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

SUCCESS!! -- [Ma Deuce Gunner - in Iraq]
Yesterday, the Constitutional Referendum went off without a hitch here in Kirkuk. NO reports of attacks on voter or polling sites were made. People were able to vote without fear of reprisal, attack, or

After the referendum -- [IraqPundit]
It's of course a bit early to comment on the vote. I will only say that I hope all the supposed experts and TV talking heads will now understand that it's not about the mistakes of the Bush administration or the disagreements between the democrats and the republicans. It's about the Iraqi people.

On Democracy ?- [Major K. - in Iraq]
I was watching some of the Iraqi election coverage on CNN International yesterday when the polls here in Baghdad had only been open for a few hours. They had already started to talk down the referendum for, as usual, some petty reasons. The anchorman, Shihab Rattansi, was interviewing one of the correspondents, who was reporting from one of the thousands of polling stations we had set up...

Celebration - Iraq the Model - an Iraq in Iraq]
Iraqi men celebrate the success of the referendum in Mosul (Video: Iraqia TV).
This is the first time I try to publish a video so if it didn't work don't start complaining, okay?

Yes with a Capital (Y) -- [An Average Iraqi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
If you don't have the time or the heart to read the long story, you can simply skip now and go to the comments section

Is that a Democratic Republic I see in Iraq? -- [Sisyphean Musings]
I can't top this post by Glenn Reynolds on the Iraqi Referendum. At best, I can only try to add to it. The Multi-National Force - Iraq website has photos and press releases today from the vote.

The Iraqi People Have Won -- [Dadmanly]
The Iraqi People have won. Again. Listen to this. On January 30th this year, when Iraqis first voted for representatives for their National Assembly, former regime and other Baathist elements,

The Results indicate YES vote for the Iraqi constitution -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The preliminary results from different sources indicate the following:

The nine southern provinces from Basra to Hila voted between 75-95% by yes.

Baghdad region voted by 65-75% yes.

WARRIORJASON'S RECENT OPERATIONS -- [warriorsvoice - in Iraq]
I've had the honor of working side by side with elements of the Long Range reconnaissance & surveillance (LRRS) platoon that is attached to the BDE I work with in Ramadi. My small four man team specializes in observing, finding and destroying

The constitution -- [Steven Kiel - in Iraq]
I've now been here for two votes: the election of members of parliament on January 31st and the constitutional referendum yesterday. According to published reports, it appears that the constitution is going

So I went IED hunting the other day.... -- [Courage Without Fear - in Iraq]
So I went hunting for IEDs the other day. Not because I?m insane or anything, but that?s one of the jobs my soldiers are doing now, so I went with them.

Back to the Syrian Border -- [The Fourth Rail]
Iraq has successfully conducted its referendum on the proposed constitution with a minimal amount of violence, an estimated thirteen security incidents nation wide. al Qaeda's Great Ramadan Offensive has failed.

Update on Operation Rhma -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
Witnessing the critical Iraqi referendum Saturday, I saw such a breadth of events that some time is required to compose a dispatch equal to those historic proceedings. Accurately capturing the experience is more important than quickly delivering a statistical summary. The newspapers can handle the summaries. A surplus of reporters has kept an ongoing tally of high voter turnout and low insurgent activity.

In the fight -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
Earlier this week, our partnered Iraqi Army battalion held a press conference to display a munitions cache that they discovered the previous day. The press conference highlighted the find in order to show the good folks in our AO that their Iraqi Army soldiers are doing some great things in the counterinsurgency fight.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Administration's Tone Signals a Longer, Broader Iraq Conflict (NY Times)...DAVID E. SANGER
U.S. officials say intelligence indicates that even if democratic institutions take hold in Iraq, the insurgency may strengthen

U.S.: 70 Insurgents Killed in Airstrikes -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. warplanes and helicopters bombed two villages near the restive city of Ramadi, killing an estimated 70 militants, the military said Monday, though witnesses said at least 39 of the dead were civilians. The violence on Sunday occurred a day after Iraq voted on - and apparently passed - a landmark constitution that many Sunnis opposed. As officials continued to count the millions of paper ballots Monday, the constitution seemed assured of passage after initial results showed minority Sunnis had fallen short in an effort to veto it.

