Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)

IRAQ

Monday -- [Michael Yon - freelance journalist in Iraq]
Mosul, Iraq
The three most dangerous places in Iraq are Baghdad, Mosul, and Al Anbar province. While most of Iraq is functioning peacefully, a civil war sizzles and pops in these important areas.

The key to long term stability in Iraq is the Iraqi Security Forces, which are comprised of the Police, Army, Navy, Border Police and similar organizations. From a ground?s eye perspective, the ISF progress is remarkable. In Mosul, for instance, the ISF is fielding increasing personnel, and operations. Their success has had a few unanticipated consequences. US Army Captain Paul Carron recently reported that so many undercover police are operating in Mosul, that they have been arresting each other, sometimes accusing each other of possessing fake ID cards.

Tariq Aziz confesses "The US didn't give Saddam the green light to invade Kuwait". -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Tariq Aziz's lawyer Mr. Badee Aarif said that he met his client 4 days ago and he saw that Aziz's health wasn't in a good condition.
Anyway, that's not my zone of interest but the interesting thing to me is that when Aziz was asked by his American interrogators about if the American ambassador in Baghdad encouraged Saddam or gave him the "green light" to invade Kuwait back in 1990, Aziz answered with "NO" and said that this was merely a rumor and this is according to his lawyer who gave an interview to the Iraqi paper Al-Mashriq.

Winging It -- [MOAB - freelance journalist in Iraq]
Late last week I transferred to the Marine Air Wing to learn more about air support, which is so vital for troops on the ground. My first day with the new group of Marines began with a visit to general?s office for an overview of their role in this war. Marines are flying a variety of aircraft over Iraq, such as CH-46s, CH-53s and Cobras, and have pulled in the C-130 J for its first combat deployment.

THE FIFTH MAN -- [ajc.com in - 48th Goes to War - in Iraq]
The Humvees were ready, and so were they.

They took their places in the last of the three vehicles setting out in a convoy. They sat with the ease that comes from training and bunking together. Since leaving the United States more than two months ago, the five had become a squad, five pals on one machine.

They knew their roles, knew their purpose: another patrol keeping Route Aeros, an east-west highway in the southwest sector of Baghdad, open for traffic. It was an unfriendly road, and it was theirs.

I Left Iraq -- [Howdy's Blog - in Iraq]
I got the nod. I got out. I got to leave. I found out just a few short days ago that I had been approved to depart Iraq, re-join the United States Marine Corps active component and continue my service. This may sound like an OK prospect, but to me, it is monumental. I have serve 15 years in this organization. I equate it to being able to play football your entire life. It is the ultimate team sport.

"Welcome to Abu Ghraib" -- [Ghraib Danger - in Iraq]
Those were words uttered by Sgt Royal, welcoming a US convoy to the FOB, but more significantly, welcoming a US convoy to the relative safety and comforts courtesy of the US military protection. Sgt Royal works at the FOB gate. I met him yesterday. Like all of the other soldiers here, he is not a hardened, special op-trained, gun-wielding machine. None of them are. Unless you know the soldiers or work with them, at least this held true for me when I was back in the States, I was under the perception that soldiers are beyond human. That they are people somehow bred for soldier work. They don't have to sleep as much, eat as much, or enjoy life as much as the ordinary person.

Back to the Basics [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
The infantry is a branch like no other. It?s a course, testosterone soaked family where the adamantine bonds of brotherhood are forged and sanctified in bright misery. In a world where technological innovations continue to transform human interaction the essential core of the Infantry remains unchanged and unchangeable.

5 months 7 days -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
I am not alive... enough, I am not dead. I exist here in a waking, walking, sleeping coma. My dreams give me strength, my strength not reality. Today I slept for 15 hours, the result of a migraine ongoing for 3 days. The pain of it, giving me a reality that I could taste, metallic in my mouth. Tangible to me, pressure building in my head, punishing me for each of the things I look upon, for each thought in my head, for standing, sitting, moving, existing. Sleeping induced by prescribed medication my only escape from everything. As I lay in the infirmary watching the IV drip into my arm I could feel almost instantly the effects of the medicine as it entered my vein...

