The View From Berlin

News from my current nation-of-residence

Apparently the Americans had it coming: "The American president has closed his eyes to the economic and human damage that natural catastrophes such as Katrina -- in other words, disasters caused by a lack of climate protection measures -- can visit on his country." Who wrote this? None other than J?Trittin, Germany's minister of the environment.

But who calls him on the carpet for it? Germany's own Speigel Online - and in no uncertain terms:

Bullshit. Trittin's article is a slap in the face to all the victims. Let's just assume that the environment minister is right, that there is a direct relationship between greenhouse gases and Hurricane Katrina. Even still this would hardly be the time for yet another round of America bashing and finger pointing. Three years ago, just before the US election, former Minister of Justice Hertha D䵢ler Gmelin compared US President George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. This time, with German elections looming, the environment minister is using a natural catastrophe as an excuse to once again campaign with subtle anti-Americanism and to unabashedly pat himself on the back. A "Kyoto Two" is "desperately needed" screamed the headline over his insensitive attack.
<...>
It's not the American people's fault that the storm hit and they couldn't have stopped it. The Germans, on the other hand, could have done a lot to prevent World War II. And yet, care packages still rained down from US troops. Trittin's know-it-all stance is therefore not only tasteless, it is also historically blind.

Call me proud to be an American in Germany.

(It's in the German language version too.)

Boots In Baghdad...

...But not for long:

Well friends, my time here is reaching an end. I am in my final days in Baghdad. This will be my last post from Iraq.

He hasn't left yet - you have time to say "thanks for a job well done." (Read it all, and leave comments here)

The Upcoming No-Home Homecoming

The AP reports on Louisiana Guard members in Iraq

BAGHDAD ? Since Hurricane Katrina roared ashore, National Guard troops from Gulf Coast states serving in Iraq have followed the disaster, worried about families and friends back home.

"It's a significant emotional event. Their families are on the forefront of the disaster," said Lt. Col. Jordan Jones of the 141st Field Artillery of the Louisiana National Guard.
<...>
Asked how his troops felt being in Iraq while their state was in such difficulty, Jones replied: "Well, we all know our primary mission is the federal one.

"The secondary mission is to serve at the pleasure of the governor in disaster relief and other missions," said Jones, 44, who works for a company that manages the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

National Guard troops in Louisiana have been busy rescuing people from the deluge.

There are, of course, thousands of Guard, reserve, and active duty forces on scene or mustering for deployment to the Gulf Coast even now.

But it's a cruel irony that some of these soon to be returning GIs might have a homecoming without the home.

You can help.

Open Post

Trendspotting: The Washington Post is now including technorati trackbacks to blogs on their individual stories.

Newsweek added the same feature a few weeks back.

I think they're following the Mudville open-trackback lead...

Update: Looks like the server problems are ongoing. Trackbacks and comments are currently not available - the site itself is up and down. Visit and bookmark our back-up location.

Note

Apparently there may be Denial-of-Service attacks ongoing against this and several other blogs. We'll be cross-posting at the original Mudville Gazette site today, you may want to bookmark it in case we "disappear" here. There have been several instances where the site has been available but our ability to post new items has not, so it's posssible you may be reading this site and there are new posts there.

Hopefully this problem will be cleared soon.

It Ain't Over Til It's Over There over there

Ladies and gentlemen, the MilBlogs are proud to present the first review of "Over There" from a soldier actually over there.

The Vicious Circle

From Iraq, former Saddam army "strongman" Colonel Watban Jassam:

Tips On How To Beat US From Insurgents' Consultant

To gauge US public opinion, he has become an avid watcher of satellite news channels, and never misses the White House press briefings
<...>
To win the war against the US military and Badr, Colonel Jassam advises the Omariyun to follow two short-term goals - to cement mujahideen control over the Ramadi area, and to stage operations that will increase pressure on US opinion to withdraw troops.
<...>
To achieve their second goal, turning Americans against the war, the mujahideen need to shape their operations "to support anti- war sentiment in the west", he says.

His customers respond:

Soldier formerly from Syracuse killed in Iraq

SYRACUSE, N.Y. A 23-year-old soldier formerly from Syracuse has been killed in Iraq.

Charles Rubado says that his son, Second Lieutenant Charles "Charlie" Rubado, was killed by a sniper Monday night while leading a patrol.

Rubado graduated in 2000 from Corcoran High School, where he played soccer, and moved to Florida with his parents to attend college. He graduated from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps in southern Florida in 2004 and trained at Fort Carson in Colorado before heading to Iraq in March.

His father, a Vietnam veteran, tells the Syracuse Post-Standard, "He's safe now, but there's a hole in my heart."

But even before the family had been notified Cindy Sheehan had completed the circle:

While George golfed yesterday, the worst hurricane ever struck New Orleans; oil went up to over 68.00/barrel; and an American soldier was killed in the charade and cataclysmic occupation of Iraq. The soldier's family doesn't even know what's going to hit them yet. The death is "Pending Notification." I continually ask myself: "How do George Bush and other death-mongers live with themselves?" While George vacations and bikes and golfs his way to the lowest poll numbers since Richard Nixon, other "patriots" are wrapping themselves in the Stars and Stripes and going along with the farce that the mission from hell: Killing more people in Iraq, because so many have already been killed" is somehow a good thing ordained by God. I can live with myself, but trust me, sleep does not come easily to me these days.

And the ball goes back to the "insurgents"...

Introducing NORTHCOM

The military response to Hurricane Katrina will offer the first operational test of the newest Unified Command.

In the US Military, Unified Commands are the agencies responsible for command, control, and coordination efforts between the various branches of service. The Unified Commands exercise authority over military ops in specified geographical areas of responsibility - EUCOM covers the European and African theaters, PACOM the Pacific, SOUTHCOM most areas of the western hemisphere south of the US, and CENTCOM the highly visible middle eastern area including Iraq and Afghanistan.

NORTHCOM is the junior sibling of the crowd. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, NORTHCOM was formed with a goal of coordinating military efforts in homeland defense.

