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

Secretary Gates Leaves Iraq Encouraged -- [NY Times]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday that security progress in Iraq was significant yet still fragile, an assessment echoed by the senior American commander in Baghdad, who strongly cautioned against a premature declaration of victory. Completing his sixth visit to Iraq as defense secretary, Mr. Gates met Wednesday and Thursday with commanders in Mosul and in Baghdad, as well as with senior Iraqi officials. He said he left Iraq “encouraged.” “I came away from all of it feeling very good about the direction of things in the security arena, about what is going on at the local and provincial level in terms of people reaching out to each other, crossing tribal, sectarian and provincial boundaries to work together,” Mr. Gates said.

Iraq Briefing 10 December 2007 - MajGen W.E. Gaskin

MajGen W.E. Gaskin, Commanding General, MNF-West, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), provides Pentagon reporters with an update of ongoing operations in western Iraq, Dec 10, 2007 Pentagon

After the Battle of Al-Fajr -- [Michael Totten - in Iraq]
FALLUJAH, IRAQ – Fallujah is known as the City of Mosques. It is also a city of walls, and of war.
It was a quieter city than most after the initial invasion in 2003. There was less looting than in Baghdad, and the mayor was pro-American. It was tranquil for the most part. But resentment first simmered, then exploded in an orgy of mob violence on March 31, 2004, when four security contractors from the Blackwater corporation were murdered, mutilated, and strung up from a bridge.

Arab World Must Support Iraqi Progress, Gates Says -- [MNF-I]
...“Whether the positive trends of recent months continue will be determined largely by where we go from here,” Gates told about 200 delegates from 23 countries here at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Manama Dialogue. “And by ‘we,’ I mean not only the United States and the Iraqi government, but also the governments of every nation represented at this dialogue.”
Gates urged the Arab world to “exercise your influence with the Iraqis and encourage them to meet their own goals and expectations, to live up to their own promises.”

Iraqis turn against al-Qaeda lead decline in violence, US says - Press Statement - (Raw Video)

Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday, US military spokesman Rear Adm. Gregory Smith said that thanks to tips and assistance from Iraqis, al-Qaeda and insurgency violence in the country declined recently.

As Al-Qaeda in Iraq gets more Desperate, the Atrocities get Worse -- [LT Nixon Rants]
Things have been getting a little ugly lately as we've seen a spate of suicide attacks in northern Iraq. The Secretary of Defense was warned about extremists being pushed to the north when he visited last week, and this is due to combined operations in and around Baghdad and the Awakening movement in Anbar province causing terrorists to flee north. Attacks are still down in northern Provinces due to a lot of courageous work by coalition troops and Iraqis, but it's still bearing the brunt of the violence. Like the cowards that they are, Al-Qaeda has chosen to go after "soft" targets, which usually includes small bands of Concerned Local Citizens.

Update from Hit, Iraq - Progress, Progress, Progress -- [BlackFive]
...In his email, LtCol Dill discusses economic and political progress, the status of security, and a surprising visit from an anti-war journalist (who the Marines put up in the "George W. Bush Suite" on the FOB). Take five minutes and see what the Marines are up to...

The Latest GAO Report and a Reality Check -- [LWJ - DJ Elliot]
The GAO’s latest report criticizes the DOD’s assessment of the independence of Iraqi Security Forces. But that criticism is misplaced.

Operation Lion Pounce Returns Diwaniyah to its People -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — The city of Diwaniyah belongs to the people once again - a city where people walk the streets at night without fear or intimidation; a city where children go to the parks to play. It’s a city without “them” - the militants, terrorists, criminals and thugs that surrounded the city and its citizens in a cloak of fear.

