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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 various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.
Surreal -- [The Writings of a Man's Man - in Iraq]
Yesterday was quite the experience, sitting in a room surrounded by my Iraqi National Police counterparts tuned into CNN watching reports saying that there were no more US troops in any of Iraq's cities, towns and villages. We watched the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al Maliki, give a speech declaring that this is truly a great day for Iraq, National Sovereignty Day. It was hailed as VI day (Victory in Iraq) by the international media. I am pretty sure they may have their story wrong. I can look around from my Joint Security Station, and still see plenty of built up areas, factories, houses, and markets surrounding us. Thus it was quite surreal to read and watch numerous reports declaring all US forces are out of the Iraqi villages and towns and wonder exactly where I am.
Nothing New Here.... -- [Mungadai Days - in Iraq]
The June 30th deadline has no major effect on us, we're doing the same thing for the next few months as we have done for the past several months. Our role hasn't changed but every kid on the block with an MRAP is trying to muscle into our action. In order for them to roll they need the Mungadai to partner them up with our Iraqis.
A Family's Valor, a Nation's Freedom -- [WSJ]
Why would a 61-year-old civilian surgeon volunteer for Iraq?
When stories had been told, tears wept, and grief expressed, Mr. Bush asked if he could do anything. At that, Bill Krissoff spoke.
"Yes," he said. "I'm a pretty good orthopedic surgeon. When my younger son is deployed to Iraq next March, I would like to be working as a Navy medical officer, but they won't let me because I am 61 years old. Will you give me an age waiver, Mr. President?" ...
July 1, 2009 -- [S4 at War - in Iraq]
As we've been conducting our withdrawal from the cities the phrase of the month has been "holistic change in mindset," meaning we need to entirely shift the way we approach our mission. By in large my unit has been doing this since we got here. We've been doing all we can to try and return some semblance of normalcy to the area throughout our deployment. Part of that has been adjusting the way in which we interact with our Iraqi counterparts, the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police.
DVIDS Patrol In Abu Ghraib -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
These pictures are from a patrol conducted in Abu Ghraib by my platoon. The Iraqi Army was there to assist. We run so many of these missions they all blur together. The Army has been occasionally embedding Combat Camera in our missions.
Hussein Pointed to Iranian Threat -- [Washington Post]
Saddam Hussein told an FBI interviewer before he was hanged that he allowed the world to believe he had weapons of mass destruction because he was worried about appearing weak to Iran, according to declassified accounts of the interviews released yesterday. The former Iraqi president also denounced Osama bin Laden as "a zealot" and said he had no dealings with al-Qaeda.
Saddam Hussein Considered 'Security Agreement' With U.S. To Counter Threat From 'Fanatics' In Iran -- [Think Progress]
ThinkProgress relied on the Washington Post's interpretation of the recently-declassified FBI files on Saddam Hussein's interviews with the Bureau to make the claim in this post that Saddam "let the world believe he had weapons of mass destruction because he feared appearing weak to what he considered his country's real threat, Iran." However, ThinkProgress has since reviewed the actual documents, and they do not explicitly state that Saddam wanted Iran to think Iraq had WMD. A document dated June 11, 2004 states that Saddam did not want to allow U.N. weapons inspectors into Iraq because he was "concerned about Iran discovering Iraq's weaknesses." According to the document, Saddam describes those weaknesses in conventional military terms, such as specific targets in Iraq open to attack. Therefore, at best, the documents only suggest that Saddam wanted Iran to think Iraq had WMD because another fair interpretation of the "weaknesses" Saddam refers to could be the fact that Iraq did not have WMD.
And then the clouds parted and a single ray of sunshine broke through... -- [Greyhawk]
Hello from Camp Victory just outside of Baghdad. I landed about an hour ago on Vice President Biden's C-17 for what will be the most extensive visit to Iraq by a president or vice president since the war began in 2003. Before we landed Biden called a few of us traveling with him into his aluminum sided airstream trailer strapped to the floor of the C-17.
"This is the moment," he told us, "we have to make sure the Iraqis don't take their eyes off the ultimate prize."
He then explained the latest job President Obama has given him. A few weeks ago he was talking to the president about the challenges Iraq would face after US troops began to withdraw from Iraqi cities on June 30th and what the US needed to do about it. The president got right the point, Biden said, "Quote: Joe, go do it."
Do what exactly?
"Help the Iraqis resolve what they have to resolve."
Anti-US protest marks start of Biden's Iraq trip -- [AFP]
A fiery protest marked the start on Friday of US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Iraq, with supporters of the Shiite anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr burning the Stars and Stripes.
Biden met General Ray Odierno, the top US officer in Iraq, and Christopher Hill, Washington's ambassador in Baghdad, who briefed him on the military and political situation, three days after a major US troop pullback.
VP interviewed on Iraq status -- [Politico44]
FAIR TO SAY WHITE HOUSE NOT SATISFIED WITH POLITICAL PROGRESS? "Well, look, I think the Iraqis are not satisfied."...There's a lot left on the agenda and I think all Iraqis acknowledge that."
Missing Soldier in Eastern Afghanistan -- [Afghanistan Shrugged - in Afghanistan]
As many of you may now know from news reports a soldier is missing in
Eastern Afghanistan. No one from Team VAMPIRE is missing and we are
conducting operations in an attempt to locate the missing soldier.
Missing Soldier Update -- [Greyhawk]
I've added multiple updates with quotes from news reports as they become available to the original story below. As you read, bear in mind that first reports are always wrong. Rumors and scuttlebutt are frequently passed on as news - they may or may not turn out to be completely (rare) or partly (often) true. I'll add only that a soldier can't just accidentally wander off a military installation in Afghanistan or Iraq. In fact, one shouldn't be able to exit without authorization for a specific mission. Determination or duress could overcome that obstacle. But any speculation as to how one apparently did get "outside the wire" in this case is just that - purely speculation at this point.
Operation KHANJAR -- [SWJ - Brig. Gen. Larry D. Nicholson, USMC]
Our focus is now and will remain the Afghan people. We have worked closely with local Helmand government officials and many tribal and local leaders in the detailed planning of this major offensive. While the initial focus will be on security, the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) working with Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Coalition Forces will rapidly move to introduce the initial essential aspects of governance and economic development into these newly secured areas. These efforts will be focused upon providing immediate assistance to the population, and in setting the conditions for successful elections in August. Today's operation is designed to separate and isolate the Taliban from the population who has long suffered the effects of their presence.
