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

Petraeus previews report in letter to troops -- [Intel Dump]
Today, Gen. David Petraeus published a letter to all Multi-National Forces Iraq (MNFI) personnel which previews his testimony to Congress next week. He takes the tack that many of us expected in his letter — progress is good in some areas, bad in others, and we're a long way from victory. He highlights the good news on the security front while candidly acknowledging the lack of progress on the political front. Here are a couple of quotes:

The Ghosts of Anbar: Part IV of IV -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
The Host Nation Doing Something Tolerably Is Normally Better than Us Doing It Well
1-154. It is just as important to consider who performs an operation as to assess how well it is done. Where the United States is supporting a host nation, long-term success requires establishing viable HN leaders and institutions that can carry on without significant U.S. support. The longer that process takes, the more U.S. public support will wane and the more the local populace will question the legitimacy of their own forces and government. … T.E. Lawrence made a similar observation while leading the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1917: “Do not try to do too much with your own hands.

Ramadan, Up-Ticks, and Stage Left Exits -- [Desert Flier - in Iraq]
Ramadan, the holiest month of Islam, is upon us. Following a lunar calendar that varies slightly from year to year, Ramadan, the ninth lunar cycle month, will begin around September 12th this year. Consistently over the past few years, the preceeding period and Ramadan have been markers of significant insurgent activity and concentrated attacks on Coalition units.

"We like you!" (UPDATED) -- [INDC Journal - in Iraq]
I've attended a Fallujah City Council meeting, a recruiting day for the "Fallujah Protectors" (neighborhood watch), the establishment of the city's last police precinct and a meeting of "muktars," traditional cultural leaders of specific neighborhoods who work with Marines to improve infrastructure. Tomorrow, my CAG unit will distribute food bags downtown. Almost none of this access or interaction was possible in January, and the cooperation with American personnel is widespread and animated.
The surreality of the change can be summed up by this afternoon. I sat chit-chatting in a downtown precinct with Iraqi cops and newly-minted neighborhood watchmen, junior security officials drawn from the same labor pool that previously drove the insurgency. As was the case last visit, the Iraqis assume that I'm an Arab when they first see me, and express amused fascination when they discover I'm American.

The Anti-Iraq -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
The coffee franchise Green Beans has carved out a foothold in the Middle East over the last few years. Several months ago, a Green Beans opened up in Ramadi; the deck outside has become a nightly oasis of sorts for like-minded individuals across the post.
Some of Bravo company is there almost every night; I'm there every night that I'm in Ramadi. Other people drop in occasionally- some from other companies in the task force, some from other units. There are a few shadowy figures that come and chat now and then- they are happy to talk, and we are happy for the company.

Surge is working, but that is only half of the story -- [Redstate - Hooah Mac]
Promoted by AE because this first-hand narrative of the last year in Iraq complements Jeff's work as a refreshing alternative to conventional wisdom of the armchair variety.
This is one of the updates I promised you all now that I am home and safe and sound.

Where Am I? -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
Two weeks ago I was tasked by my Commander to escort one Iraqi Air Force Major General, and two IqAF Colonels into, and throughout, the U.S. No kidding, I've spent the last two weeks touring Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, and now Alabama with three Iraqi Officers. Trust me, its been the most difficult/rewarding duty assignment I've ever been on, but there's a reason I was 'tasked' to go on this trip. I was at the bottom of the totem pole.
... We met up with a bunch of 4 stars, 3 stars, 2 star Generals, Contractors, and 'Yes Men', all the while touring aircraft and helo factories to look at the systems the IqAF has ordered from companies here in the U.S. Remember, I'm nothing but an underpaid arms dealer out here in Iraq, setting up the IqAF and buying them weapons systems and gear to help fight the terrorists who are tearing Iraq apart.

The Warrior Scholar -- [The Captain’s Journal]
...Handling such situations as presented to the Marines in Anbar at the moment requires greater managerial skill than most state-side executives will ever be required to exercise in their entire careers. The successful field grade officer in counterinsurgency must be an anthropologist, psychologist, theologian, manager, tactician, logistician, arbiter, lawyer and politician. He must exemplify the warrior poet … in a different era.

Operation Lightning Hammer II launched in Iraq’s North -- [The Long War Journal]
Multinational Forces Iraq and Iraqi Security Forces have launched a major offensive operation in Iraq’s northern provinces on September 5. Called Operation Lightning Hammer II, the offensive is aimed at al Qaeda’s network in Salahadin, Ninewa, Diyala, and Kirkuk provinces.
In Iraq, everything before the fall of Saddam Huseein seems to have faded from collective memory, but in Ramadi, the Anbari capital of one of Iraq’s most important provinces, the general agreement was that an organized race in the streets of the city had not taken place for nearly a decade.

The Ramadi Run -- [Matt Sanchez]
Ramadi was the focal point in the once infamous Sunni Triangle. Marines from the 1/6 and 3/7 out of Camp Lejeune and 29 Palms fought up and down the streets that were now a flag spangled race route. The Northwest bridge was the starting point, but the year before it was also prohibited territory as it provides no cover from possible sniper fire. A Marine set off the starting flare.

Down the memory hole: Transcript of Schumer’s surge speech rewrites knock on U.S. troops; Video: Ralph Peters on Schumer — “He’s a liar” -- [Hot Air]
Follow the link to see how he rephrased that on the Senate floor. If you want to check S&L’s work, click the image below and fast forward to about 2:40. Two possibilities: either Schumer delivered the line as prepared and is now trying to rewrite the speech after the fact to hide the evidence or else the transcript reflects the version that was prepared for delivery and Schumer reworked the line on the floor to make it more damning of the military. Either way, we have a discrepancy between the official version and the actual version of a key passage to which he clearly paid some attention. Why?