Blackfive TV- Bilal Hussein, Terror Press Agent

Report on when US forces suspected Hussein was working with the insurgents

Leaders aim to 'put law back in Iraq' -- [Task Force Marne]
Throngs of Iraqi key political leaders gathered at the home of Abid Hassan Saloom in Sadr Yusufiyah Dec. 6 to discuss the future of Iraq.
The theme of the meeting was “Put the Law Back in Iraq” and it was attended by a multitude of prominent community leaders, Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi Army officials. Of note were Dr. Ahmed Chalabi, former leader of the Iraqi National Congress, Sheik Somar, Yusufiyah nahia council president, 4th Iraqi Army brigade commander Brig. Gen. Ali Jassim Mohammed Hassen Al-Frejee, Sheik Halal Al Hemdawni, as well as representatives from the Mahmudiyah council and the chief of the Mahmudiyah Iraqi Police.

Baghdad to be Middle East economic center within a few years
The government will soon open the way for international companies to in 55 large projects in the capital Baghdad, in an effort to develop the city of peace and make it an important economic and commercial center in the Middle East. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has recently allocated the sum of one billion 800 million dollars to the Baghdad secretariat and the ministries that contribute to the implementation of service projects in Baghdad for reconstruction during the next year. The Secretary of Baghdad, engineer Sabir Al-Isawi, revealed that the year 2008 will witness a leap in the quality of services and giant projects will be implemented spanning the next three years

AFGHANISTAN

The Battle of Musa Qala -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The battle for the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala in the southern Afghan province of Helmand is well underway. Officially launched on December 7, international and Afghan forces have prepped the battlefield for well over a month. A British armored column launched a feint to the outskirts of the town in mid-November and leaflets have been dropped on the town warning civilians to flee the impending attack.
The final assault on Musa Qala began after the Afghan government convinced a key Taliban tribal leader to defect. Last month there were reports Mullah Abdul Salaam was seeking to negotiate a deal with the Afghan government.

NATO And Afghan Forces Take Musa Qala.

Nato and Afghani forces have taken the town of Musa Qala after a 4 days of fierce fighting.

Random Thoughts on Old Man Winterstan -- [1romad - in Afghansitan]
Since my last Thanksgiving post I have had a number of interesting experiences. However, they don't really fall neatly into one narrative, so I guess I will just spill them out more or less chronologically:
I woke up still full from our Thanksgiving dinner, and headed out to overwatch a "routine" patrol. Spotted some bad guys, and three of us (sniper, local, and myself) reconned out about 200m to ensure they were not observing or maneuvering on us. Worked with fixed and rotary wing aircraft when our main element reported troops in contact. Good fireworks. Everyone safe. On our way out one soldier took a tumble so we got to ride home in some toyotas. And made it back in time for dinner.....with stories to tell!

Valuing the daughters -- [Yellowhammering Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
It takes an act from the governor for an American man to talk to Afghan women. I'm not exaggerating.
I recently met the head of civil affairs in Ghazni at an event and she told me about the work her organization and others were doing with orphanages and vocational training for women.
With most of the humanitarian aid we receive here at Camp Vulcan aimed at women and children, I thought it would be good if we could plan an HA drop with the Afghan National Police to directly support this work.
She suggested we meet to discuss it.

Canada issues ultimatum to Afghan elders

Canada is toughening its stance in Afghanistan.
The military is telling tribal leaders they must reject the Taliban in order to get security and reconstruction help.
But some Afghans feel the choice is no choice at all. Opposing the Taliban could put them in the cross-hairs. But failing to oppose the Taliban means international forces won't protect them.

Carrots and Sticks to Stop Poppy -- [A Year in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
October and November are the months when poppy is planted in southern Afghanistan. You may have seen a few news reports about the extent of poppy production during the 2006-2007 growing season. The UN Office of Drug Control released quite an extensive report here: http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/Afghanistan-Opium-Survey-2007.pdf. They report that 93% of the world's opium came from Afghanistan.

The strategy by the Afghan government for the 2007-2008 season is to try to convince religious leaders and farmers not to plant poppy, but rather some other crop such as wheat. It's a carrot and stick approach. Farmers are given seeds and fertilizer, and they are asked to sign pledges that they will not grow poppy.

