Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.

IRAQ

U.S. Finds Major Weapons Cache in Iraq -- (Breitbart.com)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. officers said Monday they had discovered a factory for assembling sophisticated roadside bombs from Iranian-made components _ the first such facility uncovered in a religiously mixed province north of Baghdad.
The officers, who displayed weapons for reporters at a U.S. base in the capital, said the find provides more evidence that the Iranians are providing weapons used to kill Americans.

Sectarian Executions Drop in Baghdad -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Execution-style killings have fallen sharply in Baghdad since the security crackdown began this month, the No. 2 U.S. commander said Tuesday.

News On the Surge From a Family in Baghdad -- [Gateway Pundit]
The surge in Bahgdad is going better that expected according to one Iraqi family living in Baghdad.
US Army captain Clayton Combs inspects a major arms cache his unit found near the Shiite village of Jadidah. US troops in Iraq have found a huge cache of weapons and material to make deadly armour-piercing bombs of a type Iran has allegedly smuggled to Shiite militias.(AFP/Ali Al-Saad)
The following is a Haider Ajina translation of a news article from Iraq’s "Alsabah Aljadeed" or "New Sabah"

Iraqi Army detains 16 suspects during operations against rogue JAM -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Special Iraqi Army Forces detained 16 suspected militiamen during operations Feb. 27 with Coalition advisers in Sadr City targeting the leadership of several rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi cells operating against Iraqi civilians.
Iraqi forces targeted several individuals who allegedly control multiple rogue JAM cells and illegally direct and perpetrate sectarian murder, torture and kidnapping. The wanted individuals are reported to operate out of Sadr City and are linked to attacks on Coalition Forces and the supply of weapons and munitions which support continued rogue JAM violence.

Iraqi business restoration progressing -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD— A Defense Department official Monday discussed the ongoing work to improve Iraq’s business and economic stability during at press conference at the Combined Press Information Center here.

Coalition Forces in Iraq Still Finding Foreign Aid For Terrorists in Recent Captures -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Captures in Iraq in recent days highlight the continued prevalence of foreign fighters and funding for Al Qaeda and other terrorists from Iraq's "neighbors" in the Muslim world. Today, according to a Defense Department press release, coalition forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir in Baghdad, three "suspected foreign terrorist facilitators" in operations near Samarra, and eight more in "a foreign fighter safe house" west of Mahmudiyah.

Iraqi Police take back Hit -- [Marine Corps News]
In yet another step toward Iraqi sovereignty, U.S. Army soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, recently teamed up with Iraqi Security Forces here for Operation Shurta Nasir (Police Victory). Unlike previous operations, this one was...

Iraqi Cabinet Approves Oil Revenue Sharing -- [Captain's Quarters]
The plan recently approved by the Kurds to split the oil revenue of Iraq with the Sunnis won approval from the Iraqi cabinet. It now faces debate in the National Assembly, whose final approval will resolve one of the toughest issues in post-war Iraq and one that has helped fan the flames of the insurgencies:

SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA EMIR, ELEVEN OTHERS DETAINED IN RAIDS THROUGHOUT IRAQ -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 12 suspected terrorists including a suspected Al-Qaeda in Iraq emir during raids Tuesday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and three of his associates. Based on intelligence reports, these suspects are allegedly involved in the production of improvised explosive devices.

Insurgents thinking bigger in attacks -- [Air Force Times]
BAGHDAD — Troops from Maj. Jeremy Siegrist’s battalion were following up a tip recently when they came across something odd: two restaurant-sized freezers sitting in the middle of a palm grove.

The Surge: It's Effective... Almost... Too Effective -- [Ace of Spades]
That's a bit of snark for Time Magazine, which headlined the story about the dramatic drop in violence in Baghdad thus:
It's Quiet In Baghdad. Too Quiet.
...and went on to lard up their article with a lot of quotes from troops about how scary the quiet was. Well, I'm sure they did find it a little unnerving, given their expectations of constant shooting and explosives. But Time Magazine didn't see fit to include a quote from one of the soldiers, which one of them certainly must have said: "Sure, it's kind of scary... but it's a lot less scary than being shot at every few hours."

