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

The Untimely Recess -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
The withdrawal of the Accord Front from Maliki's cabinet and the persistence of the parliament on taking a month long recess is a major embarrassment for Baghdad and Washington alike and for anyone who was looking forward to seeing some political progress in Iraq before the September milestone.
When it comes to the recess, two main factions can be identified as the cause of the deadlock:
First there is the Accord Front. This bloc apparently trying through the withdrawal from the cabinet and preventing the passage of legislations by insisting on taking the recess to show

I have seen the horror -- [Michael Yon - NY Daily News]
Al Qaeda is guilty of monstrosities in Iraq - no matter what anyone says
Amid all this talk of timetables for the War in Iraq, blurred as they are by a strange lemming-like compulsion to declare the "surge" strategy a failure almost before it actually began, one deadline looms larger with each passing day: It's time for a reckoning with the truth.

Gates: Troop Drawdown Possible -- [Military.com]
WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged that political stability in Iraq likely will not happen before the administration of President George W. Bush makes its critical September assessment on whether its war strategy is working.
But Gates declined Sunday to predict that a drawdown of U.S. military forces in such a scenario would happen by year's end. He cited some progress in reducing violence locally in regions such as Anbar Province, a former base of al-Qaida's activities in western Iraq.

Building on Steel -- [The Tank - W. Thomas Smith Jr - in Iraq]
Despite the ongoing war and what those on Capitol Hill might have us believe, there is progress in Iraq: Real measureable progress in Al Anbar that must be talked about. I had intended to wait and discuss the progress in Anbar, fleshing it out in detail in one of my NRO columns when I get back to the states (and I will), but it deserves talking about now. Here's why:

Iraq is Not a Mess, Just Extremely Complex -- [The Tank - W. Thomas Smith Jr - in Iraq]
AL QAIM — Early afternoon here as I watch two wicked-looking Harriers roar across the desert beyond me. Over the past couple days, I've seen Harrier jump jets and Cobra helicopters (flown by Marine pilots) as well as the two permanently stationed Black Hawk medevac helos (flown by the Army). Rarely do I see transports like C-130s out this way (in fact, I don't think I've seen any) unless they are picking up or delivering. After all, this is the proverbial last American outpost — counting battalion HQ, all the battle positions and combat outposts — in western Iraq.

Were headed north! -- [West Coast Notorious - in Iraq]
Yesterday we left our base camp for our mission up north. We will be counducting combat operations within the sunni triangle. I have a handfull of southeren op's under my belt, well into double digits. So needless to say I'm excited to finally get to go up north. We are conducting a joint venture operation with another componet that at this time I can not mention, hopefully we are all on the same page. We arrived at our first destination last night without incident.

Col. talks of progess being made...

Air strike kills mastermind behind Iraqi Golden Mosque bombings -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — The senior al-Qaeda terrorist believed to be the mastermind behind both bombings of the Golden Mosque in Samarra was killed during a Coalition air strike, a Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesperson told journalists in Baghdad Sunday.
“Yesterday, the government of Iraq announced that the Coalition force killed a senior al Qaeda terrorist, Haitham Sabah al Badri,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Fox, spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq. “He was killed east of Samara on August second.”

Insurgent headquarters discovered, destroyed

Concerned citizen leads U.S. Soldiers to cache -- [MNF-I]
RUSHDI MULLAH — A concerned Iraqi citizen led Coalition troops to a weapons and ammunition cache along Route Malibu, near Rushdi Mullah, Aug. 4.
Soldiers of 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum N.Y., followed the man to the cache site, where they uncovered weapons buried in the ground.

F-16 Fighting Falcons eliminate rogue JAM extremists attempting an attack on Coalition Forces
Multi-National Corps -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Two F-16 Fighting Falcons destroyed a rocket site being used by suspected Shi’a extremists linked to Jaysh al-Mahdi to target Coalition Forces Aug. 4 in the outskirts of Diwaniyah.
According to preliminary reports, more than three members of the extremist group at the site were killed in the bombing. The aircraft also destroyed a tractor-trailer used in the attempted rocket attack against the nearby military installation.

CNN Embed Correspondent in Awe of Ramadi Progress

CNN correspondent Barbara Starr usually reports cynically from Washington, DC, but this week she's embedded in Iraq traveling with GEN Peter Pace and expressed astonishment at the positive conditions in that city. We are winning in Iraq.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Overshadowed By A Larger Threat -- [Strategy Page]
August 6, 2007: The Taliban have changed tactics, now they favor kidnapping foreigners and suicide bombings, to try and weaken the government. The traditional Taliban tactics, of war bands (of 50-100 gunmen) roaming the countryside, attacking the police and terrorizing villagers into supporting the cause, have failed. The Afghan police and army are too well trained and equipped (with radios, to call in NATO troops and airpower) to be defeated. The losses for the Taliban are very high, with a third or more the men in these war bands being killed. Many of the survivors are wounded, or captured. This is bad for morale, and makes recruiting more difficult.

