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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.
Widow of abducted soldier gives to Iraqi boy -- [Air Force Times]
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — At about the same time an 11-year-old Iraqi boy was on an operating table having heart surgery on Long Island last week, the widow of an Army captain abducted and slain in Iraq was opening a package at her home in California.
...On Tuesday, Charlotte Freeman fought back tears as she presented the gadget to the smiling, gum-chewing boy named Ali as a token of what she hoped would be a lifelong friendship that began between the boy and her husband in Iraq.
2-27 -- [American Soldier - injured in Iraq]
Let me take you back a year ago. An irrelevant city, nameless street and a small home where a little girl and her mother lived. I never did see the father during my many trips past this home. I often wondered where he was, dead, divorced, who knows. I’d have my gunner hand out extras candy whenever we’d pass this home. The child looked like my own daughter. Dark wavy hair, charcoal eyes and tan skin. She always had a smile and waved while the boys tried to look tough. She would giggle and laugh at us. It brought a piece of home to the long nights on patrol or the early morning stroll. Just another day in Iraq right?
We all had ways to deal with our tour. For me it later evolved into seeing the future of Iraq. These children loved us and we appreciated it. However this was not meant to be a happy story. This is reality in a war.
Dividing the Mahdi Army -- [The Fourth Rail]
With Muqtada al-Sadr now in Iran, the Iraqi government and Coalition forces are stepping up efforts to divide and conquer his Mahdi Army. Asharq Alawsat has confirmed that Multinational Forces Iraq (MNF-I) is "holding talks with commanders of Muqtada al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi Army with the 'Iraqi Government's blessing,'" as well as "several Iraqi armed group."
The Next Steps in Iraqi Economic Reform -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
Call it an economic and political victory for "New Iraq" -- and an indication that we may see more in the future.
This past Monday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's cabinet finally agreed to a reformed "oil law." The cabinet will forward the legislative package to the Iraqi parliament for action later this spring.
The more the merrier... -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Advancing a political track is indispensable for a stable future for Iraq for sure. Experts and observers differ in their suggestions for solutions; some think politics must be given the priority while others insist the solution is military, but in fact both tracks are essential and should go hand in hand without giving one track a priority over the other even though one or the other sometimes seem to pose the greater challenge.
Bush's 2007 Proposal -- [No Pain No Gain - an Iraqi blogger]
...I have gained some interesting insight from this new strategy plan that changed the sense of direction with USA and Iraq politics.
...Alot of the American friends I know seem to worry about the fate of their troops in Iraq which encourages them to want their troops immediately pulled out of Iraq. However, such Americans need to be aware that there is a right time for everything on Earth. US troops cant just leave Iraq with no plan with how Iraq will survive the chaos by itself.
If US troops sought to withdraw from Iraq 2 years ago, I would have certainly agreed to it but demanding the withdrawal as of now is not a good idea. I believe this for certain reasons, one of them because Iran and Israel do not have one of the most relevant relationships between them and US having to completely step off Iraqi soil will have Iraq dragged into this circle of more tension and violence with its neighbors.
This Is The Easy Part -- [Strategy Page]
February 28, 2007: "Witness protection" has become a major tactic in the effort to clear terrorists out of Baghdad. While cell phones make it easy to call in the location of bomb factories, terrorist safe houses, and car bombs on the move, the terrorists make a point of trying to locate and kill the snitches. The Iraqi police are still pretty corrupt. With enough cash, you can get information on phoned in tips. Tipsters getting murdered may not make the headlines, but the word gets around. The only way to protect the witnesses is to take down entire gangs, and that requires capturing the gang bosses, and shutting down most of the gang operations in a short space of time.
Iraq Pictures -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Newbern, N.C., native SGT Shawn Mackey, a health care specialist with Company C, 299th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, assesses the health of a newborn Iraqi baby during a medical assistance mission in the village of Abidone inside the Bay Al Sabir High School of the Abu Ghraib district of Baghdad. The event was to thank the community for its continued support of coalition and Iraqi security forces by offering health and dental care to the village's residents.
The Diyala Two-Step -- [Intel Dump]
Two recent articles about the Diyala province -- what some call "Little Iraq" because of its demography and geography -- help to illuminate why forward progress seems so elusive in Iraq.
On Saturday, Rajiv Chandrasekaran reported in the Washington Post on the difficulties faced by the State Department-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Diyala. The article comes on the heels of another report characterizing the Diyala PRT efforts as difficult, to say the least. To put it bluntly, they lack the people, the resources, and the support they need to do their job. Consequently, counterinsurgency efforts in Diyala have stalled.
Top U.S. Intel Official: Iran Training Iraqis To Use Munitions -- [Defense News]
Iran is training anti-American Iraqi Shiites at sites inside Iran and Lebanon in the use of armor-piercing munitions blamed for the deaths of 170 U.S. troops in Iraq, the top U.S. intelligence official said on Feb. 27.
Iraqi tip leads to large IED find -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – A large cache of improvised explosive devices was discovered Monday by Iraqi police and Coalition forces near the Baqubah area in the Diyala province
Hostages freed by paratroopers, weapons cache secured -- [MNF-I]
KALSU, Iraq – Dismounted paratroopers located an insurgent safe house uncovering a
weapons cache and freeing two hostages south of Baghdad Feb. 26.
Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division located the safe house, where
they found the two hostages and a weapons cache near Mahmudiyah.
Iraqi swat captures eight Mahdawiyah insurgent group members -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Al Hillah Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics personnel captured eight suspected members of the Mahdawiyah insurgent group during operations with Coalition advisors Feb. 26 in the Wardiyah district of Al Hillah. The suspects are believed to be involved in attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and civilians in the area.
The suspects are allegedly part of the insurgent group that fought against the Coalition force and Iraqi Security Forces Jan. 28 in Najaf. The suspects are believed to threatening the lives of persons within the leadership of Iraqi Security Forces in Babil Province.
There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition force casualties.
Neon Genesis Evangelion -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue - in Afghanistan]
...One thing I want to do more of is to introduce you to some of the fine Afghans who make CMA the great organization that it is. Today I’d like to introduce Maj Abdul Hafiz. He is the S1 (personnel officer). I’ve been working with him since my arrival here, and I’ve seen him grow into a real dynamo of an officer. When I first arrived here, he would, as so many ANA officers did, expect me to work all the problems he encountered. However, it did not take much mentoring before he worked personnel issues on his own, and he’s been on top of things ever since. He is a competent, hard-working man who is always smiling and always thankful for our help (though we rarely have to help him anymore).
Spartans Turn Over Southern, Western Provinces -- [Centcom]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan — Task Force Spartan turned over five provinces in the southern and western portions of their former battle space to Task Force Fury during a transfer of authority ceremony held here Feb. 21, 2007.
Task Force Spartan, comprised of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, handed much of Regional Command-East to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers of Task Force Fury.
