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 Sheik Offers To Take Fight to Bin Laden - Hero of Anbar Would Stir a Revolt in Afghanistan -- [NY Sun]
WASHINGTON — The leader of the tribal confederation that has fought to expel Al Qaeda from most of Iraq's Anbar province is offering his men to help gin up a rebellion against Osama bin Laden's organization along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border

Eat Crow, Iraq War Skeptics -- [New York Post - Arthur Herman]
America has won, or is about to win, the Iraq war.
The latest proof came last month, as the Iraqi army - just a few months ago the target of scorn and abuse from Democratic politicians and journalists - forcefully reoccupied three cities that had served as key insurgency bases (Basra, Sadr City and Mosul). Sunnis and Shias alike applauded as their nation's army compelled insurgent militias to lay down their arms. The country's leading opposition newspaper, Azzaman, led the applause for the move into Mosul - a sign that national reconciliation in Iraq is under way and probably irreversible.
US combat deaths in May also were down to 20, the lowest monthly total since February 2004. The toll for May 2007 was 121. In a Washington Post interview, CIA Director Michael Hayden said we're witnessing the "near strategic defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq."
The Bush administration has taken heaps of abuse for its Iraq policy, including its decision to launch the "surge" last December. Now the strategy, which our nation's "best and brightest" regularly dismissed as a failure, has cleared the way for the establishment of a secure democracy in Iraq and a lasting peace

Kill Them All, Please -- [Stratrgy Page]
June 9, 2008: U.S. combat deaths (19) hit an all time low last month. This is the continuation of a trend that began a year ago. Iraqi deaths (532 civilians and security forces) were also the lowest this year, but indicate that the Iraqis have taken over most of the fighting, and were suffering over 96 percent of the combat deaths. The nature of the fighting has fundamentally changed in the last year, with the Iraqi security forces finally coming into their own, after years of recruiting, training and weeding out those who were inept, unwilling or disloyal.

Magnificent Seven! -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
We have been conducting several operations in the area.
...Last week there we were on a patrol, following some warm foot prints on the trail, sweat salt in the eyes, body armor pulling at your muscles in your back, thin layer of dirt covering all of your exposed skin and we got a nice calling card from Mr Scumbag. A nice IED that scratched our truck. OK maybe a bit more than scratched but every one was good to go but pissed. Not the kind of pissed when you step in a pile dog shit that your neighbors dog left but the “I’m gonna enjoy gutting you boy” (From the Movie - The Rock) kind of pissed, with an evil smile. I’m sure Mr Scum bag got a cheap ass chuckle from watching a black cloud engulf the armored truck but I bet he wasn’t laughing when the attack helos showed up. What? Ahhhh you didn’t like that so much my little scumbag buddy? Meet Mr Hellfire rocket. That’s right you got a couple thousand dollars of hate and discontent filled with military grade explosive pointed at you. Oh look at that we have 8 rockets in the air today.

Changes in Sadr City

With help, Sadr City market is regrouping -- [Stars and Stripes]
...When Task Force 1-6 took control of the area in early May, they entered a cesspool of violence. For the Baumholder, Germany-based infantrymen, much of the fighting centered around the construction of a three mile security wall that separates Jamilla from Sadr City’s main residential areas to the north.
The wall was constructed in response to the fighting that erupted in March in Sadr City, which functioned as a launching point for mortar assaults on the nearby Green Zone.

The First Forty Seconds -- [Castle Argghhh! - CW4BillT - in Iraq]
The Iraqi helicopter pilots I’ve been training in the sim are a fairly mixed group, but they all have two things in common: they’re older (most of them are Iran-Iraq War vets) and they’ve had some training in instrument flight.
...So, one of the things I teach *all* the guys who come up here from Taji is How To Survive the First Forty Seconds -- because if they can level the aircraft and get their airspeed under control within that time, they’ll probably live through the rest of the flight, even though it’ll still be pretty -- ummmmm -- exciting. The main problem ...

