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

Return of a Season -- [False Motivation - in Iraq]
...The security situation in Baqouba has changed drastically since I arrived. My first time on the streets of Baqouba was met with fearful residents who refused to speak or be loosely associated with Americans, a Muqtar (a neighborhood leader) had been murdered for working with Americans to better the lives of his neighbors, and House Born IEDs (HBIEDS) were a normal thing.
...Now if you walk the streets of my platoon’s area, people will wave and greet you in the street, children run and try and shake your hands, Muqtars greet us in the streets to discuss business, and we now have double the Muqtars than we started with. Electricity runs to almost all of the houses, trash gets picked up, water runs, and the markets are bustling. Even school is packed with eager young students, whom we surprised with 500 lbs of school supplies donated by Mead.
I can’t affirm to you that the surge has been a complete success all over Iraq, but I can assure you that where I work, and from what I have seen, it has changed the lives of these Iraqi Citizens here in Baqouba. I have seen this city move from an Al-Qaeda stronghold of fear and oppression, into a blossoming community.

Nothing Improves Morale Like Victory -- [Miserable Donuts - in Iraq]
They did well in Basrah. And they are happy about it. They are the men of the Iraqi Army. Good job guys!

Ultimatum issued to Mahdi Army in Basrah; 15 Mahdi fighters killed in Sadr City -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The senior-most Iraqi general in charge of the security operation in Basrah has issued an ultimatum for wanted Mahdi Army leaders and fighters to surrender in the next 24 hours as the Iraqi and US military ignore Muqtada al Sadr's threat to conduct a third uprising. US troops killed 15 Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad yesterday and have killed 56 fighters since Sadr issued his threat last weekend.

Embedded Reporter gets more than he wanted when on Patrol in Baghdad -- [HT: The Last of the Few]

The Real Surge Continues: Iraqi Army Corps Formation -- [LWJ - DJ Elliott]
In the "Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle: April 2008 Update," the additional elements forming in the Iraqi Army were projected as probable indicators of additional divisions. Additional information and reappraisal indicates that was incorrect. While the Iraqi Army plans to add divisions, they will not be stood up this year. Other formations have priority.

Iraqis Displaced from Homes Now Returning in Droves -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — With security improving, local economies flourishing and community reconstruction underway, Iraqis who once fled their South Baghdad homes in fear are now returning to the villages they deserted.
This is a good sign, said Maj. Mark Bailey, the officer in charge of the Multi-National Division – Center governance cell.
“Once people are convinced that security is good in their area, they come back,” said Bailey, who is with 401st Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to 3rd Infantry Division. “If they own a business, they re-open their business, which helps the economy.”
Out of the approximate 18,700 Iraqis who left their homes, it is estimated that 10,450 have returned, according to MND-C records.

Al Qaeda Decapitated in Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
April 22, 2008: Between mid-March and mid-April, al Qaeda suffered major losses in Iraq. American and Iraqi troops killed or captured 53 al Qaeda leaders. These include men in charge of entire cities (or portions of large cities like Mosul or Baghdad), as well as men in charge of various aspects of terror operations (making bombs, placing them or minding the bombers). Most important, nine of the ten most senior men involved, were captured, and interrogated. This led to locating more al Qaeda staff, and assets. Hundreds of weapons and explosives caches have been discovered this year, as a result of interrogating captured terrorists. The result has been a sharp fall in suicide bomber attacks,

Criminals attempt to assassinate Iraqi Army commander, injure innocent Iraqis citizens (Baghdad) -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Criminals attempting to assassinate an Iraqi Army commander with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, wounded numerous Iraqi civilians, including five Iraqi Army soldiers, in the Al Mansour district of Baghdad April 22.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device struck an Iraqi Army brigade commander’s patrol. Initial reports indicate 16 innocent Iraqi citizens were injured in the attack.
“In cowardly attacks, innocent civilians continuously are the victims,” said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “With the Iraqi Security Forces in the lead, U.S. Soldiers remain committed to protecting the people of Baghdad.”

