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

Iraqis Publish More Proof Of Saddam Links To Al-Qaeda Leadership -- [Gateway Pundit]
The Iraqi newspaper Kurdistani Nwe published a letter today on the front page from Saddam Hussein requesting a meeting with Al-Qaeda second in command Ayman Al-Zawahiri:

Why Iraqis Back McCain -- [WSJ]
However it turns out for John McCain this fall -- and so far he's running his general election campaign the way Gen. Ricardo Sanchez ran counterinsurgency ops -- the Arizona Republican is sure to carry at least one battleground state by a landslide. That state is called Iraq.
Last week, the Pew Research Center released the results of a survey of more than 24,000 people in 24 countries. Result: From Japan to Tanzania to Germany to Russia, the world has "more confidence" in Barack Obama than in his Republican rival to "do the right thing regarding world affairs."
But Pew did not poll Iraqis, whose opinions about the choice America makes should weigh at least as heavily with us as the collective wisdom of, say, Brazil. Whom would they prefer as the next U.S. president?

The Promise of Peace -- [Abu Muqawama]
Approximately 1,200 Iraqi forces (with U.S. troops and warplanes supporting them) have launched the government's fourth major operation in recent months (dubbed "Promise of Peace") in the southern border city of Amara (the capital of Maysan province). As a consequence of negotiations with local leaders prior to the offensive, reports suggest that Iraqi troops faced little resistance. (Members of the Sadr movement also traveled to Amara to monitor the sweep in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the escalation following the Basra operation).
Amara has not been particularly violent in recent years, but control of the city is seen as important to reduce the flow of weapons and Iranian-trained fighters into Iraq.

Iraq News (20 June) -- [LT Nixon]
The Good: Iraqi Spec Ops have captured a militia leader in Baghdad. Col Ferrell talks about tactics in preventing extremists from re-entering the Sunni areas south of Baghdad during a press conference. Australian News is more optimistic about new development of Iraqi oil infrastructure stabilizing crude prices than the "no blood for oil" crowd in the states. This comes at a time when the Iraqi Finance Minister has announced plans for Iraqi natural gas to be transferred to Jordan from Anbar province via pipeline. The Iraqi-led "Promise of Peace" operation continues with big successes in Maysan province.

Baghdad car bomb blamed on Iranian backed Shias -- [Time - James Hider in Baghdad]
The US military has accused Iranian-backed Shia groups of setting off a car bomb that killed more than 60 people in a mainly Shia area of Baghdad, hinting at yet another new twist in the complex web of violence gripping the capital.
“We believe the attack was not conducted by AQI [Al-Qaeda in Iraq],” said Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Stover, a US army spokesman, said. “Though vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices are a trademark of AQI, our intelligence, corroborated through multiple sources, is this atrocity was committed by a Special Groups cell led by Haydar Mehdi Khadum al-Fawadi.” The Special Groups are rogue elements of al-Mahdi Army, the Shia militia of the anti-American cleric Hojatoleslam Moqtada al-Sadr, which have allegedly been co-opted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards overseas division, the al-Quds Force. Colonel Stover said that the aim of the bombing was to discourage Sunnis from returning to the predominantly Shia area of al-Hurriyah in northwestern Baghdad and sow sectarian strife as the levels of violence drop in the divided city.

People Actually Think We Tried to Kidnap Ahmadinejad, Sigh -- [LT Nixon]
Juan Cole posts an article from the Iranian propaganda apparatus about Ahmadinejad thinking that the U.S. tried to abduct him while he visited Baghdad in March

Success in Iraq: Thinking about our Team -- [Matel-in-Iraq - in Iraq]
Below is our team member Allen Gifford meeting with farmers in the Rawah area north of the Euphrates
Sometimes they expect more than we can give. Usually we can do something.
Our ePRT was part of the diplomatic surge that went in soon after the change in strategy that produced the military surge in early 2007. The initial team was hastily assembled with short term contractors. My predecessor was a senior State Department officer, but he staying in country only six months. The last of the original crew is set to leave in a couple of weeks, which made me think about how much had changed in the last year.

Change: Real & Imaginary -- [Matel-in-Iraq - in Iraq]
Below - Separating the wheat from the chaff the old fashioned way near Rawah on the Euphrates. Some things chage faster than others.
...Change is constant and inevitable. Being "for change" is meaningless and childish w/o explaining what change you want & exactly how you hope to achieve it. Some people don't understand that society is a complex system. Disturbing one thing, even a bad thing, will have unexpected consequences throughout the system.
Take a concrete example of a man dying of thirst. If you just give him as much water as he wants to drink, you probably will kill him. His body can process about a liter, maybe little more, every hour, no more. You can make changes but not on your timetable. And the most direct and "obvious" action may not be the most appropriate.
The general rules are that abrupt changes create strong reactions. There are many things you cannot have, at least at the same time, and the time lags are important in any decision.

