Marine vet (two tours in Iraq) dies in drug war

Apparently he didn't even know he was in it. The cops who tasered and shot him thought otherwise.

Good thing he hadn't drawn the Swiss Army knife they later found in his pocket. (Or perhaps car, who knows?)

Atrocities in Fallujah and Elsewhere

Note This post is originally from April 1, 2004, and is unchanged from that time. (Some links may no loner function - will update if possible.) The thoughtful reader can determine for themselves how much the events described herein changed the world. In the author's humble opinion, the photos from Fallujah were but the first of 3 sets of images that forever altered the situation in Iraq. More on that topic later

I warn you, what follows is in many regards more repulsive than the pictures and videos from Fallujah. Read at your own risk.

WASHINGTON - Every war or disaster contains moments that become defining images: a napalmed girl or a gun to the head in Vietnam, the body of a U.S. soldier dragged through a Somalian street.

It is not clear whether the 80 seconds of video Wednesday showing images of charred American bodies being beaten and dangled from the steelwork of a bridge over the Euphrates River will come to define the war in Iraq.

But once again, broadcasters and news executives were torn between a question of taste and the demand to give viewers and readers information that could affect the course of history.

"War is a horrible thing. It is about killing," ABC News "Nightline" Executive Producer Leroy Sievers said in an unusual message to the program's e-mail subscribers discussing the issues posed by Wednesday's killings. "If we try to avoid showing pictures of bodies, if we make it too clean, then maybe we make it too easy to go to war again."

Read that last bit twice. "If we try to avoid showing pictures of bodies, if we make it too clean, then maybe we make it too easy to go to war again."

And later in the same LA Times piece:

While showing the images could erode support for the war, not showing them could have an opposite effect.

Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Washington-based Project for Excellence in Journalism, said that networks' "sanitization of war may have helped the administration prosecute the war" a year ago.

During the height of the war, few pictures of slain American soldiers were shown and news photographers were not allowed at places where they could shoot images of coffins being shipped home.

The pictures from Wednesday's attack, Rosenstiel said, could anger viewers or "engender disenchantment about the war."

And in the end,

CNN began airing increasingly graphic footage as the day wore on and as the story became more familiar to Americans who had had a chance to view the video online. A spokeswoman said the network delayed airing more graphic images earlier in the day to "give the U.S. authorities time to contact the next of kin."

Whether news executives made the proper decisions may take years of perspective to determine.

But the real effect of the images on Americans could be felt just months from now.

"These are the kinds of pictures that will linger," said John Schulz, dean of Boston University's College of Communications and a former faculty member at the National War College.

"They'll be there in November when people go to vote."

Let's just say what they didn't: Maybe something good will come of this and Bush will get tossed.

And in case you've missed this one

It has got to give the American public pause about this question of how welcome we are there," says Robert Dallek, a presidential biographer who studied Franklin Roosevelt's tenure during World War II and Lyndon Johnson's during Vietnam. "This is not Vietnam, but it is reminiscent of Vietnam."

Make no mistake about the meaning: It's Vietnam. It took very few hours to bring that out.

In fact, here's the Google score card in the News category as of this writing:

Iraq quagmire: 286

Iraq Mogadishu: 880

Iraq Vietnam: 5740

It's fitting that liberal talk radio went live yesterday. I caught a bit on NPR (yes, we get NPR via Armed Forces Network on radio here in Germany) reviewing day one. (Audio here) The commenter was bemoaning the fact that there was an endless loop of late-sixties/early seventies era protest music playing. Is this the image we want? He asked, and quickly changed we to "liberals".

Is it surprising that the long-awaited new voice of America is actually years behind the time? And what will be their response to yesterday's events?

I'd advise taking a cue from John Kerry:

There could be political repercussions for the White House, but Bush's rival sought no advantage Wednesday. "United in sadness, we are also united in our resolve that these enemies will not prevail," Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said.

That from the USA Today piece quoted previously. We shall see what happens when the focus group survey results roll in.

Today's reflection on yesterday may prove a real test for the liberal talk radio crowd. They have a great grasp of a rose-tinted 1968; can their aging eyes see this year without the aid of that lens?

Here's an assist. My fellow MilBloggers on Fallujah:

JB has one question. I have one answer: because we're human. (But they can give thanks I didn't command the American strategic bomber fleet yesterday.)

Blackfive remembers the Mog but notes the difference.

Baldilocks remembers where she's seen this before. Shame on the liberal crowd for missing the connection.

DarthVOB notes the left/right response in the blogosphere.

And Phil Carter responds like a military leader. It's a shame we've lost him.

Finally, John Stuart Mill:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

2007 update: One additional comment for clarity. The reference to "losing" Phil Carter was based on my errroneous assumption he'd left the military altogether. In actuality, as a reservist he later served in Iraq. Details from his bio:

Phillip served as an officer in the United States Army, including nine years of active and reserve service with military police and civil affairs units. While on active duty before law school, Phillip played a key role in the fielding, testing and evaluation of the Army's digital battle command systems. In 2005-06, he took a leave of absence from the firm to serve in Iraq with the Army's 101st Airborne Division as an adviser to the Iraqi police.

Original post: 2004-04-01 12:06:44

Trouble in Sadr City

Officials:

A US airstrike in Sadr City has killed sixteen people, according to reports on official al-Iraqiya television.

Aswat al-Iraq reports in Arabic that the strike was directed at a village in the Sadr City area, which reulted in the deaths of 16 civilians, all of whom are civilians.

CNN Arabic reports that a source "high" in the Iraqi Interior Ministry has confirmed the attack, saying it came at 2:00 AM, local time.

The source also said that most of those killed were from the local guards who provide security for the district.

CNN Arabic reports that the US military has said it is looking into the report.

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Despite reports from individuals and some media organizations Coalition forces were not involved in air strikes over Sadr city on Friday.

BAGHDAD, March 30 — Religious leaders commanded by the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr delivered a searing speech at Friday Prayer condemning the American presence in Iraq, while militiamen loyal to Mr. Sadr engaged in street battles against Iraqi Army soldiers in southwestern Baghdad, signaling a possible resurgence of the militia.

Mr. Sadr has ordered the Mahdi Army, the militia he controls, to lie low during the early days of the new Baghdad security plan so as not to provoke a direct confrontation with the Americans. With the speech on Friday, which the religious leaders attributed to Mr. Sadr, it appeared that he was continuing to walk a tightrope, not openly defying American and Iraqi government attempts to secure the capital, but still sharply criticizing the United States presence in Iraq.

Iraqi police officials said Friday that American helicopters had conducted strikes in the early morning against a gathering of Shiite militiamen in an area east of the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, Mr. Sadr’s stronghold. At least 20 people were killed and wounded, said a police official in the town of Khan Bani Saad, east of Sadr City. But a spokesman for the American military, Lt. Col. Josslyn Aberle, said she had no reports of such an incident.

Re: Easter

Wow. Words fail. If you think the courage of the 300 has been lost through the ages, read this..

Then read the rest of Eagle1's post.

(Yes, I'm "re-ing" a milblogs post here, in case there are folks who for reasons unknown don't routinely visit there.)

The Other War

Frontline's examination of "the rise of Arab satellite TV channels and their impact on the "war of ideas"" is now available for online viewing.

Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list.

IRAQ

Welcome to COIN -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
I'll try to keep writing about the winds here in Al-Anbar. I'll go out on a little bit of a limb and say that the insurgency is quickly approaching a tipping point. If things continue as they are right now, our military won't need a surge to chase the terrorists out of Anbar- the citizens will do it for us, which is as it should be. It's beginning to show already: more local tips, more police recruits (far more than anticipated), and sadly- in bigger and more desperate Al-Qaeda attacks.

Updates -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
I have two updates to the story I told recently about the children injured in a mortar attack.
First: At the time of the incident, another soldier in my platoon grabbed a man who was acting suspiciously directly after the attack, and handed him over to the Marines. As we were leaving the OP, the villagers brought a another man with his hands bound and eyes blindfolded, accusing him of being involved. It saddens me that children had to die to shock the villagers out of their fear of the insurgents, but at least they did something about it.

"The USMC/Iraqi team was sluggin' it out side by side." (Chlorine Gas Attack Update) -- [INDC Journal]
Lt. Col. Clayton Fisher, commander of MiTT 6 at the brigade level (and my chaperone on an IA mission), was injured in the Wednesday's chlorine truck bomb attack on the Fallujah Government Center and left this comment:
We wanted you to know that your Marine MITTs and IA came out OK and did great, even after 2 SVBIEDs, mortars, complex attack etc. Most walking wounded, but hey, we're walking! A few of us were medevac'd to the outskirts of Baghdad, but should to come out fine in a few days. Chlorine gas, concussions, some shrapnel, cuts, bruises. Not too bad....

How Britons were conned by Iranian gunboat trick -- [Times Online]
The speed and cunning shown by the Revolutionary Guards suggests that their action was premeditated
The British sailors and marines being held by Iran were ambushed at their most vulnerable moment, while climbing down the ladder of a merchant ship and trying to get into their bobbing inflatables.

‘Time For Iraq Pull-Out’ -- [Sweetness & Light]
Iran has published another letter allegedly written by Leading Seaman Faye Turney in which she supposedly calls for British forces to withdraw from Iraq.
The letter also asks the British Government why it allowed the British captives to stray into Iranian waters.
And it goes on to say the group is being treated well by the Iranians.
Analysts immediately doubted the validity of the letter, saying ...

Citing “Bad Behavior” Iran Delays Female Sailor Release -- [Sweetness & Light]
From a shocked New York Times
Iran May Delay Captured British Sailor’s Release
LONDON, March 29 — Iran today withdrew plans to free one of the 15 British sailors and marines it had seized on March 23, the only woman detained, insisting that Britain admit fault before she is released.

Fear and Combat -- [W. Thomas Smith Jr. - The Tank]
...Later, I asked ArmorGroup manager Bill Shaw if he was ever afraid out on the highway.
"No mate," he said, "I trust the vehicles, and I trust the boys we're with, emphatically. That's no BS line either. That's fact."
As I told Kathryn in an email yesterday, I'm actually more afraid of losing my Internet signal here than I am incoming (or the airplane doing evasive action coming in for a landing, or my racing down Route Irish in a Chevy Suburban). I can't explain why I feel that way, but I do.

Quoted and Proud! -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
I would like to say a few words to the new visitors who are not so familiar with this blog. I have noticed that our traffic nearly tripled today and that most of the extra traffic is coming from pages talking about the recent speech by President Bush in which he mentioned a quote from our March 5 article on the WSJ…New visitors, welcome to ITM!

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban, Pakistani security forces battle in Tank -- [The Fourth Rail]
Baitullah Mehsud's Taliban mass; 25 Taliban, 1 security officer killed after school principal kidnapped
The Taliban continue to challenge the Pakistani government's writ in the Northwest Frontier Province. Taliban forces, estimated at “more than 200 Taliban soldiers” by Tank District Police Officer Mumtaz Zarin, massed and attacked the city of Tank on Tuesday night. “They attacked the city to avenge the killing of their colleague who died on Monday,” officer Zarin said. Twenty-five Taliban and one paramilitary officer were killed in the fighting, which included Taliban mortar and rocket attacks.

Attempted Escape -- [A JAG in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
As we were coming back yesterday from the KMTC there was a dump truck in front of us driving down the road. Suddenly a Military Police (MP) pickup screeched past us, pulled in front of the truck and stopped it. The driver jumped out, climbed up on the back of the truck and started yelling and waving his hands. Up popped two heads. Two young soldiers had hidden themselves in the back of the truck and were attempting to escape.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Meet Iran’s Revolutionary Liberals -- [Michael Totten - in Iraq]
SULEIMANIYA PROVINCE, NORTHERN IRAQ – One of the roads leading out of the city of Suleimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan might as well be renamed Revolutionary Road. Two armed compounds inhabited by exiled revolutionary Iranian leftists were built less than a mile away from each other. My colleague Patrick Lasswell and I accidentally found ourselves in the armed camp of the military wing of the Communist faction of the Komalah Party when we intended to meet with the more moderate social democrats up the street. A few days later we returned to the area and met with the right people.

Telephone Diplomacy -- [The Weekly Standard]
The Russian media has largely interpreted President Bush's "initiative" as an act of gratitude after the United States was able to shore up Russian support for Resolution 1747, which stipulated "the international community's profound concerns over Iran's nuclear program.” But some Russian journalists seem to see an upside in a confrontation between the United States and Iran. Prominent journalist Mikhail Leontiev (who has been described as "the most unabashed champion of the Kremlin") asserts that "in principle, [Russia] is interested in drawing the Americans into the Iranian adventure.

Russia's New Position on Iran's Nuclear Program Creates Iran-Russia Crisis -- [MEMRI]
For many months, Russia has been blocking efforts by the international community to stop Iran's nuclear program, and has been acting to temper the U.N. Security Council sanctions enacted against Iran in December 2006. At the same time, for the past few years Russia has been building the nuclear reactor at Bushehr, and during U.N. Security Council discussions it has insisted that sanctions resolution No. 1737 not include the reactor.

The Arab Press Assesses the Likelihood of a U.S. Strike Against Iran -- [MEMRI]
The Arab press has recently been focusing on the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iran, and has been publishing reports, investigations, and articles. Some of these have asserted the "certainty" of an attack, while others are reviews of attack plans and preliminary steps in advance of the coming conflict. However, some in the press reject the possibility of an attack and explain their reasons for doing so.
The following are examples of discussion of the subject in the Arab press:
Bahraini Daily Al-Watan: Evidence That War is At the Gates

What's going on in Syria? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Syria is at the crossroads.
A perfect storm is gathering above Damascus.
For proof from The Croissant come 2 interesting stories from usually well informed Kuwaiti Al Seyassah :

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Suicide Bomber Secrets Revealed -- [Strategy Page]
March 30, 2007: While the users of suicide bombers may not have noticed, the track record of such tactics shows that it doesn't work. In fact, this particular weapon actually backfires. Consider the facts.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Unusually Bright Two-year-old: An update -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
...His mother is a dear, sweet and charming woman. Unfortunately, she is now suffering from a health problem serious enough to allow her deployed husband to return for emergency leave (a process only just beginning now). So, her mother-in-law has been at her side, and brought the two-year-old to daycare today so she could accompany her daughter-in-law to the doctor (resulting in hospitalization).
I had been unaware of severity of the health issue, but when his exhausted and worried grandmother mentioned it as we sat in the childcare center, I instantly told her I had contacts that could "move mountains" for that family if necessary, and we exchanged names and contact info.

