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

An Edgy Calm in Fallujah -- [Michael Totten - in Iraq]
FALLUJAH, IRAQ – “You're probably safer here than you are in New York City,” said Marine First Lieutenant Barry Edwards when I arrived in Fallujah. I raised my eyebrows at him skeptically. “How many people got shot at last night in New York City?” he said.
“Probably somebody,” I said.
“Yeah, probably somebody did,” he said. “Somewhere.”
Nobody was shot last night in Fallujah. No American has been shot anywhere in Fallujah since the 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment rotated into the city two months ago. There have been no rocket or mortar attacks since the summer. Not a single of the 3/5 Marines has even been wounded.

Iraq Agrees To Long-Term U.S. Presence -- [CBS]
(CBS/AP) President Bush on Monday signed a deal setting the foundation for a potential long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq, with details to be negotiated over matters that have defined the war debate at home - how many U.S. forces will stay in the country, and for how long.
The agreement between Mr. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki confirms that the United States and Iraq will hash out an "enduring" relationship in military, economic and political terms.

Iraq: Beyond the Drop in Violence -- [ON Point]
"A TORRENT OF GOOD NEWS": So The New York Times described the reports of a significant fall in violence in Iraq. But reducing all Iraqi news to measures of violence can hamper understanding of a complex situation.
Those who opposed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 prefer to focus on violence, for it has seemed to confirm their claim that the war was wrong. They've downplayed all good news from post-Saddam Iraq - the end of an evil regime that had oppressed the Iraqi people for 35 years; the return home of a million-plus Iraqi refugees in the first year after liberation; the fact that the Iraqis got together to write a new constitution and hold referendums and free elections - for the first time in their history - and moved to form coalition governments answerable to the parliament.
The drop in violence is certainly a good thing. But other Iraq news, both good and bad, needs to be taken into account. ...

5,000 US troops to withdraw from Iraq

...Statement by Rear Admiral Gregory Smith
Around 5,000 American troops will head home later this month as part of a withdrawal plan announced by President George W. Bush, US military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said Saturday.

COP Corregidor, al-Haswa -- [A Battlefield Tourist - in Iraq]
Southwest of Baghdad is an area called al-Hawsa, a Sunni region in the area of Iraq known as South Baghdad. It’s an area that is part of Iraq’s notorious “Triangle of Death”. It’s also the area that, up through October, was assigned to “B” Troop, 1-89 Cavalry, part of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd BCT. The unit established COP Corregidor as part of the US military’s new strategy to put smaller units among the population in an effort to stimulate cooperation. From this strategy shift, the “Concerned Citizens” movement began to take root across the area, following the successful template being used in Anbar Province.

The Real Surge -- [LWJ - DJ Elliot]
While the "surge" of five US brigades plus their accompanying support elements, about 30,000 US troops total, is the main focus of commentators when discussing the current situation in Iraq, the real surge in Iraq is happening behind the scenes. The rapidly expanding Iraqi Army is where the real surge in forces is occurring.

A comfortable minority -- [Neptunus Lex]
Political support for America’s aspirations in Iraq in general, and for the presidential author of that strategy in particular, has slipped from percentages marked in the high 70’s in 2003 to the mid-30’s or so in 2006-2007. Those of us “left behind” have often been derided by those to whom the muddled middle shifted as Myrmidons, dead enders and Dear Leader bots.
...Whenever we have been tempted to stop and question ourselves, we are gratefully provided with statistics like these:

Iraq = Korea -- [Jules Crittenden]
Big news out of Iraq where, ignoring Congress and its withdrawal proposals in the interests of common sense, the Shiite-led Iraqi government and the Bush administration have inked a deal for an ongoing U.S. military presence and strategic partnership. To ward off foreign threats and internal coups, and keep a lid on sectraian rivalries. That’s interesting. As an earlier version of this AP article noted, it’s really going to tick off the Iranians:

3/5 Marines meet unexpected man of the house -- [Fightin 6th Marines - in Iraq]
Marines stopped and knocked at a courtyard gate in Fallujah's Andaloos district. A little girl answered the door with an anxious look on her face.
“Is the man of the house in?” asked Sgt. Ysac M. Perez, a squad leader with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6.
As if on cue, a little seven-year-old boy appeared and owned up to the title. The Marines greeted him with smiles and laughter. This scenario is not unusual, however, said Perez.
“This is actually pretty common while the father is gone,” said Perez,...

