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

The View From Al Qaeda -- [Strategy Page]
January 10, 2006: The al Qaeda reaction to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq was interesting. Al Qaeda declared that this was a sign that the terrorists were winning. The terrorists are in need of a morale boost, for they have been losing the military and, more importantly, the media war, for some time now. Chatter on some pro-terrorist websites even suggests that maybe attacking the United States was not such a good idea, and perhaps the war should be kept within the Islamic family (or nations) until all Moslems can be united. Then go after the infidels. The reasoning here was that 911 just pissed the Americans off, and, gee, four years later, they don’t seem to be getting tired of chasing Islamic terrorists all over the place, and killing them.

Reflection on 1862 - War critics offer nothing new in 2006.-- [VDH's Private Papers] HT: Way Down In Kosovo
Lincoln was as good as his word, finally getting rid of McClellan and putting in charge U. S. “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, who like the President understood the tragic nature of war, what Lincoln called the “terrible arithmetic”: killing some today so that more don’t die tomorrow. We, on the other hand, demand that the “rough angles of war” be smoothed away, believe that “lighter blows” are preferable to decisive heavy ones, pretend that we really don’t have to kill some today because we’re ready to gamble that more won’t die tomorrow, and are eager to abandon the struggle because the tragic, eternal realities of conflict disturb our psychic well-being.

This is the difference between 1862 and 2006 that offers little comfort, for we are facing a jihadist enemy fanatical in his devotion to his cause and counting precisely on our failure of nerve to compensate for his military weakness.

Monday, January 09, 2006 -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Some other friends ask what would happen if U.S. troops withdraw hastily. I still think the scenario that I have painted then remains valid. One remark that creep Al Zawahiri made in his latest video, which was aired on that favorite Network of the terrorists, the Qatari Al Jazeera, has some truth in it, he said something to this effect: “If the United States with its mighty capabilities and its Warplanes, tanks etc. could not defeat the “Mujahideen”, how could the army of “the agents and hypocrites” (as he called the Iraqi Forces) be able to do that on their own.”
...the point I was trying to make, in the hope that it might reach some people who are in the decision-making circles. For my part, I remain utterly convinced, that it is in the profound interest of our country and people and their future, to forge a lasting strategic alliance with U.S.; and that the Super Power can render a most needed help and protection to forge the kind of future that we are dreaming of.

Iraqi Police Foil Suicide Attack -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2006 – Iraqi police pre-empted two suicide bombers today and a French hostage was rescued over the weekend

Back Into the Goo -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Marines have started to call being out in the field close to the fight the "goo". Jarheads stuck inside the wire in support activities are chided by those outside as "leaf eaters"; the guys out in the "goo" being "meat eaters". Well, I'm sharpening my canines and packing up my gear for a trip out to the sticky parts. Later tonight the dark figure of an embark Marine, with a blue chem stick in hand and night vision goggles, will lead myself and a few others into the back of a darkened helicopter "turning and burning" on the camp's makeshift airstrip. The helo's crewchief will quickly take note of the final destination penned with an indelible marker on the back of our left hands, and point us to our seats. We'll carefully move up the back ramp slick from hydraulic fluid and engine oil, drop our packs, insure our rifles are muzzle down and strap ourselves in.

Change for the Better -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
I recently posted a picture of Samir, one of our translators. Samir helps in a number of faculties around our area though.
... I had my camera and was taking pictures of the sites. A young Iraqi soldier asked if he could take a picture with me. I said sure and handed my camera to Samir. We showed the soldier the picture of the two of us. He immediately asked Samir how he can get a copy of the photograph. I said I had no problem emailing it. Samir asked the soldier what his email address is. Through translation, I believe his response went something like this, "Email? What is email?". He didn't know what it was and certainly didn't have an address yet. Samir's response, "Soon you will have it all, brother."

Great-grandmother Returns from Iraq -- [Defense Link]
Folks in Oklahoma are readjusting to an image not typically associated with the global war on terrorism, a 73-year old great-grandmother just back from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lena Haddix, a native of Lawton, has spent the last six months in full battle armor helping troops find snacks, shampoo and other American products at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Post Exchange/Base Exchange in Camp Liberty, Iraq.

