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

Iraqi Perspectives Project.
Captured Iraqi documents have uncovered evidence that links the regime of Saddam Hussein to regional and global terrorism, including a variety of revolutionary, liberation, nationalist, and Islamic terrorist organizations. While these documents do not reveal direct coordination and assistance between the Saddam regime and the al Qaeda network, they do indicate that Saddam was willing to use, albeit cautiously, operatives affiliated with al Qaeda as long as Saddam could have these terrorist–operatives monitored closely. Because Saddam’s security organizations and Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network operated with similar aims (at least in the short term), considerable overlap was inevitable when monitoring, contacting, financing, and training the same outside groups. This created both the appearance of and, in some ways, a “de facto” link between the organizations.

What Iraqis Want You to Hear -- [Michael Totten]
Two days ago ABC News released a new poll of Iraqi public opinion, and John Burns at the New York Times made a very perceptive observation that should be taken into account when looking it over.
I’ve been to Iraq five times, and never once have I heard an Iraqi say anything hostile about Americans. Partly this is because I don’t spend time in insurgent circles. How could I? The Iraqis I’ve met don’t represent the full spectrum. Middle Easterners are also famous for their politeness and, unlike some people from other parts of the world, they will not get in your face if they don’t like where you come from.

Bearing Witness - 5 Years of Reporting War in Iraq -- [Reuters]
Through five years of war, a team of 100 Reuters correspondents, photographers, cameramen and support staff have strived to deliver news to the world from Iraq - the most dangerous country for the press. These are their personal stories, bearing witness through half a decade of conflict which has taken the lives of 127 journalists, including seven Reuters staff.

Relieved of command -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
On the western outskirts of Mosul, Combat Outpost Inman sits on a dusty and violent stretch of road that serves as an al Qaeda supply line from Syria into the provincial capital. The soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division are assigned to secure a vital stretch of this road leading from Tal Afar, but they have come short of its task. The leadership of Iraq's 2nd Division arrived at Inman on March 20 with one goal in mind: fix the problem.
And on that day, today, a big part of the problem was fixed. The battalion commander was relieved of command.

And more years to come -- [Outside the Wire]
War does not care for the arbitrary timelines of man. The fifth anniversary of Marines and Soldiers crossing the berm from Kuwait into Iraq is treated as a news subject only because we humans tend to measure things in such terms. As Cormac McCarthy wrote in the 'Blood Meridian':
"It makes no difference what men think of war, said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be. That way and not some other way."
A war is a competition between the wills of humans. There are no rules, no boundaries, no timekeepers or even scorekeepers. It is a struggle until one side yields to other. To pretend otherwise only protracts the war.
The United State's war in Iraq did not begin in March of 2003. The United State's war with Mohammanden Jihadists did not start on September 11th, 2001.

Outside the Wire: Documentary Series - This is Iraq!

Counter-insurgency 101 -- [Kaboom - in Iraq]
...We continue down the planned route down Route Sabers, where we had staggered into the middle of an Iraqi Army/Sons of Iraq and civilian forces firefight two months earlier, and head south for a few hundred meters. SSG Bulldog’s gunner, PFC Cold-Nuts, registers movement during his scan.
“Gravedigger 1, this is Gravedigger 2-Golf.”
“Send it, Bro-seph.”
“Yeah, we’re passing Sheik Tony Montana’s headquarters right now. His lights are still on. I just thought it was pretty late for that.”
He’s right, I think, and begin prepping to dismount. “Roger 2-Golf. Gravediggers, go ahead and conduct a short halt in front of Montana’s headquarters, and kick out local dismounted security. I’m gonna go in and say what’s up.”

A brief hiatus and you'll believe they hate us... -- [Tragically Famous - in Iraq]
I forewarn everyone about the realities of this war, and henceforth the realities of this journal. They are exhilaratingly fun to write about on the good days, but there’s the dark side to this moon as well. I wish no one had to see it. I wish no family had to bear the weight of an unwelcomed visitor in uniform on their doorstep. However, that’s just not our reality. Iraq is the stadium, and we are the visiting team. No matter how the numbers stack up, some are sent packing, and some are sent packed. It’s a really hard day when a soldier tells his leader, “I just can’t get back in the truck. I can’t do it anymore.”
This is the story, and I will say it is fictional based solely that those who can confirm the second hand information are currently recuperating in the hospital. You infer what you need, but please follow me carefully down this road

A Solemn Time -- [Miserable Donuts - in Iraq]
On March 12th our base was hit by rockets – the worst happened, and three Soldiers were killed. On Monday they were honored at a memorial ceremony given by their unit. Hundreds of American service members, civilian contractors, and Coalition soldiers all attended.

