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

Little Girl and a Landmine -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported that a little girl was sitting in the road and she just wouldn't budge.
...I soon saw her sitting there, and in her arms was a little toy bear that we had given her a few patrols back. Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop. The rest of the convoy paused, and I got out to make sure she was okay. The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed.

There was a land mine in the road.

65 Years Ago... -- [Strategy Page]
January 1, 2006: Sixty-five years ago, U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt called for the people of the world to have “Four Freedoms” (from fear and want, along with freedom of speech and worship want). The war on terror is making it clear that the Islamic world is desperately in need of the “Four Freedoms.” Iraq is a vivid example, if only because 150,000 American troops are fighting to bring the Four Freedoms to this corner of the world.

Friday, December 30, 2005 -- [Gozar the Traveler - in Iraq]
...The most pressing questions the kids had were, "Where have you been?" and "When are you leaving for America?" I told the kids that this would be my last visit, and I was flying back to America very soon. Apparently they considered that the wrong answer. They yelled "No! America no good! You stay here!" Elmo and her sister Irjoey told me, "Father and mother say 'Joey no leave to America. He stay here.'" I took that to mean that they were sad to hear that I was leaving also.

HAPPY NEW YEARS FROM IRAQ! -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
BANG…..BANG BANG BANG!!...........Its 0001 Jan 1st 2006!!!! (eastern standadrd time + 8hrs)
Plan “B” - Things have been very busy here as we have been continuing to take the fight to Haji. You can’t stop the clock not even on New Years and so time continues to tick away at our fun filled adventure here in Iraq.

Bombs over Baghdad -- [Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Today there seems to be a great deal of insurgent activity. Explosions and gunfire were the heralds of the New Year here in Baghdad. The gunfire was mostly celebratory, but the explosions hardly were. I was awakened by more explosions. I don’t really react anymore, other than to note mentally or verbally how close and what type I think the explosion was. Mortar or bomb? 100 yards? 1,000 yards? None of it really seems relevant to me, because I have a job to do, and the bomb or mortar hasn’t disabled my ability to do it.

New Year's Eve Fireworks -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
I finally got a chance to leave the wire on a mission last night. I was sent with an engineer squad on an IED hunting mission. They did their normal thing and I rode along collecting my reconnaissance intel for later analysis. We were supposed to leave at 1030 but when I arrived at my company, I found out they had delayed the departure until 1400. About 1/2 hour later, it was changed again to 1600, so I returned to my trailer and slept a little (I had a tough time getting to sleep the night before). We reassembled around 1430 and I set up my equipment and got ready. I was in the backseat of a crowded humvee. 4 seats full and the topgunner, who rides half sitting in a strap, and half standing through a hole in the roof where his .240 machine gun was mounted. There was also another humvee, 2 RG31s, which look like range rovers on steroids, and the main IED investigating vehicle: a buffalo, which is a massive beast of a truck that has a long hydrolic arm that is used to poke and prod suspicious objects, and a body that is designed to withstand powerful blasts. We rolled out just about 1600.

An interesting night -- [Intel Dump - Phillip Carter - in Iraq]
IRAQ -- New Year's Eve was quite tranquil over here. We worked through the day, had a decent dinner, lifted some weights, worked some more, and then went to sleep. I expected that something might happen, so I arranged my boots and gear next to my bed in case I had to wake up in a hurry. But fortunately, nothing happened, and I was able to sleep through the night.

Happy New Year -- [My Days at Division - in Iraq]
Happy New Year everyone! It's been a long year and I am glad to see it come to a close. That means my time here in Iraq is waning; not sad about that either.

However, I don't regret one single day I've spent here on this noble errand. We are winning this war. I'll say that again, WE ARE WINNING THIS WAR. ...

Bringing in the New Year, Enshalah! -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Happy New Year to one and all! A couple of insurgents did their level best to help us bring in the New Year last evening by launching a salvo of rockets at the base. Nary a scratch was suffered by anyone here on the receiving end of this small bit of indirect fire. Enshalah!

