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Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, 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.)
Elections - Part IV -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
A little after midnight my eyes crept open and filled with the cold, diamond light of a full moon. I squinted hard against the liquid glow, but the light seemed to seep through my eyelids until I gave up my futile attempts at falling back asleep. As I sat up I felt the dull cacophony of muscles shot through with lactic acid, and for a long moment I sat there on the edge of the cot waiting for the staccato aches to fade.
An insurgency collapsing inward? -- [Peace like a River]
Make no mistake, the enemy still has a lot of fight left in him. He still has the capability to kill and to do damage. Yet, I want to point out there may be signs the insurgency is being squeezed into a region whose circumscribed boundaries are drawing inward. I'm not saying the insurgents can't operate outside this region, just that they are finding it harder to find areas outside this region where they can plan, move, and find shelter.
Accordance, rather than elections will decide the shape of the new government. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Or at least that's how things appear to be heading till now...
As part of an expected series of meetings between the leaders of major political groups, today there’s a meeting between al-Hakeem and President Talabani and a number of senior Shia and Kurdish politicians.
Validating The Iraqi Elections -- [No End but Victory- Pejman Yousefzadeh - an Iraqi in Iraq]
One of the arguments made in some portions of the Blogosphere in response to the most recent elections in Iraq was that they may have been tinged by fraud and that as a result, the Sunnis would be even more implacably opposed to the reconstruction effort than they were in the past. In response to […]
Shiite Family of 11 beheaded -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Pro-wahabi terrorists slaughtered Shiite family in the south of Baghdad. The family consist 11 members lived for many years in a Sunni dominated area. They received threats to leave the area over the last few weeks however they got no where to go and leaving their property and business. Six Sunni pro-wahabi terrorists attacked the family and slaughtered all of them by beheading all the 11 members.
Some thoughts -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
For those who were talking about reconstruction, here is the latest from the reconstruction-ongoing land:
- Baghdad lacks water for more than 15 hours a day for 10 days now.
May peace be all over the world……[Alive in Baghdad - Mama - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Hello all I hope you enjoyed Christmas, and had memorable day with your families, I really wanted my Iraqi Christian friends to enjoy Christmas, but may be through this post you can imagine what a MEMORABLE Eid they had !!!
These days the weather became very cold, the temperature is 2-3 degrees under zero … this cold weather synchronize with not only the raise in the oil, fuel prices but with its exiguity….yesterday my baby (20 months old) cried freezing at night, we have oil storage but we tried to sleep without (soba) an oil heater, to save it for the rest of winter. We get the electricity for ONLY 2 hours a day now, we also don't have hot water!.
- Most of the neighborhoods in Baghdad get less than 5 hours of electricity a day for ten days. In my neighborhood, we get 2 hours of electricity a day.
The Story Behind The Photograph -- [Alive in Baghdad - Fayrouz - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Some of you probably still remember our discussion when this photograph was published last year. None of us knew the story behind the photograph. So for the curious among us, including myself, here's the story of how this photograph came to life and won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize as part of a package submitted by the Associated Press.
Iraq Pictures - 29 December 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
COL John Lammie, 550th Area Support Medical Company, speaks with hospital personnel at the Medical City Hospital complex in Sader about the care of a local boy suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Lammie took the boy to the hospital for treatment of his advanced cancer while conducting a clinical health outreach program in the region. Pic: SPC Charles W. Gill
The Kid 'Gets It' -- [Face from the Front]
"There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction," he wrote.
"Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help. Unfortunately altruism is always in short supply. Not enough are willing to set aside the material ambitions of this transient world, put morality first, and risk their lives for the cause of humanity. So I will."
Real American Hero-The Chow Hall Guy -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Not every job over here falls into a category with a potential for doing something heroic. Even so, there are a few who manage to be heroes in their own way, despite having the least glamorous of assignments. One of these here at Camp Fallujah is "The Chow Hall Guy", Corporal Jonathan K. Clarke of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Cue the Bud Light Real American Heroes music please!) Cpl. Clarke works 8 hours a day checking ID cards as GIs enter the DFAC(Dining Facility). He stands a little post of about 10 square feet sandwiched between sandbags and concrete barriers day after day, week after week and month after month. M. Scott Peck, the self-help guru, once defined a hero as someone who's able to accomplish what no one else can, and this applies to Clarke.
Embedded With the 101st Airborne -- [GreyEagle - in Iraq]
...An explosion rumbles like thunder on the horizon and no one moves. Soldiers stare blankly into the air for a few seconds, processing the sound.
A symphony of blasts rocks the outlying areas of Iraq every day. Controlled detonations of discovered munitions, practicing mortar teams, heavy gunfire. They are part of the day and seem part of the atmosphere — like police sirens at home.
But with time anyone can tell the difference in the way they sound and feel, the way the explosion moves the ground or shimmies building walls.
Controlled detonations are fierce, with a boom that travels miles. The blast sounds tired when you hear it. Outgoing mortar fire is robust and lacks the sound of an impact. (You can feel the ground tear apart with incoming fire.)
I heard incoming fire today and knew immediately it was different.
Homes sweet Cans -- [Daily News Miner - embedded in Iraq]
Trailers here are called many different things, like “cans” or “chews.”
They remind me of modern day ATCO units. Almost everyone, from soldiers, contractors and anyone else staying overnight stays in them on most of the bases. Some soldiers stay in buildings or old palaces if they are available, like at FOB Courage in Mosul.
Embedded Reporter -- [A Mobilized Year - in Iraq]
In these last couple of weeks, we’ve had an embedded reporter from the Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal with us. She’s written some good pieces, both from a “what’s going on” perspective and human interest perspective. Below are the stories I saw that she wrote (not sure if there are others):
...The stories she wrote are generally fairly accurate and it was interesting to read another person’s perspective concerning the same or similar experiences. A number of her articles were about soldiers in my company,
12/29/2005: Christmas at Camp Navistar -- [Schackasawa Dot Net - Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
A belated Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year. Time continues to fly by for me since my last update as I was able to spend the vast majority of my time out on missions with my men which always makes things go by a little quicker. During one of those missions I finally got the chance to ride a camel and feed a baby camel; certainly a highlight of the trips and undoubtedly of the year.
Impotence: More wages of appeasement -- [Counter Column]
"A previously unknown group claimed the kidnapping of French engineer Bernard Planche and threatened on Wednesday to kill him if France did not "end its illegitimate presence in Iraq", in a video shown on Al-Arabiya television.
"I stress that France has no military presence in Iraq and that it has always argued for full sovereignty to be restored to the country," Douste-Blazy said in a statement appealing for the release of Planche." This according to Agents France Presse.
U.S. Teen Runs Off to Iraq by Himself -- (BREITBART.COM / AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Maybe it was the time the taxi dumped him at the Iraq-Kuwait border, leaving him alone in the middle of the desert. Or when he drew a crowd at a Baghdad food stand after using an Arabic phrase book to order. Or the moment a Kuwaiti cab driver almost punched him in the face when he balked at the $100 fare. But at some point, Farris Hassan, a 16-year-old from Florida, realized that traveling to Iraq by himself was not the safest thing he could have done with his Christmas vacation.
...It begins with a high school class on "immersion journalism" and one overly eager _ or naively idealistic _ student who's lucky to be alive after going way beyond what any teacher would ask.
Word Spreads in Iraq of Refinery Shutdown -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Long lines formed at gas stations in Baghdad on Friday as word spread that Iraq's largest oil refinery had shut down in the face of threats against truck drivers, and fears grew of a gas shortage. An international team, meanwhile, agreed on Thursday to assess Iraq's parliamentary elections, a decision lauded by Sunni Arab and secular Shiite groups who have staged repeated protests around Iraq complaining of widespread fraud and intimidation.
Kurds in Iraqi army proclaim loyalty to militia - (Knight Ridder Newspapers)...Tom Lasseter
Kurdish leaders have inserted more than 10,000 of their militia members into Iraqi army divisions in northern Iraq to lay the groundwork to swarm south, seize the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and possibly half of Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, and secure the borders of an independent Kurdistan.
