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

Good News From Iraq -- [Alenda Lux]
Voter registration has picked up in full force in the lead up to the Constitutional referendum in October and the elections in December. Unlike in the run-up to the January elections earlier this year, only a handful of registration sites are closed due to security issues.

Iraq's constitution: the final discussions... -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Dr. Sallama Al-Khafaji (Assembly member from the SCIRI) announced 5 minutes ago on Al-Iraqia TV that many of the disputed points that were delaying the completion of the constitution have been solved and that the word "Party" (which the Sunni CDC members had objections on) was omitted from the clause that deals with deba'athification and now the clause refers to the Saddamist Ba'ath without calling it a "party"!

Iraqi Constitution first impressions [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I read the new Iraqi Constitution this afternoon. My first impression is that it is a pretty good document. Nothing jumped out at me as too off the wall, but I'm an agreeable guy. :)

I don't really have the mental energy right now to fully dive into a thorough description of what the new Constitution says. But here are some of the high points: ...

Sunday Forum Reeder's Feedback -- [Dave's World - receives dispatches from Matt in Iraq ]
No long-winded introduction today. We got a ton of thoughtful letters and questions related to last Sunday's Dispatches from Iraq piece, so let's get right into it. Please keep in mind that each letter is the opinion of the individual writer and is not necessarily endorsed by this web site:...
...An email from an anonymous reporter forwarded to the site:
...While we may not have a f--ing clue what it's like on over there, our soldiers have no f--ing clue what's going on over here. I do write stories about dead and wounded soldiers on a regular basis and I just wanted to tell you that this particular passage in the blog was bulls--....
...Anthony Munoz from Houston says:
...It's unthinkable that we would kill other human beings we don't even know.

And these people in Iraq, what do we know of their lives, save for what we see on TV and that is heavily monitored by our government? I believe the truth of the matter is that we, as Americans, have no idea how the rest of the world really lead their lives. How was can we presume to know that Iraqis want democracy when we can't possibly empathize with them?

Dispatch from the Front II -- [Peace Like A River]
Time now for another dispatch from the front. The first one in this series can be found here.

In this dispatch, I'll look at my correspondent's perspective on combat.
Time now for another dispatch from the front. The first one in this series can be found here.

In this dispatch, I'll look at my correspondent's perspective on combat.

For background, do read Michael Yon's latest report, Gates of Fire. Though Yon has written a great deal about the Deuce Four, there are many many units just like that one all over Iraq and Afghanistan, and events such as what Yon describe take place all the time.

First, let me point out my correspondent has given a great deal of thought to what he does, and why. Here, in his own words: ...

Lost in Translation -- [Major K - in Iraq]
The exchange of ideas can be a wonderful and fascinating process. It can also be very painstaking and frustrating. In training the new Iraqi Army, getting the message across is a very long and cumbersome process. I spend most of my time training the Senior Officers of the General Staff of the 6th Infantry Division. I am usually training men who are not only older than me, but of higher rank. In this war, every soldier has to be a little bit of a diplomat sometimes. I am now one most of the time.

The Sandbox Mailbox -- [Argghhh!]
...We found somebody. Or, rather, somebody found us. We're still working out some OPSEC details, but in the meantime, here's something you won't see in the MSM...

Care Package -- [Hurl's Blog]
A good friend named Dan sent me the most unusual care package. He and I used to spend many weekends out in the desert prospecting for gold and exploring old mines - so he sent me some reminders of the past - a box full of "dirt" and a pan....

Give up trying ? you can?t escape the dust -- [The 48th goes to war ajc.com - in Iraq]
It?s in your eyes. In your shoes. In your tent. In your sleeping bag. In your shower stall. It?s even in the coffee you just poured.

If the dust in Iraq could be spun into gold, every soldier in the Georgia Army National Guard?s 48th Brigade Combat Team would be an instant millionaire.

Another MEDCAP Mission -- [LostInIraq - in Iraq]
I?ve been busy and bored. I didn?t think that was possible. There?s not much to write about, so I figured I?d just check-in with everyone and send a couple pictures from the latest MEDCAP mission. (pics)

Home -- [Middle of Nowhere and Two Feet From Hell - in Iraq]
...There are some issues I have about going home. A little over a year ago, I left all I knew. I left my family, my job, and my life. Now, in a few months I have to do it all over again. I will leave all I have known for the last year or so. Will I be able to sleep without the sound of choppers and big booms? Will I be able to adjust to kids in the house? Will I be able to adjust going back to my job? This will be a big adjustment for me. Just as was coming over here. Anyways, I am glad I took this deployment. I have

Profiles: The LT -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
?Top, if I hadn?t been here, your head would have fallen off a long time ago!?

We have a Lieutenant (LT) who serves as our Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) Executive Officer (XO) ? don?t you just love the way we military types make everything an acronym? And our LT is a character.