U.S. troops to forgo training in rush to Iraq -- (CNN)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rushed by President Bush's decision to reinforce Baghdad with thousands more U.S. troops, two Army combat brigades are skipping their usual session at the Army's special training range in California.
They are now making preparations to leave their home bases.
Some in Congress and others outside the Army are beginning to question whether that decision means the Army is cutting corners in preparing soldiers for combat.

AFGHANISTAN

Cheney Targeted by Suicide Bomb -- [Jawa Report]
(Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan) From an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Mullah Hayat Khan said, "We wanted to target ... Cheney." Fortunately, the Taliban was unsuccessful.

Taliban 'knew of Cheney visit' -- (News24)
Islamabad - A suicide attack at an Afghan air base where US vice-president Dick Cheney was staying shows that the Taliban and al-Qaeda have penetrated local intelligence agencies, analysts and officials said.

British in Afghanistan: "We do not use the word 'win'" -- [Jihadi Watch]
"Officials say the new tactics are to identify 'Talibs who are sick of fighting' and persuade them to rejoin their tribes and benefit from the human rights laws and state structures being set up in the country." Good luck with that, but it is certain to come up against the objection that such things are "un-Islamic." But that is territory that neither the British nor any other Western powers wishes to venture into.

Hey?! Knock it off! -- [Miserable Donuts]
Bomb...in a shipping container near Bagram (bonus quote from my friend Kabir Ahmad!). Yeah, while a good way to transport it to BAF, you'd never get it on base. So this looks like someone taking a poke at the front gate area:

Tribal Power Struggle At The Center of it All -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Afghanistan is trying to get Pakistan to agree to arm and support tribal chiefs, to go after the Taliban, al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups. The traditional tribal chiefs have lost power over the last two decades, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as younger, less well-connected, men have used force to establish themselves as warlords. Many of these lads are Taliban warlords. Pakistan is reluctant to give the tribal chiefs guns and legal authority to enforce the law, because getting that kind of power back is very difficult. But for the tribesmen, the traditional leaders (the older guys with more wisdom and experience) are preferable to the warlords (the younger guys with more guns and greed).

CLOTHING DRIVE INFO -- [Afghanistan JAG - in Afghanistan]
Thanks to everyone who has so generously agreed to help with our clothing drive! We are trying to determine the amount of clothes that are being sent so we can determine the best way to distribute and decide on which village to go to first.

A Hero -- [Task Force Phoenix 5 - in Afghanistan]
...Saturday we had a big HA drop at a Kindergarten in Polacharkee. We handed out over 200 bags of clothes and shoes and 150 backpacks filled with school supplies. So far all the shoe money I have collected has been spent on shoes and we have bought over 400 pairs and when I get back I plan on buying about 300 to 400 more!!! I’m so happy everyone has helped out so much and I appreciate it SO SO much, thank you. Also some of the money has been used to buy medical supplies for our MedCaps. We spend about 600-700 dollars every time we have a MedCap and that is all from donations from large companies or individuals back in Oklahoma. But since we have been doing so well with the Afghan Children’s Fund we started using some of that money since we were running very low on funds for the MedCaps.

Love is in the Air -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue]
I asked Wali about children, and whether it was a shame for a couple not to have kids.

“Yes, it is very important for a couple to have children. If they can’t, then they both go to a doctor to see if either has a medical problem. If the wife has a problem, then the husband may marry again so that his second wife may bear him children. However, it is not fair to the woman. If the man has the problem, she is not allowed to have a second husband. It is not fair to her. She should be able to have children.”

...Although a devout Muslim, Wali sometimes expresses more progressive views like this. However, never doubt his devotion to Islam. That is very evident from discussions with him.

I nodded. “Sure, if it’s so important, why shouldn’t she have the same rights as a man?”