Perspective -- [Navy Gal-Off To IRAQ - in Iraq]
...I have started volunteering at the base hospital. I have been really apprehensive to do this, because a couple of the guys in my unit have been over several times to help on the pad. They came back one night after helping out and told the horrific tale of assisting with two of our boys that didn't fare so well that night. Kinda messed my guys up for a couple of days. I really want to do my part over here and help out in any way I can, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to be taken out of my protective bubble that I live in every day. Yes, I'm in Iraq and yes, I'm part of the war, but since I have been here nothing has really put the whole ordeal into perspective for me.

Operation Muthana Strike destroys major al-Qaeda in Iraq cell -- [MNF-I]
TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition forces detained more than 20 suspected terrorists and killed four during an operation targeting a major al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist network along the Tigris River Valley in the western portion of the Ta’mim province June 4. Among the dead were a suspected cell leader and his top lieutenants who were part of a network that is responsible for car bomb attacks and weapons smuggling in the province, as well as surrounding areas in northern Iraq.
The operation was conducted by elements of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, along with other Coalition forces, and was a result of information gained from previous successful operations and tips from local citizens. “The result of this operation will severely impact the enemy’s ability to threaten the lives of innocent Iraqi citizens, as well as Iraqi Security and Coalition forces for some time, and was the result of the hard work of a lot of brave Soldiers,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander of 1st Bn., 87th Infantry Regiment,10th Mountain Division.

Special Groups leader, aide captured in Baghdad -- [Voices of Iraq]
Baghdad, Jun 8, (VOI) – The U.S. army in Iraq said on Sunday that it arrested a leader of the Special Groups for committing criminal acts in the port city of Basra, 590 km south of Baghdad.
"Coalition forces captured a suspected Basra-based Special Groups criminal and his associate late Saturday night during operations in the Rusafa district of Baghdad," according to a U.S. army statement received by Aswat al-Iraq

Iraqi Premier Tells Iran Not to Fear U.S. Presence -- [NY Times]
The Iraq prime minister said he would not allow his country to become a platform for harming the security of Iran and its neighbors.

Military Analyst Sees Signs of Progress in Arab Jabour -- [MNF-I]
COMBAT OUTPOST MURRAY — The battlefield in Iraq has become a classroom for military analyst Steven Biddle and several associates, who visited 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers on June 4 to get a sense of progress in the area.
...“Information in the (U.S.) is limited,” said Biddle, a senior fellow for defense policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Here, I get to see things with my own eyes. Nothing is filtered.”
...Biddle spoke with key leaders, reviewed charts and maps documenting the decrease in attacks in the area.
He also spoke with key leaders such as Capt. Nassim, operations officer for the 6th battalion, 25th brigade, 6th IA division.

Exodus (IV) -- [Greyhawk]
...And there's the real concern for State - because if they can't get 12,000 Iraqi refugees to enter America this fiscal year they're in for some heavy criticism - and reasons are also called excuses in an election year.
But they're confident that they can do
...Because even with only 70 coming from Iraq (so far) and Iraq's neighbors preventing departures the search for refugees is widening

Return Of The Purple Fingers -- [Washington Post]
Within the next few months, Iraqis will once again wave purple fingers in the air as they cast ballots for provincial governments. As Iraq's parliament debates a law to govern the elections, U.S. diplomats and international experts have an opportunity, if not to correct past mistakes, then to help put local government on the right footing.

Apache Takes Out 8 Armed Insurgents With Hellfire And 30mm In Iraq

Dennis Can't Find a Date -- [Matel-in-Iraq]
Below are the date palms at our oasis. We have been having a little dust lately. This picture was taken at the middle of the day.
Iraq has 12-16 million date palms. This is down from 30 million in the pre-Saddam times but it still makes Iraq the world’s largest producer of dates. In Western Anbar, however, dates are not producing properly this year. Dennis and I did a local check out in the grove in our oasis and could not find even one producing tree. We are trying to figure out how the extent of the problem why it is happening and what Iraqis can do about it. Last year’s crop was good. Even a partial failure of the date crop would be a big problem, so we are very interested is making accurate assessments.
In the longer term, there is a lot Iraqis can do to improve their date production. Some of the techniques they currently use go back to Babylonian times. They are not wrong, but could use some adjustments.

