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. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.

IRAQ

Top Al Qaeda in Iraq Official Captured! -- [Gateway Pundit]
As democrats wind down their surrender all-nighter...
US Forces in Iraq announced the capture of the highest ranking Iraqi in the Al Qaeda organization inside Iraq.
Today's "Surge" Press Brief by BG Kevin Bergner -- [ON Point]
The surge of operations in Iraq continues to make progress. These operations are increasing pressure on extremists by disrupting their networks, denying safe havens and reducing operating bases. The effects of these operations are also enabling Iraqis to turn away from the terrorists and work more closely with their government, their security forces and the coalition. There has, however, been tough fighting and we have much work to do. And our commanders remind us that this effort is still likely to get even harder before it gets easier.

Islamic State of Iraq – an al Qaeda front -- [The Fourth Rail]
Capture and interrogation of senior al Qaeda leader highlights al Qaeda control; Abu Omar al-Baghdadi a fictitious leader
U.S. Special Operations Forces scored a major victory against al Qaeda in Iraq’s senior leadership and gained valuable insight on the al Qaeda creation known as the Islamic State of Iraq. On July 4, Coalition forces captured Khalid Abdul Fatah Da’ud Mahmud Al Mashadani, a senior al Qaeda in Iraq and Islamic State of Iraq leader and close associate of Abu Ayyub al Masri, al Qaeda’s commander. Mashadani, also known as Abu Shahed, was captured in Mosul and is thought by the U.S. military to be the most senior Iraqi-born leader in al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). During Mashadani’s interrogation, the U.S. confirmed the Islamic State of Iraq is an al Qaeda front and that its leader does not really exist.

"If you are running for President...HEAR This." -- [Jim Spiri - in Iraq]
"Whomever gets elected, they must see what it is we are doing over here."
Pondering that answer, over and over in my mind I came to realize that the boots on the ground got it exactly right. So, the deeper I thought about it, the more I became burdened to convey my experience to those who are not just listening or viewing or reading what I'm putting out there, but now, to those who are about to hear. Come and see for yourself.
Over the years I've seen them all come and go at various times. You know, those ones that get elected every two, four or six years. They fly in, they do the photo-op thing, they shake lots of hands, they find just the right person that will make them look good on some cover of a magazine, paper, or whatever, and then they do the same thing....leave in a hurry.
But now, I've got an idea. Let's just see if anyone who is running for President in '08, and by golly, there appears to be quite a few of them, has the integrity to really come and feel the heartbeat of what "the mission" actually is.
If someone is running for President of the USA, and has lots and lots to say about Iraq at the moment, then I say to any and all of those potential contendors, come and walk just one mile in the shoes of those I've walked among
...The angle of view from this vantage point will surely be enlightening. Come to where I am before you speak one more word concerning Iraq. Sit and listen to those who have battled for the priveledge to speak, yet have not spoken up, yet. The country needs this.
The voters are screaming for this. And I am now announcing it to all those running for President. We will see who heeds the call. There are a lot of "boots" on the ground that are waiting to see who has the integrity to step up to such a call. My suggestion is make the first stop, Jubail precinct, in Fallujah, Iraq.

Absurdity II -- [Sergent Grumpy]
"Democratic leaders engineered passage of legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops to begin within 120 days, and to be completed by April 1, 2008. The measure envisions a limited residual force to train Iraqis, protect U.S. assets and fight al-Qaida and other terrorists."
This is the same Congress that unanimously confirmed General Petraeus, promised to give him the support he needed, and heard him say he would need until September to report back on the progress his approach would make. For those who have never experienced it, this is called being set up for failure.
As I've written before, there are indications that progress is being made, but no one in Iraq is going to be motivated to follow through on these glimmers of hope if they see that we, America, are going to abandon them to the thugs who would terrorize them.

Boredom -- [Ruminations of a Soldier Medic - in Iraq]
...We got in to a conversation with the man, just trying to find out a little bit about him. We all introduced ourselves and he introduced his kids (I forgot everyone’s name in about two seconds…) He told us that he loves the American troops here. He said that the IPs at the check point were doing a good job. One of his concerns though was getting shot at. At night, because they don’t have air and because it is so hot, they sleep in the grass outside their house. Gunshots are a pretty normal thing, and he told us he was “weary” of his children getting hurt from stray bullets. The sergeant I was with said that he would try to talk to the IP and the guys at our patrol base to notify them of his concerns and see if there was anything that could be done as far as getting them some sort of wall put up.
He told us that he went to the university in Baghdad and he teaches little kids at the school in the village. I asked if all of his kids go to school and he said yes, praising each one of them for their strengths in school. I could tell the kids were liking the attention they were getting.

