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Well if you have arrived here that means Hosting Matters has not won the battle against the DOS attack. This is also affecting email as well so please be patient and we'll answer as soon as we can.
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
IRAQ THE MODEL -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Today Baghdad is witnessing a tragic disaster; hundreds have died and more were injured when huge crowds of pilgrims heading to the shrine of Imam Kadhom caused the fence of the A'imma bridge to collapse pushing people to fall into the Tigris river.
The news is still uncertain about the cause and casualty toll of this disaster but sources in the ministry of health say that around 640 people were killed in the incident.
What Horror... -- [Back to Iraq - a Journalist in Iraq]
BEIRUT ? While the world watches New Orleans drown, Baghdad has seen the single greatest loss of life when thousands of Shi?ite pilgrims panicked on a bridge over the Tigris and stampeded after rumors flew among the crowd that two suicide bombers were in the midst.
Almost 650 people are dead and hundreds wounded. They drowned in the river and suffocated on land.
Gotcha! -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? - in Iraq]
We caught some of the scumbags that were responsible for Saturday?s mortar attack. A raid was organized and conducted in the early morning hours yesterday and we netted several bad guys. Out of this group of thieves we have identified at least four of them as suspected members of Muqtada al-Sadr?s militia. The troops are all pumped from the results of a successful mission, but we are not done yet. We are continuing to tighten the noose in order flush more of these rodents out of their hiding places. Obviously I can?t provide a lot of detail, but I will post updates as I can.
The MRX -- [Major K - in Iraq]
For the past 2 1/2 years, there have been several evolutions in building the new Iraqi Army. It first started as the ICDC, then became what is now the Iraqi Army. All over the country, this army has been being built from the ground up. It started with basic training, where new soldiers were forged with better training than was given to the "Commandos" of the old regime. By the standards of the former regime, every American Soldier would be considered to be "Special Forces" trained.
ISF progress in basic warrior training -- [ Live in Iraq]
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 30, 2005) -- A team of focused soldiers equipped with helmets, protective vests and weapons swiftly move through a destroyed building to make sure it is clear for further movement. This situation was just one of the several training scenarios the Iraqi Security Force rehearsed here this week.
Iraqis - keen and optimistic -- [ Chrenkoff]
Our special correspondent Haider Ajina translated the results of the latest opinion poll published in the August 29th edition of the Iraqi Arabic newspaper ?Alhayat?:
Interviewing Mayada Al-Askari -- [Iraqi In America]
Mayada, Daughter of Iraq
One Woman's Survival Under Saddam Hussein
Let's Start With Your Work News
Q: During your work as a journalist in Iraq, you were once invited with other journalists by the office of Ali Hassan Al-Majid to witness what I would describe as torture and humiliation of human beings in public. Could you compare that torture to the treatment he's receiving now from the Iraqi justice system?
A: I was invited alone, as Ali Hassan Al-Majid did not like journalists. People in Iraq under the Baathist regime were executed without seeing the face of a lawyer, with no trial and no legal representation, people were tortured and a great many died under torture then found out to be completely innocent.
Saddam , and his lieutenants are being treated with respect, and according to the Geneva convention laws. I heard that Ali Al-Majid told the judge: why not execute us and get it over with ?!!
This is how they comprehend things, and they would repeat all their deeds again if given half a chance.
A friend of mine in Iraq was guarding a military facility back in 1991, and Ali Hassan Al Majid came in to see the military prisoners, he made all the prisoners drink gasoline, then had them shot in the stomach where they were all set to fire.
Fables of the Reconstruction -- [Sisyphus Today... - in Iraq]
As costs for reconstruction in Iraq begin to topple the $200 Billion mark, one must ask what this money has been spent on and what results have been noted. Several times thus far, I have noted that what you are fed through the corporate media is a limited and skewed view of Iraq. Primarily, the news reporters are spoon fed their news by military public affairs officers who boiled down numbers and events for easy consumption by the concerned but faint-hearted American citizen. These reporters have such little integrity that they rarely, if ever, venture outside their Baghdad hotels for their latest breaking story. Dressed up in flak jackets and kevlar helmets, they intimate the violence and danger they must forego to bring us the news. Let's be clear on this from the start, Baghdad is NOT Iraq and Iraq is not Baghdad. The media has successfully convinced the Dancing-with-a-Star loving American viewer that Iraq is a homogenous and violent country. Wrong.
Sharia experts -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
From the comments section...
Must admit that the section stating that the Federal Court be made up of experts in Sharia law worries me. The Constitution requires that Iraqi law be both Islamic and respectful of human rights - what happens when the two idealogies clash? Such clashes in law are usually settled by an independent judiciary, but when that judiciary is composed of people who've devoted their lives to the study of Islam I think that would work in a pro-Islam bias into their decisions. Imagine for a moment that the US Constitution contained a proviso that Supreme Court judges be Christian theologians. Do you really think Roe vs Wade would have been decided the way it was if that was the case? Somehow I think not.
BAD BOYS -- [2005 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
Who ya gona call when they come for you. This is the Iraq security force. They patrol up and down the roads looking for the bad guys. They wear a mask sometimes so that they will not be reconized, but I think he wears it to intimidate people...
More Tribe-on-Tribe in Qaim -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
In the western Iraqi town of Qaim, clashes continue between the pro-government Bumahl tribe and the pro-al Qaeda Karabila tribe. Newsday, in an article titled "Heavy Fighting Erupts in Western Iraq", reports that "20 members of the Bumahl tribe and 15 from Karabila were killed in the clashes," with dozens wounded. Reuters reports 47 were killed in multiple U.S. air strikes directed at terrorist safe houses.
A Question of Victory [The Fourth Rail - Grim ]
The Washington Post carries this article on Iraq by National Geographic author Lewis Simons, a former Marine -- or, as he phrases it, "ex-Marine." The terms are frequently used interchangably by the news media, but the choice of one over the other is important to Marines. One wonders if his editor altered it, or if he was attempting to underline his position.
More Thoughts from Duke in Iraq: -- [Broken Masterpiece - dispatched from Iraq]
I wasn?t planning on revisiting this subject, but a recent discussion with a friend of mine and what I read in today?s Stars and Stripes has motivated me. My friend recently saw Monster In-Law for free at the base theater. He asked me if I were going to see it. I told him no because I had no desire to support Jane Fonda in anyway. I do not think he fully understood my position but a letter to the editor in today?s Stars and Stripes puts it very well.
We have heard that Jane Fonda is planning a war protest bus tour. This is the majority of a letter written from a soldier stationed in Baghdad.
Hundreds Die in Iraq Stampede -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
Rumors of a suicide bomber in a crowd of Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad caused a stampede that killed hundreds of panicked worshippers.
Bush gives new reason for Iraq war -- (Boston Globe)...Jennifer Loven(AP)
Says US must prevent oil fields from falling into hands of terrorists
US warplanes strike in western Iraq -- (Independent Online)
Baghdad - United States forces have killed an al-Qaeda militant in western Iraq in air strikes that claimed the lives of 47 people.
US warplanes on Tuesday launched three waves of strikes near the town of Qaim, on the Syrian border. This is a remote area that Washington has long said is a route into Iraq for foreign Islamist fighters allied to the insurgency among Iraq's Sunni Arab minority.
U.S. Ambassador Hints Iraq Constitution Not Final -- (Indianapolis Star)...AP
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq raised the possibility Tuesday of more changes to Iraq's draft constitution, signaling that the Bush administration hasn't given up its campaign to advocate a charter that will be broadly accepted.
War Without Remedy -- (Washington Post)
THE WORSENING violence in Iraq and Afghanistan this summer has, at least, been accompanied by vigorous attempts at political solutions. In Iraq, majority Shiites, pressed by the United States, are negotiating with minority Sunnis about the country's future political structure; although talks over the constitution failed, the contacts are likely to continue even as an upcoming referendum provides a democratic outlet. Afghanistan's parliamentary election campaign proceeds despite attacks from extremists, and some former members of the Taliban have chosen to compete rather than fight.
Bush is the real threat -- (The Guardian)...Tony Benn
Now that the US president has announced that he has not ruled out an attack on Iran, if it does not abandon its nuclear programme, the Middle East faces a crisis that could dwarf even the dangers arising from the war in Iraq.
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (69) -- [ Miserable Donuts - back from Afghanistan]
One Friday at the Bagram bazaar I saw an odd looking thing on one of the tables. After closer examination, I saw we had a genuine Erie Chemical Company 47mm smoke grenade launcher from the 1960s. I asked where this had come from, and got a ...
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (70) -- [ Miserable Donuts - back from Afghanistan]
Between the villages of Jafarkhil and Shaka. The police officer really wanted his photo taken, so I obliged. The father has quite a protective look about him, so...
U.S. military 'doing everything' it can to seek out bin Laden -- (Boston Herald)
The U.S. military is doing all it can in Afghanistan to locate Osama bin Laden but cannot say when he will be captured, a spokesman said today.
Col. James Yonts also said the United States was cooperating with neighboring countries such as Pakistan in the hunt for the al-Qaida leader.
``When will he be captured? ... I can't give you a date, but I can tell you this: Everyone remembers 9/11,'' Yonts told reporters in the Afghan capital Kabul.
Afghan opium production drops --
| KABUL (BBC News) -- Afghanistan has registered a drop in the cultivation of opium for the first time since the fall of the Taliban, the United Nations says. | The area under cultivation for opium ...
NATO rolls out 2,000 more troops for Afghan polls -- (Tehran Times)
KABUL - NATO-led peacekeepers have deployed 2,000 extra troops across northern and western Afghanistan to secure the war-battered country's parliamentary elections on September 18, a spokesman...
Walid Phares: LEBANON SECURITY ARRESTS COULD LEAD TO SYRIA AND HIZBOLLAH -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
Today, the Lebanese Government accepted a UN investigation commission request to have a number of former security chiefs brought in for interrogation in the Hariri assassination. The three directors detained were: Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, the former chief of General Security; Maj. Gen. Ali Hajj, the former director general of the Internal Security Forces; and Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar, the former director general of military intelligence. The commander of the Presidential Guards, Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan, also appeared before the U.N. investigation in response to a summons. The Commission ordered former pro-Syrian MP Nasser Kandil to appear as well.
Uzbekistan Base Decision Won't Leave US Without Options -- (CNSNews.com)...Patrick Goodenough
An Uzbekistan Senate resolution approving the government's decision to expel the United States from an airbase appears unlikely to have a serious impact on the U.S. military, which has been investigating alternative arrangements.
More TV means less Koran, say south Thai Muslims -- (Reuters)...Ed Cropley
BAN SAWO HILIR, Thailand, - In the wilds of southern Thailand, where people believe Islam first took root in Southeast Asia, plans to dish out cable TV with free English soccer to quell ethnic Malay unrest have not gone down well.
"The kids will just watch TV and leave the Koran and their school books behind," said Haji Mustafa Bin Haji Abdul Latif of Ban Sawo Hilir in Narathiwat, one of three provinces rocked by 20 months of violence in which more than 800 people have died.
One year on, Beslan demands truth -- (The Guardian)
Anger grows over Kremlin's official version of school siege.
Generosity... -- [Gun Line]
As you are no doubt aware, the folks in Louisiana, Mississippi, and surrounding states need our help...
Yes, so do our wounded war-fighters, but they would be the first to tell you that they can hold on a little longer, wheras the folks hit by Hurricane Katrina can't...
Val Prieto, at Babalu's Blog, promises a t-shirt for every $20.00 donation, and has links to the life-saving organizations that will be operating in the disaster area...
Nightmare -- [Baldilocks](pics)
It's Chaos and chaotic down South.
Food and drinkable water were scarce, forcing city officials to order nonessential people to evacuate. By afternoon, officials were also ordering rescue shelters to evacuate.
Katrina II: Aftermath -- [Florida Cracker](pics)
Authorities in New Orleans are going to soon find out what happens when you allow people into the Superdome with the understanding that they cannot leave until it is deemed safe to do so. I predict it's going to get ugly unless these people are cut loose. Then it'll get uglier when they are.
Some who are currently footloose and fancy-free in New Orleans are looting.
Even as conditions continue to degrade in New Orleans, so will the situation in the Superdome. Things got dicey ...
New Orleans and "Martial Law" -- [The Stupid Shall Be Punished]
Now I admit I haven't been watching TV, but I'm a little hesitant to fully believe the reports that New Orleans has been placed under "martial law" (or, as this local TV station says, "marshal law"). I've checked on both the Lousiana Governor's office website and the New Orleans city website and neither of them mention such an announcement. The New Orleans website has a blurb that says a "state of emergency" has been declared, but that's a long way from martial law, under which people are tried by military tribunals.
The Lickspittle Sycophant Responds -- [Balloon Juice]
As a bedtime gift for you, the angry and stupid left:
The absence of large portions of the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama National Guards is dismissed as unimportant, because after all, 3,500 guards are available in LA, 1600 in MS, and 750 in AL?those numbers are perfectly sufficient! Or maybe not. Oh, and what about their equipment, trucks, helicopters, halftracks, and etc?
But even more, Trevino states ?Show me, please, that the funds were diverted specifically for the war; and that they would have averted the present disaster.?...
The Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Developmental Aid Process -- [Austin Bay]
I?ll be on Hugh Hewitt in a couple of minutes to talk about disaster relief. Here?s a column from early January which discusses the South Asian tsunami. It outlines the emergency response and disaster recovery process.
Strain of Iraq War Means the Relief Burden Will Have to Be Shared -- (Washington Post)...Ann Scott Tyson
With thousands of their citizen-soldiers away fighting in Iraq, states hit hard by Hurricane Katrina scrambled to muster forces for rescue and security missions yesterday -- calling up Army bands and water-purification teams, among other units, and requesting help from distant states and the active-duty military.
White House to Release Oil From Reserves -- (New York Post)...AP
WASHINGTON (AP) - Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said Wednesday the Bush administration has decided to release oil from federal petroleum reserves to help refiners affected by Hurricane Katrina. The move, which was expected later in the day, is designed to give refineries in the Gulf Coast area a temporary supply of crude oil to take the place of interrupted shipments from tankers or offshore oil platforms affected by the storm...
Woman Gives Birth While Fleeing Katrina -- (New York Post) ...AP
CULLMAN, Ala. (AP) - A New Orleans woman has given birth while fleeing Hurricane Katrina. Donyelle Jean Jacques left New Orleans Saturday morning, one of 49 members of her family trying to flee. When the family is finally able to return, there will be 50. As the family drove north in an eight-car caravan in Alabama on Interstate 65, Jacques, who was pregnant and past her due date, started having labor pains. Her boyfriend, Wilbert Joseph, said he was scared as he drove the car that Jacques was in.
Charities, U.S. military mobilize to help -- (MSNBC)...Elizabeth Williamson and Ann Scott Tyson
Charities and the federal government launched what aid agencies predicted could be the longest and costliest relief effort in U.S. history, as workers began arriving last night in states devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and as the U.S. military organized an intensive response by already stretched National Guard and active duty forces.
Survivors tell of desperate struggles to survive -- (MSNBC)...Mike Brunker
The stories sounded remarkably similar, as survivors who tried to ride out Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday recounted their desperate attempts to climb higher and higher as the storm?s floodwaters rose inexorably to their eaves and beyond.
Looting, Fires And a Second Evacuation -- (Washinton Post)...Peter Whoriskey and Sam Coates
This exodus was even more desperate than the first.
As murky water surged around their homes from levee breaks undetected in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, families that had hunkered down for Monday's storm were forced Tuesday to climb first to their attics and then to their roofs in the hope of rescue by boat or helicopter.
HURRY UP AND KUWAIT -- [American Citizen Soldiers - in Iraq]
A retired Navy Seal whose physical conditioning class I had endured to prepare myself for basic training warned me that the hardest obstacle I would face in the military would be the ?hurry up and wait? mentality. Naturally, I asked him what he meant by this.
?It?s just like it sounds,? he told me. ?Hurry up and get your ass over here?there?anywhere! Let?s go! Let?s go! Let?s go! Okay, now that you've jumped through your ass, sit here and wait for three hours.?"
I grimaced; he laughed. ...
TERRORISM: OVER 40,000 EXTREMISTS POSE THREAT TO EUROPE, SAYS EXPERT --(AKI/DAWN)
Some 10,000 active supporters of the al-Qaeda terrorist network in the United Kingdom and 31,000 Islamic extremists in Germany pose a serious threat to the European security apparatus, according to an internationally recognised expert on terrorism, Rolf Tophoven. In a paper presented at the three-day seminar on "Global Terrorism" organised by the Institute of Regional Studies in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, Tophoven said a small minority of European Muslims were more than capable of attacking their own countries as part of the Jihad.
I need Rice Krispy Treats and Jelly Beans -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Ok, if you would like to help with 2 requests from soldiers I have a request for jelly beans (would be fun to send him a ton...perhaps he can share with the Iraqi children), and Rice Krispy Treats. The second request, the one for Rice Krispy treats was from a soldier who said, "I am not looking for anything special, maybe just some rice krispy treats.Thank you for supporting the deployed soldiers." Now don't you just want to send him about 10 cases for being so sweet?!? Email me if you would like to help.
Other notes, I've mentioned before that Soldiers Angels receives messages from our troops on a daily basis and posts them on the member's only (angels only) message board, so that everyone who wants to can respond and help. I wanted to share 2 of them that particularly struck me just to give you an idea of the people Americans are helping to support.
A Letter from a "Regular" American Teenager to Our Heroes... -- [Iraq War News]
Dear American Soldiers,
My name is Ryan Kathleen P-----, and I am a seventeen year old girl, about to enter my senior year in high school. You don't know me, nor do you have any reason to. I'm just a regular teenager, going about life and doing what teenagers do. However, ...
A series of thank you?s. -- [The "Mike Golf's" OIF3 Blog - in Iraq]
While I have been here, I have received quite a few packages of support to pass out to the guys. Some of them from people whom I?ve never met and some of them with out even a card saying how they?d heard of me or why they felt the need to send something in my direction. Thank you. Your goods have been passed out to the boys.
To whoever started the subscription in my name to magazines that all the guys over here like to read. Stuff, Blender and Maxim. Thank you.
Bile -- [365 and a Wake Up] Editors Note: this is not the real John Travolta.
can you sleep good, f****n' murderer?
Sadly no, I don?t sleep all that well. Maybe it?s the heat, or just the stacatto missions, but I just haven?t been able to get a solid five hours of rest in the last few weeks. I?m sure you have been in the same situation once or twice. You know the whole ?laying in a sleeping bag in a combat zone, staring at the ceiling, half sick with the thought that there was something else you might have fit into your 20 hour day? thing...
Hating America -- [TigerHawk]
We do not spend a great deal of time on this blog deconstructing the moral cretinism of the American left, but sometimes it is hard to resist. LGF linked to this story in the San Mateo County Times, which rather matter-of-factly reported that sweet little 11-year old Hannah Stutz had won the kids division of an art contest sponsored by the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance.
I thought it would be interesting to look at the first prize winner of that contest, by Chuck Bowden. It is called "Sheeple Love Sadists."
You Will Know Them By Their Fruits (Mt. 7:16) -- [Froggy Ruminations]
Jesus spoke those words 2000 years ago in order to teach his disciples how to assess the motivations of people that they encounter in their ministries. Only God can know the heart of a man (Jer. 17:9-10) and truly peer into a person?s soul; we humans do not have this ability. Each of us believes that we KNOW when someone is being honest or that we can detect the motivations of our closest family and friends, but we cannot. The best we can do is to check the fruit that a person?s life or actions have borne. In other words, do the results of a person?s statements and actions match up with the purported goals of those statements and actions? Additionally, are those results (fruit) affecting a positive outcome, or are they causing bitterness, strife, pain, failure, or hatred?
Sheehan's Magical Mystery Ride -- [TBone's WAR JOURNAL]
Cindy Sheehan's campout in Texas has spawned a full-fledged bus ride of rose-colored glasses wearing idiots called the "Bring them home now tour". The "Bring Them Home Now Tour" folks have a website, so I had to check it out. This is how it described their mission.
New poll finds Bush Iraq ratings down --(Reuters)
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush's approval rating slipped to a career low of 45 percent on concerns over the Iraq war and spiraling U.S. fuel prices, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll published on Tuesday.
Giuliani says to decide on White House run in 2006 -- (Reuters)
Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani said on Wednesday he would decide next year whether to run as a Republican U.S. presidential candidate in 2008.
"I won't decide until next year," Giuliani
Rumsfeld Disses Media?s War Coverage (Exclusive Video)Blogged in Military -- [a Soldiers Perspective]
The Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld surprised us today with a visit to our humble post. I was fortunate enough to be invited to his speech. During his nearly 90 minute visit with troops and family members of deployed soldiers, Rumsfeld laid out his expectations of all military members; mainly that we stay aggressive and proactive in defeating terrorism worldwide and the insurgency in Iraq.
Come to the Real "Die-In" -- [FrontPage Magazine]
The following letter was written in response to a public "Die-In" held at the front gate of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, this past April. Its author, Marc Fencil, would have been on campus at the time, but, as a Marine, he was stationed in Iraq. OU's official student publication, The Post, ran his letter on April 8, 2005. We were as inspired by his forthright invitation to the antiwar protestors as we are grateful for his service. If only every college student -- let alone professor -- were endowed with as much patriotism and common sense.
To the editor:
It's a shame that I'm here in Iraq with the Marines right now and not back at Ohio University completing my senior year and joining in blissful ignorance with the enlightened, war-seasoned protesters who participated in the recent "die-in" at College Gate. It would appear that all the action is back home, but why don't we make sure? That's right, this is an open invitation for you to cut your hair, take a shower, get in shape and come on over! If Michael Moore can shave and lose enough weight to fit into a pair of camouflage utilities, then he can come too!
LA Times on Tribalism - but they didn't notice -- [ROFASix]
The LA Times article is a bit unclear as it reports in the article, "Latino Groups to Fight Military Recruiting on Campuses," just what the real story is. Of course, I have an idea what it should have been about - tribalism.
The Los Angeles Times writes:
"Over There" -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
Yesterday I received a care package with DVDs of the FX show ?Over There?, a series loosely based on the experiences of soldiers here in Iraq. As the day wound down my XO and 2LT Lucky drifted over to my room, both eager to watch this new series and how they depicted life here in Iraq. We sat down and spent the next hour in utter and complete awe. It was the most riveting hour of television I have ever seen, and by the end of the show I had tears in my eyes.
They were tears of laughter.
There's 'Over There' -- and there's the real thing. Soldiers who served in Iraq share ...
There's nothing funny about the new FX dramatic series, "Over There. " It's a gruesome depiction of men and women in combat. In Iraq. | So why were these men -- all comba...
OPSEC and Pandora's Box
Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette weighs in on the Schoomaker OPSEC memo, and his reference to blogs. Greyhawk notes a UPI Story out today, as it appeared in The Washington Times.
...I would certainly agree with Greyhawk's assessment. My freedom to blog is constrained by my Commander's assessment of how well I practice OPSEC. So far, so good. (And writing nice things about him has nothing to do with it.) My intent is indicated in my initial post on this issue. Each local Commander will have wide discretion in monitoring, censoring, or even shutting down blogs of Soldiers under their command. And some will no doubt be overcautious, timid, or reluctant to take any heat for a would-be journalist "embedded" in their unit.
Furthermore, ...
Latest Email From Iraq -- [Southern By Blog]
Always nice to get an email from the SPC to say thanks for the small contributions I send to help him and his mates out. Looks like the OPSEC meme that has been making around the milblogs has made it all the way down the chain of command too:
Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I received your latest package yesterday, and the contents were quickly put to good use. I'd have to say the timing couldn't be better. While I was on leave, it looked like there was no new items coming into the platoon food locker, but there were a lot of items coming out. When I left, it was pretty full, but when I returned, there were only a packages of noodles and a couple of cans of SPAM left. Sorry I really haven't had too much time to write, but things here have been very busy. A lot of things have made it into the news, some good, some bad, but because of all the news articles that get written, we end up with more training. The biggest concern right now is OPSEC. Apparently there have been some soldiers that violated OPSEC while writing in their blogs, emails and letters home. This creates a dangerous situation for us, as the enemy can read the entries and use that information against us or other units out here.
National & International Economics -- [GM's Corner]
There has been entirely too much carping over who has what, should wealth be tranferred between individuals/states, taxation schemes, etc. In the interests of bipartisan cooperation, I have, at great expense and time gathered the best and the brightest to help put together a primer on economics, both national and international. Read carefully, there will be a test next week.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Good News From Iraq -- [Alenda Lux]
Voter registration has picked up in full force in the lead up to the Constitutional referendum in October and the elections in December. Unlike in the run-up to the January elections earlier this year, only a handful of registration sites are closed due to security issues.
Iraq's constitution: the final discussions... -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Dr. Sallama Al-Khafaji (Assembly member from the SCIRI) announced 5 minutes ago on Al-Iraqia TV that many of the disputed points that were delaying the completion of the constitution have been solved and that the word "Party" (which the Sunni CDC members had objections on) was omitted from the clause that deals with deba'athification and now the clause refers to the Saddamist Ba'ath without calling it a "party"!
Iraqi Constitution first impressions [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I read the new Iraqi Constitution this afternoon. My first impression is that it is a pretty good document. Nothing jumped out at me as too off the wall, but I'm an agreeable guy. :)
I don't really have the mental energy right now to fully dive into a thorough description of what the new Constitution says. But here are some of the high points: ...
Sunday Forum Reeder's Feedback -- [Dave's World - receives dispatches from Matt in Iraq ]
No long-winded introduction today. We got a ton of thoughtful letters and questions related to last Sunday's Dispatches from Iraq piece, so let's get right into it. Please keep in mind that each letter is the opinion of the individual writer and is not necessarily endorsed by this web site:...
...An email from an anonymous reporter forwarded to the site:
...While we may not have a f--ing clue what it's like on over there, our soldiers have no f--ing clue what's going on over here. I do write stories about dead and wounded soldiers on a regular basis and I just wanted to tell you that this particular passage in the blog was bulls--....
...Anthony Munoz from Houston says:
...It's unthinkable that we would kill other human beings we don't even know.
And these people in Iraq, what do we know of their lives, save for what we see on TV and that is heavily monitored by our government? I believe the truth of the matter is that we, as Americans, have no idea how the rest of the world really lead their lives. How was can we presume to know that Iraqis want democracy when we can't possibly empathize with them?
Dispatch from the Front II -- [Peace Like A River]
Time now for another dispatch from the front. The first one in this series can be found here.
In this dispatch, I'll look at my correspondent's perspective on combat.
Time now for another dispatch from the front. The first one in this series can be found here.
In this dispatch, I'll look at my correspondent's perspective on combat.
For background, do read Michael Yon's latest report, Gates of Fire. Though Yon has written a great deal about the Deuce Four, there are many many units just like that one all over Iraq and Afghanistan, and events such as what Yon describe take place all the time.
First, let me point out my correspondent has given a great deal of thought to what he does, and why. Here, in his own words: ...
Lost in Translation -- [Major K - in Iraq]
The exchange of ideas can be a wonderful and fascinating process. It can also be very painstaking and frustrating. In training the new Iraqi Army, getting the message across is a very long and cumbersome process. I spend most of my time training the Senior Officers of the General Staff of the 6th Infantry Division. I am usually training men who are not only older than me, but of higher rank. In this war, every soldier has to be a little bit of a diplomat sometimes. I am now one most of the time.
The Sandbox Mailbox -- [Argghhh!]
...We found somebody. Or, rather, somebody found us. We're still working out some OPSEC details, but in the meantime, here's something you won't see in the MSM...
Care Package -- [Hurl's Blog]
A good friend named Dan sent me the most unusual care package. He and I used to spend many weekends out in the desert prospecting for gold and exploring old mines - so he sent me some reminders of the past - a box full of "dirt" and a pan....
Give up trying ? you can?t escape the dust -- [The 48th goes to war ajc.com - in Iraq]
It?s in your eyes. In your shoes. In your tent. In your sleeping bag. In your shower stall. It?s even in the coffee you just poured.
If the dust in Iraq could be spun into gold, every soldier in the Georgia Army National Guard?s 48th Brigade Combat Team would be an instant millionaire.
Another MEDCAP Mission -- [LostInIraq - in Iraq]
I?ve been busy and bored. I didn?t think that was possible. There?s not much to write about, so I figured I?d just check-in with everyone and send a couple pictures from the latest MEDCAP mission. (pics)
Home -- [Middle of Nowhere and Two Feet From Hell - in Iraq]
...There are some issues I have about going home. A little over a year ago, I left all I knew. I left my family, my job, and my life. Now, in a few months I have to do it all over again. I will leave all I have known for the last year or so. Will I be able to sleep without the sound of choppers and big booms? Will I be able to adjust to kids in the house? Will I be able to adjust going back to my job? This will be a big adjustment for me. Just as was coming over here. Anyways, I am glad I took this deployment. I have
Profiles: The LT -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
?Top, if I hadn?t been here, your head would have fallen off a long time ago!?
We have a Lieutenant (LT) who serves as our Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) Executive Officer (XO) ? don?t you just love the way we military types make everything an acronym? And our LT is a character.
Internet Access -- [Watch your six - in Iraq]
I had no idea how hard it was going to be to get to a decent internet connection when i got over here. It really changes things when you have to put on all your shit and trek 500 meters to sit at a computer. I have a whole new-found respect for the milbloggers who blog from this theater (and from Afghanistan). Internet access is so commonplace in the states that most people don't realize how much dedication these bloggers have.
Michaelangelo -- [Life in the X Minor - in Iraq]
Scars. How many scars do we have. Superfical, mental, and spiritual. The essence of a scar is in its permanence. Forever. They have...become a part of us. As such, they define us. We are our laughter, our thoughts, spoken and silent, and so much more. Above all these, are our scars.
Where do we get these scars? Our enemies. It has been said that the only teachers who teach us anything worth learning and remembering are our enemies. Whether you ...
Stuck -- [Ramrod's Blog - in Iraq/Kuwait]
So already, we're delayed at Scannia. We were supposed to SP early this morning but the roads were getting lit up like christmas. Our CC was reading out what's been goin on: "Checkpoint **A IED, Checkpoint ** PIED, Checkpoint ** between ***and*** IED...and on and on." Maybe it's cause it's been a while since I've gone out on the road; what with leave and all that, but last night was pretty busy. Even by Camp Taji, there was a report of a chemical attack, where one soldier inhaled the stuff and it also burned his skin. I mean, chemical attack? What the hell...
Tough Times Ahead -- [Daves not Here - in Iraq]
The title of this post is not my own. I received what follows via email from CSM Samuel M Rhodes, Sr.
After being a part of this Operation, here in Iraq, over the last three years (since Apr 03) I find myself as the resident expert about a lot of things. The day to day business as usual is different for me based on my current experience level compared to those around me. As the heat started rising,...
Gateway to a Mosque - [Dave's Not Here - in Iraq]
(pic)
For President, Smaller Goals In Iraq And A Focus On The Process -- (New York Times)...Steven R. Weisman
As Iraq's draft constitution was presented to its National Assembly and honored at a brief ceremony largely boycotted by Sunnis, President Bush joined with others in his administration on Sunday in praising the charter as a milestone in the transition to democracy and the battle against insurgents.
U.S. Studies Report Its Soldiers Killed Journalist -- (New York Times)...Reuters
A soundman working for Reuters Television was shot dead Sunday in Baghdad, and a cameraman with him was wounded and then detained by United States soldiers. An Iraqi police report, read to Reuters by an Interior Ministry official, said the two had been shot by American forces.
Good News From Fallujah -- (New Hampshire Union Leader)...Michael Fumento
After crisscrossing Fallujah by foot and Humvee in May, I reported on tremendous progress being made to restore "the city we had to destroy to save." Actually, fighting left most of the town unscathed; most damage was from three decades of neglect under Saddam Hussein. And rebuilding began almost immediately.
Sadr Shows How To Win Hearts And Minds -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Salih al-Qaisi and Oliver Poole
Twelve months ago the centre of Najaf resounded to the sound of gunfire as American forces overwhelmed fanatical Shia guerrillas who had seized control of the holy city.
People Skills A Part Of Army Captain's Arsenal -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Richard Chin
...Sallee is a believer in winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. He hopes they will become helpful eyes and ears in the hunt for terrorists.
Buffalo Roams The Battlefield To Protect Soldiers From Mines -- (Washington Times)...W. Thomas Smith Jr.
When U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Keith Kempke returns to Iraq to find and destroy land mines and improvised explosive devices, he'll be supported by a growing fleet of new armored vehicles such as the Buffalo and the Cougar.
Iraqis Finish Draft Charter That Sunnis Vow to Defeat -- (The Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Omar Fekeiki
...Members of the committee that convened in May to write the document ended their official duties by signing the draft and sending it to the National Assembly, where it was read aloud to members. Some Sunnis, who had unsuccessfully sought the elimination of a clause allowing power to be devolved from the central government to autonomous regions, walked out while the draft was read.
Draft Clearly Shows Points Of Contention -- (Los Angeles Times)...Borzou Daragahi
Built atop the still-smoldering debris of Saddam Hussein's decades-long rule, Iraq's draft constitution is a document born of past grievances and future hopes. It has features that will delight social democrats while angering feminists, and encourage some of Iraq's minorities while enraging others.
Marines engaged in war of attrition -- (Seattle Times)
FALLUJAH, Iraq ? Insurgents in Anbar province, the center of guerrilla resistance in Iraq, have fought the U.S. military to a stalemate
Iraq war is not winnable, says expert -- (Dawn)
WASHINGTON, Aug 28: Like Vietnam, the war in Iraq is not winnable because there are no clear military targets to achieve, says an article published in The Washington Post on S...
Heat -- [Going down Range - in Afghanistan]
It is a bit hot around here. The first type of heat is the type that the US and Coalition Forces are putting on the Taliban and al Qaeda overlords. Right now there have been a few casualties here in Afghanistan, but it is not widely reported that the Taliban has taken a lot of hits. Most of the heat is in a few provinces and the rest of the Afghanistan is cool and peaceful. All the locals know what the Taliban stands for-they were in power and ran the country like feudal fiefdom. The local populace will decide who will win by voting and not being intimated by the Taliban. The parliamentary election will be held on the 18th of September. Actually the Taliban is ...
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (68) -- [Miserable Donuts]
What happens when you put a 'Prop on a camel? Personally, I think the expression on the camel's face is priceless...
Afghan Candidate Dies In An Ambush; Taliban Is Blamed -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Daniel Cooney, Associated Press
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday that he was optimistic that next month's legislative elections would be peaceful, but ongoing pre-vote violence left one candidate dead and three U.S. troops wounded.
India, Afghanistan to cooperate in fight against terrorism -- (Khaleej Times)
KABUL - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Sunday expressed their commitment to working together to ensure that Afghanistan would not again become a safe haven...
Afghanistan condemns "lenient" U.S. military verdicts in prisoner abuse trials -- (Tehran Times)...(AFP)
| KABUL - Afghanistan on Saturday condemned as too lenient the jail terms of up to three months each for two U.S. soldiers whose abuse of Afghan detainees led to...
Taliban commander killed in clash: U.S -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. forces have killed a senior Taliban commander responsible for a spate of attacks in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said on Monday.
The Land of Oz -- [From the Halls to the Shores - in Australia]
I shall tell you a story? a story with such power and raw emotion, that it may very well spoil relations between two nations which have been steadfast allies for many years? a story I shall simply call:
Will This Ever End? -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
Topic: Korea-Japan Stuff
It seems like the bickering between Korea and Japan will never end. The latest squabble is that South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said last week that the 1965 treaty between Japan and Korea does not absolve Japan of the responsibility to pay compensation to war crimes victims. However, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sees it differently. He believes that the 1965 treaty does end all claims to compensation because the Korean government at the time could of given the $800 million dollars that Japanese gave Korea to the individual victims but chose to instead use it for economic development. Here is a passage from today's Chosun I think really sums up this whole controversy well: ...
Carnival of the Revolutions, 29 August 2005 -- [One Free Korea]
Welcome to the Carnival of the Revolutions edition for August 29th. Hosting next week's edition (Sept. 5) will be Thinking-East; next up (Sept. 12) is Quid Nimis.
URGENT: Russia welcomes North Korea's decision to continue nuclear -- (RIA Novosti, Russia)
MOSCOW, August 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia welcomes North Korea's decision to continue the six-party nuclear program talks in mid-September, a diplomatic source ...
Egyptian intelligence chief meets Abbas, militants -- (Reuters)
GAZA (Reuters) - Egypt's intelligence chief met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and militant factions on Monday in a bid to coordinate security and border issues ahead of Israel's planned troop pullout from the occupied Gaza Strip.
Another chapter yet written -- [American Soldier - back from Iraq]
...Just like them, I didn?t need to re-enlist. I did it because in this day and age, where there is so much unpredictability, there needs to be Soldiers who will stand to defend our beloved country and freedoms. No matter if you are a supporter or not, you can count on a Soldier to preserve what many people take for granted. Freedom!
Re-enlisting - 27 August 2005 -- [Doghostage - back from Iraq]
Here's a pic from my recent re-enlistment ceremony. (pic)
Chief of staff: 'We're a heck of a long way from breaking the Army' -- (Stars and Stripes)...Lisa Burgess
ARLINGTON, Va. ? The long war in Iraq may be testing the all-volunteer Army, but the service is ?a long way from being what anybody would call dire straits,? Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army?s chief of staff, said Thursday.
'Wonderful Time To Be A Soldier' -- (Washington Times)...Joe Roche
I'm very proud to be a soldier of the U.S. Army because of the war on terror and our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm not alone either. I'm surrounded by soldiers who are re-enlisting and volunteering to go to units that are deploying. In fact, despite all the negative news and protests, I see everyday that our military is actually doing very well.
Killing Soldiers to Save Lives -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
I?ve been asked how exactly we train soldiers here on IEDs. How do we decide who to target? How often do we lay the IEDs? How do we decide who?s injured and who?s killed from the blast? What happens to injured soldiers after the IED goes off? Well, sit back and prepare for your lesson on how we do what we do to prepare soldiers for the reality of combat operations. I want everyone to understand how a training event works and how we?re getting soldiers prepared for real life combat.
A Wise View on the Death of a Soldier in Battle --[Jammed Gun]
Contra the histrionic MSM ballyhooing of Cindy Sheehan's (disgraceful, "lights-camera-action") boo-hooing her son's death in the Iraq War, here is philosophical piece by a World War II vet who says that the death of a soldier in battle is NOT tragic -- it is part of the bargain a soldier makes when he signs up.
(Notice the author pointedly says "he"? I suspect that he -- like me -- is less than pleased by the creeping, pervasive feminization of the US military . . .
Trivia Tidbit Of The Day: Part 151 -- Peacetime Military Casualties. -- [WILLism]
War and Peace-
From 1983 to 1996, more than 18,000 soldiers died. That averages to more than 1,300 a year, far more than have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan each year.
Read Sgt. Joe Roche's entire op-ed in The Washington Times.
HAHAHAHA -- [Trying to Grok]
Stop the presses -- there's a draft going on in the military!!!!
The New Bin Laden? -- (Time)...Bruce Crumley
...It's hard to separate the man from the mythology, but recent European intelligence reports reviewed by TIME suggest that al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda franchise is expanding far beyond Iraq and that he now rivals Osama bin Laden in influence among Middle Eastern and European jihadists.
Preparing For An Attack: Will U.S. Be Hit Again? -- (Miami Herald)...Sharon Cohen, Associated Press (Link coming soon)
While training to thwart a terrorist attack goes on, it isn't clear that the conditions for new strikes in this country are as ripe as in some other places.
Anti-War or just Anti-Human? -- [A North American Patriot]
Holy crappers! Just when I thought the celebrities-against-the-war crowd couldn't scrape the bottom of the stench pile any further, now comes the announcement that Jane Fonda is teaming up with George Galloway on his I couldn't be more pathetic tour
More Code Pink -- [Counter Column]
Missed it before, but here's Code Pink openly endorsing those who kill U.S. servicemen and untold numbers of Iraqis:
Don't walk on my grave -- [ Thise Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
One of the Marine mothers who is becoming vocal in support of the war stated that her son told her that if he died he did not want her to be another Cindy Sheehan. He told her, "Don't walk on my grave." He feels like 99% of us over here do. We still believe in the mission and can see the small daily changes. We wonder why our own media wants so badly to make this all go wrong.
Hundreds Come To Honor Soldiers, Drown Out Protesters -- (Nashville Tennessean)...Natalia Mielczarek and Kate Howard
...Nora Farmer Creighton is the mother of a soldier, and she watched the Reese funeral procession pass in Ashland City. "That mother and father are burying their baby boy. They don't need this," said Creighton, referring to protesters from a Kansas church who preach that casualties in Iraq are God's way of punishing America for being dominated by homosexuals.
Sharpton Adds Voice to Antiwar Protest -- (The Washington Post)... Sam Coates
CRAWFORD, Tex., Aug. 28 -- Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist and former presidential candidate, rallied antiwar protesters here Sunday, drawing comparisons with the civil rights movement on this anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
Venezuela's Chavez Gets Support of Rev. Jackson -- (The Washington Post)...AP
CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 28 -- Jesse Jackson offered support for President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela on Sunday, saying that a call for his assassination by a U.S. religious broadcaster was a criminal act and that the United States and Venezuela should work out their differences through diplomacy.
My First Anniversary -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
I'll be flap doodled.
I was searching for an old post I remember from early on, and it turns out yesterday was the One Year Anniversary of my very first post on my blog.
A HOT DAY WITH NO ELECTRICITY -- [Dixie Sappers - Kevin Kelly - in Iraq]
...Today is my 12 year anniversary and I wish I was back home even more now. I just hope to get home safe and sound so I can be there next year. You really don't think about things that you miss until after it gets here. Thinking of Easter, Memorial Day, birthdays, 4th of July, anniversary and a lot of other things. Man, that is enough to really get someone depressed, but I got something in my email today that made me smile and cry at the same time. I think it was one of the cutest things I've seen. I just wish I could have seen it in person. Next year. I've attached the picture that I got this evening.
Bush Shrinks Iraq Goals: Smaller Mass Graves -- [ScrappleFace]
(2005-08-29) -- President George Bush, in the face of Iraq's frustrating constitutional negotiations, persistent insurgent attacks and his own plummeting domestic popularity, today announced that he has reduced expectations for the outcome of U.S. policy toward Iraq.
Sunday Funnies -- [Stop the ACLU]
Some fun and funny links from around the blogosphere in the past week.
The Conservative UAW GuyCarnival Of Comedy
Point Five reports on Pat Robertson?s apology for praying to the wrong Jesus. He also has the First horrifying images from the Al Qaeda Media Jihad.
Poliblogger has The Great Emoticon Debate.
Phin has found a new level of geekness. He also has some great parenting moments to be proud of. ....
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Breaking News. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraq in Iraq]
I was just about to go to bed when I saw the breaking news on Al-Iraqia TV announcing that an agreement has finally been reached on the draft of the constitution.
Update:...
Iraq - Red Cross chief reveals they hid and medically treated 4 terrorists in order to free two kidnapped Italian women. -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - Foreign Object Damage]
Link"> jueves 25 de agosto de 2005
In an interiview in the Italian daily "La Stampa" Maurizio Scelli disclosed that in order to secure the release of two Italian hostages, Simona Torretta i Simona Pari in September 2004, they secretly treated four terrorists who had been wounded in combat with US troops. Scelli also stated that the Italian civil, military, and intelligence authorities were aware of the operation.
From the ruin, an Iraqi Army is fabricated - Part V -- [Live in Iraq]
Day 5: 'It all comes together'
It was a long week for the Iraqi soldiers and instructors alike and both groups looked forward to the completion of the class today. Only one final hurdle remained to be jumped.
LCpl. Tim delivered a final class on setting up personnel and vehicle check points before the we gave the soldiers the rest of the morning off to prepare for a final field training exercise.
"The last day of training is the best time to see everything we've taught them.
Modern medicine -- [MREater - in Iraq]
Today a couple of soldiers told me about one of their many visits to the hospital in Kirkuk. They didn?t exactly describe things as I am here, and they saw this stuff over several visits, but for the ease of telling I?m going to write it as one visit. All the facts and info came from the soldiers. I just added the narrative.
Wake up call -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? - in Iraq]
My alarm clock went off this morning, and as usual I habitually hit the snooze button. About three minutes later we all woke to the sound of mortar rounds impacting. Needless to say I got up without hitting the snooze button anymore and headed straight for the bunker. Looks like there were a few injuries, but nothing serious. Everyone is okay.
IEDs down 20 percent?!? -- [Counter Column]
General Rodriguez lays it out.
Q General, Sandra Erwin with National Defense. Can you tell us what kind of IED -- what is the level of IED attacks that you see in your area? We heard from General LaFontaine last week that the attacks have doubled. Can you give us a sense of what kinds of threats do you see now in your area from the IEDs?
On the blink.. -- [Major K - in Iraq]
My Toshiba laptop is in the process of dying on me at the ripe old age of 10 months. The motherboard is failing to recognize the keyboard. So, I just wanted to drop a quick line from the internet cafe here to say Salaam Alikumm. I will type more later.
Familiarity Leads To War Support -- (Miami Herald)...Will Lester, Associated Press
People with friends or relatives serving in Iraq are more likely than others to have a positive view of a generally unpopular war, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
?Gap? in Iraq views alarms Myers -- (Dawn.com)
| WASHINGTON, Aug 26: Gen Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed concern on Friday about a ?growing gap? between the US public?s perception of the war on Iraq and that of ... (photo: US DoD
Rallying The Troops And Avoiding Reality -- (Washington Post)...Colbert I. King
...What's the value of Americans giving their lives so that cleric-dominated Shiites and northern Kurds can get their hands on political power and oil revenue? Why are American women and men sacrificing lives and limbs in a country where women may have to settle for less? Stay the course. What course? So religious-based militia can divvy up the northern and southern portions of the country? So Islam can be enshrined as a principal source of new Iraqi legislation?
Pro-Saddam march -- (Dawn.com)...Reuters
| BAGHDAD, Aug 26: Thousands marched in adoring praise of Iraq?s deposed leader Saddam Hussein on Friday, offering a stark display of the loss of power and leadership felt by some of Iraq?s Sunnis
Breakthrough for Iraqi constitution -- (NY Post)...
Prodded by President Bush, Iraqi leaders have reached a "deal in principle" on a draft constitution, the speaker of parliament said yesterday.
Shiites And Kurds Halt Charter Talks With Sunnis -- (New York Times)...Dexter Filkins and James Glanz
Shiite and Kurdish leaders drafting a new Iraqi constitution abandoned negotiations with a group of Sunni representatives on Friday, deciding to take the disputed charter directly to the Iraqi people.
Iraqi Shiites Vow To Submit Charter -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and
...Also Friday, the U.S. military said it launched multiple strikes with F-18 fighter jets against a house in the western town of Husaybah that local informants said was sheltering about 50 suspected insurgents from the group al Qaeda in Iraq. The military said the number of casualties had not been determined.
U.S. military releases 1,000 prisoners in Iraq -- (SwissInfo)...Reuters
BAGHDAD - The U.S. military said on Saturday it had freed 1,000 detainees from Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison at the Baghdad government's request, the largest release to date.
18 Taliban killed -- [Afghan Lord - Afghani in Afghanistan]
The Defence Ministry Friday claimed the Afghan and US-led coalition forces had killed 18 militants in the southern Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces.
The ministry's spokesman Zahir Azimi told Pajhwok Afghan News 10 militants were gunned down following joint operations by the Afghan National Army and the coalition forces in the Ghorak and Khakrez districts of the Kandahar province.
Top U.S. officer faults leaders on terrorism war stakes -- (Reuters) ...Jim Wolf
WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military officer faulted U.S. political leaders on Friday for failing to get across what he portrayed as the huge stakes in Iraq and elsewhere in the ...
Two Japanese teachers missing in Afghanistan -- (The News International)
TOKYO: Two Japanese teachers have been missing in Pakistan and Afghanistan since arriving there on holidays three weeks ago, authorities said on Friday. The man and a woman arrived in Karachi on Aug...
India renews historic Afghan ties -- [BBC News...Sanjoy Majumder]
When Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh steps off his aircraft in Afghanistan on Sunday, he will be hoping to strengthen his country's historic ties with that country. | It is the first visit to the...
Ingushetia Prime Minister Survives Assassination Attempt -- [Foreign Object Damage]
An assassination attempt was made against the Prime Minister of Ingushetia, Ibrahim Malsagov on Thursday beside a railroad station in Nazran. His bodyguard was killed, and the head of the government and two other bodyguards were seriously wounded and taken to hosptals. They are expected to survive.
There were two explosive devices placed 10-15 meters apart, one went off when Malsagov?s car came out of his drive onto the road.
This is the third terrorist attack in Ingushetia in the last week.
Suspect in London Attacks Arrested in Thailand -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Thai immigration authorities announced today that they have apprehended an Algerian wanted by British authorities in conjunction with the 7/7 attacks. A report in Thailand?s English-language daily, The Nation, states that Atamnia Yachine (33) was arrested in Thailand after a tip off regarding fake travel documents. He was
BOSNIA: INTERVIEW: AL-QAEDA NOW SEEKING YOUNG HEARTS AND MINDS -- (AKI)
Belgrade, 26 August - The al-Qaeda terror network is active in Bosnia and the wider Balkans region, but is changing tactics and primarily fighting for the hearts and minds of the local Muslim population, according to a leading Serbian terrorism expert, Darko Trifunovic, a professor at Belgrade University's civil defence faculty. Training is now being conducted in small groups in elementary schools and sports halls, in the guise of social and sports activities,...
With Only Reputations At Stake, Talk On C.I.A. Report Turns To How Much To Publish
(New York Times)...Scott Shane
With a report this week apportioning blame at the C.I.A. for intelligence failures before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the fight over who did what before the hijackers struck is increasingly about history.
Military 'Spied' On Rice -- (New York Post)...Niles Lathem
Cyber-sleuths working for a Pentagon intelligence unit that reportedly identified some of the 9/11 hijackers before the attack were fired by military officials, after they mistakenly pinpointed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other prominent Americans as potential security risks, The Post has learned.
An Outsider's Quick Rise To Bush Terror Adviser -- (Washington Post)...Susan B. Glasser and Peter Baker
...From the low-ceilinged, windowless confines of a basement office in the West Wing, Townsend runs President Bush's far-flung campaign against terrorism. Her two predecessors were four-star generals who brought decades of experience to the fight. Townsend, 43, a former mob prosecutor, has a different credential -- the president's ear.
9/11 Seen As Sparking Arab Economic Boom -- (Washington Times)...Jim Krane, Associated Press
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are increasingly viewed in the oil-rich Arab countries of the Persian Gulf as the catalyst for an economic boom when Arabs divested from America and reinvested at home.
The Eagle Has Landed -- [Waynes World 2005]
About 1:20 this morning, 400 soldiers landed at DFW Airport to begin their 15 days of rest and recuperation.
?I bet I didn?t sleep one hour during the entire 12-hour flight from Frankfort,? Wayne said when we talked to him at sun-up this morning. ?After we landed, it seemed like it took forever to get through customs until I could go see my sweetie. As soon as I rounded the corner, Lauren was the first person I saw. I dropped everything, ran to meet her and lifted her off the ground. Everybody else started clapping, cheering and whistling. It was great.?
SELF PORTRAIT FRIDAY -- [Keep My Soldier Safe]
THIS RIDE WAS FOR YOU NOAH
Our Soldier's R&R was wonderful he says...I sure hated to see him go back. I was getting use to him being around again, and it sure was nice. (Even the washing your clothes Michael)
DC Freeps Take Back Walter Reed -- [The Gunn Nitt](pics)(pics)(pics)
Tonight I attended my very first "protest rally", or rather an "anti-protest, Support the Troops Rally" with the DC FreeRepublic people at Walter Reed Army Medial Center in NW Washington. These guys and gals rule! We had a great time and the commie-pinko-America hating-tards were total losers.
I can feel the support from here -- [A Strom in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
There's a blogger out there, Mr. Andrew Sullivan, who's trying to get bumper sticker suggestions.
One of his that he's posted is: One of his that he's posted is: How Many Soldiers-per-Gallon Does Your SUV Get?...
Part II... -- [NVG-Man Home-thejman021 - in Iraq]
...In my last post, I started off by talking about someone who gave off the appearance of supporting the troops, but really did not care one bit. In this post, I will start off by talking about two people who have permanent yellow ribbons imprinted on their hearts.