Sunday, January 01, 2006 -- [Chairborne Stranger - in Iraq]
Attacks on the camp started back up again--great way to start the New Year! We got hit by mortars and rockets today, I suppose this is a fitting way to start 2006. No injuries at least. We hadn't received any of these in the last couple of months, after we took care of the last group of people doing this.

Happy New Year! -- [Chris Whong - in Iraq]
I inadvertantly set our departure time last night to 2400 (or 0000) without knowing at all what day it was, specifically that it was December 31st.

I realized about 45 minutes before we left that it was new year’s eve… this was due to the little “concert” that was going on, that we could not attend because we were prep-ing our vehicles. I heard some music and saw some fires and wondered “what’s the occasion?” Ohhhhhhhh… new years.

Mortality Strikes -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
...The walk to the chow hall is a short one across wide open spaces, and at one point you pass the dirt softball field. Maj X was making his daily walk, most likely thinking of food (well, more than likely he was working out some algorithm in his head or contemplating the environment variables of a Linux operating system as opposed to a Window’s one … open source.. man … why couldn’t the Army go Linux?... my life would be so much simpler … or wondering where best to place his new satellite modem or whether his wife receive the IPOD nano he ordered her for Christmas) and lost in his own thoughts.

In an instant, the unspeakable happened. He heard a loud WHOOOSH, and the next thing he knew...

It's Called Commitment -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
I suppose there is a time where every warfighter is afraid. The soldier storming the beach at Normandy, the trooper crawling into a tunnel in the jungles of Vietnam, the Marine patroling the streets of Iraq...fear on the battlefield is nothing new. And truth be told, I am certain that I am not the only one who has, at one time or another, been afraid over here. But I want to share with you something that America knows of her Marines, but is sometimes at best taken for granted and at worst forgotten alltogether; the commitment of your Marines when faced with fear.
...America, your Marines will not stop taking this fight to the enemies of our country. I wish that everyone could see just a fraction of what I see here everyday. I wish that you could hear the conversations between Marines that I hear. For if you did, you would understand why we are going to win this war...

My New Years Eve -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
So I've said before that holidays here are milestones more than holidays. New Years Eve was uh... well... anti-climactic to say the least. I was driving with my squad to go get a hot meal before I head to work (like we do every night) around 11:45 pm and we got stuck behind a convoy of trucks. After waiting for a bit, I am about to get out and clear my weapons and the clearing barrels when I look at my watch and say to my team leader, "Hey, it's 12:03." He glances at me and says, "Yep."

That was it.

Another chapter closed -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
...I have been in Iraq now since June and I have seen quite a bit of shit. I have had the opportunity to go through an IED incident and actually take a piece of shrapnel to my nose. I am a lucky bastard because it didnt do any real damage, besides you cant make this mug any uglier. I have been through a few mortar and rocket attacks and let me tell you, these insurgents have the worst aim. I have already gone on my leave for my tour in October. It is then, after only 10 short months of dating that I proposed to Kristen when we had our "Christmas in October" with our families. I was nervous but I got through it. And to my delight and surprise she said yes. The wedding is planned for May of 2007.

If This is "Propaganda"... -- [TBone's War Journal]
...I'll take another helping please.
"The gangster jihadis who call themselves “Al-Qaida Organization in the Land of Two Rivers,” the “Islamic Army in Iraq” or the “Victorious Sect” posted multiple press releases to the internet in which they bragged about targeting and killing men of the Iraqi security forces. By killing those charged with security, these jihadists menace the lifeline of the community – its trade routes – and make the people afraid to use the roads, forcing them to rely on foreign armies for protection. But these transgressions upon the community were not enough for this week’s crime spree. In retaliation for the betrayal by the “guides to Hell, the pseudo-Sunnis,” the jihadists deliberately murdered families at a wedding feast, to include the fathers of the bride and groom. ...
...This was written by Iraqis for Iraqis; not by Americans.