Story Update: IRAQI JUDGE: Alsammarae Will Go to Prison if He Steps Onto Iraqi Soil -- [Talisman Gate - Iraqi blog]
In a fascinating update to my story of a few days ago regarding Aiham Alsammarae, the slimy pro-Obama Iraqi-American ex-convict who called for more insurgent attacks on American soldiers, the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council has declared today that Alsammarae will face prison time and more charges should he return to Iraq.

Iraqi security forces detain senior Sadrist during Maysan operation -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Iraqi security forces detained the Sadrist mayor of Amarah. US troops captured four Mahdi Army fighters in Baghdad. Iraqi soldiers detained nine al Qaeda operatives in Mosul. The Sharqat Emergency Response Unit captured three al Qaeda fighters.

A report from the Provincial Reconstruction Team Front. -- [Castle Argghhh! - Joe in Iraq]
...Sorry again for the delay in updating, but it’s been a busy couple of weeks for me here. With security in the province getting better, we’ve been able to really take a long term look at the country around us. That means rather than just responding to crisis (like the emergency sheep feed program I’m working) we are really trying to get a handle on the whole agricultural system, what the needs are to make some quick fixes before the fall planting season and what the long term solutions are. That means I’ve been out most of the days these past weeks having meetings with various Iraqi officials district councils and farmers trying to get “the lay of the land.”

Iron Chronicles

This edition features stories on Soliders assisting Iraq forces in securing neighborhoods and on Flash Traffic Control Points.

Baghdad Base's New Generators Run on Trash -- [Danger Room]
At the U.S. military's headquarters in Iraq, it's garbage in, power out.
Two prototype generators -- running on food slop, shredded documents and ammunition wrappers -- have helped supply power to Camp Victory, near Baghdad, since early May.
About 50 percent of the diesel that the military burns in Iraq is devoted to transporting more fuel. And about of that gets poured into generators and stoves. Which is not just a huge waste of time, money, and effort. It's also a security issue. "Those convoys that carry fuel are also known as targets," Army biotech scientist Dr. James Valdes tells a group of bloggers. "So our logic was that at a forward operating base, could we use the garbage to make fuel and thereby get rid of the garbage and help to keep the convoys off the streets."

MNC-I -- [The Marching Camp - in Iraq]
Yeah, so I'm in Iraq, finally. I'm disgusted six ways to Sunday already, but this is a Corps headquarters. I don't know what else I could expect. Echelons above Reality. . .

Three Beers Till Deployment -- [A Cigar Lover Delpoys to Iraq - on his way to Iraq]
...Some of my soldiers are scared. I can see it in the way that they talk to their parents. They sequester themselves in nooks and crannies of the armory, holding on to their parent’s hands until they absolutely have to let them go. I occasionally walk in on them when I stomp through the Armory, unlit cigar in my mouth, yelling that I need to see so-and-so. They usually turn and look at me while giving me a peevish smile. I raise my hand and back out of the room, happy that I didn’t curse at them in front of their parents.
I’m all about milk and cookies when the parents are around anyway.
I’m not scared. “Ha!” You prior service guys say. “You’ll be scared when that mortar round lands on your head.”

June 19, 2008- Dear Interested Readers, -- [Troop Scoop]
A suspected AQI cell member captured in Balad, and a suspected ISI cell leader captured in Mosul. 4 suspected criminals detained in Rashid, while huge weapons and munition caches are seized. We are also witness to the heroism of 2 U.S. Army air crews.

Army Kiowa Chopper Engages Insurgent Planting IED In Iraq

British Army gunners pack a punch in Iraq -- [Ministry of Defence]
When coalition forces came under heavy attacks from insurgents in Iraq, the flames of the British Army gunners' 155mm AS90s proved to be the showstopper.

NBC interviews Kirk Johnson, founder of the List Project -- [Refugee Resettlement Watch]
Johnson seems to be trying to find personal help for the Iraqis rather than the kind of bureaucratic solutions the resettlement agencies usually use.
Is it true that some recent refugees have even gone back to Iraq?
Some have signed up to go back to Iraq as interpreters…When they’re being offered $130,000 to do that, they go against all reason, but there is desperation to make ends meet. Titan L3 was doing a lot of recruiting — this is the main firm finding interpreters for our troops. So we’re going to bring different NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations) to help these highly educated refugees so they don’t make “panicked” decisions.
Maybe they think it’s worth it to go back. Maybe it isn’t as dangerous. It seems presumptious to assume these are “panicked” decisions.Our position has always been that the goal should be for the U.S. to help the Iraqis who helped us and are endangered, with the goal of their returning home when it is safe.