Iraq voters seen approving constitution -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Iraqi voters have probably approved a new U.S.-backed constitution, overcoming fierce Sunni Arab opposition in a vote Washington hopes will boost its beleaguered strategy in Iraq, results showed on Sunday

Iraqi Constitutional Referendum Results -- (AP)
Initial results from Iraq's constitutional referendum, as reported by election officials in each province. The figures are from the first tallies done by each province's counting centers, which must be sent to Baghdad for another check and compilation. The final official figures, likely to be announced no sooner than Wednesday, may differ....

Arab Commentators Split Over Iraq's Future -- (AP)
CAIRO, Egypt -- Iraq's constitutional referendum may have put the troubled country on the road to recovery, some Arab commentators said Sunday, but others suggested bloody days lay ahead regardless of the vote outcome....

Saddam Case a Chance for Speedy Conviction -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi authorities have chosen a little-known case to launch the prosecution of Saddam Hussein because it affords the best chance for a speedy conviction - and because it gives the long-suppressed Shiite majority a first crack at the former Iraqi dictator....

Iraq Referendum Sparks Democracy Debate -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Some voters praised it as a godsend of freedom after decades of dictatorship in Iraq. Others called it the work of foreign occupiers....

AFGHANISTAN

Intensity -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
A close friend of ours has a family member in Afghanistan, and had a first person account of one of the recent suicide bombings there. (Apparently the Taliban are adopting some of the more media-attracting tactics from Al Qaeda in Iraq.)

Favor, NATO, virgins and store ? [Going Down Range- in Afghanistan]
I am going to do the media a favor. They can cut and paste the following for a headline: We are winning in Afghanistan. The BLUF or Bottom Line Up Front: Two successful elections and no real opposition to the election.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Russia expects US to pull out bases after Afghanistan stabilizes -- (Xinhua)
MOSCOW, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia sees no need for US military bases in central Asia when the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan wanes, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday.

"The threat of terrorism is still coming from Afghanistan, but there is almost no need for active combat operations. As the threat fades, it would be right to restore the previous state of affairs," Lavrov said on a television show on current events.

Afghan Election Staffers Fired for Fraud -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Election authorities said Sunday that they have fired about 50 employees for suspected fraud in last month's legislative polls, while human rights advocates warned that about half of the winning candidates are believed to have links to armed groups....

Taliban kill another Islamic cleric in Afghanistan -- (Reuters)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Taliban guerrillas shot dead a pro-government cleric in southern Afghanistan, a government official said on Monday, the second killing of a religious figure in three days.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Monday's Winds of War: 17 Oct 2005 -- [Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Security Watchtower.

Bigger Missiles and Taliban Rules -- [Strategy Page]
October 17, 2005: Rumors of Russian support for Iranian development of ballistic missiles (by secretly selling them 30 year old technology) and nuclear weapons (by openly building nuclear power plants in Iran) have shifted European public opinion more against the Iranian government. Such missile technology would enable the Iranians to hit European targets (with a new, 3,500 kilometer range, missile), and Russian ones as well. But current Iranian ballistic missiles can hit Russian targets. Better ones could hit European targets.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iran Issues Charges Against U.K., U.S. -- (AP)
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran launched a double-barreled diplomatic assault on Britain and America on Sunday, accusing London of possible involvement in weekend bombings that killed five people and charging that Washington was bent on hauling Tehran before the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program....

TERRORISM

Yemeni Al-Qaida Recruit Reportedly Killed in Iraq -- [CounterTerrorism Blog]
Supporters of Al-Qaida and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the Arabian Peninsula have released the biography, martyrdom will, and audio recordings of an Al-Qaida recruit from Yemen recently killed in a suicidal assault on U.S. military personnel in central Iraq. An avid supporter of Al-Qaida himself, Abu Zubair al-Yemeni explained on one recording, "When the towers were hit on September 11th, America stood up and has not sat down yet. Her people gave money and discussed what they wanted to do. They discussed what they wanted to do, until their discussions brought about their death." Abu Zubair also called Usama Bin Laden "courageous", "determined", and "one of Islam's most impressive."

"The Barber" has been captured. -- [Parrot Check ]
I am glad to see that the barber for senior Al-Qaeda members has been recently captured in Iraq. "The Barber
's" duties included altering senior al Qaeda in Iraq members appearances by dying hair color, altering ...

