Dawn Patrol

Iraq

Chuck Update as of 28 June [From my position]
Thank you all, again for your kind words, encouragement, support, etc. I tell Chuck daily that all of you are out there and I think he really "feels" the power of the prayers. I know I do! In the next few days you may "hear" from Chuck. Tonight he asked me if he could dictate something to post to all of you. I told him I would when he was ready.

Ryan's column for June [Ryan and Christie'sPlace - Ryan is in Iraq]
Here's Ryan's column, as it appeared in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on June 29.
QURI CHAY, Iraq ? When Ahmed Faraj Muhammed looks at soldiers with the 278th Regiment Combat Team's 2nd Squadron, he doesn't see the faces of occupiers. Instead he is reminded of the five sons he lost at the hands of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
"The U.S. Army saved us and the village," Mr. Muhammed, 73, said through an interpreter. "The spirit of my five sons lives in these soldiers."

Grab Bag [Hurl's Blog]
Today is my last full day at my current location out in western Iraq. I expect to be moving back to al Taqqadum tomorrow. There has been a lot of flying out here - mostly escorting convoys, but also a few interventions, border recce's, and raids in a nearby town. Oh.... and the occasional casevac. Those are missions nobody wants to do....
Civilian traffic along the main East/West highway seems to be picking up - certainly heavier than a month ago.

Duke's Latest Thoughts on 3 Conversations [Broken Masterpieces]
The other day I had the privilege of having three great conversations on the same day. The first was with a Marine Corporal who had been on the front lines going house to house looking for bad guys and weapons. The next person was an Iraqi Colonel and to finish the night I talked to a female Marine who was in the back of the truck that was hit by a suicide bomber.

The Hotbox [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
My soldiers spent the bulk of the morning loading our armored LMTV with supplies ? a thoroughly unpleasant mission made all the worse by the feverish sun. By time the truck was loaded the had painted their uniforms with thick, dark whorls of sweat. They took a few minutes to wring out their saturated tops and swallow long draughts of cold water and then they settled in front of our blustering air conditioner.

Last night [Phil and Becky]
Last night we sent out a company on an early-morning raid to confirm or deny reports of some bad people doing bad things.
The short version: we caught some bad people with some items that would facilitate them doing future bad things.
The boss went on this raid, which actually made for an easier night for me because...

Talk less, think more and do more. [Iraq the Model]
It's visible to everyone that debates over the war in Iraq, war on terror, invasion or occupation or whatever you may name it are at peak levels right now.
The process is being questioned, criticized and discussed more profoundly than at any time in the last two years but you know what?
That's not happening in Iraq; you can find such discussions and accusations in America but you can't find them in Iraq.

In Modern Era, Defeat Rarely Stems From the Battlefield [In Modern Era, Defeat Rarely Stems From the Battlefield]
There is great talk around the blogosphere and the MSM (thanks to Karl Rove) about the potential that we could lose the fight in Iraq. There is one conclusion that arises, and it is repeated by the Generals and soldiers they lead, and the vast majority of the American public.

History Repeats Itself in Iraq [Chaotic Synaptic Activity]
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
We invaded Iraq, and it was difficult, yet we managed to militarily subdue a nation is a very short time. The troops fought well against some dedicated opposition.

And Then You Have This [Ballon Juice]
If you ever wondered why credibility is in short supply in Washington, read this:
Republican congressman from North Carolina told CNN on Wednesday that the "evidence is clear" that Iraq was involved in the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

Iraq War Takes Toll on Army Marriages [Assumption in Command - in Iraq]
The issue of strengthening and maintaining fragile military (not just Army) marriages is of utmost importance. These men and women sacrifice so much for us... be it life or limb... and the last thing they should return to is an empty home.
From my point of view as a Commander here in Iraq, I can say without doubt that yes this deployment is harming marriages of my troops. This deployment is exposing all of the weaknesses of a relationship. If there were any cracks to start before the deployment, these cracks get blown open.

Please indulge me in a rant [Far East cynic]
Definition of a Military Divorce: That is where you pay a former spouse not to live with you, for the rest of your natural life, regardless of fault, merit, remarriage, or individual circumstances. Remember this definition, there will be a quiz at the end.

The MSM Reports on Iraq (Editor's Note: Some subscriptions may be required)

Troops Put Lives On Line To Be Called Americans (USA Today)
It is the hardest way to become an American citizen: fighting for a country that is not yet yours, and in some cases dying for it.

Dangerous Incompetence (New York Times - BOB HERBERT )
The president who displayed his contempt for Iraqi militants two years ago with the taunt "bring 'em on" had to go on television Tuesday night to urge Americans not to abandon support for the war that he foolishly started but can't figure out how to win.

Our Worsening Terrorism Problem (Washington Post)
...We all hope American and Iraqi forces will contain the insurgency there, but what happens then? The answer, unfortunately, is that the terrorists go elsewhere -- as did Osama bin Laden's Afghanistan recruits.

Echoes Of Vietnam (Washington Post)
...But unless Bush rethinks his strategy, fires some people who long ago earned dismissal, examines his own assumptions (what's the point of continuing to isolate Iran and Syria when we need them both to seal Iraq's borders?) and talks turkey to the American people, he will lose everything good he set out to do, including the example Iraq could set for the rest of the Middle East. I know Iraq is not Vietnam. But Tuesday night it sure sounded like it

They Shoot Women, Don't They? (Yankton Daily Press)
...American women in Iraq are dying unnecessarily. And no, I'm not suggesting that men should die necessarily, but that women who are not supposed to be in or near combat are being placed in situations that increase the likelihood of death or injury.

The Speech

DEMOCRAT CRITIQUE OF BUSH'S SPEECH IS FALSE: Congressional Resolution HR [Astute Blogger]
RES #114 - authorizing war on Saddam - cited BOTH 9/11 and al Qaeda
Many Lefties and Democrats - like Senators Boxer and Rockefeller - have critized Bush's speech last might because it - in their opinion - incorrectly conflated 9/11 & al Qaeda with Saddam and Iraq. They further argued that Bush was cynically USING 9/11 to shore up public support for him and the war in Iraq.
What is so mind boggling to me is that both 9/11 and al Qaeda WERE IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION CONGRESS PASSED TO AUTHORIZE THE WAR. I quote:

After Speech [baldilocks]
From an unsigned editorial in the New York Times:President Bush told the nation last night that the war in Iraq was difficult but winnable. Only the first is clearly true. Despite buoyant cheerleading by administration officials, the military situatuation...

The MSM Reports on Bush speech (Editor's Note: Some subscriptions may be required)

Iraqis' Opinion Is Divided On Bush Speech, Promises (AP-Miami Herald)
...Iraqis on the street and the country's politicians seemed divided over Bush's refusal to provide a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops, along with his promises for a better life in this country of 26 million people.

A Subtle Shift In Goals (Washington Post)
...One of the greatest handicaps the administration still confronts is a self-imposed refusal to listen to Iraqis about doing things the Iraqi way. From trying to build a new Iraqi army on U.S. specifications and prejudices to preferring to contract with foreigners rather than employ Iraqis, U.S. officials have often made the perfect the enemy of the good.

Bush Jumps In Polls After War Speech (New York Daily News)
President Bush's instant poll numbers climbed following Tuesday night's Iraq speech, halting for now a steady slide in public support for the war.

Afghanistan

Night Stalker Down! [ROFASix]
Reports are now that the Chinook that was shot down in Afghanistan was a MH‑47.
That means it was a Night Stalker bird. Our hearts and prayers go out to the comrades and families of those superb aviator warriors of the 160th SOAR and the SOF soldiers they were transporting.

Other Parts of the World

Relax and enjoy a game of 3-D chess for oil: Unocal vs. Chevron vs. Cnooc
Quillnews urges all concerned about China?s potential take over of Unocal to take a deep breath. (IHT) We can expect some fear-monger chicken littles in DC to get whipped up and read worrying statements into the Congressional record about falling skies. (WSJ) Ignore that stuff.

The Alliance: U.S. & India Sign Major 10-Year Defense Pact [Winds of Change -Joe Katzman]
Yesterday, in my article on Bangladesh, I noted that the behaviour of its rising Islamists "is slowly forcing the US and India together over common strategic concerns."
Actually, Bangladesh is just one of many - and this week, The United States and India signed a 10-year agreement paving the way for stepped up military ties, including joint weapons production and cooperation on missile defense.

Despicable: UN Cemetery in Busan Vandalized [GI Korea Blog - in Korea]
This story is truly despicable. A group of people has vandalized the UN Cemetery in Busan:
A giant anti-U.S. President George W. Bush message apparently written in herbicide has appeared on the lawn of the UN Memorial Cemetery in Daeyeon-dong, Busan. The site is reportedly on the itinerary of visiting national leaders attending the APEC summit in November.