IED Roll-Up #9 (Happy New Year) --
...Before going into my IED Roll-Up, here is a look at some of the equipment delivered to Iraqi Security Forces in 2005... -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
...Okay, this one is a little late, but here’s the last IED Roll-Up of 2005 (even though it’s already 2006). For those new to the site, this is where I take all the caches and weapons discovered by coalition and Iraqi Forces that would have been used as IEDs, killing innocent civilians and soldiers. This is a story of success:

'Army Water' Makes Debut in Balad, Baghdad -- {Defense Link}
BALAD, Iraq, Dec. 29, 2005 – You can call it "Army water" or "No-name water," but whatever you call it, servicemembers here will stay hydrated while keeping soldiers and civilian truckers safer.
Bottled water is a mainstay of life in this theater, and the 3rd Corps Support Command has opened a water purification and bottling plant at the massive logistical area here.

A Year Ago, Today...In Iraq -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
Fri, 31 Dec 2004 17:31
Saddam's government kept he and his family, along with thousands of other Iranian refugees, in a "camp." They were told that they could not leave the "camp" and if they were ever caught outside the gates, they would be jailed. He is 19 years old now, has lived in Iraq all of his life and before the country was liberated he had only ever seen two cities during that entire time.

He thanked me for what we are doing here. He said that so much, "bad has been stopped," by us being here.

Single Digit Midget -- [Major K - in Iraq]
Time for redeplyment is gettting close, real close. I am busy transitioning with my replacement, and the new LAN is slower than the old one, with more people trying to use it because of the changeover. I will keep this short.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Bush Awards 9 Purple Hearts to U.S. Troops -- (AP)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- President Bush began the new year on Sunday at the bedsides of wounded servicemen and women, and awarded nine Purple Hearts to U.S. troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan....

Bush starts New Year with visit to wounded troops -- (Reuters)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - U.S. President George W. Bush started the New Year on Sunday by visiting wounded troops, mostly from the Iraq war, who are receiving care

Man 'frightened off' paying Hassan ransom -- (The Australian)
A MILLIONAIRE who wanted to pay a ransom for the release of Margaret Hassan, the British aid worker kidnapped in Iraq and later murdered, was allegedly intimidated into d...

New year in Iraq shaken by 13 bombings -- (Denver Post)
Baghdad, Iraq - Militants blew up 13 cars in three hours Sunday, injuring at least 20 people, while 13 Iraqis were killed in other violence that fed the turmoil following last month's contested parlia...

U.S. Has End in Sight on Iraq Rebuilding -- (Washington Post)
BAGHDAD -- The Bush administration does not intend to seek any new funds for Iraq reconstruction in the budget request going before Congress in February, officials say. The decision signals the winding down of an $18.4 billion U.S. rebuilding effort in which roughly half of the money was eaten away by the insurgency, a buildup of Iraq's criminal justice system and the investigation and trial of Saddam Hussein.

Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile -- (Telegraph)...Toby Harnden in Ramadi
Gazing through the telescopic sight of his M24 rifle, Staff Sgt Jim Gilliland, leader of Shadow sniper team, fixed his eye on the Iraqi insurgent who had just killed an American soldier.

Iraq's Kurdish President, Shiite PM Meet -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A suicide car bomber targeted police recruits riding in a bus north of Baghdad on Monday, killing seven people, and gunmen in the capital killed five laborers, police said. Iraq's Kurdish president met with the Shiite prime minister in northern Iraq for talks on the formation of the country's next government....

5 Police Recruits Killed by Suicide Bomber -- *(AP)
DIYALA, Iraq (AP) -- Five police recruits were killed Monday after a suicide car bomb slammed into the bus they were traveling in, police said. Thirteen people were wounded....

Florida Teen Home After Iraq Adventure --(AP)
MIAMI (AP) -- Inspired by a high school journalism class, Farris Hassan journeyed to the Middle East so he could immerse himself in the lives of Iraqi citizens....

AFGHANISTAN

A-10 Impact in Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
January 1, 2006: In Afghanistan, one of the most effective aircraft weapons has been the 30mm automatic cannon carried by the A-10 aircraft. Stationed outside of Kabul, the A-10s average about 18 sorties (each nearly four hours long) a day. Several times a month, an A-10 will be called on to apply some precision firepower with it’s 30mm cannon. For these missions, high-explosive/incendiary rounds are used. Pilots are very accurate with the cannon, and it is the preferred weapon when the bad guys are operating close to civilians.