THE OU BOMBER'S SUICIDE NOTE ? [Michelle Malkn]
Two weeks after Joel Hinrichs blew himself up outside the packed University of Oklahoma football stadium, we finally learn there was a suicide note. Or rather, a suicide sentence reportedly discovered on Hinrichs' computer screen by investigators

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Al Qaeda "barber" arrested in Iraq ? (Reuters)
U.S. forces in Iraq said on Saturday that they were holding a man suspected of acting as a barber to senior al Qaeda militants and helping them change their appearance to evade capture.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS OR NOT....

Is Christmas Canceled? Or Is It Just Me? -- [ Holly Aho - A Soldier's Angel]
This year literally thousands of requests are coming in to Soldiers Angels from deployed soldiers requesting Christmas stuff. It's a big need, and yet the items requested are small. These requests need to be filled - absolutely every single one of them. How would it be if 5,000 were sent but 6,000 had been requested. Want to be the one to tell the last 1,000 soldiers that Christmas for them was canceled? How about if 5,999 are sent. Want to be the one to tell the last soldier that for HIM Christmas was canceled?

A Memorable Counter-Demonstration -- [Andi's World]
I arrived at Walter Reed at about 6:40 last evening and was pleasantly surprised. Two empty corners - CodePink was nowhere to be seen.

POLITICS

Interview with Mary Jane McManus, Wife of Ex-POW -- [A Collection of Thoughts]
Danny "Greasy" Belcher of Task Force Omega of KY Inc. passes along the following message:
This is an interview of a Vietnam ex-POW's wife. It helps explain why they are suing Sen. John Kerry for lying. It is time to tell the truth and those telling lies to move to the communist countries that they support. Why live in a country that you believe is wrong? The United States is founded on God and freedom and many of us fought because of this fact.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Every D.C. Scandal Has Its Memory Lapses -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Every Washington scandal has its moments of memory lapse, and the Valerie Plame affair is no exception. New York Times reporter Judith Miller says she told a federal grand jury she could not recall where she heard name of the covert CIA officer whose cover was blown, even though she jotted it down in her notebook. The identities of those who disclosed Plame's name are vital pieces of evidence for Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald as he tries to track down leakers in the Bush administration.

Rice: I Don't Want to Run for President -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- For Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, no means no - and no again - when it comes to whether she will run for president....

Judgment Call -- (Opinion Journal)
Did Christian conservatives receive assurances that Miers would oppose Roe v. Wade?
Two days after President Bush announced Harriet Miers's Supreme Court nomination, James Dobson of Focus on the Family raised some eyebrows by declaring on his radio program: "When you know some of the things that I know--that I probably shouldn't know--you will understand why I have said, with fear and trepidation, that I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice."

Cheney will not run for president, wife says -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney will not run for the presidency in 2008, his wife, Lynne Cheney said in an interview published on Sunday.

THE MEDIA

The Embed -- [ Michael Yon - in Iraq]
Baghdad
I've returned to Iraq.

People ask how journalists get embedded. This seems a fair moment for synopsis of some firsthand experience.

Patriotism and Journalism Part II ? [Firepower Forward - in Afghanistan]
Probably the most ironic thing that I have seen since I started writing this blog is a journalist asking rhetorically if my 11 OCT post caused journalists to be targeted on the battlefield.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Discussion: Media, Communications and Technology in the Age of the Blogger -- [The Adventures of Chester]
Loyal Readers, as I've mentioned before, in a couple of weeks' time, I'll be participating in the conference, "Media, Communication and Technology in the Age of the Blogger," to be held in New York October 26th and 27th.

Blogging Tips For Inexperienced Bloggers -- [Holly Aho - A Soldiers Angel]
I host about 30 blogs for other Soldiers Angels who wanted to try out the blogosphere (you can find their blog links in my right sidebar). Since I first started offering to host blogs I've been keeping track of these new bloggers to see how they're doing and have learned a few things from the experience I think.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Probe Narrows: 'Who Blew Judi Miller's Cover?' -- [ScrappleFace]
(2005-10-16) -- Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who has devoted two years to investigating who leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Wilson, has reportedly narrowed his probe in the past week to focus on who unmasked a covert blogging operation at The New York Times.

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