R.I.P. Hard Drive -- [6 months in Kabul - in Afghanistan]
...Today we had a peaceful protest near our base. I was told by one of the interpreters that they were the widows of men that had died from war related causes. They were protesting the UN building for more widow's rights.

Lord of the Flies -- [6 months in Kabul - in Afghanistan]
...A lot of changes are going on at the clinic. The Afghans are in the process of converting it to a hospital. They brought some of their old beds over and were cleaning them today. It should be interesting when they start to have inpatients.
Some of our teammates visited a children's hospital called Indira Ghandi yesterday. It is run by doctors from India. I was so amazed to learn that they had one over here. From the pictures it looks like a really modern facility. They had some pretty sick children in the hospital. My friend took a lot of pictures. I won't post any pictures of the kids since they are sick and in the hospital but I will describe a few of them.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

WA Guard & Floods -- [Blog-ah]
The Washington National Guard sent us these pics of their men and women in action helping those caught up this week in floods and wind....

The Next NIE -- [Threats Watch]
There is value in recognizing ignorance
Ample ink has been spilled by both ends of the political spectrum on what the latest NIE on Iran’s nuclear capabilities means. Partisans in both camps have reason to love and hate the thing, or more precisely what they think is in the thing, given that we are dealing with just four pages of unclassified and high-level conclusions from 150 pages of narrative and supporting material. The folly of judging important books by their covers notwithstanding, one question remains to...

Iran Report Makes Case for Keeping Pressure On -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A piece I had in today's Baltimore Sun on last week's NIE on Iran's nuclear intentions and capabilities.
Some analysts are arguing that because last week's National Intelligence Estimate concluded that Iran halted its covert nuclear program in 2003, sanctions against Iran are no longer necessary. In fact, the opposite conclusion could be drawn from the report, which suggests that Iran is vulnerable to outside pressure on the nuclear issue - and much more still needs to be done on this front.

China's View of American "Soft Power" -- [Weekly Standard]
The Chinese have not taken kindly to Washington’s call for a probe into alleged voting irregularities in the December 2 Russian parliamentary elections, which the Putin-led United Russia party won by a landslide.
The Chinese press attributed United Russia’s victory to the potent combination of Putin’s effective leadership, popular support, and skillful campaign tactics. People’s Daily proclaimed that the win by United Russia is, in fact, the triumph of "Putinism."
The Russian president is portrayed not as a politician seeking to cling to power, but instead as a leader committed to rebuilding his country according to the "Putin Plan," the full implementation of which is expected to take 15-20 years.
The official Xinhua news agency ran on December 6 a commentary titled "Is democracy an 'obedient child'?" The piece, published the same day in Shanghai’s Oriental Morning Post, asks rhetorically:

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Guilty Pleas by FARC Operatives Show How Pipelines Work -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Three Colombians have pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting FARC guerrillasthrough efforts to launder money on behalf of the terrorist organization and alien smuggling.
The case is important not only for putting FARC supporters and corrupt agents of the Colombian government in prison, but because it gives a glimpse into the pipelines that cross over between terrorist/guerrilla groups and transnational criminal networks.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Going Home -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
...Outside, in the dark and the fog and the rain, it all comes out.
The things he’d seen, the things he’d done. The things he claimed he could never tell anyone who hadn’t been there.
Most of all about his friend, who cried as he lay mortally wounded.
“Don’t let me die… please, don’t let me die… “
“I mean, I’m probably going to hear that for the rest of my fucking life!”
He’s angry again. The true grief over his friend’s death is yet to come. For now, he’s realizing what this has done to him. That he’s changed now.
He doesn’t want to be changed.
Usually, I just listen, inserting a casual, "That sucks, man" or a "That's fucked up, dude" at appropriate intervals. Like what they're talking about is the most normal thing in the world, which it is. For them.
And they sure as hell don’t need me telling them how they should feel.
But he’s asking me to say something now, with his eyes. He wants me to say it will go away....