Georgia Guard Troops Help Ailing Iraqi Teen -- [Defense Link]
In the middle of a country where medical care is tough to come by, a new bond was recently forged between Georgia’s Army National Guard soldiers and local Iraqi citizens. Ibitisam Hameed Kassar, a 17-year-old Iraqi girl from the An Nasiriyah area, was born with a rare blood vessel disorder called pulmonary hypertension.

"Happy Gear" -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
...I think there is a fine line between having tons of armor on and being totally protected and not being able to maneuver, thus compromising the security and safety of yourself, your team and the mission. I wanted protection so that I could make it back home to my family but I believe that if it's your time to go, it's your time to go and there's nothing you can do about it.

Some of the 101st agree with me:

The Way It Is -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
In Iraq, America is not fighting a traditional war. There will never be a declaration of surrender signed by our enemy conceding their defeat. Understand this...this war will not end with signatures. I say this for many reasons, but foremost is because our enemy has no true leader. Sure, they have cave-dwellers who claim to be in charge, but these cowards understand that their minions will not cease their campaign of terror simply because they have signed a document. We are fighting a war of counter-insurgency...the most difficult, and I would argue the most misunderstood and complex type of war that exists in modern times.

07 January 2006 -- Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
A plume of smoke surrounds a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division conduct an aerial assessment of an oil pipeline fire outside Forward Operating Base McHenry. Elements of the 101st Airborne Division are deployed to Iraq from Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Most Photographed War in History -- [Strategy Page]
January 10, 2006: The Iraq war is probably the most photographed war in history. That is largely thanks to digital cameras, and troop access to the Internet. In Iraq, and most parts of Afghanistan, troops can get daily access to email. That’s the combination that has created a flood of photos from the front. Daily emails to and from home, which result in requests for photos, got the flood going, and keeps it going. The digital cameras, of course, need no film or developing, so the troops attach each days digital pictures to their emails. In some units, commanders have had to limit the amount (in megabytes) of digital pictures being emailed back home, because on some nights, they clogged the relatively narrow pipe the troops used to access the net.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Kurds tap Talabani for Iraqi presidency -- (ABC News Online)
| Iraq's powerful Kurdish Alliance has nominated Jalal Talabani to be the country's president for a second term. | "We had a meeting yesterday and we agreed to nominate President Talabani to one of th...

'Hearts and Minds' in Iraq -- (Washington Post)
As History Shows, Ideas Matter More Than Who Pays to Promote Them
Once again we are confronted with stories about how the Pentagon and its ubiquitous private contractors are undermining free inquiry in Iraq. "Muslim Scholars Were Paid to Aid U.S. Propaganda," reports the New York Times. Journalists, intellectuals or clerics taking money from Uncle Sam or, in this case, a Washington-based public relations company, is seen as morally troubling and counterproductive. Sensible Muslims obviously would not want to listen to the advice of an American-paid consultant; anti-insurgent Sunni clerics can now all be slurred as corrupt stooges.

Calling A Truce In D.C.'s Iraq War -- (Los Angeles Times)...Leon Fuerth
The terms: Democrats would support Bush for six months in return for a little honesty.

America is going to lose this war -- (Aljazeera.Net)...Sandy Shanks
...For the first time I greatly fear the outcome of this war. Bush's address to the Annapolis audience creates the identical scenario - overstating our ally's capabilities while underestimating the abilities of our antagonists - that many experienced during the Vietnamese war.

For the very first time, realisation is setting in that this war could be lost. Such a fate would be as a direct result of the actions of the president who put the troops there in the first place.

Only to lose. The pure irony of this impending defeat is that it is not being caused by the withdraw-now crowd or the more moderate set-a-timetable bunch, both of which draws the ire of Bush, Cheney, and company, but it is being caused by Bush, Cheney, and company

'Bremer called for more troops in Iraq' -- (The News International)
| WASHINGTON: The Pentagon acknowledged on Monday that Paul Bremer, the former US occupation chief in Iraq, warned in May 2004 that more US troops were needed to secure Iraq, but it said the US milita...

