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

Analysis of Truck Bomb in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan -- [Moderate Risk- in Iraq]
Ravi Nessman, AP: A suicide truck bomb ripped through the Interior Ministry in the relatively peaceful Kurdish city of Irbil on Wednesday, killing 14 people and wounding dozens, officials said.
All of this is based on early reports and some details may be in error on the reports.
1. This was an attack on the Interior Ministry, not a random terror strike. This was intended to do damage to the KRG, not just Kurds in general. If they had wanted to create a body count, they could have

More Attacks on Kurdish Political Control -- [Moderate Risk- in Iraq]
The second attack in four days on Kurdish political control occurred in the town of Makhmoor near Mosul at the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) offices, killing at least 32 and wounding more than 115. The city of Makhmoor is not under formal Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) control, but the area is almost entirely composed of racial Kurds. According to CNN, political meetings were taking place at the KDP offices when a suicide truck bomber struck. Although firmly in the red zone of active conflict, Makhmoor and other ethnically Kurdish areas have mostly been spared this kind of violence. It appears that Al Qaeda cannot accept any peace in Iraq.

Courthouses for Baghdad

Baghdad Summer Politics -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
The hysterical verbal threats and accusations among Iraq’s politicians and leaders have moved up several notches since the coup panic was first felt in Baghdad. Now the hysteria has reached the top of the government pyramid.
Iraqis often say that when the summer heat goes up people lose their minds. Frankly I’ve seen this happen to some people I know and sometimes the damage is temporary, sometimes not.

Smokin in the boys' room -- [Calvery in Iraq - in Iraq]
Only 109 degrees out today, but felt hotter, especially in body armor.
I spent several hours this morning in a building in the Red Zone, with my weapon locked and loaded, and with no air conditioning and very inadequate ventilation.
There was a toilet, albeit a nasty one, with no light in the bathroom, so I just had to figure it out in the dark. It was not a place where "kicking the back tire" outside would have been culturally appropriate.
Every time I think life is hard, I remember those convoy gunners and others out there who have it worse than I do.

Take A Deep Breath -- [Letters from the other side of the world - in Iraq]
Sarah,
...So I'm hearing word yesterday's mortar attack was in retaliation for some so-called abuses at Bucca. That's a laugh. As of yet, I still don't work in the TIF -- Theater Internment Facility -- or the prison at Bucca. I can tell you because I'll never forget about what happened after the shelling stopped. Along with the sirens a voice kept repeating, "All medical personnel, report to the TIF. "All medical personnel, report to the TIF. All medical personnel, report to the TIF..." Over and over. It was steaming hot and the medics had to sprint nearly a mile in their battle rattle. It's not easy. And I know they treated the wounded for hours in the best combat hospital in Iraq, outside of Baghdad. Heads cracked open, limbs torn off, blood everywhere. You should see the look on people's faces around camp. But the fact is there's men and women over here who did everything they could for the injured. Injured detainees who were treated like our own. Detainees slaughtered by their own so-called comrades. I know there's been a bit of press about the attack but I bet you won't hear that in the papers. And as usual, I haven't seen a single reporter on camp. I know you're worried to death, Sarah. It physically hurts me to hear you cry on the phone. But know that I'm doing my best to keep my head in the game and you've got to try to as well. One thing I've learned in Iraq so far is that when @!#* happens, and it will, don't panic. Even in quiet Bucca, there's a war going on and, sadly, there's going to be casualties. That's why it's important -- for both of us -- to stay strong and calm, so we don't become one of them. I don't know if there's anything else I can say to put you at ease anymore. Just try your best. I doubt there much I can do, because if the roles were reversed, I'd be going bonkers, too

Fear -- [Letters from the other side of the world - husband in Iraq]
Adam,
Trust me, I’m calm. I stayed calm through finding out that your base had been attacked by reading a news report at work, through waiting two hours to find out if you were OK via e-mail, and through waiting another day to hear your voice. By the time we talked I was just too exhausted to hold it in anymore.
I almost hate the saying “We’re at war, casualties happen” more than the Army’s “That’s just the way it is.”
Maybe it’s because in some ways, we’re not at war. I’m at war; you’re at war; the other soldiers and their families are at war. But I get so pissed off that everybody can go about their normal lives like nothing’s happening. Sometimes I question how people who haven’t experienced war can say they are for or against this one.