Army: Kurds Aren't In Charge -- (Knight Ridder News)...Tom Lasseter
The Iraqi defense ministry, reacting to a Knight Ridder report this week, said Thursday that Kurdish troops in the Iraqi army take their orders from the central government in Baghdad, not from Kurdish militia leaders.
How the story was reported -- (Knight Ridder News)...Tom Lasseter
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Neither the U.S. military nor the Iraqi Defense Ministry has authorized Western reporters to stay with Iraqi military units for extended periods without being accompanied by American military assistance teams.
I previously reported on an all-Iraqi unit without U.S. military supervision after receiving an invitation directly from the unit, going to its Baghdad base and meeting an Iraqi army officer who escorted me in.
Shiite cleric emerging as a highly influential political leader -- (Knight Ridder News)...Nancy A. Youssef
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Muqtada al-Sadr, the firebrand Shiite Muslim cleric who just a year ago encouraged his followers to kill U.S. soldiers, has successfully transformed
Flickering Lights -- (Christian Science Monitor)...David Clark Scott
Right on cue. Thursday, when editors called correspondent Jill Carroll in Baghdad about a Reuters report of electricity shortages, the power went out. "It stays on for about an hour and a half and then goes out for a few hours. Back in October, we would get three or four hours at a time," says Jill.
Group Threatens to Kill Kidnap Victims -- (AP)
CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida in Iraq threatened on Thursday to kill five kidnapped employees of the Sudanese Embassy in Baghdad in two days unless Sudan removes its diplomatic mission from Iraq....
S.Korea cuts Iraq troops by a third to 2,300 -- (Yahoo News / Reuters)
SEOUL - South Korea's parliament approved a bill on Friday to cut by about one third the size of its troop deployment in Iraq, the third-largest foreign contingent there.
The unicameral National Assembly voted by 110 to 31 to extend the country's troop deployment in the northern Iraqi region of Arbil by one year until the end of 2006 but cut the contingent to 2,300 from 3,200. Seventeen members abstained.
Polish president approves request to keep troops in Iraq -- (AFP)
Polish President Lech Kaczynski approved a request from the conservative government to keep troops in Iraq until the end of 2006, his office said.
Rice welcomes outside review of Iraq election results -- (AFP)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Iraqi authorities for inviting international monitors to review complaints of fraud in recent parliamentary elections.
Abu Ghrabi figure England burned in prison mishap -- (Reuters)
Lynndie England, the U.S. soldier incarcerated for abusing detainees in Iraq, was badly burned in a prison kitchen accident, her mother said on Thursday.
G.I.'s to Increase U.S. Supervision of Iraqi Police -- (New York Times)
The increase in Army advisers aims in part to curtail abuse that Iraqi units are suspected of inflicting on Sunni Arabs.
Confidence and Leadership -- [Canada to Kandahar - in Afghanistan] {ED Note: must highlight to read}
The last real day of work we had ended with a briefing by our Battle Group commander as well as the commander of the Multi National Brigade. It's great to see Canada taking a leadership role among the other coalition forces.
I don't know the MNB commander very well....or at all but I do know the Battle Group commander.
Honestly, I think he's probably the most amazing military leader I've met. Not just because of the things he has done (just seeing his official photo and the number of decorations on his chest!) but because of the things he continues to do.
I remember when ....
Two Americans Killed in Afghan Incidents -- (Washington Post / Reuters)
KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 28 -- Two soldiers, an American and an Afghan, were killed and two U.S. service members were wounded in a roadside bomb attack Wednesday in eastern Afghanistan, a U.S. military spokesman said.
More On The Fatwah Approving Sexual Abuse Of Children -- [Euphoric Reality]
Remember when we posted about the despicably vile but mullah-approved Islamic practice of sexual abuse of little girls and infants (as authorized by Shi’ite fatwah)? Oh yeah, if you missed it, you need to go catch up.
Thinking Man's Rant: Law, Morality and Warfare. -- [Way down in Kosovo - in Kosovo]
So, does the current set of conflicts comply with Grotius's principles? Let's see, shall we?
Kosovo: war waged to prevent the emergence of a general war in southern Europe. CAUSE: Just.
Afghanistan: The U.S. is attacked by non-state actors being harbored by a thuggish regeime in kabul, more than 3,000 are killed, and the U.S. gets really pissed off, tells the rest of the world to stay the hell out of our way, and goes to kick some ass. CAUSE: Just.
Iraq: U.S. and allies fight war in 1991 to expel Iraq ...
Stabbed the Combat Stress Guy the Other Day -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
For some reason, a Unit decided to pick one in the morning to blow up some found unexploded ordinance, only to have something go wrong. Shrapnel flew everywhere, five people were down on the ground, one guy had his legs torn apart, two others had their faces ripped open, a fourth was laying on the ground with a piece of shrapnel sticking out of his stomach. Another guy had his hand all torn up.
Korea's Darwinian Approach to Driving -- GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
...USFK has had a handful of accidents over the past few years involving military vehicles hitting mopeds. You hear very little outrage over these accidents because the mopeds are the lowest on the food chain. Now if a USFK vehicle hits a pedestrian that is a different story because they are not considered part of the food chain.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 -- [JununAD1- in Africa]
I am a UNITED STATES MARINE currently serving in Dji Bouti, Africa to help win this war on terror.
...So how life changes, when you go to war. Your girlfriend whom you cherish and love breaks up with you... and you're screwed in the head... then you just try to forget about her. Only problem is that you're not the only one going through this, theres other guys that are going thru it so you hear about it 24-7. I don't understand if its a trend or if its something else... but how could a majority of marines end up like this?
Russia confirms Iran nuclear talks took place: Tass -- (Reuters)
MOSCOW - Russia's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that a top envoy had talked to Iranian officials to discuss a Russian proposal to enrich uranium for the Islamic Republic, Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Anti-Christian Jeans Are a Trend in Sweden -- (AP)
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Cheap Monday jeans are a hot commodity among young Swedes thanks to their trendy tight fit and low price, even if a few buyers are turned off by the logo: a skull with a cross turned upside down on its forehead. Logo designer Bjorn Atldax says he's not just trying for an antiestablishment vibe.
Torturing Khalid Shaikh Mohammed Worked -- [Outside the Beltway]
The Chicago Tribune ran a chilling piece in yesterday's edition by John Crewdson bolstering the case for torturing terrorist suspects.
Spilling Al Qaeda's secrets
Israeli Jets Hit Militant Base In Lebanon -- (The Houston Chronicle)
Israeli jets attacked a Palestinian terrorist group's training base near Beirut on Wednesday, hours after an Israeli border town was hit by rocket fire, the military said. The strike against the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command was Israel's deepest inside Lebanon since June 2004.
National Security -- (Rasmussen Reports)
December 28, 2005--Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans believe the National Security Agency (NSA) should be allowed to intercept telephone conversations between terrorism suspects in other countries and people living in the United States. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 23% disagree.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Americans say they are following the NSA story somewhat or very closely.
Just 26% believe President Bush is the first to authorize a program like the one currently in the news. Forty-eight percent (48%) say he is not while 26% are not sure.
CIA couple outed by 5-year-old son -- (Reuters)
HOUSTON - The Washington couple at the heart of the CIA leak investigation had their cover blown by their small son as they tried to sneak away on vacation on Thursday.
"My daddy's famous, my mommy's a secret spy," declared the 5-year-old of his parents, former diplomat Joe Wilson and retired CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Covert CIA Program Withstands New Furor -- (Washington Post)...Dana Priest
The effort President Bush authorized shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, to fight al Qaeda has grown into the largest CIA covert action program since the height of the Cold War, expanding in size and ambition despite a growing outcry at home and abroad over its clandestine tactics, according to former and current intelligence officials and congressional and administration sources.
Anticipation....-- [Some Soldier's Mom]
I know it will sound odd to some people (but perfectly normal to others), but I'm feeling a bit down about the Guys coming home (which is really soon... days.) I'm not down because they're coming home, but because I'm not going to be there to see it... for any number of reasons. Won't be there to hug My Guys.
A Veterans Day Salute -- [VFW NC]
The Departments of the Veterans of Foreign Wars salute all of our Veterans,
Past, Present and Future.