DoD Operational Update Briefing with Maj. Gen. Sherlock from the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington Va -- [Defense Link]
GEN. SHERLOCK: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for being here today. I have a few opening comments and then I would like to take your questions.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Felix and in response to requests from the government of Nicaragua via the State Department, the U.S. Southern Command has dispatched an assessment team from Honduras to assist the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Office with assessing damage from the storm and with evaluating the relief efforts in the areas affected by the storm. Additionally, SOUTHCOM has a variety of assets in the region which are available and standing by to assist if needed.

AFGHANISTAN

Mail Call -- [Castle Argghhh! - CW4BillT - in Afghanistan]
In the Op Area: Convoy bombings are becoming more frequent up north (Miranshah, Rawalpindi, Peshwar) and drive-by shootings of troops and security personnel are on the increase in Quetta, Baluchistan. The 19 troops captured in the Mehsud/Betani tribal areas were freed. The Taliban opened a regional office -- literally -- in Saam. The Mehsud tribe is almost evenly divided between pro-Taliban and we-think-you-idiots-will-get-us-all-killed factions. Currently, the elders are of the latter opinion, and elders wield major clout in Pak socety, tribal or urban. Meanwhile, 150 troops left stranded by a flood in the Khar region have been surrounded by militants and presumed captured -- four militiamen kidnapped from a checkpoint on 6 July were released yesterday.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Signs Show That Syria Is Ramping Up For a Major Conflict -- [Gateway Pundit]
Syria said that it fired on Israeli planes today.
The Syrian government reported that Israeli aircraft dropped "munitions" inside Syria overnight- AP.
Reuters misreported the incident (with an anti-Israeli slant):

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Bin Laden Plans to Release New Video -- [Town Hall]
The first new images of Osama bin Laden in nearly three years will be released ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, al-Qaida's media arm announced, a move that would end the terror mastermind's longest period without a message.
The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday it had no credible information warning of an imminent threat to the United States, and analysts noted that al-Qaida tends to mark the Sept. 11 anniversary with a slew of messages.

Intel Agents Have Bin Laden Tape Transcript, Say He’s Alive -- [Pat Dollard]
The Blotter: Intelligence sources tell ABC News they believe the expected video message from Osama bin Laden is authentic, recently produced and evidence the al Qaeda leader is still alive. U.S. authorities now say they have a transcript which they say is aimed at potential suicide bombers who he urges to carry out missions against the West. The jihadist Web site announced the tape with a banner, ...

Is Belgium Appeasing the Jihadists? -- [PJM]
Belgium's anti-terror watchdog Jean-Claude Delepière isn't worried following the arrests of Muslims plotting terror attacks in Germany and Denmark: "Belgium is careful to avoid any aggressive attitude that may provoke negative reactions from Muslims." PJM contributor Paul Belien asks why officials like Delepière can openly link Islam and terror - but when anti-jihadists do the same, they are called racist.
http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/09/europe_and_terror.php

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

A Marine's Lament -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
CPL Mark Finelli thinks our troops are idiots and that we need the WWII style draft (not the "elite friendly" Vietnam style one). Miss Ladybug disagrees with that assessment. Check out her post and weigh in on the issue.

ACLU Depictions -- [Dadmanly]
(Coming soon to a theater near you. No doubt.)
Dan Riehl referenced a pending lawsuit to be filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) by way of making a cautionary rejoinder to Bob Owens recent defense of our troops. Riehl also linked to a report on the ACLU lawsuit published by Time Magazine, as well as the ACLU press release, and full text excerpts of military prosecutions and investigations of soldiers who were alleged to have committed criminal acts while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. More on the ACLU’s press release and documentary “evidence” below.

MILITARY

POLITICS

Zogby poll: 42% of Democrats think Bush either caused 9/11 or let it happen -- [Hot Air]
I guess we should be grateful it’s not a clear majority, eh? You can thank the turds at 9/11 Truth for commissioning the poll; SLC spotted it earlier and has since been digesting the numbers. Spend some time with the data, paying special attention to question 402 starting on page 5 of the PDF. The results run on for several pages as Zogby breaks it down by age, region, religious belief, even gun ownership. The data for party affiliation comes on page 8. Here’s the most interesting bit, though, which I’ve taken the liberty of screencapping and highlighting. Click for large size:

Senator Joseph Lieberman Calls Chuck Schumer Anti-Surge Comments An Insult To The Troops -- [Hugh Hewitt - Duane R. Patterson ]
Posted by: Duane R. Patterson at 11:43 PM
Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman joined Hugh Hewitt earlier this afternoon, and Hugh played for him the offending comments from fellow Senator Chuck Schumer on the floor of the Senate yesterday. Here is the audio of that segment, and here is the full transcript. Senator Lieberman was very clear in his reaction.

THE MEDIA

GI Film Festival AAR -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
By all accounts, GI Film Festival 2007 was a huge success! The program was first-rate. And the festival earned worldwide press coverage from CBS, NBC, Fox, The Pentagon Channel, WMAL, the AP, The Washington Post, and Variety, to name just a few media outlets.
Be sure to check out their updated website, www.gifilmfestival.com, to view their official festival video, which will give you all of the highlights from last year’s event. I like the Gary Senise video.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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