An Important Thank You -- [ABC News]
Woodruff and His Crew Meet in Syria With Interpreter Who Saved Journalist's Life After IED Attack
More than a million Iraqis have fled to Syria since the war began, but on my first night in Damascus a few weeks ago, I set out to find one man -- Omar, the man who'd helped save my life.
Omar is a 23-year-old Iraqi who was working as an interpreter with the U.S. Army when I was injured in Iraq a year and a half ago, and he was with me in the tank when our vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Role of MilBlogs (so far) in the War on Terror -- [BlackFive]
...while we continually hear liberal politician soundbites that the Iraqi Army has only one effective battalion, Woodruff and Vogt were saved by Iraqis. Their interpreter and the soldiers that they were with fought for and saved their lives. The Americans had a lot to do with their saving as well and I would expect a story about the amazing medics and doctors that helped the ABC news team. But what about the Iraqi sacrifices?
Maybe the headlines should have read "Iraqis save Woodruff!" - maybe that would have been more accurate?

Dinner Chez le Sheik--Reports from Al Anbar -- [Matt Sanchez - in Iraq]
There's a lot going on, but before the mainstream press mangles it, I want to point out that many prominent people in the Al Anbar province have sided with coalition forces and "change" is on the lips of anyone worth listening to.

The IAI Steps Up (and Backs Down) in its War With Al-Qaida -- [Counterterrorism Blog - By Evan Kohlmann]
Those who closely follow the internal workings of the insurgency in Iraq may already be aware of the unexpected truce offer tendered last week by the dominant Sunni insurgent group known as the Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI) to Al-Qaida's so-called "Islamic State of Iraq" after weeks of bitter wrangling and internecine bloodshed.

‘Golden Dragons’ foil truck bomb attack -- [MNF-I]
A dump truck loaded with homemade explosives sits near the south entrance to Patrol Base Warrior Keep. An alert Soldier of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., saw the truck turn abruptly toward the gate and fired on it with a machine gun, stopping the truck. The driver was wearing a suicide vest, but was detained before he was able to detonate it. Photo by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs.PATROL BASE WARRIOR KEEP — Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., thwarted a vehicle-borne improvised explosive attack at Patrol Base Warrior Keep, near Sadr Al-Yusufiyah, Iraq.

Coalition Forces target al-Qaeda leaders, detain 11 suspects -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 11 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq operations in the Baghdad area Tuesday.
Coalition Forces raided a series of buildings southwest of Baghdad seeking to capture high-level associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. The ground force detained seven individuals on the scene for their alleged ties to al-Qaeda senior leaders.
Three synchronized raids targeted senior leaders of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell based in Baghdad. Coalition Forces detained four suspected terrorists for their alleged involvement in the cell, which is responsible for vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks

Back to Iraq Soon -- [Michael J. Totten]
As soon as the Iraqi Embassy issues my journalist visa, which is supposed to be any day now, I’ll be heading back to Iraq – this time to Baghdad and Anbar Province with the United States military.
I had plans to visit Iraq twice already with the military. They were planning to take me and a handful of other bloggers on a free trip from Washington. But bureaucracy and logistics issues created six months of delays and it isn’t worth waiting in travel limbo any longer. This is perhaps for the best. Instead I’ll go solo as a media embed and skip the dog and pony show.

Why I (We) Serve -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
...I had never thought much about going back into the Army because all these operations seemed like they would be short lived and it would be back to status quo.
As they dragged on though and as the true nature of the Long War became apparent, I had more and more trouble working in the civilian sector and watching from the sidelines.
I continued to read and analyze what I could about Iraq, Islamic fundamentalism, Al Qaeda, and the threats facing us. I came to understand that once again we found ourselves in a clash with an ideology that poses a very serious threat to us and I t wanted to contribute to the effort.
Finally I was able to find a unit that was deploying that was interested in my services. And now I am here.