Jacki Preissler and Vicki Grochowski out of Illinois have sent care package after care package to soldiers fighting overseas. Vicki was in a rush for about a week or so back in June in order to get special care packages sent to my platoon by the fourth of July. In them contained a chillow. If you?re not familiar with a chillow, it?s like a thin insert that you put in between your pillow and pillow cover that keeps your head cool when you lay down. You fill it with water and it stays cool for months. Believe me. Out here, after working out in the sun, or doing some good quality PT with SFC Kohutka, you can?t wait to go back to the barracks and lay down and cool off. Jacki and I first started corresponding shortly after I returned to Iraq from leave. I still had felt pretty disheartened by that manager at Shopper?s, but Jacki?s care package was like a breath of fresh air.
This explains a lot. -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
There are a few people, groups and organizations in the country that I do not want supporting me. For example: ...
One Radio Show Down...One To Go! (and something funny about Air America) -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
I just wanted to share my first experience on the radio. It was really great. The radio show was broadcast live from the Minnesota State Fair, and people could sit and watch from the benches out front. After the show was over people came up to me asking how to get involved in personally supporting our troops. They wanted more information and it was GREAT! It was not scary at all like I feared and I don't think I sounded like a big dork (I hope).
America - Toasting the Troops -- [USS Neverdock]
As I recently reported all accross America, Americans show their appreciation for our troops by picking up the tab at bars and dinners.
An Enjoyable Evening with Supporters of Our Troops -- [Andi's World]
...It was a great evening, though I hope there's not a need to go back, I would love to see CODEPINK stand down and let our troops heal in peace. I'll just say that a little bit of media exposure went a long way as the pro-troops crowd was very large tonight.
Hating Our Troops American Style --[Froggy Ruminations]
Well I think we can pretty much dispense with the whole ?Support the Troops but not the War? load of crap. What must it be like to look in the mirror after spending a long day outside Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington DC mocking and tormenting wounded soldiers? This is d骠 vu all over again when the parents of these contemptible slime were calling the parents of fallen soldiers in Vietnam and telling them how glad they were that their ?baby killer? son had died.
Girl Scouts To Ship Cookies To Soldiers -- (Honolulu Advertiser)...Suzanne Roig
Thousands of citizen-soldiers serving with the Hawai'i Army National Guard in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan will receive a sweet reminder of home next month when 3,000 boxes of donated Girl Scout cookies arrive in the mail.
Committee Spares Air Force Base In South Dakota -- (New York Times)...David S. Cloud
...Although much of the Defense Department's plan for closing or shrinking hundreds of bases emerged from the review intact, the panel, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission, overturned several of the plan's largest pieces, preventing the Pentagon from moving dozens of submarines, hundreds of aircraft and thousands of military personnel to new locations around the country in coming years.
S.D., N.M. Air Force Bases Get Reprieve -- (Washington Post)...Bradley Graham
The independent base-closing commission overruled Pentagon plans yesterday to shut two major Air Force bases in South Dakota and New Mexico, setting back Air Force efforts to consolidate its B-1 bomber fleet but preserving thousands of jobs in the states involved.
In Final Slap To Pentagon, Bases Are Spared In S. Dakota, New Mexico -- (Los Angeles Times)...John Hendren
Continuing to defy Pentagon proposals, the military base closure commission Friday spared South Dakota's B-1 bomber base and rejected the proposed shutdown of a major Air Force base in New Mexico.
Panel Votes To Make Pope An Army Air Field -- (Fayetteville (NC) Observer)...Henry Cuningham
The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission unanimously accepted an alternate proposal on Friday afternoon to turn Pope Air Force Base over to the Army with an Air Force presence that is smaller than what the base has now and larger than what the Pentagon recommended.
Air Guard Won't Get F-15s From 3 States -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Donna De La Cruz, Associated Press
A federal panel yesterday rejected a Pentagon plan to send 24 F-15s from other parts of the country to the New Jersey Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing outside Atlantic City.
Connecticut Governor Vows Court Fight Over Planned Transfer Of Jets From Base -- (New York Times)...William Yardley
Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Friday that she would go to court to oppose the planned transfer of fighter jets from the Bradley Air National Guard base, saying that the 15 A-10 Warthogs affected were crucial to the state's homeland defense and that federal law required her permission to make the transfer.
BRAC OKs Changes For Guam Bases -- (Pacific Daily News (Guam))...Steve Limtiaco
The military's plans for Guam's Air Force and Navy bases were approved by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission yesterday without changes.
Okinawa Leaders Blast Report Calling For Current Levels Of U.S. Troops -- (Pacific Stars and Stripes)...David Allen and Chiyomi Sumida
While some U.S. communities are adjusting to base closures being announced by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in Washington this week, Okinawa officials are upset about another committee?s report that recommends maintaining current force levels on Okinawa.
What A Fool Believes -- [Florida Cracker]
For two years a newspaper in Carbondale, Illinois ran the sad letters of a little girl named Kodee Kennings to her father in Iraq. She begs him not to die. He does. Sometimes she also wrote letters to President Bush:
"I'm rily mad at you and you make my hart hurt,"' she purportedly wrote in one published letter to the president. "I don't think your doing a very good job. You keep sending soldiers to Iraq and it's not fair. Do you have a soldier of your own in Irak?"
It was all a hoax.
With Cheese has the story.
Back to Haditha -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
It is time to revisit the Guardian?s claim that Haditha is a jihadi ?citadel? along the lines of Fallujah of old. Soldier?s Dad points us the recent issue of This Week in Iraq, a newsletter published by Multinational Forces Iraq, which helps refute two of the claims in the article: Haditha is not being patrolled, and the insurgents control the output from the Haditha Dam
Jennifer Loven Strikes Again -- [2Slick's Forum]
I've written about her before.
Google her name and you'll find a long list of indictments that leave no doubt- this woman is nothing more than a card-carrying Bush-basher who (poorly) disguises herself as a legitimate "news person."
Life imitates art -- [Veterans Support Our Troops]
From Cox and Forkum on August 14: (pic)
From Free Republic ten days later: (pic)
Bush's war -- [Cadillac Tight]
KOS:
Know how conservatives love to use those maps showing areas that voted Republicans, and those that voted Democrats?
What would they say about this map? (pic of map)
Well, what I'd say is that higher densities of population in the areas Kos is trying to designate as "Blue" states naturally leads to more enlistments, and thus a higher percentage of casualties from those areas.
What Kos wants to push here though is the old tired meme of ...
War Supporters are. . . Morons??!!: Fisking Robert Crook -- [Reasoned Audacity]
His name is Robert Crook. And, if you support the President, and the war in Iraq, he says you are a "moron."
Iraq war protester says to shift focus to Congress (Reuter)...Jeremy Pelofsky
CRAWFORD, Texas - Iraq war protester Cindy Sheehan, whose vigil near President George W. Bush's Texas ranch has become a symbol for the anti-war movement, said on Friday she plans to focus on Congress, starting with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Bush ally and fellow Texan
Good idea, Boq! -- [Argghhh!]
And, a WARNO (warning order) for milbloggers who still hold clearances.
There was a new "CSA Sends" that went out two days ago if you want to go find it in your AO. Alternatively, log in to AKO, do a search on "CSA and VCSA OPSEC Guidance " and it will pop right up.
Can't post it because it has an FOUO marking on it.
Bottom line is - the Army in general (and the Chief specifically addresses blogs, too) are blowing OPSEC in postings and on the UNCLAS networks. An example we unwittingly abetted here at the Castle is the TF160 email I posted. Unknown to me, the email contained a Code Word reference (elided when it was pointed out to me by someone who *did* know) - but things like that, and more, is what General Schoomaker is talking about - building on the M1 Tank photos debacle of a couple of years ago. Those I did sit on (getting scooped by Matt at Blackfive because of it, waaaaah!) because I couldn't believe they weren't at *least* FOUO. Turned out they should have been, but once they hit the Internet the Army had no choice but to let that one roll over.
Blogging and OPSEC -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
Operations Security (OPSEC) is a critical concept in warfare, and vital in our efforts against a well organized, patient, and secret enemy that can take maximum advantage of our transparency and press freedoms while easily denying us an equivalent advantage against them.
I have just received through multiple official channels a warning from the highest military officials, which should have received the widest dissemination possible. I would be virtually certain that any active duty, reserve or guard military member in a leadership position has received it as well.
More OPSEC Guidance -- [Blackfive]
The Chief of Staff of the Army has sent out new guidance regarding Military blogs and Operational Security (OPSEC). Below is the message from General Peter Schoomaker as it was sent to me. The message below that one is from February:...
Gen Schoomaker Warns on Photo's -- [ROFASix]
The Chief of Staff ot the Army Gen Schoomaker has issued new operational security guidance or repeated some old guidance depending on your point of view. MilBloggers especially need to pay attention. It appears the CSA and the Vice have in essence declared war on photos coming out of the battlefield.
The complete message can be found here.
Managing Trolls In The Blogosphere -- [GM's Corner]
What to do with TROLLS? That is a question plaguing bloggers from day one, handling those people who do not contribute to the conversation, rather hurl invective, make ad hominem attacks, challenge rather than discuss and otherwise make a nuisance of themselves. Some bloggers, like LaShawn Barber have decided to cut out comments entirely, and she had plenty of justification for doing so. She was called so many vile names by trolls that any self respecting sailor would blush and disown the language that made the clich頦amous.
250,000th R&R Soldier -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - The Fast Squirrel]
The Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System has the following about the 250,000th R&R Soldier.
Corporal James Holcombe, the 250,000th R&R Soldier, arrives at the Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport from Iraq for his two weeks of rest and relaxation. Scenes include Soldiers leaving to go overseas, CPL Holcombe arriving, taking pictures with volunteers from the USO, shaking hands and talking to volunteers and VIPs in the conference room, a ...
The video of him is here. Lucky S.O.B.!
Congratulations BOLC II Grads -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! -The MI Guy]
Congrats to the BOLC II 2005 pilot graduates on completing a course that demanded our flexibility and adapability all the way to the end. On the second to last day of the course we had our dining in. There was an incredibly alcoholic grog (16 kinds of alcoholic beverages in one bowl), entertaining skits that pulled no punches imitating the course and cadre, and a dance-off to decide which platoon had the best skit. No kidding. A dance-off.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Encounters -- [An Average Iraqi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Yesterday I met a very interesting guy, he was taken as a prison in the Iraq-Iran war, he was taken prisoner on 1981, then release on 2002. Imagine 21 years as a prisoner. He told me that there was only two ways you could get released. The first was in a prisoners switch which happened a few times between the two countries, but not all the prisoners were released. The second way was to enlist at Bader Regiment, but no one would be accepted unless he had killed 5 other Iraqi prisoners, how brutal. Then the prisoner would be released to enlist with Bader Regiment and would fight for them. Now this regiment is in Iraq and supported by Iran, it's main task is to kill Sunis, and has been doing so since the end of the war. It is being supported by the Irani Islamic party, but right now it is in a big fight with Al Sadr forces, plus ...
Support Al-Sadr -- [Baghdad Dweller - an Iraqi in the Netherlands]
Right now there is a fierce battle in Najaf and explosions in Baghdad, between Badr organization and Sadr followers after Badr orginization set Sadr office on fire.
later sadr followers attacked the offices of Badr orginization in Baghdad, reports says Al-Sadr follower are gathering by the mosques in Baghdad waiting for orders to fight.
I said before Badr terrorists orginization headed by the evil Iranian Sistani taking orders from Iran to ilimnate Muqtada Al-sadr because he is the only obsacle against Iran?s plans for Iraq, I think the plan is started.
Powers of Darkness -- [IBN_ALRAFIDAIN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Two weeks ago, a friend of mine brought me a leaflet distributed at the entrance of a mosque nearby his home. It contains a statement issued by a group calling itself (the media dept. of Al-Qaida organization in Mesopotamia). This organization is assumed to be led by Al-Zarqawee. The statement threatens everybody not to take part in the political process. It is a prolonged statement. In general it considers any kind of referendum, election, people representation, constitution?etc as an apostasy of Islam.
18 points of difference und only four days to reach a compromise -- [Iraqi Kurdistan - an Iraqi in Iraq]
There are some 18 crucial differences between Kurdish negotiators and their Arab adversaries in Baghdad wrangling about drafting the new Iraqi constitution before the deadline of 15.08.2005. It is almost mission impossible because those diffrences are so deep that it` s almost impossible to bridge them in such a short time even with the current marathon pace of negotiations.
Brilliant plan if true -- [An Iraqi's Thoughts - an Iraqi in exile]
Well rumour has it that its planned to not reach an agreement on the constituion. I hope its true and the results will be new general elections and a new parliament. This is probably what is needed in Iraq at this point.
Lots of people who voted for the Islamic 169 regret it, while at the same time Sunnis realising that every vote does count will enter meaning that it won't like the old days where the islamists can do what they like.
Erdogan isn?t Abraham Lincoln, he is British
" Mr. Erdogan is right to say, "The Kurdish problem is everybody's problem, but above all mine." In Diyarbakir, he sounded like Abraham Lincoln when he declared slavery not only a Southern crime but a national crime. As much as Mr. Erdogan seems to be inspired by a Lincolnian democracy, where secession is not even an option, he chooses to stay silent while there's a skyrocketing belief among the Turkish public that America wants to create an independent Kurdistan. "[1]
This was a comment in Washingtontimes of "today's columnist", probably a Turk. But Kurds don't see it this way.
Why did he do that ?... -- [Days of My Life - a teenage girl in Iraq]
...I was in the living room , when I heard the bell , & my father was talking with someone in English , I said FINALY .
They asked my Parents if we have gun & they were surprised when they knew that we don?t .. & surprised more when they saw me talking English fluently. . It was the first time I speak with some one in English.
My mother was a little bit uncomfortable in the beginning , but the soldiers were nice with us, except one ,he was rude, he crushed the TV remote control , squeezed a tube of gel on the ground & on the bed cover & sheets.
He also powdered two bottles of Baby powder on my mother clothes in side her closet & on the bed cover, that was unseemly deportment. He did that while he was searching my parents room alone.
The other soldiers didn?t break anything . however ...
What was his guilt?.... -- [Emotions.... - an Iraqi Woman in Iraq]
A dear friend and a brother in law of my husband's uncle was murdered few months ago .I was shocked I couldn't believe that any one can kill a guy like him (R.).R. was a very friendly guy ,famous with his lovely smile He was so loved by every one specially his family ,his wife(she is a teacher) ,19 years old son ,24 years old daughter & 12 years old daughter. He used to stay home to look after his old blind mother in spite of he was handicapped.
He lost his leg years ago though an accident during work(he was an agricultural specialist ). . But he had a great will. After the accident he worked as a carpenter in his house.
After the downfall of Mousul ,he demanded to work as a translator in the governorate building , he was accepted . He used to appear in the TV . of Nainava ....
Baghdad -- [ALI MOHAMED - an Iraqi in Iraq](pics)
Pictures of Baghdad
Pictures Of Kurdistan '05//DUHOK -- [Pep?Kurdistan - a kurdish girl in London]
Iraq Pictures - Friday, August 26, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
SPC James Cualfield, left, explains how to program radios to Iraqi army Capt. Khider Abdullah Hatam at a base near Najaf. Cualfield is assigned to the 198th Armor Regiment, 155th Brigade Combat Team. Hatam is a communications officer for the Iraqi army's 8th Infantry Division. Pic: Staff Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross, U.S. Air Force.
3-21 INF Photo Essays -- [Styker Brigade]
Here are two new Defend America Photo Essays that cover the 3-21 INF conducting operations in and around Mosul.
Euphrates River Weapons Search
Soldiers Secure Iraqi Neighborhoods
Iraq Constitution - a more complete draft -- [Mad Canuck]
Earlier today, National Public Radio published a different translation of the final version of the Iraq constitution. This translation focused a bit more on the earlier sections of the constitution, filling in some of the gaps that were missing in the version I discussed yesterday.
Now that I have seen this translation, I feel I've seen enough detail that I no longer have to reserve judgment on this, and can clearly state my opinion: ...
Deflating -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? - in Iraq]
...Insurgent activity is on the rise, but that is to be expected as we await approval of the draft constitution. It is finally supposed to happen today after a multitude of delays. Of course, everyone here is extremely anxious and hopeful for its passage since it will be another milestone towards giving control of this nation back to the Iraqi people. Currenltly I am following the progress of the Iraq constitution more closely than pre-season football. I look forward to the day when football becomes enjoyable again.
For better or For Worse -- [MREeater - in Iraq]
As I exited the chow hall tonight carrying my foil covered chicken breast and broccoli, a soldier said hello. I?ve gotten to know this soldier fairly well on the deployment, and I asked him how things have been going.
?I was on emergency leave? he solemnly informed me...
I said ?Uh oh, that doesn?t sound good. What happened?? As I?ve written, I think people don?t bring this stuff up unless they want you to ask about it.
?My wife burnt down the house and blew up my pickup? he replied, calmly.
I should have known better... -- [Partamian Report]
So, I get a phone call, Tuesday morning, from my buddy telling me that the mobilization date is set. I get some e-mails with all the official information, etc from NGB an hour later. So, I?m all set. I had a firm date, I see the orders coming down from higher, etc? then my commander calls. He tells me that they have a platoon coming from another state to fill in where we needed people and they?ll be brining an LT with them... So, the unit will need to send one less LT. I tell him that I still want to go. By the time I was headed to Little Italy for dinner, my commander calls to tell me that it turns out that the BN CDR (or maybe it was the XO) made the decision. So... no deployment for Partamian. I?m the one with a pregnant wife. (I know, I should be grateful and I am)
Rival Shiite Militias Fight in Two Cities (NPR)...Philip Reeves (audio)
In Iraq, fighting breaks out between rival Shiite Muslim militiamen in two cities. The clashes involved gunmen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and members of the Badr Brigade, the paramilitary arm of the most powerful Shiite political party.
Shiite Conflicts Stem from Longstanding Schism (NPR) All Things Considered (audio)
Rival Shiite groups have clashed in Iraq in the past week, driven by longstanding conflicts. Robert Siegel talks with Vali Nasr, professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and author of the forthcoming book, The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future.
Militant cleric gaining support from Iraqi youth -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Firebrand Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is rapidly gaining support among Iraqi youth, raising fears he could eventually unify Shi'ites and Sunnis against American forces.
Iraq on brink of meltdown -- (The Telegraph)...Oliver Poole in Baghdad
Q&A: charter talks fail for a third time
The credibility of Iraq's political process was in danger last night as parliament again failed to vote on a draft constitution which a Sunni politician said was "fit only for the bin".
Charter Talks in Iraq Reach Breaking Point -- (new York Times)...DEXTER FILKINS and JAMES GLANZ
An assembly to present the constitution was canceled, and President Bush intervened in an effort to broker a last-minute deal.
First Step? Admit There's a Problem -- (Washinton Post)...E. J. Dionne Jr.
SYDNEY -- History repeats itself in strange ways. Consider two statements.
"A slogan like 'stay the course' is unacceptable."
And: "Stay the course is not a policy."
Fate of Iraq's Draft Constitution in Doubt -- (NPR)
In Iraq, another deadline has come and gone without agreement on a draft constitution. After a day of conflicting reports over whether there would be a deal, the speaker of Iraq's National Assembly, Hashim al Hassani, announced shortly before midnight that negotiators need more time.
36 bodies found in Iraq. Possibly Kurds -- (The Kurdistani )
The bodies of 36 men - all but one wearing traditional Kurdish trousers - were discovered on Thursday in a dry river bed near the Iranian border, police said.
Rebels treated to secure release of Italian hostages -- (Gulf News)
The Italian Red Cross treated "four presumed Iraqi terrorists" at its Baghdad hospital in order to secure last year's release of two kidnapped Italian aid workers, a senior Red Cross officia...
Democracy and terrorism do have a relationship -- (Gulf News)
In previous articles, we argued that Washington's sudden concern for democracy in the Arab Middle East is interest-driven and at the moment when a clash arises between democracy promotion and US inter...
Democrats fumble Iraq policy -- (Asia Times)...Jim Lobe
WASHINGTON - While Republicans voice growing unease over US President George W Bush's vow to "stay the course" in Iraq, Democrats remain deeply divided about their position on a conflict that most of them privately describe as a major foreign policy disaster.
Why We're Here- Aug 26th - Video -- {DVIDS}
Navy Senior Mess Sergeant Anne Proctor brings us the August 26th edition of "Why We're Here" featuring Soldiers from the 155th Brigade Comabt Team helping Iraqi citizens prepare for initial screening for the Iraqi Police Training Academy
ISF, U.S. Forces take down 10 terror suspects -{DVIDS}...by dmccormick-
BAGHDAD ? Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured a suspected bomb emplacer, three suspected kidnappers and six other terror suspects in a series of combat operations carried out Aug. 20.
Where the Taliban Don't Roam -- [Strategy Page]
August 24, 2005: So far this month, counter-terrorist operations have killed about 110 Taliban, mainly along the Pakistani border. Several hundred suspects have been arrested. Most of the Taliban were killed last week, in the southern province of Zabul and the eastern province of Kunar. These two areas have been the scene of most Taliban violence. Only a few hundred Taliban are causing all the terror and violence in the southern part of the country, with an estimated 2,000 Pushtun tribesmen actively supporting the Taliban cause.
Chief poll organiser says security situation is stable but fragile -- (Gulf News)
The chief organiser of Afghanistan's September 18 elections said yesterday the state of security for the vote was acceptable but the situation was fragile and could deteriorate very quickly.
16 Taliban killed in Afghan clashes -- (The News International)
KABUL: US and Afghan forces backed by helicopter and warplanes killed 16 Taliban militants in Afghanistan during the past two days, the US military on Thursday said.
Canadian troops hand out radios in Afghanistan -- (CTV)
Canadian troops in Afghanistan are handing out free radios to help counter the messages of fear and hate propagated by the Taliban.
India to announce fresh help to Afghanistan: -- (New Kerala.com)
New Delhi: India will take its ties with Afghanistan to new heights by announcing fresh assistance to the warn-torn country's reconstruction during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's historic visit beginning Sunday.
?Pakistan has vital stake in Afghanistan?s stability? -- (Daily Times)...Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Munir Akram, Pakistan?s permanent representative to the United Nations, told a Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan on Tuesday that no other country had a more vital stake in the establishment of peace, security and prosperity in Afghanistan than Pakistan.
Drew Carey Leads Comic Tour of Afghanistan -- (Defense Link)...John D. Banusiewicz
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Aug. 25, 2005 ? After spending most of the last 24 hours meeting airmen at an air base in Southwest Asia, a group of comedians led by television star Drew Carey arrived here early today to entertain the troops.
How would they feel? -- [Jump Blog]
I wrote a response to a comment recently that I thought deserved a front page showing. Not for anything that I have said, but because of the unique issues the poster brought up, and my sincere belief in how I answered. Here it is:
'63 Tapes Reveal Kennedy and Aides Discussed Using Nuclear Arms in a China-India Clash -- (New York Yimes)...ANAND GIRIDHARADAS
MUMBAI, India, Aug. 25 - In May 1963, President John F. Kennedy and his aides discussed the feasibility of using nuclear weapons in the event China attacked India for a second time, according to newly declassified audio recordings that were released Thursday by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
Sheehan: Bin Laden "Allegedly" Behind 9/11 -- [Media Blog - NRO]
You know, because we don't really know for sure.
Tuesday, I wrote, "Meanwhile, darlings of the left like, well, to take a recent example, Cindy Sheehan, can say things like 'We might not even have been attacked by Osama Bin Laden' and it goes totally unreported in the mainstream press." I got an e-mail that said:
Cindy Sheehan planning anti-war bus tour -- (USA Today)
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) ? A fallen soldier's mother said Thursday that the anti-war vigil she started nearly three weeks ago near President Bush's ranch won't end when she and other protesters pack up their camp next week.
No, Really, a Template! -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
...I write a lot of documents, I reuse a lot of older files, and having a "template" handy is a real time saver.
For those of you who don't use them or don't mass produce documents regularly, a template is a form or outline or an example document you can open, modify as needed, and then complete, submit, send, etc.
Blogging and OPSEC -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
...I have just received through multiple official channels a warning from the highest military officials, which should have received the widest dissemination possible. I would be virtually certain that any active duty, reserve or guard military member in a leadership position has received it as well.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Muqtada's office in Najaf is on fire. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Right now there are bloody clashes in Najaf between the supporters of Muqtada Al-Sadr and the residents of the city.
The clashes started after Al-Sadr men tried to reopen their office which has been closed for months but the locals attacked the office, set fire in it and clashed with Sadr's men.
The police forces intervened and the casualties till now are 7 killed and tens wounded.
I have received news saying that a curfew has been imposed in the city.
ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS TARGET WOUNDED AT WALTER REED -- [A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
I am totally sickened by this. According to developing news on the Drudge Report as of August 24th, 21:20 ET,
"Anti-war protestors besieged wounded and disabled soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C, a new web report will claim!
CNSNews.com is planning to run an expose on Thursday featuring interviews with both protestors and veterans, as well as shots of protest signs with slogans like ?Maimed for a Lie.?
The conservative outlet will post video evidence of the wounded veterans being taunted by protesters, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned."
Time to Ride -- [Ma Deuce Gunner - in Iraq]
0300. It is dark. The moon is high and bright, but filtered through the camo netting, it provides an eerie white glow on the warriors who are preparing for a mission.
The smell of diesel exhaust wafts through the motor pool. Radios beep, crackle and hiss..."Animal Base, this is Renegade 3B, Radio Check, Over." "Roger, Out." comes the reply.
Rolling with the Heavies -- [365 And a Wake Up - in Iraq]
Here in Iraq the M1 Abrams tank is the apex predator, even at rest its sleek lines convey a sense of lethal menace. The M1 isn?t so much a vehicle as a rolling battleship, it?s massive belts of armor were designed to absorb or deflect direct hits from the main guns of enemy tanks. There must be some parallel between the ballistic laws governing deflection and the laws of aerodynamics, because the M1?s low profile mirrors the shapely lines of an exotic sports car.
Out and about -- [Ramrods Blog - in Iraq]
...So it's totally creepin my boys out that I tell them that I'm happy to be back, creepin me out too..lol. But I really am glad to be back, get back to what I know and am comfortable with. I guess that's good, to be comfortable with this shit; cuz I know I'll be back at least two more times and then who knows after that, Syria? Iran? N. Korea? Bleh...
Huh? -- [DSS Hubris]
This was the lede in a story by Reuters today:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has approved full-rate production of a new Hellfire missile variant, touted by President George W. Bush for its ability to kill guerrillas in urban settings, the missile's manufacturer said on Wednesday. U.S. commanders in Iraq have asked for more of the rounds, said Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, who added that early versions had already been used there in 'limited numbers.' More than 1,870 Americans have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
COALITION FORCES CAPTURE TERRORIST, DESTROY HIDE-OUT -- {Centcom}
Baghdad, Iraq ? Coalition forces captured a known Al Qaeda-in-Iraq member, two suspected terrorists and destroyed a terrorist sanctuary, weapons and equipment near Al Asad Aug. 23.
IRAQI ARMY TAKES OVER COALITION CAMP -- {Centcom}
CAMP ECHO, Iraq ? Coalition forces turned over Camp Zulu in As Suwayrah, Iraq, to the Iraqi Army Aug. 21.
This is the first coalition forces camp within the Multi-National Division Central?s South area of responsibility to be turned over to Iraq?s 8th Division. The division?s 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade will be permanently housed there.
From the ruin, an Iraqi Army is fabricated - Part IV Part III Part II Part I -- [Live in Iraq]
During basic training, drill instructors tell their recruits that they can not earn the title 'Marine' until learning to accurately fire the M16 service rifle. Following that tradition, the Iraqi students may not graduate this course unless they demonstrated proper weapons handling skills.
Day 217 - Video Clip 2 - Fighting Insurgency -- [Waynes World - Wayne's in Iraq]
A couple of days ago, WLBT-TV3 in Jackson, MS, reported on Alpha Company?s patrol missions. Last night, Mississippi moms told me about a follow-up story telling how soldiers of the 150th fight insurgents.
new kids on the block -- [Blog Machine City - in Iraq]
Every day new troops arrive at Camp Liberty, wearing their new ACUs, clean new boots, and jet-black rifles with all the latest cool gear dangling off of them. They travel in huge packs, great globs of digitized gray-green swarming over the streets and into the DFAC and the PX and the laundry and the internet shack.
It's not just their new uniforms and weapons that set them apart as newcomers; it's their attitude, their ...
Iraqi Leaders Again Put Off Meeting on New Constitution (New York Times)...DEXTER FILKINS and KIRK SEMPLE
Parliament today set no date for a future session, a signal that factions were failing to agree on a new constitution.
Shiite Cleric's Soldiers Battle Rivals In Najaf And Basra -- (New York Times)...Kirk Semple
...In an unrelated burst of violence in Baghdad, fierce gun battles erupted between about 40 insurgents and the police in the streets of two residential neighborhoods in western Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people, most of them civilians, and wounding at least 57, an official at the Iraqi Interior Ministry said.
Rival Iraqi Shiites Clash In Najaf, Killing 7 -- (Washington Post)...Saad Sarhan and Jonathan Finer
More than 1,000 Shiite Muslim demonstrators clashed Wednesday night with supporters of influential Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr in this southern Iraqi city, leaving at least seven people dead and dozens wounded, according to officials at a local hospital.
In Iraq's Prisons, Try a Little Tenderness -- (New York Times)... SCOTT GERWEHR and NINA HACHIGIAN
American forces in Iraq should try a tactic used in Vietnam - showing compassion to prisoners.
Lost in Translation -- (New York Times)...THOMAS X. HAMMES
THERE is an amusing scene in an "Indiana Jones" film where a British scholar walks around a train station in a foreign land desperately seeking help by calling out, "Excuse me, does anyone here speak English? Or Ancient Greek?" Today our troops in Iraq often find themselves in that same scene - except it never ends.
IRAQ: AL-SADR APPEALS FOR CALM BETWEEN RIVAL SHIITE FACTIONS -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 25 August (AKI) - The radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has appealed for calm after violent clashes between rival Shiite factions, which have left at least six dead and scores more injured since Wednesday. "I call upon the people of Iraq... the believers... to preserve Muslims blood and go back home. I call upon them to maintain calm," al-Sadr told journalists. The violence began when traders in the holy Shiite city of Najaf demonstrated against al-Sadr's
Tripartite Commission meets in Islamabad -- {Defense Link}
Islamabad , Pakistan ? The Tripartite Commission, comprised of senior military and diplomatic representatives from Afghanistan , Pakistan and the United States , held its 12th meeting in Rawalpindi , Pakistan today.
This meeting was the first in which Afghanistan and Pakistan were represented at the four-star general level.
From refugees to 're-fugees' -- [Afghan Reality]
Pakistan's forcible eviction of Afghan refugees from areas alongside Pak-Afghan border and Islamabad will deteriorate not improve the refugees' living conditions.
Karzai had rightly called for 'volunteer repatriation' rather than 'forcible eviction' of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and Iran given the country's inability to provide the returnees with basic resources.
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (66) -- [Miserable Donuts]
Afghanistan adheres to the "Central Asian Child Labor Law". The law is very simple - Children shall labor. Now you know why we were helping build so many schools...
10 suspected rebels killed in Afghanistan -- (USA Today)...(AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan ? U.S.-led coalition aircraft and ground troops as well as Afghan forces battled suspected Taliban rebels in three separate firefights in southern Afghanistan, killing at ...
Afghan election security said OK, but fragile --(Reuters)...Robert Birsel
KABUL, Aug 25 - The chief organiser of Afghanistan's Sept. 18 elections said on Thursday the state of security for the vote was acceptable but the situation was fragile an...
Afghan vote plans on track -- (Bahrain Tribune)... Reuters
KABUL: Organisers of Afghanistan?s September 18 elections said on Wednesday preparations were well on track and they promised there would be no nasty surprises with the ink they will use to mark voter...
UN reports rise in Afghan attacks -- (BBC News)...Susannah Price
The UN Security Council says it is gravely concerned about increased attacks by Taleban, al-Qaeda and other extremist groups in Afghanistan.
Here is what I learned at the Imjimgak Peace Festival: -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
It is the English translation of one of the poems on display at the Peace Festival. It says:
I still rise, you can record me with severe force, lies in the history, I don't care if you trample over me with slander, I still rise...
It is a form of a video poem with the background poem of America's representative hostess, Maya Angelou who gave a congratulatory speech at US President Bill Clinton's inauguration. This poem is dedicated to the children that went through pain and died from the chemical weapons that was used by the US Army at the US & Iraq war.
The poem doesn't translate very well into English but the last part about the US Army using chemical weapons on the Iraqis I found absurd. Even at a Peace Festival there has got to be a cheap shot taken at America. I wonder
There are people out there who genuinely care about us -- (AETC News)...Tech. Sgt. Tony Moon
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AETCNS) ? Sometimes life becomes so routine with everyday customs, we forget why we do our job and what we stand for.
Operation Troop Appreciation -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? - in Iraq] (pics)
This post is a salute to Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA). OTA was born from the efforts of Kristen Holloway who started with an idea to provide some comfort items to some National Guard soldiers deployed from her home state of Pennsylvania. The overwhelming response she recieved inspired her to take the idea to the next level and as a result OTA was established as a non-profit organization in July 2004.
?I Support The Troops, Just Not The War? -- [Jump Blog]
I hesitate to trot this tired old horse out of the barn anymore, and wouldn?t, except that a buddy of mine just had some pretty profound things to say about it. This buddy is a Marine with long years of service doing some pretty special things and who has been ?sandy? a couple times in the last few years. Here?s what he had to say about ?supporting the troops but not the war?: ...
Terrorist Weapons Cache Found in Moscow Apartment -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - Foreign Object Damage]
http://news.pravda.ru/crime/2005/08/24/79554.html
A large cache of weapons and explosives was found today in an apt in SE Moscow, according to security forces, it may have been put there by the terrorists who conducted the last attack in Moscow(Dubrovka -2002). The cache included 20 AKs, 3 Colt pistols, 6 RPGs, 18 silencers, 500 grams plastic explosive, a large number of detonators and more.
Viral terrorism -- [Winds of Change - Donald Sensing]
by Donald Sensing on August 24, 2005 02:23 PM
Paul Stares is vice president for research and studies at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Mona Yacoubian is a special adviser to the institute's Muslim World Initiative. Their piece in yesterday's WaPo proposed that Islamist terrorism be conceived of thus: ...
Radical Indoctrination in the U.S. Prisons -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The investigation of a recent alleged terrorism plot that law enforcement officials say was hatched in a California prison has raised fears about radical Islamic indoctrination in the country's prison system. Law enforcement officials told ABC News that former Oakland gang member Peter Martinez and cellmate Kevin James, both held in the New Folsom State Prison, organized a plot to attack military and Jewish targets in the Los Angeles area this coming September 11. The plot was discovered when former Folsom Prison inmate Levar Washington (who converted to Islam while in prison) and an accomplice were arrested for a string of gas station robberies
MG Ann Dunwoody Tapped for Third Star -- [Outside the Beltway]
Ann E. Dunwoody has been nominated for a third star and head of Army logistics. This would make her the Army's top-ranking woman and the first three-star female in five years.
Closer to Tomorrow -- [Bobby's World]
Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL) is going well-- while I obviously can't talk about any of the details of an exercise, I can say that I'm quite impressed with the performance of our South Korean allies and the way they do things. Having seen their performance in this exercise, at least thus far, has further convinced me that (despite what the doom-sayers might want to believe), the War in Iraq is strategically irrelevant to the defense of the Korean Peninsula.
Panel Approves Plan to Close Walter Reed Army Hospital -- (New York Times)...DAVID S. CLOUD and CHRISTINE HAUSER
A federal commission voted to close the crown jewel of Army hospitals as it began its second day of decision-making on sweeping plans to restructure military bases.
More Media Spin -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
Were you dismayed by a recent report in the NY Times that the military was upgrading Body Armor, still working at this late date to replace current body armor that leaves soldiers vulnerable?
It turns out, not to worry. This was a classic example of either willful deceit or blind ignorance on the part of a NY Times Reporter. (Imagine that.)
Media and Iraq in general and Fallujah, specifically -- [5th CAG's Experiences in Iraq]
Now, my (very few) regular readers know that I don't like to preach much. I know this blog is being read by you-know-who, but that's only part of the reason. The real reason is that I'd prefer to show you pictures of every day life in Iraq rather than give you my views on events that are beyond my control and out of my lane. However, in reading the below piece from Jack Kelly, it struck me that I haven't shared with you my own little first-hand brush with media bias. So here goes:
Answering a few questions -- [From My Position - Recovering from IED attack]
I received an e-mail today, from a woman in Seattle. The text of it is below:
I hope you are doing better! I just found your blog and I think it is great. I have a question for you and your guys/gals in Iraq....Should you all come home? All the editorials in my paper (liberal Seattle Times) are calling for a pullout, (Mrs. Sheehan has stirred things up). I am a Christian, and I am not sure that the Lord would want us all fighting. But I want to know, do the Iraqi people want us out? And if not, then where are they, why arent they speaking up? When I get paid in Sept I will send you guys a care package. Thanks for all you do.
I'm officially asked me basically four questions.
1. Should you all come home? ...
The V-Word -- [Froggy Ruminations]
"We are locked into a bogged-down problem not unsimilar, dissimilar to where we were in Vietnam." This golden nugget of wisdom comes from Vietnam veteran, Senator, and Presidential hopeful Chuck Hagel. When my daughter says, ?Daddy, daddy, watch this!? I know that she is feeling a little left out with a new baby brother in the household. Which is essentially what the Republican Senator from Nebraska is doing when he goes on ABC?s ?This Week with a
Chuck Hagel Redux -- [GM's Corner]
I was taken to task by a commenter regarding my use of "idiot," "idotarian," and "RINO." (See first comment here.) The commenter rightly noted that the Senator is a Vietnam vet who was decorated, has some purple hearts and a distinguished career before coming to the senate. My commenter is correct. But that doesn't give the good Senator a pass when he goes overboard and says something really stupid. Another example of the good Senator's fatuous remarks: ....
Hillary or Condi in 2008? -- [Newsmax]
NewsMax.com, one of America's leading online news services, is conducting an urgent national online poll.
NewsMax will provide the results of this poll to major media, Congress, the president and key members of his administration. Additionally, NewsMax's results will be shared with every major radio talk show host in America.
Leak: Draft of Bush Answer to Cindy Sheehan -- [ScrappleFace]
An internal White House memo, leaked today, indicates how President George Bush initially planned to address Cindy Sheehan's question: What "noble cause" did my son die for?
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
The Dawn Patrol will be a little late today due to extenuating circumstances --
Mom duties take precedence (School orientation/registration)
But Greyhawk has a couple of tidbits for you below.
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Iraq's proposed constitution... oddly incomplete -- [Back to Iraq -CHRISTOPHER ALLBRITTON - TIME journalist in Iraq]
BAGHDAD?Last night's drama at least left us with a draft of Iraq's new constitution sitting on someone's desk. And despite some protests that the Iraqis again broke the law of the TAL, I don't think they did. The amended TAL said the draft had to be submitted by Aug. 22 for approval. There's nothing in the TAL, at least as near as I can tell, that requires an approval vote on that date. Which is why I was mystified that so many news reports headlined their stories with ?Assembly fails to vote on constitution!? Well, duh. They weren't required to. As long as they're able to hold a referendum on Oct. 15, there seems to be nothing legally improper with waiting until Oct. 14 for parliamentary approval.
Jose L. Ruiz -- [Michael Yon - In Iraq]
Air Force SSG Will Shockley relays news that an American soldier was just killed nearby in Mosul. (15 August 05)
One week later, memorial services were held at a Fort Lewis chapel to say goodbye to Jose L. Ruiz, 28.
Please stand by for the "Gates of Fire" dispatch explaining the circumstances of
Deuce Four Commander Wounded - Follow Up -- [BlackFive]
This is a follow up to Deuce Four Commander Wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of LTC Erik Kurilla via Michael Yon's blog.
Today, Bob D. sends this article that updates the status of LTC Kurilla:
Good News from Iraq -- [Signaleer]
Multinational Force
While much of their time in Iraq is spent rounding up insurgents and searching for clandestine weapons caches, members of the 155th Brigade Combat Team say they also are focused on helping rebuild the country. The 155th has unearthed piles of weapons since the unit deployed in January and was credited last month with the capture of more than 100 suspected insurgents in a single mission to the Owesat Village south of Baghdad. Maj. Danny Blanton, a spokesman for the 155th, says the soldiers have completed six brigade-level operations, 19 battalion-level operations, 21 raids and 304 cordon and search operations. The unit has seized more than 15,000 weapons of all types and rounds, he said. But Blanton has said that some of the most rewarding missions are those that reach out to the Iraqi people. (Associated Press)
Suicide bomber -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I was unable to post last night because we were in a blackout status following a suicide bomber attack that killed seven people and wounded about 19 or 20 (by my rough count) in Baqubah yesterday. The casualties were a mix between soldiers, Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Police and American civilians.
Apache Tail Rotor Failure in Iraq -- [ROFA Six] (pics)
Losing a tail rotor is one of the more scary emergencies you can have in a helicopter. Aviators train for it and all the the variations too. It can get stuck in various pitch positions, the tail rotor gearbox can fail or in a worst case, the tail rotor can separate from the aircraft. There are all sorts of variations depending on how you got to the start of the emergency. For instance, if you lose a tail rotor and the vertical fin your center of gravity can shift dramatically.
High Flying -- [365 and a Wake Up - In Iraq]
After spending the better part of a minute adjusting the straps on the four point harness I finally heard the last strap click into place. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief and looked around the Blackhawk, taking a little comfort from the fact that I wasn?t the last one to clip in. I don?t know why Blackhawk harnesses are so difficult to latch into, but I can?t remember a single instance where someone didn?t need the crew chief to help them buckle in.
The preamble: -- [CounterColumn]
We the people of Iraq, newly arisen from our disasters and looking with confidence to the future through a democratic, federal, republican system, are determined -- men and women, old and young -- to respect the rule of law, reject the policy of aggression, pay attention to women and their rights, the elderly and their cares, the children and their affairs, spread the culture of diversity and defuse terrorism.
Old but relevant -- [Lance in Iraq]
The massive body of evidence linking Saddam and al-Qaeda is still growing. This July piece from Stephen Hayes collects a decade of terrorist ties between Saddam and AQ. NOTE: It's 12-13 pages but is a pretty comprehensive review of new and old info.
I GOT TO RIDE IN THE M-1 TANK TODAY. SWEEEEEEEET -- [Dixie Sappers - Kevin Kelly in Iraq]
Today we went out on a resupply mission to the new firebase that we had built. I think we have decided to call it Eagles Nest. I wasn?t scheduled to go, but there was an open seat on the M-1 tank. I had never been in one much less rode in one. I got the opportunity to go today. I was the loader. I asked LT Howell if we could test fire the main gun today and he said why not. I was the one that had to put the tank round in the chamber. I was excited and scared at the same time. They kept talking about how this would cut your hand off and this would do this and all this other stuff. I was sitting in my place on the tank when SSG Watson asked if I was ready to go. I said sure and was waiting for the driver to crank up the tank. Well, it was already started. It was so quiet and drove so smooth. You couldn?t hear anything. We started traveling down the main road. After about 2 miles we were doing about 35 MPH when all the sudden it looked like the driver had fallen asleep and we were headed straight for this big pile of sand. I grabbed SSG Watson to tell him what was going on and he started laughing at me. The gunner had only turned the turret. I felt like such a jerk. It was pretty cool to be driving down the road and then turning all the way around while driving that fast. I was a little bit
Iraq Pictures Wednesday, August 24, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
PFC Russell Barros, combat medic, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment, Hawaii Army National Guard, spends a down-day playing video games at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building at Camp Victory. The vermin legacy liberal TASS news media such as CNN, or the NY Times declines to show this type of info because it lacks any blood or guts......no wonder their viewership and readership are declining........they are only presenting a one sided version of their liberal agenda and the American people see through this
The Candy Guy - Part V -- [Soldiers Angels in Germany]
Last night we went down this narrow alley and stopped when some kids threw rocks and nearly hit the gunner on my vehicle, who stands up through the roof of the hum-v, next to a 50 cal. machine gun. So we stopped to find out why they were throwing rocks. I got out and was standing guard by the truck.
Bottoms up -- [MREeater - in Iraq]
We are supposed to drink only bottled water because the local water is suspect, and this rule is easy to comply with. Pallets of bottled water are frequently deposited anywhere that soldiers congregate. Lots of them in the living areas, many near offices and the gym, and I even saw a pallet next to the running track.
Email From Iraq, August 23rd Edition -- [Southern by Blog]
I've received the latest email from the SPC in Iraq. I hope everyone enjoys it and takes time to check out his girlfriends website. Looking at it myself, she is a very good artist and she's the g/f of a soldier in Iraq. A double plus!!
The Islamic Republic of Haditha? -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
Has Zarqawi established a new Fallujah-on-the-Euphrates in city of Haditha? The Guardian claims this is the case, after "a three-day visit by a reporter working for the Guardian last week". The reporter is unnamed, and the article is single sourced.
Who Will Say 'No More'? -- (Washington Post)...Gary Hart
...We've stumbled into a hornet's nest. We've weakened ourselves at home and in the world. We are less secure today than before this war began. Who now has the courage to say this?
Piling On The Defenders Of U.S. Policy In Iraq -- (Washington Post)...Dana Milbank
...There was no mistaking administration talking points. Bartlett said 11 times that the president and the nation appreciate the "sacrifice" of the troops in Iraq, while seven times he spoke of "progress" and the need to be "patient" and "prudent." Pulling out the troops, he said, "would be a disastrous mistake for national security here in America." But Bartlett spent his tour of the airwaves almost entirely on the defensive.
Two extra US battalions to Iraq -- (The Australian)...From correspondents in Washington
THE Pentagon plans to deploy two additional battalions to Iraq amid rising insurgent attacks ahead of an anticipated referendum on a constitution, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today.
In Iraq Jail, Resistance Goes Underground -- (Washington Post)... Steve Fainaru and Anthony Shadid
CAMP BUCCA, Iraq -- In the darkest hours before dawn, groups of 10 detainees toiled 15 feet beneath Compound 5 of America's largest prison in Iraq. The men worked in five-minute shifts, digging with shovels fashioned from tent poles and hauling the dirt to the surface with five-gallon water jugs tethered to 200 feet of rope. They bagged it in sacks that had been used to deliver their bread rations and spread it surreptitiously across a soccer field where fellow inmates churned it during daily matches, guards and detainees recalled.
Saddam in court, confirms legal team sacked -- (China Daily)...Reuters
Saddam Hussein met his lawyer and the chief judge investigating charges against him on Tuesday and confirmed that the rest of his legal team had been sacked.
Sunnis Set to Resume Constitution Talks -- (The Guardian)...BASSEM MROUE (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Sunni Arab leaders showed no sign of compromise Tuesday as they prepared to resume talks in yet another bid by the Shiite-led government to win approval of Iraq's new constitution.
Iraq's Sadr City Under Control -- (Washington Times)...Jacon Silberberg, Associated Press
The Iraqi capital's Sadr City section was once a hotbed of Shi'ite Muslim unrest, but it has become one of the brightest successes of the U.S. security effort. Only one car bombing has occurred and only one American soldier has been killed in the neighborhood this year.
The Kinder, Gentler Taliban -- [Andi's World]
Oh, how nice of them.
Taliban fighteres {sic} will not attack polling stations during next month's election in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the guerrilas said on Monday, but he vowed that the war against the government and US forces would go on.
Been back for a week (Martin In Afghanistan - Home from Afghanistan)
Well, we got back last Sunday, 14 Aug 05, after a very long flight from Theatre. We stopped one extra time then I thought, but all in all, it was an okay trip. Except the part where we left at 11:00 in the morning, went back 8 time zones, and arrived at 10 at night. Then there was the hour and a half in Customs (yep, we have to go through them as well...) and then the 3 hour bus ride to Petawawa. We arrived at just after 3 in the morning. By that time, the other reserve guy I was travelling with decided to stay up until 7:00 am to get our vehicles out of storage. We got a room on camp and had a shower and then watched a movie on my laptop. We both got our vehicles and went on our way. I went to my parents, where my wife had come up to meet me. It was a very great reunion with all. Six months is a long time. Remember that whenever you have to be away for a week or two. Having said that, you should realize that a relationship will adapt to whatever the seperation time is...as long as it is finite. Knowing when you will return is vital. (Martin's home is Canada - his blog is here).
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (65) -- [Miserable Donuts - back from Afghanistan]
Breakfast is served. Myself, I prefer something a little more French toast-like. But to each their own.
News... -- [A Storm In Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
Well, I'd intended to post this yesterday, but... other stuff came up.
Anyway, we had another ramp ceremony today. Could recognize it coming, as the C-17 again was parked in its unusual place, and the base was again quiet. What was surprising was how big it was. Several of the allies marched out. Very large group of Soldiers there for the ceremony.
Taliban recruiting by closing schools, says U.S. general -- (Knox News)...DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press
SHARAN BASE, Afghanistan - Taliban rebels are emptying Islamic boarding schools of students in a desperate drive to recruit fighters, including teenage boys, before next month's legislative elections, the U.S. military's operational commander in Afghanistan told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.
NZ gives $1 million for Afghanistan elections -- (The New Zealand Herald)
A day after New Zealand stages its own election, it will also be helping with another -- in Afghanistan. | Aid Minister Marian Hobbs has announced New Zealand will contribute $1 million to the United Nations to help with running democratic elections in Afghanistan on September 18.
Kazakhstan Backs U.S. Operations In Central Asia -- (Washington Times)...David R. Sands
Kazakhstan's foreign minister yesterday pledged his country's support for U.S. military operations in Central Asia and said his country worked to water down neighboring countries' efforts to evict American troops from the region
A Transformed Taliban Returns -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Jonathan S. Landay
Nurtured by al-Qaeda, the Islamist movement again poses a threat to Afghan stability.
The Battle Over Blood -- [Andi's World]
We have many injured soldiers who face severe blood loss due to the severity of their wounds. Last week I met one such Veteran, Kevin Pannell, who went through 41 pints of blood himself. Cindy (Pannell's fiance) and I had a long conversation about the need for blood. She reminded me in the comment section of this post, that while the Red Cross is a great organization, the military still has to purchase blood from them, and it's expensive.
Zarqawi Claims Attack on U.S. Warships in Jordanian Port of Aqaba -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
[*UPDATED*] Al-Qaida's Committee in Mesopotamia--led by wanted Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--has issued two new statements claiming responsibility for a failed August 19 Katyusha rocket attack on two U.S. warships docked in the Jordanian port of Aqaba. According to the first communiqu鬠"the attack was led and monitored by the commanders of Al-Qaida's Jihad Committee in Mesopotamia" (presumably including Zarqawi) and "the reason for the delay in claiming responsibility was due to the need to give sufficient time for our brothers to escape." A second statement posted later confirmed that "the brothers who executed the Aqaba and Eilat attacks have returned safely to Mesopotamia."
Though Enlistment Lags, Re-Enlistment Rates Exceed Goals -- [Media Blog NRO]
We love Ralph Peters at NR, and when I saw his op-ed in the New York Post, I thought it had the makings of a big story. Peters reported that Army recruiting, including Army Reserve and Army National Guard recruiting, is currently ahead of targets for the year-to-date.
Warner: Defense Closures 'Rigged' -- (Washington Post)... Spencer S. Hsu
D.C. Area Jobs Long Targeted, Senator Asserts
Virginia Sen. John W. Warner (R) said that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and a senior aide improperly manipulated the national base realignment plan announced earlier this year to compel the movement of more than 20,000 defense jobs away from the Washington area.
Confidence In Military News Wanes -- (Washington Post)... Josh White
The U.S. public's confidence that the military and the media keep them informed about national security issues has eroded significantly over the past six years, according to a new poll that shows 60 percent of Americans believe they do not get enough information about military matters to make educated decisions.
Effort To Replace Humvee Sped Up -- (USA Today)...Steven Komarow
The Pentagon is accelerating its search to replace the Humvee after two years of roadside bomb blasts and suicide attacks in Iraq that have killed hundreds of soldiers in a vehicle not designed for urban combat.
The New Trojan War -- (Federal Computer Week)...Frank Tiboni
Defense Department finds its networks under attack from China.