This large scale operation is not without risk to the many thousands of brave and dedicated Afghan and coalition troops participating.
Op Khanjar photos -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
...A U.S. Marine from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. takes up a fighting position after off loading from a helicopter during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, 2009 in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan.
Russia Opens Route for US to Fly Arms to Afghanistan -- [New York Times]
MOSCOW - The Russian government has agreed to allow American troops and weapons bound for Afghanistan to fly over Russian territory, providing an important new corridor for the United States military as it escalates efforts to win the
US Troops Push Further into Southern Afghanistan -- [Voice of America]
US Marines pushed further into southern Afghanistan Friday, meeting little resistance as they moved to capture villages and population centers controlled by Taliban militants. The US offensive is being led by 4,000 Marines who poured into southern Helmand province on Thursday. The operation is aimed at driving out militants and securing the area ahead of presidential elections August 20. Marine spokesman Bill Pelletier says US troops have engaged in only sporadic fighting, but he warned that could change. He said the US is focused one keeping the Taliban militants out and winning the people's trust.
US marines face a 'hell of a fight' in Helmand surge -- [Telegraph]
United States Marines storming into southern Afghanistan are facing a "hell of a fight" in some districts while others are "suspiciously" quiet,
The Uprising Changes Everything, Part III: Exposing Iranian Treachery In Afghanistan -- [Terry Galvin]
"The Iranian government has finally exposed itself as a theocratic, totalitarian regime," says Afghan student leader Mohammed Faqiri, at Herat University. That's fast becoming the mainstream view among young Afghans, says Faqiri, 23. "Iranian leaders are trying to hang onto power by killing people and destroying their free media." In Kabul, meanwhile, Tehran's malignancy has been coming under increasing fire in mainstream Afghan society, owing to the operations of the sinister cleric in the photograph, Mohammed Asif Mosehni, Tehran's ayatollah in Kabul.
U.S. Uses False Taliban Aid Charge to Pressure Iran -- [IPS]
The Barack Obama administration has given new prominence to a Bush administration charge that Iran is providing military training and assistance to the Taliban in Afghanistan, for which no evidence has ever been produced, and which has been discredited by data obtained by IPS from the Pentagon itself.
The new twist in the charge is that it is being made in the context of serious talks between NATO officials and Iran involving possible Iranian cooperation in NATO's logistical support for the war against the insurgents in Afghanistan.
Saying bye to those finishing their deployments -- [Afghanistan my Last Tour -- in Afghanistan]
We said goodbye to the four Air Force individuals in the picture. They were here for almost one year. We and some of the new Air Force personnel who recently arrived are their replacements. During the past year, their ETT team only encountered one IED. But one IED experience is too many. Apparently one of their HMMVWs rolled over the IED and then it activated when the ANA truck passed over it.
U.S. Faces Resentment in Afghan Region -- [NY Times]
The mood of the Afghan people has tipped into a popular revolt in some parts of southern Afghanistan, presenting incoming American forces with an even harder job than expected in reversing military losses to the Taliban and winning over the population.
On mentoring and the ANA -- [Flit]
..."Putting the Afghan face", not vase, on military operations, is pretty much a cliche in Afghan security force mentoring efforts at this point. The chronic lack of Afghan security personnel, for reasons which I will get to downrange, compared to the numbers of Western troops means what is on the books a go/no-go requirement of all kinetic operations has too often reduced in practice to grabbing a couple of Afghan soldiers or police at the last possible minute and throwing them on the helicopter so that it could be said in the press release that Afghan forces were involved in the operation. In 2008-09 in Kandahar Province, any time we on the ANA mentoring side heard someone talking about Afghan faces, we knew we could safely assume ANSF capacity-building, meaning the effort to bring them closer to the day when they won't need us anymore, had long ceased to be a deliverable of the operation in question.
EXCLUSIVE: Taliban buying children for suicide bombers -- [Washington Post]
Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is buying children as young as 7 to serve as suicide bombers in the growing spate of attacks against Pakistani, Afghan and U.S. targets, U.S. Defense Department and Pakistani officials say.
China babies 'sold for adoption' -- [BBC]
Dozens of baby girls in southern China have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.
North Korea Fires Four More Test Missiles: Should US Be Worried? -- [FOXNews]
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Four more missiles -- North Korea just shot off four more missiles. They are short-range missiles, but is this a preview
Honduran Democracy Protesters Bash Obama & CNN -- [Gateway Pundit]
Thousands of Hondurans protested in support of democracy, the military and the Micheletti government this week in Honduras. The US media has been ignoring these protests.
Honduras and the Bolivarian Revolution -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Make no mistake. Giving the military a leading role in a political drama in Honduras may be akin to giving a pyromaniac matches and can of kerosene. It can end badly. I covered Honduras for 20 years and reported extensively both on the military's egregious human rights abuses and voracious economic appetite that sucked the national coffers dry, although the troops have stayed in the barracks for more than two decades. But look at the alternatives. Zelaya was illegally attempting the same political move successfully executed by Chávez and Morales-a constitutional change that would allow him to stay in power indefinitely-always among the first actions of the Bolivarian leaders.
A 'coup' in Honduras? Nonsense. -- [Christian Science Monitor]
Don't believe the myth. The arrest of President Zelaya represents the triumph of the rule of law.
Report: U.S. to block Iran sanctions at G8 summit -- [Haaretz]
The United States is opposed to enacting a new set of financial sanctions against Iran that are due to be discussed in the G8 summit next week, diplomatic officials in New York reported Friday. -- According to officials, sanctions against Iran are expected to top the G8's agenda.
Terror from the Right -- [SPLC News]
75 plots, conspiracies and racist rampages since Oklahoma City
What follows is a detailed listing of major terrorist plots and racist rampages that have emerged from the American radical right in the years since Oklahoma City. These have included plans to bomb government buildings, banks, refineries, utilities, clinics, synagogues, mosques, memorials and bridges; to assassinate police officers, judges, politicians, civil rights figures and others; to rob banks, armored cars and other criminals; and to amass illegal machine guns, missiles, explosives and biological and chemical weapons. Each of these plots aimed to make changes in America through the use of political violence.
Decade of domestic terror documented by Center (2005) -- -- [SPLC News]
A pre-publication copy of the Intelligence Report's list was provided to the office of Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who is the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security. Thompson included many of the incidents compiled in the Intelligence Report into his staff's report, 10 Years After the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Department of Homeland Security Must Do More To Fight Right-Wing Domestic Terrorists, which he released on the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. Signed by all of the Democratic members of the committee, Thompson's report credited the Southern Poverty Law Center for its expertise in monitoring right wing domestic terrorist groups. Thompson's report also called on the Department of Homeland Security to establish an advisory council that would include the Center.
