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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 *mandatory fun* even planned in the form of a bonfire. Oh well though, Christmas is here in spirit if not in anything else.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, INFIDELS! -- [BRAINPOST - in Iraq]
...There was an American PSD (Personal Security Detail) vehicle that recently fueled at the Navistar fuel area. It had rained almost all day Christmas eve and part of Christmas. The vehicles were quite dirty. One of the PSD's decided to write in the collected dirt on his vehicle; Merry X-Mas Infidels.
It struck me, as well as many of those foreigners at the fuelpoint as quite humorous as the driver left down highway 80, once known as the highway of death.
Oh so close... -- [The Military Vote - in Iraq]
Merry (respective holiday here) everyone!
...Kevin is doing MUCH better. I spent about three hours today just sitting around talking with him. He remains seated for the better part of the day however he does attempt at walking now with the aid of a cane (and a walker at home). Those two items were sent to me by a very generous reader who has been thanked thoroughly. I think it's a little early for Kevin to be walking so much but... he's stubborn and determined so I gotta hand that to him. His former employer will be sending him to the green zone to see an American doctor ...
December 24th 2005 -- [We will make it through - in Iraq]
So...this one day I was walking to MWR from the PX, and I pass behind the FPS building. (I apologize for the acronyms, Morale, Welfare, Recreation, Post Exchange, and I don't now what FPS stands for, force protection something or other). I pass these guys having a barbeque. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it looks disgusting. They see me passing by and they call me over. I'm guessing they did, because it was in arabic and I couldn't understand, obviously. One of them in broken English offers me some of what they're cooking (at this point I figure it to be small rodents). I went with my first instinct, and said no, going against all the cultural awareness briefings we had so far. I was expecting shocked looks on their face, but to my relief
Irony -- [NcoDutyToWorkAndHome - in Iraq]
FOB Life.
What is FOB life? Missions, patrols, guard same ole same you think. Ha well you guessed it, its the same ole same everyday. To me for a lack of better terms, I describe it as Monday after Monday after Monday. You all know wat I mean. Remember the movie Ground Hog day??? Exactly. But after a few months you settle into a cycle where you make your days go by. Then the replacemnts show up, and now everything you were used to doing off cycle is thrown for a loop. I mean for months now you knew wen te best time to call home, use the computers or even take a hot shower. Now its like a hit or miss concept. Yesterday 1800 was ...
Will ten seats solve the crisis? -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
It’s become clear from the active shuttle-like movement of the rival parties and mediators that the intensity of the political crisis began to subside compared to how things looked like a week ago.
In spite of the violence that disturbed Baghdad this morning, the rival parties resumed their meetings and talks with some politicians playing the role of mediators; the most prominent of whom is President Talabani and even in the two main competing camps we’re hearing moderate voices emerge to propose solutions like the Virtue Party from the UIA and al-Mutlaq from Maram.
Waiting for the final results -- [Soonie - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Things are running very fast in Iraq and everyday brings more and more surprises. Let me talk first about the elections results. Well, what we were afraid of came true and the Iraqi people elected their representatives on "sectarian bases" and in my opinion this is the biggest problem so far. Our people still don't believe in the democracy to protect them and they find it a good way to show their affiliation only.
5 Blasts, 7 Dead: Havoc Returns To Metropolis -- (Los Angeles Times)...Borzou Daragahi
Also in Baghdad, a GI is felled by a grenade and two U.S. pilots die in a copter crash. Religious Shiites, Kurds dominate partial election results.
Sunnis Protest In Streets, Promise More Demonstrations Unless Revote Is Taken -- (USA Today)...Steven Komarow
Iraqi opposition parties on Monday promised a campaign of civil disobedience and other “peaceful options” in an effort to force a rerun of Dec. 15 national elections.
Chalabi Lacks Votes Needed To Win Spot In Iraqi Assembly -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer and Naseer Nouri
Unexpectedly low support from overseas voters has left Ahmed Chalabi -- the returned Iraqi exile once backed by the United States to lead Iraq -- facing a shutout from power in this month's vote for the country's first full-term parliament since the 2003 invasion.
Iraq Protesters Call for Unity Government -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - More than 10,000 people marched through Baghdad on Tuesday in support of a national unity government of Sunnis and Shiites, but insurgent attacks killed six Iraqi policemen and two civilians in a fresh surge of violence. In the Shiite holy city of Karbala, municipal workers doing maintenance work uncovered remains that police believed were part of a mass grave thought to date back to 1991, when Saddam Hussein's regime put down a Shiite uprising in the south.
U.S. Airstrikes Take Toll on Civilians (The Washington Post)
RAMADI, Iraq -- U.S. Marine airstrikes targeting insurgents sheltering in Iraqi residential neighborhoods are killing civilians as well as......
Iraqis find "mass grave" at Kerbala -- (Reuters)
KERBALA, Iraq - Iraqi officials said they found the skeletal remains of 31 people in what they described as a mass grave in the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala on Tuesday.
Dispute Delays Handoff to Iraqi Unit -- (Washington Postt)
BAGHDAD, Dec. 26 -- A dispute between the U.S. military and Iraq's Defense Ministry over who will command the Iraqi army unit assuming responsibility for some of Baghdad's most sensitive sites has led to the postponement of a formal handover scheduled for Tuesday.
IRAQ: AL-ZARQAWI VIDEO SHOWS BAQUBA AMBUSH -- (AKI)
Rome, 27 Dec.- The al-Qaeda in Iraq terror group has posted on the Internet a video showing the ambush of a convoy of Iraqi soldiers at Baquba earlier this month. The five minute clip contains footage of the 3 December gun battle in which 19 Iraqi soldiers were killed. The well-planned attack began with a roadside bomb against their convoy. The video, is the latest propaganda salvo from the group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, which on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the deaths of at least 20 Iraqi policeman in scattered attacks around the country. The attacks marked an end of a lull in violence since the recent elections...
German Woman Says Kidnappers Were Kind -- (Arizona Daily Star (Tucson))...Associated Press
A German woman freed after being held hostage in Iraq for more than three weeks said in an interview broadcast Monday that she was treated well by her kidnappers.
Two US pilots die in Iraq helicopter crash -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Two U.S. pilots were killed when their helicopter crashed in west Baghdad on Monday night, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.
"There was no hostile fire involved," it said in a statement, without giving details.
Troops lacking Sunnis -- (Denver Post / New York Times)
Baghdad, Iraq - An analysis of preliminary results released Monday from the Dec. 15 parliamentary election suggests that in contrast to the remarkable surge in Sunni Arab participation in the political process, Sunnis still have comparatively little representation in the Iraqi security forces.
Cross-party support for war probe -- (BBC)
More than 100 MPs from across the Commons have backed a call for an inquiry by senior MPs into the handling of the Iraq war and its aftermath.
Orphanage Trip -- [The Flying Swede - in Afghanistan]
Merry Christmas every one!
I hope you all had a good one! Today some of the guys here delivered a bunch of clothes and shoes to an orphanage here in Kabul. We have been collecting clothes and things for a while, and we received lots of stuff from home. Sorry that I was not able to ask any of you folks if you wanted to donate, but it would not have gotten here in time. If you would like to donate, send me and email and I can give you the name and address of the person who organizes it.
Happy Holidays -- [Squirrel's Nest - in Afghanistan]
Happy Holidays to all and thank you all for your gifts and support.
The past two weeks have been killing me. We lost another soldier during a TIC (troops in contact) and this one was kind of tough. Too close to Christmas and he has a newborn. I feel terrible for his kids.
We've also had several visits by the big wigs. Let's see, Rummy, General Abizad, General Schoomacher, and a whole host of others. These visits suck the life outta ya. They want briefings, to visit the troops and tell you about America's support. On top of all that, all ...
A Burning Passion for Ignorant Women -- [Strategy Page]
December 27, 2005: The Taliban announced, via satellite phone to a reporter, that they were not beaten, would not compromise, that ten percent of their fighters were now foreigners, and that they would use more suicide attacks. The U.S. announced that it would start pulling its troops out of Afghanistan next year, with a 16 percent cut. The Afghan army now numbers 26,000 troops, and there are 55,000 national police. There are still many more men in tribal militias, but the government is on good terms with
AFGHANISTAN: KABUL MAY SEEK DAMAGES FOR SOVIET INVASION -- (AKI)
Kabul, 27 Dec. - Afghanistan is mulling the possibility of asking Russia to pay compensation for the 1979 Soviet invasion of the country that led to a ten-year occupation before Moscow withdrew its troops and the Taliban seized power in Kabul. "The Afghan government is studying the matter," a spokesman for Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, was quoted as saying by the Chinese newsagency Xinhua. Afghanistan on Tuesday marked the 26th anniversary of the Soviet invasion.
Top Taliban Commander Threatens Attacks -- (The Guardian / AP)
| KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A top Taliban commander said more than 200 rebel fighters were willing to become suicide attackers against U.S. forces and their allies - a claim dismissed as propaganda...
Afghanistan And Iran Sign Consular Pact -- (New York Times - World Brief)...Carlotta Gall
Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, made a one-day visit to Kabul, the Afghan capital, continuing his country's efforts to develop friendly relations with Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban four years ago.
Roadside Explosion Injures Soldiers, Civilians -- (Miami Herald)...Associated Press
A roadside explosion hit a patrol of international peacekeepers in northern Afghanistan, injuring two foreign soldiers and two Afghan civilians, officials said.
Reds Threaten To Attack US Troops -- (Philippine Daily Inquirer)...Delfin T. Mallari Jr. and Luige A. del Puerto
...They also aired a warning of possible assaults on American troops in the country and threatening attacks against the government. In a statement, the CPP criticized the US military for increasing intervention in the Philippines and urged militants to take steps to deter the US from "further plundering" the country.
Looking Back And Ahead -- [189th Transportation Co. - in Kuwait]
As 2005 draws to a close, we can take time to reflect on the accomplishments we have achieved over the last several months. As a unit was have come so far, both literally, and figuratively speaking, to arrive at where we are now. It is an enormous sacrifice to spend the holiday season apart from our loved ones, to ensure freedom for our country, our allies, and those who strive for peace throughout the world. Today, the people of Iraq get to join in with a foretaste of freedom and security to come
The Real Great Leader -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
In case you have forgotten it is the 112th birthday of the most enlightened, honorable, and greatest leader ever, at least according to those well known "mainstream professors" at the University of California at Berkley. No I'm not talking about that other Great Leader Kim Il Sung, but the real Great Leader Mao Zedong the founder of communist China: ...
Mele Kalikimaka… -- [Calivalley Girl - in Germany]
…is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day!
Some people believe that for a Christmas to feel truly like Christmas, there must be snow. But that’s not the truth at all.
I have spent every Christmas in memory, except for one, in Hawaii. The title of this blog belies the fact that I have spent one third of my life in Hawaii, one third in Los Angeles, and the last third, and increasing majority of my life, in Germany.
U.S. puts sanctions on Chinese firms for aiding Tehran -- (Washington Times)
Several Chinese companies involved in selling missile goods and chemical-arms materials to Iran have been hit with U.S. sanctions, Bush administration officials said yesterday.
N.Korea's priority is ties with US -S.Korea -- (Reuters)
SEOUL - North Korea is more interested in establishing diplomatic ties with the United States than it is in receiving economic aid, a top South Korean official said on Tuesday.
PAKISTAN: JIHADIS ALLEGE DESECRATION OF KORAN IN JAIL -- (AKI)
Karachi, 27 Dec. - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - After the reported desecration of the Koran in the Guantanamo Bay prison, which provoked riots in Afghanistan that killed at least fifteen people, a group of Islamic terror suspects in custody in Pakistan have gone on a hunger strike alleging that the Muslim sacred book has also been desecrated in their Pakistani jail. The 16 signatories of the letter, from Cell number 3 of Adyala Jail in Pakistan’s military capital...
Now I lay me down to sleep -- [Peace like a River]
Daniel Pipes has a sobering column in the Chicago Sun-Times arguing we have returned to our pre-9/11 slumber. He lists some ominous warning signs. I won't list them all, but here are a few:
Politically Incorrect Airport Security -- [Strategy Page]
December 24, 2005: One of the most terrifying aftereffects of the war on terror has been the many new security procedures imposed on air travelers. Most of them have no impact on airline security. Not being able to carry a pocket knife or knitting needles has not stopped more hijacking attempts. What happened on Flight 93 (the one that crashed, when passengers realized what was happening and attacked the hijackers), has, as have stronger cockpit doors. Other measures, that address real vulnerabilities, have not been implemented. This is largely because real security improvements are not as visible, and thus are less valuable, in a PR sense, to politicians who pass these laws. For example, a glaring weakness in airports is background checks and security measures applied to airport personnel.
Illegal File-Sharing: Worse Than Terrorism? -- [Camp Katrina]
Can you say "dangerous double standard," Katrina Campers? From a recent AP article highlighting the escalating wars over illegal downloading:
...So let me get this straight: it's perfectly alright for the music recording industry to peek inside a computer without a warrant to look for downloaded songs, but it's a federal crime for President Bush to monitor phone calls to try to save American lives?
Secret court modified wiretap requests -- (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER)
Intervention may have led Bush to bypass panel
WASHINGTON -- Government records show that the administration was encountering unprecedented second-guessing by the secret federal surveillance court when President Bush decided to bypass the panel and order surveillance of U.S.-based terror suspects without the court's approval.
Terrorists Said To Be Getting Aid In Balkans -- (Houston Chronicle)...Gregory Katz
A hidden alliance between terror networks and organized crime gangs that control heavily used smuggling routes in the Balkans is making it easier for terrorists to infiltrate Western Europe, according to law enforcement officials and intelligence experts.
Scientists Recruit Wasps For War On Terror -- (USA Today)...Mimi Hall
Insects could be used to detect toxins, explosives.
Any Angels Want To Help? -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
This was a message sent by Carol on the Soldiers Angels' TLC Team, to all angels:
In response to the letter below she received:
"MY NAME IS NOT IMPRORTANT BUT MY SQUAD LEADER CPL SMITH IS A MAN WHO ALWAY THINKS OF US FIRST.
HE EATS LAST IF THERE IS ANYTHING LEFT.
HE ALWAY SLEEPS LAST AND IS THE FIRST UP IN THE MORNING.
HE ALWAYS PUTS US FIRST
I HAVE NOTICED RECENTLY HE NEVER GETS MAIL
I ASKED HIM WHY AND HE SAID, "MOST OF MY FAMILY CAN'T STAND ME CUS IM IN THE ARMY THEY DONT SUPPORT WHAT WE DO...BUT THATS OK."
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM GET SOMETHING FOR ONCE. HE ALWAYS GIVES TO EVERYONE ELSE AND NEVER GET (NEVER ASKS) A THING FROM ANY ONE. JUST A LETTER WOULD BE FINE.
HE KNOWS I'M SENDING THIS BUT HE DOESN'T BELEIVE THERE WILL BE A REPLY.".
Wonderful Supporting Groups and Individuals -- [A Mobilized Year - in Iraq]
I am humbled. Humbled and proud. I want to take some time to describe the types of support that we have received over here from the American people. I thought that this flood of support would wane after a month or two after we arrived, but it hasn’t. Not even close. Here are some examples of the support we’ve received in just the last month or so:...
The Eve of Christmas Eve at WR -- [The Gunn Nitt]
We had an amazingly high turnout this week. It was wonderful to see so many show up to carry signs, wave flags, and say "Thank You" to the Troops as they entered and exited the hospital. Someone told me they had counted 41 on our side, while the most I counted across the street was 13 commie Pinkos.
Community Help for a Soldier's Family -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
I remember returning from a night of shopping with my family in Virginia, only to come home to a house in flames. Our Christmas tree lights had caused the fire and we lost almost everything, but we had our lives. That was well over 20 years ago, when I was a youngster.
Here is a recent story about a community rallying around a fellow Guardsman, after he and his family endured the same:...
Christmas at Walter Reed -- [Andi's World]
Yesterday, I was pleased to see many people putting their own Christmas on hold to bring some Christmas Cheer to our wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Acting Secretary of Defense, Gordon England and his wife were making the rounds, spending time with the troops and delivering goodies to them. Provided a perfect entrance line for me, "Okay, so I'm not as important as your last visitor."
America Boycott Hollywood!!! -- [Sleepless Mind]
I've probably bought and sent to my adopted soldiers over 200 DVD movies in the past 24 months. I've chosen the movies with care....not too lovey dovey....not too gorey. Movies that I thought would give them a laugh or two, or one that would entertain through the fighting or mystery.
Then I read how all these overpaid, dope snorting, immoral, overrated bunch of hacks (so called entertainers) refuse to entertain our troops. Either out of fear or from "Don't support Bush's war".
Mother Sheehan’s Vanity Fair -- [Sweetness & Light]
Byron York at NRO’s Corner has gotten his mitts on the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, which is dedicated to the passing year’s "Best of the Best — Heroes! Winners! Guilty Pleasures!"
Thank You. -- [SaulGood in da neighborhood - in S Korea]
Today we had a cargo plane full of cookies that were baked back in the states land. Each soldier or airman on base got a bag, also there were christmas cards from little kids with drawings on them and little messages for us, it warmed my damn heart. It sucks being over here, especially during the holidays but it's nice to know people are still thinking of you. Everyone out there who supports the troops....
And, speaking of guilty pleasure – ahem. (Though, actually it is clear Cindy is long past guilt, in any normal sense of the word): ...
Pentagon Uses PR Muscle To Boost Groups Aiding GIs -- (Chicago Tribune)...E.A. Torriero
Patriotic housewife Amy Oxford is sending personal holiday packages of goodies and sundries to hundreds of U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq. And the Pentagon is using its mighty public-relations muscle to make sure Americans know about such efforts.
Shopper Pays for Marine's Engagement Ring -- (Washington Post)
TYLER, Texas - A Marine who's planning to marry a Texan got an early Christmas present: A fellow shopper picked up the tab for a $3,000 diamond engagement ring after the two struck up a conversation in a jewelry store.
Reading the Ribbons and Badges -- [Strategy Page]
December 27, 2005: The U.S. Department of Defense is awarding medals to troops who participated in relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Actually, two medals may be awarded to participants; Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM), and Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM). Members of the Coast Guard (which belongs to the Department of Homeland Security) are eligible as well.
A Political Debate On Stress Disorder -- (Washington Post)...Shankar Vedantam
The spiraling cost of post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans has triggered a politically charged debate and ignited fears that the government is trying to limit expensive benefits for emotionally scarred troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
Once Home, Troops Face New Battle -- (Los Angeles Times)...Vanessa Gregory and Claire Miller
Company A is back from Iraq, but the National Guard veterans find few resources to help them adjust to civilian life.
Christmas Cheer From the Left -- [Andi's World]
Trying to keep up with the antics of the anti-war crowd here in the Washington D.C. area is a never-ending job. You would think that they could take a little time off for the holiday but no, even Christmas fell victim to their lunacy. A group based in Montgomery County, Maryland calling itself PeaceAction Montgomery is working to gather volunteers to participate in various anti-war and anti-recruiting protests. One such protest took place yesterday at the sight of the National Christmas Tree.
Defense Appropriations Pork -- [ROFA Six]
There is something extra wrong with pork barrel politics when it comes to appropriations for the Defense Department. It is more than the usual repugnance for politicians who don’t give a damn about the people’s money they spend. When it comes to the Defense Appropriations Bill, Congressional pork is a reminder how much money isn’t being spent on warfighting or soldiers... and it should be instead.
The 523-page conference report accompanying the spending bill, which passed the House early Monday morning and now awaits Senate action, includes:
Bush Seeks to Win More Battles in 2006 -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush, bruised by months of setbacks, enters the new year hoping to win congressional battles over tax cuts and immigration, get rebellious Republicans back in step and nurture a new democracy in Iraq - the make-or-break issue of his legacy....
History Texts Take Up Clinton Impeachment -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - The impeachment of former President Clinton is in a gray area of history, too long ago to be a current event, too recent to be judged in perspective. Yet history is already judging Clinton in the place where millions of students get their information about him - textbooks.
Schwarzenegger Deleted From Web Sites -- (AP)
VIENNA, Austria -- The Terminator has been terminated in his hometown....
Montage Or Mirage -- [Michael Yon]
The election photo-montage I posted last week has a certain propagandistic feel to it. It has all the usual suspects: the waving flag, the iconic soundtrack (Fanfare for the Common Man, hardly on the Iraqi Top 40) and the sequence of photos selected to tell a story ALL IN BOLD CAPITALS. It seemed especially propagandistic given the fact that the United States government admitted to paying off media in Iraq for positive reportage. I spoke recently with a New York Times writer, Jeff Gerth, who broke parts of that story, and I came away with the impression that the matter is broader and deeper than we know at this time. Clearly, there is no doubt—-our government has admitted to it—-we are spinning “propaganda.”
Frustration with the Media's (So-Called Unbiased) Coverage -- [The Patriette]
I wish I knew why the media focuses so much on those who don't support the mission of our troops, on those who are against the war, and who think we are doomed to fail. Case in point: On the same day my husband came home on leave, there was an article about a mom protesting the war at the Capitol in Saint Paul. *sigh*
The Fourth Branch Of Government -- [Tiger Hawk]
In two years of writing online, I've been fascinated by the interplay between the blogosphere, a virtual free market of information, and the corporate owned mainstream media. As repeated scandals have shown, our "free press" is anything but free. Sadly, many journalists believe the First Amendment places them beyond accountability either to the public or the law, granting them absolute license to withhold and distort information at will.
Holiday Greetings from the Mass Media -- [Strategy Page]
December 24, 2005: One of the biggest gripes that the troops have had is the unrelenting negativity of the American media. In one interview on the Today show back in August, an Army officer told Matt Lauer, “Sir, if I got my news from the newspapers also, I’d be pretty depressed as well.”
Reservists Add Media Relations To Regimen -- [Boston Gloge]
DEVENS -- This spring, members of the First Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment will be on security detail in Iraq.
But before they go, First Lieutenant Nathan Braden wants them to know that the world will be watching. Braden recently ran a media relations workshop with a group of reservists -- including some from Nashua -- at the Devens Reserve Force Training Area.
Braden showed photos of prisoner abuse by US troops at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison to drive home his point -- words and actions of soldiers overseas influence how the war is perceived at home. Other advice includes tips to avoid speaking in military jargon and to be welcoming to reporters.
''Don't beat up a reporter," he joked.
Holidays around Prescott -- [Doc in the Box]
...Today I went out to lunch with fellow blogger Some Soldiers Mom
and her husband at the Iron Springs Café and they showed me their house afterwards. I’ve lived in Prescott most of my adult life and the view from their balcony is the best one I’ve see of Thumb Butte anywhere (big mountain that sticks up like a thumb, here's the picture).
I now pronounce you husband and wife... -- [The Space Between]
(pics)(pics)(pics)
More Disturbing Secrets -- [Bright & Early]
Part of the story behind the story in the interception of communications going outside the United States is the changes in technology to both make and monitor those communications. With the sharp rises in cell phone and internet use over the past decades, the entire face of these exchanges has been altered. The administration is within the law, in my opinion, to use the means at hand to keep us all safer as I have posted on here. Last night I said that I think that those responsible for the leaks should be found and prosecuted. However there is one program that is being allowed to continue that truly disturbs me.
Day 336 - Hallelujah Chorus! -- [Wayne's World - son returns home from Iraq]
What does THIS smile say??
Five hundred thrity-five days after Wayne reported to active duty, he returned from Iraq this morning at 6:02.
Words cannot express our joy at his homecoming, our gratitude for his service, our humility for his safety.
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly -- [Sisyphus Today... - home from Iraq]
GOOD: I knew I had no family to greet me when I returned, but I had plenty of time to deal with that notion. I hoped that my neighbors, the Richards, would b able to show up since I didn't even know if I had a ride home. They marched us into a big tent, behind a curtain. We could hear the crowd getting excited as they played some video of us downrange. Then the curtain opened and the crowd went wild. No one there that I knew. Drink water, drive on. Found a ride home thankfully. When I entered my building, I was greeted with a wonderful sign on my door. Someone Cares ;) Frau Richard did a wonderful job of welcoming me home and making it easy for me the first few days. I was set up with food and (good German) beer in my refridgerator, TP for the throne, and my key. She did this all on top of helping me with my residual bills while I was downrange. They both have been wonderful friends to me and I can't thank them enough for being there to help me during my tough times.
CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING -- [Momtana Thunder - home from Iraq]
I am sitting here at the Spokane WA Airport one step closer to home. Though my rental car is not ready (Enterprise) because the company booked a reservation for me here last week and neglected to tell me that they close early today and my Christmas boxes and luggage are lost and Northwest Airlines cannot find them, and a former SGM in the Army working for TSA called the airport security on me because I accidently had a unit swiss army knife in my backpack in Nashville, and my air flight was delayed, and I could go on and on about trying to get home . . .
Merry Christmas -- [Citizen Frank - home from Iraq]
Home Safe! Not going back to Iraq - so I'm home for good.
BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER -- [Keep My Soldier Safe - son returns home from Iraq]
At approximately 10:15 am this morning 4 chartered busses pulled through the South Gate at Camp Shelby with 204 soldiers on board. They first had to turn in their weapons and were then debriefed for approximately 1 hour. At exactly 12:18 p.m. the busses were pulling up at the holding area where they had the family members patiently waiting for their arrival.
Our Christmas Present..... -- [Our Soldier - son returns home from Iraq]
Our soldier, David, finally arrived home safe and sound a couple of days ago. There is no other gift we wanted for Christmas than his safe return. Our daughter is ecstatic. so is he, and so are we. Now, they can finally be "newlyweds".
Strong Love -- [The Space Between - boyfriend's home from Iraq]
J is finally home!!! Home meaning we are finally in the same country. I can't tell you how good.. although odd.... it is to know that he's home and he's not going back in 2 weeks! I only hope that the rumors I've heard aren't true and the other ladies' soldiers get home soon. I heard that even though they may fly out of their FOB on a certain date, once at another location that all flights might be stopped until after the first of the year... I just hope that is another incorrect rumor!
(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.)
Christmas Card Greetings . . . -- [Learning to live - Husband fallen in Iraq]
Remembering laughter. . .love. . .life. . .
Christmas 2005
Venite Adoremus -- [Major K - in Iraq]
It has been a usual day here, although I did get a few extra hours off. I went to Midnight Mass last night and the chapel was packed. Chow was a little better than usual, and I had a long telephone coversation with my beautiful Wife, who indulged me by singing Silent Night to me in spanish. That was the best present that I could have received.
Merry Christmas! [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
...Some of the staff captains are having a pseudo-Christmas party near our old quad in order to get rid of some excess cigars that have piled up over the course of the deployment. After I finish this post, I may make an appearance. :)
On a humorous note, for the past few weeks we have been broadcasting Christmas music in both English and Arabic on our FOB loudspeakers, basically to annoy the locals. :) Normally, we do it in the middle of the day, but tonight at 2200 we BLASTED "Here Comes Santa Claus" at approximately 50,000,000,000,000,000 decibels.
HO HO, Ho Ho Ho -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...Went and delivered some Christmas presents to some younger Marines. Young Marines enjoyed their special gifts (things they need) and said a simple “Thank you”. Although I heard it, the words were meant for all of you back home. There isn’t anything that can replace the smile on a young Marines face when you give him a gift that he wasn’t expecting. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to do that. I owe it all to you. We have some good chow today and I will take my place behind the serving line to dish out some good chow to the Marines today. Its not home cooked but its not MRE’s. I took my place and added a bit of “Elvis” to the chow line. Its ok mom, everybody that went through got plenty of vegetables, I made sure of it.
Santa Slips Into Iraq Unannounced -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Santa Claus slipped secretly into Iraq today to spend time with the Marines at Camp Fallujah, most of whom he happily reported fell into the "nice" category this year. Claus, a former Marine Sergeant Major, remarked that standing in a chow line with jarheads again was his special present to himself. He explained, somewhat apologetically, that his current civilian career required long hair, a beard, and a extra 200 pounds. He assured the gathered Marines that in his day he always wore a high and tight haircut, and consistently scored a first class on the physical fitness test. When asked whether his secret unannounced arrival was any indication that the war was going badly, as the main stream press had alluded to regarding both the Cheney and Rumsfield visits, the jolly old elf simply stated that coming and going covertly has always been his trademark;...
Camo-Net Christmas -Taji Iraq -- [Casper's Calamity - in Iraq]
We did our best to celebrate Christmas here in Al Taji this year! This was our Camo-Net Christmas Tree! "When in Iraq -Improvise!" and improvise we did. Best wishes to all those back home and around the world! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
5 for Christmas -- [A Will to Exist - in Iraq]
visit 5 for ChristmasI’ve been taking five photos each of people in the unit to share with their loved ones on Christmas Day. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me via this blog and other means on this most special of holidays. This morning, as I was leaving breakfast, the insurgents tried to give me a Christmas present in their soulless manner. They dropped two mortars near my location. They missed. I suppose wars don’t stop because one side or the other is celebrating something, but it still seems uncivilized to try and randomly blow people up on Christmas Day. I woudn’t do it.
A few more Christmas details -- [Austin Bay]
A follow-up email from the NCO pulling Christmas duty. I’ve signed him off with his initials:
…Merry Christmas!
…Currently, I’m part of an advisory support team assigned to the Iraqi Training Brigade at Kirkush Military Training Base outside of Kirkush, Iraq. We fall under the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team (CMATT), which is part of the Multi-National Security Transition Team-Iraq (MNSTC-I). Our job is to coach, mentor, and advise the trainers, staff, and officers of the Iraqi Training Brigade (ITB).
Yuletide wishes -- [Meg Jones - journalist embedded in Iraq]
...Aside from folks wishing each other “Merry Christmas” and good chow in the mess hall – my turkey and dressing was served by a white-hat wearing chow hall staff member, not the secretary of defense – it doesn’t seem like Christmas today. For most in the military, it’s another day, just like any other, because they’re working and away from home. As I was waiting to get searched before going into the DFAC (that means dining facility to civilians who pronounce whole words instead of using acronyms) for lunch I could hear a boom box blaring the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas” song. That made it seem like Christmas, too.
Christmas in Iraq -- [Intel Dump - Phillip Carter, - in Iraq]
Friday's Wall Street Journal (subscription required) carried number of dispatches from soldiers serving overseas during this Christmas holiday -- as well as civilians serving over here with the State Department, and two Marine Corps moms. Here are a couple of excerpts from my favorites:
26 December 2005 -- [ Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld serves U.S. troops assigned to Forward Operating Base Courage in Mosul. Pic: Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy
Christmas is finally here! -- [OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM - in Iraq]
Merry Christmas! 2005 is winding down and the new year is just around the corner. For those of you that know me, I've been very pessimistic this holiday season because of being alone in a strange land. However, I learned something from being out here - Christmas is not about not being alone - it's about hope and a new beginning. I've experienced a lot during my brief time out here in Iraq. With the referendum, the trial of one of the most infamous dictators in history, and the elections of a new goverment for people that have no concept of freedom, it seems overwhelming at first but if you step back, you can see that what appears impossible is just another obstacle that life throws in front of you. The truth of the matter is that the US can win this war and I truly believe this.
The Gift of Communication -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
It's Christmas eve. Today was a day like any other in Baghdad. A few mortars hit, some sporadic gun fire in the background, and the locals pushed forward again toward freedom. We had a speech by the General and we all sang Christmas songs in the evening. I opted to skip the Christmas party in exchange for some quiet time by myself. So, I sit here now in my trailer with the newly wired Internet access at my fingertips. The Internet is slow but it's so great to have it whenever I want it.
We got in the news for sure! -- [Courage without Fear - in Iraq]
I've been surfing the net a little and found some of the articles about us.
Here's the story by Louise Rug in the LA Times
...Here is the AP story on MSNBC.com:
...And...
They came from the East, three of them ... -- [Countercolumn]
... bearing gifts.(pic)
Iraqi worshippers risk their lives to celebrate Christmas in church -- (TIMES Online)...Stephen Farrell in Baghdad
IRAQIS gathered for Christmas behind Kalashnikovs yesterday. Midnight Mass was cancelled because of bombing fears and curfews, but the country’s rapidly dwindling Christian minority turned out in their thousands for early morning services.
Gunmen Kill Five Police at Iraq Checkpoint -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen shot and killed five police officers at a checkpoint north of Baghdad on Monday, and a suicide car bomber slammed into a police patrol in the capital, leaving three more dead, police and hospital officials said. The car bomb was one of five that insurgents set off in the capital on Monday. At least two people were killed and 15 injured by the other four bombs, officials said.
Ukrainian President Visits Troops in Iraq -- (AP)
KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko made an unannounced one-day visit to his country's peacekeepers in Iraq days before the troops were to leave the war zone....
G-G visits troops in Iraq. -- (The Age)
Governor-General Michael Jeffery chats to troops during Christmas lunch in southern Iraq
Governor-General Michael Jeffery is on his way back to Australia after making a secret Christmas visit to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iraq radio plea and prayers for British hostage -- (TIMES Online)
THE family and friends of Norman Kember, the British hostage held in Iraq, spent Christmas Day praying for his release as a new appeal for his safe return was prepared for Iraqi radio.
Merry Christmas -- [Going Down Range - in Afghanistan]
I like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and safe and bountiful New Year.
Take care and God bless you.
Merry Christmas -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas! -- [An Eagle's Story - in Afghanistan]
Merry Christmas from Afghanistan everyone.
Back from Pak -- [An Eagle's Story - in Afghanistan]
...Ok so the Pakistan missions went a little shorter, and a little different than I expected. We didnt do any humanitarian aid, but we flew around the Vice President Dick Chaney, Donald Rumsfeld, and General Shoomaker while we were out there. It was cool to meet them even if I am not political..
Tape: Zawahiri Purportedly Claims Control in Afghanistan -- (Fox News)
CAIRO, Egypt — Al Qaeda's deputy leader said in an audiotape aired Saturday that Taliban's fighters control large areas in Afghanistan and are fighting American forces and the U.S-backed Afghan government.
Zawahri praises Taliban in tape -- (THE TIMES OF INDIA)
DUBAI: Al-Qaida's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri praised the Taliban, saying the Islamic movement still controlled large parts of Afghanistan, says an audio tape aired by Al Arabiya television on Sa...
Six militants killed planting landmine -- ( Agence France-Presse)
SIX suspected Taliban militants were killed when a landmine they were planting on a road exploded in Afghanistan's insurgency-hit southern province of Kandahar, officials said today.
The incident occurred last night in Maywand district, Kandahar police chief Abdul Malik Wahidi said.
That Time Of Year -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
Santa visited us here in Kosovo.
I asked for...
Bagpiper -- [Desert Odyssey - in Qatar]
The mood was what I expected last night—kind of a reserved festive atmosphere. I got dressed up for the first time since I’ve gotten here and went to mass at 1800, rather than midnight, since I still had to be here this morning at 0500. I grabbed Magnum from his Christmas play (he played Joseph in the service), donned my Santa hat, and we headed to the O’Club for the party.
I guess everyone else had the same idea, since pretty much everyone had the ol’ Santa hat on.
Asia marks tsunami anniversary with prayers, silence -- (Reuters)
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - Mourners from across the world wept, prayed and observed moments of silence along ravaged Indian Ocean coastlines on Monday to remember those killed by one of nature's deadliest episodes.
Target: White House -- [Counterrorism Blog]
My colleague James Meek at the New York Daily News has published an interesting piece on senior Al-Qaida leader Abu Faraj al-Libi (described by some as the successor to 9/11-mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) who was captured in Pakistan last spring. According to two law enforcement sources interviewed in Pakistan and the United States, Abu Faraj was actively endeavoring to assassinate President George Bush "in the White House, preferably." A "senior U.S. counterterrorism official" confirmed to Meek, "It was clearly something they wanted to do. There's no question about that. It's the holy grail of jihad."
Monday's Winds of War: 26 Dec 2005 -- [Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Peace Like a River and Security Watchtower.
Yemeni Al-Qaida Operative "Martyred" in Iraq After Failed Effort to Travel to Afghanistan -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq--led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--has released yet a new edition in its ongoing "Distinguished Martyrs" propaganda series, this time paying homage to "Abu Tarek al-Yemeni" (originally from Yemen). Allegedly, Abu Tarek attended several Al-Qaida terrorist training camps setup inside Iraq, including one facility known as the "Rawa base." Yet, according to Al-Qaida, Abu Tarek eagerly sought to continue his jihad beyond the mere borders of Mesopotamia:
Mystery surrounds year of silence from Osama bin Laden -- (Hong Kong Standard)
He has not issued any public statement all year. Speculation has grown over his influence, health and even possible death. Where is the Western world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden? | Habib Trabel...
Powell Supports Government Eavesdropping -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday supported government eavesdropping to prevent terrorism but said a major controversy over presidential powers could have been avoided by obtaining court warrants. Powell said that when he was in the Cabinet, he was not told that President Bush authorized a warrantless National Security Agency surveillance operation after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
NSA eavesdropping wider than W.House admitted: report -- (Reuters)
NEW YORK - The volume of information gathered from telephone and Internet communications by the National Security Agency without court-approved warrants was much larger than the White House has acknowledged, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
Holiday Wishes -- [Iraq War News]
I would like to take this opportunity to sendheartfelt wishes for the holiday season to all of our Heroes, most especially my son, Butch, that are over in Iraq. Thank you for all that you do, it can't be said enough. I hope all of you get the chance tospend next year with your loved ones. Believe me, all of us families back home are missing you as much as you are missing us. Your service is NOT taken for granted.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.God Bless!
I'm so happy I can't hardly stand it! -- [Yikes!]
I'm so happy I can't hardly stand it! Dear Hero finally got around to opening his gifts that I made him promise not to open till Christmas day... AND HE LOVED THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT is all I was wanting this Christmas and what I was looking forward to absolutely MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE!
Lemme tell ya all about it.... "OPERATION CHRISTMAS SURPRISE" is finally revealed! THIS is what I've been up to since October, and the giftI've been just dying to have Dear Hero open on Christmas Day!
Christmas at Landstuhl Hospital -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
With the help of the Chaplains and the National Guard Liaison we were able to deliver approx. 250 Christmas stockings to the hospital. Fortunately, patient census is currently low so the staff should be able to provide each patient with a stocking into the New Year.
A Soldier & A 10 Year Old Penpal - Once an Angel, Now with the Angels....
From JS Online:
...He told her what it's like here in the desert, and he sent her a picture of himself in his green uniform and helmet, holding his M-4 rifle. So began a pen pal relationship that ended last month with the tragic death of one of the letter writers.