Pentagon Rejected Bremer's Call for Troops -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pentagon officials acknowledged Monday that Paul Bremer, the senior U.S. official in Iraq during the first year of the war, told Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in May 2004 that a far larger number of U.S. troops were needed to effectively fight the insurgency but his advice was rejected....

‘US should rebuild Iraq’ -- (The News International)
BAGHDAD: The United States should pledge more money to help rebuild Iraq’s war-torn infrastructure after current funds dry up later this year, a visiting US senator said late on Thursday. Jack Reed, a senator from the minority Democratic Party, said President George W Bush’s administration had indicated it was not ready to pledge extra cash on top of some 18 billion dollars already allocated for reconstruction and other projects in the country.

Iraq Celebrates Four-Day Festival of Eid -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A Sunni Arab politician giving a holiday sermon Tuesday denounced a suicide bomb attack on a Shiite mosque last week that killed more than 60 people but said "Iraqis would live as brothers" if the occupier - the U.S. led coalition - left Iraq....

Iraqi Police Seek Kidnapped U.S. Reporter-- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi police were searching Monday for an American journalist who was kidnapped over the weekend when gunmen ambushed her car and killed her translator in western Baghdad. Jill Carroll, 28, a freelance reporter on assignment for The Christian Science Monitor, was seized Saturday in the al-Adel area, a Sunni Arab neighborhood and one of the capital's most dangerous. Police said she went there to meet a Sunni Arab politician.

Iraq oil minister returns to job -- (The News International)
| BAGHDAD: Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum who last month said he was resigning his job in protest at fuel price hikes has returned to his post, the government said on Monday.

Iraq war ‘could cost US $2 trillion’ -- (Bahrain Tribune /Guardian)
Washington (guardian) | The real cost to America of the Iraq war is likely to be between $1 trillion and $2 trillion, up to 10 times more than previously thought, accordi...

Impeach Blair on Iraq, says general -- (The Guardian)
A former general has called for impeachment proceedings against Tony Blair, accusing the prime minister of misleading parliament and the public over the invasion of Iraq. | General Sir Michael Rose

AFGHANISTAN

Steven Emerson: Al Qaeda & the Taliban "Resurrect" Themselves -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Appearing on Fox News Channel this morning, Steven Emerson discussed the comeback of Al Qaeda in the Middle East and the Taliban in Afghanistan, with the latter profiting from the Afghan drug trade (see Robert Charles' post related to that subject). Quotes: "Over the past year, there has been a quantum rise in the number of attacks, suicide bombings, and the introduction of the Taliban within Afghanistan as well as the introduction of Al Qaeda throughout the Middle East - not just in Iraq, by the way, but also as far away as Gaza and Lebanon. So we're seeing Al Qaeda resurrect itself throughout the Middle East now in the past year...

Afghan Soldiers Learn to Maintain Medium Tactical Vehicles -- [Defense Link]
The Afghan National Army met another milestone recently when 19 soldiers graduated from the medium tactical vehicle familiarization course held at the German maintenance facility.

Afghan National Army students get familiar with the new International Trucks medium tactical vehicle facility during a course that focused on safety and maintenance. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mason T. Lowery, USA

ANA soldiers who completed the weeklong training will train fellow soldiers in their respective kandaks, or units.

Another short article I did for another blog; Pak Story -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Hi all,
Sorry I have been out of the forum for the last year now. I just returned from Pakistan after helping quake victims. I was quite an effort for all involved. Since my unit was the closest one to the epicenter. (Its only a 2 hour flight by helicopter to Islamabad from here in Afghanistan) The American, Brit, Japan, Korea, Paki and Afghani military spent the first month after the earth quake hauling supplies into the mountains and back hauling the sick and wounded. It was very rewarding and hard work, and thank fully so, if I was not so busy I would have had to much time to think about the destruction death and sadness all around us. Nothing worse than seeing a small child missing a leg or arm. The devastation was so overwhelming all you could do was keep at it day after day and just try and help anyone.