Wali replied. “Many things that seem unfair are because of our culture, not because of Islam.” This reminded me of Hamid’s protestations earlier. Bad things came from Afghanistan, not Islam.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Wartime Control Delayed to 2012 -- [GI Korea]
I sure hope this isn’t true:
South Korea will reclaim wartime operational control of its forces from the United States as of April 17, 2012, the two countries announced Thursday.
The South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) will consequently be disbanded as of the same day, according to a joint press statement issued by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
...I have been hoping the wartime control would be resolved by January, 2010 to coincide with the Camp Humphreys relocation. If this is true the Pentagon has once again given in to Korean governmental delay tactics.

40 Days -- [Soldier of Africa - in Darfur]
As of today I have 40 Days left in the mission. In South Africa the day when a soldier has only forty days left on a deployment is significant
I believe if we want to make a difference in Darfur it starts with us. Maybe the view you have of other people is distorted because of what you have in your eye?

DARFUR: FORMER SUDANESE INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLICATED BY ICC PROBE -- (AKI)
The Hague, 28 Feb. (AKI) - The Internantional Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced on Tuesday that prosecutors have gathered evidence implicating Sudan's former interior minister Ahmad Muhammad Harun in war crimes against the local population in the African country's troubled Darfur region.

Winning the Long War -- [CDR Salamander]
In the Philippines.
Thousands of miles from the bazaars of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, U.S. military forces are quietly helping defeat terrorists in the jungles of the southern Philippines, a forgotten front in the global war on terrorism.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Cyberspace as a Combat Zone: The Phenomenon of Electronic Jihad -- [MEMRI]
Alongside military jihad, which has been gaining momentum and extracting an ever growing price from many countries around the globe, Islamists have been developing a new form of warfare, termed "electronic jihad," which is waged on the Internet. This new form of jihad was launched in recent years and is still in its early stages of development. However, as this paper will show, Islamists are fully aware of its destructive potential, and persistently strive to realize this potential.

Al-Qaeda Wanted To Kill Blair In Front Of The Queen -- [Sweetness & Light]
Tony Blair defied an assassination threat from al-Qa’eda to take part in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in central London, it can be revealed for the first time.
The risk to the Prime Minister was disclosed to a new BBC documentary by Lord Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in 2002. He positioned marksmen around Buckingham Palace in readiness for an attack by bombers or snipers.

No Terrorist Camps Along the Border, No Sir -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2007: In eastern India, Maoists killed four policemen and tore up part of the main rail line. The Maoists also managed to hold a meeting, in a remote area, of their national leadership. The leaders reorganized once again (as they have every few years since the Indian Maoists were founded in 1969) and vowed to fight on for a communist state and workers paradise.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Kids Learn History to Aid Military Families -- [GX Online]
2/26/07, Falls Church, VA — Rachel and Kelsi Okun kicked off their organization's second treasure hunt today to raise scholarship funds for military children and spouses with the help of their classmates at Haycock Elementary School. "Treasure Hunt Aiding Needs of Kids and Spouses of those serving the United States of America," or ThanksUSA, is a member of America Supports You. The DoD program highlights the ways Americans are supporting the nation's Service members.

Ironman for Fisher House -- [Soldiers Angels New York]
As part of his journey to becoming an Ironman, he is raising money and awareness for the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the families of injured American military men and women. He has decided to campaign for Fisher House because he believes the help that we can provide to these injured service members and their families is the least that we can do for them. He also wants to show our troops that there is support for them back home.

MILITARY

Military's Capability Shattering, reports Joint Chiefs Chairman -- [On Point]
Strained by the demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a significant risk that the U.S. military won't be able to quickly and fully respond to yet another crisis, according to a new report to Congress.

Disputes Over Distress Pay -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2007: A U.S. Department of Defense proposal to pay troops "distress pay" if they were sent overseas sooner than expected, has caused a vigorous debate among the brass over how far to go with what is also called "inconvenience pay." The current proposal would pay soldiers $1,000 dollars for each month of stateside time they lost because they were needed overseas sooner than expected. The U.S. Army wants to have troops at their home bases at least 24 months between overseas assignments. So if you were sent back to Iraq 20 months after getting back, you would get $4,000 for loss of "dwell time" (at your home base.)