The girl who wrote the letter in Sunday school last summer was Megan Obbink.
The Cedar Grove girl who drowned with her dad while ice skating the day after Thanksgiving has traveled throughout this war-torn region in the pocket of a Wisconsin soldier, who was so touched by Megan's words that he always carries one of her letters and photos when he heads out on dangerous missions guarding supply convoys in Iraq.
Guess Who's Coming to Town? -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
Merry Christmas! (pics) (pics) (pics)
What You Are Supporting - Thank You Angels and Friends! -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
From a Marine in Iraq.
...Thought you might want to see twenty very good reasons of why we’re here and what you are supporting...
More Merry X-mas from Iraq -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
"...thanks again for the care package that you had sent to me. I shared some of the items in the box with my fellow soldiers, but most of it I had shared with some Iraqi kids that our patrol met while we were out in the countryside. ..... I am sure that the children really appreciated it. Thanks again for all of the support that you have given me and my fellow soldiers throughout the year.
Cowards -- [A Storm In Afghanistan]
...According to an article in UK's The Guardian, many of the stars who used to rally to the cause now shy away. Also, to be fair, hat tip to Robin Williams, Al Franken, and Henry Rollins, who, according to the article, have done shows while not supporting the war.
Hollywood Turns its Back on Troops -- [Counter Column]
By the way, we really enjoyed those CDs and DVDs we bought off the hajis.
P.S. The Guardian's "List of entertainers" is crap. Why couldn't they run a complete list? Darryl Worley isn't on it. He belongs on it. So does Bruce Willis. So does Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. There are lots of others.
As for the rest of them, I'll keep their actions in mind next time I hear one of them blather about how they "still support the troops" while taking their political petulance out on them.
God hates Fred Phelps, loves Marines though -- [BlackFive]
I got this from Patrick/Gryph of Gryphmon, who comments here and attempts to keep me from going around the bend:
Stars turn backs on America's troops in Iraq -- (The Guardian)
During world war two American troops away from home for Christmas were entertained by Marlene Dietrich, Bing Crosby and the Marx Brothers. Even in Vietnam Bob Hope was guaranteed to put in an appearance. But soldiers in Iraq are more likely to get a show from a Christian hip-hop group, a country singer you have probably never heard of and two cheerleaders for the Dallas Cowboys.
'Grateful citizen' hands cash to troops -- (Sun Times)
KILLEEN, Texas -- A real-estate developer is putting his money where his heart is.
Jim Johnson, carrying a sign that read "grateful citizen," passed out $5,000 in $20 bills Wednesday to members of the military and their families.
Rumsfeld honors medic with Bronze Star -- (News-Miner)
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld awarded the Bronze Star Medal on Saturday to a nurse's aide turned U.S. Army soldier who revived a baby who nearly drowned in Mosul, Iraq, according to U.S. Army Public Affairs in Alaska.
Spc. Lucas Crowe belongs to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Regiment of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He is among about 3,100 brigade soldiers from Fort Wainwright U.S. Army Base serving in Iraq. Rumsfeld was in Iraq meeting with soldiers and government officials.
Iraq War Veteran to Become Action Figure -- (My Way News / AP)
FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina - The questions were unusual for Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Wolford: Did you play with GI Joe action figures when you were a child? What if you could be one?
"Usually, it is not something good when the sergeant major calls a platoon sergeant into his office," said Wolford, 29, of Oakland, Oregon.
This time, it was good. Wolford, who used to own about 200 action figures, will now become one.
He will model for a new line of figures based on the sequel to "America's Army," an online video game released by the Army in 2002 as a recruiting tool.
Story with picture: Model soldier: A paratrooper figures into new video game
Veterans missing out on pensions -- (Philidelphia Inquirer)
Almost 2 million of the poor - or their widows - don't know that monthly payments are available. The VA is trying to reach out.
Nearly two million poor veterans or their impoverished widows are missing out on as much as $22 billion a year in pensions from the U.S. government, but the Department of Veterans Affairs has had only limited success in finding them.
White House Aids Playboy Playmate in Court -- (AP)
WASHINGTON- Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith has an unusual bedfellow in the Supreme Court fight over her late husband's fortune: the Bush administration. The administration's top Supreme Court lawyer filed arguments on Smith's behalf and wants to take part when the case is argued before the justices.
Democrats Decry GOP's Budget Legislation -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Americans deserve better leadership than what the Bush administration offers, South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn said Saturday in the Democrats' weekly radio address....
2006 Legislative Menu: More Humble Pie for Gov.? -- (LA Times)
Democrats won't hand him any easy victories, unions are angry about his election agenda and the right is wary of his shift to the center.
Murtha commands spotlight over Iraq policy -- (Post-Gazette National Bureau)
A veteran backbencher becomes an anti-war movement darling
WASHINGTON -- Amid the media frenzy over U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha's proposal to begin withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq at the earliest practical date, the Pennsylvania Democrat got an interview request from an unusual source.
We're gonna be famous -- [Courage without Fear - in Iraq]
I had a real interesting conversation with Bob Denham from NBC about blogging and soldiers using the internet to talk with their loved ones at home. He took down the address to my blog and said he was going to put a link to my blog on the blog the NBC reporters in Iraq maintain. We'll see if my site starts getting hundreds or thousands of more hits.
MJS reporting from Iraq -- [Phila and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
...Overall, I thought that this was a pretty good article. If you read articles closely, you will often find snide comments subtly inserted. For example, if there was an IED strike, the intro might be, "In spite of optimistic assessments by the Bush Administration, violence still rages in parts of Iraq. An improvised explosive device detonated today in the town of..." This article doesn't have any of that. Likewise, I didn't see any of it in her last batch of articles (the ones I read, at least).
This reporter is also keeping a blog on her trip. I read her blog from her last visit to Iraq and enjoyed it.
Bloggers, Money Now Weapons in Information War -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Doug Struck
U.S. Recruits Advocates to the Front, Pays Iraqi TV Stations for Coverage
BAGHDAD -- Retired soldier Bill Roggio was a computer technician living in New Jersey less than two months ago when a Marine officer half a world away made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Frustrated by the coverage they were receiving from the news media, the Marines invited Roggio, 35, who writes a popular Web log about the military called "The Fourth Rail" ( http://www.billroggio.com ), to come cover the war from the front lines.
Slogging and Blogging Through Iraq -- (Washington Post)...David Ignatius
A Marine blogger who calls himself Captain B is describing the scruffy four-foot Christmas tree at his base in Anbar province, west of Baghdad: "Lacking ornaments for the most part, we used bullets, cigars, Marlboro packs and other things we like and hung them on the tree. It looks like a freaking train wreck but it's our train wreck."
Journey's End -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
...It was a great moment in my life. I stood with 2 other officers and we were promoted together. Our battalion commander asked us to address the battalion and I was caught so off guard by it I couldn’t think of a thing to say; oh, and the microphone wouldn’t bend down so I had to stand on my toes to speak clearly into it. It reminded me of my speech for Student Council back in 1985. All I could think to say was that we’d seen our last full moon in Iraq. I hope that is true. At the ceremony promotions and medals were awarded for our time here and for some very courageous young men, the medals were well deserved.
'Twas the Nighht Before Hanukkah -- [Winds of Change - Joe Katzman]
Today is Christmas, and tonight is also the first day of Chanukah. It's not really a big deal as holidays go, but I thought this humorous spoof might be worth a chuckle or two:
The Night Before Christmas -- [Peace like a River]
It vas de night before Christmas, ven all tru de place vere I vas staying
Dere vasn't nobody making no noise, not eefen som mouses
except my brudder-in-law and he is a rat.
De stockings vere hanged by de shimney kinda careful
Because dat feller vit de red knickers vas supposed to be dere.
50 Weeks -- [Sisyphus Today... - home from Iraq]
December 24, 2005
I am home :) Will write more tomorrow when I sober up.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! -- [While Away - in Iraq]
I'm going home.
Hope everyone had a GREAT day :)
Ingleside EOD Sailors Return Safely from Baghdad Deployment -- (NNS) HT: Iraq War News
INGLESIDE, Texas -- Nine Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6 Det. 4 Sailors returned to South Texas Dec. 18, after spending six months in Baghdad supporting the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, from Fort Stewart, Ga.
(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.)
Christmas in Ramadi -- [WORDSMITH AT WAR - in Iraq]
Life doesn’t give you time-outs. The clock doesn’t stop so that you can better deal with whatever hardships or difficulties you may be experiencing. Likewise, war doesn’t screech to a halt during the Holiday Season. The enemy does not recognize Christmas. They don’t circle December 25th on their calendars and scribble “Don’t kill any Americans today” in Arabic below it. When you’re in a combat zone, it’s a little harder to get into the spirit.
A Week In Review -- [Combat Medic In Iraq - in Iraq]
The last week was a busy one here in Rawah. We spent two days living in the city before and during the elections. Probably the most historical day in Iraq so far, it went smooth, as everyone has seen on the news already. It seems as if everyone from this town that could vote, did, and they were able to do that because we were simply everywhere, giving them the best opportunity. Things happened that changed my view on the people here forever.
...I noticed that bullet holes riddled the front drivers side and asked what happened. He said U.S. soldiers shot his brother. He explained that his brother was not a terrorist, but was simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time when it happened. The man explained to me that he had run a checkpoint and the soldiers were forced to defend themselves against a possible suicide attack so they did what they had to do. I asked him if he was mad at us for that...and he told me *No.* I couldn’t believe that and asked him why.
Wow, Thanks -- [Lag in Iraq - in Iraq]
So I go to check my email for the first time in a week. Over 200 messages. Hmm, wonder what is going on? I start to read them. Wow. So I go to check my blog (I haven't had time to write much recently.) Wow. What a suprise. I don't have much time here, but Merry Christmas to all of you too.
LEAVE, WE JUST GOT HERE! -- [One Marines View - in Iraq]
Pull the troops out? We were loosing? We cant win?? Did these people eat a bowel of frosted dumbass for breakfast? I just got back from seeing Marines, Soldiers and Sailors in bases like Korean Village and Al Asad in western Iraq. These warriors are going strong, fighting hard and full of motivation eager to fight and kill terrorists, taking the fight to the enemy. Why would we even mention pulling out of here until the job is done? It would be like forfeiting a baseball game in the ninth inning and quitting with a two run lead. We are winning this war and for anyone who says different,
Three Times the Charm -- [Michael Yon]
...Once I returned to the US, the primary question for most people seemed to be who are the Iraqi people? Many Americans seem genuinely surprised to hear that Iraq is a country of educated people who are accustomed to modern conveniences and who know how to run a modern country. Iraqis love their kids, educate their women, and they will fight, but they are up against determined enemies. They are also up against the relentless tide of history. Whether Iraq might split into two or three countries remains to unfold.
Election a Big Hit in Hit -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
...In January of this year 26 voters showed up at the polling sites and during the October constitutional referendum about 600 voted. On December 15th over 14,000 residents of Hit voted. I spent that historic day with Sergeant Keeley's 1st squad of the the 2nd platoon of Fox Company. These Marines provided security along the main avenue of approach from north to south across the Euphrates, "Route Mavericks". This was a street that over it's 600 yard distance had 10 IEDs implanted when the Marines first arrived.
Where Iraqi Staff Officers Come From -- [Strategy Page]
December 23, 2005: The December 15th elections in Iraq also served as a final exam for the newly formed Iraqi 8th Infantry Division. The unit have been training most of this year, trying to acquire the planning and staff skills that would enable it to operate independently, and take over control of a chunk of Iraqi real estate. The troops have been trained to handle cordon-and-search, checkpoint, patrol and convoy protection operations. There was also tactical training, weapons proficiency and, for specialized units, improving engineering, communication, medical support and logistics skills.
Operation Moonlight -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
...It's 1815, Tuesday evening. Bingo and I have just returned from assisting the Iraqi Army in Operation Moonlight; a "cordon and knock" mission along the Euphrates river. There were three Iraqi battalions from the 1st Iraqi Brigade involved in the operation which covered a large swath of desert on either side of the river just East of the city of Ubaydi (See picture).
Progress in Iraq -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
“Everything I thought I knew was wrong.”
Operation Moonlight, the first brigade sized operation in Western Anbar province ends. While the tangible results are minimal, a single weapons cache was uncovered, the fact the operation was entirely driven by the Iraqi brigade, from intelligence, planning, manpower, to execution, is significant. America’s Son, a blogger and Marine Military Policeman who worked with the Iraqi soldiers, offers a first hand account of the operation and high praise of to the Iraqi troops, using his own training experiences:
Team Update -- [Team Med-fah]
A quick entry, and then to bed for me. I was up until 0330 this morning while some of our guys were out, moving one of the Iraqi companies downtown. Don’t worry; Marines travel in packs.
First off, the move went fine. Well, as “fine” as anything in the Al Anbar province. Our move here went in two elements, the first the Iraqis, and the second, our team and all of our (Marine and Iraqi Army) equipment. The IA s got off OK, but our movement was stopped, so for the first time since we got here, our battalion was left without “adult supervision” here at Camp Ramadi. The good news: they did fine, the place was NOT on fire when we got here, everything was in good order, and the Iraqis had started to get things organized without us. This is HUGE; we knew they were capable of it, but we had always had to drag them there. Since we arrived here, something has fundamentally changed, and they are starting to play ball.
Missions continue around the area, as well as my informal election coverage with the Iraqi Army. -- [Chairborne Stranger - in Iraq]
One recent mission that we went on actually made my day. This might have been my best day so far in Iraq, for sure. It was more like a Christmas in Iraq than anything else. We spent the day involved on a public relations patrol with the Iraqi Army.
Baghdad-home sweet home? -- [My Iraqi Saga - in Iraq]
All apologies for taking so long to blog. I’ve been here for almost 2 weeks but I wasn’t allowed to blog until I had my site checked out. Since a handful of very stupid people leaked classified information on their blogs the military is really serious about making sure we know what we can and can’t say. It’s a good thing though because even though I can use my common sense not everyone has that luxury! From what I understand, very recently a soldier talked on his blog about where he was traveling to, what time of day, what kind of vehicle, and bragged about getting to ride with important people and they got ambushed. Thankfully everyone got out ok,
italy probes what? -- [Blog Machine City]
A story from Reuters, via Yahoo:
Italy probes US marine for murder in Iraq
Er, except that it wasn't a Marine, it was a soldier, from A Company, 1-69 Infantry Regiment, New York National Guard. I was in Iraq when this incident occurred, and talked to a guy who was in that unit shortly after it happened. And you wonder why the media seems to have less and less credibility? It's a simple fact, and they can't even get that right. Hell, "US Army soldier" would've been good enough.
Man test -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
A couple of weeks ago, I observed first hand the phenomenon of the man test. The man test, for those not sure what I'm talking about (i.e. female readers), is when members of the male species prove to the herd how manly they are by performing some ridiculous or painful ritual.
Mail, cigars and serious coffee drinkers -- [Reporting from Iraq - Journalist embedded with the 172nd Stryker Brigade]
Mail is a big deal, so say the soldiers.
So much so, that some send mail to themselves. Take Alpha Troop of the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry. Sgt. Roy Stoehr said he and some of the soldiers make sure they get a regular supply of mail by ordering certain items over the Internet. It started with Swisher Sweets cigars, then some nicer brands, and now they are up to some exotic versions. Getting the packages in the mail is always a boost he said.
“You’d be surprised what mail means,” he said. “Over here you got nothing to look forward to but the missions.”
Other mail order items are of a more serious nature. Like coffee. And I’m not joking. “Coffee is serious business,”
Soldiers employ daring tactic -- (Fairbanks Daily News - Miner - MARGARET FRIEDENAUER)
MOSUL, Iraq--The first thing the members of 4th Platoon, Charlie Co., noticed when they dismounted their Stryker vehicle Tuesday was the 12-foot-tall pale yellow cement wall pock-marked with bullet holes.
Iraqi troops killed, Rumsfeld eyes US pullback -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Guerrillas stormed an Iraqi army post on Friday, killing 10 soldiers and wounding 20, as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told U.S. combat troops their numbers would fall as Iraqi forces were trained to take over
Rumsfeld: Bush OKs cutting number of Iraq troops -- (CNN)
| BAGHDAD, Iraq -- President Bush has authorized a reduction in U.S. combat troops in Iraq, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Friday during a town hall meeting at Camp Falluja, Iraq.
Rumsfeld vague on troop cuts in surprise Iraq visit -- (The Star/Reuters)
BAGHDAD - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld offered little information about possible cuts in U.S. troop levels in Iraq when he arrived unannounced in Baghdad to meet commanders on Thursday.
Saddam accuses US of lying to get him out of power -- (Times Online)
SADDAM HUSSEIN used his murder trial to mount a political attack on the United States yesterday, accusing President Bush of resorting to deceit to topple his regime.
The ultimate quagmire -- (Asia Times)
Iraq is a giant, messy albatross hanging from President George W Bush's neck. The faith-based American president believes "we are winning the war in Iraq". The reality-based global public opinion - not to mention 59% of Americans, and counting - know this is not true.
Medical Equipment from Home -- [Miserable Donuts]
Here I am with the Deputy Health Minister of Parwan Province. I filled the box in front of me, on the table, with medical instruments and supplies from home. My father, a retired physician, had asked how he could help the people of the area where I was stationed. I asked Dr. Qasim, the Provincial Health Minister, "what are you short of?" I will never forget his answer. He looked me in the eye and said only one word - "everything". I
Children of War: Make it History -- [Afghan Reality]
...Several times I have been approached by concerned and generous individuals, "I am touched by what your country has gone through, but tell me what I could do as an individual." Due to skepticism about the functioning and legitimacy of several non-governmental organizations, amongst other reasons, I would always have little to offer in response .
This changed when I came across ASCHIANA, meaning "nest" in Dari, a prominent and well-respected non-governmental organization for orphans and street working children.
OPERATION ENDURING BOREDOM - EPISODE VII -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
Tuesday 16December2003
Kabul, Afghanistan
Today, our platoon arrived in the Afghan capital of Kabul via C-130 for a planned six-week stay through the holidays. This Afghan "city" is not exactly the Big Apple (it's more of a core, really), yet is still worlds apart from the Khost bowl area we've been used to.
-It has a real airport with actual commercial flights! (My first question: Why?)
-It has paved streets! (With sidewalks, no less!)
Rumsfeld says early pullout from Afghanistan would weaken terrorist hunt -- (Boston Herald)
While the United States is planning troop reductions in Afghanistan, removing forces too quickly would impede the long-term hunt for terrorists, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld says.
Afghan fighting leaves three dead -- (BBC News)
Two militants and one policeman have been killed in eastern Afghanistan after militants clashed with Afghan and US forces, officials say. | The fighting started after militants attacked Afghan police ...
GOD BLESS TEXAS!!! -- [So Far From Home - in the Balkans]
Well their here! By that I mean that members of Task Force Alamo have arrived. However we have a different name for them, “Our Replacements”! What a wonderful Christmas gift they are. GOD BLESS TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!! Although we won’t be home for Christmas, we will be preparing to leave. What an awesome feeling, we are all so excited and ready.
South Korean Stem-Cell Researcher Resigns -- (AP)
SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean researcher Hwang Woo-suk resigned from his university on Friday after the school said he fabricated stem-cell research that had raised hopes of new cures for hard-to-treat diseases....
Palestinian Child Abuse -- [Open Fire]
Pictured here is a Palestinian mother dressing her child as a suicide bomber. She is placing mock explosives on his belt. This child will grow up hating Jews and will be told that killing yourself while killing the enemy will bring honor to the family. An entire subculture of death persists in the radical Islamic world that intelligent westerners deny exists.
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SECRET SEARCH ON AMERICANS
The following report was compiled by the DRUDGE REPORT earlier this week. I don't expect the mainstream media to say much about it, so I feel it's worth reproducing in its entirety here.
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SECRET SEARCH ON AMERICANS -- WITHOUT COURT ORDER
CARTER EXECUTIVE ORDER: 'ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE' WITHOUT COURT ORDER
Loose Lips and National Security -- [Dadmanly]
(Updated and moved to top)
What timing. On the precise day that an extension of the Patriot Act was to be debated in the Senate, the New York Times chooses that moment to release a story they sat on for a year, headlined with the provocative title, Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts, written by James Risen and Eric Lichtblau.
TERRORISM: AL-QAEDA 'CARTOON' TOO BORING FOR KIDS -- (AKI)
Rome, 22 Dec. - Al-Qaeda's latest weapon in the ongoing media war over Iraq, in the form of an animation showing gunmen and suicide bombers attacking US troops and convoys, raises many questions over who they are trying to appeal to and why. The video game-style cartoon was posted on websites regularly used by senior al-Qaeda figures. London-based child psychologist Pat Spungin told Adnkronos International (AKI) she believes the animation is too boring and unsophisticated to interest most children, but "If it is intended for children I think it's disgusting," she said.
Muslim planned revenge attack on hero soldier -- (Telegraph)
A Muslim man who planned to "hunt down" and kill a soldier who had won the Military Cross in Iraq was yesterday found guilty of terrorism offences.
Congress Extends Patriot Act for One Month -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Congress on Thursday approved a one-month extension of the Patriot Act and sent it to President Bush in a pre-Christmas scramble to prevent many of its anti-terrorism provisions from expiring Dec. 31. The Senate, with only Sen. John Warner, R-Va., present, approved the Feb. 3 expiration date four hours after the House, with a nearly empty chamber, bowed to Rep. James Sensenbrenner's refusal to agree to a six-month extension.
Daschle: Congress Didn't OK Spying Program -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - The use of warrantless wiretaps on American citizens was never discussed when Congress authorized the White House to use force against al-Qaida after the Sept. 11 attacks, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Friday. In an article on the op-ed page of The Washington Post, Daschle also wrote that Congress explicitly denied a White House request for war-making authority in the United States.
Terror Warnings Put Indonesia on Alert -- (AP)
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia deployed thousands of troops to guard churches Friday amid warnings that al-Qaida linked militants were planning Christmas terror attacks in the world's most populous Muslim nation....
Community Help for a Soldier's Family -- [They Call Us Doc]
I remember returning from a night of shopping with my family in Virginia, only to come home to a house in flames. Our Christmas tree lights had caused the fire and we lost almost everything, but we had our lives. That was well over 20 years ago, when I was a youngster.
Here is a recent story about a community rallying around a fellow Guardsman, after he and his family endured the same:
It’s beginning to look like there will be a Christmas miracle for 278th National Guardsman Clayton Crowell and his family who lost their home and belongings in a fire earlier this month....
WNY lives up to generous reputation!! -- [BayerBoysnAction]
(This letter to the Editor was published in the Clarence Bee).
Once again the people of Western New York have lived up to their reputation as being some of the most generous people in America. As New York State Manager of Soldiers' Angels (www.soldiersangels.com) I initiated a donation drive to send stockings to our soldiers overseas for Christmas. Thank you so much to the Clarence Public Library. They offered to be a drop-off site for the donations. In a time of fiscal uncertainty and many library closings this shows how much a part of the community our libraries are!
Christmas at Arlington -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
12/19/2005 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Despite the cold, wind and snow, about 75 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 15 to lay more than 5,000 wreaths on gravesites, including four at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Christmas at Kleber -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
The soldiers at Kleber outpatient barracks in Germany thank YOU - all of our Angels and Friends - for your support! Merry Christmas!
2,600 National Guardsmen Return to Minnesota -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...Due in on numerous flights throughout the day today and Friday, these soldiers are returning home for a 2 week leave before being deployed. While only family members are allowed to greet them at the gates of the Hubert Humphry terminal, well wishers can still meet and greet them at the baggage terminals.
So, if you find yourself looking for ways to spread Christmas cheer along with support of our troops, head on over to the airport to say thanks, maybe pass out a few flags or goodies, shake some hands and give a few hugs.
Hear the NEW Pro-Troop Radio Ads -- {Move America Forward}
Listen to these wonderful new radio commercials supporting our troops. If you support the message of these ads then help us buy the airtime to get them played on your local radio station as often as possible.
CLICK HERE to make a contribution.
Up Yours - NAVY! -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Navy Chaplain May Lose Job for Praying In Name of Jesus
One Navy chaplain refuses to bow to a military policy that bans Jesus from prayers.
Religious intimidation in the Armed Services has caught the attention of both houses of Congress. Due to a 1998 regulation, Navy Chaplains are not allowed to pray in the name of Jesus. Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt is facing termination of a stellar 14 year career after complaints from his commanding officer.
Major IRR change for Army officers -- [Lance in Iraq]
This puts the lie to the "back-door draft" claims made by liberals:
The Army is taking more than 12,000 Individual Ready Reserve officers off the rolls and out of the running for activation, unless they actively sign up to retain their commissions and stay available for war duty.
The order is a reversal of a long-standing procedure that keeps Army officers in the IRR automatically unless they resign their commission, according to Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, a spokesman for the Army’s personnel office.
Military chaplains told to shy from Jesus -- (Washington Times)
To pray -- or not to pray -- in Jesus' name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House yesterday.
Navy Chaplain Goes on Hunger Strike Outside White House Over Uniformed Prayer Rules -- (FOX News)
It's almost Christmas, and U.S. Navy chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt is on a hunger strike that includes nightly prayers outside the White House.
Lieutenant Klingenschmitt, an Evangelical Episcopal priest, says he won't eat until President Bush signs an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their belief
Kennedy's Drinking Problems . . . in Scotland? -- [Camp Katrina]
Tell me this headline doesn't look like it would have come from a D.C. news source, Katrina Campers:
After tough year, White House cites only successes -- (Reuters)
By most accounts, it was a tough year for President George W. Bush, marked by a drop in public support for the Iraq war, legislative setbacks on Social Security and arctic oil drilling and a politically disastrous initial response to Hurricane Katrina.
But according to a White House fact sheet, 2005 was a year full of "accomplishments" -- six, single-spaced pages worth distributed to reporters as Bush left town for his holiday break.
The News Business Shuns Heroes -- [Strategy page]
December 23, 2005: The U.S. Army went into the war on terror with the best trained, most skilled force in its history. The troops achieved, by historical standards, remarkable feats. Yet you rarely hear about it. The troops don’t mind, well, actually they do. But you’re not supposed to complain about that sort of thing, so they don’t. Why aren’t these achievements noted. Part of it has to do with a long time truism in the media; “bad news sells better than good news.” But the way this works is pretty bad news in itself.
Welcome Home, Josh (for 2 Weeks)! -- [The Patriette - husbands home on leave from Iraq]
Today, my husband comes home! He'll be home for nearly two weeks! YAY! Not that we have anything planned, except to visit family on the 24th and my sonogram on the 3rd, but that's okay. It will be soooo nice to have him here, even if only for a little while. It will be the first time we've seen each other since I found out that I was pregnant back in September! Once he leaves in January,
Sorry, Sorry, Sorry -- [American at heart - home from Iraq]
Haha, can I say sorry one more time?
I'm home, safe and sound. My company sent 100 men to war. We returned with 100 healthy men. For the most part we were unscathed. The reason I quit blogging was chain of command. There are new rules about blogging, and I was fed up with waiting three weeks and having my stories picked apart. I'll post once in a while to keep everyone updated, but Iraq is over for me. I find it hard to watch the news. I'm tired of seeing so many horrible things in the media. I never realized how biased the media is. Bad things happen everywhere. The good outweighs the bad in Iraq by a considerable margin.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 -- [SGT_BYRON's Xanga Site - home from Iraq]
Well if yall didnt know I am at home right now, just been in sensory overload for the past couple of days to do anything but sit and stare in awe of all that is women...my wife, she is so pretty. Well things are nice come to find I am not as messed up as some people who come back from deployments. Im just in chill mode I dont think anything right now could bother me.
(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.)
Who’s playing with fire? -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
The election commission last night announced shocking preliminary results of the elections in 11 Iraqi provinces.
The results “after counting 89% of the votes in Baghdad showed that the UIA won 1,403,901 votes, the Accord Front won 451,782 while Allawi’s list won 327,174” said a spokesman of the election commission.
Many Thanks -- [IBN_ALRAFIDAIN - an Iraqi in iraq]
...I think that I should thank Mr. Bush for his nice words, he said on receiving out-of-country Iraqi voters Thursday in the Oval Office of the White House, addressing the Iraqi people. The man is able to see my inside feelings of joy and relief on saying:
With the President-- [Better Kurdistan and Iraq -- an Iraqi in Washington]
I had the pleasure of meeting President Bush in this historic day, December 15, 2005 in the Oval Office. He talked with and listened to us, Iraqi voters, for about an hour, took individual picture with us and gave us each a souvenir. He promised us that the US will not abandon Iraq this time.
Democracy in Kurdistan - the imprisonment of Dr Said Qadir -- [WELCOME TO EAST OF KURDISTAN ]
Today Kurdistan stands on a precipice, before it lie two options, to either revert to Middle Eastern “democracy” or to take up the torch of freedom and show the world that true democracy can take root in the cradle of civilisation.
To the outside world the Iraqi elections of the 15th of December symbolised the fruit of the Bush administrations process of democratisation in the greater Middle East, however for Kurdish voters the essence of democracy, the entitlement to chose was elusive. This is not because of the draconian rule of the Kurdish parties in Kurdistan but due to southern Kurdistan’s attachment to “Arab” Iraq, for as long as this arrangement continues Kurds only have one choice before them either Middle Eastern hegemony and oppression from Baghdad or dictatorial rule from fellow Kurds, which is not really a choice at all.
Appearance on the Buzz Cut -- [Dadmanly - just returned from Iraq]
Buzz Patterson asked to interview me today on his program, The Buzz Cut, on Rightalk.com, scheduled for 1-2:00 pm EST Monday December 19th.
Buzz wants me to talk about my impressions from my recent 10 month stint in Iraq and the stunning success of last week's Iraqi Parliamentary elections.
THE PRESIDENT -- (One Marine's View - in Iraq)
The Honorable Mr Bush gave his Address the Nation speech Sunday night. You can read the entire transcript by clicking here. It was a great speech and said what many of you are saying with one voice. In past blogs I mentioned “one person can make a difference” and many of YOU are doing that. The President apologized and took responsibility (democrats look that up it’s a new word for you) and stated “It was the right thing to do” and he is right that it defiantly was the right thing to do. However I don’t think he had to apologize. Lets help the left sided thumb suckers remember Sadam killing those hundreds of Kurds in his own land with a variant of mustard gas and cyanide. (Note: Mustard gas, yea its WMD.) A truly horrific, painful, slow technique used to kill people. They may not have had it when we went into Iraq but they defiantly had it before we went in as they stalled the UN inspectors to move the stuff.
The President’s Radio Address -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
...Here is my question, with all due respect to the President. If the Patriot Act is so essential in protecting Americans from terrorism, then why are we putting in anti-methamphetamine clauses? That is a domestic industry that has nothing to do with terrorism. Certainly, methamphetamine manufacturing is illegal, but unrelated to the security of the nation.
There are many other problems with the Patriot Act. It is stopgap legislation that has been on the books for too long. It should be rewritten.
Taking the Fight to the Terrorists -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
...It's very good and if you saw the address, you could feel the passion that he feels. Maybe I could feel the same passion because I was over there, in the mix, helping the Iraqi security forces make the PROGRESS that is being seen now.
It's so funny to see some of the MSM almost have to BREAK DOWN and report on some of the GOOD stuff...WHY?! It's because that's what is REALLY happening in Iraq. GOOD things are happening, both for the Iraqi people and for the United States and the rest of the free world.
Home Made Explosives in Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
December 20, 2005: Terrorists in Iraq appear to be running short of pilfered (from Saddam’s ammo dumps) artillery shells and explosives. Home made explosives are increasingly being used for roadside bombs. One of the more novel explosive concoctions is one using concentrated hydrogen peroxide and other materials. This is a known recipe for improvised explosives, although the Iraqis are adding cumin (something found in many kitchens, and grown in Iraq), instead of charcoal, to get the mixture into an explosive state.
Operation Moonlight, with a Twist -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio]
The Iraqi Army assumes a greater role in planning and executing security operations in Western Anbar
KUWAIT CITY: On the evening of my departure from Iraq, I had the pleasure to have dinner and a long conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Starling, the operations officer of Regimental Combat Team – 2. As the operations officer, Lt. Col. Starling is the architect of the slew of operations which culminated with Steel Curtain, the big push to establish a permanent joint Coalition and Iraqi presence in the Western Euphrates River Valley.
The Farm -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
As a Signal Officer, I am not required to leave the base everyday on combat missions. I spent time as an enlisted soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Air Assault Division, and during those years, fate did not place me in combat. I did a lot of training for war, but no war. Now, here in the year 2005 I find myself a 1st Lieutenant in the Utah Army National Guard, acting as the Signal Officer for an outstanding unit. I am comfortable and content in my position as a staff officer. I understand the importance of all positions as they are inter-twined with one another.
But as I’ve said, everybody is a gun. I recently led a team on a mission to check for a suspected Al Qaeda weapons cache at a place I’ll call the “the farm.” There were three teams, and they needed a Lieutenant to act as team leader. My name came up, and my Operations Officer called me in to see him.
Reconstruction in Iraq! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
First of all, thank you all for the nice response to the reconstruction debate that went on. I never knew this would be of such importance.
I would like now to show a picture of what is happening in Iraq now.
Some of you said that the phone system in Iraq was rehabilitated, or rebuilt the phone system. Well, the phone system was never bombed dear. The only telecommunication building which was bombed in Baghdad was the Sinak building, which was for communication outside Iraq. And believe it or not, the building is still rubble! But that doesn’t mean there is no telecommunication rehabilitation in the country
I'll follow up with more on the election and what is to follow. -- [Chairborne Stranger]
There is lots of positive news from the press, from American military officers, and of course the Iraqi military perspective.
For those new to the blog, I work as an advisor attached to the Iraqi Military, so I just tag along wherever they go and help out on the missions. We live with them and share their life. It can be both trying and exciting. Then again, so can't Iraq itself.
Elections-Part III -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
...Although you won’t read it in any book there are thousands of techniques to wile away the time. The techniques are passed down from Soldier to Soldier, forming a oral tradition that a Zen monk would envy.
But however apt the technique, over time it becomes increasingly difficult to remain focused and alert. An hour or two after the off shifts had settled into sleep I walked between positions to check up on the Soldiers. The moon glittered in the winter sky like a silver lantern, and it drenched the area with its cool light. As I settled into each site there would be a short whispered exchange and then the troop on duty would point out the highlights of the last few hours. They would point out the houses with generators, and note how often the occupants would slip out their doors to refuel their growling engines. They would ...
Dec, 18, 2005 -- [We will make it through - in Iraq]
... We get to this place, its in Kurdistan, and we're waiting to finish our business there. This guy comes up to me, all smiles. He can't speak a word of English. Him and his buddy walk up to me holding up a cell phone. I had no idea what they were, judging by the uniform they were Kurdish paratroopers.(I didn't think their military was that advanced, but I guess thats why we're here.) I finally figured out he wanted a picture with an American Soldier, me. I was a bit flattered, its usually me thats asking these strange people for pictures. So I had his buddy take one of me and him as well. What they'll do with it, I have no idea. It's just one of those little things I'm going to take home with me, experiencing another culture.
Baghdad Journal I -- [Porphyrogenitus - in Iraq]
I will say that I see more Coalition/Allied troops than I thought I would - Liberty is a big HQ, so even Coalition forces that are mainly operating elsewhere have a presence here. I've seen British troops, lots more Australian troops than I thought I would, Georgian troops (not "Down South" Georgia, but Caucasus Georgia), Japanese soldiers, a Dutch soldier or two, and troops from a surifit of Slavic countries. Contractors seem to come from all over, too. My first meal in country I sat at a table with 3 KBR employees - one from the States, and two who had Slavic accents (dk which country and I didn't get a chance to ask). From these, admittedly limited, impressions, it's more of a multinational effort than one might think from reports.
Yes, I've also seen some Iraqi troops,...
Long nights -- [ericmalmgren.com - in Iraq]
The nights are the hardest.
The night eats away at you, slowly striping away your peace of mind. Night is the lonely time. The remembering time. Memories can be painful. Old regrets, bitter conflicts, pages left unwritten. Wrapped Night’s embrace, old demons come forth. Demons that you once thought long banished surface to once again run through your mind and savage your soul.
In the sharp light of day, the mind has no time for such things. The Here and Now compels these monsters back with the sharp sword of activity. But they always return, haunting your sleep, viciously rending your emotions and wearing you down with the weight of deeds done and undone. Regret will drive you mad, shame will castrate you and longing will kill you slowly. The very memories that should bring comfort turn against you,
Christmas 2005 -- [1Lt Charles Bradley Triplett - in Iraq]
It has been a long time since I have sent one of these out. This is mostly because things have been pretty slow for the most part. We are still doing the Artillery mission which means sitting in a small room and waiting for someone to shoot at us so we can shoot back. Like I said earlier, it is slow so that means no one is shooting at us and you can’t really complain about that.
Gearing up for Christmas -- [Desert Cheif - in Iraq]
Who would ever think that Christmas in the desert, thousands of miles away from family, friends, and loved ones would be nice -- but it's really not as bad as I thought it would be.
I find it truly amazing how those serving in the military always find a way to adapt and overcome; perhaps one of my many reasons for spending way more than one-half of my life in the Army. I've found many military members in my life to become almost like family to me and you know who you are!!! Therefore, getting ready for Christmas has been kind of fun here. You can't believe ALL the decorations that family members have sent over, all the cards & banners from school children and church groups, and all the good will being shared. All of our cubicles (as small as they may be!) are decorated with amazing thoughts and wishes. It's not been too bad. So far...
Honeymoon over as Sunnis cry foul over Iraq vote -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Iraq's rebellious Sunni Arab minority cried foul on Tuesday over results of last week's election, angry at signs Shi'ite Islamists will remain the dominant force.
Bush Leaves Out the Bad News in Iraqi Poll -- (AP)
President Bush is making selective use of an opinion poll when he tells people that Iraqis are increasingly upbeat.
US freeing Saddam's 'Dr. Germ' and 'Mrs. Anthrax' -- (Reuters)
U.S. forces in Iraq are freeing "Dr Germ and "Mrs. Anthrax," two of Saddam Hussein's leading biological warfare experts, following the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, lawyers said on Monday.
U.S. Air Power Strikes Iraq Targets Daily -- (AP)
The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps have flown thousands of missions in support of U.S. ground troops in Iraq this fall with little attention back home, including attacks by unmanned Predator aircraft armed with Hellfire missiles, military records show.