The piece below was written by by Marine Corp chaplain, Father Denis Edward O’Brian
Travelogue II: The VA Hospital, pt. 2 -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
Part 1 is here.
The laughter and easy camaraderie from the SUV spilled into the hospital as we loaded the laptop boxes onto carts and headed to the office where they would be kept while we enjoyed lunch. With our laughter and jokes ringing down the hallways, we were probably the noisiest people in the building!
Liveblogging from the Armed Forces Service Center -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...I was briefed on how everything works around here, the kitchens, food we can make and serve, bedrooms, paperwork, ect. Very organized and I'm sure I'll forget it all in 10 mn. We had one soldier here with his family when I arrived. His wife and 4 kids were with him. I have to hand it to him, both parents were supposed to go back and sleep, and as soon as his wife went to bed he jumped right up to watch the kids. What a great guy. He looked so tired, but he wanted his wife to nap.
Are They Really Appreciated? -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
So many negative stories in the news - I know it makes our military heroes wonder if they are appreciated, really appreciated, by us. They are, and not all news sources are lax in ignoring the stories of support we feel for our troops. These stories deserve wider coverage, not to bring attention to the generous Americans in these stories supporting our troops (most chose to remain anonymous when the story ran), but to let our troops know that these are not uncommon occurances. Here's a few of the latest additions over at SAHA News:
Seymour Johnson NCO Inspires Many -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
A NCO from the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C visited LRMC.
Here read his story:
In November, I accompanied my boss, Chief of Chaplains Maj. Gen. Charles Baldwin, to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he would speak at a command chaplain’s conference.
After reviewing the itinerary, I noticed the conference planners had included a block of free time...
The U.S. Military Code of Conduct -- [Euphoric Reality]
We’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: our servicemen and women are THE BEST in the world - bar none. I’m constantly inspired by the hope and restoration that our troops symbolize and effect around the world.
During World War II, our bubble-gum snapping troops were viewed with unrestrained awe and the gravest gratitude by the skeletons inhabiting the concentration camps of Europe. Never was hope more fervently alive than when whispered rumors circulated that “The Americans are coming!!!”
Giving soldiers a high-tech leg up -- [Jack Army]
Those whiz kids at Darpa are at it again. This time they want to use technology to let soldiers carry up to 220 lb in backpacks over all types of terrain, terrain vehicles can't get through, and for extended lengths of time. They believe the key is wearable robotic exoskeletons and have invested $50 million in the project.
Army Program Boosts Gulf Coast Reservists -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - At a cost of as much as $20 million, more than 200 National Guard soldiers returning to Louisiana from Iraq are staying on active duty for up to a year so they can have full-time work in their hurricane-ravaged hometowns. A program intended to give returning reservists jobs if their old ones were wiped out by hurricanes Katrina and Rita is drawing interest too from 60 National Guard soldiers from a Mississippi brigade, according to Col. Billy Thomas, deputy commander of the Army's Task Force Care.
DoD's Domestic Threat Matrix -- [Military Outpost]
SHANNON, IRELAND -- A woman scales a security fence at the Shannon International Airport, walks across the tarmac to a Boeing 737 with U.S. Navy markings, and proceeds to smash the nose cone and hydraulics system of the aircraft with an axe. She manages to do several hundred thousand dollars in damage before she is stopped by airport security.
Sheehan Admits That She “Snapped” (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
On CNN’s American Morning yesterday, “grieving” mother Cindy Sheehan was nominated as one of the “Top 5 in ‘05″. This was not only a fluff piece but just free air time for Sheehan to reiterate her anti-Bush, anti-American, and anti-war message. Sheehan called President Bush a “lying bastard” and said he killed her son. Cindy Sheehan just can’t admit that it was a terrorist, or shall I say “freedom fighter”, that killed her son.
Judge Says ACLU Is Unreasonable -- [Stop the ACLU]
A recent decision by a federal court of appeals has set the stage for yet another Supreme Court showdown over public displays of the Ten Commandments....
...This especially floored the ACLU because they had won two previous attempts at getting the Ten Commandments removed from the walls of two other Kentucky court houses.
Why do they hate us? Why shouldn’t they? -- [Fight Pundit]
I have to thank Michael for introducing me to the one and only, feather fondling fruitcake of an excuse for a college professor- Ward Churchill- almost a year ago. I remember reading this and getting myself all twisted up in my own undergarment (s). Churchill is still around, still causing trouble and mouthing off and making vague threats. Throughout the year we have both written about this phoney, full of bulloney, attention seeking anti American Indian want-ta-be…I found an article today that sums the year up pretty well.
Core of White House Staff Largely Intact -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Loyalty and continuity have marked the Bush White House since early on. After two wars, devastating strikes by terrorists and hurricanes, a bruising re-election and countless legislative battles, President Bush's team is continuing the trend - defying history and shakeup rumors to remain almost entirely intact five years in. "They've been there long enough to qualify for the Medicare prescription drug benefit," quipped Paul Light, a professor of organizational studies at New York University.
USA Today - Not Many Heroes -- [BlackFive]
This is probably the biggest bunch of horse @#$% that I've read in a long time. See article below. Okay, Readers, in the Comments you should place links (be sure to include the full URL with http:// ) of stories about extreme valor and heroism from Iraq or Afghanistan:
TimesWatch Quotes of the Year for 2005 -- [StarBoard!!]
You gotta love the folks at Timeswatch.org. These guys do an excellent job of keeping an eye on the NYTimes. This years list of quotable quotes was the best I have seen to date. Here are a few I particularly enjoyed
Corrections -- (New York Times)...The New York Times
An article yesterday about Iran's agreement to study a Russian proposal aimed at breaking a deadlock over Iran's nuclear program included an erroneous reference to Iraq at one point. It is Iran - not Iraq - whose true policy on the issue has been difficult to ascertain.
Milblogs Narrowly Defined -- [Andis World]
I don't like the way this article is written. For many reasons.
ANYONE wanting to hear daily insights into what it is like to be in a convoy hit by an explosion or ordered to pick up the body parts of comrades dismembered by a suicide bomber does not have to be there in person any more.
Instead they just need to log on to the internet from the safety of their home or office.
2005 MILBLOGGIES: STANDINGS AS OF 25 DECEMBER -- [MilBlogging .com]
It’s the final week of the 2005 MILBLOGGIES. For those of you who have voted, these are exciting times!!! Yes, I’m sitting here anticipating the winners of the 2005 MILBLOGGIES, amnd I caan barrely tyipe.; Though it might be the spiked egg nog.. Merry Christmas everyone! And don’t forget, you have until midnight (EST) on December 31st to vote for your favorite milblogs. Anyway, let’s review the current standings in the 2005 MILBLOGGIES, schell wae?
BBC Interview -- [Kurdistan Bloggers Union]
As most of you know, I write a weekly column covering Kurdish Bloggers for a website called Global Voices. I will be interviewed tomorrow to discuss the year in Kurdish blogs on the BBC Radio show World Have Your Say, from 1845 to 1900 GMT. If you have time, please tune in.
Lord of the blogs -- (TownHall.com)
Of all the stories leading America's annual greatest-hits list, the one that subsumes the rest is the continuing evolution of information in the Age of Blogging
...It is this latter - our new enemies - that interests me most. I don't mean al-Qaida or Osama bin Laden, but the less visible, insidious enemies of decency, humanity and civility - the angry offspring of narcissism's quickie marriage to instant gratification.
There's something frankly creepy about the explosion we now call the Blogosphere - the big-bang "electroniverse" where recently wired squatters set up new camps each day. As I write, the number of "blogs" (Web logs) and "bloggers"(those who blog) is estimated in the tens of millions worldwide.
Although I've been a blog fan since the beginning, and have written favorably about the value added to journalism and public knowledge thanks to the new "citizen journalist," I'm also wary of power untempered by restraint and accountability.
Say what you will about the so-called mainstream media, but no industry agonizes more about how to improve its product, police its own members and better serve its communities. Newspapers are filled with carpal-tunneled wretches, overworked and underpaid, who suffer near-pathological allegiance to getting it right.