Dr. Evil calls for US withdrawl from Iraq -- [Dan Darling - Winds of Change]
Well that took a little longer than I had expected (maybe he was waiting for a smaller attack in Italy or Denmark), but al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has a new videotape out in which he came about as close as you're going to get to a member of the al-Qaeda leadership taking credit for one of their terrorist attacks, in the case the bombings in London.

Faces Of Iraq -- [Sentinel 47 - in Iraq]
the children, they smile -- some barefoot, some sandaled. Four sisters and a brother cling tightly to the lanky bringer of candies and hugs, the pale-skinned stranger, the soldier, the man. Mother steps aside a moment, allowing her daughters and son to receive a permanent impression of manhood, of provision, of courage.

English Language School -- [Mad Canuck]
Let's take a break from serious topics for a few minutes. I saw this picture on another forum, of a sign for a foreign language school in a Middle-Eastern country, and I had to close my office door because I was laughing so hard.

Iraqi Engineer Brothers Rebuild Homeland -- [Defend America]
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2005 ? So what?s it like living in Baghdad today? Just ask two Iraqi brothers who are engineers and work for Gulf Region Central District

Fallujah fuel farm gets facelift, improved firefighting compatibility -- [Marine Corps News]
The Marines of Bulk Fuel, A Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, augmenting 8th ESB in direct support of Combat Logistics Bn. 8, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), have begun construction on an improved bulk fuel distribution site, or fuel farm, here recently.

Iraqi U16 Team Arrives in UK -- [Iraqi Expat - an Iraqi in London]
Fifteen Iraqi youngsters arrived in the UK on 1st of August 2005 to take part in the annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival at the Royal Holloway in Surrey, England.
Update Iraqi U16 Team won their first match against an British team from Oxfordshire, 3 - NIL, in the Arsenal International Soccer Festival.

Iraq Pictures Aug -05- 05
Pictures of soldiers, marines, air force, sailors, contractors and civilians serving in Iraq.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Bush: U.S. to stay in Iraq despite deaths -- (USA Today)
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) ? President Bush, facing a grim and growing death toll in Iraq, said Thursday that threats of more violence by al-Qaeda's second-in-command would not intimidate the United States into retreat.

Papers Show Saddam Snatched $1bn From Bank A Day Before Invasion -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Thomas Harding
Saddam Hussein ordered Iraq's central bank to withdraw $1 billion for his youngest son the day before the invasion to stop it falling into foreign hands, according to a leaked letter apparently written by the former dictator.

Fighting Back -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Hannah Allam and Richard Chin
The Iraqi government yesterday announced a plan for improved border protection and intelligence-gathering, and for the formation of an elite Iraqi force to prepare the embattled country for an eventual drawdown of American troops.

Iran Shipping Iraqi Rebels Powerful Bombs, NBC Says -- (Washington Times)...United Press International
Iran is shipping more powerful and sophisticated military-caliber bombs to Iraqi guerrillas for use against U.S.-led coalition forces, NBC News reported yesterday.

Jones: U.S. Has No Iraq Playbook -- (Jacksonville (NC) Daily News)...Chris Mazzolini
...The way Jones, R-N.C., sees it, the war in Iraq is being fought without a playbook and no clear path into the end zone. That's why, in June, Jones proposed a resolution calling for President Bush to establish a plan for withdrawing American forces from Iraq.

Iraqi Women Urge U.S. To Protect Their Rights -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Iraqi women took their fight for equal rights to American lawmakers yesterday, urging them to use their influence to see that women's rights are protected in the new constitution.

Pre-Emptive Peace -- (Newsweek) ...Christopher Dickey
Washington should set a clear timetable for complete American withdrawal from Iraq.
The latest Marine deaths illustrate yet again why Bush's refusal to set a clear timetable for withdrawl from Iraq is a terrible mistake.