Terrorist Watch: 23 Plots Foiled Since 9/11 -- [Heritage Foundation]
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 23 terrorist plots against the United States have been foiled. This report updates a November 2007 report from the Heritage Foundation that described 19 plots that had been foiled to date since 9/11. Less than two years later, the U.S. has foiled four more plots aimed at Americans. While some trials have ended in mistrial and charges against some suspects were dropped, significantly more individuals have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes.
These victories make the case for continued U.S. vigilance against terrorism around the globe. While these particular attacks have been disrupted, the threat remains.
NEFA Foundation: AQIM Threatens Attacks on France over Veil Controversy -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The NEFA Foundation has obtained a new communique from Al-Qaida Committee in the Islamic Maghreb threatening to carry out terrorist attacks against France in revenge for the recent decision by the French government to ban the niqab (a full body veil worn by some conservative Muslim women).
SecDef at Landstuhl -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Nice writeup of the SecDef's visit to Landstuhl with a lot of other interesting background information, so I'm posting the whole thing. Just one quibble: the person the writer calls Dr. Raymond Funk is actually Dr. Fang. And a big shout out to SFC Lawrence, who has been on staff at the MTD as long as I can remember. Good to see him mentioned here. And how cool that Secretary Gates brought two patients back to the US on his plane!
Heartfelt thanks -- [Misuchan's Milblog - in Afghanistan]
Misuchan and the Soldiers in her unit would like to send out a heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the things that Soldiers Angels, Operation Shoebox, Adopt-a-Soldier, GI Woodshop, Stacy, Mr. Nordloff and family members of the Soldiers for helping us get through very difficult times by sending us the comforts of home. Without your wonderful caring and support, I know quite a few Soldiers who would have some pretty low morale.
Thank you so much for what you do and it will never be forgotten.
Sailors In A Bad Mood Over New Uniforms -- [Strategy Page]
The U.S. Navy, bowing to loud and sustained complaints, now allows sailors living off base, on their way home from work, to get out of their vehicles to perform short errands (picking up dry cleaning, groceries, day care, and so on), while wearing the new navy work uniform (shirt and pants in a gray, blue and black camouflage pattern). Prior to this, navy personnel were forbidden from leaving their vehicles while outside the base, and wearing the work uniform.
Melbourne soldiers back from Afghanistan -- [Florida Today]
Family members and friends waved American flags and held up welcome home banners as the soldiers arrived about 10:30 am to the Melbourne Armory
Coming home from war is no Independence Day picnic for Iraq soliders -- [NJ.com - Paul Rieckhoff]
For Americans, this means that more troops will be coming home, and for that, we should be thankful. But we must be ready to welcome them.
Early Word: A Snafu at The Washington Post -- [NY Times]
Official Washington business may be closed for the holiday weekend, but the city is still buzzing about the news that The Washington Post made, and then had to cancel, plans to charge lobbyists and trade groups as much as $250,000 off-the-record access to "those powerful few" - a group that included the paper's top reporters and editors as well as members of President Obama's administration and Congress.
Media Swing from Protests in Iran to the Passing of the King of Pop -- [Journalism.org]
...So many Google users searched for information about the dead singer that the popular search engine mistook the interest as a potential malware attack. For a short period of time, Google users were greeted with a message that read, "We're sorry, but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application."
The popular communication site Twitter crashed, and Wikipedia experienced more than 500 edits to Jackson's profile in less than 24 hours. AOL's popular instant messenger service went down for approximately 40 minutes and the company released a statement that read, "Today was a seminal moment in Internet history. We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."
...There were other stories in the news last week. The fourth largest, at 7%, was health care reform, largely focused on negotiations in Congress over President Obama's proposals. The fifth story (also at 7%) was the U.S. economy,
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.
SPC Chad Edmundson KIA at 20 -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
My brigade, 56th SBCT, has suffered its second KIA. Spc Chad Edmundson of Williamsburg, PA died on the 27th of May. He suffered fatal wounds from an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) while on a dismounted patrol in Abu Ghraib. His death hits closer to home for he's not only in the same battalion but his company and mine share some of the same battlespace. The blast that killed Chad also injuried 3 other soldiers though not seriously. Also 16 Iraqi civilians were injured.
Maliki calls citizens to trust Iraqi Forces -- [Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV]
Two days ahead of the withdrawal of the US troops from the Iraqi cities, Iraqis live an amalgam of feelings combining pride on one hand and challenge on the other. The challenge of how to handle the situation in face of a promising secure and prosper future that seems to loom after years of distress and agony. In this context, during an interview with Alsumaria TV, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called all the Iraqis to support the Iraqi national forces and to trust their capacities. Maliki stressed that Iraq will accept nothing less than the full implementation of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
When Will The Americans Invade Us? -- [Strategy Page]
Another prison scandal in Iraq, this time featuring at least 43 Iraqi policemen and prison guards accused of corruption. Offences include jailing people without a warrant, and then demanding a bribe to get them out. Jailers are accused of torture, and demanding bribes so inmates can see visitors, get food or a better cell. Most of these abuses disappeared in 2003, when the Americans took over the prison system. But now most of the U.S. run prisons are controlled by Iraqis, and the prisoners mourn the sharp decline in living standards, and fair treatment by the guards.
Top US Officer Says Iraqis Ready for Handover - [Voice of America]
The United States' top military officer says he believes Iraqi forces are ready to take full control of their country's cities on Tuesday, as called for in the US-Iraq security agreement. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen spoke to reporters traveling with him in Europe. In a conversation with a small group of reporters, Admiral Mike Mullen was asked whether he is confident the Iraqi forces can handle the duties they are about to take on. "I am, and I take that from not only my own interaction there, which is infrequent, but really the reports I get back routinely and the leaders I talk to, not just General Odierno but others that have that confidence as well,"
Is the Job Done? - [Los Angeles Times]
On Tuesday, US troops will leave Iraqi cities in accordance with an agreement negotiated under President Bush. Although President Obama has largely endorsed the Bush timeline for reducing the US military presence in Iraq, far less clear is the extent to which he has also adopted his predecessor's appreciation for the importance of achieving America's strategic goals there. For all his administration's mistakes in Iraq, Bush clearly understood the imperative of victory once US forces were committed.