...Bloggers persist no matter their contributions or quality, though most would have little to occupy their time were the mainstream media to disappear tomorrow. Some bloggers do their own reporting, but most rely on mainstream reporters to do the heavy lifting. Some bloggers also offer superb commentary, but most babble, buzz and blurt like caffeinated adolescents competing for the Ritalin generation's inevitable senior superlative: Most Obsessive-Compulsive.
Bush Orders NSA to Secure Microsoft Windows XP -- [ScrappleFace]
In a recently-leaked secret memo, written in October 2005, President George Bush authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to “employ all of its tools and skills” to enhance the security of Microsoft Windows XP.
LAST OF THE CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING PICTURES -- [Keep My Soldier Safe - son returns home from Iraq]
The oh so tired soldier, but he still managed to have a smile on his face the whole night.
...Thanks to everyone for letting me share this last long year with you all. It has been long and tough, but it is finally over.
(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.)
Infant ruled fit to fly to U.S. -- [AJC - journalist embedded in Iraq]
Baghdad, Iraq — It was a sound not heard before around the Georgia soldiers’ trailers at Camp Liberty: the frantic cries of a hungry baby.
Post Election Developments -- [Threats Watch - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
Drawing Down, Compromises and Continuing the Fight
The results of Iraq’s first fully independent parliamentary election are still in question. Robert Mayer is concerned about the discord over the election results. But Omar at Iraq the Model sees hope, as there are negotiations among the leaders of the major parties. The summit between “the leaders of the four major lists (Allawi, Adnan al-Dulaimi, al-Hakeem and Barzani as well as president Talabani)” is directed at creating an inclusive government that represents the makeup of the Iraqi populace. Negotiations and compromise are cornerstones to a successful democracy, and we saw this process successfully play out in the past with an agreement struck on the handling of the constitution
WE DO WINDOWS -- [One Marines View - in Iraq]
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas and you should drink lots of water to prepare for your New Year celebrations coming up and stay hydrated!
Im glad you all are back safely. Things have been constant here in Iraq. Christmas came and went as the other holidays while deployed here, no biggie. The phones did work pretty well and after about an hour I got through back to the states.
Talking with Robert Kaplan, Author of Imperial Grunts -- [Hugh Hewitt]
The author of Imperial Grunts had a lot to say on today's program.
HH: What do you hear the officers of the military say about Rumsfeld and Bush?
RK: It's important not to become polemical about Donald Rumsfeld. He's done...the bad things, the mistakes he's made in Iraq are well known. We don't need to belabor them. But a lot of the good things he's done are things that the military appreciates, but because we have a media establishment that hasn't served in the military, it's something they don't appreciate and aren't interested in. For instance,...
Iraqi forces taking the lead -- [Current events and news from the right]
Iraqi forces being trained and taking the lead in operations is one of the critical elements necessary for success in Iraq. President Bush outlined this in our Iraq National Strategy. If this was being done, you would expect to hear about it frequently in the news, right?
Wrong. What’s the truth? Yes, this is being done, and yes, it is in the news, but it is not getting near the attention that it deserves. You have to really dig to find it.
A different culture -- [News-Miner reporter Margaret Friedenauer - embedded in Iraq]
Visiting surrounding villages today, I had to check my girl-power at the door.
The area surrounding Forward Operation Base Q-West, where the 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery of the Stryker Brigade is stationed is rural, dusty and reminds me of a scenes from “The Grapes of Wrath.”
Making Iraqi girlfriends -- [News-Miner reporter Margaret Friedenauer - embedded in Iraq]
I made some girlfriends today.
I have met several women soldiers since arriving, but meeting local women is a little more difficult. When visiting Iraqi homes with U.S. soldiers, the men of the house usually do the talking while the women either sit to the side quietly or disappear elsewhere in the house.
But thanks to Lt. Col. Scott Wuestner, I broke that barrier today. With gusto.
Thank you II -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
Packages for the Abu Ghraib elementary school children arrived from:
Myna Proal, The Basic Training Mom - Durham, NH
Brenda and Pete de Silvio - Sanbornville, NH
David Attanasio - New York, NY
Thank you all.
For an explanation of the program, click here.
Christmas Night -- [Americans Son - in Iraq]
Well, Christmas has come and gone...or is it came and went? At any rate, my brothers and I here had a wonderful day...capped of by a "fireside chat" on our back porch. By "porch" I mean of course a few fold-up chairs from our local Wal-Mart with some strategically placed sandbags and our burn barrel. What is it about fire that elicits conversation? I have no idea, but our rendezvous on Christmas night was no exception.
Welcome to the war.... part one -- [Fun With Hand Grenades - in Iraq]
I’ve seen two blown up vehicles in the last week. To get your burning questions out of the way: yes, there were casualties. No, none of them were me or any of my guys. Yes, I have pictures. No, you won’t see them. No, I can’t talk about what kind of vehicles they were or the extent of the damage they took. Yes, it was because of IEDs. If I answered all those questions in depth some Haji is gunna read my blog and share it with his chi-drinking-man-dress-wearing-poofy-
Wars Lack Medal of Honor -- (USA Today)
American troops have been fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for more than four years, but just one Soldier from those wars has received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor for bravery.
The lack of such medals -- by comparison, two were awarded for fighting in Somalia -- reflects today's unconventional warfare and the superior weaponry of U.S. forces, military experts say. It's not that today's troops lack valor, but they lack opportunities to display it in the extraordinary way that would merit the Medal of Honor.
U.N. Official Says Iraq Vote Should Stand By PATRICK QUINN --(Yahoo/AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A senior U.N. official said Wednesday that Iraq's parliamentary elections were credible and the results should stand, angering Sunni Arabs who have taken to the streets demanding a new vote.
Ten killed in US air strike on Iraqi village -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - U.S. fighter jets dropped two 500-pound bombs on a village in northern Iraq, killing 10 Iraqis they suspected of planting explosive devices on a nearby road, the U.S. military said on Thursday. Full Article
Iraq Sunnis, Secular Groups Demand Review -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Sunni Arab and secular groups refused Thursday to open discussions with the Shiite religious bloc leading in Iraq's parliamentary elections until a full review of the contested results is carried out. Their refusal could deepen the political turmoil following a U.N. observer's endorsement of Iraq's Dec. 15 elections. The official said the results were credible and that the results should stand.
U.N. Official Endorses Iraq Vote -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
The top U.N. elections official in Iraq said Wednesday that the country's heavily criticized parliamentary election was "transparent, credible and good" and that he saw no reason to rerun it.
In Training For Iraq, Learning To Work As A Team -- (New York Times)...Juliet Macur
...The Bush administration has announced troop reductions, and some politicians in Washington are debating whether the United States should pull out altogether. But none of that matters to the men of the 654th Military Police Company, a newly formed unit of the Virginia Army National Guard. Their reality is that American soldiers are still needed to patrol the streets of Iraq, and within a few weeks this patchwork company will be doing just that.
U.S. Partners In Iraq Dwindling In Number, Size -- (USA Today)...Matt Kelley
The international military coalition in Iraq is shrinking, as two countries finished pulling their troops out this month and three others announced plans to remove hundreds more.
Iraq's History Still Divides Children Of Mesopotamia -- (Los Angeles Times)...Borzou Daragahi and Louise Roug
The myth of a unified Iraqi identity may have finally been laid to rest this month
Bush Team Rethinks Its Plan For Recovery -- (Washington Post)...Peter Baker and Jim VandeHei
President Bush shifted his rhetoric on Iraq in recent weeks after an intense debate among advisers about how to pull out of his political free fall, with senior adviser Karl Rove urging a campaign-style attack on critics while younger aides pushed for more candor about setbacks in the war, according to Republican strategists.
Group Threatens Captive's Life -- (Los Angeles Times)...Reuters
A little-known Iraqi militant group has threatened to kill a French engineer kidnapped in Iraq unless France ends what the group called its "illegitimate presence" in the Arab country, Al Arabiya television reported Wednesday.