Five US soldiers plead guilty to Iraq abuse -- (Reuters)
Five U.S. Army Rangers court-martialed over charges of detainee abuse in Iraq have pleaded guilty and been given punishments varying from 30 days to six months in confinement, the military said on Monday.
Driver of Jordanian ambassador kidnapped in Baghdad -- (AFP)
The driver of the Jordanian ambassador to Iraq was kidnapped in Baghdad, the latest in a new spate of abductions in the war-torn country.
End state, crap, irony, and media -- [Going Down Range - in Afghanistan]
The Taliban and al Qaeda will never negotiate with the infidel Americans and their Afghan lackies. The Coalition, US and Afghan forces can not eliminate hatred, misogamy and pedophilia and those are some of the better qualities of the Taliban. The US is promoting education, democracy, economic growth and women’s rights. When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, they did the opposite. The US will have a presence in Afghanistan for many more years. Just ask the Germans, Italians, and Japanese how long America has bases on their soil. Ask any Afghan if they want the US to leave and the answer is no.
Historical day in Afghanistan history -- Afghan Lord - an Afghani in Afghanistan]
Today is a historical day in Afghanistan political history. Today all representatives are gathering together to shake hand and say greeting Afghanistan! Today they will inaugurate the parliament which is one of the pyramids of system.
Today is a public holiday in Afghanistan in respect of inauguration of parliament. People seem happy although suffered of injustice and war in the last 24 years. In their faces you can read; no war after this, brotherly and friendly living.
Education Year Ended with Violence in the South -- [Afghan Warrior - an Afghani in Afghanistan]
The enemies of peace and stability killed a teacher in front of the school students in southern Helmand province last Thursday. Mohammed Harif was shot to death by the Taliban insurgents after he ignored their orders to stop teaching girls. The attack was carried out by two armed men riding a motorcycle. Teacher Mohammed Harif received many warning letters from the Taliban to stop teaching but he was still teaching the girl and boy students.
Standing Up for Justice And Truth in Afghanistan -- [Afghan Reality - an Afghani in Afghanistan]
Better late than never. The war-riven country has eventually adopted an 'Action Plan for Peace Reconciliation and Justice' at the conclusion of a conference in Kabul .
Hailed as a "significant step", the action plan deserves recognition, at least in rhetoric, for two main reasons.
Cold Weather Operations - Jingle Tuck Style -- [Miserable Donuts]
A Jingle Truck driver outside of Bagram demonstrates how to warm up your truck engine, before starting. And people used to wonder why I walked around with my jaw hanging down so much... (pic)
Vice President Cheney in Afghanistan -- [The Hooker and his Girl - Hooker's in Afghanistan]
I have to tell about my husband, he was flying the chopper ( which stirred up a duststorm ) and have to spread some smiles ( I marked them in the text.)
A Long Year and a Long December -- [Firepower Forward - in Afghanistan]
So how do you define a good year? Is it a span of time marked by moments of happiness, notable achievements, and successes? Do the days punctuated by laughter have to outweigh those stained with tears, or is it a cumulative effect of how we recollect our overall experience of the preceding months as the church bells fade from midnight mass on Christmas Eve?
My Own Personal NGO -- [Kabulog - in Afghanistan]
...So the new crusade, my own personal j***d (umm...I wont use the word, eventually wanting to get back to the US and trying to not to get kicked out of the country too.) It really is about developing a civil society here, civil in every sense of the word. I’ll come up with a proposal, do some demographic studies, implementation assessments, impact studies, come up with a statement of work, and of course, terms of reference. I’ll establish an impact evaluation method and propose actual metrics to be measured and studied.
All this will be done for a program to bring a cultural element of critical cynical hipster to hip to be a hipster cadre in this society. “AfghaniStar,” I mean it is brilliant, the name that is, but really, now, this can’t be taken sitting down. If we’re going to have the best/worst of pop culture here, there must be the accompanying best/worst aficionados of mass culture—those, well us, snub-nosed, elitist mass culture critics. We avant-garde, we only who can truly appreciate the brilliance of “AfghaniStar” for what it truly is. This, obviously, with out ever watching a single episode.
Karzai praises Afghan rebirth -- (Washington Times)
President Hamid Karzai proclaimed a "new beginning" for his country yesterday in an emotional address to women, warlords and democrats assembled for the inaugural session of the new Afghan parliament.
NATO must cover U.S. Afghan troop cuts -- U.N. -- (Reuters)
Planned cuts in U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan must be covered by deployments of NATO-led peacekeepers due to take place next year, the U.N.'s peacekeeping chief said on Tuesday.
Three Italians hurt in Afghan suicide attack -- (Reuters)
Three Italian peacekeepers were slightly wounded in a suicide car bomb attack in the western Afghan city of Herat on Tuesday, and at least one attacker died, a spokesman for the NATO-led peacekeeping force said
AFGHANISTAN: 'AL-QAEDA MILITANT' RESURFACES IN VIDEO -- (AKI)
Rome, 19 Dec. - Six months after his escape from the US detention centre on the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, the suspected Islamic terrorist, Abu Yahya al-Libbi has resurfaced in a new video that has been broadcast on various Islamic forums on the Internet. In the video, al-Libbi is seen marching together with a group of militants in Afghanistan. The escaped prisoner was presented in the film as a leading representative of the al-Qaeda terrorist network who is involved in preaching.
Japanese Cure for Avian Flu -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
If I had to choose between the Korean kimchi cure for the avian flu virus or the Japanese antidote I think I would definitely prefer the Japanese remedy:
I kid you not! The Kirin Brewery has apparently discovered or developed avian flu antibodies to protect humans from the flu...
Difficult people. -- [Way Down in Kosvo - in Kosovo]
It seems as though it is some law of human nature that no matter how well any particular thing is apparently progressing, there is always someone who is going to be a complete ass because they are not getting what they want. Case in point: last Wednesday evening we were in Kllokot for a village meeting where our commander presented our proposal for the sewer project. 27 men from the village showed up for the meeting, but now women. As a matter of fact the only women present were our Serbian translator (and hero) Dada, and the Serbian translator for the Vitina LMT.
Everything went fairly well for the first half of the meeting, and the men of the village were mostly receptive to what we are trying to do, and very, very cooperative. That may not seem like a big deal but,
A Painful Choice in Yemen -- ( Washington Post)
U.S.-funded program to bring democracy to the Arab nation weighs leader's edict and tribes' needs.
Iran's President Bans All Western Music -- (AP)
TEHRAN, Iran - Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned all Western music from Iran's state radio and TV stations - an eerie reminder of the 1979 Islamic revolution when popular music was outlawed as "un-Islamic" under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Today, though, the sounds of hip-hop can be heard blaring from car radios in Tehran's streets, and Eric Clapton's "Rush" and the Eagles' "Hotel California" regularly accompany Iranian broadcasts.
Patriot Act Facts: There is "Judicial Oversight" and No Proven "Abuse" -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
I've said in various public fora that the USA Patriot Act is the most "slandered" and most misunderstood law in America today, and that the public understands the dreaded Internal Revenue Code better that the Patriot Act. That level of misunderstanding is apparently true even of our own Victor Comras, who complains of a lack of "judicial oversight" and a perception of "abuse." First of all, as I wrote last week, there has been no proven abuse of Patriot Act powers, as reported to the Congress repeatedly by the Justice Department Inspector General. And the editors of "National Review" wrote a rebuttal to part of Victor's post even before Victor posted, so here are pertinent excerpts:
Teach your children well, Hezbollah style -- [Peace like a River]
My children are age 5 and 4. The videos we let them watch are Care Bears, Bambi, Fox and the Hound, Snow White, Veggie Tales, Country Mouse City Mouse, etc... Nothing very violent, always with an uplifting message. Focusing on whatsoever is good and pure, as the Good Book says.
MEMRI has video of an Egyptian children's claymation show from Al-Manar TV, which is affiliated with the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah. It shows Jews turning into apes and pigs and being washed away in the sea.
A translation, and a link to the actual video which you can view, are here.
Al Qaeda Tries Reviving Bin Laden -- [Strategy Page]
December 20, 2005: In a long-distance radio interview about ten days ago, Mullah Dadullah, the one-legged Taliban veteran who appears to command insurgent operations in Afghanistan, declared that, “The expansion of NATO operations in Afghanistan and increase in the number of NATO troops will make it easier for the Taliban to target and attack them." Dadullah, who was Taliban intelligence chief when the Islamist movement ran Afghanistan, is believed hiding out somewhere in the mountainous region astride the Afghan-Pakistani frontier. Of greater interest is the contents of a video that seems to have been released shortly the interview.
Researchers Find Barbie Is Often Mutilated -- (AP)
LONDON (AP) - Barbie, beware. The iconic plastic doll is often mutilated at the hands of young girls, according to research published Monday by British academics. "The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a 'cool' activity," said Agnes Nairn, one of the University of Bath researchers. "The types of mutilation are varied and creative, and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving."
Bush accuses leak instigators of helping enemy -- (Sydney Morning Herald)
By Michael Gawenda Herald Correspondent in Washington. A FEISTY and sometimes angry George Bush has accused those who leaked the fact he had authorised wiretaps on hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Americans ...
Bush’s Snoopgate -- (NewsWeek)
The president was so desperate to kill The New York Times’ eavesdropping story, he summoned the paper’s editor and publisher to the Oval Office. But it wasn’t just out of concern about national security.
Administration Cites War Vote in Spying Case -- (New York Times)
President Bush and two senior aides argued that authority for domestic spying grew out of a 2001 Congressional resolution.
F.B.I. Watched Activist Groups, New Files Show -- (New York Times)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 - Counterterrorism agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conducted numerous surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations that involved, at least indirectly, groups active in causes as diverse as the environment, animal cruelty and poverty relief, newly disclosed agency records show.
Christmas Spirit -- [Desert Odessey - in Qatar]
Ah the wonders of Christmas.
As I approached my desk this morning I was greeted by a pile of gifts and envelopes that was heretofore unprecedented. Couple that with some of the things I have had the opportunity to see children write recently and dare I say—the Christmas Spirit may be eeking its way into my corner of the desert and the cold heart it has produced this year. Amongst the gifts were a couple of care packages—(mind you, this is in addition to the monster care package I received from my Mom last week), one from none other than Richmond from One For the Road with enough cookies to feed the entire CAOC (to which they are happily obliging). There was also a care package from the office at home (before you begin to think that they’ve changed completely, read on), and an envelope from Sarah’s school.
Operation BS! -- [Pundits My *ss]
Knowing that I’ve been letting other projects slow my posting pace down, I’ve been mentally preparing commentary on the electronic eavesdropping story and the president's recent speeches. But once again I find myself furious at the amazing arrogance of my friend Paul Rieckhoff. Paul has just changed the name of his left wing oriented veteran’s organization. What was Operation Truth is now Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Now it may seem to be a step down in arrogance to claim to be speaking for veterans rather than for the very concept of truth. But as one of the veterans of this war, I find myself deeply disturbed by this change.
Army Training, Sir! -- [Pound by LB]
Training, training, training. That's what we do in the Army. We train for war, while in the back of our mind we hope we will never go there. But it's what we do. We train to prepare for the worst hoping that our reactions will be so engrained in our heads we'll do the right thing without even thinking about it. The ultimate goal is to minimize casualties and increase our chances of success in our missions. We train constantly.
...The hard part is sitting with these soldiers everyday, my family of soldiers and seeing their faces knowing that we might not all come home. I pray that we all will, but the fact is there are no guarantees. The other day, we stopped at the Shoppette, and outside there was a new black truck parked in the handicap space with a purple heart sticker in the window. None of us really thought anything about it until we came out of the shoppette and saw a very humbling site. A handsome, young soldier, muscular and hopeful, in a wheechair with both of his legs amputated at the knee. I didn't know what to do. I looked at him and he looked back and smiled. It was like he was saying it was ok, he was proud of his service and what he did and of what he sacrificed.
Congressman calls for Bush impeachment -- [Stop The ACLU]
This is getting ridiculous. U.S. Rep. John Lewis said Monday in a radio interview that President Bush should be impeached if he broke the law in authorizing spying on Americans. The Democratic senator from Georgia told WAOK-AM he would sign a bill
Europeans' Reactions Mixed on Bush Speech -- (AP)
Europeans reacted Monday to President Bush's weekend defense of his Iraq policy with a mix of criticism and hope that his seemingly humbler tone could signal a break from the hawks in his administration.
Bush ratings rise on Iraq election, economy: poll -- (Reuters)
A successful Iraq election and an improved domestic economic outlook have lifted U.S. President George W. Bush's job-approval rating to its highest level since March, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Monday.
No Going Home -- [Baldilocks]
No girly man, our governor:
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday told officials in his hometown in Austria to remove his name from a sports stadium and stop using his name to promote the city.
The governor's request came after politicians in Graz began a petition drive to rename the stadium, reacting to Schwarzenegger's decision last week to deny clemency to condemned inmate Stanley Tookie Williams. Opposition to the death penalty is strong in Austria.
House passes torture ban, war funding -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives early on Monday passed final legislation to ban the torture of detainees and voted to advance the Pentagon $50 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Democrats Say They Never OK'd Wiretapping -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Some Democrats say they never approved a domestic wiretapping program, undermining suggestions by President Bush and his senior advisers that the plan was fully vetted in a series of congressional briefings. "I feel unable to fully evaluate, much less endorse, these activities," West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, the Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat, said in a handwritten letter to Vice President Dick Cheney in July 2003. "As you know, I am neither a technician nor an attorney."
Bush’s Snoopgate -- (NewsWeek)
The president was so desperate to kill The New York Times’ eavesdropping story, he summoned the paper’s editor and publisher to the Oval Office. But it wasn’t just out of concern about national security.
...No wonder Bush was so desperate that The New York Times not publish its story on the National Security Agency eavesdropping on American citizens without a warrant, in what lawyers outside the administration say is a clear violation of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. I learned this week that on December 6, Bush summoned Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger and executive editor Bill Keller to the Oval Office in a futile attempt to talk them out of running the story. The Times will not comment on the meeting,
but one can only imagine the president’s desperation.
Present at the Birth--Almost -- [Faces From the Front]
The TV cameras were assembled, the reporters milling about, the politicians were preparing their spin and a small-town boy from Kansas was watching the slow and painful birth of a Free Iraq.
The deadline for drafting a Constitution for the Free Iraq was set for August 15th, but the parties, Shia, Kurd and Sunni could not reach agreement.
An extension of one week was agreed on and the delegates went back to work drafting a constitution.
The deadline was near. For days delegates negotiated, haggled and, in Iraq tradition, drank tea and smoked cartons of cigarettes inside the Baghdad Convention Center. All sides focused on one thing--getting the best deal for their constituencies.
Tucker Carlson is still wrong. -- [The Thunder Run]
Tucker Carlson is at it once again. His latest essay; “What if Bush is right about Iraq”, which can be found here and here, backhandedly supports the notion that we may just be on the right path with Iraq. He writes rather tellingly, “There's a consensus among the media that the war was a mistake from the beginning and that Bush's handling of it has been inept. I share that view. As a result — and also because Iraq stories get terrible ratings — Thursday's elections were all but ignored in cable news and under-covered in print.
BAGHDAD TO SWARTHMORE -- (The New Yorker)
A group of enterprising students at Swarthmore College, in Pennsylvania, has some advice for the politically disaffected: If you find the media’s Iraq coverage unsatisfactory, pick up the phone. Don’t call the Times, or CNN, or Rupert Murdoch; call Baghdad. There are a couple of Iraqi phone books available on the Internet, and plenty of interesting people willing to share their stories directly, from six thousand miles away, many of them speaking decent English. When your phone bill starts to get out of hand, try downloading Skype, software that allows two people to talk free, from anywhere in the world, using computer microphones and a headset.
Hello Everybody, -- [Mike's Iraqi Adventure - in Iraq]
I had a very exciting day today.
First of all Santa came to visit us at work today! I got a candy bar :)
There was a big meeting today in our building composed of all the "Important" people involved in the reconstruction project. Apparently the work that Iris and I have been doing here is a very hot issue. General McCoy came to my desk with all the other "big" people involved in the meeting and presented Iris and I each with a big gold coin. I accepted the coin, hardy hand shake and his acknowledgment of all my hard work.
Adjustments -- [MREater]
...A young female OIF veteran came into the Armory seeking tuition assistance, as she has enrolled in college part time. She also just started a new full-time job. And she just moved into a new apartment. And she just filed for divorce. She said that she was married about three months before being deployed. During the 18 month separation, she and her new husband grew apart, and now they’ve decided to call it quits. I guess you could say she’s putting her life back together after redeploying.
I came across another OIF vet, a middle-aged master sergeant.
Going off the air -- [A Redleg's Perspective]
In hopes of helping out my good friend OPSEC, Operational security.
I've been thinking about this for a while and have decided to take the plunge. So I will still be out there, but I won't be posting anymore. I have met a lot of good blog brothers and sisters out there so stay hearty and blog worthy. I've got other things to do and can't worry about giving too much of what we do away to the enemy through OSINT-- Open Source Intelligence. That's what this is. I haven't given anything away nor have I been told to do this. I just feel that it's time.
Much thanks to Kat, Ala, AF Sis, AB, Frosty and all the rest out there. I will still be floating around.
Home!!! -- [pure-randomness - home from Kuwait]
Yes, it is official. I am home! It's quite different, given the drastic change in company, climate and level of activity. I know this sounds wrong, but I wish we would invade a nice country like Cuba or something. Instead of one weekend pass a year to Qatar, we could go to Deltona.
(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.)
Turn up the Volume -- [Michael Yon]
I am working on a dispatch about the incredible Iraqi elections on 15th December. Meanwhile, the following video was sent to me by a caring citizen who closely follows the events in Iraq. The video was not attributed, and I saw no information regarding the authorship to ask permission to run it. Apparently the author sent it out to be distributed by the winds, and so please turn up the volume and click here.
Blame the Americans and Praise the Result -- [Strategy Page]
December 18, 2005: Arguably, the best outcome for the December 15th parliamentary elections in Iraq would be for no “party” or coalition of two parties to secure the 2/3rds majority of delegates necessary to permit it to form a government. This would force a broader coalition, which would permit an opening for Sunni “accomodationist” participation. Sunni leaders are aware that they made a serious political blunder by boycotting the January elections for the provisional parliament that wrote the new Constitution. As a result
Barwana, Iraq -- [Bill Roggio -- Weekly Stadard]
In the Sunni-dominated province of Anbar, the cities of Barwana, Haqlaniya, and Haditha are collectively known as the Triad. Over the summer, before the joint U.S. military and Iraqi forces established a security presence in the Triad, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al Qaeda's commander in Iraq, was said to have run up the black flag and declared the region an "Islamic Republic." Beheadings, hangings, and execution-style killings were routinely carried out against those who were believed to have cooperated with U.S. forces or the Iraqi government.
Iraq waking up gradually… -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Baghdad is still living the election vacation and the people are taking some time to rest from the days of excitement and stress they had before and through the elections.
Traffic on the streets is still light but most stores are open but it will take another day for government offices to start working again.
Successful Historic Election in Iraq -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Let us first confirm one important fact whether the others accept it or not which is that any success in the political process towards free, democratic and prosperous Iraq is a direct success for the Coalition Forces led by the USA. However the main players which make the elections to succeed are the Iraqis who voted by no for terrorism.
Another step forward -- [Sooni - an Iraqi in Iraq]
It was really amazing how calm and peaceful yesterday was (the elections day) with almost no major attacks or incidents. The turnout was over expected even in the "hot spots of Iraq" and it's really making me wonder have the insurgents lost their ability to carry out attacks? Or it was the "perfect security plan" the government put? Well in both cases it’s a good progress we made.
Marines Report on the Elections -- [BlackFive]
Received these two emails via Seamus a few days ago (couldn't post due to hosting issues). The first is from Captain Steve in Iraq. Here's part of it:
MISSION NINE: VICTORY VOTE -- [Smash]
THE DAY AFTER an historic parliamentary election in Iraq, the PUSHBACK continues on Capitol Hill:
Bon Voyage! -- [Red Hunter]
Today I went up to Washington DC to see off a young Iraqi man who is going back to visit the country of his birth. I forget exactly how long he said he would be gone, but I seem to recall it as a month or so.
He is today an American citizen, and has one of the most amazing life stories that I have ever heard. He is also a very impressive person in his own right, someone that I predict will make a name for himself.
His name is Jesse Kaveh, and here is his story, ...
The Anbar Campaign -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
"...Iraq has no mountains in which to seek refuge, or forest in which to hide," Al Zaqawi says in a captured letter to bin Laden. The Anbar Province and the Sunni Triangle "is our base of operations from where we depart and to where we return."
The Anbar province is home to some of the most famous places in Iraq due to the violence that plagued the area previously. It is home to Fallujah, Ramadi, Hit, Haditha and many others that have been serious hot-spots. I mentioned in my last post that 2006 will be the turn around that we are all hoping for due to the offensive missions being performed here -
THE HOLIDAY SEASON -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
A country is in motion with democracy and freedom and the last years work is paying off although we have paid a price. There are no lights here except for the few strings Marines have put up from care packages, and the occasional illume artillery round fired in the night sky. I guess there is a special glow from the chemlights that line the walkway but they definitely aren’t the holiday type. There are no crowds except for the locals on the street in the city and they aren’t shopping. The IEDs and other explosions echo though the area now days. Im not sure if it’s the cloud cover or what but now when there is an explosion it echoes through the area for a few seconds unlike before. Counter battery rings out and dang that first one always gets ya, at least I wasn’t in the head this time. Sporadic fighting continues around the area but nothing crazy. Marine’s morale is high and everyone has accepted the fact that this is the only family they will be sharing the holiday with and actually that’s not a bad thing. You could say ...
Introducing new author Sgt. Jeff Lowry -- [the will to exist - in Iraq]
Hello, my name is Jeff. I will be a guest author on here for the deployment. Thanks to Trevor.
Fortunately or unfortunately I’m also his roommate for the deployment.
J/k as readers know he’s a pretty cool guy.
A recent hot topic on here from what I understand is whether we should pull out of Iraq.
IMO the answer is yes, but it shouldn’t be anytime soon. I keep reading about Iraqis who think the same way. They don’t ncecessarily want us here, but if the United States and other coalition forces pull out anytime soon the end result would be chaos.
Back To the Basics -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
Folks, it's time for a change. As I was reading over some of my earlier posts I made a realization. I started this blog in the hopes that it would be a avenue for me to A) keep family and friends informed on how/what I am doing in Iraq, and B) as a release of sorts for myself; which in the beginning, it was both. I have noticed however, that as of late my postings have gravitated toward venting frustration on the liberal media's campaign of misinformation. And while this is without a doubt a noble and much-needed cause, I have realized that at least for the present, it is not my cause.
Bad Idea. Really Bad Idea... -- [Major K - in Iraq]
I could not believe this when I read it. The weapons we have work just fine. We don't need to spend a fortune on new ones. We need to spend the money making sure we have enough good people properly trained to wield them.
Day 332 - Message of Thanks from LTC John Rhodes -- [Wayne's World]
Wayne serves with the 150th Engineer Battalion, a part of the 155th Brigade Combat Team (link includes video of partial homecoming), which also includes the 155th Infantry Battalion. Many wives and mothers of these soldiers have become my friends this year through online conversations on military family discussion boards.
This is the final message from Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes before our soldiers return....
Bush Asserts U.S. Is Winning Iraq War -- (Breitbart.com/AP)
WASHINGTON - President Bush asserted Sunday night the United States is winning the war in Iraq but acknowledged setbacks and the doubts of some "that the war is lost and not worth another dime or another day." He pleaded with Americans to ignore "defeatists who refuse to see that anything is right."
Bush, Saying U.S. Is Winning, Asks Patience on Iraq -- (New York Times)
From the Oval Office, the president offered a forceful reaffirmation of the war and asked his viewers not to "give in to despair."
Cheney Fields Tough Questions From Troops -- (SFGate.com)
Cheney rode the wave of last week's parliamentary elections during a 10-hour surprise visit to Iraq that aimed to highlight progress at a time when Americans question the mission. Military commanders and top government officials offered glowing reports, but the rank-and-file troops Cheney met did not seem to share their enthusiasm.
"From our perspective, we don't see much as far as gains," said Marine Cpl. Bradley Warren, the first to question Cheney in a round-table discussion with about 30 military members. "We're looking at small-picture stuff, not many gains. I was wondering what it looks like from the big side of the mountain — how Iraq's looking."
Cheney makes surprise Iraq visit -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| US Vice-President Dick Cheney has made an unannounced visit to Iraq to get a closer look at the security and political situation in a country which has just held what he called "tremendous elections...
Sunni alliance hails Iraq election as success -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| The main Arab Sunni alliance that contested Iraq's election said on Saturday it was a success despite some violations, fuelling US hopes that peaceful politics will hel...
String of attacks, shootings in Iraq leave at least nine dead -- (International Herald Tribune)
A string of bomb attacks and shootings in Baghdad and northern Iraq overnight and early Sunday left at least nine people dead, as officials counted ballots from the country's first vote to select a fu...
Powell opposes fast Iraq pullout -- (The Boston Globe)
LONDON -- Former US secretary of state Colin Powell said yesterday that it would be a tragic mistake to pull US troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible. | In an interview with the BBC, Powell also ...
Too much shaking going on! -- [Flying Swede - in Afghanistan]
Well, if you did not hear about it we had another earthquake a few days ago! 6.7 it was and it woke me up at 2:20 am! Now it was not as bad as the last one (no one got hurt this time) but I still don’t like it.
It’s starting to get cold around here, but we still don’t have any snow. I guess if I want snow I should head back home. I heard they got some last weekend and might get some more again. Other than the earthquake, there really is not much going on so I’ll just put some more pictures up for you all.
The Complexities of Seeking Justice for Afghans -- [Afghan Reality]
Better late than never. The war-riven country has eventually adopted an 'Action Plan for Peace Reconciliation and Justice'.
Hailed as a "significant step", the action plan deserves recognition, at least in rhetoric, for two main reasons.
Cultural Awareness in Iraq and Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
December 18, 2005: The effort to train the new Iraqi and Afghan armies has required that thousands of troops and civilians (usually former military) be brought in. Normally, the U.S. Army Special Forces handles training of foreign armies, and they are expert at it. While the Special Forces troops have the advantage of knowing the language and culture of the foreign troops they train, the instructors brought in for the massive training effort in Iraq and Afghanistan, generally do not. One lesson that was quickly learned was that, while you can teach these foreign recruits through an interpreter, it helps a lot if ...
Please Show Proper ID -- [Miserable Donuts]
When entering Bagram, AF, one must show proper ID. What you see here is an example of good humor where you would not think to find it, and a game of one-upmanship that went to conclusion. A Kuchi nomad was allowed to bring his camel on to part of the base. I cannot remember who started joking about the camel needing ID, but it quickly escalated to bringing in a digital photo to the contractors who made the badges. They were not about to stop the process, so they made the badge.
Elected Parliament in Afghanistan Convenes -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's first popularly elected parliament in more than three decades convened Monday, marking a major step toward democracy following the ouster of the hardline Taliban. But there were concerns about whether the legislature would be a constructive political force. More than half of the new lawmakers are regional strongmen, and fears were high that they will block efforts to reform government and bring to justice those responsible for years of bloodshed.
AFGHANISTAN: NEW ASSEMBLY A MIX OF EX-WARLORDS AND WOMEN -- (AKI)
Kabul, 16 Dec. - Afghanistan's first parliament in more than 30 years is scheduled to meet on Monday. While Afghans recognise that it's an important step in building a democracy, many of the elected MPs are former warlords and drug barons or even former Taliban, which has raised questions about the efficacy of this diverse new assembly. "The parliament is a good process, but the quality of the parliament will not enable it to succeed because the majority...
Cheney to attend Afghan parliament -- (Al Jazeera)
Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, will go to Afghanistan for the first session of its new parliament next week and also make stops in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and ...
Afghans Filled With Hope, Disillusionment -- (Newsday)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Not so long ago, Mohammad Tahir was a government official with a comfortable salary and a position in the Defense Ministry. Today, he sells bread from a wood shack on the side of...
U.S. Ran Afghan Torture Prison, Group Says -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan - The United States operated a secret prison in Afghanistan as recently as last year, torturing detainees with sleep deprivation, chaining them to the walls and forcing them to listen to loud music in total darkness for days, a human rights group alleged Monday. The prison was run near Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report based on the accounts of several detainees at the U.S. prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay.
South Korea Beats Japan in Trafficking Women -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Once again the do gooders are blaming the US military for prostitution in Korea:
South Korea is edging out Japan as the new destination of trafficked women, most of whom are forced into sex trade, a woman rights advocate revealed.
Difficult people. -- [Way Down In Kosovo - in Kosovo]
It seems as though it is some law of human nature that no matter how well any particular thing is apparently progressing, there is always someone who is going to be a complete ass because they are not getting what they want. Case in point: last Wednesday evening we were in Kllokot for a village meeting where our commander presented our proposal for the sewer project. 27 men from the village showed up for the meeting, but now women. As a matter of fact the only women present were our Serbian translator (and hero) Dada, and the Serbian translator for the Vitina LMT.
Who are these guys? -- [Cool Blue Blog]
Starting right after the attacks on September 11th 2001, the Bush Administration ordered the NSA to secretly conduct surveillance on communications between Americans and folks in Afghanistan.
... I myself never consider the Internet a secure and private communications medium. With regards to phone calls, they are all transmitted in the air via microwaves and as such can be intercepted by anyone. As a result, I never consider talking on the telephone secure. Now it is true that law enforcement needs to get a warrant to tap people's phones in the US. But this is not true of international calls. And if the government is monitoring the international phones calls of a terrorist and there's someone from the US on the line, are they going to overlook that information?
I sure as hell hope not.
Israeli Leader Sharon Suffers Mild Stroke -- (AP)
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a mild stroke Sunday, but his condition quickly improved and his doctor said he was expected to be released from the hospital after a few days. Sharon aides said he was lucid and in control of the government. The prime minister never lost consciousness and was talking and joking with his family hours after arriving at Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital, doctors said. He was treated with blood thinners and suffered no damage from the stroke, said his personal physician, Boleslaw Goldman.
Al-Qaida and Iran: Friends or Foes? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Recently, a number of commentators and politicians have accused the Iranian government of cooperating with Al-Qaida and helping to support its international terrorist network. One such notable example is Congressman Curt Weldon who, on pages 94-95 of his newly-released book Countdown to Terror, drops the apparent bombshell that, "From Iran’s coordination committee, Al Qaeda has got a green light for a terrorist attack on the United States, bigger than 9/11."
Targeting the "Geniuses" Who Run Google Earth -- [JammedGun]
Google is run by a couple of billionaire kids who understand technology and sales – but apparently not much about patriotism, responsibility, or terrorism.
A few weeks back, while listening to Michael Savage on the radio, I remember hearing Savage calling for the Government to shut down the Google Earth site as both a violation of privacy and as a tool that could be used by terrorsists.
Islamists Ride Wave of Freedom -- (LA Times)
Religious parties in the Middle East are using democracy to gain power and legitimacy.
CAIRO — When Iraqis swarmed to the polls last week to cast ballots in parliamentary elections, the Bush administration hailed a democratic victory in a region creaking under the weight of corruption, cronyism and dictatorship.
But the outcome may not be what the administration had in mind when U.S. forces swept President Saddam Hussein from power more than 2 1/2 years ago. Iraq's elections were dominated by Islamic clerics, and the incoming parliament is likely to include a large proportion of Islamist legislators, many of whom have ties to the mullahs of Iran.
A Special Request for Our Wounded Soldiers -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
Sending along this special request... there is still time to get a card (or two or more) in the mail... Please show our wounded soldiers that they are not forgotten.
...I have a special request. I'm sure many of you are currently writing cards to friends and family. If you can, please send an extra one (or 10, or 20) to our American military heroes who are recuperating from wounds this Christmas Season. Please enclose a short note thanking them for their service and personal sacrifice. They are the protectors of our freedom, we must let them know.
200 Posts -- [A Storm In Afghanistan]
...I continue to be amazed at the surefire generosity of those of you who support the troops. So many times, I was dismayed when some Joe would receive a package and be dismissive of its contents. While handling the mail, I often had the opportunity to note that while the contents of care packages may not have been of the highest monetary value (nor did it NEED to be), the amount spent on postage was perhaps best indicative of the support. For even when an Angel may send a box which may have only cost $5 at the local Wallyworld, it may have cost $15 to mail it. And for those of you who truly approach supporting the troops as an addictive hobby (you know who you are, and we LOVE you), I would see boxes with postage approaching $100.
USO Trees for the Troops Christmas Ornament -- [ROFA Six]
An old friend sent me a heads up on this promotion. He, like me, had not seen a thing on it. Neither of us travel much in the "crystal circles," so we also might be the last two on earth who didn't know about it.
Got Freedom? Kiss a Vet! -- [Gunn Nutt]
The weather was quite cooperative this week. The low only got near freezing. Practically a heat wave!
Illiterate hippies playing
60's protest songs in front
of their "Quite Zone" sign.
The pleasant evening was made even better by some terrific guest appearances. We were joined by a group from the Leadership Institute who were honing their leadership skills by enthusiastically supporting the wounded troops.
Counseling -- [In Iraq for 365]
...I was a different person in Iraq. I had to be. And I tried to become my old self when I returned home, but it was like experiencing puberty all over again… I had all these emotions and didn’t know what to do with them. So I sought help and I had developed a true rapport with my counselor at the Milwaukee Vet Center. While previous therapists wanted me to take pills to numb the emotions, the pain, the nightmares, this guy taught me how to control my nightmares. He gave me exercises to practice when I felt scared, outraged or sad. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I’d be in the situation I am now. Now, I’m ...
Desiring Power Over All Else -- [Baldilocks]
Which side are the Senate Democrats and the Big Media on? Is it the forces who would stand for freedom or those who would stand for tyranny? The evidence is piling up for the latter. Watch and note how our betters would play politics with World War Four using intelligence information (again) as the weapon.
Might Liberals Someday Wake Up to the Perils of Global Governance? -- [The Analyst Blog]
For decades now, conservative activists and libertarian-types (and some liberals) have been the primary voices of caution against the dangers to national sovereignty posed by global governance. Time and time again people like Thomas Sowell, Tom DeWeese, Cheryl Chumley, (all fine folks at Capitalism Magazine), and Alex Jones - to name just a few - have warned us about the often subversive encroachment of the New World Order.
Iraq War Veteran Launches Bid for House -- (AP)
LOMBARD, Ill. -- Iraq war veteran L. Tammy Duckworth, a helicopter pilot who lost her legs to a rocket-propelled grenade attack, formally announced her candidacy Sunday for the congressional seat of retiring Republican Rep. Henry Hyde....
Long-term Rummy? -- (TownHall.com)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senior Defense Department officials say Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has told them nobody should stay for just another year, but that he wants them for the rest of President Bush's second term. That is read as a signal that Rumsfeld intends to serve out the next three years
Sen. Reid calls US Congress 'most corrupt in history' -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid called the Republican-led Congress "the most corrupt in history" on Sunday, and distanced himself from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, at the center of an escalating probe.
Media Influence on Public Opinion -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
Here is a great link that shows the power of photography to influence public opinion. How is this photograph bending the truth of it's message? Click here to find out.
Reporting What You Want, Not What You See -- [Strategy Page]
What the troops think, and experience, is something that can be ignored for the moment. If it becomes too obvious that reporting victory in Iraq cannot be avoided, then the media depends on the fact that the media reports the present, not the past. The media works on the assumption that its readers have no long term memory. Thus there would be a flurry of stories on how all is well in Iraq, and then on to the next headline grabbing disaster. This happened right after the 1991 Gulf War, and right after the three week invasion of Iraq in 2003. History and punditry do not mix.
All kinds of leaks… -- [Neptunus Lex]
So for a year the NYT sat on the story of the Presidential authorization permitting the NSA, normally proscribed from domestic intelligence collection, to intercept phone calls to and from suspected al Queda telephone numbers overseas. I guess they weren’t all that concerned about privacy or civil rights. But they finally ran the story yesterday, because, well: A year is a long time. Plus the Patriot Act was up for renewal in Congress, only now it’s not any more, because the NYT ran the story about an NSA and presidential administration run amok, tracing terrorist phone calls, didn’t matter where they came from.
Bias on the internet and Jonathan (Jack) “Keith” Idema -- [Cao's Blog]
....What Ted’s talking about as far as AOL goes hand in hand with Google Bias–there are definitely unseen hands behind the scenes that are guiding this–and some belong to the programmers in the search engines..
Google News includes more than a few sites with, to say the least, serious credibility problems —including hard-core anarchist site Infoshop, Justin Raimondo’s paleocon antisemitic site antiwar.com, barking moonbat lunatic asylum Democratic Underground, radical Islamic jihadi sites khilafah.com and Jihad Unspun, and extremist pro-Palestinian site electronic intifada, to name only a few.
Good News Investigated -- [Sgt Hook]
The investigation into allegations that the Army was abusing Iraqi news outlets to “plant” good news articles is nearing complete. A couple of weeks ago, the L.A. Times reported that the U.S. military has been secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to publish stories written by American troops in an effort to burnish the image of the U.S. mission in Iraq.
Senator Accuses Times of Endangering U.S. Sat Dec 17,10:15 PM ET (yAHOO nEWS /ap)
WASHINGTON - A Republican senator on Saturday accused The New York Times of endangering American security to sell a book by waiting until the day of the terror-fighting Patriot Act reauthorization to report that the government has eavesdropped on people without court-approved warrants.
Media Bias Is Real, Finds UCLA Political Scientist -- (UCLA News)
While the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal is conservative, the newspaper's news pages are liberal, even more liberal than The New York Times. The Drudge Report may have a right-wing reputation, but it leans left. Coverage by public television and radio is conservative compared to the rest of the mainstream media. Meanwhile, almost all major media outlets tilt to the left.
Planted PR Stories Not News to Military -- (LA Times)
U.S. officials in Iraq knew that a contractor was paying local papers. Discretion was the key.
WASHINGTON — U.S. military officials in Iraq were fully aware that a Pentagon contractor regularly paid Iraqi newspapers to publish positive stories about the war, and made it clear that none of the stories should be traced to the United States, according to several current and former employees of Lincoln Group, the Washington-based contractor.
Carnival of Milblogs: Call for Submissions -- [Milblogging.com]
Okay okay, this is my first time hosting a BlogCarnival. For it to work, you need to send in submissions. In this first edition of the Milblogging Carnival, we're going to chit-chat about the history of military bloggers. When military blogging started? Who were the first milbloggers? You know, the history.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
The forecast called for rain in Iraq on election day - it didn't happen.
