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

WINDS OF CHANGE -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Therefore the percentages really reflect the percentage of Sunnis in Iraq. It is interesting that in Baghdad, roughly the same proportions of Yes & No?s as the overall figures, which goes to show that Baghdad has a sectarian mix almost representative of the whole country.

Not all those who voted No are terrorist sympathizers. The terrorists would rather have people boycott the referendum.

Weekly Roll Up - Sunday, 23OCT05 -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! -Weekly Newsletters from SSG Paul Farr in Iraq]
...This has been a very busy week, which is the way we prefer it as it helps the time go by quicker. We visited the two water projects this week and I?m happy to report they are 100% complete as far as we are concerned. Now it?s up to the Mayor to hold up his end of the bargain and get the pipe netting to run to houses, as he promised. The completion of the two water projects marks an end to the bulk of our missions these past two months, overseeing every step of the projects. From the selection of the projects, to the selection of the contractors, to checking on the projects weekly to ensure the terms of the contracts were being met, we are proud of the work done.

On Tragedy and Round Numbers -- [Neptunus Lex]
Two thousand American soldiers, Sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have now given their lives fighting in Iraq ? whether that number encompasses only combat deaths or deaths by mischance or accident is immaterial: They went there to fight for their country and as a result of that service they died. Now we mourn them.

Democratic Revolutions Slow, Painfully Incremental Miracles -- [Strategy Page]
The Iraqi constitution -- now ratified by the Iraqi people -- is another signal that the democratic revolts of 2004 and 2005 won't be defeated by murderous tyrants and autocrats.

Al Qaeda Losing Sunni Arab Support [Strategy Page]
October 26, 2005: The new constitution was approved by 78 percent of the ten million Iraqis who voted. It took nearly two weeks to count all the votes. Most of the 22 percent who rejected it were Sunni Arabs, who turned out in large numbers. The Sunni Arabs indicate that they will turn out in large numbers again in December for the parliamentary elections.

Press Release for recent Humanitarian Mission -- [Courage without Fear - in Iraq]
Helping Hands 1 (Humanitarian/Medical Civilian Assistance Program Mission)
On September 28, 2005, HHC 126 Armor went to a small Iraqi community to perform a Humanitarian and Medical Civilian Assistance Program mission. Upon arrival to the community, we established security and set out all the items we brought. Our two medics,...

Iraq Pictures - Thursday, October 27, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq](pic)
A Task Force Baghdad Soldier examines a crater caused by one of three car bombs near hotels in central Baghdad

What was it really like? -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! greenzone - just home from Iraq]
Surprising number of people are asking "What was it really like being in Iraq? Are we getting the right story in the news that we watch?"
Good question, because I asked myself the same thing while I was in Iraq. I would sit in the briefings in the mornings at the Strategic Operations Center and then listen to the Headline News later in the day. Not always the same story. What the coalition forces accomplish on a daily basis is not being reported. What the insurgents and criminals perpetuate seems to always be highlighted.

Backscatter -- [365 an a Wake Up - in Iraq]
...Despite the visual enhancement driving in blackout remains a pulse quickening ordeal. To get a flavor of just how difficult the process really is grab a toilet paper tube, and lash it to your eye. Then tape your other lid shut and get behind the wheel. You will quickly get a sense of just how challenging night driving can really be. And that isn?t even taking into account craters large enough to swallow a HMMWV, the specter of newly emplaced IEDs, and the throat clogging clouds of dust.

Following Saddam's... -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Ahmadinejad warns Israel and the Muslim and Arab countries from the fire of the Islamic nation: ...

Cats can burn also -- [Kurdistan Bloggers Union - an Iraqi in Iraq]
?Since our village is a big village with 200 houses, a security station is established in it. It was the middle of June in 1993. Since it was very hot in the summer, my father and brothers were on the roof. Suddenly there was an explosion. At first we couldn?t understand what was happening. People were running forth and back. We were looking out from the window. Somebody on the street told us to go inside. The soldiers were shooting towards the village. We didn?t know where my father was. My mother heard that somebody yelling that my uncle was shot. I suppose my father must have gone to look for him. Till the morning we stayed under the bed. The shooting continued. In the morning the soldiers brought us all in the village yard. It was there that my mother saw my father?s corpse.