AFGHANISTAN

Mrs. Bush showcases progress in Afghanistan -- [AP]
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan -- Rallying international aid for Afghanistan, first lady Laura Bush on Sunday showcased projects to better the lives of war-weary Afghans. Yet at each stop, an eerie reminder of the country's violent past was just a glance away....

Media Talk: Assassination and Insurgency - Are the Taliban Winning? -- [Frontline Club]
The British death toll in Afghanistan has now reached 100 as the cost of the war spirals ever higher. Suicide attacks are on the rise and President Karzai narrowly escaped a recent suicide attempt as the security situation continues to deteriorate. As the insurgency appears to be spreading from the south to the central and northern regions we ask if the Taliban are gaining the upper hand?

LIVE FEED Wed 11th June, 7.30pm - A discussion with Alastair Leithead (BBC), James Fergusson (journalist and author), James Appathurai (NATO), John D McHugh (photojournalist) and Mawlavi Abdulsalam Zaeef (Taliban) -- [Frontline Club]
Live Streaming by Ustream.TV
Wed 11th June, 7.30pm Price: £7.00
Moderated by Nazanine Moshiri (Al Jazeera) With Alastair Leithead (BBC), James Fergusson (journalist and author), James Appathurai (NATO), John D McHugh (photojournalist) and Mawlavi Abdulsalam Zaeef (Taliban)
Location: 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ
This event will be webcast live - you can view it for free via the link on our homepage - www.frontlineclub.com
For bloggers and blog readers interested in the topic, you can embed the live feed of the video and the interactive chatbox into your blog :) We'll relay any questions you have to participants in the debate.

Cultural lesson 101 -- [Sandgram - in Afghanistan]
The other day, I had the opportunity to visit a police station in Kandahar that we built for the local Afghan National Police. Here is some background; in the past five years, the US has built up the Afghan Army to a point where they can truly fight the bad guys and kick some butt. In 2002, during the Bonn agreement, it was decided that the US would train the Army, the Germans would train the police, and the Italians would teach them law and justice.
Well after 80 million dollars spent, and no action on their behalf, the Afghan police force remained untrained, unequipped and highly corrupted. The onus then fell on the US to take over the Police portfolio from the Germans (who you think would be good cops) and do what we did with the Army. Hence, we have now what we call Focused District Development program, and we go into a District to recruit new policemen, build a safe and secure police station for them, and turn them away from the their former life as a corrupt, toll-taking scumbag, and make them the model of Police Departments world-wide.

North Waziristan peace agreement allows Al Qaeda to remain -- [LWJ]
The Pakistani government has worked to suppress all reporting of the peace agreement, which was signed in February. Al Qaeda can remain in North Waziristan "as long as they pledge to remain peaceful."

Competing Strategies in Afghanistan -- [The Captain’s Journal]
...The narrative is nonsensical, since the sanctuaries to which Karzai refers are the very places to which the Afghan Taliban flee for safe haven. Karzai wants them targeted in Pakistan, but not in Afghanistan. Nonetheless, the narrative is given additional weight by the British. Once eager to get back into the “good war” in Afghanistan after the Basra disaster, the British are weary and reeling from the defections of high level generals to the civilian world. Miliband turned up the rhetoric on the campaign, reiterating the tripe that there is no military solution to the problem, and the same notions were pushed by Des Browne, who not only endorsed talks with the Afghan Taliban, but also the negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Taliban in Pakistan.
The final act in this sorry play involves British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Seeing the elephant

National Guard, embedded with Afghan army as advicers and translators.

Battle Buddies are more than comrades -- [27th Brigade Combat Team]
...There is a vast difference between the Army's combat operations in World War II and the mission we have today as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. We don't have that kind of action here. There is an insurgency over here -- not major warfare with large maneuvering forces. But I have to say that the Battle Buddies that I know over here follow the established American model well -- sort of upholding the tradition even though clad in modern uniforms and carrying the latest personal body armor, weaponry and other gear.

