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

By the Way: We're Not Losing -- [Austin Bay - TCS Daily]
The chattering class nostrum that Free Iraq and its coalition allies have "lost the Iraq war" is so blatantly wrong it would be a source of laughter were human life and hope-inspiring liberty not at such terrible risk.

Text of JD's Speech at the American Enterprise Institute -- [JD's Blog Outside the Wire]
Let me run through a little experiment with you. Now, no one raise their hands, but just think about this for minute.
To get home, or back to work, you have to go through those doors there. Now, lets pretend those doors may be booby trapped and the first person and anyone within 5 feet of the doors is going to get some shrapnel. But, you gotta cross the threshold. And, on the other side of the doors, there might be a guy with an RPK machine gun waiting to throw some lead at you. And down the hall, there may be a guys hiding around the corners with AK-47s. But, after all that, you make it outside, where there could be snipers. Then you make it to your car or cab, and then there is a chance someone is waiting to blow you up with an IED.
...I have concluded, based both on my experience, and the reports of other newsmen, that an unconscionable amount of what we in the press have been feeding the American public regarding the war in Iraq is fashioned by the propaganda arms of our enemies. Ba’athist kidnappers and Jihadi bombers are planning their operations not to win the war in Iraq, but to win it in America.

Iraqis take the lead -- [MNF-I]
ATH THA' ALBA — Iraqi troops captured 11 suspects during a joint cordon and search operation with Coalition forces near Ath Tha'Alba, north of Baghdad Monday.

Coalition reaching out via YouTube -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — Coalition military officials in Iraq are hoping to reach out to younger, broader audiences by posting clips of servicemembers in action on a popular video-sharing Web site.

CCCI Convicts 23 -- [MNF-I]
1 sentenced to death, 3 sentenced to life imprisonment
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) convicted 23 individuals from March 2 - 10, for violations of the Iraqi Terrorist Law, Residence Law, Penal Code, and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Orders enforced by the Iraqi judiciary. Crimes included joining an armed group to unsettle the stability and security of Iraq, possession of illegal weapons, and the illegal use of legal documents.

Iraq Report II: Enforcing the Law - (PDF) -- [Weekly Standard - dispatch from Iraq]
This report, the second in a series, describes the purpose, course, and results of Coalition operations in Baghdad during the first three weeks of Operation Enforcing the Law (also known as the Baghdad Security Plan), from General Petraeus' assumption of command on February 10, 2007, through March 5. It describes the flow of American and Iraqi forces into Baghdad; American and Iraqi command relationships; the efforts of those forces to prepare positions and develop intelligence in critical neighborhoods; the limited clearing operations that the forces already in Baghdad have conducted; and operations against the so-called Mahdi army, or Jaysh al Mahdi, in Baghdad. It describes and evaluates the apparent responses of the Jaysh al Mahdi and al Qaeda to these preparations and early operations, and highlights some of the differences between this operation and last year's offensives in Baghdad, Operations Together Forward I and II.

Good News Bad News -- [Jules Crittenden]
You’ve got your good news, you’ve got your bad news. Now, for some completely different news:
Royal Dutch/Shell announces a consortium with Turkish energy firms to bid on natural gas projects in Iraq and build pipeline from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. With Turkey on board, ticklish Turk-Kurd issues may be cleared, and if traditional insurgent-prone areas can be avoided, Stratfor posits: “With these problems addressed, the petroleum supermajors — like Shell — might be ready to tap Iraq’s reserves. The only real obstacle that remains is for the Kurds and other Iraqis to create an oil law on which they can all agree.”And for Iraq, that’s great news.
It’s also good news when ...

Who Gets to Define Victory in Iraq? -- [Strategy Page]
March 16, 2007: Trying to keep track of who is winning in Iraq is complicated by debates on questions that are not relevant. If you're going to have a war people will die and stuff will be destroyed. That's a consequence of having a war. So the issue is not "we shouldn't have a war because people will die . . . ." but "Is this war necessary." On the other side of the debate are those who argue that "national honor" is at stack or "credibility" – rather than "Is this war necessary."