A time to give thanks... -- [Eighty Deuce On The Loose - in Iraq]
Very near the end, I turned in to this other alleyway and noticed an older kid sitting on a desk or something in the alley and through my nightvision, it totally looked like he was wearing a training bra. I though to myself, "What the fuck is he wearing?" The nightvision sometimes messes up colors and makes stuff look weird like that, so I tilted my head up to try and look at him with my eyes, but it was kind of dark. I had just focused back on him through the nightvision and had though how weird that was, when his friend, about the same age, whom I had not seen before came out from around him, about 5 meters in front of me. I noticed he had something in his hands and made out the shape of an AK-47. My heart stopped and I lost my breath. Myself and probably my team were done for. Fortunatly my head kept working and training kicked in as I drew my rifle on him, shining my tac-light on him and putting my visible green laser on his chest. Not taking any chances, I flipped my rifle to FIRE. I yelled for him to stop and to drop the weapon. The boy froze in place still holding his rifle. It seemed like an eternity, just waiting to see what he was going to do.

Intelligence Collection and Sharing -- [SWJ - CPT Tim Hsia - in Iraq]
Years from now after the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have ended; historians will pore over the operations and tactics of the U.S. Army during both campaigns. They will likely applaud the all-volunteer force and the courage of the individual soldier; just as likely, however, they will criticize the lack of information sharing and management between the militarily and civilian departments of the U.S. government. Specifically, they will note the military's poor record in information management, accessibility of intelligence gathered, and the inability to apply years of accumulated intelligence to current battlefield operations. A way to patch the current intelligence gap within the U.S. government would be to adopt an information collection program that accumulates data similar to major internet stock market trackers. Market trackers absorb information continuously, rigorously track trends, and enable traders to formulate decisions based off the latest news combined with historical data. The ability of market trackers to store and quickly recall historical data should be mimicked by the U.S. government so that commanders and diplomats possess relevant records that enable them to make decisions which take into account the economic, historical, cultural, political, anthropological, and environmental aspects of the region they are operating within...

AAA Executive Board Decision -- [From an Anthropological Perspective - in Iraq]
A little more than two weeks ago the AAA Executive Board decided to make a formal statement not supporting the Human Terrain System. I’ve read some of the blog and forum traffic on the matter and decided to respond since I’m here in Iraq as the field anthropologist for a Human Terrain Team.
...The AAA did not systematically study the HTS project but determined that they should disapprove of it anyway? Their statement is “based on information in the public record” which means not much because HTS has barely started and the public record (internet?) is full of uninformed notions of what the US military is doing in Iraq and Afghanistan and is crippled by paranoia that we engage in clandestine work as if we are living a spy novel. If anyone looks at various posts of mine, this is hardly the case.
The AAA lists five ethical concerns regarding the placement of anthropologists as contractors, in a theater of war, with the US Military.

Running on Java and Jolt -- [Sergeant Grumpy - in Iraq]
"It is impossible to know who to trust here - the best advice is to trust no one"
That is surely the best advice I got from the outgoing team, and if I didn't hear it from CI-Roller dude, I am sure he would have said it. Everyone here you work with wants something from you and has some scam they are trying to run. People show up every day with some urgent information we should drop everything in order to discuss. Most of it is crap, or recycled intel they were able to sell to the last rotation, or the FOB down the road. Or worse, they are from the "enemy/insurgent/AIF/ACF/freedom fighter/Abu dirt-bag/take-your-pick" and they are trying to figure out what we already know.