U.N. condemns attacks in Iraq as 'horrific' -- (The Washington Times)...Betsy Pisik
NEW YORK -- The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to condemn recent "shameless and horrific attacks" in Iraq and called on Iraq'sneighbors to halt the flow of terrorists and weapons.
The U.S.- and British-sponsored resolution "condemns without reservation and in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Iraq, and regards any act of terrorism as a threat to peace and security."

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Trekking -- [Afghan Reality]
Afghan female mountaineers listen to a speech during a ceremony to mark the graduation of 22 Afghan Trekking Guides in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005. Afghanistan has struggled to surmount decades of war and poverty. Now, newly trained trekking guides will help visitors climb the country's majestic peaks in an effort to revive tourism (pic)

A Trip to the Moon.... Continued -- [Fr. Daniel Mode - in Afghanistan]
...As we were packing up to leave and the people were waving good-bye, one young girl, I would guess a young teenager followed me down the street to my humvee. She always stayed about 10 feet behind me and when I stopped she stopped. Turning around I waved and smiled; she waved and smiled?I walked she walked. Finally getting to the humvee one of the soldiers gave her a couple of pens (the kids seem to love pens) and normally once they receive a gift they run off happy, but not her. She just stood there alone (which is also very rare?the Afghan people are always together and especially the women) and she smiled. She wanted to see us off and while we could not communicate with words?I had the feeling she was speaking loud and clear.

Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (49) -- [Miserable Donuts]
A girl in Deh-e Hazara, Bagram District, Parwan Province. I don't really have any way to add anything to this one, by way of commentary. (pic)

Insurgents in Afghanistan Target Civilians -- [Defend America]
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2005 ? The numbers of attacks on U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan "have not significantly increased from this time last year," a senior U.S. military operations officer in Afghanistan told reporters in the Pentagon today via an audio link.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

NATO taking over Afghan security in 2006 -- (China Daily) ... Ass. Press
A NATO-led international force is set to expand and will be ready to assume responsibility for security across all of Afghanistan by the end of next year, freeing up many of the 17,600 American troops battling militants here, a NATO general said Thursday, AP reported.

G.I.s' Night In Firefight Hell -- (New York Daily News)...James Gordon Meek
For Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Landazuri, the decision to bail out of his two-man border outpost last month came after the ninth or 10th incoming rocket-propelled grenade finally knocked him to the ground.

Afghanistan's Forgotten War -- (New York Times)...Unattibuted
Pakistan's ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, seems to invest far more energy in explaining his government's tolerance of Taliban activities than he does in trying to shut them down.

RECOVERY

what to do -- [From my Position -- at Walter Reed]
I am not exactly sure what I want to write tonight but I really feel the need to post. I suppose it is more screaming into the void, but then again that's what this blog was designed for. Turns out it's a lot slower posting this way then it was when I could type,but it is a lot faster than I can type with my gimpy hands.
I really do need to thank everyone for their outstanding and overwhelming support. I have gotten more letters and cards I can possibly read in a lifetime. Well, that's not true, I suppose in my lifetime I'll be able to read them all, considering nothing has been able to kill me thus far.

INJURY UPDATE FOR JIM -- [USNR ALUNNI - en route to states for care]
I'm sorry for the delay in getting this blog posted . . . the past few days I have been barraged with e-mails and phone calls from everyone anxious to hear what has happened to Jim. Let me start by saying thank you to all the family, friends, co-workers, churches and ministries for their constant prayers over these past two days. The Alunni family and I are eternally grateful for the support from each of you.

OVER THERE II REVIEW

Over There--Week Two -- [Baldilocks]
Anyone else watch the second installment of Over There on the FX Channel? (Interesting that the movie Black Hawk Down was on right before it.) I?ve never seen so many unlikable people in one TV show nor heard such a large amount of obnoxiously clich餠dialogue: ?My husband makes mules look cooperative.? Additionally, I?ve never heard so many different people ask God to damn somebody or something so many times in such a short interval of time.