Before I go...(hopefully) -- [Wings Over Iraq]
...One question that hasn't gotten that much attention is what will happen not only between the Sunni and Shia, but also between the Arabs and Kurds. While I would venture to say that there won't be massive pitched battles between the Iraqi Army and Peshmerga fighters in the next few months, the situation in Kurdistan still leaves many unresolved issues. Anyway, I could see those as the leading challenges in the next few months.
Mosul: Post 30 JUN -- [Mongo's Montreaux - in Iraq]
On thinking about it, I'm not going to post squat on the 30 JUN withdrawal of US combat forces from urban areas in Iraq. Too easy to get crosswise with OPSEC, PAO, etc. Instead, I'll link to this article, which does a good laydown of the situation. One note, though: the Iraqi Police that the writer mentions as the "weak link" are the local police, or shurta mahlhauli, not the Iraqi National Police, or shurta wattaniya, with whom we (the team) are partnered.
What does June 30 mean? -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
We also have been handing over facilities and bases throughout the country to ISF. Many of the ones where we remain are now joint bases with the Iraqis commanding there.
...I don't think most Iraqis are necessarily happy that our combat forces are leaving the cities - because most of the ones I meet seem to like Americans, whether it is us personally or the opportunities we bring to exercise their freedoms or make a better living.
Pirates and Iraq Upates -- [The Intrepid Reporter - in Iraq]
Baghdad has seen a bit of an uptick in the ultraviolence, but not to worry me Droogs... Ye Olde I.R. of fame and lore is safe and sound on Base.
Seems the stuff as of late has been concentrating downtown in the typical "Shiite Versus Sunni" Deathmatch, and the favorite tools of the tools in question are indiscriminate Car Bombings and such. ...Problem is, these jokers for the most part these days are cowards. They use little kids to do the dirty work that they are too cowardly to do themselves.
The High Price of Eliminating the Taleban from Buner-- [The Times]
The road home for Sultan Mahmood was hardly a welcoming sight. The route through the mountains was scattered with burnt-out cars and lorries and lined with the wreckage of buildings destroyed as the army mounted its assault on the Taleban in and around the northwestern region of Swat. At makeshift checkpoints along the way, troops peered from sandbagged machinegun posts as cars and vans snaked back into Buner, the district neighbouring Swat, that has now been declared free of the militants.
Some NATO Allies in Afghanistan Should Just Stay Out of The Fight -- [P.J. Tobia - in Afghansitan]
...The New York Times has a story about German Chancellor Angela Merkel being in a tough spot at home because of her country's involvement in Afghanistan. German soldiers are dying in a war that nobody in Germany wants any part of, and some don't even want to call a war.
Obama's AfPak Envoy Says Opium Eradication Policy 'Least Effective Program Ever' -- [P.J. Tobia - in Afghansitan]
In what is probably the most significant shift in US strategy in Afghanistan since the invasion, US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke told reporters at the G8 summit that NATO forces would no longer focus on poppy eradication. Instead, ...
A Path we need to take to Win in Afghanistan -- [Bouhammer]
I had an opportunity to ask the Secretary-General about how NATO is dealing with the opium problem in Afghanistan. You can listen to the segment below, but the jest of what he said was "Not our job". He then asked me what I would do about it, and I referred him to the fact that US Army is deploying the National Guard Agricultural Development Teams (ADT) into Afghanistan to help farmers with how they grow crops and show them alternatives to growing poppy. The Secretary-General then told me how he ran into one of the teams when he was in Ghazni and how he was impressed by them.
Talking the IMU in Northern Afghanistan -- [Registan]
When discussing the possibility of the IJU being a faked terror group, I declared the IMU inactive in Northern Afghanistan. After Namangani died and Yoldashev fled to Waziristan in 2001, I said, there hasn't been an IMU presence up near Kunduz. Well. A friend working in Balkh wrote to me about that, and mentioned something I haven't heard in the news yet:
82nd Airborne DSTB supports local district -- [Combined Joint Task Force - 82 / CJTF]
...According to the Central Intelligence Agency the unemployment rate in Afghanistan is approximately 40 percent. New jobs could usher in the potential for increased money, which would bolster the local economy.
"Almost everyone in our village is jobless, so they go to Iran and Pakistan for work," said Naqibullah, village elder and teacher for Sanjali Village.
After the villager explained his plight, Capt. Wilson carefully explained his plans and potential solutions.
Cruizin in the Uzbin -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...As we wound down through the J-Bad pass our convoy stopped rather abruptly. Typically livestock or a broken down vehicle is the usual cause. However, today's short halt is was for a small rock slide. Considering the height of the towering cliffs, we wanted to avoid our gunners in the turret from being knocked out by a falling rock. Besides this would be embarrassing to visit the TMC for being knocked in the cranium by a rock.
Our next stop was to a strategically positioned outpost in the wealthy (by Afghan standards) town of Serobi.
McChrystal's Afghan 'listening tour' -- [BBC]
The official told the commander that he had only taken his job after being led to believe by the Afghan government that the security situation was good - but it turned out it was not. Gen McChrystal then joked that US President Barack Obama had "done exactly same thing to me" - provoking laughs from the assembled audience.
It was a rare moment of humour from the commander known for his seriousness.
McChrystal is the man of the moment - a general tasked with changing the course of the war in Afghanistan.
Pakistan asks U.S. to stop drone attacks in tribal region -- [Xinhua]
Pakistan Thursday asked the United States to review its policy of drone attacks in its northwest tribal region, saying the attacks are counterproductive.
"We would continue to convey the concern of the people of Pakistan to the United States," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
Taliban kill 12 soldiers in North Waziristan ambush -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The ambush capped a bloody weekend in the Waziristan region, where the military has yet to take on Baitullah Mehsud in a full-fledged ground offensive.
HORRIFIC Video Captures Basij Thugs Shooting At Protesters From Rooftop -- [Gateway Pundit]
Busted! Regime thugs shoot down at democracy protesters on the street from a rooftop in Tehran. This is one of those videos that you will not forget. What kind of regime fires on its own people peacefully demonstrating for freedom?
Honduran President Is Ousted in Coup -- MEXICO CITY -- The Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, was ousted by the army on Sunday after pressing ahead with plans for a referendum that opponents said could lay the groundwork for his eventual re-election, in the first military coup in Central America since the end of the cold war.
Chavez threatens military action over Honduras coup -- [Reuters]
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday put troops on alert after a coup in Honduras and said he would respond militarily if his envoy to the Central American country was kidnapped or killed.