The speech W ought to give (Audio Link MP3) -- [Madison Blog - Uncle Jimbo]
My Fellow Americans,
I stand before you tonight because I feel a weakening in our public spirit. The war in Iraq has been longer and harder than we had hoped and this has led some to question whether we should continue. I understand the soul searching, I do it every day. But the answer is not always the easiest path and so I am asking Americans to act like we are at war. Wars have always required sacrifice and so far we have lost almost 2,000 and many more wounded, those costs were borne by our military and their families and I grieve personally for every one. But I also honor their service, their bravery and their legacy which will live on as tribute.
Iraq's Constitution -- [Alenda Lux]
The Washington Post, and the rest of the media, want to think that Ayatollah-style Islamic Revolution will now be sweeping through Iraq.
Iraq Veterans Question 'Over There' -- (New York Times)...David Carr
..."Over There," the first television dramatic series about a war in progress, is coming under fire, from people who served in Iraq, for getting the small things wrong. Television requires drama. Soldiers prefer precision.
Robertson Issues Fatwa Against Venezuela's Chavez -- [ScrappleFace]
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez beefed up security at his residence and offices today after reports that Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson has issued a fatwa calling for the assassination of the South American communist dictator.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Breaking News! -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
National Assembly member Bahaa Al-Aaraji just told Al-Iraqia TV that an agreement has finally been reached among the leaders of political bodies on the final draft of the constitution and that disputes over issues like federalism, distribution of resources and the role of Islam have been solved.
It's good to be back---In Iraq [JD"Blog - Faces from the Front - in Iraq]
Down the hall, past the Gurkas, past the rows of TV cameras Iraqis are haggling. And for a nation of negotiators and hagglers, negotiating a constitution has to be the bargaining session of the century.
Today I got to see something truly amazing--the buddings of an Iraqi democracy.
EVERYONE IS DOING GOOD -- [Dixie Sappers - Kevin Kelly - in Iraq]
I know that it has hit all over the place that an IED hit one of our tanks today. My email was flooded. There was one person who was injured, but he is in good condition. I don't know if you remember the parade when GEN Cross talked about our uparmorment of our vehicles, but the armor that was put on the M113 showed that it is strong. It makes you feel a lot safer in the vehicles. Whenever something like this happens where someone is in contact in some form or fashion with the enemy, it's like all the wheels stop and everyone is listening to the radio to see what is going on. At the same time you can rest assured that there are prayers being said at the same time. It looks like the prayers to watch over us and protect us were answered again.
Backtracking Part III -- [Major K - in Iraq]
There are many unusual tasks that can be assigned to infantry officers, and some of them are rather unpleasant. Occasionally they are morbid. About two weeks before changing jobs I came up in the rotation to do a "personal efffects inventory." Several soldiers from the battalion had recently been wounded from another surge of IED's in our area, two of them bad enough to be sent home to recover. While "out for the rest of the season" luckily they will both recover to full function. One of them was a stranger to me. The other, I knew, respected and liked. So the task feel to me to go and unlock their barracks rooms, dig through all of their personal stuff, inventory it thoroughly, and pack it up to be shipped back to them in the USA.
Checkpoint defense -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
This afternoon we received a call from our partnered Iraqi Army battalion that a group of bad guys was getting ready to attack one of the IA checkpoints in our area of operations. This isn't particularly remarkable -- we get reports like this fairly frequently. The report of "20 AIF with AK-47s and RPGs congregating" is something of a joke. It is always 20, they always have AK-47s and RPGs and they are always invisible when we show up.
Lock and load your mops at Camp Taji -- [48th goes to War - The AJC - in Iraq]
There?s something strange oozing from the ground at Camp Taji.
Some mornings, the gravel and dirt paths between the soldiers? trailers turn to chocolate brown slime.
?I had it all over my flip-flops,? said Staff Sgt. Gilbert Sheppard of Millen, who serves in the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment. ?It took four days for them to dry out.?
At the pods where soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard?s 48th Brigade Combat Team live, conspiracy theories run rampant.
Snapshots -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
Central Baghdad itself is a dense knot of infrastructure ? a place where grandiose homes adjoin crowded hives thick with humanity. One of the only consistent theme you see in this area of Baghdad is the omnipresent litter. Every street is lined with random pieces of junk, and every fence line flutters with chattering pieces of plastic and paper. Some fences are so thick with the windblown flotsam they start to resemble lines of Tibetan prayer flags twisting in the wind.
What My Command Means to Me: Bad Times -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
At the end of this long year, I would love to be able tell everyone that this deployment has been a cakewalk, but I am not a good liar. There are a lot of good things about being in command but there a plenty of things that are not so fun. As favorite Battalion Commander, COL (at the time he was LTC) Kevin C. M. Benson said many times, ?These are the conditions under which we live.? He would say this when he knew something was very unpleasant, but there was nothing we could do to change it. He was also telling us he was suffering with us.
Flying Again -- [stardotstar.org - in Iraq]
Balad is a great place to be stationed. I had steak for Dinner and Midnight Chow (or Breakfast and Lunch on my schedule). They have repaved a bunch of the airfield and now we have luxurious parking for our Chinooks. However, the improvements in facilities are because the
Air Force is now in charge. Those guys are ultra cautious when it comes to running the Air Traffic Control Tower. Last night we had to...
A matter of perspective -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? -back in Iraq from R&R]
I'm back.
The time at home was everything I hoped it would be and less. No, that is not a typo. One of my fears before going home was that the time would be filled with a flurry of activities and it would all go by so fast that I wouldn't be able to enjoy it as I counted down the days. I also feared that after being gone for so long that I wouldn't fit in...that I would feel like a stranger in my own home. That was not the case at all.
The Downside of Mercy -- [Strategy Page]
August 22, 2005: The continued deadlock over the new constitution is yet another front in the war that was thought over in April, 2003. Defeating the Sunni Arabs has proved harder than anticipated. Like Germany and Japan during World War II, Iraq was run by a militaristic dictatorship. Unlike Germany and Japan, defeating the Iraqi government did not eliminate the militaristic faction that supported the dictatorship. The reason was simple. In Iraq, the dictator was backed by a religious faction; the Sunni Arabs. In Germany and Japan, the dictators were backed by supporters united by class and politics. The Sunni Arabs are also united by blood, as the Sunni Arabs are organized as clans and tribes, and feel a unity from that, as well as their common religious beliefs.
Tribute to Men and Women in Uniform -- (CNN LOU DOBBS TONIGHT)
DOBBS: Now our weekly tribute to our men and women in uniform. Tonight, the story of Marine Sergeant Doug Hayenga. After Sergeant Hayenga nearly lost his leg in Fallujah, doctors worked long and hard to save his leg, but his remarkable recovery also due to his extraordinary bravery and determination.
Leaders In Iraq Report Progress On Constitution -- (New York Times)...Dexter Filkins
Iraqi leaders moved to the brink of agreement on a new constitution on Sunday, solving several contentious issues but still struggling with the potentially explosive questions of Shiite autonomy and the role of Islam in family disputes and the judiciary.
Sunnis Call For Delay In Charter -- (Los Angeles Times)...Edmund Sanders and Ashraf Khalil
Political groups representing Iraq's minority Sunni Arabs called Sunday for new delays in approving a national constitution, complaining that they had been cut out of final-hour negotiations between Shiites and Kurds and appealing to U.S. and U.N. officials to intervene.
Iraq Militias Push Voter Sign-Up -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer and Omar Fekeiki
Two major armed factions opposed to Iraq's still unfinished constitution on Sunday ordered their followers to register for an upcoming vote on the new charter, with one faction urging a vote against it and the other telling supporters to wait for further orders.
Iraqi Army Training Emphasizes Allegiance -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Tini Tran, Associated Press
In the ethnic melting pot of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, the challenges of creating a new, unified Iraqi army are clear. Half the recruits speak Kurdish, the other half Arabic. Loyalties are complicated by regional ties to Kurdistan, the autonomous region to the north.
Does It Matter If You Call It A Civil War? -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Dan Murphy
Finding a way to head off civil war is at the heart of all the major initiatives - including the talks over a new constitution - in Iraq. But by most common political-science definitions of the term, "civil war" is already here.
Success In Iraq Depends On Services And Jobs, General Says -- (New York Times)...Thom Shanker
An American general who commanded 38,000 soldiers in the securing and rebuilding of Baghdad writes in a new essay that success in Iraq cannot be achieved solely by training local security forces. He says the military must also work to provide essential city services, create jobs and promote local governmental control.
Cops'-Style Show Makes Arresting TV For Viewers In Iraq -- (Arizona Daily Star (Tucson))...Tini Tran, Associated Press
...Created to make government more transparent, "The Cops Show" featuring Kirkuk officers in action is the first of its kind in the country and is breaking new ground in Iraqi television. A live call-in portion gives the public the chance to praise the security forces or gripe about them.
Hussein Casts Himself As A Martyr In Letter -- (Los Angeles Times)...Associated Press
Facing trial and possible execution for the massacre of his fellow Muslims, ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein sought in a letter published Sunday to cast himself as a martyr, writing that his "soul and existence is to be sacrificed" for the Arab cause.
Dons First Video For BW -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Don gave me this video to slap on the net, he has done a great job showing the day to day here in the Stan!
Freedom and independence in Afghanistan -- [Afghan Reality - Afghani in Afghanistan]
August 18 celebrates the 1919 Afghan independence from Britain. The defeat of British in three wars and the subsequent bold resistance against the Soviet Union by the Afghan nation reflect Afghans' determinism and unity in upholding their soverignty, independence and freedom
Blast Kills Four GIs In Southern Afghanistan (USA Today)...AP
Four U.S. soldiers were killed and three were injured Sunday when an improvised explosive device ripped through a convoy of armored Humvees driving in a remote area of southern Afghanistan, marking the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in the past two months, U.S. military officials said.
G.I. Death Toll In Afghanistan Worst Since '01 -- (New York Times)...Carlotta Gall
This year is already the deadliest for American soldiers in Afghanistan since the war of 2001, and the violence is likely to intensify before the nation's legislative elections on Sept. 18.
Report: Japan gives up on UN bid -- [Riding Sun]
Rediff.com reports that, according to the Sankei Shimbun, Japan is giving up on its bid to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council:...
Back "home" -- [Ramrod's Blog - back in Iraq from R&R]
I'm glad to be back, and that's creeping me out. While I was home, I had a blast, but a little part of me felt like I didn't belong. I hated driving when there were other cars on the road, not used to all these cars so close to me..haha.
I hung out with my old friends, got drunk, went paintballing, and just hung out. I had fun, but it just didn't feel 100% comfortable. I don't know.
Iran Leader Says Europeans Aim To Shut Nuclear Program -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Associated Press
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday accused Europeans of being willing to sell their goods to Iranians while at the same time trying to strangle Tehran's nuclear program.
S. Korea, US Seek Consensus Ahead Of Nuke Talks -- (Korea Times)...Reuben Staines
...Ban, who will begin meetings with top U.S. officials including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld today, confirmed that he does ``need to talk?? with them about North Korea?s right to a peaceful nuclear program.
Ignoring China's Growing Sub Force -- (Hartford Courant)...Rob Simmons and Carlisle Trost
...The Defense Department's new submarine plan rests on an overly optimistic assessment - bad news because our intelligence community has consistently been surprised by China's military modernization program, most recently when Beijing launched an entire new class of submarines without our knowledge. The Navy office responsible for coordinating submarine force planning disagrees with such optimistic assumptions, but has been overruled.
What's on their Minds? -- [Neptunus Lex]
I've always feared that people who talk about the thinking of an entire demographic - in the case of the articles cited below, the "Arab mind" - ran some significant risks. It's dangerous to think that a group of individual people, all of them richly variegated in experience and environment could somehow form a coherent and undifferentiated aggregate, and that this "mind" could be usefully described.
Believe our Enemies -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
Jeffrey Bell and Frank Cannon take stock of the War on Terror in this, the fifth year of America's active response to the threat of radical Islamic terrorism (which itself is far older than our response to its aggression against us).
In The War on Terror: Year Five in the Weekly Standard, Bell and Gannon rightly point out that:
Al Qaeda's Media Jihad -- [BlackFive]
Teniace sends this article on a possible electonic media strategy ("I call jihad on you!") of Al Qaeda to demoralize our Soldiers fighting the War on Terror.
Al-Qaida's Network in Iraq Goes (Temporarily) Silent -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
For the first time in weeks (if not months), Al-Qaida's Committee in Mesopotamia--led by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--has failed to release a single claim of responsibility for ongoing operations in the Sunni Triangle in a given day. Claims for Al-Qaida attacks in Iraq have undergone a noticeable and sudden decline over the past three days, though it is unclear whether that decline is merely a temporary technical issue or evidence of a larger and more significant operational trend. It should be noted that popular websites and forums used by Al-Qaida to distribute their material are still online and active, and there has been no similar interruption in daily online digests from other militant groups such as the Ansar al-Sunnah Army and the Army of the Victorious Sect. Thus, if there is indeed a terrorist technical snafu, it is apparently one limited to Al-Qaida's organization in Iraq.
Suspects detained in Jordan attacks -- (Baltimore Sun)... AP
Rockets narrowly missed a U.S. Navy ship in Aqaba; Police find four more rockets
AQABA, Jordan - Police detained several suspects yesterday as the hunt widened for the attackers who fired and supplied the rockets that narrowly missed a U.S. Navy ship anchored in the bay of this Red Sea port best known for beach vacations and Mideast summits.
Was Mohammed Atta Overlooked? -- (Time)...Timothy J. Burger and Brian Bennett
..."I'm offended, because people say, 'Well, why didn't you do anything?'" says Kean. "This was information that was not given us." After largely declining comment for nearly two weeks, a Pentagon spokesman told TIME last week that the Defense Department has been "aggressively looking into these allegations" but has yet to find documentation to support them.
Beyond Guantanamo (Washington Post)...Matthew Waxman
This month the United States and the government of Afghanistan reached an understanding that will allow for the gradual transfer of Afghan detainees now held by the Defense Department at Guantanamo Bay and in Afghanistan to the control of Afghan authorities. This is not only a significant step forward in the U.S.-Afghan security relationship but the latest example of how the United States and its coalition partners can share the burdens in mitigating the dangers terrorist fighters pose.
Colonel Got Permission To Disclose Pre-9/11 Data -- (Washington Times)...Shaun Waterman, United Press International
House Republican leaders approved in advance plans by a military intelligence official to go public with details of a top-secret Pentagon project code-named Able Danger.
Dangerously Disabled (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)...Jack Kelly
Since I wrote about the top-secret intelligence unit last week, Able Danger has gained a face, and other pertinent information about 9/11 that didn't make it into the 9/11 Commission's final report has emerged.
(Note: Jack Kelly's blog is Irish Pennants)
Soldiers say force level comments no surprise, but could affect re-enlistment -- [Lance in Iraq]
While I don't like headlines that state the obvious, this piece in Stars and Stripes interviews several soldiers that reflect majority opinion in the military.
?We came here to do a job and then go home, whether that takes 10 years or even 15 years,? said Spc. Allan Annaert, from Headquarters Support Company, of the 94th Engineer Combat Battalion, (Heavy), which is stationed in Mosul, Iraq.
The Spectrum of Support to Our Troops -- [Firepower Forward - in Iraq]
I was reading a post to Black Five's blog the other day about what he calls ?Clueless? mail rather than ?Hate? mail. It's a letter from a Joan Mackie Ochoa and you can decide for yourself how you would classify it. After she spends a paragraph running down President Bush and letting us, the military know that we are all ?brainwashed?, she states that she supports us.
I've been stewing on this for a while and it's taken me a little while to separate all the self-contradicting statements but it made me start thinking about what it means to ?Support Our Troops?.
Supporting the Military... Part 1 -- [Argghhh!]
Part 1. How to Support the Military, if what you want to do is *not* support the Military... and, indeed, wrap up a whole buncha stuff ya wanna castigate in one, neat little package.
I'm a San Francisco City Supervisor. I want to demonstrate my support for the military.
Hmmm. Where to start, where to start, where to start?
Okay. I know! I know!....
Army Fights To Sell Itself To The Parents Of America -- (Los Angeles Times)...Mark Mazzetti
Success in advertising usually means getting people to part with their hard-earned cash. Ray DeThorne's success is measured by how many people he can get to let go of their sons and daughters.
Groups Seek To Stop Military Recruiters -- (Miami Herald)...Unattributed
The Citizen Coalition Against Militarism will visit high schools around the U.S. Caribbean territory this week to urge students and parents not to allow schools to release students' names, addresses, phone numbers and other data to military recruiters, the group said in a statement.
Experts Warn Army May Face Decline In Quality -- (USA Today)...Dave Moniz
If the Army maintains the size of its force in Iraq over the next several years, it could risk a decline in the quality of the force and other severe problems, a Republican senator, defense analysts and retired military officers say.
Revamped Veterans' Health Care Now A Model -- (Washington Post)...Gilbert M. Gaul
For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs' sprawling health care system was criticized by veterans groups and government investigators as a dangerous backwater of medicine. Report after report portrayed it as suffocating from top-heavy bureaucracy, dirty and unsafe hospitals, and little or no accountability. Thousands of eligible patients opted to get their care elsewhere.
The Left squeezes the Democrats again
This morning's Washington Post has an interesting article describing the inability of the leadership of the Democratic Party to reach a coherent position on the war. Activists on the Left are pushing the Democrats to call for withdrawal, but party warhorses Reid, Biden and Clinton quite sensibly believe that success in Iraq is "too important for the country." They also worry, I'm sure, that pushing for unilateral withdrawal will remind the country that Democrats of the current generation always push for unilateral withdrawal.
Blitzer Gravely Reports Roberts' Lawyer Joke [Media Blog NPR]
On The Blitzer Identity, Wolf Blitzer told us today that he likes his orange juice "freshly squeezed." Fair enough. But then he followed that announcement with a segment in which he gravely reported that John Roberts, according to today's widely panned Washington Post article, wrote in a memo during the '80s that:...
Democrats Split Over Position On Iraq War -- (Washington Post)...Peter Baker and Shailagh Murray
Democrats say a long-standing rift in the party over the Iraq war has grown increasingly raw in recent days, as stay-the-course elected leaders who voted for the war three years ago confront rising impatience from activists and strategists who want to challenge President Bush aggressively to withdraw troops.
Republican Senator Says U.S. Needs Iraq Exit Strategy Now -- (Los Angeles Times)...Josh Meyer
As President Bush prepared to hit the road this week to bolster public support for his policies in Iraq, a senior Republican senator said Sunday that the United States needed to craft an exit strategy because its continued presence had created a potential Vietnam.
Soldiers' Fortitude Impresses Cuellar -- (San Antonio Express-News)...Simone Sebastian
Describing weather in the Middle East as a "blow-dryer full blast, 10 inches from your face," U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said he was all the more impressed by the reconstruction effort in Iraq and the perseverance of soldiers he met during a three-day trip.
At Pentagon, Less Ideology, More Balance -- (Washington Post)...Bradley Graham
The new civilian leadership team that has moved into place under Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld over the past few months is shaping up to be less ideological, more balanced and more attuned to Congress than the first-term group it has succeeded, according to defense analysts and lawmakers.
Base-closing dims Republican star (Chicago Sun-Times)...Robert D. Novak
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) will have finished its work by week?s end, and Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota probably will be closed forever. That also will close Sen. John Thune?s tenure as national Republican poster boy following his victory last year over Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. This is a cautionary tale of what happens when politicians forget politics.
My Second ?Outside the Tent? Piece in the L.A. Times [Patterico]
As I told you yesterday, I have an ?Outside the Tent? piece in today?s L.A. Times, about the paper?s coverage of Cindy Sheehan. It?s titled Peacenik paper fawns over antiwar mom. I don?t write the headlines, folks.
As I also said yesterday, this is intended as media criticism, not as a personal attack on Sheehan. I hope that readers of the piece understand that.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Proximity Delays -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
Mosul, Iraq
...The greatest paradox I have seen in this war results from "proximity delay." The proximity delay for me is caused by being embedded so closely with Duece Four soldiers that I often see things unfolding before they happen, and then I am in the thick of events as they occur. But then I am asked not to write about events.
Much of the censorship is self-imposed because I will not write anything that jeopardizes US, Iraqi or Coalition forces or civilians....
Fighting And Dying - Together -- [BlackFive]
An Iraqi medic (center-right), an American chaplain (left), and an American medic (far right) console Spc. Bryan Walczer at FOB Summerall's aid station following an IED attack which injured Iraqi soldiers on a vehicle Walczer was driving.(pic)
Contractors: Can?t live with ?em?.. -- [Six More Months - in Iraq]
One of my daily challenges is dealing with the multitudes of civilian contractors performing work on our camp. This article in the Tampa Tribune discusses some of the reasons that people decide to come to Iraq to work, and it focuses on the biggest; the money. Lots of money. The individual employees of these firms are making money hand over fist, and loving it.
A Terrorist Confesses: Excerpts From Iraqi TV -- [Austin Bay] -- HT: Adventures of Chester
This translation is from memritv.org. (I hope the link holds.)
I?ve read a couple two other confession transcripts ?one that was televised in Iraq earlier this year. This one is particularly grim. In 2001 the Kurds said that Ansar al-Islam was connected to Bin Laden. Saddam connived with Ansar to attack the Kurds. At one point the terrorist ?Ramzi Hashem Abed? says that Ansar ?is bin Laden?s group.?
From Al-Sabah: -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The residents of Fallujah are asking the authorities to increase the number of voters' registration offices in the city as the existing ones are not enough to finish the registration process of all eligible voters before the day of the referendum planned for October 15?.
An Average Iraqi Re-Fuelling -- [An Average Iraqi - in Iraq]
A few days earlier the old system of fuelling at fuel stations was changed, to understand the new system I have to talk about the old system. To shorten the length of the queue waiting to enter the station, which in some cases exceeds a kilometer in length. So the government decided to cut it in half by allowing only cars with even numbers to fuel in a day, and only cars with odd numbers to fuel in another, and by saying numbers I mean license numbers. But even this hasn't been of much help, because the queue always advances slowly, and it is known that the current production is not enough to meet up with the demand, along with other reasons, which don't have their place here. In most cases it is the duty of the National Guard personnel to make sure that only allowed cars enter the station.
FARMER CO-OP BOARD MEETING --[2005 Tour of Duty]
This is a board meeting of one of the farmer CO-OP's. There was one heated discussion about the use of a tractor. It seemed that the small farmer was upset about the big farmer always getting treated better as he used the tractor first...(PIC)
More CMOC kids -- [5th CAG"s Experience - in Iraq]
This was a recent day in which the chaplain came out to the CMOC to hand out toys and school supplies donated by the great citizens of the United States.
Playing Hard, To Forget -- [A Soldiers Perspective]
I remember mounting my HMMWV early each morning and setting out into Fallujah for the sole task of finding the terrorists. To find terrorists, you have to go where the terrorists live. The northwestern side of Fallujah was that place. Each day we?d set out, knowing we were going to get shot at or some other form of violence would befall us but we did it anyway. Then, after a long day of hunting, finding, interrogating, and reporting, we?d come home with our puppy and tend to our watermelon garden we had started. Every now and then, if we had the energy, we?d walk over to the lake and just jump in?with our full combat uniform on. We were too tired to change.
Iraq Pictures -Saturday, August 20, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Najaf, Iraq - Donkey cart, bicycle and the occasional jury-rigged car have dominated transportation methods in the bumpy, rugged rural Najaf Province for many years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region South District (GRS) has been paving the way for modern asphalt roads in these areas in order to facilitate agriculture sales and to provide better routes to village schools and hospitals.
"GRS is currently managing the construction of two village road projects in the Najaf Province," said Mr. Art Bennett, GRS Transportation and Communication Sector project manager. "The roads serve small villages and local industries - in this case, cement and gypsum plants. The second project, or segment, parallels the Euphrates River."
An interesting conversation with an Iraqi -- [A Soldiers Angel - Holl Aho]
So what makes this conversation worth sharing? He's in Iraq. Not only that...he's from Iraq. A former First Lt. in the New Iraqi Army. Finding that out I of course had to ask him a few questions. Wouldn't you? Ok, his answers were surprising and interesting...and I think they should be shared. In fact, I think there should be a few more conversations like this that ALL Americans can hear.
Video: Operation Double Steal package [DVIDS VIDEO]
Soldiers from the 1-9 Field Artillery work on one of Baghdad's main roads to clear debris that can hide improvised explosive devices, talk to locals, and give aid to Iraqi's that survived a car bomb. Sound bites from Major Jay Sawyer, 1-9 Field Artillery Operations Officer, Major Criss Dizick, 1-9 Field Artillery Civil Affairs, Specialist Victoria Elrodi, 448th Civil Affairs Battalion, and Captain David Ahl, 1-9 Field Artillery Information Officer, Alos see "Operation Double Steal" b-roll in this section.
Rebuilding Iraq, One Providence at a Time -- [DVIDS - Danny McCormick ]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE NORMANDY, Iraq ? Coalition Soldiers are providing Iraqis with money to improve their way of life, and in order to ensure projects like the ones in Diyala Province are progressing on schedule, Soldiers conduct routine checks of these sites.
New City Emerges Thanks to Citizens, Coalition Soldiers -- [DVIDS - Sgt. Jennifer J. Eidson]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE NORMANDY, Iraq ? Coalition Soldiers are working to help Iraqis rebuild their country through rebuilding schools and forming a democratic government in Iraq.
3 Sunnis Promoting Vote Slain in Iraq -- (The Guardian)...ROBERT H. REID (AP)
| BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Masked gunmen killed three Sunni Arabs in front of horrified witnesses outside a mosque in Mosul on Friday, after grabbing them as they hung posters urging fellow Sunnis to vote...
Iraqis March Against Plans For Federal State -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Oliver Poole
With 72 hours to go until the latest deadline for Iraq's political leaders to agree a new constitution, tension spilled on to the streets yesterday with mass demonstrations and reports of gunfire.
Iraq insurgents plan wave of attacks - Video -- (MSNBC _ NBC News)...Jim Miklaszewski
Intelligence points to suicide bombings to coincide with draft constitution
WASHINGTON - U.S. and foreign intelligence officials tell NBC News they have credible intelligence that insurgents in Iraq have active plans to launch a massive offensive early next week ? timed to coincide with the possible draft of an Iraqi constitution on Monday.
Iraq's Kurds May Drop Secession Demand -- (Yahoo News)...AP
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Talks on Iraq's new constitution have stalled over the role of Islam and the distribution of the country's oil wealth, negotiators said Saturday. The leadership of the country's Kurdish minority said it may drop its contentious demand for the right to secede.
Top U.S. General Visits Korean Troops In Iraq -- (Korea Herald)...Unattributed
The top U.S. general in the Middle East visited South Korean troops in Iraq on Thursday in an effort to boost their morale, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Iraq 'needs federalism' to prevent civil war -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| Iraq's national security adviser says the country would descend into civil war if federalism is not entrenched in the constitution. | "Without federalism it means that no community interest has been...
Now it's political -- (Asia Times )...Jim Lobe
"The United States will not relent in the war in Iraq and will hunt down insurgents one at a time if necessary."
- Vice President Cheney, addressing combat veterans at the 73rd national convention of the Military Order of the Purple Heart held in Springfield, Missouri
Next Time, Sunnis Intend To Be Heard -- (Los Angeles Times)...Edmund Sanders
Many regret boycotting the parliamentary election in Iraq. They say they won't repeat the mistake when it comes to a new constitution.
The Trillion-Dollar War -- (New York Times)...Linda Bilmes
...Even by this simple yardstick, if the American military presence in the region lasts another five years, the total outlay for the war could stretch to more than $1.3 trillion, or $11,300 for every household in the United States.
Hey, What's That Sound? -- (New York Times)...MAUREEN DOWD
Support for the war in Iraq is waning because the president remains too ensconced in his fantasy world to reassure Americans that he has a plan to get out.
British soldiers get germ-fighting undies -- (Boston Globe)...AP
British troops combating the heat and dust of Iraq and Afghanistan have a new weapon - germ-fighting underwear.
Email From A Team Member of the SEALS Lost June 28th -- [A Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho]
A fellow Soldiers Angel received this email from Michael Weiner, whose son is a team member of the SEALS lost in Afghanistan on June 28th. The email was written by his son, about his fellow SEALS, and is a must read.
Freedom and independence in Afghanistan -- [Afghan Reality]
August 18 celebrates the 1919 Afghan independence from Britain. The defeat of British in three wars and the subsequent bold resistance against the Soviet Union by the Afghan nation reflect Afghans' determinism and unity in upholding their soverignty, independence and freedom.
Different Sides of the Same Coin: Warfare, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad's 10 Simple Lessons from Afghanistan, and Intellectual Men of Action
-- [Bobby's World]
More than a few panels of the Combat Studies Institute symposium engaged upon Army Transformation, the War in Iraq, and the seeming conflict between linear and asymmetric warfare. Much of the literature seems to treat these two kinds of war as uniquely separate and distinct from one another-- two different kinds of coins-- and the construct of "third generation" (maneuver) versus "fourth generation" (asymmetric) seems to support this separation, even if the literature acknowledges that both can (and do) occur simultaneously.
$2.4 million will go toward projects in an effort to bring peace, prosperity and security to the region once known as a bastion of Taliban ideology. Projects include reconstruction of the area?s most prominent Mosque, a new high school, road repair and equipping the local police force with motorcycles.
Afghan Army Healthcare Improves With Clinic Openings -- {CENTCOM}
KABUL , Afghanistan ? The recent grand opening of the Afghan National Army?s Darulaman Garrison troop medical clinic marked the completion of the 201st Corps? third new soldier healthcare facility.
The other 201st Corps clinics, located at the Pol-e-Charkhi Garrison and the Kabul Military Training Center , were completed in August 2004 and February 2005, respectively.
Baghran Valley to receive $2.4 million for reconstruction -- {CENTCOM}
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan ? Baghran Valley , once home to Taliban leader Mullah Omar, will receive more than $2 million in U.S. reconstruction funds over the next six months.
Coalition Steps Up Raids As Afghan Elections Approach -- (New York Times)...Thom Shanker
...In interviews on Friday, senior American officers also said coalition troops and Afghan security forces were conducting raids against suspected Taliban staging areas at an accelerated pace. The commanders said this faster tempo would continue past the election, and through weeks of vote counting until the new Parliament is seated late this year.
Militants Kill US Marine, Afghan Soldier -- (Boston Globe)...Amir Shah, Associated Press
Militants clashed with coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan, killing a US Marine and an Afghan government soldier, as violence flared ahead of the nation's key legislative elections, the US military said yesterday.
Envoy Urged Osama's Expulsion Before 9 / 11 -- (New York Times on the Web)...Associated Press
A year before the Sept. 11 attacks, a U.S. diplomat assured a top official of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime that international sanctions on that country would be lifted if it expelled Osama bin Laden, newly declassified documents show.
U.S., Taliban bargained over bin Laden, documents show (CNN)
Declassified State Department papers detail 1998 meetings.
WASHINGTON -- During secret meetings with U.S. officials in 1998, top Taliban officials discussed assassinating or expelling Osama bin Laden in response to al Qaeda's deadly bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa, according to State Department documents.
Bush Taps New North Korean Envoy -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
Something else to piss Seoul off with:
Backed by a $2 million budget, a former adviser to President Bush will take charge of a high-profile effort to advance human rights in North Korea, even as negotiations on the country's nuclear weapons program enter a critical stage.
Thanks for nothing Mr. President. -- [Dirt Dart - in Iraq]
A picture can speak over a thousand words, and in this case this photograph speaks volumes. This is the result of American interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation (Israel) President Bush has consistently exercised bad judgment when it comes to the Middle East. As a soldier I am prohibited by military regulations from participating in any political protests. But as a Jew I cannot help but feel that this is just wrong.
Ships Vulnerable In Foreign Ports -- (Baltimore Sun)...Tom Bowman
The failed rocket attack on a U.S. Navy ship at Aqaba, Jordan, reflects the vulnerability of a well-armed warship sitting in a foreign port and the focus by terrorists on tourist-rich destinations on the Red Sea, military officers and defense analysts said yesterday.
Jordanians Find Rocket Launcher Used in Attack on U.S. Ships -- (New York Times)...AP
AQABA, Jordan (AP) -- Jordanian authorities found the launcher that fired three Katyusha rockets from a hilltop warehouse, including one that narrowly missed a U.S. naval ship docked at this Red Sea resort, Jordan's Interior Minister Awni Yirfas said Saturday.
SAS Naked And Bound In Training -- (The Weekend Australian)...Simon Kearney
AUSTRALIAN soldiers are being blindfolded, stripped naked and menaced by savage dogs for up to three hours in extreme training exercises to prepare them to resist torture.
Move America Forward? Reporters Visit U.S. Central Command HQ in Tampa -- {CENTCOM}
WASHINGTON - Has the US public lost so much confidence in the George W Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war that its current strategy - to the extent one actually exists - is unsustainable?
In a special event called ?Voices of the Soldiers,? broadcast journalists visited USCENTCOM and troops stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida. Over 600 Americans and members of the Coalition attended the BBQ event, hosted by the ?Move America Forward? organization in appreciation of the troops supporting the Global War on Terror.
?Move America Forward? is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization committed to supporting the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and America?s efforts to defeat terrorism.
PTSD, the veteran and their family -- [Disgruntled Grunt]
PTSD is a very serious issue that some of our returning veterans must deal with. While only a professional can diagnose a case of PTSD we as family and friends can learn what some of the warning signs might be. Sometimes not even those affected by PTSD may know or understand what is going on, they just might need that hand.
Virtual Reality Therapy for Combat Stress -- (NPR News)
Using components from a popular video game, researchers create a "virtual" world to simulate sources of combat stress for use in therapy sessions to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Harassing Fire on US Navy Ships -- [EagleSpeak]
Three rockets is not a serious attack, but do serve as harasssing fire and to score PR points for the "holy warriors" - they can now say, "Look, Ali, we made the US Navy run away. We are such brave and powerful holy warriors."
In Bangladesh, terrorists signal their arrival -- [Winds of Change - Robi Sen]
The nationwide bombings were a small demonstration of their organisation.
The terrorists who set off explosions all over Bangladesh warned the American president and the British prime minister to get out of Muslim countries, asserting that 'their days of ruling over Muslim countries are over'. The terrorists think that setting of explosions in an already impoverished Muslim country, terrorising innocent people, a majority of who are Muslims anyway, will strike fear in the hearts of the United States and Britain. Taken at face value, it appears that the terrorists who carried out the attacks in Bangladesh suffered from both an overblown sense of self-importance and an extremely poor understanding of international affairs. The truth is, far from scaring the West out of Muslim countries, the attacks will further bolster the international perception that Bangladesh is on the brink of state failure
More Middlemen -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
Al Qaeda's middle managers continue to take a beating. Two senior commanders, one in Saudi Arabia, and one in Turkey, have been removed from action. The dismantlement of al Qaeda?s middle managers - its most senior filed operatives with extensive knowledge, training and contacts in the jihadi world - is crucial to reducing al Qaeda?s abilities to carry out mass casualty attacks.
CIA Report On 9/11 Is Complete -- (Washington Post)...Walter Pincus
The CIA inspector general's report on the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has finally been completed -- nearly two years after its congressionally set deadline -- but has yet to be sent to Capitol Hill because CIA Director Porter J. Goss is still deciding how to respond to its findings, according to administration and congressional sources.
Mother's choice: become a suicide bomber or your children will die -- (Times Online)...Jeremy Page
After almost a year in hospital, one woman tells the story of her decisive moments with hostage-takers
AFTER 11 operations and almost a year in hospital, Larissa Kudziyeva?s face is still severely disfigured, her injured arm too weak to work. ...
Victory Dance For Moses -- [Stop the ACLU]
Of course I have to post when we have a victory over the ACLU. Several emails from supporters so hat tips all around.
Military Not Required To Pay for Abortion of Nonviable Fetus Under Federal Law -- [Outside the Beltway]
Some stories are simply disturbing. And sometimes the law is wrong. From the front page of the Seattle PI (but almost no other coverage by using Google News and CNN), a Federal case has been reversed by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (San Francisco)
So Bush Lied? -- [The Neo Con Blogger(TM)]
Take a look at this post from a Vet in Kuwiat during the Clinton Admin:
This is more of a testimonial than an article. It is a reminder to the American public, which has forgotten the events I shall describe, but it is very important to remember....
UN-doing the U.N. - Why America Must Act Alone -- [GM's Corner]
Every once in a when I'm doing research, I'll discover a commentary that expresses a view and condenses arguments so well that it is worth sharing, even if it is a few weeks old. This happened yesterday when I found a recent analysis on the United Nations, in which the author pulled no punches about the problems of the U.N. and states that the United States must set its own course without U.N. approval
Roberts's Rules of Decorum -- (Washington Post)...Dana Milbank
No Hobnobbing With Celebs, and Absolutely No Michael Jackson
Now it's getting personal.
Last week, researchers found several memos from the summer and fall of 1984 in which future Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, working as a Reagan White House lawyer, argued against sending presidential thank-you notes to Michael Jackson for his charitable works. But it turns out this was just the beginning of what appears to be the young lawyer's concerns about the star. Three new memos uncovered by Post reporters show Roberts described Jackson as "androgynous," "mono-gloved" and a balladeer of illegitimacy.
Whose Moral Authority? -- [A Small Town Veteran]
I don't think Mark Steyn has ever written anything that wasn't well worth reading, but I found one of his recent columns particularly excellent.
TV Brings War From 'Over There' to Here -- (Fox News)...Catherine Donaldson-Evans
Peace generally prevails in television's fairy-tale world of sitcoms, soap operas and dramas.
But several TV shows are incorporating the War on Terror into their storylines.
Kirtland AFB officer claims Powerball jackpot (KOBTV - News 4)
The winning Powerball ticket was worth a $93 million annuity or a $52 million lump-sum payment.
A Kirtland Air Force Base master sergeant is now $36 million richer after claiming New Mexico?s third Powerball jackpot.
Master Sgt. John San Cartier?s Powerball ticket?s numbers matched all five white balls and the red Powerball in the Aug. 10 drawing.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Backtracking Part II -- [Major K - in Iraq]
I have already seen plenty here that many people never get to see and some that no people ever should have to see. I have also heard many stories that would be unbelievable if they were not true. In many cases, I have seen the aftermath of many of these stories arriving after the part worth telling had taken place. While Dup is still missed by his brothers in Charlie Company, there is another story from that horrible day that Dup was killed. Dup was not the only one fired upon by the arhabi sniper. A second shot was fired that hit SGT C. in the throat. He was not grazed on the side, he was shot through the center of his neck. SGT C. already knew at the time that his unit was under attack by a sniper. As his men came ...
Iraqi parties demand international monitoring for the next elections. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
"The next elections need to be supervised by international committees and not by the Iraqi government because the government is not neutral" said Adnan Al-Pachachi the prominent Sunni politician and former Governing Council member in an interview with Al-Mada newspaper, he adds:...
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
This is an image from the Observation Post I mentioned in yesterdays post. No, the scope isn't on a target, if it were I would not post a picture of it, that would be in poor taste. And no I wasn't wasting time taking happy snaps. I documented distances to known points, in case the need arrives to use this roof again as an op.
This second photo, is a...
Fallow Field -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
While driving on patrol our HMMWV started getting sluggish and off balance, pulling to the side like a dazed prize fighter. We dismounted the vehicle and realized one of our tires had blown. Although the HMMWVs can drive on flat tires our patrol was just beginning, so rather then stumble along the roads we decided to change the tire right then and there. We set up a tight ring of perimeter security and started changing the tire. The area was relatively empty, save for a family that was busy making mud bricks on the side of the road.
Characters -- [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
...A few weeks ago an article was published in a military magazine as well as on the II MEF website highlighting his work. Medical personnel were outraged enough to force the Public Affairs office to excise the article - basically "rewriting history." I have transcribed the article word for word and will post it here on my blog in order to honor a man who selflessly gives his own money and time to help his fellow man.
12 November: Jumping Track Flash -- [Armor Geddon - back fom Iraq]
SSG Terry plowed a lane for us all the way from the eastern edge of the city where we had become disabled, all the way to the highway ? MSR Mobile. There we waited about an hour for CPT Freihl, the TF2-2IN BMO, to arrive with a HET and an escort of humvee gun trucks.
Someone somewhere along the way had the foresight to feed us because he showed up with one plate full of cold mashed potatoes for the 8 of us to share. It wasn?t much, but it was better than nothing. We hadn?t eaten for almost 9 hours and we were
Must?make it?home? -- [A Soldiers Perspective - back from Iraq]
This letter kind of scared me a little bit. I recieved it about 5 days before the war. I can?t quite put my finger on it, but something about this letter caused a little bit of anxiety. It was almost as if someone was worried I wouldn?t make it back.
What My Command Means to Me: Good Times -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
This is Part 1 of 5 in a series of posts looking back at my Command during, and in preparation for, this deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
The Shoulder of the Mountain -- [Firepower Forward - in Iraq]
Sometimes it's called a ?false summit? because as a climber works his way up the most difficult vertical parts of the ascent, it appears as a horizon with nothing but blue sky and emptiness behind it. When the shoulder is reached however, the climber sees that it is not the summit, but merely an intervening crest which marks the final ascent to the apex
First 330 bomb-seeking robots will start rolling off the line next week -- (Stars and Stripes)... Jeff Schogol
ARLINGTON, Va. ? The first of 330 of the newest robots designed to help soldiers find roadside bombs from a safe distance will start rolling off the assembly line next week, said Ken Zemach, whose company designs the robots.
The new devices are expected to arrive in Iraq and Afghanistan in three to five months, said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Carl Eye.
Sunni Leaders Attacked In Iraq - Four U.S. Soldiers Killed by Bombs -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Ellen Knickmeyer
BAGHDAD, Aug. 18 -- Masked gunmen in the western city of Ramadi responded violently Thursday to recent calls for political participation among Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, opening fire on local leaders who had gathered to discuss plans to register voters for a nationwide constitutional referendum.
Baghdad says bombers seek civil war -- (Khaleej Times Online)...(AFP)
BAGHDAD - Iraq said the deadly rush-hour Baghdad bombings sought to create a sectarian crisis in the country as the United States rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin?s call for a timetable on foreign troop withdrawal from Iraq.
US rejects Putin's Iraq timetable call -- (Aljazeera.net)
The United States has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to set a timetable for pulling its troops out of Iraq and withheld comment on his proposal for an international conference.
Iraqis scramble to finish draft -- (USA Today)...Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press
A spokesman for the biggest Shiite party Thursday predicted a breakthrough on the constitution within two days, as negotiators worked to finish the draft by next week's deadline.
Roadside Bombs In Iraq Still Taking Heavy Toll On US Forces -- (London Financial Times)...Peter Spiegel
Nearly two years ago the US army set up a taskforce to find ways to protect soldiers in Iraq from roadside bombs, which were becoming an increasingly deadly threat to patrols in the country's notorious Sunni triangle.
Baghdad's Foundering Fathers -- (Los Angeles Times)...Joseph J. Ellis
The great British philosopher and essayist Alfred North Whitehead once observed that there were only two instances in history when the political leadership of an emerging nation behaved as well as anyone could reasonably expect. The first was Rome under Caesar Augustus. The second was the United States under the collection of statesmen known as the founding fathers. Expecting Iraq and its leaders to meet that high standard of performance is, to put it mildly, asking a lot.
Time For Bush To Face Bitter Choice In Iraq -- (Chicago Tribune)...Steve Chapman
...Nothing is harder than admitting error, as Bush demonstrates, but a lot of Americans have done exactly that. Two years ago, 72 percent of Americans thought the invasion was a good idea. Today, 54 percent say it was a mistake.
Trying to Understand a Loss -- [Froggy Ruminations]
...SR teams sometimes get compromised. That?s just the way it is. The fact that these guys got caught in the Taliban?s backyard in and of itself is not necessarily an indictment of their tactical proficiency or fieldcraft, but it?s more likely an issue of insufficient or incorrect intelligence. The problem with intel is that you often don?t find out that you don?t have enough of it until it?s too late to do anything about it.
Half Way -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Most of us here at BW will be at the half way point in our deployment in a few days. I don't know weather to smile or cry, (is the cup half empty or half full?) Most here agree that time seems to have gone by fast. With the fast pace days; they are over in the blink of an eye. Judging from conversations at the chow hall, people are getting a little fed up with chow hall food, (lets see today is salad fish or chicken, I WANT SOME COTTAGE CHEESE DAMN IT!!) but I had a feeling that this would happen judging from the way the prior crew were talking before they left. I just grin and think back to the good ol' days of Iraq where every meal was ...
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (62) - [Miserable Donuts]
Village Elder from Qal'eh-ye Golay. Anyone who thinks poorly of an American military presence should ask this guy how they like it. We put a road at the edge of the village, and it was much better than what they had been using before. We leased ground from 5 different families, and the terms were so
Envoy Predicts Tough Times In Afghanistan -- (Boston Globe)...Associated Press
A reinvigorated insurgency killed two U.S. soldiers Thursday when a roadside bomb hit a military convoy protecting road workers, and the new American ambassador warned that violence by Afghan rebels would not end soon. But the envoy, Ronald Neumann, played down fears the Taliban-led militants could prevent next month's legislative elections. 'When millions of people want to go vote, they will go vote,' he said at his first news conference after arriving in Kabul.
Taliban Honcho Gives Up -- (New York Daily News)...James Gordon Meek
A senior Taliban commander came in from the cold this week as U.S. forces pressed a nationwide offensive intended to secure next month's elections.
Peace in Afghanistan Is a Boon for Drug Lords -- (New York Times)... DIRK KURBJUWEIT
While the drug squads and social workers continue their desperate battle against heroin on the home front, German troops stationed in Afghanistan can do little more than stand by and watch as poppy cultivation expands dramatically. Almost 90 percent of the world's opium comes from the fields of the Hindu Kush region where the Bundeswehr is stationed.
Perilous escape was only chance for survival, soldiers recount -- (CenreDaily )...(New York Daily News -JAMES GORDON MEEK)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - (KRT) - For Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Landazuri, the decision to bail out of his two-man border outpost last month came after the ninth or tenth incoming rocket-propelled grenade finally knocked him to the ground.
U.S. Held Meetings With Taliban in 2000 -- (The Guardian) -(AP)....ANNE GEARAN
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States was ``not out to destroy the Taliban,'' a U.S. diplomat told the regime just a year before a U.S.-led invasion toppled Afghanistan's Taliban government that had harbored al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.
No jail for US soldier in Afghan abuse -- (Aljazeera.net)
A US military jury has spared an army reservist jail time but reduced his rank for assaulting a prisoner who later died at a detention centre in Afghanistan.
Prosecutors had asked that Private First Class Willie V Brand, 27, be sent to a military prison for 10 years with a dishonourable discharge for the 2002 beating.
USS Kearsarge ESG Attacked by Rockets -- [The Stupid Shall Be Punished]
The flagship and another amphib of the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group were attacked by Katyusha rockets in the Jordanian port of Aqaba today. A rocket, apparently fired from a warehouse in Aqaba near the docks where USS Ashland (LSD-48) and USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) were moored. According to a statement from Central Command, the rocket flew over the bow of USS Ashland and hit another warehouse. According to the Jordanian government, the warehouse the rockets were fired from "...had been rented a few days ago by four people of Iraqi and Egyptian descent."
USFK To Blow Up Island? -- [GI Kores Blog - In S Korea]
According to anti-USFK protesters, USFK plans on blowing up a South Korean island:
A small group of South Korean protesters prevented a U.S. Forces Korea team from clearing target ordnance from a coastal bombing range Monday, protesters and military officials confirmed Tuesday.
Mortars Fired at U.S. Ship in Jordan -- (Washington Post)...Fred Barbash
Two U.S. Navy ships docked in the port of Aqaba, Jordan were targeted in a rocket attack Friday morning. Neither ship was hit and no U.S. personnel were injured, the military said.
Rockets kill 1, narrowly miss US ships in Jordan port -- (Reuters)...Suleiman al-Khalidi AMMAN
Three rockets were fired at two U.S. Navy ships in Jordan's Aqaba port on Friday, but they missed their targets and hit a warehouse and a hospital, killing a Jordanian soldier, and striking the Israeli port of Eilat
Israeli Riot Police Storm Gaza Synagogues -- (AP)...RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI
0818gaza Riot troops stormed synagogues in two hardline Jewish settlements Thursday to evict hundreds of militant holdouts who locked arms in a human chain and pelted soldiers with acid, oil and sand, the most violent clashes in Israel's historic Gaza pullout.
Islam - Deporting Imams A Bad Idea -- [USS NeverDock]
Reuters reports one Imam thinks so.
Expelling Islamist clerics deemed to be glorifying terrorism serves only to radicalise them further and put them beyond the reach of western intelligence services, a Senegalese imam deported from Italy said on Friday.
Steven Emerson Appears on National Geographic Channel's "Inside 9/11" Special, August 21 & 22 - [Counterterrorism Blog]
Steven Emerson will be appearing in the National Geographic Channel's "Inside 9/11," a four-hour mini-series event airing over two nights, on Sunday, August 21, and Monday, August 22, at 9 pm ET. National Geographic Channel describes the series as follows:...
Officer Says 2 Others Are Source Of His Atta Claims -- (Washington Post)...Dan Eggen
The former intelligence officer who says that a Defense Department program identified Mohamed Atta and three other hijackers before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks said yesterday that many of his allegations are not based on his memory but on the recollections of others.
9/11 Panel Denies Atta's ID Blocked -- (New York Daily News)...Richard Sisk
The Sept. 11 commission hit back yesterday at charges that one of its members had enforced policies that blocked the FBI from tracking 9/11 ringleader Mohamed Atta to Brooklyn before the attacks.
A Question from a Mom... -- [Iraq War News]
Received the email below this morning. Mom is asking for some assistance, and as I told her in my reply, I'm not the one to answer. Please use the comments section if you're a military family member, or a service member.
...My son is being heavily recruited by the U.S. Airforce to join and possibly be deployed in Iraq. While I will support him in whatever he decides to do, I WANT MORE INFORMATION as to what he might be up against. We all know that Iraq is a dangerous place.
...I'm posting it on the blog, to see if you can get some comments from families, current servicemembers, and others who are more informed about serving...
The Wonderful World of Military Technological Advances -- [Banter from Atlanter]
The neato gadgets that come out of the military are always of interest to me. From the combat-ready PDA to the newest weapons like the XM-8. Often I get jealous when the new gizmos are released, because chances are, I won't get to play with them. However, I guess I do find some comfort in the fact that they are bound to seep into the private sector sooner or later.
The latest such technologically bewildering gizmo comes to us from the British and has me climbing up the walls with jealousy.
Hero Worship -- [From My Position - Chuck has been freed from Walter Reed]
I'm not really sure what a hero is anymore. But I know that I've been called one quite a bit since I got wounded. I'm not really sure the title fits. After all I don't exactly leap tall buildings in a single bound anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm lucky to get out of bed in the morning without rubbing lotion on my scars first. And everybody seems to call me a hero. I'm surrounded by people who call me a hero on a daily basis, whether it's Red Cross volunteers, random passersby, people in the Pentagon, and people on the blog (yes I know I haven't posted about a million years.)
Did I Mention, I love Heroes? -- [A North American Patriot]
I have a friend that is always on the lookout, for cool stuff to pass on. He thought I might like this...He was right! Courtesy of Grouchy Media, an ultra-cool website, chock full of great videos. Thanks, again Pumpkin...
Download Our_Heroes_sm.wmv (VIDEO)
Hero -- [Watch Your Six]
The word "hero" has taken on too broad of a meaning these days. It's meaning is getting watered down by media reports calling everyone a "hero." The Random House Dictionary of the English Language defines a hero as a person "of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.? Lance Armstrong is a phenominal athlete and an inspriation for millions of Americans, but he is not a hero.
To me, a hero is ...
ACLU lawyers at Gitmo? -- [Stop the ACLU]
Prisoners advised of ?right? not to answer interrogators.
Amendment questions -- [A Healthy Alternative to Work]
Just about every Soldier has, at some point in his or her career, had the opportunity to receive a book of scripture, usually from a representative at a Military Entrance Processing Station or from a chaplain in basic training.
But a recently-published edition of Christian scripture has drawn fire for possibly violating the First Amendment Establishment Clause, which bars the government -- including the military -- from endorsing a specific religion.
