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

No looking back -- [Leader-Telegram Online - HT:Lumberjack in a Desert - jrsalzman.com]
Despite losing his right hand in Iraq, a UW-Stout student has no regrets about serving his country. Now he's set his sights on a teaching career and a return to logrolling.

Badgers Forward . . . Onward . . . but still in Iraq -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
I am working on a couple of posts to wrap up this deployment. In the mean time though, Mrs. Badger 6 would like me to remind you that although the rest of Team Badger is winging their way home, I am still in Iraq.
I have volunteered for another 10 months. I hope to use what I learned to help another unit.
I am in a completely different part of Iraq and and least for the time being my Internet and thus blogging capability is a little more limited.

Hunting Al Qaeda, Part II of III -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
...Al Qaeda still lurks in the area, so the farmers were happy to see us. One woman said that seeing the Army out there was a blessing from God, which made the Soldiers happy. There’s not a lot of happiness to be had here, but the Soldiers respond when people show gratitude. It charges their batteries. And they really love those cards from home where kindergartners and first graders ask all kinds of funny questions like, “Is it hot in the desert?” Yes, a little bit. But along the waterways in Iraq, such as here next to the Diyala River, it’s hot and humid. Practically steaming. Even the mosquitoes must sweat here.

Iraq Assesment

Citizens find, report explosives -- [MNF-I]
ARAB JABOUR, Iraq — Concerned citizens found a bag of explosives and took it to Coalition Force Soldiers conducting security operations outside Arab Jabour Sept. 12.
Rather than risking a detonation near their homes, the concerned citizens picked up the bag and brought it to the Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

Anbar Awakens Part II: Hell is Over -- [Michael Totten - in Iraq]
Al Qaeda met resistance, after a time, from the Iraqis and responded with a horrific murder and intimidation campaign against even children. The Sunni Arabs of Ramadi then rejected Al Qaeda so utterly they forged an alliance with the previously detested United States Army and Marine Corps and purged the terrorists from their lands.
...Only then did I notice that Lieutenant Colonel Crane was no longer wearing his helmet. Neither were most of the others.

Major Rory Quinn 3/7 Marines Ramadi -- [Matt Sanchez]

An Iraqi Alliance Breaks Apart -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
On Saturday, exactly six months after the Fadheela Party announced its defection from the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the Sadr bloc made a similar decision and withdrew from the alliance as well.
Abdul Kareem Inizi, the chief of Dawa Party-The Iraqi Organization (this is the other half of the Dawa, has 10 seats in the parliament) was the first to comment on the news:

Insurgent Rocket Lands on Civilian's Car

Sept. 13: "One 107mm rocket impacted in an intersection near Forward Operating Base Loyalty, striking a car and engulfing it in flames. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, responded to the blast and cordoned off the area. The wounded were transported to Medical City for treatment."

"No comment." -- [INDC Journal - in Iraq]
An Interview with a Mukhtar
My interview with a "Mukhtar" - a city sheik who represents a neighborhood in Fallujah - is published at the Long War Journal.

Sheikh Sattar assassin captured by US forces -- [The Long War Journal - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
US Special Forces captured an al Qaeda leader involved in the assassination of the leader of the Anbar Awakening, as well as other attacks in Anbar province. Al Qaeda attacks a tribe aligned with the Diyala Awakening; an anti-extremist Shia movement forms in Wasit province.

Standing up the Concerned Citizens in southern Baghdad -- [The Long War Journal - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
...In southern Baghdad province, the establishment of the Concerned Citizens, also referred to as Iraqi Police Volunteers, began to take hold in late spring. Initiated by tribal connections from Anbar province, the movement mimicked the rise of the Anbar Salvation Council in some respects, but differed in many ways. This bottom up process of local reconciliation consists of both Sunni and Shia tribes wishing to restore a measure of peace to the war torn regions south of Baghdad.
Meanwhile, in Real News, Sheikh Abdul Sattar al Rishawi was killed in Ramadi a few days ago. He was the leader of the Sons of al-Anbar, described as Iraq's most important man and a potential savior of Iraq. Even the NYT had to acknowledge his impact.

Dronetek- From the Source: The US Marine's 1/6 react as an IED goes off in building 10 in Ramadi

The US Marine's 1/6 Carlie Company, react as an IED goes off in building 10 in Ramadi, Iraq. Part 1

Along the Way -- [Jim Spiri - in Iraq]
...There is too much to say about it, so for the time being, I will just say, it was very, very good.
...So, with the media folks loading up in a van to take them to the briefing, I immediately began my plan to "get on the van". I went to the person in charge here and hurriedly explained that I want to attend. After a very short interval of explanations, the person got the picture and made it happen that I would be allowed to attend the "media" briefing. The van was directed to wait for one more passenger, me, and I came out with camera in tow and loaded into the van.
Now, this is where the story gets fun.
In this van were reporters from the Washington Post, Newsweek Magazine, Financial Times, NPR radio, and some others. And then there was me, from, uh...well..New Mexico. But some of the Army folks had received word that "Mr. Spiri" had just finished an interview with Lt. General Odierno a couple days back and perhaps it might be a good idea to bring him along.