Iran gives Taliban hi-tech weapons to fight British -- [Times Online]
British troops in Helmand province fighting the Taliban face a new danger as sophisticated Iranian weapons and explosives are being smuggled into Afghanistan.
In the dusty frontier town of Islam Qala, near Herat, on the Afghan side of the border with Iran, weapons and explosives such as armour-piercing roadside bombs are being trafficked to the insurgents.

Freedom Watch Afghanistan - 06 August 2007

A Shout Out to the Sky Soldiers in Afghanistan -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
On June 6, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, also known as “The Herd”, held a transition-of-authority ceremony on Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The 173rd ABCT took over the AO of the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
This is the unit's second tour in Afghanistan, the first began in the spring of 2005.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

China-to-Iran-to-Taliban and Al Qaeda. And that's not all... -- [JunkYard Blog]
Iran's interference in Iraq is well known and frequently discussed. But those discussions rarely address the underlying circumstances which have made Iran such a player on the international scene.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

New al Qaeda Video Shows Zawahiri, Adam Gadahn, Threatening U.S. Homeland -- [Jawa Report]
A yet to be released video by al Qaeda's as Sahab media group shows Orange County, California native Adam Gadahn ranting against the West. Gadahn, who is known by Azzaz al Amriki, has appeared in several al Qaeda produced videos and is the only American indicted for treason in the global war on terror.

Al Qaeda Issues Warning to America (and others) with an American Accent ! -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Another chilling video from Qaeda production house Al Sahab reportedly warned India, Israel, Russia and of course the United States. This one hour long terror docu-drama came within a week after Abu Yahya al-Libi’s call for overthrowing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. This time the presenter is one American Qaeda member Adam Gaddhan (Azzam al Amriki). The video declared, besides targeting US at home and its diplomatic missions abroad, the outfit is planning to target Tel Aviv, Moscow and New Delhi. For the first time a video from Al Qaeda inventories reportedly accused India directly for killing thousands of Muslims in Kashmir and that to with US support. Gaddhan came to limelight in 2004 when he threatened in one such video, “Allah willing, the streets of America will run red with blood.” This is not the first time Gaddhan featured in such videos.

NEFA Series "Target America": The Columbus Mall Plot -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
On the heels of the foiled plots targeting Fort Dix and JFK Airport, the Nine Eleven Finding Answers (NEFA) Foundation announces the release of the ninth in a series of reports examining the multitude of threats directed at the United States since 9/11. This week's report focuses on the plot to attack a Columbus, Ohio area shopping mall. Earlier this week, Nuradin Abdi, a Somali national living in Columbus, admitted his involvement in a cell that included Iyman Faris, currently serving 20 years in prison for assessing targets on behalf of 9/11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and Christopher Paul, indicted in April 2007 for plotting against European resorts and U.S. government facilities. Abdi told FBI agents that his group was "willing to conduct acts of violence in the United States."

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Vote for Your Favorite Military Charity! -- [Gazing at the Flag]
This is a chance to earn extra money for your charity of choice.
Everyone can have ONE vote, so look at the charities listed, and cast your vote.
Prizes for Charities
Grand Prize—$1,000
2nd, 3rd and 4th Places—$300 each
Raffle—$100 for a randomly selected charity
Vote HERE - http://www.vajoe.com/charity/
Voting occurs August 5-20.

Daily Kos diarist: Still thinks troops are “morally retarded” -- [Michell Malkin]
Update 8/6 9:05am Eastern. Must-read of the morning–Rick Moran reflects on his adventure at YKos. He reports on nutroots zeal, the unbearable whiteness of the left-wing blogosphere (and the double standards in making such observations), and concludes with a warning that I’ve made myself before:

MILITARY

Let Me Free to Be Speedy -- [Strategy Page]
August 6, 2007: There's a growing demand, from troops and combat commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq, for permission to go into action wearing less armor. The helmet, protective vest and bullet proof plates add up to a bulky ensemble that restricts movement, and adds over twenty pounds to what the infantry are carrying. The troops know, from experience, that there are situations were lightness and flexibility are more critical than being partially bulletproof. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) commandos have long had the option of wearing less, or no, armor.