Christmas In Iraq -- [Laughinh Wolf - BlackFive]
It is with great pleasure that I tell you today that in partnership with Soldier's Angels, and through the generosity of Mr. DeVore, the Blackfive Embed Program is set to return to Iraq for Christmas. Talks are ongoing with PAO offices, and the paperwork should be filed shortly.
When I floated this idea here earlier, I was amazed at the support offered. I am not able to take packages for the troops with me, for reasons of security and because I need to be able to carry all my own gear -- and I know how you all would respond and I am not able to shoulder the several tons likely to show up. So, I will simply note that Soldier's Angels is sending out a variety of care packages, including some with Dunkin Donuts coffee. So, if you want to do something for the troops, go make a donation to Soldier's Angels.; or, Adopt a Soldier; or, if you have some time (even just a little bit) volunteer.

VAARNG Soldier Selected for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” -- [GX Online]
Rice, VA – A deployed Virginia Army National Guard Soldier, from Farmville, VA, and his family have been selected for the show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
SPC Michael Lucas, who is currently deployed to Iraq with C. Co. 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, Virginia Army National Guard, and his family have been selected to be the next family featured on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
SPC Lucas, who has returned to Virginia on mid-tour leave, landed at the Farmville, VA, Army National Guard Armory and was driven to his home in Cullen, VA, on the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” bus to surprise his family with the news that they were selected for an “extreme” home makeover.
During the next week, designers from the show, area builders and volunteers will be working to build a new home for the Lucas family. On Dec. 8, Virginia National Guardsmen will be on site to volunteer with the construction of the Lucas’ new home.

Christmas at the White House for Military Kids -- [Gazing at the Flag]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2007 - President Bush told 200 military children -- about half of whom had a deployed parent -- gathered in the East Room of the White House for a holiday party that he had two jobs today.
"One is to introduce you to my wife, Laura," he said. "Two is to tell you how much we admire your moms and dads (and) how much we appreciate their service to our country."

MILITARY

Most Soldiers Return From War Just Fine, by Ken Harbaugh at NPR. (audio)

Peace, Love, COIN? -- [SWJ]
The December ’07 issue of Armed Forces Journal contains two commentary pieces that are harbingers of a debate brewing “inside and outside the beltway” concerning Counterinsurgency (COIN) / Irregular Warfare (IW) operations “after Iraq.” While the two AFJ articles focus on Army and Marine Corps COIN doctrine approved last December and its execution in Iraq, the issues the authors raise will most certainly carryover into a larger debate that will shape our National Security Strategy and military capabilities for decades to come.
The first article, Dishonest Doctrine by Ralph Peters, accuses the Army and Marine Corps of selective use of history in writing FM 3-24 / MCWP 3-33.5 Counterinsurgency. Arguably the most damning of Peters’ claims is his accusation that the primary authors took an “academic approach” – formulating conclusions up-front in the writing process and conducting biased research in search of historical examples that supported those conclusions.

WELCOME HOME

Relax!! -- [The Sandy Squid - home from Iraq]
I'm Home!! I flew out Tuesday night and arrived about 3 hours late due to weather. I've spent the last 40+ hours unpacking, checking in on base and spending lots of time with my wife. Sarah and I went out for a nice dinner last night, it was great to sit and talk about the last 7 months at the same restaurant we were at the night before I left. The readjustment will take a little time since I'm used to a fast paced environment...it's hard to go from 110 MPH to not moving at all. I've managed to clean some kitchen cupboards, our book cases and unpack...Sarah keeps telling me to sit and relax...I'm trying, but it's tough.

