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

Convoy to Ramadi -- [Hayden's Public Journal of Camp Fallujah -in Iraq ]
I went on a convoy and it wasn't like anyother convoy. I was a gunner, a 240 Golf Gunner. Our destination was different than CMOC this one was going to Ramadi. Ramadi is the most dangerous camp inside our AO. Camp Fallujah has recieved about 1-2 of each type of attack but Ramadi has recieved 20-30 of each type. So the threat level was very high. I was in truck 3 (Front of convoy) on top of a 7ton behind a 240 Gold Machine Gun. I had NVG's and linked up with radio to be able to talk and "shoot the shit" with other gunners and drivers. We were excorting TCN's (Civilian Trucks - Cemies (sp?) The gun range before we left the convoy was awsome. I locked and loaded 10 rounds and shot 1 burst of 10 rounds into the burm (Pile of dirt held together with Hescos) One 50 Cal Gunner shot over the burm and into the air.

Sunday, October 09, 2005 -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
So here is my nasty thought of the day (So much for Ramadan bringing you tranquility and peace of mind; and may God forgive me for saying this): Here we have the U.S.A. and Great Britain and their smaller friends, an alliance that has defeated Nazi Germany and the mighty Reich, and have had the stomach to obliterate Japanese cities with atomic bombs. Here we have the Americans, the descendants of those who wrested a whole continent by shear obstinacy and fought for every inch of land with blood and sweat. Here we have nations that...

Monday, October 10, 2005 - [Iraq calling - in Iraq]
I know that my Iraqi friends will be eagerly awaiting Saddam Hussein's trial due to start soon. Most of the guys I knew were local Shia whose families had suffered under Saddam. The city of Balad apparently had some troubles around the beginning of the Iran/Iraq war. Some men refused to go off to fight and Saddam's goons came around and rounded up several hundred men, who were never seen again. They sometimes asked me if I knew where Saddam was,

The Arab League solving Iraq's problems? Yeah sure... -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The league of Arab tyrants, er I mean countries has sent delegates to Iraq to prepare for the expected visit of the secretary general of the league Amr Mousa.
The announced purpose of the Mousa?s visit is to arrange for a national ?reconciliation? conference supposedly in order to bridge the gap between different factions of Iraqi community.

One Iraqi's Story -- [They Call Us, "Doc" - in Iraq]
I continue to learn as much as I can about the culture and lives of the Iraqi people. When I have time to spare, I enjoy listening to the individual life-stories of some of the people that I come in contact with on a daily basis. I will remember many things about this deployment and these eighteen months away from home, but

Selfless Action -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
We left the FOB in the cool light of morning, our string of vehicles shuttling between vacant lots like a sinewy sewing needle. The mere sight of our speeding phalanx cleared the roads of traffic, and in a few minutes we safely arrived at our destination? the small shantytown we named Goattown.

VOLUNTEER: CHAPTER I -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
Fighting Mad
He thought for a moment he had lost consciousness.

He couldn?t see, he couldn?t hear, he couldn?t think?actually, he thought he had died in that first incoming round of volley-fired RPGs. He could recall an IED exploding up ahead of the convoy, and he adjusted the focus on his NVGs to spy the green outline of a plume of smoke rising above the lead humvee.

A FEW ISSUES -- [WarriorsVoice - in Iraq]
One of the teams confiscated these weapons while on a raid west of Ramadi. There were plenty more but these are the ones that I thought were interesting. Both were maintained well and were hidden. One is a FLN and the other is a Berreta submachine gun. We now have them hanging up on our wall.

River Gate Continues in Haqlaniyah -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio ]
Haqlaniyah appears to be the focus of Coalition efforts at this stage of Operation River Gate. More weapons caches and improvised explosive devices are uncovered. A Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED or car bomb) is discovered at a school in Haqlaniyah and destroyed by Coalition air support. Coalition Forces uncovered a weapons cache outside of Haqlaniyah which "consisted of bomb-making materials, numerous weapons and ammunition, and several computer discs with Arabic writing."