Internet Access -- [Watch your six - in Iraq]
I had no idea how hard it was going to be to get to a decent internet connection when i got over here. It really changes things when you have to put on all your shit and trek 500 meters to sit at a computer. I have a whole new-found respect for the milbloggers who blog from this theater (and from Afghanistan). Internet access is so commonplace in the states that most people don't realize how much dedication these bloggers have.

Michaelangelo -- [Life in the X Minor - in Iraq]
Scars. How many scars do we have. Superfical, mental, and spiritual. The essence of a scar is in its permanence. Forever. They have...become a part of us. As such, they define us. We are our laughter, our thoughts, spoken and silent, and so much more. Above all these, are our scars.

Where do we get these scars? Our enemies. It has been said that the only teachers who teach us anything worth learning and remembering are our enemies. Whether you ...

Stuck -- [Ramrod's Blog - in Iraq/Kuwait]
So already, we're delayed at Scannia. We were supposed to SP early this morning but the roads were getting lit up like christmas. Our CC was reading out what's been goin on: "Checkpoint **A IED, Checkpoint ** PIED, Checkpoint ** between ***and*** IED...and on and on." Maybe it's cause it's been a while since I've gone out on the road; what with leave and all that, but last night was pretty busy. Even by Camp Taji, there was a report of a chemical attack, where one soldier inhaled the stuff and it also burned his skin. I mean, chemical attack? What the hell...

Tough Times Ahead -- [Daves not Here - in Iraq]
The title of this post is not my own. I received what follows via email from CSM Samuel M Rhodes, Sr.
After being a part of this Operation, here in Iraq, over the last three years (since Apr 03) I find myself as the resident expert about a lot of things. The day to day business as usual is different for me based on my current experience level compared to those around me. As the heat started rising,...

Gateway to a Mosque - [Dave's Not Here - in Iraq]
(pic)

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

For President, Smaller Goals In Iraq And A Focus On The Process -- (New York Times)...Steven R. Weisman
As Iraq's draft constitution was presented to its National Assembly and honored at a brief ceremony largely boycotted by Sunnis, President Bush joined with others in his administration on Sunday in praising the charter as a milestone in the transition to democracy and the battle against insurgents.

U.S. Studies Report Its Soldiers Killed Journalist -- (New York Times)...Reuters
A soundman working for Reuters Television was shot dead Sunday in Baghdad, and a cameraman with him was wounded and then detained by United States soldiers. An Iraqi police report, read to Reuters by an Interior Ministry official, said the two had been shot by American forces.

Good News From Fallujah -- (New Hampshire Union Leader)...Michael Fumento
After crisscrossing Fallujah by foot and Humvee in May, I reported on tremendous progress being made to restore "the city we had to destroy to save." Actually, fighting left most of the town unscathed; most damage was from three decades of neglect under Saddam Hussein. And rebuilding began almost immediately.

Sadr Shows How To Win Hearts And Minds -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Salih al-Qaisi and Oliver Poole
Twelve months ago the centre of Najaf resounded to the sound of gunfire as American forces overwhelmed fanatical Shia guerrillas who had seized control of the holy city.

People Skills A Part Of Army Captain's Arsenal -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Richard Chin
...Sallee is a believer in winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. He hopes they will become helpful eyes and ears in the hunt for terrorists.

Buffalo Roams The Battlefield To Protect Soldiers From Mines -- (Washington Times)...W. Thomas Smith Jr.
When U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Keith Kempke returns to Iraq to find and destroy land mines and improvised explosive devices, he'll be supported by a growing fleet of new armored vehicles such as the Buffalo and the Cougar.

Iraqis Finish Draft Charter That Sunnis Vow to Defeat -- (The Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Omar Fekeiki
...Members of the committee that convened in May to write the document ended their official duties by signing the draft and sending it to the National Assembly, where it was read aloud to members. Some Sunnis, who had unsuccessfully sought the elimination of a clause allowing power to be devolved from the central government to autonomous regions, walked out while the draft was read.

Draft Clearly Shows Points Of Contention -- (Los Angeles Times)...Borzou Daragahi
Built atop the still-smoldering debris of Saddam Hussein's decades-long rule, Iraq's draft constitution is a document born of past grievances and future hopes. It has features that will delight social democrats while angering feminists, and encourage some of Iraq's minorities while enraging others.

Marines engaged in war of attrition -- (Seattle Times)
FALLUJAH, Iraq ? Insurgents in Anbar province, the center of guerrilla resistance in Iraq, have fought the U.S. military to a stalemate

Iraq war is not winnable, says expert -- (Dawn)
WASHINGTON, Aug 28: Like Vietnam, the war in Iraq is not winnable because there are no clear military targets to achieve, says an article published in The Washington Post on S...