If you’re looking for pieces on Jack Idema and his team, please click on this link. -- [Cao's Blog]
Over at the Devil’s Kitchen (he’s a chef, in case anyone’s wondering, and a fine chap), an amusing exchange between people in support of Idema and a fellow who calls himself tinyjudas. Tinyjudas is in the UK, and so is Rotty, so you’ll have to excuse some of the British references if you’re a cowboy or an American. If you’re a leftist, I’m sure you’ll want the terms explained to you.
‘US reducing military presence in Afghanistan soon’ -- (Daily Times)
KABUL: The US military on Monday gave details of its planned troop reduction in Afghanistan, saying the total number would shrink by some 2,500 from the current 19,000 under a routine troop rotation due very soon.
Troops' reduction not to affect US commitment toward Afghanistan - military -- (China Daily/Xinhua)
The decision of the United States to lower the level of its forces in Afghanistan would not affect its pledge towards rebuilding the post-conflict nation, spokesman of the U.S. military said Monday.
U.S. Service Member Killed in Afghanistan (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A remote-control bomb exploded on a mountainous road in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing one U.S. service member and wounding two, officials said.
The attack occurred as the troops were driving in an armored vehicle in Kunar province near the regional capital Asadabad, said Sgt. Maj. Larry Lane, a military spokesman. Kunar is a mountainous province on the border with Pakistan and scores of militants are believed to hide out there.
'Band of Brothers' Foils Terrorist Bombings -- {CENTCOM}
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2005 – Task Force Band of Brothers soldiers disrupted two terrorist bombing operations yesterday in Baqubah, a city about 20 miles north of Baghdad, killing two terrorists and detaining another. Story
Experts Prepare for Experiment -- {CENTCOM}
PORTSMOUTH, Va., Dec. 28, 2005 – Knowledge support in a coalition environment was among the discussion topics as a multinational team of experts making final preparations for Multinational Experiment 4 met at the event's final planning conference.
Each Time You Tell Their Story-- [Serbia]
"No soldiers choose to die. It's what they risk being who and where they are. It's what they dare while saving someone else whose life means suddenly as much to them as theirs. Or more. To honor them, why speak of duty or the will of governments? Think first of love each time you tell their story. It gives their sacrifice a name and takes from war its glory."
The Face of Evil -- [Andi's World]
As an update to this post (published yesterday) below is the face of evil, Nazir Ahmed. Ahmed slit the throats of his 25 year-old step-daughter and his three young daughters.
Canada Exports Its Whining to US: -- [Grim's Hall]
The Prime Minister of Canada has a complaint for you. He says the US is corrupting his culture, and turning Canada into violent, evil America:
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Toronto Mayor David Miller warned that Canada could become like the United States after gunfire erupted Monday on a busy street filled with holiday shoppers, killing a 15-year-old girl and wounding six bystanders
China to Allow US to Tap History Archives -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Here is another indication that relations between Washington and Beijing continue to improve:
Chinese officials have agreed to consider a U.S. request to search military archives that could yield clues to the fate of missing Korean War servicemen possibly held by China, the U.S. Embassy said Tuesday.
Beijing was “optimistic that a way could be found to access the documents,” the embassy said in a statement
Japan's FM inspects U.S. military bases near Tokyo -- (Asia-Pacific)
Japan's foreign minister failed to persuade a mayor to drop his opposition to enlarging a local U.S. military base as part of an overall plan to move American forces out of the country.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso told Zama Mayor Katsuji Hoshino that Japan's relies on U.S. bases to help protect the nation's peace and security, and asked for the city's understanding and support for the plan, a city spokesman said on condition of anonymity, in line with general practice.
French ban petrol in cans amid fear of New Year riots -- (Telegraph)
Fears of a new outbreak of street violence in France have prompted many areas to ban the sale of petrol in cans.
...The wave of rioting that swept the country for three weeks from the end of October has led to widespread concern that troublemakers may try to stage a show of strength this weekend.
Operational necessity, FISA and the NSA -- [Intel Dump -Phillip Carter]
In yesterday's New York Times, David Rivkin and Lee Casey opine that the President has done no wrong in ordering the National Security Agency to gather signals intelligence since Sept. 11. Such an order falls clearly within the President's powers, they argue, both as granted by the Constitution and as granted by Congress in its authorization for the use of military force. Furthermore, the two senior Reagan Administration alumni argue that such surveillance is necessary for operational reasons. Here's the key section f
Supreme Court asked to transfer Padilla -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. government on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to transfer American "enemy combatant" Jose Padilla from U.S. military custody to federal authorities in Florida -- one week after an appeals court refused a similar request
Spy Agency Removes Illegal Tracking Files -- (New York Times)...Associated Press
The National Security Agency's Internet site has been placing files on visitors' computers that can track their Web surfing activity despite strict federal rules banning most files of that type.
British Official Calls for Terror Probe -- (AP)
LONDON -- A British legislator called Thursday for a parliamentary investigation into claims that British security officers were involved in abducting and mistreating terror suspects in Greece after the London transit bombings....
TERRORISM: ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR AL-ZARQAWI -- (AKI )
Lyon, 28 Dec. - Interpol has issued an international arrest warrant for Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. A note from the international police organisation on Wednesday said a so-called Red Notice had been issued on the request of Algeria, which wants al-Zarqawi in relation to the kidnapping and killing of two Algerian diplomats in Iraq in Juily.
U.S. Defends Conduct In Padilla Case -- (Washington Post)...Jerry Markon
A federal appeals court infringed on President Bush's authority to run the war on terror when it refused to let prosecutors take custody of "enemy combatant" Jose Padilla, the Justice Department said yesterday, as it urged the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene.
Spilling Al Qaeda's Secrets -- (Chicago Tribune)...John Crewdson
...Not that everything KSM said was believable. But much of his information checked out in separate questioning of other captured Al Qaeda figures. What made KSM decide to talk? The answer may be waterboarding, to which KSM was subjected on at least one occasion, according to various accounts.
'Waterboarding' Spurs Debate On What Is Torture -- (Chicago Tribune)...John Crewdson
...Waterboarding experienced in training, he added, "is instantly effective on 100 percent of Navy SEALs, a group which is probably more comfortable in adverse maritime swimming conditions than any other on the planet."
Juli Driving in Iraq -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
As always, Juli's update from Iraq had me almost falling out of my chair laughing. For those of you who may not know, Juli is a member of Soldiers' Angels, and she recently went to Iraq as a Human Resources contractor. Her latest update is about her experiences driving in Iraq. Here is a portion of it:
Texas National Guardsman says "Thank You" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Yesterday I got a - Thank You - note from a wounded Texas National Guard soldier.
Military Discounts on Apple Products -- [Counter Column]
Looking to buy an iPod before the end of the year? A Power Notebook? Apple's offering a 17% discount on Apple products for military and DoD civilians until the end of the year.
Marines Suspend "Semper Fit" in Combat -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
The Marine Corps is usually a step ahead of the Army and their recent decision to suspend their weight control program during combat is another example of this:
A recent order from headquarters at Quantico, Va., says overweight Marines sent to Iraq can be exempt from the Corps' rigid weight-loss program, which requires frequent weigh-ins, extra physical training and "Semper Fit" lectures about nutrition.
The rigors of being deployed in Iraq have made it difficult for Marines to comply with the fitness plan, known as the Body Composition Program, Marine Corps officials said.
2 out of 3 prefer President to do his job -- [Uncle Jimbo / BlackFive]
So the horrifying invasions of privacy and disregard of decency perpetrated by W on decent citizens whose only crime was to be contacted by our sworn enemies are somehow not viewed that way by 64% of Americans. In actuality only 23% of us think it was even wrong, good gravy are we actually less screwed up then I thought?
A word from Major E. -- [PowerLine]
Tuesday's Wall Street Journal carried an article by Yochi Dreazen and John McKinnon about Move America Forward, "a media-savvy outside advocacy group that has become one of the loudest -- and most controversial -- voices in the Iraq debate": "Some conservatives return to old argument" (subscribers only). (Click here for a synidicated version of the article that appeared in the Portsmouth Herald yesterday.)