"At Jubail Precinct...Fallujah, Iraq" -- [Jim Spiri - in Iraq]
...as we departed the clinic and patroled through the district, many of the marines commented to me and pointed out areas that have since been cleaned up. Of course, to the untrained eye, one would think the place looks like a hurricane came through, but daily, weekly and now monthly, everyone is seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, just in basic clean up, neighborhood by neighborhood. I later talked at length after the patrol with Lt. Kesling and he told me of plans for soccor fields, lot clean ups, school supplies as well as food distribution plans. I was struck at his hearts' desire for wanting more and more projects on the menu prior to his departure. When the goal of the whole endeavor can be seen, allbeit a long ways down the track, perhaps, the motivation for continued effort is a natural chain reaction. These are the things that keep a young, professional Lt., in the USMC guided as his precinct becomes one of many in the whole big picture of what we know stateside as "progress". Whatever standard it may be measured by, there is progress. I have seen it, I have walked among it, and I have been with those who are at this time doing whatever is asked of them to carry it out, one step at a time.

Busy day!!! -- [West Coast Notorious - in Iraq]
We leave camp early in the morning to set out for our next mission, everybody seems ready to go. We get some chow and eat on the run, hard to do in a gun truck! As we hit a stretch a road about two hours into our mission one of the TCN's has a flat, it normally would take KBR up to four hours to come and fix it. So the TCN does it himself, we pull security keeping an eye on the road when a white toyota truck (Go Figure) comes out of no where and is setting about 150 meters off of our 9'oclock. It moves up the road about another 800 meters behind us and stops. "Keep your eye on them!" I tell my gunner. I call our commander and advise him of the vehicle, just as I start to desribe the situation seven men dismount the vehicle running to opposite sides of their truck.Two of them go over to a burm on at 7o'clock, one places somthing on the ground at our six and the others go to 4o'clock. " Dismount's in the open, 800 meters, 6'oclock!!!" I say over the radio as I can hear my gunner charge his weapon. Sgt. "N" quickly comes back over the net " move up and observe!"

Why Do Iraqis Want OUR Water? -- [Jack Army - in Iraq]
why do we give away so much water? Because we have what the Iraqis call "sweet water". You know, cuz of all the sugar we add to everything we touch. Well, no, no sugar. It's sweet because it doesn't taste like the bottom of a well. It doesn't taste like all the trash your upstream neighbors dumped in the riverbed. It's not salty or grainy. It's sweet!
I used to think that these are some thirsty folks. I hardly ever saw them drinking water and they eagerly snapped up water when we gave it away. Then I heard, "sweet water" and it all dawned on me what was really going on.
I still give away water. Especially to good people, like this family in the mayors compound. Dad had business, mom was outside witht he kids, and it was hot. I thought of my wife and kids and had to give up some water.

Iraqi Withdrawal: Seven Scenarios -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
What happens if the United States and coalition forces withdraw rapidly from Iraq? The U.S. and the Iraqi governments have their own scenarios. Iran, al-Qaida, Syria and Turkey have also analyzed potential outcomes.
Business and government make plans. Every plan anticipates a future outcome. Since the future can't be predicted, the best plans acknowledge uncertainty. Acknowledging uncertainty means accepting risk -- the risk of being wrong. The art of leadership is being "less wrong."
Here are seven "scenarios" sketching "potential outcomes" of a quick withdrawal from Iraq. These scenarios are not mutually exclusive. You will find bits and pieces in all seven:

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Radio Returns -- [Strategy Page]
July 18, 2007: The Taliban radio station is back on the air in southeast Afghanistan. Back in 1996, the Taliban shut down all television and radio stations, and allowed only one, the Voice of Shariat, to broadcast, on AM and FM. The Voice of Shariat did not allow women to speak on the air, or to allow any "female sound" (definition never clarified) to be heard. The Voice of Shariat went off the air in late 2001, about the same time the Taliban fell from power. Now, apparently using a truck mounted transmitter, the Voice of Shariat can be heard again, for a half hour at a time, every few days. Not many people can hear it, as the signal is weak, and attempts to locate it (normally a simple matter) have indicated that the transmitter moves each night. Undeterred, U.S. Air Force and Navy electronic warfare (EW) experts believe they can take the station out if they can catch it while on the air, with a smart bomb or, if the EW geeks get really ambitious, a radar homing bomb tweaked to home in on an signal.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