A woman gave birth at her polling place after voting - literal new life to accompany the birth of a new democracy.
Amazing stories from the MilBloggers in Iraq. Today's Dawn Patrol is a salute to them. They respond to the elections there with a mixture of triumph and relief - and a fatalistic expectation that what they've helped make happen will be sneered at by the "some". Others speculate on the future of the emerging democracy they helped build - and they like what they see. In other words, optimistic on winning - but pessimistic on ever having that victory acknowledged.
And as should be obvious from this compilation, they are absolutely plugged in and aware of what's going on there and back home.
Many are about to come home, in fact - and this event makes a fine ending to a long effort. Others will "soldier on" - we can only hope with less opposition on many fronts.
Enough of me; they speak for themselves...
Trevor - The Will to Exist
Today is election day. Iraqis are voting. A mortar just went off in the distance. So what? The insurgents are going to lose and Iraqis are going to exercise free will by voting. Today is a great day and even though I am nervous and wary, I am honored to be participating in this process. History is being made in this nation today, and it will ripple outward from Baghdad across the Middle East and further.
Tsunamis wipe out everything in their path. It is my hope that by being here, I have played a small role in creating a tsunami that will scour Iraq, cleansing it of head choppers, bombers and dictators.
Major K
"Every purple finger is a bullet in the chest of terrorism."
<...>
The enthusiasm today around the Iraqi Headquarters was contagious. As the sun came up, the place was buzzing again with activity. We rolled out two large convoys to go take the Senior Staff and Soldiers to check on the security status of the polling centers in our sectors. While they were there, several of them voted, since they had not done so during the past few days. A few of the Iraqi Officers laughed when I inspected their fingertips for purple ink when they returned to the TOC.
America's Son
It seemed like a city-wide block party. Iraqis came to the polls chanting, waving flags and singing. Bingo and I have been in the city of Ubadie for the past few days conducting explosive sweeps through the girl's school where the voting will take place. Since I have been here in Iraq, I have not heard celebration such as what I witnessed yesterday. It was a surreal atmosphere. At one time, I looked at one of the Iraqi soldiers and asked him "Are they happy?", as a flag waving throng made their way down one of the streets of the city. "Yes. They say 'Long live Iraq' and 'Today is a great day for all Iraq', he responded as he thrust his ink stained finger in the air. It was indeed a great day for all of us.
<...>
As I have said all along, we are doing the right things here in Iraq and yesterday's voter turnout was yet another indication of this fact. "American Success In Iraq"...stick that in your pipe and smoke it Mr. Kerry, Mr. Murtha, Mr. Dean.
Matthew Loggins - Hints... Allegations
Yesterday could not have gone any better..when the only problems we had were over crowding, and running out of ballets...it's a good day..Regardless of what people think about the war..the fact is these people just exercised their right to vote in way larger numbers then we ever have...over 70% of the registered voters, voted...wow.
GIGotti78 - Ask the Soldiers
How do you men feel the elections today, (Thursday December 15, 2005) went down?
What surprised me was the amount of Sunni Arabs that decided to exercise their right to vote. Not only that, but their reaction to reporters asking how they felt about voting.
Sgt. Dan - J Barne's Coffee Shop
Oh an yes, yesterday was election day. My first day back consisted of watching Iraqi families stroll the streets of Habbaniyah. At one point a herd of little kids even gave us the peace sign. Of course all the guys can say how they don't care what happens and how tough and rock solid they are but as soon as a peace sign is flashed by a little kid they all melt.
Kincy - My Days at Division
The Weather Officer forecast rain for today, but clear skies held. That's good news for the millions of Iraqis that got out and voted. They got to make history and stay dry in the process. The results will be some time in coming, but today was an unqualified success. Ignore the stories that lead with "Bombs" or "Explosions". Today was a great day and everyone should be smiling.
<...>
Even Reuters couldn't help but put a positive spin on this (full disclosure: I used to work for Reuters)
<...>
One of the polling centers featured a live birth. I guess mom decided to sneak in a vote beforehand, but junior had other ideas. Mom and son are doing fine.
(Greyhawk notes: it rained the day after) But the weather guy wasn't the only pessimist:
BUCK SARGENT - AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER
Great Moments in Pessimism
Ebenezer Scrooge: "Bah humbug!"
Homer J. Simpson: "If something's hard, it's not worth doing."
The DNC, NYT and CNN: "We can't win! Bring them home! They have no plan!"
Sgt Ron Long - They Call us Doc (just got home from Iraq!)
As I was flipping channels, I saw that Anderson Cooper (on CNN) was interviewing an Iraqi female poll worker, asking her of her opinion of the "occupation" by US forces. She had nothing but good things to say concerning the assistance that the US and Coalition forces were giving to the Iraqi people and I could just feel those at CNN just cringing as they weren't getting the answers that they had hoped.
More fellow 278th cavalrymen echoing my feelings about the historical, Iraqi elections
CPT B - One Marine's View
Anderson Cooper was in a voting facility in Ramadi interviewing Iraqi citizens and appeared to be in the way, blocking the voters from trying to submit their votes while he did his report.
<...>
Like back in Oct, today proved that although still scared, the Iraqi people were fed up with the insurgent intimidation and wanted a change. Now, in Dec the Iraqi Army successfully voted yesterday and today the entire country was able to vote freely and without intimidation.
From the insurgency view, America has not only won the fight in the street but now it has pretty much won the Iraqi people over as well. Insurgents can’t stand to see Iraq become independent and grow. The mere fact that men, women and Iraqi soldiers are voting means the insurgency is on its way out, it reinforces the beginning of their end for the insurgency. We see people coming freely to the voting sites, we see a different Iraqi, one who wants a change and is doing their part to make it happen.
ssgjoseph
Well, the elections pretty smoothly around here. That's a blessing. Now that they're over hopefully we can get mail now! The roads went "black" for 3 days because of the elections, I guess it was deemed too dangerous for US forces to be out on the roads.
Sarge's Space
The elections have come and gone and polling is complete, now we await the long counts. Our area was a resouinding success and we sustained zero casualties and had zero incidents yesterday! That is just great by my book, and should be in everybodies. I expect it is in part due to your thoughts and prayers and we were rewarded by them, thank you all.
TJ - Basic Training
1715 and all is quiet. 8 hours on top of our hill overlooking Baghdad today and no explosions heard and only 1 short burst of small arms fire. Definately a positive sign.
Phil - Phil and Becky
We had a nice quiet day following yesterday's national election. Maybe the insurgents were tired, maybe they decided to call it quits. I'm not a gambler, but I wouldn't hold my breath that it is the latter. :)
We celebrated the end of the election by serving a feast in the chow hall. It was originally scheduled for Christmas Eve, but we moved it to today for some reason.
The Mobilized - a mobilized year
In less than three years, we’ve gone from having a country with a ruthless dictator to one that has a democratically elected, constitutionally based government.
<...>
Over the last decade or so, we’ve gotten used to immediacy. I’m as guilty of this as anybody. I often get impatient if an email that someone just sent me takes more than a few minutes to arrive. And, God forbid if a webpage takes more than a minute to load on my computer. With regard to Iraq, if the best case scenario is not achieved in a quick time period, much of the media will conclude that the sky is falling and we’re heading down that slippery slope.
Phil P - A Soldier's Diary There will be negative people and ignorant idiots who will down play this day, but freedom is on the march! Mark my words, the next year here will be a complete turn around in Iraq. Our troops will slowly start to pull back and the Iraqi Army and Police will continue to be given more and more responsibility. This war is far from over, but this next year will be a year of progress that will show off the hard work and sacrifice of the past three.
Mike the Marine - From the Halls to the Shores
Some Iraqis want to install a hard-line Islamic theocracy in the model of Iran. Some Iraqis are voting simply because they figure if the process works, then the Americans will leave. But most, I think, are voting because they actually give a damn what happens to their country and want a safe environment for their families and children. They want a say in how things run. And even the folks who are only voting as a means to the end of gettin’ us gone… well, that’s fine by me.
Because, you see, they can hate us or they can love us. But as long as they respect us, and love their kids more than they hate us… hell, I’ll call that a win.
I’d like to extend a personal thank you to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi for that one. When he and his al-Qaeda shmucks blew up those hotels in Jordan, it wasn’t just the Jordanians who noticed.
StrypGia - All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front
Doing a lot of preparatory work for the handover to our replacements. Been keeping me very busy. Apologies.
<...>
Things were very calm for Election Day. Just a few IEDs, one on a newly arrived Iraqi Army unit that came outfitted with (of all things) old T-55 tanks. Good gods, those things are clanky, loud, smoke-spewing monsters...Hard to kill with a typical IED, though. The new Police Commandos are also doing some good work in town. This is 'good work' on the Iraqi unit scale, mind, so don't expect any miracles. But its good to have more folks on our sid....er...at least not actively shooting at us?
<...>
I'm happy for the Iraqis having a fairly peaceful election, but when they're happy, that means one thing: Celebratory fire.
What bloody idiot first thought that firing off multiple full magazine AK-47 blasts into the sky was a good way to show you're happy? What goes up, does come down, moron! It's bad when the national team wins a big football match....yeesh. That's why my detail will most likely consist of filling sandbags and placing them on the roofs of buildings to protect against incoming fire.
Mustang 09 - Six more months
This will be my last post from Iraq. In a few days, I will leave this camp to begin the trip home. My office is no longer mine as of this morning, and my internet connectivity will be very spotty from here on out. I will post once I get home, from my living room after hugging my kids and kissing the most important person in my life.
My Darling Wife, Pam.
This year has changed me. Pam and I have talked about those changes, and I know she fears them a little. Physically, my knees hurt more, my hearing is shot, and my hands get numb from the constant weight of body armor. My hair is greyer, the bags under my eyes darker. Emotionally, I have changed too. Don’t worry darling. I am returning home a different man, but I believe a better man. Certainly a man far more thankful for the blessings in my life.
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.)
Live from Iraq: Reports and Pictures -- [No End but Victory]
Reports are starting to come out of Iraq underneath the radar of the Media about how things on the streets, and in the lives of Iraqis engaged in this latest fight to establish Democracy from the ashes of the Hussein regime, are REALLY beginning to unfold. With the grace of God, and the courage of the Iraqi people, a Democracy will be borne to the Iraqi people and they will begin to truly engage in the essence of life, liberty, and the pursuit of their own happiness.
The Parlimentary Elections in Iraq / December 2005 -- [Photos From Iraq - Iraqi in Iraq]
Iraqi ink-stained fingers...
Empty Streets of Baghdad one day before the elections, and Iraqi policemen patrol the deserted streets.
We got our purple fingers!`(Updated) -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
We have noticed on our way to the polling station that the streets are much quieter this time than they were back in January.
Of course we did hear a few explosions, probably RPG or mortar fire but nothing compared to the attacks we had last time in number or size….so far at least.
Yes it was the right decision -- [Sooni - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Today I watched and listened to President Bush speech about the "war on Iraq and terrorism" to an audience at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington and I can't say but that his speech made me admire him more and more.
The Purple Revolution -- [The Iraqi Vote]
Very soon, Iraq's mosques will call upon believers to wake up and pray, shortly thereafter, a Greek ghost named DEMOCRACY will call upon all Iraqis, believers and non-believers, Muslims and Christians, Kurds and Arabs, Sunnis and Shi'a, Turkomen and Yezedis, everyone over the age of 18 to go and vote for the first full-term democratic government in the history of this ancient land.
Baghdad with one day to the Elections -- [An Average Iraqi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
In less than 12 hours the poll station will be open. Of course there is a curfew, so we have to walk. But who cares??. This is the biggest elections any Iraqi could ever participate in. Previous elections were important, but this is the big one. This is the one that everyone has been preparing for for at least a month before.
Thursday, December 15, 2005 -- [A Family in Baghdad - Iraqis in Iraq]
Good morning…..
Yesterday I went to vote. These were happy moments for me, for I thought of them as the beginning of welfare for Iraq and the Iraqis, to form a new government, hoping it would be more honest and efficient than the former one, hoping it can fulfill the needs of people and the difficult phase we are all going through, and hoping it would be a beginning to put the destiny of Iraq in the hands of the Iraqis themselves,
Historical Day in Iraq and the Region -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Iraq today will challenge the terrorism and will vote freely for a government which will stay for 4 years only.
The Iraqis today will show the world that they will vote for the Freedom, Democracy and Civilization. They will vote to say No for the terrorists.
Purple reign -- [Iraqi Pundit - an Iraqi in Canada]
The telephone rang this morning, and my cousin from Baghdad said: "Before I greet you, who did you vote for?"
I said I voted for Allawi.
"You did well!" came the reply.
IRAQIS VOTE: -- [Instapundit]
A multimedia presentation from the Detroit Free Press (Video)
It has begun... -- [Major K - in Iraq]
The polls are now open. I have some predictions to make based on the scuttlebut that I have been hearing from the Iraqis. I will wait to post them until the polls have closed. It is a big day here - obviously. The TOC is buzzing with activity. Other than handling a little computer troubleshooting and coordination with the Coalition Forces, the Iraqis are running this show.
Uh-oh! -- [Argghhh!!]
by 1st Lt. Bob Miller December 12, 2005 Capt. Robert Duchaine, Company B commander, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, distributes toys to kindergarteners in a school in western Baghdad. Iraqi forces from the 6th Iraqi Army Division also participated in the visit with the U.S. Soldiers. This photo appeared on www.army.mil.
More failure to follow the script. A journalist writes:
Considering another side Think about everything you’ve heard about the conditions in Iraq, the role of U.S. forces, the multi-layered complexities of the war.
Then think again. ...
Mission Accomplished -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
This is what the United States Democratic Party considers a failure.
This is what the rest of the world considers as freedom.
Never forget who stood and fought.
Never forget who wanted to cut and run, leaving these people behind.
Never forget those who gave everything so that Iraq could be free.
Never stop being proud of what we've accomplished.
Never let anyone take that pride away.
To my Brothers and Sisters in arms, and to the Iraqi people...
We did it!
MISSION EIGHT: PURPLE FINGERS -- [Smash]
TIME CRITICAL: IMMEDIATE EXECUTE
This simple idea comes to us from SFC Tim Sumner, US Army (retired).
ORDERS:
1. Go to the MoveOn.org site, enter your zip code, and find out when and where they will be delivering their Cut & Run petitions to the offices of pro-victory Congressmen in your area. ...
What is going on in Iraq? -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
...Voting for these people may be the last thing that they do. An insurgent would kill someone for supporting the "new Iraq". If they risk their lives to vote for their new leaders, that will be a large leap in the direction towards a dedicated society in this area. If they are not willing to give their lives for their country's future, then why the hell should I. If you don't fight for your freedom, if someone you love doesn't fight for your freedom, if you don't sacrifice everything you hold dear in your heart for the chance to live your life as a free man, then freedom will mean nothing. Lets see what the people of the Suni Triangle choose, will my fallen comrades lives be given in vain. I do not curse the people of Iraq because we are here, I just hope and pray that we are not here putting our lives on the line for nothing!
Iraqis Protest Against Aljazeera the "Terrorist Channel" -- [Gateway Pundit]
Iraqis demonstrate in the southern city of Basra to protest against what they claimed were defamatory comments about Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani aired on Al-Jazeera television. A massive security clampdown brought Iraq close to a halt on the eve of a key election aimed at restoring full sovereignty and stability to the turbulent country.
Foot Patrol - Part 1-- [Greg Notes - in Iraq]
This is a rather large video…
Foot Patrol through Haswah. This is part 1 of many. I will post them in parts and then when finished I will post the whole video. I hope you enjoy it.
Tragedy before the big vote. -- [An independent look at Iraq. - journalist embedded in Iraq]
...Many Sunnis believe the US will leave once the government is seated. It’s something their politicians and imams have told them over and over again during the campaign. While this is true, the departure probably won't happen for many years.
I did just hear some terrible news. Ozzie's brother was just killed by insurgents. I almost lost my brother this week, so I can understand his feelings to a degree. But Ozzie's case is different. He's local and has been targeted before. I don't know why they killed him but I can guess.
U.S. Soldiers Nab 43 Suspects South of Baghdad -- [Iraqi bounty hunter]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005 – Task Force Baghdad soldiers detained 43 suspected terrorists during recent operations conducted to ensure a safe environment for Iraq's upcoming national elections, military officials in Baghdad reported today.
On Dec. 10, soldiers discovered a house containing an makeshift bomb and detained four suspected terrorists in separate incidents
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- [TBone's War Journal]
There's lots of good things to see in Iraq. We have soldiers helping people. There are people smiling there, and people starting to see the light of a brand new way of life. The chance at a new, free, united government. The Iraqi people have been making the best of a bad situation for decades, so they are pretty resilient. The good is out there, but it is rarely reported and so the American public doesn't know. When we (MilBloggers) talk about it, people want to paint us as pollyannas.
Report from Fallujah: Courage under fire -- [Marine Corps Moms]
Another email from the front (passed along by JHD), this one by a wounded Marine who provides excellent insight into the third iteration of this war as his men engage in "fighting the enemy, protecting the innocent, aiding the weak, defending one another".
The Shitty Ribbon Cutting -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
Today we had a special event. We built a pumping station for sewage over the course of a few months and it was opened today. It was a big challenge and we were quite proud even though it was something as simple as a pump station. The challenges in this theater to just conduct normal construction are extreme.
It may seem bizarre to have a ribbon cutting ceremony for a sewage station but we try and put some celebration in every event here.
A Day for Happy Tears -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
It has been a long year... a long year... sometimes, I feel like I've aged 10! I have had excited emails from a number of 3rd Brigade moms and wives -- even a girlfriend or two. They do not make a meter that can measure this excitement as it builds. Last week the mood was a little blue about the Guys not being home for Christmas, but this week, this letter was posted on the Brigade's website. As I read this letter, tears sprang to my eyes... THE DAY is really coming.... A Day for Happy Tears! ...
Army Arm-Cycle -- [Camp Katrina]
Major John Worthington was good enough to toss us this great story from Army Public Affairs that will put a big ol' smile on your faces, Katrina Campers. Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment recently delivered something a bit out of the ordinary to one small farming village: an “arm-cycle” for an Iraqi man who lost his legs as a teenager. From the story:
U.S. Military, Insurgents Agree On Vote Truce -- (Washington Times)...Paul Martin (link coming soon)
After months of painstaking dialogue, U.S. officials have persuaded most of the main insurgent groups to cease violence for today's election and its immediate aftermath, U.S. officials said yesterday
Scattered attacks fail to disrupt big Iraq vote -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Only scattered insurgent attacks marred Iraq's election on Thursday as disaffected Sunni Arabs joined in the vote, determined to have more say in government.
With delight and fervor, Iraqis cast ballots -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - There may not be the same sense of history this time round, but the joy and determination of Iraqi voters emerging from dictatorship is still evident.
One step at a time in Iraq -- (LA Times)
TODAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS in Iraq should represent a major step toward getting substantial numbers of U.S. troops out of the country — soon. Those elected will choose a government that is...
Polls open as blast hits Baghdad -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD- Iraqis began voting on Thursday for their first four-year parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein, with young and old walking to polling sites as a blast echoe...
7,655 candidates are contesting elections -- (Khaleej Times /AFP)
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s electoral commission has finalised the facts and figures for today’s historic general election in which 7,655 candidates are competing for 275 seats in parliament.
Pentagon loses responsibility for rebuilding Iraq -- (Financial Times)
| President George W. Bush yesterday announced that the State Department would lead all US post-conflict reconstruction, a move that supercedes the controversial decision to give that task to the Pent...
Gunmen Kill Cleric in Southern Afghanistan -- (Arab News)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, 15 December 2005 — Unidentified gunmen riding motorcycles yesterday shot dead a well-known pro-government Islamic cleric in Afghanistan’s volatile southern cit...
Afghan govt dismisses Taliban order against Karzai -- (The News International)
KABUL: The Afghan government on Tuesday dismissed as propaganda an order from the Taliban for Muslims to unite against President Hamid Karzai and his international backers.
U.S. Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A U.S. soldier was killed and another wounded in a firefight with insurgents Thursday in southern Afghanistan, the military said...
Thursday Winds of War: 15DEC05 --[ Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday.
The Thursday Winds of War briefing is compiled weekly by Colt of Eurabian Times and Steve Schippert (aka USMC_Vet) of ThreatsWatch.
The Bottom Line…The USA PATRIOT Act Saves Lives -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
As a former senior executive of the FBI, responsible for terrorist financing, the investigative initiatives I oversaw were direct beneficiaries of the USA PATRIOT Act. Make no mistake about it; the PATRIOT Act facilitates investigative success. The ultimate beneficiaries of such success are the American people. Why is it that certain members of the House and Senate choose to overlook this basic fact? After all, isn’t ensuring our safety and security a paramount responsibility of our elected officials?
FRANCE: THREE AL-QAEDA LINKED SUSPECTS ARRESTED -- (AKI)
Paris, 15 Dec. - French anti-terror police on Thursday arrested three suspects they believe have "indirect" links to al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, The swoop, carried out in the northern Oise region, was similar to a series of raids on Monday that led to the arrests of 25 suspects, police spokeswoman Catherine Casteran was quoted as saying. She provided no further immediate details of Thursday's arrests.
TERRORISM: NEW EVIDENCE FOR POLISH CIA JAILS DISCLOSED -- (AKI)
Warsaw, 14 Dec. - Evidence is mounting for the existence of secret CIA prisons in Poland, located in an "internal zone" within the Stare Kiejkuty military training complex in the northeast of the country, according to a report due to be published in the German weekly Stern on Thursday. Stern's disclosures back allegations made by the US Washington Post in early November that the CIA hid and interrogated al-Qaida suspects at Soviet-era compounds in Eastern Europe, as well as other countries such as Afghanistan and Thailand.
An Anonymous Angel -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
Two little girls in Brighton, New York who are coping with an extraordinary loss are getting an extraordinary gift from an anonymous person their grandparents call "an angel."
When Michael Pernaselli left for Iraq, he asked his parents to take care of his daughters. A petty officer first class in the US Navy, Pernaselli, 27, was killed in a suicide bombing attack on an Iraqi oil terminal in the Persian Gulf on April 24, 2004. Since Michael's death, his parents have kept their promise and are raising 5-year-old Dominique and 4-year-old Nicole.
But, the Pernaselli's found out that someone else is watching out for them too.
Spec.-Ops Brand and Soldiers' Angels Partner to Deliver $10,000 in Gift Certificates to Deployed Troops
"This was such a gratifying project to work on", said Lisa Nyberg who coordinated the partnership for Soldiers' Angels. "It was the credibility of our organization that provided the opportunity for us to benefit our soldiers. It was a great partnership because Spec Ops had the product and we had the contacts to make sure that the soldiers were able to take advantage of this fabulous donation."
Thank you from a Soldier -- [Yikes!!]
Well, I got an email from my Ga. Nat'l Guard 48th BCT Soldier today ~ the Christmas cards I sent to his platoon on 11/30 got there on 12/14!!!!! :-) I had a big ole envelope for each individual guy in the platoon, all sixteen of 'em... each guy got no less than 60 cards each (and, of course, my "officially adopted" soldier got more like 100... yeah, blatant favoritism, haha!) Anyway, I got an email from him today and wanted to pass his thanks along to y'all. We will begin Valentine's collection on January 1 ~ more info to follow!
We are planning a New Years Eve Party for our Soldiers -- [Web of Support.com - the blog]
You are all invited to help Web of Support.Com Soldier Adoption Program create a New Years Eve Party for our wonderful soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. We have shipped out several large boxes of all kinds of party favors, sparkling cider and lots of food.....but we still could use more party food and favors.....we have alot of soldiers who will be away from family and friends at this time of the year...if you would like to participate please email me at Pjdahling@aol.com and I will give you the address and some ideas as to what they could use.....thanks to all of you who have made our Web of Support.Com Soldier Adoption Program a huge success.
More vile anti-soldier propaganda from the left -- [Countercolumn]
"Did you kill any civilians?"
"I followed orders. We got a few terrorists here and there."
This is how our troops are being portrayed in films now. This short film, Catastrophic Success, portrays Marines as mindless murderous pathetic losers - and does it with a straight face.
I'm sure the filmmaker is proud of himself. Sounds like something a high schooler would have written.
But they support the troops, right?
The Marine Corps Goes Commando -- [Strategy Page]
December 15, 2005: After much discussion and planning, on October 28th the U.S. Secretary of Defense approved a recommendation by the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Marine Corps to create a Marine special operations command. The Marine Corps had long resisted such a step, largely because of its belief that Marines are inherently superior warriors, capable of highly specialized missions. This attitude began to change during Operation Enduring Freedom, when marines were assigned to support SOF forces in Afghanistan.
Emergency Sortie -- [Neptunus Lex]
True story!
Once upon a time, in the summer of the Year of The Big Guy one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven, your humble scribe and his band of merry brothers were in the bight at Diego Garcia, swinging on the hook on account of the fact that there wasn’t enough money to steam the great warship aboard which he had the honor to serve. Ronald Reagan was at that time Head Guy What was in Charge of Stuff, which may sort of help you put that whole “there’s never enough money to go around” thing into perspective, nearly 20 years on.
How To Do Better -- (Economist)...Unattributed
After brutal blunders in Iraq and Afghanistan, the American army has become more intelligent—and hopes to be more effective.
Short Of Recruits, Army Redoes Its Math -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Mark Sappenfield
This week, the Department of Defense reported that for the second month in a row, the service hit hardest by the recruiting shortfall - the Army - exceeded its monthly recruiting goals. Yet both this month and last, there has been hardly a peep about that success. The reasons have more to do with math than media bias.
Ivy League For Sale -- [Camp Katrina]
Check it out: Harvard and Georgetown have apparently lapped up $40 million from a Saudi prince in exchange for expanding their Islamic studies programs. From the story:
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, who gave $20 million to each university, is a nephew of the late King Fahd and worth upward of $20 billion, according to Forbes
Pentagon Subpoenaed for Katrina Documents -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - The Republican chairman of a special House investigation panel has subpoenaed the Pentagon, and is considering sending another to the White House, to get documents detailing the government's response to Hurricane Katrina. The unusual legal action was the latest twist in the congressional inquiry of failures that occurred during the Aug. 29 storm that killed more than 1,300 people in Gulf Coast states. The investigation continues Thursday with a Senate hearing to examine New Orleans levees unable to withstand Katrina's might.
We Just Can’t Win In The Media -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
Instead of hearing about the quiet and calm over the MAJORITY of Iraq as elections begin, we get reports of “an explosion.” Instead of hearing about the 100’s, possibly thousands, of Iraqis lined up to dip their fingers in purple ink and vote for first constitutionally elected parliament since Saddam took office (not that he was constitutionally elected), we hear about isolated “reports of violence.”
Check out the early news coming out of Iraq on the elections that just opened:...
According to Juan Cole, Iraq is stillborn: -- [TigerHawk]
...Cole, who is obviously a smart and knowledgeable scholar, would be a lot more persuasive if he did not constantly give the impression that he hopes that American policy in Iraq fails. While one might quarrel with every line of this pessimistic paragraph, I will confine myself to three.
Cole cannot imagine why anybody hopes "that these elections are a milestone on the way to withdrawing US troops from Iraq." Well, of course they are. If ...
Tony Blankley Nails It on the Calls for Iraqus Interruptus! -- [JammedGun]
Tony Blankley, himself an immigrant to this country from England is – among other things – a gifted columnist for the Washington Times.
The media's war (Washington Times)
The media seem to have come up with a formula that would make any war in history unwinnable and unbearable: They simply emphasize the enemy's victories and our losses.
Milblogs’ vie for top spot -- (Marine Corp Times, Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times) ...Gordon Trowbridge Times staff writer
Several deployed service members are among the authors of 15 Internet Weblogs competing for the title of best military blog in the 2005 Weblog Awards.
Internet Opens New Paths for Journalism -- (Arab News)
EMERGING technology is creating interactive channels for mass communication that is redefining media. It is creating a new breed of citizen journalists who can get news to the world without using the well-worn pathways of traditional print and broadcast outlets.
...The influence of new media technologies such as weblogs (a.k.a. blogs) and online services allow both professional and citizen journalists to help shape breaking news and influence public opinion.
Case, who has managed the blog-service provider Blogger for Google since 2003, said the weblogs have created an alternative source for news and a new forum for political opinions. Many young Americans have become skeptical of official reports and the existing channels for reporting, prompting them to instead turn to blogs.
Leave to women to do it right! -- [Proud Infantry Wife]
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer
each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to ...
Bush Admits He’s Trapped in Bubble -- [ScrappleFace]
President George Bush today, confirmed a recent Newsweek magazine cover story, admitting that he’s “living in a bubble” — isolated and aloof.
(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.)
Economic Growth without Oil -- [State Of Flux]
One item that Western media often neglect to mention about Iraq is the state of the economy – or how well the economy is doing. According to Wikipedia, the growth rate (real rate, not nominal) for Iraq in 2004 is 52.3 percent. And the prediction is that the economy will continue to grow. The forecast according to the Economist will be 26 percent for the year 2005-2006.
The most interesting fact about the current Iraqi economy is that it is not petroleum based. Many war critics often criticized that oil production in Iraq is still below pre-war level;...
Vahal's Dream and the Iraqi Elections -- [Iraqi Bloggers Central]
Today Vahal talks about his hopes for Iraq in the future, now that voting has begun:
My dream is to see Iraq become a place where all of us, Kurds and Arabs, Jews and Assyrians, Turkomen and Yezedis, Sunni and Shi'a, Chaldean and Shabak in the diaspora would be welcomed to return if we so choose.
Meanwhile Haneen writes in her diary today about Baghdadis preparing for the election:...
An Average Iraqi look at the Possible Winners -- [Anaverage Iraqi - in Iraq]
Well, on this post I find it hard to be speaking for the Average Iraqi. Since no one knows what he want to vote for. Or else, the whole point of the elections will be gone. So what I am going to do, is put the names of the most popular lists, and what I think about them.
Breaking News: Talabani Says No Second Term -- [The Iraqi Vote - Iraqi in Washington]
This is interesting, I first heard the news about President Jalal Talabani not wanting to seek a second term from Radio Sawa, now, it appears to be all over the place. Jalal Talabani, the not-so-ceremonial president of Iraq says he does not want to be nominated for the post of the president.
Jalal Hussam-a-din Talabani is the first person on the Kurdistan Alliance list (730) from the province of Sulaimania, but he and others know that Kurdistan is no longer his domain, he has become a Baghdadi!
I’m Hopeful This Time -- [Alive in Baghdad - an iraqi in iraq]
The Iraqi blogs' galaxy is buzzing with discussions about the upcoming Iraqi elections. I've been very nervous lately thinking of which path Iraqis will take this time. I hope they go secular.
I just finished talking to my friend in Sydney. She's going to vote for Allawi. BTW, she's Chaldean. That's a good indication on how most Iraqis are voting this time. They aren't voting for candidates based on their ethnic group.
Jihadis, Elections and Ramadi -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio]
More splits in the insurgency as Election Day nears; and more of the Ramadi Problem
RAMADI, IRAQ: As Election Day quickly approaches in Iraq, the various jihadi factions and the non-jihadist insurgents are taking their varied positions on how to deal with the voting process. The domestic insurgents, foreign fighters and jihadist do not have a unified position on how to deal with the electoral process, and their official statements reflects this.
Morning Scan/Jam Notes -- [Austin Bay]
Monday’s PajamasMedia discussion on Saddam’s trial and the rule of law took some interesting turns. Check out what Omar of Iraq the Model had to say about Saddam’s trial and the Iraqi people. Jim Bennett and David Corn had a series of interesting comments. The exchange David and I had about truth and reconciliation commissions (eg, South Africa) may lead to another discussion. Glenn Reynolds and Ken Anderson provided the legal minds. A “thank you” to all participants. These are still experiments. Jim Bennett said that he liked it better than a live voice debate.
Patients, Soldiers and Prisoners -- [Major K - in Iraq]
These three types of people started voting yesterday. I have already seen a few purple index fingers. The usual increase in attacks has been taking place over the past week or two. The arhabiyin (plural - thanks to an e-mailed correction from a nice Dutch lady) always try to get in their last shots before we shut down the streets and the borders.
About two weeks ago... -- [Once Upon A Time In Baghdad]
We're at a new check point again, we've done all the check points surrounding the IZ (Green Zone) now, and we'll be going back to an old one soon to finish off our tour here. These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago when we went back to the Al Hamra bombing site. We cordoned off the area around the site while the engineers put up new barriers. My gun truck was in the middle so we had a chance to talk to the kids without compromising security. I made the big mistake of handing out candy just as school got out and started a munchkin riot of sorts.
You should get out more -- [MREater]
I followed a link on Andrew Sullivan’s blog to Julian Barnes’ blog (US News & World Report), and read about activities of one of the units that replaced us. Barnes wrote about how the 101st soldiers seemed to have a better grasp of the area than preceding units, i.e., my unit. I don’t recall him spending time with us so I don’t know upon what he bases this opinion, but it may well be true. The 101st has been there before, and that experience has to help.
It got me thinking about information flow. The military gets out and about and mixes with Iraqis, and I suppose the CIA does too, and these agencies report up the chain to the national security decision makers. The group that doesn’t get out is the State Department employees.
Let Them Go to Hell! -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
...Then they are interviewing a 77-year-old Grandmother -- an Iraqi who fled Iraq when Saddam took power -- and she tells the interviewer in no uncertain terms that she thanks the Americans because if it wasn't for the Americans, they wouldn't have this chance today. And then she says -- wagging her finger at the camera, "ANYONE WHO DOESN'T APPRECIATE WHAT AMERICANS HAVE DONE -- WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH HAS DONE -- LET THEM GO TO HELL!"
Iraq: Venting, and Nostalgia. -- [Dave's Not Here - contractor in Iraq]
...It's not easy being a civilian contractor here - despite what impressions might state to the opposite. My employer has lost a considerable number of contractors in this war and I'm certain that a considerable number more will be lost in the months to come.
Certainly there are significant differences between being an Army Contractor and being a soldier on the front lines of this thing called the War on Terror, but we still face many of the same hardships as the soldiers we support. Please don't imagine that I would begin to think of these hardships as comparable to the sacrifice of the men and women listed below who died fighting for Iraq.
"Disposal will not be performed via consumption." -- [While Away - in Iraq]
Well. Guidance has been givin. General Order #1 has now been modified to include PCO Contractors. We are prohibited from drinking, creating, selling, or being in possession of alcohol. They were kind enough to give us an amnisty period where we can dispose of our alcohol without consequences. As stated above, that disposal is not to be done to our bellies. :) In the near future they will conduct a thorough search of our living quarters to ensure that all alcohol has been removed. What fun.
Poll: U.S. can win war, but won't -- (CNN)
Fewer respondents opposed to American presence in Iraq
As President Bush prepares to make his final speech on the strategy for winning the war in Iraq, a recent poll indicates that fewer people are opposed to the U.S. presence there, but they don't think the U.S. is winning the effort.
President Bush will speak again about the strategy for victory in Iraq in Washington on Wednesday.
Forty-eight percent of those polled said they thought it was a mistake to send U.S. troops to Iraq, as opposed to 54 percent of those polled last month. Fifty percent said it was not a mistake, compared to 45 percent last month
Police Seize Forged Ballots Headed to Iraq From Iran -- (New York Times)
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 13 - Less than two days before nationwide elections, the Iraqi border police seized a tanker on Tuesday that had just crossed from Iran filled with thousands of forged ballots, an official at the Interior Ministry said.
Iraq border chief denies forged ballots seized -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - The head of Iraq's border guards denied police reports on Wednesday that a tanker truck stuffed with thousands of forged ballot papers had been seized crossing into Iraq from Iran before Thursday's elections
Elections to change Iraqi politics -- (CNN)
Iraqis began the year with a historic transitional assembly election. They voted for a constitution in October. And on Thursday as many as 10 million people are expected to vote for a full four-year parliament, despite possible violence.
Campaigning Stops a Day Ahead of Iraq Vote -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Campaigning around Iraq stopped Wednesday to give the country's 15 million voters an opportunity to reflect before deciding who will govern their country for the next four years. Streets in Baghdad were eerily quiet the day before Thursday's election, with police strictly enforcing a traffic ban. Only the noise from an occasional siren, sporadic gunshot or a U.S. helicopter overhead could be heard. Borders and airports have also been closed and the nighttime curfew has been extended in an effort to secure the vote.
Iraq locks down for election -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Iraq was largely calm on Wednesday on the eve of its parliamentary election with a stringent security crackdown preventing all but sporadic violence
Iraqi Insurgents Reach Out To U.S. -- (Chicago Tribune)...Liz Sly
As Iraq moves toward crucial legislative elections Thursday, homegrown Iraqi insurgent groups are reaching out to the U.S. in the hope of launching a dialogue that would draw them into the political process and end their 2 1/2-year rebellion, according to U.S. officials and Iraqis close to the insurgency.
Iraqis Go to the Polls in 15 Countries -- (AP)
AMMAN, Jordan -- Iraqi expatriates voting Tuesday for a parliament in their homeland said they want stability and an end to the violence in Iraq. But the voters - in 15 countries around the world - were as divided on how to get there as as their communities are back home....
Bush Decribes Iraqi Vote As a Milestone
WASHINGTON - President Bush has described this week's election in Iraq as a milestone for the Iraqi people, but the stakes are also high for Bush himself.
The president is banking on a successful election, which would establish Iraq's first permanent, democratically elected government, to signal that his war plan is working. If the voting establishes a successful government, it eventually could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
To Halt Abuses, U.S. Will Inspect Jails Run By Iraq -- (New York Times)...John F. Burns
American military officers will inspect hundreds of detention centers and embed with Iraqi police commando units and other Interior Ministry forces to try to halt widespread abuses uncovered by raids on two Iraqi-run detention centers in Baghdad in the last month, the American ambassador pledged Tuesday.
No Official Toll Exists For Iraqi Civilians -- (USA Today)...Mark Memmott
When President Bush said 30,000 Iraqi citizens have “died in this war,” he gave no clues to where he got that figure, its credibility or what the government knows about the deaths.
Bush to stress why US must stay in Iraq -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - A day before Iraq's election, President George W. Bush will stress on Wednesday why he thinks the United States must stay in Iraq, in the last of a series of speeches intended to persuade more Americans to support his strategy.