Iraq News (23 April) -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
The Good: Depending on where you get your news, the conference with Maliki and countries in the region could either be a smashing success or a total bust. This Saudi newspaper seems stoked that Maliki is finally taking on the Shi'ite militias that have their mitts all over the place in Iraq, but if you get your news from the WaPo, you're going to get the impression that it was a big waste of time. Only time will tell, but even Iran is pleased with the crackdown on Shi'ite militias. It's looking like Sadr is becoming more and more isolated diplomatically.

Security Over Watch in Sadr City

U.S. Army Soldiers working with the Iraqi Army to bring security back to the district of Sadr City from criminals

Kamikaze Kelly -- [Iraq: The Purgatorium - in Iraq]
After my last day of tower guard, I was afforded a day off. When the boys got back for the day, [StanMarsh] popped his head into my living area and sat down on my bunk to enlighten me on what I missed.
He pulled his camera out. On the screen, he showed me what looked like a black mop head lay on the ground, covered in dust.
"Oh, damn, is that a head?" I asked.

Rucksacks, Rugs and Rain -- [Courage without Fear - in Kuwait]
...One of the things I did before the rest of the unit got here, was go on a convoy up into Iraq. You might think that's not a very safe thing to do since I'm living life down here in nice cozy Kuwait. But you're wrong. It's the right thing to do. oh, maybe I haven't put this out there yet, my soldiers will be escorting convoys into Iraq. So that's why I went. So i could see the dangers they'd be facing. That's what leaders do. It's a military thing.

Baghdad 360 Episode 2

A Few Good Women, II -- [BlackFive - Grim]
Since we're on the subject, meet the Daughters of Iraq and the Sisters of Fallujah.
Did anyone think, in November of 2004, that there would be a group of native Fallujah women who volunteered to help the Marines find terrorists? There is, and the movement is spreading across Iraq, to Sunni and to Shia areas.

'Disneyland' comes to Baghdad with multi-million pound entertainment park -- [Times Online]
Llewellyn Werner, a California investor, admits he is facing obstacles most amusement park developers never have to deal with. Such as insurgent attacks and looting.
But when the amusement park you’re building lies in downtown Baghdad, those risks come with the territory.
Mr Werner, chairman of C3, a Los Angeles-based holding company for private equity firms, is pouring millions of dollars into developing The Baghdad Zoo and Entertainment Experience, a massive American-style amusement park that will feature a skateboard park, rides, a concert theatre and a museum. It is being designed by the same firm that developed Disneyland.
“The people of Iraq need this kind of positive influence. It’s going to have a huge psychological impact,” Mr Werner said.

The Case of Bilal Hussein -- [Michael Totten - in Iraq]
...Iraq is full of such sketchy characters, as everyone knows, and large media companies require an enormous staff and network of locals to produce daily news coverage. They can’t cover breaking news every day in a low-intensity war zone without them, especially if violent activity—car bombs, fire fights, assassinations, and the like—are the bulk of what makes up the news. Someone is killed almost every day in Iraq, but the chances that an individual writer or photographer will happen to be present as an eyewitness are minuscule. Reporters who cover breaking daily news spend much of their time on the phone with stringers and sources. They don’t personally investigate every incident in the field. It just isn’t physically possible if they're required to write every day about what happens in a country the size of California, especially when it can take literally days to travel from one part of Baghdad to another.

Soldiers of the 1st/151st prove themselves under attack -- [IN Iraq - in Iraq]
...The driver of the 5-ton, Sergeant First Class Spencer Kohlheim, 37, of LaGrange, was most concerned about getting them out of the kill zone quickly. “We had a mine plow on the front of our truck and after the smoke cleared," Kohlheim said, "I just remember dropping it in first gear and pushing it as hard as I could.”
But the truck was smoking and losing fluids.
“I was in shock,” said Sgt. Chenault who got out to set up perimeter security. “It all happened so fast all you had time for was just to react. After things had settled down, I just kept looking for suspicious people and there were cars coming up from our nine o’clock down a little alley. I wasn’t going to let anyone around us.” He raised his M-4 rifle until they backed away.
Down the convoy line, the Indiana Humvees moved into defensive positions. Gunners scanned the second story buildings. They knew the very real risks of a secondary blast or sniper attack. For some, it was the first real test of their National Guard training.