General Petraeus, Canes, and Assorted Oddities -- [Marching Camp]
....I served in Ramadi during my last tour, and I cannot overstate the impact the al-Anbar Awakening had in the area. When we got there in June, Anbar was the wild west, the most dangerous city in the world. Everyone knew it, and we weren't sure we were going to make a difference short of blowing the city up. When we left, our brigade commander described Ramadi as an 'unconsolidated victory'--in other words, about like Tal Afar was when we took it over from 3rd ACR that January.

A Twist in American - Iraqi relations -- [ON Point - Andrew Lubin - in Iraq]
Iraq: Repercussions of today’s Blackwater Killings Andrew Lubin The Iraqi Interior Ministry today suspended the operating license of Blackwater, the North Carolina-based security contractor. Their stated reason was due to the 8 killed, 13 wounded Iraqi civilians in a gunfight yesterday between a Blackwater security team and insurgents. Interior Ministry officials also threatened to prosecute everyone deemed to have used excessive force in the shooting. Prime Minister Maleki apparently...

The Untouchables: US Rushes To Smooth Iraq’s Anger Over Blackwater -- [Pat Dollard]
“The incident reports were a whitewash, and nobody did anything about it,” he said, adding that there have been a few cases where Blackwater and other companies have fired workers for killing civilians, but those same workers were back ...

Happy 60th Birthday U.S. Air Force -- [Dude, where's the beach? - in Iraq]
...I attended our own Air Force birthday celebration here in Baghdad this morning. We had the standard cutting of the cake by our most junior and senior members, as well as a great speech by our Commanding General, Brigadier General Robert Allardice. I have to admit that I thought his speech was the best I'd heard in years, and not just because he used something I wrote in it. It's nice to work for a person who knows how to make a point, and his point was that our Air force is doing a great job out here in Iraq. Things may be rough, but the mission is getting accomplished by some amazing people throughout the AOR.

17 September 2007 1640 GMT -- [HOKIE.US - in Iraq]
There have been a couple of common themes in the last 24 hours here since hitting the ground. First is sand. There's a lot of it. It's a little finer than I remembered it, but I guess that doesn't really matter. You can't really see too far in the distance because of the layer of dust in the air. It'll also probably take a year for my mouth and sinuses to be cleared of the sand too. I'm already starting to taste it with every breath.
I'm not complaining though. The living conditions are still better than the last time I was out this way. The A/C makes a big difference, especially when it's still getting close to 120 degrees in the mid-afternoon sun.
...Oh well...things are actually going really well so far and morale is pretty high.

DFAC Dining -- [manrymission.com - in Iraq]
Anyway, the DFAC here in Mosul does not deserve the Mess Hall moniker. This is the most impressive DFAC I have ever seen. Due to OPSEC, I am unable to post any pictures of this magnificent structure. You may recall the explosion in a DFAC in Iraq around Christmas in 2004. The blast killed 22 soldiers and wounded 66 others. That occurred here in Mosul on FOB Marez, right across the road from FOB Diamondback. Because many soldiers congregate at DFACs, these facilities are considered high-value targets. So we take every possible measure to ensure the safety of our soldiers in the DFAC. I will not discuss anything here that violates or compromises OPSEC.

AFGHANISTAN

Home is Afghanistan -- [Helmand:911 Badges... - in Afghanistan]
I am on the last few days of my leave and I am getting ready to come home. If home is where the heart is, Afghanistan is my home. I have had a wonderful R&R, I have seen everyone I wanted to see and done everything I wanted to do. The places and people I have visited have not changed much, and that in it's own way is comforting and good. But my heart, my spirit, is in Afghanistan. One question I was asked over and over again was if this would be my last deployment. I usually said it was fifty/fifty. Truthfully, I will keep deploying as long as my body holds up.

Shake Your Make Money Maker or Just Pick Up a Puppy -- [ETT PA-C - in Afghanistan]
We actually went and did some training with the ANA and ANP not too long ago and while we were there gathered up a fan club of 3 mutt type puppies. To lay the framework here, it's Ramadon, the season in which Muslims fast (nothing past the lips) after 0400 until 1900 depending on when the sun sets. Well, we're not supposed to drink or eat in front them out of respect blah, blah, blah. Well, these pups came whimpering up to us and of course, we whipped it all out of our trucks for these dogs. Bottled water, peanut butter crackers, beef jerky etc right in front of the ANP and ANA.