Helping Sgt. Neil Duncan -- [Andi's World]
On December 5, 2005, Sgt. Neil Duncan was severely injured by an IED in Afghanistan. As a result of the blast, Neil lost both of his legs and sustained other severe injuries. Walter Reed has been home to Neil for over a year now.

MILITARY

The things you think about -- [Neptunus Lex]
Our conversation below on the Code of Conduct and Leading Sailor Turney brought some thoughts back to mind that I hadn’t turned over in quite a number of years.
I had three deployments flying over Iraq enforcing sanctions in the southern no-fly zone between the wars. Each time we went the political situation was a little different. During my first trip up there 1994, we mostly flew two-ship defensive counter-air missions, designed to protect Kuwaiti and the southern Iraqi Shia provinces from air attack by a vengeful Saddamite air force. It was pretty peaceful for the most part, and in fact we used to recce SAM sites by doing target acquisition missions in the threat envelope, vying to see who could bring back the best FLIR video. Crazy when I think about it now, but we’d won the war, hadn’t we?

POLITICS

The "real" war on Terror? -- [QandO]
Charles Krauthammer reminds us of something Speaker Pelosi said not to long ago:
"Our bill calls for the redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq so that we can focus more fully on the real war on terror, which is in Afghanistan."— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, March 8
Why, pray tell, is the war in Afghanistan the "real" war on terror, and does or doesn't Speaker Pelosi understand that in the big scheme of things, Afghanistan is really only one battle in that war?

A Message from the Troops -- [Dadmanly]
Powerline forwards a timely message from the troops, courtesy of Morning in America producer Seth Leibsohn.
Gunnery Sgt. Stephen F. Krueger, Platoon Sergeant for the 3rd Recon Bn, US Marines, sent a powerful message to Speaker Pelosi. Pity she didn’t take his message to heart before bribing her fellow Congressmen and women to pass their Timetable for Defeat in the US House of Representatives, matched by an equally surrender-filled bill in the Senate.

Projection -- [Pat Dollard]
...Pelosi et. al. are overplaying their hand, overinterpreting the fact that local elections allowed the Democrats a slim Congressional and Senate Majority. Somehow they have interpreted this to mean, clearly and unequivocally, that the American people want a complete pullout from Iraq, regardless of the consequences. . They have interpreted it to mean that the American people do not support the surge. A surge the reckless and ridiculous Democrats themselves supported when they unanimously approved General Petraeus to lead it. They keep stating that the American People somehow voted the Democratic Party in as part of a national referendum to immediately begin a withdrawal from Iraq. There is no evidence to support such self-serving wishful thinking. The only thing that supports that contention is their desire for it to be true.

THE MEDIA

NPR, Covering (up) the Home Front? -- [Flopping Aces]
The below post is a guest appearance from Ray Van Dune who writes about one more example of the bias in our MSM:
On Saturday March 24, National Public Radio, correspondent John McChesney, who was until recently embedded with the Minnesota National Guard in Iraq, told us about his 700-mile trip through Minnesota, interviewing families who have loved ones serving in Iraq.
...I must also comment on the reporting of Mr. McChesney. He has brought us a compelling story, and he treated these wives with respect and compassion in his reporting, as did NPR in its presentation of this piece. But unfortunately, I must say that I have serious concerns about what he has reported, or more accurately, what he may not have reported.
How can it be that a reporter of the stature of John McChesney drove 700 miles, interviewed members of seven families, and came back with less than two minutes of content, and less than half of which is an interview with just two of the presumably seven wives he spoke to?

Killing The Surge -- [Villainous Company]
A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds that most Americans don't believe the surge is working.
Incroyable... now where on earth could they have gotten a crazy idea like that?
Surely it could have nothing at all to do with the fact that day in and day out, the lamestream media hype the successes of our enemies while somehow "forgetting" to report how many of the enemy our own side kills and captures? If we didn't know better, we'd start to wonder whose side they were on.

What's Missing? -- [Media Blog]
The NY Times...
The Washington Post...
Note that neither story specifes that the showing of the sailors on television possibly violated the Geneva conventions. (I searched both articles. It notes that Blair called the video "completely unacceptable," but nothing further.)

After the Jokes -- [Media Blog]
What I don't understand is why none of the MSM coverage (at least that I've seen today) mentioned the second half of the President's speech. Here it is:

CBS Evening News Touts Harkin’s Claim That Iraq War Hurts War on Cancer -- [NewsBusters]
Wednesday's CBS Evening News with Katie Couric featured another "The federal government is our only hope" segment, this time focusing on the "war on cancer." Couric introduced the segment by arguing that cancer therapies were being thwarted because of "funding cuts that could delay or completely derail promising advances in the war of cancer."
The story, by CBS correspondent Wyatt Andrews, featured only one member of Congress, Iowa's Senator Tom Harkin, who echoed Couric and claimed that the "war on cancer" is in jeopardy due to war in Iraq. The "money" quote:
HARKIN: When you're spending $8 billion a month in Iraq, it's very tough to get the money for cancer research.

Rosie O'Donnell's latest foot in mouth episode 3/29/07

Rosie Sees Only Evil in US, Not Iran, Speaks on 9/11 Conspiracy Theories -- [NewsBusters]
The co-hosts of "The View" again discussed the Iranian British hostage situation on the March 29 edition. Rosie O’Donnell trusted the Iranians more than the British and Americans, and the discussion evolved into more Rosie rants against alleged Bush administration tyranny and for the first time on "The View," Rosie ranted on her September 11 conspiracy theories. Rosie’s rants were too much even for fringe liberal Joy Behar. Token non-liberal Elisabeth Hasselbeck was far more assertive than the previous day. In the teaser at the end of the first segment, Rosie and Joy made light of the upcoming discussion.

The Hollywood Factor -- [SgtStryker]
Some of the most outspoken critics of the war and the Bush administration hail from Hollywood. Celebrities have been front and center in the anti-war camp since before the first deployment of American troops. During the past four years of war, movie stars. Television actors and recording artists have become more and more vocal in the opposition to the war. As the media has increasingly turned against the war and has dedicated more valuable airtime to protesters and demonstrations, outspoken celebrities have claimed the anti-war spotlight and refuse to give it up.
One of the most vocal of these anti-war Hollywood pundits has been San Penn.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Sampson Nearly Suggests Rove Almost Did Something -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-03-30) — During seven hours of questioning before a senate panel yesterday D. Kyle Sampson, the former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, nearly suggested that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove almost did something that could, under the right series of circumstances, be perceived by marginally-informed outsiders as unethical.

Day By Day

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list.

IRAQ

"Why you sad, American soldier?" -- [via Soldiers' Angels Germany]
...As I lifted the tiny blankets, I became numb; ...disfigured and their bodies broken and mangled. I could not believe what I was looking at.
There was no semblance or the perception of a rough American soldier. I dropped to my knees and started to cry uncontrollably. All of the men, Iraqi Army and police, doctors and nurses all stopped to look at me
One of the [Iraqi] men came to me and said, in a voice totally filled with compassion and caring, "Why you sad, American soldier?"
They said it is a sad day in Iraq when an American soldier will fall on his knees and cry for children that are not American, but our own doctors will not come to help.