Artillerymen Secure the Border

American and Afghan forces controlling the traffic at border patrol points.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

CHINA STARTS OIL DRILLING OFF FLORIDA -- [Live Leak]
WHILE AMERICA TWIDDLES THUMBS, CHINESE TAP BILLIONS OF BARRELS While Washington dithers over exploiting oil and gas reserves off the coast of Florida, China has seized the opportunity to gobble up ...
The Chinese have forged a deal with Cuban leader Fidel Castro to explore and tap into massive oil reserves almost within sight of Key West, Florida. At the same time, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who controls the largest oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere, is making deals to sell his country’s oil to China, oil that is currently coming to the United States.
Meanwhile, a new left-wing populist regime in Bolivia has nationalized the natural gas industry, threatening to cut off supplies to the United States.

Some of Iran's New Weapons

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Report: Al-Qaeda Maghreb Commander Turns Self In -- [MEMRI Blog]
Abu Hadhifa, Al-Qaeda Maghreb commander in charge of the forces in eastern Algeria, has turned himself in to authorities.
Hadhifa's family said that he had become convinced that the jihad in Algeria was not legitimate, and that he was acting to bring his subordinates to do likewise.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

There Are No Waiting Lines for Payphones with The Maine Troop Greeters of Bangor, Maine -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
...The Maine Troop Greeters of Bangor, Maine are a non-profit group of veterans and men and women supporting our armed forces serving overseas by making sure that every troop flight is greeted at the Bangor International Airport. Day or night, rain or shine, it is The Maine Troop Greeters' commitment to welcome each troop home from war or give a proper sendoff to each of the young men and women heading overseas. They accomplish this by being there for them and offering them free cell phones to call a loved one, a snack to keep them going, and lots of hugs and handshakes to let them know we care.
Since the start of greeting flights in May of 2003, The Maine Troop Greeters have greeted over 400,000 service members and 35 military dogs. To view more information about The Maine Troop Greeters, please access their website www.themainetroopgreeters.com

Update: Rick White's Trike for the Troops -- [Miss Ladybug]
Since I first posted about Rick White's troop support effort back in February, he's raised over $9000 more to benefit Soldier's Angels' Project Valour-IT. Since the original goal for this year's Trike for the Troops was $8000 to buy voice-activated laptops for 10 of our injured troops. Since he's now surpassed that goal ($9750 as of today), the goal of this year has been increased to $12000 to help 15 of our wounded. Since I last visited his site, he's added a video about this year's Bike to Work Day, which is coming up on June 25th, and this year's Trike for the Troops beneficiary. It's not too late to help out: to make a donation, just fill out the form at the bottom of the Trikes for Troops page.

The Way We Get By - Trailer

Bush Prods Hill On Troop Funding -- [Washington Times]
President Bush, seeking to better his negotiating position ahead of votes on a huge Iraq war-funding bill, said Saturday that US troops “deserve better” than the treatment they are getting from the Democratic-led Congress.

Bob Connelly on Lou Dobbs' radio show today -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
From Bob:
So, I am supposed to be interviewed on Lou Dobbs’ radio program this afternoon at 4:15-4:30. I guess he (or someone working for him) read something online about what we were doing here, and he thinks it is worth some air time. I was perfectly content to be well known among a small set of infantry in eastern Afghanistan. I guess the time might have come to speak for all who are deployed in harm’s way.
Make sure to listen live between 4:15 and 4:30pm ET. Read this post if you don't know Bob yet.

Actor Rupert Everett brands British soldiers 'pathetic, whining wimps' -- [Daily Mail]
Controversial actor Rupert Everett has accused British soldiers risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan of being "whining wimps", it emerged today.
..."The whole point of being in the Army is wanting to get killed, wanting to test yourself to the limits. Now you have to fly 15,000ft above the war zone to avoid getting hit.
“I don't think there is any point in having wars if that's how you're going to behave. It's pathetic. All this whining!"
And risking further fury from veterans, the actor who once worked as a rent boy after running away from boarding school at age 15, told the Sunday Telegraph: “The whole point of being in the Army is going to war and getting yourself blown up.

IN MEMORY OF...