Kabul People Support the Removing of Security Barriers -- [Afghan Warrior - Afghani in Afghanistan]
The people of the capital Kabul support the decision of their government regarding the removal of the security barriers from the streets of Kabul. These barriers create a huge traffic congestion in Kabul, which the people of Kabul have been complaining about for the last 3 years via radio and TV. They say that Kabul belongs to the people of Kabul and it is not up to others to block its road and footpaths.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: AUSTRALIA SENDS 110 MORE TROOPS -- (AKI)
Sydney, 10 Jan. (AKI) - Australia is set to dispatch a further 110 troops to Afghanistan - adding to its contingent of 190 that arrived in the country last September - Australia's defence minster Robert Hill announced on Tuesday. The decision follows a request by Afghan president Amid Kharzai for more military support. Afghanistan is facing a renewed offensive by Taliban fighters in the south of the country, an area which is being vacated by US troops who are leaving the country. NATO is also seeking to increase its troop presence in the country to compensate for the American departure

Karzai invites Mulla Omar for talks -- (The News International)
KABUL: President Hamid Karzai on Sunday invited Taliban leader Mulla Omar to reconcile with the government, but said he thinks the fugitive won't come out of hiding and suicide attacks will continue...

Assailants kill eight Pakistani security forces in attack near Afghan border -- (Canadian Press)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Assailants armed with rockets and assault rifles attacked a newly built checkpoint near the Afghan border in Pakistan before dawn Saturday, killing all eight security forces, officials said.

Protest lodged with US-led forces in Afghanistan -- (Dawn)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with US-led forces in Afghanistan after a cross-border firing incident over the weekend in which had claimed eight lives...

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

IRAN - More Planes Falling Out of the Sky? -- [Rocket's Brain Trust]
OK - Good news?

I just posted a comment over at Roger L. Simon's re Ledeen's NRO article. Here's an excerpt on a related Iranian thread on the planes falling out of the sky in Iran.

Anyone taking notice of the planes "falling" out of the sky lately in Iran? First there was the plane of Iranian journalists and now a plane carrying top generals in the revolutionary guard (See Winds of Change)

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iran provokes West by resuming nuclear research -- (Reuters)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran removed U.N. seals at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant and resumed research on nuclear fuel on Tuesday, drawing sharp Western criticism but no immediate threats of punitive action.

Israel Agrees to Permit Palestinian Voting -- (AP)
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Tuesday said Israel will permit Arab residents of Jerusalem to vote in upcoming Palestinian elections - a key step toward resolving a standoff that had threatened to derail the balloting....

TERRORISM / WAR ON TERROR

Saddam's Terror Training Camps -- [Open Fire]
During the 1990's no one every really questioned Iraq's ties to terrorism. Clinton would bomb Iraq, and rightly so, while so-called peace activists, the UN and the entire world community would complain little. The news media would provide cover for Clinton by running stories about Saddam's ties to terrorism. ABC News would in fact run a special report linking BIN LADEN TO SADDAM (mp3 available). Only after the invasion of Iraq and toppling Saddam in 2003 under President Bush did it suddenly become apparent to those left-of-center that Saddam was innocent in regards to Islamic terrorism.

The elephant in the room -- [Peace like a River]
...As I wrote about here, lately Hayes has been trying to obtain documents from a vast cache of documents retrieved by the US in the wake of the invasion of Iraq, and now in the control of the Pentagon. The great majority of these documents remain untranslated. Even the very titles of some of these documents hint at undeniable connections between Hussein, terrorism and even Al Qaeda.
...Certainly the blogs are discussing this, but there's one thing that some may miss, and that's this.