The Dump -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
We went to the dump today, two of my buddies and I. A dump is a normal fixture at any base in Iraq- I've already explored scrap piles at Ramadi and Habbaniyah. Dumps interest me; I like to see what other people have no more use for. I like to put into practice the old saying: "One man's trash is another man's treasure". I've always been that way; a trip to the dump with my dad as a kid almost always ended in him trying to keep me from dragging home more trash.

HADITHA MARINE SPEAKS PUBLICLY FOR FIRST TIME: SORRY CIVILIAN DEATHS HAPPENED BUT WOULD DO IT AGAIN -- [Drudge]
He's sorry that civilians -- including women and children -- died when he and his men reacted to an attack that killed a comrade in Haditha, but Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich says today he would make the same decision that caused their deaths. Wuterich is charged with killing 18 civilians. He led three other Marines also charged with murder. His interview with Scott Pelley, the first time any of them has spoken publicly about that day, is part of a report to be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday, March 18 (7:00-8:00PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

AFGHANISTAN

ISAF: Taliban Military Commander for Garmser district killed in air strike -- [Afgha.com]
The Taliban’s deputy military commander for the Garmser district of Helmand province has been killed in an ISAF air strike conducted on March 7th in the Nawa Kalay area.

Apache Action in Afghanistan

Terrible Resolve -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue -- in Afghanistan]
...I wanted to talk some more about the national identity question. Do Afghans have a sense of national pride and identity? This can be a hard concept to explain, but I did my best, and Han understood what I was talking about. In his estimation, about 90% of Afghans think of themselves as Afghans first and have a sense of pride in their nation, while tribal identity would come second. Later on at lunch I asked Hamid the same question, and he estimated that 80% had a strong sense of national identity. I know Wali is also fiercely nationalistic and loves his country. Clearly this is not a scientific survey, but I wonder if maybe we are missing something here. As I mentioned before, we are briefed that there is a very weak national identity here, yet in my dealings with Afghans, I have not found this to be true.

Afghanistan; You Don't Know Diddly -- [Celestial Junk]
It always amazes me how distorted a picture Canadians get of the world when they rely on the Canadian media. I understand that the news cycle and space restrict what can be reported, but in some cases the press does all of us a disservice by what it doesn’t print.
The Afghan conflict is a feast for those wishing to bash the Canadian Press. Day after day, the media plays out its age-old role … which seems to be to misinform and filter truth. For instance, trying to get news about Canadians in Afghanistan these days is as hard as looking for virgins at a strip club. In essence, our Canadian press is playing a blatant game with the Canadian public and giving all those Canadians who rely on the press to form opinions, a jaded view. When bad things happen, the Canuck press is all a twitter … when things go well … the silence is deafening.

The Ghosts of War - Canada wages peace in Afghanistan

Fighting Patricias

Video tribute in honor of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry regiment fighting against Taliban forces during Operation Zahar in Penjawi Disctrict, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan in 2006

Italian journalist sends SOS -- (Pajhwok Afghan News)
KABUL, The kidnapped Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo has asked for immediate help as Taliban issued a two-day ultimatum to the the government and embassy of Italy in Kabul.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Bluff and Blunder -- [Strategy Page]
March 16, 2007: Exaggeration and posturing are a major part of Somali warfare. For example, in the last year, filled with war and revolution, cities lost and taken and invasions and governments overthrown, the death toll is estimated to be about 1,500. Somalis are not good shots, and quick to retreat if it looks like they are going to lose. None of this "fight to the last man" stuff. A lot of the "fighting" in Somalia consists of some guys firing off a few dozen bullets, and RPG or two, then spending the rest of the day bragging about it, and creating a story of fierce, but fictional, combat.

9/11 "Confession": How Real? (Updated and Bumped) -- [Danger Room]
I'm moving this post back up to the top of the pile, because there have been so many updates.
UPDATE: TalkLeft has a ton of interesting material -- 60 posts' worth -- on KSM.
UPDATE 2: Bill Roggio isn't buying the Wee-Bey theory. "KSM was implicated in the Bojinka Philippines plot – as well as the Clinton and Pope assassination attempts in the 90's...
UPDATE 2A: However, this AP story (along the Counterrorism Blog post, below) really undercuts Roggio, it seems to me. "Mohammed's claims that he was responsible for dozens of successful, foiled and imagined attacks in the past 15 years relies on a loose definition of the word 'responsible,'" according to the AP. "Officials say the 9/11 mastermind was key to some plots but a bit player in others."