The Week?s Best Rant -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
(Not really a rant at all, but a concise answer to the ?Oh yeah, well what about Haliburton?? Boobs)
I want to try out a new feature on my blog: The Week?s Best Rant. To inaugurate this feature, I want to introduce my inspiration, a wonderful piece of commentary by ?Next93,? who posted a comment in response to a post on the Riding Sun blog.
I Choked Up On This One? [Jump Blog]
I listen to NPR because they go in depth into stories that others spend seconds on. That said I must always apply my own ?english? to what they report. If one doesn?t apply the counter-spin then one winds up wearing a T-Shirt that says ?Leave Only Footprints, Take Only Pictures?, munching granola outside of the Birkenstock store.
But there are some good spots on there. This audio Op-Ed (click ?listen?) is one of them.
Protester Leaves Texas To See Ill Mother -- (New York Times)...Elisabeth Bumiller
...Ms. Sheehan told reporters that she would return to Texas as soon as possible, and that while she was gone, mothers of others killed in Iraq would keep pressure on Mr. Bush and continue to demand a meeting with him here. The group wants all American troops immediately withdrawn from Iraq.
The Dangers Of IR Theory -- [Alenda Lux]
Gideon Rose, the managing editor of Foreign Affairs, has an op-ed in today's New York Times claiming that the Bush Doctrine has failed and that the second term for this administration will see (and, indeed, already has seen) a shift to the wise old policies of realism.
The Grunts... And The Press... -- [The Gun Line]
The press... Ahhh, the press...
Any real journalist who has had the stones to get out of his or her cushy hotel room to actually report on the goings on of the Allied war-fighters will tell you that these young lads and lasses are human beings, just like you and me. The intrepid Michael Yons of the theater, who have seen the look in the eyes of a young Marine after a firefight will attest to the shock of battle upon the human psyche, and will also attest that, once the journalist has actually "earned" the right to accompany these war-fighters into battle, finds a whole different world, not normally seen by the eyes of mere mortals.
Copperhead Columnist Laments Lack of Sacrifice -- [Signaleer]
Bob Herbert, in the 18 August 2005, New York Times, Blood Runs Red, not Blue (avoid registration UserID: pidmeoff, password: pidmeoff1234) writes and I respond;...
Iraq Is Better Off Than Afghanistan Is Better Off Than Iraq -- [Alenda Lux]
Bronwen Maddox, the foreign editor for the Times of London, has an amazingly awkward and confusing column today entitled "A nation that is even worse than postwar Iraq." That nation, obviously, is supposed to be Afghanistan. But just looking at Maddox's first and last sentences leaves the reader wondering whether the column really says anything at all.
Mission of former Marine: Arab TV -- (Baltimore Sun)...Nick Madigan and Annie Linskey
Outspoken Rushing may join Al-Jazeera
During the early battles of the invasion of Iraq, a Marine lieutenant named Josh Rushing became one of the salient faces of America's war, a man with a conscience who supported the mission but also understood the enemy's cause.
Welcome Home -- [Steven Kiel - home on R&R]
I'll be adding some more pics of my leave along the way. Here's one of my brother and me with Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers at the Cubs game.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
If I Got My News From the Newspapers I'd be Pretty Depressed As Well" [Media Blog - NRO] (VIDEO)
Mark Finkelstein over at Newsbusters reported this morning that Matt Lauer got a surprise answer from a soldier on a recent trip to Iraq. After asking about morale, a few soldiers told him that morale was good. Like any good morning TV show journalist, Lauer was skeptical:...
SIMPLE WORDS AND POWER -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
...Yesterday I finally came face to face with an IED. The soldiers?no men of Delta Company 1-184, and Rogue platoon recognized the threat. As we passed by the device, the driver became hyper aware, he saw what most of us did not, a glint of metal amongst the trash strewn road. As we passed by it, it lay there barely visible, yet it was the only thing I could see, it became what could have been our end. Life does not flash before your eyes when you come face to face with mortality, but a resignation that this could be the last moment, then sadness. Yet oddly, it didn?t take us. We cordoned off the area and kept the civilians away, spectators began to gather, and the danger became ...
Duke in Iraq - August 18 -- [Broken Masterpieces - Duke in Iraq]
Being Short:
There is a military term when someone in a combat environment is close to going home. It is called ?being short?. There is an interesting dynamic that many face when they are ?short? and I have felt its effects. The risky mission one may have never given a second thought about in the past now becomes a real issue. People may become hyper vigilant or may just become an ineffective member of the team as they seek to protect themselves from any or all perceived threats. We have all seen something similar in sports when someone is ahead in a close match and as they near victory they stop doing what had brought them that far and start to play it safe; they often lose when they get so nervous about losing that they forget to win.
ANOTHER CIVIL MILITARY OPERATION -- [Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
This morning started out early so that we could get to the place where we had planned to set up a CMO mission. We picked different places throughout the villages so we never go to the same place twice. The families never have any idea we are coming until we show up that morning. When we stop the vehicles and get out, everyone just looks at us with curiosity of what we are doing. When they see us start unloading stuff, they will come a little closer. Most of the time you will have to call the first person to the truck to give them the items. Once you do that, the flood gates are open. They push each other to try to get in the front of the line and if you aren't careful, ...
Iraqis Help Soldiers Find Bombs -- [Lance in Iraq]
This is one of those metrics by which you can truly judge how well you are doing. The populace helps us more everyday so you won't see it reported anywhere...
Warriors prepare for transition back to the states -- [Live in Iraq]
HADITHA, Iraq (Aug. 17, 2005) -- Insurgents in the Haditha region of the Al Anbar province were met by a group of unfamiliar faces Aug. 5 when the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment arrived in support of Operation Quick Strike.
Monday, August 15, 2005 -- [NVG-Man Home - in Iraq]
...Many things have happened since I made my last entry. One of which was the convoy I volunteered for. When my platoon sergeant had all of C&E in the morning meeting, after making sure our vehicles were PMCS?ed, he announced that they were looking for volunteers for a convoy. Immediately we all broke out in laughter. When I looked at his face and saw that he was actually serious, I reconsidered for a second. I thought about how Becky goes outside the gate on a regular basis, along with others in my company. What kind of a soldier would I be if I acted like it was no big thing for her and her squad going out there on rescue missions, and then turn around and not be willing to go outside the gate myself? Besides, as the one in C&E with the biggest list of vehicles to drive on his license, I would be the most qualified out of those in our platoon ?um, even though it was a 5-ton that I drove, and everyone has at least a 5-ton license. As a side note,...
Meltdown -- [365 and a Wake up - in Iraq]
We are all in thrall to the fulgid patriarch that boils the summer sky. In Baghdad the sun claims dominion over all, there is no sector of the city that doesn?t bow before its scathing wrath. The sun is utterly pitiless; those foolish enough to shed tears in the blistering onslaught would find the drops evaporating before they hit the ground.
World domination and multiculturalism -- [Winds of Change - Donald Sensing]
Steve at Word Unheard summarizes an interview that al Qaeda's chief in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, gave to Jordanian journalist Fouad Hussein. Zarqawi "revealed what al Qaeda believes to be seven steps to achieving not only a caliphate, but total Muslim world domination." (Interview link here.)
Coming Soon! -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
My time here in Iraq is, depending on how I am feeling at the time, slowly and quickly coming to an end. Right now we are using terms like Advanced party, Relief in Place (RIP), Transfer of Authority (TOA), Left Seat Ride, Right Seat Ride. We are packing foot lockers and connexes, coordinating customs inspections. We are getting ready to move out of the Containerized Housing Units (CHU) to move to a temporary location so our replacements can move right into their new home. These are all
On Constitutions, as in The Land, Law of, Basic, 1 ea. -- [Argghhh!]
Pardon me if I have trouble understanding the current angst over the difficulties the Iraqis are having in establishing a satisfactory Constitution to govern the basic operational principles of the nation.
Hmmmm. They've just been through a period of despotic tyranny, which ended by war.
They struggled through getting an interim government established, to handle basic needs, while they set to the task of designing a more permanent, and hopefully durable system of government that takes into account the needs of a disparate population, while emphasizing certain common cultural elements.
Hopefully this will result in a less abusive and corrupt, if in comparison inherently 'less stable' government than that extant prior to the war.
Where have we seen something similar?
The Empire?s New Clothes -- (Newsweek)...Christopher Dickey
The cost of the war in Iraq is almost beyond imagining. But as it comes into focus, it?s no wonder that the public is turning against it.
4 U.S. Soldiers Killed as the Violence Continues in Iraq -- (New York Times)...EDWARD WONG
The soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in the northern city of Samarra this morning. No other details were made available.
In Iraq, Carnage, Anger and Grief -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer and Khalid Saffar
After Bombs Kill 43 in Baghdad, Broadcasters Air Citizens' Frustration
BAGHDAD, Aug. 17 -- In the hours after a triple car bombing in the Iraqi capital Wednesday, state television broadcast a montage of faces of random children -- some appearing solemn, some smiling, some slyly glancing up at the camera. In the background, mournful music swelled, and the faces gave way to the bright flash of a car bomb, shown in slow motion.
Blood Runs Red, Not Blue -- (New York Times)...BOB HERBERT
You have to wonder whether reality ever comes knocking on George W. Bush's door. If it did, would the president with the unsettling demeanor of a boy king even bother to answer? Mr. Bush is the commander in chief who launched a savage war in Iraq and now spends his days happily riding his bicycle in Texas.
700 more troops ordered to Iraq for prison duty -- (Pittsburg Tribune ...The Washington Post)
WASHINGTON -- Responding to an appeal for more forces in Iraq to help manage a rising number of detainees, the Pentagon is dispatching an additional 700 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, defense officials said Wednesday.
US soldier chronicles Iraq abuse-- (The Australian...From correspondents in Los Angeles
THE torture and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners by US troops was widespread and not limited to the high-profile cases at Abu Ghraib prison, according to a former soldier who participated in an interrogation that she said "crossed a line".
Amid blasts, Iraq glass salesmen smile -- (Al Jazeera)
| Amid the destruction wrought by car bombs over the past two years in Iraq, there are some merchants who, by dint of their trade, have done well out of the mayhem, and ...
Learning to go 'sans' -- [Life in the X Minor - in Afghanistan]
...That was the roughest. When was the last time you 'scraped' dirt off your skin? Babywipes help alot, but still, they can only cover so much. I mean they start off white and end up black. You learn to adapt though. You become one with the dirt. It becomes a part of you. Everyone else adapts as well. Your sense of smell loses its 'Funk' detector. Around the clean and polished you might reek, yet among your soiled peers, you are brothers in funk.
Rate Mikes Landing:) (video)
Rate Mikes landing in the comments below I think he did a great job. His first to such a high LZ.
In Cure International Hospital -- [Afghan LORD - Afghani in Afghanistan]
After three weeks hesitation about my patient, today I went to American hospital ? Cure International? for treatment. I have pain on one of my spinal column band. I do not know really what the cause was and when it started. Pain is not very strong but it increased my concern. Usually
Life is struggle -- [Afghan LORD - Afghani in Afghanistan]
This part of Kabul called Bahaaristan In Karte parwan district. In this distrect there is no power and water. People bringing their water from the hill slope using donkey those who have enough money for providing foods for this kind animal ?donkey? (:
This was the way I was crossing this hill morning and evening. ...
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (60) -- [Miserable Donuts - back from Afghanistan]
Hell's Angels, Afghanistan Branch? Nah. But motorcycles were popular, and with good reason. The roads were appalling...
Afghan blast kills 2 GIs, wounds 2 others -- (MSNBC)...Reuters
KABUL, Afghanistan - Two U.S. soldiers were killed and two wounded in Afghanistan?s restive southern province of Kandahar on Thursday when a roadside bomb hit their armored vehicle, the U.S. military said.
Kidnapped Lebanese safe in Afghan custody -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - A Lebanese engineer kidnapped by the Taliban last week was released on Thursday after his company agreed to stop operations in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the hardline Islamic group said.
AUSTRALIA TO SEND MORE TROOPS IN RUN-UP TO ELECTIONS -- (Adnkronos international)
Canberra, 18 August (AKI) - Australia has pledged to send an additional 40 soldiers to Afghanistan "within weeks" in order to help the country prepare for the parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled for 18 September. The soldiers will join the 150 troops that were deployed following an announcement from the Australian government last month.
The Logic Of The Religion Of Peace -- [Alenda Lux]
Several hundred crude bombs went off across Bangladesh this morning. Reports vary with some saying as few as 111 and some saying as many as 500. The Christian Science Monitor says 300, so I'll go with that. Two people were killed...
9/11 Commission: Able Danger Data ?Not Shared In A Reliable Form? -- [Austin Bay]
9/11 Commission chairman Tom Kean now wants a ?quick assessment? of the Able Danger military intelligence organization?s records. Kean also said the commision?s report may have to be revised, based on the new evaluation.
Acting Instead of Fronting* -- [Baldilocks]
Here's confirmation by the State Department, no less, that what many conservatives have been saying is true: the Clinton Administration let Osama bin Laden slip through its proverbial fingers; not once, but many times.
Is Terrorist TV Free Speech? -- [Blackfive]
Of course not.
The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) has a new post about Terrorist TV. Hezbollah's Al Manar TV broadcasts programming which claims that Jews kill children because they need their blood for Matzah
Saudi forces kill Qaeda leader in Medina clash -- (Reuters)
RIYADH, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Saudi security forces killed the leader of the kingdom's al Qaeda group in a clash in the holy city of Medina on Thursday, a security source said.
Good To Know -- [Balloon Juice]
It appears there was no basis to the widely reported charges that a California National Guard unit was spying/collecting information on citizens:...
Dear Mom, -- [Uncle Jimbo - Madison.com]
It's time to go home. It tears me up to see you like this and you have done what you can, now it's time to heal yourself.
I was 24 years old the day I died Mom and although that is way too short a life it still felt like a lot to me and much of that is because of you. You raised me right Mom, all the nice things people are saying about me, you know Eagle Scout all that, well that's because of you.
I volunteered to go on the mission where I died, I did it because it was my buddies out there...
Monday, August 15, 2005 - Soldiers Against Cindy Sheehan
...Some of us are in Iraq and wondering what country the media is covering. Yes, there are casualties. Yes, there are setbacks. However, there are a great deal many more successes uncovered by the media. There are plenty of soldiers who have a variety of complaints about the way the war is prosecuted, whether we should be here, and the quality of food. Yet, for a majority, we understand that we are fighting what have become mostly foreign forces seeking to prevent a people from ruling themselves. It?s hard enough on those of us who are deployed without the likes of the fringe anti-war movement making the job that much harder.
She Does Not Speak for Me -- (Opinion Journal)...RONALD R. GRIFFIN
lost a son in Iraq and Cindy Sheehan does not speak for me.
I grieve with Mrs. Sheehan, for all too well I know the full measure of the agony she is forever going to endure. I honor her son for his service and sacrifice. However, I abhor all that she represents and those who would cast her as the symbol for parents of our fallen soldiers.
When the War Won't Stay at Bay -- (Washington Post)...Peter Beinart
With Bush and the public insulated from Iraq, Cindy Sheehan has moral authority.
Why has Cindy Sheehan -- the bereaved mother camped outside President Bush's Crawford ranch -- transfixed the nation?
Partly because she captures something profound about the war in Iraq. Vietnam was a mass-participation war: Nearly 3 million Americans fought; more than 58,000 died. And it provoked a mass antiwar movement: Year after year in the late 1960s, hundreds of thousands of Americans traveled to Washington to protest.
Deploying Cindy's Antiwar Army (Washington Post)...Dana Milbank
It was to have been a silent vigil outside the White House last night in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan, the Gold Star Mother-turned-antiwar activist. But the 500 demonstrators were not the sort to be silenced.
Ex-Senate leader blames downfall on Frist -- (MSNBC)...AP
Lott calls successor?s actions a ?personal betrayal? in new book
Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott blames his fall from power in 2002 on a ?personal betrayal? by an ambitious Sen. Bill Frist, his successor, adding in a new book that President Bush, Colin Powell and other GOP associates played a role.
Texas Board Puts Money Above Principle -- [Go Jack Army]
Texas Marine Told He's No Resident, Must Pay Higher Tuition
A decorated Marine enrolling in college was shocked to learn his Texas driver's license, car registration and bank records weren't enough to get the lower resident tuition rates.
America - The American Dream -- [USS Neverdock]
Or, as the BBC puts it, "Stark reality of the American dream".
With that headline Humphrey Hawksley sets you up for the "two Americas" argument that John Kerry and John Edwards used in their failed bid for the White House. That argument says that there are two Americas - the have and have nots. The problem with the argument is that John Edwards was walking proof the argument is bogus. Edwards rose from humble beginnings to rich lawyer, proving the American dream is there for all - who work for it.
So, where does Hawksley go in search of the American dream?
Bloggers Fill the Void on Air America Scandal -- [Media Blog - NRO]
Because the MSM has paid little to no attention to the unfolding scandals surrounding the liberal Air America radio network, bloggers Michelle Malkin and Brian Maloney have done their own investigation. They found that the scandal goes deeper than previously understood:
Left and Right Bloggers Military Service Survey -- [Jawa Report]
An oft heard accusation is that of chickenhawk being levelled at supporters of the Iraq War who have no prior military service. Bloggers with no prior military service are called members of the 101st Fighting Keyboardists on almost a daily basis by Markos Mulitsas' Daily Kos, himself a veteran of the U.S. Army. The phrase is used to shorten discussion about the war by making a personal attack and delegitimizing the person's credibility. It is easy for you to be for the war when you are not fighting it, is the crux of the chickenhawk argument.
A 'blogswarm' stings old media into action -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Beth Gillin
They're called "blogswarms" and you never know when they'll attack. Bloggers start taunting and disparaging the mainstream media - or MSM - for not paying attention to a story they deem worthy.
We're Married!! -- [Big Al's Army Life - home from Iraq on R&R]
...Al got home on Thursday August 4th - and we were married on August 5, 2005 at about 1:15 p.m. - it was everything that you would imagine a 'war wedding' to be . . . handsome groom, blushing bride, etc. He is still home right now and I won't say when he is leaving for security reasons ;o) other than to say that it will be 'soon'. (pics)
Sheehan Gets Surprise Visit from Woodstock Artists -- [ScrappleFace]
Just a mile from President George Bush's Texas ranch, America's favorite protest-mom, Cindy Sheehan, today got a surprise visit from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Country Joe McDonald and several members of Sly and the Family Stone.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Beautiful Baghdad Nights -- [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
The last three nights here in central Iraq have been beautiful. The sky has been much less dusty than it usually is. The stars are brilliant. Orion pops up around 4am - Taurus a couple of hours before that. Mars is very clear after midnight. Normally the visibility is pretty poor - usually less than 3 miles. Sometimes less than 1 mile. Flying in these conditions can be quite challenging - especially at night.
The Sunni respond to Al-Qaeda's threats... -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Al-Qaeda is becoming even more aggressive toward Iraq as a whole and a few dyas ago Sunni leaders were added to Al-Qaeda's hit-list.
I think this reflects a lot of frustration among the jihadists leaders after armed clashes between Sunni tribes and jihadi fighters and the active Sunnis participation in the constitution writing process?now Zarqawi is talking about slitting throats again.
Body armor plates -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
A couple of weeks ago, everyone in the task force got issued a new set of body armor plates to wear inside our vests. The news was greeted in some circles with groans because the new plates are heavier. :) In our little corner of Iraq, there isn't enough shooting going on to impress upon soldiers a sense of their own mortality I guess.
Libs claim women better off under Saddam -- [Lance in Iraq]
Stuff like this makes me laugh. It's amazing what lies liberals will tell to smear what we are doing here. (pics)
Thank You - Tuesday, August 16, 2005 -- [Steven Kiel - in Iraq]
These kids are the recipients of all of your generosity. Thank you all very much. (pics)
Mosul Photos -- [Stryker Brigade News]
Four new photos of U.S. soldiers inspecting the suspected chemical production facility in Mosul can be seen at Getty Images.
Michael Yon Interview -- [Pundit Review]
America lined up to thank Michael Yon last night on Pundit Review Radio. What an outpouring of support for the great work he does, bringing us vivid, well-written and compelling reporting from his base in Mosul.
We heard from fathers and wives of servicemen serving in Michael's unit, and we heard from regular people who just wanted to say thank you to Michael for his brave and always balanced reporting. The respect and admiration for Michael was real and it was very moving.
an abundance of American ignorance -- [Boots in Baghdad]
You can expect some negative comments on Boots In Baghdad. I stumbled across WhyWeHateBush. So, I went there and wrote this:...
Three soldiers from 48th die in accident
[The 48th Goes to War - AJC... JEREMY REDMON - in Iraq]
Three soldiers from the 48th Brigade Combat Team died in Iraq Monday when the vehicle in which they were riding drove into a canal, military officials said Tuesday.
preoccupation -- [Blog Machine City - in Iraq]
For the last day or so I've been preoccupied with the photgraphs of a Humvee destroyed in a recent IED strike. The pictures came in a report sent through the secure-internet email at my site from the team responsible for analyzing the employment and effects of IEDs.
Photos of destroyed Hummers are hardly unusual; indeed, one might say that destroyed vehicles are one of the seminal images of this war. But this vehicle was destroyed in a very particular manner, a manner that neatly exploits its weaknesses (without going into details) - not just a giant bomb that destroys the entire truck, but a more targeted strike designed to kill the occupants most efficiently.
No Exit Strategy, Please -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
Joe Katzman, writing at Winds of Change, links to an excellent article by Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Jeff Edwards (Retired), that stands as a must-read for all those who even use the words, "exit strategy."
Edwards notes the rapid introduction of the word "quagmire" from the Vietnam era lexicon almost immediately at the start of military action in March 2003. Not long after, there were...
Mail Call! -- [Sentinel 47: Keeping the Gate - in Iraq]
My thanks to the ever-constant shower of packages and letters received from home lately. I am in frequent contact with immediate family members to give feedback about the special items they have sent... but if my family isn't sure I've noticed, let me clarify: I NOTICE!! It's an awesome feeling to know how very present I am to you "back home."
Camel Spiders -- [Dirt Dart - in Iraq]
Of all the critters I had the chance to encounter during my tour in South West Asia, this fellow to the right is the most misunderstood of all the various arachnid species in South West Asia and to this day it still gives me the creeps, many a camel spider died under the heel of my boot. Sorry my bad, I didn?t know your were harmless (just ugly) The solifugae, or camel spider as it is referred to Is a nocturnal creature, spending it's ...
Three Car Bomb Attacks Kill 43 in Baghdad -- (AP) Yahoo News
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Three car bombs exploded near a bus station and hospital in Baghdad Wednesday, killing at least 43 people and wounding 89 in the deadliest attacks in the capital in weeks, police said. Survivors searched charred buses and cars for signs of relatives.
Iraq Puts Positive Face On Constitution Delay -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Khalid Saffar
...Elsewhere in Iraq on Tuesday, the U.S. military announced that three soldiers died Monday in a vehicle accident in Baghdad.
Expectations For Iraq Downshifting -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Peter Grier
Twenty-eight months after US forces helped pull down the statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad's Firdos Square, the Bush administration is facing a hard reality: its vision for Iraq's immediate future may need to be scaled back.
Iraqi Economy Said Stable Despite War -- (New York Times on the Web)...Associated Press
Despite the insurgency and slow pace of reconstruction, Iraqi authorities have achieved some economic stability and started some reforms but need to do more, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday. It was its first formal report on the nation's economy in 25 years.
It Takes The Right Army -- (Washington Post)...Frederick W. Kagan
Security in Iraq is not as simple as decreasing our troops and increasing theirs...
'Hard Slog' For Bush -- (Washington Post)...David Ignatius
President Bush is saying the right thing about Iraq, which is that there is no easy fix for a war that his defense secretary correctly termed "a long, hard slog." But Bush is conveying this message in a detached way that upsets and angers growing numbers of Americans. The evaporation of political support at home is palpable. If the administration can't explain its war aims better, it may soon face a Vietnam-style tipping point.
Iraq On The Brink -- (Washington Post)...Harold Meyerson
...President Bush may have been off by 74 years in his assessment of Iraq. By deposing the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, Bush assumed he would bring Iraq to its 1787 moment -- the crafting of a democratic constitution, the birth of a unified republic. Instead, he seems to have brought Iraq to the brink of its own 1861 -- the moment of national dissolution.
Iraqi Crossroads -- (Opinion Journal)
How about a constitutional right to share in oil wealth?
That free Iraqis are taking another week to write their new constitution is no great cause for alarm. There were a few glitches 200 years ago in Philadelphia too. The reason to worry is that the talks are stymied on the issue of federalism, which is crucial if Iraq's ethnic factions are going to coexist in a single country for the long run.
Good News from Afghanistan -- [Signaleer]
US/COALITION FORCES
Taliban leader Qari Amadullah was killed during heavy fighting near the city of Wazikwa in eastern Afghanistan. Amadullah was believed to have commanded up to 50 Taliban fighters in the region and was thought to be in possession of a number of weapon systems to include rockets and rocket propelled grenades.
OPERATION ENDURING BOREDOM - EPISODE III -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
This is the third in a three-part series of selected excerpts from my Afghanistan war journal recorded from October 2003 to August 2004. They are along the lines of a conventional blog in that they captured the daily events and my thoughts about them in real time. I am posting them on the eve of my current deployment to Iraq as a study in comparison to the OIF columns to follow.
Saturday 06December2003
Southeastern Afghanistan
Another day in the ?Stan, another gigantic mountain to climb for 3rd Squad - 2nd Platoon - Charlie Company - Task Force 1/501st - Band of Sherpas. Pull security for four hours, rack out for four more. Rinse. Repeat.
Sitting high atop Afghanistan doing nothing more strenuous than looking through binos and working on your farmer?s tan is not bad work if you can get it.
MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN
In Afghanistan, Paving The Path To Progress -- (Mideast Stars and Stripes)...Jason Chudy
If the fight to defeat the Taliban can be measured in distances, one of the ongoing battles is 76 miles long. And it?s combat engineers, not infantrymen, who are carrying the fight to build a road between Kandahar and Tirin Kot.
Customs in a fix to regularise trade with Afghanistan -- (Int'l News)...Mohammad Ali Khan
Customs authorities are facing difficulties in regularising Pakistan?s trade with Afghanistan via some new land routes owing to security reasons and ban on timber export by the Afghan government, official sources told The News.
The REAL Cost Of Gas - Today, Yesterday And Around The World -- [GM's Corner]
I had an unusual experience today. Normally, when I fill up for gas I use my debit card. Now, for those of you who may not know. When you use an automatic pump and pay with your credit card that you slide in (and remove quickly) the credit card authorization program makes sure you have at around $50.00 on your credit limit and uses that until the actual price is done. I always assumed that debit cards were pretty much the same. So today, I used my debit card and started to fill my tank (it holds 14.5 gallons actually 15.5, but I've never let it get all the way down to that level of dryness) and was surprised to see that the pump slowed down at $34.90 and stopped at $35.00. Obviously I had hit the internal limit for that particular transaction. I looked at the pump and saw that I only had pumped slightly more than 14 gallons, in other words, I hit the limit before my tank was full.
Japan's Apology Still Not Good Enough -- [GI Blog Korea - in S Korea]
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has once again apologized for the actions of the Imperial Japanese during World War II:
In a statement issued by his office, Koizumi acknowledged the "enormous damage" inflicted by Japan's military "by colonization and invasion" during the conflict.
MD Guard Dads Post Their Pride -- {GXOnline}
8/15/05, MD ? I was reading my son's copy of GX magazine and read many of the letters from proud parents about their sons' service to their country. I thought the attached pictures might warrant a spot in your magazine.
Operation Anaconda; Part of... -- {DVIDS}
- Bagram, Afghanistan -- Ch-47 Chinook helicopters take off in the early morning in support of Operation Anaconda. The Chinooks were used for their superior lift and cargo capabilities, as well as their ability to operate well at the high altit...
Operation Able Warrior Sweeps Through Neighborhoods -- {DVIDS}
BAGHDAD ? In the early-morning darkness of Aug. 4, Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 295th Infantry from Juncos, Puerto Rico, actively participated in Operation Able Warrior, a coordinated operation to capture and seize suspected terrorist operators and triggermen of explosive devices in the southwest Baghdad area.
U.S. Soldiers Train Iraqi Leadership at Academy, Incorporate Iraqi Cadre -- {DVIDS}
FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq ? In the U.S. Army, noncommissioned officers are known as the ?backbone of the Army,? and a group of these Soldiers has set up an academy to help the Iraqi army produce its own rigid corps of NCOs.
Sixth Phase of Southeast Asia Exercise Series Underway {TheNavy.mil}
SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- The sixth and final phase of the 2005 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series is underway here following an Aug. 16 ceremony that marked an official start to a weeklong series of events ashore and at sea focused on increasing maritime interdiction capabilities of the U.S. and Philippine navies.
MORE PROOF THAT CLINTON DID DIDDLY DESPITE WARNINGS ABOUT BIN LADEN -- [The Astute Blogger]
IHT:Intelligence analysts warned the Clinton administration in 1996 that Osama bin Laden's move to Afghanistan would make him an even greater danger as he sought to expand radical Islamism "well beyond the Middle East," but the government did nothing to stop the move, newly declassified documents show.
IF ONLY... -- [Nobel Eagle]
Slick Willie's at it again, trying to salvage the legacy of his ridiculous narcissistic presidency. From NewsMax:
Clinton: I Would Have Attacked Bin Laden
Ex-president Bill Clinton now says he would have taken out Osama bin Laden before the 9/11 attacks ? if only the FBI and CIA had been able to prove the al-Qaida mastermind was behind the attack on the U.S.S. Cole.
Able Danger meet Henny Penny -- [Quill News]
The five word doggeral in this headline makes sense only if you, shall we say, do some data mining and "connect the dots." Because in all the chatter about the Able Danger squad who ID'd Mo Atta a year before 9/11, and whether or not the 9/11 Commission knew or didn't know or knew but covered up... oh dear. (JK) The press loves this stuff. But take a hint from Jack Kelly and look back a bit to 2002 when the NYT led the press corps in completely missing the story about data mining technology and its benefits and instead worried the Defense Department was going to lie and spread propaganda and what all. As if...
Germans Uncovered Iraqi Spy Ring During 9/11 Planning -- [Captain's Quaters]
The Daily Standard has just published my latest column, which reveals to those who missed my earlier post on the arrests of two Iraqi spies in Heidelberg during February 2001. The discovery of these agents, especially given the time frame, should set off warning bells about potentially devastating connections to the 9/11 plot:...
The verboten subject -- [TigerHawk]
Wretchard reviews the enormous amount of evidence that Iran is leaping ahead in the development of nuclear weapons, including the claim reported in The Guardian (of all papers) that Iran had 4,000 undeclared centrifuges. Iran's capacity to enrich uranium may be twenty-five times that admitted to the United Nations.
After considering this, Wretchard considers its relevance:
U.S. Policy On 'Axis Of Evil' Suffers Spate Of Setbacks -- (Washington Post)...Peter Baker and Dafna Linzer
President Bush's campaign against what he once termed the "axis of evil" has suffered reverses on all three fronts in recent days that underscore the profound challenges confronting him 3 1/2 years after he vowed to take action.
Why Doesn't ______ Make His Child Enlist? -- [A Storm In Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
See this a lot, too.
Variation on a theme, but generally like this, "If you're so for the war, why don't you make your son/daughter enlist and go to Iraq?"
1) It's a volunteer military. NO ONE makes anyone join. When I signed the paper, no one made me do it. I could have walked away. When I raised my hand (twice) to take the Oath of Enlistment, I could have walked away. At no time in the processing center did I see a parent dragging their grown child in, with the child screaming, "No, Daddy, I don't wanna play Army..."
Army Is On Recon For 'Idol' -- (Washington Times)...Jerome Bernard, Agence France-Presse
Far from the battlefield, U.S. soldiers will face off in a peaceful contest: "Military Idol," the Army version of "American Idol." More than 30 Army bases will take a break from "hup-two-three-four" to present military versions of the talent contest -- around the United States, in Belgium, Germany, Japan and South Korea.
Criticize a Judge, Go to Jail -- [Ogre's Politics and Views ]
Apparently if you live in Ohio, you better be darn careful who you blog about. If you happen to publish a blog that is critical of a judge, you might not only get thrown in jail for "intimidation," but you might get completely shut up by getting no visitors, no phone calls, and solitary confinement. Who says there's free speech in Ohio? Not this judge.
Countering Sheehan Mania -- [Andi's World]
Okay troops. Need your help. FReeper Kristinn, who I had the pleasure of meeting one night outside of Walter Reed, contacted me tonight. In an effort to ride the Cindy Sheehan bandwagon for all it's worth, some left-wing groups are organizing candelight vigils throughout the country tomorrow night.
One such vigil will take place in Lafayette Park, close to the White House, where the moveons will be staging their support the troops support Cindy Sheehan, anti-war rally.
"Peace" Protestors and Terrorists -- [Warriors Voice - a few days from deployment to Iraq]
As I near the date I am to return to Iraq I can't help but listen at amazement of these people on the left. Of course it is not all on the left. There are many who believe that since we are there we need to do the right thing and finish the job. However, there are those on the left who I believe want more troops to die so they can say "see I told you". It is as if they are on the same side of the terrorists. Of course I don't believe they agree with the terrorists action, although there are various groups who compare terrorists to the minute men of the American revolution. However, ...
Able Danger Officer Named -- [Baldilocks]
Not 'Culpa' yet. One of the Able Danger military officers outs himself and, boy, is he talking. ...
Dead Soldier's Mom Irked by Anti-War List -- (Newsday)...AP HT: ROFASix
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The mother of an officer killed in Iraq is demanding that her son's name be removed from what she considers anti-war memorials on a California beach and outside President Bush's Texas ranch.
US right targets anti-war mother -- (The Guardian)... Gary Younge
Rightwing criticism of a bereaved mother who is camped outside President George Bush's Texas ranch in protest at the conflict in Iraq intensified yesterday as her campaign struck a nerve with growing anti-war opinion in the country.
All the president's books -- (The Guardian)...Sarah Crown
George Bush at his Texas ranch, no doubt
dying to get back to his book. Photograph: AP
The talk on the Guardian Unlimited arts desk today is revolving around one subject: George Bush?s holiday reading list. This summer, we are told, the leader of the free world will be curling up with Salt: A World History, Alexander II: the Last Great Tsar and The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History.
Propaganda, then and now -- [The Riding Sun]
It's eerie how much this enemy propaganda from six decades ago resembles the New York Times op-ed page:...
The AP Should Take Notes -- [Alenda Lux]
Much has been discussed already about the article in today's New York Times that the AP is having trouble finding the good news in Iraq.
Mr. Silverman said the wire service was covering Iraq "as accurately as we can" while "also trying to keep our people out of harm's way."
HATE -- [Trying to Grok - husband just returned from Iraq]
I read the book Bias in two days; I couldn't put it down. Goldberg's argument is that the media skews left not because of some conspiracy but because those in the media don't recognize their worldview as being liberal; they simply see themselves as rational and reasonable. The problem is that a big chunk of America doesn't see the world the way they do.
Being Objective = Being Critical, Round 2 -- [Open Fire]
Guess who is still in the news? Yep, Cindy Sheehan. I think she should get her own reality TV show.
Once again I would like to point out a how the Mainstream Media (MSM) treats different groups of people. Remember when over two hundred Swift Boat Vets came out against John Kerry's run for presidency? What did the media do? They either ignored them, or tried to discredit them. There was little tolerance by the MSM to give credence or airtime to a group of men who were clearly against the only man running against Bush.
MSM does Iraq -- [Chrenkoff]
Wonders never cease - the mainstream media, or the Associated Press to be exact, is having a rethink about its reporting from Iraq - as reported by "The New York Times". It all started when Rosemary Goudreau, the editorial page editor of "The Tampa Tribune", received an email that many of you would be familiar with, listing in a "Did you know?" format all the underreported achievement in Iraq and ending with this sentence: "Of course we didn't know! Our media doesn't tell us!"
Someone You Should Know: Colonel Dave Smith -- [Chapomatic]
He didn?t take an enemy gun and blast through an ambush. Not in this case, anyway.
He didn?t throw himself on a grenade.
But he made Operation Enduring Freedom happen.
Wow! you have to check this out! -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
On a whim tonight, I hit the random button on the Milblogs ring. Click to give it a try yourself. It is amazing what you will find sometimes. Tonight I found something completely new, well at least new to me.
Nerdiness (pt. II) -- [ A Soldier's Perspective]
I just wanted to share some interesting statistics about this site. Being a soldier, I know a lot about OPSEC. It?s drilled into our heads day after day. I also work in Force Protection, so my job is to find ways keep soldiers alive and safe. So, while I don?t censor the stuff I write in here, I?m cognizant of the people who are reading it. That is one reason that I never fulfilled my statement about posting video here. The last thing I want is our training getting watched by terrorists and suddenly I?m responsible for soldiers dying instead of the other way around. I also don?t give out names or take pictures of the people playing the roles of terrorists here. I don?t show WHO puts the IEDs on the sides of the road. I don?t show the soldiers who were ?killed? by them.
Here?s why:...
A great lawyer tale
This Is The Best Lawyer Story of the Year, Maybe Decade! -- [Redleg's Perspective]
A Charlotte, NC lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive
cigars,then insured them against fire, among other things. Within a
month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and
without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy,
the lawyer filed claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost "in a series of
small fires."...
B-day Wishes from too Far Away -- [The Story of Us - husband Joe in Iraq]
Its my honeys birthday today!! Cant think of a worse place to be having your birthday, but I told him when he gets home were gonna have a HUGE cake and celebrate all the birthdays that he has missed this year, all at once!! I think the boys will get a kick out of that too, they sure missed not having him here for theirs. Too bad the idiots at the post office screwed up his birthday box, or he would be opening it right now. Oh well, I tried, lol.
Nearsighted
Over vacation, I proposed to her (she said yes) and we had a great time. I had a terrific time picking out the stone (which is a 0.65 carat VVS1 princess cut, color G, cut to near-perfect precision). It was a perfect token for the perfect woman. In the beginning, I didn't understand the concept of an engagement ring. Why, I wondered, couldn't you have an engagement computer or an engagement home entertainment system? But as time went on, I did more and more research and became quite excited about it. I'm pretty sure I enjoy looking at it now as much as she does! Anyway, you can read all about it on her blog. She has some fantastic photos there, too
Sadly, Soldiers' Angels is mourning three more members of our extended family. -- [Iraq War News]
Sgt. Thomas J. Strickland, 27, of Douglasville, GA, Spc. Joshua P. Dingler, 19, of Hiram, GA, and Sgt. Paul A. Saylor, 21, of Norcross, GA, were all killed yesterday in a vehicle accident in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
The Battle for Mosul: Reality Check -- [Michael Yon]
[Click title above for video of small IED attack. Probably a "two-banger."]
Mosul, Iraq
For more than a week, I've been trying to finish the Battle for Mosul Part IV. Meanwhile, the battle for Mosul is still on. Writing about this war takes a back seat to living it. Yesterday, for instance, there was fighting and one of our brother units lost a young soldier in battle.
Oceans of Time -- [365 and a Wake Up]
I once heard that the largest rivers in the world don?t cascade from high mountains, they silently churn across the tract less sea in wide ribbons of kinetic force. Time here in Baghdad flows like those broad currents, always churning forward in some great anonymous flow. Out here a calendar isn?t just a schedule. It?s a map. And a lifeline. And an anchor.
Something to Chew on -- [Firepower Forward - in Iraq]
have often thought about how to answer the continually re-occurring question, ?Why do you fight??, and I wonder why it?s so difficult to put into words.
...I usually have a fairly decent ability to put my feelings into words yet somehow I struggled with how to portray my feelings about this, about the compelling reason I feel to be here and be a contributor to this campaign. Some may perceive this to be a lack of substance or conviction, that isn?t the case. It?s more that the issue is so vast that it can?t be capsulated into a few quick epithets or euphemisms. In my mind, to say simply that this is a ?Religious War? or ?Blood for Oil? is a not only hubris, it is condescending, arrogant, and indicative of overt laziness. Even a precursory ...
This is what it looked like... (PICS) -- [Major K - in Iraq]
About a week a go, we had a dust storm unlike any I have seen in the past seven months. It was not quite a sandstorm as I could not feel myself being pelted with the large grains of sand. It was the the fine powdery dust that gets into and all over everything. We have had several of these since we got here, but never one as bad as this. This time it was...
Constitution extension -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I was hoping that the draft Constitution would be announced yesterday, but it seems that we'll have to wait another week (or longer). In the grand scheme of things, pushing the announcement one week to the right is not particularly significant. What is important is whether or not the Iraqi people ratify the proposed Constitution in the referendum scheduled for October 15th. Delaying the initial announcement by a week won't impact the timeline of the referendum, and if it results in a better product that is more likely to pass then I'm all for it.
WE GOT BOXES, TV's, and T-SHIRTS -- [Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
Today was a good day to catch up on awards, NCOER's, and moving in. I didn't go anywhere outside the wire today. We did have one group go to Kalsu for some meetings and to pick up some stuff. I was blessed to get the TV that PJ had sent to me for our guys to watch DVD's on. It is a 20" color flat screen TV. It is absolutely amazing that people we have never met before does something like this. I believe that Sears actually paid for the shipping. We got that and then we got about 12 more boxes from the Leake County Chamber of Commerce. We also got company t-shirts in the mail today sent from the Family Support Group. They were very nice blue t-shirts with a yellow ribbon on the left breast and an engineer castle on the back with Operation Iraqi Freedom written underneath. We hit the jackpot today. The small packages are just as wonderful, but when you get something for...
Constitution update. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Al-Iraqia TV is providing live coverage from the meetings in convention center; right now there are meetings between the leadrs of political powers to reach a final agreement over the few remaining disputed parts of the constitution.
Iraqis Miss August 15 Deadline -- [Austin Bay]
I think this White House press release means the Iraqi constitutional negotiatiors didn?t meet their August 15 goal. (It looks like this was just released, but there is no date-time-group on the website.)
Body armor Redux -- [Six More Months - in Iraq]
This headline in the NYTimes caught my eye : U.S. Struggling to Get Soldiers Updated Armor. This is the opening sentence:
For the second time since the Iraq war began, the Pentagon is struggling to replace body armor that is failing to protect American troops from the most lethal attacks by insurgents.
Now I would hate to accuse the ?newspaper of record? of displaying bias in it?s reporting, but it would have been equally as accurate to say this: U.S. upgrading Body Armor to protect servicemembers.
For the second time since the Iraq war began, the Pentagon ...
Queen Amidela Reporting From Basra -- [Iraqi In America]
Most of you know her as "my friend from Basra." She reported to us a few times before. She's not into blogging, but the murder of Steve Vincent changed her mind. She decided to carry his torch.
Me, her and our American friend spent a few days deciding on a nickname to shield her identity. We decided on Queen Amidela from Star Wars.
She already sent me two dispatches. Last night's dispatch brings yet another sad story. Here's her letter:
Mr. Vincent's translator is getting better. They ...
Good news from Iraq, 16 August 2005 -- [Winds of Change]
Note: As always, also available from "The Opinion Journal" and Chrenkoff. Thank you to James Taranto, Joe Katzman, and all of you dear fellow bloggers and readers, regular and irregular, for your support for the series.
Conservative activist and commentator L. Brent Bozell III recently wrote about an encounter with a veteran:..
Saudi Al-Qaida Members Reported Killed in Iraq -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Two young Saudi Al-Qaida recruits have been reported killed in recent suicide bomb attacks near the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Allegedly, one of the men, 20-year old Mansour al-Hameed (a.k.a. "Abul-Hajer", "Abu Azzam") was responsible for a July 27 suicide bombing operation by Al-Qaida's Al-Baraa bin Malik Martyrs Brigade targeting Iraqi National Guard troops in Al-Azamiyah that killed ten people and wounded at least nine others.
Iraqis Fail To Meet Constitution Deadline -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer and Omar Fekeiki
Iraqi factional leaders failed to meet Monday's deadline for drafting a constitution in an often-rancorous debate that appeared to have widened rifts among Shiite, Sunni, Kurdish and secular groups.
Waiting For History -- (Newsweek)
Officials are trying to put a positive spin on the delay. But Iraq?s constitution writers face problems that can?t easily be solved in seven days.
The lights went out on Iraq?s constitutional process Monday night--literally. As the National Assembly met in late-night session to avert a constitutional crisis in the fledgling-new nation, there was a power failure in their temporary home inside Baghdad?s heavily fortified convention center.
Japanese Opposition Vows To Pull Troops From Iraq -- (Jerusalem Post (jpost.com))...Associated Press
Japan's main opposition party plans to pull the country's troops from the US-led reconstruction effort in Iraq by December if voted into government in next month's nationwide elections, a party official said Tuesday.
Good News, Bleeding To Get Out -- (National Review Online)...Deroy Murdock
Amid roadside bombs, constitutional tensions, and even a blinding sandstorm last Monday, outside the blogosphere (see here and now here) one wonders if anything is going right in Iraq. Plenty is, actually, although the mainstream media rarely mention such good news.
The Disintegration Of Iraq -- (Washington Times)...Allan Topol
If and when a constitution is agreed upon in Baghdad, that will not mean that a single democratic nation will rise from the ashes of Saddam Hussein's police state. The signs are already crystal clear. Fissure into separate Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish entities is inevitable...
Deceptive Talk About Iraq -- (Boston Globe)...Thomas Oliphant
...Tours of duty were extended. The reserves were raided. The National Guard was raided. Military commitments in the rest of the world, including the fight against terrorism and the effort to establish stability in Afghanistan, were compromised.
Brick Billets at Salerno I -- [Miserable Donuts]
They "jingled" everything. Above left is a water trailer used for mixing concrete in Salerno for the brick billets. Above right is mid-level of sophistocation in concrete mixing (at the high end we had a concrete batch plant and at the low end we had a pile of components on the ground that water was poured on (imagine making homemade pasta)). Afghans have pretty good bricks, but
28 Alleged Taliban Die in Clashes -- [Target Centermass]
...I ask again, with fighting raging ?across southern Afghanistan,? is this finally the quagmire war opponents had predicted? The story seems to give the impression that the Afghan Dixie is a madhouse. Well, two little details lead me to say ixnay on the agmirequay. First, as is clear in the story, the bad guys are getting killed in bunches. This is certainly not a new development. Second, ...
Letter from Afghanistan - More on Night Stalker Shootdown -- [ROFA Six]
This letter tells a tale of heroism, valiant men and awesome warriors who fight fiercely for America's freedom. I don't know the author of this letter, I wish I did, so I could buy the guy a beer or two. The letter was sent to me by an old friend. It offers more chilling details of the shootdown of the Night Stalker Chinook and the loss of the crew and SEAL passengers. It is the most complete description of the events of that day I have seen. I expect only the AAR tells more....
The Ramp Ceremony [A Storm In Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
...Some notes about this particular one. Our airfield is busy. REGULARLY busy. Especially this time of day. There was no activity. Nothing. I could hear sounds from miles away, and I was mere feet from the runway. The base had managed to arrange for no activity, no loud noises (no firing range, no EOD explosions, no maintenance), and no aircraft for this Soldier's departure.
Pakistan won?t extend deadline for repatriation of Afghan refugees -- [Khaleeji Times]
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan?s Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao says a Sept. 15 deadline for repatriation of 6,000-7,000 Afghan refugees from the capital Islamabad will not be extended. | Sherpao made the...
US troops chip away at problems in Afghanistan -- Taipei Times]
SLOW PROGRESS: US soldiers are working to boost security ahead of next month's elections, but limited manpower means patience is required | The armored US Humvees sweep through the pine-fringed villag...
Spanish Troops Die in Afghan Copter Crash -- (Washington Post)...DANIEL COONEY
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A helicopter belonging to the NATO-led international security force crashed Tuesday in western Afghanistan, killing 17 Spanish troops, officials said.
Have you thanked your Soldier's Angel lately? -- [Doc in the Box]
Sorry about the lack of posts this week, my cohort and I are getting the squadron ready for a medical inspection sometime in the near future. Lots of record reviews and data entry. After this, it will be easy sailing till our next middle east trip in the spring.
Fund Helps Children, Spouses -- [American Supports You]
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2005 ? Rebecca Campbell started the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund in 2003 to raise college tuition for the children of servicemembers killed in the war on terrorism. The fund has since expanded to encompass other financial needs. It now aims to provide a wide range of assistance to the children and spouses of troops who have been killed or injured
Only Nixon Can Go To China -- [Villianous Company]
While driving home last week on the Beltway, I heard something truly remarkable. Something that filled my heart with hope.
And since that time, I have heard nothing more about it. Not in the newspaper. Not on my television. Not on the radio. And when, at last, I typed several search terms into Google this morning, I was dismayed at how little I found. This is the only post I will write today, and it will remain at the top of my site for the next week. It is that important.
The licensing of journalists and a proposed amendment to the FFIA -- [TigerHawk]
Like the New York Times, Bob Dole wants to license reporters. Or, more fairly, he wants to license particular reporters in order to grant them immunity from prosecution should they participate in a crime. The vehicle he endorses, Richard Lugar's Orwellian "Free Flow of Information Act," is nothing more than a conspiracy between the political establishment and the corporate press to define a class of citizens that have more rights than ordinary Americans. As has already happened in many states, federal politicians propose giving the mainstream media a particular privilege not available to ordinary citizens in the guise of enhancing the "free flow" of information.
Mark Yost Vindicated. Knight-Ridder Indicted! -- [My View from Tonka]
I think this is one of the better take downs on Mark Yost's behalf that I've read. Just in case you aren't aware of the circumstances....Mark (he's an editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press) wrote a column saying the MSM reporting on Iraq was lacking.
Sure Is Dark In Here... -- [Beast7's How it Ought to Be]
Howard ?Hee-Haw? Dean, Democratic National Committee chairman and failed candidate for Democratic Party Presidential nominee, must have been tasting shoe-leather when he stated, "It looks like today, and this could change, as of today it looks like women will be worse off in Iraq than they were when Saddam Hussein was president of Iraq," on CBS' "Face the Nation" yesterday.
Vietnam 2: Electric Boogaloo -- [Xenophon]
We?ve all seen the tired old tactic of the Iraq War opposition comparing Iraq to Vietnam. But the comparison does not hold up to even the most casual of examination, although the complexities of each conflict escape anyone simple enough to even connect them.
The first problem is a myopic concentration on America?s war in Vietnam. People forget that our involvement from 1965-1975 was just the final conflict in an ongoing struggle for independence on the part of the Vietnamese people.
A Lamentable Tendency -- [Neptunus Lex]
To over-react...
...It went thusly: "Let us pray for the children of Iraq" (fine, no problem) "and their parents" (heavens yes) "who are dying of cancer" (em... sure, why not?) "because of our use of depleted uranium." (Oh. My.)
Husband of peace vigil mom files for divorce -- (MSNBC)...AP
Cindy Sheehan says stress of son?s death led to separation
FAIRFIELD, Calif. - The husband of Cindy Sheehan, the mother camped outside President Bush?s Texas ranch to protest the death of a son in the Iraq war, has filed for divorce, according to court documents.
Sen. Biden Says Bush Should Fire Rumsfeld -- (New York Times on the Web)...Associated Press
President Bush needs to fire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and level with the American people about the situation in Iraq, said U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, who is testing the political waters for a possible White House run in 2008.
Over There Episode 3
I will start off and tell you that I got an email from a person who claims to work on the show Over There. It actually is a comment on the site so I will repost it:
?I work on over there, and let me tell you that the tec advisor who has lived and breathed that shit first hand in iraq has pushed hard to make things as true as possible, but in the first episode a lot of things got vetoed, HOWEVER...
Bochco's Botched and Biased "Over There" -- [Michael Fumento]
...If "Over There" has a true military advisor, he deserves the firing squad. In the first episode a squad is pinned down while besieging a terrorist-filled mosque. The unit remains for about 36 hours with no air support, because "Air is dedicated to another area." Never mind that planes or choppers are always available within minutes. They request artillery, again to no avail. There's no armor.
New Milblogger "Pebble Pie" -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
Once again, it is time to welcome a new member of the Milblogs ring.