Update #2 from Joe, the Castle's Sailor in Iraq. -- [Castle Argghhh! - dispatches from Iraq]
...A few days ago I find out from the provincial team that the Marine Brigadier General in charge of civil affairs wants a briefing on a sheep feed program I inherited from the previous Ramadi area agriculture rep. Now it’s not the first time I’ve spoken to general officers but the provincial agricultural rep said he would do it. So several layers of agricultural experts get together and I used my experience as a planner and came up with some planning assumptions, courses of action and a way ahead for what we were trying to do. Everyone is nodding their heads, and the staff rep says the general is coming by at 1300. The provincial rep says “I can’t be here at 1300!” and all eyes tuned towards me.

A New Oasis for Al Asad

Though Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Al Anbar Province draws plenty of water from wells and nearby Euphrates Rives, water storage is insufficient to supply the base in high-demand months. USACE is overseeing an $8 Million Project to install water tanks with a combined capacity of 5 million gallons.

Dust -- ["Because We're Here Boy, No One Else; Just Us." - in Iraq]
We had a dust storm here recently, a lot of dust storms recently. The images above and below were taken at around noon and 4:00 p.m. respectively. It wasn't that windy. For some reason parts of the world turn yellow.

New Map of Iraq -- [Sergeant Grumpy - in Iraq]
Quick update here is that we have relocated somewhere where we wait before catching the freedom bird to Kuwait, where we will promptly wait again. And that is how it goes in Army these days, we go from busting-your-ass busy to nothing to do. I don't think I will be posting much more, as I shouldn't have to many stories of interest - "there we were building our pallets, when out of no where one of the Conticos flew off and hit Johnson in the head..." Of course there is a lot idiocy around here, and far to many REMFs who have nothing better to do than look for uniform violations on troops returning for combat.

AFGHANISTAN

Severely burned JTAC continues his recovery -- [Air Force Times]
Airman hopes to stay in service, wants another chance at presidential visit
A message to President Bush: There is an extremely courageous joint terminal attack controller in Texas who really, really wants to meet you.
This time, he promises, he’ll remember it.
That was Dec. 4, 2005. In the weeks that followed, as Del Toro lay comatose in a San Antonio burn ward, the president found time to visit the unconscious airman and whisper a blessing the JTAC never heard.
Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro, one of the Air Force’s most severely injured airmen, continues to recover from the roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan that melted his features and sent him limping into a nearby creek.
...Surgeons are still reconstructing Del Toro’s face and cutting away flesh seared around his fingers, which fused to his palm during the blast. Though improving at public speaking, Del Toro wants to keep serving the Air Force as a JTAC trainer or possibly an unmanned aerial vehicle operator — although enlisted members do not qualify to become pilots.
“I’m a qualified JTAC,” he said. “Who would be better in that job than a JTAC?”
Del Toro is also continuing to work his connections to score another meeting with Bush. The two narrowly missed each other at Wright-Patterson when the president happened to visit at the same time Del Toro was speaking.

Pakistan pushes peace with the Taliban -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The Minister of Law for the Northwest Frontier Province said further peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban are in the works. Details emerge on the deal with the TNSM.

Special Forces Finding Weapons Cache

Special Forces troops in Afghanistan finding a weapons cache near the Pesch Valley. Scenes include a group of U.S. service members and Afghan security forces recovering a weapons cache. Interview with a U.S. Special Operations officer.
Pesch Valley

Militant operations disrupted in Kandahar Province -- [Combined Joint Task Force - 101- in Afghanistan]
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition forces detained a suspected militant April 21, during an operation to disrupt Taliban operations in Panjwayi District, Kandahar province.
Afghan and Coalition forces conducted a search of compounds in Panjwayi District targeting a Taliban leader linked to militant financing operations, the recruiting of suicide bombers and bomb makers. The targeted militant was also suspected of attacks against Coalition forces, Afghanistan government personnel and property.

Taliban Logic -- [Neptunus Lex]
If Afghanistan, coaltion forces are experiencing a high degree of success targeting mid-level Taliban leadership and placing precision warheads on their foreheads. The technical means are unknown (at least to me), but the Talibs are blaming their cell phones.