"Over There"....What A Bunch Of Crap -- Warriors Voice]
The new FX drama OVER THERE is a waste of time, at least for those of us who have really been over there. I could not stand to watch more then 5 minutes of the show. It is typical of how Hollywood views those of us who volunteer to serve our country. It is like they cannot understand why young men and women would join the military under our own free will. SO as most of you might have imagined the characters are nothing but college drop outs, criminals, and wack jobs. The Hollywood elite portray us as full of fear, sociopaths, lead by "bone heads", and of course it would not be complete if they did not have an African American soldier who is from the Ghetto, anti-white, and always looking to get high.

MSM REPORTS ON "OVER THERE"

It?s Summer Vacation -- (Newsweek)...Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey
But it?s not all downtime at the Western White House. Bush will talk drugs and terror with the Colombian president?and probably take in a new TV show on the Iraq war.
What does the president do with his leisure time in Crawford, Texas, when he?s not clearing brush or riding his bike? One idea might be an hour or two in front of the TV to watch the new 13-part drama ?Over There? on FX.

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Al-Qaida is now an idea, not an organisation -- (The Guardian)...Jason Burke
So another blast and, a month or so later, another tape. This time it is Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian militant who has been the professional partner of Osama bin Laden for the best part of 15 years...

Bush dismisses al-Qaeda warning -- (BBC News)
US President George W Bush has brushed aside demands from Osama Bin Laden's deputy that the US leave Iraq, saying the US would "complete the job" there.

POLITCS

Robert Novak Curses, Walks Off -- [Political Teen]
On CNN?s Inside Politics, Robert Novak walked off the stage after saying ?that?s bullshit? to James Carville. Carville apparently sparked Novak after he said ?He?s [Novak] got to show these right wingers that he?s got a backbone, you know. It?s why the Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching you. Show ?em that you?re tough.?

ACLU Files Suit Over Random Subway Searches -- [Stop the ACLU]
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the New York chapter of the ACLU, has announced that they intend on filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan today. The suit claims that the random bag searches before boarding the subway system is unconstitutional.
WNBC 4 has a full one sided report complete with video available. I have to warn you though, it?s pure propaganda.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Pentagon Web Site Bans Politics -- (The Washington Post)...Robert MacMillan and Mary Specht
'America Supports You' Intended to Back U.S. Troops

The Defense Department has removed messages containing political commentary from a Web site designed for people to show their support for U.S. forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Most of the postings at America Supports You ( http:americasupportsyou.mil ) express love and encouragement -- "The greatest nation in the world is kept that way by men and women like you," reads one message -- without partisan asides

THE MEDIA

Sick and Tired -- [Iraqi Expat - an Iraqi in London]
I am getting tired of this. Especially, from sick people who don't seem to have any self-respect or any sense of righteousness, people who praise and or defend animals like Saddam, and people who praise and or defend animals like the Baathists and Islamists who are fighting in Iraq and terrorising Iraqis to bring their fascist murderous regime back. Needless to say, that I am sick of the shameless lowlife Baathists and Islamists.

Howard Dean in Syria? -- [Banter in Atlanter]
Howard Dean George Galloway Goes to Syria
His comments are so absurd and without factual basis that its just plain laughable. It truly is amazing to me that people like this get into office.

Targeting the Dancing Boy and the Demure Girl [Reasoned Audacity]
Matt Drudge is reporting that the New York Times is "investigating" the adoption records of John and Jane Roberts' kids.

Galloway, Lying, Putrid, POS -- [Balloon Juice]
Just got back from the training session, and let?s just say I am in my normal mood. Therefore, this post is dedicated to Andrei.

I present you, George Galloway, hero to the people...

Where's the balance, folks? -- [Watch Your Six]
When I read "news stories" like this one in the mainstream media (MSM) about heavy casualties in a particular Marine battalion, I get pissed off. Yes, it's tragic that 40 Marines from the same battalion have been killed in Iraq since March, but that's the sole focus of the entire story: lots of dead Marines. What about the things that these brave Marines died to accomplish? Where's the reporting on that?