Men of Valor Part II -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
First Mission - To interpret events in al Basra, context is critical. When we invited the British to join us in this war in 2003, the U.S., with the bulk of troops and assets, was the senior partner. In essence, we were the driver of a bus filled with several dozen partners: Poland, Australia, Japan, Georgia, Korea, Albania and so on. Although several key countries had opted to stay home, no nation stepped up to the task like Great Britain, taking responsibility for southern Iraq. But they could not have not planned for the seemingly precipitous and arbitrary decisions made by the mostly American bus drivers in Washington and Baghdad, who took many turns without consulting an accurate map. Egos and strained competencies only magnified and compounded errors. Nobody paid more for these mistakes than Iraqis and Americans, but the Brits and others have also paid tolls for their seats.

'Medevac, medevac, medevac!' - [Matt Sanchez]
Ride along with U.S. military quick reaction force saving lives in Iraq
Embedding with the quick reaction force – QRF – was like drawing straws and hoping something would happen on the long 24-hour shifts.
I was with the "C" Company 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment from Fort Campbell, Ky., a medical evacuation team stationed at Balad, Iraq, north of Baghdad. Its motto: "Bene Volare Vitam Salvare," "To fly well is to save lives."
Paul Rauscher, a chief warrant officer and pilot originally from Lake of Ozarks, Minn., was on his third trip to Iraq, where he piloted a UH-60 Sikorsky, a type of flying ambulance with 6 litters for the wounded.
Rauscher was considered a mission-killer. "Nothing ever happens when I come on duty," he said jokingly while introducing me to his crew and commanding officer. On the other hand, 1st Lt. Travis Owen, a young pilot on his first tour in Iraq, had a reputation for being a "mission magnet." I guess the two men were supposed to cancel each other out, and with the drop in violence, the odds were that we were going to spend a lot of the day watching movies.

Terrorist Bride Captured Near Baghdad On Way to Honeymoon -- [Gateway Pundit]
Soldiers manning a checkpoint near Baghdad stopped a wedding convoy to find that the purported bride and groom were wanted terror suspects, an Iraqi Defense Ministry official said Monday. The Army set up the checkpoint last week in the ...

Member from almahdi gang wants to escape

US Commander: No Decline in Iranian Activity -- [The Weekly Standard]
There has been a lot of talk recently about a "a quiet process of apparent concessions and small gestures of approval between the United States and Iran in Iraq" as it was described today by Iran expert Gary Sick at FP Passport. Go read the whole post to see evidence of this courtship, most of which will be well familiar to our readers. Still, there's very little evidence that any thawing in relations between Iran and the United States has produced improvements on the ground in Iraq--just a lot of empty promises. Last time we spoke with General Bergner, back in October, he explained that despite Iranian commitments to reduce the flow of weapons and fighters,

AFGHANISTAN

Patriot -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure - in Afghanitstan]
I met a patriot today. I met a man who is not in the military of any country, but he is most certainly a patriot. He is a manager for the company that manages our terps, or interpreters. He is an Afghan-American. He lived in the United States Since the early 80's.

Soldiers on Patrol in Kabul 4

Free For All -- [ETT PA-C - in Afghanistan]
Some of you know that we've been building our camp up out back so we can have our own little part of the world without the ANP staring at us all the time. Well, we have 50% of it done and we should be able to move in within the week. I'll be so glad! You have no idea. We are the only embedded team with the type of mentoring that we do. Most teams live on a compound near by. We live in the same compound about 10ft away. Gets old after a while. You just want a little bit of space. It's like having a 3 year old or, for that matter, an irritating neighbor bother or stare at you 24 hours a day. So, the addition of room and removal to the other side will be welcome. I'll have a container to myself with room for a bench and medical supplies on one side and my personal stuff on the other. A true "Doc in a box!" ER's got nothing on me!

