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

Battle along the Northern Ratline -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
U.S. and Iraqi forces have launched the largest operation since Fallujah last November. Over 5,000 U.S. and Iraq troops strike at the town of Tal Afar, which is located west of Mosul, along the northern ratline from Syria. The insurgents have taken heavy casualties, and U.S. Army helicopter pilots are learning to spot IED deployments via air, and react accordingly.

Iraqi Voter Turnout verses USA Voter Turnout -- [A Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho]
Thought this was interesting. Below is a picture from 'This Week in Iraq' (for Aug 31), page 5: (pic)
...That is from Nation Master.com, which shows that the US has only 49% - 67% voter turnout for something as important as the Presidential elections. Bested, I might add, by 64 other countries who have a higher percentage of voter turnout.

Back in Iraq -- [Jon Jivan - in Iraq]
Man is it good to be back. For weeks I?ve missed being told what to do, peeing in port-a-johns, and searing desert wind. Each morning, Turkish spring water in hand, I brush my teeth in our desolate garden thinking to myself, ?Dagnabbit, I sure do love this place.? Heh, the word processor wants to replace dagnabbit with dingbat. What the heck is a dingbat anyway? Oh, and for clarification, I don?t really use the word dagnabbit? or dingbat.

Coming back to Iraq is kind of like ...

Quick Sand - [My Vacation in Iraq - in Iraq] (pic)
This is not water or mud this is just really dry sand that is about the consistancy of baby powder... This is pretty much why we have dust storms constantly here.

Staying in fight through fourth deployment -- [Live in Iraq]
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 3, 2005) -- Although he may be a radio operator by trade, one Marine reservist deployed in support of operations here helps the Corps strengthen relations with Iraqis throughout Al Anbar province.

Starting to Feel Real -- [Ghraib Danger - in Iraq]
I turned in my IBA today. For those of you who don't remember, that's Individual Body Armor. I've been wearing it everywhere I go for the past 3 months. Again as a memory refresher, it adds 55+ pounds pounds to every step. I'm definitely filing a claim for spinal compression when I get back. (Actually, for you government types reading this, I'm just joking ... unless my back really is screwed up, then I'm not joking.) So I've been in Victory for a couple of days now, and I'm slowly making my way back into the real world. There is in-door plumbing (I'm sure I've already made a few of the males angry here at the Victory office as I'm still not used to flushing), coffee shops, finished rooms (you know with small things ... like dry wall), and of course, no IBAs. The last one is my favorite; ...

SENATOR JOHN GLENN SAID: -- [PebblePie]
Things that make you think a little....... 1. There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during the month of January ....In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just one American City, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of Iraq. 2. When some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following: FDR...led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year. Truman.. finished that war and started one in Korea, North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,334 per year. John F. Kennedy....

The Last Letter - Godspeed Corporal Starr -- [BlackFive]
Tony sends this link about a Marine's last letter home that was found on his computer to be read in the event of his death: ...

Iraq Pictures - Friday, September 02, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
The rotor wash of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter kicks up clouds of dust as U.S. Army Soldiers scan the perimeter of a landing zone for possible hostile forces. The soldiers are with the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Pic: Tech. Sgt. Russell E. Cooley IV, U.S. Air Force

DOD REPORTS ON IRAQ

U.S. SOLDIERS, IRAQI ARMY DETAIN 36 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq ? Iraqi Army forces and U.S. Soldiers detained 24 suspected terrorists during a cordon and search mission southwest of Iskandariyah Aug. 29.

The Soldiers were from the 1st Battalion 155th Infantry, 155th BCT, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Additionally, Soldiers of the 150th Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, detained 12 suspected terrorists in the village of Owesat Aug 29th.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Iraq: Tragedy & Turning Point? -- (New York Post)...Amir Taheri
...Then something unexpected happened: Sunnis watching from the neighboring Azamiyah district of Baghdad jumped into the river to save the screaming Shiites from drowning.

Corrections: For The Record -- (New York Times)...The New York Times
An article yesterday about the way the Kurds had secured most of what they wanted in the new Iraqi constitution misstated the number of Kurds killed in the 1980's by Saddam Hussein and his forces. It was hundreds of thousands, not hundreds.

U.S. Lowers Number Of Troops To Be Added For Iraqi Elections -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
The U.S. military has dropped plans to boost its presence in Iraq by more than 20,000 troops to safeguard elections, a senior U.S. commander indicated Friday, with Hurricane Katrina putting demands on a force already stretched thin by the conflicts here and in Afghanistan.