The historical insularity of the U.S. has given way to an era of new vulnerabilities, and enemies will strike the U.S. in new and unsuspecting ways. Northern Command takes the homeland defense missions being performed by other Department of Defense organizations and puts them under a single command.

Aside from human threat, there's an obvious civil service mission that NORTHCOM can fulfill (emphasis added below):

In addition to defending the nation, U.S. Northern Command provides defense support of civil authorities in accordance with U.S. laws and as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense. Military assistance is always in support of a lead federal agency, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Military civil support includes domestic disaster relief operations that occur during fires, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. Support also includes counter-drug operations and consequence management assistance, such as would occur after a terrorist event employing a weapon of mass destruction.

Generally, an emergency must exceed the management capabilities of local, state and federal agencies before U.S. Northern Command becomes involved. In providing civil support, the command operates through subordinate Joint Task Forces.

Today would be that day, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina NORTHCOM gets its first large, operational test. The Colorado Springs Gazette (feature currently not available on line):

Military Moving In To Lend A Hand

NorthCom will organize task force

By News Services

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon?s U.S. Northern Command plans to set up a task force to help federal disaster authorities bring relief by military aircraft and amphibious vehicles to communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The task force plans to have its headquarters at Camp Shelby, Miss., said Michael Kucharek, a spokesman for Colorado Springs-based Northern Command. It has established Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., as a staging area for supplies and personnel.

The task force will assist federal disaster-relief authorities primarily with aircraft and other logistical support. The Federal Emergency Management Agency requested it, Kucharek said.

The command already has sent two helicopters and crews that will enable federal disaster experts to assess the extent of the damage in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

More than 9,000 National Guard members have been called to duty for hurricane relief work in those three states, Kucharek said.

Late Tuesday, the Pentagon ordered five Navy ships and eight maritime rescue teams to the Gulf Coast to bolster relief operations.

One Navy amphibious assault ship, the Bataan, with six Sea Stallion and Sea Hawk helicopters that could be used for search and rescue missions, was en route from Texas. Four other vessels from Norfolk, Va., were expected to sail within 24 hours and take four days to reach the gulf, Northern Command Kucharek said.

The ships will carry food, fuel, medical and construction supplies, as well as hovercraft that can be used for evacuation and search-andrescue missions.

Also Tuesday, the Coast Guard called back to duty 500 reservists as part of the hurricane response. ?The biggest challenge is getting enough resources ? especially helicopters and small boats ? to the area for the rescue work we have to do,? said Lt. Gene Maestas, a Coast Guard spokesman in Washington.

NORTHCOM has more on their home page, and you'll find updates there as time permits.

We'll hope and pray there efforts are rapid, effective, and successful. As noted, this is the first big operational test - and what looks good in planning often must be adjusted on the fly in reality. As a wise man once said, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy". Likewise, because this effort will prove a point about "over stretched military" you might see some naysaying from certain quarters regarding the effectiveness of the effort, perhaps bolstered by that unavoidable truism noted above. Time will tell.

More early stories give an indication of the enormity of the task, and the initial chaos confronting those responsible for coordinating the effort:

The Shreveport (La) Times:

State's military presence aids in storm relief
While some Guard members fight in Iraq, others battle elements.
August 30, 2005

Though thousands of its members are half a world away, gearing up in Iraq to begin their journey home from war, the Louisiana Army National Guard this week is tackling its other primary mission, disaster relief.

It's no surprise. In June long before the 2005 hurricane season shifted into overdrive, the state military's second-in-command, Brig. Gen. Hunt Downer, told The Times the Louisiana Army National Guard was practiced and ready to handle the big storms.

"We have enough troops remaining here in the state," Downer said. "We've always done that. And as in all cases, we move troops around to meet where the need's going to be. Not many really appreciate and understand the uniqueness of the National Guard, (that) we have a dual mission."

Sidebar to same story:

Barksdale Air Force Base (Greyhawk notes: in Shreveport, La.) has been tagged to be the Federal Mobilization Center for Hurricane Katrina relief by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA representatives started arriving Saturday. The base's East Gate is now reserved for official FEMA and commercial vehicles only -- all other traffic, including all privately owned vehicles, must use alternate gates. Visitors entering the base should also allow extra time as increased traffic is expected, base officials said.

ArmyTimes.com:

Flooding Forces Relocation Of National Guard's New Orleans Command Center

By Joseph R. Chenelly, Times staff writer

NEW ORLEANS ? The rescuers had to be rescued early into Hurricane Katrina relief operations as sudden flooding forced the Louisiana National Guard to airlift 150 troops out of its command center here.

The flooding wiped out the Joint Force Headquarters on Monday night as Black Hawk helicopters moved the troops 10 miles away to the Louisiana Superdome, where they re-established the command center.

The troops quickly rejoined rescue efforts. At daylight Tuesday the extent of the havoc wreaked on the region began to come into focus even as levies continued to fail and water continued to rise. Soldiers carved their way through the city by boats, trucks and Humvees, while National Guard helicopters kept noisily busy in air rescues.

All brought a steady stream of civilians in from the devastation to the Superdome, the massive arena in the heart of downtown. As of Tuesday night, at least 11,000 people were taking refuge in there. Civilians were not being allowed to leave the Superdome, which was without main power or air-conditioning as temperatures hit 95 degrees Tuesday.

Still, civilians continued to flow into the shelter as flood waters made their homes inhabitable.

Since Saturday, at least two have died in the dome and two have been born there, said Guard spokesman Maj. Ed Bush. The deaths were believed to have been caused by pre-existing conditions, he said.

The Joint Force Headquarters working out of the Superdome is responsible for coordinating the thousands of soldiers and other service members responding to one of the worst natural disasters to hit the United States in generations.

The relocated center, operating on emergency generators, is relying on radio communications only, as the hurricane has rendered all land-line and cellular phones useless within the city.