Rice still cooking -- [Yellowhammering Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
My cerebral love affair with fellow Alabama native and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice continues as she and her office show a genuine understanding of what Afghanistan needs.
They are also addressing those needs with some creative solutions that I believe have a lot of merit.
While Pres. Bush and the State Department recently confirmed their commitment to building roads, schools, wells, bridges, clinics and the like through the military Provincial Reconstruction Team, they also recognized more is needed here.
The White House wants to create a "reserve force" of civilian Americans with expertise in banking, law, education and other areas, who are willing to travel the world and share their experience with needy communities.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Climate change 'may put world at war' -- [Telegraph]
Climate change could cause global conflicts as large as the two world wars but lasting for centuries unless the problem is controlled, a leading defence think tank has warned.
The Royal United Services Institute said a tenfold increase in research spending, comparable to the amount spent on the Apollo space programme, will be needed if the world is to avoid the worst effects of changing temperatures.

"CHICAGO SOUNDS LIKE MOSUL:" -- [Instapundit]
That's an email from . . . Michael Yon, who knows his Mosul. Here's the story on last weekend's violence. Still, they're different: One has crooked officials, violent gangs with their hooks into government and law enforcement, and a culture of corruption that has resisted the central government's effects to clean it up, and the other is a city in Iraq.

Truth Behind Gas Prices -- [Cajun Tiger's Rants and Raves - in Iraq]
One of the good things about being here in Iraq is that I don't have a vehicle, so I'm not having to buy any gas. As I'm sure ya'll are aware, the MSM is crying every day about the rise in gas prices. Of course they love to blame President Bush and the Iraq war for causing this "crisis", but the truth is quite different.
First, it wasn't until last week that gas prices, when adjusted for inflation, even went higher than the prices in the early 80's. This chart shows the historical prices going back to the 1920's adjusted for inflation and in 1981 the price per gallon was $3.31. It was also over $3 per gallon in the early 20's. It was only in the last couple of weeks that we crossed that record to be at $3.38 this past week
...Second, why the big increase? Certainly the Iraq war and unrest in the Middle East has played a part in it, but there are much bigger culprits. The biggest being we haven't built a new refinery in the US since 1976!

CIA to describe North Korea-Syria nuclear ties -- [LA Times]
Officials will tell Congress members this week that North Korea was helping Syria build a reactor last year when it was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, a U.S. official says.
WASHINGTON -- CIA officials will tell Congress on Thursday that North Korea had been helping Syria build a plutonium-based nuclear reactor, a U.S. official said, a disclosure that could touch off new resistance to the administration's plan to ease sanctions on Pyongyang.

UFO Filmed over Arizona - 4-22-2008

This is a report of strange multicolored light formations filmed over the skies of Arizona during this last week. The military has issued a statement saying there was no military aircraft operating in the area at the time.

75 Iranian Youths Arrested For "Immoral Acts" -- [AKI]
Seventy-five young people accused of 'immoral acts' have been arrested by police at a birthday party in the city of Shiraz in southwestern Iran.
The young men and women were accused of "immoral acts" and of holding a "non-authorised promiscuous gathering" said the chief commander of the police forces, Ali Moayyedi.
"These young people were dancing, drinking alcohol and listening to forbidden western music," said Moayyedi.
It is not the first time police have raided private parties and arrested people.
While they may not approve of such behaviour at parties, some Muslim clerics consider these kinds of police raids unjustified and an intrusion into people's private lives.

Debt Impound Uncovers Chinese Arms Shipment to Zimbabwe Tinderbox -- [Threats Watch - Steve Shippert]
After a German bank got an impound order for a Chinese ship’s Zimbabwe-bound cargo in order to settle Zimbabwe’s debt owed the bank, the ships contents are learned to be an arms shipment to the Mugabe government after the contentious...