Freedom Watch Afghanistan

We could have taken an "off" day today, seeing as it is Thanksgiving. -- [Yellowhammering Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
Clothes and food are ready to distribute.But instead, one of our district teams decided it would be more fitting to do unto others.
Good call!
We organized a humanitarian assistance visit to Khogiani, one of the districts where we work closely with the Afghan National Police.
The subgovernor held a shura, or meeting with the elders, to discuss the issues of the district.
Then the real fun started.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Navy Preparing for War with Iran? -- [The Weekly Standard]
...Fuel demands, particularly in a war zone, are always in motion. So I'd ignore the Reuters subtext here--that this is some sort of indication that an attack is imminent. If I were a betting man, I'd say that the Navy is replenishing after the major exercise held earlier this month or--if you're absolutely convinced that there's treachery afoot--preparing to respond to the coming flurry of Iranian naval activity.

Iranian Missile that can hit Europe -- [ON Point]
Iran: We've developed new missile with range of 2,000 km
Iran has recently developed a missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najar said on Tuesday.
Iran already stocks long-range missiles which are capable of hitting Israel. The new missile, named "Ashura", will enable Iran to aim at targets in Europe.

22nd MEU (SOC) ramps up relief operations in Bangladesh -- [22nd MEU]
ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (LHD-3) – Marine helicopters from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) delivered more than 2,500 gals. of water today along with 12,000 lbs. of medical supplies to areas in Bangladesh hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone Sidr, a storm that ripped through the country Nov. 15, 2007.
The Marines made an initial delivery of water on Nov. 23, marking the first delivery of US military aid to the storm-battered nation. Kearsarge and the 22nd MEU (SOC) have contributed to planning efforts with the Bangladeshi Government and military, relief agencies and other US military and US State Department representatives. Kearsarge and the MEU are now ramping up distribution operations with the added capabilities of the embarked helicopters.

Der Spiegel on the Dollar: Exaggeration, Sensationalism and Bipolarity -- [Davids Medienkritik]
Here's a question for you: Do you remember seeing an extreme cover like this at Der Spiegel when the Euro was weak just a few years back?
...Viewed in isolation - the Dollar cover might not be considered anti-American. Given the larger body of work of Der Spiegel over the past decade - however - it is difficult to characterize the "Dollar Nosedive" cover as anything but a further manifestation of the festering Hate-America bias that plagues the magazine.

Anti-America Americans -- [MiamiHerald.com]
It is easy to hate the American people and government. All that's needed is to take seriously the opinions about their criminal conduct written by some U.S. university professors. They are the best source of anti-Americanism known.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

New Bin Laden Tape Will Address Europe -- [The Blotter]
An Islamist Web site often used by al Qaeda says Osama bin Laden will address Europe in a new audiotape to be released soon.
A banner headline on the site says the "Lion Imman who defeated the American tyrants" will address the European people.
Bin Laden and his followers have repeatedly threatened massive attacks on European cities although none have been carried out.

500 lbs. bombs hit Al Qaida staging area

Terrorism, Plain and Simple -- [OneFreeKorea]
...I placed that quotation at the top of this post to give you some context for a new report, via South Korea’s Joongang Ilbo, that our State Department will formally propose removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism in early December, perhaps two weeks from now. President Bush’s appeasement-minded North Korea negotiator, Christopher “Kim Jong” Hill, has already gone to Tom Lantos, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to lobby for the deal.
...Why North Korea Deserves to Stay on the List

Feds Teach Firefighters to Spot Terrorists, ACLU Not Happy… -- [Stop The ACLU]
Firefighters in major cities are being trained to take on a new role as lookouts for terrorism, raising concerns of eroding their standing as American icons and infringing on people’s privacy.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

AddLiveVoice Announces the Free Use of Their Service for Family Members of Military Personnel Wishing to Send Online Voice Greetings to Those Serving Abroad for the Holidays -- [PRWEB]
AddLiveVoice Announces the Free Use of Their Service for Family Members of Military Personnel Wishing to Send Online Voice Greetings to Those Serving Abroad for the Holidays
With the holiday season near approaching, families are looking to unite with their loved ones and AddLiveVoice is excited to help them make that connection through an intimate, cost effective and reliable means of communication.
"I feel that it is extremely important for everyone, especially during the holiday season to recognize the significant role that the military plays in our lives" stated Bryan Grier, CEO of AddLiveVoice. "It is our duty to support the troops during this time and offer them the chance to get in touch with family and friends back home. It's great to send a written letter, or an email - but no such medium translates the genuine emotion found in the voice of a husband, wife or child."