CNN: Baathists working hand in hand with US troops

Baathist insurgents and Sunni nationalists fight al-Qaeda together with US forces.

AFGHANISTAN

Axeghanistan Day Two: Roads, Stat! -- [War Is Boring - journalist embed in Iraq]
...NATO, the U.S. military and the U.S. and Afghan governments realize this, and many of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams have tackled transportation projects lately. U.S. Air Force Captain Rockie Wilson recently returned from leading a PRT in southeast Afghanistan that focused mostly on getting Afghan contractors up to speed on road construction. Even aid groups are in on the action. The U.S. Agency for International Development just wrapped some major road projects around Kabul; and CHF, a development nonprofit that is most famous for its microfinance programs, is eyeing transportation projects as it expands, according to Afghanistan manager Suhail Awan.

Graduation -- [A JAG in Afghanistan - on leave from Afghanistan]
The reason I waited so long to come home on leave was so that I could be home for Seth’s graduation. Almost 10 weeks ago I e-mailed his principal, played the sympathy card about being in Afghanistan for his entire senior year and asked if I could possibly present Seth with his diploma at graduation. Well within a day of sending the e-mail, I got one back telling me that they would be honored to have me present him with his diploma. I was so excited. Of course we didn’t tell Seth.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

The Big Lies -- [Strategy Page]
June 11, 2007: Russians have been rewriting their own history, more so than most nations, for a long time. The most recent example is their current attitude towards the Cold War, how it ended, and the legacy of 70 years of communist tyranny. Because most Russians, especially the leaders, have not accepted the Soviet Union as a truly evil institution, it's possible for many Russians to blame the collapse of the Soviet Union, and end of the Cold War, on the missteps of Soviet leaders, especially the last head of the Soviet empire, Mikhail Gorbachev. However, most Russians go with the, "we just got tired of the incompetent Soviet bureaucrats and shed them" explanation.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

FBI Warns of Terrorists on Campus -- [Jawa Report]
First sign that the new grad student hanging around the nuclear fusion lab might be a terrorist?
He looks like this:

Fourth Circuit Rules Bush Has No Authority To Imprison Committed Terrorists As "Unlawful Enemy Combatants" -- [Ace of Spades HQ]
The curious claim? The very fact that this particular terrorist posed entirely as a civilian -- even while preparing to wage covert war on the US -- somehow takes him out of the category of "combatant" and puts him in the more favorable category of "civilian." In other words, if you're an unlawful combatant but comport yourself with some of the rules of warfare, you can be permanently detained as an enemy combatant captured on the battlefield; but if you're an unlawful combatant who observes none of the rules of warfare, you get a get-out-of-detainment-free card courtesy of the US Constitution.

No New Counter-Terrorism Initiatives at This Year’s G8 Summit -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Victor Comras]
The war on terrorism was not one of the “hot topics” at this year’s G8 summit at Heiligendamm, Germany. Terrorism didn’t constitute a separate agenda item, although it reportedly came up during the discussion of several agenda items, and in sidebars. And, the G8 members did issue a counter-terrorism statement reviewing G8 counter-terrorism work underway. There were no new specific counter-terrorism initiatives. Rather, the group used their counter-terrorism statement to highlight several areas where further work was indicated. This includes expanding efforts to deal with the root causes of terrorism, and more particularly with indoctrination and recruitment for terrorist purposes.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Two Heroes who understand that "failure is not an option" -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
From Soldiers' Angel Sara Ehrlich.
I have told some of you that we have an Angel who is fondly known as "the Space Angel" by many of our SA heroes. Her name is Joan Kranz and she works at NASA Flight Training Division, Shuttle Training Operations and Planning. She often sends our heroes NASA memorabilia, decals and even signed autographed pictures from the astronauts. That is pretty neat in itself, but Joan has a very special Dad as was well.