Christmas in Afghanistan -- [Marine Corps Moms]
Happy New Year - we're still wrapped in Christmas spirit here, and this commentary by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jess Harvey will have you smiling too.

Happy New Year 2006!!! -- [Afghan Lord Afghani in Afghanistan]
Hope you and your family a year full of luck!!!!

Happiness for all human all over the world, including Karzai (of mine) Bler, Bush and Osama :) :) :)

And good future for Iraq people. A good success for U.S.A to promote their democracy in Afghanistan and the world.

Peace and Love for Afghanistan my injustice land and down with Terrorist.

Good Ridance, 2005 -- [Miserable Donuts]
However, it wasn't completely without some very interesting moments, and some good things happening. As far as this blog is concerned, all you are going to get is half a year o' highlights, since I didn't start blogging until May. Until April, I was the Instapundit's Afghanistan Correspondent.

Everyone seemed to like this -- [Signaleer]
...me, the wife, the dog, both cats.....

Mourgh (Afghan Chicken)

Long, slow marinating in garlicky yogurt tenderizes, moistens and adds deep flavor, so you end up with skinless grilled chicken that's as delicious as it is nutritionally correct. Serve with Afghan Naan (below) and fresh yogurt.

Snowflakes and asylum seekers -- [Misadventures of a Not-So-Intrepid Explorer - in Afghanistan]
...Tis an interesting time of the year. Most of our field offices have closed due to snow and ice. So we have field-based colleagues come into the Kabul office. Many are surprised to see that I don't wear hijab in Kabul. Our gentlemanly Badakhshani agronomist did not know where to avert his eyes to when he saw me in my shameless state. Heh. I'm so badass.

A new Afghan man has joined our organisation. Hearing my accent, he asks me where I am from. Australia, I say.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: SUICIDE BOMBER KILLED IN KANDAHAR ATTACK -- AKI)
Kabul, 2 Jan. (AKI) - A suicide bomber was killed when the car he was driving exploded into a convoy of foreign soldiers in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Monday. The head of the police in the province, Abdul Hakim, confirmed the death as well as those of two civilians according to a report by the Xinhua news agency. Other reports say that there were no casualties among the foreign troops.

Blast heard near foreign forces in Afghan south -- (Reuters)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 2 - An explosion was heard near a convoy of U.S.-led foreign troops in southern Afghanistan on Monday, but it was not clear what caused the blast or whether there ...

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Celebrating New Years -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
Well, this wouldn't be a proper New Years post without me telling everyone all about my New Years, right?

Oh yes, it was one of those novel things I can tell people about years from not.

I was on Guard Duty. I will not explain the circumstances of what I was guarding or what not, but Guard Duty came and me and my battle buddy ordered pizza and watched the Kosovars celebrate with Fire Works. And Tracer rounds. I think a few people shot up flare guns.

We watched from the distance and observed. It was a quiet moment.

UN envoy says Kosovo status to be based on "desire of majority" -- [KOSOVAREPORT]
..."We are at the end of one momentous year for Kosova and the beginning of another. The past twelve months, like every year, have had their ups and their downs - their triumphs and their tragedies. But they have ended on a high with the opening of the process to determine the status of Kosova. The coming year will more likely see the end of that process," Jessen Petersen stated.

Saturday, December 31, 2005 -- [JununAD1 - in Dji Bouti, Africa]
Well happy new years... I stayed at the cantina til about 12:15... new years came and by this year and you know what it didn't make a difference...
I looked at the last two new years and how they were life changing... two years ago today I decided to join the Marines....
a year ago today I started going out with the most amazing girl I had ever met...
and today I find myself stuck in Africa... without the most amazing girl that I had ever met... but still with the marine corps...
I left all the other marines at the cantina... cause I just couldnt have a good time tonight and I didn't wanna ruin their new years...
So 2006, how is this year going to be different then any other... I have only one resolution this year and that is to make sure that I come home safely.

Iran: Really Stupid -- [Tanker Brothers]
Once again, Iran has stuck it's collective foot in its collective mouth. Will these guys ever learn?