Practice Makes Perfect -- [GunnNutt - Semper Gratus! ]
The following is from an MP in Iraq. Minor spelling and syntax changes were made to the original
Oh, funny story for you and for you to share…the other day (we work nights so we were just waking up) we heard this BOOM….which well here is not unusual. It sounded close but we knew everyone here was in the wire. We found out later that 2 insurgents blew themselves up….get this…you ready… PRACTICING with their Suicide Vehicle Borne IED (SVBIED) !!!!!!!!!

RUBS #2 (Raw, Unedited and Barely Spell-checked) -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
This is the second installment of RUBS, a new way of posting information on the fly and overcoming obstacles to reporting that arc into the Iraq work space with uncanny timing and targeting. With no photos, and barely time for spell checks, RUBS streams at the speed of consciousness.

After Action Report -- [General Barry R McCaffrey (Ret) - in Iraq - via Michael Yons site]
General Barry McCaffrey (Ret) has just released a report of his Iraq trip and it is also published on the website. All his trip reports are excellent resources for helping one understand the true situation here in Iraq. The man is blunt, and knows his business.

Seeing a "Fiasco" in McCaffrey's Report -- [Weekly Standard Blog]
Retired General Barry McCaffrey visited Iraq earlier this month to meet with senior commanders and to get a better sense of the situation on the ground. McCaffrey was hardly a proponent of the president's new strategy, and in January went so far as to call the surge a "fool's errand" in testimony to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, but McCaffrey's after action report explicitly endorses that strategy.

WaPo Accentuates the Negative in McCaffrey Iraq Report -- [NewsBusters]
As an NBC military affairs analyst, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey is a familar face to many Americans. McCaffrey also serves as an adjunct professor at West Point, and in that capacity recently wrote an eight-page paper on the situation in Iraq based on a recent visit there.
In today's Washington Post, there appears an article by Thomas Ricks, WaPo's Pentagon correspondent, reporting on the McCaffrey paper. While Ricks does discuss some of McCaffrey's more optimistic findings, he emphasizes the negative while ignoring a number of the general's positive observations. Ricks' headline sets the tone: ...

Advising Indigenous Forces -- [Captain Ryan T. Kranc - SWJ]
As the Long War continues, reaching its tactical, operational, and strategic objectives requires training and advising the security forces of Iraq and Afghanistan to take control of their country from insurgents, sectarian violence, and lawlessness. General George Casey said in September 2005 that "The sooner we can shift [to Iraqi security forces] the better. A smaller U.S. footprint, that is allowed to decline gradually as Iraqi forces get stronger, actually helps us." The November 2005 National Security Council publication, The National Strategy for Victory in Iraq emphasized that point, quantifying victory in Iraq according to three distinct time metrics:
In the short term:...

Longer Surge Could Force Iraq Extensions -- [Defense News]
More troops could be extended in Iraq, and stateside units deployed sooner than expected, if the current “surge” of troops lasts beyond the summer — something the top U.S. commander in Iraq has already said he expects to happen.

U.S. Marines Launch Mortars In Fallujah Marked as: Mature

U.S. Marines launch mortars on Insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq.

AQ's Leadership Struggle -- [Defense Tech]
Here’s the latest passdown from the intel analysts over at Stratfor on the power plays going on in al Qaeda’s leadership. It’s interesting to note the analysis comes on the heels of our last post describing the stalemate in Iraq and other fronts in the GWOT as “spoiling” attacks.

New Hope for 5 Hostages? -- [Jawa Report]
These are the 5 contractors employed by Crescent Security Group who were kidnapped near Basra in November 2006, as seen in a hostage video released in January of this year. There has been no word on them since. But now there is new hope that their ordeal may be ending soon.

Short film of Zach Pentek, 1/506th, rated best Combat Video of 2006! -- [Michael Fumento]
An interview from an observation post in Ramadi with Sgt. Zach Pentek by Ritterby has been voted the best Combat Video of 2006 by the military. Although I wrote two articles about my embeds with 1/506th of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), part of Task Force Currahee, Zach's platoon in A Co. will always have a special place in my heart because we were all together in the manic dash I dubbed "the Ramadi Run." The video is

Al Qaeda suicide attacks: cause and effect in Tal Afar -- [The Fourth Rail]
Suicide bombings may have caused a police backlash, however the reporting is still in question
Yesterday's dual suicide strikes in Shia markets in Tal Afar appears to have been a major success for al Qaeda. The largely Shia city, which has been a model of governance and security in Iraq, had at least 63 of its citizens murdered. Al Qaeda, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has struck at Shia civilians in the past in order to stir up sectarian violence. Yesterday's attack may have worked. While the news reports on this

Recon -- [The Calm Before The Sand - in Iraq]
Somewhere south of Baghdad, en route to As-Suwayrah, Iraq...
It's a balmy morning in southern Iraq, and I'm weighed down by sixty pounds of gear and ammo, getting ready for my first mission as part of Recon. The farmers' fields are shrouded in fog, and a hundred feet below me the countryside whips past the viewports. We're riding in a Polish Mi-8, a type of heavy transport helicopter. It's a Russian design, dating back to the Cold War, and a notable departure from the UH-60 Black Hawks that brought us down here.

Greetings from Scenic Stinking Baghdad -- [StrypGia - in Iraq]
Hello from FOB Rustamiyah, located on the banks of the Diyala River just east of Baghdad proper.
Still building our TOC from scratch, and settling in.
Got rocketed last night. That old familiar feeling. Back in Iraq alright.

More Deployment Souvenirs - Part 1 -- [Half a World Away - in Iraq]
The Stetson isn't the only accoutrement that can be earned while attached to a Cavalry unit. Another rite of passage is called a Spur Ride.
The details behind a Spur Ride vary by unit, it isn't an official Army sanctioned event so it is up to the unit to come up with something. The driving force behind the Spur Ride is unit morale, team building, and a tie back to Cav history. The 167 Cav held a spur ride on the 18th of March, and I was lucky enough to participate.

Soldiers exchange fire with insurgents in Baqubah Iraq 22/03/2007

JawBreaker 2 Delta goes to Baghdad, hilarity ensues.... -- [JawBreaker 2 Delta]
This is my first attempt at putting together a movie with pictures and video from my deployment on OIF III. The video begins with an IED that was meant for the third truck (mine) in our three truck convoy.
Before we ever left the FOB that morning, my team leader (CPT B-Rock, bald head, mustache, butt hovering over his head) got a call from a Neighborhood Council member in a village just down the road from Jisr Diyala and the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Facility. I can't remember the name right now. The NAC member told us that some "Wahhabi's" (Iraqi slang for any badguy) had placed a bomb on the route that we had used once too often apparently. We took a back way to the meeting after we called EOD.

"Can you give me a lift to the airport?" -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
... In Iraq though, getting a lift to the airport is a bit more complex.
Many of not most of us are on places where fixed wing aircraft do not land. Our options are are either to drive or do the Manhattan like thing and grab a rotary wing bird to the airport. That is what I was scheduled to do when I went on leave last month.