Backers Say Iraq Speeches Have Helped Bush -- (Philadelphia Inquirer)...Tom Raum, Associated Press
...Bush discussed the Iraqi elections yesterday with a group of Republican senators at the White House. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also attended. "It will take weeks and maybe months for the real political process to work," Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) told reporters afterward. Santorum said Bush was keenly aware "that there's still a lot of confusion out there in the American public about what's happening," but he said that the President was "very engaged" in trying to explain his war policy to the public.
Pentagon To Seek $100 Billion More For War Costs -- (Los Angeles Times)...Associated Press
The Pentagon is in the early stages of drafting a request for up to $100 billion more for military costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, lawmakers say, a figure that would push spending related to the wars toward half a trillion dollars.
Rice: World Not Helping With Saddam Trial -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- The world has shirked its duty to help prosecute Saddam Hussein, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday....
U.S. Envoy Calls Torture Severe And Extensive At 2 Iraqi Prisons -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad on Tuesday described torture cases discovered in Iraqi police prisons as both extensive and severe, saying more than 120 abused detainees had been found in the two centers run by the Shiite-led government that have been inspected so far.
The Truth On The Ground -- (Washington Post)...Ben Connable
When I told people that I was getting ready to head back to Iraq for my third tour, the usual response was a frown, a somber head shake and even the occasional "I'm sorry." When I told them that I was glad to be going back, the response was awkward disbelief, a fake smile and a change of subject.
Corrupt Cops a Major Problem -- [Strategy Page]
December 12, 2005: An anti-corruption campaign by Bamian governor Habiba Surabi, the first woman to head an Afghan province, seems to be leading to an imminent show-down between Mrs. Surabi and the provincial head of the Afghan National Police. The police chief has countered charges of corruption with claims that his force is under strength and under funded. He has pointedly refused to step down voluntarily.
U.S. Paid For Media Firm Afghans Didn't Want -- (Chicago Tribune)...Kim Barker and Stephen J. Hedges
When The Rendon Group was hired to help Afghan President Hamid Karzai with media relations in early 2004, few thought it was a bad idea. Though Rendon's $1.4 million bill seemed high for Afghanistan, the U.S. government was paying.
Gazprom, a Russian giant -- [Peace like a River]
Gazprom may be the biggest company you've never heard of. Gazprom is the world's largest producer of natural gas. And it is controlled by the Russian government. According to this page:...
Russia has, by far, the largest known reserves of natural gas. (This table is from Infoplease.)
90% of Koreans Support Torture -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
According to this report via the Katolic Shinja, 90% of Koreans support torture: ...
The majority of Americans believe that the use of torture is justified for terrorism suspects, according to an Associate Press poll. The poll was taken in a number of different countries, showing a large gap in values between Americans and some European countries.
Poverty, Bad Foreign Libtards, and Santa Comes to Bondsteel -- [Way Down in Kosovo]
...The Deputy Municipal President of Ferizaj, Mr. Gafurr Imeri, took us on a municipality poverty tour to try and drum up some kind of support from us. It may sound like he was begging in a way, but I know him, and that is not what he is about at all.
...I understand why Mr. Imeri wanted us to see these things. He thinks we are the only ones who can, or will do anything about it, which is probably true. I'm not going to beat this horse to death, but it has to be pointed out that the international community, in the form of the UN and the EU, has been here for six years, and hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured in here. Yet ...
Iran President: Holocaust Is a 'Myth' -- (AP)
TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday the Holocaust is a "myth" that Europeans have used to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world. "Today, they have created a myth in the name of Holocaust and consider it to be above God, religion and the prophets," Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands in the southeastern city of Zahedan.
U.S. Won't Guarantee Iran That It Won't Be Attacked -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Associated Press
The Bush administration is ruling out a guarantee not to attack Iran to induce it to halt development of nuclear weapons. Iran must first act like a responsible member of the international community and stop violating its agreements, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.
Interview with Top GSPC Commander in Algeria -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Algerian Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat (GSPC)--a known Al-Qaida-affiliate group active in North Africa--has released a recent interview with the GSPC's top commander Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud. During the interview, Wadoud declared, "we congratulate all the beloved courageous brothers from Al-Qaida’s Committee in Mesopotamia along with their commander Abu Musab al-Zarqawi… May Allah protect the prodigal mujahideen in Iraq and around the world—especially our commander Abu Abdallah Usama Bin Laden.”
Eurohypocracy in action -- [CounterColumn]
It's amusing to me that the man putting together an investigation into whether the CIA operated "secret prisons" in other sovereign nations in Eastern Europe is a Swiss national.
This hawkeyed vigilance for the interests of prisoners in points east is a pretty new phenomenon. Recall that the Swiss government made an official policy of turning a blind eye towards the assets of thousands and thousands of dormant accounts of Holocaust victims - men and women who had not been heard from since May 9th, 1945, for more than 50 years, all the while looking the other way while Swiss bankers fenced looted art collections and polished stolen gold, treating the families of Jewish holocaust victims as nonentities while obliging Nazis by transferring millions in assets back to wanted war criminals at the end of WWII. Swiss vigilance wasn't so
House Prepares to Renew Patriot Act -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - The GOP-controlled House plans to quickly renew portions of the USA Patriot Act before they expire at the end of the year. Some Republicans say the nation's safety could be endangered if the Senate doesn't follow suit. The House on Wednesday was expected to pass a White House-backed bill that would renew more than a dozen provisions of the Act - the government's premier anti-terrorism law - which are due to expire Dec. 31.
Investigator: U.S. Shipped Out Detainees -- (AP)
PARIS -- A European investigator said Tuesday he has found mounting indications the United States illegally held detainees in Europe but then hurriedly shipped out the last ones to North Africa a month ago when word leaked out....
At Walter Reed, A Jobs Office For GIs -- (Washington Post)...Christopher Lee (?LINK UNAVAILABLE?)
The Office of Personnel Management wants to help injured members of the military stay in the employ of Uncle Sam. The agency has opened an employment information office at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to help wounded veterans find jobs in the government.
The Last Goodbye -- [The Real Ugly American]
This article was brought to my attention by a Vietnam Vet that I met over the internet on the same message board that inspired me to start this blog. I know him only as Docski (his handle on the forums). I am reposting this on the blog today with his permission. I have also asked him if he would like to make any comments about this article or the current war. I will follow up with another post after Doc and I speak.
CACO -- [Neptunus Lex]
Casualty Assistance Calls Officer. The man who knocks on the doors of loved ones, and tells them that their husband, father, brother or son, wife, mother, sister or daughter is not coming home with the others.
He’ll be coming back alone.
I had to do it once, a long, long time ago and it nearly broke my heart...
DOD puts screws to military retirees -- [One Hand Clapping - Donald Sensing - Blue Star Dad]
James Joyner has an excellent roundup and analysis of the Defense Department’s plan to specially tax raise the fees of military retirees for their post-retirement health care, known as TriCare.
...The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA, of which I am a member) is tracking this issue closely. See HTML page here and PDF here. Quick summary:..
Keeping Options Open for the Navy of the Future -- [Scott's Conservative News & Commentary]
Turkeyhead sent me this story, and I probably should of just forwarded it to CDR Salamander for his take. But first, here's mine, and the good CDR can give us his input at his leisure. After all, he's a Commander.
Nation-Building Elevated -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
The Pentagon yesterday announced a landmark change in the use of combat troops, elevating "stability missions" -- commonly called nation-building -- to an equal status with major combat operations.
The Christmas Ambush -- [Smash]
THEY HOPE you're not paying attention.
You've got no time for politics. Christmas is coming. You're not done shopping yet. You've got to wrap up all those projects at work before the end of the year. The kids will be out of school soon. The weather is getting colder. Hey, look -- football!
It's the perfect time for an ambush.
Congress has reached a tipping point on Iraq.
Pentagon May Be Tracking Activists -- (Los Angeles Times)...Reuters
The Pentagon has a secret database that indicates the U.S. military may be collecting information on Americans who oppose the Iraq war and may be monitoring peace demonstrations, NBC reported Tuesday.
Senate Democrat May Block Nominee For Pentagon Post -- (Washington Post)...Associated Press
President Bush's nominee for chief Pentagon spokesman appeared in jeopardy yesterday, with a senior Democrat leaving open the possibility of blocking the appointment.
Who are the villains? -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
For the past week or so, we have been hosting a writer from the Associated Press. This evening, I read his first article that is somewhat relevant to us. I liked the article but hated the headline, and so I am going to talk to him tomorrow and find out if it was his idiotic headline (which, incidentally, has almost nothing to do with the content of the article) or if he just writes the stories and someone else creates the headline.
A Froomkin by Any Other Name -- [Media Blog on Nation]
Jay Rosen has rounded-up the clues and interviewed the suspects involved in the media tempest du jour — whether Dan Froomkin's "White House Briefing" column is labeled clearly enough as opinion.
What happened is that Washington Post ombudsm — uh, person Deborah Howell wrote a column about how some in the newsroom — particularly Post political editor John Harris — were afraid that readers were coming to washingtonpost.com and confusing Froomkin's liberal web-only column with news reporting.
Disregard the little man behind the curtain -- [Neptunus Lex]
Occasional readers in this space are aware that the author has had the opportunity from time to time to detect the merest whiff of political bias in the reportage of a few of our elite news heralds, even in such unlikely places as the New York Times for example, or the LA Times out here in the west. Every once in a great while in the Washington Post.
On propagada -- a follow-up to the follow up to the follow up -- [Protein Wisdom]
An editiorial by David Tell in this week’s Weekly Standard argues that the only way the US can lose the Iraq war is to lose the will to fight it—which in itself isn’t anything different than what a lot of pro-war writers as have argued. But what I found interesting was this bit toward the end of the piece. From “Truth or Consequences":
Pentagon aims US messages for foreign media: report -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON- A $400 million Pentagon psychological warfare operation includes plans to place pro-American messages in foreign media outlets without disclosing the U.S. government as the source, USAToday reported on Wednesday
U.S. Ranks Sixth Among Countries Jailing Journalists, Report Says -- (New York Times)...Katharine Q. Seelye
The United States has tied with Myanmar, the former Burma, for sixth place among countries that are holding the most journalists behind bars, according to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Each country is jailing five journalists. The United States is holding four Iraqi journalists in detention centers in Iraq and one Sudanese, a cameraman who works for Al Jazeera, at the United States Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
Mice with Human Brain Cells Announce New Study -- [ScrappleFace]
A group of California laboratory mice, which now have working human brain cells in their skulls thanks to injections with embryonic stem cells, today announced they would begin a study of their own, injecting mouse stem cells into human brains.
New Tookie Books Warn Kids About Lethal Injection -- [ScrappleFace]
A new series of books by Crips gang founder Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, attempts to warn children of the dangers of lethal injection.
Seasons Greetings from Me, SGT Lewis, and I guess John Deere, here in Iraq! -- [My Vacation in Iraq - in Iraq]
We had to take some guys to Falcon the other day to use the range there. I saw this thing driving around. Me and Lewis saw it as a good photo opp.
MERRY CHRISTMAS MICHAEL -- [Keep My Soldier Safe - Blue Star Mom]
Everyone says to tell you hello and Merry Christmas, and they can't wait until you are home.
Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown and Everyone From Baghdad, Iraq! -- [OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM]
I didn't want a real tree sent to me in Baghdad, Iraq. I happened upon a more charming one.
So learn the true meaning of Christmas from Charlie Brown and smile.
Home -- [Life Happens - husband home from Iraq]
Rob made it home safe thank you all for your prayers.
It is to say the least odd to have him here and not have to worry about a leave date.
It is also an adjustment for us all to be under the same roof.
(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 voting has begun! (updated) -- [Iraq the Models - Iraqis in Iraq]
Voting in Iraq’s second parliamentary elections has begun this morning; this coincides with the deadline for all campaigning activities by all lists and parties who are required now to enter “electoral silence”.
The first votes are coming from army bases, detention centers and hospitals. ...
Oh, the inhumanity! -- [Peace like a River]
Will the torture never cease?
Detainees in Multi-National Forces-Iraq Theater Internment Facilities were allowed to vote!
Are we beasts, to treat prisoners so?
The first decisive democratic election in Iraq -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
It is only 2 days to go for the first election which will bring a 4 years term government to power.
The parties intensified their campaigns during the last few days which were not without accusation against each other.
We believe that there is not going to be a one party or list winning the majority of voices.
My Trip to the U.S.A. Treasure of Baghdad's Diary -- [Treasure of Baghdad - an Iraqi currently visiting the USA]
...We had our breakfast and then went to a place where I really wanted to see during the day. It was the area where the World Trade Centers located. It was very cold to the extent that it was really hard to take off my gloves and take pictures. But I did it. When I arrived the metal fence surrounding the areas, I was really sad. I felt my heart sinking. Being familiar to violence and people crying for help, I imagined how these towers were falling and how horrified the people around them were. I kept asking myself, why?why?why? why there is no peace in this world? Damn you Osama. Damn you Zarqawi. You are bringing destruction to the world. But you will be finished, sooner or later. It’s just a matter of time.
24 Steps to Liberty, Each Took a Year. -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi recently visited USA]
Today is my trip to New York. It is one of the trips I was waiting for because I wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. I wanted to touch it not only see it. This statue was always a legend in my mind. Since I was a child, I used to see it in movies. I wanted to see it. To be face to face with it. Given the life I lived before and the the freedom I never felt or the liberty I’ve never experienced, it was a must to go to New York.
Show the World the Purple Finger -- [The Iraqi Vote - iraqi Washington]
Members of the police force, the military and pateints began voting today in Iraq. Here are some purple fingers!
Iraqis are hopeful for the future -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
We are going to win this war. By we, I mean the coalition. And the coalition includes Iraqis. I’m not one who lives by polls but I do find that some of them have value:
Iraq Pictures - 13 December 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
An Iraqi army soldier places his ballot into the ballot box after voting in Hayji Dec. 12, 2005. On Dec. 15, Iraqi citizens will elect their first permanent parliamentary government, which will lead the new democracy for the next four years. Iraqi security forces vote early so that they can provide security during the general election.
Iraqi Elections II -- [Alive in Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...It is the end of yet another phase in this unfolding ugly drama. It is more serious this time: a new phase of democracy. This is no longer an “interim government” or “interim assembly”. This will be a fully fledged Legislative and Government that are meant to last for 4 years. Cronycracy Phase III?
YOU BETTER PRAY -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...I eyeball our humble 4ft Christmas tree which is a representation of this place. Lacking ornaments for the most part, we used bullets, cigars, Marlboro packs and other things we like and hung them on the tree. (There goes a large explosion detonates off base/IED most likely). The tree looks like a freaking train wreck but its our train wreck. Above it a piece of paper size cardboard box flap that reads “Merry Christmas-USMC-Iraq 2005” in permanent marker duct taped to a cami net pole. Now multiple deep thump explosions off base characteristic of a MK19 grenade launcher….friendly. Today feels like when your about to take a test you have been dreading and are nervous about but you know your ready, you’ve done other tests just like it and you’ve done all you can for this one however, you will be relieved when its over. More MK 19 impacts. Marines must have some enemy off site and engaging them. “Surreal” That’s the word for this place.
Strange day in Bayji. -- [An independent look at Iraq - an Ind. journalist embedded in Iraq]
It was something I expected to see here but couldn't understand once it did. The setting it happened in made it seem absolutely sureal.
Abu Company's 3rd platoon was downtown (no, it's nothing like the song, unfortunately) escorting a local contractor as he emplaced jersey barriers around two schools. The barriers were to help secure a polling site for Iraq's parlimentary elections Dec. 15. No big deal. It looked to be a fairly uneventful day.
...I've been here so long I can tell how the day will go just by a knot in my stomach. It's almost as ifyour body has some internal bullshit detector.
An Interview with Major General Huck -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
“The kinetic piece is checkers, the stabilization and reconstruction piece is chess”
RAMADI, IRAQ: Here in Ramadi, where the insurgency is at its strongest, Major General Richard A. Huck, Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Division, leads the fight against the insurgency and reconstruction efforts in the bulk of Anbar province. The 2nd Marine Division’s area of responsibility is vast: it spans from east of Fallujah all the way out to the Syrian border, and as far south as Rutbah on the Jordanian border.
G.I.s Resist Becoming Crime Investigators -- [Strategy Page]
December 13, 2005: About 500-600 suspected terrorists arrested are in Baghdad each month, many of them caught in the act. But many of these guys get released for “lack of evidence” (even when they were captured, often wounded, after a firefight with American or Iraqi troops). This is hurting morale among American and Iraqi troops, and causing a decline in tips from Iraqi civilians (who see the bad guy out on the street, not long after his arrests, and looking who whoever turned him in.)
Haifa Street -- [Major K - in Iraq]
...The pre-election campaign is in full swing as candidates are campaigning openly this year rather than quietly submitting their names for the ballot as they did last year and hoping they did not get assasinated for doing so.
The overwhelming majority of Mosques are preaching participation in the election this time as the consequences of boycotting elections have been deemed to be undesireable.
Ma’Sallama, Sadiqi -- [Six More Months - in Iraq]
If someone had told me 14 months ago that I would consider an Iraqi one of my closest friends, I would have called them crazy.
It has been a tough couple of weeks since I last posted. The day after my last post, 2 soldiers I knew were killed by a massive IED, and another was gravely wounded. He will survive, minus an arm and a leg. I can’t bring myself to describe the event, but I will talk about the emotions I had, and why I am ashamed by some of them.
Abu Ghraib school supplies -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
Update to the Abu Ghraib elementary school children collection. A few people have asked questions about deadlines, and this is not a holiday event. It is an ongoing process and supplies will be distributed as long as they are comming in.
Our Commander -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
A great piece in the TENNESSEAN:
For the past two decades, architect Jeffrey Holmes has helped shape the landscape of Middle Tennessee by building skyscrapers, hospitals and corporate headquarters.
But for almost two years, he's been helping build a nation.
Iraqis Tell German Sissies to Take a Hike -- [Camp Katrina]
Looks like the newly-liberated Iraqis are figuring out on their own what we could have told them from the beginning: Europeans aren't the best dudes to go to for military training. According to an article in some German rag, Iraq police recruits will no longer participate in a German training program, saying they are seeking "training programs which were more serious and more effective."
Saddam Captured! -- [The Officers' Club]
Remember who got pulled out of a spider hole two years ago today?
Bush says 30,000 Iraqis killed since war began -- (Reuters)
By Tabassum Zakaria. PHILADELPHIA - US President George W. Bush said on Monday about 30,000 Iraqis have been killed since ...
New constitution curbs my power - Talabani -- (Independent online)
Baghdad - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will not seek re-election after Thursday's parliamentary election because the new constitution has curbed his powers, his office said on Tuesday.
Iraq instability merits U.S. presence -- (Newsday)
Too much is at stake in Iraq for the United States to just pick up and walk away. | Although Iraq is not yet a failed state, it is undergoing radical change that could break down at any time if the...
A war and its fearsome consequences: How the world has changed post-Iraq -- (Independent)
Iran | The Iraqi elections provided a classic illustration of the law of unintended consequences: the Americans overthrew the hated dictator, Saddam Hussein, only to see ...
How a triumphant invasion turned into a disastrous occupation -- (Independent)
Timeline
Backstory: 1,000 Days In Iraq -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Daniel Enemark
Tuesday marks the 1,000th day of the war in Iraq. Apart from the debate over its purpose and progress, here are some basic facts about the conflict.
Two Views On The Iraqi Battlefield -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Jill Carroll
American and Iraqi security forces differ in how best to deal with insurgents.
What Do The Iraqis Really Want? -- (Time)...Time-ABC News
Although Saddam Hussein's trial has become must-watch TV for many Iraqis, a majority of citizens say they have little interest now in dealing with members of his ousted regime, according to an exclusive poll by TIME, ABC News and several other organizations. What interests Iraqis more is this week's election for the National Assembly, in which some 7,000 candidates will be competing for 275 seats. More than three-quarters of the Iraqis polled expressed confidence that the election will create a stable government.
Iraqis Living Abroad Vote, Express Hope -- (AP)
LONDON - Iraqi expatriates turned out to vote Tuesday in national elections, leaving voting stations with ink-stained fingers and expressing hope for the violence-torn country many fled during Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. Voting abroad began first in Australia, where up to 20,000 registered Iraqi voters live. They are part of a group of 1.5 million voters living outside Iraq who will cast ballots at polling centers in 15 countries, including the United States and Canada.
Insurgents Kill Sunni Candidate in Iraq -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen killed a Sunni Arab candidate for parliament and militants tried to blow up a leading Shiite politician in separate attacks Tuesday, the last day of campaigning for Iraq's election. More than 1,000 Sunni clerics, meanwhile, issued a religious edict, or a fatwa, urging Sunni Arabs to vote in Thursday's balloting - offering a seal of approval as members of the disaffected minority are expected to turn out in large numbers after mostly boycotting the landmark Jan. 30 polls.
A Unit's Fitful Year at War -- (Washington Post)
For Men of the 7th Cavalry's 5th Battalion, Iraq Tour Meant Long Days Broken by Startling Violence
BALAD, Iraq Long before he came to Iraq, Spec. Russell Nahvi hoped to save the world. In a spiral-bound notebook filled with math equations, he jotted his secret yearnings: "I PRAY one day I can make the world proud of me. I hope I can restore an unknown peace to wartorn nations, peoples, families, friends."
EX-General Says Iranian Led Torture Of Detainees -- (Washington Times)...Paul Martin and Maria Cedrell
An Iraqi general formerly in charge of special Interior Ministry forces said yesterday that a senior Iranian intelligence officer was in charge of a network of detention centers where suspected insurgents were routinely tortured and sometimes killed.
Earthquake in Afghanistan -- [The Hooker and his Girl - Hooker's in Afghanistan]
My husband just buzzed me over the messenger and told me that they are all alright but they just had an earthquake at BAF. It is about 10 min ago that he told me. All the other pilots they are living with him in one hooche woke up too and run outside and met the other soldiers outside the hooches. He told me that no one got hurt but it was a little scary when the bed started shaking. He also told me that they will ...
OPERATION ENDURING BOREDOM - EPISODE VI -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
This is the continuation of a series of selected excerpts from my Afghanistan war journal recorded from October 2003 to August 2004. All OEB entries are previously unpublished.
...Whenever we dismount in the midst of a village or populated area, we are swarmed by all the little boys and girls while the men gaze from afar or stroll by nonchalantly, doing their best to feign indifference. Any woman over age twelve will always keep her distance, however, less from fear of us than fear of being caught staring in our direction by their watchful men. Still, it’s usually not difficult -- especially when wearing sunglasses -- to catch a glimpse of young scarf-clad Afghan girls peeking over the tops of walls or around cracked doors at us. Still, Taliban or no Taliban, women here are to be neither seen nor heard publicly, and certainly not by a group of infidel American soldiers.
What will $800 get you these days? -- [Miserable Donuts]
35 meter deep well and a hand pump. In Parwan Province Afghanistan, that is... (pic)
Quake Hits Afghan-Pakistani Border Region -- (Newsday)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A strong earthquake struck remote northeastern Afghanistan early Tuesday, shaking the ground for hundreds of miles and bringing frightened survivors of October's devastating quak...
Powerful earthquake causes panic in South Asia -- (Khaleej Times)
ISLAMABAD - An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck Pakistan and Afghanistan early Tuesday, triggering panic among survivors of October’s tremor that killed more than 70,000 people in ...
Afghanistan suicide bombing wounds four US soldiers -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| A roadside bomb has hit a vehicle of US-led coalition troops in insurgency-hit southern Afghanistan, injuring four soldiers, according to coalition forces.
My Letter to Santa -- [So Far From Home - in the Balkans]
Dear Santa,
I am writing you from a place that is probably just as cold and snowy as the North Pole. Although we don't have flying reindeer, we do have helicopters that fly around at night with their red lights on, just like Rudolph's nose. You will probably need to file a mission trip ticket with our Airfield should you decide to fly in on Christmas Eve. However given the extreme fog here, you might find it impossible to land that night. As a secondary plan, I would suggest driving in and using Gate 1. Remember you will need your KFOR ID when entering. Oh, as a side note do not forget to clear any weapons you may have at the clearing barrel before proceeding. Don't worry there are gate guards that can walk you thru the procedure.
Pro-US Demonstrators Show Up In Force at Osan Protest -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Pro-American Activists Outside of Osan Airbase (pic)
Anti-American protesters gathered this weekend at the Pyoengtaek Train Station to protest the US military's base expansion at nearby Camp Humphreys:
About 4,500 demonstrators, according to police estimates, rallied outside the Pyeongtaek train station to protest the American plan to move forces to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. A group called The Pan-Korean National Task Force Against Expansion of U.S. Bases in Pyeongtaek organized the protest.
Good News You Won't See in the Korean Media -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Some Yongsan soldiers are doing some great work helping out Amerasian children in Itaewon:
Park Kuk-wha felt good on Saturday, despite being tired from studying for a recent final exam at school.
The 15-year-old was upbeat because he got to see some old friends at an annual Christmas party given by Pearl S. Buck International Korea and U.S. soldiers from the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion.
Mehlis Report II -- [ThreatsWatch - Steve Schippert]
Second implicates Syria further as anti-Syria Lebanese MP killed by bomb
The collision course of events continued as another anti-Syrian Lebanese was assassinated on the same day that Detlev Mehlis submitted his second written report to the UN Security Council on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The report further implicated Syria with fresh evidence from new witnesses and confessions that Syrian intelligence had burned documents related to the bombing that killed Hariri.
Confusing cause and effect -- [TigerHawk]
Caption:
Two school girls look at statues representing victims of famine at an anti-World Trade Organization educational booth set up in Hong Kong's Victoria Park Monday, Dec. 12, 2005.
Presumably, the asinine idea that trade causes starvation, rather than alleviating it, is unlikely to gain traction in Hong Kong.
Riots Rage Again in Suburbs Of Sydney -- (Washington Post /AP)
SYDNEY, Dec. 12 -- Scores of youths of Middle Eastern descent drove through predominantly white suburbs of Sydney in a second night of violence Monday, smashing windows of cars, homes and stores and raising fears that racial unrest would spread.
U.S. House Should Pass Border Protection Act -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to vote on H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. Here is a link to the act from the House Rules Committee website (Acrobat file). I hope that it passes. While admittedly it does not deal with all of the issues that need to be dealt with to secure our nation against illegal immigration and vulnerabilities in the immigration system that will still remain, this legislation represents a very good first step in the right direction.
Showdown Coming on USA PATRIOT Act and Expiration Is a Victory for Terrorists -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Sixteen provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act expire at the end of this month, and Congress has been debating, drafting, and voting on the future of the provisions for months. The two top Republican lawmakers, Rep. James Sensenbrenner and Sen. Arlen Specter, have agreed to a conference report, and the House will vote on the measure on Wednesday. Here are highlights in the report from the House Judiciary Committee website, where you can see the text of the report and more highlights:
Osama may not be in command: envoy -- (Dawn)
Dec 12: US Ambassador Mr Ryan C. Crocker suspects that Osama bin Laden and his second–in-command Ayman Al-Zawahiri are no more in operational command of Al Qaeda.
Honoring the honorable -- (TownHall.com)
...Although I will never be able to fully express my gratitude, I can guarantee you my unwavering support. As you continue to work for the best prize that life has to offer, never underestimate your contribution or forget how much your efforts mean to the American people.
Congressman Joe Wilson is Co-Chair of the Victory in Iraq Caucus and a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He has visited Iraq 5 times and served in the National Guard for over 31 years.
Walking Man-New Prosthetic Knee -- [Bear Creek Ledger]
Hugh Herr who lost both of his legs below the knee has created an artificial knee with a microprocessor:
...Ironically, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan bolster the odds that Herr and his team of 15 researchers will continue to make quick progress. “If you look at the history of prosthetic development, after every major war comes a spike in innovation,” says Herr, who is helping to develop new equipment for combat-injured amputees through a $7.2 million Department of Veterans Affairs research project. “Because I’m an end-user myself, I understand the importance of advancing these technologies.”
The Issue of Support V. Political Beliefs -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
I've posted on this in the past, but I think it needs to be done again. The issue of supporting our troops if you are a conservative/liberal/Republican/Democrat/whatever. There are many debates on the issue, from the intellectual debate that you cannot support our troops if you do not support their mission....blah blah blah. I've always had my own opinion of what supporting our troops is, and that has not wavered. Supporting our troops is a verb - it means doing something tangible so that your support is felt by those you claim to be supporting. This can be as simple as a card or a comment on a blog, it doesn't have to be 100 carepackages. But it has to be more than intellectual debate or lip service.
Job Well Done -- (Florida Today)...Pam Harbaugh
Grateful civilians find ways to salute the military personnel with spontaneous acts of kindness.
Students Spread Holiday Cheer to Troops --( WSAW)
The messages don't have to be elaborate.
"Merry Christmas, and I hope you come home safe," writes 7th grader Amanda Schenzel.
"[I'm] writing to the troops to let them know we care so they don't get scared," says 7th grader Mitch Sherfinski.
Workers unite to bring soldiers holiday cheer -- (Allentown Morning Call PA)
... employees sending gifts to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, my first reaction was to pass ... was that we need to keep reminding our readers that good things are ...
Can’t Pay for the War? Take the Money from the Military Retirees -- [Outside the beltway]
Up, up and away
The Department of Defense is feeling the pinch of the increasing cost of health care, so the solution is to drive as many retirees who were promised life-time heath care (OK, an entitlement) out of the system as possible by making those that remain pay over triple their current costs.
Military Recruiters Met Goals Last Month -- (USA Today)...Associated Press
The Army exceeded its recruiting goal in November, the sixth consecutive on-target month, but it has fallen off the pace for meeting its re-enlistment goal for the year, the Pentagon said Monday. The Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps also exceeded their recruiting goals in November, although their targets are much lower than the Army, which is aiming to sign up 80,000 new active-duty soldiers during the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, 2006.
War's Trauma Wears On The Children Left Behind -- (USA Today)...Gregg Zoroya
Pentagon programs aim to soothe anxieties of the young ones whose moms or dads are away at war.
AT MY COMMAND, FIRE FOR EFFECT -- [Smash]
TARGETS are U.S. Congressmen under pressure from the enemy to endorse a precipitous and premature plan for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq (add contact information for your own "on-the-fence" Congressmen in the comments).
Call or write, and urge them NOT to support any plan to withdraw U.S. military forces from Iraq before the Iraqis are prepared to assume responsibility for their own security.
American Soldiers Terrorize Iraqi Children -- [Open Fire]
The following image shows an American soldier "terrorizing kids and children.” Well, that's according to former Democratic presidential hopeful, John Kerry.
Are We the Enemy? -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
I am disgusted. I am disheartened. I am ashamed. I am angry. According to Senator John Kerry, I am a terrorist. According to him, I bust into Iraqi houses in the middle of the night and terrorize women and children. I am not making this up. So as not to be accused of misquoting or misrepresenting his words, I will include them:
Fight looms if Republicans change Senate rules -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd warned on Monday that he would bring the U.S. Senate to a virtual standstill if Republicans carry out a threat to change its rules by outlawing filibusters on judicial nominations.
Bush's Job-Approval Rating Rebounds From Record Low -- (USA Today)...Susan Page
...The president's series of speeches on Iraq over the past two weeks hasn't convinced Americans that he has a plan for victory: 38% say he has one, 58% say he doesn't. That's a bit worse than when the question was asked on the night of his first speech. Even so, by 63%-34%, those polled say Iraq has made “real progress” toward establishing a democracy.
Battle of the White House Comedy Shorts -- [CounterColumn]
The defending champion:
Clinton's last days
Santa HAS to be a woman! -- [The Hooker and his Girl - his girl in Germany]
I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he's a SHE.
Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing, social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off.
For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman.
Postal -- [Desert Odssey - in Qatar]
...the MSM is killing me here. This week 15.5 million Iraqis are going to the polls in a major historic event—electing their first permanent parliament. What a lot of people just don’t grasp, or aren’t interested in, is the sheer bravery it takes for those people to go do that. We need to hold special campaigns at home to convince people to vote, and then barely half of us do. These people a risking death and they still go. So something that monumental is the top story, right? Nope.
Images of 2005: Courage, Hope, Pain & Freedom -- [Gateway Pundit]
TIME magazine has released its "Pictures of the Year" for 2005.
Some missed images...
...Shifting Sands in the Middle East. (pic)
...Missouri Welcomes Home a War Hero (pic)
...The Nomads Arrive to Vote (pic)
...Ode to George W. Bush (pic)
Remind me what "good news" means again -- [Peace like a River]
ABC News has released a poll from Iraq that can only be encouraging to anyone whose last name is not Moore, Sheehan, or Murtha. (Oh, so that's what MSM means!)
Poll: Broad Optimism in Iraq -- [Lance in Iraq]
"Surprising"? I was there 11 months and it does not surprise me in the least. I suppose if you actually believe what you see on CNN or read in the New York Times you might be surprised.
...Surprisingly, ABC does not know very basic facts about the war in Iraq, such as most insurgent activities are centered in just four of Iraq's 18 provinces. With network news credibility in tatters, one would think ABC would try to be a little more objective.
5/7 Cav back from "Fitful Year" in the Quagmire -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
I knew in my heart that the few instances of good news slipping past the MSM censors couldn't last, and today the WaPo delivers a beaut. They have a feature story called "A Unit's Fitful Year at War" and stunningly everything that happened to them was bad, all the (several) soldiers quoted appear to question the cause, and their relatives, even more so.
NY Times Whining, Inaccurately -- [Banter in Atlanter]
Today the NY Times not only makes some misleading claims but also does some whining on behalf leftists. Makes the word demagogue come to mind by the NYT publishing this piece.
For The Record -- (New York Times)...The New York Times
A front-page article on Saturday about a widening split between Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut and his fellow Democrats over his support for the war in Iraq misstated the Connecticut membership of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org, which says it may organize a primary challenge against Mr. Lieberman. It is 50,000, not 10,000.
Reining In the Blogs of War -- {Military Information Technology}
Army warns that warfighters’ online diaries can place lives at risk and degrade the effectiveness of operations.
The popularity of online blogs kept by warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan has touched off renewed debate over operational security and the free flow of information in the Internet age.
“The enemy aggressively ‘reads’ our open source and continues to exploit such information for use against our forces,” Army Chief of Staff General Peter J. Schoomaker wrote in an August memo. “Some soldiers continue to post sensitive information to Internet Web sites and blogs, e.g., photos depicting weapon system vulnerabilities and tactics, techniques and procedures. Such OPSEC violations needlessly place lives at risk and degrade the effectiveness of our operations.
Home -- [Who's your Baghdaddy? - home from Iraq]
Our plane finally touched down at Ft Hood, Texas at approximately 3:30 in the morning on December 4th. This was a full twelve hours later than we were originally scheduled to arrive. The major part of our tardiness was due to the plane out of Kuwait being delayed by nine hours. By the time we actually landed, all 250 soldiers on the plane had been traveling by either bus or plane for over 43 hours. Needless to say we were all a little travel weary by the time we touched down, but it wasn't enough to quell the elated cheers of of every man on the plane as soon as we felt the Texas terra firma beneath the landing gear.
(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.)
Let Freedom Ring -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
Well, it's almost game time. In days, the Iraqi citizens will elect a 275 member parliament. We are promised that the insurgents will step up their efforts to derail the democratic process here in Iraq. Our response? "Not on our watch". We simply will not lose this battle. While we fight for the Iraqi people, we also fight for our brothers who have given their lives for this cause. We will not dishonor the memories of these warriors by cowering to fanatics. Let it be heard from the mountaintops, "WE WILL NOT LOSE!
On Route Michigan -- [ThreatsWatch - Bll Roggio - in Iraq]
An IED sweep down the meanest street in Ramadi
RAMADI, IRAQ: In war, the ability to adapt to the enemy’s tactics is crucial to maintaining the initiative. The insurgency in Iraq does not have the ability to defeat the Coalition using conventional means; in every engagement at the platoon size or greater, the insurgency has been thoroughly defeated. Because of this, the insurgency adapted its tactics and is relying on a political defeat of the largest Coalition partner, the United States, to achieve victory.
A Shift in Operations -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio in Iraq]
The Wild West of Anbar isn't so wild anymore; the insurgency shifts back to the core
RAMADI, IRAQ: If you have a discussion with military officers in Western Anbar Province about the current and future status of military operations in the region, invariably the conversation will lead you to the reconstruction efforts of the Coalition. The phrases “switching from kinetic to non-kinetic operations” or “moving from kinetic operations to reconstruction” are often voiced.
After the Terrorism -- [Strategy Page]
December 11, 2005: For the third time this year, the Sunni Arab terrorist groups are trying to halt national elections. The attacks this time are concentrated on candidates for the National Assembly. The terrorists appear to have given up their attempt to stop Iraqis from voting. Instead, they are trying to discourage candidates they feel that, if elected, will be hostile to terrorist goals. However, this time
Congratulations Iraqi Soccer top team in West Asia! -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Iraq 2 Syria 0
Congratulation to the Iraqi football team and all Iraqis!
Iraq got the golden medal as the top team in the West Asia competition.
I thought it was the Big One... -- [Courage without Fear - in Iraq]
But it was really just Iraq beating Syria in World Cup Soccer.
We though it was a big coordinated attack against the International Zone tonight when we heard gunfire in every direction around us. The odd thing was, all the rounds were going up in the air. Usually if you're attacking, you want horizontal gunfire, not vertical.
We immediately were instructed to get all or our body armor and helmets on....
December 11, 2005 -- [While Away - in Iraq]
We went to bed around 10pm last night so we could get enough sleep for our 4am workout. Just as we were drifting off, gunfire rang out everywhere. Bam-ba-ba-ba-bam bam. From the sound of it, anyone would swear we were being invaded and you could tell that these weren't piddily little guns. Bam Bam! Ba-ba-ba-bam bam! It sounded like people were sending and recieving fire - like it was a war outside.
Ohhhhh.....Ahhhhhhh......Oooooooo! -- [Eunuch's World - in Iraq]
FLASH! CRUMP! RPG round fired at least a mile from us. We don't see where it hit, just the see the flash and hear the explosion. Tracers fly over the camp, peppering some of the buildings. Nothing is aimed, of course, but a stray round can still hit us. I start hearing sounds behind me, possibly "plink, plink" but I'm not sure, so of course, now I'm realizing that these rounds are impacting the camp and the life support area. Tracers continue to fly hundreds of yards above our heads. It's not the tracers that burn out directly above us that worry me, it's the tracers that burn out halfway between where I'm standing and where they were fired from!