Pebble Pie is a "Blue Star Mom". That means she has a child in the military. she has a list of her favorite quotes:
Taming the Wild Web -- (Times Online)...MATTHEW YEOMANS
Since the internet was born, there has been a tug-of-war between aggregating information and finding ways to navigate through it. Two of the great navigation milestones were the Web browser and the search engine. Now, with the galloping growth of blogs (some 80,000 new blogs are created every day, according to blog search engine Technorati) and the proliferation of social-network sites, a growing group of companies is trying to figure out how to turn the cacophony of personalized information into usable form ? and viable businesses.
One year and still going -- [In Iraq for 365]
It's been a year since I started this blog. It's been fun. Here's a rundown...
160 posts
20,000 hits
1,348 comments
689 emails
40 hate emails from anti-war types or extreme Islamic folks
1 naked picture emailed to me
37 emails from reporters
15 emails from literary agents and movie producers
42 comments and emails begging me to stop wearing Brut
The most touching email....
Happy Birthday Mike -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Mike turned 29 a few days ago but with the op tempo here it has been a pain in the ass trying to get everyone in the same room, sorry that we were a few days late bro but the XO hooked you up.
Happy Birthday to the 82nd Airborne Division -- [A Redleg's Perspective]
Put on your boots, boots, boots
and parachutes, chutes, chutes
We're going up, up, up
and coming down, down, down
A Democrat Fable - Caring More than Republicans -- [GM's Corner]
The Barber
One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week."
The florist is pleased and leaves the shop.
Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
Later, a cop comes in for a haircut,...
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Will Discovery of Mosul Chem Weapons Factory Reopen Debate Over Saddam's WMD? (UPDATED 8-14) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
I know it's too early to go out on a limb, but the discovery of a chemical weapons factory in Mosul with 1,500 gallons of chemicals (updated Washington Post link, free registration) might reignite the debate over whether Saddam Hussein possessed a storehouse of chemical weapons ready for use in war.
Good News From Iraq
Note: This round-up is from the last two weeks, since Chrenkoff''s last installment.
?Tell everyone we are very happy to be here?
These are the words of an Iraqi boy who, along with a group of fellow soccer players, was selected to represent Iraq at the 15th annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival in London. The boys had never been out of their country before and, when they learned that they had been selected to represent Iraq, traveled from all over the country with their family to get to Baghdad for their flight. They come from Baghdad, Najaf, Basra, Kirkuk and other cities that are known ?only for the worst of reasons.?
Scorch Marks -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
This morning Killer Company was sitting down for a round table meeting when the flat, low crunch of a distant explosion rumbled over the command post. The ugly sound stripped the air of any sonic rival - leaving a grim stillness in its wake. There followed a pregnant pause, as if some stranger had intruded into a private conversation between friends and suddenly silenced the group. The conversation finally sputtered back to life like a doddering car lurching into gear. And not a word was spoken about our ill favored guest.
Busy Day -- [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
...Three days ago our squadron had what looks like our busiest day since we've been deployed - about 5 months now. In 24 hours we launched on 20 missions, 11 of which were casevac missions. It was almost funny. We would return from a mission, get back to the ready room, pour a cup of coffee and sit down. Just at that point when you take that first sip, relax and sigh... the siren would go off indicating another scramble. So much for the coffee. Once again we would run out to our golf cart, drive to the aircraft, jump in, start, arm, and launch. It has become so routine I could do it in my sleep. A couple of times at 3am I think I have....
One particular early morning mission - right at twilight - we went to a FOB in Ramadi to pick up an angel. He was a Marine that had been killed 2 days earlier in a firefight, but was unable to be evacuated. I will never forget this....
The constitution, the final countdown. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Tomorrow will witness fixing the key axis of the change process that's been developing Iraq since the dictator was ousted 28 months ago.
The final draft of the constitution will be submitted to the National Assembly to get approval after reaching agreements over the disputed issues (which are still being discussed right now) and among the main issues here we have federalism, religion and state and a number of smaller issues tolling up to 18 according to a recent statement by president Talbani who seemed confident that no issues will need to be scheduled for after the next elections ...
Cross-boundary coordination -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
Last night, one of our companies received some actionable intelligence and came into the TOC to let us know that they were planning a hasty raid. The raid, however, occurred on the other side of one of the invisible lines designating which unit "owns" which piece of ground. If an operation crosses company boundaries within our task force, it's not a big deal. But if the operation crosses task force boundaries, there is some coordination that has to take place.
The Blast -- [An Average Iraqi - in Iraq]
We knew in the morning that something was going to happen, because US patrols kept patrolling the are behind the construction site. The site is being built on higher ground than the surrounding area, although it is fenced, there is a place in the fence that has not been done, so we could see what is happening behind us. The patrols started early in the morning, the they went away, came after a couple of hours, then they went again, and the kept doing it. Late in the afternoon, we heard a big explosion ...
Number seven? [Phil and Becky -- Phil's in Iraq]
I promise I am not making this up, but we had another possible Darwin Award today. I posted two days ago about the #5 and #6 possible Darwin Awards, and here is #7. As with the last two, I'll state the facts and let you be the judge.
This afternoon we received a report of an explosion close to one of the checkpoints by one of the bridges that crosses the Diyala River. It was actually in between two checkpoints, one manned by a contingent of Georgian soldiers (the country, not the state) and another manned by the Iraqi Army. The first report was that it was ...
Baseball, Apple pie, and Texas hold?em -- [Six More Months - in Iraq]
Junior, one of our interpreters, is a man I consider a trusted friend. One of the rare joys of my job here is learning about Iraqi society and culture from Junior and his brother Fox, one of our other interpreters. Something that is even more fun is introducing American culture to them.
Working as an interpreter is an incredibly dangerous and difficult job, and very few are cut out for it. ...
Email From Iraq, Back From Leave Edition - [Southern by Blog]
...I heard so many bad things about the Army that was being released by the general media when I was home, it kind of got to me. It seems like the general public thinks that we're losing this war, and that we're not serving any purpose being out here, which is a false picture. I've seen so many good things during the time we've been out here-new construction, new infrastructure, more local security conducted by Iraqis for Iraqis-and none of it seems to make it to the press. I think he should write things that encourage support for our men and our actions, and try to avoid stories that would undermine it.
MOVING DAY -- [Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
...Yesterday morning we went on an early morning mission to go hand out rugs and food. It was hot. While some of the guys handed out the items, LT Howell and I walked around and talked to different people. We had some very interesting conversations and met some people that we had been hoping to meet as well. Guess where we met them at, at the local market. I guess it was like the coffee shops back home where everyone sits around and talks. We finally finished up the mission there and headed back to the FOB.
Dogwood Update -- [SFC Jody Kyzar - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
...Over the past week the battalion has done some more outstanding things. After what happened to the Marines north of here, it kinda shook us up. We did a raid on a village between us and them and brought in about 40 bad guys that we in some ways linked with them and things going on here. We were able to get some pretty big people. Then today, one of our companies detained another 3 who are pretty powerful. Things are going really good so far. Just still can?t believe what happened to our buds up north, the marines. My heart goes out to all them and their families...
Semper fi -- [Xenophon]
I?ve spent all this last week attending the services and funerals of the six Marines killed in Iraq on August 1st. I knew two of them well, LCpl. Montgomery and LCpl. Deyarmin. The rest I did not know, but they are brothers just the same. The families seem to be holding up well considering the circumstances. I was in Weapons Company, 3/25 for five years before being commissioned, and I?m still very close with those Marines. The only point of light this week has been the news straight from the Marines over there that the insurgents who ambushed the six snipers are all dead...
Rounding Up the Usual Suspects -- [Strategy Page]
Increasingly, in the wake of attacks on American and Iraqi troops, there are arrests. The men involved in building, planting and setting off roadside bombs are often locals. People know who the bombers are. These bombs often kill or injure civilian bystanders. In the past, there was really no one to complain to. But over the last year, more Iraqi police have hit the streets, gained control of the streets, and started taking complaints, and making arrests.
Warriorjason Soon To Be Deployed. -- [Warriors Voice]
I am sorry for not posting for the past few days but I have been very busy preparing for my deployment to Iraq next week. I will post one more time from home, unless I have some extra time, before I head out for my 2nd tour in Iraq. After that I hope to start posting in Iraq.
Iraqi Pictures - Sunday, August 14, 2005 -- [Iraqi Pictures - in Iraq]
Iraqi families line up at a schoolhouse for a medical screening given by U.S. Soldiers with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. in Mosul. Pic: Jeremy D. Crisp
Iraqi Chemical Stash Uncovered -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
U.S. troops raiding a warehouse in the northern city of Mosul uncovered a suspected chemical weapons factory containing 1,500 gallons of chemicals believed destined for attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces and civilians, military officials said Saturday.
Inside Iran's Secret War for Iraq -- (TIME Magazine)...MICHAEL WARE/BAGHDAD
A TIME investigation reveals the Tehran regime's strategy to gain influence in Iraq--and why U.S. troops may now face greater dangers as a result
'I'm So Sorry' -- (Newsweek)
In emotional private meetings with the families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Bush offers solace?and seeks some of his own.
The grieving room was arranged like a doctor's office. The families and loved ones of 33 soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan were summoned to a large waiting area at Fort Bragg, N.C. For three hours, they were rotated through five private rooms, where they met with President George W. Bush, accompanied by two Secret Service men and a photographer. Because the walls were thin, the families awaiting their turn could hear the crying inside.
Iraqi Militants Threaten Attack On Kuwait -- (News24)...Associated Press
A previously unknown Shiite group warned Kuwait Sunday to pull its troops back to the pre-1991 border or face attacks.
Iraqis Consider Bypassing Sunnis on Constitution -- (New York Times)...DEXTER FILKINS
Iraqi leaders remained deadlocked over major issues in the country's new constitution, raising the possibility they would fail to meet the Monday deadline.
Iraq Officials Vow Constitution Today -- (USA Today)...Jill Carroll
Iraq's National Assembly will approve a constitution by today's deadline even if it doesn't resolve disputes over women's rights, control of oil revenue and the imposition of Islamic law, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Sunday
30 bodies found south of Baghdad, Iraqi forces say -- (USA Today)...AP
Iraqi commandos were led to the grave in the Owerij industrial district in southern Baghdad after interrogating insurgents detained in a raid earlier in the day, Col. Selam al-Maamuri of the Interior Ministry said.
The grave, which al-Maamuri estimated was 10 to 14 days old, included...
Doubt On War Grows In U.S. -- (Chicago Tribune)...Mark Silva and Mike Dorning
As surely as sweet-corn stands and rolling farmland give way to the boxlike tract housing of new suburbs here, President Bush is losing ground on the battlefield of public opinion when it comes to the war in Iraq.
Iraq Realities Dash U.S. Expectations -- (Chicago Tribune)...Liz Sly
...Perhaps never before has the disconnect between American aspirations for Iraq and the reality on the ground seemed greater than now, in this third scorching summer of frustration and violence since U.S. forces invaded to topple Hussein, find weapons of mass destruction, defeat terrorism and install democracy.
Mr. Afghanistan: Sign Afghanistan is on the Mend? -- [CaliValleyGirl]
Afghanistan's first-ever national competition to select a top bodybuilder was held today, and although the contenders might not make it to the final rounds of Mr. Olympia, this is still an encouraging event. Five years ago it was forbidden to even cheer at a soccer game in Afghanistan, so the sight of many men walking around with oiled bodies flexing to cheering crowds wouldn't have been too popular under the Taliban.
OPERATION ENDURING BOREDOM - EPISODE II -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - on his way to Iraq]
This is the second in a three-part series of selected excerpts from my Afghanistan war journal recorded from October 2003 to August 2004. They are along the lines of a conventional blog in that they captured the daily events and my thoughts about them in real time. I am posting them on the eve of my current deployment to Iraq as a study in comparison to the OIF columns to follow.
...Good news. 3rd Squad may not need to climb all the way up to the high ground tomorrow after all. The helos are supposed to drop us off directly on the ridgeline we?ve been tasked to secure. This is a mighty relief, considering I would have a hard time scaling a speed bump with the load I was teetering around with this afternoon. Now I know how a sherpa feels.
Quasimodo?s got nothing on me.
Now for the bad news. Captain Condrey graciously informed us that the latest "Magic 8-Ball" intel predicts up to 450 enemy fighters massing to assault a border checkpoint in the next few days? and we?re the bait.
U.S. troops begin Afghan offensive -- (China Daily) ...(AP)
KANDAGAL, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines and Afghan troops launched an offensive Saturday to take a remote mountain valley from insurgents tied to the deadliest blow on American forces since the Taliban regime was ousted nearly four years ago, the Associated Press reported.
Taleban rebel leader killed in Afghanistan -- (Khaleej Times Online)...(AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and US forces have killed a suspected Taleban leader in their drive to secure unstable parts of Afghanistan ahead of landmark parliamentary elections next month, the US military said.
Humvees Can't Go, So GIs Use Donkeys -- (Arizona Republic (Phoenix))...Daniel Cooney, Associated Press
Frustrated with the limitations of using its Humvee four-wheel-drive vehicles in rugged mountains with few roads, a battalion of U.S. Marines has enlisted a mode of transport used for centuries by Afghan villagers: donkeys
Cash fuels Afghan rebellion -- (MSNBC)...Associated Press
It doesn't take much money to set up a militia force in Afghanistan. A few dollars a day buys the loyalty of impoverished villagers, and weapons are cheap and available.
It's That Time of Year Again -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
It is that year again, Ulchi Focus Lens (ULF) Time, where lots of US soldiers come to Korea on TDY orders, ROK Army soldiers can be seen all over the US installations making chow hall lines three times as long, half your unit is missing for a month due to taskings to puck icons on a computer and being drivers for retired brass, and North Korea says our little computer game is a prelude to war: ...
Two Koreas Mark 60 Years Since End Of Japanese Rule -- (Los Angeles Times)...Times Wire Services
North and South Koreans on Sunday began a mutual celebration of the 60th anniversary of independence from Japanese colonial rule amid calls for unification despite an unresolved crisis over the communist nation's nuclear plans.
A Cold Call to an Injured Soldier -- [A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
Last week I was sent an email from Patti (the founder of SA) regarding a soldier who had been registered for the soldiers angels program by his sister. This soldier was currently stateside from the address given by his sister, so 'STATESIDE' was put into his file and he was a tad overlooked because of it. Not ignored, but he wasn't given the full weight of soldiers angels strength at support.
Orange County "English" Teacher Hates US troops -- [Warriors Voice]
One reporter I like to read is Gordon Dillow. He write a column for the Orange Country Register. WarriorWife also likes to read his rants so it was nothing new when she mentioned his most recent column. I would link it but it requires a free member ship. He, like many others, are pro-military as he is a Vietnam Veteran. In this small excerpt Mr. Dillow points out one strange piece hate mail.
The Terrorist Notebooks -- [ROFA Six]
The Terrorists Notebooks are a chilling reminder of how radical Islam has been preparing for the war against the West long before the West even had inkling such movements existed. As you look at them, you get a glimpse into the indoctrination and training terrorists receive. They also rip away many of the misconceptions popular in today?s media and in certain political movements. Additionally, they serve to ?fill in the blanks? on recent world events as well as some of the current administration policy, that on the surface is perplexing.
Australians 'turned to al-Qaeda' --(BBC News)
The videotaped man did not say which group he represented
Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has warned that "a small number" of Australians have joined al-Qaeda
Tapes make 9/11 'very real again' for families of firefighters -- (USA TODAY)...Martha T. Moore,
NEW YORK ? The brown box arrived Friday at Kathleen Lynch's house in Amherst, N.Y., but it's still sitting on the kitchen table: 23 CDs with more than 15 hours of radio transmissions and transcripts of hundreds of personal accounts of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, which killed her brother, firefighter Michael Lynch.
Was Mohammed Atta Overlooked? -- (Time.com)...Brian Bennett, Timothy J. Burger and Douglas Waller
...Weldon told TIME he?s no longer certain Atta?s name was on that original document. The congressman says he handed Hadley his only copy.
Sheehan versus the Sullivans (from WWII) -- [Mike's Noise]
...The massive amount of media attention lavished on Mrs. Sheehan, particularly by liberal blogs and political action groups like MoveOn.org, got me thinking about press coverage of US military personnel who were killed in action in previous wars. In particular, I began thinking about the Sullivan family, whose five sons were killed together in November 1942.
The passion of Cindy Sheehan -- [Chrenkoff]
The only thing exceptional about Cindy Sheehan is how exceptional she is. I've been following the Iraq-related news coverage for quite some time now, and - not surprisingly - in an overwhelming majority of cases the parents and families of the servicemen and women who died in Iraq (and Afghanistan) choose to grieve in private. Of those who make any sort of political comments, most are proud of their son's or daughter's service and the enterprise they were part of.
Grieving parents in war--Part I: from Kathe Kollwitz to Cindy Sheehan is a long road -- [neo-neocon]
...This entire meditation on Kollwitz's life and work was occasioned by the media circus around Cindy Sheehan, grieving but activist mother of a soldier son killed in Iraq. Whether you think Sheehan is being exploited herself or exploitating others tends to depend on what side of the fence you are on the war, but sympathy for her grief is near-universal.
Cindy Sheehan: -- [Grim's Hall]
...Cindy Sheehan is a grieving mother. I sympathize entirely with the motivation. I cannot imagine what the loss of my son would do to me; I would be grateful to the world, I think, if it refused to judge any action I took for at least a year or two afterwards. And so, applying the Golden Rule, I shall refuse to judge her...
Sheehan's Protest -- [Updates on my soldier - son in Iraq]
...My son happens to be in Iraq and he is in a bad part of the country, so I feel I have the right to ask you to think of him and the many other sons and daughters. Just think of how you are making things more dangerous for them.
I feel for you and I am so sorry for your loss, and if I thought your protesting would bring your son back, I would say, do whatever it takes, but it won't. The only thing it is doing is showing a country that is not united behind it's government and military. It is giving the enemy comfort...
Acquired/Induced Bush Derangement Syndrome -- [GM's Corner]
On December 5, 2003 Dr. Charles Krauthammer, a trained psychiatrist coined a new term for a then recently discovered psychiatric syndrome. Then name of that syndrome became known world wide as "Bush Derangement Syndrome" and it apparently afflicts approximately 30% of the populace of the United States, 50% of England, 75% of Germany and 137.33% of the population of France (They always did go overboard on these things.)
Black Republicans -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! -DKelSmith: Weblog Afficionado]
Recently Harry Belafonte blasted blacks in George Bush's higher administration as being "tyrants". He earlier raised eyebrows by stating that Colin Powell was a House Negro. Other well known people such as Al Sharpton have labeled any people who align themselves with the Republican Party, or with conservative ideals as being black in physical characteristic only.
<...>
What I do have a problem with is the notion that Black Republicans are thought of as being anything but black. When you look at powerful people such as Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, and Clarence Thomas you can't help but to admire the great things that they hae accomplished in their life, regardless of whether or not you agree with them. Yet, ...
An Empty Pentagon -- [Alenda Lux]
Did you know that, at present, we have no official deputy defense secretary, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Air Force or Undersecretary of the Army? The nominations of those who are to take these positions are all stuck somewhere in the Purgatory that is the Senate confirmation process. Actually, nearly a quarter of civilians nominated to top civilian Pentagon jobs, going back two or three years in some cases, have not yet been confirmed. Even more have had to take their positions through a recess appointment by the President.
Al Jazeera Taking The Words From The ACLU?s Mouth -- [Stop the ACLU]
Completely stolen from Bob at Sweet Spirits Of Ammonia
The following is a quote from an article at Al Jazeera...
The ACLU is feeding the frenzy of the Islamic maniacs by its undisciplined presumption. Knowing full well that if these images are made public, there will be more rioting and attacks the ACLU continues to press for their release. There is no reasonable doubt that making the video public will not only assist the muslim terrorists in recruitment but will also endanger the lives of our military and civilian personnel throughout the muslim world and beyond.
Corrections -- (New York Times)
An article on Saturday about Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar protester whose son died in Iraq and who is camped out near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tex., quoted incorrectly from remarks about her by Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News television host. Mr. O'Reilly did not call Ms. Sheehan treasonous. His comment, during his program on Tuesday, referring to applause for her cause on an antiwar Web site, was, "I think Ms. Sheehan bears some responsibility for this, and also for the responsibility of other American families who have lost sons and daughters in Iraq, who feel that this kind of behavior borders on treasonous." And on Wednesday he added, "I said some families who also lost loved ones in Iraq believe what she's doing borders on treason."
Bush Neighbor Suffers Protest Fatigue -- (FOX News)
Larry Mattlage created quite a stir earlier in the day when he fired his shotgun over his property. The Crawford rancher told reporters he was practicing for dove season.
Mattlage expressed frustration about the ongoing anti-war protest taking place near his property, ...
First Woman Is Selected as Executive Chef at White House -- (New York Times)...MARIAN BURROS
Cristeta Comerford, a Filipino-American, became the first female White House executive chef yesterday after a lengthy selection process. Laura Bush, the first lady, said she was delighted that Ms. Comerford...
Bush Approval a Low for Recent 2-Termers -- (Associated Press)...WILL LESTER
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's standing with an American public anxious about Iraq and the nation's direction is lower than that of the last two men who won re-election to the White House - Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton - at this point in their second terms.
Air America: Raleigh's N&O sort of reports -- [John In Carolina]
...The N&O's sort of report is based on a The New York Times report which ran the previous day.
Why is the N&O's report a sort of?
For one thing, readers aren't told why The Times and the N&O delayed for almost 2 weeks reporting a scandal every other New York City daily, and ...
I'm a bloodthirsty warmonger -- [Gun Nutt]
...On Day 4 of the battle, the company suffers its first KIA when Lieutenant J.P. Blecksmith is shot in the back. Palkot asks "How does the death of a man like this make you feel?", and then extends the mic towards Captain Brian Chontosh, the company commander. Chontosh has his back towards the camera, and it takes a couple of seconds before he turns towards the mic. It is another second or two before he speaks. In that brief time it is apparent that there is a violent battle going on not only in the city around him, but in the mind of Chontosh as well. He's obviously biting back words (and maybe a fist) as he says "Any man goin' down, you know? It doesn't matter who it is." Palkot quickly follows with "How are the men taking it?" Chontosh answers after a second "The way you'd expect them to take it."
Frank Rich...Idiot -- [Guidons, Guidons, Guidons!]
Mr. Rich is so divorced from reality that he might as well be starring in "Over There."
So we are suppose to just quit because everyone is tired of the war? Did you ever give any thought to what might happen if we just called it off and came home tomorrow? Do you think the people who are fighting against us will just quit and go home as well?
Editors Ponder How To Present A Broad Picture Of Iraq -- (New York Times)...Katharine Q. Seelye
...Ms. Goudreau's query prompted an unusual discussion last month in New York at a regular meeting of editors whose newspapers are members of The Associated Press. Some editors expressed concern that a kind of bunker mentality was preventing reporters in Iraq from getting out and explaining the bigger picture beyond the daily death tolls.
Iraqi Bloggers Describe Life Lived Amid Long Turmoil -- (Washington Post)...Jonathon Finer
BAGHDAD -- Hassan Kharrufa said he had never heard of Salam Pax when he created his Web site "An Average Iraqi" ( http://www.aviraqi.blogspot.com ), but he's following in the famous blogger's footsteps.
Happy Blogo-versary to me! -- [A Redleg's Perspective]
1 year today.
Many friends and a lot of insight in this 1 space of 365 days.
Training, war, frustrations, heartbreak, agony, great paratroopers, life ain't fair and a broken ankle. Add it all up to the Division Hqs and I am still trading CO2 for oxygen. So not too bad.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
The New Job -- [Major K - in Iraq]
As I mentioned earlier, I am now on a MiTT (Military Transition Team) training the Iraqi 6th Infantry Division. It is a whole new set of challenges. Dealing with the tribal/familial entanglements, the cultural differences and the language barrier are just a few. The Iraqi supply and logistics chain is even worse than ours. We are trying to stand up a Division Headquarters that will eventually control five Brigades in Baghdad. Right now, only two ...
Number five, and maybe number six -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
Ever since a reader commented a while back asking whether insurgent Darwin awards were becoming an increasing pattern, I have kept my ears open for reports of bad guys blowing themselves up while attempting to engage in tomfoolery. Partly because it is funny and partly to see if the data confirms or denies the hypothesis that our catching bad guys will lead to in an increase in Darwin Award episodes as the AIF hastily recruit incompetent buffoons to fill their losses.
Michael Yon Interview -- [Stryker Brigade]
Michael Yon, who is currently embedded with Deuce Four in Mosul, will be a guest on the WRKO Pundit Review radio program this Sunday. Details: ...
?More are on the way? -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
The question of the readiness of the Iraqi Army to take a major role in fighting the insurgency is often asked, and reports from the media have been less than helpful in answering this question. As we have seen, the mantra from the professional media has been that ?few Iraqi Army units are fully operational? and therefore the Iraqi Army is not engaged in the fight against the insurgency. The number often given is 3 battalions that are ?fully operational?; leading the reader to believe the Iraqi Army is nowhere near ready with entering the fight.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005 -- [New MilBlogger - devildoc8406 - in Iraq]
...On to other things. It seems just like yesterday that we were sending the main body of the last squadron home. Now here we are with advanced party of the next squadron getting ready to arriev. I Just keep thinking I should be home very, very soon!!! Since the Advanced party will be arriving shortly this means more time to skate off and do... That's right there's nothing to do out here!!! Even though they just built this brand new MWR center down by the coffee shop. It was open for the one night which was supposed tobe the grand opening, but when I went to return the next day the doors were locked and the lights are off. They had brand new pool tables, ping pong, poker, and foosball in one room. They had a library and internet cafe thing in another room. Last but not least they had the game center for PS2 and Xbox stuff. This place would have been so much more bearable if they had this open 6 months ago. Since they ...
THE SLEEP CANS LOST ELECTRICITY -- [Kevin Kelley - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
The big generator that runs all the electricity for HHC and Co. A blew an engine, so there was no power anywhere in the block. No one could go to sleep that had night shift or anything else. It picked a fine day to get hot again. There were a couple that came to the TOC to hang out, some to the MWR, some to the chow tent and some the weight room. People were looking for anywhere they could to get out of the heat. They told us that it would probably be tomorrow before they got the power back up so it looks like a lot will be sleeping on cots under the open desert sky tonight. Hopefully it will get up and running tomorrow.
Life is better at Camp Taji -- [The 48th goes to war-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - in Iraq]
The Black Hawk chopper skimmed over Baghdad, firing off flares to deter heat-seeking missiles. Below, groves of date palms along the Tigris River offered a welcome sight for eyes sore from the desert drab and dust of Camp Striker, located at the southern end of the Baghdad airport.
Follow the Money -- [Stategy Page]
The Sunni Arab terrorists are now facing their ultimate disaster. Shia Arabs are beginning to agree with the Kurds, and demanding a federal form of government. This would divide Iraq into three regions; Kurds in the north, Sunni Arabs in the center, and Shia Arabs in the south. This is bad for the Sunni Arabs because there is no oil in the center. There is Baghdad, there is a lot of fertile land, and much howling desert in the west. But no oil. Ever since oil was discovered in Iraq, 80 years ago, Sunni Arabs have controlled, and spent, the money. If the Kurds and Shia Arabs controlled the oil, they would spend the money on Kurds and Shia Arabs.
Theater of War -- (Washington Post)...Richard Leiby
An Ex-Marine Brings Iraq Stateside at MetroStage
It's been a very bad week for the Marines in Iraq, and playwright Sean Huze is taking it personally. "Twenty-one Marines killed in the past 48 hours," he says, his voice rising in anger. "I wonder when we've had enough -- when we as a society will hold this administration accountable for getting us into a war unnecessarily."
Iraqi oil output hits a record 1.6m bpd in July -- (Tehran Times)
| BAGHDAD (MENAFN) ? Iraq's Oil Minister said that his country posted the highest level of crude sales in the country's petroleum history last July, KUNA reported. | Returns of the July oil sales were...
Reformer Without Results -- (New York Times)...MAUREEN DOWD
President Bush has done so much for women. Not at home, of course.
Women in jeans in America may have their rights eroded by an administration where faith trumps science, but women in burkas? The president can't talk enough about how important their rights are.
War Messages That Don't Quite Match -- (LA Times)...Ronald Brownstein and Mark Mazzetti
The president and top Defense officials have given conflicting statements on bringing troops home from Iraq. Some see a policy split.
G.I.'s Deployed in Iraq Desert With Lots of American Stuff -- (New Yorl Times)...KIRK SEMPLE
Soldiers in Iraq have taken the quest for the succor of the familiar to astonishing levels, accumulating all the accouterments of home.
A Three-Legged Goat Should Never Stand Outside In The Winter -- [Just the Facts - in Afghanistan]
KABUL, Afghanistan, Friday, August 12, 2005 -- Here we are in the midst of a good old-fashioned Kabul summer. You know the kind, where the aroma of rotting sheep fat wafts delicately out from some of the City?s best butcher stalls. Or where the pungent odor of a six-camel caravan softly drifts across the night making us gasp for a breath of the searing hot Kabul air.
Canada, U.S. teams differ on Afghanistan approach -- (Globe and Mail)...TERRY PEDWELL
As Canada road tests its plan to bring order to Afghanistan's dangerous Kandahar province, major differences are emerging between the Canadian approach to the region and how the United States has tried to rebuild the volatile district
Bush: Iran Leader Likely Will Come to N.Y.
We need to remind our government officials of Ahmadinejad's long terrorist history and press to deny him entry into the U.S.
Demanding action against any nuclear adventures led by the mullahs in Iran and to FREE Iran and its people from this nightmare and tyranny -- [Regime Change Iran]
New PETITION: Demanding action against any nuclear adventures led by the
mullahs in Iran and to FREE Iran and its people from this nightmare and
tyranny
Bush raises option of using force against Iran -- (MSNBC)...Reuters
President Bush said on Israeli television he could consider using force as a last resort to press Iran to give up its nuclear program.
?All options are on the table,? Bush, speaking at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, said in the interview broadcast on Saturday.
Marines and ISF patrol Hit, Iraq, to disrupt insurgency -- {Marine Corps News}
UAV Videos Insurgents -- {DIVID Video}
Aerial Imagery of insurgents detonating a car bomb. Video from Multi-National Corps-Iraq Public Affairs.
Road Clearing -- {DIVID Video}
B-Roll of National Guard Soldiers, 103rd Engineer Company clearing roads of possible improvised explosive devices or mines in Tikrit. Scenes include Soldiers searching vehicles and locals along the road, and securing the area from the air. Video from 1st Brigade Combat Team 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs.
VFW Greeting from SSgt Lightner {DVIDS Video}
Staff Sergeant Matt Lightner of Combat Logistics Regiment 25, sends a greeting from camp Taqaddam, Iraq to the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.
SHIPMAIN Keeping the Fleet ?Fit to Fight? Better Than Ever -- {Navy Newstand}
Pearl Harbor-homeported surface ships are in better material condition than in the past, due in large part to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard's (PHNSY) recent advancement of SHIPMAIN tools and philosophies.
Najaf Water Projects Focus On Supplying More Potable Water {Centcom}
Estimates put the shortage of potable water in the area surrounding Najaf and Kufa at about 40 percent, with existing plants being old or deteriorated because of neglect or lack of maintenance.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South District (GRS) has quality assurance responsibilities on 14 water treatment units and three water pipeline projects that will increase that drinkable water flow within the Najaf area.
Friday Musings -- [Neptunus Lex]
You were aware, perhaps, that the Yellow Fever vaccine contained an actual live virus?
No? So then you didn't know that, when checking into a shore command for the first time in seven years, and turning in your medical record to a young, fuzz-cheeked corpsman that was never even a glimmer in his own father's eye when you were a full-bird by God lieutenant bringing the heat at 1.2 in max grunt on the tip of the spear, that all Yellow Fever vaccinations occurred only on Wednesdays between 1300 and 1430?
Hard to Be a Soldier's Mom -- [Soldier's Mom]
As I flew home yesterday from Colorado, I found myself thinking about my Guys... Hadn't yet heard from any of them since late last week, so I was approaching the border between worry and WORRY (which is right before really worried and then there's the REALLY worried). I know the area where our Guys are is really busy right now -- it's all over what little news there is on MSM television. But I had my "Damn Proud Soldier's Mom" t-shirt on (the TSA guys don't hassle me at all when I wear it) and a much older man sitting across the aisle from me asked where my son was stationed and when I told him where his base is in Iraq, he said, "It must really be hard to be a Soldier's Mom right now."
The Military Wife -- [ The Hooker and his Girl - Hooker's in Afghanistan]
The good Lord was creating a model for military wives and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared. She said," Lord, you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What's wrong with the standard model?"
The Lord replied," Have you seen the specs on this order? She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both mother and father, be a perfect hostess for four to 40 with an hour notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must have six pair of hands."
I've Been Over There and "Over There" It Ain't -- [Tech Central]
...If "Over There" has a true military advisor, he deserves the firing squad. In the first episode a squad is pinned down while besieging a terrorist-filled mosque. The unit remains for about 36 hours with no air support, because "Air is dedicated to another area." Never mind that air cover from jets or helicopters is always available within minutes. They also request artillery, again to no avail. There's no armor. Until near the end of the siege the only guys with a mortar are the enemy...
Over There Review: Episode III The One Eared Pirate -- [The Middle Ground]
...Once our erstwhile squad secures the prisoner with zip ties, they load him up in a HUMMV to take him back to the FOB for interrogation. Mysteriously, another HUMMV appears out of nowhere to accompany the first. They abandon their checkpoint without relief, don't call in the MPs or MI to pick up the prisoner. They just bundle him up and leave.
"Over There" [New MilBlogger! - Partamian Report]
I was flipping through the channels just now and came across that new TV show "Over There". It only took about 45 seconds for me to realize that it was just as bad as I thought it would be. What a complete load of crap.
Audience for 'Over There' declines (Indy Star online)
...Or did the drop -- from 4.1 million viewers for the July 27 premiere to 2.6 million last week -- result from more common reasons: lack of interest in the subject and characters, or erratic summer viewing patterns?
After just two episodes, it's far too early to determine why the audience declined or whether that will reflect future viewing patterns, FX's John Solberg says.
Steven Bochco's Over There can't see the quagmire for the trees. -- (Slate)
Bochco has reiterated in interview after interview that he's not interested in making a political statement about the war, pointing out that "a young man being shot at in a firefight has absolutely no interest in politics." That's an unimpeachably true statement, but it's also a disingenuous one. Of course combat feels apolitical to those engaged in it, because what's at stake for them is not the outcome of some ideological struggle, but ...
FBI warning rescinded
Seems the warning posted yesterday about fuel trucks as IEDs is getting pulled by the FBI. According to the Associated Press,
The FBI is backing away from an advisory sent out earlier this week warning police that al-Qaida cells may use car and truck bombs in southern California, Chicago and New York.
The AP is reporting that the source -- which was a single source -- is no longer standing by his story....
On condemning terrorism -- [A Collection of Thoughts]
Jeff Jacoby wrote, "When Muslim extremists murder innocents in cold blood, there is often a politically-correct reluctance to call the killers terrorists, or to denounce them unequivocally."
Commission Admission -- [BaldiLocks]
The Able Danger team identified five al Qaeda cells around the world in 2000; in the United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Yemen and Germany. As we know now, the German cell moved to the US and, of course, those members perpetrated the 9/11 attacks. But the 9/11 Commission didn?t see fit to put the fruit of AD's labor in its final report and now admits that it didn?t. Mind-boggling
Walid Phares: War of Ideas on al Jazeera -- Counterterrorism Blog]
In a forum along with two Islamist intellectuals on al Jazeera, I told the audience that Thawahiri's tape in reaction to Dr Rice's speech at the American University in Cairo shows that al Qaida is afraid from the spread of Democracy among the youth in the region. The Jihadists resent the doctrines that oppose their ideology, regardless of liking or disliking America.
Report on terrorism must be heard -- (Timesunion online)...KATHRYN JEAN LOPEZ
A recently released Amnesty International report highlights the cold-blooded attacks, assassinations, suicide bombings, and civilian and aid worker killings carried out by terrorists in Iraq.
It may seem pointless that Amnesty has to explain that "international humanitarian law strictly prohibits the intentional killing of people who are not taking an active part in the hostilities. It also prohibits torture or any form of inhuman treatment."
Tales from the Left - We Can't Make This Stuff Up -- [GM's Corner]
Thanks to liberals, we don't have to make up anything crazy to report on them. They give us more material than we can use. Look at these samples:
The Winner of the Distinguished Guardian of the Year for 2005 is... (envelope please) ...Michael Schiavo!
Cindy Sheehan 2
My problem is with the media vultures who descend on her like a cash cow from heaven. They give her all the credibility in the world (despite some serious credibility issues) and make her the face of the "mourning mother" in America. But why does she get all the attention? Why not give some equal press to the mothers who still support the cause that their son or daughter died for? Clearly the family members who support the war make up the vast majority of those who have fallen loved ones. Just look at Casey Sheehan's other family members.
An Open Letter to Cindy Sheehan -- [MajorDad -Cursed By a Classical Education]
Cindy,
We've heard your voice, your message, and know that the odds of you meeting with President Bush again are quite the longshot.
Your family (as reported through the media today) is telling you that it's time to pack it in and head home. I tend to agree with them.
Having served in harm's way before...I would recommend that...
Bush gets first look at anti-war protest near ranch (Reuter)
President George W. Bush got his first look at an anti-war vigil near his ranch on Friday as his motorcade took him by the protest site lined with small white crosses representing fallen American soldiers in Iraq
Cindy Sheehan's Pitched Battle -- (Washington Post)...Michael A. Fletcher
...But what began as a solitary campaign to force a meeting with President Bush by setting up camp along the road to his ranch has quickly taken on the full trappings of a political campaign. Sheehan is working with a political consultant and a team of public relations professionals, and now she is featured in a television ad.
Immigration Meeting -- [Primary Main Objective]
....What the San Diego Union Tribune doesn't explicitly tell you is that the pro-illegal immigration protesters were outnumbered 650 to 150 (400 inside the auditorium, 250 outside). If you take the 150 police and 150 protester numbers, each pro-illegal immigration protester had his own police officer.
I worked both sides of the crowd and felt safe the entire time. I was even handed a Worker's World flyer. (pic, pic, pic, pic, pic, pic, pic, pic)
And Internet Bloggers Possess Wit, Charm, and Good Looks. -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
I always knew this blog had an ineffable something going for it; now I know what it is!
Internet Blogs Attract Young, Wealthy Readers...
Jawa Report: Over 2 Million Served (LINK THIS POST, BIYATCHES!) -- [Jawa Report]
Celebrate with us for a moment. You can help us celebrate our ginormous flow of traffic by linking to this post and sending a trackback, thus increasing our traffic even more! In return, we'll issue a fatwa against your infidel butt, you'll get a link in return, and maybe you'll get a hit or two of your own.
2 terrorists
Two Al Qaeda terrorists met in a busy restaurant after they had successfully slipped into the U.S.
The first terrorist starts speaking in Arabic. The second terrorist shushes him quickly and whispers: ...
al-Faw Entertainment -- [Miserable Donuts]
Al-Faw must be some place to be stationed...
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
The South...Where to? -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Abddul Aziz Al-Hakim the head of the SCIRI called to day for the formation of a federal state in the south of Iraq and Hadi Al-Amiri chief of the Badr organization (the military wing of the SCIRI) said that if the Sheat don't persist in forming this state they will regret it.
I don't really know why Amiri chose the word "regret" in addressing the people of the south, instead he could've said something like 'we would like to see a federal state in the south and we respect the people's choice about it' because I think this tone of threats to the people he's part of carries a lot of possible suspicious meanings.
Someone asked me this -- [John of Arabia - in Iraq]
I'd just like to know what you think about the war in Iraq. More specifically, what do you think we had to gain by going there?
It's hard for me to write about this, being where I am. To try and see the big picture when I'm coughing dust out of my lungs, but I'll try. Keep in mind, I'm just a dumb artilleryman, OK?
I think that the WMD issue, although it very well could have been possible, was the wrong reason for coming here.
We are in a war. You can't boil it down to "Oh, we invaded for this reason, or that reason." An entire book can be written on the WHY.
I've rewritten this 3 times already. Yes, we should have done what we did. We should be here. A free, stable Iraq will go a long way towards stabilizing the region. In the long run, I think ...
The constant question -- [Salemonz News Service]
When in uniform out in public, invariably someone will ask me if I am for or against the war.
War is an unfortunate side effect to life. At the heart of any drama or any segment of reality is conflict. And war is sort of the ultimate solution to the need for conflict. But I think people often fall in love with the romance of war -- of heroes and stalwart hearts fighting against evil and the unrelenting enemy. Men charge off to glory for hearth and home -- all that business.
Where I Stand: Where I Stand on Iraq. -- [The Jump Blog]
Francis ain?t one to hang out in the fighting position sucking on Charms and tossing dice to see who gets the Ham Slice MRE, so I?m not surprised he came out swinging over at his new happy home on the web.
What will it be? -- [The Makaha Surf Report - in Iraq]
Recently the U.S. military here in Iraq has taken some hard hits, the Marines in Al Anbar province, the 48th National Guard Brigade from Georgia, and the 42nd Infantry Division in Samarra all took larger than normal casualties. And like some grotesque clockwork nightmare, the anti war crowd stepped up their rhetoric to bring "the troops" home now. I am sick and tired of hearing that siren call to bring us all home. Apparently the people that believe this have no idea what will happen if we do what they want. The effect will be two fold if we cut and run right now.
"What Would You Do?" The Game Show -- [IRR Soldier - in Iraq]
This is the Blog game show where you, the reader, get to decide what you would do if you were faced with certain, shall we say, real life experiences. For those of you tuning in for the first time, I assume that?s all of you since this is the first time I?ve ever actually done this, let me go over the rules of the game. I will present each contestant with a situation and a list of possible answers. Since the game is called ?What Would You Do?? there are no wrong answers. However, since these are real life situations that have already happened there is one answer that could win you a trip to the always exciting lightning round. In fairness sake and for believability I have only chosen events that have been witnessed by Myself and at least one other person. If you don?t believe these events happened references can be made available upon request. If you pick all the answer to the situations that actually happened you will advance to the most exciting round of Blog Game Show play America has ever seen.
A genuine American Hero -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
I am proud to know Butch Jacobs and even more proud to call him a friend. LTC (Now COL) Jacobs is a Southern Gentleman with the refined airs of the genteelness that still exists in places like South Carolina. Butch is a product of that state and that culture. He was our Mayor while in Iraq and I worked with him on an almost daily basis. He and I had many difficulties and hurdles to overcome but we managed to do so with out rancor even though conditions were harsh, we were under fire, and we had marginal support. We built a fine camp for our soldiers.
Duke in Iraq - 8/11/05 -- [Broken Masterpieces - Duke in Iraq]
It was about 0100 in the morning and I had just finished my workout. I was walking back to my trailer and I was very frustrated at the events of the day. Things happened here, at work back home, and with my medical mission plans for here and Mongolia that all had me frustrated. One of the most difficult aspects about being deployed is that when things happen back home there is often very little you can do about it.
SGT WONG IS A WALKING AMERICAN -- [Keven Kelley - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
I don?t know if you remember SGT Wong, but he is the soldier who lost both legs in an IED attack here at our FOB. I got word today from one of his leaders that SGT Wong is now up and walking around and getting faster and faster. He has been given his prosthetic legs and he may wear them out in the first year. I think everyone was joking when they asked how long the warranty was for. He had said he would be walking again as soon as he got home in the states. I did mention that he was also given his American citizenship while he was still unconscious, but his father was present. Looks as though SGT Wong is taking his first steps as an American in great strides. Everyone is always glad to get good news about people that are hurt while serving over here. Keep him and all the others in your prayers.
By Chris Boggiano - 12 November: Neil Gets Burned -- [Armor Geddon - back from Iraq]
This is Chris's entry from his notes. I thought his perspective was interesting. This is where I wanted readers to get caught up. - Red 6.
After driving out of the minefield area we turned south and worked our way along the outside of the city. Once we got to a good spot, we turned back into the minefield and pulled up to a spot near the big hole in the ground that I?d taken a crap in the day before. There were some big piles of dirt there, so we pulled our trucks up behind them as an added layer of protection and started looking into the city.
A REAL TOWEL HEAD -- [2005 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
These guys wet the towels and put on top of their head to stay cool. The next time your out in the hot blisterin sun remember to bring a wet towel to put on your head. Try it sometime it really works
It is not only Iraq that is occupied. America is too -- (The Guardian)...Howard Zinn
My country is in the grip of a president surrounded by thugs in suits
It has quickly become clear that Iraq is not a liberated country, but an occupied country. We became familiar with that term during the second world war. We talked of German-occupied France, German-occupied Europe. And after the war we spoke of Soviet-occupied Hungary, Czechoslovakia, eastern Europe. It was the Nazis, the Soviets, who occupied countries. The United States liberated them from occupation.
Towns Left Vulnerable After Being Secured -- (USA Today)...Kimberly Johnson Special for
U.S. Marines who recently completed an offensive to disrupt insurgent supply lines in western Iraq say there are not enough troops to leave behind in towns to maintain security after U.S. forces leave.
Bombs Bad Enough, But Guns Worse In Baghdad -- (Chicago Tribune)...Liz Sly
July was a record month at Baghdad's main morgue, where the bodies pile up so fast they often have to be buried before they can be identified to make way for the next day's arrivals.
Osama Pal Has Iraq Post -- (Miami Herald)...Associated Press
An American accused in court papers of having ties to Osama bin Laden is now working for Iraq's Foreign Ministry, U.S. officials say.
UN extends mission in Iraq for 12 months -- (Chicago Tribune)
NEW YORK -- The Security Council extended the UN mission in Iraq for another year Thursday, reaffirming its role in helping promote a national dialogue aimed ...
America's new bogeyman -- (Asia Times Online)...Ehsan Ahrari
The Iraqi insurgency has emerged as the new bogeyman for the American military in Iraq. The dictionary meaning of "bogeyman" is: "A cruel or frightening
Lwara, Part I -- [Anything Goes]
...I write this Tuesday morning (6:30am L) from Lwara, which is on the border of Pakistan. The trip here last night was surreal. The mode of transportation was a fully loaded Chinook. Because we flew at night and I sat near the middle of the bird I couldn?t see anything but the mountain of ammunition that in front of me in the cargo hold that separated the seats on either side.
U.S. Soldier Slain On Afghan Road Project -- (Los Angeles Times)...Paul Watson
Guerrillas killed an American soldier working on a road construction project Thursday, causing at least the sixth American fatality in Afghanistan over the last week.
US says Taliban commander killed in Afghanistan -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - A Taliban commander was shot dead and an American soldier died in a training accident as violence continued ahead of Afghanistan's parliamentary elections scheduled for next month, officials said on Friday.
A U.S. military statement said Qari Amadullah was killed near Wazikhwa in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Off Limits and No Drinking Policy Letter -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
In response to planned protests in Uijongbu, the downtown area of Uijongbu has been put off limits.
A planned ?civil gathering? prompted the U.S. Army to warn its military and civilian personnel to avoid downtown Uijongbu city, the Uijongbu subway station and roads leading from the station to Camp Red Cloud on Wednesday and Thursday.
Korea?s GDP Expands 523-Fold Since Liberation -- (Korea Times)
South Korea?s annual gross domestic product (GDP) topped $680 billion in 2004, up 532 folds from $1.3 billion in the early years after the country was ...
Soldier's Angels Message -- [Soldiers Angels]
Soldiers are truly enduring the horrible. We must pull together as a country. I ask, you no I get down on my knees and I beg you support a soldier TODAY. Do something now to help, Adopt A Soldier,. Write a letter, go to your local veterans association, see if there is a wife with a husband deployed and mow her lawn, watch her children, give her a hug.. Help the wounded, DO SOMETHING to support these precious heroes. I need you, they need you for this is the type of person a soldier is:...
VALOUR-IT -- [Gun Line]
So there you are, just another ground pounder walking the dusty streets of Basra on a civil patrol, not really looking for the bad guys, just making sure everything is calm.
It's oppressively hot, and you feel the sweat dripping down your spine beneath your Interceptor body armor. The sun beats down on your kevlar helmet, and a thought flits through your memory that this is kinda like last summer's football camp, between your junior and senior year in high school, when it was so damned hot, but the coach made you practice anyway. As your eyes flit over your surroundings, you wonder whatever happened to that pretty girl that used to work at the internet cafe just down the-...
Visit Soldiers' Angels Germany, for the story of a Boy Scout helping our wounded heroes in Landstuhl: -- [Iraq War News]
HOOAH Scout Marvin Marroquin!
When Marvin Morroquin of Boy Scout Troop #67 in Lakewood, California needed to carry out a community service project as part of the requirements for achieving Eagle Scout rank, he could have chosen anything.
'Support Our Troops'--Bring Them Home Alive -- (USA Today)...Al Neuharth
They're burying young Marine reservists in Ohio this week. Fourteen of them, ages 19 and up, were killed last week when their amphibious landing vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb in Iraq.
'Able Danger' - Warnings Ignored -- [Open Fire]
The inevitability that became the incineration of 3,000 innocent people on September 11, 2001 has its roots deep in America?s politically correct culture. From missed opportunities to nab or kill bin Laden to an inability to stand up to Saddam?s continued defiance of the 1991 ceasefire agreement, all indicate a pre-September America that was asleep while the threat of Islamic terror was knocking at our door.
Steven Emerson on New Al Qaeda "Documentary" (updated with video) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Steven Emerson discussed the new Al Qaeda "documentary" on Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor" on August 10. In his opinion, the jihadists in the tape are quite clear in wanting to subjugate all of Islam to their view, and to "slit the throats" of all non-Muslims. The Iraq conflict is just another excuse for their jihad, but they hate Americans and Jews for who we are in pursuing freedom for all, including women.
An apology, heartfelt by a real hero -- [Redleg's Perpsective] HT: View from Tonka
This "Letter of Apology" was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US
Marine Corps, Retired:
"For good and ill, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue. On
the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the
actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this
minor event into some modern day massacre.
I humbly offer my opinion here:...
Officials Warn Of Possibility Of Attack Around Sept. 11 -- (New York Times)...Eric Lichtblau and William K. Rashbaum
A group of F.B.I. counterterrorism analysts warned this week of possible terrorist attacks in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago around Sept. 11, but officials cautioned on Thursday that they were skeptical about the seriousness of the threat.
Exclusive: CIA Commander: U.S. Let bin Laden Slip Away -- (Newsweek)
During the 2004 presidential campaign, George W. Bush and John Kerry battled about whether Osama bin Laden had escaped from Tora Bora in the final days of the war in Afghanistan. Bush, Kerry charged, "didn't choose to use American forces to hunt down and kill" the leader of Al Qaeda. The president called his opponent's allegation "the worst kind of Monday-morning quarterbacking." Bush asserted that U.S. commanders on the ground did not know if bin Laden was at the mountain hideaway along the Afghan border.
"Army of One" Means being a Jerk? -- [Assumption of Command - in Iraq]
Jack Army Pointed me to this post by Gordon about recent Recruiting Commercials.
I haven't been able to see these commercials. They don't put to many recruiting commercials on TV here.
I was never a fan of the Army of One Slogan. (but ...
Recruiting Numbers Up or Down? --[Jack Army]
Well, let's figure it out, shall we?
Let's start here, at the Intel Dump:
You'll be pleased to hear that "The Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force met or exceeded their active duty recruiting goals in July. The data in the report breaks down like this...
U.S. Army Hits July Recruiting Goal -- [Target Centermass]
The good news? July makes it two successful months in a row for Army recruiting and, hey, that makes it a winning streak. The bad news? It doesn?t look good for fiscal year 2005.
Arabian Shame -- (Washington Post) PG 18
SOME REMAIN skeptical of President Bush's concern for Africa, and there's no doubt that the United States could and should do more. But the latest report on Sudan from the United Nations offers a snapshot of an issue on which Mr. Bush has been a leader. So far this year the United States has given $468 million in foreign assistance to Sudan, mostly for humanitarian relief in the western region of Darfur. The U.S. contribution comes to 53 percent of all outside donations -- a proportion about twice the size of the nation's weight in the global economy
Impossible Day -- [Neptunus Lex]
...Still, it gave me the leisure to reflect upon what I believe to be a certain... inconsistency: I've noticed a tendency of certain of the anti-war set to label those who dare to have a pro-liberation viewpoint, and who themselves lack military service, as "chickenhawks." Stupid, I know - everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and there's no inherent value which adheres to the purely political side of a military decision, merely because it came from a military mind: If there are fewer idiots in the military than in the society at large, it's as likely due to the fact that we have a smaller pool to choose from, than from any special selectivity. Ideas have value independent of the value of the opinion holders, or else they are well and truly worthless, nu? Marketplace of ideas, and all that. And it didn't seem fair that an anti view could be held without service, but that a pro view was otherwise inauthentic. But there it is...