Reality Hits Jimmy Carter in the... Face -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Andrew Cochran]
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki delivered a Niagara Falls-magnitude of cold water to Jimmy Carter today, pronouncing his meeting with Hamas leaders worthless. More quotes:
Actually, by acting as a yellow-bellied, back-stabbing, terrorist-sympathizing idiot, Carter did have two achievements: (1) He made it possible for Congress to save some money by cutting federal funding to the Carter Center; (2) He forced Congress to take a bipartisan stance on his trip and on Hamas, as Members from both parties sprinted to microphones to denounce him.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Jihadist Questions for Ayman al-Zawahiri -- [US News and World Report]
New report shows al Qaeda supporters concerned about Iran and civilian killings
...One of the prime topics of concern among jihadists is whether al Qaeda has been unwilling or simply unable to attack in places like Iran, Egypt, Palestine, or even Israel, according to a new report by the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point titled "The Power of Truth? Questions for Ayman al-Zawahiri."

Brit Lawyer Makes Millions Defending Terrorists -- [Jawa Report]
It's not so much that Mudassar Arani defends terrorists--even terrorists need a lawyer. It's not so much that Mudassar Arani's firms has made millions of dollars defending terrorists--what's wrong with making a buck? It's not so much that Mudassar Arani supports terrorism--at least she believes in her client's cause.

Islamophobia: Annan’s Proposal -- [Jihad Watch]
Filipino commentator Patricio Diaz takes apart Kofi Annan's silly arguments that Islam is equivalent to other religions in its peacefulness, and his dhimmi analysis of "Islamophobia" in MindaNews (thanks to Anthony):

Iraq Boom--Not Boon--To European Jihadists -- [The Tank - Steve Schippert]
The Iraq War has long been feared by Europeans as little more than a training ground for terrorists and potential terrorists in their midst, who will learn their deadly trade in Iraq and then bring it back home. Well, it hasn't quite worked out that way, and, as the International Herald Tribune reports, "Europe's Fears Subside."

Child Soldiers -- [SWJ]
John Sullivan; a senior research fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies on Terrorism, a member of the board of advisors for the Terrorism Research Center, Inc., a lieutenant with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and SWJ Blogger to boot; sent an e-mail alerting us to an Air & Space Power Journal (Spanish Edition) issue on child soldiers.
Here are the links to the English translation versions of the articles:

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Send a “Thank You” to General Petreaus -- [Hello Iraq] HT: LT Nixon
Sen. Mitch McConnell is providing a chance for people to send General Petreaus and our troops a “thank you” for a job well done. If you have been following Michael Yon, as I have, you know that the surge has been an amazing success. Though there is much left to do in Iraq, the increased Iraqi citizenry support has been a direct result of the successful efforts of General Petreaus and our troops.

Book Intro - Tuesday, April 22, 2008 -- [Lunberjacl in the Desert - injured in Iraq]
The post below is basically the beginning of the book I'm writing, Lumberjack in a Desert. Let me know what you think in the comments. I apologize for the language used, but I feel it needs to be conveyed exactly as it happened without pulling any punches.

America's Favorite Mom Contest - Next Steps -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Thanks to all of you who voted for Patti Patton-Bader of Soldiers' Angels during Teleflora's "America's Favorite Mom" contest in March.
With your support, enough votes were generated for Soldiers' Angels to win the March prize of $5000. The funds were used to make a bulk purchase of 1000 sweats for medevaced service members and veterans.
The America's Favorite Mom Contest continues in April, and this time the prize money is $25,000.
In the world of Soldiers' Angels, $25,000 can buy 425 Valour-IT laptops for our wounded hereos. It can buy 500 wounded hero backpacks to send to those most in need. It can buy 50 airline tickets for families and soldiers in need to get back and forth in emergency situations.

500+ Troops Waiting for an Angel!!! -- [View from the 8th Floor]
If you were waiting, now's a terrific time.
Click ***HERE*** to adopt one of the wonderful volunteers in our United States military services who need a little support while deployed away from home.

Iraq War Veteran and Family Assaulted! -- [GOE]
Peace Fascists, College Professors and Hillary Supporters assault Iraqi War Veteran and Family while citizens do nothing to intervene.
Edinboro, PA, Apr. 22 - For the second time in as many weeks, an Iraq War Veteran and his family held a Support the Troops rally across the street from the weekly “peace” protest in this college town. This week the true nature of the ‘peace’ activists was revealed for all to see. When the veteran’s 14 year old son crossed the street to videotape the protesters and their signs, the protesters became agitated and began harassing the boy. The right to record video in any public venue is long established in law and any attempt to interfere with that right is a violation of civil rights.