Killer Video -- [Strategy Page]
The CIA has admitted that one of the more dangerous sources of Islamic terror attacks in the West, is among the 2.4 million Moslems in Britain. This reasoning is simple. According to a recent survey, some 76 percent of British Moslems believe it was wrong for foreign troops to be in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the same time, 11 percent thought it was alright for Taliban fighters to attack NATO troops in Afghanistan. In the same vein,
Military Spouses Thank Gates for Support -- [Soldiers' Angels Network]
Since he took office two and a half years ago, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has traveled the world talking with troops about their service and sacrifices.
At each meeting, the secretary is careful to thank the troops' families, recognizing their sacrifices as
Britains Celebrate First Armed Forces Day -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Until today, the UK didn't have a holiday like our Veteran's Day. Now, finally, they do. Thank you to all of our British brothers in arms for your service! We're proud to stand with you.
Fort Sill Families Proudly Welcome Home Their Soldiers -- [KAUZ]
Fort Sill honored about 160 soldiers with a welcome home ceremony on June 28th. The soliders are from the Alpha and Charlie batteries, second battalion, ...
Fort Drum puts on free air show to welcome soldiers home -- [WTEN/AP]
Fort Drum is putting on an air show and Mountainfest this weekend to welcome home the soldiers of the...
Reliable Sources: Journos spar over Obama presser question -- [CNN]
Tensions flared between "new media" reporters and print and television journalists last Tuesday when President Obama called on Nico Pitney, HuffingtonPost.com national editor, to ask the second question during a news conference at the White House.
Obama names envoy to Muslim communities (Woman) -- [The Hill]
The Obama administration on Friday named America's first ever special representative to Muslim communities. ...Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday named Farah Pandith as the United States Special Representative to Muslim Communiites. Pandit is expected to engage with Muslims around the world on a grassroots and organizational level.
Congress Coordinates Combat Colors -- [Strategy Page]
June 29, 2009: The U.S. Congress has ordered the Department of Defense to provide a new camouflage color pattern for combat uniforms of troops going to Afghanistan. This came about because many legislators received letters from troops complaining about how the camouflage pattern that worked in Iraq, doesn't work in Afghanistan. The army told complaining legislators that this was not true, even though SOCOM preferred a different camouflage pattern for their troops in Afghanistan. Is it any surprise who won that argument?
U.S. Bio Research & Defense -- [Threats Watch]
As time passes, the discussion of "The Risk/Reward Ratio" of BioResearch becomes more interesting and complicated. Last week, while the Senate approved the first $36 million designated for the construction of the National Bio and Agro Defense facility at the campus of Kansas State University, However, the House version of the Appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, omitted that funding. Instead, the House allocated $5 million to fund an independent study the safety of conducting research into Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at a mainland laboratory.
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Moonwalks in Baghdad: Discovering the King of Pop on Foot Patrol -- [IAVA]
One of the strangest things I experienced in Iraq during my two tours there was the multitude of "Michael Jackson" stories I brought home.
I remember watching Baghdad children moonwalk during lulls in our foot patrols to try to get our attention.
I remember children waving to us and simply saying "Mike-kal Jack-son" to express affection and get us to look at them. During a door-to-door search ...
The Iraq Drawdown Is Proof of Success - [Wall Street Journal]
A major transformation is underway in Iraq. Each day U.S. forces hand over more responsibility for security to the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police. As this moves along, the number of US forces in Iraq will shrink to no more than 50,000 by August 2010 from approximately 132,000 now. Further, as directed by President Barack Obama, all US forces will be out of Iraq by the end of December 2011. As we proceed with this drawdown, the role of US forces in Iraq will transition to primarily focus on advising Iraqi forces instead of fighting terrorism directly.
US non-combat troops to remain in Nineveh -- [Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV]
The situation in Nineveh province will be different after US Forces withdrawal at the end of the month.
Some non-combat troops will remain in Mosul after June 30 while the Iraqi government has agreed on their stay stressing that they would work in a supportive role to Iraqi Forces in five Districts only, Major General Robert Caslen, the senior US officer in northern Iraq, said...
Iraqis have second thoughts over June 30 date for US troops to leave -- [Times Online]
For six years Iraqis in this restless provincial capital have been waiting for US forces to withdraw, in the hope that the area will return to being Iraq's sleepy rural backwater.
However, with only days to go before the last American soldiers are due to pull out of Baquba and other Iraqi cities, the residentshaving doubts.
US Troops, Civilians to Become Less Protected on July 1 -- [Washington Post]
BAGHDAD, June 25 -- US military officials fear that the closure of inner-city bases and restrictive guidelines that go into effect next ...
Wednesday Wanderings -- [Ramblings from a painter - in Iraq]
...Baghdad seems to be getting edgier as we count down the days to June 30th. That's when all US troops are supposed to have pulled their bases out of the cities. Everybody, Iraqis included, seem to think that our troops will be out of the cities, period. Not true and it never has been. The agreement is that our bases will be outside the cities. Our troops will still make patrols inside the city limits, alongside their Iraqi counterparts. As one said, "nothing will change except our commute to work will get longer".
US intel: Al-Qaida activity plunges in Iraq -- [AP]
The number of al-Qaida extremists in Iraq has plummeted and their ability to maintain a high-level of attacks has been eroded, U.S. intelligence suggests.
...The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence reports, said that the number of foreign fighters coming across Iraq's borders had dropped from hundreds to "tens," and the membership of al-Qaida in Iraq, or AQI, has plunged from thousands at its peak in 2006-2007 to hundreds now.
Iraq, the unraveling (XII): Bombs away -- [FP - Tom Ricks]
On the eve of the pullout from cities, everything appears calm. Except in Mosul, which is a special case. As is Basra. And Kirkuk. And now east Baghdad.
A friend passes along this day report from the Iraqi capital:
Baghdad market bombing kills 11 -- [ABC]
At least 11 people were killed and 46 were wounded when a bomb exploded in an industrial area of Baghdad today. The incident comes just ...
Differences Between the U.S. and Iraqi Armies, Part I -- [Notes from Iraq - in Iraq]
The Iraqi Army was forced by necessity into forming and building while simultaneously fighting and succeeding in combat. Their supply system, quite simply, struggles to keep up the pace with the maneuver units and increase sustainment as the Army grows.
Therefore, the Iraqi Soldiers often times struggle to make due with the supplies that they have.
What is G2 Targeting? -- [For Your Eyes Only - 34th Red Bull Infantry Division - in Iraq]
In G2 Targeting, we are dedicated to finding out as much information as we can on a number of nefarious individuals. Those individuals have committed acts endangering the lives of the Iraqi people and Coalition Forces. Our job is to use our skills and those of various people within the Intelligence Community to find and track those individuals.