AFGHANISTAN

Heat -- [Going down Range - in Afghanistan]
It is a bit hot around here. The first type of heat is the type that the US and Coalition Forces are putting on the Taliban and al Qaeda overlords. Right now there have been a few casualties here in Afghanistan, but it is not widely reported that the Taliban has taken a lot of hits. Most of the heat is in a few provinces and the rest of the Afghanistan is cool and peaceful. All the locals know what the Taliban stands for-they were in power and ran the country like feudal fiefdom. The local populace will decide who will win by voting and not being intimated by the Taliban. The parliamentary election will be held on the 18th of September. Actually the Taliban is ...

Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (68) -- [Miserable Donuts]
What happens when you put a 'Prop on a camel? Personally, I think the expression on the camel's face is priceless...

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Candidate Dies In An Ambush; Taliban Is Blamed -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Daniel Cooney, Associated Press
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday that he was optimistic that next month's legislative elections would be peaceful, but ongoing pre-vote violence left one candidate dead and three U.S. troops wounded.

India, Afghanistan to cooperate in fight against terrorism -- (Khaleej Times)
KABUL - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Sunday expressed their commitment to working together to ensure that Afghanistan would not again become a safe haven...

Afghanistan condemns "lenient" U.S. military verdicts in prisoner abuse trials -- (Tehran Times)...(AFP)
| KABUL - Afghanistan on Saturday condemned as too lenient the jail terms of up to three months each for two U.S. soldiers whose abuse of Afghan detainees led to...

Taliban commander killed in clash: U.S -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. forces have killed a senior Taliban commander responsible for a spate of attacks in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said on Monday.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

The Land of Oz -- [From the Halls to the Shores - in Australia]
I shall tell you a story? a story with such power and raw emotion, that it may very well spoil relations between two nations which have been steadfast allies for many years? a story I shall simply call:

Will This Ever End? -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
Topic: Korea-Japan Stuff
It seems like the bickering between Korea and Japan will never end. The latest squabble is that South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said last week that the 1965 treaty between Japan and Korea does not absolve Japan of the responsibility to pay compensation to war crimes victims. However, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sees it differently. He believes that the 1965 treaty does end all claims to compensation because the Korean government at the time could of given the $800 million dollars that Japanese gave Korea to the individual victims but chose to instead use it for economic development. Here is a passage from today's Chosun I think really sums up this whole controversy well: ...

Carnival of the Revolutions, 29 August 2005 -- [One Free Korea]
Welcome to the Carnival of the Revolutions edition for August 29th. Hosting next week's edition (Sept. 5) will be Thinking-East; next up (Sept. 12) is Quid Nimis.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

URGENT: Russia welcomes North Korea's decision to continue nuclear -- (RIA Novosti, Russia)
MOSCOW, August 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia welcomes North Korea's decision to continue the six-party nuclear program talks in mid-September, a diplomatic source ...

Egyptian intelligence chief meets Abbas, militants -- (Reuters)
GAZA (Reuters) - Egypt's intelligence chief met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and militant factions on Monday in a bid to coordinate security and border issues ahead of Israel's planned troop pullout from the occupied Gaza Strip.

RE-ENLISTMENTS

Another chapter yet written -- [American Soldier - back from Iraq]
...Just like them, I didn?t need to re-enlist. I did it because in this day and age, where there is so much unpredictability, there needs to be Soldiers who will stand to defend our beloved country and freedoms. No matter if you are a supporter or not, you can count on a Soldier to preserve what many people take for granted. Freedom!

Re-enlisting - 27 August 2005 -- [Doghostage - back from Iraq]
Here's a pic from my recent re-enlistment ceremony. (pic)

MSM REPORTS ON ENSLISTMENTS

Chief of staff: 'We're a heck of a long way from breaking the Army' -- (Stars and Stripes)...Lisa Burgess
ARLINGTON, Va. ? The long war in Iraq may be testing the all-volunteer Army, but the service is ?a long way from being what anybody would call dire straits,? Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army?s chief of staff, said Thursday.

'Wonderful Time To Be A Soldier' -- (Washington Times)...Joe Roche
I'm very proud to be a soldier of the U.S. Army because of the war on terror and our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm not alone either. I'm surrounded by soldiers who are re-enlisting and volunteering to go to units that are deploying. In fact, despite all the negative news and protests, I see everyday that our military is actually doing very well.

MILITARY

Killing Soldiers to Save Lives -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
I?ve been asked how exactly we train soldiers here on IEDs. How do we decide who to target? How often do we lay the IEDs? How do we decide who?s injured and who?s killed from the blast? What happens to injured soldiers after the IED goes off? Well, sit back and prepare for your lesson on how we do what we do to prepare soldiers for the reality of combat operations. I want everyone to understand how a training event works and how we?re getting soldiers prepared for real life combat.