Al Anbar

Marine sings answer to Dixie Chicks hit -- (VIDEO) Unfinished business -- [Military Times]
Cpl. David Thibodeaux was in Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, when the Dixie Chicks partnered with anti-war group MoveOn.org in 2004. Despite the band making headlines with anti-war views, he didn’t know much about them, he says.
Nevertheless, Thibodeaux now sings “Not Ready to End the Fight,” an “answer song” to the Dixie Chicks’ 2006 anti-war hit, “Not Ready to Make Nice.”
“I’ve seen so many good things happen in Iraq, and I don’t think it’s time for the war to end,” said Thibodeaux, a member of the Chemical and Biological Incident Response Force. “Anybody who doesn’t think there are terrorists out there should open their eyes.”

Foreign fighters leaving Iraq, military says -- [USA Today]
A growing number of foreign fighters are leaving or attempting to flee Iraq as U.S. and Iraqi forces have weakened al-Qaeda and forced its members from former strongholds, U.S. military officials say.
The trend reflects a broad disenchantment among foreign fighters, particularly since al-Qaeda has lost sanctuaries in parts of Baghdad and Anbar, a Sunni province west of the capital, U.S. military intelligence officials say.

Guardian: The Surge Is Failing

An Iraqi Insurgent Tell-All: Al-Qaida Is To Blame For "Killing Sunnis" And "Demolishing Their Homes, Mosques, and Their Hospitals -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Evan Kohlmann]
The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a recent interview with a senior military commander of the Hamas al-Iraq insurgent group in the restive Diyala province of Iraq. During the interview, the unnamed Hamas commander sharply condemned the "criminal actions launched by the Al-Qaida network targeting innocent civilians and... other jihad movements... The occupying forces were unable to enter many districts and villages of Diyala until Al-Qaida paved the way for them when they began killing the Sunnis and demolishing their homes, mosques, and their hospitals." The Hamas al-Iraq commander also addressed allegations of Iranian logistical support for local Al-Qaida operations, and the relationship between Iraqi Hamas and a variety of other organizations--including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS),...

AFGHANISTAN

Returning to dust -- [Yellowhammering Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
For now, the worst thing about the dust is what it does to our weapons, particularly our crew-served weapons we mount in the turrets of our Humvees where they become dust magnets.

864th Engineers: Building Afghanistan -- [Blog-ah]
I will say this for the soldiers of the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) – they sure work hard here at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Sharana in completing all of the tasks they have prior to returning home in May.
...FOB Sharana is a beehive of activity with construction – both of the horizontal and vertical variety – going on as the FOB grows in size. From digging and the driving of nails to welding and the pouring of cement, the battalion’s soldiers are doing it all. It should also be noted that members of the Polish Army at times work with their American counterparts.

Afghan, Pakistan, 173rd Special Troops Battalion enhance communication, cooperation -- [Combined Joint Task Force -82]
NANGAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Communication and cooperation between Afghan and Pakistan border security forces is essential to the success of containing insurgents threatening both countries. To this end, the Afghan and Pakistan border security forces at Torkham Gate, held a Border Flag Meeting Feb. 28 with the 173rd Airborne’s Special Troops Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Milhorn, to address security and communication issues, as well as the upcoming opening of the Khyber Border Coordination Center.
Preventing insurgent operations in the border area requires constant communication between the Afghan and Pakistan border forces, said Milhorn. He hopes to improve the chances of catching insurgents by supplying the Afghan and Pakistan Border Police with radio equipment so they can speak directly with each other.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iran Gives Syria $1 Billion For Missiles To Strike Israel -- [Pat Dollard]
Haaretz has meanwhile learned that Iran has provided Syria with more than $1 billion for arms purchases, reflecting Syria’s drive to build up its military power in the last year, as well as the strengthening of ties between the two countries.
The $1 billion that Iran has recently provided Syria has been used to buy surface-to-surface missiles, rockets, anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft systems.
Israel has learned that Syria is buying more missiles than tanks, on the assumption that attacking the Israeli home front would deter Israel on the one hand, and help to determine the war on the other.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Where's Adam Gadahn? New bin Laden Message not Subtitled -- [Jawa Report]
Two days ago a "new" bin laden "video" came out which was obviously old. The content of the message was about the Mohammad cartoon controversy. An old message about an old issue. When it came out I noted how unusual it was that the announcement came without the usual banner.
That led me to proclaim, "Case closed: Osama bin Laden is dead!"