5,000 U.S. And Iraqi Troops Sweep Into City Of Tall Afar -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
It was a clear and quiet dusk, with only the call to prayer echoing from minarets across this city, when a roadside bomb blasted an M1-A1 Abrams tank, shaking nearby buildings and filling the indigo sky with a plume of black smoke.

Iraqis Seen Ready For Election Duty -- (Washington Times)...Associated Press
U.S.-trained Iraqi police and military forces will handle most of the security duties during nationwide voting in October and December, so the American military is likely to send only a few thousand extra troops to Iraq for that mission, a senior U.S. commander said yesterday.

Thanks To Guards, Iraq Oil Pipeline Is Up And Running, On And Off -- (New York Times)...James Glanz
Saboteurs shut down Iraqi crude oil exports to Turkey for virtually all of the past year, but the oil is flowing again after Iraq's government put in place elaborate new security measures and decided to move its product in what is essentially a clandestine operation.

Iraqi Envoy Sees Parallel In New Orleans Looting -- (Washington Post)...Walter Pincus
Iraq's deputy ambassador to the United Nations yesterday drew a comparison between the way U.S. troops have been sent to New Orleans to put down looting and the failure in 2003 of coalition forces to halt looting in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities.

AFGHANISTAN

Hot, election and sunglasses -- [Going Down Range - in Afghanistan]
It is hot outside for the Taliban. So hot for 16 of them, that they are going collect on their virgins real soon. This confirms what we hear outside all the time: the constant sounds of helicopters and CAS flying in support of operations.

Guess how the Taliban deals with those who are involved with the election? Behead them.

Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (73) -- [Miserable Donuts]
One last photo before the 'Prop and I go off with our Guard unit to help with the flood. I was NOT driving this truck when this happened up in Kapisa province. We had just finished dropping off a large amount of humanitarian aid, and were leaving, feeling quite happy about things. Oops... took 3 hours to get out of that little mess. I sure hope we don't have anything similar happen when we get to LA or MS.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Clash kills US soldier,Taliban commander -- (Boston Globe)
KANDAHAR -- US and Afghan forces killed a regional Taliban commander in a clash that also left an American soldier and an Afghan interpreter dead, the military

Taliban Regroups To Fight U.S. Troops -- (Washington Times)...Mitchell Prothero
Nearly four years after the September 11 attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the dispatch of U.S. and NATO forces to Afghanistan, the Taliban have regrouped, turning 2005 into the deadliest year so far for foreign troops, using tactics based on lessons learned by Islamic militants in Iraq.

2 Bodies In Afghanistan May Be Of Japanese -- (New York Times)...New York Times
Two bodies thought to be those of a pair of missing Japanese tourists were found in southern Afghanistan, the governor of Kandahar Province said Friday.

KATRINA

Hurricanes and Politics -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
We have several people here who were directly affected by the hurricane in NO. A female flew home because her son was missing. One of our supervisors did not hear from his daughter for 3 days. One of the other women's families lost every house in the family. I am grateful that I was not directly affected and thankful that I am not there now. I am also thankful that I have my hands full here and am not assigned to that mess.

Pics of damage from hurricane Katrina -- [Two Blue Lines - husband in Iraq]
...These poor soldiers are crowding into the chow halls in Iraq and staring at the images on CNN of families being lifted from the rooftops of their flooded homes and have no way to contact their loved ones. National Guard units deployed from New Orleans, LA to Iraq are due home in eight days. Many of these men will return home to dead family members and destroyed homes. Please pray for these men and their families as they return home to such devastation and no way to locate their family members.

Announcing Homefront Lunchbox Hugs for Kids... -- [Iraq War News]
The children from Hurricane Katrina need a smile and a hug !

If you want to help - here's what we can do....the children need a smile and a bit of comfort yesterday but we will start today.

We plan to deliver it to them in the shelters here in Pensacola and to the Red Cross in Alabama and Mississippi to distribute...

NOTICE: -- [Signaleer]
I've been called to Active Duty to support the Hurricane Relief efforts. I promise to be safe and careful while there, but there may or may not be opportunity or time to post here.

I will catch back up when I return. The people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama will appreciate your prayers and well-wishes as will I.