Britain to Send 1,400 More Troops to Afghanistan -- [Global Security]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2007 – Great Britain will deploy an additional 1,400 troops to Afghanistan this summer, British Secretary of State for Defense Desmond Browne told the country’s Parliament yesterday
Clash of Conservatives in Iran -- [Strategy Page]
February 28, 2007: There seems to be a major political clash developing in Iran. The religious leadership seems to want to avoid an outright clash with the UN/U.S. over the nuclear issue, and appears to prefer not having nukes. Apparently, they believe having nukes makes them more vulnerable to attack than not having them. This is not as unreasonable as it may seem at first – after all, they'll never be able to have enough nukes to deter the US, and so their nuclear "threat" will have little impact on American policy. Worse, even if they have just one or two nukes, it will be enough to seriously threaten Israel, which they believe would have no compunctions in taking preemptive action.
The Mecca Agreement -- [MEMRI]
– A Strategic PLO-Hamas Alliance for Establishing a Palestinian State Without Hamas Recognizing Israel
The text of the Mecca agreement, which was signed under Saudi auspices on February 8, 2007, is couched in general terms and deals mainly with intra-Palestinian relations. The policy section of the agreement appears in the letter of appointment for the future Palestinian government, and is part of the agreement
China Surprise -- [Strategy Page]
February 28, 2007: China is putting a lot of effort into its commando forces, and not letting many details get out. However, based on what has been published in China, and what leaks out of the country via the Internet, is that the Chinese special operations forces (SOF) remain small, well equipped, and well trained. There are fewer than 5,000 troops in the Chinese SOF, organized into 6th Special Warfare Group, 8th Special Warfare Group, 12th Special Warfare Detachment and Naval Commando Unit.
UN Counter-Terrorism Handbook -- Form Over Substance -- [Countrterrorism Blog]
Following up on a recommendation contained in last year’s UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the UN has put together a new on-line “counter-terrorism” handbook which is meant to help guide countries wishing to assess UN counter-terrorism support services. As the UN Counter-Terrorism Handbook Site states:
Medical Warriors -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
I've been getting some emails about the first installment of a 5-part NBC News Special called Wounds of War. Although I don't get American TV here, Bonnie sent me the link to the piece on the MSNBC website. From what I know and have seen personally, this is the real thing and quite well done.
Hero to Hero Appreciation Project -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
Soldiers’ Angels have adopted the wounded service members at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
We encourage all Veterans and active duty personnel to write letters and cards of support and encouragement to the wounded and ill troops who are being treated in medical facilities in Germany.
The cards and letters will be included in Transitional Backpacks or separately as needs dictate, but in both cases distributed directly through Soldiers’ Angels Germany.
Your Soldier -- [Sgt Hook]
A couple of weeks ago I received an email that originated from the office of the commanding general of my division inquiring into a soldier of mine, PFC Charley Benton. My initial thoughts were understandably, “what the hell did Benton do that the CG is involved?” Well, the following letter was sent to the general and I think it explains everything (editor’s note: all names and unit designations have been changed as releases were not obtained prior to publication):
On January 31, 2007, I was involved in a serious vehicular accident on I-25 near Big City. I was traveling in my 2004 Ford F-150 when I spun out of control on the ice at 70 mph. I was struck on my driver’s door, sprayed with broken glass, and sent skidding into the grassy median. The van that struck me vanished. Traffic never slowed. No one stopped to help. I sat stunned and in shock in the broken glass beside the twisted metal of my driver’s door. I remember looking up and seeing a man in a military uniform running across the highway dodging cars and sprinting to my assistance. He seemed like an angel. I was alone, scared, and in a cloudy stupor with a concussion. He climbed into the passenger seat and checked on my and calmed me. My cell phone rang, and I remember telling someone I was in an accident, but I would be alright now because the army had arrived. I felt incredibly safe and comforted.
A red sports car spun out of control and was following nearly my exact accident path heading for my vehicle but luckily stopped short. Once he knew I was alright,...
Online claim created for items lost in moves -- [Air Force Times]
The Air Force is easing the hassle of airmen whose property is lost or damaged during moves.
The Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps has created an online claim filing system for personnel claims, available at https://claims.jag.af.mil.
Iraq’s only Similarity to Vietnam: Its Dangerous Anti-War Movement -- [Iraq War News]
Contrary to media reports and the perception of a majority of Americans, the United States was winning the war in Vietnam following the successful watershed battle known as the Tet Offensive. Sadly, the Vietnam War was not lost on the battlefield. The carnage and repressive regimes that followed the U.S. exit may have been avoided had the truth been known by the American public. The United States was defeated by a carefully conceived, multi-pronged propaganda campaign that set the stage for America’s eventual failure ...
At the risk of further arguing with fools… -- [Neptunus Lex]
…. and that neutral observers might not be able to tell the difference, here’s an interesting discussion by McQ, on Greenwald, on Lieberman. Contrasting Lieberman’s 2005 WSJ op-ed on Iraq with his most recent effort, Greenwald purpored to find dishonesty in the Senator’s argument. But as McQ points out:
PORTRAIT OF THE CONGRESS AS A WRUNG HAND -- [American Citizen Soldier]
..."This may become the first time in the history of the United States Congress that it has voted to send a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose his plan that is necessary to succeed in that battle." I'll allow that President Bush is no historian, but I'm pretty sure he's correct. If the Pelosi Bunch is so sure of their position, why did they not put their mouths where our money is and reject Gen. Petraeus outright, coax Wesley Clark out of retirement with a vintage "We Like Ike" campaign button, and then withhold funds and turn out the lights, roll over, and go to sleep?
Obama on Iraq in '02 -- [Real Clear Politics ]
File this clip under "more trouble for Hillary Clinton." It's Illinois State Senator Barack Obama on a local public affairs television show in late November 2002 giving a pretty clear explanation of why he would have voted against the Iraq war authorization: ...
Analytic Challenge -- [Dadmanly]
I have been tracking an ongoing conversation that springs from new reporting from Mother Jones, of all places, journalism-wise. As part of a series “Iraq 101,” Mother Jones hosts a piece written by Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank, entitled The Iraq Effect - The War in Iraq and Its Impact on the War on Terrorism.
Bergen is as reliable an anti-war critic as can be found, but he strenuously attempts to do so with evidence and data he marshals to achieve that end.
Two Big Iraq Reporting Blunders Yesterday? -- [IraqSlogger]
Officials Say Two Stories That Grabbed Headlines Yesterday Are False
Alleged blunder number one: U.S. and Iraqi officials today dismissed as false reports yesterday that a car bombing killed 18 children and women in Ramadi. The initial report came from the state-run al-Iraqiya TV network.
Alleged blunder number two: Yesterday, Iraqi press reports claimed Iraqi VP Adil Abdul-Mahdi was accusing an unnamed "official" of involvement in the Monday assassination attempt against him -- a bombing that left the VP slightly wounded and killed and badly wounded others.
Sensationalism Abated -- [No End but Victory]
Bob Woodruff was severely injured in an attack in Iraq back in January 2006 while embedded north of Baghdad. Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously wounded by an improvised explosive device that hit the Iraqi personnel carrier they were riding in.
...Woodruff has a newfound appreciation for the suffering and sacrifice our Soldiers and Heroes endure in defense of our country. He “got religion” you might say, and he selflessly means to get THEIR stories told.