Today's Article - The Quiet Consensus on Iraq -- [Steven Keil - in Iraq]
Some 30 months after the removal of Saddam Hussein, an unspoken consensus is emerging about Iraq. The Howard Dean/Michael Moore/Cindy Sheehan fringe of the Democratic party so far has made almost no inroads into mainstream party thinking.

Monday, October 10, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
U.S. Marines discovered two 155mm artillery shells, foreground, with red detonation wires on the heads near the Long Island bridge in Al Taqaddum. U.S. Marines of the 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Military Police Company are ...

October 10, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, inventory a weapons cache they discovered while on patrol in Hit.

A Not-so-Average Dinner for the Average Iraqi - [An Average Iraqi - in Iraq]
On Friday I went to the most unusual dinner in my life. I'm used to eating with my family, sometimes with friends, rarely with strangers, never with non-Iraqis. Above all, I was the GUEST. It was the most exciting dinner in my life so far. With English being the main used language, I failed to recognize some saying my name more than once. There was only 3 Iraqis at the dinner, including me. I knew the two other Iraqis already, and there was Jon Finer, the Washington Post reporter who had interviewed me earlier.

TALKING BUSINESS WITH THE SHEIK -- [2005 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
I showed the sheik the kind of crops we grow in Texas and he could not believe his eyes. He was confused about the grain sorghum as he referred to it as corn. Later I learned

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Sunni-Shiite Religious War in Iraq Feared -- (AP)
ZARQA, Jordan -- From hilly Zarqa and nearby Salt, from Cairo, Damascus and distant points, young Arab fighters have slipped across the desert and into Iraq. If that shattered land now plunges into a religious war of Sunni against Shiite, will these ranks of foreign volunteers swell further?...

90 insurgents killed in western Iraq sweeps: -- (The News International)
BAGHDAD: Ninety insurgents have been killed in a series of US-led sweeps in western Iraq since they kicked off on September 28, government spokesman Leith Kubba said on Sunday.

Ten arrested in raids against groups linked to al-Zarqawi -- (The Times Online)
ISLAMIC terrorist suspects arrested in a series of raids at the weekend are believed to be members of a group recruiting young Muslims in Britain to fight coalition troops in Iraq.

Glenn Milne: PM in need of an exit strategy -- (The Australian)
THERE is a growing view in senior Labor ranks that a potential wild card is emerging that will help shape John Howard's thinking on retirement: the Iraq war.

Using Our Leverage: The Troops -- Washington Post)...Carl Levin
If the Iraqis don't reach a political solution by the end of the year, we must introduce a dose of reality into the region by considering a timetable for troop withdrawal.

AFGHANISTAN

The Quake -- [The Fortunate Son - in Afghanistan]
YES! We felt it here...bigtime! I was in my room grabbing some last minute things for a multi-day mission when it hit. I thought it was a bomb at first but it kept going. It was rather confusing what with it being my first earthquake experience. I then thought it was some guys upstairs rough-housing on the balcony so I went outside to check it out.

The Return of the Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day -- [Miserable Donuts]
It's back! Now that I am home from Katrina Relief efforts - the parade o' Afghanistan photos resumes. First up, the Commander of Task Force Eagle shows his steely, cold-blooded warrior aspect.

What's the Worst That Could Happen? -- [Firepower Forward - in Afghanistan]
Mom always told me that you shouldn't leave the house in the morning without a good breakfast. I've ususally tried to adhere to that advice and, like most advice from mothers, it has rarely steered me wrong...

Earthquake -- [Adventures in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
have you seen the news on the devastation caused by the earthquke in south asia?? we could feel it all the way over here in afghanistan? but then again it was less than 200 miles away?

Women In Afghanistan: The Hard Work Ahead -- [The Middle Ground]
I think back to the years of the Suffrage and Equality movements in the United States and other western nations and I am continually surprised at how, in comparison, calm it actually turned out. Yes, there were protests, preachers, reverends and other notable men of the period spoke out against women, tried to prove through bizarre scientific logic or scriptures or under the guise of protecting women from other men and themselves that women could not be equal.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Suicide Bombings Kill 3 in Afghan City -- (AP)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Two suicide attackers exploded bombs in the main southern Afghan city Monday, killing at least three people and wounding eight, officials said....