Pulling Tehran's Purse Stings -- [Counterterroism Blog]
How can the United States and the international community raise the costs for Iran's continued defiance of the international community over suspension of its uranium enrichment program? What levers are likely to feed on domestic discontent and induce the regime in Tehran to abandon such objectionable and threatening activities as its sponsorship of terrorism, production and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (and the missile systems to deploy these weapons)?

The Little People -- [Strategy Page]
March 16, 2007: The UN has admitted that one of the reasons, if not the reason, that its aid programs have been allowed to remain in North Korea has been weekly cash payments to the government of about a million dollars. The cash was to go to support several UN development programs, but the UN was not allowed to audit these programs.

Myths About Russian Nuclear Stockpiles -- [Strategy Page]
March 16, 2007: The U.S. National Intelligence Council, in a recent report to Congress, admitted that they are not sure if Russian nuclear weapons, and weapons grade nuclear material, are secure from terrorists. Translation; "we don't have a clue about what's going on with the nuclear material, and believe the Russians don't either, but we are not sure, and the Russians are not being forthcoming."

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

New jihad group in Lebanon threatens attacks on U.S. -- [Jihad Watch]
"A New Face of Jihad Vows Attacks on U.S," by Souad Mekhennet and Michael Moss for the New York Times
...During a recent interview with The New York Times, Mr. Abssi displayed his makeshift training facility and his strident message that America needed to be punished for its presence in the Islamic world. “The only way to achieve our rights is by force,” he said. “This is the way America deals with us. So when the Americans feel that their lives and their economy are threatened, they will know that they should leave.”

My Congressional Testimony on Immigration Fraud and Terrorism -- [Michael Cutler - Counterterroism Blog]
I testified before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security today on the important issue of the detention of aliens seeking political asylum in the United States. I reminded the Members and public of the potential for terrorists to illegally enter the country through immigration fraud. Here is the text of my testimony:

Al Qaida Linked to Possible Korea Terror Attacks -- [GI Korea]
Via OFK, comes this news that Al Qaida mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad planned to conduct terrorist attacks against US interests in Korea:

Mastermind, My Foot -- [4 Mile Creek]
C'mon, this guy is the mastermind of all those terrorist attacks?
Clearly it was Bush Inc., not KSM.
(update-I was just joking of course, but it isn't a joke to the Lefties at Huffington. Not a single Lefty commentor believes that KSM is responsible. Not a single Lefty commentor believes that Bush is not responsible.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

New CSH in Anbar serving soldiers and "giving back to organizations that are helping us" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Task Force 3 MEDCOM is opening a new CSH (Combat Support Hospital) in Anbar province next week, providing an upgrade to previous facilities. ...
...If you'd like to help support the CSHs, Aid Stations, Surgical Units, or Medics downrange, email Roger or go to the Soldiers' Angels website to make a cash donation.

USFK Units Honored for CFC Donations -- [GI Korea]
It is always impressive the amount of money the military is able to raise for charities through the Combined Federal Campaign...
...For those not in the military reading this, every year the military encourages soldiers to choose a charity that is part of the CFC to donate money to. The soldiers are given a book with a number of charities that the military has deemed to be legitimate and worthy of donations and then it is up to the soldier if he/she wants to donate money. As you can see above the military raised $1.5 million dollars overseas with 10% coming from USFK which means USFK raised $150,000 dollars this year for charity.
The other really good charity campaign the Army does is the Army Emergency Relief fund. AER donations are used to allow soldiers to have immediate financial assistance in case of family emergencies.

Why We Support the Troops -- [Edward Powell - Military.com]
It appears that about 20,000 more American service members will be headed to Iraq and other locations in the Persian Gulf Region in the next few months. As our nation debates the war and the policies proposed to execute it, many of us also are focused on the most important component of the war -- our troops.