Military Tributes

My Own Video Montage....Made by me! [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho] (Editor's Note: This takes time to load but is Awesome, Thanks Holly)
I was inspired by several video tributes I've seen online, and wanted to do something similar without covering the same old ground. So I made one with a slightly different theme. I like it (and for my very first video I'm proud of it so be nice... ). I hope you enjoy it to!

Nurses Week Tribute: Grace under fire [GruntDoc]
Excellent article about Military Nurses in Iraq: NursingCenter. WE SEND OUR American patients home—sometimes on their feet, sometimes in wheelchairs or on crutches or stretchers. Some of our patients are badly disfigured, and some have horrendous

Recruiting

Letter to the EditorPUBLISHED in today's San Diego Union-Tribune: [Smash]
Regarding "The new call-up" (News, June 6):
I appreciate that every American has a right to express his or her views regarding war and military service, but I feel that Rick Jahnkow and the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities are doing our local students a great disservice. For many young people, the military provides a unique opportunity to learn valuable skills and earn a decent living, not to mention the pride that comes from serving one's country.
<...>
I wrote this letter a week ago, in response to an article that cast a local counter-recruiting group in a positive light. I'm not sure why the Union-Trib waited so long to publish it.

Make Mission, Go Fishin' - and - Contact Clueless's Mom [Jack Army]
Somebody is making it. It feels good when you are rolling, it's damned stressful when you aren't. Thankfully, some recruiters out there are finding young men and women out there willing to step and and serve. Thankfully, there are recruiters out there slogging it out even though our media and part of Congress is telling Americans it's OK not to support our country and telling our enemies that they'll do what they can to help them defeat America.

The MSM Reports on Recruiting (Editor's Note: Some subscriptions may be required)

Army expects rosy recruiting numbers for June (CNN.com)
The Army is expected to exceed its active-duty recruiting goal in June after significant shortfalls in the last four months, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday.

June recruiting goals exceeded (Army Times)
The Army has exceeded its recruiting goal for June after four months of shortfalls, Pentagon officials said Wednesday. Still, the service is far behind its annual goal of 80,000 recruits.

Army Surpasses Its June Recruiting Goals but Says Much Work Remains(Washington Post)
The Army has exceeded its monthly nationwide recruiting goals for June, stopping a four-month slide and giving recruiters hope as they try to make up a significant deficit in the remaining three months of the fiscal year.

Army Recruiting Up In June But Still Down For Year (USA Today)
The Army cut into its recruiting deficit slightly in June but still faces a daunting battle to meet its annual goal of 80,000 new enlistees.

U.S. Invades Kids' Privacy (USA Today)
...There's no excuse for violating the privacy of children. There's no governmental purpose to collecting their grades, much less their races. There's no legitimate reason to ignore the rights of parents to restrict strangers from contacting their children. There's no way to justify a wholesale database of likely targets from a pool of minors.

Gitmo, Gitmo, Gitmo

Profiles in Cowardice - A New Series [Roger Simon]
Considering the story was buried in typical NYT fashion on page 15, Senator Ron Weyden, D-Oregon, or his minions, must have been pretty panicked to insist on the following correction to the paper's "Senators Laud Treatment of Detainees in Guantanamo":

Changing Stories, Hearsay And Hyperbole At Guantanamo [Small Town Veteran]
The Moscow Times reports on a Russian muslim who was released in March from Guantanamo. Airat Vakhitov claims that prison guards put copies of the Quran in toilets, used "unspecified gas" and allowed dogs to attack inmates.
The problem is, Vakhitov was singing a different tune not too long ago.

The Remedy [BlackFive]
I knew that Durbin's comments would keep reverberating throughout the military community. For all of you that wanted to let it go, there are simply those who will not or cannot let it go. I think the storm is still...]]>

The MSM Reports (Editor's Note: Some subscriptions may be required)

Officers: Gitmo Detainees Abuse Guards (FOX News)
... After visiting Guantanamo Bay (search) over the weekend with 15 other lawmakers, Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., told the hearing that Gitmo is not a "gulag ...

Republicans Praise Gitmo But Block Those Who Disagree (Capitol Hill Blue)
Republicans sing the praises of the Guantanamo prison in Cuba while blocking testimony from anyone who disagrees with their rosy view of the detainee camp that human rights advocates call a "gulag."

At hearing, Guantanamo wins praise and criticism (Boston Globe)
WASHINGTON -- US lawmakers just back from visiting the Guantanamo prison compared it to a resort, but Democrats complained of a ''whitewash" at a hearing ...

Long-Silent Detainees Talking (Washington Post)
...Several members of the committee visited the Guantanamo Bay facility last weekend, and yesterday they almost unanimously spoke favorably about what they had seen

The Media

Hardball Blogging [Swanky Conservative]
It seems as if MSNBC?s Chris Matthews is practically licking Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean?s shoes on tonight?s Hardball. He calls Howard Dean a clear voice in the wilderness, remarks on how credible he is in his opposition antiwar, etc. Matthews is completely accepting of Dean?s stances on the War on Terror, yet he is cynical and critical of President Bush. Matthews accepts without question the Democratic meme that the President is lining Sept. 11 with Iraq, nevermind the President never said so last night or in any other time; he puts the blame for a poll a few years back that said many Americans believed Iraq was behind Sept. 11, and he doesn?t see the War on Terror as including Iraq.

U.S. Army Probes Death Of Iraqi Correspondent (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The U.S. Army is investigating Friday's shooting death of a special correspondent for Knight Ridder, which owns The Inquirer.

Dawn Patrol

Mr President

The President?s Address At Fort Bragg [The Political Teen]
Tonight President Bush will speak about the state of the Iraq war in front of thousands of servicemen at Fort Bragg. The AP has released a few excerpts of his speech with a side of left-wing rhetoric.
VIDEO IN EXTENDED ENTRY

The President's Speech [FullosseousFlap?s Dental Blog]
Flap supports the President?s policies on Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror.
Hey, go over to MoveonPac.com and send your feelings of support for the President using their nice and convenient forms. You can omit their talking points!

Bush: Bloodshed in Iraq Is ?Worth It? [Outside the Beltway]
The Associated Press continues its tradition of reporting presidential speeches that haven't happened yet in the past tense. Mitch Albom was suspended for doing less.
Bush: Bloodshed in Iraq Is 'Worth It' (AP) NOTE: Reported Before Speech

Fake applause; speech numbers [kos]
AMERICAblog:
ABC's Terry Moran just reported that the only time Bush got applause was in the middle of his speech when a White House advance team member started clapping all on their own in order to cajole the soldiers into clapping,...

President's Silence Tonight is Deafening [Kos -Rep Louise Slaughter]
Please Recommend
President Bush spoke tonight and his silence was deafening. If anyone was surprised... if anyone was shocked to see their Commander-In-Chief so divorced from reality, they really haven't been paying much attention. But day by day more Americans are seeing the light.

Leadership 101 [Froggy Ruminations]
In case you missed the President?s speech last night, you missed out on a great example of leadership, strategic vision, and confident discipline. It is unfortunate that it became necessary for President Bush to give this address, but he effectively

Iraq

SPC Roby Vs. IED: The Movie [Armor Geddom]
Well, I promised you guys the movie of SPC Roby blowing up an IED. And here it is. It's my first time, there isn't much cool music or editing so bear with me. I'm no SPC Camp. If the movie doesn't show up as "IED", just hit refresh. SFC Kennedy is in the front seat of the humvee that Roby is in. He is laying Roby's shots onto the IED. You can hear SSG Terry coaching Roby and telling SPC Benton that Roby knows he's shooting short.

Level 4 Body Armor Tested By Air Force [Patriot Voices]
Carried into the Air Force theater hospital, wounded badly in the shoulder and thigh, a servicemember is lucky to be alive.
The body armor he was wearing protected his vital organs but could not stop the bullets from tearing into his unprotected body parts.

A CACHE SEARCH THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT HOT [dIXIE sAPPER]
We rolled out this morning early to try to get a jump on the heat to search some houses and do some cache searches. It was already real hot when we got moving so we knew it was going to be really hot once we got to the cache part in the open desert. As we were driving in our tanks to the area we were going to search, I saw a cow running and pulling something. At first I didn?t really pay that much attention and went back to looking at the road. When we made a turn, I saw the cow again and this time is was running and I could see what it was pulling. There was a little 8-10 year old girl that was holding on to the rope for dear life and...