Why can’t more of our so-called “Journalists” turn their backs on their editorial agendas, and their “if it bleeds it reads” mentality, and fight FOR our GI’s instead of always fighting AGAINST them?
Must-See: Bob Woodruff's "To Iraq and Back" -- (ABC News)
Phenomenal, Moving TV Documentary Now Can Be Seen in Full Online
Hersh: Bush World's Biggest Worry -- [NewsBusters]
If there were any doubt as to the degree to which the MSM loathes and distrusts President Bush, it should be dispelled by the performance of Sy Hersh on today's Hardball and the way he was applauded by Chris Matthews. At the end of Hersh's appearance, Matthews put this question to the investigative reporter:
"What's your biggest worry in the world? Is it Iran? Is it this administration going to war with Iran? Is it a civil war in Iraq? Is it Musharraf's inability to fight the Taliban on his own soil? What's your biggest worry?"
Thoughts: Drudge, Hypodermic Needle Theory & 'The Drip' -- [Jawa Report]
There's a case to be made the Drudge helped tank the markets today, particularly when thinking about information/news sensitive environments like the market floors.
...By the same token, the overall MSM coverage of the war in Iraq has had a negative net impact on the opinions and perceptions of many Americans regarding the daily events taking place there. Individual stories are not enough to do it alone. This is not to say that covering the markets is exactly like covering a war, but I would surmise that market reporters at least report positive developments in the markets from time to time without hesitation.
Gore Lives Carbon-Neutral, Fat-Neutral Lifestyle -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-28) — Oscar-winning filmmaker Al Gore today expanded his call for Americans to reduce their output of greenhouse gases — the so-called carbon-footprint — adding a demand to cut the rate of adult-onset obesity, which he termed “your gluteal fatprint.”
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
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.
U.S. Finds Major Weapons Cache in Iraq -- (Breitbart.com)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. officers said Monday they had discovered a factory for assembling sophisticated roadside bombs from Iranian-made components _ the first such facility uncovered in a religiously mixed province north of Baghdad.
The officers, who displayed weapons for reporters at a U.S. base in the capital, said the find provides more evidence that the Iranians are providing weapons used to kill Americans.
Sectarian Executions Drop in Baghdad -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Execution-style killings have fallen sharply in Baghdad since the security crackdown began this month, the No. 2 U.S. commander said Tuesday.
News On the Surge From a Family in Baghdad -- [Gateway Pundit]
The surge in Bahgdad is going better that expected according to one Iraqi family living in Baghdad.
US Army captain Clayton Combs inspects a major arms cache his unit found near the Shiite village of Jadidah. US troops in Iraq have found a huge cache of weapons and material to make deadly armour-piercing bombs of a type Iran has allegedly smuggled to Shiite militias.(AFP/Ali Al-Saad)
The following is a Haider Ajina translation of a news article from Iraq’s "Alsabah Aljadeed" or "New Sabah"
Iraqi Army detains 16 suspects during operations against rogue JAM -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Special Iraqi Army Forces detained 16 suspected militiamen during operations Feb. 27 with Coalition advisers in Sadr City targeting the leadership of several rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi cells operating against Iraqi civilians.
Iraqi forces targeted several individuals who allegedly control multiple rogue JAM cells and illegally direct and perpetrate sectarian murder, torture and kidnapping. The wanted individuals are reported to operate out of Sadr City and are linked to attacks on Coalition Forces and the supply of weapons and munitions which support continued rogue JAM violence.
Iraqi business restoration progressing -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD— A Defense Department official Monday discussed the ongoing work to improve Iraq’s business and economic stability during at press conference at the Combined Press Information Center here.
Coalition Forces in Iraq Still Finding Foreign Aid For Terrorists in Recent Captures -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Captures in Iraq in recent days highlight the continued prevalence of foreign fighters and funding for Al Qaeda and other terrorists from Iraq's "neighbors" in the Muslim world. Today, according to a Defense Department press release, coalition forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir in Baghdad, three "suspected foreign terrorist facilitators" in operations near Samarra, and eight more in "a foreign fighter safe house" west of Mahmudiyah.
Iraqi Police take back Hit -- [Marine Corps News]
In yet another step toward Iraqi sovereignty, U.S. Army soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, recently teamed up with Iraqi Security Forces here for Operation Shurta Nasir (Police Victory). Unlike previous operations, this one was...
Iraqi Cabinet Approves Oil Revenue Sharing -- [Captain's Quarters]
The plan recently approved by the Kurds to split the oil revenue of Iraq with the Sunnis won approval from the Iraqi cabinet. It now faces debate in the National Assembly, whose final approval will resolve one of the toughest issues in post-war Iraq and one that has helped fan the flames of the insurgencies:
SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA EMIR, ELEVEN OTHERS DETAINED IN RAIDS THROUGHOUT IRAQ -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 12 suspected terrorists including a suspected Al-Qaeda in Iraq emir during raids Tuesday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and three of his associates. Based on intelligence reports, these suspects are allegedly involved in the production of improvised explosive devices.
Insurgents thinking bigger in attacks -- [Air Force Times]
BAGHDAD — Troops from Maj. Jeremy Siegrist’s battalion were following up a tip recently when they came across something odd: two restaurant-sized freezers sitting in the middle of a palm grove.
The Surge: It's Effective... Almost... Too Effective -- [Ace of Spades]
That's a bit of snark for Time Magazine, which headlined the story about the dramatic drop in violence in Baghdad thus:
It's Quiet In Baghdad. Too Quiet.
...and went on to lard up their article with a lot of quotes from troops about how scary the quiet was. Well, I'm sure they did find it a little unnerving, given their expectations of constant shooting and explosives. But Time Magazine didn't see fit to include a quote from one of the soldiers, which one of them certainly must have said: "Sure, it's kind of scary... but it's a lot less scary than being shot at every few hours."
U.S. troops to forgo training in rush to Iraq -- (CNN)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rushed by President Bush's decision to reinforce Baghdad with thousands more U.S. troops, two Army combat brigades are skipping their usual session at the Army's special training range in California.
They are now making preparations to leave their home bases.
Some in Congress and others outside the Army are beginning to question whether that decision means the Army is cutting corners in preparing soldiers for combat.
Cheney Targeted by Suicide Bomb -- [Jawa Report]
(Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan) From an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Mullah Hayat Khan said, "We wanted to target ... Cheney." Fortunately, the Taliban was unsuccessful.
Taliban 'knew of Cheney visit' -- (News24)
Islamabad - A suicide attack at an Afghan air base where US vice-president Dick Cheney was staying shows that the Taliban and al-Qaeda have penetrated local intelligence agencies, analysts and officials said.
British in Afghanistan: "We do not use the word 'win'" -- [Jihadi Watch]
"Officials say the new tactics are to identify 'Talibs who are sick of fighting' and persuade them to rejoin their tribes and benefit from the human rights laws and state structures being set up in the country." Good luck with that, but it is certain to come up against the objection that such things are "un-Islamic." But that is territory that neither the British nor any other Western powers wishes to venture into.
