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

Operation Arrowhead Ripper: Day One -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
The first day of operation Arrowhead Ripper was intense. The Army is giving full access to the battlefield, and while on base full access to the TOC (HQ) which means I see the raw truth on the ground, and as it feeds through the TOC. They are hiding nothing. Or if they are, it’s in plain view. (Special operations notwithstanding.) A reporter can see as much as he or she can stand.

U.S. Admiral Sees Continued Progress in Iraq -- [Pentagon Channel]

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces anticipate a summer of hard fighting, but are confident there is a good prospect for continued progress in the months ahead, a senior military official said during a Baghdad news conference today

The Reality of Counterinsurgency OPS -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
AS things progress here in Iraq and as the situation changes there become new things to criticize and critique. Some of that of course is perfectly appropriate, however some of the criticism also demonstrates the fundamental lack of understanding of the nature of counterinsurgency operations.

US Forces Press Al-Qeada In Iraq.

Baqouba;US troops sy it's safer to walk the streets in Baqouba,although extremely dangerous,they can atleast cover each others backs,as they pass more dead bodies and see if they're booby trapped.

ON Point News Report: Operation Phantom Thunder -- [ON Point]
Military planners chose a name for the fierce assault on Al-Qaeda strongholds that recalls twin American combat operations separated by forty years. But unlike the Vietnam-era Rolling Thunder, a bombing campaign that failed to defeat the insurgency, this is war with the grunts on the ground.
“The surge is in full swing,” said General David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, when asked for comment on Operation Phantom Thunder by ON Point.
“Operation Phantom Thunder is a country-wide, synchronized, coordinated operation involving both joint and solo missions,” said Coalition spokesman LtCol Christopher Garver in phone call with ON Point.

War of The Shrines -- [Iraq the Model - iraqis in Iraq]
Attacking the Askari shrine for the second time emphasizes how those who ordered the attacks have been betting their money on this tactic to spark civil war in Iraq. Civil war would kill any hope for the rise of a stable democracy and is also the best option to stop the change project in the region by associating it with the ugly image of civil war.
Such war would not only destroy Iraqis' hopes in stability and prosperity, it would also bury every aspiration in the region for pluralism and reform—the Iraqi example could be used then as call for accepting dictatorship or going back to the Salafi origins as an easy alternative for a change that leads to civil war.

"Thank you very much" -- [Duty In The Desert - in Iraq]
Here's an update from Stars & Stripes on U.S. Operation ARROWHEAD RIPPER in Baqouba, Iraq:
“Regardless of where they are, we are going to find them. Our expectations are … that it will be a tough fight, and we expect that. (But) our great soldiers and airmen are ready, and we’ll make it happen,” Bednarek said in an interview the day before the operation began...
“Welcome, welcome,” said an elderly man, waving the troops inside. “Thank you very much,” he said, as they left...

1920 Brigades Issue Frantic Denials of Any Role in U.S.-led Attacks on Diyala -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Evan Kohlmann]
The 1920 Revolution Brigades--a prominent Sunni insurgent faction in Iraq which has come into recent conflict with Al-Qaida--have issued a series of frantic statements denying any role in the ongoing U.S.-led security operation in the restive Diyala province. Various press accounts had reported earlier that Sunni insurgents who had "turned against al-Qaida" were "cooperating with U.S. and Iraqi forces" in helping to secure several neighborhoods in eastern and western Baqubah.

Iraqi, Coalition forces move forward despite attacks -- [MNF-I]
...“Our military operations are still ongoing in many places in Baghdad to pursue the terrorists,” said Al-Moussawi. “Terrorist attacks will not make us stop our operations in Baghdad, and we’ll move forward with steady steps.”
Al-Moussawi addressed the progress made by the Iraqi Army in the past week.
“We’ve killed 32 terrorists, detained 170 others, freed five kidnapped (victims), defused eight improvised explosive devices and 17 car bombs, found 2,000 different kinds of weapons and seized eight tons of TNT,” said Al-Moussawi.

Marne Torch continues clearing insurgent safe havens -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — Task Force Marne continues its sixth day of offensive operations to clear extremist sanctuaries in the Arab Jabour area which is located southeast of Baghdad.
To date, Marne Torch and Iraqi Army units have detained more than five dozen suspected extremists and destroyed more than 17 boats on the Tigris River that are responsible for transporting accelerants into Baghdad. Ground and air forces disrupted insurgent operations by capturing, seizing, and clearing caches that support instability in the area.
U.S. forces killed five insurgents, discovered and destroyed 12 improvised explosive devices, and detained 13 wanted individuals.