Bin Laden's New Message -- [Counterterrorism Blog- Douglas Farah]
There are several interesting aspects to Osama bin Laden's first, albeit brief, message of 2008, transcribed here by the NEFA Foundation. Clearly the senior al Qaeda leadership thought the issue was important enough to have bin Laden address it, something he has not done since December 2007.

Bin Laden Reiterates Al Qaeda Doctrine Tying Victory in Iraq to Victory Over Israel -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Andrew Cochran]
In my opinion, the most important point in the second tape in two days by Osama Bin Laden is his reiteration of long-held Al Qaeda doctrine that victory in Iraq is critical to the long-term success of the jihad throughout the Middle East, ending in victory over and the destruction of the State of Israel. Bin Laden issues a renewed call for jihadists to win in Iraq in order to support the Palestinian cause: "The nearest Jihad (holy war) battlefield to support our people in Palestine is the battlefield of Iraq ... It should be taken care of and supported." This is a quick summary of the doctrine which his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, laid out in his famous letter in July 2005 to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq

Bin Laden’s threat uncovers Jihadist message for Europe -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Walid Phares]
In an audiotape posted on Internet, Osama Bin Laden threatened Europe with punishment because of its “negligence in spite of the opportunity presented to take the necessary measures” to stop the republishing of the Danish cartoons. It also menaced the Vatican with retribution for an alleged role in incitement "against religion." This al Qaeda warning would have been normal in Salafi Jihad logic. This radical movement obviously considers the drawings as an ultimate insult to Muslims and would unleash extreme violence in retaliation. Actually one would have expected al Qaeda to strike back “for the cartoons offense” long time ago. In fact

Counterinsurgency: Forest and Trees -- [Castle Argghhh!]
LT G recently wrote about Counterinsurgency doctrine (COIN) from the ground point of view. This morning, I got the chance to hear about it from the "big picture" perspective in a DoD Blogger's Roundtable. The guest was Colonel Daniel S. Roper, Director, U.S. Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Center at Ft. Leavenworth, who recently spent time evaluating Counterinsurgency operations in Iraq. The center was set up by General Petraeus to be as COL Roper put it, "the focal point connecting all the different efforts developing and implementing COIN doctrine." The mission is to provide "oversight" for COIN integration, to improve the capability of the military to operate in a "full-spectrum COIN environment."

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

OK, calling all Spotters -- [The Sniper]
I was contacted today through work by SFC Barry Nelson, US Army, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is the Senior Group Leader of the Basic Non-Commission Officers Course (BNCOC) on the grounds at Walter Reed. Any of you who have been to PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC or Sergeant Majors Academy no doubt remember these courses. They're not exactly R&R. Now imagine doing it as a wounded troop. Here was his first missive to me
...We need to go big. Real big if we can. This isn't a simple thing of honoring troops who were injured (though they were) this is about soldiers wanting to further themselves, despite any injuries they sustained. These are troops who want to take the next step in their development.

Soldiers' Angels Soars into the 5th year of Service Member Support -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
March 21, 2008, Pasadena, CA- In honor of the founder of Soldier' Angels, angels across the globe have gathered together to dedicate a week to show appreciation to Patti Patton-Bader for her tireless efforts to support our service members and to grow the Soldiers' Angels into the largest ALL volunteer- military support organization in the world.