... we hear the Giant Voice sound system announcing "Victory Base Complex is NOT under attack, I repeat, Victory Base Complex is NOT under attack. This is celebratory fire..."
Celebratory fire* my ass! Come to find out that it started as celebratory fire following a win in a soccer match.
IM BACK....DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!!! -- [Mike's Iraqi Adventure - in Iraq]
Last night there was a couple thousand Iraqi's shooting their guns off into the air celebrating a soccer victory. It appears that a lot of them were aiming into the IZ because a significant amount of bullets were found this morning. People said they could hear the bullets hitting the tops of the buildings and in the rocks outside their doors.
Raining bullets -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Last night a few of us were playing Civilization IV in our hooch. When we do have free time, this is one of the ways we choose to socialize. The game is complex, challenging, fun and time consuming. We have started lots of games, but haven’t finished any, because someone always has duty and so we start a new game with a slightly different group of players.
A Better Use for Bullets -- [GI.John - in Iraq]
We had a bit of excitement last night which was both alarming and humorous. While working inside our building, we began to hear some pretty heavy gunfire outside our compound. I quickly assumed this must be one of our operations or from a weapon test. The firepower seemed much too heavy and persistent to be an insurgent attack. After I confirmed it was not coming from us, it became apparent that the gunfire was coming from every direction around the compound and it was getting more intense. If this was an attack,...
Right at the End -- [Lag in Iraq - in Iraq]
I don't normally write about our casualties over here. One, it makes me depressed. Two, I have to be extremely tactful to avoid getting in trouble to the point that it's rarely worth the effort. (not complaining, I think the blogging policies are good) Three, I don't want to worry people at home.
But, we've had three casualties since Thanksgiving, the most recent being a heart attack. They had a ceremony for him yesterday. Just so close. Once again, I feel like my company has been spared.
Right Now -- [WORDSMITH AT WAR - in Iraq]
Right now there is a female sergeant running a PX on a base in western Iraq. There's only one room, and it’s hard to keep the dust off of the merchandise. To the average American, it would look like the poorest excuse for a convenience store in the world. But to her customers – the 1000 or so soldiers stationed on the base – it is an oasis. Hers is a place they can go to buy magazines, batteries, snacks, beverages, and even some video games and electronics. Sometimes they come in and just look around, chit the chat. ...
Right now there are countless soldiers standing in complete darkness in guard towers in the Middle East. These soldiers have brothers, sisters, parents, wives and children who think about them and miss them all the time. These men have a very important, but monotonous job. They keep the bases secure so that soldiers can work in relative safety, planning missions, training, and taking care of personal business. These men see the night through thermal imaging scopes and night vision goggles. ..
Red eyes -- [Fun With Hand Grenades - in Iraq]
...In reality I’m scared shitless and I think everyone else is too. We just don’t openly admit it or even talk about it. It’s something that goes unmentioned, as if it doesn’t exist as long as we don’t bring it up. I’m usually not scared on missions. You take that fear and you push it as far down as possible, burying and temporarily forgetting about it by doing things like checking and rechecking your equipment a million times over or getting lost in the buzz supplied via cigarettes and dip. ...
...When the mission comes I’m excited, energized, and more than happy to do my job. The fear that does occasionally surface during the mission is the worst ever experienced. You get a ...
The Trial -- [Major K - in Iraq]
The other day, I sat in one of the offices of the Iraqi 6th Infantry Division Headquarters last night with several of the General Staff Officers as they all had gathered around the TV watching the trial of Saddam Hussein Trial.
Saddam Trial IV -- [Iraqi Bloggers Central]
One last Saddam Trial post before the election.
As everyone knows Saddam did not show up for his own criminal trial on Wednesday. Well, actually, he did show up, he did "participate in an unjust court": he had to go to court to make a written and verbal request of the judge to be excused. The judges met privately with Saddam and his attorney's and declared that they chose to not to require the defendant's presence in court based "on law".
Marine Gunners Trained for Civil Affairs Work -- [Strategy Pge]
December 11, 2005: The U.S. Marine Corps has told it’s artillerymen that they will now have to train for a secondary job in civil-military operations (CMO). This involves working directly with civilians in peacekeeping operations. Other marines would deal with the security issues, and go after any local bad guys.
Another soldier -- [Steven Kiel - in Iraq]
If you have stuffed animals, I have a name and address that I can give you. He's collecting them to drop from Blackhawks. Just send me an e-mail for the address.
Medical Platoon: By the Numbers -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
During our deployment, the 3/278th RCT Medical Platoon was tasked with many different missions. Here are a few of the numbers:
Playing 20 questions -- [Just ask the soldiers - in Iraq]
-If there was one thing that you absolutely needed that you did NOT have, what would you want and why?
-What are the living conditions like for you?
-Are you in the direct line of harm's way? Have you seen anyone in your squadron killed and if so, how did you handle it?
-Do you plan to stay in your branch of military after your deployment is done, and if so, where would you like to be stationed? If you plan to get out, what would you like to do?
-How have you been able to cope with being deployed and away from your families? How do you feel about other soldiers who have NEVER been deployed?
-How often are you able to get on the internet? Is it difficult to be on long since there are others in line who want to send messages back home?
-Have any of you been to Saddam's palace? If so, how did you feel about being there?
-Do you feel your mission is being accomplished, and what else do you feel could be done?
-Do you think the "war on terror" will ever be won? Do you think the US is doing this alone, or has there been sufficient assistance from other countries?
-Are you guys (and gals) able to eat healthy and receive medical attention? How are you doing emotionally? ...
Survey finds optimism in new Iraq (BBC News)
An opinion poll suggests Iraqis are generally optimistic about their lives, in spite of the violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion. | But the survey, carried out for the BBC and othe...
Early Voting Begins in Iraq Elections -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq- Patients, soldiers and prisoners began voting Monday in parliamentary elections, a few days ahead of the general population, while insurgent violence killed at least nine people and wounded more than two dozen, police said. To prevent militants from disrupting Thursday's main balloting, the government said it will close its borders, extend a nighttime curfew and restrict domestic travel starting Tuesday.
Voting begins at Iraq's prisons, hospitals -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD - Special voting began in Iraq's hospitals and prisons on Monday, with security forces, detainees and the ill kicking off the country's first elections for a full-term parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Abuse Discovered at Iraq Detention Center -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi and U.S. military officials say an inspection of an overcrowded detention center run by the Interior Ministry discovered 13 prisoners who required medical treatment, the victims of apparent abuse.
Iraq president says no idea who took German hostage -- (The Star/Reuters)
| BERLIN - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Sunday he did not know who had kidnapped German archaeologist Susanne Osthoff but he did not expect them to kill her because Germany had not...
Embedded With the 101st Airborne -- (AP)...Ryan Lenz
EDITORS NOTE: AP writer Ryan Lenz is embedded with the 3rd Brigade of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division in Iraq and will be filing periodic reports on life in that unit.
The darkness. It struck me first about this place even through the flames from gas flares at an oil refinery on the horizon that dazzle the sky outside Beiji in a burst of orange.
...One Blackhawk crew mistakenly left me stranded about 15 miles outside Baghdad at Camp Taji, a former Iraqi airfield where an aviation brigade of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division flew Apache helicopters. (My screams of I-Z, short for International Zone, must have sounded too much like Ta-ji through the din.)
No Reports
Taliban issue decree urging death for Karzai -- (Reuters)
| SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's Taliban guerrillas have issued an Islamic decree calling for President Hamid Karzai to be killed for serving American and British "infidels".
AFGHANISTAN: FOOD AID GIVEN TO FORMER FIGHTERS -- (AKI)
Kabul, 12 Dec. - Needy ex-fighters and their families in Afghanistan have begun receiving United Nations food packages under an initiative of the country's New Beginning Programme. The nearly 1,000 families benefiting from the distribution will receive wheat, oil, salt, beans and other foodstuffs. The deliveries, which began last week, will run until mid-January.
Taliban exploit drug trade to step up Afghan attacks -- (The Guardian)
Resurgent Taliban forces have forged an alliance with drug smugglers in the lawless Afghan province of Helmand, underscoring a worrying slide in security just months before thousands of British troops...
Coke fizz back in Afghanistan -- (Hindustan Times)
After 15 long years, Coca-Cola is back in Afghanistan with the commissioning of a $25 million bottling plant on the outskirts of Kabul. It represents a major investment for the troubled country. |
More on Russia's gas -- [Peace like a River]
Russia is using its supply of natural gas as leverage over its neighbor, Ukraine. Russia would like Ukraine to pay triple what is paying for gas now, and to pay in cash. According to a report at the Jamestown Foundation:
Australian Race Riots -- [Obnoxious Droppings]
For several years, Arabs in Australia would take their women to beaches where they would swim pretty much fully clothed. While there, the Arab men would yell all sorts of insults at the Australian women who were in their normal swim attire.
Last weekend, a couple of Aussie beach lifesavers at Cronulla Beach were severly beaten by a group of Arabs. That's where the fun begins.
Focus On North Korean Human Rights at One Free Korea -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
There has been some excellent blogging over the past few days over at One Free Korea which has this week featured Andy Jackson of Flying Yangban fame guest blogging from the three day North Korean Human Rights Summit in Seoul. Here is a compilation of links of his excellent posts regarding the summit:
Racial Unrest Strikes Australia -- (AP)
SYDNEY, Australia -- In one of Australia's worst outbursts of racial violence, thousands of drunken white youths attacked police and people they believed were of Arab descent at a Sydney beach, angered by reports that Lebanese youths had assaulted two lifeguards....
Neo-Nazis blamed for Sydney riots -- (The Guardian)
Australian PM condemns race riots in Sydney as 'totally unacceptable' and calls for ethnic and religious tolerance.
Iran Offers U.S. Share in Nuclear Plants -- (AP)
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran opened the door Sunday for U.S. help in building a nuclear power plant - a move designed to ease American suspicions that Tehran is using its nuclear program as a cover to build atomic weapons....
Monday's Winds of War: 12 Dec 2005 -- [Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Peace Like a River and Security Watchtower.
Al-Qaida Celebrates Oct. 2005 Hotel Bombings in Iraq as the "Battle of Badr al-Baghdad" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq (led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi) has released new documents and a video recording commemorating the October 24, 2005 suicide car bombings in Baghdad targeting the Sheraton Ishtar and Meridian Palestine Hotels--an attack known by Al-Qaida as "the Battle of Badr al-Baghdad." According to Al-Qaida, "Shaykh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s guidance... played a pivotal role in the successful execution of this attack.
Unknown group claims killing of anti-Syrian -- (Reuters)
BEIRUT - A previously unknown group claimed responsibility on Monday for the assassination of Lebanese lawmaker Gebran Tueni, a fierce critic of Syria.
Year-end Message from the Director of Soldiers' Angels -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Dear Friends:
It has been an exciting year at Soldiers’ Angels. All of the efforts of our friends, family and supporters have resulted in the word about our mission being spread all over the world. We have met some wonderful people and have had the privilege of working with them to further our vital mission.
A True Christmas Story -- [Yikes]
OK, here is a super-sweet, true christmas story i MUST share ~ If you are currently active in adopting and otherwise supporting our dear deployed heroes out there, it will inspire you to KEEP GOING... if you aren't really sure you can make a difference, this will prove to you that YES YOU CAN!
A True Hero -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
I spent most of the day, along with members of the American Legion Post 19 of Columbia Tennessee, visiting with wounded and ill veterans at the Murfreesboro VA hospital. It was quite an honor for me to be there, in the presence of such wonderful people; People who I think are TRUE heroes. These men and women are the reason that we are all able to enjoy the freedoms that we have today.
THE FEW THE PROUD -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
What the heck is up with you Marines a man asked me once. I asked what do you mean? He continued and said you guys have this indescribable bond that even though you may not even know each other personally you automatically are great friends and start talking like you haven’t seen each other in awhile regardless of age, rank or gender and take care of each other as if you were brothers. I laughed and told him yes, it’s a respect thing I guess. We recognize each other as Marines and know the training the other has gone through and earned.
Video Games for the Rest of Us -- [trategy Page]
December 11, 2005: The American armed forces have gotten into computer games in a big way. This is nothing new, but it’s gotten really huge with the development of more realistic, and easier to use, game development technology over the last decade. Since the 1970s, civilian wargames have been adapted to military use. These earlier games were time consuming to learn, and use. That changed as computer games arrived, and the technology that
A Soldier's Ode to the Protesters -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
I may not know your name
but know that I care
I'm going to share some things with you
so you are aware
You march in protest
with your signs in hand
You say war is not the answer
it's not god's plan
Well I don't agree
or at least choose the words you may
But here I stand
defending to my death your right to say...
Democrats ready to surrender -- [The Makaha Surf Report]
At least that's what the new republican attack ad will say according to the Drudge Report.
IMHO it's about time someone nailed the Dems to the wall with their constant schizo games of "we support the troops while we try to ensure their defeat."
Another One... Yet another statement from John Kerry, who has supported troops as far back as Vietnam, has come out with more support of our troops. Apparently, even though troops are meticulously taught the Rules of Engagement (pic)
Super Genius -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
Deep Fried in the South, my Southern 'Brotha from anotha Mutha' took up my Photoshop Challenge and hit the nail on the head. It's absolutely perfect. Please pass this around! I want to see it posted everywhere to get the message out because it's so important in today's politically charged world. A lot of folks don't realize that what they say costs lives. Please don't forget to credit him for his work
SENATOR CALLS ON BUSH TO TAKE DOWN ATTACK AD -- [Drudge Report]
"The Republican Party’s latest ad is a shameful and disgusting attempt to distract the American people from the problems in Iraq. It may improve the President’s political fortunes, but the American people and our troops will pay the price. I hope that President Bush realizes how shameful it is to play politics when what we really need is leadership, and that he will direct his Party to take down this ad immediately."
Torture protest spans Olympia -- (THE OLYMPIAN)
OLYMPIA — Barefoot and blinded by the hood over his head, Josh Elliott rolled on the ground as Cristina Maza pretended to kick him in the gut. Maza towered over him holding a cardboard gun.
It caught the attention of several drivers Saturday as they passed Maza, Elliott and others from the Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace who were calling attention to the abuse and torture of U.S.-held prisoners taken in Iraq and Afghanistan.
...“We want this to be seen by people doing their Christmas shopping. We want them to be reminded that people are being tortured, and human rights violations are going on,” said Nikki Miller, 23, of Rochester, who wore camouflage fatigues.
Lieberman's Iraq Views Alienate Other Democrats -- (NPR)
As President Bush seeks to reshape public opinion on his Iraq policy, the issue is driving a wedge between Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and fellow Democrats. Lieberman's strong public defense of the president's handling of the war puts him at odds with a majority of his party.
Moderates Want Iraq Rhetoric Toned Down -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Moderates are imploring colleagues in Congress to tone down the rhetoric on Iraq as debate about President Bush's war policies has become increasingly bitter and partisan. Their pleas are likely to be ignored.
His Search For A New Groove -- (TIME. com)
The President has had a dreadful year, and his approval ratings are anemic. What Bush is doing to try to reverse his second-term slump
The Yuletide decorations at the White House are simpler this year. The gaudy tinsel and the 155,000 lights of 2004 have given way to a more natural look of Christmas trees decorated with white lilies and pink roses that are replaced as they wilt. Guests at the holiday parties are noticing a different tone to George Bush too. He has never liked the 26 receptions, the thousands of punishing or limp handshakes, the graceless requests for souvenir cuff links with the presidential seal. But at some of the smaller gatherings this year, Bush has freed himself from the photo line to circulate with an intensity his friends haven't seen before. An adviser who encountered Bush on one of these reconnaissance missions through the Red Room last week tells TIME, "He's listening a little more because he's looking for something new.
Democrats Test Themes for `06 and `08 -- (AP)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- To hear Democrats tell it, an anxious and isolated public craves a sense of national community and would galvanize behind a leader who asks people to sacrifice for the greater good. John Edwards says he's that leader....
Press caught telling truth again -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
In a remarkably candid admission, a UPI correspondent admitted that they have been less than vigilant regarding what insurgent/terrorist propaganda they send out: ...
Al-Reuters takes truth serum too -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
Jonah Goldberg, of National Review, who has a long history with the cheese-eating surrender monkeys, catches a moment of clarity at Al-Reuters:
Further Proof of Global Warming.... (pic)
The Brotherhood -- [A Female Soldier 2 - in Iraq]
I must announce that I have passed my board for sergeant and soon will be know as
SGT Grey Eagle
I need to address the issues of the comments. There are other websites that are devoted to and encourages you to conduct the war that is raged on both sides in the comments. While I know it is not intentional, your battles, while childishly entertaining at times, is driving away visitors to my website. A website that was created for the support of the soldiers, and to learn of life for me and Charlie Company in Iraq, not the debate on administration policy.
It's My First Blogaversary -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
WHOOOHOOO!
I put up my first post one year ago. It's been an interesting year for sure... but I sure am glad you have been along for the ride.
LTG is having a birthday! -- [Long Time Gone - in S Korea]
Yes, dear reader(s) this blog turns one year old today. It’s been interesting experience to say the least. LTG has not turned out to be exactly what I expected or hoped for perhaps, but then life is generally like that, isn’t it?
Home and ready to reflect. -- [The Makaha Surf Report - home from Iraq]
I've been back from Iraq for a little bit now and I have finally caught up on house issues, spent some quality time with the Missus, and had time to reflect on what my third tour in Iraq taught me. You see each time I go "over there" life teaches me a lesson that I think makes me a better human being. I learned two things this time in Iraq that I want to share.
Thank You!!! -- [A Long Strange Trip - home from Iraq]
Well, I am back in El Paso after my great reunion with my family. Hopefully I will be out of here again soon.
I want to thank EVERYONE of my family members who met me at the airport even if it was late at night and everyone took the time to go through security at MPLS and just to say hi to me! I also want to thank the family members who came over on Friday night to welcome me back. If I didn't get time to talk to you all that much I hope I at least got to chat for a little bit. Remember, Christmas time is almost here and I am certain I will see all of you at some point.
Back in Mississippi -- [Medicine Soldier - home from Iraq]
1010am CENTRAL TIME!!
I made it to Camp Shelby, MS late last night. I have minimal email access until we get set up, and we are going to try to get a PO Box. It is weird but good to be back.
(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.)
Failed War? -- [There and back again - in Iraq]
This is not, in my limited knowledge of this war, a failed war by any means. These media moguls, government “officials” and other experts have no clue about this war and what it is like on the ground. Until these people have actually looked into the face of an Iraqi when you stop thugs from robbing his home and see the gratitude, then they will understand that this is not a failed war. Also, where are the reports about all of the schools that have been opened since the fall of Saddam?
Is Iraq a traditional war? -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
Amidst my annoyance about Sen. Dean and his comments about whether or not Iraq could be won, my interest became piqued by a comment left by a reader that stated "It (iraq) can't be won....not in the traditional sense anyways."
Hmm, is Iraq a traditional war? Or is this War on Terror traditional? Furthermore, ...
BAPTISM OF BLOOD -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The historical elections are upon us. And again the Iraqis are showing their incredible courage. Candidates are being assassinated on daily basis. Even poster workers are being shot and targeted by the dozens. Car bombings and suicide bombings have become almost routine occurrences. Death and intimidation all over the place; but does that stop anybody? Not in the least.
Tell the diffrence? -- [Children's Voice from Iraq - an Iraqi in Iraq]
I think I explained enough for you the situation in Iraq and to make you understand easily , because I saw in some comments some people may be hidding or don't know yet what is going on here . what is the differnece between Saddam and Hitler ? Are not both of them killing their own people for no reason of course they created some reason for kill but this is fool to believe . Both of them were threatening other countries , neighbour and peace . However Hitler was treated by foreces and people , peace ...
I guess these don't count -- [Peace like a River]
In his TKS blog, Jim Geraghty records some of Rep. Murtha's recent comments. Among them is this one that caught my eye:
When I said we can't win a military victory, it's because the Iraqis have turned against us. They throw a hand grenade or a rocket into American forces and the people run into the crowd and they — nobody tells them where they are.
Hmm. Nobody tells American forces where the terrorists are?
The Story of a Car Bomb -- [An Average Iraqi - in Iraq]
Today a car bomb exploded at 14 St Ramadan. Which is a very busy street in Baghdad. This car bomb has a very interesting story, which might help you understand how those car bombs work. The car model was most likely a Toyota Corona 1981.
The car was hijacked from it's owner a day earlier. And they killed it's owner so he cannot report it stolen and set the police in search for it.
Friday, December 09, 2005 -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Time for some photoblogging, today it’s about election posters in Baghdad. Enjoy (pic)
The entrance to a tunnel, plenty of space that wasn’t utilized last time. What a waste! (pic)
Trivializing Saddam's trial -- [IraqPundit]
The New York Times reports that Saddam Hussein's trial has been adjourned until the 21st of the month, which makes it after Iraq's December 15 elections. One reason for the delay is Saddam's outbursts in court. Saddam once more succeeded in being in control.
A fatwa: “Sunnis, vote!” -- [No End but VictoryThe Times' reports that Saddam charged the event was "a theatrical play which they call a trial." The story continues:...
From Reuters comes word of a “get-out-the-vote fatwa:
Consider my words as a fatwa,” Sheikh Abdul Sattar Athaab told over 1,000 worshippers at the, where U.S. troops crushed a Sunni uprising in November 2004.
Raqeeb mosque in Falluja
“Those who disobey it will be held to account under Islam.
“First, you must participate in the elections. Second, you have to vote for a list which really represents the people.”
My mind, saturated as it is with Western culture, can only speculate on what being held under account under Islam might mean to this imam, and one he left no doubt (see below) which list “really represents the people.”Sheikg Athaab is on the Sunni side of the Dean/Pelosi/Murtha “civil war,” and this is great news.
Human Rights Violation -- [IBN_ALRAFIDAIN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...I believe that letting go of the Iraqis to meet human rights standards, will cause lot of chaos. Any Iraqi sectarian, political or religious party takes control of power oppresses its opponents. Later, the concept of opponents extends to include the whole people. For that, I'm totally convinced the international community must keep a close eye on the Iraqi government to protect the Iraqi people.
Life inside the Bradley -- [AJC photographer Curtis Compton]
Baghdad, Iraq — A narrow beam of light pierced the darkness, illuminating Spc. Robert Lloyd’s face.
Lloyd’s window on the war is a small sliver of bulletproof glass at the bottom of a periscope in the back of a 25-ton armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Photos from downtown Bayji. -- [An independent look at Iraq - Ind. journalist embedded in Iraq]
We went back in to the city's market area the day after the shootings. A group of us went on a dismounted patrol through the market area, a dense and nausiatingly smelly warren of shops selling just about anything you want... cigarettes, electronics, mobile phones, carpets, food, even fresh fish straight from the "pristine" Tigris River (those fish inspiried the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons).
I don't know why but I expected something to happen that day. I kept imagining a local screaming out "get the Gringos!" and all hell would break loose. Call it revenge or just the cylce of violence here but...
Shootings in Bayji -- [An independent look at Iraq - Ind. journalist embedded in Iraq]
None of it was supposed to happen. The guys weren’t supposed to stop a car, detain two men, and raid one of the men’s homes.
They weren’t supposed to shoot a man, raid a building on Tampa, then shoot another man on the way to another shop raid a couple of blocks away.
...The guy kept looking at his side and alternating looks between me and Lackey.
“Lay down… I got it… it’s just a flesh wound… just a nick, brother,” Lackey said. “Why’d you run?”
Why he ran was resolved just after that and the traffic stop showed just how pure luck plays a part in guerilla war. As Lackey bandaged the man’s side, one of the Psyop soldiers there with us said an AK-47 with two full magazines was found in the car the man ran away from. A round was chambered in the assault rifle. The three men and the car matched the description of men who shot and killed a business owner in the city's Gasoline Alley a couple of hours before, Lackey said later.
I Blame Bush -- [Electric Desert]
Curiouser & Curiouser - How The Afghans See Things
From the always excellent Curiouser & Curiouser, a recap of an ABC News report on a poll conducted in Afghanistan:
Yet despite these and other deprivations, 77 percent of Afghans say their country is headed in the right direction — compared with 30 percent in the vastly better-off United States.
No Word on Hostages as Deadline Passes -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Kidnappers holding four Westerners made no contact with Iraqi authorities on Saturday, the day they had set as a deadline to kill the Christian peace activists unless U.S. and Iraqi authorities release all prisoners, the interior ministry said. The ministry had received no information about the four Christian activists by late morning Saturday, a spokesman said. He asked that his name not be used due to the sensitivity of the situation.
N.C. Marine Barracks Helps Wounded Troops -- (AP)
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.- From the first day of boot camp, a Marine is part of a team, rarely serving or fighting alone. That ends when a Marine is severely injured in combat and rushed from the field for medical care. Those without family to care for them at home can find themselves alone with no place to go. "They don't even have uniforms," said Lt. Gen. James Amos, commander of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. "A lot of their stuff was left in Iraq or lost."
IRAQ: U.S. CONSIDERS REDUCING TROOPS AFTER ELECTION -- (AKI)
Washington, 9 Dec. - The US military looks set to reduce the number of troops stationed in Iraq following the parliamentary elections to be staged in the war-torn country next week. Around 23,000 troops whose tours were extended to boost security in the run-up to election day, will return home as planned, a Pentagon source said. However, two brigades, representing around 10,000 troops, due to head to Iraq from Kuwait and Kansas after the elections will now stay where they are.
Staying the course? -- (Khaleej Times)
IN A landmark speech before a most friendly audience at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis on November 30, President Bush repeated a familiar mantra. His pronouncements were crafty and political, yet
SDF mission in Iraq -- (Asahi News)
..Since we take the stand of opposing the GSDF dispatch, we insisted in our editorials that Japan must not take the wrong road. It was not only because Iraq was extremely unsafe, but also because sending our troops represented a dangerous move that could shake the foundation of Japan's post-World War II national policy of non-engagement in military action overseas.
Now THIS makes me Happy! -- [Miserable Donuts]
Hurrah!
I read this (thanks to the ever observant Barcepundit, Franco Aleman) and I couldn't help but cheer up. I would like to think that (at least in Parwan, Kapisa and Kabul) my unit's efforts had a little bit to do with this. But in the end, all I care about is that the people in Afghanistan are moving forward.
Pakistan to export electricity to Afghanistan -- (The News International)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will export electricity of 40 megawatt of electricity to war-ridden country Afghanistan. | Wapda has to this effect confirmed to government
US troop cut likely in Afghanistan -- (Al Jazeera)
The US is likely to cut the number of its troops in Afghanistan next year as a Nato-led force expands its presence to the volatile south of the country.
RAMADI TERRORIST BROUGHT IN
CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq —The number three terrorist on the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) High Value Individual list was detained Dec. 9 in the provincial capital of ar Ramadi.
New power cable helps bring reliable electricity to northern Baghdad
Baghdad, Iraq- Greatte residents in the northern Baghdad district of Adhamiyah will soon be the recipients of more reliable electricity, due in part to the installation of two and a half miles of underground power cable. The cable will connect two new substations, helping bring power to approximately 2,500 to 3,000 local homes.
BUSY DAY IN NORTH CENTRAL IRAQ
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi security forces and U.S. troops continued to make progress in the fight against terrorism in the north central region of Iraq.
Raids and patrols throughout the area resulted in 22 suspected terrorists being detained and the discovery of four weapons caches.
AFGHANS DELIVER BLANKETS, CLOTHES TO DISPLACED CITIZENS
KABUL, Afghanistan — On the surface, it appeared to be an act of good will and charity to a people who need it the most, during a season when it’s needed the most. But under the surface, much more was going on. The new government was taking vital first steps to assure its people that they will be there for them, an idea that has always been foreign here.
“Afghan people helping Afghan people is the theme,” said Army Lt. Col. Robert Roseman, of the Political Military Integration’s ministry engagement team.
China buying bodies to cover up killings -- [Riding Sun - in Japan]
I've blogged before about China's brutal repression of its own people. See here, here, or here for some choice examples. Of course, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics drawing near, China is now trying to present a cheery face to the world. But its latest outrage suggests that it still has a long way to go. The Associated Press reports:
PAKISTAN: CLAMPDOWN ON CLERICS FALTERS (AKI)
Karachi, 9 Dec. - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - Pakistan's federal government has decided to conduct a major operation against religious leaders who last year asked people not to say the funeral prayers of any soldier who died in fighting rebels in South Waziristan, along the Afghan border. However, there is tension in the capital Islamabad, where law enforcement agencies are on high alert to clamp down on influential clerics, but the fear of fierce retaliation...
Deployment Day +42: Prayers for Chad -- [Tales from the Front - Blue Star Wife - husband in Iraq]
It truly feels like a deployment for me and I feel like it definately does for him too. I need you to really be praying for Chad, not just his safety, but for his heart and his emotions. There's been a lot going on where he's at, and it's really bringing up memories of his friends who were killed there last yr when they were there. He's in the same area he was last year and that in itself is difficult for him, then add on that he lost 9 out of his company. The second group that died (it was 2 different groups..first time 4 were killed and the 2nd time 5 werek killed), anyways the 2nd group that died...Chad had called me because in the states it was still our daughter (who had died from leuekmia in 2000) it was her 7th birthday, he wanted to make sure I was ok, we'd never been apart for her birthday, and he was so worried about me (the man was in the middle of a war-torn country and he's worried about my emotional well-being). We talked for a while, remembering our precious and amazing daughter, then hung up. He was walking back to his barrack's room and he heard the explosion. He ran to find his Platoon leader, knowing that a group of our guys had just left to go out on a mission.
... and asked these men who knew these soldiers who'd just been killed to carry them off, and so they did. How they did it, I will never understand.
Last minute Operation Santa request from the sandbox -- [Marine Corps Moms]
We're wrapping up Operation Santa for this year - over 12,000 stocking mailed so far - but we just got the following request:
The problem is we have some units in Afghanistan and Iraq that will not receive their MWR dollars in time to plan a Christmas holiday for the troops.
Adam Standfuss - Project Valour-IT Recipient -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Came across this on the SA message board today, checked it out and then had to share it with all of you...
"A friend and I recently joined the DC area USO to allow us easy and frequent access to Walter Reed and the Molgone House (20 minutes from my home). Last night we volunteered at our first function - held in the WR Rec Center.
No More Baby Wipes! -- [The Patriette - Blue Star Wife - husband in Iraq]
As you think about what to send our troops this holiday season (and even into the new year), you might consider some of the suggestions from this article:
Al-Qaida in Iraq's "Distinguished Martyrs" Series -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Rather than allow us to squabble needlessly over the importance and origins of slain Al-Qaida terrorist operatives in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's media representatives have begun issuing "official" biographies of such men, featuring detailed personal narratives. The eulogized "martyrs" include the following: (English translations provided by Globalterroralert.com)
Cindy Sheehan Occupies London -- [Andi's World]
Reduced to a yawn here in the United States, "grieving" mother Cindy Sheehan has taken her show on the road and is now occupying the United Kingdom. On her way across the pond, the poor gal had to sit in (gasp) economy class.
Bush's approval rating rebounds slightly -- (China Daily)
US President Bush's improved standing with whites, men, Catholics and other core supporters has been a key factor in pushing his job approval rating up to 42 percent. That's the highest level since
Links to my official writing -- [Talking Salmons formerly Salmon News Service - in Iraq]
So what's a journalist without news articles, right?
I know many of you are just itching to see more of my name in print, I know I am.
To the right you will see a new section called "My Army Articles." Hopefully I'll be able to post pdf's of publications that carry my stuff from time to time.
While at Fort Knox, getting published was just a matter of writing the stories. I'd be in the paper there two or sometimes three times a week.
Friday, December 09, 2005 -- [thejman021's Xanga Site - home from Iraq]
A year… is just one year right? I’m finally home. As I sit and write this, I’m trying to formulate how to tell everyone who reads exactly how I feel. To be honest, I can’t exactly figure it out myself. I know I feel good. I know that I can finally relax, and try to get my life going again, but it’s almost like I’m waiting for something to happen. Everything I longed for while I was over there is finally within easy grasp. If I want to go see a real good quality movie (not a “hodgey copy” or bootlegged DVD) it’s just ten minutes away. If I want to hang out with a friend or two, it’s just a phone call away. Maybe I just haven’t fully adjusted.
Home -- [A Long Strange Trip - home from Iraq]
Well, for those of you who DON'T know, which would be no one but my family, I arrived in Minneapolis last night to the silly string and cheers of my family at the gate. Yes, I got out of Bliss on a pass, as the computers were still down, and I could not sit and wait for nothing any longer. I am on pass til Monday so I will fly back to El Paso Sunday, and probably spend 2 or 3 days and come back home.
With Bright Shining Faces -- [Wayne's World]
It’s hard to tell who’s most excited about Wayne’s return. One thing’s for sure, we all love Lauren Ritchie, Wayne’s fiancée who has stood the test of a year’s separation during his deployment. The couple is engaged to be married in June at Seaside, Florida.
(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.)
Pass the Word -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
General Abizaid (Commander, U. S. Central Command whose responsibilities include Iraq and Afghanistan) spoke to the Naval War College last week. The audience comprised primarily War College students who are mid-grade/senior military officers. The majority of these officers have served in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, so there was a real understanding of the dynamics of the region... BS would not sell to this audience.
Here is a short summary of General Abizaid's comments, from contemporaneous notes:
Defining Independence in Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
December 9, 2005: One of the most common criticisms, of the effort by the United States and coalition partners to train the Iraqi Army, has been the claim that, after two years of effort, only one Iraqi battalion is capable of independent operations. In this case, it depends on how one defines “independent” – and the critics have been using a very stringent definition of independent.
Iraq Facts: News For The Week Of December 5th -- [GOP Blog]
GRAY AREA -- [One Marine's View]
The scumbags on defiantly on their heels, IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and IDF (indirect fire) are picking up. I know what your saying if the bad guys on their heels how come attacks are picking up? Well because we are in their heads and every where else and they are being forced to fight. Much like, fish in a barrel. They can’t turn around without bumping into to an Army “jo” or Marine. What a world!
Terrorists Announce Murder of American Hostage Ronald Schulz -- [The Jawa Report]
Scroll down for updates.
Reports have begun circulating that Ronald Schulz has been murdered. The website used by The Islamic Army in Iraq, though, has not carried this message. Instead, it was posted at an Islamic bulletin board. It sometimes takes a few hours for these messages to become 'official'. We had earlier reported that the deadline had passed without word from the group.
Saddam III -- [Iraqi Bloggers Central]
This is the thread for the court proceedings today, Wednesday.
Look I know I said that for the judges to A.) be outrageously nice to Saddam and B.) let him get away with nonsense in court was a good thing ultimately, but this is too much.
What the Iraqi Bloggers Say:...
In Case You Missed It: The Iraq War -- [GOP Blog]
I suppose we could praise Lance Cpl. John Holmason for dying in the service of his country and leave it at that. We might honor [him] for laying down his life in the line of duty and tell ourselves we're supporting our troops without supporting the Iraq war. But I'm not sure that would do full justice to the life and death of ... [Holmason] who was one of 10 Marines killed in an ambush near Fallujah last Thursday.
Holmason, you see, "believed 100 percent in what he was fighting for," according to his stepmom, Paula Holmason. ...
[H]ow do you ask a man or woman to be the last man or woman to die for what you proclaim a "mistake" or even a "lie"? ... [h]ow do embrace the Democratic defeatism du jour and not tell the family of a dead soldier that their loved one has died in vain?
Wounded Marine Looks Toward Uncertain Future -- [Iraqi bounty hunter]
Medical personnel later explained to him that he had suffered shrapnel wounds to his right arm, and that the blast had blown out both of his eardrums.
Love was sent stateside to receive further medical care, and currently resides in Camp Lejeune’s Wounded Warrior Barracks. He is pending further medical review to determine whether he is to be medically discharged from the Corps.
...Love said he hopes to be given extra time to recover, and to one day be evaluated as fit for duty.
“I need to get better and get back to duty, but if I can’t be combat effective, I don’t want to hold my unit back.”
Straight Shootin' -- [BradleyGunner6-8Cav - in Iraq]
So, given all the people that have died in Iraq, whether it be a family in a car shot to pieces by US soldiers or people blown up by a suicide bomber - do you think it is worth it. (keep in mind the trauma these people have suffered since the occupation began)
I took this from Peter's latest comment, I only took part of it not because his comment was offensive or derisive, but because I believe that this is the important message within it.
Well, I said if you asked me a straight question I'd give you a straight answer. And this question has been a difficult one to answer. It's difficult because I truly believe that only time can give us the answer
Sunset over Mosul; looking down from yet another of Saddam's palaces. -- [Dan in the Desert - in Iraq]
Not enough time or sleep. I'm up in Mosul, northern Iraq, at FOB Courage. I am so far north, that you could practically call this place another country. (pic)
A side note about the photo above: The hotel on the left is supposedly where Nick Berg stayed just before local police detained him. This is not where he was kidnapped, but was the starting point of everything that went wrong. For more info about Nick Berg, click here.
Female Sailor making history in Iraq -- [Live in Iraq - in Iraq]
While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom here, one sailor temporarily put aside her duties as a religious program specialist to perform another job in Fallujah.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah Radel, 25, was among many female service members assigned to search Iraqi women and children entering the city. However, Radel, who is operating with II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), is the only RP to fulfill the duty for II MHG to date.
Iraqi Elections Only A Week Away -- [GOP Blog]
Next Thursday Iraqis will head to the polls for the third time this year in a brave signal of their commitment to democracy.
Show your support for American troops and freedom loving Iraqis by encouraging family and friends to ink their index fingers purple from December 12th to the 15th. Get all the details at Purple Finger For Freedom.
Tilil, Part 2 -- [Salemonz News Service - in Iraq]
...Surprisingly there were still people here. Single room houses appeared on hilltops every mile or so. With no plumbing, electricity, or water for miles, I could only wonder how families could live out here that produced the number of children that lined the street as we passed, begging for candy.
Unending folds of dirt, no developed land of any kind, and yet there were dozens of these kids, many without shoes, every few hundred feet. All out, hands touching their mouths in the sign for "food" as we rolled by.
Iraq war intelligence linked to coercion -- ( International Herald Tribune)...Douglas Jehl The New York Times
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration based a crucial prewar assertion about ties between Iraq and Al Qaeda on detailed statements made by a prisoner while in Egyptian custody who later said he had fabricated them to escape harsh treatment, according to current and former government officials.