Operation Commando Eagle starts off strong -- [MNF-I]
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq — A joint operation geared toward curbing terrorist activity southwest of Baghdad is yielding results almost immediately.
Operation Commando Eagle, a mix of helicopter-borne air assaults and Humvee-mounted movements, included Soldiers from several battalions of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., and the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division.
The operation, which began today, targeted a series of houses which local citizens indicated were being used by al-Qaeda cells to intimidate them and launch attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

The IZ -- [Jason's Iraq Vacation - in Iraq]
The air coming through the open window of the UH-60 Blackhawk felt like someone was pointing a high-powered hair dyer in my face. The heat, the random foot locker that was shoved on my lap and the dozen or so passengers crammed into the small space just confirmed the reason I hate flying via Blackhawk. I'd take a CH-47 Chinook or convoy any day. The reason I was on that helicopter was to travel to the International (Green) Zone in Baghdad to conduct face-to-face meetings with many of the people I will be working with over the next year. The other part of my job, besides being an operation officer advisor, is to act as the US Contracting Officer

In the thick of it -- [Fightin' 6th Marines! - in Iraq]
A few new photos from one of our regimental combat cameramen, Cpl. Samuel Corum. He's definitely a more talented photographer than me. If you would like to see more of Cpl. Corum's photos,

Payback, the Threat, and Jackassery -- [Mission Iraq - Round 2 - in Iraq]
...I am anxious to come home from this tour. I am however, disgusted by the state of our country.
Too many people are overly concerned about what's happening in their soap operas, the life of the rich, spoiled actors, and what's happening on their favorite comedy show on Fox or the WB. Jay Leno goes out to the streets to make fun of people who have no idea of geography or current events.
While all this is happening, colossal asses like Kennedy and Kerry run amuck soiling our country with their antics...amoung many other members of Congress.

No Plans Made to Extend Army Deployments -- [DOD]
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2007 – A senior defense official cautioned today against reading too much into Army secretary nominee Pete Geren’s statement yesterday that the Army hasn’t ruled out extending deployments for troops in Iraq.

Project Iraqi Kids Makes Its Way To Iraq -- [Defend America]
BAGHDAD, June 20, 2007 — Members of American Legion Post 256 from Tennessee are supporting the war effort by raising money to purchase school supplies for Iraqi children.
The effort, called “Project Iraqi Kids,” generates funds to buy school supplies to be shipped to U.S. units in Iraq. Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Infantry Division are scheduled to start distributing the supplies in late June.

IPB - Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield. 21 JUN 2007 -- [John of Argghhh!]
Is the State Dept failing to put people able to deal with Arabs in the region because of language barriers? It seems they’re not succeeding in Iraq very much. The comments section is hillarious.

Asshat -- [Boston Maggie]
Last night, on the way to Newport, I listened to On Point, the news show on WBUR. The topic was "Critiquing America at War" and the first panelist was Stephen Van Evera, Professor of Political Science at MIT. He is an asshat.
There is really no other way to say it. He made silly points about the war and people who don't know enough about history, people who don't stand back and look at the big picture are going to be misled.
...First - timelines. We won in less than four years in Europe and the Pacific, but we have been in Iraq longer with no end in sight. I can't believe someone can compare these two things with a straight face.
...So you really want us to take the lesson learned in WWII and apply it in Iraq? Do you want us to rain complete and utter destruction down on Iraq and their people? Bomb them like Dresden, (See pic)

AFGHANISTAN

Happy Anniversary - 21 Years -- [A JAG in Afghanistan]
Janae and I have been married 21 years today on June 21st. 21 on 21. Has kind of a nice ring to it. And like last year on our anniversary I’m deployed. And like last year we had to celebrate on a different day.
...This afternoon Asmahtullah came by to see me. As you may recall he was my interpreter at the KMTC. He’s such a great young man. I asked him about the recent violence in Kabul and how do the locals feel. As I thought, most people are happy to have the Americans here. He specifically mentioned paved roads, clean”er” water, relative stability, women’s rights and other things. He said the ones who are protesting against the Americans are the pro-Taliban – just like I thought.