Sig Christenson: The danger of idle minds -- [MySA Blog - in Iraq]
Everybody's seen that old TV spot where the announcer says, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
But just as bad in these parts of the Sunni Triangle - or worse - is an idle mind.
...The Army is aware of the problem. Soldiers stay busy by virtue of putting in 10 to 12 hours a day. The higher the rank, by the way, the longer you work. Supervisors tend to give their soldiers one day off each week while most leaders get two days a month.
One NCO says that those 24 hours off a week gives troops time to think. I ask if time to think is bad. The answer: It makes time go slower.

AFGHANISTAN

28 Mar -- Wednesday -- [Air Force Afghanistan Mentor - in Afghanistan]
...Long story short; when you pull into a town for a meeting with the locals, everyone wants to come out and it gets crazy fast. Good SOPs for crowd control, security and trip pre-planning are a must. My team had inner cordon security and it was very hectic. I was dealing with locals, ANP (Police), ANA (Army), interpreters, my own team, language barriers, security, escort to the meeting, etc... I was plumb worn out by the end of the day. We did very well for our first major scenario and no one got lost, left behind and no one was killed.

What I work with -- [Bouhammer's Afghan Blog - in Afghanistan]
A lot of people have asked me what it is like working with the ANP (Afghan National Police) now versus the ANA. Well rather than write out a big, long blog about it I think this news story here can give you a good picture of the caliber of people I am mentoring now.
Granted these particular ANP are not the ones I mentor, but these are not far off or much different.

Afghanistan Fighting Women Marked as: Mature

For the first time in recent history, the women of Afghanistan's military are growing in numbers, and advancing in their roles as practical military soldiers. The women of Afghanistan are also gaining status and acceptance.
Under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, men abused women in the streets for simple infractions like not wearing a burka.
But there is no doubt that women here are making advances. Afghan women armed with the AK-47 assault rifle conducted their first live firing exercise this week. This historic occasion marks true progress in the Afghanistan woman's struggle to gain equality.

Winning Hearts and Minds Premiers on Blip TV -- [Fortunate Son]
Meet the men of US Army Civil Affairs in Afghanistan. Sergeants Kling, Reisz, Carrillo and Captain Corsten tell us about the Civil Affairs mission and take us into the communities of Afghanistan to see what it takes to rebuild a war-torn country...

Taliban preparing to launch BM rockets against an american post in Kunar Marked as: Mature

The rockets are cleaned with oil then sent on their way

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Sanity for Iran from Iraq -- [Moderate Risk - in Iraq]
After accidentally visiting a living museum of revolutionary communists a few days ago, Michael Totten and I didn't know what to expect when meeting the alleged moderates also calling themselves a Komala. Michael was ready in case we were dropped into a bunch of space aliens to take pictures of livestock dissections, ask pointed questions about crop circle creation, and tactfully refuse probing. Anything was on the table.

Iran Refusing Offers to Mediate Hostage Crisis -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Highly reliable sources report that officials in the government of a Scandinavian country have offered to mediate the Iran hostage crisis, but the offers have been refused thus far by the Iranians. Also, a well-placed journalist in Washington and a knowledgeable source in Istanbul cannot confirm press reports of a possible meeting between Turkish officials and the British hostages

Footage Of British Sailors Broadcast By Iran W/ Audio

The King Speaks -- [Strategy Page]
March 29, 2007: At the recent meeting of the Arab League, the king of Saudi Arabia got up and said out loud, what most Arabs and outsiders have known for a long time, "we have met the enemy, and they are us." Well, not exactly in those words, but close. The king bemoaned the lack of unity and cooperation in the Arab world. He could have also gotten into the corruption and lack of honesty (in journalism, or simply reporting accurately what you or your organization are doing.) But because of the corruption and lack of honesty, there was little mention of these issues.

Shoot for Fun -- [Brad's Place - in Kosovo]
I've been a bit busy the past two days. Yes, I am in what is considered a war zone, so we will be busy, but I have a desk job in an office. I'm not ashamed of that, especially on these days when we have frigid 40 knot winds whipping through the camp. That office is awful comfy at my age. Let the kids carry the heavy packs, they love that stuff.

Famine, Fear and Fizzled Nukes -- [Strategy Page]
March 29, 2007: North Korea is starving again, big time. The North Korean government has now admitted it, and says it will need at least a million tons of food in the next year, to feed its 23 million people. That's about 20 percent of total food needs. In the last few years, North Korea has been shutting down food aid programs by the UN and other foreign NGOs, largely in response to demands that distribution of food to the needy be monitored. Meanwhile, food donations to North Korea have shrunk because of mounting evidence that much of the food was diverted to the military or sold to raise cash.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Iraqi ForMin Official: Al-Qaeda Using Adolescent Boys, Mentally Handicapped Kids for Suicide Ops Since 2005 -- [MEMRI Blog]
Referring to Al-Qaeda's use of children, Abd Al-Karim Al-Kanani, director of the special operations office of Iraq's Foreign Ministry, said that terror groups in Iraq had used adolescent boys and mentally handicapped children in extensive suicide operations as early as 2005.

Saudis Edging Away from the United States in Counterterror Efforts -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Ties are seriously fraying between the Saudi royals and the Bush administration, largely because the Saudis appear to have abandoned any pretext of confronting terrorism and instead have returned full bore to the long-held tradition of co-opting or buying opponents.

Interviews with Karim al-Mejjati and Abqaiq Attacker -- [Globalterroralert.com]
(3/29/07): 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 articles, the magazine contains lengthy interviews with Badr al-Humaydi (one of the Al-Qaida operatives who participated in last year's terrorist attack on the Abqaiq oil refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia) and Karim al-Mejjati (a.k.a. Abu Elyas al-Maghrebi), a most wanted Moroccan Al-Qaida commander who was killed in a clash with Saudi security forces in April 2005.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Soldiers’ Angels -- [SgtStryker]
The best time of the day for our troops stationed in Iraq is mail call. Letters from home and care packages from loved ones remind them that they haven’t been forgotten. Stationed in the desert or patrolling the streets of Baghdad, it can be too easy to feel cut off from life back home. This is especially true for the troops who don’t have someone writing them or sending them care packages. The men and women who get passed over time and again at mail call must face the danger of combat and the long, lonely days without the support of loved ones back home. One woman has made it her mission to make sure that all the men and women who serve our country know that they are appreciated.

IN MEMORY OF...

Bryan McDonough - We Won't Forget. [The Desert Excursion: a 24/7 Soldier Medic]
It's been over three months now and I still cry every time I watch this. I will never forget Bryan or any of our other soldiers for the rest of my life. No matter what you think of this war, just remember that good Men and Women are putting their lives on the line, and some pay with their life; it effects us all.

For the fallen... -- [The Zeke - in Iraq]
It doesn't hit home until it is one of your own.
He was not the first of our own on this deployment to leave us forever, but I hope he is the last.
He wasn't just another name on a list of thousands...he wasn't a number or a resource...he was a son to a proud mother and father, a brother to several sisters and brothers...a fiance' to one he loved...a fellow soldier and friend to us all. He brought a smile to our faces and was quick to laugh. I was proud to call him a fellow soldier, I was prouder still to have called him friend. My heart and deepest regrets go out to those that knew him.