Life-Saving Surgeries in Boston Await Iraqi Child -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
This was originally written by Army Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles and is a great story of the differences American troops are making in the lives of every day Iraqis - one by one.

More Cultural Tidbits -- [Zen Traveler - in Iraq]
Here’s a little stumbling block westerners have when trying to work within the Arab culture; Arabs lie. At first I thought that was a terribly racist observation until someone pointed out that it’s in the Qur’an. Muslims, not only have permission, but rather have a duty to lie to non-believers; it’s called, “taqiyya”. Wrap your head around that little tidbit.
When talking to the throngs of Iraqis and other Arabs that we have working for us it’s all but impossible to get a straight, reliable answer to your question.

Maai -- [Zen Traveler - in Iraq]
There’s a concept in Japanese martial arts called, “Maai”, and it has to do with the distance between yourself and your opponent...
...Standing in the Green Zone Post Exchange (PX) today I saw a young PSD that could use a little attention to maai. Keep in mind that the PX is considered to be very secure as it’s located behind several layers of security, safe to the point where I would have no problem letting my 4-year old son run around. The three-man PSD was looking after two junior diplomats from one of the western embassies as they attempted to do their shopping. All “kitted out” with radios, ballistic vests, ear pieces, knives, pistols, sun glasses, 5.11 pants and matching polo shirts the team remained within feet of it’s client as they walked up and down the isles.
This is the one huge mistake that young protectors always make....

Samarra- from infamous to just plain famous -- [IN-Iraq - in Iraq]
When Charlie Company of 2nd Battalion/327th Infantry or "No Slack" as they're known, rolled into Samarra on their first patrol this past October, it felt like they'd entered the jaws of hell.
They caught machine gun fire from several directions at once, and chased insurgents straight into an IED trap, according to SFC Joseph Rain, of Hennessey, Oklahoma.
“I loved the first four months,” Sgt. Andrew Hayes of Alpena, MI said. “We got shot at everyday. Granted someone could get hurt, but it went by quick.”
“I didn’t fire a single shot in Kirkuk (last deployment),” Hayes said. “Here, I fired my weapon the first week.”
But the shooting has since declined precipitously.

Bite Work

Military working dogs performing routine training

Who is in Control? -- [Up Country Iraq - in Iraq]
...Both the Sunni Al Qaeda and the Shiite Mahdi Army (with their Iranian counterparts) are facing a slight dilemma at the moment. While both groups continue to declare that the US is the great enemy, these same groups keep killing their own civilians to prove that the US and Iraqi governments are not maintaining security. People in the north and in the south are starting to figure out that when the Americans are in their neighborhoods, they are not being shot and killed or blown up. When AQI and Mahdi elements are around, people get killed. AQI is beginning to try to target Iraqi police and military forces more than civilians, and they are trying to hit US forces in the north. Down in Baghdad, the Mahdi are directly confronting US troops, and they are loosing a lot of their own fighters by doing that. Iraqi citizens generally do not get a good feeling when they hear that Iranian agents are in their country influencing events, so Muqtada Al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi bunch, went on TV to announce that there was absolutely no Iranian influence over him or the Mahdi army at all. Of course, he broadcast that speech from Iran, and everyone on the streets knew it.

The CRSP -- [Brad's Excellent Adventure - in Iraq]
...Once my duffel bag and footlocker were packed and the inventory sheets filled out, I went to the CRSP. Our unit had an appointment, so I was there with the other people who are getting close to leaving. We had to wait around while the supply section got the paperwork straight, and then our shipments were inspected by MP Customs.
That is a very rigorous procedure – they basically dump everything out and look through every nook and cranny. So my neatly-packed bag is not quite as neatly packed as it had been. More of a problem is that since there have been almost constant dust storms since my return, there was dust everywhere in the CRSP tent. So now my gear is all covered in dust.

AFGHANISTAN

How Do You Solve A Problem Like the Pashtun? -- [Abu Muqawama]
Against the backdrop of the joint Afghan & Canadian operations against Taliban fighters near Kandahar it seems appropriate to take a look at the current issue of International Security which has two articles on Afghanistan. Each takes a look at a different aspect of the roots of the security challenges there and provides some competing policy recommendations for the US and its allies.