Haji Mohammed's Cabin -- [Right-Wing of the Gods - NEW MILBLOG RING MEMBER!]
Katrina inspires Iranian director to stage “Uncle Tom's Cabin”

A Special New Year's Message From North Korea -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
Does anyone think North Korea would issue a New Year's message wishing for peace and happiness for the upcoming New Year? Of course not.Instead North Korea released a New Year's message threatening war and demanding the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea:

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

IRAN: AYATOLLAH ISSUES FATWA AGAINST SUICIDE ATTACKS -- (AKI)
Tehran, 2 Jan. (AKI) - A fatwa or religious edit has been issued against suicide attacks in Iran by Ayatollah Ozma Seyyed Yousef Sanei, one of the highest Shiite authorities. When asked about the suicide attacks that were carried out on the London transport system on 7 July last year in which 52 people were killed as well as the four suicide bombers, the grand ayatollah Sanei said that suicide attacks were "legitimate" only in the case of war.

'US planning strike against Iran' -- (Jerusalem Post) HT: Drudge
The United States government reportedly began coordinating with NATO its plans for a possible military attack against Iran.

The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel collected various reports from the German media indicating that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are examining the prospects of such a strike.

Putin sends a shiver through Europe -- (Telegraph)
Russia took Europe to the brink of a winter energy crisis yesterday when it carried out a Cold War-style threat and halted gas deliveries to Ukraine, the main conduit for exports to the West.

Strong Quake Registered in South Atlantic -- (AP)
TOKYO (AP) -- A strong earthquake struck Monday off the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, but there were no reports of injuries or a tsunami. News of the quake prompted thousands of residents along the coast of Sri Lanka - thousands of miles away - to flee inland, officials said....

WAR ON TERROR / TERRORISM

Monday's Winds of War: 2 Jan 2006 -- [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 Peace Like a River and Security Watchtower.

Where is Osama bin Laden? -- [US Neverdock]
...The idea that bin Laden is not communicating so as not to get caught doesn't wash. He could still make a video tape and have it delivered by hand to al Jazeera. Unless he is dead or being hounded so relentlessly that he doesn't dare take time out to make one.

A Chilling Final Threat from Abu Musab al-Suri: "O' Sleeper Cells, Wake Up Now!" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Abu al-Tawab al-Shami--the official spokesman of most wanted Al-Qaida terrorist training camp manager Abu Musab al-Suri (a.k.a. Omar Abdel Hakim, Mustafa Setmariam Nasar)--has confirmed the latter's capture by coalition forces sometime in September 2005. Abu al-Tawab has also made available a final audio message from Abu Musab al-Suri responding to the July 2005 London bombings. During the recording, Abu Musab adamantly denied having played any significant role in the 1995 Paris Metro bombings, the March 2004 Madrid commuter train bombings, nor the most recent London attacks--but conceded to having specifically trained American and British nationals at Al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan to carry out catastrophic terrorist strikes. He further admitted:

DOJ Should Appoint Patrick Fitzgerald to Investigate Two Leaks of Classified Information -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Justice Department is initiating a second investigation into the leak of classified, terrorism-related information to a news source, this time over the NSA intercept program as initially divulged by the New York Times. DOJ already initiated an investigation into the leak of classified information about a network of secret CIA prisons for suspected terrorists. The disclosures alone could be extremely damaging to the pursuit of terrorists, compromising sensitive sources and methods of investigation without a substantial benefit. DOJ should appoint a special investigator who knows the legal issues surrounding the release of classified information, has an outstanding track record in terrorism investigations, and is respected for his objectivity and integrity.

Hard Times in the Heartland -- [Strategy Page]
December 30, 2005: In the two countries that Islamic terrorism was born in, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the terrorists are taking a beating. This is good news that doesn't get much attention, but it says much about the future of Islamic terrorism. In Egypt, the majority of the population continues to be turned off by the seemingly random violence of Islamic terrorists. The radical groups continue to survive, partly because of the fact that Palestinian Islamic terrorist groups thrive right next door in Gaza.