Transfer of sovereignty anniversary [Phil and Becky]
Today was the one year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, and we expected a spike in AIf activity to commemorate the event.
We have a big map in the TOC of the entire Brigade area of operations, and whenever anything happens, we put a colored sticky tab on the map with a short description of what happened.

Sensitivity Training [Small Town Veteran] MRS G NOTES: Rush's Orange Gitm t-shirts didn't make the list.
From: ComMidEastFor
To: All Commands
Subject: Inappropriate T-Shirts
Ref: ComMidEast Inst 16134//24 K
1. All commanders promulgate upon receipt.
2. The following T-shirts are no longer to be worn on or off base by All forces serving in the Middle East:

It Is About Iraq? [Eric's Grumbles Before The Grave]
I ran across something surprising today. Something I really hadn't known clearly. And something that those who wish to obfuscate the origins of our current conflicts with Islamic extremist tend to gloss over or ignore. The claim has long been..

IRAQ: How Long? [ROFASix]
The web site, Strategy Page, presents an interesting look at how much longer the Iraqi war will continue. Two more years if you believe the Iraqi Prime Minister. That is how long it will take to get those ?damn Sunni's? under control he says. The Sunni, he suggests, are the source of all the insurgent problems in Iraq.

Iraq Casualities Review: a powerful perspective [CDR Salamamder]
This is the best visual description of the cost of the Iraq war. It is all visual, takes little broadband moment to get going. Read into it what you will, but there is something here for both right and left brained folks.

Thank You Mr. Congressman [IRR Soldier - in Iraq]
There was an order put out today by my Brigade that says all E-7s and above and Officers will receive Bronze Stars for being here. It doesn't say all E-7s and above and Officers will receive a Bronze star for something meritorious, but just that you will receive one because you're an E-7 or above. Not only do I think this is ridiculous for the obvious reason that it wasn't earned, but because it cheapens it for anyone who received it before.

Jihad Manual [Watch Your Six]
One of my sources tells me that the "jihad manual" that the Marines found last week contains, among other things, moral justification for killing innocent Iraqis. The manual basically said that there is no problem killing innocent Iraqis to further the cause of jihad.
My source said that this manual will be released to the press this week.

Do we have the will to win? [Air Force Pundit]
A confluence of events now lead me to wonder whether we as a people still have the strength of character to see this through, even as far as we have come, and as much blood and treasure as we have spilled. It is not just the ceaselessly and reflexively pessimistic way in which the news media spins events in Iraq and Afghanistan through a defeatist lens. Read, for example, the way the Washington Post covered the smashing of Taliban remnants as they massed in formations large enough to potentially be combat effective:

Afghanistan

28 June 2005 0152z [Hoike - in Afghanistan]
It's funny how things tend to come full circle. As quickly as this all began, this is all starting to come to a close. I find myself once again in tent city this morning. I hopped onto a chinook flight a few hours ago to get here. With some luck, that'll be the last one I take in a while.
As I was waiting for the bird to arrive last night, I took one last look at the night sky with my head propped up against my duffel bag as I lay there in the sand. I remember the first time I saw that same view a year ago.

Military Issues

The *Other* Quagmire [Argghhh! ]
Remember Bosnia? We had no exit timetable there, either -- just a set of conditions that had to be met before we decided that we were no longer needed in the Peacekeeping role. Those conditions were fulfilled and the last SFOR

Women in combat [JammedGun]
I had posted about the issue of women in combat a few days back. Now here is another piece on the same topic that just appeared in NewsMax.
Folks, igoring this topic will NOT make it go away: There is something about the sight of a woman with a broken or maimed body with injuries sustained in a combat environment which weighs heavily on the consciences of those of us who are devotees of the Judaeo-Christian Tradition

Between the Lines [baldilocks]
As it turns out, there was a senate junket to Gitmo. However, Senators Kennedy and Durbin weren’t there, for some reason. Two Democratic senators just back from reviewing U.S. detention facilities and interrogations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said

Support Our Troops....for Real

Support the troops AND our wishes [Conservative Thinking]
Everyone says they support the troops. But, I'm starting to notice that a lot of people are not supporting what they are doing around the world today. I'm in the Air Force and when I start noticing that my morale is slipping because of the lack of support from US citizens in the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom things are getting bad. There is a minority of Congress that wants us out of Iraq yesterday and a large number of liberal voters that support that sentiment.

The Media

Reporters Who Get It Right [Iraq War News]
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman was not a fan of reporters, to put it mildly. "Now to every army and almost every general a newspaper reporter goes along, filling up our transports, swelling our trains, reporting our progress, guessing at places, picking up dropped expressions, inciting jealousy and discontent, and doing infinite mischief."

Politics

Rove hypnotizes Kos
The new headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Karl Rove, is having a strange - some would say magical - effect on liberals. This from Kos:
Democrats must ride that wave [of growing anti-war sentiment] into 2006, and can do so in ways where they don't sound like hippy retreads.

Bwahahahaha - This is too funny! [View From Tonka]
Freestar Media, LLC
I think this news release will speak for itself!
For Release Tuesday, June 28 to all other media
Weare, New Hampshire
(PRWEB) Could a hotel be built on the land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter? A new ruling by the Supreme Court which was supported by Justice Souter himself itself might allow it. A private developer is seeking to use this very law to build a hotel on Souter's land.

When Should We Abandon Freedom?
In the long course of struggles, it is not without precedent that humankind begins to dispair over the cost of the struggle; the pain of loss and sacrifice, the uncertainty of the outcome. One has cause to wonder if the course we have set, the cause we have supported cannot be won. In every heart, the darkness comes and tries to wipe away the memory, the reason for which we started this course.

The Supreme Court's decision in Kelo got you down? [WILLisms.com]
Cheer up. Texas Senator John Cornyn is on the case. He has introduced legislation to protect the private property rights of Americans, rights which were eroded by the Court's controversial 5-4 decision.

Massachusetts Democrats On Water Rescues [Balance Sheet]
Two summers ago, Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney was at his New Hampshire lake home. He heard screams coming from the water where he had just noted a boat drifting by. He and his sun drove their WaveRunners to the shipwreck and started ferrying the passengers to shore.
When the story was published in the Massachusetts newspapers, a spokeswoman for the loyal opposition members of the Democrat party indignantly said...

The MSM Reports

Among Soldiers And Families, Applause Mixes With Doubts (New York Times)
Specialist Nicki Worrell said that she was not bitter or burdened with regrets about her service in Iraq and that the leg and arm wounds she suffered in August 2003 when a roadside bomb blasted the Humvee she was driving had mostly healed.

Bush's Repetition Leaves Questions Unanswered (Philadelphia Inquirer)
On May 24, President Bush talked about life as a communicator: "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."

The War Is Over, And We Won (The American Enterprise)
Your editor returned to Iraq in April and May of 2005 for another embedded period of reporting. I could immediately see improvements compared to my earlier extended tours during 2003 and 2004

W's War Pleas In Last Throes? (New York Daily News)
President Bush made the sale last night - but only temporarily. His pitch for the Iraq war was about as good as it could be, but not good enough to hold broad public support for very long.

In Memory

Farewell, Mr. Foote [Jump Blog]
Well now. What to say of Mr. Foote? He was most widely known for his appearance in Ken Burns epic documentary ?The Civil War?. He was included in that documentary for two reasons: he had written the definitive three volume history of the American Civil War, and he was incredibly engaging on camera. His unabashed Southern-ness poured out of television screens onto millions of living room floors all across America. People loved him instantly. I myself was instantly taken with the thought that one didn?t have to cover a Southern accent to seem intelligent.

Godspeed John Walton [BLACKFIVE]
John Walton, mostly known as the 11th richest man in the world, died yesterday piloting an experimental aircraft. Wal-Mart Heir John Walton Dies in Crash By

Congrats

Happy Birthday to me. [doubleplusgood infotainment]
The big 36, baby!
I'm going to take it easy on the posting today.

Blogging

Online from the front lines (Boston Herald)
Avid GI bloggers draw followings on Web sites such as mudvillegazette.com, which hosts dozens of the soldiers' stories.
...One popular blogger, Army Capt. Charles Ziegenfuss - who commands a tank company and posts his writing at tcoverride.blogspot.com - was injured by a roadside bomb while on patrol last week. According to a blog post from his wife, Ziegenfuss is in intensive care at a German hospital, set to return to the states this week.

Before the injury, he talked to the Herald via e-mail about why he blogs:...

This might get interesting [Watch your Six]
No sh*t, there I was...
... standing in the line at the commissary. I saw that the new Army Times was out. On the front page, the tagline read "Tracking Bloggers: War-zone web loggers ordered to register."
I wondered if Joe Chenelly had quoted me in his article, so I bought it. Sure enough,...