The Enforcers Turn on Their Masters -- [Strategy Page]
July 18, 2007: The Iranian government is losing control of its security forces and secret police. Islamic radicals increasingly refuse to obey orders from the top, claiming God has commanded them to do otherwise. The Islamic conservatives have remained in power by cultivating Islamic radicals in the security forces, men who were willing to fight to the death to keep an un-elected Islamic conservative government in power. But now the Islamic radicals are out of control, and bringing them to heel will threaten the ability of the Islamic conservatives to rule the country.

Controversy Among Reformists in the Arab World Over Dialogue With Islamist Groups -- [MEMRI]
Debate has recently reawakened in the Arab media over the initiative for dialogue between the West and the political Islam movements, in particular the Muslim Brotherhood. The debate has resurged in the West due to renewed interest in the initiative, which was reflected in various articles published on the issue in Western papers and journals. [1]
The issue became the focus of public debate in the U.S. following several meetings that took place between members of the U.S. Congress and the head of the Muslim Brotherhood bloc in the Egyptian parliament, Dr. Muhammad Sa'd Al-Katatni. In April 2007, U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, heading a Congressional delegation to Egypt, met with Al-Katatni during a reception at the residence of the U.S. ambassador in Cairo, [2] and in late May, a delegation of the House Commission for Democracy Assistance, headed by David Price, met with several Egyptian MPs, including Al-Katatni. [3]

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

HLF’s P.R. Blitz: “Islamophobia” and Apple Pie -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Yesterday, jury selection began in the largest terrorism financing case in U.S. history, against alleged Hamas-front group, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF).
Yesterday also witnessed the launch of the defense’s public strategy, a dual-track approach consisting of self-appointed Muslim leaders (in this instance, many are implicated in the case themselves, as the Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR] was named as an un-indicted co-conspirator), and some in the media, claiming the prosecution is “Islamophobic,” while family members of the defendants wrap themselves in the American flag.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Thank's for your support!!! -- [West Coast Notorious - in Iraq]
It's a great thing to know that the people closest to me are giving their complete support, my wife has been great during all of this. I consider myself to be a very lucky man, her husband is in Iraq, we just had a son born a little over a month ago, and she is taking care of her father who is disabled. All of this and still finding a way to stay strong and keep everything at home together.

Thanks.. -- [Ranger Sid - in Iraq]
Thank you all for all your support.... I assure you all that things are ok....I came into this deployment knowing exactly what might happen....Believe it or not this wasn't my first trip over the pond....I've seen it happen to others....and as much as it sucks its kind of funny to be a cliche'. It's like being a blooper...You usually have done some real good things before becoming a blooper....So things are positive....The Army brought me back to accomplish a mission....We've already proved our worth....we will continue to take the fight to the enemy whenever possible...I cannot let a trivial moment in my personal life take precedence.....and I will not.....Thank you all

What Can You Do to Help? -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
...Finally Support ALL the troops. Next time you hear someone say "I support the troops, but not the mission" ask them how they can support a Soldier like GEN Petraeus or LTG Odinero, men who have dedicated their professional lives to our nation and are at the forefront leading this fight but are against what they are trying to do. These men are worthy of your support too. Just because those people say they "support the troops," does not make it true. Speak up at home, call them out.

MILITARY

And Then There Was One... -- [American Ranger]
Although I am on active duty, I attended part of the monthly drill for our weekend reservists. I learned that Master Sergeant Harvey Warshawsky was retiring and it was his last drill.
“Ski” is also a Vietnam veteran and he first went into the Army in 1966. He retired as a corrections officer from the State of New York and now he will be putting away the Army uniform as well.
He was the only other remaining “old soldier” in our unit and he had a great time reminding me that I was now the last Vietnam veteran in our battalion. The term "Last of the Mohicans” was used in reference to me and a few chuckles were shared by the youngsters in the unit.