You DID know.... -- [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
Because the vulnerability of New Orleans to a major hurricane has been known for so many years, I figured there had to be some serious documentation or scientific studies on the impact of such a hurricane. A bit of digging around yeilded some interesting results. The study I found is almost scary in how accurate it predicted what is going on in New Orleans right now. This is further proof that the state and local officials are beyond pathetic in terms of preparations.

Hurricane Katrina -- [Boots on the Ground - in Iraq]
I am DEEPLY saddened and DEEPLY troubled with what I am watching what is happening to New Orleans. This is possibly the worst natural disaster that has ever occurred in the USA. It will takes weeks to fix the flooding, and then even more weeks to pump all the water out. The whole city is submerged, and it looks like giant nightmare. It is unbelievable what is currently happening. The type of things we are watching on TV, are what you'd expect to see in a African or Asian country, NOT IN THE USA. Not on our very own soil. There are even American refugees, can anyone recall a time when American's were considered refugees if ever? Some people are upset by the looting they see on tv. However, ...

Disaster blogging from New Orleans -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
Check this out. My brother emailed me with a link to a guy who works for a New Orleans internet hosting company. Go to the Calendar view and read each day's post in chronological order. It is crazy down there.

Put up or Shut up -- [Major K - in Iraq]
I wish the politicians and news reporters would quit mugging for the microphone to express their dissatisfaction and sympathy and actually do something other than lay blame. They can start by opening up their checkbooks, or better yet, getting in that pickup truck they used for their last "man of the people" photo-op with a tool box and some bottled water and head for Louisiana or Mississippi.

Katrina and Political Capital -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
In all the tragedy of what passes for New Orleans at this moment of catastrophe, earnest souls fret for how to manage the unmanageable. Caring citizens band together and pool their resources to demonstrate that Americans who join together for the wretched places in the world, can likewise and more be counted on when American lives are threatened.

Can you impeach the Mayor? -- [Lance in Iraq] (pic)
Bill Hobbs has a post about the massive amount of NO public transportation left unused by the Mayor. Unbelievable. This photo of idle school buses says it all.

The Work of Life and Liberty -- [Wayne's World 2005 - Wayne's home on R&R from Iraq]
While Katrina roared onshore, soldiers of the 150th Engineer Battalion of Mississippi detained 12 suspected terrorists in Owesat village Monday.

Since then, Bill Martin of the Sports Information Department at LSU, has been working as a medical volunteer during the aftermath of Katrina.

KATRINA - DAY FIVE -- [Pettifog]
A lot of ?milestones? took place on 2 September. Most changes are welcome and are vast improvements to many people?s lives. Yet, there are some really large questions and problems needing to be ironed out. Everyone who?s someplace other than the Gulf Coast is just so amazingly blessed that we can?t even begin to ?feel their pain.? Be sure to check the SLIDE SHOW for some of the best pictures as they change every day.

Hurricane Katrina Devastation: President Bush Speaks About Destruction (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
DOWNLOAD and video video here.

Is this Baghdad, Louisiana? -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea] (pics)
I can remember when the US military disposed of Saddam's Army in Baghdad and the mass looting of the city commenced. I didn't know it at the time, because I was there in the middle of the chaos that the media was bashing the military for not stopping the looting of the city. At that time the looting was pretty bad, but not as bad as the media made it out to be and I remember thinking, do people expect us to arrest and shoot people in the middle of a war for loading up a sofa in the back of their truck?

Bureaucracy Kills -- [Froggy Ruminations]
I have a story to tell from a small corner of this crisis that demonstrates very clearly how unfathomably stupid and inefficient the Department of Homeland Security really is. DHS is frankly a metaphor for the entire civil service in this country at the local, state, and federal level.

Doing Great Things VI -- [A Soldiers Perspective] (pics)(pics)(pics)
A Florida Army National Guardsman unloads a tractor-trailer with relief supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims.

The NBC Concert for Katrina Relief.... HA! -- [Dude, Where's The Beach?]
Just a quick note on Mike Meyers and Kanye West's monologue during the NBC Concert to raise money for the Red Cross tonight.

Most pathetic moment: Kanye West, "They're coming down to shoot us," and "George Bush doesn't care about Black People."

Funniest moment: Mike Meyers, speechless, and turning to look at Kanye after he said George Bush doesn't care about Black People. He just couldn't say a single word.

Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood -- [Baldilocks]
I absolutely do not believe that black people are eating dead bodies in New Orleans after a mere four days without food. I mean, with all that water around, who could get a good BBQ grill going?

