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

"Dr. Jafari", thank you for the failure and the second fall of Baghdad! -- [Treasure in Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq](pics)
By eleven suicide car bombs today, more than 150 innocent people were killed in Baghdad which fell in the hands of the terrorists whom Jafari, the Prime Minister, said he is defeating. In today's post, I would like to thank him and thank all those in his government for their failure.

Thank you "Dr. Jafari" for keeping your promise in "protecting" us. ...

Al-Zarqawi declared his filthy war against the Shiites -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
There is a question for every righteous person: What is the relation between what is called resistance and killing of hundreds of laborers standing all the day under the hot sun in Baghdad trying to get a temporary hourly paid job for a day or less to feed their children?

Al-Qaeda avenging Talafar. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Today Al-Qaeda carried out their threat and launched their "final battle" that has no apparent goal other than killing the largest possible number of Iraqis. Maybe Al-Qaeda wants to exterminate all Iraqis as a start for exterminating mankind!

The Grand Vision of the President -- [Dadmanly - in Irag]
Of Iraq, that is.
...President Talabani spoke eloquently of Iraqi and American militaries fighting side-by-side against these jihadists who so desperately want the Iraqi Democratic experiment to fail. President Talabani described his country, rightly, as the "world's youngest democracy." He also correctly identifies the enemies of Iraq and Coalition Forces as the enemies of humanity:

Stupidty -- [An Iraqi's Thoughts - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Iraqi lady whose family are known to have been agents and spies for Saddam:
Hey everyone tell me how is Iraq? I have been in England all summer? What's the news ? Anything new?
Bunch of brainwashed Iraqi women:
Are you serious?
Iraqi lady: Tell me how much land have the Kurds stolen from us?

Morale of this tale.....

O-3 Meets Five-O -- [Faces from the Front - JD's Blog in Iraq]
Khamel?s voice kept rising as the words flowed faster. Dressed in a yellow jumpsuit and sturdy flip flops, and with his ankles shackled by looped flex cuffs, he leaned toward the Investigatory Judge explaining his side of the story. When Khamel started running out of steam, the judge slowly opened a legal folder and then slapped a photo of Khamel down on the desk.

Baiting first responders -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
Earlier this week, our guys foiled a fairly well planned attack that the bad guys threw at us.
...As our guys made their way to the IA soldier's house, we received a report of a suspiciously located car parked along the route that our guys had to take to get there. We passed the word, but learned that the platoon had already bypassed the vehicle. We then informed the follow-on platoon to treat the vehicle as a possible VBIED (vehicle-borne IED). It was in the perfect place to target first responders and we weren't going to take any chances.

Summer's End -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
The burning torch that plagued our days has started to sputter ? the reign of summer has ended. The ebony ribbons of asphalt have lost their plasticity and solidified like black sheets of ice. Scorching fields of sand no longer send waves of heat rippling through the soles of your boots. And the shimmering blooms of heat that refracted light like dancing water have finally settled. The temperatures are still in the low triple digits, but after months of brutal summer heat that feels downright pleasant.

September 14, 2005 - NCOER after NCOER -- [Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers in Iraq]
We had a few missions go out this morning. Everything went pretty good. The ING keep complaining about not having enough water. When Americans take water buffalo somewhere, they can last on it about a week. It seems like the ING goes through one a day. If it gets half empty, they expect it to be filled. I know some people are getting tired of constantly catering to every need they have. It looks like they could do some of the stuff on their own. They are doing a good job at the checkpoint/Bottomline, but they always want something else. If you don't bring them hot food for breakfast or dinner they complain, but if you bring it to them, they don't eat it. It's a lose, lose situation. Well, only about 90 something more days before the 4th Infantry Division will take over the adoption of them. Several of us will gladly turn over that power.

Economic recovery in Mosul -- [The Cool Blue Blog]
Economic Hopes Soar in Ninawa Province
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers build a new air traffic control tower, and plans other improvements to help economic recovery, and increase employment

My eldest son - bound for war -- [One Hand Clapping](pics)
Yesterday my eldest son, Lance Cpl. Stephen Sensing, deployed with his unit to Iraq. His mother, brother, sister and I traveled to Camp Lejeune, NC, to see him of. Cathy?s dad, from Durham, went with us also.

Settling In -- [There and Back Again - in Iraq]
Right now I am settling in to my job here at Camp Slayer. I am the Facilities Manager for a base camp. This job is completely outside the scope of my job. I will be dealing with a lot of contractors and the contracting process. I will also finally be putting my hard earned degree to use. I will be doing environmental inspections and overseeing the energy and environmental connservation programs here at the camp. I will also have the chance to get involved in Hazardous Materials clean up. This is especially exciting since this is the field I think I might like to enter in a later career.