GI TYPE WAVE SOLE DESERT TAN BOOTS -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
Why do soldiers request boots; doesn't our military supply boots to our combat forces? The simple answer is yes, but the conditions our soldiers are dealing with in Iraq and Afghanistan tends to "eat up" the boots. The sand and heat just destroy them. So, as you can imagine, our soldiers go through boots pretty fast. Sometimes the PX has limited quantities, especially of common sizes and the supply line for boots can be slow at times. Soldiers' Angels has been fortunate to get a great price for these boots! We get these boots from the same supplier who provides us with our KEVLAR blankets, so you know you can trust their quality. We have been told our boots are more comfortable than the standard issue boots and are approved by the military, guaranteeing that your hero will be in compliance with military regulations.

Soldier's quotes of the week - Comments from some wounded guys -- [Soldier's Angels - Medical Support]
Captain Christine L from the 506th writes about the amazing spirit of some of the wounded guys she's treated in her E/R.
We allow our soldiers to call home after we get them stable and one, whose' Humvee was struck stated to his wife, "Honey, I am OK we just got blown up."
Pt. #2 stated, "Morphine is gooooooood stuff."
The day I was hanging those new curtains you sent, I had one side up and I sat down to take a break and we had incoming. I told one patient,"hey you get the new curtains." He replied, "yeh and a purple heart, not bad for one day of work.

No Dogs or Vets on the Lawn -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
A nice lady named Nadia McCaffrey, who lost her boy in Iraq, wants to set up a house for vets suffering from PTSD in wine country, CA. But that has made some neighbors hoppin' mad that they're going to have a bunch of Rambo types running around with their guns n' craziness driving down the property value. Sadly, this seems to be a discouraging trend in a society that has little understanding of the reality of modern conflict. Not only do they want to get involved with it, they don't even want to know about it.

Why Soldiers With Traumatic Brain Injuries and Permanent Handicaps Are Considered Partially Disabled -- [BOB WOODRUFF]
...Even though he is finally doing much better physically, the Boothbys still have obstacles ahead of them. Just this month, the Boothbys received the Department of Defense ruling that Michael had been granted only a 70 percent temporary disability rating.
That means the family of five  with one more on the way any day now  will have to make due on 70 percent of their previous income.
Boothby's temporary disability rating will be reevaluated annually, even though many of his injuries are permanent. He has traumatic brain injury and has lost more than half of his vision in both eyes.
"He's gonna be blind for the rest of his life. Optic nerves don't grow back. He will never drive. He can't go to work. He can't get to work. It doesn't make sense to me," said Megan, Boothby's wife.

On 5th Anniversary: Disrespect for Army Women and Men -- [The Tank - Elaine Donnelly]
Five years ago this week, infantry, armor, artillery, Special Operations Forces and Marines led the fast-moving ground assault to liberate Baghdad. In November 2004 the same troops, fighting door-to-door and street-to-street, cleaned out Fallujah, an enemy stronghold. Those fierce battles, and many more throughout Afghanistan and the entire region, define “direct ground combat,” which involves more than the experience of being “in harm’s way.”

Protestors Outnumbered By Supporters -- [Blog-ah]
Phil Rashke sent us this report from the Tacoma Mall where war protestors demonstrated against the war....
Good News....the pro-military supporters at Tacoma Mall today outnumbered the "Shut the Mall" protestors three to one! Protestors never got to the front of the military recruiting station and had to do their protest speeches on a side street. Military supporters had lots of "support the troops" signs and lots of American flags. Chants like "Where are Your Flags" and "Don't Dishonor Their Names" greeted protestor attempts to read the names of the war dead. The protestors didn't have one American flag beyond an old 13 star flag....which they had to go find. By about 2:45 pm the protestors gave up and left the area.

Eagles Needed For April! -- [GoE]
It’s time to make our presence felt on Capitol Hill once again. In conjunction with GEN Petraeus’ testimony in Washington DC (on or around April 7th), we are looking for Eagles to take our message of victory and unconditional support of our military to our elected representatives.

Fox Undercover: Camden Excessive Force Investigation [TownHall]
What killed a Chester County man five days after Camden police arrested him at a rock concert? It's what Camden's top prosecutor wants to know as he confirms to Fox...

