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

Insurgents Died Last Night...Plain And Simple -- [Warrior's Voice - in Iraq]
Some of you might have read or heard about the recent airstrike on insurgents in the Ramadi area of Iraq. Of course the MSM is reporting that "civilians" died in the attack. They are not reporting that the cowards who place IEDs on the sides of roads died.

THE MOON -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
Hello America! Today in central Iraq we saw clouds for the first in several months. Fighting continued in the west with IEDs hitting coalition forces and small arms attacks. Again, both sides took casualties today. Its an every ending event that you hate to hear about but know we have the upper hand on all of it.

My son?s unit in combat -- [One hand Clapping - Donald Sensing - Blue Star Mom]
I just got the first satellite phone call from my Marine son, Stephen, in Iraq in almost two weeks. His unit spent that time running vehicle-mounted security patrols along two major highways ?in the south,? which was as specific as he could be over the phone.

Hunting for insurgents [AJC Blog - in Iraq]
Lutayfiyah, Iraq ? The mortar round was barely detectable as it sailed over the soldiers? heads this afternoon. It whistled slightly and made a low humming noise ? ?Vip!?

Killing Abu Jaafar [A Free Writer]
A bomb went off at a famous monument Abu Jaafar al-Mansour in Baghdad which was honouring the eighth-century founder of Baghdad . This explosion, destroyed and blown to bits the monument as you can see in the below photo.

The Baghdad Breeze.... -- [neurotic Iraqi wife - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Constitution Day was on Saturday and I VOTED, YAAAAAAAAAY. I didnt think I would be allowed to vote since I havent registered but hey I aint complaining. We went as a group from work, at first we thought we could cast our votes in the convention center in the GZ, but as we got in line, a guy came up to us and asked whether we were members of the National Assembly. We shook our heads, and said no, so apparantely the place was just for VIP's but after 3pm regular people could go in.

On the Saddam Trial -- [Iraqi Bloggers Central]
Of course as you know, attorney Saadoun Sughaiyer Janabi, was abducted and has now been found dead.
...As Cole would do, after citing a few smarmy irrelevant references, I would conclude that "it hard to say with any certainty but my 'gut' tells me this murder has Saddam's fingerprints all over it."

But of course, I don't know who perpetrated this hideous and -- from the point of view of someone who wants Saddam to receive a fair trial as quickly as possible so he can be executed -- extremely disruptive murder.

Iraq: Terrorist Training Ground, Killing Field, or Both? -- [The Fourth Rail -Bill Roggio]
Is Iraq a training ground for terrorists, or the ?flypaper? that lures terrorists to Iraq where they are in the reach of the U.S. military? Jim Judd, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service calls Iraq a ?post-graduate faculty for terrorism? where foreign terrorists are receiving vital training. Mr. Judd?s statement acknowledges that Iraq is indeed flypaper as he admits foreign terrorists are entering the country; his concern is the ?bleedback? - the return of foreign terrorists to their homeland, where they can use their new-found skills.

Huh? Did I Miss the Surrender? -- [Winds of Change - Armed Liberal]
Matt Yglesias and Sam Rosenfeld have a big new article up in The American Prospect, which intends to eviscerate 'liberal hawks' on the basis that their only refuge is that - as they put it - "...the invasion and occupation could have been successful had they been planned and administered by different people."

TASK FORCE LIBERTY SOLDIERS FIND CACHE, DETAIN SUSPECTS IN BAYJI -- {Centcom}
TIKRIT, Iraq - Task Force Liberty Soldiers followed a civilian?s tip and found a cache of explosives and weapons buried in several locations at a house in Bayji.

The cache included more than 100 pounds of bulk explosives, several bags of TNT, one 155mm artillery round encased in concrete, weapons and rocket-propelled grenade rounds. One suspect was detained and taken to a Coalition Forces base for questioning.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Joseph Wilson, husband of outed CIA agent, speaks at SF State -- (Inside Bay Area)
``It is in the DNA of the people in (the Bush) administration to go after anyone who questions them,'' Wilson told the audience of about 200 people. During his speech Wilson outlined what he said were lies that the Bush administration fed to American citizens as a way to sell the idea of going to war with Iraq.