Duke Home From Iraq - Final Thoughts -- [Broken Masterpieces - Duke dispates from Iraq]
The flight to Dover lasted about nine hours. As soon as we landed the honor guard appeared to take the fallen soldier from the plane. The C-5 has a unique feature. Because it is so tall in order to load or unload cargo the front of the plane can be lowered. When the plane does this it is referred to as ?kneeling?. In order for the flag-draped casket to be removed from this plane, it would need to kneel. It seems fitting for such a solemn event that even the plane would kneel in reverence for the sacrifice of the fallen. As the door of the C-5 opened there was the honor guard, called to attention by their leader. I was excited to be back home; in contrast, the honor guard was somber as they performed the duty of honoring the fallen Marine. What a contrast indeed!

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Iraqi forces to take over Shia cities soon -- (Financial Times)
Iraqi forces are set to take over military responsibility in three main Shia cities before the end of the year, following this month's handover of the holy Shia city of Najaf, according to Iraq's na...

Baghdad: The bloodiest day -- (The Independent)
A suicide bomber sparked Baghdad's worst day of slaughter since the fall of Saddam 30 months ago when he lured labourers desperate for work towards his van by offering them jobs and then detonated exp...

New Round of Iraq Violence Leaves 31 Dead --(AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two suicide car bombers struck within a minute of each other just a half mile apart in south Baghdad Thursday, killing at least seven policemen and raising the day's bombing death toll in the capital to at least 31, police said....

Terrorists unite to plot Iraqi civil war -- (Times Online)
A TERRORIST mastermind has united insurgent groups in Baghdad to target the Iraqi Shia Muslim community with the aim of bringing civil war to Iraq, The Times has learnt.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan Parliamentary election -- [Afghan LORD - an Afghan in Afghanistan]
Only a few days are left before the historic parliamentary and Provincial Councils in Afghanistan. This is a great national event in which the Afghans are paying a great hope and expect that this should lay the foundation for a democratic society in their land. It is true because for the first time in its volatile history the Afghanistan nation is going to the polls to elect their representatives to the Parliament and the Provincial Councils in a democratic, free and fair manner.

In the name of security ! -- [Afghan Reality - an Afghan in Afghanistan]
Every effort is made to improve the security situation although with little success in many rural parts of the country. Additionaly, looking at the amount of international aid and resources devoted towards improving the security situation, one finds it rather astonishing and worth rethinking.

Lcpl Pete, USMC, Daily Commute -- [The Gunn Nutt]
Hooray! Photos from Afghanistan. (pic)
Pete on his way to work. Yes, that's an Army dude standing in the hatch. Maybe they picked up a hitchhiker.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Bin Laden ill -- (News24 SA)
Beirut - Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden is ill and seeking medical attention, according to a US military commander in Afghanistan quoted by an Arabic newspaper on Wedne...

US military denies "bin Laden ill" report -- (China Daily)
The U.S. military in Afghanistan denied on Wednesday that one of its officers had told reporters Osama bin Laden was seeking medical attention, Reuters reported. The London-based Arabic newspaper al...

Afghans helped bin Laden flee to Pakistan, official says -- (Houston Chronicle)
Commanders got al-Qaida money or sympathized with its cause, he says KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - Osama bin Laden was provided safe passage to Pakistan in 2001 by Afghan commanders who were paid by al-Qaida...

Kashmir troops cut to boost peace, Musharraf tells Bush -- (The News International)...Fahd Husain
NEW YORK: In a 30-minute one-on-one meeting, President Pervez Musharraf told his American counterpart George W Bush that India should take steps to reduce troops from specific areas in...

AFGHANISTAN: HOPES PINNED ON WOMEN -- (AKI)
Kabul, 15 Sept. - (by Marco Liconti) - In a country where culture and social conventions make it difficult for women even to go out shopping for food, the female participation in this Sunday's elections is both a gamble and a challenge. Some 580 female candidates - ten percent of the total - are running for office and in the Wolesi Jirqa (parliament) 25 percent of the seats are reserved for female candidates, under the new constitution. Even if women need...

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

The "Law of Unintended Consequences" --[Way Down In Kosovo - in Kosovo]
...This is where "The Law of Unintended Consequences" comes into play. The Law of Unintended Consequences holds that almost all human actions have at least one unintended consequence. Such is the case with the well intended cleanup of the "park" in Pristina. When the locals around the area of this..."park"...saw what UNMIK had wrought, they were most favorably impressed. Finally, finally, finally, someone would do something about the trash problem. Wonderful!

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

KOSOVO: ACTIVIST PREDICTS INDEPENDENCE OR BLOODSHED -- (AKI)
Belgrade, 14 Sept. - A leading political veteran in Kosovo, Adem Demaci, has said that the province, with its majority ethnic Albanian population, should be granted independence, or it could trigger new bloodshed which might spread to Serbia and surrounding countries. Demaci, who spent almost 30 years in jail in communist Yugoslavia for advocating Kosovo separatism told Serbian daily ?Gradjanski list? that ethnic Albanians, who make a 1.7 million majority in Kosovo against 100,000 Serbs, would settle for nothing short of independence and that the international community should be aware of it.