The article profiles the organization from an unfriendly perspective, raises questions concerning its tax-exempt status, and identifies its principals, including Howard Kaloogian, "a Republican former state assemblyman seeking the congressional seat of former Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, who resigned recently after admitting to taking bribes from defense contractors." Here are two sentences full of sinister innuendo:
Commandments display is upheld -- (The Courier-Journal)
No religious intent in Mercer, court says
A federal appeals court has upheld a display of the Ten Commandments alongside other historical documents in the Mercer County, Ky., courthouse.
The judge who wrote the opinion blasted the American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the display, in language that echoed the type of criticism often directed at the organization.
Rumsfeld Allies Moved Up Succession Chain -- (Washington Times)...Associated Press
The three military service chiefs have been dropped in the Bush administration's doomsday line of Pentagon succession, pushed beneath three civilian undersecretaries in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's inner circle.
Fighting the real propagandists -- [Peac like a River]
I'm getting caught up with things again. On Dec 23, CentCom and MNF-Iraq released this news:...
...I've written before about the success Coalition Forces have had in apprehending or killing key members of terrorist organizations. This news may be related to these previous operations.
Note that Abu Naba was captured Nov 23, though this news wasn't released until last week. Abu Naba was the chief propagandist in Mosul.
(Note to the MSM, what the bad guys are doing is true propaganda. What the good guys are doing is trying to counteract and balance out what the bad guys are doing. With a little perspective, you might not be so quick to imply you are equating the two.)
The New York Times vs. America -- [Town Hall / Michell Malkin]
2005 was a banner year for the nation's Idiotarian newspaper of record, The New York Times.
What's "Idiotarian"? Popular warblogger Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs and Pajamas Media coined the useful term to describe stubborn blame-America ideologues hopelessly stuck in a pre-September 11 mindset. The Times crusaded tirelessly this year for the cut-and-run, troop-undermining, Bush-bashing, reality-denying cause. Let's review: ...
Press Gaggle by Trent Duffy -- {White House}
...That same New York Times article says, there's consideration of filing criminal charges against President Bush, himself. Is he prepared to face any possible charges, and what kind of -- the White House must have some sort of reaction to the concern that this could bring this NSA issue into the court and open it up to all sorts of inquiries.
TIME'S UP FOR SNUPPY -- [The Corner - John Podhoretz]]
...The question is: At what point will Time's editors apologize? Twenty-two years ago, when I was working there, a senior Time official named Bill Mader went to Germany to examine newly discovered diaries purportedly by Adolf Hitler. Mader was skeptical and decided not to bid. Newsweek bought them and was subsequently embarrassed to death when those diaries turned out to be forgeries. Its managing editor was demoted as a result, while Time's integrity remained intact.
Pentagon Calls Its Pro-U.S. Websites Legal -- (Los Angeles Times)...Mark Mazzetti
U.S. military websites that pay journalists to write articles and commentary supporting military activities in Europe and Africa do not violate U.S. law or Pentagon policies, a review by the Pentagon's chief investigator has concluded. But a senior Defense Department official said this week that the websites could still be shut down to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
A Reminder of the Power of the Blog -- [Andi's World]
Bloggers in the United States have had great successes in exposing the Mainstream Media for the biased, arrogant institution that it is. They have shone the light on inaccurate reporting, exposed downright lies and covered stories that the MSM didn't see fit to cover. The most memorable example of their success is probably Rathergate, but one that sticks out in my mind is Easosngate.
Blogs offer taste of war in Iraq -- (BBC)... Kevin Anderson
Soldiers' blogs are opening up a new window on warfare
The war in Vietnam is often referred to as the first war on television, and the wars in Afghanistan and now in Iraq will be known as the first wars to be blogged.
Circuit Court Upholds NY Times Right to Squelch News -- [ScrappleFace]
The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled that the First Amendment allows, but does not require, major news organizations like to The New York Times to report on newsworthy events.
A Soldier's Story -- (Houma Today)
Guardsman returns from Iraq to find house destroyed by Katrina
HOUMA -- Sgt. Leroy Osborn called New Orleans home for nearly his entire life.
He left the Crescent City last fall, when he and the 200 or so other members of the Houma-based Charlie Company were deployed for a year-long stint in Iraq.
All Over But the Shoutin' -- [Wayne's World - son home from Iraq]
The pair of police officers who stopped to steer traffic around my car
15 miles outside Hot Springs last Monday night were especially eager to help fix the flat tire once they learned I was en route to Mississippi for Wayne's homecoming from Iraq. Having completed their own stints of full time military service, Corporal Bryan Ray and Officer James Tallent of the Malvern, Ark. Police Department assisted me with courteous professional efficiency, asking in return only that I relay their thanks to Wayne for his service on behalf of our country.
Saying Goodbye to a Hero -- [Andi's World']
Photographs have a way of saying more than words, especially in wartime. Who can forget the "Smack Heard Round the World?"
...Sadly, Perry Shinneman died this past Sunday. Shinneman never forgot his fellow vets, serving as a "tireless volunteer" at his local Veteran's Center. In 2004, when asked about his celebrity, Shinneman had this to say,
(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.)
Awaiting a summit...Awaiting a solution. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
In Baghdad, Amman and Sulaimaniya the meetings continue between representatives and leaders of the major Iraqi political bodies.
The past and current meetings are all in preparation for an expected summit in Sulaymaniya where the leaders of the four major lists (Allawi, Adnan al-Dulaimi, al-Hakeem and Barzani as well as president Talabani) are expected to discuss and work out a solution of the dispute over election results and the shape of the new government.
The Road Home -- [All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front - coming home from Iraq]
Christmas Day, PFC K comes in and tells me we're flying out that night. I spent two hours compacting things to fit into the one duffel and one assault pack I was allowed. I still had to abandon in place a lot of snacks, toiletries, and my pillow and sheets.
...Next time I post, I'll try to say a bit more about things here on the ground. So far, I haven't seen much of these "last throes" the Vice-President mentioned back in May. I did see successes for the Iraqi people, and I also saw the Administration tell the world how swimmingly things here were going when the manifestly were not. I have seen three steps forward, two steps back, and one to the side. A lot of Iraqis and nearly as many Saudis, Yemenis, Sundaese, Iranians, etc tried to kill me repeatedly. A lot more Iraqis have no love for me at all, but just want me and the jihadis and foreign fighters to go the Hades away and let them live in peace.
I have seen what's left of one of our translators after he stepped on a jihadi AT mine. I have seen what a man looks like after the new Iraqi Army interrogates him. I have seen mortars land all around me, close enough to toss pebbles into the impact craters. I have seen buddies loaded into a HMMWV that tore off towards the Medics so they could stabilize them long enough for a medevac bird to come. I have seen the sun set on the Cradle of Civilization, and tracers outline the moon ...
A superb year-end recap…-- [No End But Victory]
The Weekly Standard’s blog has done a superb year-end review of some facts that deserve a lot more attention than some recent news articles. This information makes many of the critics look pretty foolish.
If there is anything the Administration can be faulted on in the Iraq War, it is the failure to fully use more of information that is at its disposal than it has. The HARMONY database is loaded with what could be smoking guns, if documents previously reported on by Mitch Potter (in April, 2003) and CNSNews (which published them) are any indication. I know that in war, there are valid reasons to ...
Monday, December 26, 2005 -- [Gozar the Traveler - in Iraq]
Jimmy was a kid who we often saw while patrolling our old battle space. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without his bicycle in hand and a grin on his face. He was one of our favorites in the area and he’d often leave us loaded down with gifts for him and his family. Every once in a while Jimmy gave us, and a few other units, information about insurgent activity in his village. He wasn’t looking for payment or gifts he just wanted his family to be safe and to live without fear.
A few weeks ago we learned from the intel team that Jimmy and his ten year-old little brother were brutally murdered.
Monday, December 26, 2005 -- [Gozar the Traveler - in Iraq]
While on a patrol we decided to visit the house of the “Mad bomber.” This old man and several of his sons were collected and sent to an Iraqi prison for planting bombs on the nearby roads. A few of them have already spent time in prison for their crimes, and one or two are still incarcerated.
Mortar? Yep, no big deal -- [Daily News- Miner - journalist embedded in Iraq]
Yes, a mortar shook me in my bed a few nights ago.