NavyTimes.com:

Marines Rescue Stranded Hurricane Victims

By Christian Lowe and Christopher Munsey, Times staff writers

Marines rescued more than 100 people stranded by the destruction of Hurricane Katrina Monday after tides and high winds pummeled cities along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Leathernecks with the Reserve?s reinforced 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, based in Gulfport, Miss., navigated the debris-filled streets of Biloxi late Aug. 29, plucking dazed citizens from their battered homes.

About 130 people were rescued by the Marines, who drove two AAV7 Amphibious Assault Vehicles through the destruction.

The amtrackers took the flood victims ?to a designated drop-off point where they were returned to safety by civilian authorities,? according to a news release from Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport. One amtrac in the operation rescued 100 people, making four trips with 25 victims crammed into the crew compartment, a Navy spokeswoman said.

Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 1, 7 and 133 ? based in Gulfport ? are clearing a 10-mile-long stretch of road to the nearby town of Pass Christian so civilian authorities could rescue stranded citizens there, the spokeswoman said.

DefenseNews.com:

Two U.S. Navy Destroyers Damaged in Storm
By CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS

Two U.S. Navy destroyers were damaged when Hurricane Katrina struck their Mississippi shipyard Aug. 29, but by the following afternoon, the most serious damage had been repaired.

?There was some damage and flooding on the Kidd,? a Navy source told DefenseNews.com. ?When the ship rose up, it banged up against the pier, causing a small gash which caused some flooding.?

But Brian Cullin, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, said Aug. 30 the damage had been made good.

?Northrop Grumman welders ballasted up the ship and got access to the breach,? Cullin said. ?They were able to weld it and it was repaired and made watertight.?

The Forrest Sherman, another destroyer under construction at Northrop?s Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., also suffered some damage, a Navy source said, when a drifting barge bumped into the ship. The barge came to rest on a pier without puncturing the side of the warship.

The Sherman?s crew of about 300 sailors rode out the storm on the ship, tied to a pier along with the Kidd, whose crew has yet to move aboard.

The Washington Post notes that America's veterans aren't forgotten either:

Armed Forces Retirement Home Opens Doors To Displaced Brethren

By Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post Staff Writer

They got extra beds from storage, aired out unoccupied rooms and opened up an unused dormitory. Floors were mopped, bathrooms scrubbed and light bulbs replaced.

There was a buzz yesterday among residents at the Armed Forces Retirement Home on North Capitol Street and a sense of urgency among the staff: Company was coming. Lots of it.

Officials of the Northwest Washington retirement facility learned it was getting as many as 416 new residents from its storm-damaged sister home in Gulfport, Miss., which was rendered uninhabitable by Hurricane Katrina.

Most of the newcomers would be making the 1,000-mile trip aboard 10 chartered buses, which were scheduled to leave Gulfport last night, officials said. The buses were to arrive in Washington late today or sometime tomorrow, after at least one overnight in the Atlanta area.

"We get them up here, we're going to get them comfortable," said Chuck Dickerson, chief of resident services at the historic Washington home that houses about 1,000 retirees. "We're going to give them the medical care they need. We're going to get them a bed. We're going to get them a shower. We're going to feed them. We're going to take care of them, because they're ours."

GXonline - an online magazine of the National Guard, has numerous reports. Here are just a couple of them.

Guard, NORTHCOM Respond to Hurricane Aftermath
Twenty-four hours after Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, an estimated 7,500 National Guard troops from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi were on duty today, supporting civil authorities, distributing generators, providing medical care, and setting up shelters for displaced residents.

In addition, National Guard units and members in 17 more states were on standby, ready to provide assistance as required in the wake of extensive damage, rising floodwaters, and power and communications outages throughout the region, Air Force LTC Ellen Krenke, a DoD spokeswoman, said.

AR Guard Mobilizes 350 Troops for Disaster Relief in MS

8/29/05, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, AR ? At the direction of the governor, the Arkansas National Guard has called approximately 350 personnel to state active duty to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Mississippi. An Arkansas National Guard Task Force is scheduled to begin deploying Tuesday to an initial staging area at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Miss., and is expected to be mobilized for 10 to 14 days, or longer as needed.

Meanwhile, Keesler AFB, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in the direct path of the storm, has this announcement on their home page:

Keesler Air Force base has survived a direct hit by a Hurricane Katrina a Category 4 hurricane. Initial assessment shows extensive damage to our industrial and housing areas. We are deploying assessment crews and are in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and with commanders of many military bases who have offered assistance. The damage is severe enough that we are unable to leave our shelters until Thursday at the earliest in order to assure our recovery teams have cleared debris and made it safe for us and our families to return home. Brigadier General Lord and your leadership promises to keep you apprised of the progress of our recovery teams and release you to go home and assess your own damage as soon as it is safe for your family to travel. All pets at the Keesler pet shelter are in good health and weathered this extremely dangerous storm safely. We are doing everything within our power to clear the way and provide the best immediate and long term assistance to help each one of us in order to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brigadier General Lord wants you to know we are not alone and will do everything we can to keep you safe and get you home as soon as possible. Please be patient. We all need to pull together and help us all make it through this difficult time safely.

Keesler is predominantly a training base, but is ironically also the home of the Air Force Reserve's Hurricane Hunters, who fly specially modified C130 aircraft into off-shore hurricanes to obtain vital measurements on intensity and position for the National Hurricane Center. Their aircraft were most likely re-located to inland locations well prior to landfall.

More to come. In the meantime, Glenn Reynolds has a list of charities if you're inclined to help the relief efforts.

(Pre-post update: after completing this but just prior to posting, this example from the Washington Post dashes any hope that politics could be left out of the relief efforts. On their online front page the link to this story reads War Strains Military's Ability to Help.)

Open Post

Still experiencing difficulties with MT.

Possibility Dawn Patrol will be here tomorrow.

Cross your Fingers.

I Give Up... Who?

Email from SMASH

Greyhawk,

You'll never guess who stopped by my "support the troops" demonstration in San Diego yesterday.