Hey?! Knock it off! -- [Miserable Donuts]
Bomb...in a shipping container near Bagram (bonus quote from my friend Kabir Ahmad!). Yeah, while a good way to transport it to BAF, you'd never get it on base. So this looks like someone taking a poke at the front gate area:
Tribal Power Struggle At The Center of it All -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Afghanistan is trying to get Pakistan to agree to arm and support tribal chiefs, to go after the Taliban, al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups. The traditional tribal chiefs have lost power over the last two decades, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as younger, less well-connected, men have used force to establish themselves as warlords. Many of these lads are Taliban warlords. Pakistan is reluctant to give the tribal chiefs guns and legal authority to enforce the law, because getting that kind of power back is very difficult. But for the tribesmen, the traditional leaders (the older guys with more wisdom and experience) are preferable to the warlords (the younger guys with more guns and greed).
CLOTHING DRIVE INFO -- [Afghanistan JAG - in Afghanistan]
Thanks to everyone who has so generously agreed to help with our clothing drive! We are trying to determine the amount of clothes that are being sent so we can determine the best way to distribute and decide on which village to go to first.
A Hero -- [Task Force Phoenix 5 - in Afghanistan]
...Saturday we had a big HA drop at a Kindergarten in Polacharkee. We handed out over 200 bags of clothes and shoes and 150 backpacks filled with school supplies. So far all the shoe money I have collected has been spent on shoes and we have bought over 400 pairs and when I get back I plan on buying about 300 to 400 more!!! I’m so happy everyone has helped out so much and I appreciate it SO SO much, thank you. Also some of the money has been used to buy medical supplies for our MedCaps. We spend about 600-700 dollars every time we have a MedCap and that is all from donations from large companies or individuals back in Oklahoma. But since we have been doing so well with the Afghan Children’s Fund we started using some of that money since we were running very low on funds for the MedCaps.
Love is in the Air -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue]
I asked Wali about children, and whether it was a shame for a couple not to have kids.
“Yes, it is very important for a couple to have children. If they can’t, then they both go to a doctor to see if either has a medical problem. If the wife has a problem, then the husband may marry again so that his second wife may bear him children. However, it is not fair to the woman. If the man has the problem, she is not allowed to have a second husband. It is not fair to her. She should be able to have children.”
...Although a devout Muslim, Wali sometimes expresses more progressive views like this. However, never doubt his devotion to Islam. That is very evident from discussions with him.
I nodded. “Sure, if it’s so important, why shouldn’t she have the same rights as a man?”
Wali replied. “Many things that seem unfair are because of our culture, not because of Islam.” This reminded me of Hamid’s protestations earlier. Bad things came from Afghanistan, not Islam.
Wartime Control Delayed to 2012 -- [GI Korea]
I sure hope this isn’t true:
South Korea will reclaim wartime operational control of its forces from the United States as of April 17, 2012, the two countries announced Thursday.
The South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) will consequently be disbanded as of the same day, according to a joint press statement issued by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
...I have been hoping the wartime control would be resolved by January, 2010 to coincide with the Camp Humphreys relocation. If this is true the Pentagon has once again given in to Korean governmental delay tactics.
40 Days -- [Soldier of Africa - in Darfur]
As of today I have 40 Days left in the mission. In South Africa the day when a soldier has only forty days left on a deployment is significant
I believe if we want to make a difference in Darfur it starts with us. Maybe the view you have of other people is distorted because of what you have in your eye?
DARFUR: FORMER SUDANESE INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLICATED BY ICC PROBE -- (AKI)
The Hague, 28 Feb. (AKI) - The Internantional Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced on Tuesday that prosecutors have gathered evidence implicating Sudan's former interior minister Ahmad Muhammad Harun in war crimes against the local population in the African country's troubled Darfur region.
Winning the Long War -- [CDR Salamander]
In the Philippines.
Thousands of miles from the bazaars of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, U.S. military forces are quietly helping defeat terrorists in the jungles of the southern Philippines, a forgotten front in the global war on terrorism.
Cyberspace as a Combat Zone: The Phenomenon of Electronic Jihad -- [MEMRI]
Alongside military jihad, which has been gaining momentum and extracting an ever growing price from many countries around the globe, Islamists have been developing a new form of warfare, termed "electronic jihad," which is waged on the Internet. This new form of jihad was launched in recent years and is still in its early stages of development. However, as this paper will show, Islamists are fully aware of its destructive potential, and persistently strive to realize this potential.
Al-Qaeda Wanted To Kill Blair In Front Of The Queen -- [Sweetness & Light]
Tony Blair defied an assassination threat from al-Qa’eda to take part in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in central London, it can be revealed for the first time.
The risk to the Prime Minister was disclosed to a new BBC documentary by Lord Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in 2002. He positioned marksmen around Buckingham Palace in readiness for an attack by bombers or snipers.
No Terrorist Camps Along the Border, No Sir -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2007: In eastern India, Maoists killed four policemen and tore up part of the main rail line. The Maoists also managed to hold a meeting, in a remote area, of their national leadership. The leaders reorganized once again (as they have every few years since the Indian Maoists were founded in 1969) and vowed to fight on for a communist state and workers paradise.
Kids Learn History to Aid Military Families -- [GX Online]
2/26/07, Falls Church, VA — Rachel and Kelsi Okun kicked off their organization's second treasure hunt today to raise scholarship funds for military children and spouses with the help of their classmates at Haycock Elementary School. "Treasure Hunt Aiding Needs of Kids and Spouses of those serving the United States of America," or ThanksUSA, is a member of America Supports You. The DoD program highlights the ways Americans are supporting the nation's Service members.
Ironman for Fisher House -- [Soldiers Angels New York]
As part of his journey to becoming an Ironman, he is raising money and awareness for the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the families of injured American military men and women. He has decided to campaign for Fisher House because he believes the help that we can provide to these injured service members and their families is the least that we can do for them. He also wants to show our troops that there is support for them back home.
Military's Capability Shattering, reports Joint Chiefs Chairman -- [On Point]
Strained by the demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a significant risk that the U.S. military won't be able to quickly and fully respond to yet another crisis, according to a new report to Congress.
Disputes Over Distress Pay -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2007: A U.S. Department of Defense proposal to pay troops "distress pay" if they were sent overseas sooner than expected, has caused a vigorous debate among the brass over how far to go with what is also called "inconvenience pay." The current proposal would pay soldiers $1,000 dollars for each month of stateside time they lost because they were needed overseas sooner than expected. The U.S. Army wants to have troops at their home bases at least 24 months between overseas assignments. So if you were sent back to Iraq 20 months after getting back, you would get $4,000 for loss of "dwell time" (at your home base.)
America's Choice in Iraq: War or Peace -- [Talkwise]
The Democratic initiated non-binding resolution against the President’s efforts to increase troop levels in [Iraq] and the subsequent reaction amongst the presidential contenders is remarkable and at the same time troubling because it reveals a lack of seriousness on the part of our elected officials in dealing with [War] and [Peace]. Americans are probably not surprised by the pandering of the individuals in Congress however the ability of the presidential aspirants to shift their position or lack thereof one in response to perceived public sentiment is something which should cause Americans concern.