WELCOME HOME

He’s HOME!! -- [Starryskye.org]
March 28, 2007 -Alan came home on Monday evening - 11pm in fact .. And Xander and I were there at the airport to greet him with our sign. I will post pictures later!

They are BACK!!!!! -- [Hooah !! ....545]
BOOTS ON THE GROUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have waited a long time to feel the impact of those words... what a wonderful feeling!!! I am so elated!!...My babygirls feet are back on home soil, and it feels fan-damn-tastic. I havent had the joy of seeing her yet, but it wont be long now, as plans are already in the works for all the for all the families to re-unite with their soldiers. I will post pictures of our reunion ASAP... Its been a long hard 15 months, but Ive never been more proud

MILITARY

The Smallest Heroes -- [SgtStryker]
Children of service members have to bear the burden of military life just as much as their parents. With every transfer of duty station they must change schools, meet new friends, find new activities, start over. The life of a military child is not an easy one. With the fast pace of military deployments today, the challenges facing the children of our troops have multiplied. Now they must endure long deployments and cope with the absence of one of their parents for months at a time.

Wounded Soldier Re-Enlists -- [A Soldier’s Mind]
Staff Sergeant Andrew McMann wasn’t bothered by the fact that he was in the Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad, Iraq. According to him it gave him the free time he needed to re-enlist. SSG McMann didn’t mention bother mentioning the reason he was in the hospital; he’d just survived an IED explosion 48 hours before.

POLITICS

Senate OKs spending bill forcing troop pullout -- [Air Force Times]
Senate Democrats ignored a veto threat and pushed through a bill Thursday requiring President Bush to start withdrawing troops from “the civil war in Iraq,” dealing a rare, sharp rebuke to a wartime commander in chief.

Appeal For Courage

A campaign by active-duty troops asking Congress to drop plans for a withdrawal from Iraq. Lt. Jason Nichols, a 33-year-old naval projects officer who has been in Baghdad since mid-January, said the goal is to keep lawmakers focused on letting the military finish its mission in Iraq, and not prematurely declare failure...

This fight and where I go. -- [American Soldier]
...If certain people are successful at withdrawing us then I hope they can live with the fact that there will be another war. We will have to go again. However, this soldier will not. They will only cut and run when it gets rough again.
I will leave the service when I’m fixed and I will not be returning. A long vacation is in store for this soldier. One of the biggest reasons for leaving will be the people who will take resources from my fellow brothers in the war. There will be deaths due to lack of re-enforced armor, ammo, weapons, weapon attachments, etc, etc, etc. Soldiers will die and it will be on their watch.

Troop Reaction to the Democrats -- [Blackfive]
Previously, I had asked for and received a lot of email from troops around the world (but mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan) about the Democrat resolutions for retreat...especially, in the face of the surge and a new Commanding General that the Democrats unamimously approved of...

They Can’t Move On (Part 98567) -- [The Thunder Run]
...Anyway, over at The Huffington Post a thread titled “Tony Snow has Cancer” had to be shut down because so many of the tolerant left piled on and wished him all the best in his pending death that Arianna had to close the thread and remove it from view. Today R.J. Eskow writes in his post Can Americans Reconcile? With Best Wishes For Tony Snow:

Cindy Sheehan’s Crawford Peace House In Trouble -- [Sweetness & Light]
A nationally known anti-war group in Mclennan County has lost its corporate status with the state, and a former member is calling for an investigation.
Officials in the Texas State Comptroller’s office said the Crawford Peace House hasn’t handed in required paperwork in nearly a year.

THE MEDIA

Embedded Frustrations: Does the Military Know How to Win the Media War? -- [Bob Owens - NewsBusters]
March 29, 2007 - If you are a journalist or blogger who wants to embed in Iraq, good luck making it through the PAO system. As a pair of prominent bloggers tell us on the record, getting into Iraq can be all but impossible thanks to obstacles put in place by the U.S. military's Pubic Affairs Office, and once there, the PAO seems to delight in making the life of an embed a living hell.

Burns of NY Times on 'Today': 'No Limit to this Violence' if US Troops Removed -- [NewsBusters]
March 29, 2007 - 10:56 - Far be it from me to put in a plug for "Today," but I do hope Nancy Pelosi & Friends were watching this morning. Congressional Dems might be quick to dismiss what President Bush predicts would be the upshot of a date-certain pull-out from Iraq. But perhaps they would not so blithely disregard the observations of one of the most experienced and respected reporters on Iraqi matters . . . a New York Times staffer, no less.

Kitty Kelley Op-Ed Blasting Bush Family Ignores George P.'s Military Service -- [NewsBusters]
The Los Angeles Times and Harper's have a bit of egg on their faces.
The Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed by Kitty Kelley last week claiming that no one in George W. Bush's extended family -- daughters, nieces or nephews -- has served in the military since his father's service in World War II.
The Bush family's supposed lack of military service is the entire focus of the op-ed.

Don't You Dare Question His Patriotism -- [Banter in Atlanter]
It is remarkably easy to see why some people label Seyour Hersh a treasonous bastard.
Definition: treason
S: (n) treason, high treason, lese majesty (a crime that undermines the offender's government)...
...By the look of things, not much has changed with regard to Seymour Hersh's affinity for betraying his country and undermining it's government.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Just A Little While Ago, Just A Lifetime… -- [The Gun Line]
‘member when?
‘member when Neil Prakesh was penning “Armor Gedden”?
I remember that my morning routine was to hit his site, and then slide down to Castle Argghhh! to see what the happenings were. Then I’d cruise over to Lex’s to catch up on the Naval Lore of the moment

Far-Right Bloggers Invited To Iraq By The Pentagon. -- [Gun Toting Liberal]
While perusing the many Far-Right blogs that positively compliment the blogosphere (no really, this time that is not merely a disguised verbal assault; mockery will be placed aside), I came across a contribution I found to be very interesting.

Why we are going to Iraq -- [RedState]
It's time to stop criticizing war reporting, and start participating in it
Here at RedState, we have spent a great deal of time and energy debating the Iraq war and attempting to convey stories about the mission that can’t be found in the mainstream media. We've also criticized the quality of the MSM’s own reportage on events in the Middle East. We've pointed out episodes of anti-war bias, ignorance, and outright fabrications ad nauseam, all the while seeking to “correct the record” with a better reflection of events and developments as they actually are, rather than as they appear through the MSM’s anti-war, anti-Bush prism.

Bloggers: "Not Real Journalists"... -- [Blonde Sagacity]
There are two blogging issues I have been wondering about lately... The first is whether Bloggers will be given "press passes" to big events in the upcoming primaries and elections and at "press" events in general. The second is when and to what extent blogging will be able to be used on a resume...
The first question was unequivocally answered recently (at least as far as Lithuania is concerned):
"An Internet blogger in new EU member state Lithuania vowed Tuesday to fight a parliamentary decision refusing him accreditation on the grounds that he was not a legitimate journalist.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Iraq Pull-Out Bill Dumps Dems’ Image of Weakness -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-03-29) — Democrats this week finally shed the image that they are weak on national defense when they aggressively rejected the president’s efforts to achieve so-called “victory” over Islamic terrorists in Iraq, according to a news release from NYT-PAC, a political action committee run by journalists at a leading New York newspaper

Democrat Bill Creates National Redeployment Holiday -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-03-29) — Another little-heralded provision of the Iraq pull-out timeline bill would create a national holiday marking what Democrats said could be the “the greatest U.S. military achievement of the 21st century so far.”