Canals, watermelon, and the Dutch PM -- [A Year in Afghanistan - in Afghansitan]
Kamp Holland was busy with VIPs this week, including a suprise visit by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands on September 11. I have a picture of him speaking with soldiers at the camp.
I also hosted a visit by the head of the Kandahar office of our Local Governance and Community Development program. I've been working for months to get projects started in Uruzgan through this program. There are grand plans to refurbish and construct government buildings, improve roads and irrigation systems, and train officials their staff in public administration. This visit culminated in commitments: hiring staff, scheduling visits by engineers, designating space for a computer training center. When the project staff went to look at an irrigation system, they brought me back some other pictures: a spot where seasonal runoff damages the canal each year, mountains behind cornfields, curious children, and a watermelon snack.

Somehow, It Fits... -- [CW4BillT - in Pakistan]
Multan, Pakistan, the City of Dust. Or, in this case, the Airfield of Dust.
It's one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in Asia, if not the oldest -- it's definitely one of the *hottest*...
And, since I was the oldest continuously-breathing pilot the company -- *not* "The Company" -- sent over, I felt right at home (snarking myself so *you* don't have to; that's the kind of service the Castle provides, yessirree).

Entries from Today In Category: 'Afghanistan' -- [The Long War Journal - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
US forces captured Inayatullah, a senior al Qaeda leader and Afghan national, earlier this year and have moved him to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Over 10 Taliban fighters were killed after attacking a joint Afghan-British patrol in Helmand province. Nine Taliban were captured in Kandahar. A US airstrike killed at least one Taliban fighter in a village east of Kabul that facilitates "Arab, Chechen and Taliban" terrorists. The Taliban kidnapped a Bangladeshi aid worker south of Kabul.

The Politics of Money -- [Startegy Page]
September 18, 2007: The Taliban continue trying, and failing, to use groups of gunmen to drive police and soldiers out of southern Afghanistan. For the last month, the Taliban have been losing several hundred men a week (dead, wounded, captured). The Taliban continue to get nailed when they try to attack soldiers or police patrols with an ambush or attack. Bombers or helicopter gunships quickly show up, and the Taliban are scattered, with heavy casualties.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

September 11 premonitions - "I Told You So" will be just too cruel thing to say -- [Dark Roasted Blend - HT: Tigerhawk]
When we reflect upon the horrendous events of 9-11, we can't help but stumble upon different premonitions and uncanny coincidences that took place BEFORE any of this had happened. This article is an attempt to collect together all such instances of unintentional insight and creepy prediction.
We'll start with the most incredible of them all, courtesy U.S. Mail Service:

France: Prepare for war with Iran

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the world should prepare for war over Iran's nuclear programme.
"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Mr Kouchner said in an interview on French TV and radio.

Wars Are Hell -- [Strategy Page]
September 16, 2007: The country is at war, or, more correctly, at wars. There are many fronts. Most of the fighting is being done by the Revolutionary Guards and the national police. The regular armed forces are kept in their barracks, as the government does not trust this conscript force, full of young men who are not very fond of the religious dictatorship running the country. The Revolutionary Guards, or at least the al Quds force (which specialize in supporting pro-Iranian terrorists in foreign countries) is having a hard time in Iraq. With the collapse of al Qaeda in Iraq (because the Sunni Arabs turned on them), U.S. troops are now concentrating on Iranian supported groups. Coalition commando forces are specifically looking to capture as many al Quds operatives as they can. As a result of this

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Why They Hate Osama -- [Strategy Page]
September 17, 2007: The collapse of support for Islamic terrorism was not just an Indonesian thing. Throughout the Islamic world, the al Qaeda terrorism in Iraq, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Afghanistan has turned public opinion against the Islamic militants, and leaders like Osama bin Laden. The loss of popular support has made it difficult for Islamic terrorists to recruit and operate. That is particularly true in Indonesia, which was never very enthusiastic about Islamic radicalism to begin with. Meanwhile, even the ethnic unrest among Melanesians (who are often Christians) in eastern Indonesia, is dying down.

KSM's Transatlantic Shoe Bomb 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 eleventh in a series of reports examining the multitude of threats directed at the United States since 9/11. This week's report focuses on 9/11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's (KSM) plan to utilize two British Al Qaeda operatives -- Richard Reid and Sajid Badat -- to blow up U.S.-bound commercial airliners with shoe bombs. On December 22, 2001, Reid attempted to bring down American Airlines Flight 63 by igniting the explosive device in his shoe; his attempt failed and he was restrained by passengers until the plane landed. And,...