Bid For Prewar Iraq Files Raises Political Heat -- (New York Times)...Scott Shane
Democrats pressed their demand on Thursday for White House documents on prewar intelligence on Iraq in the House Committee on International Relations, with one member only slightly outdoing his colleagues by repeatedly accusing President Bush and his top aides of lying about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
Costs of Iraq failure -- (Khaleej Times)
SINCE every turning point occurs in some finite time period, a key test of policymaking is when to schedule the seminal decisions. The debate over withdrawal from Iraq hinges on such a question.
Saudi Official: War in Iraq Sparked Terror (the Guardian/AP)
| WASHINGTON - The U.S.-led war in Iraq accelerated the spread of terrorism around the globe and reports of U.S. mistreatment of terror prisoners are troubling its allies, the new Saudi ambassado...
George Bush: 'Rebuilding Iraq has not always gone as well as we had hoped' -- (The Independent)
Throughout Iraq, we're seeing challenges common to young democracies. Corruption is a problem at both the national and local levels of the Iraqi government. We will not ...
Australia signals it will extend Iraq mission -- (China Daily)
Prime Minister John Howard indicated Australia would extend the deployment of its troops to Iraq to continue guarding Japanese military engineers operating in the south o...
U.S. Military Probing Video Of Road Violence --(Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Ellen Knickmeyer
British contractors appear to shoot at Iraqi civilians.
A silver Mercedes swings into the passing lane when a machine gun opens fire, sending the car smashing into a taxi, whose terrified occupants scatter. Moments later on the video, posted on the Internet and apparently recorded in Iraq, a white sedan is riddled with bullets as it accelerates on an open highway.
US Seeks To Hand Reconstruction Over To Iraqis -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Howard LaFranchi
First the White House outlined a strategy of building up Iraq's security forces as the ticket home for US troops. Now the US is promoting a parallel vision that calls for progressively turning over control of US-funded development projects, worth about $21 billion, to Iraqis.
And 90% of Them Hate Osama's Guts --- [The Jawa Report]
Somewhere, an ABC News executive is weeping quietly. UN flags at mainstream media headquarters are flying at half-staff, and an Apple falls in the Gray Lady's orchard (profit yes, prophet no). There is no joy in Leftville, for the numbers don't pan out.
And now, a few results from the recent ABC News poll taken in Afghanistan [emphasis added]:
The WWE [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Yesterday and today the WWE sent a few wrestlers over to visit the troops. Some big names like "The Big Show" and "Triple H" and some of the gals as well. Tomorrow MSNBC is going to do a live show here at BAF. If you want to see if you can catch a glimps of the Big Windy Family MSNBC will be doing the live feed around 2130hr eastern standard time. Here is a Link to the photos James took. Enjoy
I am back -- [Going Down Range - in Afghanistan
...I have been working with the Afghans and I have come to the conclusions that most have a complete different set of values. If something does not happen or goes to shit, it is not somebody’s fault or responsibility. It is “ishmal Allah” or God wills it. It is frustrating and I feel sorry for the interpreters who are stuck in the middle between a US soldier and the Afghan National Army, Police or Border Police.
Britain to fight drugs -- [Afghan Warrior- an Afghani in Afghanistan]
According to the BBC news, the British government will deploy several thousand soldiers and civilian advisers in order to fight the illegal drugs trade and smuggling in Afghanistan. In my opinion it is a great step to eradicate the drugs trade and traffickers and I am sure the British forces deployment will be very useful. Although Afghan anti-narcotics forces are fighting against the drugs smuggling, they do not have enough forces and equipment to defeat the drugs traffickers. Many Afghan people believe
The 'enemy central' province in Afghanistan -- (BBC News)
As the US military's battle to subdue the Taleban and other rebel groups in Afghanistan moves into its fifth year, one eastern province bordering Pakistan has increasingly become a symbol of its diffi... (photo: US Army file)
Afghanistan
Karzai Appoints 34 To Afghan Assembly -- (New York Times)...The New York Times
President Hamid Karzai has selected his 34 appointees for Parliament's upper house, the House of Elders, the country's election board announced Wednesday as it certified them for the seats.
Reassuring the Russians -- [Peace like a River]
Yesterday I mentioned that the US and Romania had reached an agreement on use of military bases near the Black Sea.
The Russians will certainly view this step eastwards with some nervousness. With the US already present in Central Asia, obviously in Afghanistan and Iraq, and now Eastern Europe, Russia will feel like it is being hemmed in.
So, unsurprisingly, ....
It's Truly a Multinational Mission -- [So Far From Home - in the Balkans]
Things have really been active around here lately. This past week we have been working with several other armies on a number of missions. Today we interacted with the French. Although the communication is a little more difficult, I’ve found that they are soldiers just like us that think of nothing more than completing the mission and getting home safe. In operating with these other nations I have learned that their deployments are not nearly as long as ours. The French, Germans and most other nations only deploy for 4 months at a time. I guess I just assumed they were all year long tours like ours. In any event it has been interesting working with them.
Airport -- [Desert Odessey - in Qatar]
Got to go see some culture last night, in the form of going to Doha International Airport. Believe it or not, it was the first time I saw the other side of the gate. I’m hoping to be able to go downtown at some point. Anyway—I went there to pick up a guy from his R&R mid-tour trip (guys that are here for a year get to go home about halfway through for a couple of weeks). As I was waiting for him in the arrivals area I got to take a good look at the local populace. They were exactly like what you’d see in the movies—long white or colored robes, head coverings, and sandals for the most part. Some of the women wore the complete traditional garb—covered from head to toe where all you could see was their eyes and their hands. As I was standing there, my first thoughts were how weird everyone looked. After a short time though, I looked at my outfit—grey t-shirt, khaki cargo pants and leather shoes.
So who really looked weird here?
And then some morons get off the plane. ...
"I Hate Communists!"; Remembering Lee Seung-bok -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
...However, things turned tragic when the communists asked the 7 year old Lee Seung-bok if he preferred North Korea or South Korea. The young boy said he liked South Korea. The commandos began to beat him, but he would not change his mind and before being killed he said the now famous line, "I hate Communists!" The North Korean commandos then proceeded to cut out the 10 year old boys mouth and then began to butcher the rest of the family after they tried to stop the killing of Lee Seung-bok.
BALKANS: PROTESTS AND CLASHES OVER GOTOVINA ARREST -- (AKI)
Zagreb, 9 Dec.- While most politicians and international officials welcomed the arrest of the Croatian General Ante Gotovina over war crimes carried out on Serb civilians, his supporters organised protests and clashed with police in several Croatian cities on Thursday night. Windows were also smashed in government buildings in Zagreb and eleven people were arrested.
Winds of War: December 08/2005 -- [Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Thursday's Winds of War briefings are given by Matt 'Colt' of Eurabian Times and Steve 'USMC_Vet' of The Word Unheard.
An Al Qaeda big fish threatens France -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Syrian Abu Musab Al-Siri, one of the main Al Qaeda operatives in Europe, was arrested on October 31 in Quetta, Pakistan. The man left a spiritual will in the form of a one-hour video recorded right after the attacks on London on July 7 and broadcasted on Islamist websites. The DST (French equivalent to the FBI) immediately translated the speech.
The Traveling Terrorist Training Camp System -- [Strategy Page]
December 9, 2005: Despite the loss of training camps in Afghanistan in late 2001, al Qaeda still manages to run a training program. While it has long (before 2001) used the Internet to distribute training manuals, there is still a need for hands- on training. This is especially true for explosives, and bomb making. By 2002, some of the training courses had been re-established in remote areas of Afghanistan, and just across the border in Pakistan.
Zarqawi's Anti-Election Pamphlets Hint at Growing Tensions with Mainstream Sunni Iraqis -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
I have obtained copies of pamphlets allegedly being distributed by Al-Qaida's Committee in Iraq--led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi--strenuously urging Iraqi Sunnis to abstain from participation in the upcoming national elections scheduled for December 15. The pamphlets reflect a surprising degree of hysteria on the part of Al-Qaida and growing bitterness towards moderate Sunnis that is not nearly as evident in Zarqawi's other recent publications and communiques.
How To Claim Nonexistent Victories and Get Away With It -- [Strategy Page]
December 9, 2005: As the terrorists have been losing battles on the ground in Iraq, they have tried to make up for it by increasing their attacks via the Internet. Here, they can create fictional victories and, to an extent, get away with it. So far this year, al Qaeda has increased the number of postings on the net (messages, audio and video files) from 145 in January, to 825 in November. A lot of the increase comes from newly formed, but not very lethal, terrorist groups making false claims
US General Says Bin Laden Is Alive -- (Washington Post)
... Karl Eikenberry said there is no reason to believe bin Laden was killed in the ... He also acknowledged that the US presence in Afghanistan is likely to be ...
Islamic Nations Vow To Battle Extremism -- (USA Today)...Unattributed [EDITOR'S NOTE : Unable to find link]
Top officials and ministers from more than 50 Muslim countries agreed Thursday to fight religious extremism by reforming textbooks, curbing clerics' edicts known as fatwas and cracking down on terror financing.
House, Senate strike deal on renewing anti-terrorism law -- (USA TODAY)
WASHINGTON — Republican House and Senate negotiators reached a tentative deal Thursday to extend the USA Patriot Act, the sweeping anti-terrorism law passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
US terror watchlist 80,000 names long -- (Yahoo News/AFP)
STOCKHOLM - A watchlist of possible terror suspects distributed by the US government to airlines for pre-flight checks is now 80,000 names long, a Swedish newspaper reported, citing European air industry sources.
TERRORISM: TORTURE IS AN INSTRUMENT OF TERROR, SAYS ANNAN -- (AKI)
New York, 9 Dec. - Torture can never be an instrument to fight terror because it is an instrument of terror, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said, in his annual Human Rights Day message. He decried the recent trend of countries claiming exceptions to the international prohibition against the practice and called for all states to honour the legally established ban on torture and to vigorously combat the impunity of those who perpetrate it
'Support' label a cynical stab at propaganda?? -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
According to Richard W. Dortch, a guest columnist for The Clarion Ledger, all those "Support Our Troops" signs, magnets and decals are really saying something else. What's the real subliminal message?
Operation Kids' Christmas -- [The Officers' Club]
Here are some shots of Vandenberg AFB's annual Operation Kids' Christmas. OKC brings in 200 needy children from around the Santa Barbara County area, and just treats them like royalty for the day. The children are bused onto base, escorted by security forces and Vandenberg's fire department (with sirens blazing and lights flashing).
...This is what separates our Armed Forces from every other military on the planet folks.
Will Lieberman Be the Next Secretary of Defense? -- [Stop the ACLU]
NY Daily News
WASHINGTON - White House officials are telling associates they expect Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to quit early next year, once a new government is formed in Iraq, sources said yesterday....
I hope the rumor isn’t true. I would hate to see Rummy go, but if he does…this really wouldn’t bother me that much. I rather like his idea for a War Cabinet, and the wife and I have agreed several times that he is the only democrat still in office that we have seen any common sense and sanity from.
The Smart Guys right in the thick of the oral arguments in the Supreme Court on Solomon amendment. -- [Radio Blogger]
HH: I am talking on each coast with the Smart Guys. John Eastman is a professor of law at Chapman University Law School, my colleague there. Erwin Chemerinsky is a professor of law at Duke University Law School. And I'm in the Rocky Mountains today, so I guess I'll go right first, and talk to you, John Eastman. It looks to me like the Supreme Court is going to strike down any attempt by law schools to interfere with the mandated recruitment opportunities for the military on their campuses. Do you agree with that analysis?
DNC Chair Howard Dean: US Troops "Don't Belong" -- [GOP Blog]
Democrat Leader Dean Forced To Defend US Won't Win In Iraq Statement:
DNC Chair Dean: "The Idea That The United States Is Going To Win The War In Iraq Is Just Plain Wrong." ("Dean Questions Commitment To Iraq Strategy," The Associated Press, 12/5/05)
Now Dean Defends That Comment By Saying: "It Was A Little Out Of Context." (CNN's "American Morning," 12/8/05)
Democrat Leader Dean Has Now Said It Was President Bush Who Said We Couldn't Win In Iraq:
Dean: "The President Has Said Himself We Couldn't Win The War." (CNN's "American Morning," 12/8/05)
President Bush Never Said We Couldn't Win And Has Laid Out Strategy For Victory:
'No Plans To Retire,' Rumsfeld Insists -- (New York Times)...Reuters
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the craftsman of the administration's Iraq war strategy, said Thursday that he had no plans to retire.
Rumsfeld Critics Fail To Show Up -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld arrived on Capitol Hill yesterday expecting to meet not only with Republican supporters of the Iraq war, but also with Democrats highly critical of his post-Saddam Hussein decisions. When Mr. Rumsfeld arrived with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace at the meeting place, the office of Rep. Jack Kingston, Georgia Republican, three invited Democrats did not show up.
Kerry Wants 100,000 Home From Iraq By '07 -- (Boston Globe)...Frank Eltman, Associated Press
The United States needs to reduce its forces in Iraq by ''at least 100,000" by the end of 2006, sending a message to the Middle East that Americans are not interested in maintaining a permanent military presence in that country, Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday.
EXCLUSIVE: GOP TO LAUNCH 'WHITE FLAG' DEM ATTACK -- [Drudge Report]
The DRUDGE REPORT has learned from a top GOP operative that the Republican National Committee will provide state parties with a web video prior to release tomorrow afternoon that shows a white flag waving over images of Democrat leaders making anti-war remarks.
The ad is in response to the controversial comments Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry made earlier in the week.
No Smearing Here! -- [They Call Us, "Doc" - recently returned from Iraq]
I would like to thank Mr. Greg Menza, from the Columbia Daily Herald, for taking the time to record some of my thoughts and recollections about our mission in Iraq. More importantly, I would like to praise him for not twisting and turning my comments into something that they were not! He did a great job in conveying my passion for the mission and you can check the whole thing out HERE
A True American Patriot And War Hero Speaks (Congressman Sam Johnson) -- [The Daley Times-Post]
"Mr. Speaker I rise today on behalf of the American men and women in uniform, and their families. I did spend 29 years in the Air Force, and I served in Korea and Vietnam, and spent seven years as a POW in Vietnam, and more than half of that in solitary confinement. I KNOW what it's like to be far from home - serving your country – risking your life – hearing that America DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU - as happened in Vietnam - your Congress doesn't care about you. Your Congress just cut all the funding for your war. They're packing up and going home, and leaving you here. When I was a POW, I was scared to death when our Congress talked about pulling the plug - that I would be left there forever. I know what it does to morale. I know what it does to the mission, and so help me God, I will never, ever let our nation make those mistakes again.
REPORT: On Iraq, Media Coverage Has Been Bias -- [Congressman Jack Kingston Blog] HT:Patrick Ruffini
Today I sent a letter to my GOP colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives highlighting the results of a recent study by the Media Research Center which found that over the past year, the media coverage in Iraq has been:...
Other Voices -- [Kevin Sites]
Confronting the 'clash of civilizations' mentality that prevents Arab and American understanding
After departing Iraq Nov. 29, I traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to attend a two-day conference of American and Arab journalists titled "Covering the Other: Intolerance and Bigotry in The American and Arab Media," sponsored by the nonprofit Aspen Institute.
three stooges, Jack Idema and the 8mm VideoX Al Qaeda Tapes -- [Cao's Blog]
For a little background on why this is so relevant–the hit pieces on Idema, namely, Operation Desert Fraud by Stacy Sullivan, Tin Soldier by Mariah Blake, mentioned Ed Artis and Knightsbridge International by name as one of their “sources”, who, in retrospect, is not even credible as this documentation clearly indicates. Blake writes:
“The media saw this outfitted, gregarious, apparently knowing guy, and they didn’t check him out,” says Ed Artis, chairman and founder of the humanitarian organization Knightsbridge International, who met Idema in Afghanistan in late 2001 and later tried to warn the government and media organizations that Idema was misrepresenting himself. “They ran story after story that furthered the cachet of a self-serving, self-aggrandizing criminal.”...
....The letter that follows was obtained from a confidential source.
While at first blush you might see a couple of defamatory statements, upon closer examination you will see this man is an honest and avid supporter of Jack Idema.
Welcome to the Corp WO1 Johnson -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Another happy day for BW!! Our very own SFC Johnson, Now WO1 Johnson has graduated the Warrant Officer Course at Ft. Rucker AL. Mr. Johnson everyone here at BW is very proud of you and all send their best to you and your family. Great Job!!!
Happy B-DAY!!! -- [Confessions of a Caffinated Zoomie - in Italy]
Happy B-Day to me,
I finally feel free
I like to play football
And my name is Zoomie
Recruitment -- [Long Time Gone - in S Korea]
...Well, the Army has met its recruitment targets for the past couple of months now. I am not sure this video had anything to do with that, but since someone emailed it to me I feel duty bound to share it.
(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.)
On patrol with the Raiders of Kilo Company in Haqlaniyah -- [ThreatWatch - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
The drive from Haditha Dam to Haglaniyah was fast and furious. The night starts with a ride in the back of an open 7 ton transport with a crew from Sky News and a team of Marines. The convoy roared down the roads at high speed during the night in blackout conditions, making turns a truck that large had no right making. The trip from the dam to Raider Nation, the foward position of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion,1st Marines, was low key save some interesting driving.
New Set of Wheels -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
During our last patrol through the shantytowns a young mother waited patiently outside the bustling throng of children hopping back and forth between our vehicles. I don’t remember seeing her arrive, she just suddenly appeared on the outskirts of the roiling flock of children. In that sea of motion she stood as still and resolute as a obsidian tower, her black burkha providing a mute contrast to the gaudy kaleidoscope of children’s clothing. She was clutching a toddler tightly to her chest, and I reflexively assumed she was trying to secure some candy for her child. I watched her for a moment and sensed ...
The Healers -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
As we made our way to the home through one of the narrow alleys in shantytown a middle aged man flagged us down. We walked over to his shack, and after the traditional greetings he politely asked if we could provide medical care for his son. I grabbed our two medics, SPC Hart and SPC Night, and we followed the father into the dim hovel. As we stepped inside we passed through a closet sized kitchen thick with the sickly sweet scent of burned meat before passing into a small room adorned with thick sleeping mats. Inside the room doubled over on the floor, was a little boy whose face was creased with pain.
Without saying a word SPC Hart and SPC Night dropped their medical bags and started sifting through their contents. As they carefully arranged the tools they would need to clean the boys burns, I marveled at their cool detachment. I marveled at their cool detachment. Although these men were barely out of their teens they suddenly seemed far older, as if they were wizened doppelgangers of the soldiers I had worked besides all these long months. It was the first time I caught a glimmer of just how much combat has aged all of us.
December 6, 2005 -- [While Away - in Iraq]
It seems there is concern for Mike and I as a result of the recent kidnappings. Let me lay your worries to rest. The Green Zone is a heavily guarded, gated community. We are generally either in one of two places - either in our living area or at work. The only time we could possibly be at risk is while traveling between the two areas. This consists of moving from one guarded area to another. The distance between the two areas? The width of a street. We leave one guarded entrance and enter another. This puts us at about..what...20 seconds of where the SLIM possibility is there? During which we are in full view of the guards and with each other.
Day in the life of a Soldier in Iraq. -- [Ask The Soldiers - in Iraq]
Could you please give us a "day in the life of a soldier in Iraq" post? Describe an average day for you? What time do you rise in the morning...eat breakfast...patrol, etc...until lights out? I'm really curious as to what life is like for the average HERO on a regular day in Iraq.
Susan
Gigotti78- An average day for a soldier? For me, it is more scheduled than others. I work a ten hour shift getting off at 2 o'clock in the morning. I work in an office processing soldiers leave, pay and what not. I work in Headquarters Company. Now as for our soldiers in the "Line" companies, they really dont have a schedule. I have had the opportunity to get out and go on some patrols. Patrols take place at any given time, whatever the mission calls. ...
From on High -- [All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front - in Iraq]
... usually dull, save when there's a firefight somewhere, then it becomes a pretty good ringside seat. Today was one of those days. In the process of sweeping a area we haven't check in a while for caches of insurgent munitions, somebody shot a rocket at an Able Company patrol. Not a great idea in any case, this time Haji missed entirely, and gave away his firing position too...
CREDO OF THE RETRO NCO -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
...Yet still the negativity and defeatism across the world for their brave endeavor has been steadily rising. Has love of country really become so passé? An outmoded idealism not even worth teaching American children, much less young Iraqi ones? Samuel Johnson called patriotism "the last refuge of a scoundrel," though perhaps in lieu of modern times it merely stands as the last vestige of a dying breed: that of the American retrosexual male.
A retro-American is a throwback to an earlier time when values were not subjective and the meaning of “is“ was never in question. The American NCO has always exemplified these archaic traits and hopefully will continue to pass the torch to generations of citizen-soldiers to follow. It is in this vein that I submit to you:
THE RETRO NCO CREDO...
Soldier Killed, Weapons Caches Found, Terror Suspects Arrested -- [Iraqi bounty hunter]
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2005-A Task Force Baghdad soldier was killed Dec. 4 when a patrol vehicle he was riding in struck a roadside bomb in east Baghdad, military officials reported today.
The soldier's name is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
In eastern Baghdad, insurgents launched five different roadside bomb attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces Dec. 4, but no U.S. servicemembers were injured in the attacks, officials reported today.
In other news, ...
Marine working dog saves handler's life -- [Live in Iraq - in Iraq]
...The wind stings your eyes as you try to focus on anything that looks like a hostile force in the distance, when suddenly your dog jerks you away from the truck just as you get shot in the right shoulder.
Later you find out your furry companion saved your life from a sniper who’s been trained to shoot American service members in the throat between their helmet and flak jacket.
Christian Science Monitor Article -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
I was directed to an article in the CSM which highlites some of the work that we are doing here. I have worked beside the Marines mentioned in the article and I must say, they are some of the brightest and bravest young men that America has to offer. Be proud that they are on the job! There is also a paragraph in the article about a special and very furry 110lb Marine.
Tilil, Part 1 -- [Salemonz News Service - in Iraq]
...The dark was lanced by thin beams of light from some cab lamps. The idling roar from the monster trucks was almost enough to cover over the crackling of gunfire that started up behind us.
...These guys had experienced attacks as part of their daily routine. Collectively, their unit had put in nearly 16,000 operational miles during their year. They were ready to put this place behind them -- at least for a few months, then they'll be right back for another go-round.
The gunfire continued for a few seconds. “They’re getting ready for ya,” one said to another.
"The Resistance" Plans To Bomb the Saddam Trial? -- [Iraqi Bloggers Central]
...Well, guess what? Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie says that The 1920 Revolution Brigades, a Sunni Arab insurgent group, planned to fire rockets at the court building during Monday's session. Saddam's Orphans are willing to kill anyone, even the murdering defendants or their attorneys in order to stop the Saddam trial.
...But the story goes on. Today, Saddam's attorneys (Ramsey Clark and Naji al-Nuaimi) threatened to quit if they were not allowed to make arguments that the trial itself was unfair. This is a typical lawyer tactic: if you have a client with no defense for his actions, you put the victims on trial (you say they were bad people and deserved it).
Day 321 - It's Bout Time -- [Wayne's World - Blue Star Mom - son in Iraq]
Four weeks ago, I received an unexpected email from Captain Danjel Bout, Company Commander of A Co, 1-184 IN, 3ID in Southern Baghdad.
Last week my company commander’s vehicle was destroyed by an IED, killing CPT Michael Mackinnon and injuring the two brave soldiers serving as driver and gunner. I can say without any shame that I loved CPT Mackinnon. He was a superb officer, a loving husband, and a concerned father and my friend. His loss was a terrible blow to A Company.
That blow was only magnified when our Battalion Commander, COL William Wood responded to the scene and was killed by another IED attack. I can't express how difficult it was to arrive on the scene and have to evacuate these two great men. It is something I have already sealed away in a locked corner of my soul....
Iraq Insurgents Escalate War Of Words On Cyber-Battlefield -- (USA Today)...Rick Jervis
Insurgents in Iraq have launched a publicity blitz. They increased the number of Web postings to 825 last month from 145 in January, according to the U.S. military. Most postings detail insurgent bombings or attacks on Iraqi and U.S. forces.
Bush Rules Out Ransom for Captives in Iraq -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Tuesday that the United States will work for the return of captive Americans in Iraq, but will not submit to terrorist tactics. "We, of course, don't pay ransom for any hostages," Bush said....
Marines Killed In Falluja Were At Promotion Ceremony -- (Reuters)
Ten U.S. Marines killed near the Iraqi city of Falluja last week had been at a promotion ceremony and were not on foot patrol as initially reported, the U.S. military said on Tuesday
Suicide Bombers Kill 36 Iraqi Officers At Baghdad Academy -- (New York Times)...Edward Wong
Powerful explosions from two suicide bombs ripped through the capital's main police academy on Tuesday, killing at least 36 police officers and wounding 72 other people, including an American contractor, according to an Interior Ministry official and the American military.
Abuse 'Widespread' In Iraqi Prisons -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Dan Murphy
A US military doctor says US troops intervene when they can, but Iraqis run the jails.
Trial Delayed As Saddam Refuses to Attend -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's trial was delayed Wednesday after the ousted president refused to attend the session, court officials said. Defense lawyers huddled with the judges in hopes of resolving the latest test of wills in the often-unruly trial. An angry Saddam threatened at the end of the Tuesday court session to boycott the next day's proceedings after complaining that he and the seven other co-defendants had been mistreated by the "unjust court."
Bush to Focus on Economic Progress in Iraq -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - In defense of his war policy, President Bush will highlight U.S. efforts to help Iraqis overhaul their economy and rebuild their shattered infrastructure - an endeavor continually undermined by unrelenting violence. Bush's speech Wednesday, will focus on economic progress in Iraq, was the second in a series of addresses to answer criticism and questions about U.S. presence in Iraq. The administration has cited increases in Iraq's gross domestic product, work to boost oil production, the creation of new businesses and an explosion of cell phones as evidence of economic progress.
The Replicators of Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
December 7, 2005: Afghanistan. The border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan – the “Northwest Frontier” of the British Raj – has been awash in weapons for centuries. Many of the weapons have been improvised. In fact, for several hundred years, many of the weapons used have been made in village workshops, laboriously hand-made copies of up-to-date Western equipment. Traditionally, village craftsmen secure a sample of a modern firearm and in short
Big Windy Items for Sale -- [BlackFive]
The folks from F Company, 159th Aviation Regiment, "Big Windy", are selling some really cool items to sponsor their return from Afghanistan party.
22 Militants Killed in Two Afghan Clashes -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Twenty-two suspected militants were killed in two clashes with Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces this week, including 13 in an attack on a cell that was believed responsible for several bombings in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said....
INDIA-AFGHANISTAN: TOURISM AGREEMENT SIGNED -- (AKI)
Kabul, 6 Dec. - India and Afghanistan have signed an agreement to promote cooperation in the field of tourism. The agreement focuses on encouraging simple procedures for people travelling between the two countries for tourism purposes and assisting each other in training their tourism officials.
Russia Provides Defenses Against Israel -- [Strategy Page]
December 6, 2005: The government continues to negotiate with Europe over the fate of the Iranian nuclear weapons program. The Iranian Islamic conservatives are determined to have nuclear weapons, and still believe they can work out a deal whereby Iran pretends to stop developing nukes, and gets restored access to high-tech imports from Europe.
Ministers Discuss Crisis Facing Muslims -- (AP)
JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- Representatives of Islamic countries met on Tuesday ahead of a two-day summit, with delegates saying the world's largest Islamic organization must reform to face new challenges....
Fiery Plane Crash in Iran Kills 115 People -- (AP)
TEHRAN, Iran - A military plane loaded with Iranian journalists crashed into a 10-story apartment building Tuesday as the pilot attempted an emergency landing after developing engine trouble. At least 115 people died, the Tehran police chief said. The C-130, a four-engine turboprop, crashed in the Azari suburb of Tehran, site of the Towhid apartment complex that is home to air force personnel and near Tehran's Mehrabad airport.
Egyptian Police Beat Women Voters -- (AP)
ZAQAZIQ, Egypt -- Police beat back women voters with sticks when they tried to enter a cordoned-off polling station in an opposition stronghold in the Nile Delta on Wednesday, the final day of Egypt's staggered legislative elections....
Russia hits back at US criticism of Iran arms deal -- (Reuters)
MOSCOW - Russia has every right to sell arms to Iran, its defense minister said on Wednesday, responding to mounting criticism of a $1 billion deal announced last week
Eritrea orders Western UN troops out: diplomats -- (Reuters)
ASMARA - Eritrea has ordered U.N. troops and civilians from Western countries to leave within 10 days, a move that will make the U.N.'s observation of its tense border with Ethiopia impossible, diplomats said on Wednesday.
Testicular Fortitude -- [From My Position... On the way! - home recovering from an IED attack]
You know, once upon a time, Iraq had a nuclear (or was it nuculear?) weapons program. Realizing that it was a threat to their own security, Israel (the Jooos) bombed the Bejesus out of it, destroying the Osiraq Facility. The Arab world flinched, and did not counterattack Israel. So much for brotherhood. Or was it something else, perhaps? Maybe everyone in the region was secretly relieved that his utter batshittines, Uncle Satan, was stripped of his atomic toys. I'm sure that the course of Iran/Iraq, Persian Gulf I and II would have been MUCH different had the Israelis not stood up for themselves and the rest of the world. That takes Balls.
Now it is clear that Iran is developing Both a weapons and non-weapon atomic program. Iran. With Nukes. I am not yet 33, (gimme a few weeks) but I still remember 444 days of terrorism in 1980-81.
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT: -- [Instapundit]
"Most Americans and a majority of people in Britain, France and South Korea say torturing terrorism suspects is justified at least in rare instances, according to AP-Ipsos polling. . . . In America, 61 percent of those surveyed agreed torture is justified at least on rare occasions. Almost nine in 10 in South Korea and just over half in France and Britain felt that way."
Al Qaeda Takes Another Hit in the Head -- [Strategy Page]
December 6, 2005: It is believed that, on December 1st, a CIA Predator UAV fired two Hellfire missiles that killed Abu Hamza Rabia, one of the top half dozen (sometimes called the “number 3 man”) al Qaeda leaders. Rabia was a key associate of al-Qaeda deputy Ayman al-Zarqawi, and had been responsible for two attempts on President Pervez Musharraf.
CIA caught acting like Intel agency -- [Blackfive]
I understand that torture is a touchy subject, but why does it make people so mind-numbingly stupid, and increasingly willing to cripple our ability to actually conduct covert operations anywhere? There is a part in my favorite Van Hagar video "Right Now" where a stick figure crouches behind one of two others who are talking. As the victim stick guy gets pushed over we read "Right now our government is doing things we think only other governments do". Well maybe if
Al-Zawahri Video: Attack Gulf Oil Plants -- (AP)
CAIRO, Egypt - In a full-length version of a tape previously broadcast, Al-Qaida's deputy leader called for attacks against Gulf oil facilities and urged insurgent groups in Iraq to unite to drive out American forces, according to a videotape posted on the Internet Wednesday. The posting was a full version of a video by al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri that was issued on Sept. 19, excerpts of which were broadcast by the Arab television network Al-Jazeera at the time. The network aired more excerpts Wednesday, originally presenting them as newly issued footage. A newscaster later told viewers the video was old.
Bin Laden still leading war on West: Zawahri video -- (Reuters)
DUBAI - Al Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri urged militants to attack oil targets in Muslim states and said Osama bin Laden was still leading its battle against the West.
Poll Finds Support For Use Of Torture In War On Terror -- (Washington Times)...Will Lester, Associated Press
Most Americans and a majority of people in Britain, France and South Korea say torturing terrorism suspects is justified at least on rare occasions, according to a poll conducted in the United States and eight U.S.-allied countries.
Rice Clarifies U.S. Interrogation Policy -- (AP)
KIEV, Ukraine - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought Wednesday to clarify U.S. policy on harsh interrogation methods, saying no U.S. personnel may use cruel or degrading practices at home or abroad. Rice's remarks followed confusion in the United States over whether CIA employees could use means otherwise off limits for U.S. personnel.
Ex-Professor Cleared on Some Terror Charges -- (AP)
TAMPA, Fla. - In a stinging defeat for federal prosecutors, a former Florida professor accused of helping lead a terrorist group that has carried out suicide bombings against Israel was acquitted on nearly half the charges against him Tuesday, and the jury deadlocked on the rest. The case against Sami Al-Arian, 47, had been seen as one of the biggest courtroom tests yet of the Patriot Act's expanded search-and-surveillance powers.
Al-Qaida's silent partner a mystery even after death -- (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- For a man reputedly at the forefront of al-Qaida's global terror operations -- with one finger in plots to target America and another in attempts t...
Hometown Heroes Now Larger Than Life -- [Andi's World - Blue Star Wife - husband in Iraq]
The Marine Corps has begun a campaign to honor hometown heroes by displaying them on billboards.
The program is aimed at generating awareness in the hometowns of servicemembers who have been recognized for heroic action, among their friends, families and local communities
Visiting a True Hero -- [Yikes]
Today, I visited the gravesite of Sgt. Michael Stokely of Georgia’s National Guard 48th BCT. As I posted earlier, finding out where he was buried and visiting his grave has been very, very high on my list of “Things I MUST Do.
...Finally, I was on my way to the cemetery. I had no trouble finding Sgt. Stokely’s grave, thanks to the directions given me by his father. I parked my car right by where the grave was located, collected my flowers, and stepped outside. The small cemetery was deserted, except for me. It was a chilly, overcast December day with a nippy breeze in the air. The ground was soft from an earlier rain. I was very thankful that the rain paused long enough for me to make this little pilgrimage. I walked to his grave, and (placing a Wal-Mart bag on the ground to keep from getting wet & muddy) knelt beside the still-new grave. There were several small American flags on and around his grave, together with faded bunches of flowers left by others before me.
...Then, I just knelt there, took off my glasses, and let my tears fall. I have no idea how long I knelt there and cried, but it was a bit of a while. As the tears streamed down my face, I thought first and foremost of young Sgt. Stokely, and his family. I thought of the sacrifice he had made for our country, the ultimate sacrifice… and the sacrifice of his wonderful family. Then, my thoughts turned to my own dear “adopted” 48th BCT solider, who, over the course of the past few months, has become very much like family to us…
Wounded Warriors -- [Sgt Hook]
This is an update to an earlier post regarding the Soldier who received a horrid card while he is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from wounds obtained in combat. I recieved a comment to my original post from someone trying to pick a fight and while I’m working on my response to “ricland”, it occurred to me that we ought to focus on the most important issue- our wounded warriors.
I had asked that we each send a card or letter to Joshua Sparling in an attempt to show our appreciation for his service to our nation, and then began to wonder how we could do the same for the rest of the troops at Walter Reed given the restrictions on sending mail to “any soldier.”
Ultimate New Year's Carepackage and Other Fun Stuff -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Some carepackage ideas thought up by angels in the Soldiers Angels program.
The New Year's Carepackage:
- Two plastic champaigne glasses filled with fortune cookies
- A current copy of "What Color is Your Parachute" (a career/assesment guide for the future) or a copy of "How to Win Friends and Influence People")
- Jump rope for good health
- A fortune teller ball from the toystore that looks like a mini bowling ball. You ask it a Yes or NO question, shake it and get the answer in a window located on the ball
Talking With Heroes Talk Show Schedule -- [Talking With Heroes.com]
December 11, 2005
Host
-Bob Calvert, Founder of YoungHeroes.US
Editor of Walking with Heroes Book One
Guests
-Sgt Adam Forman, Former NCOIC at Guantanamo Bay
First Chapter in Walking with Heroes Book One
Director, Federal Programs, Cross Match Technologies Inc.
-Patti Bader, Founder of Soldiers' Angels
-Debby Frerichs, Central Region Director of Soldiers' Angels
-Dave Krueger, President - World Prep, Inc.
A Blue Day for CodePink -- [Smash]
SUNDAY was another perfect day here in San Diego. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and across the street from Balboa Naval Hospital, a handful of anti-war protestors were preparing to rally under the banner of CodePink.
License to Kill Revoked -- [Stategy Page]
December 7, 2005: Apparently the U.S. Navy SEALs have lost their blanket license to kill. In a recently issued navy document, it was announced that, "Under no circumstances shall any Department of the Navy personnel condone, support, encourage, engage in, or conspire to engage in the assassination of a specific individual or individuals." There was no other
A Nice Surprise -- [Andi's World]
Becky Davis, a blue-star mom three times over, was witness to something special this past Friday when she went to the Bangor, Maine airport to welcome troops home from Iraq. Two soldiers, upon touching U.S. soil, reenlisted.
John Kerry: American Soldiers Terrorize Iraqi Children (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
...And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the–of–the historical customs, religious customs. Whether you like it or not…
Ok, Howard, Enough Already -- [Ma Deuce Gunner - currently on R&R from Iraq]
Howard Dean has really gotten out of hand. Seriously. If he has a leash and a muzzle, will someone courageous at the DNC (is that possible) put it back on him??
"Bring the 80,000 National Guard and Reserve troops home immediately. They don't belong in a conflict like this anyway."
Having been an Army Reservist and a current National Guardsman, he insults me and every citizen soldier who has or is wearing the uniform. He does not understand the structure of the United States Armed Forces and how our force works. Furthermore, ...
Contrast the difference -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
-Calling President Bush’s plan in Iraq a ‘failed strategy,’ Dean said he and most Democrats support bringing home an estimated 80,000 National Guard and reserve troops within the next six months. ...
-I know we’re going to win,” Bush told reporters at the White House. “Our troops need to hear not only are they supported, but that we have got a strategy that will win.”
Failed War? -- [There and Back Again - in Iraq]
I was perusing the news the other night when I noticed that everyone was talking about the “failed war” in Iraq. It got me thinking about all the time I have spent over here and the missions I have been on and it really started to piss me off.
...Now what really gets me seeing red is the impression that the soldiers are failing in their execution of the mission. From where I am sitting, the soldiers put everything on the line day in, day out. Do they want to be here? No and I cannot blame them because it is hard to be away from family for a year or more. But the soldiers perform their jobs above and beyond the call of duty everyday. The media seems to jump all over a story when a soldier screws up,
Can you trust a general's advice? -- [MREater - recently returned from Iraq]
I saw that President Bush recently affirmed that he intends to stay in Iraq, and that he will listen to his generals and follow their advice about when and how to draw down and eventually exit.
This seems reasonable, but I’m not so sure it is. Staying or leaving is a political decision, not a military one. Generals don’t decide national policy, politicians do.