PAKISTAN: AFGHANISTAN SENDS HELICOPTERS AND MEDICINE -- (AKI)
Kabul, 10 Oct. - Afghanistan is sending helicopters and humanitarian aid to its neighbour Pakistan, following the devastating earthquake on Saturday. A statement from the office of Afghan president Hamid Karzai says the defence ministry will send four helicopters, 20 doctors and two tonnes of medicines, while the health department will provide 31 doctors, five nurses and a ton of medicine.

S. ASIAN EARTHQUAKE

Earthquake in South Asia - the U.S. Should Do All It Can to Help -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - The Analyst Blog
The death toll resulting from the massive earthquake that hit south Asia this week has risen rapidly from initial estimates of 3,000 now to 20,000, and the number may continue to rise. Unlike the reporting during Hurricane Katrina, the press seems to be accurately assessing the damage that this natural disaster has caused. (No claims or racism have yet emerged.)

Earfkwakes -- [From My Position... On the way!]
I just heard about the bigass earthquake in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. It happened along their shared border, and apparently gozillions are dead, missing, homeless, etc.

Before anyone asks,

Not one damn dime.

MSM REPORTS ON S. ASIAN EARTHQUAKE

Quake region flattened (Washington Times)...Sadaqat Jan
Rescuers struggled to reach remote, mountainous areas yesterday after Pakistan's worst earthquake wiped out entire villages, buried roads in rubble and knocked out electricity and water supplies. The death toll stood at 20,000 and was expected to rise.

Looting Breaks Out in Wake of Deadly Quake -- (AP)
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - Shopkeepers clashed with looters Monday, and hungry families huddled under tents while waiting for relief supplies after Pakistan's worst earthquake razed entire villages and buried roads in rubble. Death toll estimates ranged from 20,000 to 30,000. British rescuers on Monday unearthed a man trapped in rubble for 54 hours.

Unusual quake activity increasing -- (WorldNet Daily)...Tom Ambrose
13 severe 'aftershocks' follow Friday's 7.6 temblor
The U.S. Geological Survey has reported 23 aftershocks following Friday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan. What has gone largely unnoticed in recent media reports, however, is the unusual number and severity of those aftershocks.

KATRINA

Operation Lollypop -- [Camp Katrina]
Most of the victims of Hurricane Katrina who drove through our National Guard aid station in Diamondhead, Mississippi for rations were smiling and appreciative, and the southern hospitality they offered us Yankee soldiers is something we?ll remember for the rest of our lives.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Freedom Ringing -- [Alenda Lux]
In a (rather successful) attempt to put off writing an essay on Orientalism and the ontology of the Orient, or some other such manifestation of the Cult of Victimhood that has somehow allowed Edward Said to actually be deemed "influential" and "relevant," I thought I would bring to your attention some good news for those who love freedom.

The Koizumi mystery -- [Riding Sun]
This seems odd. Japanese polled this weeked by the Mainichi Daily News were 77% opposed to Japan's role in Iraq (which consists purely of non-combat humanitarian efforts). And Prime Minister Koizumi, more than anyone, is responsible for sending Japanese troops to Iraq.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Germany Getting First Female Chancellor -- (AP)
BERLIN - Conservative leader Angela Merkel was set to become Germany's first female chancellor under a power-sharing agreement that would end Gerhard Schroeder's seven years in office, party officials said Monday. The deal was contingent on votes by party conferences and in parliament, a process that could take several weeks. It's already been approved by party leadership committees.

TERRORISM

What Impacts Will South Asia Earthquake Have on War on Terrorism? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
We grieve for the thousands of victims of the devastating earthquakes in South Asia. We invite you to contribute to The International Committee of the Red Cross and other good charities to help throughout the region. The wellbeing of the survivors and the rebuilding of the region should be a priority for the U.S. and the world. On this site, we unfortunately have to raise the potential impacts of the earthquake on the war against terrorists in the region.