Army Times: OIF MilBloggers Must Register [Jack Army]
Here are my questions and answers to the email interview:
First, let me give you a few of my thoughts about Milblogging and what it is. The idea of blogging is wonderful because it is so vague. Blogging can be simply a journal or diary or it can be an amateur attempt at journalism. The blog gives an average person, or Soldier, the opportunity to communicate thoughts, ideas, and events in a manner that is extremely fast, far-reaching, and interactive. The idea that I, as a Milblogger, can communicate what I'm doing (within guidelines), thinking, feeling and post photos and links to support all that is amazing. Finally, there is the direction a blog takes, which is limited to the imagination of the blogger. I'd like to think that my blog is a forum with my posts as a starting point for discussions.

Dawn Patrol

Iraq

Walking the Line III [Michael Yon]
The Feathers -North Arabian Gulf
A strange white helicopter landed on the ship to fly us to Kuwait. It was a Puma, with "04" painted on the nose. A few sailors and soldiers boarded the Puma along with CSM Mellinger and company. I was sitting facing left, and as I strapped the lap belt, I fumbled with the shoulder harness. I was not alone in the confusion--the crew chief crouched around the cabin showing everyone how to use the contraption. The "shoulder harness" actually fastened around the right arm?for those sitting facing left?like a sphygmomanometer. So, it's like this: normal seat belt with another seat belt for my right arm, tight like a puffed-up blood pressure-thing, presumably to keep the passenger/victim from breaking sideways in half when the helicopter crashes. Still trying to fathom the design, I saw a sign:

Nation of dreams [Boots in Baghdad - in Iraq]
I appreciate all of your comments regarding amnesty for insurgents. Valid points were made by all and the discussion certainly proved to be productive. I still believe that for amnesty for insurgents to be considered by national leaders is way too premature. The way things have been going since the 16th when I posted the article even strengthens my belief the insurgency is crumbling and desparate.
On the evening of June 30th, Boots In Baghdad MAY be included in a radio program about military bloggers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I GUESS I CAN NOW LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PAPERWORK...LOL [Dixie Sappers]
It was released all over the U.S. today about our mission and all of the PAPERWORK that had to be done the last few days. I guess you can guess now much paperwork is involved when dealing with 25 detainees and making sure everything is in order. You hate to put yourself in danger and then have one of them get off on some technicality, which is similar to the U.S. court system. Overall, it was a very successful mission. It was good to see that the 150TH EN BN got it's name used.

Medical Field Reports From Iraq Part IV: They Get It Done [Popular Mechanics Blog]
Mornings here can be deceptive. Take today, for example, at 0600: a gentle cool breeze, soft blue sky and delicious 80?. If it weren?t for the guard towers, circling gunships and hundreds of M4- and M16-toting soldiers, you?d think it was an early summer day in northeast Ohio. But this won?t last. By 1030 we?ll be back under the broiler.

Prayers....... [Madeuce Gunner]
Three men from my company were wounded in action yesterday. All injuries are non-life threatening, but serious nonetheless. Please pray for my brothers and their families; names are not needed; He knows who you are praying for.

I want this guy more than Zarqawi [Major K]
We lost another good man. Many of us only knew him as "Dup," short for his last name, not because it was in anyway pejorative. He was highly regarded by all who knew him. He was young, but obviously made from the right stuff. We will miss him. Knowing a little about how snipers operate, I know that the SOB that shot him did so

Godspeed [365 and a Wake Up]
Tonight our battalion huddled together under a boiling wind and said goodbye to Arnold Duplantier II, a team leader in Charlie ?Rock? Company. SGT Duplantier was a man that effortlessly earned the respect of his commanders and his soldiers. A tireless soldier, a faithful friend, a caring leader, a loving husband, and a proud father.

A typical day at work [Who's your Baghdaddy?]
The following is an article about our unit that was published in the Dallas Morning News. The author enumerates his experience with one of our platoons when he was imbedded for a day. The platoon was conducting combat patrols, which is something they do almost every day, so this is just a typical day at the office for them.

Beer to Iraq! [Dogtulosba]
My Sapper buddy Chris is great. He's from Utah. Yes, he's a self-proclaimed "Jack Morman." Kinda like the kind of Catholic I am. We used to joke about that one a ton.

Exit Strategy [Jack Army]
First, evacuate everyone inside loop 495...
Its a quagmire I tell ya!
If you consider that there have been an average of 160,000 troops in theater in Iraq during the last 22 months, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000.

Exit Strategy for Iraq [Balance Sheet]
Go home.
"It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq."--Senator Chuck Hagel (R., Neb.), June 27, 2005, U.S. News & World Report.

Guess what: we lose! [Blog Machine City - in Iraq]
Hey, I guess I didn't get the memo, but apparently we're losing. I heard it on CNN too, where Ted Kennedy and other "honored" members of Congress were grilling Rumsfeld and CJTF-7 commander General Casey about our "failed war in Iraq....
<...>
Hearing things like this make me paralyzed with despair and disbelief.

Fragging, A good thing? [JammedGun]
Oh, great! Ward Churchill gets something like $90K a year from the state of Colorado to indoctrinate impressionable young 18-year-olds that fragging is a good thing?

A letter to any American soldier, anywhere, but esp. in Iraq [The Anchoress]
Dear Soldier, Dear Sailor, Dear Marine, Dear Airman;
When I am ready to go to bed,
I feed the fish, and lock the doors and windows,
I pet the dog and say good night to her and warn her off the couches.
I close the lights - lights which work so well, I don?t even think about the fact that in some parts of the world electricity is a sometime thing.

Afghanistan

HOKIE.US and The National Guard Experience Meet [The National Guard Experience]
Well? Can you guess what happened in Ghazni? I met up with Sonny this past weekend, another milblogger here in Afghanistan.

The Deployment Begins [The Makaha Surf Report]
I have left Hawaii and I am TDY en route to Kuwait with a one week stopover in El Paso to attend CRC training, I will highlight the week's events.
CRC Day One:
Well 0400 comes mighty early and even after 10 years of this stuff, it still is quite a shock

Return from Bagram/Note on comments/Kudlow Appearance [Austin Bay]
The trip from Bagram to Kabul to Delhi to London to Chicago to Dallas to Austin took fifty-one and a half hours. I managed to sleep six hours or so, not counting a doze or two. I am shaking off a heavy case of jet-lag with yoga and yard work

Politics

The Highest Stakes [Jump Blog]
It has been asserted that President Lincoln once contemplated the arrest of Chief Justice Taney over the opinion of the Court that condemned the suspension of Habeas Corpus. This suspension allowed Lincoln to arrest persons he believed were threatening the war effort and the country and hold them without trial indefinitely. While the arrest story has been called into question in recent years (though not entirely discredited) that isn?t the interesting part of the story. The interesting part of the story is that Lincoln ignored the decision, just as the Chief Justice expected him to do. There was no outcry in the public, Congress did not move to impeach, and Lincoln kept on arresting and holding.

Is the Left Trying to Make Us to Fail in Iraq? [The Yankee Sailor]
If I read the tea leaves right, it looks like the military is being set up to fail in Iraq. First, there was all the buzz recently about parents and teachers being resistant gatekeepers with respect to rec

We're All in This Together - Part I [Chaotic Synaptic Activity]
The decision last week by the Supreme Court regarding the extension of "eminent domain" to be used by local governments is something we all have, unfortunately, have had a part in. Please stick with me on this one, and don't dismiss this discussion too quickly.

Eminently Important, Communities and Redevelopment [Froggy Ruminations]
...I might have been inclined to agree with the sentiment of my conservative colleagues if I wasn?t so intimately familiar with Redevelopment

Spending Tax Dollars Right [Baldilocks]
This weekend several members of Congress visited Guantanamo Bay. The US lawmakers witnessed interrogations, toured cellblocks, and ate the same lunch given to detainees on the first congressional visit to the prison since criticism of conditions the...

Christians, Commandments, and the Court [The Evangelical Outpost]
In two important church-state rulings announced yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld a Ten Commandments display in Texas, but struck down one in Kentucky. The court ruled that an outdoor public presentation of the Decalogue among other monuments on

"Free speech - to everyone who agrees with us!" [A Healthy Alternative to Work]
Over the past few weeks, I've been getting into conversations with friends and colleagues about the role of religion in government. Certain things tend to spark this:

1 - The insistence of some people to hold on to the "Under God" segment of our Pledge of Allegiance,
2 - Attempts to justify, by these same people, the presence of the Ten Commandments in public structures, and
3 - Any discussion of separation of church and state.