Saudi Arabia contributing to the expansion of terrorism -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
This according to Quinnan Al Ghamdi in a recent column in Al Watan. Here's a rundown of Al Ghamdi's points:

. He criticizes the use by some of the expression “Conquest of Manhattan” to describe the 9/11 attacks.
· He acknowledges that the fanatical ideology used by terrorists is still alive and kicking in Saudi society. It has infiltrated schools, universities, offices, administrations as much among women and men.
· We haven’t done anything to eradicate this sickness except arresting terrorists. All the speeches against the fanatical ideology have been vague general statements, which actually encourage extremism and give birth to new fanatics.

AL-QAEDA HIV BOMBERS -- [Open Fire]
Cindy Sheehan's "freedom fighters" that killed her son might start taking advantage of people infected with HIV. This is nothing new. I remember reading reports years ago about HIV infected suicide bombers being used in Israel.

MSM REPORTS ON TERRORISM

Zarqawi: Bin Laden Ordered Katyushas -- (Jerusalem Post)...Margot Dudkevitch
In a video broadcast on an internet web site, the leader of the anti-US insurgency in Iraq, Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi, claimed Monday that Osama bin Laden ordered the latest firing of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon into Israel last month.

Spain arrests 17 Islamist suspects: radio -- (Reuters)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police arrested 17 people on Tuesday suspected of helping recruit Islamist militants to carry out attacks in Iraq, Spanish state radio reported.

Terrorism threat worse in wake of Iraq war: (ABC News Online)
The Federal Opposition says allegations that terrorists are attempting to recruit members in Australia show the terrorism threat in Australia has worsened.

Authorities are investigating claims Al Qaeda members are operating in Sydney, seeking supporters and donations.

Daniel Pearl and the body of evidence -- [HindustanTimes]
...To find out the truth about 9/11, the brutal murder of Pearl , the London explosions, the violent anti-US demonstrations in Afghanistan and many other incidents, it is important to have Omar Sheikh brought out of Pakistan and interrogated by independent non-Pakistani investigators.

Since 9/11, Musharraf has, without a moment’s hesitation, co-operated in the rendition to the US of many brutal terrorists from Pakistan. According to one estimate, about 300 Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists and terrorist suspects had been flown out of Pakistan by the CIA, with the help of Musharraf. The more prominent among them were Abu Zubaidah, Ramzi Binalshibh, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and Abu Faraj al-Libbi. According to Musharraf’s own statements, Abu Faraj was the Al Qaeda mastermind of the two attempts to have him (Musharraf) assassinated in December, 2003. One would have, therefore, expected Musharraf to

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

2006 Budget Increases Pay, Benefits -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2006 – President Bush ushered in an across-the-board 3.1 percent military pay raise, effective Jan. 1, and a variety of other new or enhanced benefits for servicemembers and their families when he signed the 2006 National Defense Authorization Bill into law Jan. 6. In addition to a pay raise that's a half percent higher than the average private-sector increase, the new budget provides about 20 new or increased bonuses or special pays or benefits

Action-Packed Friday Evening at WR -- [Soldiers' Angels - Germany]
Marine's parents hang supportive sign on WR fence which is removed by CodePink protestors because it is on "their" side of the street.

CodePink protestors get busted for stealing sign because said fence happens to be US Government property. Evidence of the theft is caught on video.

MILITARY

Body Armor - [Neptunus Lex]
Just between you, me and the lamppost, it’d be hard to find an individual in the military less qualified to speak on the topic of body armor than your correspondent. We didn’t much go in for it, in the TACAIR community, trusting instead to speed of horse and maneuver, high technology and low cunning.

And yet, when I read this article in the NYT last week, claiming that:

Hello again -- [John in Iraq]
I was going to do away with the blog after I got home from Iraq but I cant seem to do it I guess I just have to much time and work invested in it to just close it down
...I decided the civillian life is just a life not ment for me and my friends and family can see I am only happy when I have a uniform on so I decided to go talk to a active army recruiter and set up a deal with him I lucked out the 116th national guard cav brigade is going to release me from service to go active duty but the best part was the recruiter told me if I wanted to and could pass a diagnostic pt test he could get me a Ranger contract so i would enter active duty and ship from here straight to ranger school.. A few days ago I was notified by my recruiter that my contract had been accepted by the Active Army and as soon as my papers were back from my national guard brigade they could get me a ship date for Ranger school in ft.benning GA I am looking forward to it and told the recruiter I would sign a 23 year contract if they wanted me to.. My dad told me some people were meant to push papers and some were meant to drive trucks and that very few of us were meant to wear a uniform he said he had no doubt in his mind I was one of those people meant to wear a uniform and serve my country.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Armor G.I.s Better - Hil -- (New York Daily News)...Associated Press
Sen. Hillary Clinton urged Congress yesterday to reexamine the Pentagon's standards for soldiers' body armor in Iraq, after a new study found most fatal torso wounds to Marines would have been prevented or minimized with more protection.

Seoul Paid 40% Of USFK Cost In 2002 -- (Korea Times)...Yonhap
South Korea contributed $843.11 million toward the cost of having United States military forces stationed on the peninsula in 2002, about 40 percent of the total expense, according to a recent Defense Ministry report.

Fasting Chaplain Declares Victory -- (Washington Post)
Navy Denies That He Couldn't Pray In Jesus's Name
A Navy chaplain who had been on an 18-day hunger strike resumed eating Saturday and reported for duty yesterday at the base chapel in Norfolk, saying he had finally wrung from the Navy the right to pray publicly in the name of Jesus.

Penalties Eyed For No-Show Reservists -- (Miami Herald)...Robert Burns, Associated Press
The Army took initial steps Monday to expel dozens of reservists who failed to report for active duty, in effect warning hundreds of others that they too could be penalized if they don't heed orders to return to active service.

POLITICS

A Slap at Bloggers Concerning Duckworth's Run for Congress -- [Andi's World]
Major Tammy Duckworth has officially declared her candidacy for Congress representing Illinois' 6th district, but she will face a primary challenge. Duckworth, a Major in the Illinois National Guard, almost lost her life while co-piloting a Blackhawk over the skies of Iraq. The chopper was struck by an RPG and ripped through her body leaving her a double amputee. Somewhat surprisingly, Duckworth is running as a Democrat. Surprising because the armed services lean heavily republican.

Kennedy: “Alito’s Record Troubles Me Deeply” -- [Stop the ACLU]
Oh brother! Kennedy troubles me deeply! I didn’t get to hear everyone’s remarks, but I was unfortunate enough to catch Senator Kennedy’s. This alcholic lush gets on my nerves more than Dean and Polosi put together!

Burns Out/Rehberg In? -- [Ankle Biting Pundits]
Considering the fact that Sen. Conrad Burns from Montana was below 50% in the pre-Abramoff "I'm guilty" ballot question, word is now spreading like wildfire inside Washington, DC that Burns will soon announce his retirement.

A source on Capitol Hill tells me that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is polling feverishly to see if the Senate seat is salvagable should Burns seek re-election.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Senators Begin Questioning Alito -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The battle lines are clear for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito: Moderates and liberals want him to repudiate his work for the Reagan administration while conservatives urge him to hold his ground - or his tongue - on issues that could provoke a Democratic filibuster. On Tuesday, the second day of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, "we get down to business," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat

THE MEDIA

This story, as reported, is shocking and should result in an immediate investigation. -- [Confederate Yankee]
There is the distinct possibility that everything Dr. Fadhil says is accurate, at which point Central Command will have some serious explaining to do.

But as of the time I’m writing this article, every single post being written about this story comes from testimony provided by Dr. Fadhil himself in the Guardian, with no other witness testimony, or physical evidence provided to back his contentions. In addition, some of his charges do not seem to square with American tactics.

His case, as published, is thin.

The Guardian article has no concurring witnesses. In a city of 2 million, no one else heard shots or saw them enter Fadhil’s home?

MSM REPORTS ON MEDIA

Russert Resisted Testifying on Leak -- (Washington Post)
Lawyers for NBC News reporter Tim Russert suspected in the spring of 2004 that his testimony could snare Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, in a lie and Russert resisted testifying at the time about private conversations with Libby, according to court papers released yesterday.

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