My editor was aghast I had not blogged about this. I guess he’s right. When it happened it stopped me at the instant, my fingers frozen in position above the keys of my laptop computer as I typed. There was a boom with a simultaneous two-second earthquake and short ringing in my ears.
Poland the brave leads Europe - again -- [CDR Salamander]
In the face of not so much popular support, retreating European armies from Ukraine and Bulgaria and others - Poland decides to extend its deployment to Iraq through the end of 2006.
Soldiers' Christmas -- [Officers Club]
The holiday season can be a tough one for deployed service men and women. But irrespective of where troops are deployed, camaraderie, brotherhood, and the unwritten law that unit is family trumps even the harshest and most desolate of environments. Here's a photo essay of how the troops spent Christmas, courtesy of all four branches of service. Note how even in the tough times, these guys think of others before themselves.
Men of the ‘Lost Company’ lift hopes -- [AJC - Blog - journalist embedded in Iraq]
Abu Ghraib, Iraq — Not many years ago, they were high school students learning history, geography and civics at Cross Creek High School in Augusta.
Their teacher, Anthony Fournier, would sometimes issue an order or two: “Run to the library” or “Make a copy of this chapter for me.”
Now, Fournier’s orders are far more serious.
Take the long view -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I found this article today on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online:
Indonesian Rebels End 30-Year Insurgency
...I'm not suggesting that the Indonesian insurgency was the same as the current Iraqi insurgency. There are stark contrasts, most notably that the Indonesian insurgency did not have the full endorsement and support of Al Qaeda and the Indonesian government did not have an outside power shouldering much of the burden.
Nonetheless, the election earlier this month demonstrated that Iraqis by the millions desire to participate in democratic self rule.
The Cold Gets Colder -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
The weather has turned markedly cooler. It has been cold at night, but that night cold has eloped to the day and an even colder cousin has moved into her vacated bedroom. Marines are digging deep into their seabags to find parkas, gloves and scarves in the hopes of taking the edge off the chilly air. This change in the weather has me recalling the time spent in Kandahar, Afghanistan in early January of 2002 at the outset of this war. Now that was CCCCOLDDDD. You awoke in the morning to find the water bottle you left next to your head the night before frozen half solid. Having to struggle out of your triple layered sleeping system at zero-dark- thirty into the icy air to make an urgent head call was a dreaded occurence. Here's a drawing I did of a Marine at Kandahar.
Thank you! -- [A Soldiers Diary - in Iraq]
A month or two ago, my dad had me sign up for an adopt-a-soldier program that Rush Limbaugh has - I waited for a sponsor and a day or two before Christmas I received notice through email of the good news! Jack from AZ adopted me and got me a subscription to Rush's website and a year of the Limbaugh Letter. I emailed Jack with a thank you, but I wanted to thank him publicly for taking care of me.
Patience is a virtue -- [JS Online - journalist embedded in Iraq]
I think the term “hurry up and wait” was first used by a soldier, maybe even coined by someone in Gen. George Washington’s Army who got bored while waiting to cross the Delaware. I know the soldiers here in Kuwait and Iraq work hard. But I also know they spend a lot of time waiting.
Meet a Stryker soldier -- [On the Road - Daily News Miner blog]
Spc. Everett Stuart
Spc. Everett Stuart does his best to give soldiers what they need, and sometimes even what they just want.
He is on his second active duty stint in the Army. But its not his first time on a deployment overseas. He’s spent several years in Germany while with the Army during the last 20 years.
While deployed in Iraq, he works supply for the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment. He loves the job, he said, making sure soldiers have all the supplies and comforts he can give them. But it also means that he works across town from the rest of the battalion at Forward Operation Base Marez.
U.S. Soldiers Bring Wheels to Iraqi Man -- [Defend America]
BAGHDAD, Iraq, — The U.S. soldiers of 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment frequently bring humanitarian aid to residents of small villages near Baghdad. The projects take different forms: food, soccer equipment, and medical aid.
Recently the soldiers delivered something a bit out of the ordinary: an "arm-cycle." The new wheels will be used by a man who lost his legs as a teenager.
The soldiers frequently visit the village - a small collection of thatched homes in the middle of a farming area - and informally named it "Estradaville" in honor of one of their fellow soldiers who was murdered while on leave in California.
Father and Son -- [Bravo Battery Friends and Family - NEW MILBLOG RING MEMBERS]
Andy Perdue and his Joe Perdue, one set of the father and sons that are deployed in Iraq.
More Fathers and Sons -- [Bravo Battery Friends and Family - NEW MILBLOG RING MEMBERS]
Don Jackson and his father Buster Jackson are also father and son deployed in Iraq.
Did Germany ransom Susanne Osthoff? -- [ TigerHawk]
Yesterday, we reported on the moral confusion of Susanne Osthoff, the German held hostage in Iraq for almost a month before her release on December 18. She thinks that hostage-taking is a perfectly reasonable means for encouraging Western governments to supply more humanitarian aid to the Sunnis of Iraq.
Cooling Vest Finally Shipped to Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
December 28, 2005: After more than five years of effort, vehicle crews in Iraq are getting their long awaited "air conditioned suit." Well, actually it's a vest at least, that will cool the wearer. The U.S. Army’s "Microclimate Cooling System" is a vest full of tiny tubes that carry cooled water (with some non-toxic antifreeze added). Worn under the flak jacket, it keeps the trunk of the wearer cool, thus greatly reducing the "heat load" and potential for heat stroke or heat fatigue among troops who have to operate in very hot climates. The vest makes it possible for such troops to stay alert for nearly six hours, versus less than two hours without the vests.
Poland to Keep Troops in Iraq, Countering Earlier Pullout Plans -- (Bloomberg)
Dec. 27 -- Poland's two-month-old government probably will say today it will keep soldiers in Iraq next year, countering the previous government's pledge to pull out of the U.S.-led operation by this week, a top lawmaker said.
Iraq Prison Inmate Kills 8 With Guard Gun -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - An inmate in a Baghdad prison grabbed an assault rifle from a guard Wednesday and opened fire, killing eight people, police said. The Shiite religious bloc leading Iraq's parliamentary elections, meanwhile, held talks with Kurdish leaders about who should get the top 12 government jobs, as thousands of Sunni Arabs and secular Shiites protested what they say was a tainted vote.
Four Iraqi Children Leave N.Y. Hospital By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press Writer -- (Yahoo / AP)
NEW YORK - Four Iraqi children with life-threatening heart defects left a Bronx hospital Tuesday after successfully undergoing open heart surgery.
Through its Operation Iraqi Hearts, Montefiore Medical Center has performed such operations on more than 500 children around the world in the past 15 years.
NO REPORTS
AFGHANISTAN: BEHEADING VIDEO REVEALS AL-ZARQAWI'S TOUCH -- (AKI)
Rome, 28 Dec. (AKI) - A video of the decapitation of an Afghan hostage, posted to al-Qaeda-linked websites on Wednesday, bears the stamp of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It's the first published video showing the beheading of a hostage in the hands of an Afghan terrorist cell. Five minutes long, it shows many of the trade marks of videos published by al-Zarqawi's Organisation of al-Qaeda in Iraq from the ritual forced confession to the beheading and...
You've Been Indicted -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Some people may be getting some unwanted text messages real soon as Korea decides to send indictment messages through cell phone text messaging:
In a country where about 75 percent of the population carries mobile phones, prosecutors felt it was time to move away from sending legal notices on paper and send them electronically instead, said Lee Young-pyo, an administrative official.
A New Question About The Legality Of The NSA Surveillance Program -- [Ankle Biting Pundits]
My research for this article caused me to go back and look at the text of the Iraq War Resolution, the Congress approved in 2002. While perusing it again, I stumbled upon some language that might (or might not) be very important to the ongoing debate about the legality of the NSA domestic surveillance operation.