(Hint: His name rhymes with "Ronald Mumsfeld")

Cheers,
SMASH

Well, this is a puzzler! I think I'll have to give up and click on over...

Storm Damage

Having ridden out our share of hurricanes and tropical storms along the Gulf Coast, we tend to notice the quality of media coverage these events receive.

Last month we noticed the ludicrous reporting on "Hurricane" Dennis as it passed through Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. That bit of sensationalist journalism led to our watching closely as the storm struck the Florida Panhandle, causing damage to the immediate beachfront, snapping a few trees, and causing other damage consistent with a strong tropical storm, or perhaps a weak hurricane. However, no hurricane level winds were reported by any observing stations as Dennis made landfall.

None the less, the media insisted that the storm was a category 3 hurricane, and the National Hurricane Center went along for the ride.

Our final post on the topic explained why this was a problem:

But what about next time? Sensational type reporting - and exaggeration of minor storms into major stories - contributes to the lack of response on the part of many to a major storm when one does come along. People who erroneously believe they've survived a cat 3-4 storm will be in for a rude surprise when a real one moves in.

As postscript, I'll add that I sincerly hope this didn't contribute to the death toll from Katrina - a number far too high for an event like this in an age of modern technology and communications. (Comparison, Andrew killed 26 while striking both Miami and the New Orleans area. Historical totals here.)

Hugh Hewitt and Glenn Reynolds suggest a day of blogging for Hurricane relief efforts. I'm on board.

Inside Camp Casey

Smash has a report from an "infiltrator" at Camp Casey:

There I found a well funded, well orchestrated public relations campaign, run by media professionals complete with the highest quality electronic equipment available. From Satellite trucks and cell phone to wireless computer access, every modern convenience to enhance the ?message? was there?and being used by left wing, socialist and Marxist (self-described) media representatives and Bloggers.

...Everyone had to be on message, and the message was the point of everything?stray from the message and you are out. Even the protesters? signs were monitored less they distract from the message.

Cindy Sheehan spent most of her time huddled with VIPS in and air-conditioned trailer. When she ventured out it was for a scripted and often televised moment. She was always trailed by her media people, and they were quick to keep her on point. During one conversation I had with her I tried to ask her a pointed question about how much time she would actually be on the bus tour to Washington (I had discovered she would only be on the tour for two days, and would be away giving speeches during the rest of the trip?and I wondered if she were being paid for these speeches) Her media person grabbed her arm and led her back to the trailer, and away from me. The message was protected. I was left standing there?alone, and feeling a little less secure about my status at Camp Casey.

Read it all.

Seal Season

"Luke" - a Code Pink protestor outside Walter Reed, on wounded troops:

?"If I went to war and lost a leg and then found out from my hospital bed that I had been lied to, that the weapons I was sent to search for never existed, that the person who sent me to war had no plan but to exploit me, exploit the country I was sent to, I would be pretty angry," Luke told Cybercast News Service. "I would want people to do something about it and if I couldn't get out of my bed and protest myself, I would want someone else to do it in my name," he added.

CPT Z, wounded troop at Walter Reed, on protestors: "...club them like a baby harp seal on coat-making day."

Guess the brass doesn't need to worry about him posting "sensitive information" on his blog. (He's on meds, of course.;) - read the whole thing anyway.)

Holly Aho is a member of Soldier's Angels (and also a MilBlogger). She has an audio interview with Chuck here.

It includes tons (well, at least lots of bytes) of info on what it's like at Walter Reed (including more of his thoughts on protestors) - how families are treated, quality of care, attitudes of the patients - it's awesome. (And timely!)

Chuck has been blogging his recovery via voice activated software - provided by Soldier's Angels. This has now grown into a full scale project to provide the same to as many wounded as possible. There's info on that at Holly's post too - you can help.

Just think - with enough donations all the troops can "speak for themselves", Luke can go home, and Chuck won't have to wear out his arm. It's a win-win.

(Hat tip to Mrs G - who finds awesome stuff even for a very brief Dawn Patrol.)

Pandora's Box

Interesting coverage of the recent OPSEC memo from Gen Schoomaker from UPI:

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker circulated a memo to all Army personnel last week, saying that "we must do a better job" at operational security -- "OPSEC" in military parlance.

"Some soldiers continue to post sensitive information" on the Internet, and especially on their Web logs or online diaries, wrote Gen. Schoomaker, giving as examples "photos depicting weapon system vulnerabilities and tactics, techniques and procedures.

The article is interesting in that it's a near complete misrepresentation of the General's actual words. Note the portion of the quote that actually appears in quotation marks - those are the General's words. Then note the reporter's added fabrication: ...and especially on their Web logs or online diaries, wrote Gen. Schoomaker. No he didn't.

Here's the only reference to blogs in the memo:

SOME SOLDIERS CONTINUE TO POST SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO INTERNET WEBSITES AND BLOGS, E.G., PHOTOS DEPICTING WEAPON SYSTEM VULNERABILITIES AND TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES.

(Apologies for the ALLCAPS - in original.)

"Especially blogs" is an embellishment from the reporter. That bloggers would key on the term is understandable - it's a big red flag to them. However, comma, in the world of GI's on the internet bloggers represent a very small tip of a very large iceberg. Perhaps one of every 2,000 GIs in Iraq has a weblog (that's an educated guess, btw, it could be as few as one in 4,000, perhaps as many as one in 500) - but rest assured that at least 90% of the troops post pictures to one of the many non-blog sites designed to host them, or have some sort of web site or space they can call their own.

Want to guess what percentage have email access? At least one "Army Leader" does - the message was labeled for distribution to "all army leaders" (an earlier message included with the current one was addressed to all O5s and above) - and although the message in question is marked "FOUO" (for official use only) it's now readily available via the internet. Ooops.