Durand Line Dichotomy: Afghan-Pak Contrasting Developments -- [The Tank - Steve Schippert]
Life straddling the Durand Line is as interesting today as it has ever been. The imaginary line — drawn straight through indigenous Pashtun lands — separates present-day Afghanistan from present-day Pakistan. (Notice the map at the above link dissolves the border and incorporates the whole of current Pakistani FATA, the North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan into Afghanistan.)
On one side of the line, former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif is busy whipping crowds into a frenzy in Islamabad, calling for the hanging execution of president Pervez Musharraf. Do not underestimate the depths of Sharif's drive for revenge on the former general who toppled the Sharif government and sent him into exile.

F-16 Fighting Falcon Destroys Taliban Hideout

Taliban Stumble and Fail -- [Strategy Page]
June 20, 2008: Afghanistan continues to be a low risk war, with American combat deaths, after nearly seven years of combat, reaching 310. If you include non-combat deaths (from accidents and disease), the deaths have been 447. Until recently, the loss rate in Afghanistan was about 30 percent of that in Iraq. But with the defeat of the Sunni Arab terrorists in Iraq this year, the casualty rates in Iraq are getting as low as those in Afghanistan have always been. Note that the casualty rates in Iraq, overall, are less than half what they were in Vietnam or World War II. Afghanistan is basically a low intensity war against a minority (the Taliban) of a minority (the Pushtun tribes). Such pointless conflicts are all too common in Afghanistan, where centuries of such nonsense have left the country the poorest in Asia.

Taliban forced back in Kandahar offensive -- [Live Leak]

Taliban forced back in Kandahar offensive - Afghan military: More than 100 Taliban fighters were killed or wounded. Dozens die as battle rages for control of KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan and NATO forces have pushed the Taliban out of several villages in southern Afghanistan they claimed to have seized, the governor of Kandahar province said Thursday.
British troops conducting operations against Taliban forces in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
1 of 4 More than 100 Taliban fighters were killed or wounded in the operation, said Gov. Assadullah Khalid, and many others have fled.
Hundreds of Taliban militants streamed into several villages in Kandahar days ago, after 400 militants escaped from prison in a daring and well-executed jailbreak.
In response, NATO aircraft dropped hundreds of leaflets advising residents to stay inside and saying that troops were "coming to remove the enemies of Afghanistan." Then military convoys rolled into the district.

Afghan, NATO troops 'clean-up' in Arghandab.

US Ambassador to Afghanistan William Wood said Arghandab will not fall to the Taliban because the latter lack support from the region, where Afghan and NATO troops embarked in a "clean-up" operation on Wednesday.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iran: We'll hit back with 'strong blow' -- [Jerusalem Post]
Iran on Friday warned Israel it would retaliate to an attack with a "strong blow," after the New York Times reported that the IAF had conducted a drill, apparently for a strike against the Islamic republic.
Slideshow: Pictures of the week "If enemies, especially Israelis and their supporters in the United States, would want to use a language of force, they should rest assured that they will receive a strong blow in the mouth," senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami was quoted by AFP as saying during a Friday prayers sermon, which was also broadcast live on state radio.

Pentagon's 9/11 Memorial Puzzle -- [WaPo]
Public Access to Solemn Site Balanced Against Security Needs
When the nation's first major 9/11 memorial is dedicated on the grounds of the Pentagon's western side this September, it will change the iconic building into something it was not intended to be: a tourist destination.

Africa Security Roundup -- [Threats Watch]
A number of significant developments have taken place on the African continent of late that deserve attention due to their ramifications beyond the mere locale in which they were perpetrated. Instead of focusing on just one issue as usual with the RapidRecon format, I will address and offer analysis on two important events.
First, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the Nigerian insurgent group that has been battling security forces and foreign oil companies for redistribution of oil revenues, successfully launched what may prove to be a watershed attack over the night of June 19. MEND assaulted Royal Dutch Shell’s Bonga oil platform, the group’s first attack on Nigeria’s primary offshore oil field. What is notable about this attack is the fact that the oil platform lies 75 miles off the Nigerian coast. Previously, the majority of MEND’s attacks have focused on oil installations in the Niger Delta, a tangled maze of creeks and swamps, an environment like the Louisiana bayou, that affords the group safe haven. The ability to attack this oil platform such a distance offshore demonstrates that the group has developed a frightening sophistication and maritime capability. The attack has halted Royal Dutch Shell’s offshore production, chopping off a full 10% of Nigeria’s production.