POLITICS

Perceptions of Iraq War Are Starting to Shift -- [Real Clear Politics]
I's not often that an opinion article shakes up Washington and changes the way a major issue is viewed. But that happened last week, when The New York Times printed an opinion article by Brookings Institution analysts Michael O'Hanlon and Ken Pollack on the progress of the surge strategy in Iraq.
Yes, progress. O'Hanlon and Pollack supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003 -- Pollack even wrote a book urging the overthrow of Saddam Hussein -- but they have sharply criticized military operations there in the ensuing years.

YearlyKos Hypocrisy: Markos Supports Soldiers Wearing Uniforms at Anti-war Rallies -- [NewsBusters]
As the folks at Daily Kos scramble to explain what transpired at their convention in Chicago Friday morning when a soldier in uniform tried to speak at a breakout session called "The Military and Progressives: Are They Really That Different," it has been revealed that Markos Moulitsas supports such attired military members attending anti-war rallies.

Army SGT Censored at Daily Kos Convention

The Army SGT wanted to present evidence that that Iraq Surge is working. Was he censored? Is he a heckler? Why won't the moderator let the panelists answer the question?

Rick Moran interviews soldier who spoke up at Yearly Kos
His name is David Aguina and he’s an Army reservist. His UCMJ claims against Soltz seem thin to me — Article 88 prohibits “contemptuous words” directed at the president, not criticism, and Article 91 seems to apply only to lower-ranking soldiers and only when on duty — but it’s hard not to be moved by his story about his experience with Iraqis.

Kos Kids Can't Handle Truth -- [Blonde Sagacity]
First off, how disturbing is it that there is an annual "Yearly Kos" conference? This year the conference (to be a fly on the wall) ended like this:
"...At the end "a young man in uniform stood up to argue that the surge was working, and cutting down on Iraqi casualties."
"The moderator largely freaked out," Ezra Klein wrote. "When other members of the panel tried to answer his question, he demanded they 'stand down.'"
The moderator, Klein said, "demanded the questioner give his name, the name of his commander and the name of his unit. And then he closed the panel, no answer offered or allowed, and stalked off the stage."
Panelist Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander and 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, "took the mic and tried to explain what had just occurred," Klein said.
Klein said "the argument appears to be that you're not allowed to participate in politics while wearing a uniform, or at least that you shouldn't, and that the questioner was engaging in a sort of moral blackmail, not to mention a violation of the rules, by doing so."

Missing Newt's Point on the "Phony War on Terror" [The Corner - Andy McCarthy]
By taking one sound-bite out of context, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has Newt Gingrich saying pretty much the opposite of what he said in a speech last week.
In a report on Saturday, they have the former Speaker grousing in a speech last week that "the Bush administration is waging a 'phony war' on terrorism." If you read what he actually said, however, Newt said that the war is entirely real. What is "phony," he argued, is the administration's approach to the war — including the reluctance to come to terms with the facts that radical Islam is the enemy, that you can't win it in a single theater (like Iraq), and that any serious approach would require real thought about energy independence.

THE MEDIA

Hacker Proves How MSM is Fooled by al Qaeda Photochopped Images -- [NewsBusters]
At the Black Hat computer Hacker's conference held in Las Vegas last week, Neal Krawetz of "Hacker Factor" showed how easily the MSM has been tricked into believing the fake images that al Qaeda has offered to further their propaganda. Krawetz specifically referred to two images, one the July 27, 2006 image of al Qaeda second in command al-Zawahiri supposedly sitting in a modern television studio. It was an image that had the tongues of the MSM and pundits alike wagging. How is it, they clucked, that al-Zawahiri could be sitting in a modern television studio yet still could not be found?

Reuters Runs False Report of Afghan Rescue Operation, says AP-- [Media Blog - Tom Gross]
The Reuters news agency issued a report at 7:42 a.m. EDT Wednesday that an operation aimed at rescuing the South Korean hostages held by the Taliban in Afghanistan was under way.
A full-length story on the rescue was put out by Reuters at 7:51 a.m. Both stories quoted Khowja Seddiqi, a district chief in the area, as the source.
At 9:31 a.m., Reuters sent notice that “the official quoted in the story did not make the comment reported.”
It takes the Associated Press (whose own foreign coverage is far from exemplary) to take a critical look at its rival:

'The Bourne Ultimatum' Politicized -- [NewsBusters]
Perhaps we should have expected this but apparently The Bourne Ultimatum which opened this weekend is chock full of liberal proganda. So who is making this charge? Some vicious rightwinger with an axe to grind against liberal Hollywood producers? Nope. This is the claim of a liberal movie reviewer, Anthony Kaufman, who wrote the following in his Huffington Post blog, Jason Bourne: An Anti-Cheney American Hero?

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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