Just putting things in perspective here - the "Army declares war on blogs" theme is perhaps interesting fodder for bloggers (and apparently UPI reporters) - but it doesn't approach the reality of the situation, and from reading the actual memo "the Army" knows it. The problem is most likely too large for any but two possible solutions. One: deny internet access to deployed troops (major morale blast there) or two: train, educate and insist on strict adherence to security standards. Looks like which option is implemented is in the hands of lower level commanders. As noted here before, their responses may vary.

(Bonus error in linked article: Blackfive is mis-identified. Heh. The New York Times did the same to me last week.)

Good News

Arthur emails:

Dear friends

Katrina has pretty much taken Iraq off the front pages, and constitutional debates have in turn overshadowed all the other events in Iraq (not a bad development in itself, if only the spin wasn't so generally negative).

Here's my second last good news round-up:

Chrenkoff

Opinion Journal

Winds of Change

Thanks for your help over the past year and a bit in publicizing the under-publicized.

Arthur

Technical difficulties

Mudville is experiencing technical difficulties. The Dawn Patrol was lost due to this. Insert four letter words here.

Let's hope they fix the problem soon.

Just to hold you over I'm going to do some quick links to look at.

365 and a Wake Up has 3 new post, don't let the dates confuse you, they're new.

Dadmanly has a new post about a visit with the Iraqi Army.

Many of the other MilBloggers in Iraq have not posted yet, but most of you know who they are so check in on them.

Iraq the Model talks about relationship between the Shiite clergy and the government.

The Counterterrorism Blog is always a must read.

Don't miss Holly's latest Podcast where she interviews Capt Z.

Which brings me to Capt Z's post on the protester outside Walter Reed hospital where he is recovering.

And I have a few congrats. First go wish Baldilocks a Happy Birthday and then congratulate Wayne from Waynes world on his recent wedding proposal done while on R&R from Iraq.

For future reference to all you readers, we have our old Blogspot blog that we use as a Backup for these rare occasions. so you might want to bookmark it.

Open Post

On The Road Again

Mrs G caught this NPR interview with Cindy Sheehan on the radio today. She say's it's one to listen too - though Ms Sheehan seemed to be a reluctant guest. Apparently there's some question as to the quality of her hearing, or perhaps of her phone. Unfortunately, the audio isn't up yet - looking forward to it.

One thing that should be noted about the Cindy Sheehan story. Those opposed to "her" cause have adopted the nefarious tactic of ensuring everything she says gets widest possible dissemination - sans media filters.

Here are some photos from on scene with the "pro Bush" side at Crawford.

More here (video too).

And you'll find continuous updates here

The numbers on the Sheehan side of the street are small, but her message is being heard, and those ranks will soon swell.

*****

Meanwhile, over at Walter Reed...

Updates on the counter-protests here and here.

One of those individuals also left this comment on our recent post about GIs recording songs in Iraq:

As luck would have it, my CD arrived Friday afternoon. I popped it in the player in my car as I drove downtown to Walter Reed to join the DC Freepers in support of the wounded troops. I cried and laughed for an hour and a half and cannot imagine a more perfect way to get psyched up for such an event.

THANK YOU JR and Nick for this wonderful music! You guys rock!!!!

He's on to something there. There's a movement developing in Crawford and in DC, and as with all such grass roots efforts this one has it's anthems. This song should be played at both locations - straight from the heart of a GI in Baghdad.

I am a Patriot
(Words and music by JR Shultz and Nick Brown, Baghdad Iraq)

Twilight ends, and I'm alone
On a battlefield so far from my home
My wife is running through the fields of my mind
My only prayer is to see her again some time

It's been a year now since I've seen your face
A beautiful thing that all my dreams could never replace
Oh how I long to feel your touch and hear your voice
And God knows how I want to hold my little boy

But I am too proud to be forgotten
I've given too much to be forsaken
Just keep that American flag in our yard flyin'
Cause I'm a patriot and don't mind dyin'

Well I don't know what God has in store for me
But if I don't return I only ask one thing
Don't let my memory fade too far away
And tell my son how much I love him every day

'Cause I am too proud to be forgotten
And given too much to be forsaken
Just keep that American flag in our yard flyin'
Cause I'm a Patriot and don't mind dyin'

It's getting closer now I can hear the sounds of home
Seems like forever here, the time it passes slow
Too many men came here who will never leave
A sad reminder of the cost to be free

Cause I am too proud to be forgotten
I've given too much to be forsaken
Just keep that American flag in our yard flyin'
Cause I'm a Patriot and I don't mind dyin'...

Kenning

The definition of "Kenning". It's amazing what you can learn on the innernets.

On a related note, did you know that the word "gullible" does not appear in any dictionary of the English language?

Voice of the People

The Washington Post:

K. Daniel Glover writes in National Journal's Beltway Blogroll that some conservative bloggers think that Scott Ott, the conservative voice behind the ScrappleFace blog, should be hired by the White House as a speechwriter.

"Their praise came this week after Ott penned the response that Ott's fans think President Bush should give to grieving mother and anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan.

Mr Ott could not be reached for comment. A spokesman at his family's compound said he was out having his suit dry cleaned.

Don't Miss...

Blackfive's message from the Navy re: Fred Phelps.

Open Post

Mixed Messages?

Two posts from fellow MilBloggers:

One.

Two.

Check out the posts immediately following those at each site too.

More on this topic later.

The Fake and the Dead

There are two types of Iraq war veterans that have a tremendous appeal to the anti-war crowd - the fictional and the dead. Both types have a common, irresistible trait - others can claim to speak on their behalf.

Dan Kennings is both types. And his daughter Kodee was in a position to become the next Cindy Sheehan.

But...

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Word that Sgt. Dan Kennings had been killed in Iraq crushed spirits in the Daily Egyptian newsroom. The stocky, buzz-cut soldier befriended by students at the university newspaper was dead, and the sergeant's little girl--a precocious, blond-haired child they'd grown to love--was now an orphan.

They all knew that Kodee Kennings' mother had died when Kodee was about 5. The little girl's fears and frustrations about her father being in harm's way had played out on the pages of the Daily Egyptian for nearly two years, in gut-wrenching letters fraught with misspellings, innocent observations and questions about why Daddy wasn't there to chase the monsters from under her bed.