LTC Allen West May Challenge Florida Rep. Ron Klein in 2008 -- [Onion Bug]
I’ve learned through the grapevine that LTC Allen B. West, U.S. Army (Ret.) may challenge Congressman Ron Klein for Florida’s 22nd District congressional seat in 2008.
Many may remember LTC Allen West as FrontPage magazine’s 2003 Man of the Year. I know LTC Allen West to be a man of the highest integrity; he loves America and has sought to serve wherever his country has needed him. And that just may be in the U.S. House of Representatives now.
Intelligence Failures -- [Dadmanly]
Intel channels are buzzing today over Ralph Peters’ searing indictment of their community in this NY Post editorial.
He starts his critique with an anecdote of questionable import, describing how American troops “mistakenly” detained, searched and “jerked around” Amar al-Hakim, the son of the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), presumed to be a cooperative Shia partner to the US and Coalition efforts in Iraq.
MAINSTREAM MTV - THE JIHAD GENRE -- [Atlas Shrugs]
This is where it's going. In the toilet. As shocking as this is, it comes as no surprise to Atlas readers.I have been following the cultural corruption for well over a year. This is certainly part of the jihad genre illustrated here. This propaganda follows the same strategy as holocaust denial.
...Three of the most famous US rap stars, Mb Def, Immortal Technique and Eminem composed a song to denounce the September 11th lie : “ Tell the Truth, Nigga ! ”.
Exposing the GI Fifth Column -- [GI Korea]
Just when I think the American media couldn’t get any worse it does. I’m not sure if there has been a bigger piece of propaganda under the cover of investigative journalism than this week’s 60 Minutes piece on the Appeal for Redress frauds. If you have the stomach you can download the video here. Let me get everyone up to speed on what Appeal for Redress really is.
What a Difference a Day -- and an Assassination Attempt -- Makes [Andy McCarthy - The Corner]
One sobering result of the Taliban's attempt to murder Vice President Cheney in Afghanistan is that the New York Times has tamped down — at least for a day — its standard caricature of the dark, secretive Veep.
Compare the following. This is from yesterday's pre-bombing coverage of Cheney's Pakistan trip
Investment Bank Downgrades NYT Co. -- [Media Blog]
Lehman Brothers cut the New York Times Co. to underweight, saying recent cost cuts are a strong indication that management is increasingly concerned with its top line. "We remain concerned about the deteriorating top line at all three of the company's newspaper divisions," the broker said.
The NY Times Preens About Its 'Skepticism' of Govt. Claims of Iran Meddling in Iraq -- [Newsbusters]
After no huge caches of weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, the New York Times felt burnt by liberal accusations of being water-carriers for Bush in the run-up to the Iraq war -- an accusation based almost entirely on a handful of overly credulous pieces filed by former reporter Judith Miller.
These days, the Times is leaning heavily in the opposite direction, preening about how skeptical it has been about U.S. government evidence demonstrating Iran's role in providing bombs to Shiite militias in Iraq. Monday's headline makes that clear and the front-page story itself by James Glanz and Richard Oppel Jr. is hedged to the hilt: "U.S. Says Raid in Iraq Supports Claim on Iran, but Doubts Persist."
Friendship and Survial Part 2
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
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.
The Surge Is Working -- [You Tube]
Video of one of the worst streets in Baghdad and the turnaround there since the surge began
Operation Baghdad: Week II -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
It's been less than two weeks since the Baghdad operation was officially launched. This period, though short, has been full of events; both good and bad ones.
Here we are not in a rush to judge the operation unlike some media or politicians who seek anything they can use to serve their agendas. We, Baghdadis, only want this operation to succeed and we still have some patience to show.
The Other Face of Iraq -- [MEMRI]
For most people, the images of Iraq are of a country mired in sectarian violence or civil war - a country suffering car bombs, random killing, kidnapping, ethnic cleansing - a country in collective despair. There is validity to these images.
However, alongside these tragic daily occurrences Iraq has its other face, a face of life and a degree of normalcy. This other face of Iraq is reflected in a series of pictures published by Halim Salman in his two monthly magazines published in London.
Duke in Iraq - 2/23/07 -- [Broken Masterpeices - dispatch from Iraq]
Duke as a lot of interesting things to say about the GWOT, Islam and losing heart:
...I bring this up in the context of the US Congress wanting us out of Iraq regardless what the security situation is like. It reminds me of other great conflicts where the people lost heart in the midst of a battle. It started with Israel not finishing the job God had given them to clear out the land before them after crossing the Jordan, instead to this day they still live with enemies surrounding them. Others include: World War I and Germany returning just a few years later to fight again; World War II and Russia, that Patton wanted to finish, but instead we had years of Cold War; Korean War, now with North Korea; Iran taking our Hostages and Carter’s ineffectiveness; and Desert Storm and not finishing Saddam at that time. There is a long history of paying a costly price for losing heart in the middle of a battle.
Nervous Tics -- [Acute Politics- in Iraq]
Several days ago we were on another mission out through the farmland surrounding Falluja. It's the middle of the night, and my truck is out in front again, swapping places periodically with the mine sweeping truck. The road is ugly- it's narrow, muddy, sloped slightly towards the deep canal on the right, and elevated between six and ten feet above the field to the left. It's the kind of road that would make you nervous to drive on at home, and here there are people trying to blast you off of it into the canal. It makes me very nervous.
Iraqi Army sends troops to support Fardh Al-Qanoon -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Government took an important step Sunday in both uniting their country and following through with Fardh Al-Qanoon (the Baghdad Security Plan) when Soldiers from Kurdistan arrived at the Iraqi side of Baghdad International Airport and set out to train and eventually augment with Iraqi Soldiers currently protecting Baghdad.
Iraqi translator has American dreams -- [MNF-I]
CAMP TAQADDUM — He’s got the strut, the confident Devil Dog swagger.
He peppers his speech with “awesome” (and more than occasionally drops the F-bomb). He’s definitely gung-ho.
Those who left the battlefield but brought the battle home -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
When Noah deployed for his first tour in Iraq, there was no describing the worry. It was intense. It was consuming. It permeated every minute of every day. Like our skin or our heartbeats, it was with us and around us and in us no matter what we did or where we were.
The Choice on Iraq -- [JOSEPH LIEBERMAN - Opinion Journal]
"I appeal to my colleagues in Congress to step back and think carefully about what to do next."
...What is remarkable about this state of affairs in Washington is just how removed it is from what is actually happening in Iraq. There, the battle of Baghdad is now under way. A new commander, Gen. David Petraeus, has taken command, having been confirmed by the Senate, 81-0, just a few weeks ago. And a new strategy is being put into action, with thousands of additional American soldiers streaming into the Iraqi capital.
NH Guard Members to Mentor Afghan National Army -- [GX Online]
Governor John Lynch and other state leaders joined family and friends to honor a team of 16 NHARNG members here today as they prepare for duty in Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The Soldiers, representing different military specialties, will support a mentorship program with the Afghanistan National Army. They will first report to Fort Riley, KS for several months of theater-specific training and are expected to be in Afghanistan by early summer.