MILITARY

Honoring Chance: A Mother's Journey -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
As I note in my side bar, I have contributed to two books that were published last year: The Blog of War and Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan & the Home Front.
While it is difficult to pick any one of the fine writings that appear in these two books as a favorite, if asked, I would tell you that the one that moved me more than any other is the personal narrative of Lt. Colonel Michael R. Strobl and it appears in both of these collections. It is entitled, “Taking Chance” and relates the highly emotional experience of accompanying the body of Chance Phelps, a young Marine killed in Iraq,

IN MEMORY OF...

End of the Line for World War I Soldiers -- [Strategy Page]
March 16, 2007: The last American combat veteran of World War I recently passed away, on February 22nd. Howard V. Ramsey was 109 years old and lived in Oregon. He was corporal, and arrived in France two months before the war ended in 1918. Ramsey drove trucks and cars, which brought him under enemy artillery fire as he delivered supplies to the front lines, or drove an ambulance up to retrieve wounded troops. After the war ended on November 11, 1918, Ramsey spent seven months recovering the bodies of dead American soldiers. Ramsey was ...

POLITICS

House panel votes to pull out of Iraq -- [Military News]
House Democrats, who have widely divergent views about the war in Iraq, managed Thursday to stick together long enough to pass a $124 billion wartime funding bill that sets a timetable for withdrawal of combat troops, boosts spending on military and veterans’ health care...

See the Gathering of Eagles on C-SPAN -- [MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy]
Can’t make the Gathering of Eagles this weekend? Neither can I. I want to at least watch it on C-SPAN, though. Via Wild Thing, the Gathering of Eagles website:

Who is Timothy Griffin? -- [Macsmind]
Who is Timothy Griffin, the US attorney that replaced Bud Cummins?
In May 2006, Tim was assigned to the 501st Special Troops Battalion (STB), 101st Airborne Division and sent to serve in Iraq . From May through August 2006, he served as an Army JAG with the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul , Iraq , as a member of the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) Brigade Operational Law Team (BOLT), for which he was awarded the Combat Action Badge and the Army Commendation Medal.

Dean visiting world leaders to undermine Bush -- [Allahpundit - Hot Air]
Send to a Friend | printer-friendly Probably the most irritating thing about this is how superfluous it is. No one needs to be personally informed by the American left’s minister plenipotentiary that U.S. policy will change if a Democrat’s elected. He’s announcing this purely for domestic consumption, so that the nutroots can get their rocks off imagining Dean-o urging various heads of state to run out the clock on Bush rather than cooperate with him.

Bush Advance Team Sued by ACLU -- [Stop the ACLU]
...And just the other day, A reporter from the Christian Broadcasting Network was physically removed from a ‘press conference’ held by CAIR, (Council on American-Islamic Relations) to announce that the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) was going to file a lawsuit on behalf of six Muslims who staged a scene prior to a flight on U.S. Airways, in which they did everything they could possibly do to give every impression that they were about to hijack that flight, even going as far as duplicating many of the actions of past hijackers.

THE MEDIA

Reporters Should Be Held to Account for Deceptive Reporting -- [Wizbang!]
In my column at Townhall this week I note the absurdity of all the networks reporting the eight U.S. Attorney firings without also mentioning the 93 firings in 1993 by Bill Clinton. I wondered how the media, who had willfully ignored the Clinton comparison for over a week, could ever report it being that the incident happened 14 years ago and was certainly known to them all along. What excuse could they come up to make that little piece of information suddenly relevant? Well, after I turned my column in, I got my answer.

WashPost Hypes Pentagon Protest With Ramsey Clark, Leaves Out His Saddam Lawyering -- [NewsBusters]
The Washington Post's reverence for protests -- the leftist ones, that is -- is clearly on display on the front of Friday's Metro section, with advance publicity for a Saturday "peace" march on the Pentagon starring Ramsey Clark, fresh from his unsuccessful defense lawyering for Saddam Hussein. (That fact is never mentioned in Steve Vogel's article.) On roughly the fourth anniversary of the initial blitz on Baghdad and forty years after the violent "levitate the Pentagon" protests of 1967, the Post splashes

HUMOR / SATIRE

Valerie Plame Gives Committee Secret Decoder Ring -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-03-16) — Valerie Plame, whose CIA career ended when columnist Robert Novak blew her cover in July 2003, today testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee whose members will receive a special secret decoder ring so they can understand her without revealing sensitive intel in a public forum.

Day By Day

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