It turns out Daddy didn't exist. And neither did Kodee.

There are elements to the story that would reveal it as an obvious fake to anyone remotely familiar with the US military or the war in Iraq, but apparently few folks at Southern Illinois University qualify in that regard. The fictional Kennings was stationed in Mosul, Iraq, with the 101st Airborne Division, and apparently had been since the war began. He was only able to phone home and speak with his daughter on rare occasions, because calls from Iraq cost him $2 a minute.

Both of these claims are obviously false to anyone who's either "been there" or has been paying attention to those who are. But this sort of stuff is taken at face value by the same anti-war crowd that insists the media isn't telling them the "real truth" about Iraq.

More about "Kennings", from the Southern Illinois Daily Egyptian (kudos to them for admitting the truth and leaving the stories in place with disclaimer):

Kennings is extremely sensitive compared to the typical American stereotype of soldiers. He is not afraid to cry, does not mind being sentimental and writes poems about his daughter.

All this needs to be hidden from those he fights with, though, at the risk of ridicule. The teddy bear Kodee gave him that said "daddy's girl" is kept out of sight, and Kodee said she understands.

"He keeps it in his bag because the other soldiers might make fun of him," Kodee explained.

I can't tell you the number of GIs in Iraq who openly carry such gifts from their children - and woe upon anyone who would ridicule them for doing so. But feeding stereotypes is a great way to deceive the willing.

As noted, "Kodee" was in a position to become the next Cindy Sheehan, perhaps an even more powerful "voice for peace" - but our intrepid little heroine was not an anti-war orphan initially...

To Kodee, Bush is her father's boss and she does not understand why people think he is evil. She has also has a very difficult time understanding the war protesters and has begun to fear them the way most kids fear the boogeyman or monsters.

She calls them "the bad people," and is convinced they are going to come to her house at night to hurt her or camp out on the lawn and make her father not want to come home.

Every night, Matt and Colleen have to check under Kodee's bed and in the closet for "the bad people." They also have to double check to make sure the window is locked and investigate any sound that comes from outside.

Colleen said Kodee routinely wakes up at night screaming, fearful that "the bad people" are going to get her.

"To you and I, it's a crazy thought, but in her mind, it's as real as the telephone you're holding," Colleen said during a phone interview. "The fear is just so real."

But one day her feelings began to change...

"I have some good news and I have some bad news," Kennings told his daughter. "Which do you want me to tell you first?"

"I want to hear the good news," Kodee replied.

"The war is over," he said.

Forgetting everything else in the world, Kodee jumped up and down, screaming yay! She was beside her self with joy.

But then came the hard part.

"I still have some bad news," Kennings continued.

"Well, I don't want to hear it," Kodee said.

"Well, I still have to tell you," her father insisted.

"No you don't. I just want to hear good news from you," Kodee replied.

"I really have to tell you," Kennings said.

"No you don't," Kodee repeated.

The two exchanged the same argument a few more times before Kodee gave in. It was at this point Kennings delivered the bombshell.

"I probably won't be home for summer," he said.

Kodee was devastated, even when her father told her the reason he had to stay.

"He said he had to stay and help rebuild the country cause it was all destroyed," Kodee said. "He said he had to build hospitals because otherwise people would die. There is no medicine or doctors."

She wanted to speak to his superior to interrogate him on why her father was being forced to stay. But eventually, she had to accept the news and spent the rest of the day moping around, refusing to engage in two of her favorite past times - going to the park and hitting balls at the batting cages.

"When she heard all that, to be quite honest, she just crumbled into pieces," Colleen said.

Finally, plucky little Kodee found the true courage to turn against Chimpy McHitlerburton's Oil War:

As her father's time increases in Iraq, so does Kodee's anger at George W. Bush. She is attempting to raise enough money bring her father home herself -- her most recent money-making plot is to get a job as an officer in the army -- but she is also attempting to petition the U.S. government. Kodee has been inquiring about whether Uncle Sam has a wife so she could plead to "Aunt Sam" to bring her father home. Kodee knows her father is sick of Iraq, and that he has recently seen two of his friends die.

To her, Bush's reasons for the War in Iraq are not good enough for him to take her father away, and she is not afraid to express her disdain for current U.S. policy. It has nothing to do with politics. She wants her father, who is her only living blood relative, back in her life.

The following are her uncensored thoughts on our 43rd president.

Dear Mr. Presadent,

I'm rily mad at you and you make my hart hurt. I don't think your doing a very good job. You keep sending soldiers to Iraq and it's not fair.

Do you have a soldier of your own in Irak? Why can't our soldiers come home? They don't like it over there and they are sad. They never smile in pickshurs you kno.

Why did you call Ryan (a friend of a friend who is in the national guard) for duty? It's not fair cant you see? Hes got a life here and you made his mom cry. Angie (Ryan's fianc驠cryed to. Why do you want to make pepole cry? I miss my dad and he misses me. His job is done he says so. Why can't you send him home? I think your mean and I don't like you. You shold have a hart.

This letter was written to Kodee's mother, who died when she was 5. She recently made a copy of this letter, put it in a balloon and released it into the heavens in hopes it would reach her mother.

Dear mommy,

I miss you. Did you get your wings yet? I ring lots of bells. Ive been trying to be good mom. Are you watching me?

Me and you need to talk mom. Can I see you agin? I got to explane something. Ryan got called to duty and he has to go to Iraq. Tell God to fire the Presadent. It's not fair. Can you wach over him like you woch daddy? Promiss not to let him die okay mommy.

Daddy says he misses you. Me to. Daddy says your still in his hart. Mom I love you. When you walk with God today tell him to make Ryan stay alive. Wach out for rockets mommy. I love you.

Love, Kodee

Kodee also wrote a letter to her father, who she has seen on television at least once. Normally, her guardians try to keep her away from the news, but she has managed to get around their rules a few times.
Her single greatest complaint about her father's living conditions in Iraq is that he looks dirty and needs a shower.