Getting ready to go -- [MREater - in Iraq]
The greeting in vogue right now is ?How long you got left?? Soldiers see others in the chow hall, or the restroom, and that question always gets asked, and the answer is always served with a smile. I heard one soldier reply, ?I?m a one-digit midget.?

The new guys, although they haven?t formally taken authority, are not shy about taking over. They?ve been painting over unit signs and vehicle numbers, rearranging offices, and generally taking charge.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

'We don't need al-Qaeda' (Mail Guardian South Africa)...Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
Abu Theeb is a tall, handsome, well-built man with a thin beard and thick eyebrows. His name is a nom de guerre: it means Father of the Wolf. He is a farmer during daylight and a commander of a mujahedin cell, a group of holy warriors, at night. He and his men roam the farmland north of Baghdad in search of prey -- a United States armoured Humvee, perhaps, or an Iraqi army unit.

Shi'ite and Sunni lines drawn for Iraq vote -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Members of Iraq's ruling Shi'ite-led coalition patched up their differences on Thursday, a day before a deadline to register for December 15 polls where they face a challenge from a new Sunni bloc as well as old rivals

U.N.: 2,000 Cos. Gave Iraq Illicit Funds -- (AP)
UNITED NATIONS -- More than 2,000 companies paid about $1.8 billion in illicit kickbacks and surcharges to Saddam Hussein's government through extensive manipulation of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq, according to key findings of a U.N.-backed investigation obtained by The Associated Press

AFGHANISTAN

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XIII -- [Miserable Donuts]
This fellow is moving toward downtown, along the main east-west road in the city of Charikar, Parwan Province. (pic)

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan welcomes extradition of rebels -- (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)-- Afghan officials Thursday welcomed the extradition of 14 suspected Taliban members from Pakistan, saying they hoped the move would hail a new era of cooperation between the neighbors.

KATRINA / WILMA RELIEF

Wet Behind the Ears -- [Camp Katrina]
PVT Andrew Standley, who serves with the 1-186th Inf. in the Oregon National Guard, writes Camp Katrina to tell us about a muddy experience he had in Opelousas, Louisiana while there for hurricane relief efforts:

MSM REPORTS ON KATRINA / WILMA RELIEF

New Katrina relief plan may involve no new funds -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - The White House is considering a plan to fund the next phase of the hurricane recovery by dipping into existing disaster relief funds to pay for projects like road and bridge rebuilding, congressional sources said on Wednesday

Gov. Bush Takes Blame for Slow Wilma Aid -- (ap)
Gov. Jeb Bush took the blame Wednesday for frustrating delays at centers distributing supplies to victims of Hurricane Wilma, saying criticism of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was misdirected.

Wilma-ravaged Floridians scramble for ice, gasoline -- (Reuters)
Floridians took cold showers and lined up for gas, water, ice and money on Wednesday as power crews worked to restore electricity to 5 million people two days after Hurricane Wilma hit Florida's most populous region, killing 10 people.

With most traffic lights out and residents complaining of long lines for emergency water and ice, gasoline and groceries, life for many from Miami to West Palm Beach was a tedious wait for basics.

S ASIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Behind the Scenes of the Relief Effort -- [FirePower Forward - from Afghanistan to Pakistan]
Well, I haven?t been forward in a few days. Sometimes I wonder how it is that I have found my way into the forefront so many high profile situations when it is the traditional lot of us logisticians to make camp in the rear echelons. For the past few days I have been working at the airfield where all the helicopters performing the relief missions are staged and it is taking on more and more of the flavor of what I imagined the Allied airfields in England to be during WWII.

MSM REPORTS ON S ASIA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

U.N. Nearly Doubles Quake Donations Target -- (The Guardian)
GENEVA (AP) - The United Nations on Wednesday raised its appeal for donations for victims of the South Asia earthquake to $550 million ahead of a donors conference, the world body's top humanitarian...

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

In southern Sudan a woman's value is measured in cows, not education. -- [Kevin Sites in Africa]
She attends school every day. Her teacher says she has the best attendance of anyone in the class. It's a promising start for Rebecca Achol, who says she wants to be a medical doctor. The problem is, she is a 40-year-old widow, a mother of four and illiterate.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Israel Wants Iran Expelled From U.N. -- (AP)
JERUSALEM - Israel's vice prime minister said Iran should be expelled from the United Nations after its new president said Israel should be "wiped off the map," and Britain summoned an Iranian diplomat Thursday to protest the remarks. Italy on Thursday also condemned the words of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, telling the Iranian ambassador the comments were "unacceptable" and that they confirm worries over the political positions - and nuclear intentions - of Iran's new leadership.