China admits taking, burying US POW from Korea -- [AP]
After decades of denials, the Chinese have acknowledged burying an American prisoner of war in China, telling the U.S. that a teenage soldier captured in the Korean War died a week after he "became mentally ill," according to documents provided to The Associated Press.
China had long insisted that all POW questions were answered at the conclusion of the war in 1953 and that no Americans were moved to Chinese territory from North Korea. The little-known case of Army Sgt. Richard G. Desautels, of Shoreham, Vt., opens another chapter in this story and raises the possibility that new details concerning the fate of other POWs may eventually surface.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

War Policy with Douglas Feith: Chapter 5 of 5 -- [NRO]
Is the U.S. equipped to deal with national-security problems around the world? Feith says no, pointing out the antiquated organization of our entire security community as well as the ineffective mess that is the CIA. Of course, our national security ultimately depends on the people in charge. Feith rates a few of the bigger names.

Kill Osama bin Laden (Updated: McCain vows to kill him) -- (911 Families)
...the real question to both Barack Obama and John McCain is whether they, if elected President, would order Osama bin Laden killed or attempt to capture him and only kill him as a last resort.
John McCain: I Will Deliver Justice
Senator Obama is obviously confused about what the United States Supreme Court decided and what he is calling for. After enthusiastically embracing the Supreme Court decision granting habeas in U.S. civilian courts to dangerous terrorist detainees, he is now running away from the consequences of that decision and what it would mean if Osama bin Laden were captured. Senator Obama refuses to clarify whether he believes habeas should be granted to Osama bin Laden, and instead cites the precedent of the Nuremburg war trials. Unfortunately, it is clear Senator Obama does not understand what happened at the Nuremburg trials and what procedures were followed. There was no habeas at Nuremburg and there should be no habeas for Osama bin Laden. Senator Obama cannot have it both ways. In one breath he endorses habeas for terrorists like 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and in the next he denies its logical conclusion of habeas for Osama bin Laden. By citing a historical precedent that does not include habeas, he sends a signal of confusion and indecision to our allies and adversaries and the American people.
Let me be clear, under my administration Osama bin Laden will either be killed on the battlefield or executed.

British Al-Qaeda Leader Celebrates Freedom By Calling For Violent Jihad -- [Gateway Pundit]
British Terrorist Celebrates Freedom By Promoting Terror--
Al-Qaeda leader Abu Qatada celebrated his release from prison this week by uploading a 71 page book on the internet urging Muslims to commit terror attacks in the West.
His family is paid £1,000 a month in benefits from the British government.
Abu Qatada is thought to be Osama Bin Laden's right hand man in Europe.

Terror Alerts for Canada, UAE (UPDATED) -- [Jawa Report]
ABC is calling it an exclusive, so I guess we'll give them credit and a link. Hizbollah, it is said, has activated sleeper cells to attack Jewish civilian targets in the West, most likely Canada.
This is ominous in its timing: ...

Watch Lists Gone Wild -- [Strategy Page]
June 19, 2008: A growing problem in the counter-terrorism community is dirty data. That is, information on suspects, or potential terrorists, that is wrong, or unreliable. "Watch lists" (of terrorism suspects) have long been a problem for air travelers, as names are easier to put on the list, than to get off. And a growing percentage of those names are of innocent people. This not only causes extra work for security personnel, but is bad PR for the counter-terror effort.

Treasury Designates Major Saudi Charity -- Al Haramain - - For Financing Terrorists -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Following several years of wrangling with Saudi Arabia over Al Haramain Islamic Foundation’s continuing international role in facilitating terrorism financing, the US Treasury Department has finally acted unilaterally to designate its whole world-wide operation, including Al Haramain's headquarter offices, structure and operations in Saudi Arabia. Previous designation actions had been directed only against certain Al Haramain branches.

Jihad Against Freedom of Speech at the United Nations -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The United Nations' Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has no problem with its members suggesting that the 9/11 attacks were an "inside job" perpetrated by the United States on itself. The human rights of America's 9/11 victims are not a priority for UNHRC's Richard Falk, the special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, who engages in 9/11 conspiracy propaganda, while working for an organization headquartered in New York City funded by U.S. tax dollars. This is Richard Falk's protected freedom of speech.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

From the Soldiers' Angels mailbox -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
To one of the quiet teams at Soldiers' Angels, the Living Legends team:
Comments/Question: Regarding the passing of SFC Jason F. Dene
I just wanted to say "Thank You"... a million times over, for the special care you have provided during this difficult time. The cards and gifts were absolutely lovely. The outpouring of sympathy... overwhelming.
You have a fantastic program not only for deployed soldiers, but for the families who have lost their loved ones as well. I can't even begin to express how comforting it has been being embraced by all of your "angels".
Please continue your good work!