I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
What a line for the times we live in.
It will ring true for our military servicemembers in Iraq or Afghanistan or some other far flung location. Their families will miss them and they will miss their families. Operation Santa has programs to assist in sending Christmas love to them this holiday season.
Operation Santa also focuses on another group of heroes this Christmas season. Those men and women who will be in the hospital at Brooke, Bethesda, Balboa and Walter Reed over the holidays.
They won't be home for Christmas either. Operation Santa at the Hospitals will bring them some Christmas love in the form of a handmade, stuffed stocking.

"Go Home British Soldiers, Go Home" -- [In Training]
It seems like there has been more and more anti-soldier behavior occuring in Britain these days. I have even more examples I could post. With a husband in the Royal Marines, it's all personal (even though it should be personal to everyone). The phone call from my husband last night made it all the more personal.
...When the train came to the guys stop, they stood at the door and began cursing at the Marines, flipping the bird, and other rude gestures. They also whispered to the other group of lads and pointing at Royal. They got off the train and continued their swearing and bird-flipping.

Worth a prayer on Sunday -- [CDR Salamander]
For these brave military personnel from the UK.
Injured soldiers who lost their limbs fighting for their country have been driven from a swimming pool training session by jeering members of the public.
The men, injured during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, were taking part in a rehabilitation session at a leisure centre, when two women demanded they be removed from the pool. They claimed that the soldiers “hadn’t paid” and might scare the children.

Ben Johnson, How to Support the Troops - Get Educated and Take Action -- [LT Nixon Rants]
I often find a lot of diatribe on the web about young ambitous folks proclaiming "Supporting the Troops" by performing paltry tasks like slapping a ribbon on their SUVs or justifying their lack of civic action and sacrifice by decrying "...but I support the Troops". Wonkette just absolutely destroys a young college Republican, Ben Johnson, who supports our president's war objectives, but can only find time to send the folks downrange beef jerky. The notoriously ruthless website then goes on by denouncing him as a chickenhawk, suggesting he be highlighted in Operation Yellow Elephant, and even saying we reinstate the draft just for him! I still believe the best civic action is to sign up for the military (like many of us did after 9/11), but if you're concerned about terrorism and don't like wearing a uniform or getting yelled at, I have a solution for you

MILITARY

Exoskeleton Turns Humans Into Terminators.

G.I. Jill - Army Medic Competes for Miss America -- [Americas North Shore Journal]
The United States Army is proud of all its soldiers, though not all of them will have an Army website dedicated to them. Jill Stevens, Miss Utah, does. Jill is also Sgt. Jill Stevens, combat medic, and a member of the Utah National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment.

IN MEMORY OF...

WWII Marine pilot awarded Medal of Honor -- [LA Times]
Col. Jefferson DeBlanc Sr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor after a fierce World War II battle in which the Marine Corps pilot shot down five enemy aircraft, parachuted from his damaged plane, then swam to an island where tribesmen traded him for a five-pound sack of rice, has died. He was 86.

POLITICS

Sanchez and the Democrats -- [QandO]
The sudden relationship can be summed up neatly by the old Arab proverb: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Dale has written about it and he and I have discussed it on a podcast. That is the suddenly outspoken retired LTG Ricardo Sanchez blasting the administration about the conduct of the war in Iraq.
Of course what Sanchez never does is take any responsibility for his role in that war. For instance:

THE MEDIA

CBS Veteran Suicide Numbers Bogus? -- [NewsBusters]
On the CBS "Early Show" on Nov. 13th, co-host Julie Chen claimed that there was "an alarming suicide rate among veterans" of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. CBS then aired a report that went on to claim that the suicide rate for our troops had wildly climbed. Fellow NewsBuster Kyle Drennen had his doubts about the report when the show originally aired and now comes an editorial by oftentime military reporter Michael Fumento further casting large amounts of skepticism on the CBS report.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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