So, this one can stay? [Small Town Veteran]
Background reading here. A key passage:[...] The Fraternal Order of Eagles, a benevolent organization, donated the Texas monument to the state in 1961. The group gave thousands of such monoliths to towns around the country in the 1950s and '60

Gitmo Durbin

"Excuse Me, Sen Durbin, Your Lack of Courtesy is Showing" [Chaotic Synaptic Activity]
...I guess Dick Durbin thinks we fell off the cabbage truck yesterday, but does anyone else notice something completely disingenuous here?

GITMO Abuse Exists..... [Sgt. Foley's Fire-Eaters]
Lt. Col. Gordon Cucullo writes,
Our group went to GITMO to check out tales that the military was being too tough on these terrorist detainees. We left convinced that America is being extraordinarily lenient ? far too lenient.

Now this is torture [Assumption of Command]
I have a message to all of the people who think what we are doing to detainees in Gitmo (like reading Harry Potter to the Bad Guys) is torture.

Supporting the Troops...for Real

Honor Sacrifice Duty [GCS Distributing] (HT: Schadenfreude For the reminder of GCS' great work)
A tribute to our troops. Be sure to read the credits

Gold Star Moms Change their rules [Hoodathunk]
I had written earlier on the topic and thought the group should change its constitution to handle the reality of today's military. I am suspicious that, in spite of Ms. Young's comments, that they would likely not have changed their rules...

The Media

Columnist invents 43 people? (Sacramento Bee)
Sacramento Bee can't locate many profiled by Diana Griego Erwin
A longtime columnist of the Sacramento Bee who resigned amid controversy last month may have invented the existence of 43 people she wrote about over several years, an internal investigation found.

Durbin vs. Rove [Welcome To Andi's World]
The Washington Times explores the coverage (or lack thereof) of these two stories, and illustrates why so many people no longer trust the mainstream media.Last week, for instance, the Big Three -- ABC, NBC and CBS -- had a wonderful time covering Wh

America - Media Making It Up [USS Neverdock]
Main stream media sneer at bloggers, claiming that we are unregulated, out of control and no one checks our work like their editors do theirs. Yet time and time again we find it is MSM who are faking it. And now today comes more media faking it.

Billy Graham and the Clintons [The Anchoress]
1)Apparently, what people who were THERE are saying is that remarks are being reported out of context - that
Graham joked that he had advised Bill Clinton at the end of his presidency to change careers and become an evangelist ?because he has all the gifts ? and he could leave his wife to run the country.?

Three networks delay decision about Bush Iraq talk (Hollywood Reporter)
Three of the four broadcast networks had yet to decide late Monday whether they would carry President Bush's speech on Iraq Tuesday in front of soldiers in Fort Bragg, N.C. By then, only ABC had said it would carry the address.

The MSM Reports

The Speech the President Should Give (New York Times By JOHN F. KERRY )
TONIGHT President Bush will discuss the situation in Iraq. It's long past time to get it right in Iraq. The Bush administration is courting disaster with its current course - a course with no realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers and increasing the odds for success.

Survey Finds Most Support Staying In Iraq (Washington Post)
As President Bush prepares to address the nation about Iraq tonight, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that most Americans do not believe the administration's claims that impressive gains are being made against the insurgency, but a clear majority is willing to keep U.S. forces there for an extended time to stabilize the country.

Bush misled American public on Iraq war: Poll (Aljazeera.com)
The Bush admin. has refused to set a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
A new poll showed that most of the Americans now believe that President George W. Bush has "misled" the public in going to war in Iraq.

Democrats Report No Abuse At Gitmo (Washington Times)
Two Democratic senators just back from reviewing U.S. detention facilities and interrogations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said they saw no signs of abuse and said it would actually be worse to close the facility and transfer the detainees elsewhere.

The Not-So-Long Gray Line (New York Times)
...The problem the Army created in Vietnam has never really been solved. If you keep faith with soldiers and tell them the truth even when it threatens their beliefs, you run the risk of losing them. But if you peddle cleverly manipulated talking points to people who trust you not to lie, you won't merely lose them, you'll break their hearts

Blogging

On Military Affairs; Mil-Blogging, an Interview with Greyhawk of the Mudville Gazette [Bayosphere]
In looking about the Bay Area in general, I find that informed reporting on military affairs is less than common.
As such I have decided to try to fill some small part of the chasm, and begin with a piece which intersects with Bayosphere's emphasis on Citizen Journalism. The interesection I choose is Mil-Blogging (blogging on subjects military by folks both military and civilian).

One of my regular stops in the blogosphere is The Mudville Gazette,

Blog Wars (washingtonpost.com)
Every day, it seems, there are more blogs, more compilations of blogs and more chatter about blogs, as online debate comes in more flavors....

Editors Note: Many Blogger are experiance problems with the diplay of their blog. The body of the last post won't start until the end of the sidebar. Haven't touched the template.

@#!%*& Blogspot... [Exultate Justi] HT: Omar
This is happening all over, so it's a Blogger snafu. I did a little digging, and uncovered a forum post on the problem (and at least a temporary solution).

Dawn Patrol

Iraq

To Honor our Dead [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
MAJ K, Thunder6 and I are all well. We had a costly week. We lost a brother, and the sorrow that has consumed us has left me in darkened spirits. There was no period of denial, only the realization that a soldier, a man, a husband, father and a brother is no more. Today was his memorial, and the emptiness and grief I feel hs again consumed me. There is no lonelier sound I can comprehend then the sound of dog tags clanking in the wind. This past week has shattered any pretense of ?reduced? activity in our Area of Southern Baghdad. Monday morning I awoke to the sound of war. The sound of thunder ripped me from my slumber, not one, not two but three enormous explosions shattered the still morning air. Before I knew it I was running at full speed to the Operations Center, and as expected it was alive with activity.

Reconstruction Games [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
At the recent meeting between President Bush and the Iraqi President Ibrahim al-Jafaari a reporter asked Bush when the reconstruction would start. Bush deferred the question to Jafaari, basically saying that the Iraqis are in charge of their own country as well as reconstruction. We?re here to help.
I have a few observations. First, reconstruction has clearly been going on since April ?03.

Day 159B - Clear Window into a Muddy Iraq [Wayne's World - in Iraq]
Today's online news contained this tribute to Wayne from Kathy Spurlock, Executive Editor of The News-Star in Monroe, LA, our home before we moved to Hot Springs, AR.

Conversation With A Fallujah Marine [The Wide Awakes]
Even if you don?t know all the unit names that are deployed to Iraq; even if you don?t know much about the war itself, chances are you know about Fallujah. It?s where Sgt Rafael Peralta saved his fellow Marines after being mortally wounded by reaching for a grenade and tucking it under his torn and battered body. In a perfect example of ?small world?, I was ?introduced? recently via Sgt Nate DeWeerd, a friend of mine, to Corporal Aaron Kuck, a Marine who serves with Charlie Company, 1st Bn 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division. In Iraq, his unit was the Ground Combat Element for the 31st MEU; Charlie was the first company of 1st Bn Marines in Fallujah. Aaron spent 75 days in Fallujah occupying the city. I had a chance to talk to him tonight for a while.

BOSTON, MA WANTS TO DO A RADIO SHOW ON 150TH ENGINEER BATTALION [Dixie Sappers]
I was forwarded some information that was posted on the 150TH Forum by a lady in Boston, MA who wants to do a radio show on our battalion. I think this is a great honor.

Marines regulate air traffic in Al Asad [New MilBlog Ring member - Live in Iraq]
The Marines from the air traffic control facility here are like police officers who enforce rules and regulations for all ground traffic on the airfield and all air traffic in a five nautical mile radius from the center of the airfield up to 3,000 feet. In the busiest military airfield in Iraq, they control what could be total confusion.

The New Guy [Confessions of a Caffinated Zoomie]
1/3 of the way done if the worst case scenario happens. That is the good news. It seems longer. I am looking on the bad side so I will be happy if we leave sooner. It is hard when we see the first Guard rotation leaving. They are happy of course. Talking about it all the time in front of us. I cant blame them. I know when my time comes the enthusiasm will leak out of me but I am going to try and hold it in as much as possible. No sense pissing in someone elses Cheerio's. Then again even I dont have anything to complain about. The Grunts and Dawg's are here for a year. THAT blows. So I press on with life. And now the new rotation comes in.

