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

A No Comment Commentary -- [Fire and Ice]
I was with the Marine rifle company named in the Haditha incident. During the month of October 2005, up to the Iraqi constitutional referendum vote, I patrolled the streets of Haditha with them. Due to blog entries here at Fire and Ice back in October several news organizations have contacted me for comments. I had intended to make a statement here with my personal reflections, but will not do so at this time.

Clark Agrees with Murtha’ Assessment Of Haditha (VIDEO) -- [Expose the Left]
O’Reilly speaks to General Clark about Murtha and the alleged Marine incident.
O’Reilly quoting Murtha: “Don’t stick up for the military Charlie (Gibson).”
Clark: “… you know what he’s saying Bill…”
O’Reilly: “This is about Murtha saying I told ya so, it’s a bad war. It’s about him!’
Later on…

Al Anbar Province, Iraq -- [Michael Fumento - journalist embed in Iraq]
I arrived at Camp Fallujah in Iraq's Anbar Province by Blackhawk at 4 a.m. on the morning of April 13. No sooner had I lain down in my bunk than I heard the "thump, thump, thump" of outgoing artillery, five rounds in all. I later learned they were illumination rounds, probably called in to light up the area around the Iraqi Army's Observation Post 3 (OP3) in Karma, just northeast of Fallujah. It was, I was told, the largest enemy action in the area in the last eight months.

Checkpoint shooting -- [Counter Column]
Some of the leftie blogs are all aflutter over the incompetence of the troops who fired on a vehicle that ran a checkpoint - killing the occupants, one of whom was pregnant.Granted, the soldiers on the ground, and Rumsfeld personally should have been able to discern, from hundreds of meters away, that the modestly clad woman in the floor-length robes in the back seat was obviously pregnant.
Now some of them are criticizing soldiers for "not shooting out the engine block," or "not shooting out the tires."

The detritus of lives extinguished -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
As I was making my rounds today carrying out the mundane but highly technical tasks of a REMF, I chanced upon the camera gear that represents a physical connection to the last few moments of the lives of Paul Douglas and James Brolan. Their shattered equipment, which they used to record and report events in Iraq, lay broken and twisted on the floor, covered in specks of blood and pierced in various places by the shrapnel that always accompanies an IED’s concussive force in the milliseconds after the triggerman sets it off.

Wonderful Days -- [Talking Salmons - in Iraq]
This place gets to you, man. I mean it can get under your skin. It can do something to you.
Every once in a while someone pops.
"You hear about Sgt. H?" someone asked me yesterday.
"From S6?" I asked back.
"Yeah, he's gone."
"Gone?! I just saw him the other day."
"Yup, went nuts.

Coalition, Iraqi forces hinder terrorist activities -- [MNFI]
BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 31, 2006) – In separate operations this week, Coalition forces and Iraqi security forces thwarted terrorist operations aimed at derailing progress in Iraq.

Iraqis and American Soldiers: A Conversation Part 2 -- [The Real Ugly American]
part two of a series of posts featuring questions and answers from American Soldiers and Iraqis.
Sgt. Boggs: Do you have any relationships with Americans, whether soldiers
or civilians in Iraq right now?
24 Steps: Yes. I work with them daily. Civilians I mean.
Sgt. Boggs: Do Iraqis have any misconceptions about Americans that you know
about?
24 Steps: Yes. I know many Iraqis who think the Americans came to Iraq to
fight "Islam" and steal the country's wealth and also to make it easier for
Israel to grow safe in the region! You know, the traditional conspiracy
theory.
Sgt. Boggs: Would you rather America never came into Iraq in the first
place?
24 Steps: No. without that, I wouldn't be freely expressing myself and
thoughts with you now.

The incomplete cabinet. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
In the latest development regarding the shape of the cabinet, sources close to the PM Maliki told New Sabah newspaper that PM Maliki might make a decision to do a wide ministerial change in his cabinet to make space for including the Dialogue Front of Salih al-Mutlaq which formerly boycotted the government.

Low for the day: 80 degrees -- [The Desert Excursion - in Iraq]
...The only saving grace about my job is the personal interaction that I have had with the local people here. It is my fortune that I can stop and talk and even share tea with the people that have called this area home for generations (yes they drink chai here even when it's 113 degrees!) Of course I must talk through an interpreter but the rapport that I now have with the interpreters allow me hold a conversation that doesn't lay idle.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Probe finds Haditha killings unprovoked -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A preliminary military inquiry found evidence that U.S. Marines killed two dozen Iraqi civilians in an unprovoked attack in November, contradicting the troops' account, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Haditha inquiry finds false reports: -- (Washington Post)
WASHINGTON - A U.S. military inquiry into whether Marines tried to cover up the killings of Iraqi civilians in Haditha will conclude that some officers gave false reports to their superiors, who then failed to scrutinize the information, according to a newspaper report on Thursday.