Taliban claims of taking district centers proving hollow -- [ISAF News]
KABUL, Afghanistan (June 20) – ISAF officials challenged today recent Taliban extremist claims of success in taking district centers in southern Afghanistan, countering that such efforts are only enemy attempts to create an impression of strength that is not backed by an ability to control geographical areas.

Afghan forces secure Mianeshin district center -- [ISAF News]
KABUL, Afghanistan (June 20) – Afghan forces, with the assistance of ISAF, have re-occupied Mianeshin district center without resistance.
“There has been some considerable misreporting about operations in and around Mianeshin in recent days,” said Lt. Col. Mike Smith, Regional Command South spokesman.
“Mianeshin is an isolated settlement in the northern region of Kandahar province, which consists of two buildings within a single compound wall. To describe it as a significant military objective is inappropriate and misleading,” Smith said.

Blinded By The Light -- [Strategy Page]
June 21, 2007: The Taliban Spring Offensive didn't happen, and the Taliban took a beating from NATO and U.S. attacks. The Taliban persisted in trying to use platoon size (30-50 gunmen) units, which regularly were spotted by UAVs and blasted by smart bombs. In response to this, the Taliban are cooperating more with al Qaeda terror attacks. These are more successful, but will not win Taliban back control of the country. In fact, as demonstrated in Iraq and elsewhere, al Qaeda terrorism just make the terrorists more unpopular with the population they are trying to intimidate and conquer. Al Qaeda leaders have not yet come to grips with this reality.

RAF Gunners Swap Kit With Dutch And Yank Troops

SPECIAL FEATURE: Kandahar is an international airbase with troops from many different countries stationed there. Today Paul and the B Flight lads are having a kit swap with Dutch and American soldiers. Shorts, t-shirts, hats and even ration packs swap hands in the good-natured trade off.

Axeghanistan Day 10: Face Those Monsters -- [Danger Room - David Axe - in Iraq]
At Kamp Holland, the Dutch base in southern Afghanistan, the troops are mourning the loss of a second soldier: 44-year-old Sergeant Major Jos Leunissen, who died in a mortar accident during combat with Taliban forces around the town of Chura on Monday.
I'm not attending the memorial service, however; I attended last week's service for Private 1st Class Timo Smeehuyzen in addition to many other services in my three years as a war correspondent -- and I've seen too many grown men cry. Besides, I've got work to do: work I think is important, work I hope contributes in some small way to victory -- whatever that means -- in our wars against terrorists.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Brits Honor Osama The Hero- Pakistanis Want Him Knighted -- [Gateway Pundit]
In Great Britain... Osama Bin Laden is a hero in a the prize-winning play with the same title- "Osama the Hero", by English playwright Dennis Kelly, who wrote it soon after the invasion of Iraq. Mr. Kelley won Britain's $20,000 Meyer-Whitworth award last November, after its first Australian production in Sydney.
Pakistani lawmaker and "Father of the Taliban" Sami ul Haq wants OBL knighted even though it is against British custom to knight foreigners- and despite the fact that OBL is a mass psychotic killer.

A Russian Murder Mystery -- [Weekly Standard Blog]
Truth is stranger than fiction--or so the saying goes. Nothing illustrates this more than the intersection of arms salesmen, government spokesmen, press reporting and a series of mysterious events leading up to the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.
In the first week of March, Ivan Safranov, a retired Russian colonel and correspondent for the last decade at the Moscow newspaper Kommersant, was found dead outside of his apartment building. Questions raised about several aspects of his death still remain unanswered.
Putin's next big customer?Safranov lived on the third floor of his building, but he had for some reason fallen from the fifth floor. He was fully clothed and wearing an overcoat, as if he had just returned from a trip to the market.

France Fears Blackberry Snooping by U.S. -- [Defense Tech]
(AP) PARIS - BlackBerry handhelds have been called addictive, invasive, wonderful - and now, a threat to French state secrets.
That, at least, is the fear of French government defense experts, who have advised against their use by officials in France's corridors of power, reportedly to avoid snooping by U.S. intelligence agencies.
"It's not a question of trust," French lawmaker Pierre Lasbordes told The Associated Press. "We are friends with the Americans, the Anglo-Saxons, but it's economic war."

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Homeland Security Chief: Osama Bin Laden 'In Pakistan' -- [Counterterrorism Blog - James Gordon Meek]
Did Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff slip up today by revealing the presumed hideout of America's Public Enemy No. 1? President Bush's top counterterrorism official was discussing the politics of immigration reform and said he doesn't take disagreements with lawmakers personally or view them as "enemies."
"I know who the enemy is," Chertoff explained to reporters at a breakfast this morning hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. "The enemy is sitting in a cave over there in Pakistan."