Bush: Ride'Em, Cowboy! -- (Newsweek)
During his monthlong departure from D.C., President Bush will cycle without the secrecy that normally surrounds his long weekend rides. The idea: to "demonstrate the importance of physical fitness," says White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan.
The only good wounded soldier -- [Chrenkoff]
"Like the rest of the 13,877 Americans wounded in Iraq, Rodgers has a story to tell." But Terry Rodgers isn't just your typical wounded veteran:
Antiwar Activists Decry Media's Role In Promoting Pentagon Event -- (Washington Post)...David Montgomery
Organizers of next month's planned antiwar demonstrations yesterday criticized media organizations, including The Washington Post, for co-sponsoring with the Department of Defense an event to remember the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and to support the troops in Iraq.
The New Ernie Pyles: Sgtlizzie and 67cshdocs -- (Washinton Post)...Jonathan Finer
There were no reporters riding shotgun on the highway north of Baghdad when a roadside bomb sent Sgt. Elizabeth Le Bel's Humvee lurching into a concrete barrier. The Army released a three-sentence statement about the incident in which her driver, a fellow soldier, was killed. Most news stories that day noted it briefly.
Podcast for Aug 10th - Two Good Stories -- [A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
Here's the podcast for today yesterday! In this podcast I talk about 2 stories that I had mentioned last spring in my blog, but they are great stories so I thought I'd share them in a podcast. Both are great positive stories about different people that have gone the extra mile in supporting our troops. I hope you enjoy it
ACLU: Effort to Marginalize Indians Succeeding -- [ScrappleFace]
The nationwide campaign to drum American Indians out of the public square chalked up another win this week as NORAD announced it would stop using Indian names to describe its air defense exercises. This follows last week's decision by the NCAA to ban Indian mascots from its college sports tournaments.
Original Blue Angel pilot dies at age 86 -- (CNN News)...Larry Shaughnessy
A man whose pioneering flying career with the U.S. Navy began in the age of biplanes and ended in the jet age has died. Retired Navy Capt. Roy "Butch" Voris, an original Blue Angel, died at his home in Monterey, California. He was 86.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
I'm running in slo mo today on the Dawn Patrol so check back for updates.
Morning Coffee -- [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
This morning I walked into the chow hall to fill my travel mug with fresh coffee. There is always a large urn sitting by the door filled with the stuff. One of the Iraqis employed by KBR (that's right, the Halliburton subsidiary employs local Iraqis, giving them jobs and hope) was draining the contents of the urn and preparing to brew a fresh batch. I didn't feel like waiting an hour or so for fresher coffee - what was still in the urn was good enough.
preoccupation -- [Blog Machine City - in Iraq]
For the last day or so I've been preoccupied with the photgraphs of a Humvee destroyed in a recent IED strike. The pictures came in a report sent through the secure-internet email at my site from the team responsible for analyzing the employment and effects of IEDs.
Photos of destroyed Hummers are hardly unusual; indeed, one might say that destroyed vehicles are one of the seminal images of this war. But this vehicle was destroyed in a very particular manner, a manner that neatly exploits its weaknesses (without going into details) - not just a giant bomb that destroys the entire truck, but a more targeted strike designed to kill the occupants most efficiently.
A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR TWO LT'S -- [Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
...I can tell you about one part of the mission. I was standing on the road with LT Howell when I noticed these 4 kids running these sheep in our direction. I told the LT to watch out for the sheep stampede. He got on the hand held radio and said, ?All elements, be advised that there is a sheep stamped headed your way so take cover.? We had sheep running everywhere. When our guys started making them go another direction than the boys wanted them to, it was utter chaos. We finally got everything back under control after several laughs. I didn?t think that was classified so I would share that with you. It was also funny when we pulled up today and this one woman was telling us how much she loved the Americans and how they loved us here. After the mission was over, I?m glad I can?t understand Arabic because I could have sworn she was cussing us as we left the area. It?s amazing how they change their mind so quickly.
Good News from Iraq -- [Singaleer]
Multinational Force
American and Iraqi troops have repelled a series of coordinated attacks in Baghdad, killing six insurgents. Officials said on August 6 that U.S. attack helicopters responded to the assault, which included suicide car bombs, one which killed an Iraqi soldier. Twelve insurgents were captured in the fighting. In a separate incident, U.S. troops captured seven suspected insurgents and seized a car bomb being prepared for an attack. (Voice of America News)
Such Men -- [Stryker Brigade]
Provided below is an email sent by SSG Holcomb to his family and friends, which we are sharing with his permission.
*****
Dear Friends and Family,
It has been quite some time since I last wrote anything of significance. My creative spirit has been dampened by the poverty and destruction that I face daily. Part of the reason I write now is because it is nearing the end of my time here and I find that I must begin to express myself if I am to be able to make the transition from combat back to the normal world.
Fatigue -- [Winds of Change - Armed Liberal]
Christopher Hitchens has an article in Salon about Iraq and our attitudes toward it. He opens:
Another request in my in-box, asking if I'll be interviewed about Iraq for a piece "dealing with how writers and intellectuals are dealing with the state of the war, whether it's causing depression of any sort, if people are rethinking their positions or if they simply aren't talking about it." I suppose that I'll keep on being asked this until I give the right answer, which I suspect is "Uncle."...
Shuffling Forces -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
While much of the news on force deployments to Iraq have focused on the prospects of a drawdown in the spring of 2006, the Department of Defense is discussing the possibility of increasing forces in Iraq to provide security for the October and December elections. Often overlooked is the fact that the US has begun handing over bases and security responsibilities to Iraqi Army and police units to allow them to take control of areas deemed to be secure.
Iranian arms intercepted at Iraqi border -- (The Guardian)...Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor
Britain warns Tehran about weapons smuggling
Britain yesterday described as "unacceptable" the smuggling of weapons from Iran into Iraq after revealing that a consignment was intercepted at the border between the two countries.
Corrections & Clarifications -- (USA Today)...USA Today
Wednesday's Page One cover story misstated the number of U.S. servicemembers killed in hostile action in Iraq. The correct number as of Tuesday was 1,420.
Mother's Protest At Bush's Doorstep Raises The Stakes -- (Los Angeles Times)...Edwin Chen and Dana Calvo
...Now, in the space of just a few days, what started out as a seemingly quixotic personal mission has become something of a phenomenon ? with media swarming around Sheehan, leading liberal and antiwar activists parachuting in to try to make her their long-sought voice, and political experts in both parties working to assess what role she may have in galvanizing the public's gathering unhappiness with the increasing American casualties in Iraq.
Political Unrest Mounts In Iraq -- (Los Angeles Times)...Alissa J. Rubin
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari sought Wednesday to quell political disputes in the capital and the south, as Baghdad's mayor protested his ouster at gunpoint and rival factions fought over the governorship of a province.
Iraqis Thirst For Water And Power -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Dan Murphy
This summer, the third since the fall of Baghdad, has been the worst yet when it comes to basic services. Interruptions to electricity and water supplies - caused by both decay and sabotage - are driving up the frustrations of millions of Iraqis.
Guardsmen Deploy: It's Life Without Dad Again -- (Providence Journal-Bulletin)...Jennifer Levitz
The first time Sgt. Thomas Burdick deployed to Iraq for a year, his wife, Patty, figured out a way to show how their triplets had grown. She traced Thomas Jr., Joseph, and Abigail on big sheets of paper and sent the lifesize cutouts overseas.
Iraqi Constitution Must Deliver Oil To Sunnis, Or It Won't Deliver Stability -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Edward P. Joseph and Michael O'Hanlon
...Unfortunately, however, doing a pretty good job under enormous time pressure and physical danger will not suffice in contemporary Iraq. With the security environment still extremely perilous and the economic state of the country improving only gradually, the political process is Iraq's main hope for escaping the vicious spiral of violence into which it has descended.
Americans Get Mixed Signals On Future Of War In Iraq-- (Knight Ridder Newspapers)...Joseph L. Galloway
The dog days of summer are upon us, and the signals for the future in our war in Iraq are deeply mixed, deeply confused and confusing, depending on who you listen to and what you read.
Bad Day for the Boys in Blue -- [Fire Power Forward - in Afghanistan]
...As our tour guests were loitering in Kyrgistan waiting for their ride to Metropolis, they got word that they would be delayed a bit due to a slight problem at their destination airfield. The slight problem was an aircraft approximately the size of Lower Manhattan blocking the runway. A C-17 landing at Metropolis the night before had drifted just a touch off the center of the runway and its right main gear was dragging in the dirt a bit.
Crazy Foo fettes_brot - (Video) -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Giving this instant video program a try. I guess were all just sliding into a Stan induced coma!!
Leverage the Afghans: The Case for Building an Afghan Auxiliary Military Force for Expeditionary Operations -- [Bobby's World]
I'm going to start my posts on the Combat Studies Institute conference at Fort Leavenworth with my own presentation, which was actually on the morning of the second day. I didn't hit a homerun, but I do think I had a productive at bat-- fouling off a few pitches and tiring out the pitcher before hitting a flare that dropped into left field. This was partially due to the fact that I had to rush my presentation-- I had planned and timed my presentation for eighteen minutes, but no plan ever survives first contact: I was third in a panel of three and (as anyone who has ever presented knows) this meant that my time was subject to compression if my predecessors exceeded their alloted twenty minutes. I would up compressing my presentation-- less than fourteen minutes-- and didn't get to cover my points in the depth that I would have preferred, but I...
Afghans Get Out The Ballots As Militants Keep Up The Offensive -- (Los Angeles Times)...Paul Watson
Election workers Wednesday were mobilizing a massive effort to get ballots to remote areas of this nation, as the U.S. military announced the death of another soldier in the fight to make Afghanistan safer for its first postwar parliamentary election.
Mother-Daughter Deployment -- [Toe in the Water]
Here is an article about a mother/daughter team deploying to Kuwait, both in the same Oregon National Guard unit.
SALEM, Ore. -- Sgt. 1st Class Brenda Berrios and Sgt. Karissa Smith never leave home without their beauty products, not even when the mother and daughter are bound for Kuwait, as part of their deployment with a Salem-based Oregon National Guard unit.
Joe Snuffy -- [Fun With Hand Grenades]
I love my job. I really do. Like I've said before, we'll see how that changes after my tour in Iraq. But for now I'm pretty content with my job.
Days like today, on the other hand, make me despise it. It all started late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, somewhere around three in the morning. The sergeant who was pulling CQ was doing his hourly checks when he saw a few of us, beers in hand, hanging out on the landing and stairwell on my level of the barracks. Being that he had just left our platoon to go to another one about a month ago, he sauntered on over to us with the intent of shooting the shit.
Think -- [Cadillac Tight]
SGM Spurgeon was tough, but he was fair. Once, on an FTX somewhere near Mount Yonah in North Georgia, I was leading a patrol on a night exercise, the objective being to set up an ambush on a stretch of dirt road where there wasn't much cover available - there were two fire teams to get into position before dawn, and a support team to keep track of in the rear. As part of the exercise, SGM Spurgeon had one of my fire teams get "lost" about twenty minutes before we were to be in position, and notified me of the new situation in his usual fashion, by sneaking up behind me and tapping me on the shoulder, nearly causing a bowel related accident.
An Army Affair -- (Washington Post)
DESPITE MYRIAD hearings, investigations and prominent trials of privates and specialists, no commissioned officer has received serious punishment for any of the many confirmed cases of prisoner mistreatment in Iraq, Afghanistan or Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two of those involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal have received letters of reprimand. One was demoted. None has been court-martialed.
<...>
From this incident, it is possible to draw only one conclusion: It's okay for officers to oversee units that torture civilians and thereby damage the reputation of the United States around the world, do terrible harm to the ideological war on terrorism and inspire more Iraqis to become insurgents. Having an affair with a civilian, on the other hand, is completely unacceptable and will end your career.
SA Project a Bit Different Than The Rest...Need Help.. -- [A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
I have just been given a project from Soldiers' Angels, a project that was previously in its proposal/acceptance stage and has now been approved as a go ahead. The project's goals are to raise funds for SA as well as raise public awareness of soldier support in a MSM sort of way.
Unlike other projects/operations at Soldiers Angels this one will not focus on a specific need or a specific group that needs assistance. It will focus instead on tackling the job of gaining media attention for troop support and Soldiers Angels as well as raising funds for SA as a whole.
So, this project needs 2 things ...
Steak, Shrimp and Stately Stuff -- [Wayne's World - Wayne's in Iraq]
Recently, we told you about the folks in Dallas who welcome soldiers in a special way.
A few days ago, an anonymous patron picked up a hefty tab at The Fort restaurant in Colorado for the family of Marine Matt Heckithier, who were sharing a special dinner days before his deployment to Iraq.
In case anyone was wondering -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
To all of my friends and family, please do not even think of doing anything like that if I happen to meet some untimely demise here. It is not a good idea, it does not represent my wishes, and if it happens I will ask the Lord very politely if He will allow me to temporarily return to earth (preferably in some frightening visage) and haunt whoever does it. And I will do my best to be very very scary.
Soldier's Mother Takes Protest to Bloggers (Washington Post)...Brian Faler
Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq who has been camped outside President Bush's ranch near Crawford, Tex., took her antiwar protest to the Internet yesterday, joining a conference call with bloggers around the country, along with a stray congresswoman.
Schizomedia Presents... -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
Monday's Best of the Web Today provides a humorous highlight to the ongoing Valerie Plame Kerfuffle.
OK, Now Can We Question Their Patriotism? -- [TacJammer]
Chris Johnson of Midwest Conservative Journal links to a must-read column by conservative filmmaker Jason Apuzzo.
Hollywood has chosen sides in the war against islamofascism. It's not our side.
"American Dreamz." This ?satire? from Universal Pictures deals with Pakistani suicide bombers out to kill the US president. The film stars Hugh Grant, Richard Dreyfuss, Willem Dafoe and Mandy Moore. According to writer-director Paul Weitz ("American Pie"), "The film is a comic examination of ... cultural obsessions" like the War on Terror "and how they can anaesthetise us to the actual issues of our day."
Today's "Watching America" moment: Terror propoganda in Iraq's newspapers
Watching America brings us this article from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper: -- [KadNine]
Watching America brings us this article from Iraq's Azzaman newspaper:
...Yikes! Talk about believing only the worst in people. Once "prosperity, stability and security" are achieved, it won't be neccesary to "drive the occupation troops out." We'll leave voluntarily. That's been the plan all along. But this author's last line proves that he clearly doesn't want anyone to believe that:
Is it real... or is it memorex? -- [Tidewater Musings]
A couple of months ago, I thought about starting a blog about an invasion of the United States by foreign forces, say the Chinese or the Chinese and the Russians. The blog would purport to be a true account, but would have been, of course, fiction. It was to be a what-might-have-been; my thought was to report in the first person various events, and in doing so to shed light on what's happening in Iraq with the insurgency. Now, granted, an American insurgency following an invasion would most likely be home grown, like the 20-year-old movie Red Dawn.
Turns out, I'm not alone in this thinking. An editorial by Ted Rall in today's Boise Weekly (and likely elsewhere, too)...
Little Music Update -- [The Jump Blog]
I had planned to offer the studio single for ?My Pretty Ones? available for download in a couple of weeks through iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and others. This would have been well in advance of the release date of a full (self-released) album in November. I will be entering into a distribution agreement that will postpone the release of ?My Pretty Ones? to the online music services until the full album is completed. This pushes it back a bit but allows me greater flexibility at minimal cost to myself. Additionaly this will allow the entire album to be listed at all of the online music services (iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, MSN Music, MP3tunes, AOL?s MusicNet, Yahoo MusicMatch, and more) so that people can check it out before they buy anything and are not stuck buying the whole album (or buying it at all, you can listen to it without buying if you subscribe to many of those services) if they only like one or two songs.
Wow- The Daily Show! -- [2Slick's Forum]
That was really something. If you missed it last night, you have a chance to catch it today at 10 am eastern and again at 8 pm eastern. Watch it.
I just read Kate's take on it, and I think she says it way better than I ever could:
Last night on the Daily Show, John Stewart interviewed John Hockenberry on his upcoming article in Wired on military bloggers.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Jungle Law -- [Michael Yon -- Freelance Journalist in Iraq]
The first person to use a shield might have been a hairy man who, days earlier, barely survived a barrage from the stone-throwing man in the cave next door. As the use of weaponized sticks and stones spread, improved shields probably were not far behind. Throughout recorded history, bigger and better shields always play catch-up to their bigger and better ballistic brethren.
Rollover -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
We had a scare today in the Battalion when a vehicle of ours in a combat patrol swerved to miss a civilian who, being either suicidal or really dumb, stepped out in front of it. They rolled over, and bad things can happen when vehicles roll over, especially to the gunners.
And the protests for a civil constitution continue... -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq](lots of pics)
This was the headline in the announcement that called for today's women protest in Baghdad.
In spite of the heat and the dust that's covering Baghdad for the 2nd day, more than a hundred Iraqi women representing NGOs and active groups gathered to declare their demands in equality and a civil family and personal affairs law.
The women set a large tent in Al-Firdows square which witnessed the fall of Saddam in April 2003. Under this icon of freedom the women held their signs and demands high. ...
Iraq Pictures Wednesday, August 10, 2005 -- [Iraq pictures - in Iraq]
U.S. Army soldiers from Delta Company, 164th Armor Regiment secure a street known as Route Predators while Iraqi civilians collect materials to fix their homes and businesses in Baghdad. The structures were damaged after a vehicle born improvised explosive device detonated near a clinic targeting innocent civilians in Baghdad.
REMINISCING ABOUT USING A REAL TOILET -- [Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
We woke up early this morning to go on a mission through the villages. We left out around 7:00 a.m. It was still pretty cool this morning when we took off, but by the time we made it back at 10:30, it was very hot again. We checked a few cars and checked a few houses, but not a lot was going on. We started to head back to the FOB. On the way back, LT Howell told me, ?You know what I was thinking about last night that was pretty funny?? I asked what and he told me about the mission the other night with everyone getting stuck. He was talking about how LTC Robinson called on the radio to tell him not to go into the bowl or you would get stuck. When he called our first element and said don?t go into the bowl, the tank came back and said I?m already in the bowl.
It smelled like...victory -- [Blog Machine City -- in Iraq]
...I've written many times about how Liberty is, for all intents and purposes, a sandy, rocky wasteland, a place that seems to have sprung up in defiance of the earth, a veritable geographic abortion that seems to have no sense of real place. Not so with Victory, which lies firmly within Saddam-land; within Victory's borders are many of Saddam's former palaces, administrative buildings, and other elaborate buildings of unknown function. There, the roads are asphalt (with concrete curbs even!), with date or other thin, water-starved trees running alongside in neat rows; there are many buildings of brick, stone, plaster, and concrete, instead of thin-walled aluminum trailers.
The Marines of Weapon Company -- [Live in Iraq]
Coming to Iraq, the Marines of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment knew they would be fighting as ?street cops? on the roads.
The job includes locating hidden bombs before the enemy could use them against the Marines, Iraqi Security Forces and civilians. Their most recent find on a combat patrol brought their total number of bombs found to nearly 200. Over the past six months, they have maintained a ratio of three found to one detonated.
We miscalculated and now history has us by the throat -- (The Guardian)...Martin Woollacott
Nobody now disputes that misunderstanding has paved every step of the way in Iraq. The misunderstanding, or the lie, about Saddam's weapons continues to be central to western arguments about the war. But, important as that issue remains, there was a more profound set of misunderstandings of the social, political and religious processes at work within the Middle East.
Bin Laden headed to Iraq? Iran report says he will be there for Ramadan -- (WorldNetDaily)
U.S. troops in Iraq have seized documents suggesting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is planning to enter Iraq during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to an Iranian news agency report.
Stronger Bomb Doomed 2 In Iraq -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Tom Infield
The bomb that killed two Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers Saturday was of a type used with increasing frequency by insurgents to try to penetrate the extra-armor kits that have been recently put on most U.S. vehicles in Iraq.
Baghdad Elite Flees Iraq And The Daily Threat Of Death -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Thomas Harding
Quietly, in their ones and twos, the professional classes of Baghdad are slipping out of the country to avoid becoming another fatal statistic.
When Shooting Stops, Troops Turn Detective -- (USA Today)...Gregg Zoroya and Rick Jervis
grappling with a violent and somewhat coordinated resistance that has claimed the lives of more than 1,800 servicemembers and thousands of Iraqi security troops ...
Insurgents Hit Baghdad; Doubt Voiced On Charter -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Naseer Nouri
Insurgents mounted deadly attacks on police and U.S. soldiers here Tuesday, as politicians with an Aug. 15 deadline to draft a constitution resumed deliberations. Some officials expressed diminished confidence that the document would be completed on time.
Baghdad Mayor Is Ousted By A Shiite Group And Replaced -- (New York Times)...James Glanz
Armed men entered Baghdad's municipal building during a blinding dust storm on Monday, deposed the city's mayor and installed a member of Iraq's most powerful Shiite militia.
Iraqi Pilot To Be Buried With U.S. Troops He Carried -- (USA Today)...Steven Komarow
An Iraqi air force pilot will be buried Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery. It will be the first interment there of an Iraqi citizen.
Sorrow and Debate -- (Newsweek)
A bloody week in Iraq leaves 14 Ohio Marines dead. And the pro-war town that lost its sons begins to ask: is it worth the sacrifice?
...At Amy Joy Donuts, where residents, many former and active military, come to smoke cigarettes and sip coffee, the war was just about the only thing on people's minds last week. Richard Kusmer, a 76-year-old retired Ford assembly-line foreman, served in the Air Force and voted for George W. Bush. But he says he can no longer stand with the president on Iraq. "Initially I thought the war was a good idea. Not now. All these GIs getting killed just ain't worth it," he says. "It seems like it's never going to end because you're never going to wipe all of those [insurgents] out."
(More) Good News From Afghanistan -- [Alenda Lux]
Arthur mentions a story about an internationally-sponsored mountaineering training class that is part of a bid to remarket a once thriving-industry in Afghanistan. I link to another version of the story that provides more detail for a reason....
Chinook Video Part of Two-Hour Film -- [Euphoric Reality]
This past Friday I posted news of a video released by Al Qaida supposedly of the Chinook helicopter crash that the Taliban claimed responsibility for. The video I linked to for a download was taken directly from Al Arabiya and the television?
One From U.S. Dead In Afghan Insurgent Attack -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Daniel Lovering, Associated Press
Fighting sparked by an insurgent attack on patrolling coalition forces in southern Afghanistan killed one U.S. service member and at least 16 suspected Taliban rebels, the military said yesterday.
Taliban kill Afghan woman after spying charge -- (Reuters)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Taliban guerrillas have executed an Afghan woman after accusing her of spying for U.S.-led forces, officials said on Wednesday.
Purported al-Qaida video threatens US troops -- (China Daily)
A purported al-Qaida-made video shows militants in Afghanistan ?? including Europeans, Arabs and others ?? preparing to attack U.S. troops and showing off what they said was a U.S. military laptop
Future States of The USA -- [Dude Where's the Beach]
For years now I've watched the close elections in Quebec, where the French-speaking Canadians have nearly succeeded in breaking Quebec away from the Canadian Government. Now it looks as though Western Canada wants to secede as well.
Chavez heats up anti-U.S. rhetoric -- (USA Today)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at one of his favorite targets, declaring that if U.S. forces were to invade the South American country they would be soundly defeated.
Tajikistan: Major Arms Cache Found -- (New York Times - World Brief)...C. J. Chivers
A large cache of weapons and munitions was discovered in the mountains of eastern Tajikistan, in an area formerly used by both opposition groups in the Tajik civil war and by guerrillas with connections to Al Qaeda
Still here... -- [From My Position - at Walter Reed]
...On Sunday we had the honor of meeting Donald Rumsfeld and his wife. He is another amazing man and his wife is so cute and charming. If you are not a fan of Rumsfeld, that's fine... please don't turn this blog into a debate. Chuck, Alice and I had a great conversation w/ Secretary Rumsfeld and his wife. They both have a great sense of humor and it was really fun talking to them. We took some pictures. Once we get them developed I am sure you will see them on the blog. We MIGHT be taking a trip to the Pentagon on Friday. Apparently every few months they have a day for wounded soldiers and their families go to the Pentagon for a ceremony that is for THEM (the wounded). Last we knew it was this Friday, but we haven't seen the lady who is planning it in a while so we aren't real sure.
THE LATEST . . . -- [USNR ALUNNI - in Bethesda National Naval Medical Center]
Jim was moved from the Intensive Care unit last night and now is in a "regular" room. This is good news in that he is getting a little better each day. Pain is still an issue. Jim still has no hearing in his right ear and was due to see an Ears, nose and throat doctor today. Additionally, the Alunni's were to meet with his surgeon but had seen neither as of this morning. They are going to remove the feeding tube (from his nose) and place something straight to his stomach to help increase nutrition.
What we have learned regarding the explosion was, ...
The Long Journey -- [Smash - Indepundit]
I CRAWLED OUT OF BED at 0400 on Monday, showered, shaved, and threw my bags into the trunk. Mrs. Smash drove me to the base, kissed me good-bye, and dropped me off outside the theater.
By 0530, I was fully processed, my bags were in the back of a stake truck, and I sat down in the theater to wait for the announcement that we were all ready to go to the airfield. Someone plugged a DVD into the projector to keep us entertained -- Behind Enemy Lines.
Looking For a Few Good Martyrs -- [Starboard!!!]
Hate the U.S., Israel or Salman Rushdie? If so, then a career in martydom may be for you. Evidently, an Iranian publication has been running advertisements for aspiring suicide bombers: Wanted: Aspiring Martyrs...
Whither Multiculturalism? -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
I have been watching events unfold with our British Allies. Adrian Warnock, posting at his UK Evangelical Blog, summed up what seems to be widespread British reaction. I do not mean to underestimate the British or their determination in this struggle our two countries share, but I have been surprised by the magnitude of the British response to recent Al Qaeda attacks and intended targeting. As many commentators have pointed out, Britain has been as enmeshed in a distorted multicultural ethic as much as any nation in Europe.
Omar Bakri Mohammed Flees London for Lebanon -- [The Word Unheard]
Attempting to escape the impending British terror investigation's laser eye, Omar Bakri Mohammed, leader of the now-banned al-Muhajiroun, has fled Britain for Lebanon enroute to points unknown, though a spokesman indicates he will be headed to one of the Gulf emirate states.
Poll Shows Fewer Americans Expect Bin Laden To Be Caught -- (USA Today)...Bill Nichols
Nearly four years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Americans are less optimistic that Osama bin Laden will be captured or killed and say they believe al-Qaeda will remain a threat even if he is caught.
CABLE CONTROVERSY: CNN AGREES TO AIR BLOODY ABORTION AD ON JUDGE ROBERTS -- [Drudge Report]
CNN has reviewed and agreed to run a controversial ad produced by a pro-abortion group that falsely accuses Supreme Court nominee John Roberts of filing legal papers supporting a convicted clinic bomber!
The news network has agreed to a $125,000 ad buy from NARAL, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, for a commercial which depicts a bombed out 1998 Birmingham, AL abortion clinic.
Decades of liberal domination of teachers' colleges -- [Counter Column]
...and this is what we're left with:
The campaign to make high school more demanding seems to be picking up support from the people who have the biggest stake in the matter: the students themselves....
Can Pirro Beat Clinton? -- [Outside The Beltway]
Dick Morris believes the Republicans have a decent chance of beating Hillary Clinton in her bid for re-election to the Senate with the candidacy of Jeanine Pirro
Bush 'evil bastard' on billboard spots -- (World Net Daily)
President Bush is called an "evil bastard" in a series of billboard ads for a restaurant chain in New Zealand.
This billboard featuring President Bush in New Zealand was victimized by vandals
Bush's image is featured in commercials for Hell Pizza Deliveries, with several slogans that include "Hell: Too Good For Some Evil Bastards," and "Even Hell Has Its Standards."
Abortion-rights groups demand documents on Roberts -- (Reuter)
Abortion-rights groups mostly opposed to conservative Supreme Court nominee John Roberts on Tuesday urged the White House to release documents, including a legal brief in which he argued civil rights laws do not protect women denied access to abortions by violent protests.
Man Who Started The Beef Jerky Wars Quits!! -- [My View from Tonka]
Yup - the maker of the Sizzle List, the man who put together the Golden Rules of Care Packages, the man who started the Beef Jerky War is quitting. I thought it was only fitting that he be exposed as the poser he has turned out to be! It's shameful I tell you. Shameful. (pic)
<...>
What can I say but I warned him I had this photo and would use it in dire circumstances, well those circumstances are here! Here he even went and set up another blog called Hoohah along with email notifications for updates. So, now he tells us he will be writing a weekly column for Operation Truth -
Blackfive on Pundit Review Radio -- [Pundit Review]
Milblogger Blackfive joined us recently on Pundit Review Radio to discuss milblogs, Iraq, the media and the general war on terror. Do listen to this one, you won't want to miss the story that drove Matt to start Blackfive! (Audio at link!)
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Courage and Compassion Under Fire -- [Major K - in Iraq]
About a month ago in an area of Baghdad not far from where I am now a little known engagement took place out in the street between an arhabi sniper team and a group of Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard's 256th Brigade Combat Team. They are appropriately known as the Tiger Brigade, and as someone who as served in the active Army in Airborne and Ranger units before coming to the National Guard, from what I have seen, these guys are pretty damned good. This story is one example.
Birthday and Battalion Bashes -- [Wayne's World - Wayne's in Iraq]
...Over the weekend, Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Soldiers from Wayne?s battalion captured 39 suspected insurgents during a raid in Sharmiyah. Among the detainees were those suspected of being key insurgent leaders in the area.
Eight of the 39 insurgents were detained on the grounds of the Mudjaherin al Ansar mosque by Hillah SWAT, a specialized Iraqi Police unit. The mosque was not damaged in the operation
Missing But Not Forgotten -- [Andi's World]
A couple of weeks back, while sitting in a hospital waiting room, I picked up a dated magazine that had an article featuring the parents of MIA Soldier, Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin. For some reason, I thought that his body had been recovered, but my memory was wrong.
According to the POW/MIA website, SGT Maupin is still unaccounted for. He was captured on April 9, 2004. Since then, he has been promoted, in absentia, twice. Captured as a PFC, he has been promoted to Sergeant. In July, 2004, a videotape surfaced that purportedly showed the execution of Maupin. However, the DoD concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to confirm that the man shot in the video was indeed Maupin.
Designs of War -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
...They were especially interested in the other pieces of debris from the explosion that fell around our building: shrapnel. Now as I've mentioned from time to time, being in military intelligence (MI), I have never had any opportunity to see what might otherwise be commonplace (or at least experienced from time to time) in combat arms units. I really did not expect what we found....
The Dust Weather -- [Six More Months - in Iraq]
When I reluctantly woke to my alarm clock this morning, I noticed my room seemed unusually dark. My first hope was that I had set my alarm wrong and still had an hour to sleep, but a glance at my watch showed it was indeed time to get up. I staggered to my fridge to grab a Redbull to start the day, and cracked open my door. I was greeted by a wall of sand. It?s called a Shamal.(pics)
Wicked Light - 365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
...After a few long minutes immersed in that burning light the cold light of reason turned my thoughts from evil portends to a sense of wonder. Rather then cancel our workout 1LT Mo and I decided to make the trek to the gym through the teeth of the sandstorm. The walk wasn?t an especially long one, but by the time we arrived we were frosted with a talcum fine web of earth. The cloying powder latched on to every exposed hair follicle, dying our hair a ghostly white. It was as if, in the course of the journey, the two of us had aged several decades. We glanced in the gym?s oversize mirrors and laughed at the two old men staring back at us.
Samawa update. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
I was flipping TV channels an hour ago when I cam across Al-Jazeera.
I usually skip this channel but something caught my attention. There was an interview via phone with the representative of Muqty in Samawa city and he was talking to his host about the situation in Samawa (which Mohammed talked about yesterday).
What he said was really upsetting; he twisted facts in the most unfair way and showed the case as if it was Muqty's office that arranged the protest not the normal citizens.
Around the Web -- [Blackfive]
Timmer at Sgt. Stryker's Daily Brief has an email from his niece that's a must read.
Sondra K. has proof of the restraint our soldiers demonstrate at Abu Ghraib.
Tina B. sends the link to Lucian Read's site that contains a lot of his work. Read is the photographer that captured the photo of ...
Gateway Pundit has a video on How the Marines Took Fallujah.
Citizen?s tip leads to end of terrorists? IED attacks -- [Stryker Brigade]
(TFF Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (August 8, 2005) ? An Iraqi citizen?s tip lead Multi-National Force Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) to the location of terrorists who had attacked their patrol in eastern Mosul Sunday.
Farewell for Now, Michael Churchill -- [Palmetto Pundit]
Blog buddy Michael Churchill has made his last post for a few months. A member of the Armed Forces, he is leaving to serve his country for a few months, but left us this to remember him by until he returns...
Losing People & Life -- [American Soldier - recently returned from Iraq]
I am not anyone special. I am not a super hero. I am not a superstar or anyone you would ask for an autograph. I am just me. A typical guy who has a family, house, two vehicles, job. I so happen to have had the luxury of serving this country.
Swift Road For U.S. Citizen Soldiers Already Fighting In Iraq -- (New York Times)...Edward Wong
For Specialist James Garrovillas, enlisting in the Army meant more than just joining the military. It meant joining the United States.
Unit had asked for more Marines -- (USA TODAY)...Kimberly Johnson
HADITHAH, Iraq ? A Marine regiment that took heavy casualties last week in western Iraq ? including 19 killed from a Reserve unit headquartered in Ohio ? had repeatedly asked for about 1,000 more troops. Those requests were not granted.
Saving U.S. Army Can Help Save Iraq -- (New York Daily News)...Lawrence Korb
...Sending soldiers back for a third time will ruin the Army's retention rate, which so far has held up. Staying in Iraq through 2006 will completely undermine the Army's recruiting, which despite massive increases in enlistment bonuses is already a disaster. Keeping 50,000 reservists in Iraq throughout 2006 will force the administration to ask Congress to repeal the law that forbids reservists from serving on the active duty for more than two years.
Marines Find Bomb Factory in Western Iraq -- (Fox News)....AP
Six vehicles rigged with explosives were found in the hideout in the northern part of Haqlaniyah, one of a cluster of towns in western Anbar province long believed to be a stronghold of Iraqi insurgents and foreign fighters.
Poll Shows Most Americans Feel More Vulnerable -- (USA Today)...Richard Benedetto
American attitudes toward the war in Iraq continue to sour in the wake of last week's surge in U.S. troop deaths, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows.
The Courage Needed To Win The War -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...John C. Bersia
Every time an American soldier falls in Iraq - a disturbingly frequent occurrence in recent days - concerned minds should ask: How much longer will the Bush administration persist with the fiction that the United States and its allies have sufficient military capabilities to end a conflict that now stretches into its third year?
Iraq's 1st Brigade: Begging for basics -- (USA TODAY)...Rick Jervis
BAGHDAD ? Armored Humvees and helicopter gunships would be nice.
But what the soldiers of Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, want more immediately is a gym. And cots that don't sag so much they need cinder blocks for support. Or a system that drains away the human sewage that pools in the street outside their barracks. Or working phones.
Amid A Miasma Of Sand And Fear, Some Iraqis Recall A Brighter Day -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer and Khalid Alsaffar
As Iraq entered a tense one-week countdown before factions must agree on a new constitution, many in Baghdad found themselves recalling a happier day 17 years ago, when they put a long and crippling war behind them.
Sunni Quarter In Baghdad Is Oasis Of Peace -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Omar Sinan, Associated Press
In the soft glow of twilight, vendors fire up their kebab grills, crowds gather along shopping streets festooned with decorative red-and-white lights and cafes bustle with the sounds of laughter and conversation.
Marines Find Car Bomb Factory In Iraq -- (Los Angeles Times)...Associated Press
U.S. Marines discovered a car bomb factory Monday in a western Iraqi town near where 20 members of the American unit were killed last week, the U.S. military said.
Operation Flintstone -- [Fortunate Son - in Afghanistan]
Virtually ever village we visit has the need for basic medicines and, more importantly, nutritional supplements. I've received many offers to help from many friends and family and have been trying to work out a way for people back home to make a real difference in people's lives.So, I talked it over with the "Doc" here at the PRT and have compiled a list of needs that either the Coalition or the Afghan...
The RAF Regiment -- [Miserable Donuts - back from Afhanistan]
The RAF Regiment is the Royal Air Force's ground force protection element. They are highly trained and fairly tough to boot. I had the pleasure of serving with 4 different officers from the Regiment. Up top are Squadron Leaders Matt Radnall (L) and Jamie Kendall (R). In the middle is Flight Lieutenant Adam Thompson and below is Squadron Leader Rich Langley. Damned good officers, and fine people all. To learn a little more about this rather unique bunch try this Website. Per Ardua!
The FRENCH?!? -- [Parvonia]
I was at a barbecue this weekend and mentioned that I went to a Bastille day party thrown by French troops at a base in Afghanistan, and two of the Upstate New Yorkers that were listening said, "The French?" with the same shock and mortification as if I had just said Hitler was my golfing buddy.
"Yeah, they've been in Afghanistan since the beginning."
Afghan Elections Strapped For Cash Despite Pledges - -- (Philadelphia Inquirer - News in Brief)...Associated Press
Organizers of Afghanistan's Sept. 18 parliamentary elections still face a $19 million funding shortage despite fresh pledges from international donors, a U.N. spokeswoman said yesterday.
Afghanistan Farmers Relieved By End Of Seven-Year Drought -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Associated Press
Seven years of drought had left Afghanistan's fields monochrome plains of brown dust. But good snows and rains have many Afghans seeing color again: Seas of golden wheat undulate in the breeze, green apricot trees are plump with yellow fruit, melons of every color dot fields.
I've Got Mail! -- [2Slick's Forum]
Since I started this blog almost one year ago, I've received thousands of emails from good people all over the world. Most of the emails were very kind and from the heart, and I just want you all to know that they are greatly appreciated. As an example of just how thoughtful most of you are out there, I'd like to show you something that came to my inbox just last night:...
Phelps Planned Protest at Arlington Funeral of Fallen SF Soldier -- [Jack Army]
It has been reported to me that Jim Phelps, the loser conducting shenanigans like this, planned to protest at the funeral for fallen Special Forces Sergeant Jason Palmerton.
There has been a call put out for anyone affiliated with the Special Forces community in the area of Arlington/Washington DC to "counterprotest" (my word, not theirs). Hopefully, everything ends peacefully and out of sight of the grieving family and friends.
THE FRIENDS OF CINDY SHEEHAN -- [Michelle Malkin]
The Bush-bashing mother of a soldier who died in Iraq last year has garnered quite a bit of buzz from the MSM for her anti-war vigil outside of Crawford, Texas. Drudge highlights her rather drastic change of heart...
Carnival of the Podcasts #1!! -- [A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
Welcome to the First Carnival of the Podcasts!
This is the first Carnival of the Podcasts, and we have some great entries that I know you'll enjoy listening to! Podcasts can be heard with any music player on your computer, just click the links to listen. This carnival will include direct links to the podcasts themselves, as well as links to the blogs they belong to. Enjoy!
And Now For Something We Hope You'll Really Like! -- [Dave- guest blogging for Mustang 23 - Mustang's in Iraq]
I worked and shared a house with Mustang. I consider him a friend, and, as a friend, he asked me to guest blog for him while he does ? well, whatever it is he does. It?s supposed to get him home sooner, so I said ?yes.?
I know Mustang by another name, of course. Several, actually, but most of them shouldn?t be repeated. I?m well-acquainted with several of the comment section regulars: I?ve attended family functions with Mustang Sarge, Mustang Mama, Mustang Aunt, and Mustang Sis ? um, make that KCNK. I?ve socialized with A Souldier?s Prayer and Walking Eagle. I can decode the meaning of the name FCC@V. I know where RCBEEP lives. I?ve sampled the sugar cookies for which Mustang Mama is famous, and I?m familiar with who first suggested sending Strawberry Shortcake sheets to our favorite company commander. I?m privy to information. I know things. And if you?re under the impression that I?m going to tell you those things, then you?re absolutely right. But it?ll cost you.
So place your bids in the comments section.
Carnival of Liberty VI -- [Erics Grumples Before the Grave]
Welcome to Fearless Philosophy for Free Minds, home of Carnival of Liberty VI. Before I get started, I would like to thank Eric Cowperthwaite of Eric?s Grumbles Before the Grave (who will be hosting the next carnival, Carnival of Liberty VII) for allowing me this opportunity and assistance in presenting the cr譥 de la cr譥 posts from some of the most talented writers in the blogosphere. Most of the carnival?s entries are from liberty-minded bloggers which can be read daily on the Life, Liberty, and Property Group Blog and the Life, Liberty, and Property Community Homepage hosted by The Truth Laid Bear.
It Never Ends....Winter Soldier To Be Rereleased -- [My View from Tonka]
Will John Kerry ever go away?? Apparently the loonies of the 60's and 70's refuse to let go. This 95 minute movie will be released. Here's how the NYT's refers to it:
Andy Rooney Is A Nut -- [Iowa Voice]
Ol' Andy Rooney, God love him, just keeps getting crazier and crazier, I think. Check out his latest rant:...
Raleigh News & Observer editor has a bias test
Raleigh News & Observer executive editor and blogger Melanie Sill continues to get readers? complaints about liberal bias at the N&O.
Sill denies the paper's news columns contain bias:
People I meet often seem to think we make decisions on news based on politics, either overtly or unconsciously. Instead, our framework for pursuing news is based on journalistic questions.
NY Times laments lack of War Heroes -- [Uncle Jimbo - Madison.com]
Just in case you had deluded yourself that the media actually are capable of covering the military with any fairness, wake up. The NY Times has a perfect example of why the jackals fail miserably to even do a decent hatchet job. They publish a piece ostensibly lamenting the dearth of heroes in the great quagmire. A clueless wonder named Damien Cave confesses that it's the fault of:
New York Times: A study in dysfunction -- [Counter Column]
Dear Times editorial staff,
Thank you for the questions you raised in this article, in which you quite gallingly manage to blame the President for the absence of positive news stories in your newspaper.
I'm glad you're finally showing an interest in the issue. As any recovering addict will tell you, the first step is to admit you have a problem. Of course, you haven't gotten to that stage in your recovery yet. But when you're dealing with with a neurotic who's so hopelessly consumed in their dysfunction, even the smallest signs of progress are great victories.
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
A different find of sorts -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
Early last week, one of our companies received information about a possible munitions cache in our area of operations. The initial spot report was that it could be rather sizeable, although we have had our share of bad spot reports from local nationals. True to form, there was not a large weapons cache. But we didn't come away empty handed.
<...>
There is a general rule that innocent people do not run away from us. Every now and then a skittish civilian who is guilty of no wrongdoing will bring suspicion upon himself by running away from us, but that is generally not the case. In the same sense, innocent people do not bury themselves in hay and animal feces in order to avoid detection. Something was definitely fishy.
Protests and clashes in Samawa. -- [ Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
This morning Samawa city witnessed widespread clashes between the residents of the city and the police forces after the people answered the call of the "independent people's parliament" to shut down streets and stores and protest an front of the town hall of the city until their demands are answered.
These demands were announced in a document distributed by the "independent people's parliament" and they included:...
Dispatches from Iraq -- [Dave's World]
I am training Iraqi soldiers at the compound again.
When my unit arrived in Northern Iraq, the Iraqi troops were referred to by their original name, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, or ICDC. Shortly after we arrived, they were re-established as the Iraqi National Guard, or ING. Since the elections, they have transitioned from ING to Iraqi Army, or IA. The IA, combined with the IP and the FPS, make up the ISF. And I'm not even going to tell you what those mean. I love acronyms.
Training the IA is the single most productive thing I?ve done in Iraq. The difference that we have made with these soldiers over our short time with them is truly incredible, and it gives me hope that my friends won?t have to do another tour in this country.
Iraq Stock Exchange - [Mad Canuck]
With all the violence that has been going on in Iraq, there are a few positive developments that have gone on behind the scenes and have not been widely reported. One of these is the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX), which has been open for just over a year now, and currently trades shares in over seventy publicly traded Iraqi companies: hotels, construction companies, banks, soft drink bottlers, textiles, pharmaceuticals, transportation, insurance, and real estate companies among others.
Soldiers manage to soak up some relief [48th Goes to War - ajc.com - in Iraq]
Camp Striker, Iraq - Like every other soldier here, Spc. Steve Listwan, a high school history teacher from Addison, Ill., asked his family to send him creature comforts from home.
?I told [my dad] we?re desperate; that we needed some recreation,? Listwan said.
His father went to a garage sale to pick up a few things and when Listwan opened his package from home a few days ago, out came a $2 swimming pool...
Backtracking... -- [Major K - in Iraq]
Today was another hot, windy, dusty day. The same as many other days, with the exception of it being punctuated by a couple of mortar rounds landing on the FOB where I now reside. They shook the building that I was in, but the one that landed somewhat close, about 1 km away was a dud. The one that shook the building landed and detonated about twice as far away. Luckily no one was hurt.
understanding the unknown -- [Boots in Baghdad - in Iraq]
The most eloquent series of words couldn?t ever accurately describe the feeling you have when you hear a falling mortar just seconds after one has impacted less than thirty meters away. No matter how hard anyone tries to explain it, you?ll never know what it is like to hurriedly scramble to the base of a palm tree, put your arms over your head and wait for that falling round to hit. Some experiences, no matter how hard you attempt to grasp and understand, cannot be fully comprehended until you experience them yourself.
Dreams and Musings [Hurls Blog - in Iraq]
For the past week or so I have not had any desire for blogging. I have been in much thought about so many things happening in the world at this time, not the least of which were the deaths of 21 of my fellow brothers-in-arms last week. To say I've been upset and depressed about it would be an understatement. Terrible events like this always flush up past memories of friends who have died. Suddenly each one of them is fresh and raw again.
A Tribute to Doc and Mike -- [Ghraib Danger - in Iraq]
Hands down the best aspect of the FOB is the sense of camaraderie among everyone, troops and civilians alike. Difficult conditions and the daunting environment have a way of molding people together, rather quickly. We all know we're all in this together, and knowing that we do what we can for each other. It's a great feeling. My point is Norman Rockwell would be proud to know that the sense of small towness and teamwork he created so well in his paintings is alive and well on the FOB. Our office is a microcosm of that attitude. I've only known the people in this office for a little over two months, but already I feel like I've known them for years. You get to quickly know about their families, their pasts, and their ideas for the future when you spend every waking moment among them. Today our small town got a little smaller when two of our three interpreters were moved without warning or notice to the Embassy in the International Zone....
Profiles: The Motor Sergeant -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
"What the f*** are you doing in my Motor Pool?!"
.I've seen Mac lift and swing his M4 countless times and mock a homerun swing at the nearest tree or pole. He won't follow through, of course. He loves that M4 and refuses to put a sling on it. One, that's partly from his early days -- Mac's the latter half of 50 -- and the other is that he knows well the training that told us that slings can get in your way and kill you. So as he moves about on convoys, he cradles his weapon in the low ready, but somehow with a deep affection, he might as well be carrying one of his grandkids.
Shamal Season is here! -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq] (pics)
There are times when it only seems like we are in barren areas and then there are times when we are reminded that we are in the middle of the desert. We have had a few sand storms but this was a true "Shamal" which came in. They are called Scirrocco in Northern Africa but it is the same thing. Hot, dry winds carrying lots and lots of sand and fine dust. The dust just gets everywhere and it even come through the air conditioning filters. It clogs up all your pores and makes some monster "Boogie Nose".
Iraqi Pictures - Monday, August 08, 2005 - [Iraqi Pictures]
U.S. Army soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division secure the second floor of a suspected terrorist's home during a raid in Tarmiyah
R+R -- [Stardotstar - in Iraq]
...I wasn?t going to write about my last flight before coming home. However, Mel insisted that she wanted to hear any ?scary? stories I might have. Plus I had a few beers, so ended up telling her, so now I can tell you that my last flight before R+R was definitely the most scared I?ve been so far in Iraq. It was just a little incident that lasted maybe 2 minutes. We had the misfortune of flying directly over an insurgent firing position. They waited for us to be nearly overhead and opened fire. I saw some flashing from below us and looked down with my goggles (night vision goggles) to see that there were bullets flying all around the helicopter. We performed the 5 D?s Dodge, duck, dip, dive, and ? dodge, along with returning a hail of gunfire. At our next stop, we shutdown the helicopter to inspect it and were lucky to find none. The vision of all of those bullets has returned to me several times and I still find it incredible that none hit us.
A VISIT WITH MY BROTHER -- [Kevin Kelley - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
...We were on our way back to Dogwood when someone came over the radio and said they thought they saw an artillery round lying on the side of the road. By the time we were able to stop the convoy, we had moved about 2 kilometers. The decision was made to send some guys on foot back toward the area to search to make sure. We walked well off the road at a safe distance. We walked a good 1.5 miles back and didn?t see anything. We called one vehicle back with the guy and he took us about ? mile down the road and we saw what he was talking about. It looked to be an old rocket that had been badly damaged. I was really impressed how this guy from C Co. had seen it. It was ...
Shifting Sand -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
...There are many, many types of sand here in Baghdad, and to warehouse them all under one generic word does little to explain the misery they inflict on men and equipment. In some areas the sand has congealed into vast beds of sandstone, the surface marred by deep cracks whose depths seem to swallow all light. In other areas the sand shares an uneasy coexistence with fertile soil, evidenced by stunted copses of ragged weeds. Then there is the course, tumbled, thick grained sand that would be immediately recognizable to anyone who has walked a coastline. This is the hateful grit that in a true sandstorm lashes the earth like a cracking, hissing whip.
'There's Something Happening Here . . .' -- The Adventures of Chester]
Operation Quick Strike: Neither Quick, Nor a just a Strike
Things are about to change dramatically in Anbar province.
As both Wretchard (here, here, and here) and Bill Roggio have noted, Operation Quick Strike has begun.
The question is, ...
Fallouja May Be In Rebel Sights -- (Los Angeles Times)...John Hendren
Nine months after U.S. and Iraqi troops killed an estimated 1,000 insurgents here in a battle that also cost more than 70 American lives, intelligence suggests that rebels are trying to filter back into the former capital of Iraq's guerrilla movement.
Few Signs Of Enemy Turn Up In Search -- (Miami Herald)...Tom Lasseter, Knight Ridder News Service
...With most of the fighting over after a large-scale invasion of the western Iraq town Friday, the troops in Haqlaniyah spent hours Sunday under a fiery sun looking for an adversary that often shoots and vanishes without a trace.
Marines and Iraqi Forces Repel Insurgent Attacks (AP)...QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
The fighting began about 8 p.m. Friday when insurgents attacked an Iraqi army position with mortar rounds and small-arms fire, the command said. U.S. attack helicopters engaged the insurgents with rockets and gunfire.
At nearly the same time, a suicide attacker drove a truck loaded with explosives into a nearby Iraqi army checkpoint, killing an Iraqi soldier.
A suicide car bomber tried to attack another Iraqi position in the area, but a U.S. tank fired and hit the car, killing the driver and causing the car bomb to explode prematurely, the U.S. command said. Iraqi police said three bystanders were wounded.
Minutes later, ...
Corruption Pervades Government In Basra -- (Boston Globe)...Thanassis Cambanis
The insurgency roiling much of Iraq has not taken hold in this southern metropolis, where Shi'ite Arabs hold sway and religious law is firmly ensconced. Basra is facing a different threat: pervasive, murderous, gangland-style corruption..
Iraqis Step Up Effort To Finish Constitution -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
Greeting each other with handshakes and embraces, some of Iraq's most powerful Shiite and Kurdish leaders gathered Sunday at a private resident in Baghdad in an effort to hammer out disputes that threaten to block completion of a national constitution by the Aug. 15 deadline.