Tougher than leather -- [From the Halls to the Shores - in Iraq]
Take your pick: throw yourself on a grenade - OR - jump out of a plane and have both your parachutes fail.
Now imagine doing both. And living.
Fair winds and following seas to Jack Lucas, Marine/Airborne, and one tough S.O.B.
WWII vet who earned Medal of Honor at 17 dies

D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944 -- [Third Wave Dave]
...Many of the GIs you see wading through the water didn't live but a few moments after that picture was taken. All of them had to be sick with fear; their minds racing with thoughts of loved ones back home and of the job ahead of them.
Everything we have and hold dear today was bought and paid for by the brave GIs in that picture. Think about it.

MILITARY

Remembering America’s new friends -- [Westhawk]
This decade, a million American soldiers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Many have had a chance to develop relationships with Iraqi and Afghan soldiers, civil servants, and businessmen. Summed together, these relations are now forming bonds that will endure beyond whatever decisions statesmen in these countries decide to take. The personal relationships between Americans and their counterparts in Iraq and Afghanistan will influence the strategic balance in the region. These relationships are also likely too numerous and too deep for any statesmen to control.
Rob Thornton is a U.S. Army officer and combat veteran of the Iraq war. He spent a year as an advisor to an Iraqi battalion and now works at the U.S. Army school house at Fort Leavenworth improving the U.S. military’s foreign military advisory efforts. Thornton recently wrote a comment at Small Wars Journal Blog that illustrated the bonds that are strengthening at the personal level between Americans, Iraqis, and, presumably, Afghans

Aegis Missile Defense Test FTM-13

Proving Missile Defense -- [Washington Times]
...Today, Navy ships have shown they can reach targets on the edge of space, almost anywhere within the atmosphere, and down close to the ground. These ships equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system have shown they could destroy a North Korean ballistic missile headed for Japan, the United States or any number of targets in the Pacific region.

Obama plans to destroy America's military!

The Air Force Purge -- [TWS - John Noonan]
word on today's purging of USAF leadership. Official line is that Air Force brass let the nuclear mission slip in the years since the Berlin wall fell. That's true, for a variety of reasons. Standing down Strategic Air Command, the post-Vietnam leadership handoff from nuclear bomber pilots to fighter pilots, the odd square peg that is the kinetic-effects-based Air Force in the round hole of the low-intensity war on terrorism, and the end of the Cold War... all contributed to an overall deemphasis on strategic operations.

Anything Not To Go Back -- [Newsweek]
...Such cases of self-harm are a "rising trend" that military doctors are watching closely, says Col. Kathy Platoni, an Army Reserve psychologist who has worked with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

POLITICS

But Don’t Take My Word For It… -- [Texas Rainmaker]
So is the new Democrat Presidential nominee qualified to become the President of the United States?
Just ask the Democrats…

Obama's Plan for Iraq: Prosecute War Criminals -- [LGF]
Discovered in the directory left wide open by the Obama site designers: a PDF file containing Obama’s plan to “hold accountable any perpetrators of war crimes” in Iraq.
And something tells me they don’t mean Al Qaeda.

Filthy Jew-Hating On the Obama Website -- [Gateway Pundit]
Here's a look at Obama's latest Jew-hating webpage:

Israel Matsav and Doug Ross discovered the latest Jew-hating page on the Obama website that has been around since at least last April.

UPDATE: The Obama "Jews Are Corrupting" webpage was just taken down. The Obama New Black Panther page is still up.

Democrat Nelson Wants to End the Electoral College -- [Ace of Spades]
It must be an election year...Democratic Senator Bill Nelson has proposed an amendment to do away with the Electoral College. He argues (PDF) that the Electoral College "permits a candidate with fewer votes nationally to win the presidency by capturing narrow victories in big states."
Huh. It's almost as if it had been designed that way...
The effect of moving to a popular vote system would be to shift the attention of candidates from swing states to the largest media markets. Which is hardly an improvement over "narrow victories in big states." Rural voters and low-population states would be even more neglected than they are under the Electoral College.
More than that, one of the hallmarks of American federalism would be discarded.