NASA flight directors and astronauts team up with Soldiers' Angels to support wounded service members -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
The "Failure is Not an Option" blanket, signed by NASA astronauts and flight directors.
Readers of this blog are familiar with Soldiers' Angel Joan Kranz who works at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Her father is retired Flight Director Eugene Kranz, best known for his role in directing the successful Mission Control team efforts to save the crew of Apollo 13, during which he coined the famous "failure is not an option" motto.

SOLDIERS’ ANGELS AND BAKE ME A WISH! SEND FREEDOM CAKES -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
Pasadena, CA June 20, 2008 - With thousands of U.S. troops deployed overseas, the Soldiers' Angels and BakeMeAWish.com, are offering a unique opportunity for consumers to send a message of hope and love to a hero. Administered by Soldiers' Angels, America's largest non-profit troop support organization, BakeMeAWish.com will deliver a gourmet birthday cake to a soldier serving overseas, or wherever our Veterans are in the USA, with the purchase of the new Freedom Cake.

IN MEMORY OF...

Nuristan COP named after fallen paratrooper SPC Jacob Lowell -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, renamed their combat outpost, located in a remote area of Nuristan province, Afghanistan, to remember a fallen comrade on May 12.
Combat Outpost Kamu was renamed to Combat Outpost Lowell to remember Spc. Jacob Lowell, who was killed in action June 2, 2007.

MILITARY

The USAF Tanker Nightmare Continues -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
We all just received the news that the Defense Department Acquisition apparatus shot itself in the foot again, and many of us in the Air Force couldn't be more disappointed.
A few months ago the USAF made the right decision to select the Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker to replace our ancient and rapidly diminishing tanker capability. This tanker beat the Boeing tanker because it was bigger, held more fuel and cargo, and could roll off the assembly line faster to meet our urgent war fighter needs. It was a fair and open selection.
First, understand that without the ability to refuel anywhere around the world, our air force would lose a majority of its global reach/capability. We depend on air refueling to protect our nation and the free world.

7 of 8 -- [Foreign and Domestic]
Seven of eight marines have been found innocent of the charges brought against them by Rep John Murtha.
Okay, the actual charges were brought by the government, but only because a US Congressmen said in public to the whole world that 'A Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha will show that U.S. Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood," a U.S. lawmaker said Wednesday.'
That's right, John Murtha, one of the few, the not so proud, the ex-marines, whose biography is thus on Wikipedia-

Prosecution Turns Into Persecution -- [Let Freedom Ring]
Yesterday afternoon, the military filed its appeal of Col. Steven Folsom’s ruling that charges be dropped against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani. The specific charges being refiled against Col. Chessani are violation of a lawful general order and dereliction of duty. This morning, the Thomas More Law Center issued a statement critical of the military’s decision. Here’s what it says:

DOD Inspector General Should Inspect JAG -- [Democracy Project]
...Now, with the runamock trials of the Haditha Marines, their present and future effect on combat operations and morale, as well as the concentration of the military upon developing better counterinsurgency doctrine and tactics, the role of JAG urgently requires in-depth investigation.
One would think the Defense Department’s Inspector General might be a good place to start. It says its mission is “Promote integrity, accountability, and improvement of Department of Defense personnel, programs and operations to support the Department's mission and serve the public interest.” And, the Inspector General Act of 1978 doesn’t restrict the IG’s scope.

Army to test new moisture-wicking, no-melt T-shirt -- [Stars & Stripes]
Fibers won’t burn skin when exposed to flash fire
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Army is getting ready to wear-test a new moisture-wicking T-shirt that eliminates the flaw that got its predecessors banned by the Marine Corps: the clothes won’t melt into skin when exposed to flash-fire conditions.

WELCOME HOME

Hiatus -- [The Unlikely Short-Timer - home from Iraq]
It's time for one.
Lots of shrugging of the shoulders and grunts of indifference, playing along, going with the grind because the alternative just isn't worth the heartache and punishment. Cog in the system kinda thing. I got a whole lotta nothing to say. Same story over and over again: we're back, it's strange, it's pretty easy, it's odd and weird, some things are annoying as hell, but all in all, it can all fuck right off, because we're home and we aren't armed and clad in ridiculous equipment. The neighborhoods are civilized and now we are too. Honest.

POLITICS

Bummer. Obama Caught In a Major Lie In Very First Election Ad -- [Gateway Pundit]
Obama says that he "extended healthcare for wounded troops that had been neglected" and cited Public Law 110-181 as proof of this.
The problem is: Obama didn't show up to vote. Only 9 senators voted the bill down or did not show up to vote.
Obama was one of the 9. The bill passed the senate 91 to 3... without Obama's vote.