Tribal Power Struggle At The Center of it All -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Afghanistan is trying to get Pakistan to agree to arm and support tribal chiefs, to go after the Taliban, al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups. The traditional tribal chiefs have lost power over the last two decades, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as younger, less well-connected, men have used force to establish themselves as warlords. Many of these lads are Taliban warlords. Pakistan is reluctant to give the tribal chiefs guns and legal authority to enforce the law, because getting that kind of power back is very difficult. But for the tribesmen,...
Operation Shoe Fly -- [Sgt Hook]
When I was in Afghanistan, one of the things my soldiers readily noticed was the tremendous amount of children who were either barefoot, or wearing worn out tattered shoes. We decided to launch Operation Shoe Fly asking folks back home to send us those gently used shoes that were stacked in the back of the closet, or in a box in the garage, after their children had grown out of them. We were humbled by your overwhelming support as we quickly found oursleves sorting through thousands upon thousands of pair of shoes.
Afghanistan: February 25, 2007 -- [Afghanistan Watch]
...Rockets Ineffective: As Usual
NATO forces here came under attack Saturday night when insurgents fired two rockets into the sprawling military base in southern Afghanistan.
Irans Terrorism Expediters -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Iran has its own Special Forces, the secretive al Quds Force, which belongs to the IRGC (the Iranian Republican Guard Corps.) Also known as the Pasdaran, the IRGC is a paramilitary force of about 100,000 full timers that insures that any anti-government activity is quickly eliminated. To assist the Pasdaran, there is a part-time, volunteer force, several hundred thousand Basej, which can provide additional manpower when street muscle is required. The Basej are usually young, Islamic conservative men, who are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Top of the World - [You Tube]
The anniversary of the first World Trade Center bombing
In Memory of September 11"_ Although the majority of space in the WTC complex was off-limits to the general public, 1 WTC (North Tower) had a restaurant on the 107th floor called Windows on the World, and 2 WTC (South Tower) featured a public observation area aptly named "Top Of The World."
When visiting the observation deck, visitors would first pass through security checks added after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Next, visitors were whisked to the 107th floor indoor observatory and greeted with a 360 degree view of the New York City skyline, and exhibitions including a three-dimensional scale model of Manhattan, and a simulated helicopter ride around the city.
Claim: Iraqi Terrorists Shoot Down Black Hawk Helicopter (Video) -- [Jawa Report]
A Salafi jihad group in Iraq known as the Jaish al Mujahideen (Army of the Mujahideen) has released an 11 minute video in which they claim to show the downing of a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter. The video is posted below.
Complete Text: "Bin Laden and the Oil Weapon" (from Al-Qaida's Sawt al-Jihad #30) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Al-Qaida's Committee in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) has recently released the first new issue of its official magazine, Sawt al-Jihad ("Voice of Jihad"), in nearly two years. Among other subjects, Sawt al-Jihad #30 addresses the aftermath of the Abqaiq (Buqayq) oil refinery attack in early 2006 in an article titled "Bin Laden and the Oil Weapon."
Al Qaeda Smuggling Operation Busted -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Tunisian police believe that al Qaeda has moved its headquarters from Algeria to Tunisia. There have been more arrests of Islamic terrorists in Tunisia lately, and the Tunisian population is not as alert to, and hostile towards, Islamic terrorists as most Algerians are. Terrorists are finding another danger in Algeria, the growing use of cell phones. While seemingly a boost for terrorists, in practice, cell phones make it much easier for a hostile population to turn in terrorists, and to alert police to terrorist operations in progress. Two years ago, there were only 50,000 cell phone users in Algeria, now there are 21 million.
Another Friday at Walter Reed -- [Smash]
"SUPPORT THE TROOPS." For some people, it's second nature. For others, it's just an empty political slogan.
On Friday, Tantor and I went to Walter Reed to visit some friends. But first, we stopped in front of the main gate to visit the seven remaining members of the Code Pink "vigil" that has been gathering on Georgia Avenue every Friday evening for the past eighteen months.
Anyone else find it strange... -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
...that the results of a Washington Post "investigation" about Walter Reed were published a week before this story?
"They are our heroes" -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
(The video is not work safe if you are weepy like me.)
Person of the Week: Bert Brady
Feb. 2, 2007 — Just about every morning for the past year, Bert Brady has been getting up, having a cup of coffee and heading over to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. But this ritual has nothing to do with travel. He's at the terminal to welcome home American troops as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
We Need a Little Christmas: Please Help!!! -- [Some Soldiers Mom]
How about some more Christmas? I know of a place that needs a little Christmas... now.
Well, if you watch the news, you know we have guys deployed. 3ID is deployed and deploying... Some of our guys are already in Ramadi. When one of the wives asked her husband what could she send him... what did HE need? His response was that he needed nothing for himself, but he could use all the children's clothing and shoes he could get... he was distraught at the level of poverty these children experience.
Documentary views war through Iraqi doctor -- [Air Force Times]
Film added to Air Command and Staff College curriculum
SAN ANTONIO — An Oscar-nominated documentary that examines the situation in Iraq from an Iraqi point of view was shown to airmen attending the Air Command and Staff College’s cultural-awareness program this winter.
Military Deaths (all causes) 1980-2004 -- [Murdoc Online]
Instapundit points out this post at Red State which notes that the increase in the total number of deaths in the US military isn't all that much greater under GW Bush than it was under the previous three (plus) Presidents. Here's the gist:
Yet Again Proving We Need More Than One Party That Understands Warfare -- [Chapomatic]
This article should not have to come from the rightish Weekly Standard. First, it shouldn’t need to have been written in the first place; the vow to “double the size of our Special Forces” should have been crushed or made viable by some military-savvy Dem. Secondly, the concepts in this article are not Republican or Democrat concepts; they’re military.
Drive to "de-authorize" war failing in Congress -- [QandO]
If Robert Novak is correct, Democrats in Congress are going to be left with only one choice of actions soon - defund the war. Apparently this is becoming more and more clear to those such as Senators Biden and Levin who are attempting another Murthaesque end-around:
Iraq: Sunni vs. Sunni, Shiite vs. Shiite, Democrat vs. Democrat -- [Hot Air]
The surge is starting to open rifts. None of the players within each group seem sure yet how to respond to it, so they’re taking advantage of each other’s momentary uncertainty to jockey for power.
Shock: Media Almost Entirely Embargoing ACLU Child Porn Story -- [Ace of Spades]
From the Catherine Herrige's reporting on the O'Reilly Factor, we know the FBI and ICE actually "pushed" this story out into the media, because, due to this solid citizen's selfless work as a "youth coach," it's possible there are victims of physical molestation out there. That hasn't been proven yet; it hasn't even been alleged.
But it's a concern. And that's why law enforcement pushed the story. They want the victims to come forward.
They even avoided id'ing the guy as a former ACLU Chapter president.