Can The Military Effectively Investigate Itself? -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Mark Sappenfield
...The concerns are longstanding, but with citizens getting a fuller picture of the mechanics of warfare - both on the battlefield and off - there is pressure to ensure that Americans have confidence in their military's means of justice.

Father of Marine Backs Son's Iraq Comrades -- (AP)
EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas' bedroom is nothing short of a shrine to the Marine whose death in an Iraqi roadside explosion preceded a firefight that now is the focus of a criminal investigation....

A Town Awoke To Slaughter -- (Los Angeles Times)...Megan K. Stack and Raheem Salman
Iraqis say Marines went house to house killing Haditha residents. 'I wish I had died with them,' says a child who saw her family slain.

Premier Pledges Iron Fist To Crush The Death Squads -- (London Times)...Ned Parker
...Last night the 4th division of the Iraqi Army was ordered to Iraq’s second city, along with hundreds of police with sweeping powers to set up checkpoints, stop cars, make arrests without warrants and conduct searches of houses. General George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq, told The Times that Shia insurgent groups have escalated their violence against US and British forces and said he detected an Iranian hand at play.

State of Emergency Declared in Basra, Iraq -- (AP)
BASRA, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's prime minister declared a state of emergency Wednesday in once peaceful and oil-rich Basra, as the sectarian and militia violence engulfing the country's capital spread to its southern economic heartland. In his first major policy speech since his government was sworn in May 20, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki vowed to restore security in Iraq as attacks around the country claimed 25 lives and wounded dozens.

Early Pullout Called 'Flippin' Nightmare' -- (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)...Ken Herman
As car bombings and other attacks killed at least 54 people Tuesday across Iraq, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who has criticized the conduct of the war, said Tuesday the country would deteriorate into a "flippin' nightmare" if U.S. troops are withdrawn too quickly. The comment came after McCaffrey and five other Iraq experts met with President Bush in the White House.

AFGHANISTAN

Two days after the Kabul riot -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Bll Roggio - in Afghanistan]
Kabul, Afghanistan: The city of Kabul has settled down after Monday's violent outbreak that followed a traffic accident involving a runaway U.S. military vehicle and Afghan civilians. The riots were suppressed in eight hours, and the Karzai government instituted an overnight curfew, which has been extended for Wednesday night. While many businesses were closed on Tuesday (I ventured out to pick up a cell phone on Tuesday but the business was closed), there was plenty of traffic and Afghan police and army on the streets. Several long-time residents of Kabul stated today it was business as usual, and the level of security on the streets was not out of the ordinary. Today I saw the streets filled with taxis, civilian cars and bicycles, businesses and markets were open, and the entrepreneurial street vendors selling phone cards, newspapers and other items were everywhere.

Afghanistan and Canada's Repugnant Frauds -- [Celestial Junk Blog - Canadian Troop]
...After 911 our then Prime Minister Jean Chretien offered up Canadian troops for the mission in Afghanistan. He did so with bluster and hardly a second thought. And, off our men and women went, in their cammo green to the desert of brown. But, while there, they were ferried primarily in American aircraft, they were watched over by American airplanes of every description, and when injured, they were cared for and removed to safety by American pilots and crews. Some, like our famous sniper teams and JTF2 worked side by side with our American friends, and gained the respect and admiration of our allies.

They're not POW's -- [The Torch - Canadian Troop]
It seems some folks have gotten their knickers in a knot over the CF position that captured Taliban fighters aren't POW's (ht:ST).
I'm no legal beagle, but Article 4 of the Geneva Convention seems pretty clear to me. This is the relevant passage:

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

US troops shot 3 Afghans in crowd: police -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. troops fired into a crowd of stone-throwing rioters, killing at least three Afghans, as their convoy left the scene of an accident that triggered anti-American riots, Kabul's chief of highway police said on Thursday.

Arrogance of US troops fed Afghan riot -- (Dawn)
KABUL: Social frustration, anger at the arrogance of US troops and sheer criminality were fuel for the violent demonstrations that engulfed the Afghan capital, analysts said on...

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

More Stories of Fallen Al-Qaida Fighters in Iraq -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A new video recording is now available for download from the NEFA Foundation website documenting the phenomenon of foreign fighters in Iraq and their precise role within the ongoing insurgency.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

U.S. Forces Find Model for Beating Terror -- (Guardian)
HONOLULU (AP) - When the commander of U.S. Special Forces in the Philippines talks about battles won in the war on terror, he does not list enemies killed and targets destroyed.
Instead, U.S. Army Col. James Linder recounts jobs created and schools built.