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Be A Hero -- [Tanker Brothers]
...Today well over 500 pair of premium warm, wicking, cushioned socks as well as photos of the children, their letters and notes are on their way to the Korengal Valley.
My deepest gratitude to Nancy Rouse, Beth Nelson, the students and staff members at all of the schools that participated, Bass Pro Shop and Vicki and Claire at Boxes and More for making this happen for our amazing Warriors.

“I don’t need the big ceremony or the big white dress. But, I do need Craig.” -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
I found this incredibly romantic. Congratulations to the young couple!
Rachel Holmes stands with tears in her eyes during her marriage to Spc. Craig Bowes. The couple were able to see and speak to each other through the entire ceremony and after. The first words Bowes said to his fiancée via the connection were, “You look so beautiful, Rachel.”

MILITARY

Popped -- [Popping Smoke]
Saturday is my last day in the Army. In ten years, I have lived in five states and set foot in six different countries. We met and still hold close plenty of friends in those places. But now it is time for the next chapter . I don't regret joining the Army and I don't regret popping smoke and getting out. I cannot even begin to imagine what my life would be like if we had missed all of the great things that have happened because I was in the Army. Thanks Uncle Sam.

POLITICS

Democrats will hold war funding hostage -- [Michelle Malkin]
Who’s playing politics with the war? You tell me:
Democrats are not expected to take up President Bush’s war spending request until November, giving them time to calculate their next move and see if Republican support for his policies deteriorates.

General Petraeus [HT :Soldiers' Angels Germany]

"...the cradle of the best and the worst..." -- [Tanker Brothers]
I took that from Freepers here, who have many pictures of the Gathering of Eagles yesterday in Washington. Iif that doesn't make YOU sick, I swear nothing will. I expect she is proud of herself, as her infamy is spread far and wide over the internet. Shame on her. I would like to say I am surprised, but I am not. And you shouldn't be either. Not when your politicians set the tone by their disgraceful behaviour towards the fine General this last week. After their treasonous actions, on YOUR tax dollars, I guess the gloves are really, REALLY off now.

Wes Clark Gets Stomped Rewriting Saddam's Uranium History -- [Gateway Pundit]
General Wesley Clark, the antiwar activist and founder of VoteVets.org, an organization that put out tainted antiwar ads during the 2006 elections, was a guest on the Allman and Crane Show on 97.1 FM in St. Louis.

THE MEDIA

Screened for Sycophancy -- [The Tank - Steve Schippert]
Meeting with President Bush apparently wasn't but half the honor. According to Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post, I was "screened for sycophancy," which is apparently a new box on the Secret Service security checklist.
Bush didn't have to go out of his way on Friday to endear himself to his guests, who had been screened for sycophancy.
And as their ensuing blog posts make clear, they lapped up even his most timeworn talking points and hoariest stories.
Froomkin finds it easier to react to a quote than to actually look to qualify his remarks. For if he had, at least in my case, he would find a fair amount of criticism of the President's policies and — in the case of designating Quds Force — potential policies. That particular criticism is ongoing, in fact. The Sycophant Patrol apparently missed that bit. Whew.

Wash Times editorial: "Heroic soldiers, Pelosi slanders" -- [Jeff Emanuel - in Iraq]
The Editorial in today's Washington Times newspaper, entitled "Heroic soldiers, Pelosi slanders," liberally quotes my op-ed (appearing in the same paper, on the facing page) about the gains I've witnessed in Iraq, both on the part of the coalition and of the Iraqi people themselves.
...Unfortunately, this matter of life and death (both for the American soldier and for the Iraqi civilian) is still being treated as a political football by those "mature adults" who govern our nation.
Regardless, I will be remaining on the front lines in this conflict for several more weeks, making sure that those who seek it have accurate, firsthand information from the front in Iraq available at their fingertips. Whether they use it or not is entirely up to them.

Apparently David Sessions needs to get out of the library and come over into the real world -- [Jeff Emanuel - in Iraq]
Slate.com's David Sessions picked today of all days to type out a little piece called "How Hot Is Iraq?: Why does everyone think it's 130 degrees?" The apparent impetus for this is a McCain speech, in which the Senator referred to "U.S. soldiers...carrying 40 pounds of body armor in 130-degree temperatures" -- something which Sessions absolutely must disprove.
So, he sets out to do so - and reinforces the fact that booksmarts are only applicable, well, inside.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Kerry Says Tasered Student ‘Seared’ in His Memory -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-09-18) — Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, said today that a University of Florida student who was Tasered after cursing police while resisting arrest during a Kerry speech is “seared…seared in my memory.”

Day By Day

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