Video: Dan Rather warns Hillary not to come off as a “chickenhawk” -- [Allahpundit - Hot Air]
Send to a Friend | printer-friendly Portrait of a man using a term he’s clearly heard used before and just as clearly never quite grasped the definition of. But watch how quick Matthews is to ask him to clarify. You’d better believe he knows what it means.
Krugman Rib-Tickler: Positive MSM Coverage To Blame for W's Election in 2000 -- [NewsBusters]
If, as I am, you're stuck in a seemingly endless winter, here's something to bring a sunny smile to your lips, courtesy of that one-man cavalcade of mirth, Paul Krugman. The New York Times columnist this morning blames the election of George Bush in 2002 on -- ready? -- the MSM! Yes, according to Krugman, Bush "got within chad-and-butterfly range of the White House because the public, enthusiastically encouraged by many in the news media, treated the presidential election like a high school popularity contest.
Vilsack Surges on News of Presidential Pull-Out -- [ScrappleFAce]
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who dropped his White House bid earlier today, said he may re-enter the race for the Democrat nomination on the strength of a surge in name-recognition spawned by his withdrawal.
Kummeli - Aziz The Combat Fighter -- [You Tube]
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Looks like Appeal for Redress will get a big boost tonight when 60 Minutes covers the group.
Don't expect much investigative journalism from this piece - the online intro includes this:
"I'm not anti-war. I'm not a pacifist. I'm not opposed to protecting our country and defending our principles," says Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, an Iraq war veteran who, along with another veteran, initiated the petition.Hutto has never been to Iraq - if they can't get that fact straight they probably aren't going to offer the real story behind this group.
The irony is that 60 Minutes missed a golden opportunity to do what once upon a time a long time ago they supposedly existed for - expose these sorts of frauds perpetrated on unsuspecting people.
Update: The story at the link has already been re-written, eliminating the claim that Hutto is an Iraq war veteran.
But in her "Reporters Notebook" video (at the link) Lara Logan describes Appeal for redress: "It's basically a grass roots movement amongst active duty, serving members of the U.S. military." And "We were very careful to look thoroughly at the group, and to look into their military backgrounds, and to make sure that this wasn't... people with something hidden in their past or some reason that wasn't the stated reason to be involved in this."
Wrong. I guess CBS isn't just guilty of bad reporting, they're actually helping perpetrate the fraud.
This post originally appeared at MilBlogs in October, 2006. While some of the information uncovered herein has since made it's way into smaller media outlets, most major mainstream media sources are still reporting this effort as a "grass roots" campaign. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Astroturfing (via wikipedia):
In politics and advertising, the term astroturfing describes formal public relations (PR) campaigns which seek to create the impression of being a spontaneous, grassroots behavior. Hence the reference to the "AstroTurf" (artificial grass) is a metaphor to indicate "fake grassroots" support.And that's what's occurring with the "Appeal for Redress" web site.The goal of such campaign is to disguise the agenda of a political client as an independent public reaction to some political entity —a politician, political group, product, service, event. Astroturfers attempt to orchestrate the actions of apparently diverse and geographically distributed individuals, by both overt ("outreach," "awareness," etc.) and covert (disinformation) means. Astroturfing may be undertaken by anything from an individual pushing their own personal agenda through to highly organised professional groups with financial backing from large corporations.
The missing piece of the puzzle was actually available from the start:
Yesterday, a company that does public relations for the liberal activist political action committee MoveOn.org, Fenton Communications, organized a conference call for reporters and three active-duty soldiers to unveil the soldiers' anti-war group Appeal for Redress.That's from the October 26 New York Sun - kudos to the only reporters in the crowd who had the guts to tell the truth about this. As of this writing, over 200 newspapers have carried the story; The Boston Globe, al-Jazeera, The Washington Post, ABC News, Reuters, The (UK) Guardian... but none of the stories acknowledge the orchestration of the event by Fenton Communications. Instead, virtually all of them detail the "grass roots" effort of the troops. Even without the Sun story, the mere fact that this appeared simultaneously in multiple "big media" outlets is evidence enough of such a campaign. In the pre-internet days this wouldn't be so obvious, but in these days of instant global communication the life cycle of such a story should hardly exceed 24 hours (and wouldn't have in the past without active media participation). But if you're among the few tech savvy and information hungry people interested in not taking such slickly-packaged information at face value, here are the facts about "Appeal for Redress" in order of discovery here.
<...>
A staff member at Fenton Communications who requested anonymity said his company was approached last week by a longtime peace activist and former director of the anti-nuclear proliferation front known as SANE/Freeze, David Cortright, to publicize Appeal for Redress. Mr. Cortright is now president of an Indiana-based nonprofit group, the Fourth Freedom Forum, and his biography on the organization's Web site says he helped raise "more than $300,000 for the Win Without War coalition to avert a preemptive attack on Iraq in 2002–03."
The site is registered to J.E. Glick, of 803 North Main Street, Goshen, Indiana. A quick check of online white pages reveals that's the address of The Fourth Freedom Forum. (You can also read about the group here). This would seem to confirm the point in the Sun story quoted above:
A staff member at Fenton Communications who requested anonymity said his company was approached last week by a longtime peace activist and former director of the anti-nuclear proliferation front known as SANE/Freeze, David Cortright, to publicize Appeal for Redress. Mr. Cortright is now president of an Indiana-based nonprofit group, the Fourth Freedom ForumAnd Jennifer Glick (J.E. Glick), actual "owner" of the Appeal for Redress web site, is listed in the Fourth Freedom Forum contact page as Director, Information Services.
The Fourth Freedom Forum's opposition to war pre-dates Iraq and Afghanistan. They are a well funded, very professional organization. But the group is not listed among the sponsoring organizations on the Appeal for Redress web page. (Those groups are Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace.)
It would seem the Fourth Freedom Forum wants to hide it's activities behind some groups and individuals seen as more credible to this particular cause. (I think "front groups" is the usual term.) But it was easy to find the real owners of the "Redress" web page (I originally noted the failure to do so on the part of one of the reporters who carried this propaganda to "the next level" - but have since come to believe that among journalists this was actually common knowledge that they saw fit not to include in their stories), so the "staff member at Fenton Communications who requested anonymity" (ironically, given the breathless press accounts, the only actual whistleblower in this story) may or may not have needed to be so concerned about being revealed.
(Update: registration of the site has been changed. Fourth Freedom is working quickly to camoflage their involvement in this project.)
Back to the growing number of groups and individuals behind this campaign in a moment. But first, a look at the activist career of Jonathan Hutto, the "front man" of this organization.
In the initial media coverage of this story he was described as "a Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va., who set up the Web site a month ago." But that's a humble description of a well-traveled man. The full truth - while easy to discover - is a bit more complex.
Initially I speculated that he had been "recruited" after the publication of his letter to the socialist propaganda e-newsletter "GI Special" on 26 September, 2006. The origin of the "Redress" web site project - "about a month ago", according to the news coverage - would fit this time frame. (Background on that publication here - and read that link for a profile of "GI Specials" creator, Thomas Barton, yet another of the "fellow travelers" on the periphery of this story.)