Raising the quality of life on Camp Shaibah -- [WarHorse - 34th Red Bull Infantry Division - in Iraq]
"This was an empty desert space converted into a full living area," said 1st Lt. Shawn Peterson, camp commander, HHC, STB. When Soldiers began arriving at the end of May, they were crowded into an empty hanger and took showers with a plastic water bag, hose and showerhead. Soldiers ate packaged Meals, Ready to Eat, or drove to a neighboring camp on the installation for food.
The province that aid forgot -- [IN Iraq - in Iraq]
"We're on the cusp of progress," one team member said. "Diwaniyah was the last province to get a PRT, and now the PRT has been on the ground for a little less than a year. We've made great strides in public diplomacy, establishing good connections with the local government. We would like to get out into the private sector."
Translation- The newly elected local government realizes they'd be foolish not to at least pretend to cooperate with the Americans to get some free project money. They are now making the effort, instead of taking directions from Iranian clerics like the last governor, but so far we've had a lot of meetings, drank a lot of Chai and shook hands and no substatantial projects have been completed.
Al Qaim SWAT arrests terrorist suspect (Al Qaiim) -- [MNF-I]
AL ASAD, Iraq - In the early morning hours of June 24, Al Qaim Special Weapons and Tactics personnel arrested a suspected terrorist pursuant to an issued warrant in Al Qaim, Iraq. The suspect is wanted by authorities for his alleged involvement in smuggling materials and foreign fighters into Iraq.
The worst job in the Army -- [Bad Dogs and Such - in Iraq]
belonged to the platoon medic for the guys we were out with the other day. We had to sit in a small meeting room (cushions on a concrete floor, etc etc), drinking even-less-trustworthy-than-usual tea and talking about water projects. We had to continue said discussion even when the power went out and the flies tripled in number.
But unlike the medic, we did not have to ...
Rising toll at US military hospital in Afghanistan -- [AP]
"Everything I've experienced is boredom or terror," said Air Force Maj. Adrian Stull, a 36-year-old emergency physician from Beavercreek, Ohio.
Reckless IED attacks kill indiscriminately -- [DVIDS]
The rate of civilians killed by improvised explosive devices in eastern Afghanistan has risen 117 percent in the last year. Insurgents have shifted their primary focus from coalition forces, to target the local residents.
Coalition, Afghan Forces Eliminate IEDs in Eastern Afghanistan Schools -- [DVIDS]
Afghan national policemen and coalition force service members discovered and eliminated six improvised explosive devices emplaced by insurgents near a village school in Khayr Kot district, Paktika province,...
Great Video of Apache taking out 14 Insurgents -- [Bouhammer]
This is great new video exclusively from Fox News that demonstrates the great care our forces take in order to avoid civilian casualties. In this video the Apache pilot makes the request six times to engage 14 enemy insurgents in Afghanistan carrying machine guns and RPGs. After the 6th time he feels confident enough that there is no chance to accidentally kill innocent civilians.
Update on ROE Changes for Afghanistan -- [Captain's Journal] ...protecting Afghan civilians involves killing Taliban. One won't be possible without the other. Young Marines in Camps Lejeune and Pendleton preparing to deploy to Afghanistan must be wondering "just what kind of mess are they preparing for us? I think I'd rather go on a float where I can shoot back." At Camp Leatherneck there must be young Marines staring in disbelief at their COs. In the halls of the Pentagon the Marine Corps Commandant surely must be preparing an exit strategy for Afghanistan.
Afghans In Country's North Are Calm, But Wary -- [NPR]
In Afghanistan, the bulk of the violence occurs in the country's south and east. In the north, it's a different story: The area is relatively calm. But there are simmering tensions among the ethnic groups in the north, which human rights workers say could increase ahead of Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election.
Thousands rally in Afghan capital to support Karzai -- [Reuters]
Tens of thousands of Afghans gathered in central Kabul on Friday to support President Hamid Karzai in the first big rally to be held before elections on Aug. 20.
Thousands of people, many of them ethnic Hazaras who once opposed Karzai
Afghan Presidential Campaign Under Way, Underwhelmingly -- [Radio Free Europe]
The campaign for Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election is gathering momentum in Kabul. Election posters for incumbent President Hamid Karzai and his 40 challengers compete for space and attention on the city's walls and lamp posts. But some in Kabul are calling for a delay in the election as concern mounts about what is happening -- or not happening -- in the country's south and east.
NATO to start offensive soon in south Afghanistan -- [Reuters]
NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, boosted by a big influx of U.S. troops, will step up operations in Helmand province and the city of Kandahar soon, the top regional commander said on Thursday.
How we fight -- [Embedded in Afghanistan... - in Afghanistan] I can't speak for the whole country and different areas can be pretty distinct, but I've been in enough scrapes by now to give readers a pretty good idea of how the battles are actually fought in eastern Afghanistan. Most every engagement between the Anti-Afghanistan Forces (AAF) and us (when I say "us" I'm referring to the ANA and the US Army) is begun by them. They always know where we are and we rarely know where they are with any exactitude. In fact,...
People...the difference -- [Embedded in Afghanistan... - in Afghanistan]
The ANA tend to move around a fair bit. Some of the areas where they work are considerably "different" from others so everyone moves around to give everyone the chance to "experience" the different places. The ETTs don't move around with the ANA; most of our guys have stayed in the same place for our whole tour. I'm one of the few that's moved around a lot,...
At Bagram's SSG Heath N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
The urgent call came in: Roadside bombs had ripped through two Humvees and wounded eight or nine U.S. soldiers.
Medevac helicopters immediately hit the air to ferry the soldiers to the main U.S. military hospital. But when they arrived, they carried only five patients. ...
Taliban commanders survive US airstrike at funeral -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Qari Hussain Mehsud and Mullah Sangeen survived Tuesday's airstrike that was aimed at South Waziristan Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.
Connect The Dots -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure] Michael Cohen is proving that he is still the guy who just can't connect the dots. His interest regarding COIN doctrine is bordering on a fetish, and his desperation to discredit the doctrine is palpable. As I've said, this is self-defeating. Cohen's primary advocacy dovetails very nicely with the capabilities that need to be developed in order to successfully shepherd Afghanistan and Pakistan through this very troubling and dangerous period of history in Central Asia. It boggles my mind that this man is so frightened that he literally loses his ability to reason, grasping at straws ranging from COL Gian Gentile's writings to
Love For Sale (Airbases Too) -- [Strategy Page]
Last February, Kyrgyzstan ordered the U.S. to leave the Manas air base it has been using (to support operations in Afghanistan) for the last seven years. Now, after the U.S. matched the Russian offer, Kyrgyzstan has decided that the United States can stay after all.