He's Baaaackkk! [Soldier's Mom]
Whooohooo! He landed at Newark Airport at 1:30 this afternoon! (He left Iraq Thurs. morning -- Wednesday evening our time). I have to wait a week to see him, but he called as soon as he was boots on the ground! I don't know how to explain it, but the conversation was so light and different than the ones from Iraq (sigh).
I asked him about the best part of being home ... He said, "It doesn't smell here... and I don't have to worry whether someone wants to shoot me." He was really humbled by the number of people in Atlanta and Newark that patted him on the back, shook his hand and thanked him --

Catching Up, Part 1[Appalachian Patria]
I now sit here in my 28X60' Castle listening to Local Noise, a Radio Show out of Athen's Georgia featuring the area's bands. Today has been a murky and at times rainy day. It's the first time I remember it raining on the 26th of June. Usually it is a hot, hazy and sticky day. I know...Happy Birthday to me...and to you.
What is to follow is a sries of Journal Entries I made while at Ft. Lewis Wa. It was written on Note Book Paper and is being transposed onto this blog. Internet Access was very limited for me. I eventualy made it to a Coffee shop where I could post quickly, if no one was in line.

Could We Lose? [Neptunus Lex]
Several months ago I wrote a rather long, somewhat overwrought response to a question about the War on Terror that had been asked of me by a liberal friend: Can we win?
In essence, I concluded that we could win, and that we would, as soon as the enemy realized that we would not be defeated.
But there was a corollary to that conclusion as well...

If there are 150,000 trained ISF, why do we need so many Americans here? [Phil and Becky]
I watched an excerpt of an interview with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on This Week with George Snuffelupagus, and there was an exchange that I think merits some discussion.

Flies on the paper [Winds of Change - Bill Roggio]
The Flypaper theory has come under much derision since it was proposed, but it is difficult to deny the US presence in Iraq has attracted important and hard to detect members of al Qaeda. Many al Qaeda members have been killed or captured in Iraq while to engage the US Army and Marines on conditions disadvantageous to the jihadis. Iraq has forced al Qaeda to commit its limited resources to the battle, and experienced leaders and operators have thrown themselves against US and Iraqi forces with reckless abandon

Afghanistan

Memory, Russian vehicles or irony and quote [Going Down Range]
What do you have around your neck? When I joined the army years ago, it used to be a set of dogs tags on a chain. Now I have my dog tags with three memory sticks to told offical and personal information such images from my from my wife. The other two memory sticks carry power point presentations, standard operating procedures and other army information. The one of the more interesting facts is the two of the memory sticks each has two gigs of memory. When I was a young, 64k of memory was a lot and I stored applications on cassette tape. Now I have short movies stored five gigs of memory. In a few years this shall be dwarfed.

Iran

Mullah Press Corps Calls Ahmadinejad 'Victory' "Stunning" [The Word Unheard]
In the Iranian Puppet Show called "You Vote (or not), We Win", Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (you know, of IRGC fame) was credited with having more votes that Rafsanjani. No matter, really. The 'choice' presented was akin to being asked whether one would prefer to have one's arm cut or have it sliced.

Document shows Iran's business ties to Bin Laden [Regime Change Iran]
Ken Timmerman gave us permission to publish here an important document from his book. There are over 40 pages of such documents featured in the back of his book.

Korea

No More Flights Through Osan [GI Korea Blog]
The flights to and from Korea for USFK soldiers stationed on peninsula will end and be replaced by commercial flights from Incheon. This is great news because flying out of Incheon is a lot nicer than flying out of Osan. Apparently the flights that run twice a week out of Osan are much more expensive than regular commercial flights from Incheon.
But in a cost-cutting move, the Defense Department will by 2008 phase out Patriot Express service to all but five locations:...

Support our Troops

A Soldier's Commentary on Troop Support [Marine Corps Moms]
For the past two years, I've received hundreds of e-mails from ordinary citizens, some parents of troops, some with no family members in service, but most of whom are solidly in support of those sons and daughters who protect and serve. Thank God for our troops, but I'm also profoundly thankful for those who support our troops. And I still get choked up when someone notices my Marine Corps Mom t-shirt or my lapel pin proclaiming my pride in my son and asks me to pass along their thanks. Yesterday, I called Southwest Airlines to secure military pricing on my son's flight home for the 4th of July holiday. The Southwest representative on the other end of the phone line helped me with the flight details, then said, "When he gets off the plane, please tell him that my son and I in Oklahoma City are so thankful for his service. Please tell him that." And I'll be happy to pass that message along.

Six Days Left Until the "Rear Echelon Blogathon" [Molten Thought]
WordGirl and I are busily preparing for the 1st ever MoltenThought "Rear Echelon Blogathon" beginning at 12 am Saturday, July 2nd, and continuing until 12 midnight Sunday, July 3rd.

Why are we doing something so silly? Hath MacBeth murdered sleep?

The Military

History...New and Old [Courage without Fear]
Some of you who have been following my blog for sometime may have noticed that I?ve finally decided on a look and a banner for the site. The name of my site, ?Courage Without Fear? is our regimental motto. The symbol on the left side of the banner is the 126th Armor regimental crest. The background for the banner is the new camouflage pattern that the Army has adopted for the new Army Combat Uniform. My banner represents the old and the new of the 1st Battalion 126th Armor Regiment.

US Military Insignia The QandO Blog
Over the past few weeks, I've been working on a large project to compile as complete a presentation as I can of the military insignia of the United States' Armed Forces, including rank, branch, and occupational insignia, as well as qualification badges. As of this morning, that project is now more or less complete. So, we now have here a fairly comprehensive guide to all of the common insignia worn by the members of the various US Armed forces.

Politics

The Victory Vigil Returns! [Smash]
WHILE OUR SOLDIERS fighting overseas are asking their commanders whether the people back home still support their mission, some of our neighbors choose to mark the 229th anniversary of our nation?s independence by calling for a ?Flag Burning Day.?

Now more than ever, it?s important for Americans to express our patriotism, and support for our military. It?s time for another Victory Vigil!

Mornin'! [Castle Argghhh!]
It would seem Kelo has driven the Flag Burning Amendment from the right side of the blogoverse I inhabit. I admit, I don't generally vist the Leftish Spiral Arm, so I have no idea what they are blathering about. It's...

Just So You'll Know Where I Stand [The Bow Ramp]
Flag Burning Amendment I'll support this ammendment the day I can listen to a Senator or Congressman make a speach and have a reasonable expectation that he or she is telling the un-spun truth. In ...

Who Cares [Arklahoma]
Most people are too pissed off right now about the whole eminent domain thing to really be giving a damn about the no-burning-the-flag ordeal. Luckily, I did find some commentary that pretty much summed up my thoughts:...

My Response to your Confusion [Eric's Grumbles Before The Grave]
I ran into a group of attorneys who are perplexed. They also use the argument that if we didn't oppose something else, we are wrong to oppose this. This is in the same vein as the oft heard argument that if we are going to invade country X because we don't like their government then we should also invade countries A, B, and C or we are morally bankrupt. This piece of logic is a load of hogwash. I won't bother to argue it, many others have demonstrated that such logic is false before me. Quoting from their blog entry:..

Kelo II: [Grims Hall]
The more I think about this, the madder I get. Doc has a post on the topic, and at the bottom in an update he notes that a town in Texas has already moved to take several buildings away from existing companies, in order to build a marina. "The Great SCOTUS Land Grab," they call it.

Standby For Judicial Decisions--And It Won't Be Good [Scott's Conservative News & Commentary]
The current session of the Supreme Court ends Monday, and high-profile decisions are expected to be announced.
The disastrous decision this week by the Court to drastically expand eminent domain access (see out previous post

Despotic Branch of Government [Balance Sheet]
A 'new and improved' interpretation of the 5th Amendment (1791) was this week performed by a 5 to 4 majority of the United States Supreme Court wherein 'public use' has now become 'private and increased-tax-revenues-use.' In its decision, the justices said that government can seize private property from one owner and transfer it to a second owner because the new owner would pay more in property taxes.

Vietnam Redux [Cadillac Tight]
...When Tim Russert says "the American public is against the War on Terror and the halls of Congress are echoing that sentiment", what you should immediately get from that statement is that certain Democratic politicians, and a few Republican "mavericks" - you know the ones, the usual suspects, are making speeches that they hope will enhance their own, and their party's standing

Liberals Lack Basic Research Skills? [Backcountry Conservative]
David Anderson:
In reality, I find Cheney, Rumsfeld and the boys interesting people. To a man, each of them found a way to avoid military service. Cheney in fact found it "not a priority," when he had his chance to go to Vietnam, and we all know Bush's history. And yet, these men are the biggest chickenhawks of all. Incredible...
Biography of Donald Rumsfeld
Mr. Rumsfeld attended Princeton University on academic and NROTC ...