``(Neo-conservatives) wanted to turn this country into an empire,'' Wilson said of intentions by those who pushed for war on Iraq after the Sept. 11 attacks.
...He said he hoped that the Iraqi constitution vote had failed, not because he wanted to see the administration fail but because he believed a negative vote would cause America and others to rethink their strategy and ``go back to the drawing board.''

Not unless in our name -- (The Guardian)
Going to war is one of the most important decisions this country can take, leading to situations where young Britons will kill or be killed in our name, and it has far-reaching implications for the co...

U.S. General: Iraqi Army Needs More Time -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- It will take up to two years for the Iraqi army to have the military leadership and supplies it needs to operate on its own, the commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad said Friday....

Irish Reporter Tells of Baghdad Abduction -- (AP)
DUBLIN, Ireland -- An Irish reporter who was abducted by Shiite extremists in Baghdad and freed 36 hours later said Friday he had braced himself for the prospect of several months in captivity - or a beheading....

Referendum Turnout in Iraq's 18 Provinces -- (AP)
Turnout by province in Iraq's Oct. 15 referendum on a new constitution as reported by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. Countrywide, 9,775,000 Iraqis voted, about 63 percent of registered voters. the commission said.

Democrat Outlines Strategy to Unite Iraq -- (LA Times)
WASHINGTON ? Carl Levin, a leading congressional Democrat, said Friday that the United States' continued military presence in Iraq should be contingent upon greater unity among that country's deeply divided Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish political factions.

Official Says U.S. Rushed to War in Iraq -- (La Times)
WASHINGTON ? A top U.S. official for aid to Iraq has accused the Bush administration of rushing unprepared into the 2003 invasion because of pressures from President Bush's approaching reelection campaign.

AFGHANISTAN

Burning Taliban Corpses -- [Intel Dump - in Iraq]
Here we go again ? another scandal. However, in this case, there seems to be no substance to the reported allegations. It also appears that senior military leadership is so weary of these types of detainee abuse allegations that they are shooting soldiers first and then asking questions later.

Taliban Terror Campaign to Avoid Cash Crises -- [Strategy Page]
October 22, 2005: The Taliban have apparently embarked on an assassination campaign, killing government officials (especially police commanders), school teachers and clerics. The intention is clear. If these groups can be intimidated, they might back off in their resistance to the Taliban. But at the same time, the Taliban is a dying organization.

New terminal to keep war-fighters mission capable -- {Centcom}
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan ? RED HORSE (rapid engineer deployable heavy operational repair squadron engineers) Airmen here are laying the foundation for a $932,000 passenger terminal designed to keep American and coalition forces mission capable as the Global War on Terrorism continues

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

8 police, 4 Taliban killed in Afghanistan -- (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A Taliban ambush touched off fierce fighting in southern Afghan mountains that left eight police and four rebels dead, officials said.

Journalist among nine killed in fresh violence in Afghanistan -- (Kuwait News Agency)
KABUL, Oct 22 -- Taliban insurgents killed a police commander along with seven others following an overnight clash in southern Afghanistan, while an

Provocation in Afghanistan -- (Khaleej Times)
WHILE the role the US has played in introducing democracy and rule of law in Afghanistan is admitted and appreciated by all, an incident like the American ...

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Rumsfeld Plans to Accelerate "Operational Control" Issue -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Korean defensive officials have agreed to "appropriately accelerate" the operation control of the ROK Army issue:
...Notice he doesn't say when this acceleration is going to take place. He only says when appropriate. The whole issue of the Korean government taking operational control from the United States during war time is nothing but an empty slogan to play to Korean nationalism since President Roh Moo-hyun's approval ratings are in the twenty percentile range.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

U.N. Report on Hariri Electrifies Middle East -- (Washington Post)
Findings escalate pressure on beleaguered government and ignite renewed demands that Lebanon's pro-Syrian president step down.

Bush Seeks Urgent U.N. Meeting on Syria Sanctions -- (Washington Post)
President Bush called on the United Nations yesterday to meet urgently to consider taking action against Syria after a U.N. investigation implicated top officials in the regime of President Bashar Assad in the assassination of Lebanon's leading reformer.