VOLUNTEERS SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR FOR CELEBRATION -- [Operation Gratitude]
As the 250,000th Care Package is Assembled
During the weekend of June16-17, 2007 hundreds of new and returning volunteers will gather at the California National Guard Armory in Van Nuys to assemble thousands of packages for U.S. troops, including Operation Gratitude's Quarter-Millionth Care Package. Director of Operations, Charlie Othold, expects to hit this magic moment in the 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon hour on Saturday, June 16th.

Operation Gratitude

Can You Oppose the War and Still Support the Troops? -- [Sgt Stryker]
As the media coverage of the war in Iraq turns ever more ugly and negative, the slogans of the anti-war movement are becoming a part of our daily lives. “Support the troops, bring them home,” “support the troops, end the war.” These are phrases we are bombarded with every time we turn on the nightly news or pick up a mainstream media newspaper. Both aides of the war debate claim to support our troops and an appreciation for our service members and the service they give always precedes political statements form both sides of the war debate. But can you really support the troops while opposing their mission?

IN MEMORY OF...

Pilot in Doolittle Raid dies -- [Air Force Link]
6/10/2007 - SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) -- Col. Jack Ahren Sims was among the first pilots to fly in the Doolittle Tokyo Raid on April 18, 1942 -- the first United States aerial invasion of Japan during World War II.
Colonel Sims died June 9 in Naples, Fla. He was 88.

"Tear down this wall" -- [Powerline]
Twenty years ago today Ronald Reagan stood in front of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate and gave the speech heard 'round the world. Our friend Peter Robinson was the man who wrote the speech. He tells the story behind the speech in his terrific book How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life. Peter has kindly condensed his account for Power Line readers today:

MILITARY

It's Time for an Army Advisor Corps -- [SWJ]
In the linked paper I argue that, just as the new realities of warfare demanded the creation of the Special Forces in the 1960's, winning the Long War will require that the Army develop a standing Advisor Corps. It has been informed by the experience of many advisors with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and may prove of some interest to the Small Wars Journal / Small Wars Council community of interest.

DoD Recruiting Numbers Just Released -- [The Tank - W. Thomas Smith Jr.]
The Defense Department has just released its recruiting and retention numbers for May.
The Army took a slight dip down to 93 percent — The Army's goal was 5,500 accessions (meaning "new soldiers shipped to training") and it achieved 5,101 — which is still extremely high. Plus, the Army is already ahead of its year-to-date mission by approximately 2,000 soldiers shipped to training.

A Whole Lot of BULL? -- [Weekly Standard Blog]
Defense Daily reports today on a new armored vehicle, which, the manufacturers claim, is capable of defeating the simple but deadly explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) that have been causing so much trouble in Iraq. The report says that,
Ceradyne Inc.'s Vehicle Armor Systems in conjunction with its teaming partner, Ideal Innovations Inc., announces the introduction of a high-threat vehicle called the BULL. Specifically designed for close urban terrain, the vehicle can withstand the most lethal improvised explosive device threats, the company says. The BULL's armor provides protection against explosively formed penetrators, as well. ...
If the vehicle lives up to the hype, no doubt the technology would be a "technological leap forward." But WWS pal Stuart Koehl was cautious in assessing the claim:

DoD News Briefing with Secretary Robert Gates from the Pentagon -- [Defense Link]
SEC. GATES: Good afternoon.
It is my honor to announce today that I will recommend to the president that he nominate Admiral Michael G. Mullen, the chief of Naval Operations, as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, succeeding General Peter Pace when the latter's term of office concludes on September 30th, 2007.
Admiral Mullen became chief of Naval Operations on July 22nd, 2005. A 1968 graduate of the Naval Academy, he has served in allied, joint and Navy positions overseas and in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. I have become well-acquainted with Admiral Mullen over the past six months and believe he has the vision, strategic insight, experience and integrity to lead America's armed forces.