A Wise View on the Death of a Soldier in Battle --[Jammed Gun]
Contra the histrionic MSM ballyhooing of Cindy Sheehan's (disgraceful, "lights-camera-action") boo-hooing her son's death in the Iraq War, here is philosophical piece by a World War II vet who says that the death of a soldier in battle is NOT tragic -- it is part of the bargain a soldier makes when he signs up.

(Notice the author pointedly says "he"? I suspect that he -- like me -- is less than pleased by the creeping, pervasive feminization of the US military . . .

Trivia Tidbit Of The Day: Part 151 -- Peacetime Military Casualties. -- [WILLism]
War and Peace-

From 1983 to 1996, more than 18,000 soldiers died. That averages to more than 1,300 a year, far more than have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan each year.
Read Sgt. Joe Roche's entire op-ed in The Washington Times.

HAHAHAHA -- [Trying to Grok]
Stop the presses -- there's a draft going on in the military!!!!

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

The New Bin Laden? -- (Time)...Bruce Crumley
...It's hard to separate the man from the mythology, but recent European intelligence reports reviewed by TIME suggest that al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda franchise is expanding far beyond Iraq and that he now rivals Osama bin Laden in influence among Middle Eastern and European jihadists.

Preparing For An Attack: Will U.S. Be Hit Again? -- (Miami Herald)...Sharon Cohen, Associated Press (Link coming soon)
While training to thwart a terrorist attack goes on, it isn't clear that the conditions for new strikes in this country are as ripe as in some other places.

POLITICS

Anti-War or just Anti-Human? -- [A North American Patriot]
Holy crappers! Just when I thought the celebrities-against-the-war crowd couldn't scrape the bottom of the stench pile any further, now comes the announcement that Jane Fonda is teaming up with George Galloway on his I couldn't be more pathetic tour

More Code Pink -- [Counter Column]
Missed it before, but here's Code Pink openly endorsing those who kill U.S. servicemen and untold numbers of Iraqis:

Don't walk on my grave -- [ Thise Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
One of the Marine mothers who is becoming vocal in support of the war stated that her son told her that if he died he did not want her to be another Cindy Sheehan. He told her, "Don't walk on my grave." He feels like 99% of us over here do. We still believe in the mission and can see the small daily changes. We wonder why our own media wants so badly to make this all go wrong.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Hundreds Come To Honor Soldiers, Drown Out Protesters -- (Nashville Tennessean)...Natalia Mielczarek and Kate Howard
...Nora Farmer Creighton is the mother of a soldier, and she watched the Reese funeral procession pass in Ashland City. "That mother and father are burying their baby boy. They don't need this," said Creighton, referring to protesters from a Kansas church who preach that casualties in Iraq are God's way of punishing America for being dominated by homosexuals.

Sharpton Adds Voice to Antiwar Protest -- (The Washington Post)... Sam Coates
CRAWFORD, Tex., Aug. 28 -- Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist and former presidential candidate, rallied antiwar protesters here Sunday, drawing comparisons with the civil rights movement on this anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

Venezuela's Chavez Gets Support of Rev. Jackson -- (The Washington Post)...AP
CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 28 -- Jesse Jackson offered support for President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela on Sunday, saying that a call for his assassination by a U.S. religious broadcaster was a criminal act and that the United States and Venezuela should work out their differences through diplomacy.

CONGRATS

My First Anniversary -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
I'll be flap doodled.
I was searching for an old post I remember from early on, and it turns out yesterday was the One Year Anniversary of my very first post on my blog.

A HOT DAY WITH NO ELECTRICITY -- [Dixie Sappers - Kevin Kelly - in Iraq]
...Today is my 12 year anniversary and I wish I was back home even more now. I just hope to get home safe and sound so I can be there next year. You really don't think about things that you miss until after it gets here. Thinking of Easter, Memorial Day, birthdays, 4th of July, anniversary and a lot of other things. Man, that is enough to really get someone depressed, but I got something in my email today that made me smile and cry at the same time. I think it was one of the cutest things I've seen. I just wish I could have seen it in person. Next year. I've attached the picture that I got this evening.

HUMOR

Bush Shrinks Iraq Goals: Smaller Mass Graves -- [ScrappleFace]
(2005-08-29) -- President George Bush, in the face of Iraq's frustrating constitutional negotiations, persistent insurgent attacks and his own plummeting domestic popularity, today announced that he has reduced expectations for the outcome of U.S. policy toward Iraq.

Sunday Funnies -- [Stop the ACLU]
Some fun and funny links from around the blogosphere in the past week.

The Conservative UAW GuyCarnival Of Comedy

Point Five reports on Pat Robertson?s apology for praying to the wrong Jesus. He also has the First horrifying images from the Al Qaeda Media Jihad.

Poliblogger has The Great Emoticon Debate.

Phin has found a new level of geekness. He also has some great parenting moments to be proud of. ....

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