TERRORISM

Al Qaeda Takes Credit For Hotel Bombing - Ahmadinejad: "Wipe Israel Out!" - 278th RCT to Redeploy - -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - Daily Intel Briefing]
From Laura Mansfield Stategic Translations:
The following is a translation of the statement of responsibility issued by Al Qaeda for the attack on the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad.

A copy of the video is on the website at...

Good Times for Terrorists -- [Strategy Page]
October 27, 2005: The government will try to increase it's militia of Islamic conservative gunmen (the Basij) to over a million men, with the formation of 2,000 battalions. They may not be able to get that many volunteers, but it certainly shows the government is willing to fight to maintain power. The Islamic conservatives believe they have the moderates and reformers (who comprise, according to opinion and election polls, some 80 percent of the population) on the run.

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

TERRORISM: MEMBER OF Al-QAEDA IN INDIA TO HIT AMERICAN INTERESTS -- (AKI)
Mumbai, 27 Oct. - Indian security forces are hunting down a terrorist linked to the al-Qaeda network, who may have succeeded in entering the country with the aim of targeting American interests in India. Behind the recent alarm issued to the US consolates and cultural centres in major Indian cities, is the figure of Mohammed Majoodi, according to national inteliigence sources cited in the national daily, 'Times of India'. Majoodi is an Islamist expert in car-bombs who until now has been based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

The Video That SHOULD Be On TV -- [Holly Aho - a Soldir's Angel]
As an update to this post of mine, I am taking it one step further than complaint over what is...I'm showing how it should be. I'm saddened to say that this is how some Americans think it is. And while that group may believe they speak for all - others have been saying it differently and more eloquently. These are the videos that should be played on t.v., for these are the voices that are relevant no matter the current events....

"We need to make it our jobs to defend them here as they defend us there" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Email from a Soldier?s Spouse to Soldiers' Angel Cherise:
Morning!

Something happened today that I just had to share with you that really, how should I say, ripped me off, I'm being gentle. I saw some Anti-War protesters today along the street, they were quite peaceful, at least until I parked my truck. I soon felt like a target for their anti-war opinions; which I did listen to. I listen to anything whether I agree with it or not.

MILITARY / MILITARY LIFE

A 40th Anniversary for 1st Cav Vietnam Vets: We Shall Remember -- [The Patriette - a Blue Star Wife - Iraq]
[As a sidenote: The author of the article below, Joseph L. Galloway, is the co-author of "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young," which he co-wrote with Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hal Moore.]

Letter to my wife: -- [Iraq War News]
Dear Dawn,
A friend of mine went to visit you last week. I met this friend when I first arrived here in Iraq. I am a soldier, as you know, fighting to free this country from a horrible regime. I have seen many terrible things in my short time here. Many people are homeless and poor. They live in fear and poverty, struggling for a better way of life.

POLITICS

More Plame Speculation -- [Balloon Juice]
Via the comments in a previous post, this tidbit: Prosecutors investigating the leak of a CIA agents identity returned their attention to powerful White House advisor Karl Rove on Tuesday, questioning a former West Wing colleague about

Stop The ACLU Interviews Alan Sears, President of the Alliance Defense Fund -- [Stop The ACLU]
First of all, I want to thank you on behalf of Stop The ACLU, all of our contributors, and supporters. It is an honor to have this interview with you. We appreciate the Alliance Defense Fund does for America by fighting the ACLU, and protecting life, and liberty.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Miers Withdraws -- (FOX News)
Supreme Court nominee ends her bid for benchPresident Bush 'reluctantly' accepts Harriet Miers' resignation amid questions from both right and left.

Danforth Criticizes Christian Sway in GOP -- (AP)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Former Sen. John Danforth said Wednesday that the political influence of evangelical Christians is hurting the Republican Party and dividing the country....

Democrats Try to Protect Hurricane Voters -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Concerned that political operatives may try to manipulate the battered Gulf region's voting process in upcoming elections, House Democrats on Wednesday asked the Justice Department to vigilantly defend the rights of people displaced by recent hurricanes....