Islamofacism = Pinky and the Brain -- [Six More Months - in Iraq]
The president gave a speech Thursday in which he (finally) eloquently stated the stakes in this war. He described the threat we face from Islamofacism, how militant Islam plans to take over the world, and what we must do to defeat them.

Could NOAH Have Stopped The Flood Of Terrorism Before 9/11? -- [Captain's Quaters]
One of the bloggers that has kept an eye on Able Danger updates, AJ Strata, notes an editorial in today's Washington Times written by F. Michael Maloof. Maloof reveals that Congress at one point wanted a national network of cross-functional centers doing work pioneered by the Able Danger team and its mother program, LIWA, but that the Pentagon wanted to pursue its own program instead. Maloof argues that the failure to push NOAH into existence lost us our best shot at stopping the 9/11 terrorists:

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Looking for work? Consider Al Qaeda... --(Reuters)
DUBAI - Al Qaeda has put job advertisements on the Internet asking for supporters to help put together its Web statements and video montages, an Arabic newspaper reported.

THE MEDIA

New Journalism, for Real -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
An Example?

Terry Heaton, writing for the September issue of the Digital Journalist, explores the incredible challenges faced by traditional journalists in TV News in a Postmodern World: Chaos at the Door.

Debasing the Currency: Part 2 -- [The Daily Brief]
It?s not that the news media were ever that shining, impartial, unbiased city on a hill, in days of yore? in the 19th century, American newspapers were as partisan as they come, and open enough about it to put their political affiliation on the masthead. And the usual run of partisan political abuse was venomous enough to make the various Something-gate ruckuses of the late 20th century look like the local Lutheran church general membership meeting in comparison. Early in the decades of this last century, the term ?yellow journalism?? inflammatory, partisan, selective with facts? was practically a synonym for the Hearst chain.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

The Bloggers Meeting -- [A Female Soldier 2 - in Iraq]
Grey Eagle called today to say she had arrived safely to FOB Warrior (I no longer consider this classified information as the 101st A/B location, and they are in more than one, has appearred in blogs and websites). She was excited becuase she had actually met another blogger whose blog we had been reading almost since it's creation. His blog first outlined the training of Iraqi soldiers which was intresting, and when Grey Eagle found out where she would be going, the interest grew because he was in the same location. But...

MilBloggers Meet... [Ma Deuce Gunner - in Iraq]
I went to the gym today to do some cardio. I was standing in line, waiting to sign in and get a towel behind a couple of 101st ABN soldiers. I noticed the female soldier in front of me had her name and unit written on the stock of her rifle. I recognized the unit name. I asked her if she knew of a person in her unit that blogged under the pseudonym of Grey Eagle.

An All-Volunteer Army? -- [Debate Space - Dadmanly in Iraq]
This one I have got thinking about as I've noticed a decidedly conservative lean to the milblogs from Iraq compared to say history books and reprints of letters I've read from WWI and II.

New Blog Showcase Carnival -- [dave's not here | David Earney - in Iraq]
Welcome to the October 10th, 2005 edition of the New Blog Showcase Carnival! The New Blog Showcase Showcase Carnival is intended to bring the blogs of the blogosphere's newest bloggers into the spotlight!

HUMOR

I'm barely fit to be her horseholder... -- [ARGGHHH!]
The Mid-day Ride of SWWBO
Listen my children and you shall know
Of the mid-day ride of our SWWBO,
On the ninth of October, in the year of ought-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

CONGRATS

WELCOME HOME

Now that it's over... -- [Faces from the Front - coming home from Iraq]
I have left Iraq and am laying over in Kuwait for a few days until our flight to North Carolina.

Silver and Gold Platoons, who I travelled across Iraq with for all these months are coming home--and they are coming home alive and with all their parts.

Knox-based Marines return -- [Lance in Iraq - in Iraq]
In the News-Sentinel (free subscription required):

Reda was one of 10 Knoxville-based Marine reservists who returned home Saturday afternoon to a throng of dozens of eagerly awaiting family members and friends at McGhee Tyson Airport.

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