Taxes, Productivity, MSM, Midterm Elections, SCOTUS, etc. [Four Right Wing Wackos]
It was one of the major domestic policy issues of the 2004 elections, wasn't it? Social Security reform was an election issue, too, but making the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts permanent was a major campaign issue while Social Security was not. (Social Security was more of an issue in 2000 that got sidetracked due to more important things like psycho mass murdering islamofascist goatmolesters flying jets into skyscrapers and two resultant wars.) Kerry you may recall had said that he believed the tax cuts were irresponsible and would have them repealed if elected president. Well, Bush won the election, and despite the nearly constant negativism we've been bombarded with from the media and politicians on the left, the economy is doing quite nicely thank you very much, so is this issue going to come up or are the 2003 tax cuts going to be allowed to expire?

Of Martha Stewart and Gitmo [Roger Simon]
Forget Dick "What Me Gulag?" Durbin or Karl "The Enforcer" Rove; the most revealing political statement made recently was by the rather more obscure Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif, who just told the Associated Press about her Congressional visit to Gitmo this weekend: "The Guantanamo we saw today is not the Guantanamo we heard about a few years ago." (Apparently, Gitmo didn't turn out to be that dastardly off-shoot of the Spanish Inquisition after all. No torture chambers. No Torquemada. Not even one wet Koran.)

The Media

Sedition and Unpatriotic Activities [Toe in the Water]
I am sickened, saddened, hurt, and really, really pissed off. Last night at about midnight, I pulled up a Yahoo News page. For your edification, I have provided below a paragraph or so of the text from all of the Featured Articles and Opinion & Editorials sections that were displayed. I did not even look at the (more stories) links. Each of these articles can easily be categorized as a negative portrayal of the efforts of the United States and her Allies in the Global War on Terror. Nearly every instance of a positive report is quickly followed by a series of but... statements, all negative.

"D骠 Vu" Reporting on Iraq from LA Times [ROFASix]
?Bush's Credibility Takes a Direct Hit From Friendly Fire,? writes the LA Times today. The paper is generally predictable. It rarely writes anything about the Iraq War without inserting ?Abu Ghraib,? ?since Bush declared major combat operations over,? or ?the failed hunt for WMD,? in its stories. Surprisingly, this one only contained the ?declaring victory? slur in its usual litany of ?stock? phrases. This story did go back and add in the tired analogy of Vietnam and by default the ?quagmire? theme.
Feature Articles:...

The MSM Reports

Survey On News Media Finds Wide Displeasure (New York Times)...Katharine Q. Seelye
...In addition, respondents were critical of news coverage of the military. The survey showed that 47 percent agreed that news organizations were "weakening the nation's defenses" by criticizing the military. That number, the highest since 1985, was also driven by Republicans, 67 percent of whom agreed with the statement.

U.S. Troops Shoot Gun-Wielding Man In Afghanistan (Reuters)
...On Sunday, Mullah Dadullah, one of two top Taliban commanders the government said had been surrounded in last week's fighting, telephoned Reuters to say that only seven or eight guerrillas had been killed, including one commander, Mullah Mohammad Easa. U.S. and Afghan forces have reported killing nearly 400 insurgents since March as they move to prevent guerrilla efforts to derail Sept. 18 parliamentary elections.

The Good News And Bad News (Newsweek)...Fareed Zakaria
...Secretary Rumsfeld has long argued that American troops should never engage in nation building, leaving that to locals. But while we waited for Iraqis to do it, chaos broke out and terror reigned. So the Army on the ground has ignored Rumsfeld's ideology and has simply made things work.

The Army's Hard Sell (New York Times)...Bob Herbert
...The all-volunteer Army is fine in peacetime, and in military routs like the first gulf war. But when the troops are locked in a prolonged war that yields high casualties, and they look over their shoulders to see if reinforcements are coming from the general population, they find -as they're finding now - that no one is there.

Regaining Respect (Washington Post)...Jeffrey H. Smith
Law matters, especially in time of war. This is true not only for moral reasons but also because adhering to the rule of law makes us stronger. We are now paying the consequences, "big-time" as the vice president might say, for a number of decisions made right after Sept. 11, 2001, that gave short shrift to both domestic and international law.

Dawn Patrol

Chuck and the Angel Program [Two Babes and a Brain]
Hey guys and new comers--
Just want to let you know that the donation button to the right is for Chuck's guys still in Iraq. When we met Chuck we asked him what they needed. He told us that it would be really great if the guys could get these thinggys--Lisa knows the right names for them--that keep the guys water cold. It's 120 degrees there and only a few things really work. So, because Chuck is all set right now and he is concerned about his guys--we have decided to keep the donations going in that direction. Each cold water thinggy costs 30 dollars--although we have contacted the company that makes them to see if--since we are trying to buy 66 of them--they will give us a deal. So far, we have enough money to buy four.

Another Failed Attack [Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
The insurgency tries its hand once more at a massed assault, this time on an Iraqi police station in Baghdad. Omar from Iraq The Model directs us to an article in the Guardian on the assault, and rightly points out the negative slant in the article (hat tip to Soldier's Dad). The Guardian titles this one "Iraq insurgents snatch victory from defeat", but it is clear this attack was a massive military defeat.

Interview with PFC Gillens [DVIDS video]
Private First Class Kelton Gillens talks from Mosul to a reporter at WCBD in Charleston, South Carolina about his role as a tanker. Video from the 366th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

OIF Today: 16 June[DVIDS video]
The June 16TH edition of Operation Iraqi Freedom Today features the rescue of Douglas Wood after being held for 47 days as a hostage. Produced by JOC W. Houlihan and hosted by First Sergeant Kelly Luster, American Forces Network Iraq.

WERE ARE THE WMDS?!?!?!!?!?" - Here..... [Chaotic Synaptic Activity]
Remember the Jordanians who were gonna set off a few fire works?
Well, there's some WMD reality.

Does exhausted and stressed still qualify as fine? [It's not just about the war]
Let's just say that I am not envying R2A and the boys this week.
The IED's are thick.. the natives are even thicker

22 June 2005 [Paint it Black - in Iraq]
I went and saw you D, the day you died. I tired to close your eyes but they wouldn't stay closed. The 1SGT asked me if I wnted to see you and I hesitated, a fraid of what I would see. I didn't want to see your smashed body but I needed to say goodbye, to look at you one last time.

Day 158 - Messages from 155th Commanding Officers [NEW MilBlog Ring Member! - Wayne's World 2005]
This week, LTC Mohammed (local Iraqi Army Commander) and myself visited with many citizens, business owners, and local officials in the city of Musayyib.
We met initially with LTC Ahmed (Iraqi Police Chief),
<...>
The fact that these officials and business owners wanted to be seen in public with Americans is a significant event. Six months ago, most officials in this area did not want to be viewed as cooperating with Americans in fear of the insurgents.

Iraqi Kids Project: A Candle in the Darkness [NEW MilBlog Ring Member! - The MI Guy]
Update on the Iraqi Kids Project
Meredith and 2LT Elizabeth Hunt '05 organized a toy and clothing drive for Iraqi kids near Baghdad. I helped them make some contacts and with a little bit of the organizing. The two worked hard and I'm happy to report the project was a success. Last I checked we had about a entire room full of goods. Soccer balls, dolls, children's clothes,

Afghanistan

Two Degrees of Separation [CaliValleyGirl - boyfriend in Afghanistan]
I was at Technorati searching for blog posts related to Bagram, and came along Austin Bay's blog. Teresa from Technicalities had mentioned him, but I wasn't familiar with the author and OIF2 veteran. And so I was reading his post from Tuesday, and I recognized the incident he was describing, because my boyfriend had told me about taking some guys whose aircraft had to return to Bagram, him being one of the pilots of the second Chinook:

Feast or Famine [Fire Power Forward - in Afghanistan]
When I go back and look at the posts I have put up recently, it looks like there is not a lot going on. The reason for that is, well, there?s not a lot going on?here anyway. It seems somewhat paradoxical to me, because from March to June, the work was overwhelming, if there was a moments peace we were probably forgetting something, and yet it seemed to slip the media?s mind that there were still people fighting and dying in Afghanistan.
Now, I?m finding myself with more down time and a more relaxed rhythm as we settle into our new roles here at BAF, but I?m also finding an increased sense of isolation and I wonder if it?s not self-inflicted. I see the reports of enemy contact from the field, and it doesn?t seem to phase me but then I see the AP report that 178 Afghan rebels were killed in the heaviest fighting since 2001. What am I missing here?