Terror Web 2.0 -The Net-Centric Operations of Terrorist Groups Today -- [Threats Watch - Guest Contributor Jeffrey Carr]
The latest phase of the Internet revolution, which has been widely referred to as Web 2.0, has not been overlooked by web-based terror networks. A recent study by the Artificial Intelligence Lab of the University of Arizona details precisely how these net-savvy terrorists are using the Web for fund-raising, recruitment, propaganda, logistical support, communications, training, and even cyber warfare.
The following table breaks down terrorist objectives and how they are supported by web sites and web-based features:

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Donations and Self Donations -- [Wyld's Q & A - in Iraq]
...When I got back in country, there were several packages from all sorts of people and I distributed most or all of the items to my Marines. I one package, however, was a package of dried fruit and nuts. This particular item was well received by all.
I do have some personnel requests: Outside Thermometer, "Dried Fruit" such as banana chips, and "green tea by Lipton".
Requests from the Marines include : LED lights, Baby wipes, powdered drink mixes, Scotch tape, dried fruit and nuts, and chocolate

Operation Gratitude -- [My Desert Adventure - in Iraq]
Some time ago, someone signed my entire unit up for “Operation Gratitude” Yesterday, we had two truckloads of care packages show up—each one was addressed to one of the soldiers. It really made a lot of people’s day-it was like Christmas morning with everyone opening them up. Of course, since I’m on loan to the army, I’m not officially assigned to my unit, so I didn’t get one. I guess I was the bad kid that got a lump of coal.

thank you for angels -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
...Hello and thank you for your support.I recently received some backpacks full of goodies for our soldiers. Asthe nurse in charge of the intensive care unit, my nurses and I seequite a few patients come through our unit. You should feel great aboutthe support that you give. The back packs are great for the injuredsoldiers, and they are great for the nurses to have something to give.The back packs are a big hit with everyone.Your note mentioned that we could email a wish list. This request isfor the hospital staff so if you have other priorities, please take careof those first. These are all "nice to have" things.-Snack foods that are "healthy". We receive lots of cookies, but I havequite a few health conscious people that prefer to eat healthier snacks.Anything from tuna snack packs to trail mix and anything in between.-Room deodorizers. Anything that makes it smell better except foraerosolized cans, plug-ins or things you need to light

people's voice DO make a difference

they didnt take long to turn around i tell you that..SUPPORT the TROOPS..the war is a different thing BUT show them you care and love them NO matter what...Canada is behind you..KICK ASS where ever you have to and come home safe...WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.. :)

Don't know what to say to a Marine? -- [View from the 8th Floor]
Well, here's the message I sent to the RCT-6, if that will help...
Hey Marine!
Greetings from Arlington, VA :-) I hope this finds you safe and well.
... I do feel compelled to champion the efforts of those who are not so fortunate. We can’t always do a lot, but we can always talk the talk. And we can’t always send you guys in to try to kickstart a “do over” for a whole nation. However, when we do, your dedication and willingness to tackle the job are humbling. I’ll do my part back here as what I like to think of as your distant rear guard. I’m behind you 100% - don’t ever forget it. I can’t change the evening news or newspaper headlines, but as a member of Soldiers’ Angels and as a fledgling blogger, I hope I’m helping send a different message. :-)

Maine Troop Greeters Banned from Offering Cookies -- [MilBlogs - Soldier's Dad]
via Bangor Daily News
...Homemade treats long provided by the area’s volunteer Maine Troop Greeters disappeared at the airport about a month ago after BIA began enforcing a ban on such giveaways.
Last I checked Airports are funded primarily by Federal Taxes. Someone at the White House (I mean you George) needs to ...

National Organization Joining Forces to Form OPERATION ONE FAMILY -- [Soldiers' Angels]
Costa Mesa, CA., June 20, 2007 - Numerous national organizations are joining forces with MilitaryConnection.com, TAPS, Homefront America, Soldiers Angels and ThanksUSA in a joint effort to support the families of the fallen by forming Operation One Family. Details of the program and registration information for families can be found at www.operationonefamily.org
Operation One Family is a proud member organization of America Supports You.