Iranian protesters avoid censorship with Navy technology -- [Wa Times]
Iranians seeking to share videos and other eyewitness accounts of the demonstrations that have roiled their country since disputed elections two weeks ago are using an Internet encryption program originally developed by and for the U.S. Navy.
Iranian cleric: Some in unrest should be executed -- [AP]
EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.
Rafsanjani Has Votes To Remove Khamenei? -- [Threats Watch - Steve Schippert]
Once again, another tidbit regarding the power moves behind the scenes in Qom that cellphone cameras and live-bloggers in Iran cannot capture. From the International Business Times, Rafsanjani has enough support to remove Khamenei:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warns Barack Obama that support for protesters could end rapprochement -- [Telegraph]
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned Barack Obama his support for pro-democracy demonstrations in Iran endangered the prospect of a historic rapprochement between the two rivals.
KILLER REGIME Shoots Man In the Head-- He Dies in the Street (Video) -- [Gateway Pundit] WARNING: DO NOT VIEW THIS IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO SEE REGIME BRUTALITY THIS IS EXTREMELY VIOLENT-- On a street in Tehran a young protester is shot in the head by Basij militia (seen in distance) before the cameraman heads closer to where the other protesters have dragged the man's body. Here's another one-- The Basij thugs are hiding on a rooftop shooting down on protesters and throwing rocks at them. They are not aware that someone is filming them from behind!
Iran ambassador suggests CIA could have killed Neda Soltan -- Sometimes it seems Wolf Blitzer has interviewed pretty much every single person on the planet by now on CNN's "The Situation Room." Fact is, Wolfie is literally, a stand-up interviewer and a real pro, even with people you don't know.
Iran doctor tells of Neda's death -- [BBC]
...Dr Hejazi also told how passers-by then seized an armed Basij militia volunteer who appeared to admit shooting Ms Soltan. Dr Hejazi said he had not slept for three nights following the incident, but he wanted to speak out so that her death was not in vain.
They Aim To Misbehave -- [Strategy Page]
State controlled media announced that 17 demonstrators, and eight members of the Basij have died in two weeks of unrest. Also announced was the final tally of the election, with 62.6 percent for Ahmadinejad and 33.75 percent for Mousavi. Ahmadinejad is to be sworn in for his second four year term in August.
On Michael Jackson and Matthew Martin, Navajo Code Talker
So... the mainstream media now is all about Michael Jackson. Yes, Jackson made a significant contribution to popular culture, and society is rightly observing his death. Personally, I prefer to mark Saturday's passing of 84 year old Matthew Martin of Crownpoint, New Mexico. Mr. Martin served with the Marine Corps' famed Navajo Code Talkers during World War II. Mr. Martin and his teammates used an unbreakable code - their native language - to deceive enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific.
A War Correspondent Responds to MJ's Death -- [P.J. Tobia]
I swear we're not heartless, hard-boiled or cynical. But as fans mourn one man's death, let's keep in mind that over 5,000 soldiers have died in Afghanistan and Iraq since the US-led invasion. Each of them was important to somebody, somewhere too.
America mourns Michael Jackson & Farrah Fawcett while Iran burns -- [Examiner]
Freedom is on life support in this world. When people don't know the value of freedom, they don't realize they are throwing it away. Today, some famous people died. They were great entertainers, and millions of places online are mourning them.
I will mourn for the death of freedom in Iran. As of this late writing, no major news outlet is covering the brutal oppression of the Iranian people. Our President is breathing a sigh of relief that he has been gifted with a worthless press, who has given him the ultimate pass. For the first time in my life, freedom must look to some other nation to give voice to it's struggle.
North Korea Threatens 'Shower of Nuclear Retaliation' -- [Danger Room]
Once again, North Korea has reminded us that you don't need Twitter to organize a big rally -- just a dose of old-school Stalinism.
Message on Jihadist Website: Kill as Many Americans as Possible -- [MEMRI Blog]
A message on an Islamist forum calls on the mujahideen of the ISI in Iraq and on "the heroes of [the jihad group] Ansar Al-Islam" to increase their activity against U.S. troops in the upcoming week, before they withdraw from the Iraqi cities...
Terrorist Financing on the Internet -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Since the September 11 attacks on the United States, al-Qaeda has come under growing international pressure. In response, the terrorist organization has increasingly relied on the internet to spread its message and gain support throughout the world. While its use of the internet for propaganda and recruiting purposes has received wide publicity, al-Qaeda has also utilized the internet for a variety of other purposes, including terrorist financing. Al-Qaeda is far from alone among terrorist organizations in exploiting the internet for financing. A wide range of other terrorist groups -- including
Landstuhl hospital to move to Ramstein? -- [Stars and Stripes]
The Defense Department is studying whether to build an Army hospital and supporting facilities on Ramstein Air Base to replace the 56-year-old Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.Last August, Landstuhl received approval for a $400 million project that, among other upgrades, would add a five-story inpatient tower to the existing hospital. Construction on the new tower is slated to begin in 2010 or 2011. But with the new study ongoing, that project now is in limbo. "They're looking at 20-, 25-, 30-,
40-year projections of what [U.S. Army Europe] and this whole area's going to look like,
Our wounded in transition need some help -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
Pam from Maine is a member of the Warrior Legacy Foundation who has been working to help our wounded troops who leave the service make their way. She has seen some holes in the system that need work and wants to discuss how WLF can help with this. Here are her thoughts.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
There's a special place in Hell. At least one hopes so.FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64105June 24, 2009Contact:FBI - Media Representative,Bridget Patton (816) 512-8833SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES VICTIMIZING FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED U.S. MILITARYPERSONNELPUBLIC AWARENESS The Kansas City Division is issuing information regarding a new scam involving the victimization of families of deployed U.S Military personnel through social networking sites.
TROOPATHON 2009 RESULTS -- [The Radio Patriot]
TROOPATHON 2009 - $603,049.14 total!