Iraq Report, 2 January/06 -- [Winds of Change - Joel Gaines]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.

Al Qaeda's Growing Air Force -- [Strategy Page]
December 29, 2005: Terrorists and rebels the world over have embraced the radio-controlled aircraft hobby. Over the past few years, hobbyists have used off the shelf vidcams and transmitters, mounted on large radio-controlled aircraft, to build their own UAVs. Even American troops have done this, when there was a shortage of official issue UAVs for them.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR/TERRORISM

Alleged al-Qaida Aide Said to Fake Death -- (AP)
ISTANBUL, Turkey - An alleged al-Qaida operative accused of serving as a key link between the group's leaders and suicide bombers hid his tracks so well that even fellow militants thought he was dead. Loa'i Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa, wanted by Turkey for 2003 bombings in Istanbul that killed 58 people, is said to have eluded intelligence services by using an array of fake IDs, employing aliases even with his al-Qaida contacts and finally faking his death in Fallujah, Iraq, in late 2004.

Bush Defends Spy Program and Denies Misleading Public -- (New York Times)...ERIC LICHTBLAU
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 - President Bush continued on Sunday to defend both the legality and the necessity of the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program, and he denied that he misled the public last year when he insisted that any government wiretap required a court order.

Bush Calls Domestic Spy Program 'Limited' -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is standing firmly behind his domestic spying program, saying his decision to let the intelligence community listen in on phone calls Americans have with suspected terrorists is lawful and does not result in widespread domestic eavesdropping....

CIA 'needs to rebuild service' -- (The Australian)
A FORMER CIA counterterrorism officer who tracked Osama bin Laden through the mountains of Afghanistan says the US spy agency could need a decade to build up its clandestine service for the US war on ...

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Good Morning, 2006 -- [The American Spectator]...Ben Stein
...BUT WHAT JUST OCCURRED to me today, December 29, 2005, is that none of this, absolutely none, not one bit of it, would have been possible without the men and women of the Armed Forces. While I was busy being born (and not dying), men and women were getting blown to pieces by German 88's and Japanese mortars to win the big one. While I was growing up, our freedom was saved by the Strategic Air Command ("Peace is our Profession") and by men and women patrolling in the Arctic Circle. While I was in elementary school, my cousin Joe and my uncle Bob were fighting and fine men and women were dying at Cho-Sin Reservoir.

End of the Year at Walter Reed -- [Gunn Nutt]
2006 may see the end of the weekly commie "vigils" outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The increase in police activity over the past few weeks has prompted speculation among the FReepers that CodePink is looking for a face-saving way to end their blood dance by getting the permits for both sides revoked.
Once again, someone called D.C.'s finest complaining about "the noise", but our permit actually allows us to use megaphones (which we have not used...yet)

Soldiers' Angels Mourns SPC Peter Navarro and SPC Aaron Forbes
"One can not fathom the enormity of emotions running through the family and friends of these brave soldiers. We can only hope when these horrifying times become history pages that it was all for something. That the world is a more peaceful place and these deaths praised for the heroism it was. To die in a strange land with hatred and viciousness makes this all the more daunting and hard to stay the course. If we break now though it will have been for naught. We reach out to the loved ones of the slain and with hope and faith holds them in our hearts forvever."

POLITICS

A TEEN'S RESPONSE TO A MOONBAT CARTOONIST -- [Michelle Malkin]
In October, Atlanta Journal Constitution's left-wing cartoonist Mike Luckovich used the names of the fallen in Iraq to create this anti-war image touted by moonbats:

Madeleine Albright: Bush Talks 'Victory' Too Much -- [Let Freedom Ring Throughout the World]
Is that the most boneheaded thing you've heard in ages or what? Would she prefer he talked about beating a hasty retreat instead? Actually, Ms. Albright said something even more outrageous in her podcast on the DNC homepage:
"They clearly had some kind of a new pollster in the White House tell them that the word 'victory' had to be repeated endlessly," Albright griped.