WELCOME HOME

I feel alright – I feel alright tonight -- [Appalachian Patria - home from Iraq]
After a 21 ½ hour flight over 5,864 miles the remaining part of my task force was back in to where it had departed from, Volk Field Wisconsin. I was on the first flight into theater and the last flight out. We took 360 over and all came back with every thing intact (we did have some non combat injuries). We thank God for that. The statistics for death in Iraq are light, but, the reality is, you’re going to where you won’t die, but be killed or maimed.

MILITARY

Army's Greatest Inventions for 2006 -- [Defense Tech]
Researchers behind the Army's top 10 greatest inventions for 2006 were recognized recently at a ceremony in Arlington, Virginia. The Army's Greatest Inventions for 2006 are:
Blow Torch Counter Improvised Explosive Device System, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. This vehicle-mounted system detonates IEDs at safe stand-off distances, minimizing vehicle damage and Soldier injuries.

POLITICS

Congress Sinks Into The Quagmire Of Unpopularity -- [RedState]
And No One Has An Exit Strategy
When the 110th Congress came storming into the American political scene, it appeared to be a worldbeater of sorts. At long last, 12 years of corrupt Republican rule had been swept away! We had the first female Speaker and a Majority Leader who got one of the Smothers Brothers to portray him on Casino. ('Tis true!) Surely, things were going to be different and this Congress was going to fulfill the hopes and wishes of all those who voted for it.

Hilary Clinton Heckled And Booed Over Iraq Comments.

Hilary Clinton gets heckled and booed over her comments on the Iraqi Government.

"Democrat Pandering to Crazy People" Alert -- [The Oxford Medievalist]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doubtless couldn't have used more exaggerated and inflammatory language to pander to crazy people yesterday when she addressed the "liberal pressure group" "Campaign for America's Future," yet still received somewhat less than a warm reception:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) yesterday reaffirmed her commitment to end the war in Iraq, but her words were greeted with skepticism and some boos by anti-war liberal activists.
Addressing the liberal pressure group Campaign for America’s Future, Pelosi called the war in Iraq a “tragedy” and a “grotesque mistake,” but her words elicited catcalls for her to do more.
When someone shouted a question about Darfur, Pelosi segued into a discussion about her visit to Sudan last year. But she then pivoted and with a smile asked, “Just getting back to the war now, if I may. Do you mind if I do that?”

Giuliani Blew Off Iraq Panel for Speaking Fees -- [Outside the Beltway]
By popular demand, I herewith comment on the story Newsday that broke yesterday that Rudy Giuliani missed two meetings of the Iraq Study Group because of fundraising trips and then quit the panel when told the alternative was to show up.
Frankly, faced with a choice between $1.7 million and participating in a group with a bunch of other people who aren’t experts to present advice to the president he isn’t going to take anyway, I’d take the $1.7 million every time. (In full disclosure, I must confess that neither alternative has been offered.)

THE MEDIA

Anna Un-Embedded -- [Outside the Wire]
Newsweek columnist Anna Quindlen makes the typical un-forced error so common among columnists and the chattering class--taking one statement and conflating it to a generalization without the context of time, place and mission.
There is no substitute for spending a lot of time outside the wire with the young men who fight the war in Iraq to understand the context.
Without the context of time, place and mission, especially mission, the statements of a Soldier or Marine are horribly misunderstood.
Qundlen, after making a sidways comparison of U.S. service members to Nazis, takes one report of one unit and generalizes it to the military as a whole.

Attaboy, AP -- [Jules Crittenden]
I don’t know what got into the AP. They had some perfectly good mosque bombings to lede with, and they bury that to focus in undisparaging fashion on U.S. and Iraqi forces kicking al-Qaeda ass from Baqouba to Baghdad, with the help of erstwhile Sunni insurgents.

Shocka! Journalists give to Democrats 9-1 -- [Gateway Pundit]
Send to a Friend | printer-friendly Like that 1990s survey revealing that about 90 percent of the Washington press corps supported Clinton, a president who didn’t crack 50% in either 1992 or 1996, didn’t tell us this years ago. Still, it’s one of those things the confirms what we already know: Journalists tend to be a bunch of libs who are are out to “change the world” rather than just report on it:

The Ethicist's Objectivity -- [Real Clear Politics]
Bill Dedman, investigative journalist for MSNBC, has just published an extensive report on journalists who've given campaign cash. In some ways, the report confirms what we already know:

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

Man Of Constant Sorrow - Afghanistan

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