Day By Day

Jump Master

What we Call the News [JibJab]

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

McCain v Ware

The question, via Powerline

So some research is required, in the best tradition of getting at the truth, using radio, cable news, and the blogosphere: any of our military readers on the ground in Iraq care to chime in? Who is right? McCain, Ware? Or is it somewhere in between.

McCain: "There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today."
<...>
Ware: "To suggest that there's any neighborhood in this city where an American can walk freely is beyond ludicrous. I'd love Senator McCain to tell me where that neighborhood is and he and I can go for a stroll."

I'm a few weeks away from returning to Iraq, and haven't been there in two years, but I've spoken with an awful lot of folks who are now and have been - and I'd have to agree with Ware. McCain is correct only with qualifiers (qualifiers such as "with lots of big guys in armor, with guns, and the high ground secured"), and none are offered in the quotes. I don't think McCain is any more accurate in his description than John Murtha is with his - and reporters aren't likely to grant McCain the unquestioned pass they will Murtha.

And that opens McCain to comments like this:

Ware: "I mean, Senator McCain's credibility now on Iraq, which has been so solid to this point, has now been left out hanging to dry."

And that's unfortunate (though a bit excessive) - because on a related topic upon which there is consensus, I think Senator McCain nails it:

The debate in Congress has an “Alice in Wonderland” quality about it: we are debating efforts to micro-manage a conflict based on what the conditions were three months ago – NOT on what the reality is today. Conditions have changed in Iraq. The Baghdad Security Plan – the “surge” – is working far better than even the most optimistic supporter had predicted. The progress is tangible in many key areas despite the fact that only 40 percent of the planned forces are in Iraq.

“Allow me to review some specifics. In Baghdad, the military has reported an increase in real-time actionable intelligence, provided to U.S. and Iraqi forces by a newly confident population. Prime Minister Maliki, who prevented U.S. troops from conducting certain Baghdad operations last year, has given the green light to American incursions throughout the city, including Shiite strongholds. All of the Iraqi army battalions called for under the plan have arrived, many at or above 75 percent of their programmed manning levels. Bomb attacks and murders are down since the surge began. Civilians killed in Baghdad numbered 1222 in December, 954 in January, and fell to 494 in February. There are reports of Sunni and Shia moving back into neighborhoods from which they had fled constant and horrific violence. Markets that have been subject to horrific car bombings have been turned into pedestrian malls that facilitate commerce and thwart terrorists.

“Moqtada al-Sadr has fled, possibly to Iran, and has ordered his followers not to oppose the new Baghdad Security Plan. The Madhi Army, purportedly dedicated to the expulsion of Americans from Iraq, does not today openly challenge either U.S. or Iraqi forces. American troops are engaged in reconstruction efforts in Sadr city, with the cooperation of the local mayor. And in western Baghdad, our troops are establishing new outposts in areas [red tabs] that have been conduits for al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) penetration into the capital city, and have begun to clear these areas of terrorists and insurgents. The net result of all this is that key Shiite leaders are now claiming that the Baghdad Security Plan was their idea, and are taking credit for the increase in security – a development that would have unthinkable three months ago.

“There is progress outside Baghdad as well: Throughout Anbar Province, Sunni sheikhs have banded together to fight al Qaeda in Iraq, and are pouring recruits into the police forces. Sixteen of 26 tribes in that western province are now working against al Qaeda. With numerous senior al Qaeda leaders killed or captured, the younger, less experienced leaders are making mistakes, such as targeting respected sheikhs and murdering children, that have alienated Sunnis and their leaders.

“In Ramadi, hundreds of Iraqi police last week conducted a major sweep.

“In the surrounding areas, including Haditha, and Hit, U.S. and Iraqi are conducting operations against al Qaeda and insurgents while protecting the population.

“In Diyala Province, U.S. forces expelled al Qaeda forces from one of their major bases in January, seized major weapons caches, disrupted fighter networks, and cleared cities and villages of al Qaeda fighters. A U.S. Stryker battalion has reinforced Diyala and is conducting major operations against AQI forces seeking to reconstitute. At the same time, other U.S. forces in Diyala are acting against rogue Madhi Army leaders in the province and are holding the Diyala and Tigris Rivers to combat re-infiltration into Baghdad.

“On the belt to the south of Baghdad, al Qaeda has come under heavy U.S. pressure in recent weeks, with American forces destroying car bomb factories and uncovering major weapons caches in areas such as Yusufiya, Latifiya, and Salman Pak.

“In Mosul, U.S. and Iraqi forces have killed and captured numerous al Qaeda operatives since December.

“In Samarra, American and Iraqi troops have captured al Qaeda facilitators and north of the city, Salahuddin Province, American troops have moved off of their Forward Operating Base and into the town of Bayji, an important hub on the road network.
<...>
If any Senator believes that our troops’ sacrifice is truly in vain, the dictates of conscience demand that he or she act to prevent it. Those who would cut off all funding for this war, though I disagree deeply with their position, and dread its consequences, have the courage of their convictions, and I respect them for it.

If, on the other hand, you believe, as I do, that an increase of U.S. troops in Iraq, carrying out a counterinsurgency mission, provides the best chance for success in Iraq, then you should give your support to this new strategy. It may not be popular nor politically expedient, but we are always at our best when we put aside the small politics of the day in the interest of our nation and the values upon which they rest.

Those are the only responsible, the only honorable choices before us.

BLITZER: What about this vote? The tug-of-war, the political battle unfolding here in the Senate. The House of Representatives calling for some sort of timeline for a withdrawal of combat forces.

How does this play out in Baghdad? What do people there where you are, Michael, say about this?

WARE: Well, on the ground, it barely passes without a flicker. Of course, people take notes of the domestic politics back in D.C., in the United States. But honestly, that seems so far removed from the reality here on the ground.

People are still dying in the dozens every single day. There may be a security crackdown, but al Qaeda's suicide car bombers are still getting through. And we're finding 20, 30 tortured, executed bodies on the streets of the capital every morning, and American troops continue to die every day.

And just this afternoon, we've seen a double suicide truck bomb attack, followed by ground infantry assault by al Qaeda launched against an American position. Now, that was repelled, but eight American boys were wounded in the process.

Do you think anyone enduring that is paying attention to artificial deadlines that are going to get vetoed by the president? And even if they were to pass through the legislative process, would only serve al Qaeda and Iran, America's enemies? No. People are focusing on the near game -- Wolf.

And props to McCain for this line, too: ”I strongly recommend to the White House that the president read the list of pork to the American people when he vetoes this bill.”

Bloodshed in Tal Afar

Truck bombs in Tal Afar on Tuesday killed 80 people and wounded 185.

...one of the trucks exploded after the driver lured people in a predominantly Shiite neighbourhood to the site by telling them he was distributing free flour from a humanitarian organization. The bombing caused surrounding buildings to collapse, leaving huge piles of concrete and bricks dusted with white four.

Videotaped footage from the scene was broadcast Wednesday night showing a man dead in the front seat of his car. Men and women carried the limp bodies of children powdered with flour. Others dug through the rubble with their bare hands in a search for survivors.