Dear Daddy,

I miss you and I love you. How are you? Are you still coming home dad? I'm still here without you.

I saw you on our dreme date you need a shower daddy. Next time can we go where its snowy. Are you still hot?

Ges what dad I lost a tooth. The tooth farys rates haven't gone up so I'm holding out. I figyer she'll evenchly have to give up and give the extra quarter.

We went to pops and we went to a honted harvest house. Daddy it was scary I didn't like it. I think the content was macher for me. Hey dad I gug a fox hole. It is regulashin. It is hooah.

Can I have my rank back now? I've been good. Daddy I love you. Can you kill all the bad guys now so Air Force One can bring you home? I love you. Don't die okay dad.

Love, Kodee

By the way - the spelling errors are in the published originals, and part of the fiction behind "Kodee" is that she was home schooled.

But in spite of her pleadings, the ultimate tragedy struck. Kodee's daddy came home in a box:

On Saturday morning, cars began pulling into the gravel parking lot of a one-story American Legion hall in Orient, Ill., about 30 miles northeast of Carbondale, for a memorial service. Hastings and Kodee got out of a red Pontiac Grand Am, the little girl wearing an Army uniform shirt that hung down to her knees.

People inside the memorial service said both Hastings and Kodee were in tears. A video showed Kennings in his fatigues speaking with a group of children at a church, and there was a scrapbook filled with pictures of Kennings straddling a tank cannon or huddling with other soldiers.

But even then the story was unravelling.

A professor in the university's journalism school who was familiar with the Kennings story called the Tribune Aug. 17, and the Tribune had a reporter on the road to Carbondale that night.

But instead of taking the story to a national level, the Tribune reporters checked one of the widely available list of Soldiers killed in Iraq, and it all began to fall apart.

Read the whole thing here. Finger pointing, accusations, and counter-accusations are flowing freely now. It looks like it will be a while before the full truth is known - until then we'll refrain from assigning blame. We will note that it's easy to deceive those who so eagerly wish to be deceived.

*****

A simple story revealing the lack of standards at college newspapers? Perhaps. But the AP provides an interesting epilogue in their recounting of the tale. They avoid detailing the substance of "Kendee's" letters - but imply the hoax was perpetrated as some sort of pro-war propaganda:

Kim Treger, owner of a women's shoe and accessories store, said she followed the story from the start but was not surprised to learn it was fake.

"As long as people dig those sentimental stories and have that yellow-ribbon mentality, there are going to be these hoaxes," she said.

I think "yellow ribbon mentality" conveys a message that doesn't apply - and I believe that's obvious to anyone who's read this far. Of course, if most stories from the AP include a quote from an "owner of a women's shoe and accessories store" I'll admit that my suspicions as to their motives for including that comment are unfounded.

But it reads to me like a nasty little trick they might have learned in journalism school.

(Hat tip: Florida Cracker)

Update: The definition of "kenning". . (Must read.)

A Must Read...

...post from Iraq.

Open Post

The Folded Flag?

His Mother held the folded flag,
It was a somber day.
A mosaic of tears and memories,
As she heard the bugler play
The last song for a soldier,
As she held his folded flag
And memories of the letter
He wrote her from Ft. Bragg.
He wrote, "Please Mom, don't worry.
I have to see this through
Make your world a safer place.
It's something I just had to do!
It's not just Nine-Eleven Mom,
That stirred my warrior soul,
Not screaming words of Jihad,
A hero's words, "Let's Roll!"
Scenes of Dark September, Mom,
As people fell like snow.
For me, it was the tattered flag
Raised high...at Ground Zero.
Remember how I waved her Mom
When I was only ten?
I waved and waved her on The Fourth,
And Veterans Day...waved her again!
It was the words that grandpa said,
"She stands for all that's true.
Her red is for the blood men shed.
Son, that's what soldiers do!
Guard her well and wave her high.
Let no one treat her bad.
Honor the men who died for her,
They gave her all they had.
A gift of home and family,
Golden memories as they grew old.
A fine young grandson...like I have.
Son, Freedom's bought....not sold!"
So Mom, If I should pay the price
To keep her waving high,
And you receive the folded flag-
Mom, be proud of me.....don't cry!
Place my flag on grandpa's shelf
With his medals from World War II
And the folded flag.....he got last year
That grandma gave to you."
His Mother held the folded flag.
It was a somber day.
She placed it high on "grandpa's shelf",
Then bowed her head to pray.

-unkn

WMD redux redux redux revisited again and again and... (part I - the sequel)

You've probably noticed the Dawn Patrol here is divided into various topical sections - Iraq, Afghanistan, Support the Troops, etc. This is why the stories about Cindy Sheehan go into the "Politics" section. Anyone who thinks the folks behind the scenes are concerned about Iraq is sadly mistaken. They love having her, of course, but only because it makes it look like they give a damn about Iraq. (Have doubts? See also here and here.)

Speaking of Code Pink...

Meanwhile, over at Walter Reed, Code Pink demonstrator Luke delivers the message (for the full impact watch the video):

?"If I went to war and lost a leg and then found out from my hospital bed that I had been lied to, that the weapons I was sent to search for never existed, that the person who sent me to war had no plan but to exploit me, exploit the country I was sent to, I would be pretty angry," Luke told Cybercast News Service. "I would want people to do something about it and if I couldn't get out of my bed and protest myself, I would want someone else to do it in my name," he added.

Boy, I would be too. And that's where Luke's argument defeats itself. I'd be cheering him from the window if what he said was true. Interesting that Luke has convinced himself he's defending the wounded troops. Guess he feels they lack the courage to do it themselves. No Luke, you are not acting "in their name". Yes, Froggy, Luke is a coward.