Barack Obama - "The Country I Love" - First General Election Ad

Dead Bill Walking -- [Greyhawk]
Update: The bill has now passed the House 412-12 - details below.
A rare statement - perhaps especially in an election year:
"This is an agreement that has been worked out in a bipartisan way that I think is acceptable to both most Democrats and most Republicans and to the White House," Boehner said.
He's talking about the war funding bill - that includes a much needed (and long past due) overhaul of veteran's education benefits.
...This bill is a compromise - which means there's plenty in it to piss of partisans of any stripe. (Fiscal conservatives will be especially outraged.)
There are a few "face saving" games being played...
Boehner: "It also does not include billions in unrelated wasteful Washington pork that was added by Senate Democrats."

Veterans Rebut ‘Swift Boat’ Charges Against Kerry in Answer to Challenge -- [NYT]
On Friday, the group, who served with Mr. Kerry in Vietnam, sent a letter to T. Boone Pickens, the billionaire Texas oilman who helped finance the 2004 attack advertisements, taking him up on a challenge he issued last November: that he would give $1 million to anyone who could disprove a single charge the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth made against Mr. Kerry.
...The group is working with Mr. Kerry, who himself seized on the challenge soon after Mr. Pickens made it at an American Spectator dinner. In a letter, he offered to meet with Mr. Pickens to rebut the charges. Mr. Pickens wrote back to say that he was good for his money, but that Mr. Kerry would have to provide his military record, the journal he kept in Vietnam and movies and tapes made in his tours there.
Mr. Pickens also qualified his challenge, saying he meant that someone would have to prove false things in the group’s television advertisements — putting aside a best-selling book and extensive news media interviews that attracted the bulk of the attention. He challenged Mr. Kerry back: if you cannot prove anything inaccurate, give $1 million to the Medal of Honor Foundation, a charity.
Wait a minute, Mr. Kerry wrote back, you said nothing at the dinner about just the ads.

Spirit of Judas (UPDATED) -- [Baldilocks]
...Senator Bob Dole--a World War II veteran and recipient of a Purple Heart--feels the same way about the spineless and the traitorous as I do, the way such a man might--one who has had to depend on superiors, peers and subordinates for his very life. A couple of weeks back Dole lit into McClellan in response to the latter's public treachery toward his benefactor. (McClellan's new book, unimaginatively titled What Happened, is said to contained innuendo--but nothing concrete--about the Bush White House regarding the Plame/CIA/Armitage affair.) But Dole's reaction and rebuke of McClellan and devastating summation of his character isn't surprising. People who have been called into military service or volunteer for it seem to have a more visceral understanding of what disloyalty indicates--whether life and limb are at stake or not. (Aside: McClellan seems such a pathetic figure--he always appeared hapless before the Washington press corps and it appears that he was duped by a Democrat leaning publisher into marketing his book as some sort of indictment against the president. So, in short, he’ has already received his due earthly reward, outside of an a**-kicking.)

Scott McClellan testimony to the House Judiciary Committee

Republicans Take Obama's Shady Political Director to Task -- [Gateway Pundit]
More Hope, or Change, or something...
The people in Ohio are calling out Barack Obama on his controversial new staff member.
Patrick Gaspard's liberal organization was hiring murderers and rapists in Missouri to go door to door and sign up the vote. His organization was later fined $750,000 for their crimes. This obviously didn't matter to Obama.

Chocolate City -- [Baldilocks]
Spike Lee's got his mouth open again.
And, as a result, the Washington Examiner runs this headline, "Obama would make D.C. a ‘chocolate city,’
Folks, don't you think that you're being a little misleading? DC is already a "Chocolate City."
But when I read Glenn's blurb and the WT headline, I got visions of white people being turned out of Our Nation's Capitol en masse, like thousands of Adams and Eves from the Garden of Eden.
R&B singers, bands and black people in general have been referring to DC as "CC" for quite some time--due to the racial composition of the city's population, outside of most of the politicians. And while I think that Spike Lee is a mediocre director and, generally, a poor excuse for a human being, I don't think he means anything by this other than the probability that even more black people would arrive in the city as a result of an Obama presidency.

McCain on Obama and Terrorism -- [Weekly Standard]
John McCain's campaign sent out this statement from the candidate this afternoon. "Senator Obama is obviously confused about what the United States Supreme Court decided and what he is calling for. After enthusiastically embracing the Supreme Court decision granting habeas in U.S. civilian courts to dangerous terrorist detainees, he is now running away from the consequences of that decision and what it would mean if Osama bin Laden were captured. Senator Obama refuses to clarify whether he believes habeas should be granted to Osama bin Laden, and instead cites the precedent of the Nuremburg war trials. Unfortunately, it is clear Senator Obama does not understand what happened at the Nuremburg trials and what procedures were followed. There was no habeas at Nuremburg and there should be no habeas for Osama bin Laden. Senator Obama cannot have it both ways. In one breath he endorses habeas for terrorists like 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and in the next he denies its logical conclusion of habeas for Osama bin Laden. By citing a historical precedent that does not include habeas, he sends a signal of confusion and indecision to our allies and adversaries and the American people.