Al-Qaeda's long march to war -- (Asia Times)
In recent weeks, media reports from both Iraq and Afghanistan have suggested the appearance of a slow evolution of the Islamist insurgents' tactics in the direction of the battlefield deployment of larger mujahideen units that attack "harder" facilities.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Soldiers Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader on Pundit Review Radio -- [Pundit Review]
Soldiers Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader joined us on Memorial Day weekend to tell us about her incredible organization and what we can do to support the troops both here and abroad. We also got the perspective of Matt from Blackfive on what groups like Soldiers Angels mean to the troops.
This segment is also available for download at iTunes, simply search Pundit Review Radio Podcasts.

Toby Keith. -- [Just Another Thunderhorse Roughneck - in Iraq]
Toby Keith came by our camp yesterday to perform a concert. I’m not really a county music fan but I figured I’d go ahead and check it out. I appreciate it anytime a celebrity takes time to come to the other side of the world to see us. I mainly went to listen to some music. I love listening to music, especially live music. I knew it was country but I didn’t care. He’s like one of the most popular country music artists out there and I wasn’t going to pass up the chance for a free concert.

MILITARY

Why outing Jesse Macbeth was important -- [The QandO Blog]
Jesse Macbeth is one of those fake veterans who allegedly tried to defraud the VA system. His story is told by Steve Oatney, State Service Director for AMVETS since Nov. 2005 in the Tacoma area. Steve relates the following in an email:

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Marine Corps History Getting A Higher Profile -- (Washington Post)...Stephanie McCrummen
The $140 million National Museum of the Marine Corps, a massive pyramid-like structure rising near Quantico along Interstate 95, is scheduled to open Nov. 10, a date already chiseled into its cornerstone.

POLITICS

Return of the magic hat -- [Powerline]
Preparing for another grab at the brass ring, John Kerry seeks to engage the claims of the Swift Boat veterans. In today's New York Times, the "magic hat" -- the hat that Kerry claims was tossed to him by the "special forces" (apparently Navy SEALS) he dropped off on his journey to Cambodia (formerly dated to Christmas Eve 1968, now to February 1969) -- magically reappears.

A historic election? -- [Wizbang]
It occurred to me earlier tonight that in our next presidential election, something remarkable will happen. For the first time since 1952, every single election has featured either the sitting president or sitting vice-president on the ballot.
But not this time. Bush can't run, and while technically he could, let's be honest -- Dick Cheney won't be running, either.
It will truly be an open election, on both sides.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Iraq Vet Sues Michael Moore for Misleading Interview in 'Fahrenheit 9/11' -- (Fox News)
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A double-amputee Iraq-war vet is suing Michael Moore for $85 million, claiming he recycled an old interview and used it out of context to make him appear anti-war in "Fahrenheit 9/11."
Sgt. Peter Damon, 33, who strongly supports America's invasion of Iraq, said he never agreed to be in the 2004 movie, which trashes President Bush.

THE MEDIA

Daily DimWit: We'll Not Be Having Any Erections Around Here.... -- [Villianous Company]
Headline of the Day. We're not worthy.
Helen Thomas is finding those White House press conferences tough going these days:

The New York Times urges unilateralism -- [TigerHawk]
Could the New York Times be any more silly than in its editorializing about Iran?
Wednesday morning, the Times urged the United States to abandon the quaint idea that it should work through either the United Nations or our "European allies." In an editorial titled "Iran wants to talk," the Grey Lady said that Iran wanted to negotiated with the United States, but "Washington, perversely, seems uninterested," owing to the Bush administration's "stubborn resistance." The Times does not, apparently, think that the mechanisms of international law or cooperative negotiations with our allies are going to work, so we should deal with Iran on our own, and then hope that they all sign up for a deal they had no hand in negotiating. It is extremely peculiar reasoning.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Military blog study -- [In Iraq for 365]
Just in case you didn't know that military blogs were influential, read this: Don’t tread on my blog: A study of military web logs. It's a study from the University of Oklahoma about milblogs. They used information from several of my posts and other bloggers I know. It basically examines how blogs affect strategic decisions and whether readers like blogs more than newspapers.

WELCOME HOME

Welcome Home LCpl Ben Lunak! -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
On Friday, June 2 LCpl Ben Lunak will be awarded the Purple Heart in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He returned home two weeks ago for the first time since last October.
The 22-year-old Marine was injured by an IED in Iraq in late February and has been recuperating at Walter Reed since then.