Newsview: Bush Following Well-Worn Path -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Amid White House anxiety over the CIA leak investigation, President Bush is heading down a path well worn by other modern second-term presidents embroiled in scandals. He's avoiding confronting the unpleasantness publicly, contending he's too busy doing "my job."...

THE MEDIA

Gee thanks for the compliment, I think ... -- [IraqPundit - an Iraqi in London]
The New York Times editorial today gives Iraqis a back-handed compliment. The newspaper's editorials have often fantasized about a civil war and what an unnatural country Iraq is, because the writer argued, we are people who have nothing in common but are forced to live together within arbitrary borders.
...The writer's admiration for us is quickly replaced by the writer's contempt for Iraqis.

Proof The Media Sucks -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
Are network reporters giving the public an inordinately gloomy portrait of the situation, as some critics charge? Are the positive accomplishments of U.S. soldiers and Iraq?s new democratic leaders being lost in a news agenda dominated by assassinations, car bombings and casualty reports?

MSM Makeover: Condi Rice -- [California Conservative]
This morning, Michelle Malkin points out the following circumstances regarding a recent photo in USA Today.

MSM REPORTS ON MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Blogs provide connection for military families -- (Northern Lights)

...After learning of Bohling?s death, Jennings spent several days searching the Internet for information about him. That?s how she came across the Web log of Some Soldier?s Mom. Soldier?s Mom had attended the memorial honoring Bohling at his home base in Georgia and had described the experience on her blog.

School Orders Students to Remove Blogs -- (AP)
NEWARK, N.J. - A Roman Catholic high school has ordered its students to remove personal blogs from the Internet in the name of protecting them from cyberpredators. Students at Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta appear to be heeding a directive from the principal, the Rev. Kieran McHugh, to remove personal postings about the school or themselves from Web sites like myspace.com or xanga.com, even if they were posted from the students' home computers.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Fitzgerald: Who Leaked Google Classified Ad Service? -- [ScrappleFace]
In an effort to produce "some kind of result" after two years of investigating who leaked the name of CIA operative Valerie Wilson, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald today announced formation of a new grand jury to probe who leaked Google's classified ad service.

CONGRATS

Happy Birthday, My Dearest Husband -- [Some Soldier's Mom] Editor's note: We keeping you close to our hearts here in Germany
Happy Birthday, DH!!
Happy Birthday to the man who makes my life so good. I can not remember a day in my life that I didn't love him (time started the day I met him) and I can't imagine a day in my life that I won't. The best part of my day is falling asleep next to him and the best part of my day is waking next to him... and all the hours in between.

WELCOME HOME

Free at Last!!! - [Lost in Iraq - home from Iraq]
I don't know what to say... I can't believe we're home! It was amazing pulling in to the armory Thursday night. Talk about a hero's welcome!

Fully home? -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - greenzone - home from Iraq]
Before heading to Iraq, I was resonsible for providing briefings to returning soldiers at Ft. Drum, NY. As these soldiers returned from their deployment, I helped greet them at the airport, offer prayers, encouragement and presence. I have provided reunion briefings for returning soldiers for so many times, I have the briefing memorized.

Hot off the Sunday presses -- [Ryan and Christy's place - Ryan's home from Iraq]
Hey all,

I am back in the states in Camp Shelby, Miss., and it feels so great to be back in the United States. So many exciting things to come in the next week, and I just can't wait to get home to Tenn. to be with Christy and the rest of my family. I appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers so very much. I'll make another longer more detailed post later. Take care all!
.... here is my latest from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which ran last Sunday. There should be two more stories about coming home and our overall mission coming out soon as well. :
Elections mark final mission for 278th unit

Hugs welcome Tennessee troops -- (Tennessean.com)
CAMP SHELBY, Miss. ? Star Smith of Ashland City heard the diesel growl of the sleek chartered buses before they rolled into view.

"Here they come," she said.
Sure enough, her ears did not deceive. In a moment, the dark-tinted windows of the first bus appeared at the crest of a hill leading onto this National Guard camp deep in the piney woods of southern Mississippi.

IN MEMORY OF...

Voice of Jolly Green Giant dies -- (Washington Times)
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) -- Elmer "Len" Dresslar Jr., who extolled vegetables to generations of TV watchers as the booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant, has died. He was 80.
Mr. Dresslar died Oct. 16 of cancer, said daughter Teri Bennett.

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