War Injuries? What War Injuries? [The Corner - Mark Hemingway]
If you thought we hit bottom when Kos went after McCain's teeth, another popular liberal blog has picked up the shovel and is going after McCain's war injuries:
First off, I find it fascinating that John McCain, who is refusing to vote for the GI Bill for our troops because "it's too generous," is himself getting $58,000 a year, tax-free, from the US government for his military service. Had McCain been getting that amount every year since Vietnam, that would total $2,000,000 for the man who isn't into overgenerous government. I just find that interesting.

AmericaBlog... missing the point. -- [John of Argghhh!]
Why is John McCain getting $58,000 a year in disability income?
The same reason I'm getting $15,120 a year.
He earned it.

THE MEDIA

Mocking the Troops at The Onion -- [The Captain’s Journal]
The sentiment where one opposes the war but supports the troops has evolved into mocking the troops regardless of any war. The Onion (famous for satirical or fake news) released a report entitled Love Letters from U.S. Troops Increasingly Gruesome. ...The authors are engaged in heartless, remorseless cruelty in the mocking of the pain and sacrifice of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on their behalf. To be able to benefit from the pain of others, and then to mock their benefactors, is a sadistic skill that only the darkest of souls is able to master. The warriors who fight for America, however, stand in marked contrast to this. The physical pain, the deprivation, the loneliness and time away from family all testify to the commitment and indomitable spirit of the American warrior.

'Bush Lied' Argument Doesn't Match Facts -- Democrats Say -- [NewsBusters]
Washington Post Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt will no doubt upset liberal bloggers with his Monday column underscoring something the rest of the national media elite hasn't exactly underscored: that the "Bush lied, people died" line doesn't match what Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee found:
There's no question that the administration, and particularly Vice President Cheney, spoke with too much certainty at times and failed to anticipate or prepare the American people for the enormous undertaking in Iraq.
But dive into [Sen. Jay] Rockefeller's report, in search of where exactly President Bush lied about what his intelligence agencies were telling him about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, and you may be surprised by what you find. On Iraq's nuclear weapons program? The president's statements "were generally substantiated by intelligence community estimates."

One of the Most Dishonest Headlines Ever Printed? -- [Castle Argghhh! - Kat]
Let's just start with the headline:
War bill helps Iraqis, may ignore Katrina victims
Let's get this straight. This is a WAR bill. Not a Hurricane Recovery bill. The Republicans and Democrats have been adding on tons of ear marks to these bills since the war began. Finally, the President, under pressure from the anti-pork folks decided that he wasn't going to sign this bill if it came along with all the usual trappings of pork, more pork and even more pork along with the usual attempts to set time lines for withdrawal or limits on US forces activities in Iraq.
If more money is required to assist the victims of Katrina, why doesn't someone in congress get that bill together and request it?

U.S. Web services misused by oppressors -- [Washington Times]
Congress yesterday considered how to resolve the dilemma of U.S. Internet companies that try to serve their customers but end up serving repressive foreign governments.
Witnesses at a congressional hearing talked about dissidents in China, Syria and Russia who were imprisoned after posting their political thoughts on the Internet.
Routers, e-mail and other Internet services of U.S. companies helped the foreign governments track down the dissidents in some cases, the witnesses told members of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on human rights and the law.

American School Books Redefine 'Jihad' to Exclude Violence -- Where is Media? -- [NewsBusters]
In yet another example of why the west could be too weak to fight the sort of global terrorism that takes the form of Islamofascism, a textbook monitoring group is charging that American textbooks have been cleansed of mentioning the violence inherent in the Islamic "Jihad." Now, our children will not be taught what "Jihad" truly means, nor that it has been used as an excuse to kill their fellow citizens because our schools have sanitized Islam of all outrage and violence. Will the media follow this story and report that our children are being exposed to Islamic propaganda like this?

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

Nelson: Replace Electoral College with Middle School -- [ScrappleFace]
(2008-06-08) — If legislation introduced this week by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, becomes law, the nation will never again elect a candidate like George W. Bush, who has served as president for seven years after losing the popular vote in 2000 to former Vice President Al Gore.

YMCA - Afghanistan HT: John of Argghhh

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