Reports of reprisal killings soon followed:

Iraqi Shiite Muslim gunmen carried out reprisals in Tal Afar after coordinated car and truck bombings killed 75 people and wounded 185 at two markets in the northern city.

The gunmen responded to yesterday's blasts by attacking a Sunni Muslim neighborhood overnight, state television said. Off- duty Shiite policemen killed 45 people with execution-style shots to the back of the head, the Associated Press said, citing police and hospital officials.

Iraqi troops entered Sunni areas and a curfew was imposed, AP said, while Tal Afar police were confined to bases and were being replaced with officers from Mosul.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office ordered an investigation and the U.S. command offered to provide assistance.

Ali al-Talafari, a Sunni member of the local Turkomen Front party, said the Iraqi army had arrested 18 policemen accused in the shooting rampage after they were identified by Sunni families. Shiite militiamen also took part, he said.

Given the focus of operations in Baghdad and Anbar, the obvious key question is can the Iraqi government and it's allies respond elsewhere? The early answer is "yes".

But that answer might not matter - as this is probably a major reason for the increase in suicide bombings.

Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list.

IRAQ

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
The intra-Sunni fighting in Al-Anbar province is continuing, and the violence is rising.
I'll also try my hand at laying out some of the recent events below, and explain a little bit of how the various elements you may hear about in the news are related.
Since the start of the year, Al-Qaeda In Iraq has attempted 11 chlorine VBIEDs, 9 in Al-Anbar, 1 in Tadji, and one in Baghdad. Of those, 9 have detonated with varying degrees of success, and 2 were found and disabled in Ramadi. The most recent attacks were early this morning in downtown Falluja, outside the government center...

Fallujah government center struck by chlorine suicide attack -- [The Fourth Rail]
Iraq Police, Army stop bomber short of target; dozens wounded, poisoned
Al Qaeda in Iraq is conducting a full fledged chemical war in Anbar province. Today, Al Qaeda conducted yet another chlorine gas suicide bombing, this time directed at the Fallujah government center, in the very heart of the city of Fallujah. The attack was coordinated; Multinational Forces West described it as “complex.” The two suicide truck bombs and small arms fire was preceded by mortar fire, which likely was designed to distract the guards at the gates.

IRAQ: AL-QAEDA SAYS IT STRUCK IN TALAFAR -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 28 March - The 'Islamic State of Iraq' a name used by a group affiliated to al-Qaeda in Iraq has said it blew up two trucks - one in a crowded market - in the town of Talafar which killed some 60 people and injured scores more. In a statement posted on the Internet the group said it has carried out Tuesday's attack as part "of a noble plan called 'expeditions to avenge the honour' proclaimed by our emir Abu Omar al-Baghdadi."

Fallujah Government Center attacked by chlorine truck bombs -- [MNF-I]
FALLUJAH, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers and police repelled a complex attack at the Fallujah Government Center, including two suicide truck bombs containing chlorine, on the morning of March 28.

Iran's Latest Hostage Gamble -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
The sailors call them "RHIBs" -- rigid hull inflatable boats. Add powerful outboard motors, and the agile, shallow-draft RHIB becomes an ideal watercraft for scooting around the Tigris and Euphrates estuary or for slipping among suspicious dhows in Iraqi coastal waters.

Breaking: Iran says it will release woman Marine; Update: Set to air video “confession”? -- [Hot Air]
Today or tomorrow, according to the banner at CNN.com. Meanwhile, Blair has unleashed his dreaded “new phase” in the standoff: a freeze on all diplomatic matters with Iran unrelated to the hostage crisis and public presentation of GPS evidence that the ships were, indeed, in Iraqi waters. Iran has already responded on the latter point.
...Update: Looks like there’s a price for letting her go

In her own words: the female sailor held captive in Iran -- [The Independent]
An exclusive interview with Faye Turney, hours before she was seized
The woman who was captured by Iran's Revolutionary Guards while serving with the Royal Navy in Iraq spoke of her devotion to both her family and her job just hours before she was seized.
BBC NEWS VIDEO HERE

UK Presents Coordinates of British Vessels -- [Iraq Slogger]
MoD Claims Proof Sailors Were in Iraqi Waters When Seized
The British Ministry of Defence today in London presented the coordinates of the two British vessels from which 15 British personnel were seized on Friday, evidence Vice Admiral Charles Style said proved the Royal Navy was "ambushed" while "well inside" Iraqi waters.

UK Iran Bordercrossing issue

The Sunni Civil War -- [The Fourth Rail]
A map of al Qaeda's Islamic State of Iraq.
Al Qaeda 's campaign against the Sunni tribal and insurgent leaders who oppose al Qaeda, or are considering it
Al Qaeda in Iraq is pressing hard with its assassination, terror and intimidation campaign against Sunni tribal leaders and insurgent groups who refuse to join the Islamic State of Iraq, al Qaeda's political front designed to give the Sunni insurgency an Iraqi face.

Sadr's south Part 2 - Documentary about the Shia

This is a documentary about the Shia.

A plateau for now, but more action is in the air. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Ahmed Farhan Hassan has been captured. This operative is described as a senior aide to Abu Omar al-Baghdadi the leader of al-Qaeda’s so-called Islamic State in Iraq. That would make him a reasonably big fish, one from which, it would seem, good intelligence can be extracted.
Local Iraqi TV aired recorded confessions of Ahmed Farhan Hassan. Hassan, who was captured in Abu Ghraib west of Baghdad a few days ago, ...

Surge = Training Op for Iraqis -- [Defense Tech]
Ongoing “surge” operations in Baghdad are doubling as training opportunities for Iraqi soldiers, airmen and government officials. U.S. strategy entails turning over responsibility for security in Iraq to native entities as soon as they’re ready; the demands of the surge have forced Iraqis to be readier, sooner.

Iraqi and Coalition forces reunite kidnapped victims with families -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — Iraqi and Coalition forces aided three Iraqi civilians, who were held hostage by terrorists near Karmah, Iraq, Thursday, and were returned to their homes Sunday.

Iraqi independent TV, radio launches -- [MNF-I]
DIYALA — The Independent Radio and Television Network officially launched during a ceremony held in the heart of Iraq’s troubled Diyala Province Sunday.

Coalition forces capture 19 suspected terrorists in Iraq -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces captured 19 suspected terrorists during operations Wednesday morning targeting al-Qaida in Iraq and foreign fighter facilitators.
During operations east of Karmah, Coalition Forces captured five suspected terrorists with alleged involvement in al-Qaida terrorist operations.

AFGHANISTAN

Oregon Soldiers Patrol Afghanistan Part 1 (raw footage)

Experience exactly what is was like for one Army/Oregon Guard foot patrol that went 'outside the wire" in Kabul, Afghanistan in November, '06. Each part is five minutes in length and completely unedited to give you an accurate look at what Photojournalist/Reporter Tim King saw and recorded "outside the wire" in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The Politics of Eurocentrism -- [KGW Afghanistan Blog]
I sat down at my computer yesterday to find a piece of paper from the US Army command resting on the keyboard:
"The US government has received the information below and classified the information as "Unclassified" to ensure the widest dissemination as possible to include NGO's.
Due to the r