POLITICS

Another Surge Convert -- [Weekly Standard]
Batiste, you will remember, is the formerly "antiwar" general who spoke out against Donald Rumsfeld, and who, until recently, was a Board Member of VoteVets.org (the antiwar MoveOn.org vets front group).
...There are two stories here: 1) A formerly anti-war general flips on supporting the war, and now believes Petraeus has the right strategy; and 2) Batiste has left VoteVets.org, and the antiwar movement, and joined up with the pro-troop, pro-surge, pro-victory Vets for Freedom.
The antiwar movement has lost one of its most powerful voices today, and it will be interesting to see whether they turn on one of their own, or come around to the view, supported by a preponderance of evidence, that the surge is working.

Democrat Representative Pomeroy says Iraq is more secure -- [AP]
WASHINGTON Rep. Earl Pomeroy says he saw significant security improvements in Iraq during his fifth trip to the country, but said much more is needed. "I've never felt more hopeful about the success of the effort than coming back from this trip," Pomeroy, D-N.D., told reporters on Wednesday. "At the same time, we need to transition this now, so the United States no longer carries the principal combat and security functions."Pomeroy went to Ramadi and Baghdad, visiting with top U.S. generals on the ground. He observed joint operations between Iraqi and American officials and a morning briefing given to Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq. He said he saw significant improvements since his last trip in July 2006.

MILBLOGGING

At a cross road and Soldierlife. -- [American Soldier]
I have been fully immersed in a very important project. It has many things to do with military members. I’ve neglected to post stories for a long time. Partly because I’ve had to endure some things on my own, also this new project. I will say that the Soldierlife site has opened many opportunities and has allowed me to meet some great people. For that would not be possible without the Milblog ring. Something that I am proud to be a part of. I am happy that this site has received worldwide coverage and visitors.
So I want to ask the readership what they think now? It seems that milblogs, unless you become a political or strict military orientated site has a certain life span. It just seems that way. What would you like to get from this site? Would you be interested in my new project? Where oh where should this site go.
You let me know.

THE MEDIA

The Iraq story: how troops see it -- [The Christian Science Monitor]
Yet the Iraq of Corporal Mayer's memory is not solely a place of death and loss. It is also a place of hope. It is the hope of the town of Hit, which he saw transform from an insurgent stronghold to a place where kids played on Marine trucks. It is the hope of villagers who whispered where roadside bombs were hidden. But most of all, it is the hope he saw in a young Iraqi girl who loved pens and Oreo cookies.
Like many soldiers and marines returning from Iraq, Mayer looks at the bleak portrayal of the war at home with perplexity - if not annoyance. It is a perception gap that has put the military and media at odds, as troops complain that the media care only about death tolls, while the media counter that their job is to look at the broader picture, not through the soda straw of troops' individual experiences.
Yet as perceptions about Iraq have neared a tipping point in Congress, some soldiers and marines worry that their own stories are being lost in the cacophony of terror and fear. They acknowledge that their experience is just that - one person's experience in one corner of a war-torn country. Yet amid the terrible scenes of reckless hate and lives lost, many members of one of the hardest-hit units insist that they saw at least the spark of progress.

Russert Concedes Fewer Deaths in Iraq Means Less Coverage -- [NewsBusters]
Asked by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt on Sunday evening about how a new MSNBC/Mason-Dixon poll found that Iraq is not “the dominating issue” as “the economy is immensely important to voters,” Tim Russert suggested Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani will have “to re-calibrate” for “a bread and butter election” since “with the surge in Iraq and the level of American deaths declining, it is off the front pages.” Iraq is also now of less interest to the television networks. A MRC study released last week documented how Iraq stories on the three broadcast network evening newscasts fell from 178 in September to 68 during November, “with only eleven (16%) actually from the war zone itself.”

"Bush League Justice" -- [Media Blog - Greg Pollowitz]
Bush League Justice is the name of a new series starting tonight with Dan Abrams on MSNBC at 9:00. That's right, an entire series dedicated to bashing the Bush administration. Here's Abrams writing on his MSNBC:

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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