MILITARY

Petraeus Gets Promotion; Odierno Gets Iraq -- [Danger Room]
By Noah Shachtman April 23, 2008 | 11:20:00 AMCategories: War Update
Breaking: "Army Gen. David Petraeus, the four-star general whose led troops in Iraq for the past year, will be nominated by President Bush to be the next commander of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday. Gates also announced that Bush will nominate Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno to replace Petraeus in Baghdad." Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who had also been mentioned as a possible Petraeus replacement, "has been nominated for a fourth star and the position of Army vice chief of staff," the Defense Department says. More to come...

Gates Urges Air Force to Do More for War Effort

US AIR FARCE -- [New York Post]
April 23, 2008 -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates just de livered a surprising public rebuke of one of his own branches of the armed services - chiding the Air Force for not doing enough in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Such a public dressing-down by the nation's civilian defense chief is highly unusual; it plainly reflects Gates' frustration at military leaders whom he complained are "stuck in old ways of doing business."

Military Enlists Convicted Felons -- [CJ- Military and Veteran Blog]
Really?
There’s been a lot of talk by those who detest this administration and are clinging to anything they can that “supports” their notion of an unjust war. One of the reasons they site for why we shouldn’t be at war in Iraq is that the military has had to resort to “lowering our standards” with more moral waivers than ever before. The fact is that moral waivers have been increasing since prior to the war in Iraq.
...I have another perspective I’d like to share.

From old to new -- [Bob Krumm]
Joining the military members were contracted civilian security guards, cooks, translators, and maintenance personnel. Lots and lots of maintenance contractors. Over the years the same thing that had happened to civilian mechanics has also happened to their military counterparts as well. Mechanics in the Army no longer “fix” mechanical problems. Instead, they diagnose which component is causing the problem and then swap it for a new one. Someone else fixes the component. Oftentimes that somebody is a defense contractor. It’s a system that makes sense. Soldiers on the battlefield don’t have time to diagnose and repair which circuit board or what connection in a wiring harness might be the source of a malfunction. Their purpose is to return the vehicle or weapon system as quickly as possible. Swapping components is how they do it. It also makes sense that contractors and not Soldiers do more of the rear area repairs. As much as the Army pays contractors it pales in comparison to what it costs to make a Soldier. All the training, all the years of investment in the individual Soldier is not something to be “wasted” on a mundane task like replacing circuit boards in the rear.
There is another reason why this change in how business is done in the Army makes sense:

Army Reserve Looks Forward to Further Transformation on 100th Anniversary -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2008 – After undergoing a century of change, the Army Reserve is now in the midst of its biggest transformation, the component’s chief said.
Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz characterized the first 100 years of the Army Reserve as a metamorphosis from an Army medical reserve corps to a strategic force and toward an operational force. The future of the service, however, will usher in an ever-greater period of transformation, he said.
“Throughout the 100 years, as the Army has changed, the Army Reserve has changed,” he said. “Most significantly, I would say, is after Sept. 11,

WELCOME HOME

It's the tail end of a long journey -- [seattlepi.]
280-foot naval flag signals home
It is the biggest flag Carol Anderson has ever sewn. It's the biggest she has ever seen, in fact.
The artisan, who works out of rented quarters in Fremont, has created a 280-foot-long, 17-inch wide, swallow-tailed pennant at the request of the USS Carney.
That guided missile destroyer, itself 505 feet long and displacing 8,300 tons, has been serving in the Middle East and is about to return to its home port of Mayport, Fla.
Carol Anderson was commissioned to make a 280-foot-long, 17-inch-wide "homeward bound" banner for the USS Carney.
U.S. naval tradition allows returning ships that have been outside the country for at least nine months to fly a ceremonial flag, properly known as a homeward-bound pennant, as they steam home and enter port.