A Patrol on the Berq River [Austin Bay]
The MP motor patrol left Bagram Air Base at 0800, four armored Humvees on a swing through the hard-scrabble farms along the Berq River. This particular patrol had a definite Alaskan slant, with the patrol leader, SSG Matthew Taylor, serving in the 164th MP Company (Fort Richardson, Alaska). The 164th is currently part of the 716th MP Battalion, Ft Campbell, Kentucky. I rode in the second Humvee, along with Major Dennis ?DZ? Zink, XO of the 716th, Specialist Joshua Fisher, the driver, and Specialist John Reid, our machine gunner. I told Fisher I?d try and include him in a column since he?s from Wichita Falls, Texas, and his local paper, the Times-Record, carries my column. I think the most interesting member of our crew, however, was our gray and grizzled translator, who goes by the nom de guerre of Jdhooshi. Jdhooshi, he told me, is a city north of Kabul. It seems to fit this spry 69 year-old Afghan? or maybe I should call him an Angeleno. Jdhooshi has lived in Los Angeles for 27 years. He has three engineering degrees, and a comfortable life in Southern California. But when the War on Terror came to Afghanistan ...

The Golden Rules of Returning Home [The National Guard Experience - in Afghanistan]
After being deployed to Afghanistan for almost a year, I have laid out these rules of returning home for family, friends, soldiers, and wives. Now, listen up. The government is hard-pressed. It copes with millions of issues from returning soldiers and their families. I wanted to help and do my part. So, here are some guidelines to help cope with the 'real' issues. Anyone who doesn't read these rules, deserves to be a punching bag. Don't try to be a hotshot and think you know-it-all. Oh wait..

25 June 2005 1629z [Hokie.us - in Afghanistan]
It's after dinner and I'm just taking care of some business in the ALOC when I turn around. There, waiting at the door is none other than JP, aka SPC Borda from the National Guard Experience. I'd met him on multiple occasions in the past, but I hadn't been face-to-face with him since he started blogging. We probably only talked for about ten minutes today, but that was easily the highlight of my day. I know that sounds kinda pathetic, but it's not. It's always nice to meet bloggers in person. I say that like I have experience, but I think this may be the first one for me. I've met a number of people through the internet, and that's always exciting; but this is the first time I've met a blogger. It's kinda like meeting a pen pal...except we didn't write to each other more than once or twice.

Iran

Iran?s ruling clerics fear street protests [Regime Change Iran]
Iran Focus:
A day after the surprise election of the ultra-conservative mayor of Tehran as the new President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the country's security forces were placed on heightened state of alert throughout Saturday to prevent any street demonstrations. READ MORE

Korea

USFJ Implements New Dress Code [GI Korea Blog]
The United States Forces Japan (USFJ) has implemented a new dress code to enhance the appearance of US military personnel in Japan. This new dress code is identical to the dress code in effect for all Second Infantry Division soldiers in Korea. All 2ID soldiers are required to carry a small book called the Warrior Standard Book in their right cargo pocket that describes all 2ID policies including pictures of improper dress clothing. Soldiers like to joke that in the field the book is great substitute for not having a Maxum magazine handy because you can check out the skimpyly dressed women in the Warrior Standard instead.

Military Issues

Heather Thibault Part One: Women in Combat [Reasoned Audacity]
...But battlefield medics are charged with evacuating wounded. While the reporter is busy venting spleen over the big, bad "military policy" keeping Heather out of combat -- as if engaging the enemy is some glorified Disneyland ride that they kept her from experiencing -- the article doesn't express any interest in Thibault's ability, or not, to carry a 180 pound soldier (plus 80 lbs of battle rattle) out of harm's way.

FEMALE CASUALTIES [NRO the Corner]
This morning's New York Times reports: "At least four women serving in the American military, including three marines, are among the six known dead in a suicide car bombing in Falluja on Thursday. . . . Eleven women were also among the 13 marines wounded in the strike. . . . [that] military officials suspect was carefully planned and might have been aimed at the women." The Washington Post reports: "According to a Marine statement, female Marines 'play a vital role providing security at the entry control points' of Fallujah. 'They search female Iraqi moving through checkpoints. Female Marines are employed in this role in order to be respectful of Iraqi cultural sensitivities.'"

Are We There Yet? Creating a Roadmap to Victory in Iraq [Alexander the Average]
Recently, in a highly visible move, several politicians have called for the immediate withdrawal of US forces from Iraq or tried to force the Bush administration to set criteria for withdrawal:

A conservative, a moderate, a liberal and a libertarian teamed up in the House

Politics

Something Stinks at the Huffington Post [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
Yesterday Michelle Malkin posted about a Huffington Post article with some poor comments about the Vice-Presidents Health:
...But this is just the leading to what I find stinky. Later in the day Arianna Huffington responded this way:

The Ad Dick Durbin Does NOT Want [Move America Forward]
Aired in the United States ? WATCH IT HERE
It's important that we stand up for our troops and the mission they are serving on (Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom) at a time when so many people seem determined to undermine their efforts.

Socialism, Fascism, or Statism? [NEW MilBlog ring memeber! - ROFASix]
Today I eavesdropped on the angry discussions of other foursomes waiting to tee off at my nearby military golf course. I was astounded to discover the anger and betrayal expressed about the recent 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that a city could seize private homes and sells them to a private developer for the common good.

SFTT - Generals Who Admit ?Lack of Leadership? Should Be Fired [Consul-At-Arms]
I'd just like to let Madam Hackworth and Mister Charles' article speak for itself.

Our 911 Memorial

"It wasn't supposed to be this way...
"Debates over the struggle for freedom here and across the globe are necessary, but they have no place at Ground Zero....

"...as we recently learned, other agendas, including a museum with vulgar, America-bashing "art," have been trying to get a foothold at Ground Zero. Gov. Pataki has promised not to tolerate anything that denigrates our country or its heroes ? but the fact that he had to step in shows how closely the process must be monitored. If any history lesson is going to be told, it should be this: On Sept. 11, 2001, we were attacked by terrorists and went to war to protect our freedom.

Who Is Tom Bernstein? [Take Back the Memorial]
According to Associated Press writer MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN, Tom Bernstein and President Bush would appear to be best buddies:...
...But that isn?t the whole picture now, it is Mr. Weissenstein? In a story that would do better to grace the pages of the National Enquirer, Mr. Weissenstein can?t seem to find the space or doesn?t appear to be inclined to pass along some very disturbing facts about Mr. Bernstein that were made crystal clear in The Great Ground Zero Heist:...

The Media

Prosecuting The War On Terror! [GM's Corner]
One of my favorite quotes for prosecuting the current Global War on Terror is this:
"...we will surprise ourselves by facing up to the reality that you can't be a great power unless you are prepared to risk your own citizens' lives. If we discover the strength of character to do the right thing, there is still the question of whether European nations will also be prepared to join in."
Now, I have to admit a bit of subterfuge, I left out part of the above quote because it really wasn't about the GWOT, it was about Kosovo. Here, is the full quote:...

Come on in, the Water's Warm . . . [Andi's World]
or, keep your eyes off our blogs? How very, very interesting.
A new study shows that while journalists may not see blogs as highly credible, they read them.
Most journalists use blogs to do their work, even though only 1% believe blogs are credible, according to a survey by Euro RSCG Magnet done in partnership with Columbia University.

The MSM Reports

US 'in talks with Iraq with Iraq rebels' (Times Online)
Insurgents reveal secret face-to-face meetings
AT a summer villa near Balad in the hills 40 miles north of Baghdad, a group of Iraqis and their American visitors recently sat down to tea. It looked like a pleasant social encounter far removed from the stresses of war, but the heavy US military presence around the isolated property signalled that an unusual meeting was taking place.

Report: U.S. Secretly Met With Insurgents (AP-San Francisco Chronicle)
U.S. officials held secret talks in Iraq with the commanders of several Iraqi insurgent groups recently in an attempt to open a dialogue with them, a British newspaper reported Sunday.

Silver Stars Affirm One Unit's Mettle (Washington Post)
...The battle occurred immediately before the recent controversy in Congress over the suitability of having women in combat. Hester's squad and commanders derided the debate as insignificant and absurd. "It kind of makes me mad," Hester said. "Women can basically do any job that men can."
"I sit here in amazement that Congress would debate this issue when we've been doing it for so long," said Command Sgt. Major Joseph Shelley of the 18th Military Police Brigade, which oversees Hester's squad.

The Numbers Tell How Lethal Iraq Remains (Baltimore Sun)
In March, 35 American soldiers and Marines died in Iraq, nearly all of them killed by insurgents. In April, 52 Americans were killed. The total in May was 80. In those three months, insurgents killed more U.S. troops than Saddam Hussein's army did during the fight to oust his regime.

We Need Straight Talk From W (New York Daily News)
Are we losing the war in Iraq? Have the American people decided that hellhole of a country is a lost cause?