POLITICS

America's Choice in Iraq: War or Peace -- [Talkwise]
The Democratic initiated non-binding resolution against the President’s efforts to increase troop levels in [Iraq] and the subsequent reaction amongst the presidential contenders is remarkable and at the same time troubling because it reveals a lack of seriousness on the part of our elected officials in dealing with [War] and [Peace]. Americans are probably not surprised by the pandering of the individuals in Congress however the ability of the presidential aspirants to shift their position or lack thereof one in response to perceived public sentiment is something which should cause Americans concern.

LTC Allen West May Challenge Florida Rep. Ron Klein in 2008 -- [Onion Bug]
I’ve learned through the grapevine that LTC Allen B. West, U.S. Army (Ret.) may challenge Congressman Ron Klein for Florida’s 22nd District congressional seat in 2008.
Many may remember LTC Allen West as FrontPage magazine’s 2003 Man of the Year. I know LTC Allen West to be a man of the highest integrity; he loves America and has sought to serve wherever his country has needed him. And that just may be in the U.S. House of Representatives now.

THE MEDIA

Intelligence Failures -- [Dadmanly]
Intel channels are buzzing today over Ralph Peters’ searing indictment of their community in this NY Post editorial.

He starts his critique with an anecdote of questionable import, describing how American troops “mistakenly” detained, searched and “jerked around” Amar al-Hakim, the son of the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), presumed to be a cooperative Shia partner to the US and Coalition efforts in Iraq.

MAINSTREAM MTV - THE JIHAD GENRE -- [Atlas Shrugs]
This is where it's going. In the toilet. As shocking as this is, it comes as no surprise to Atlas readers.I have been following the cultural corruption for well over a year. This is certainly part of the jihad genre illustrated here. This propaganda follows the same strategy as holocaust denial.
...Three of the most famous US rap stars, Mb Def, Immortal Technique and Eminem composed a song to denounce the September 11th lie : “ Tell the Truth, Nigga ! ”.

Exposing the GI Fifth Column -- [GI Korea]
Just when I think the American media couldn’t get any worse it does. I’m not sure if there has been a bigger piece of propaganda under the cover of investigative journalism than this week’s 60 Minutes piece on the Appeal for Redress frauds. If you have the stomach you can download the video here. Let me get everyone up to speed on what Appeal for Redress really is.

What a Difference a Day -- and an Assassination Attempt -- Makes [Andy McCarthy - The Corner]
One sobering result of the Taliban's attempt to murder Vice President Cheney in Afghanistan is that the New York Times has tamped down — at least for a day — its standard caricature of the dark, secretive Veep.
Compare the following. This is from yesterday's pre-bombing coverage of Cheney's Pakistan trip

Investment Bank Downgrades NYT Co. -- [Media Blog]
Lehman Brothers cut the New York Times Co. to underweight, saying recent cost cuts are a strong indication that management is increasingly concerned with its top line. "We remain concerned about the deteriorating top line at all three of the company's newspaper divisions," the broker said.

The NY Times Preens About Its 'Skepticism' of Govt. Claims of Iran Meddling in Iraq -- [Newsbusters]
After no huge caches of weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, the New York Times felt burnt by liberal accusations of being water-carriers for Bush in the run-up to the Iraq war -- an accusation based almost entirely on a handful of overly credulous pieces filed by former reporter Judith Miller.

These days, the Times is leaning heavily in the opposite direction, preening about how skeptical it has been about U.S. government evidence demonstrating Iran's role in providing bombs to Shiite militias in Iraq. Monday's headline makes that clear and the front-page story itself by James Glanz and Richard Oppel Jr. is hedged to the hilt: "U.S. Says Raid in Iraq Supports Claim on Iran, but Doubts Persist."

HUMOR

Friendship and Survial Part 2

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