After delays, families of the 218th are ready to welcome them home -- [WIS News]
LUGOFF, SC - The wait on travel delays for 218th soldiers stuck in Kuwait is excruciating for family members here at home.
One of those still waiting is Carol Bowling. But Tuesday she finally got the news she has been waiting for.
Around the Bowling residence in Lugoff there are signs that a soldier is fixing to come home.
A yellow ribbon on the mailbox, and balloons in the den next to a family picture were all supposed to be in place for Doug Bowling's return last week, but now Doug is scheduled to get back later.

Guardsmen receive award, welcome home -- [Nashuatelegraph.com]
CONCORD – It was welcome-home day for 30 citizen-soldiers who served their country in Iraq.
On Saturday, family, friends and dignitaries officially welcomed home the men and women of the 34th Rear Area Operations Center, a New Hampshire Army National Guard unit that served in Iraq for the past eight months.
The members of the unit, who returned to the Granite State on Tuesday, were honored with the Freedom Salute Awards at a ceremony at the Joint Force Headquarters Building.
Gov. John Lynch thanked the guardsmen for "the sacrifices you have made and the sacrifices you will continue to make.

POLITICS

“______” Terrorism -- [Commentary Mag - Abe Greenwald]
Yesterday, Muneer Fareed, head of the Islamic Society of North America, called for John McCain to cease using the terms Muslim or Islamic in describing–Mohammedan?–terrorism. Here’s Fareed, as quoted in the Washington Times:
You want to call them terrorist criminals, fine. But adding the word ‘Muslim’ or ‘Islamic’ certainly doesn’t help our cause as Americans . . . It paints an entire community of believers, 1.2 billion in total, in a very negative way.
In fact, it does no such thing. The modifiers “Islamic” and “Muslim” are critical in helping to identify the methodology, motivation, and personnel working against us. What does paint the moderate Muslim community “in a very negative way” is Fareed’s evident refusal to face up to a blunt fact: people calling themselves Muslims have waged a war against people they’ve labeled infidels.
The argument goes, of course, that terrorists who kill innocents in the name of Islam are not observant Muslims.

THE IRAQ THEY WON'T TALK ABOUT -- [NY Post]
April 23, 2008 -- BOTH opponents and supporters of the war in Iraq seem reluctant to raise the issue of what's going on there now as an issue in the presidential race.
Opponents, of course, can't deny that things are better than a year ago - and may fear that this could persuade voters that President Bush was right after all.
After all, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided that the war was "lost" a year ago. And critics have sounded the tocsins about the supposedly coming Iraqi civil war for five years. (Some even suggested at times that Iraq was already in civil war.) They've also predicted "the end of Iraq," including its de facto partition into sectarian cantons. Yet Iraq has defied all those predictions.
Perhaps worse for the antiwar crowd, close examination of Iraq's situation today might lend credence to Bush's analysis that the Islamic Republic in Iran has emerged as the chief troublemaker there. That could lead only to one conclusion: the need to act against Tehran.

Obama's $845 Billion SECRET - He NEVER talks about this. Why?

Obama is the lead sponsor of U.S. Senate bill S.2433 that most people never even heard about - his $845 BILLION Global Poverty Act
More of the socialist agenda to redistribute the wealth that we no longer have to the rest of the WORLD when the US is already in financial straits. Shouldn't charity begin at home?
Again - Obama's actions contradict his words.

THE MEDIA

LA Times Staying Classy -- [BlackFive - Deebow]
Seems that the LAT believes that McCain, as a result of being shot down, severely injured during ejection, and then held prisoner for 5 years, as well as tortured while in captivity is unfit to be the Commander in Chief because he receives a VA Disability Pension. And it is tax free!!!