MILITARY

Real life hero: A Soldiers Silver Star story -- [Combined Joint Task Force -82]
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Heroes are made, not born.
And a hero like Spc. Monica Brown, 19, a Lake Jackson, Texas, native is no different. She is the second female Soldier since World War II to be awarded a Silver Star for her gallant actions during combat in Afghanistan in 2007.
She was presented her Silver Star by Vice President Dick Cheney during a ceremony here March 20.
It was dusk April 25, 2007, when Brown, a medic from the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, was on a routine security patrol along the rolling, rocky plains of Paktika’s isolated Jani Khail District when her convoy was attacked by insurgents.

BOINGBOING TV: Technology and the Iraq War.

..."I think the golden age of soldier blogs, you know, soldier-on-the-front-line-blogs, is over, unfortunately."

WELCOME HOME

Girl opens gift box to find spc. stepdad inside -- [Military Times]
SANFORD, Mich. — At her seventh birthday party, Amber Birdsall thought the huge gift box wrapped in pink paper likely hid a pair of bicycles. She was wrong. Inside was something she wanted even more — her stepfather, a soldier who had been deployed overseas.
“This is way better than bikes,” Amber said.
The surprise began a few weeks ago when Amber told her inquiring mother that all she wanted for her birthday was to have her stepfather return home from serving 10 months in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Welcome home -- [Redding Record Searchlight]
Sgt. Jereme Espinosa has served two tours in Iraq since joining the military after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He's dedicated to protecting his country and family, and making sure the U.S. is safe. He believes our military has helped Iraqi citizens create a safer social system and rebuild their country. Here are some vital statistics:

Welcome home, Guard soldiers -- [Concord Monitor, NH]
By Joelle Farrell A ceremony will be held at 5 pm today at the Army Aviation Support Facility on 26 Regional Drive in Concord for four pilots and two ...

A down home BBQ welcome -- [Scottsboro Daily Sentinel, AL]
It started out that the family just wanted to put a picture of Sgt. Ayers in the newspaper with a simple message: Welcome Home.

POLITICS

McCain, Iran and Al Qaeda -- [CounterColumn]
So the libtards and other apologists for Islamofascism have their miserable knickers in a twist over John McCain's linking Iran to Al Qaeda in a couple of recent appearances.
The thing is, they're wrong. McCain is right. There have been a number of documented connections between Iran and other extremist groups, both Sunni and Shia, to include, specifically, Al Qaeda, as they make common cause to undermine American power and attempt to drive us out of the region.

Obama's Church Newsletter Published Hamas Manifesto -- [Gateway Pundit]
In the July 22, 2007, Trinity United Church of Christ bulletin, Jeremiah Wright reprinted an article by Mousa Abu Marzook, identified in the newsletter as a "deputy of the political bureau of Hamas." Marzook is a senior member of Hamas living in Syria.
Maybe, this should not be so shocking since the Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a former Muslim and black nationalist.

Obama’s Opposition to Iraq War, Once Firm, Sometimes Has Wavered -- [FOXNews]
Barack Obama declared his opposition to the Iraq war early on — in a speech in Chicago in October 2002, some six months before the invasion began — but over the next five years, he has admitted having second thoughts about that early stand, even casting himself as a supporter of President Bush’s conduct of the war.
Speaking Wednesday in Fayetteville, N.C., Obama again said his opposition to the war has been unwavering.

Vet for Congress [The Corner - Kathryn Jean Lopez]
Tom Reynolds, Republican congressman from New York, announced Thursday he won’t be running for reelection (join the club!). He was facing an Iraq war vet, Jonathan Powers, supported by the antiwar Left
...“Currently there are other GOP candidates considering a run, however should David rapidly raise money and secure support, he is best positioned to defeat Jon Powers. This will be an election about Iraq, and we need an Iraq war veteran than can stand his ground and win the debate on Iraq.”
A young, articulate Iraq-war vet making the case for no surrender on the campaign trail and then in the halls of Congress

DC Moonbat Convergence -- [This ain’t Hell]
Another day, another protest. Today is ANSWER’s “Day of Action”. Since the Iraq War started five years ago today, all of the organizations that have sprung up to cash in on the war decided to have an eight-ring circus in downtown Washington DC, because as one IVAW member told me, the war is about money - apparently for the moonbats, too. My coverage was abruptly ended when I was ID’d as “one of those Milblog guys at Winter Soldier”, so excuse me for not getting all I should have.