Good News & Bad News From Condi -- (New York Post)...Dan Mangan
American forces are incapable of completely wiping out the insurgency on the battlefield in Iraq, but the United States is beating the terrorists in the equally important "political" war over the country's stability, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Stay The Course, Mr. President -- (Los Angeles Times)...Frederick W. Kagan
Despite what you may have read, the military situation in Iraq today is positive ? far better than it ever was when we were fighting guerrillas in Vietnam, or when the Soviets were fighting the Afghan mujahedin, or in almost any other major insurgency of the 20th century.
LOST DOG!!! -- [Fire Power Forward - in Afghanistan] EDITORS NOTE: There is a trick to reading this post, I'm not sure if this is done on purpose, so if so I'll let you figure out the trick.
3 legs, Brown with some patches of fur missing, tail cut short from lawn mower accident, blind in one eye. Answers to the name of "Lucky"
So this might be a bit of gallows humor, but "Lucky's" human counterpart showed up at a US Installation the other day.
Chapman PRT in the Khowst area reported the other day that a man with one arm and one eye showed up at the front gate allegedly seeking medical attention when he produced a grenade, pulled the pin and held it waiting to see 80 virgins promised to all suicide bombers. He's still waiting.
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Weekend -- [Miserable Donuts - back from Afghanistan]
This is "Rambo". He is a local from the north-east of Kabul - found at the front gate of Camp Phoenix. Camp Phoenix is one of the prime locations for training the Afghan National Army. At Camp Phoenix, soldiers like the Signaleer are turning tough Afghan fighters into tough, professional, Afghan soldiers.
Building roads means freedom -- [Disgruntled Grunt]
...With elections on the horizon, extending transportation routes into more rural areas of Afghanistan will play an essential role in encouraging the democratic process. Election dates have been pushed back twice due at least in part to the logistical difficulties of coordinating between provinces. Success in road construction here means not only making day to day life easier for the citizens; it facilitates the success of the first democratically elected government in Afghanistan.
Troops Target Most-Wanted Warlord -- (New York Daily News)...James Gordon Meek
U.S. commanders are stepping up the hunt for the obscure warlord whose thugs gunned down a team of Navy SEALs and downed their rescuers' Chinook helicopter, killing all aboard.
Looking For A Bomb Or A Smile -- (San Francisco Chronicle)...Phil Sands
In the searing heat of summer, First Platoon of 82nd Airborne's 1-325 Bravo Company got an ice-cold reception as it rolled through the picturesque Afghan village of Hasan Khil.
Exclusive: CIA Commander: We Let bin Laden Slip Away -- (Newsweek)...Michael Hirsh
...But in a forthcoming book, the CIA field commander for the agency's Jawbreaker team at Tora Bora, Gary Berntsen, says he and other U.S. commanders did know that bin Laden was among the hundreds of fleeing Qaeda and Taliban members. Berntsen says he had definitive intelligence that bin Laden was holed up at Tora Bora?intelligence operatives had tracked him?and could have been caught. "He was there," Berntsen tells NEWSWEEK.
Super Scorpio And The Lucky Seven -- [Florida Cracker]
What a relief that there was a happy ending to the Russian sub story. It's good to see that their last submarine disaster taught them the wisdom of asking for help when they're in a complete jam.
The cloud of gloom that hovers over Putin like Pigpen's dirt is going to be even darker than usual. He's not going to be calling for three cheers for the Anglosphere.
Iran And Syria Talk About Need For Unity -- (New York Times)...Associated Press
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, played host to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria on Sunday and reiterated that the two countries should build stronger ties to protect their region from "threats."
Detainees under Harry Potter's spell -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
Harry Potter's worldwide popularity is so broad-based that it has become favorite reading for Islamic terror suspects at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay.
U.S. And North Korea Blame Each Other For Stalemate In Talks -- (New York Times)...Jim Yardley
North Korea and the United States on Sunday each blamed the other after nearly two weeks of six-nation negotiations deadlocked over the issue of "peaceful use" nuclear programs.
Open Letter To Cindy Sheehan
Dear Mrs. Cindy Sheehan,
I read with interest your story as told by CNN. Losing a child is a very difficult event to have to deal with. While I have never lost a child, I know what it?s like to lose a friend in combat. I am a soldier who served in Iraq and was fortunate enough to make it home. It was because of the sacrifice of people like your son that I did so. I sympathize with your loss and pray that our Heavenly Father can soothe your soul and open your heart to the plan He has laid out for Casey at His right hand.
Blackhawk Down?the Video Game -- [Froggy Ruminations]]
Uh, excuse me, but I?m pretty sure that this is not something that Delta guys and Rangers are going to be thrilled to hear about. Let me count the ways that this is totally inappropriate and disrespectful. Initially, it seems to me that making a video game about one of the most significant combat losses in the history of Army SOF is at a minimum distasteful.
Warning Order -- [Argghhh!]
ALCON,
In accordance with Commander's Directive of 07 AUG 05, the undersigned assumes BlogControl.
Hang on--it may be a bumpy ride...
Bill
Now, about that Warning Order:
1. SITUATION.
a. Denizenne Fuzzybear Lioness entered on a quest last week to provide computer accessibility to veterans with injuries that temporarily or permanently prevent them from using a conventionally-equipped computer. Her latest update references the need for a name for the project -- Admiral of the Moat Fleet Boquisucio has contributed The SFC Charles V. Ziegenfuss Heroes? Electronically-Assisted Reach to Text Project (The SFC Ziegenfuss HEART Project); other candidates include Getting Injured Veterans Electronically-connected (Project GIVE) and a variation, Getting Injured Veterans Electronically Reconnected (Project GIVER).
Tips for Soldiers Preparing to Deploy -- [Assuption of command - in Iraq]
COL (Ret) Austin Bay made a visit to Iraq recently (as a civilian) and was asked by an NCO what kind of stuff to bring.
Advice For A Troop Deploying To Iraq
He has some good advice let's go through them Point by Point and at the end I will add a few things of my own.
OpSec and idiots -- Six More Months - in Iraq]
You may have noticed the disclaimer at the bottom of the page that states ?In accordance with Multi National Corps-Iraq policy, this website has been registered with my command.? The requirement for this registration is a little controversial among Milbloggers in Iraq, because lets face it, on occasion we dis on our commanders, and we would rather they didn?t read our words. I admit that knowing the boss might be reading does cause me to hold my tongue a little, or at least choose my words wisely. I understand the reasons for the requirement, and as long as it is not used as a tool to censor viewpoints and opinions, I have no problem with it.
Keep an Iraqi-American on TV! -- [The Truth Laid Bear]
Did you know that there's a national, network television show with an Iraqi-American central character?
It's true: the CBS reality show Big Brother, a guilty pleasure of mine, has as a contestant Kaysar, an Iraqi-American graphics designer from Irvine, CA. He's proven to be a formidable competitor in the game during the first few weeks, and seems like a genuinely intelligent and decent fellow.
The Carnival of Podcasts will be HERE Tomorrow!! [A Soldiers' angel - Holly Aho]
Just a reminder that the new Carnival of Podcasts is officially starting tomorrow with the first carnival here! The blog IMAO.us will be entering a podcast (they are great at it...go visit their site to hear their archived podcasts), and may also host a carnival in the future. We have several entries so far which is pretty good considering not many people do them yet and I'm not Instapundit for getting the word out about the new carnival (hint, hint).
On Misbehavior...
I would like to show more people the beheading videos that I have seen. Not the one or two that have slipped out onto the internet. Rather, I would like to show judgemental journalists, politicians and lawyers the dozens of them that I have watched, one right after another. The sequence of events is almost always the same. The hostage pleads hysterically for their life, begs their government to withdraw it's troops (if the hostage is not Iraqi), and screams that he doesn't want to die. Then the masked murderers behind him, read a prepared islamo-fascist diatribe, grab the victim by the hair and saw his head off with a large knife. We found these videos in houses we have raided.
One note on Scott Gold, the reporter who has been following our Battalion an airing our dirty laundry since we went through our pre-deployment training in Texas: He only writes about us if the news is negative....
The Beverly Kennedys -- [The Gunn Nutt]
Let me tell you a little story 'bout a man named Ted
A rich northern Yank drank so much his nose was red
And then one day he was barking at the Senate
When up popped a voice said "man, you just don't get it"
Gitmo, that is
terrorists
bad guys (pics)
InstaPundit's fourth bloggiversary
TOMORROW will be InstaPundit's fourth bloggiversary. (Click here to see what I was writing about back when it started).
How has the blog changed? You may have a clearer sense of that than I do. I think it's become a bit less opinionated -- the older entries were mostly opinion; now I'm more likely to link to somone's actual reporting, or to an item of news without commenting on it much. I tend to express my longer opinion-oriented takes elsewhere, at TechCentralStation or GlennReynolds.com, rather than here at the blog.
Peter Jennings Dies at 67 -- (ABC News)
..."Peter died with his family around him, without pain and in peace. He knew he'd lived a good life," his wife and children said in a statement.
In announcing Jennings' death to his ABC colleagues, News President David Westin wrote:
"For four decades, Peter has been our colleague, our friend, and our leader in so many ways. None of us will be the same without him.
"As you all know, Peter learned only this spring that the health problem he'd been struggling with was lung cancer. With Kayce, he moved straight into an aggressive chemotherapy treatment. He knew that it was an uphill struggle. But he faced it with realism, courage, and a firm hope that he would be one of the fortunate ones. In the end, he was not.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Brief Uncertainty -- [A day in Iraq - in Iraq]
After sitting in one place for a while, letting the IA soldiers search the area and pass out some leaflets, we began to move again. The humvee I was gunning in brought up the rear, with me facing our six, looking back over the area from which we came. I was busy moving around in my seat, looking left and right and to our rear, smelling the black shit water and trash, scanning windows and rooftops, trying to consume as much water as the amount that was quickly leaving my body, and BOOM!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - Video of EOD destroying a weapons cache -- [Boots in Baghdah - in Iraq]
This is video of EOD destroying a weapons cache that was found because an Iraqi woman had the courage to come forward and give us some good information. To read the details go to: http://bootsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/2005/04/courage.html
To see the explosion fast forward to about four minutes and forty seconds. And...be advised, there is some explicit language. Thanks to CPL Wes Mathews for taking the video.
11 days, 11 dead: Time to fight back -- [The 48th Goes to War - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - in Iraq]
Camp Striker, Iraq ? In the thick of night, most of this camp is dark and desolate, save the southern end, where the faded royal-blue tarps of the Georgia Army National Guard? unit are lit up in the glare of headlights of Humvees and Bradley fighting vehicles.
Iraq Pictures Saturday, August 06, 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Soldiers with B Company, 5th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, cordon off the area of one of the targeted house where they captured one of the targeted terrorists. (pics)
Another Baghdad morning -- [Iraq Hack - a freelance reporter in Iraq]
Sounds of gunfire and explosions are not unusual in the capitol: unless there are fatalities, particularly security force casualties, the vast majority go unreported.
Advice For A Troop Deploying To Iraq -- [Austin Bay]
In early July I received an email (via Creators Syndicate) from a retired Army Reserve Sergeant First Class. He had volunteered to go back on active duty. He asked me for a list of tips ? what you won?t learn at your deployment base. I sent him a quick list.
Syria and Iran Make Nice -- [Strategy Page]
The average number of IED (?Improvised Explosive Device? ? mostly. car bombs and roadside bombs) attacks in Iraq are down, and the percentage of attacks that are intercepted has been rising. But the casualty rate from IEDs has been rising as well. The primary reason for this is that the terrorists are using increasingly larger bombs. In addition, some attacks have been coordinated so that automatic weapons or RPG fire is used to draw attention away from the actual bomb, thus making it more likely that the distracted drivers will take their vehicles close enough to the bomb to get hurt.
Manifest Destiny -- A Soldiers Thoughts - in Iraq]
With our "War on Terror" we have our Manifest Destiny. It must be our God given right to bring war to all those who oppose democracy and liberty, Right? If you don't have democracy we will bring it to you by force, and by God you will like it! That must be how the world sees us, not as liberators but as crusaders with our shining swords and white horses. We who are prepared to kill in order to bring not Christianity this time but Democracy.
one year later... -- [My War - CBFTW] HT: Blonde Sagacity
The other day I woke up, got out of bed, and for some unknown reason I made my way over to the window. When I looked out, I noticed a small little blond hair girl, dressed up in and outfit that would be appropriate for Sunday church, standing there on the sidewalk. I wondered why she was all dressed up. With nothing on but just my boxers and my Army dog tags around my neck, which I still wear to this day, I watched her as she tried to walk across the street. Then out of nowhere, an old beat up Ford Pick up truck, driving way over the speed limit, slammed on its breaks and smashed right into this little girl as she was trying to cross, which sent her flying like a little rag doll onto the pavement. I looked back at the girl, and she was dead.
Shaped Charge IEDs - A new weapon against US Forces -- [ROFA Six]
About three months ago, the terrorists in Iraq shifted tactics and targets once again. I don?t think the mainstream media have noticed yet, but undoubtedly the military has.
HAGGLING OVER FARM EQUIPTMENT -- [2005 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
These farmers wanted all the equiptment to go to their operation. I had to explain to them that I must be fair to all of the farmers not just a few. Judging by their looks they must be use to getting their way...
Fallujah fuel farm gets facelift -- [Live in Iraq]
The Marines of Bulk Fuel, A Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, augmenting 8th ESB in direct support of Combat Logistics Bn. 8, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), have begun construction on an improved bulk fuel distribution site, or fuel farm, here recently.
Operation Quick Strike- Iraq -- [AubreyJ.org]
On Wednesday, August 3rd, US Marines and Iraqi soldiers began positioning their units for ?Operation Quick Strike.? Today August 5th, around 1000 Marines, Sailors and Iraqi soldiers have moved into the city of Haqliniyah, Iraq and the surrounding area. Haqliniyah is about seven kilometers southwest of Haditha, where 20 of our Marines were killed in two widely reported attacks this week..
Seriously, the brass is hot. [Six More Months - in Iraq]
Even in Iraq, Army training continues, and the best Army training involves getting to shoot, any weapon, anywhere. Today I got to fire on an Iraqi army rifle range, quite a change from the huge automated pop-up target ranges soldiers normally train on. Here it?s just a berm, a few lines of sandbags, and target racks made of old pallets held up by metal fence posts. But marksmanship is still marksmanship, and while the automated ranges are great, it was a...
In The SandBox -- [Blonde Sagacity]
The writer of ?Army can learn from Marines? (letter, July 22) contends that the Army asked the Marines to return to Iraq because we could not handle the situation, so we called them. Could it be that the joint operations doctrine called for units that are more suited for urban operations? Could it be that the Marines are better trained for urban operations? After all, we spent years training for open-land warfare for larger wars that thankfully never happened.
Or did the writer feel that the fat soldier was inferior to him and he naturally assumed...
Military Performance in Iraq -- [The Daily Kos]
...But perhaps knowing that Bush is at fault, we have not considered critically whether our military is performing as it should in this impossible mission. Certainly, BushCo has much of the blame here as well, having given the military inadequate manpower and resources.
Elusive sniper saps US morale in Baghdad -- (The Guardian)...Rory Carroll in Baghdad
They have never seen Juba. They hear him, but by then it's too late: a shot rings out and another US soldier slumps dead or wounded.
Guardsmen Took 'Rent' From Iraqi Businesses -- (Los Angeles Times)...Scott Gold
California Army National Guard troops sought unauthorized, off-the-books "rent" from Iraqi-owned businesses inside Baghdad's Green Zone to raise money for a "soldiers fund," military officials and sources within the troops' battalion said Friday.
Plans To Trim U.S. Forces In Iraq Reflect Administration Concerns -- (Baltimore Sun)...Tom Bowman
Plans to reduce American forces in Iraq next year reflect the Bush administration's growing concerns about the war: worries being driven as much by U.S. domestic concerns - an overstretched military, recruiting woes, casualties and costs - as the security situation in the war-torn country, according to senior military and government officials.
Jalawla Blast Shows Not All Iraq's Suicide Bombers Are Foreigners -- (London Financial Times)...Awadh al-Taiee and Neil MacDonald
...Jalawla's first apparent suicide bombing also added to growing hints about a new force in Iraq's elusive insurgency: the home-grown Iraqi suicide bomber.
Top Cleric: Constitution Must Respect Shariah -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, yesterday said the country's new constitution must not contradict Islamic Shariah law, causing concern among Iraqi women that their hard-won freedoms will be eroded.
Battling Friendly Fire -- (MSNBC.com)...Michael Moran
...Improvements in command and control systems, training and the deployment of primitive ?blue force tracking? systems like reflective tape on coalition soldiers, are credited with helping to lower the friendly fire rate during the push on Baghdad. Now, however, the military believes it is on the threshold of a breakthrough in this area as it prepared final tests on new systems that would give U.S. and allied forces the ability to recognize each other almost instantly without giving away their position to the enemy.
Public Backing For War Slipping In US -- (London Financial Times)...Demetri Sevastopulo
US support for the war in Iraq is continuing to slip as the number of US casualties mounts.
An Early Exit Strategy For Iraq -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Frank E. Maestrone
Despite President Bush's repeated statements that the United States will stay in Iraq as long as it takes to assure a democratic Iraq, serious consideration is being given by both the American and British military authorities to an exit strategy. Both are reported to be planning substantial withdrawal of troops from Iraq in 2006.
Bush's Truth Decay -- (New York Daily News)...Kenneth R. Bazinet
One of President Bush's most attractive traits has been his reputation for straight talk, but a new poll yesterday found that fewer than half of Americans think he's honest.
Another fine mess you've gotten us into, Stanley... -- [Martin In Afghanistan]
One of our replacements arrived a couple of days ago, so the last two days have been driving him around and getting him acquainted with the area and the people. We had a hundred new desks delivered to the school we built, so the students wouldn't have to sit on the floor. I met today with the contractor who built the desks for us and he is going to make 6 teacher's desks and 6 blackboards for us. The price seems to be right, and he showed me pictures of the desks and blackboards. They look fine, so I ordered them on the spot.
Completion of Kandahar to Tarin Kowt Road near -- [Centcom]
One of the most encouraging successes of the United States Military presence in Afghanistan is the approaching completion of the TK Road, a road bringing together the cities of Kandahar and Tarin Kowt. Coalition forces have been dedicated to connecting Afghanistan by road, a task that has spanned 14 months and 117 kilometers.
I Killed US Troops, British Al-Qaeda Gunman Claims -- (London Times)...Daniel McGrory
A MASKED British gunman claiming to be fighting with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan appeared on an Arabic satellite channel yesterday describing how he killed a team of US Special Forces
Two U.S. soldiers drowned in Afghan accident -- (Reuters)
KABUL - Two U.S. servicemen were drowned and two escaped when their Humvee slid into a flood-swollen river while on patrol in eastern Afghanistan, the military said on Saturday.
A statement said the accident happened on Thursday -- the same day a U.S. soldier was killed when his convoy was ambushed in the south of the country.
Russian Sub Down(updated) -- [Smash]
AN INTERNATIONAL RESCUE EFFORT is underway Friday to rescue the crew of a Russian submarine resting on the floor of the Pacific Ocean near the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Submariners in Peril -- [The Bow Ramp]
My heart goes out to those guys trapped on the bottom off Petropavlovsk. I pray they can be rescued. For any of you dropping by who are unfamiliar with submarines and submarine rescue, I recommend you go here for info about what was the first successful rescue of trapped submariners. Their lives were saved by a lot of hard work, luck, and the genius of this man. "Swede" Momsen was one hell of a man.
The "Peace Dividend" Benefits Former Enemy -- [Chaotic Synaptic Activity]
Today's news: Russian mini-sub is stuck in 625 ft of water with a crew of seven, with air to last about a day. If you need technical details, get to Bubblehead's Blog - "The Stupid Shall Be Punished", or Chapomatic's Blog. Both are "plugged in" guys who earned their "dolphins." Those are but two who know the business of the "Silent Service."
Seven Trapped on Russian Bathyscaphe -- [The Stupid Shall be Punished]
Seven Russian sailors are trapped on board a Russian military deep-diving submersible 50-100 miles south of "Petr", with enough air to last until sometime this weekend; they reportedly got trapped in a fishing net of some type. Japanese ships are apparently on the way, and the Russians have alreay contacted the U.S. for help. I would imagine the DSRV Mystic is probably getting ready to roll from San Diego.
The bathyscaphe, apparently called an AS-28 "Priz", is reportedly about 44 feet long and normally carries a crew of three; it is carrying seven as it took part in a combat training exercise.
Racing To Rescue Sub -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Gregory Alan Gross
A massive plane carrying submarine rescue specialists and two robotic submersibles took off from North Island Naval Air Station yesterday and headed for Russia in a race against time to save seven Russian sailors trapped in a mini-submarine off that country's Pacific coast.
Atomic Bomb: 60 Years Ago the Right Decision by a Democrat [GM's Corner]
Today, August 6, 2005, marks the sixtieth anniversary of the U.S. dropping an atomic bomb over Hiroshima. For years, there have been debates over President Truman's decision to use the weapon, but those debates have based their views on incomplete information and, sometimes, the inappropriate application of today's standards. With the recent release of previously classified information, the correctness of the decision comes into focus.
From the Trinity Site to Hiroshima -- [GI Korea Blog]
Today is the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima. There is much controversy centering around whether the US should of dropped the atomic bomb on Japan to end World War II. In this current Focus On series I will discuss this issue along with providing the historical context that went into the decision to use nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima Survivors Celebrate Life-Saving Atomic Bomb -- [Scrapple Face - Satire]
Japanese survivors of the atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima marked the 60th anniversary of the first use of nuclear weapons in war by celebrating the end of the totalitarian rule of Emperor Hirohito, whose blind ambition caused 1.5 million Japanese military casualities and some 672,000 civilian casualities.
Hiroshima And Nagasaki, The Original Ground Zero -- (Washington Post)...Neely Tucker
...Images from "the 11000 series," as archivists refer to the 30 hours of footage shot by the crew of Lt. Col. Daniel A. McGovern, make a rare public appearance on television tonight, the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The worst terror attacks -- (Aljazzera magazine)
REVIEWS: On the 60th anniversary of the attacks, questions are being asked about was it necessary to use atomic weapons.
The Hiroshima Cover-Up -- (Baltimore Sun)...Amy Goodman and David Goodman
A STORY THAT the U.S. government hoped would never see the light of day finally has been published, 60 years after it was spiked by military censors. The discovery of reporter George Weller's firsthand account of conditions in post-nuclear Nagasaki sheds light on one of the great journalistic betrayals of the last century: the cover-up of the effects of the atomic bombing on Japan.
The bomb didn't win it -- [The Guardian]
Dominick Jenkins: The idea that it was militarily necessary to drop the atomic bomb in 1945 is now discredited.
Hiroshima remembers atomic bomb -- (BBC News)
Hiroshima commemorates the moment an atomic bomb exploded above the Japanese city, 60 years ago.
A Call To Arms -- [The Jump Blog]
am sure that by now we have all seen news reports of the despicable actions of Jim Phelps. While every single thing he does is odious, I was looking at their schedule and I see that his group is planning to picket a soldier?s funeral at Arlington on Monday morning. Special Forces Sgt. Jason Palmerton?s funeral is in their sights. That is simply beyond the pale. For more than one hundred and forty years Arlington has been the most hallowed resting place of our war dead. For me, and I am sure for many of you, it is sacred ground.
THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA TOUR: Retired Guard Member?s Support Effort Boosts Morale of Soldiers and Families with Major Star Power -- [GX:The Nat'l Guard Experience]
After six years of service, 1LT Robert Rosenthal left the NY National Guardճ 101st Signal Battalion in 1966 and set his sights on Hollywood. He made a name for himself as a prominent entertainment lawyer and retired in 2000 at the age of 63. But like many Americans, after 9/11, a new chapter would be written in his life. Once again, Rosenthal would enter into the Military landscape.
"Lost another one to ditech!"
I don?t mean to be flippant in using that commercial advertising phrase, but it captures the sense of frustration associated with our apparent inability to hold known terrorist financiers criminally accountable. The latest setback is in a case in Oregon involving Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc. Unable to locate or apprehend the charity?s two principals, Perouz Sedaghaty and Soliman Al-But'he, the US Attorney for the District of Oregon decided to dismiss the charges.
Blair Is Seeking To Curb Radicals Who Preach Hate -- (New York Times)...Alan Cowell
Prime Minister Tony Blair promised new measures on Friday to close down mosques and bar or deport clerics deemed to be fostering hatred and violence, bringing Britain's antiterrorism policy more into line with some of its neighbors' and answering critics who say the country has sheltered Islamic extremists for years.
A Shameful Hypocrisy -- (Washington Post)...Colbert I. King
I am mystified by the conservative commentators who voice their support for racial profiling as a way to catch terrorist suspects. These pundits support the authorities screening or otherwise keeping a close eye on mainly young Muslim men of North African, Middle Eastern or South Asian descent, because an overwhelming number of terrorists hail from those regions.
Who? Me? I've never been "Over There" [Faces from the Front - JD's Blog]
...After barely making it through the first episode of "Over There", I cringed when JD sent me an email asking me to watch and comment on the second episode.
After all, I didn't like the first episode, and was not looking forward to more of the same in the second episode. Besides, what do I know about war?
Aug 5th Podcast - The Weekend Edition! --[A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
So here it is, the August 5th weekend edition of the podcast, and I hope you enjoy it! Podcast includes a great story about Kyle (marine injured in Iraq) and his unexpected late night visitor at the hospital - you gotta hear it! - as well as a little bit about my miniature paintings sent to military members and their families and how YOU can get one for FREE if you are deployed or a family member is....along with a few funny stories.
Malware exploits U.S. army deaths -- [jACK aRMY]
By JACK KAPICA [h/t jumpmaster france on WWW.NCOTEAM.ORG]
A new widespread spam-based virus has security experts at Sophos Labs worried that many people might fall for it.
The spam poses as a breaking news report from The Associated Press about the deaths of U.S. Marines in Iraq. The e-mail contains a link that infects a user's computer with a Trojan horse program, leaving the machine vulnerable to attackers.
Russia: You can talk about us.... -- [No Pundit Intended]
...but you can't talk without us.
By now, everyone has heard about ABC losing their accreditation in Russia after airing an interview with Chechen terrorist warlord Shamil Besayev.
In Russia, anyone who wishes to work as a journalist must have ministry level permission to do so. This began in 1998.
Welcome to the Nuthouse? -- [The Jump Blog]
I?d like to alert everyone to a new blog ?Where I Stand? by a good friend of mine and long time Special Forces soldier, Francis Marion. In the Interest of full disclosure I have known Francis for several years now and we worked together on the America?s Army Blog Project, back when I worked for that entity*.
I was impressed with his writing back then and have been hopeful that he would dip his toe into larger blog waters and he has. For some of his older writing from that time period you can read these:...
I Missed My Blogiversary -- [The Jump Blog]
...I was a very light blogger until the election cycle reached a near frenzied pitch. By the day after the election I was a full blown blog addict. I loved the immediacy of the medium, and it strokes my ego. I like to monopolize conversations (just ask Mrs. Falcon) and endlessly discuss topics that are of interest to me. Blogging allows me to spend countless hours talking to myself about things I like to discuss with no interruption or dissension.
Froggy Turns One -- [Froggy Ruminations]
My first blogiversary is tomorrow and I must say that time flies when you are having fun. It has been fun for the most part, and I am grateful and humbled by the support shown me by my readers. This all started out as a way for me to vent about the MSM and John Kerry?s challenge to the President and the GWOT, but it has become much more than that.
Terrorist on Tape Threatens to Terrorize -- [ScrappleFace]
Noted terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri, of the al Qaeda terror group, announced today that his terror cells would use terrifying violent acts to terrorize people in Great Britain and elsewhere.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. 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. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Monday -- [Michael Yon - freelance journalist in Iraq]
Mosul, Iraq
The three most dangerous places in Iraq are Baghdad, Mosul, and Al Anbar province. While most of Iraq is functioning peacefully, a civil war sizzles and pops in these important areas.
The key to long term stability in Iraq is the Iraqi Security Forces, which are comprised of the Police, Army, Navy, Border Police and similar organizations. From a ground?s eye perspective, the ISF progress is remarkable. In Mosul, for instance, the ISF is fielding increasing personnel, and operations. Their success has had a few unanticipated consequences. US Army Captain Paul Carron recently reported that so many undercover police are operating in Mosul, that they have been arresting each other, sometimes accusing each other of possessing fake ID cards.
Tariq Aziz confesses "The US didn't give Saddam the green light to invade Kuwait". -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Tariq Aziz's lawyer Mr. Badee Aarif said that he met his client 4 days ago and he saw that Aziz's health wasn't in a good condition.
Anyway, that's not my zone of interest but the interesting thing to me is that when Aziz was asked by his American interrogators about if the American ambassador in Baghdad encouraged Saddam or gave him the "green light" to invade Kuwait back in 1990, Aziz answered with "NO" and said that this was merely a rumor and this is according to his lawyer who gave an interview to the Iraqi paper Al-Mashriq.
Winging It -- [MOAB - freelance journalist in Iraq]
Late last week I transferred to the Marine Air Wing to learn more about air support, which is so vital for troops on the ground. My first day with the new group of Marines began with a visit to general?s office for an overview of their role in this war. Marines are flying a variety of aircraft over Iraq, such as CH-46s, CH-53s and Cobras, and have pulled in the C-130 J for its first combat deployment.
THE FIFTH MAN -- [ajc.com in - 48th Goes to War - in Iraq]
The Humvees were ready, and so were they.
They took their places in the last of the three vehicles setting out in a convoy. They sat with the ease that comes from training and bunking together. Since leaving the United States more than two months ago, the five had become a squad, five pals on one machine.
They knew their roles, knew their purpose: another patrol keeping Route Aeros, an east-west highway in the southwest sector of Baghdad, open for traffic. It was an unfriendly road, and it was theirs.
I Left Iraq -- [Howdy's Blog - in Iraq]
I got the nod. I got out. I got to leave. I found out just a few short days ago that I had been approved to depart Iraq, re-join the United States Marine Corps active component and continue my service. This may sound like an OK prospect, but to me, it is monumental. I have serve 15 years in this organization. I equate it to being able to play football your entire life. It is the ultimate team sport.
"Welcome to Abu Ghraib" -- [Ghraib Danger - in Iraq]
Those were words uttered by Sgt Royal, welcoming a US convoy to the FOB, but more significantly, welcoming a US convoy to the relative safety and comforts courtesy of the US military protection. Sgt Royal works at the FOB gate. I met him yesterday. Like all of the other soldiers here, he is not a hardened, special op-trained, gun-wielding machine. None of them are. Unless you know the soldiers or work with them, at least this held true for me when I was back in the States, I was under the perception that soldiers are beyond human. That they are people somehow bred for soldier work. They don't have to sleep as much, eat as much, or enjoy life as much as the ordinary person.
Back to the Basics [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
The infantry is a branch like no other. It?s a course, testosterone soaked family where the adamantine bonds of brotherhood are forged and sanctified in bright misery. In a world where technological innovations continue to transform human interaction the essential core of the Infantry remains unchanged and unchangeable.
5 months 7 days -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
I am not alive... enough, I am not dead. I exist here in a waking, walking, sleeping coma. My dreams give me strength, my strength not reality. Today I slept for 15 hours, the result of a migraine ongoing for 3 days. The pain of it, giving me a reality that I could taste, metallic in my mouth. Tangible to me, pressure building in my head, punishing me for each of the things I look upon, for each thought in my head, for standing, sitting, moving, existing. Sleeping induced by prescribed medication my only escape from everything. As I lay in the infirmary watching the IV drip into my arm I could feel almost instantly the effects of the medicine as it entered my vein...
Dr. Evil calls for US withdrawl from Iraq -- [Dan Darling - Winds of Change]
Well that took a little longer than I had expected (maybe he was waiting for a smaller attack in Italy or Denmark), but al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has a new videotape out in which he came about as close as you're going to get to a member of the al-Qaeda leadership taking credit for one of their terrorist attacks, in the case the bombings in London.
Faces Of Iraq -- [Sentinel 47 - in Iraq]
the children, they smile -- some barefoot, some sandaled. Four sisters and a brother cling tightly to the lanky bringer of candies and hugs, the pale-skinned stranger, the soldier, the man. Mother steps aside a moment, allowing her daughters and son to receive a permanent impression of manhood, of provision, of courage.
English Language School -- [Mad Canuck]
Let's take a break from serious topics for a few minutes. I saw this picture on another forum, of a sign for a foreign language school in a Middle-Eastern country, and I had to close my office door because I was laughing so hard.
Iraqi Engineer Brothers Rebuild Homeland -- [Defend America]
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2005 ? So what?s it like living in Baghdad today? Just ask two Iraqi brothers who are engineers and work for Gulf Region Central District
Fallujah fuel farm gets facelift, improved firefighting compatibility -- [Marine Corps News]
The Marines of Bulk Fuel, A Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, augmenting 8th ESB in direct support of Combat Logistics Bn. 8, 2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward), have begun construction on an improved bulk fuel distribution site, or fuel farm, here recently.
Iraqi U16 Team Arrives in UK -- [Iraqi Expat - an Iraqi in London]
Fifteen Iraqi youngsters arrived in the UK on 1st of August 2005 to take part in the annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival at the Royal Holloway in Surrey, England.
Update Iraqi U16 Team won their first match against an British team from Oxfordshire, 3 - NIL, in the Arsenal International Soccer Festival.
Iraq Pictures Aug -05- 05
Pictures of soldiers, marines, air force, sailors, contractors and civilians serving in Iraq.
Bush: U.S. to stay in Iraq despite deaths -- (USA Today)
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) ? President Bush, facing a grim and growing death toll in Iraq, said Thursday that threats of more violence by al-Qaeda's second-in-command would not intimidate the United States into retreat.
Papers Show Saddam Snatched $1bn From Bank A Day Before Invasion -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Thomas Harding
Saddam Hussein ordered Iraq's central bank to withdraw $1 billion for his youngest son the day before the invasion to stop it falling into foreign hands, according to a leaked letter apparently written by the former dictator.
Fighting Back -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Hannah Allam and Richard Chin
The Iraqi government yesterday announced a plan for improved border protection and intelligence-gathering, and for the formation of an elite Iraqi force to prepare the embattled country for an eventual drawdown of American troops.
Iran Shipping Iraqi Rebels Powerful Bombs, NBC Says -- (Washington Times)...United Press International
Iran is shipping more powerful and sophisticated military-caliber bombs to Iraqi guerrillas for use against U.S.-led coalition forces, NBC News reported yesterday.
Jones: U.S. Has No Iraq Playbook -- (Jacksonville (NC) Daily News)...Chris Mazzolini
...The way Jones, R-N.C., sees it, the war in Iraq is being fought without a playbook and no clear path into the end zone. That's why, in June, Jones proposed a resolution calling for President Bush to establish a plan for withdrawing American forces from Iraq.
Iraqi Women Urge U.S. To Protect Their Rights -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Iraqi women took their fight for equal rights to American lawmakers yesterday, urging them to use their influence to see that women's rights are protected in the new constitution.
Pre-Emptive Peace -- (Newsweek) ...Christopher Dickey
Washington should set a clear timetable for complete American withdrawal from Iraq.
The latest Marine deaths illustrate yet again why Bush's refusal to set a clear timetable for withdrawl from Iraq is a terrible mistake.
U.N. condemns attacks in Iraq as 'horrific' -- (The Washington Times)...Betsy Pisik
NEW YORK -- The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to condemn recent "shameless and horrific attacks" in Iraq and called on Iraq'sneighbors to halt the flow of terrorists and weapons.
The U.S.- and British-sponsored resolution "condemns without reservation and in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Iraq, and regards any act of terrorism as a threat to peace and security."
Afghan Trekking -- [Afghan Reality]
Afghan female mountaineers listen to a speech during a ceremony to mark the graduation of 22 Afghan Trekking Guides in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005. Afghanistan has struggled to surmount decades of war and poverty. Now, newly trained trekking guides will help visitors climb the country's majestic peaks in an effort to revive tourism (pic)
A Trip to the Moon.... Continued -- [Fr. Daniel Mode - in Afghanistan]
...As we were packing up to leave and the people were waving good-bye, one young girl, I would guess a young teenager followed me down the street to my humvee. She always stayed about 10 feet behind me and when I stopped she stopped. Turning around I waved and smiled; she waved and smiled?I walked she walked. Finally getting to the humvee one of the soldiers gave her a couple of pens (the kids seem to love pens) and normally once they receive a gift they run off happy, but not her. She just stood there alone (which is also very rare?the Afghan people are always together and especially the women) and she smiled. She wanted to see us off and while we could not communicate with words?I had the feeling she was speaking loud and clear.
Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day (49) -- [Miserable Donuts]
A girl in Deh-e Hazara, Bagram District, Parwan Province. I don't really have any way to add anything to this one, by way of commentary. (pic)
Insurgents in Afghanistan Target Civilians -- [Defend America]
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2005 ? The numbers of attacks on U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan "have not significantly increased from this time last year," a senior U.S. military operations officer in Afghanistan told reporters in the Pentagon today via an audio link.
NATO taking over Afghan security in 2006 -- (China Daily) ... Ass. Press
A NATO-led international force is set to expand and will be ready to assume responsibility for security across all of Afghanistan by the end of next year, freeing up many of the 17,600 American troops battling militants here, a NATO general said Thursday, AP reported.
G.I.s' Night In Firefight Hell -- (New York Daily News)...James Gordon Meek
For Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Landazuri, the decision to bail out of his two-man border outpost last month came after the ninth or 10th incoming rocket-propelled grenade finally knocked him to the ground.
Afghanistan's Forgotten War -- (New York Times)...Unattibuted
Pakistan's ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, seems to invest far more energy in explaining his government's tolerance of Taliban activities than he does in trying to shut them down.
what to do -- [From my Position -- at Walter Reed]
I am not exactly sure what I want to write tonight but I really feel the need to post. I suppose it is more screaming into the void, but then again that's what this blog was designed for. Turns out it's a lot slower posting this way then it was when I could type,but it is a lot faster than I can type with my gimpy hands.
I really do need to thank everyone for their outstanding and overwhelming support. I have gotten more letters and cards I can possibly read in a lifetime. Well, that's not true, I suppose in my lifetime I'll be able to read them all, considering nothing has been able to kill me thus far.
INJURY UPDATE FOR JIM -- [USNR ALUNNI - en route to states for care]
I'm sorry for the delay in getting this blog posted . . . the past few days I have been barraged with e-mails and phone calls from everyone anxious to hear what has happened to Jim. Let me start by saying thank you to all the family, friends, co-workers, churches and ministries for their constant prayers over these past two days. The Alunni family and I are eternally grateful for the support from each of you.
Over There--Week Two -- [Baldilocks]
Anyone else watch the second installment of Over There on the FX Channel? (Interesting that the movie Black Hawk Down was on right before it.) I?ve never seen so many unlikable people in one TV show nor heard such a large amount of obnoxiously clich餠dialogue: ?My husband makes mules look cooperative.? Additionally, I?ve never heard so many different people ask God to damn somebody or something so many times in such a short interval of time.
"Over There"....What A Bunch Of Crap -- Warriors Voice]
The new FX drama OVER THERE is a waste of time, at least for those of us who have really been over there. I could not stand to watch more then 5 minutes of the show. It is typical of how Hollywood views those of us who volunteer to serve our country. It is like they cannot understand why young men and women would join the military under our own free will. SO as most of you might have imagined the characters are nothing but college drop outs, criminals, and wack jobs. The Hollywood elite portray us as full of fear, sociopaths, lead by "bone heads", and of course it would not be complete if they did not have an African American soldier who is from the Ghetto, anti-white, and always looking to get high.
It?s Summer Vacation -- (Newsweek)...Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey
But it?s not all downtime at the Western White House. Bush will talk drugs and terror with the Colombian president?and probably take in a new TV show on the Iraq war.
What does the president do with his leisure time in Crawford, Texas, when he?s not clearing brush or riding his bike? One idea might be an hour or two in front of the TV to watch the new 13-part drama ?Over There? on FX.
Al-Qaida is now an idea, not an organisation -- (The Guardian)...Jason Burke
So another blast and, a month or so later, another tape. This time it is Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Egyptian militant who has been the professional partner of Osama bin Laden for the best part of 15 years...
Bush dismisses al-Qaeda warning -- (BBC News)
US President George W Bush has brushed aside demands from Osama Bin Laden's deputy that the US leave Iraq, saying the US would "complete the job" there.
Robert Novak Curses, Walks Off -- [Political Teen]
On CNN?s Inside Politics, Robert Novak walked off the stage after saying ?that?s bullshit? to James Carville. Carville apparently sparked Novak after he said ?He?s [Novak] got to show these right wingers that he?s got a backbone, you know. It?s why the Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching you. Show ?em that you?re tough.?
ACLU Files Suit Over Random Subway Searches -- [Stop the ACLU]
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), the New York chapter of the ACLU, has announced that they intend on filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan today. The suit claims that the random bag searches before boarding the subway system is unconstitutional.
WNBC 4 has a full one sided report complete with video available. I have to warn you though, it?s pure propaganda.
Pentagon Web Site Bans Politics -- (The Washington Post)...Robert MacMillan and Mary Specht
'America Supports You' Intended to Back U.S. Troops
The Defense Department has removed messages containing political commentary from a Web site designed for people to show their support for U.S. forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Most of the postings at America Supports You ( http:americasupportsyou.mil ) express love and encouragement -- "The greatest nation in the world is kept that way by men and women like you," reads one message -- without partisan asides
Sick and Tired -- [Iraqi Expat - an Iraqi in London]
I am getting tired of this. Especially, from sick people who don't seem to have any self-respect or any sense of righteousness, people who praise and or defend animals like Saddam, and people who praise and or defend animals like the Baathists and Islamists who are fighting in Iraq and terrorising Iraqis to bring their fascist murderous regime back. Needless to say, that I am sick of the shameless lowlife Baathists and Islamists.
Howard Dean in Syria? -- [Banter in Atlanter]
Howard Dean George Galloway Goes to Syria
His comments are so absurd and without factual basis that its just plain laughable. It truly is amazing to me that people like this get into office.
Targeting the Dancing Boy and the Demure Girl [Reasoned Audacity]
Matt Drudge is reporting that the New York Times is "investigating" the adoption records of John and Jane Roberts' kids.
Galloway, Lying, Putrid, POS -- [Balloon Juice]
Just got back from the training session, and let?s just say I am in my normal mood. Therefore, this post is dedicated to Andrei.
I present you, George Galloway, hero to the people...
Where's the balance, folks? -- [Watch Your Six]
When I read "news stories" like this one in the mainstream media (MSM) about heavy casualties in a particular Marine battalion, I get pissed off. Yes, it's tragic that 40 Marines from the same battalion have been killed in Iraq since March, but that's the sole focus of the entire story: lots of dead Marines. What about the things that these brave Marines died to accomplish? Where's the reporting on that?
Good news for most but not all
...The AP goes on to report other good economic news, including personal income growing "at a nice clip of 0.5 percent" and factory orders up "a solid 1 percent."
While you and I may cheer the news, it must be a tough day for Princeton economics professor and NY Times columnist Paul Krugman.
Krugman keeps assuring his readers the economy is really in bad shape,
Podcast for Aug 1st - Interview With Patti Patton-Bader! -- A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
It's time for my second podcast, and this is a great one! I had the privilage and pleasure of interviewing the founder of Soldiers Angels, Patti Patton-Bader, for this podcast. Patti is an interesting and fun person, and I know you'll enjoy hearing what she has to say. Want to know how Soldiers Angels was founded, what has been the most difficult and saddest moment for Patti as an angel, and a little about her childhood? The interview covers that and a whole lot more!
Your Humble Blogger on the Radio -- [Iraq War News]
Blogging may be sparse this morning; I'm being interviewed for a radio show.
The topic is media coverage and what the MSM is missing.
I wonder if they know what they're getting into asking me to be interviewed.....
I'll let you know how it goes later!
Clark: Blog 'reports' lack media's credibility -- (DesMoines Register)...Nancy Clark
One Soldier, One Blog, One Punishment -- (FOX News)...Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
Clark was one of hundreds of people in the military who have chronicled their experiences on the Internet on so-called milblogs (search). Since April, all soldiers in the Multinational Corps must register their blogs and allow the content to be monitored quarterly by their commanders to ensure they are not violating operational security and privacy restrictions.
"Bloggers are free to discuss a fairly broad range of topics, give their opinions on virtually anything, as long as they don?t violate obvious security/personal info concerns," said "Greyhawk," a soldier stationed in Germany who runs the popular MudvilleGazette.com blog and who believes the military is generally supportive of milblogs.
Measuring the Blogosphere -- (New York Times)
If the blogosphere continues to expand at its current rate, every person who has Internet access will be a blogger before long, if not an actual reader of blogs.
Know Your Google! Get Better Results! -- [Banter in Atlanter]
Some of you may already be aware of this, but I think most people don't use any where near the full functionality that Google offers through its search engine. Most people just type a couple of words into the text field, hit enter, and hope for the best.
basil's blogging tip [Assuption of Command - in Iraq]
basil has a new blogging tip up. Well maybe it isn't a exactly a blogging tip, it is more like a web design tip. It is good none the less.
It is about avoiding spam in your inbox:
Reducing Spam:
Day 210 - BIG NEWS! -- [Big Al's Army Life - Al's in Iraq]
Whew. Well, this post is going to provide me with a tremendous sense of relief. I have not posted anything until now because I have this total "don't count your chicken's until they're hatched" mentality. But, since things are actually in progress now, I can reveal my secrets - lol. Al will be here this week for his R&R - and we will also be getting married. That's a lot of news, huh?
We have been together a long time - and in July, we were engaged for one year. But, both of us were unsure about getting married before he left for the Sand - but it now feels right to us. We are so excited and thrilled. I will be 'official' before the week is out - yay! I love Al so much - and I'm so thankful to have him in my life and that we will get to move onto the next chapter of our lives together. For OPSEC reasons, I cannot release the date/time of his arrival - but suffice it to say, it will be "SOON". LOL.
Happy Birthday ? US Coast Guard -- [Echo9er]
A big Happy Birthday to the United States Coast Guard. Created in on this date in 1790, the USCG is one of our five armed services. It is also unique in its mission. The initial charter charged the USCG with tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of the federal revenue. Until the Navy Department was established in 1798, it was the nation?s only armed force afloat.
New Arrivals To Fiddler's Green... -- [The Gun Line]
21 Marines Slain...
"And when I get to Heaven,
Saint Peter I will tell:
Another Marine reporting, Sir;
I've spent my time in Hell..."
Semper Fidelis, Marines...
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Technorati Tags: Iraq, afghanistan, Military, Terrorism, MilBlogs, Blogging, Media, News
For those that might possible miss the Dawn Patrol, there is a savior among us.
Holly Aho one of our Soldier's Angels is an angel indeed. She has comprised a Dawn Patrol that may just put me out of business.
I wonder if she'll be available for my upcoming vacation?
You're a doll Holly.
Dawn Patrol was lost just as I was getting ready to publish. Hours of work down the drain. Yeah yeah I should of saved, blah blah blah
Tune in for tomorrow's
Final Dispatch: Steven Vincent Killed -- [Michael Yon - a freelance journalist in Iraq]
This morning there was a knock on my door delivering this news...
I had just contacted Stephen asking when he might come to Mosul.
Voter registration -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
The last few days we have been fairly busy conducting security assessment at voter registration sites in our area of operations. It is getting to be election time again. The national referendum to vote on the Iraqi Constitution is right around the corner in October and the voter registration window just opened.
A Bit of Exploration -- [Hurl's Blog - in Iraq]
I have always loved to explore. I am driven by the insatiable desire to know what's around the next corner, under the next rock, in that hole, cave, or mine, over that hill, in that canyon, etc.... That drive is no less diminished by being deployed here in Iraq.
I have been poking around for some time here and thought I would share some of my little "discoveries." Nothing profound like discovering King Tut's tomb of course, but little things I find interesting.
Rumsfeld at Anaconda -- [Lance in Iraq]
Why that is right down the road:
?The mission of the Multi-National Corps in Iraq is to help create an environment where the democratically-elected Iraqi government and the Iraqi security forces can contain and ultimately defeat the insurgents,? he said.
Concluding his speech, Rumsfeld told the troops that they are part of a mission that has liberated 50 million people from a life of terror, repression and despotism.
EVERYONE IS SAFE AND SOUND -- [Keven Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
Sorry about not being able to write last night. Everyone here is safe and sound though. I won't go into any more details of why no one from Dogwood was sending emails. There wasn't much going on here at Dogwood yesterday except for a few missions. Everyone is still preparing for the other group to get here. This place is growing and growing. I wish I had an overhead pic of this place when we got here in Jan. and now what it looks like. That's even before the toilets and the KBR chow hall gets here. May have to see if we can get one of the helicopters to take one for us. Won't be able to send it now for safety reasons, but would be a great scrapbook item.
Tracework -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
...A few days ago my path seemed brilliantly clear, but as sometimes happens a fork appeared in the road. At first I was stunned that the map I was following no longer matched the terrain. Anger followed a half step behind, and for a few hours I silently raged with a fury that matched the superheated atmosphere. What quenched the flames was a simple but universal truth - sometimes you can?t have what you want. When that happens you can succumb to bitterness and screech at the heavens at the change in circumstance or you can pick up the pieces and move forward. Since I?ve never been big on wallowing in pity I decided to move out. I?m not sure where this new path will lead, but if I fall again I?ll just get back up and continue forward.
"The Name of the Game was Whoop-Ass!" -- [Solomon's House - live blogging AEI panel discussion]
Lt. General John Sattler uttered this most memorable quote during The Future of Iraq: Fighting an Insurgency While Building a Nation event at the American Enterprise Institute. General Sattler, commander of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, was the first speaker.
...At first glance, the conference room was packed - there were chairs for perhaps 150 people - but I occupied one of several seats still available. Some people chose to stand because they were still picking at the snack tables: I spotted soda, bottled water, and Campbell's vegetable juice among the remaining items.
...As I whipped out my notebook, General Sattler was describing last autumn's security situation in Iraq. Like every committed soldier, the more the general described a battle, the more animated he became:
A Thousand Miles to Baghdad -- [Chrenkoff]
Over the past three years, some of the best reporting from Iraq did not appear in one of the big national dailies or newsmagazines, but in a small, Californian, Escondido-based "North County Times". Early in 2003, the newspaper sent over to Kuwait reporter Darrin Mortenson and photographer Hayne Palmour, who became embedded with Lima Company of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. It was a natural choice - the paper covers Camp Pendelton, the home of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
What's it like in Iraq? I'll tell you... -- [American at heart]
I?d like to talk a little more about life in Iraq. I will ?paint you a picture? if you will. I will post in installments, to keep you waiting for more.
To start things off, I?ll talk about our living conditions. I live in a 22?x8? CHU (containerized housing unit). It looks like a small trailer with walls covered on the outside my stacked green sandbags.
278th Father, Sons Serve Together in Iraq -- [GX: The Nat'l Guard Experience]
A young Chris Cartwright and his older brother John Cartwright Jr. are racing around on a tank with their father, John Cartwright, during his National Guard unit's drill weekend.
Why an Honest Cop is So Hard to Find -- [Strategy Page]
American troops are increasingly patrolling Sunni Arab areas in western Iraq that have not, for two years, seen many U.S. soldiers or marines. Thinly populated, and run by tribal leaders and the heads of criminal (usually smuggling) gangs. Even Saddam stepped lightly in this part of the country. It was always the "Wild West." Since Saddam departed, it's become a little too wild, even for the normally free-wheeling Sunni Arabs. What sent things over the top was the militant Islamic terrorists and pro-Saddam nationalists. These two groups were not content to just do their outlaw thing, and leave the locals alone. No, they insisted that the Iraqis in the west become Islamic conservatives, and cheerleaders for the return of the Baath Party to power. This did not make the terrorists very popular. So the American and Iraqi troops in the west are finding local allies.
Send the diamond ring back please! -- [ROFA Six]
The AP story, ?Woman Loses Her Ring in Iraq Care Package,? tells a tale of how some soldier is going to get a care package with a little extra. I predict Ms. Vargas will get her ring back...
Documents Tell Of Brutal Improvisation By GIs -- (Washington Post)...Josh White
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abed Hamed Mowhoush was being stubborn with his American captors, and a series of intense beatings and creative interrogation tactics were not enough to break his will. On the morning of Nov. 26, 2003, a U.S. Army interrogator and a military guard grabbed a green sleeping bag, stuffed Mowhoush inside, wrapped him in an electrical cord, laid him on the floor and began to go to work. Again.