The Arab media gang up on Rice -- [LA Times]
Try as it might, the U.S. has apparently failed again to convince its Arab allies in the Persian Gulf to promise to step in with their cash and credibility in support of the fledgling, Shiite-led Iraqi government.
In a visit to Bahrain on Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tried to convince oil-rich Persian Gulf nations to relieve Iraq of billions of dollars of debt, open embassies in the war-torn country and help counter Iran's growing influence.
She walked away empty-handed. Instead, Rice's latest visit to the region has prompted a fresh storm of criticism against U.S. policy in Iraq, which is the subject of a big conference in Kuwait today.
Welcoming her there was a fiery column in the Kuwait Times lambasting U.S. efforts to bolster the Sunni Arab states' involvement in Iraq after triggering chaos in that country:

ABC News Caught Lying About Guns... Again -- [Confederate Yankee]
Today, Ross and accomplice Richard Esposito continue that fine ABC News tradition of making up the news, in a story claiming that the U.S. Second Amendment is to blame for Mexico's drug cartel problems.
The deception starts with the picture at the beginning of the article.
The focus of the story, according to ABC News, is that U.S. dealers of civilian firearms are to blame for Mexico's drug cartels and their violence problems... so why do they highlight an M60 general purpose machine gun, a weapons still in use in Mexico's military, but impossible to find in the open U.S. civilian market?
From that visual deception, we'll transition to outright lie number one in the text, an attempt to smear the Bush Administration...

Questioning Assumptions -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
One of the tenets of Counter Insurgency I imparted upon my Platoon Leaders and senior N0n-Commissioned Officers was the idea what we always needed to question our assumptions about the situation we were in; whether those assumptions were about the enemy, the local populace, the weapons status, our equipment's capabilities, whatever affected our mission we needed to question those assumptions.
...So as a I browse the internet I am always questioning this assumption, the MSM has an agenda to misrepresent the progress of the war and the success we are having here. And every time I am ready to invalidate that assumption, it is revalidated.
The AP/McClatchy Newspapers brings us a story headlined Pentagon institute calls Iraq war 'a major debacle' with outcome 'in doubt'.

Pundits or Puppets Cont. -- [Intel Dump]
Glenn Greenwald notes today on his blog that several media organizations continue to evade questions raised by Sunday's New York Times article on relationships between their military pundits and the Pentagon. Glenn takes great umbrage at this silence, saying it amounts to "height of hubris, and unmistakable proof of their core corruption." I wouldn't go that far, though the Times piece certainly reflects poorly on the judgment of the media organizations who knew about these ties and failed to disclose them.
After thinking about this story for a few days, however, the more interesting questions seem to be about the relationship between American society and its military

Pentagon Briefings of Retired Officer Talking Heads -- [CounterColumn]
The usual reliable dolts are making much hay out of the fact that the retired military officers that are frequently used as sources and talking heads on news programs get the occasional briefing from the Pentagon.
Those who believe that this is somehow awful are simply confirming every suspicion of their own paranoid, simpering ignorance.
News flash: We have a professional military, led by professional and trained officers. Everyone who makes enough rank to be sought after by news programs has been through months or even years of specialized training in a variety of military schools - from the old Command and Staff course and Advanced Courses (now called the Captains Career Course) through the War College.
...Apparently, though, twits like Greenwald would prefer that these sources go without access to the Pentagon, and that their information be based entirely on informal and unaccountable contacts in country (with conflicts of their own), and the incompetent coverage of the news media.

How Many Military Suicides? -- [Confederate Yankee]
The San Francisco Chronicle posts this without question:
We're looking at the conflation of multiple claims here, so lets take them one at a time:
...If they do mean all veterans, regardless of war, but measure from the start of the Afghan war at a rate of 18 suicides a day, we wind up with 43,002 suicides for all veterans of all wars during this time period. If we instead use the 18 suicides/day figure from the beginning of the Iraq War, we wind up with 33,480 suicides for all veterans of all wars during this time period.
Are they trying to tell us between 33,000-43,000 U.S. military war veterans have committed suicide in the past 5-8 years, and we're just now starting to notice?

Biased Media Reports Outrageous Military Suicide Numbers -- [Gateway Pundit]
...120 suicides every week???
That comes out to 6,240 veteran suicides each year or 17 suicides every day.
Actually, that number is about four times higher (1,858 in 2006) than the total military fatalities each year.
That number is also 40 times higher than the total number of military suicides in 2006.
In 2006, 155 US military members in all branches committed suicide:
In fact the average number of suicides dropped during the Bush years compared to the Clinton years.
But, leave it to the mainstream media to report some hugely inaccurate military fatality numbers and not question it.
Did anyone read this before it was published???

HUMOR / SATIRE

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