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart"
Chaplains reaching out to those in need -- [Army Live]
...We've had a couple of stories come out about our U.S. Army chaplains in the past week. In the military, it's too easy to give a group the tagline of unsung hero - we certainly have a lot of those. But when we think about folks making daily and value added contributions to the morale of our trips, we probably don't think about chaplains as often as we should. Many of you will have already heard about the tragic Washington, D.C. metro rail accident which left dozens injured and killed nine during the busy commuter rush hour. Walter Reed Chaplain David Bottoms was in the first car
Sword Still Hangs Over the Head of LtCol Chessani; Marine Commandant Refers Prosecution Decision to New General -- [VOX - Humbled Infidel]
Nearly four years after the so-called "Haditha Massacre, " an investigation conducted by over 65 NCIS agents (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) ─ the largest investigation in that agency's history ─ with the expenditure of millions of taxpayer dollars, and prosecution losses at every stage of the criminal process, the government is still pursuing legal action against Marine LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.
GENERAL CONWAY BAILS -- [DEFEND OUR MARINES]
...In my opinion, the Haditha, the Fox Company, and other cases where Marines are prosecuted for performing their mission, call for active instead of inactive leadership. For the Commandant to shirk his duties with a boast of inaction is not the kind of leadership I expect of the general officer holding that prestigious office.
In the Haditha case, we seem to have created a dark legal slap-stick comedy called "Lawyers Gone Wild". These legal mistakes, besides supporting a rush to judgment, include prosecution grants of immunity to unreliable witnesses, the whimsical addition of charges against Marines, and a confirmed case of undue command influence that, if pursued further, can probably be traced back to the Commandant. In addition, let's not forget that the Marine Corps prosecutors are suing CBS in order to obtain evidence against SSgt Wuterich, the Haditha Marine squad leader. If they could not get the evidence they needed from the battlefield and a 65-member NCIS investigation team, why do they think they can get it from CBS?
3 Doors Down is one rock band that openly supported the men and women of the U.S. military before it was cool. -- [California Chronicle]
"We're one of the only rock bands in America that gives them any support at all," guitarist Chris Henderson says. "Then the others started saying, 'I guess it's OK'. "
Not that it's a competition. ...Henderson said the group uses its Better Life Foundation, named for their 6 million-selling breakthrough album, for a variety of children's and other charities, some of which are military-related. It also hosts about 50 members of the National Guard and other military branches during meet-and-greets at its shows.
One of its newest hits, "Citizen/Soldier," was written in honor of the Guard.
Struggling workers filling military ranks -- [Arizona Republic]
People struggling to find jobs in the bad economy are turning to the military for a paycheck. Recruiters say that they are seeing more
Convoy retracing military vehicles' paths of 90 years ago -- [North Platte Telegraph]
Quicksand caused the first U.S. Army Transcontinental Motor Convoy to linger in Dawson County longer than planned as they battled unpaved roads.
Re-enactors of that journey 90 years ago will pass through Hub Territory
Be cool -- [Afghani Kush]
I AM HOME
I've got leave here in Texas for the next two weeks and I could be happier. I've got nothing Afghanistan related to post about, but I just wanted to let my readers know that I'll probably be out of contact for a little while.
Millville soldier returns from Iraq to city's open arms -- [NJ.com]
A 2003 graduate of Millville Senior High School, Petitt, appearing at a welcome home ceremony through by the city in his honor Thursday, said he is home ...
More soldiers coming home today -- [Killeen Daily Herald]
Supporters can also welcome troops at Victory Corner, the corner of US Highway 190 and Clarke Road. Those interested are asked to be in place 30 minutes
On Loan at You Served -- [You Served]
Starting May 15th, 2009...It is one of our biggest goals of 2009 to feature milbloggers in this space that are new, exciting, and otherwise unknown to our readership. * We are seeking bloggers who are willing to be "on loan" to our blog* for a few posts over 2 weeks. Just like Professional sports teams sometimes get players "on loan" for a short period of time, we will do the same on You Served.
Media watchdogs blast Army's embed ban -- [Stars & Stripes]
The Army's decision to bar a Stars and Stripes reporter from embedding with a unit in Iraq because he "refused to highlight" good news drew a harsh rebuke from media watchdogs, who said the action compromises the integrity of the media embed program.
"If they put these kind of conditions on it, then I'd say the whole program will collapse," said Kelly McBride, Ethics Group Leader at the Poynter Institute, a media training facility and think tank in St. Petersburg, Fla. "It's not meant to be a public relations program for the military."
Issue of U.S. Troop Withdrawal from ROK Resurfaces in Opinion Piece -- [One Free Korea]
...But in light of recent developments involving North Korea, I find it interesting to once again, hear calls for a full U.S. withdrawal from the peninsula. In an opinion piece penned by a (former?) military service person, a man calls on President Obama to pull U.S. troops out of Korea in a sign to Kim Jong Il that the U.S. is serious about North Korea's latest actions. The writer suggests we withdraw our troops from the peninsula and let the other five nations in the region deal with the problem on their own, without U.S. involvement
Government Health Care - VA's "Shoddy Standards ... Put Veterans At Risk" -- [Q and O - Bruce McQuain]
We had a little dust-up this week when I mentioned Ezra Klein's propensity for government run health care and that he held the VA up as a shining example of what that can be.
Apparently it is a no-no among the crowd that follows Klein to include the government run military hospital system with the government run VA hospital system in a general critique of government run health care. And as is typical of drive-by commenters, they ignored the gist of the post to concentrate on pretending that two government run health care systems were not at all alike (because both have major problems).
So today, we'll just talk about VA and the latest findings that support precisely what I said
Senate Defense bill to raise military pay by 3.4 percent -- [CongressDaily]
The Senate Armed Services Committee plans to approve a fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that includes a 3.4 percent pay raise for military personnel, a half-percent higher than requested by the Obama administration, a Senate source said Tuesday.
Congress to vote on military malpractice bill -- [Star-Gazette]
congressional committee will vote today on a bill authored by U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey that would allow armed services members and their families to hold the military accountable for medical malpractice.
Current law prevents such lawsuits from being filed against the military.
Sen. Kerry's Bid to Produce War Movie Is Up in the Air -- [FOX News]
The Federal Election Commission failed to reach a decision Thursday on the Massachusetts Democrat's request to use $300,000 from his campaign funds to invest in a documentary about injured Iraq war veterans.
Senate Panel Votes for More Stealth Jets, Defying Gates -- [Danger Room]
The White House and the Pentagon leadership couldn't be clearer: they don't want any more of the controversial F-22 stealth fighters. But Congress now seems ready to pour billions into extra jets, anyway. The Senate Armed Services Committee just "voted to fully fund seven F-22 Raptors for $1.75 billion," Air Force Times is reporting.
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