Japan may set up anti-terror unit at US base-paper -- (Reuters)
TOKYO - Japan and the United States plan to station a new Japanese anti-terrorist unit at a U.S. military base in Japan, another sign of closer military cooperation between the allies, a Japanese daily reported on Thursday

KATRINA

That's What Makes You Strong
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports as of Sunday, all MS National Guard soldiers' families had been contacted either by people in their communities or the soldiers themselves, according to Maj. Erby Montgomery, public affairs officer

Soldiers Never Complain -- [Pepple Pie - Blue Star Mom]
But they need us now, you'll never hear this from them....so
Military families needing assistance locating loved ones and finding support for their families should contact...

Day 253 - A Long Two Weeks. -- [Big Al's Army Life - Al's in Iraq]
One girl, whose name I was never told, will always stick in my mind. She was 13, with high cheekbones, pale chocolate skin and gorgeous gray eyes. She had an authentic "New Orleans accent" - and she had evacuated from the Civic Center. The things that she told me that people had experienced there were just horrifying (people getting raped and beaten, babies getting trampled, no food, no water for three days). And I listened as best as I could, and looked away when I thought that I couldn't swallow my tears anymore. It was hard enough to hear that stuff on the news, but to be confronted with it first hand was next to impossible to accept.

We have roughly 10,000 evacuees in Birmingham - and we are one smallish Southern metropolis...

MSM REPORTS ON KATRINA

La. Governor Takes Blame for Response -- (AP)
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Echoing the words of President Bush a day earlier, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco took responsibility Wednesday for failures and missteps in the immediate response to Hurricane Katrina and pledged a united effort to rebuild areas ravaged by the storm....

WRAPUP 1-Bush to announce new help for hurricane region -- (Reuters)
NEW ORLEANS Sept 15 - As U.S. President George W. Bush prepared to unveil plans on Thursday to revive areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, the mayor of New Orleans said his own initiative could return 180,000 people to the city within two weeks.

Bush to Offer Hurricane Aid Package -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Faced with the unprecedented destruction of a major U.S. city and communities across the Gulf Coast, President Bush is using an address to the nation to offer a package of new federal aid to help uprooted hurricane victims rebuild their lives. Bush was announcing his reconstruction plan in New Orleans on Thursday night during a televised address also aimed at mending his image as a strong leader in a time of crisis.

Govt. Credit Cards for Katrina Draw Fire -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers and watchdog groups worry that allowing federal employees to charge up to $250,000 on their government-issued credit cards for Hurricane Katrina-related expenses will lead to a repeat of past abuses....

POLITICS

The Patriot -- [A Soldier's Thoughts - in Iraq]
I remember when it used to mean something to have a flag. When it wasn't just the popular thing to do. Now you wear a flag lapel pin and it really doesn't mean much. Just go to your local supermarket for proof. There you can find things like Patriot's Choice bottled water and red white and blue chips.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Poll: Rebuilding New Orleans High Priority -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Americans say rebuilding New Orleans is more important to them than cutting taxes or changing Social Security, a poll found. Cutting taxes and changing Social Security were both priorities of the Bush administration before the storm....

Newsview: 3 Crises Define Bush Presidency -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- It's August in Crawford, Texas, and President Bush is on vacation. His poll ratings are slumping. He hears warnings of a looming crisis that will soon change the course of his presidency....

Pledge of Allegiance said unconstitutional -- (Seattle Post-Intelligencer -(AP)
COURT RULING: A federal judge has declared that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional.

REASONING: The judge said the pledge's reference ...

Calif. Gov. All but Says He'll Run Again -- (Washington Post) -(AP)
CLOVIS, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger all but declared his intent Wednesday to run for re-election in 2006, telling a friendly audience that his job isn't finished and that he would announce his plans Friday....

THE MEDIA

NYT Can't Keep Death Story Straight -- [Dave's Not Here - US Civ.in Iraq]
In today's New York Times:
The death toll in today's attacks was among the heaviest yet seen in Iraq, and the worst death toll in a single day since the war began in 2003. At least two attacks today were directed against Shiites, the latest in a campaign by Sunni insurgents bent on exploiting sectarian divisions across Iraq.
The ABSTRACT from the "Paper of Record's" pages on 1 September 2005:
More than 950 people are killed and hundreds more injured when rumors of suicide bomber provoke frenzied...

HUMOR

The Beverly Kennedys - "Judgment Day"
Let me tell you a little story 'bout a man named Ted
A rich northern Yank drank so much his nose was red
And then one day he was judging a new judge
When he got upstaged by a dude who wouldn't budge

Biden, that is
Hair Club for Men
Joltin' Joe

Responsibility Missing from Gulf Coast, Bush Took It -- [ScrappleFace]
(2005-09-14) -- After two weeks of speculation about what happened to personal responsibility on the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, President George Bush finally admitted yesterday that he has taken it.

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