Give This Kid A Medal -- [Baldilocks]
This is what real men do: find solutions and protect the weak, rather than prey upon them. ...

Bush criticized for acting too quickly in hurricane relief -- [CounterColumn]
From a news story on Hurricane Charley in August of 2004:
Even before the storm hit, the president declared four counties disaster areas to speed federal money to victims. But that quick response fueled suspicion that he is using disaster politics to help his campaign in one of the most critical battleground states, a notion the president dismissed Sunday.

MSM REPORTS ON KATRINA

Military may let Louisiana unit leave Iraq early -- (Stars ans Stripes)... Leo Shane III,
Rotation might accelerate to let GIs reunite with families in Katrina?s aftermath
WASHINGTON ? Officials will try to speed up the return of a Louisiana unit already preparing a move back home from Iraq, to help its soldiers more quickly deal with family issues related to the hurricane damage, the commander of coalition forces in Iraq said Friday.

Congress Likely to Probe Guard Delay -- (Washington Post)...SHARON THEIMER (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Several states ready and willing to send National Guard troops to the rescue in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans didn't get the go-ahead until days after the storm struck _ a delay nearly certain to be investigated by Congress.

Military Dealt With Combination Of Obstacles Before Reaching Victims -- (New York Times)...Eric Schmitt and David S. Cloud
As thousands of National Guard soldiers entered New Orleans on Friday to help restore order and deliver emergency supplies, Pentagon and Guard officials said the military's response had been slowed by a combination of physical obstacles created by the storm compounded by a cumbersome bureaucratic process for sending federal forces to assist in natural disasters.

Met By Despair, Not Violence -- (Los Angeles Times)...Scott Gold
...But when they arrived, they did not find marauding mobs. They did not come under fire. They found people who had lost everything in the storm and, since then, their dignity.

Replacement Pumps Don't Exist -- (Los Angeles Times)...Peter Pae
Efforts to drain New Orleans hit another snag Friday as the Army Corps of Engineers discovered that it could not buy new pumps to replace those damaged by the flooding.

Katrina Elicits Sympathy, Jeers Worldwide -- (Los Angeles Times)...H飴or Tobar
Even as they pledge aid, nations express surprise at the ineffective U.S. response to the crisis.

Area Troops, Sailors Head Off To The Unknown --(Washington Post)...Debbi Wilgoren and Nelson Hernandez
More than 300 soldiers from Maryland, Virginia and D.C. National Guard units are being deployed to the hurricane region, officials said yesterday, along with 333 sailors and medical personnel aboard a Baltimore-based Navy hospital ship.

50 countries offer US aid after Katrina -- (Ninemsn, Australia) ...AP
In an accelerating drive, more than 50 countries have pledged money or other aid to help Americans recover from Hurricane Katrina.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Chirac Hospitalized for a Week With Vascular Ailment -- (MSNBC)
Sept. 3 (Bloomberg) -- French President Jacques Chirac was hospitalized in Paris last night after a vascular ailment affected his eyesight, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said. Chirac, 72, will remain in the hospital for one week.

``He had a small vascular accident yesterday evening, ...

NEEDED HUMOR

Hurricane Shuts Down U.S. Efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan -- [Scrappleface]
The United States has temporarily suspended military action in Iraq and Afghanistan because those operations might distract from rescue and security efforts in New Orleans.

"We're just waiting for the Pentagon to say 'game on',"

US arrests Russian UN diplomat -- (BBC News)
A Russian diplomat based at the United Nations has appeared in a US federal court on money laundering charges. Vladimir Kuznetsov, the elected head of a key UN budget oversight committee, had been arrested in an FBI raid.

IN MEMORY OF...

Jamie -- [Da Goddess]
...Jamie took me under her wing almost immediately. Teaching me about some medications I'd never used, analyzing lab results, showing me how to work with multiple chest tubes and central lines while moving a patient, complicated dressing changes made easy. Essentially, she reinforced or taught me all of the skills I'd need to survive on a unit where we were part of the arsenal against death. She did this voluntarily and she did it with humor, encouragement, kindness, and a bottomless well of patience.

...Needless to say, Jamie and I had fallen out of touch because her email address was sitting at work in my mailbox. Tonight, I kick myself for allowing that to happen. I feel like I missed 6+ months of telling my friend how grateful I was for her mentoring and friendship, how much I respected and admired her. And now, the opportunity is lost.

My friend Jamie was one of Katrina's victims.

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