The "no WMD" issue was done to death in the blogosphere two years ago, but I suppose there are those for whom it remains a compelling argument. I can state that WMD's had little real bearing on my thoughts on going to war in Iraq - I thought the issue was a bit overblown by the media in the months leading up to the invasion. I went on the record here long before the issue was resolved. April 6, 2003 to be exact. (A side note: note that at the same time the press was building the "no WMD = failure" theme they were also clamoring for President Bush to declare "victory". Eventually he did, and how they responded is well known, but that's a story for another day...)

Bearing in mind that I'm on the record as not giving a damn about WMDs I'd offer two series of questions to the Code Pink crowd at Crawford or Walter Reed (and if anyone there can do this and get video of the interview please let me know.)

Series one: For those who claim they were deceived into supporting the war because "Bush lied": Are you frequently so deceived? Do you consider yourself a generally gullible person? Are you certain? How can you be sure someone's not misleading you now? In short, why should I trust your current position, if you demonstrably lack good judgment? Do you question the "facts" that Code Pink offers you, or are they beyond reproach? How have you researched the facts supporting your current position? If you weren't deceived before the war, can you offer an example of someone who was? Someone specific, not a group or a hypothetical person. And can we ask them the same questions?

Series two: For those who claim they were or were not deceived into supporting the war because "Bush lied": Do you believe WMDs are a valid reason to go to war against another nation? Let's be more specific - WMDs and a known desire to use them against your nation. If that were a proven fact would you be willing to "support the war"? And if so, would you "support the war" only if there were a direct threat to you personally - whether WMD or non-WMD? What if there was a direct threat to your country? If so, would you "support the war" only in so far as not protesting while allowing other peoples' sons and daughters go fight for you, or would you actually join the military yourself? And if you were indeed deceived about the whole WMD/personal threat against you issue, why didn't you join? Are there any circumstances in which you would join the military?

Bearing in mind I'm an Iraq war vet, I know there were no WMDs in Iraq, don't give a damn, have actually read what the President actually said during the run-up to the invasion, and have seen quotes from every politician on both sides of the aisle stating that Saddam had WMDs the comments are open for anyone with on-topic answers.

More Support...

..for Cindy.

You go girl.

Update: On the other side of the fence: here, here, here (you've bookmarked The Buzz by now, right?)

And definitely don't miss this .

Three Cheers

This must be noted as some sort of blogospheric holiday. I suggest pie for everyone, with a blended puppy chaser.

Walter Reed Protest Video

CNS has a video report on the protests at Walter Reed.

If these events get increasing attention and subsequent growth, expect to see the area declared off limits for such gatherings. Legally off limits, that is. It's all ready morally off limits.

Unpredictable?

Had to pull this from the Dawn Patrol for special attention.

Remember this?

Open Post

Been to see Noah, the son of "Some Soldier's Mom". Was able to pass on a hug from mom. He's doing well.

More Later.

LTC Erik Kurilla

The Seattle Times updates us on LTC Erik Kurilla. They also mention Mike Yon:

In his blog, Iraqi insurgents are "terrorists" and the United States is making progress in its nation-building efforts.

Funny - it's that way in Iraq too.

(Via Powerline, who note the "admiring tone" of the article. The above quote could be read that way - a reporter wishing he could use the same terms.)

Michael Gilbert had an earlier story on LTC Kurilla too.

And there are lots of updates from Mosul at Stryker Brigade News.

*****

Not long ago the NY Times bemoaned the "lack of heroes" in the War on Terror:

Their names are Sgt. First Class Paul R. Smith, Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester and Sgt. Rafael Peralta. If you have never heard of them, even in a week when more than 20 marines were killed in Iraq by insurgents, that might be because the military, the White House and the culture at large have not publicized their actions with the zeal that was lavished on the heroes of World War I and World War II.

Attention Times (and other) editors and writers: here's your big chance. Yon has probably got the book deal wrapped up, but you don't have to wait for the military, the White House and the culture at large. Take the ball and run.

You were being serious, weren't you?

Here's LTC Kurilla rescuing his troops from a burning vehicle:

When a soldier on the radio announced that the Stryker was burning with men trapped inside, the troops inside our Stryker began un-strapping fire extinguishers. We stopped and the ramp opened. The soldiers burst out running. Fires burned in several locations. Most of the tires were blown off the Stryker, while smoke poured from the hatches. The Stryker was filled with ammunition, but the back ramp had been jammed shut in the initial explosion. Four injured soldiers had gotten out, while two were trapped inside.

LTC Kurilla ran to the burning Stryker, threw off his protective gear and helmet, leading a swarm of soldiers atop and over the burning hulk, in a determined push to get their buddies out. Kurilla dropped himself down a top hatch, to get into the burning Stryker, while men passed up fire extinguishers and even bottles of water. Major Mark Bieger and others were also atop the vehicle, alongside one gutsy Private First Class that everyone calls "Q."

Here's LTC Kurilla rescuing a terrorist from an exposed position in a crossfire - then later refusing to turn him over to the Iraq security forces for "softening up"

We had left the prisoner in the open. Bullets are snapping, and I'm crouched on a knee behind a Stryker. When I look back again, I see Kurilla standing out there, alone, next to the terrorist on the sidewalk. Bullets are kicking up dirt and Kurilla gives us a look: What the hell! You left the prisoner!

For a moment, I nearly ran back out to drag the terrorist behind the Stryker, but then I thought, Nope, he's a terrorist! If Kurilla gets shot, I'm definitely going to get him. But the terrorist can get shot to pieces and I don't care.

Instead of doing something useful--and I feel marginally guilty about this, but not too much--I start snapping photos as the Commander drags the guy by the collar to get him to the cover of the Stryker. I can't believe Kurilla is still alive after nearly a year of doing this.

And here's the story of his latest battle - the one that brought him home.

If it makes you feel better, you can rest assured he doesn't want the hero treatment. So go ahead, let him have it.

By the way - you can get those stories at the Palestine Hotel - if you've got a good internet connection.

Update: Hugh Hewitt has the mailing address for the hospital where LTC Kurilla and one of his men are recovering.

And have you hit Yon's tip jar lately?