Before The War, CIA Reportedly Trained A Team Of Iraqis To Aid U.S. -- (Washington Post)...Dana Priest and Josh White
Before the war in Iraq began, the CIA recruited and trained an Iraqi paramilitary group, code-named the Scorpions, to foment rebellion, conduct sabotage, and help CIA paramilitaries who entered Baghdad and other cities target buildings and individuals, according to three current and former intelligence officials with knowledge of the unit.
Attacks On U.S. Troops Higher Than A Year Ago -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Robert H. Reid, Associated Press
Ear-piercing blasts from mortar fire into the Green Zone have almost ceased, and security is better along some highways around the capital. But civilian deaths are running high, and U.S. troops face more attacks than they did this time last year.
The 'Pop' Of A Rifle, Then Deafening Roar -- (USA Today)...Matthew Cox, Army Times
I heard the two shots from a soldier's M-16 rifle, but I had no idea he was firing at a suicide car bomber steering straight for us.
Picture Perfect Reply To Worried Dad -- (Long Island Newsday)...Christine Armario
Jerry Jalazo was never so relieved to see a photograph of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. That's because the man standing next to Rumsfeld was Jalazo's son.
"I'm not in favor of the war," said Jalazo, of Greenvale, regarding the photograph his son sent from Iraq via e-mail. "But just to see Matthew as happy as he looked and alive, in good health, was great."
U.S. Laying Groundwork For Iraq Pullout -- (Washingtonpost.com)...Robert Burns, Associated Press
The Pentagon is laying the groundwork for beginning a withdrawal from Iraq, even as it is weighing the risk of moving so quickly that Iraqi security forces collapse without U.S. support.
Worry Grows As Iraq's Defense Ministry Falls Short Of Expectations -- (New York Times)...David S. Cloud
The reformed Iraqi Ministry of Defense, a crucial element of any American plan to withdraw troops, is riddled with crippling problems that have raised concerns about its ability to keep Iraqi units paid, fed and equipped once it assumes full responsibility for the army, American and Iraqi commanders say.
Iraq To Build Airport With Help From Iran -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Omar Fekeiki
Iraq plans to build a multimillion-dollar international airport near the southern city of Najaf, a holy center for Shiite Muslims, that would be financed largely by a low-interest loan from Iran, according to Iraq's transportation minister.
7/20/05 -- [Dave's Journal - in Afghanistan]
The fifth day at Camp Victory, Afghanistan and everyone is learning the ropes. Life here has been fairly uneventful. Everyone has a daily routine from being on duty to spending time in the TV room or working out in the gym. Today was my day to experience the trash run. The trash man comes daily and this is the experience that is talked about all over camp. My first day here is when I started hearing about this infamous trash run. The trash run takes about two hours out of your day, but will affect your life forever. Nothing I have ever experienced in my life can compare to the heart wrenching scene of the trash run. (pics)
Airmen ?Adopt a Village? -- [Centcom]
Approximately 50 Airmen recently volunteered to organize an entire container, 20 feet by 10 feet by 8 feet weighing nearly 63,000 pounds filled with donated supplies for a tertiary mission here?adopt a village.
Airman separated the supplies into groups broken down by male, female and adult and children?s supplies that would be used in the next mission.
Prominent Afghan Clerics Targeted By Taliban, Authorities Say -- (Washington Post)...N.C. Aizenman
It began with a spray of bullets and splintering glass. Maulvi Abdullah Fayyaz, a leading religious scholar in the southern city of Kandahar, was working in his office May 29 when two men on a motorbike pulled up outside the window and opened fire, leaving him dead.
82nd Airborne Beefing Up Afghan Election Security -- (Mideast Stars and Stripes)...Jason Chudy
The lead elements of a 700-member-strong battalion from the 82nd Airborne Division have arrived to provide support for Afghanistan?s September elections.
A Troubling Development -- [Neptunus Lex]
For pol-military planners, especially those charged to look beyond the brawl we're in to try to sense the contours of the next fight, this must be especially unwelcome news ...
Ganji's Wife Appeals to the World -- [Regime Change Iran]
Eli Lake, The NY Sun:
Defying warnings from the Iranian regime ordering her not to talk to foreign reporters, the wife of dissident journalist Akbar Ganji yesterday told The New York Sun that she has had no choice but to appeal to the international community to save the life of her husband, who today enters Day 53 of a hunger strike. Meanwhile in New York, a spokesman for Secretary-General Annan says his boss has personally intervened with the mullahs on Mr. Ganji's behalf....
"The French are pathetic losers..." -- [CDR Salamander]
Hey, that isn't me talking, Maurice L鶹 President of one of the world's biggest advertising agencies Publicis, whose company owns Saatchi and Saatchi and has offices in 100 countries across six continents. He is not a neocon.
Chinese Company Drops Bid To Buy U.S. Oil Concern -- (New York Times)...David Barboza and Andrew Ross Sorkin
A Chinese oil company said on Tuesday that it was withdrawing its $18.5 billion offer for Unocal, the American oil company that had been at the center of a takeover struggle that will end with its staying in American hands.
Joint Drills Planned By Russia And China -- (International Herald Tribune)...Agence France-Presse; Associated Press
Russia and China plan to hold an unprecedented joint military exercise this month, using long-range bombers and submarines to settle an imaginary conflict in a foreign land, a top Russian general said Tuesday.
Japan To Speed Up Missile Defence -- (The Australian)...Peter Alford
The Japanese Government is trying to bring forward by up to a year the deployment of a ballistic missile defence shield against the threat of North Korean and Chinese attacks
"Marriage In Full Strength" or "how not to drift apart" -- [The Hooker and his Girl - husband deployed in Afghanistan]
There was a story about a girl in tv today, she was interviewed by a reporter about her relationship. They called it "the special relationship"
What was special about it?
She is german and is married to an US soldier. He is a Sergeant for the US army and they live in the town I lived before I moved and that let me feel closer to them.
Re Enlist -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
Reenlist ArmyBlogged in Military Perspective by CJ Tuesday August 2, 2005
On Monday, I?m going to be reenlisting in the Army indefinitely. Once you go over ten years, you can no longer reenlist for terms of service. Instead you become indefinite. This means that if I want to get out of the Army after reenlisting, I pretty much have to ask permission instead of just waiting for my term to end. I don?t mind this since I?ll be in until retirement anyway. The Army is good about allowing indefinite soldiers to get out if they get a good job offer, come into a lot of money, or some other beter life decision pops up.
Podcast for Aug 1st - Interview With Patti Patton-Bader! -- [A Soldier's Angel - Holly Aho]
It's time for my second podcast, and this is a great one! I had the privilage and pleasure of interviewing the founder of Soldiers Angels, Patti Patton-Bader, for this podcast. Patti is an interesting and fun person, and I know you'll enjoy hearing what she has to say. Want to know how Soldiers Angels was founded, what has been the most difficult and saddest moment for Patti as an angel, and a little about her childhood? The interview covers that and a whole lot more!
Wrestler A Legend Among Hurt Troops -- (Washington Times)...Thom Loverro
Mick Foley is known in professional wrestling as "The Hardcore Legend," one of the wildest, funniest and most violent men in the history of the business. In the corridors of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, though, Foley is better known for a hard-core commitment to wounded veterans of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A question for some Democrats -- [John In Carolina]
Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett is the Democrat candidate in today's special election to fill the U. S. House seat in Ohio's 2nd district which former Rep. Rob Portman, a Republican, vacated to become U. S. trade representative.
Hackett has offered himself as an antiwar candidate but he seems more an "I hate Bush" candidate. From the Washington Post (Aug. 1):
The ?Other? Recess Appointment -- [Balloon Juice]
President Bush made another recess appointment:
...Bush?s nomination of Flory had languished in the Senate since June 2004, held up by Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan in his fight with the Pentagon over the release of documents mainly related to the Iraq war.
Republican Edges Out Iraq Veteran For Ohio Congress Seat -- (New York Times)...James Dao
A former Republican state legislator narrowly won a special Congressional election in southern Ohio on Tuesday, ending an underdog bid by her Democratic opponent to become the first combat veteran from the Iraq war to serve in Congress.
Russia Gives The Boot To ABC -- [Alenda Lux]
Russia today barred any ABC journalist from working there in retaliation for ABC's role as mouthpiece for Chechen terrorists.
Russia announced today that it was barring journalists from ABC News from working here, effectively expelling a foreign news organization for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
7/7 Aftermath Coverage: Newsweek Shines -- [Dan Darling - Winds Of Change]
NBC news in general and Newsweek has really outdone itself among all of the major US press outlets as far as its recent coverage (which I define as mid-spring, summer of this year) on the al-Qaeda infrastructure in Europe, the London bombings, and related subjects.
Over There -- [American Soldier]
...Now I know this show is suppose to give the American public a glimpse into what Soldiers do over there. However if it?s just a producer trying to get rich off the sacrifices of my fellow Soldiers sacrifices, I am going to black list it. I as well as many other Milblogs can make one hell of an affect on the ratings of that show. I know at least 195,000 people would support me.
Up and Running -- [From My Position - recovering at Walter Reed]
Okay everyone I've got the Program up and running. I don't know if I will be able to master it very soon but I will keep trying until I am able to use it without thinking. The hardest thing he used to is talking like with a newscaster. But that is something I too will overcome. You have to say all of your punctuation with this program.
But I guess you don't really wanna hear about the program. I am so glad that you, the "Teeming Millions", (hat tip Cecil from "the straight dope") purchased the software and and got me this wonderful program so that I can continue to blog.
Unfortunately it is after midnight, and I have a new line of narcotics that they are trying on me tonight. So, aside from being stuck for a topic like how am I doing or who delete are the wonderful people that are helping me and for that matter what the hell happened. The fact of the matter is that I don't want to get into any of those topics right now. Right now, I just want to go to sleep.
Blogging on Blogging -- [Assumption of command - in Iraq]
If you look over to the right of the screen, you will see that I am a member of the Milbolgs Community. That means that I am a member of a group that discusses current military issues or relate personal experiences about the military that I have had.
It just so happens that I am in the Military (I know, Shocking Revelation) and have some things to share. But tell you the truth sometimes I just don't feel like talking about it.
Bush Orders Congressional Fitness Program -- [ScrappleFace]
President George Bush, under pressure from the Democrat National Committee because he's in superior physical condition while many public school students are lethargic and obese, today announced a new mandatory physical fitness program for members of Congress.
"If we're going to send a message about exercise to America's youth," said the president, "it starts with leadership.
Birthdays -- [BlackFive]
Today is my beautiful baby daughter's birthday. Can't believe it's been a year already!
Prelude -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
Mosul
Success or failure for the emerging Iraqi Government will depend on Iraqi Security Forces. The ISF must establish and maintain order along and within the borders of this country. By extension, the outcome of this war will rest on the ISF. Other crucial regional governments are subject to the hurricane force political winds blowing from Iraq. The global implications are potentially enormous. Even with these heavy words, there is danger of understatement: Success in Iraq is critical.
I'll Take Some of That Pork!--or--How I Need to Raise Money For The Documentary -- [Faces From the Front]
You need the latest version of Flash Player to view videos on this site.
SGT. Matthew Willis
LCPL Ian Hobbs
LCPL Kyle Case
Desert Creatures -- [365 and a Wake up - in Iraq]
The sun has been pitiless these last few days, doubling and redoubling its radiant energy until everything stationary shimmers in its own invisible pyre. The sputtering coughs of wind that limp across the cracked soil lack any real force; it?s as if the temperatures have cowed the air into refusing to stir. In these temperatures nothing moves without purpose. The troops that have to move back and forth across the FOB move along deliberate paths, their heads slightly bowed in unconscious deference to the flashbulb brilliance
Random shots -- [Lance in Iraq - in Iraq]
I meant to post this one with the Typical American behavior set. After we checked on the little girl, we left them some Flintstones chewables.
It?s all Arabic to themBlogged in Military Perspective -- [A Soldiers Perspective]
FALLUJAH, Iraq-An interesting experiment is going on in the northeast corner of this city. Members of the Iraqi Army and the U.S. Marine Corps are sharing living quarters on a small base. The intent of the experiment is to help the Iraqi soldiers learn more. But it has had an unanticipated side effect: Some marines are picking up new skills. Pfc. Mark Britton has learned Arabic.
The Ratline Manual -- [Bill Roggio - The Fourth Rail]
As infiltration from the Syrian Ratline into Iraq continues, another jihadi's guide to entering Iraq from Syria has surfaced. Evan Kohlmann provides a translation of The New Road to Mesopotamia, which was purportedly written by a jihadi named Al-Muhajir Al-Islami.
The guide is an interesting window into the operations of the enemy. Al-Islami covers many aspects of the passage to Iraq. The main points discussed are the entry points into Iraq, why these entry points are conducive to successful infiltration, the actions of the Syrian government, the finances of the jihadis and the sophistication of their operations.
The Road Through Syria to Jihad in Iraq -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
In a new guide published on the Internet, an alleged former resident of the Iraqi-Syrian border region has explained in detail for potential foreign fighter recruits how they can enter Iraq and join in the jihad by traveling through neighboring Syria. According to "Al-Muhajir al-Islami", foreign jihadists should travel to the eastern Syrian city of Dayr al-Zawr: "it is recommended to enter the city using a car and do not carry large sums of money. If anyone asks, say you are here on a vacation and have come to go fishing in the Euphrates?
Its a sign! -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The leader of freedom and democracy and the defender of human rights in the Middle East the elected President his Excellency Bashar Assad met the man of humanity and peace, the pioneer human rights ranger and the Ghandi of the 21st century British MP George Gallawi.
The meeting took place recently in Damascus and the two great men discussed the situations of the Middle East and Iraq and they emphasized the need to have a plan to control the spread of terrorism after identifying its reasons and motives in order to replace the existing wrongful policies adopted by some countries which are a waste of time and focus on delusional terms that add nothing to the efforts needed to fight terrorism.
From AlSharq Al-Awsat (Arabic).
Alone Time -- [ Ghraib Danger - in Iraq]
...It's still hot and remains hot for most of the night, until probably around 3:00 am. But the stars out in full force, and I'm happy to report the big dipper looks the same from Iraq as it does from Kansas and Montana. But I had a point, which was the mornings and evenings are enjoyable for their quiet and solitude as well as for their natural environment. As you can imagine, around here resources are scarce. Office space and residences are at a premium, and if they're not super small, they're double-booked. Everyone is on top of everyone else, and the small reprieves that accompany the early morning and late night are welcome. However, they also open the door for thought, and when your mind turns to that, thoughts of home are not far behind.
8 gone from one platoon -- [48th goes to War - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - in Iraq]
Camp Striker, Iraq ? All week long, the soldiers of Alpha Company had gone out on patrols with great trepidation.
A July 24 bomb attack on a Baghdad road killed four of their buddies. One moment they were in their Humvee. The next, they were gone.
Emotions were still raw. They had just bidden their fallen friends goodbye in a Thursday service.
Then, on Saturday, it happened again.
Bodies Of 22 Slaying Victims Reportedly Found In Baghdad -- (Los Angeles Times)...Times Staff Writer
Twenty-two bodies were discovered Monday in the southeast Baghdad neighborhood of Um Maalif, including one identified as that of a police colonel from the southern city of Karbala, a hospital official said. All had been shot and most were believed to be Shiite Muslims. Two were beheaded.
U.S. Troops In Iraq Got Steroids, Italian Says -- (Los Angeles Times)...Associated Press
Italian police seized 215,000 doses of prohibited substances as they broke up a ring that supplied steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to customers around the world, including American soldiers in Iraq, a police official said Monday.
Controversy Surrounds California Guard Officer -- (Los Angeles Times)...Rone Tempest and Scott Gold
He is chivalrous ? he once interceded when a father was threatening to hit a student ? and he is romantic, penning poetry for a school literary magazine.
"He's loved by everyone," says fellow teacher Shane McDonough.
But under the relentless sun of Iraq, where he commands a California Army National Guard battalion of 800 men, some see Lt. Col. Patrick Frey in a very different light.
There, some of his soldiers call Frey an erratic egomaniac who rules through intimidation, preaching abstinence to soldiers who are going on leave, comparing his troops to his special-education students and brandishing a small hatchet that he uses to "knight" soldiers he is promoting.
I've Got Saddam's Benz - G.I. -- (New York Daily News)...Associated Press
1st Sgt. Willian Von Zehle came home from Iraq with an expensive souvenir - an armored Mercedes Benz he suspects belonged to Saddam Hussein.
Pentagon Rejects Use Of Anonymous Quotes -- (Washington Post)...Associated Press
The recent use of quotes from an anonymous Iraqi in two military press releases was an "egregious error," the Pentagon's top spokesman said in a memo aimed at preventing it from happening again.
Quagmire For Al-Qaida -- (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)...Jack Kelly
...Iraq has indeed proven to be a quagmire. But not for us.
The Iraq infection -- (MSNBC)...Matthew Herper
How at least 250 soldiers became infected with bacteria that are immune to most antibiotics.
Second list (see below for first one) -- [Martin In Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
What we accomplished here:
We made it!
Quality of life distribution in Musayi. (clothes and toys)
Quality of life distribution in PD 4. (clothing mostly)
Quality of life distribution in PD 7. (clothing mostly)
Quality of life distribution in PD 4. (clothing mostly)
Quality of life distribution at Allahuddin Orphanage. (clothes and toys)
School supply and desk distribution. ...
I'm going to stop telling people...
...I went to Afghanistan. -- [Paravonia - a comic just returning from the stan]
Or at least, I'm going to stop telling drunk and/or stupid people I went to Afghanistan.
Last night at the local bar someone told a woman I recently returned from the 'stan and she started asking questions which at first were normal, but slowly started to focus on the morale of the troops. She didn't seem to accept the fact that I perceived morale to be pretty good among the people I interacted with. She went on to posit that it must be difficult for morale over there when they hear about people over here disagreeing with the war.
Angels Unaware -- [Florida Cracker] (pics)
There's a book coming out next month about Zubaida Hasan, a little Afghan girl horribly burned and disfigured in a cooking accident. It took a long chain of people to get Zubaida the help she needed, but I'll always wonder about the anonymous Green Beret who first saw her on the street and decided to take her to the base for medical treatment. He wasn't...
US general warns of 'ruthless' Taliban attacks -- (ABC News Online)
Afghanistan's Taliban have become more ruthless and more willing to use suicide bombers and child soldiers in attacks, a US general has said, vowing that polls next month would go ahead regardless.
AFGHANISTAN: SIXTY EU OBSERVERS ARRIVE AHEAD OF ELECTIONS -- (adkninternational)
Kabul, 2 August (AKI) - Sixty long-term observers from the European Union's Electoral Mission arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday. The observers, from 18 different countries, will work on monitoring the process leading up to the parliamentary and provincial elections set for September 18. The team has already met the head of the mission, Radical European parliamentarian and former European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Emma Bonino, and 12 experts from the core team, who travelled to Afghanistan in mid-July.
Pugnacious Stupidity: Brit Police Edition... -- [Argghhh!!!]
Brit police, in an astoundingly dense rule laid down to show respect for Muslims whilst (heh) breaking in and searching their homes...
...will now do it in [drumroll, please] ...stockinged feet.
Korean Media Speaking Out on MacArthur Controversy -- [GI Korea Blog]
The Korean media is slowly but surely starting to speak out against removing the General MacArthur statue in Incheon. Here is the latest editorial from the Korea Herald that condemns the removal of the statue...
You Have To Read This To Believe It -- [Balloon Juice]
Berlin politicians bulldozed 1000 crosses at Checkpoint Charlie memorializing victims slaughtered trying to escape the Iron Curtain, and now they want to reassemble a statue of Lenin.
Iran Is Judged 10 Years From Nuclear Bomb -- (Washington Post)...Dafna Linzer
A major U.S. intelligence review has projected that Iran is about a decade away from manufacturing the key ingredient for a nuclear weapon, roughly doubling the previous estimate of five years, according to government sources with firsthand knowledge of the new analysis.
I LOVE TEXAS -- [RaMrOd's Blog - on R&R from Iraq/Kuwait]
...or at least the group of people that were at the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport. These poeple were awesome. We got off the plane at about 11:30 pm, and we told that we're gonna be spending the night at a hotel. Most of our flights were the next morning because of 3 flight delays from Kuwait. When we left the baggage claim area to main area to go outside there were people waiting for us cheering and clapping for us, shaking our hands, giving us hugs. I mean, you gotta realize that this is around midnight and there's kids and old folks there. I know that Texas is a state that loves their military religiously, but I mean...I dunno..all I say is...Damn. Good folks.
Achtung Deutchland! -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! -Sisyphus Today... - just back from Iraq]
Surprise!! After a few days of transport, I arrived back home in Germany. It was s surprise to my wife and kids because I was unable to reveal the day I would return. So I sauntered in around 4 am, terribly weary from the trip.
The Journey -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? -- on R&R from Iraq]
There was also a parade of people as we came off the plane that were there for no other reason than to cheer us on, shake our hands, and offer a snack as a show of support and appreciation. A small boy stopped me, gave me some home made cookies and said, "Thank you, sir." I thanked him back and then quickly moved through the crowd for fear that if I stopped for too long I would break down emotionally. I only wish that somehow I could let all of those people know how much I appreciate their support.
National Guard woman donates $20,000 to help football club -- [GX: The Nat'l Guard]
8/1/05, BRADFORD, VT ? The fledgling Oxbow Union High School football club has found an angel in the guise of a Vermont Army National Guard soldier.
What IS A Name? GWOT to GSAVE -- [Zaphriel's Birth of a Neocon]
I ask this question, not having very many answers to it. What is behind the retooling of the name of our current conflict?
Previously it was called the "Global War On Terror" or as we in the military call it the GWOT. We like to use acronyms, their fun, and an easy way to look smart and confuse people at the same time. This new name that is floating around has some of this same quality, the "Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism" or GSAVE. Nice rework, on the surface it does one thing, it changes the tone of the operation.
P.C. = B.S. -- [Beast7's How it Ought to Be]
We?ll start with a little mental exercise.
Take a look at the faces of the men in the above composite photo. Take your time and think about who they might be. What do you think these men might have in common?
Some Updates -- [The Jump Blog]
Spent most of the day doing some computer coding, a little recording, and snapping some pictures at an airshow. The coding was for Operation Flashpoint, the most realistic military simulator ever made. I was working on re-coding parts of the C-130 aircraft when it is used for airborne operations, to include HALO operations. There were a slough of problems related to realism, not the least of which were troops exiting the wrong jump doors, actions in the aircraft non-existant, missing jump commands, and no HALO option.
Join the Service and Become a Citizen -- [Starboard!!!]
For months now, we have seen article after article stating the recruiting woes of the U.S Armed Forces. But there is a twist ? join the U.S. Military and become a U.S. citizen. Simple? The folks at AsiaTimesOnline dot com sure think so in their latest report...
...If there are people willing to risk their lives in the GWOT in order to become a citizen, then this truly is one hell of a country.
Protecting your children from the big bad boogey man? -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - Disgrunteled Grunt]
The problem here is that to many laws allow one entity to give out the information while others require notification or even the ability to opt out. There does not seem to be one specific law or set of rules that govern this type of situation. Until there is it is going to be a thorn in the side.
Personally I don't believe opting out is going to protect your child from having the recruiter contact you. All it takes is for them to find that one kid who is willing to give them the names of their friends and kids they go to school with. From there it is a trip to the yellow pages, switchboard or another similar site.
If you do not want your child to enlist then don't sign the papers for them.
Army Battling Steep Decline In Black Recruits -- (Dallas Morning News)...Richard Whittle
The Iraq war is drying up at least part of a pool of recruits the Army has relied upon for decades: black Americans.
Withdrawing support of Paul Hackett -- [CounterColumn]
I was prepared to support Democratic candidate Paul Hackett, a major and Marine Corps reservist who is running for Congress in Ohio, and was planning a post to that effect this week.
I think in a lot of ways it was refreshing to hear a guy who calls it like it is. I thought he held a lot of promise as a new Democrat, a guy who would help bring my former party back to its roots in, well, America. A guy who could be a critic of Iraq policy, but this man, a commissioned officer, who is wrapping himself in the mantle of his Iraq service, referred to the commander-in-chief as "that son-of-a-bitch who lives in the White House."
And that, friends, is conduct unbecoming an officer.
HELL NO, WE DON'T PRINT NO STINKING RETRACTIONS. -- [ORACULATIONS]
especially retractions about our criminal Military who are always guilty, as everybody knows. Besides, if lawyers start nosing around we do "refinement" stories.
The temps in LA push at 95 degrees but it hovers near 73 in the air conditioned offices where the reporters for the LA Times have to slave away. But for this story they assign two gunslingers from out of town to combine on it. One gunman in an air conditioned office in Houston, the other in Portland. This could be big for both of them. It may be the time, the time all Lefty reporters dream of, the time when they make their bones. They have the facts---well some of them anyway---but you don?t need all the facts when your job is to get the fascists in Iraq who are doing the bidding of the big oil companies and that prick Bush. Two brave reporters will sit in air conditioned comfort and write the piece of pieces about 1st Infantry Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division; the same National Guard assholes that raised hell before going to Iraq about bad training, bad equipment, no night goggles and a bad deal. Everybody will go for the story. The Left will be made happy as they sip their morning latte's at Starbucks in Brentwood because they get to hate the Military even more, and the Right because the 184th wasn?t very manly way back when. A target of opportunity. The DNC will love the this story. Barbara Boxer might even send them tickets to Hillary Clinton's inaugural ball.
Dad's Ivory Tower myopia -- [CDR Salamander]
Interesting piece in the Washington Post today from Princeton professor of Economics and Public affairs, Uwe Reinhardt.
First thing that came to mind after reading it was, "Dad, why is your isolated, insulated, Ivory Tower ideology more important than understanding and supporting your son's desire to preserve the freedom you enjoy?"
Interview request -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I received an email yesterday from a reporter named Kelley Vlahos who works for Foxnews asking me to comment on a few things for a story that she was writing. Her article covers a military investigation of a deployed soldier for some of his blog writings. This might be old news, but I'm a little behind the times. :)
Last thoughts -- [Quonset]
Vacation time gave me the opportunity to mull over my weblog here and though I think I?ve put together a pretty nice little spot here many don?t agree. I?m closing shop and shutting down this site. Just too much work for too little readership. I never dreamed I?d ever get a big following but I didn?t think it would be this small either. Guess you either have it or you don?t.
Echo Chamber Project's Vlog -- [Sisyphean Musings]
If you're not familiar with the incredible work Kent Bye is doing at the Echo Chamber Project, I strongly suggest you stop by and watch his first vlog episode.
Kent is testing the potential of "new media" and succeeding. It is both impressive and inspiring.
State of the Blogosphere, August 2005, Part 1: Blog Growth -- [Dave Sifry - Technorati News]
Well, it is that time again! It has been almost 6 months since the last State of the Blogosphere, and so the team at Technorati and I have put together some high level information on what we've been tracking. Today I'll focus on the macro growth of the blogosphere, both in the number of bloggers out there, as well as in the growth of new blogs per day. You can compare the chart below to the charts from October 2004 and March 2005.
Soldiers: War on 'Milblogs' -- (Newsweek)...Martha Brant
...But OPSEC has "a totally amorphous definition," argues New York Army National Guardsman Jason Hartley, who last year became the only other soldier demoted for his blog. "My commander just didn't like my tone," says Hartley, whose missives on justanothersoldier.com will be published by HarperCollins this fall.
One blog created 'every second'
The blogosphere is varied and growing at a steady rate
The blogosphere is continuing to grow, with a weblog created every second, according to blog trackers Technorati.
In its latest State of the Blogosphere report, it said the number of blogs it was tracking now stood at more than 14.2m blogs, up from 7.8m in March.
I Finally Watched "Over There" -- [Erics Grumbles before the Grave]
Well, TiVo is still absolutely the way to go for TV watching. I TiVo'ed the re-run of the "Over There" pilot to watch, like I planned on. I have to say, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. That's not to say that the show was good, because it wasn't. What bothered me?
The portrayal of the soldiers themselves
The horribly bad "tactics" that are in the show
The military looks damn incompetent
Here's why it's bothering me.
What have they done for us? -- [Smash - Indepundit]
A cave, somewhere deep in the Hindu Kush?
ANAS: They?ll go in to the subway system here, get on separate trains going in different directions, then detonate their nail bombs simultaneously at 9am. Once they have killed and maimed dozens of innocent people, we issue our demands. Any questions?
Good news from Iraq, part 32 -- [Arthur Chrenkoff - our Aussie friend]
Monsignor Rabban al Qas, Chaldean bishop of Amadiyah and Arbil, was recently asked by a foreign interviewer whether there is any good news coming out of Iraq: "Twenty-three Iraqis are killed every day in Iraq. Nearly two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, there is no security as yet. Is there still hope in Iraq?" To which Monsignor al Qas replied...
News and some photos -- [Courage without Fear - in Iraq] (pics)
On June 1, 2005 an insurgent driving a vehicle borne IED attempted to kill 2 of my soldiers. The insurgent penetrated one of our supply convoys and drove his explosive laden car under the cab or our 5 Ton truck. The 5-Ton had recently had an armord cab installed on it. This improved armor saved the lives of 2 people whom I have known since they joined the National Guard. The truck immediately caught on fire and was totally destroyed. The two soldiers were
First Night In Ramadi -- [A Day in Iraq - in Iraq]
We arrived after dark this evening after traveling for two days from Warhorse. We were up the past two nights, moving under the cover of darkness, riding in our Bradley which rode atop a HETT. By this time the Bradley is a radiating oven, drenching my clothes with sweat which now cling to my skin and attract every dust and dirt particle in the air. We got off the Brad and were welcomed by the guys that have been here for a couple of days. They made the trip in Blackhawks, and reuniting with them after just a few days felt good for some reason, like we were home because all of us were together again. Immediately the horror stories begin,...
HOW DO WE START OVER -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
I posted once before about being wrong, admitting it when you are wrong, and how reporting here especially the first report is usually wrong. Again I was wrong, and honor demands that I correct a mistake here in this forum. I said that a CSM countermanded the order of the on scene commander. I was in err. I know this because the CSM I referred to ventured into the food chain to tell me face to face that I was wrong. For those of you from Booman Trib, here is a lesson in military protocol; you respect the rank the individual has. With that respect comes this as well, you take that man at his word.
Saving a life -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
The other night, we received a call from the Iraqi Army that they were bringing a wounded IA soldier from Baqubah General Hospital to our aid station.
Technically, we are not supposed to do this. The theory is that if we keep providing medical care to Iraqis then they'll never assume the mantle of responsibility themselves. Our medical platoon (and, by extension, the battalion) gets snippy emails from brigade every now and then for treating local nationals at our aid station.
Regardless, sometimes treating Iraqis is the right thing to do, and this was one of those times.
Marriage Proposal! -- [Sentinel 47: Keeping the Gate - in Iraq]
Sixteen-year-old Omar has proposed! I'm sharing the warm moment, hoping all of you will see the heart and humor in this passage for me. The dear boy is smitten with me, and I delicately find joy in exchanges with him each day at the gate.
I am still unclear as to which point in Iraqi culture brings a boy into social acceptance as a man, but
I JUST ABOUT HAD A COMPLETE DAY OFF -- Kevin Kelly - Dixie Sappers - in Iraq]
...We were dying of thirst, but since we had to leave so fast, we didn?t have time to ice down any water so we had to drink vehicle temperature water (120 degree or so) until we finally found someone that did have some water a little cooler (115). It was still wet and tasted good even though it was hot. As we were standing by this house that we had searched earlier, this little boy who we had pulled a tooth from yesterday came up to us offering us some fruit. I?ve had it in the states before, but can?t remember the name of it. It?s this fruit that you pull off the peel and it has these little pouches with seeds in it. Very sour like a green apple, but very good. SGT Nazario and I split one. Man it was good, but made you drink more of that hot water. The one little boy came up to me and started pointing to my hand. I looked down and I must have cut it on something because it was bleeding. He ran inside to get me something that looked like a Band-Aid, but I passed on it and waited till I got back to the FOB. He did help me pour some of the water on it to wash it off. He was so proud that he could help. I?m telling you that the kids of this country are the ones that will be able to turn this country around if they are ever given the chance.
Sunday, July 31, 2005 -- [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
...Working with the Iraqis is kind of like playing poker. We have our cards (gear, assets, money, knowledge); they have theirs (native personnel, speak Arabic, have ALL of the ?boots on the ground?). Each day, each conversation, each operation is exactly like playing another poker hand. There are days when it feels like playing five games of multi-dimensional poker. Luckily, our guys are pretty good poker players, but it can get tiring. As Marines, we?re used to making the plan, executing the plan, giving orders, following orders, etc. These guys are not as? exact. You have to see the consequences, the give-and-take, over the LONG run. If I win this hand, what will the cost be tomorrow.
Iraq Has Finally Gotten To Me -- [Middle of Nowhere and Two Feet From Hell - in Iraq]
After being here for a while you get use to certain things. At first I used a flash light. My eyes adjusted to it a while back. I can walk around at night without one. Sometimes the moon is so bright, you can see forever. Other times the moon is nowhere to be found and it is so dark you cannot see five foot in front of you.
I have gotten use to sleeping in a tent with eighteen other people. I have always enjoyed my personal space. Now I just press on and deal with it.
One thing I never thought I would get use to is the smell from the port-a-johns.
Constitution update. -- [Iraq the Model - an Iraqi in iraq]
It was expected that the suggested draft of the constitution which I posted several day ago would fuel arguments and serious discussions in the corridors of the National Assembly and the government and from what I heard and read in local media and from some information that leaked from some politicians, I learned that some of the upsetting articles of the draft have been changed or omitted while some other articles are still being discussed.
Editor's Note: these next two blogs have the same name, but are two different blogs
Chief McCauley Goes to Bayji -- [LostInIraq - 42nd DIVARTY - in Iraq]
Here is a PowerPoint presentation put together by Chief McCauley from his trip into town earlier this month:
These slides are from a Civil Affairs mission we went on with 3ID, 1BCT and members of the local C/A Team here on Summerall, on 7 July 2005. It was a good mission, accomplishing all tasks.
When we rolled into the village, with M1 tanks leading the way, the villagers started appearing to see what was going on, as this was unannounced. SSG Richards was our photographer, and myself, along with MAJ Barton, SFC Turner and SFC Ramos, were excited to give these people some goodies sent from home. Our first stop was
Time..... -- [Lost in Iraq - Daniel in Iraq] (pics galore)
As can be expected, the time seems to be moving at a snails pace. The last six months have flown by, but now with little more than a couple of months to go, its like someone hit the slow motion button!!!! We are still very busy, continuing the same mission load while packing, turning in, and mailing home, all the things we brought with us and have accumulated since arriving. I am getting very excited about rejoining civilization!!
An Electrician?s Duty― Video Premier -- [Jon Jivan - in Iraq]
Being a deployed Army electrician has its perks. Life in Iraq is easier for us. One?s life isn?t normally on the line when his war-time job consists of mainly sitting inside soldering or doing focus checks on night vision goggles all day. Although, there was that power supply that exploded when I tested it?
PHOTOS FROM PERSONAL IRAQ DIARY OF 19 - 22 June 2004 -- [Candle in the Dark]
This is the station mentioned in the post below. I was told it was Ba'ath Party building before the war. This is in the far north of the city and there was very little around it. The patrol I write about was in a neighborhood to the left of this photo. To the right, behind the building, and behind me as I snapped the picture was open nothingness.
American By God's Amazing Grace -- [ NEW MILBLOGGER! - Pepple Pie]
Soldier in Iraq Records Country Music Hit
His boots battered, his spirits sinking, Luke Stricklin struggled to explain his experiences in Iraq to his family and friends back home who kept asking him what it was like to fight in Baghdad. "Time calling home was precious," the soldier said. "That's the last thing you wanted to talk about. Mom always said I wasn't telling her the truth, which I wasn't.
The Second Act -- [Strategy Page]
July 31, 2005: Not all the terrorists in Iraq are Sunni Arabs belonging to al Qaeda. In southern Iraq, Shia Islamic conservatives use death squads and street gangs to enforce their version of the Islamic life style. This means women dressing very modestly, and staying out of sight, no alcohol, even for non-Moslems, no music and movies, no mixing of men and women outside of family or marriage, and no complaining about all this. The police won't act against the religious gangs, out of fear, or because they are bribed. This allows the gangs to get away with murder. The religious gangs are largely composed of Iraqi religious conservatives who fled to Iran years ago,
Trouble Focusing -- [Ghraib Danger - in Iraq]
And not just because I'm looking through a gas mask. I have less than 40 days left in Iraq. I'm having trouble focusing on anything other than that bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Iraqis Promising a Constitution by the Deadline -- (New York Times)...DEXTER FILKINS and JOEL BRINKLEY
BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 31 - Under intense American pressure, Iraqi leaders agreed Sunday to finish writing the country's constitution by the middle of August, raising the possibility that they will leave unresolved some of the fiercest disagreements over the future of the Iraqi state.
U.S. Relies On Local Leaders In Rural Iraq -- (New York Times on the Web)...Associated Press
Last fall, insurgents overran police stations and Iraqi army bases in this northern rural region, scaring off nearly all 2,000 Iraqi troops and keeping people locked inside their homes at night.
Leftist Would Pull Troops From Iraq -- (Miami Herald - World Brief)...Unattributed
Opposition leader Romano Prodi pledged in remarks published Saturday that if he's elected premier next year, he will pull Italy's troops out of Iraq, prompting Premier Silvio Berlusconi to contend that such a promise would invite guerrilla attacks against the soldiers.
Iraq Citizens Deem U.S. Soldier As Sheik -- (New York Times on the Web)...Associated Press
QAYYARAH, Iraq (AP) -- Sheik Horn floats around the room in white robe and headdress, exchanging pleasantries with dozens of village leaders. But he's the only sheik with blonde streaks in his mustache -- and the only one who attended country music star Toby Keith's recent concert in Baghdad with fellow U.S. soldiers.
Optimism Over Post-Hussein Future -- (Miami Herald)...Frida Ghitis
...That's because one of the most important and least discussed transformations wrought by this war is that Iraqis have become extraordinarily optimistic about the years ahead. This is not a sudden fluke. Iraqis are consistently telling pollsters that they believe the future will bring improvements to their life.
Spy's Notes On Iraqi Aims Were Shelved, Suit Says -- (New York Times)...James Risen
The Central Intelligence Agency was told by an informant in the spring of 2001 that Iraq had abandoned a major element of its nuclear weapons program, but the agency did not share the information with other agencies or with senior policy makers, a former C.I.A. officer has charged.
Audit Urges Better Training of Iraqis -- (Washington Post)
The United States risks squandering billions of dollars if it does not adequately train Iraqis to run power plants, water-treatment facilities and other projects built during the country's reconstruction, according to a report released yesterday by government auditors.
Controversy Surrounds California Guard Officer -- (Los Angeles Times)...Rone Tempest and Scott Gold
Alleged misconduct by his troops in Iraq has exposed what some call his eccentric methods.
Who's Paying for Our Patriotism? -- (Washington Post)...Uwe E. Reinhardt
President Bush assures us that the ongoing twin wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are worth the sacrifices they entail. Editorialists around the nation agree and say that a steadfast American public was willing to stay the course.
Should anyone be surprised by this national resolve, given that these wars visit no sacrifice of any sort -- neither blood nor angst nor taxes -- on well over 95 percent of the American people?
High Expectations Of Independence (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
Two hundred miles south, in the distant Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Iraq's top Kurdish leaders have pledged that they want to keep the Kurdish north as part of Iraq, as Washington and all Iraq's neighbors want.
Iraqi Assembly Members Balance Death, Democracy -- (Boston Globe)...Thanassis Cambanis
...Now, however, Attia, a member of the National Assembly, has joined the ranks of citizen-legislators surprised to find themselves at the helm of Iraq's sometimes bewildering progression to democracy -- and directly in the crosshairs of an assassination campaign against members of the government.
Me, Carren, Mom, and... oh yeah, the most powerful man on earth -- [From My Position - recovering at Walter Reed]
From One of Our Wounded! -- [Bayji Iraq FOB Summerall , Soldiers , Families and Friends]
Hello Everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying this really HOT summer!
I received an email from Spc Ashenfelder, he ask to have it posted. So please read and keep sending all of our wounded & recovering wounded soldiers. A big Hello and HOw are ya! and Get well soon, God speed,and don't ever think we have forgotten you. We never,ever could forget! HOOOAH! God Bless!
This is Spc Ashenfelder's email...
Gratutious Afghanistan Photo of the Weekend -- [ Miserable Donuts - recently returned from Afghanistan]
"Why yes, I am grinning because I have done this before..." [preparing a 107 mm rocket for firing].
KABUL, Afghanistan?Afghan National Army soldiers recently conducted artillery live-fire training at the D-30 Howitzer range to improve their proficiency.
More than 120 Afghan soldiers conducted two months of training to prepare for the annual range time.
The D-30 Howitzer, which takes a crew of seven to fire, is a 3.5-ton weapon with a range of over 15,000 meters. It can fire seven to eight rounds per minute.
Afghan Army Capt. Mohammed Mohsin Hamdard, artillery commander for the 4th Combat Support Kandak (Battalion), 3rd Brigade, of the ANA?s 201st Corps, said the range time gave his soldiers the opportunity to reinforce what they learned in school and strengthened their training.
Afghan Army hones skills at artillery range -- [Centcom]
KABUL, Afghanistan?Afghan National Army soldiers recently conducted artillery live-fire training at the D-30 Howitzer range to improve their proficiency.
More than 120 Afghan soldiers conducted two months of training to prepare for the annual range time.
The D-30 Howitzer, which takes a crew of seven to fire, is a 3.5-ton weapon with a range of over 15,000 meters. It can fire seven to eight rounds per minute.
Afghan Raid Nets Huge Weapons Cache -- (Boston Globe)...Associated Press
Thousands of rockets, mortars, and antiaircraft ammunition have been seized in central Afghanistan in the largest cache of militant weapons discovered in months, a government spokesman said yesterday.
Musharraf Draws a Line in the Sand with Pakistan's Jihadists -- [The Word Unheard]
As noted previously, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has ordered the deportation of 1,400 foreign students in Pakistani madrassas which contain a totla of 1.7 million students.
1,400 seems like an awefully low number of foreign students. Note the picture to the right has a sign that directs to a Paksitani government office for the Department of Foreign Students. An entire government department for only 1,400 students? There are most certainly more than 1,400 students. So what gives?
Iran: Another ?No? Vote For The EU? -- [Austin Bay]
Reuters reports that Iran will ?resume sensitive nuclear activities at once without waiting for EU compromise proposals??
More brinksmanship by Tehran? Possibly. But I?ve long thought the mullahs really want The Bomb. (This week is the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima? a good week to play nuclear politics.) Tehran looks around Iran?s borders and sees the US in Afghanistan, sees a nuclear-armed Pakistan to the east, sees a modernizing, democratizing Iraq to the west. I wrote an article in January that talked about the regional effects of a ?new Iraqi Army? ? an army much better trained than Saddam?s forces and capable of selective offensive action with ?western allies? or western support.
Guantanamo trials 'half-assed' -- (News 24.com)
Sydney - Leaked emails from two former prosecutors suggested the US military commissions to try detainees held at Guantanamo Bay are rigged, fraudulent and thin on evidence, Australian national radio reported on Monday.
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia dies -- (Times Online)
Saudi Arabia?s ruler, King Fahd, died early today in a Riyadh, the royal court has confirmed. His brother, the Crown Prince Abdullah, has been appointed his successor.
"The king died early this morning,"...
Seoul To Offer Electricity As Reward If North Korea Ends Nuclear Work -- (New York Times)...Chris Buckley
...North Korea said it might rejoin an international nuclear nonproliferation treaty and accept international inspections of its nuclear facilities "if the nuclear issue finds a satisfactory solution" and the United States accepted "peaceful coexistence."
New Estimates On Iranian Nukes -- (Jerusalem Post)...Orly Halpern
According to the new estimates, Iran will probably have a nuclear bomb by 2012, but could have the capability as early as 2008 "if all goes well for it," a high ranking IDF commander told The Jerusalem Post yesterday.
Egyptians ask, Why do they hate us? -- [Winds of Change - Donald Sensing]
Sharm el-Sheik bombings a wake-up call to examine what mosques are preaching and teaching
I cited yesterday a piece in Arab News by Arab writer Dr. Mohammed T. Al-Rasheed calling for striking at the breeding grounds of terrorist "vermin." In the days since the bombings at Sharm el-Sheik many Egyptians are starting to ask just what exactly the breeding ground is and concluding that it just may be Islam itself.
Everything Is Not Race -- [Villianous Company]
Both my children died today, because of racism.
With them died 393 innocent travelers on the DC Metro. If you've ever ridden the DC Metro, you'll know they weren't all white, anglo-saxon Protestants. No, they came in all flavors. Whites, Asians from Indonesia, Japan, Korea, China; Hispanics, blacks, Muslims, Jews, atheists, lesbians, gays, Christians, and undoubtedly a few Wiccas. Funny: in the instant before they were incinerated, their religion, sexual orientation, national origin and skin color ceased to matter.
The Big Picture and Scrambled Eggs -- [Dadmanly - in Iraq]
There are weeks, when there is so much written of importance, before I can gather my thoughts for commentary, there?s much more to read. If I did this for a living, I?d get really stressed out. Given that my day job is now serving in a Guard unit in Iraq, I think I can let myself off the hook. (But that still doesn?t make it any less frustrating!) (Sigh.)
The two most powerful writers on the war on terror were both directly on point this past week. Michael Ledeen incisively describes the Coalition of Evil, up at National Review Online, while previously, Victor Davis Hanson warns about the too often misunderstood ideological basis for the hate arrayed against us
There Can Be No Moderate Solutions To Extremism -- (London Financial Times)...Donald Rumsfeld
...In the wake of such an atrocity it is essential that we take care in understanding what motivates - and does not motivate - extremists to commit mass murder.
Fear Over U.S.-Born Extremists Is Brewing -- (Los Angeles Times)...Josh Meyer
London attacks raise concerns over the potential for sleeper cells of Americans.
'War On Terrorism' Rhetoric Changing -- (Miami Herald)...Tom Raum, Associated Press
Some members of the Bush administration are trying to move away from using 'war on terrorism' to reflect new challenges regarding violent extremists worldwide.
"Over There" Is "Over Hyped" -- [Boots on the Ground - just back from Iraq]
I unfortunately wasted an a few minutes of my life to watch "Over There." A new series on FX about US Army Soldiers serving a tour in Iraq. There are a few bad war movies and tv shows, but this one takes the cake. If the inaccuracies they made in this new show was to keep the real enemy from watching and knowing our real tactics, then they did a SUPERB job.
She's a Lady -- [ArklahomBoy]
Some of the guys at work today were talking about the episode of 'Over There' that came on last night (I didn't catch it). Apparently, a small unit in Iraq was attacked, and the female amongst them hid during the entire battle, too afraid to come out and fight.
I've been to war, albeit on an aircraft carrier, so my experiences are ...
Yeah, but they're not there -- [Ryan and Christy's Place - Ryan's in Iraq]
I have mixed feelings about the new FX drama ?Over There.? It sometimes bothers me that the entertainment industry can be in such a rush to make movies or TV shows about recent, or still unfolding, events or situations. And with the war in Iraq, why fictionalize a story that's still being told?
Not Really 'Over There' -- [Face From the Front]
FX's new drama OVER THERE about an Army unit in Iraq is well produced and visually arresting but takes a sharp left turn from reality.
Getting out -- [In Iraq for 365 - back from Iraq]
It?s been one of the more difficult decisions of my life. For nine years, I?ve served the Army National Guard with every thing I have. I?ve been to the majority of the Army bases across the country for training, conducted actual operations in Nicaragua, Kuwait and of course, Iraq. But the time has come for me to get out. My ETS date is in October, and now, the retention types and fellow soldiers are telling me that me getting out is a great loss to the Army.
To be honest, when I hear these words, it hurts. At times, it feels like I am betraying my soldiers and country for opting to no longer be a soldier.
Rumsfeld, MG Miller, Abu G -- [John Holdaway - Intel Dump]
I've been out a while and there's a lot that's taken place lately to blog about. Bear with me, but we'll tackle these one by one.
First off, there's been a lot of resurgent discussion in the press about Abu Ghraib, including an interesting editorial from the Washington Post. Since the release of the Fay/Jones and Schlesinger reports one year ago, subsequent Abu Ghraib prosecutions and disciplinary actions, and recent investigations into Gitmo operations, the picture is becoming clearer. However, it is not the picture being portrayed in the press. What follows is a bit long, but my attempt to create a sort of unified theory of detainee abuse scandals.
Bush Finally Visits Scout Event
At Last, Bush Appears At Boy Scout Jamboree -- (Washington Post)...Karin Brulliard
As Bush took the stage beneath a massive Boy Scouts emblem, Scouts leapt up and erupted in applause. They were beyond ready to hear from the president, who, by virtue of his job, is the honorary president of the nation's Boy Scouts and whose visit had been postponed twice.
Russia Pulls Plug on MSM Network -- [NEW MILBLOGGER! - Starboard!!!]
Poor MSM. Once again, the messenger gets killed. This time, I agree with the sentence. BBC reports:
Russia's defence chief has barred the ministry from contact with ABC TV after the US network's interview with Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev. Sergei Ivanov said the ministry considered ABC "persona non grata" following Thursday's broadcast. However, the foreign ministry has said it will not deny ABC accreditation.
Look how low the Associated Press will go
Here's part of the Associated Press' account of President Bush's July 31 visit to the National Scout Jamboree:
It was Bush's third attempt to travel to Fort A. P. Hill, the Army base hosting the Jamboree where Scouts are trying to end their 10-day gathering with cheery memories of mountain biking, fishing, scuba diving and trading patches with newfound Scouting friends across the nation....
The Associated Press' placement of the president's "I appreciate the rain check" remark is what's often called "a set up."
We've all seen it done. You take what a person says and place it in a context in which the person really didn't say it.
Just Wondering -- [ Andi's World]
It's been a week now. Where is the outrage of the mainsream media? From the BBC...
Corrections -- (Washington Post)...The Washington Post
A July 14 article said that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld approved the use of certain interrogation tactics against a detainee who the government believed was to be the "20th hijacker" in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Rumsfeld approved the use of aggressive tactics against Mohamed Qahtani, but he did not specifically approve attaching a leash to Qahtani's chains or forcing him to wear women's underwear on his head, tactics that were authorized and used by interrogators on the prisoner in late 2002
PETITIONS TO FIGHT THE ACLU -- [Stop the ACLU]
PETITION TO GET THE ACLU OFF THE TAXPAYER?S DOLE
Jimmy Carter: From Hammers for Homes to Crowbars for White House -- [GM's Corner]
Former President Jimmy Carter spoke at an overseas church conference, and he tossed out any message about God's grace for a chance to bash the United States by misrepresenting our mission and conduct in the war on terror and by providing veiled justifications for terrorists. It's bad enough when a future President goes overseas and protests against our country, but it's worse when a former President does the same thing--because people in other countries often give great weight to his words and he sends them mixed signals. Rather than using his position to help our nation, Carter has become a cheerleader for those who don't like us.
Camp Remembrance: Never Forget -- [Sondra K] (PICS)
Sondra,
A great day today. We attended a ceremony to name the new detention facility we just built. The unit that guards it is from the great state of NY. A lot of firemen and police officers. When deciding on the name, they recommended the name REMEMBERANCE in memory of all of those who gave their life at the world trade center. A key event in the current conflict on the war on terrorism. I don?t know how or what the what detainees think of the name but, it puts a smile on my face to think we are guarding them in a facility named in the memory of our fallen heroes is very appropriate.
Cousin Joe
A Warrior at Rest -- [Froggy Ruminations]
...Just as at the Memorial in Hawaii I was struck by a truly unique SEAL tradition that I hadn?t expected to see. Upon the dismissal of the assembly by the funeral director, the men of SDV Team ONE solemnly formed a single file and approached James? immaculate wood coffin. One by one, each man removed his Trident from the breast of his uniform and pounded it into the gleaming wooden lid of his coffin. Dozens of golden Tridents were left shimmering in the sun to accompany James on his journey?forever.