TERRORISM

Local Taliban Enforce Islamic Rules -- [Strategy Page]
October 22, 2005: In the last nine months, there have been 21 attacks by pirates against ships moving along the Somali coast. There were very few such attacks before this year. The attacks do not always succeed, with most ships getting away after being shot at by assault rifles and RPG rockets. But the attacks have caused some shipping companies to turn down business carrying goods to Somali ports, and those that continue these runs have raised their rates.

Ukraine asks West for help to free ship seized by pirates -- [EagleSpeak]
Ukraine asks for help with the Somali pirate problem as reported here Ukraine's Foreign Ministry appealed to Britain, France, the United States and NATO to help free a ship and its crew seized by pirates.

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Indian remote viewers see Al-Queda chief Osama Bin Laden devastated in Pakistan earthquake as NATO sends 1,000 soldiers to Pakistan -- (India Daily)
Indian remote viewers have reported that they sense massive devastation for Al-Queda in Pakistan earthquake. In the mean time NATO is sending 1,000 soldiers to Pakistan

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...

Third Grade Student Honored By Deployed Servicemembers -- [GX Onlone]
10/20/05, Los Angeles, CA ? Elizabeth W., a third grade-student in a Los Angeles elementary school, was presented with a flag flown in Afghanistan in her honor and given to her class.

Operation Santa USMC 2005 update -- [Marine Corps Moms]
One month into Operation Santa USMC 2005, things are looking good! We have the following battalions covered: BattalionCoordinator 1st LARCarrie Costantini 2/7 MarinesConnie Riecke 3/7 MarinesConnie Riecke 2/6 MarinesAnita Achord and Lisa Gosselin 3/6 MarinesJennifer Alford 3rd Radio BattalionJanice...

The Red Cross Helps Guard Families -- [GX Online]
The Red Cross wants Guard members and their families to know they are there to help in emergency situations, beyond disaster relief.

THE MEDIA

Hatewatch Briefing 2005-10-21 -- [Winds of Change - Hatewatch]
Welcome! This briefing will be looking hard at the dark places the mainstream media sometimes seem determined to look away from, to better understand our declared enemies on their own terms and without illusions. Our goal is to bring you some of the top jihadi rants, idiotarian seething, and old-school Jew-hatred from around the world, leaving you more informed, more aware, and pretty disgusted every month. This Winds of Change.NET HateWatch briefing is brought to you by Omri Ceren of Mere Rhetoric. Past briefings and posts on related topics can be found here.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

DeLay's Lawyers Press Judge to Step Aside -- (AP)
AUSTIN, Texas - Proceedings in the political-money case against Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, are on hold after the congressman's lawyer asked the presiding judge to step aside because he made campaign donations to Democrats and their liberal allies. After a hearing that lasted less than five minutes Friday, Judge Bob Perkins deferred further proceedings, including the entry of a plea, until a hearing can be held on DeLay's request for a new judge.

CONGRATS

Happy Anniversary... -- [A Far Side Kinda Life II: In The City]
In about six minutes, it'll have been four years for Mike and me. For most of that time we've been apart, it seems. I was in training, or I was deployed, and now I'm home and he's deployed. It's really hard sometimes, thinking that we can be like this. But somehow, through it all, he is still my best friend and my darling. Every anniversary except one we've been apart.

WELCOME HOME

HOME AGAIN!!! -- [devildoc8406 - home from Iraq]
We have made it back to Miramar!!! On Thursday the 6th of OCT at 0730 in the morning HMH-465 arrived at MCAS Miramar. They were greeted by a sea of anxious loved ones, significant others, friends, and family. Most everyone had someone there to welcome them home, and if they didn't then there was definitely enough love and admiration to go around. For somewhere around 40% this was their first deployment to Iraq and their first homecoming. This will be something that they will remember for the rest of their military careers.

Home Sweet Home: TNARNG 278th ACR Soldiers Come Home, 278th BCT On Their Way -- [GX Oline]
Ft. Bragg, NC ? Soldiers from Troops ?N? and ?T? of the Tennessee Army National Guard?s 4th Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment arrived today at Ft. Bragg, NC.

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