Good news for most but not all
...The AP goes on to report other good economic news, including personal income growing "at a nice clip of 0.5 percent" and factory orders up "a solid 1 percent."

While you and I may cheer the news, it must be a tough day for Princeton economics professor and NY Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Krugman keeps assuring his readers the economy is really in bad shape,

PODCASTING

Podcast for Aug 1st - Interview With Patti Patton-Bader! -- A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
It's time for my second podcast, and this is a great one! I had the privilage and pleasure of interviewing the founder of Soldiers Angels, Patti Patton-Bader, for this podcast. Patti is an interesting and fun person, and I know you'll enjoy hearing what she has to say. Want to know how Soldiers Angels was founded, what has been the most difficult and saddest moment for Patti as an angel, and a little about her childhood? The interview covers that and a whole lot more!

BLOGGING

Your Humble Blogger on the Radio -- [Iraq War News]
Blogging may be sparse this morning; I'm being interviewed for a radio show.
The topic is media coverage and what the MSM is missing.

I wonder if they know what they're getting into asking me to be interviewed.....

I'll let you know how it goes later!

MSM REPORTS ON BLOGGING

Clark: Blog 'reports' lack media's credibility -- (DesMoines Register)...Nancy Clark

One Soldier, One Blog, One Punishment -- (FOX News)...Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
Clark was one of hundreds of people in the military who have chronicled their experiences on the Internet on so-called milblogs (search). Since April, all soldiers in the Multinational Corps must register their blogs and allow the content to be monitored quarterly by their commanders to ensure they are not violating operational security and privacy restrictions.

"Bloggers are free to discuss a fairly broad range of topics, give their opinions on virtually anything, as long as they don?t violate obvious security/personal info concerns," said "Greyhawk," a soldier stationed in Germany who runs the popular MudvilleGazette.com blog and who believes the military is generally supportive of milblogs.

Measuring the Blogosphere -- (New York Times)
If the blogosphere continues to expand at its current rate, every person who has Internet access will be a blogger before long, if not an actual reader of blogs.

TIPS

Know Your Google! Get Better Results! -- [Banter in Atlanter]
Some of you may already be aware of this, but I think most people don't use any where near the full functionality that Google offers through its search engine. Most people just type a couple of words into the text field, hit enter, and hope for the best.

basil's blogging tip [Assuption of Command - in Iraq]
basil has a new blogging tip up. Well maybe it isn't a exactly a blogging tip, it is more like a web design tip. It is good none the less.

It is about avoiding spam in your inbox:

Reducing Spam:

CONGRATS

Day 210 - BIG NEWS! -- [Big Al's Army Life - Al's in Iraq]
Whew. Well, this post is going to provide me with a tremendous sense of relief. I have not posted anything until now because I have this total "don't count your chicken's until they're hatched" mentality. But, since things are actually in progress now, I can reveal my secrets - lol. Al will be here this week for his R&R - and we will also be getting married. That's a lot of news, huh?

We have been together a long time - and in July, we were engaged for one year. But, both of us were unsure about getting married before he left for the Sand - but it now feels right to us. We are so excited and thrilled. I will be 'official' before the week is out - yay! I love Al so much - and I'm so thankful to have him in my life and that we will get to move onto the next chapter of our lives together. For OPSEC reasons, I cannot release the date/time of his arrival - but suffice it to say, it will be "SOON". LOL.

Happy Birthday ? US Coast Guard -- [Echo9er]
A big Happy Birthday to the United States Coast Guard. Created in on this date in 1790, the USCG is one of our five armed services. It is also unique in its mission. The initial charter charged the USCG with tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of the federal revenue. Until the Navy Department was established in 1798, it was the nation?s only armed force afloat.

IN MEMORY OF...

New Arrivals To Fiddler's Green... -- [The Gun Line]
21 Marines Slain...
"And when I get to Heaven,
Saint Peter I will tell:
Another Marine reporting, Sir;
I've spent my time in Hell..."
Semper Fidelis, Marines...

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

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