Moonbat Convergence DC 3-19-08

THE MEDIA

War? What War? (At least that’s how it looks from the J-Schools) -- [TPM HT: CounterColumn]
Well, we all have our favorite hobby-horses and so excuse me for a moment whilst I pull mine from the playchest. My hobby-horse has only two legs, “education” and “experience.” Unfortunately, prior to 2003, in the general field of “the media” those legs did not support the body, which I call “military knowledge.” (Or “knowledge of the military”) In other words, right up until we actually went to war there was damned little personal knowledge or experience with things military among the overwhelming majority of reporters.
...I am not saying that this is right or wrong. That is for all of you to decide. But it would appear that in the absence of deep knowledge of military history, the present-day military, and things like military doctrine, there were not nearly enough reporters who were able to cogently examine public pronouncements about the use of force and frame useful follow-on questions for deeply reported stories. Stories which, in theory, would help educate the American public before the decision on the use of force was made. Indeed, though I have no formal study which contains hard numbers (Greg, help me out here) my own interactions with journalists over the past couple decades seems to suggest that only a vanishingly few have any real experience with the military.

Why Isn't al-Qaeda Iran's Sunni Enemy In Iraq? -- [The Tank - Steve Schippert]
That question, naturally, is rhetorical. But it seems to escape Selig Harrison in today's Boston Globe. In an op-ed column titled 'Working with Iran to stabilize Iraq,' Harrison suggests that an overly aggressive US posture-and primarily its support for the growing Sahwa al-Iraq (Iraq Awakening Movement)-is an obstacle that prevents Iran from partnering in seeking a stable Iraq. Iran, we are to be led to believe, would otherwise be a constructive American partner there.
Pay careful attention to how Harrison describes the not-exclusively-Sunni Awakening Movement.

The BBC accuses Bush of 'claiming victory' in Iraq again. He didn't. -- [The Monkey Tennis Centre]
The BBC's headline on its report of President Bush's Iraq speech is 'Bush speech hails Iraq victory'. I was surprised that he would have said such a thing, given the way in which previous claims of success have been used to criticise and ridicule the Commander in Chief.
...So I was surprised that the President would hold out another hostage to fortune by claiming victory again, but this is what the relevant part of the BBC report said:
He said recent troop reinforcements had brought about "a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror".
Surely this is more ammunition for the President's many critics. There he goes again! They'll be shrieking. We knew he was stupid, but this is unbelievable!
If read the speech, however - I happened to see the excerpt in question on Hugh Hewitt's blog - you'll find that Bush didn't say that at all.

All 3 Network Newscasts Recognize Anti-War Protests on War Anniversary -- [NewsBusters]
The "Big Three" networks’ evening newscasts, marking the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq on Wednesday evening, all chose to air news briefs on the anti-war protests across the United States. The news briefs all aired within the first ten minutes of each program. CBS "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric, as part of the first report on her program, used the protests as "evidence" of one of their recent poll results, that "more than half of Americans [59%] believe going to war in Iraq was a bad idea." "There are 155,000 troops in Iraq right now, and today, protesters in Washington and other U.S. cities reflected our poll. Nearly half the respondents [46%] said most U.S. troops should be pulled out within a year."

AP, FNC's Hume Pick Up Hillary's Bosnia Fib; Will Rest of Media Follow? -- [NewsBusters]
On Wednesday, Fox News became the first news network to pick up on the contradiction between claims made by Senator Hillary Clinton about her 1996 trip to Bosnia and the reality reported by journalists at the time. In a speech on Monday, Clinton asserted that “I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

Go Ahead Shoot Me -- [Smoking Gun]

With ammunition fragments causing 70% of casualties ro it's soldiers, the U.S. Marine Corps has come up with a new vest designed to protect it's men fighting in Korea. Works great, as long as the soldiers are hit by 'relatively slow speed ...

Usama Audio: We'll Bomb You Back to the Qaeda Age -- [ScrappleFace]
(2008-03-20) — An uncharacteristically-personal new audio recording of a voice purported to be terror-leader Usama bin Laden includes a threat to “bomb Europe back to the Qaeda age.”

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