WELCOME HOME

More than 400 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers almost home from Iraq mission -- [The Racine Report]
Welcome home events planned for Thursday, Sunday in Oak Creek
About 415 soldiers from the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery are safely back in the United States after completing a one-year mission in Iraq and Kuwait. One chartered airliner carrying 175 soldiers arrived at Indianapolis International Airport late Saturday night, and the two final planes, with about 235 soldiers aboard, arrived in Indianapolis this morning. The soldiers will complete demobilization processing at Camp Atterbury, Ind., before returning to Wisconsin in two groups later this week.
The first group of about 175 soldiers is scheduled to arrive at the Delphi Corporation plant in Oak Creek sometime after 2 p.m. Thursday, July 19.

POLITICS

Kerry: 60+ votes for withdrawal there for the taking -- [Protein Wisdom]
— if, that is, Republican Senators weren’t being ordered by King George to stay the course. Or if Kerry’s magic hat was given a Senate office and, say, 6-10 votes.
From The Hill:
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) told The Hill Tuesday that he believes more than 60 senators would vote for a change in the Iraq strategy if they were allowed to vote their conscience on a measure to redeploy U.S. troops.

Lieberman Asks: Who's It Bite?

The Senate slumber party -- [Michell Malkin]
–Open thread Update: Liveblogging cont’d–The morning after Update: 10:43am McConnell blasts Senate Dems’ “Twilight Zone” episode of “gags, gimmicks, giggles, empty pizza boxes and cots”
...Rick Moran boils down last night’s debate: “Last night was about the politics of blame pure and simple. It was about the Democrats being terrified that caving in to their base on Iraq and bringing the troops home in a Dunkirk style evacuation will precipitate a chain of events in Iraq and the Middle East that would result in genocide, war, and al-Qaeda triumphant. Being politicians with finely honed instincts for survival and with absolutely no clue about what to do in Iraq (join the club, guys), they seek to shift responsibility for the coming catastrophe precipitated by our withdrawal and all the blunders, errors, mistakes, and stupidities that have marked our adventure in Mesopotamia these last 4 years in order to be able to face the voters and point the finger at their political foes.”

Our crap politics: Senate sleepover fizzles -- [Hot Air]
So after all the pants-wetting over a promised blowhard blowout all-nighter, Reid let them go home. Most of them, anyway:
...Bob Schieffer’s verdict on the sleepover: “It pretty much widened the partisan divide.” Of course it did. Go read what the Iraqi ambassador and a colleague of his have to say about withdrawal, noting especially the comment about the “fuzzy thinking” behind Baker-Hamilton. That’s the plan that’s going to win over the Republican fencesitters to the Democrats’ side. The Iraqis seem to think we shouldn’t even bother.

Iraq Vets Urge Congress: Don't Declare Defeat -- [Vets for Freedom]
Washington, DC - Vets for Freedom members fanned out across Capitol Hill on Tuesday to urge Senators to support General Petraeus and his mission. "Before he was sent to Iraq, the General was promised the time he needed, but it seems that election season pandering has caused Senators to change their minds," said Pete Hegseth, an Iraq War veteran and executive director of Vets for Freedom.
Veterans met with Senators from both sides of the aisle to give them another side of the story from Iraq. "The facts I saw on the ground do not match to "facts" that pollute the debate in Washington - we came to help correct that" said David Bellavia, Vets for Freedom founding member. "It was a last minute trip, but I wanted to help represent my buddies who could not come today."

Joe Lieberman on Hannity & Colmes

THE MEDIA

So angry -- [Sergeant Grumpy - in Iraq]
Today I just don't know how to reconcile my anger over the atrocities committed by our enemies with the fact that most Americans want us to up and leave and allow mass slaughter to occur.
There has been consistent reporting that things have and are changing for the better in Anbar, Baquba (North of Baghdad) and Babil (South of Baghdad.) But instead of focusing on these successes, where does the media focus? On those towns where al-Qaeda has now run to since they can't stand up to us or the Iraqi forces. Yes, if we focus on securing Baghdad, it, by definition, means that if more vulnerable towns are attacked, we can't protect them. That is the way it works, and that represents a major change in tactics, although most people can't appreciate that.

Article or Editorial? Times Talks of Desperate Bush Admin, U.S. 'Mired' in Iraq -- [NewsBusters]
As straight news articles go, it was a heck of an editorial that appeared on the front page of yesterday's New York Times. The ostensible subject of Bush to Bolster Abbas and Seek Peace Talks was President Bush's announcement Monday of "a regional peace conference this fall to be led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that would include high-level Arab envoys and their counterparts from Israel and the Palestinian West Bank."
All well and good. But in the course of the article, author Helene Cooper managed to work in these two swipes at the Bush administration:

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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