Shocker!... Obama Headscarf "Victims" Are Friends & Radical Activists... CAIR Is Outraged! ...Update: Obama Concedes -- [Gateway Pundit]
Yesterday, it was reported by The Politico that two Muslim women in separate incidents were banned from sitting behind the platform where Obama and Al Gore were going to talk because they were wearing Muslim headscarves.
The two women said they were told it was because they would be in view of the cameras. The Obama campaign called each of the individuals yesterday and apologized for the incident.
But, the story does not end there. Both of the women are still upset.
And now... US Muslim leaders (CAIR) Thursday urged Barack Obama to personally apologize to two supporters.

The United States of Obama -- [The Hill]
The Barack Obama campaign unveiled a new campaign symbol Friday during a meeting of Democratic Governors in Chicago.
Instead of the presidential seal's "E pluribus unum" which means "Out of many, one" the Obama sign says "Vero possumus," a rough translation for "Yes, we can."

THE MEDIA

NYT reveals name of KSM’s chief interrogator — against CIA’s wishes -- [Hot Air]
Read the piece and you’ll see that credibility and completeness have nothing to do with it. It’s not a story about him; he’s just the springboard to explore the themes I mentioned earlier. They could have as easily used his initials, an alias, or no name at all and the article wouldn’t suffer a bit. As for credibility, that’s easy: Just make a deal with Hayden that in return for withholding the name he’d agree to go on record and vouch for the fact that the identity of the agent as known to the Times was correct. Did they even offer? Doesn’t sound like it. The real motive here in disclosing his name, quite obviously, is to avoid setting a precedent by which they’d feel obligated to withhold names every time a government agency asked them to. That’s fine in the abstract, but it can be handled on a case by case basis. If your subject is known to be an antagonist of some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, and his former boss is telling you he has reason to believe it’d be better if his name wasn’t divulged, why not give him the benefit of the doubt?

Deceptive Ad From MoveOn, AFSCME -- [JustOneMinute] HT: Glenn
The NYTimes fact-checks a new MoveOn/AFSCME ad:
The Times duly notes that McCain was contemplating a peace-time occupation similar to the extended presence of USA troops in Germany or South Korea and adds this:
Because advertisement fact-checking reports like this one are never viewed as widely as the spots themselves, a good many people may take from this advertisement that Mr. McCain is supporting 100 years of an overwhelmingly unpopular war.
That's the hope, anyway.

Liberal Media Frenzy Builds Against US Troops -- [Gateway Pundit]
...Here we go again - our American military men & women are once again coming under attack from foreign critics and U.S. media outlets. It's a pattern that keeps repeating itself with the news media constantly working to undermine the missions of American military men and women - driven out of their contempt for the War on Terror. It's got to stop!
You need to read the hateful attacks against our troops below.

Lou Dobbs: Bush Should Be Impeached for Salmonella Outbreak -- [Business & Media Inst.]
CNN host says leadership in 'sorry condition' and inability to 'protect the American consumer' is 'sufficient reason to impeach a president.'
CNN’s Lou Dobbs has been on a tear about the recent tainted-tomato salmonella outbreak, but this time he’s taken it a step further and is calling for the ultimate political punishment.
The “Lou Dobbs Tonight” host placed the blame for the recent salmonella outbreak squarely on President George W. Bush, calling for his impeachment on the June 19 broadcast.

Jeff Jarvis Gets It — Plus, You Got Any AP Articles That Need Fisking? -- [Patterico’s Pontifications]
Jeff Jarvis:
What the AP and The New York Times’ Hansell don’t seem to realize is how hostile an act it is to send lawyer letters to individuals. They have armies of attorneys. We bloggers don’t. The mere act of sending us a letter can cost us money out of our own pockets. Sending a lawyer letter is an assault.
...Meanwhile, Robert Cox defends the Media Bloggers Association’s representation of Rogers Cadenhead.
Me, I’m tempted to start fisking AP articles that merit it.

War Inc. Not Looking Too Promising -- [LT Nixon]
Did you guys know that there was this thing called the Iraq war and some stuff didn't go well but they have a ton of oil so some rich people who dress like cowboys could make a lot of money? I wouldn't have known unless John Cusack's latest movie War Inc. was made!

HUMOR / SATIRE

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