anyone* Fred. He hates Sin, but not the Sinner. Apparently your Bible reads differently from the ones here at the Castle, both the King James and the Catholic.

Annan out, Walrus in [Military Matters - Uncle Jimbo]
Documents released by the firm employing Kofi Annan's son Cotecna show Kofi Annan lied to the Volcker commission's investigation of the Oil for UN Villas program.

Islam - Make No Friends With Infidels [NEW MilBlogger! - USS Neverdock]
That would be you and I.
We are repeatedly told by Muslims that Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance. If we point to passages in the Koran that seems to say otherwise, we are told that we are mis-interpreting the words. If we point to specific acts committed by Muslims that seem to suggest otherwise, we are told these are extremists and not "moderate" Muslims.

Same Old Story [Baldilocks]
"There's no excuse. The money we spend in one year in Iraq would pay for 20 years of helping Africa."
--Madeline Albright, Secretary of State during the Clinton Administration
What a coincidence! The Dafur genocide--along with every other evil in this world--started on ...

Clue For Sale [Villainous Company]
Remember 9/11? I do.
"It's blood money that I don't want," Trant said. "I want my husband back."
Tell me about it, hon. Just listen to this tragic story...

Another Memogate? [Common Virtue]
In the left's most recent attempt to try to discredit President Bush and the liberation of Iraq, a memo straight from Downing Street in Great Britain is being paraded around. The story goes something like this...

Humor

Future History? [NEW MilBlogger! - GM's Corner]
Reuters/Al Jazeera
(Paris-United Eurabia) Since the Caliphate was established in Eurabia in 2009, and the War On Infidels (WOI) won, a number of war criminals have been brought to justice at the International Court of the Hague. To date, the heads of the former Governments of the so-called "European Union" were taken into custody following a fierce uprising of former Arabs who, with careful planning, were situated in key points in Eurabia. Chirac, Schroeder, Villapin, were tried, found guilty of Anti-Islamic hatred and executed by beheading.

Blogging

So, is it worth it? [NEW MilBlogger! - Cadillac Tight]
I'm looking for input from bloggers who use MT 3.x, to see if it's worth paying the sixty-whatever bucks it costs to register the software.
The Typekey registration feature of MT isn't working here, and Kelley recently upgraded as well, with the same problem. I haven't found anything explicitly stating that the software has to be registered to enable that feature, but I have my suspicions.

Ping This! [Backcountry Conservative]
Take a seat before you read this (I don't want anyone falling over dead from shock.)
Now that I've upgraded to MT 3.17 I've decided to fix the problems I was having a couple of months ago that resulted in trackbacks not going through to any posts on this blog.