Defense Lawyers in Terrorism Cases to Challenge NSA Wiretaps -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The December 28 New York Times has an interesting article that adds a new wrinkle to the NSA wiretap controversy: Defense lawyers in some of the most important terrorism cases in the country are going to argue that the NSA used illegal wiretaps against their clients. The Times reports:
Why Aircraft Matter for Terrorist and Organized Crime -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
One of the most overlooked elements in combatting terrorism, organize crime and non-state armed groups is the vital role that aircraft play. An AFP story on the use of aircraft by the FARC, AUC and drug traffickers in Colombia illustrate this point. Without aircraft, it would be impossible for these groups to arm themselves and function as they do. The same is true for the wars that have torn apart sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Sudan and elsewhere. If weapons are the lifeblood of these groups, the aircraft are the arteries through which the blood flows.
Saudis Arrest A Wanted Terrorism Suspect -- (Interest Alert)
Saudi police arrested terror suspect on the country's list of most wanted terrorists Tuesday, according to the pan-Arab Al-Arabiyah television network. It said Mohammed Abdel-Rahman Mohammed al-Suwailmi was arrested in Buraydah, central Saudi Arabia.
CIA Probes Renditions of Terror Suspects -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The CIA's independent watchdog is investigating fewer than 10 cases where terror suspects may have been mistakenly swept away to foreign countries by the spy agency, a figure lower than published reports but enough to raise some concerns. After the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, President Bush gave the CIA authority to conduct the now-controversial operations, called "renditions," and permitted the agency to act without case-by-case approval from the White House or other administration offices.
BLOGGER EXCLUSIVE: Talk With Joshua Sparling -- [Euphoric Reality]
Sparling said that he had received thousands of cards, and over 100 boxes of gifts, food, and other items. Not only was it “all my parents could do to keep up with opening the cards, but my sister is coming this weekend and bringing extra help.”
When asked what he was doing with it all, he replied, “I’ll tell you, 99 out of those 100 boxes went around the ward to the other soldiers in here. They’re my brothers, and I don’t care, they’re getting all this stuff too. Yeah, I may have almost lost a leg, but there are many guys way worse off than I am in here.”
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! -- [BrainPost - in Iraq]
The dining facility and our rec area is filled with cards. We have received letters and cards from people all over the country and school children, not to mention the gift packages from Aafes and military support groups as well as family members.
HEARTS FOR HEROES - Valentine's Card Campaign -- [Yikes]
Hello everyone!!!! Well, it's that time again... Christmas is over, and my "Christmas in Iraq" campaign to collect Christmas cards for our troops was a smashing success!!! I collected well over **2,300** Christmas cards, which were divided among four different platoons in Iraq!!! Way to go y'all, awesome job!!!!! Well, since the Christmas campaign went so well, and I had so much fun with it, and most importantly of all, it REALLY REALLY meant a lot to the troops and made a REAL DIFFERENCE to them, I thought we could do something for Valentine's Day and chase away the "after Christmas blues!!!"
Patriot Guards Protect Funerals Of Fallen Soldiers -- [Political Teen]
(via Michelle Malkin)
The group “God Hates Fags” — and subsequently “God Hates America” — protested outside a soldier’s funeral this morning, no not to thank him for his service, but rather condemn him and praise his death. The group will be protesting another funeral tomorrow, details here. Video of this incident is available at Gateway Pundit.
Disinformation Operations -- [ThreatsWatch- Bill Roggio]
Flaws in The Washington Post's article on Information Operations
Monday’s Washington Post featured an article written by Jonathan Finer and Doug Struck titled Bloggers, Money Now Weapons in Information War - U.S. Recruits Advocates to the Front, Pays Iraqi TV Stations for Coverage, of which my embed in Iraq was the subject of scrutiny as a military information operation.
MORE LEFT-WING PERFIDY AND TREASON: GREEK PAPER GETS "NYTIMES-ITIS -- [Astute Blogger]"
BBC:
A Greek newspaper has published what it says is the name of a British spy chief who was involved in the abduction and mistreatment of 28 Pakistani migrants. Proto Thema said the name was that of a diplomat who was the Athens chief of Britain's intelligence service MI6. It also named 15 Greek agents who it says were involved in the operation, which allegedly took place after the 7 July bombings in London.
(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 Dog Barks, But the Caravan Moves On -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Here's a set of sketches from my time in Hit, Iraq with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment. This company, along with the rest of their battalion, spent the better part of mid-October to mid-December in the field at the tip of the proverbial spear. These Marines stood toe to toe trading punches with the insurgency while standing eyeball to eyeball with the Iraqi man in the street. The insurgents were mostly foreign and, at this writing, mostly dead after squaring off with the Marines. The Iraqi citizens they interacted with during their daily forays through the streets of Hit slowly warmed to the weary often unwashed mugs of the affable Marines.
December 26, 2005 -- [While away - in Iraq]
...Everyone within our company recieved a gift from two of the locals we work with too. I thought it was very thoughtful of them to think of us. They gave everyone a traditional scarf that it seems EVERYONE wears here. Jason took a picture of Mike trying one on. :) It was a nice Christmas ;) Thank you everyone!!! :)
Glad Tiding to Mary -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
(Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word ("Be!" - and he was! i.e. Isa the son of Maryam) from Him, his name will be the Messiah Isa, the son of Maryam, held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah." (3:45 The Holy Quran)
Christmas Eve - My Trip to the USA... -- [Treasure of Baghdad]
...Then, all of us went to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to attend the Christmas Eve Service. I was the only Iraqi and Muslim attending this service. However, I was welcomed by many people, including the pastor who thanked me for visiting the United States. When we were all singing the Hymn of Adoration, I loved the line that says, “Peace on earth, and mercy mild.” Within my heart I was praying and asking God to provide peace on Iraq. specially, these days.
Well, it's Christmas! -- [Wall - J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
...I just don’t feel like all of this is fair. Not for me, this is the life I chose. For my wife who weeps for my embrace every night, especially tonight, her Christmas eve.
But you know what; I don’t feel sorry for my self at all. I have in my company some of the best damn men that have ever walked this earth. These men that are my new family were put here by God himself to be the providers of freedom, both for Americans and Iraqis alike. Every day, not just on Christmas I receive a wonderful gift, the gift of a new day, a new day to explore my self, a new day to spend with my buddies here in the VOODOO platoon.
Post-Christmas -- [Sgt Dan - J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
The Day after Christmas was not without it's little bit of excitment. Not a slow day today at work to say the least. This war is not the same kind of war where you heard stories of Germans and Americans laying down arms to celebrate Christmas and drink together. This war the enemy would rather fight now more so than any other day. The insurgency knows it's a highly popular American/Christian holiday.
Monday, December 26, 2005 -- [Chairborne Stranger - in Iraq]
Christmas Day was a nice slow holiday off. What did it feel like to spend Christmas in Iraq?? Well, it didn't really feel like Christmas, that's for sure. It felt like some kind of holiday, and we had a turkey feast that the Iraqis prepared for us, and I have a Christmas tree up and I opened a lot of presents, but it still didn't feel like Christmas. I did get to call home and talk to my family and friends, which was nice. That doesn't always fit the bill for meeting that desire to spend Christmas with your family, though.
...The Iraqis made dinner for us, which was nice in itself.
Nothing says Merry Christmas like the sound of gunfire in the morning! -- [My Iraqi Saga - in Iraq]
Seriously, that is what I woke up to on Christmas day. I hear gunfire often but for some reason waking up to it on Christmas Day just didn't sit well with me. I had plans to go watch some people in my unit play football and hang out but after I woke up like that I changed my mind. And don't get me wring, I didn't think I would get hit or anything. I feel "relatively" safe where I am. It just kinda messed things up for me. So instead I rolled over and went back to sleep. That's where I stayed almost the entire day! I watched "White Christmas" on my laptop, watched a bunch of TV, read almost a whole book, and talked to all kinds of family on the phone.
Happy Holidays from Baghdad -- [Dan in the Desert - contractor in Iraq]
Happy Holidays, everybody. Even if you aren't religious, one can still appreciate the Winter. So I thought I'd make a "card for all types," to send to my friends. You gotta have a sense of humor!
Merry Christmas-Iraq Style -- [Combat Medic In Iraq]
Today we have many things planned, unfortunately it conflicts with what the higher-ups had in mind. There is a USO Show coming in today. Kelly Hu and some guy from the band SR-71 will be here during dinner. We also have a formation we need to be at before and after the Christmas meal. Tonite they have *manda