Succinct, Coherent and Correct -- [Andi's World]
I don't know David James, but I do know that he has succinctly and coherently exposed the anti-war movement for what it is - a band of Bush-hating, anti-American groups who are undoubtedly rooting for an American defeat in Iraq.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Sen. John Kerry Keeps 2008 Options Open -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's almost as if Sen. John Kerry never stopped running for president. He still jets across the country, raising millions of dollars and rallying Democrats. He still stalks the TV news show circuit, scolding President Bush at every turn....

The Hillary-Condi avalanche -- (TRIBUNE-REVIEW)...Salena Zito
Curb your enthusiasm and fasten your seat belts; today marks the first day of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid.
This is a moment of glee in many camps. Others are observing a moment of silence with a primal scream quickly to follow.

Checking the pulse on Moore's 'Sicko' -- (Variety.com) - HT: Drudge
Where in the world is Michael MooreMichael Moore?
This time last year, word was that the incendiary auteur behind "Fahrenheit 9/11" had the country's top pharmaceutical companies looking over their shoulders in anticipation of "Sicko," his look at the American healthcare industry.

THE MEDIA

NY Times's Ombudsman: Explanation of decision to report NSA program was "woefully inadequate" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Today's New York Times includes a column by Brian Calume, the "public editor" (basically an ombudsman), tited, "Behind the Eavesdropping Story, a Loud Silence," in which he complains about lack of cooperation by NYT management in answering his questions on the decision to disclose the NSA intercept program. Last week, my colleague Evan Kohlmann termed the administration's execution of the program "arrogant and bumbling." In light of Mr. Calame's column, those terms might be equally applicable to the NYT's reporting decision. See selected excerpts of the column below:

Dis-Strib-Ute -- [Peace like a River]
In the Sunday paper today, the Star Tribune provided its customers yet another fair, balanced, informative look at the situation in Iraq. (I know a sarcastic tone of voice doesn't translate well in this medium, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit.)

Now, in fairness to the Strib, the article is from the Associated Press. (Are we sure AP doesn't stand for Against Progress? All Putrid?) Still, I doubt the Strib just took the article off the wires and blindly threw it unread into the paper.

Sunset near Ad Diwaniyah -- [Iraq Calling - in Iraq]
I continue to be baffled by the media coverage of Iraq and the US government's inability to break through in getting the message out that the juggernaut of progress is moving in Iraq. The media is a strategic battleground and the target is primarily the American public. The insurgents still believe that they can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with the right mix of made for TV bombings and killings. That is their strategic focus, not to hold any significant piece of territory or gain public support for their cause. They believe the fulcrum is American public opinion. If they can just keep up the metrics like number of attacks per day or number of "collaborators" killed, the Americans will pack up and go home. On a parallel track they seek to slow rebuilding and any deviation from their plan for Iraq. The average Iraqi may be unhappy with American soldiers on the street but they suffer as a direct result of insurgent violence and sabotage of the economy.

ABC and CBS Revive Fears of Impending “Civil War” in Iraq -- [NewsBusters]
Interviewing General Peter Pace, from Iraq, on Sunday’s This Week, fill-in host Terry Moran pressed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "One of the concerns that people have right now, post-election, is that it's one thing in a democracy to learn how to vote, it's another to learn how to lose. Are you concerned at all, and is the United States prepared, for the potential of a civil war?" Pace assured Moran that is unlikely. Later in the day, on the CBS Evening News, after Kelly Cobiella reported from Iraq on Sunni dissatisfaction with the election results, anchor John Roberts put “civil war” into play: “Are we seeing the very first signs of a potential civil war here?"

AP notices Sakra --[Winds of Change]
I see that this story on Louai Sakra (Loa'i Saqra) and his importance within al-Qaeda is finally making some serious rounds in English press, though I noted it back in August when he was captured....

US - NYT Editor Slams Own Paper -- [US NeverDock]
Glad to see someone at the New York Times speaking out.
THE New York Times's explanation of its decision to report, after what it said was a one-year delay, that the National Security Agency is eavesdropping domestically without court-approved warrants was woefully inadequate. And I have had unusual difficulty getting a better explanation for readers, despite the paper's repeated pledges of greater transparency.

On leakers and the press ... [CounterColumn]
I think the public has an interest in prosecuting leakers, but no particular interest in prosecuting reporters who report what the leakers tell them.