Thankless Service Goes Un-Thanked -- [Redstate]
Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Peter Pace is being retired. Were this because of an outstanding career which spans forty years, there would be some honorable mention in a handful of news stories, a retirement ceremony, and a bow of thanks for a lifetime spent serving his country.
Sadly, Pace's departure is not such a scenario. No, Pace is being ungraciously sacrificed at the altar of capitulation to the anti-war movement. Given his service record, you would THINK this Administration would be a little quicker to stand by this Soldier's side, but President Bush seems more interested in standing by a struggling Attorney General, and a failed World Bank President, than to stand with the man who has been part and parcel to victories and major military successes in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

POLITICS

Capitulation on Gen. Pace – Cui Bono? -- [The Tank - Elaine Donnelly]
In yesterday’s post, I speculated that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D., NY) is a big winner in the backroom scuttling of the career of Marine general Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Senator Clinton’s colleague on the Armed Services Committee, Chairman Carl Levin (D., MI), successfully intimidated Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Pres. George W. Bush — probably by threatening to put a hold on this and other confirmations. Gates dropped support for General Pace’s two-year renomination and substituted Adm. Mike Mullen as his choice.

George Bush’s Exceedingly, Surprisingly, Very and Quite Long Goodbye -- [Jules Crittenden]
...Meanwhile, approval of Congress is at 10-year low. Pelosi below Gingrich.
It’s hard to blame those who repeatedly herald Bush’s lameduckness. Technically, he’s been in lame-duck territory for some time. There was the November election, the Rumsfeld departure, the Libby conviction, the Amnesty bill’s failure. But the notoriously inept chimp keeps defying them. He refused to cede his presidency as they demanded. His surge is moving forward without restrictions, the withdrawal measures and drop-dead progress dates jettisoned. They wanted a change in strategy in Iraq, he gave them one and there are signs it is working, whether they like it or not.

Peace Corps Part of Edwards Terror Plan -- [9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America]
On Thursday, John Edwards rolled out his strategy for dealing with terrorism, which he refuses to call a “war on terror,” a phrase he has called a “bumper sticker” without meaning. He plans to implement “new training for military leadership” and create a senior stabilization position within the Joint Staff of the DOD. His web site says he will also establish a “Marshall Corps” of 10,000 professionals, modeled after the military reserves, who will be sent to “weak and failing states” which he says are “hotbeds for terrorism.” These Peace Corps-like folks will work on stabilization and humanitarian missions aimed at winning the hearts and minds of young Muslims who are sitting on the fence in the jihad against America.

THE MEDIA

Marine on Media & Progress [Media Blog - Kathryn Jean Lopez]
Las Vegas Review Journal:
...Instead, news out of Anbar and Baghdad has been mostly about casualties since the U.S. troop surge was launched there in February, triggering some of the bloodiest months since the 2003 invasion.
"You don't see half of the good stuff that we do," Sholl, 25, said Wednesday.
"The only thing they talk about is these civilians died or these Marines died, or soldiers," he said. "They don't hardly ever publish the good things we do, such as finding bad guys, finding IEDs (improvised explosive devices), weapons caches.
"They're not telling you about the towns that we do well in where the population accepts us well and helps us out. They give us tips ... on what to look for and who to look for. We accomplish huge tasks almost weekly like that."

Boise TV: Snide Remarks During Soldier's Upbeat Report -- [NewsBusters]
What is it about some news outlets that they can't report a story without trying to flavor it with their own biases? That they can't give "just the facts m'am" but have to throw in their snide asides and negative phraseology? And, it's bad enough when they do it in their normal attempts at "reporting" the news, but when they do it in between an upbeat report by one of our soldiers who's opinion is that the surge is working and our presence in Iraq is a good thing, it's all the more grating. But, then, they just can't leave their hatred for American foreign policy aside long enough to report this soldier's enthusiasm, now can they?

NYT Editor Questions Timing of Terror Alerts -- [NewsBusters]
The New York Times garnered controversy last weekend by burying the terror threat story in the Metro section, not the national news section. By contrast, two out-of-town newspapers, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, gave it front-page play. When questioned about it by the NYT's public editor, weekend editor Marty Gottlieb revealed a soft-Keith Olbermann-style mindset.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

War is Heck -- [HT:Tim Sumner]

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