But I may have been wrong on that "induction". Independent research by Robin Boyd at Newsbusters reveals additional facts:
Then there is the issue of the spokeman for "Appeals for Redress" featured in the media reports. Jonathan Hutto is described as a Navy seaman based in Norfolk VA who set up the website a month ago. But the media failed to report on Mr. Hutto's less than pro-American background.Let's put all that in an easier to follow chronology:According to his own writings, Hutto "enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 2004" after "working at non-profit organizations and an unsuccessful stint at teaching 5th grade post graduating from Howard University in 1999." The non-profit organization Hutto worked for was Amnesty International - not your typical voluteer organization. In 2002, Hutto was Membership Program Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region of Amnesty International.
In 2001, Hutto was a speaker at The Fight against Police Violence: from Cincinnati to PG County, Maryland. Hutto's co-speaker at the event was Glova Scott of the Socialist Workers Party. The speech was posted on The Militant website.
1999-2004: Hutto works for "non-profit organizations", including Amnesty International
2001: In his capacity as an Amnesty International spokesperson he appears as a speaker in an event touted as a "Militant Labor Forum" by the "socialist newsweekly" The Militant .
2002: Hutto has risen to the position of Amnesty International's Membership Program Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region (seen here - with megaphone - "rallying the troops"). When his university considered honoring President Bush he wrote a letter opposing the decision.
2003: The United States invades Iraq. Hutto is involved in anti-war demonstrations.
2004: Hutto joins the Navy, and serves as a Mass Communications Specialist and Photographer aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.
Summer, 2006: He is recognized as the Theodore Roosevelt's outstanding "Blue Jacket of the Quarter (BJOQ)"
Hutto, a native of Atlanta, joined the Navy two years and six months ago, and has been a member of TR’s Photo Lab for two years.“Being selected as BJOQ gives me a strong sense of accomplishment,” Hutto said. “It feels good to have the vote of confidence in my abilities from my chain of command.”
As assistant 3M coordinator for Admin Department, Hutto spends a lot of his time performing maintenance and making sure Admin Department’s spaces are in top shape. Hutto hopes to make third class petty officer off of this past advancement exam, and wants to earn his surface warfare qualification.
September 26, 2006: Hutto contributes an article in a socialist newsletter aimed at "the troops" detailing the racism and discrimination he suffered at the hands of the Navy.
October 26, 2006: Fenton Communications holds a media teleconference to announce the launch of the "Appeal for Redress" web site. News stories that follow describe Hutto simply as "a Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va., who set up the Web site a month ago."
It would appear that among his other accomplishments, Hutto is very skilled at web page design.
Now let's get back to our look at the growing number of groups and individuals involved in this month-old effort begun by "a Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va."
A review thus far:
1. Fenton Communications, a "public relations" group whose lengthy client list includes Fourth Freedom, Military Families Speak Out, and MoveOn.org.
They are also the group that coordinated the instant media buzz over Cindy Sheehan:
TrueMajority -- an antiwar group founded by Ben Cohen, one of the creators of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream -- hired Fenton Communications, a Washington public relations firm that has worked intermittently with Sheehan over the past year to coordinate media coverage.TrueMajority and Ben and Jerry's are also Fenton clients, by the way.
2. Fourth Freedom Forum, (another of Fenton's clients), is the actual "owner" of the Appeal for Redress web site. According to the NY Sun, it was David Cortright, president of the Fourth Freedom Forum (and author), who approached Fenton to represent Appeal for Redress.
3, 4, 5 - The groups actually listed as sponsoring organizations on the web page: Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace. Of those, only Military Families Speak out is a listed Fenton client.)
Now back to the Sun for more (hyperlinks added):
Still, the counsel retained by Appeal for Redress, J.E. McNeil, runs the Center for Conscience and War, an organization whose mission is to defend the rights of conscientious objectors.That's a pretty powerful "grass roots" team so far.
<...>
Ms. McNeil said yesterday that she first got in touch with some of the soldiers in Appeal for Redress through a military hotline the Center for Conscience and War runs for active-duty servicemen to find out what rights they have. According to the center's Web site, the group's lobbyist is Pat Elder, a co-founder of the D.C. Area Anti-War Network, which has organized civil disobedience demonstrations against military recruitment offices in shopping malls.
Actually, it's nothing of the sort. But if you pick up one of the 200-odd newspapers with an article written by one of the reporters invited by Fenton Communications to help launch this project, you'll read that it is just that, a "grass roots" project started by a " Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va." Nothing will be said about who provided the story, the countless groups behind them, or the countless groups behind those groups.
And if you visit other web sites and forums, you'll see posts directing people to "tell their friends in the military about this great site launched by active duty military guys". If you are in the military, it's likely you'll soon get a chain email telling you the same. This is all part of the organized "astroturfing" process.
If, on the other hand, you are reading this post, you may wonder what you can do to counter that. The answer is simple, though perhaps not easy. Join a very real "grass roots" campaign. We have no lawyers, we have no slick professional PR firms, we certainly don't have the kind of big bucks available to this crowd - and we definitely don't have a thundering herd of reporters ready to write whatever we tell them to.
In short, we are a real grass roots community. And here's what we need to do. For the record - I'm all for my fellow troops speaking their minds, but I'm not in favor of them being duped by Socialist organizations hiding behind false fronts - "astroturfing". And that's what's going on with the web site called "Appeal for Redress".
If you want to fight back, spread the word to as many people as you can, via forums, email, or phoning the editor of your local paper - especially if they've already carried the initial press release disguised as news. Tell them what's happening, and give them this link: http://www.mudvillegazette.com/milblogs/2006/10/27/#006854 which will bring them right to this entry page.
And keep coming back - we'll keep doing our best to expose anyone who would attempt to use our fellow troops with deceptive tactics like these.
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.
Soldiers On The Ground Hopeful For The Future Of Iraq -- [Thinking Right]
I’ve had the great opportunity to work with Sgt. Keller at CENTCOM public affairs he and his superiors have graciously allowed this amateur internet journalist interview another soldier. This time, I spent some virtual time with SFC Smith who is serving his country in the area around Basra, Iraq. I would also like to thank SFC Smith for taking time out of his very busy schedule to spend time answering my questions. As I said during my last “boots on the ground” interview, I believe that it’s vitally important to publish the opinions of those serving their country. I also believe that it’s important to find out about the good stuff going on in Iraq. The MSM joined the out of Iraq drumbeat long ago, and because of that I feel that we often don’t hear about the good things happening there. So, without further delay, here’s my interview with SFC Smith.
Tell me about some good things that are happening there… hospitals, schools, Iraqi troops, etc.
A Little Media ‘Interaction’… -- [Justice Soldier - in Iraq]
...The other night, we got bombed. Does not happen very often for us, but on occasion the bad guys get “froggy” and decide to lob some fireworks at us.
...So, there I sat half awake in my tennis shoes waiting to see just how many fireworks the bad guys brought with them this time. So, I decided to turn on my TV. Sometimes the base blocks the stations and puts out info, but the news was still on. I don’t remember the name, but it was some CNN show. They had a panel of guests, and it was one of hose typical “negativity” hours where they slam everything. Some “analyst” from NEWSWEEK was on and as she wa