There's a difference, I think, between a journalist reporting information, even if that information is classified, and someone with a security clearance, in the employ of the people, who has been specifically entrusted to safeguard classified information, and who violates that trust by leaking it - whatever the motive.

The LA Times, considered -- [CounterColumn]
Don't miss Patterico's list of egregious LA Times errors, misreportings, deliberate omissions, and distortions for 2005. It is truly damning.

Media as a 5th Column ... -- [CounterColumn]
KROM is a Spanish-language radio station in San Antonio Texas. Lately, they've been taking calls from listeners tipping them off about the movements of U.S. Border Patrol officers as they do their jobs, and broadcasting the information, warning illegals to stay away.

That crap needs to stop.

MSM REPORTS ON MEDIA

Behind the Eavesdropping Story, a Loud Silence -- (New York Times)
THE New York Times's explanation of its decision to report, after what it said was a one-year delay, that the National Security Agency is eavesdropping domestically without court-approved warrants was woefully inadequate. And I have had unusual difficulty getting a better explanation for readers, despite the paper's repeated pledges of greater transparency.

For the first time since I became public editor, the executive editor and the publisher have declined to respond to my requests for information about news-related decision-making. My queries concerned the timing of the exclusive Dec. 16 article about President Bush's secret decision in the months after 9/11 to authorize the warrantless eavesdropping on Americans in the United States.

Muslim Scholars Were Paid to Aid U.S. Propaganda -- (New York Times)... DAVID S. CLOUD and JEFF GERTH
A Pentagon contractor that planted G.I. news stories also paid Sunnis in Iraq in return for assistance with its propaganda

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Giving the ultimage view from inside -- (Newsday.com)...JOSEPH MALLIA
It is sometimes said that journalism is the first draft of history. Milblogs, now, are the first draft of war.

Among thousands of pages on blackfive.net, mudvillegazette.com and milblogging.com are glimpses of the intensity of war and the desire to write about it, in real time.

"War makes us want to share our stories, and that's true whether it's letters sent during the Civil War, or the e-mails or blogs of today," said Jon Peede, director of Operation Homecoming, a National Endowment for the Arts program that gathers blogs, memoirs and letters written by troops overseas.

Winners: 2005 Milbloggies -- [MilBlogging.com]
It’s been three months since Milblogging.com debuted. 1,067 military blogs, 22 countries, 1,072 registered members, a plug on Rush Limbaugh, one action movie, and four hundred cases of Red Bull Engery Drink later, today, I’m proud to announce the winners of the 2005 MILBLOGGIES --- winners of the best military blogs on the internet. [More on the Winning banners, finalists (scroll to the bottom of this entry to view), and upcoming buzz to follow this week].

CONGRATS

MCMLXXIII -- [Resurgemus - in Alaska]
I turned 32 today. One of the outstanding young Airmen on the shift brought in some homemade carrot cake last night. Delicious.

WELCOME HOME

GUESS WHAT!? -- [Greg Notes - home from Iraq]
I AM HOME!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!! GOT HERE TODAY!!!!!! HAPPY DANCE………

So long Iraq.......... -- [Sandboxmedic - home from Iraq]
...Well like the title says I’ve left Iraq. It was getting time to move on and try something different plus I needed to get registered for classes anyways. I’m going to miss the paycheck and some of the people but overall I’m glad to be back. I owe Jean a huge thanks too for getting me back in such a timely manner- thanks!

I’m Baaack! -- [stardotstar.org - home from Iraq]
Sorry for the big delay in posting. I made it back as scheduled on the 19th of Dec. The reunion ceremony was short, which I was glad for. I quickly found Mel who was coming towards me with a kid under each arm. It was great to get a warm hug and kiss from her and the boys. The boys were a little wierded out by the 100+ men in uniform and all the chaos. Once we got home, they seemed pretty happy to have me home.

Home -- [Steven Kiel - home from Iraq]
I just got home and haven't had access to the internet for the last few weeks. I'll be responding to e-mails as soon as I can get to them.

Thanks for all of the support.

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