Deep Thoughts, By Liberals -- [Open Fire]
American Military or Saddam? Which is more evil? Apparently they are about the same according to Ted Turner, a well renowned guru of history and international politics. Ted said that Iraq is "no better off" now that Saddam is gone.
Comments by Mr. Dean -- [They Call Us, "Doc" - recently returned home from Iraq]
I am telling you HERE and NOW that there IS progress being made in Iraq. I have seen it with MY OWN EYES and have even been a part of the training of the Iraqi Army troops. NO ONE can tell me otherwise. NO ONE. We started with a huge number of troops that relied on us for EVERYTHING, and by the time we left, the Iraqi Army battalion that we partnered with and trained was executing battalion-sized missions on their own.
We're from the government, and ... [The Makaha Surf Report - in Iraq]
we're here to help you, all 8,000 of us. Am I the only person that finds 8,000 bureaucrats meeting in Montreal funny? There are 8,000 of them wasting God knows how much energy, telling us that the U.S. is the only problem enviromentally.
Howard Dean, meet Thomas Paine -- [One Hand Clapping - Donald Sensing - Blue Star Dad - son in Iraq]
Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean on Iraq: “The idea that we are going to win this war is an idea that unfortunately is just plain wrong.”
How might American pre-Revolution pamphleteer Thomas Paine have responded?
What a Disgrace -- [Andi's World]
Wanna-be Commander-in-Chief shows his true colors by yucking it up while holding Code Pink gear.
Bush’s Pushback, Bush Strategic Error: “That’s when we pivoted” -- [Austin Bay]
I don’t quite buy the “senior” White House official’s explanation, as quoted by Fred Barnes in The Weekly Standard.
...As a tactical explanation what Fred reports works fine. However, it masks a lingering strategic error that risks undermining America’s strategic successes in the War on Terror. The Bush White House failed to sustain the “reservoir of (American) willingness” 9/11 created. In retrospect several of the advisers in SecDef Rumsfeld’s and VP Cheney’s cadre simply lacked the authentic poetic, expressive and emotional communication skills fighting and winning a long, difficult war requires. I’ll point out Paul Wolfowitz and Doug Feith. We know George W. Bush is a weak public speaker, but he does communicate viscerally — the man shows spine. He needed subordinates who could cover his shortcomings.
They fight and they vote. -- (Washington Post)
Voter participation among members of the U.S. military reached an all-time high in 2004, reflecting a streamlined absentee balloting process and increased outreach efforts, Defense Department officials said.
Nearly 80 percent of people in the uniformed armed services voted or attempted to vote in the last presidential election, according to a survey by the Federal Voting Assistance Program, which is supervised by the Pentagon. The 2004 participation rate reflected an increase of 10 percentage points from 2000 and was far higher than last year’s rate for the general public, which was 64 percent.
Republican wins US House seat in California -- (Reuters)
LOS ANGELES - Republican favorite John Campbell won the race for a congressional seat in one of California's most conservative districts on Tuesday, capping a special election watched nationwide for its bitter debate over illegal immigration.
Blunt leaves opening for leadership race -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - A Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday said he would not stand in the way of elections for a new majority leader early next year if Rep. Tom DeLay's legal troubles were still brewing then...
Dean Doubts U.S. Win In Iraq -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough and Donald Lambro
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has declared it "plain wrong" to think of achieving victory in Iraq, prompting President Bush, and some fellow Democrats, to flatly disagree.
'Do Some Soul Searching' -- [OPINION JOURNAL - BY DONALD RUMSFELD
Why aren't the media telling the whole story about Iraq?
Wednesday, December 7, 2005 12:01 a.m. EST
(Editor's note: Mr. Rumsfeld delivered this speech Monday at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.)
I'm not one to put much faith in opinion polls. But the other day, I came across an interesting set of statistics that I want to mention. It seems that the Pew Research Center asked opinion leaders in the United States their views of the prospects for a stable democracy in Iraq.
Time Magazine - The View From the Front Lines -- [Some Soldier's Mom - mother of son recovery from IED attack]
In the seven full months that Noah was in Iraq we had many telephone and IM conversations, and of course, we spoke about his experiences while he was home on leave and a little since he was wounded. Some of the things he has mentioned raised the hair on the back of my neck, while some worried me, some made me sad. He didn't particularly want to discuss the every day happenings. He (and our other Guys) say, "it's not so bad lately" or "nah, not bad, mom" even when there are reports on the news about heavy activity in their AO. We (the parents) just accept that there are some things they can't talk about and some things they aren't inclined to talk about. Can't. Won't. They often say, "You don't wanna know, Ma." (Well, yes, I do... but that's a whole 'nother story.)
...The article also talks about the attack on August 23 in which Noah was injured...
Joining The Pro-War Team -- [Open Fire]
Former anti-war American author, Kurt Vonnegut, is now pro-war. You don't see that happen every day, do ya? However, there is one catch. He is a cheerleader for the other team. That is, he praises the Islamic suicide bombers as "very brave people". Sure, strapping bombs to your body and blowing up people in a shopping mall is indeed brave.
ONE of the greatest living US writers has praised terrorists as "very brave people" and used drug culture slang to describe the "amazing high" suicide bombers must feel before blowing themselves up.
Unintentional Irony -- [Neptunus Lex]
Clarence Page, writing in the Chicago Times (registration required) headlines the latest bogus scandal-of-week thus: “When press is paid to lie, the truth always comes out”
Hard to disagree with that sentiment, except of course that the story he’s referring to is the one broken by the LA Times last week, in which it was revealed that the US military was paying the free Iraqi press to run truthful stories that had admittedly pro-government, pro-US slants.
Information A Vital Weapon -- (USA Today)...J. Michael Waller
...Americans will lose the war in Iraq — and the global "battle for hearts and minds" — if their military, diplomatic and intelligence services don't become more creative than the enemy is about influencing how people think in the Arab world. That's why the Pentagon's foreign influence activity is so vital to winning in Iraq. It's a fundamental part of supporting the troops.
Propaganda Warfare -- (Washington Times)...Cal Thomas
...President Bush and the military leadership have said this will be a long war without an obvious conclusion. But the conclusion will be obvious if the American left wins its own propaganda war, encouraging our enemies to fight on by causing a precipitate withdrawal before Iraq is self-sufficient.
Courage In Their Coverage -- (Washington Post)...David Ignatius
Talking with brave Arab journalists such as Hussein Shobokshi, I hear the passion that animates good reporting everywhere. And it makes me all the more disgusted by recent revelations that my own government has been corrupting the nascent Iraqi free press by planting stories.
Spreading The News -- (Washington Times)...Helle Dale
Yesterday, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld went on the offensive against media criticism of the Pentagon's use of an independent contractor to place positive articles in the Iraqi press.
The Liberal Night Before Christmas -- [The Gunn Nutt]
FreeRepublic post by Jessica24
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land,
Not a creature was celebrating, just as the liberals had planned.
The war had been waged with consummate glee,
And they had finally vanquished the foul bourgeoisie.
They were now out of power, but oh those libs had a vision-
A secular state guised as multiculturalism.
And they knew that in order to accomplish this heist,
First and foremost they must get rid of Christ!
The first line of attack had been at the greeting,
Now no one could say it except at a prayer meeting.
“Down with this imperial “Merry Christmas” phrase!
From now on, be PC- Say “Happy Holidays.”
Phase II of the flight physical today. In the room alone with the doctor, the stethoscope and the tube of cold jelly.
SO - [Neptunus Lex]
Oh, the indignity!
So many things get better in the Navy, as one grows more senior. Your jokes get funnier. You get a nice parking place. Everyone calls you “sir,” and very often they appear to mean it. Which is a tremendous improvement from ensign days, let me tell you. People tend to be nicer in general, even solicitious at times: “Would you care for the VIP room, Captain?”
Introducing Annabelle Lea -- [Two Blue Lines - Blue Star Wife - new grandpa in Iraq]
Annabelle Lea was born at 1:58 pm on Sunday, December 4th, 2005. She weighed 7 lbs and 6 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long and mother and baby are doing fine! I have posted pics below. Wow! I am a Nana! Jenny's husband was wonderfully attentive and supportive during the whole process. Jenny is thrilled and you can tell by her face that she is very excited by her new arrival. This is the best early Christmas present ever!
War News Radio -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
I recently was interviewed by Reuben Heyman-Kantor for "War News Radio" -- a project of Swarthmore College. It is a series of stories and interviews on the War in Iraq conducted by Swarthmore students and broadcast via internet podcasts. According to their site, "War News Radio fills the gaps in the media's coverage of the war in Iraq by airing new voices and perspectives, both personal and historical, in a balanced and in-depth manner."
(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.
WALK TALL AMERICA -[One Marine's View -in Iraq]
At 0753 Dec 7th, six Japanese carriers launched 181 of torpedo, bomber planes and fighters towards the island of Oahu. Airfields on the lee ward side of the island were attacked first as the large number of planes which were mistaken by operators of the new device called the radar as a flock of birds and a transport plane scheduled to arrive at that time. The Japanese plans swooped though a cut in the mountains to attack the unsuspected military bases. The fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor was nearly destroyed as miniature submarines initiated the attack within the harbor...
On the Euphrates --[Threats Watch - Bill Roggio -in Iraq]
HADITHA DAM, IRAQ: The company of Marines known as the Dam Security Unit are a unique bunch. The DSU is a one of a kind unit in the Marine Corps. They are primarily made of of reservists, almost 90% of them. And they come from units across the county; Texas, Florida, Virginia, Indiana and Mississippi. Naturally there were some snags in the beginning while integrating the disparate units, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them operate.
CREDO OF THE RETRO NCO - [American Citizen Soldier]
Noncoms were nonexistent in the Saddam's army, and for good reason. They would have posed a threat to the absolute authority and privilege of the officer class; they would have professionalized and organized the Iraqi Army to modern standards; and they would have eventually led the charge as they turned against their slavemasters. It is thus essential for the new Iraqi Army to be given time to develop properly, and be trained to an acceptable standard for a fledgling force to defend not only it’s country, but also itself as a stable and enduring institution.
The trial of our time… - [Iraq the Model - Iraqi in Iraq]
This is how some local media chose to describe Saddam’s trial.
Today the trial witnessed many changes for the Iraqi viewer. There has been a lot of action that wiped off the memories of previous sessions that were pretty much boring; today we have seen the trial get into the real work discussing facts, evidence and witnesses and this of course pinned the viewers in front of the TV.
It was eight of us following the trial. Talking in whispers and shutting up anyone who wanted to speak with a sign from the hand.
It just hit me I am going to miss Christmas - [My Vacation In Iraq - in Iraq]
Okay, I knew I was going to miss Christmas, but it didn't really hit me until I was reading a Christmas card from my mom and dad today, that this is going to be the first Christmas that I won't spend with my family. That pretty much sucks. I have always spent the night for Christmas Eve at my parent's and opened presents with everyone Christmas morning.
CHRISTMAS IF YOU CAN KEEP IT - [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum]
The words drifted across the frozen battlefield: 'Stille Nacht. Heilige Nacht. Alles Schlaft, einsam wacht'. To the ears of the British troops peering over their trench, the lyrics may have been unfamiliar but the haunting tune was unmistakable. After the last note a lone German infantryman appeared holding a small tree glowing with light. 'Merry Christmas. We not shoot, you not shoot.' It was just after dawn on a bitingly cold Christmas Day in 1914, 90 years ago on Saturday, and one of the most extraordinary incidents of the Great War was about to unfold.
I'm Back! - [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
Elections here in Iraq are coming and with that is the usual flurry of activity and preparation. Unlike a lot of other bloggers I realize that Haji reads these things and I am not giving away anything he can use against us. While I can't go into specifics I can state that if Haji tries anything he may get punched in the nose.
Serves ‘Em Right -[A Soldier's Perspective]
A friend of mine, Jason, is currently deployed to Iraq from Fort Irwin and I was told the funniest story I’ve heard in awhile. Well, funny to someone like me who absolutely despises terrrorists.
One of Jason’s soldiers was flying a UAV and Jason was in his office watching the feed from the aircraft. They came across a house and saw lots of bomb and weapon making materials in the back yard. Jason and his soldier recognized this house as one that they have dealt with before for having bomb making things and have arrested some of the residents before. So Jason contacted the Colonel and he came over to see for himself what was going on. Well, Jim (the colonel) decides to send a patrol to deal with the situation...
Progress in Iraq - [Austin Bay blog]
Via realclearpolitics, an essay by Peter Brookes titled “Gaining Ground: Clear Progress in Iraq.”
Brooke’s targets the “cut and run crowd” (his term) — and he nails them.
Fearful witnesses testify against defiant Saddam -[Reuters]
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The first woman to testify in the trial of Saddam Hussein broke down in tears on Tuesday as, in fear of her life, she testified behind a curtain about how she was tortured by Iraqi prison guards and jailed in Abu Ghraib.
Bombing at Baghdad Police Academy Kills 43 -[AP]
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Two suicide bombers struck Baghdad's police academy Tuesday, killing at least 43 people and wounding 73 more, U.S. officials said, while Al-Jazeera broadcast an insurgent video claiming to have kidnapped a U.S. security consultant. The suicide attackers were wearing explosives-laden vests and a U.S. contractor was among those wounded, a U.S. military statement said.
Bush Rules Out Ransom for Captives in Iraq-[AP]
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said Tuesday that the United States will work for the return of captive Americans in Iraq, but will not submit to terrorist tactics. "We, of course, don't pay ransom for any hostages," Bush said. Bush spoke on the same day that Al-Jazeera broadcast a video claiming insurgents kidnapped a U.S. security consultant, and the militants displayed a blond, Western-looking man sitting with his hands tied behind his back.
Motorcycle stops suicide bomber -[Riding Sun]
The Seattle Times reports:
An attacker blew himself up in a failed assault on coalition forces Sunday in volatile southern Afghanistan...
The attempted attack against the coalition forces occurred after their convoy passed through the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Yousuf Stanekzai said the explosives detonated when the attacker was hit by a motorcycle...
Iraqi democracy spreads to ... Jordan? -[TigerHawk]
Sabbah (who is a Palestinian Jordanian living in Bahrain) asks "In Amman, Jordan? Why God?" That is the question, isn't it? Electioneering, after all, is not exactly an ordinary sight in a monarchy. May I hazard to guess, though, that there are a great many Iraqis who have moved to Jordan, at least temporarily, to avoid the violence in the Sunni triangle. I believe that most -- if not all -- are eligible to vote on December 15, so these men are doing what comes naturally to any Western election campaign: campaigning among the expats.
Up to 120 dead as plane hits Tehran building -[Reuters]
TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian military plane carrying at least 94 people crashed into a Tehran apartment block and exploded on Tuesday, killing all those on board and several others on the ground, police and witnesses said.
Israel launches clampdown in W. Bank after bombing -[Reuters]
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel launched a military clampdown in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday in the opening stages of what it vowed would be a harsh response to a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed five Israelis.
German Man Claims U.S. Tortured Him -[AP]
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A German man filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming he was held captive and tortured by U.S. government agents after being mistakenly identified as an associate of the Sept. 11 hijackers.
Iran Plans to Build Two More Reactors -[Washington Post]
ISTANBUL, Dec. 5 -- Iran plans to build two nuclear power plants in addition to the reactor expected to go online next year, officials and government news services said Monday.
The announcement, emphasizing the country's long-standing claim that its nuclear program is meant only for generating electricity, signaled the government's determination to proceed with a program that skeptics say might also produce atomic weapons.
Proposed New EU Anti-Terrorism Strategy Likely to be Controversial -[The Counterterrorism Blog]
EU Ministers of Justice met in Brussels November 30 – December 1 to finalize a new, beefed-up, counter terrorism strategy. The document is as much a show piece as it is a reflection of the EU’s enhanced concern with terrorism.
Enough Of This Nonsense -[Maxed Out Mama]
So, I read that the 9-11 Commission issued its final report, which was highly critical of the government's efforts to strengthen security against terrorism. I cannot take this seriously unless the 9-11 Commission is prepared to take the Able Danger reports seriously, and I think the 9-11 Commission members should be held to account for ignoring it.
FALLACI! "You are Warriors" -[The Cotillion]
I went to see Oriana Fallaci this evening in what will most likely be her last speech. She is dying from cancer. No photos allowed. And while she could not have been more then 85 lbs, she railed away at Radical Islamofascim, the treasonous left and the impotent right as if she was taking on Goliath.
Oriana Fallaci - author of the powerful; Man and Letter to a Child Never Born has a fatwa calling for her death andis being sued by the Muslim Union of Italy for her book The Force of Reason. Consequently an Italian judge ordered her to stand trial in Bergamo on charges of "defaming Islam."
US may make mistakes in 'war on terror': Rice -[Reuters]
BERLIN (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a rare concession to U.S. critics, acknowledged on Tuesday that Washington may make mistakes in its battle against terrorism and promised to put them right if they happened.
9/11 Panel Issues Poor Grades for Handling of Terror -[NY Times]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 - The members of the Sept. 11 commission gave dismal grades to the Bush administration and Congress on Monday in measuring the government's recent efforts to prevent terrorist attacks on American soil, concluding that the government deserved many more F's and D's than A's.
Tune in Today, at 1300 Eastern -[Soldiers Angels New York]
Just a reminder to tune in today:
Attention Fellow Veterans and family members of those that are now voluntarily serving, and the citizen of the United States of America who are enjoying today's freedom:
A worldwide Internet Radio station
stardustradio.com
presents:
Welcome to VFVC on the air live! / Operation Firing for Effect and Project America Foundation...
Can You Knit? Mittens for Wounded Soldiers Needed for Medevac Flights Back to the US -[Soldiers Angels Germany]
Medevac flights are long, uncomfortable, and cold.
Soldiers Angels has just received this message from Landstuhl Hospital in Germany (soldiers are sent from Combat Support Hospitals to Landstuhl and then flown back to the states):
“The mittens are mostly for men so large and extra large are the best. Cheap is good, not leather or waterproof. They are just to keep hands warm during the flight...
The Other Side of Heroism -[Andi's World]
Although deployment hurts, when I read things like this, it really makes me appreciate my circumstances.
WHEN Warrant Officer David Nary of the elite Special Air Service was killed in the Middle East no one felt the pain or loss more than his widow, Naomi, and family in Sydney.
For Naomi Nary, 39, the dedicated career soldier was husband, best friend and family protector.
With his death, she became an army widow for the second time...
On Polls, Presidents and Passions -[America's Son - In Iraq]
I have never been a big fan of polls. Polls are a mechanism used by politicians to cater to the majority and used by the media to influence the mindless. "Polls show 32% of American's agree with the President's handeling of the War on Terror...down sharply from 80% a year ago." Well folks, let me tell you something...being a President and a leader is not a popularity contest!
DeLay Update - [Balloon Juice]
One of DeLay’s indictments has been dismissed:
...senior district judge today dismissed one felony indictment but upheld another against U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, dashing DeLay’s hopes for a speedy resolution to his case...
Our Governess in Action… -[Mostly Cajun]
This article gives an inside look at the shenanigans going on around our (useless) Governor Blanco during the first few days following Hurricane Katrina. Reading these excerpts, you see the inside workings of a political spin machine as they try to make Governess Blanco look useful and intelligent, traits which apparently are foreign to her under the huge pressure of having your largest city become a disaster area.
Check Six Trooper! -[ROFASix]
(Pic)
The Butcher over at Sacred Cow Burgers offers this image and a blistering commentary on how some folks "support the troops." Not sure which hits harder, this graphic or his blog post...
Hillary in a hissy fit - [MVRWC]
Today, Sen. Hillary Clinton, (D-NY), on the 2008 campaign trail, was acting like a conservative, when some of the college and high school students burst into chants of “Troops out now!” What’s hilarious is, since Hillary is acting like a conservative, she can’t agree with them, and since she isn’t really a conservative, she can’t tell them to shove it!
The thing is, the shrill way she does handle it was so un-Reagan-like that it’s pretty much destroyed her election hope...
Rockefeller's Treachery -[Camp Katrina]
It's not often that I'll refer Katrina Campers to Canadian publications, but a recent guest column from author Joan Swirsky on Canada Free Press deserves more than a passing glance. In it, she thoroughly details the treachery of one of our country's own senators...
DeLay Could Face Trial Early Next Year -[AP]
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Rep. Tom DeLay could face a trial early next year now that a judge has refused to throw out money-laundering allegations against the former House majority leader.
Dean Questions Commitment to Iraq Strategy -[AP]
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Chairman Howard Dean on Monday likened the war in Iraq to Vietnam and said, "The idea that the United States is going to win the war in Iraq is just plain wrong," comments that drew immediate fire from Republicans.
Scandal-Mongers in Drag -[Media Blog]
Ralph Peters takes stock of the "citizens of the world":
In place of the old healthy skepticism, we have arrogant cynicism. The highest echelons of the media and government became preserves for America's most-privileged. An Ivy League degree was the ticket to a reporting job on a major daily. And incest produced the usual ugly results.
"Mainstream" newspapers lost touch with American workers because the new breed of journalists didn't know any workers.
The plural of anecdotes and the wisdom of historians -[TigerHawk]
Rather than sticking to that which they do best -- writing about things that happened at least fifty years ago -- some historians feel it necessary to declaim on the present, a subject about which they are no more qualified than any other smart person, and possibly less so.
See, for example, this article by Richard Reeves, which is one of the current "most widely emailed" on Yahoo! News...
Of cooks and outlaws -[MREater]
I’ve run into a few soldiers since we’ve returned, and we all agree; the adjustment back to civilian life is not as uneventful as we thought it would be. Not difficult, but not a seamless process, either.
I went into the Red Robin Restaurant to celebrate my birthday a couple of days ago, and saw a master sergeant who had served in the Headquarters Company of the Support Battalion.
Home - [Steven Kiel]
I just got home and haven't had access to the internet for the last few weeks. I'll be responding to e-mails as soon as I can get to them.
Thanks for all of the support.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Cross posted at Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho.
$%@#^$@#^!!%*#&+$@#|!_*^&#^$%@@#!!#@%$&*^&$@*%*&(*@$^&^%$@!!@##=@#$%^)(*(**&@#&^^$!!
Went to save, received a page error, tried to refresh no luck tried to go back, POOF GONE!
As I was saying... #@%$&*^&$@*%*&(*@$^&^%$@!!@##=@#$%^)(*(**&@#&^^$!!
I don't even have time for a short list of links, because today is a special day in the House of Greyhawk.
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.)
Playing Army, part two -- [Fun With Hand Grenades - in Iraq]
After we rolled in the gates, throwing candy at the kids who had gathered there, we gassed up the Humvees and went back to our living area. Being tired from a lack of sleep the night before I laid down and passed out. I woke up four hours later with my team leader’s head in my door, “Hey, get up! We have another mission!” I repeated exactly what I did earlier in the day, only a lot faster this time. As I tied my boots I said to the other guys, “Feels good to actually be doing something for once!”
Iraqi Commandoes and Coup Protection -- [Strategy Page]
As the Iraqi military and police are rebuilt, they have found their greatest success in forming specialized units. The troops are paid more, and recruiters are very selective. One of the most elite of these units (commandoes, SWAT and the like) is the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). Used for hostage rescue, EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and any high-risk missions, the ERU gives the government some troops for missions that previously had to be left to the Americans.
Responding to my readers -- [The Will to exist - in Iraq]
Many of the more thoughtful responses included questions such as this one:
I respect your opinion and I agree a time table is potentially dangerous, but isn’t there also the idea that us having a visible presence in Iraq is also hurting the situation? Is there no thought of a middle ground where we allow Iraqis to become more visible and we provide more background assistance?”
Ed
Ed - I can tell you from personal observation that both the coalition and Iraqi leadership recognize the need to have Iraqis doing the job of providing Iraqi security. In the building I work in, we try to be as low key as possible, and the actual security for the building is already provided by Iraqi policemen. We are here more as technical advisors and facilitators than anything else.
Sunday Thoughts -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
...Yesterday, while doing this drawing, I recieved an e-mail from the father of a young Marine lieutenant who was killed in the line of duty. He was gracious enough to include part of the last letter his beloved son wrote him 5 days before he fell in battle. I'm not going to give you the young man's name, yet I ask as you read these cherished words to remember that he is not some anonymous un-named source, he was flesh and bone, and once full of hopes and the kind of grit and determination most men only dream of having. There are politicians back home trumpeting a "cut and run" policy. I don't know what their sources are or what their politial motives might be, but they weren't this lieutenant's, nor mine. ...
Tank Gunnery -- [My Days at Division - in Iraq]
...The occasion for our visit was to witness one of the Iraqi Tank companies that our division is responsible for training practice their gunnery. An Iraqi tank company is about 11-14 tanks, depending. In this case, the tanks were T-55's, an old Soviet tank. And these bad boys are old. You can read more about these tanks here.
Chechnya Alert, Plus New Al-Qaeda Message -- [Talisman Gate - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Al-Qaeda in Iraq (Zarqawi) has put out a 44 minute audio yesterday titled "Elections are the path of criminals," in the voice of Abu Hamza Al-Baghdadi, a rising star in Al-Qaeda's Oratory Corps. It was put out by Abu Maysarah Al-'Iraqi, which makes it credible. My initial overview would suggest that Zarqawi is saying that he is not pro-elections.
How the garbage gets bigger? -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
It is so easy! Give it more rubbish to make it bigger. However the bigger it becomes the more you need to eradicate it and the dangerous its unwanted effects reaches.
The same things apply on the terrorist. The more you recognize them or negotiate with their representatives the worst they become.
There is only one language the criminals know. It is force. They know nothing else. They know ...
Killing American Troops With New Rules of Engagement -- [Strategy page]
December 5, 2005: Rumblings from the Pentagon that new, and more restrictive, Rules of Engagement (ROE) are in the works, have caused some backlash from troops in Iraq, or who have served there, or are on their way over. The ROE are the general instructions about what troops can, and cannot, do in combat zones. For example, in 1983, the ROE for the U.S. Marines sent to Lebanon (for peacekeeping during the 1975-90 civil war) restricted how aggressively the marines could defend themselves from the local militias and Islamic terrorists. As a result, a terrorist truck bomb got into troop housing area, killing over 200 marines. In contrast, Iraq has much less restrictive ROEs, which results in
A CHANCE TO SEE IRAQ - [BRAINPOST - in Iraq]
The children run from their farms whenever they see an American convoy roll through their area. They usually stand by the roads and highways waving, or with just an arm extended. With a look of hope and desperation, they are looking for something to be thrown from the trucks. We are instructed not to do so any longer because of children running into the streets after candy and the like, only to be run over by the trailing vehicle. Six children have died this way and it doesn't help with relationship building.
Sunday, December 04, 2005 -- [Iraqi bounty hunter]
Platoon commander and his radio operator call in artillery support after being attacked by Anti- Coalition Militia (ACM) forces during Operation Sorkh Khar. The Marines were attacked with rocket propelled grenades (RPG's) and machine-gun fire, but quickly responded and gained fire superiority over the insurgents
CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE. a three part series -- [Sisyphus Today... - in Iraq]
I had eluded to the nebulous nature of our enemy in most areas of Iraq in the previous post. This began a new train of thinking on my part about the existence, focus, and driving force behind the "isurgents". It is my assessment from watching American news networks that we maintain troop levels here to secure the country against "insurgents". Sure there is that inexplicably slow process of electing a government, which we did last January, and are doing again in 11 days, but the reason fed to the populace is to defeat the insurgent movement.
Lunch, with pix -- [MREeater]
I wrote a while back about a trip I took into the hinterlands south of Kirkuk to meet with a sheik to tell him about election preparations. The sheik was in town, and while we stood around debating what to do, his sons and nephews killed a sheep and the sheik’s wife and daughter (I think)cooked it up for lunch. We were invited to lunch while waiting for the sheik to return.
Collection for Iraqi school children in Abu Ghraib -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
I cannot ask for anything for myself here, but our brigade is collecting for elementary school children in Abu Ghraib. Abu Ghraib is not just a prison, it is a very large neighborhood in our area of operations. The Iraqi Army in cooperation with the 1st Bragade, 10th Mountain Division will be distributing. As common as they are in America, most of these items are not so easily found here.
Iraqis say the darnedest things! -- [Major K - in Iraq]
I have heard a few things from the Iraqis here that I sure found interesting over the past few weeks. I have listed the paraphrasing of these statements here merely to get an anecdotal perspective. I do not necessarily think they are representative of all Iraqis, but I have heard each one often enough from different people (many non-military) that I think they may not be rare attitudes.
Monday, December 05, 2005 -- [Salem Pax - an Iraqi in Iraq]
It is really painful to watch the proceedings of Saddam’s trial. Some Iraqi newspapers have described the judge as patient, I don’t know really. It seems to be getting more out of hand with every day of the proceedings. It is very clear what is going on, Saddam’s lawyers will keep going on and on about the legitimacy of the court and will never give a chance to the proceedings to go on.
...And what the hell is that American doing in the courtroom?? If you are that worried about human rights why don’t go look at what your own government is doing in Guatnanamo? At least that is something people will thank you for.
Why I Am Awake -- [The Iraqi Vote - an Iraqi in Iraq]
I have not missed any of the sessions of Saddam’s appearances in court and as I type these lines, I am waiting for the third session of the Dujail trial to begin. I don’t watch the bearded Saddam because I enjoy seeing him humiliated, no, I actually admire the fact that we, the New Iraqis are giving Saddam what he denied us for so many decades, justice, decency, the right to a lawyer, the right not to be tortured.
Update on Allawi -- [Talisman Gate - an Iraqi in Iraq]
It seems that today marks the 7th anniversary according to the Islamic lunar calendar of the death of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Muhammad Sadiq Al-Sadr (Muqtada's much-revered father), who was allegedly assassinated by Saddam's Ba'athist goons on February 19, 1999.
So naturally, many Sadrists would have congregated in Najaf to visit his grave, and also make a detour towards the Imam Ali shrine that was visited by Ayad Allawi today. Allawi had given the green light to the US Marines to storm this same shrine last year in order to flush out the Sadrists.
My Trip to the U.S.A. / Treasure of Baghdad's Diary -- [Treasure of Baghdad - an Iraqi visiting America]
...This time, I imagined America like the Statue of Liberty carrying the flame to lighten the road for me. I was so happy. I was about to jump from the airplane out of happiness. “I am in America… yes in America”
I finally arrived Boston at 8:15 p.m. Boston time. Being an Arab, I was interrogated for three hours. “Are you a Sunni or a Shiite?” an officer asked me. “I am secular and don’t care about sects or religions,” I replied. I was well-prepared for such kind of investigation as I know how the Americans fear the Arabs in airports, specially after the September, 11 events. I wasn't bothered at all because i was so happy and excited to see how the world looks like after decades of deprivation created by Saddam against his people.
Kidnapping Victims Rescued During Vehicle Search -- (DefenseLINK)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2005 – Task Force Baghdad soldiers rescued two kidnapping victims during a routine vehicle search at a checkpoint in western Baghdad on Dec. 1, military officials in Iraq said today.
Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, found two Iraqi civilians bound and gagged in the trunk of a white sedan. The two individuals, employed by an American contractor, claimed they had been taken hostage and were to be murdered.
Iraqi police: Gunmen abduct French engineer -- (MSNBC/AP)
Incident in central Baghdad adds to recent wave of kidnappings in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen have abducted a French engineer in western Baghdad, Iraqi police said Monday, adding to a wave of recent kidnappings of Westerners.
When Press Is Paid To Lie, The Truth Always Comes Out -- (Chicago Tribune)...Clarence Page
When I heard that our government has secretly paid Iraqi reporters and newspapers to report good news about the war, it only made me wonder how bad the real news must be.
Troops Should Talk About Afghanistan, Iraq Successes, Pace Says -- (DefenseLINK)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2005 – Senior military leaders - as well as rank-and-file servicemembers - should spread the good news about anti-terrorist and reconstruction successes in Iraq, the U.S. military's top officer said during his Dec. 1 address at the National Defense University here.
During a question-and-answer session following his remarks on the president's "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq" report, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listened to an NDU student talk about a gap in perception between the media and the government in regard to how operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are going.
The New Rules Of Engagement -- (Time)...Michael Ware
...The Jordanian-born al-Zarqawi and his network of hard-line jihadis have long been the driving force of the insurgency, transforming it from a nationalist struggle to one fueled by religious zealotry and infused with foreign recruits. But a TIME investigation, based on dozens of interviews with military and intelligence officials as well as Iraqi leaders inside and outside the insurgency, reveals that Iraqis are reclaiming the upper hand, forcing al-Zarqawi to adjust.
U.S. Military Says Video Not Of Dec. 1 Attack On Marines -- (Mideast Stars and Stripes)...Joseph Giordono
A video purporting to show the attack that killed 10 Marines and wounded 11 others near Fallujah is “disinformation” and “false,” the U.S. military said Sunday.
Iraqis Cooperate After Insurgents Slay Tribal Chief -- (Washington Times)...Antonio Castaneda, Associated Press
After keeping their distance for months, Iraqis in this Sunni Arab city suddenly began cooperating with U.S. troops, leading them to insurgents and hidden weapons caches. The reason: anger over a local tribal chief's assassination by insurgents.
Denmark: We're Staying The Course In Iraq -- (Defense News)...Gerard O’Dwyer
After a U.S. commander said that Denmark might be able to bring its 230 troops home from Iraq next year, the Danish foreign minister responded in true “stay-the-course” fashion.
Japan's defence chief wants to keep troops in Iraq -- (The Star/Reuters)
By Patrick Markey | TOKYO - Japan's defence chief, just back from a visit to Iraq, said on Monday he wanted to extend the deployment of Japanese non-combat troops...
Iraqi Troop Progress Difficult To Measure -- (Chicago Tribune)...Stephen J. Hedges
While the "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq" announced last week by President Bush lists a raft of economic, reconstruction and political initiatives, no one is pretending that any of it can be achieved without completing the linchpin of the U.S. plan: building up Iraq's military and police.
IRAQ: U.S. TROOPS ARREST 22 KUWAITIS -- (AKI)
Kuwait City. 5 Dec. - US troops have arrested 22 Kuwaitis in Iraq who say they were on a game-hunting trip. They were caught as they tried to leave Iraq and enter Jordan via the Trebil border crossing and have been detained in Abu Ghraib prison on terrorism charges. The Kuwaiti Al-Qabas newspaper reported that the men had tried to cross the border during a night-time curfew, but when they refused to bribe the Iraqi border guards, the guards reported them to the US military.
U.S. Forces Try New Approach: Raid And Dig In -- (New York Times)...Kirk Semple
...But the taking of the youth center was one of the first steps in a new approach to taming the area: first sweep a town, then immediately garrison it and begin reconstruction - or what President Bush has called "clear, hold and build." Just as important, Iraqi forces are an integral component of the strategy.
Sunni Candidates In Iraq Find Enemies On All Sides -- (New York Times)...Edward Wong
...But perhaps no one has more enemies than the Sunni Arab politicians who have committed themselves to taking part in the elections. Claiming to speak for factions in the insurgency, they campaign by denouncing the Shiite-led government and American forces, yet are hounded by zealous Sunni militants like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who reject any involvement in the political process and brand the politicians as traitors.
Crowd Attacks Allawi In Najaf -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Saad Sarhan
...Two U.S soldiers were killed Sunday when their convoy was attacked in a roadside bombing in a southeastern suburb of Baghdad, the U.S. military said, according to the Reuters news agency.
At Najaf Mosque, Mob Attacks Allawi, The Ex-Premier Of Iraq -- (New York Times)...Kirk Semple
The former prime minister, Ayad Allawi, was attacked by a mob during a campaign visit on Sunday to the Shiite holy city of Najaf, police officials said. He escaped unharmed and later characterized the attack as an assassination attempt.
Saddam trial resumes in Baghdad, defence walks out -- (The Star/Reuters)
By Michael Georgy and Luke Baker | BAGHDAD- The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed in Baghdad on Monday, but was disrupted almost at once when the defence team walked out of court in a protest...
OPERATION SHANK BEGINS IN RAMADI
CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq — Approximately 200 Iraqi Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 7th Division and 300 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, launched Operation Harba (Shank) today in Ar Ramadi.
Operation Shank is the fifth in a series of operations by the Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces conducting combined clearing operations to disrupt the insurgency and set the conditions for a successful Dec. 15 election in the Al Anbar provincial capital of Ar Ramadi.
OPERATION SHANK UPDATE
CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq — Operation Harba (Shank) is the fifth in a series of operations by the Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces conducting combined clearing operations to disrupt the insurgency and set the conditions for a successful Dec. 15 election in the al Anbar provincial capital of ar Ramadi.
NEW IRAQI AIR FORCE MARKS MAJOR MILESTONE
BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Iraq – An all Iraqi aircrew flew their first solo mission aboard a C-130E from Ali Air Base to New Al Muthana Nov. 28.
The nine aircrew members are part the 23rd Iraqi Squadron, which have been receiving training at Ali AB. They performed an engine running on-load prior to returning to Ali AB.
Iraqi girls’ school receives needed supplies
MOSUL, Iraq -- The Ninewa Middle School for girls in the Al-Faisaliya neighborhood in Mosul accepted school necessities from Operation Iraqi Children Nov. 29.
Teachers from the Ninewa Middle School received supplies from the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion to hand out to their children. Prearranged by the Department of Education and Mr. Mohammed S. HajRamathan, Provincial Council Chairman for Education, five classrooms with about 150 children received school supplies.
Communicators lay foundation for future of Afghanistan
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – As U.S. forces prepare to return control of the airport terminal and tower to Afghan control, combat communicators assigned to 451st Air Expeditionary Group communications flight here recently stepped up and out of their lanes to provide critical communications by installing more than a mile of copper and fiber cabling
Healing the Scars
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – More than two decades of war have scarred everything in Afghanistan. The buildings are riddled with pockmarks from shrapnel and bullets. The people are wounded from fighting and poverty.
Police Moving Into Bandit Country -- [Strategy Page]
December 5, 2005: As more Afghan troops and police enter service, they are being sent to areas in the south that have long been pro-Taliban. This has resulted in more attacks on police, and more clashes between the army and armed groups of pro-Taliban tribesmen. But the police have been able to develop informants in the tribes, and this information allows the army to stage raids. Weapons caches are being found and seized, and arrests of known Taliban leaders made. This growing battle with the diehard Taliban tribes has killed about 1,500 people so far this year, most of them Taliban gunmen.
Afghanistan -- [Boots in Baghdad]
I volunteered to go... next month.
Boots In Kabul? We will see.
Roadside bomb wounds 3 US soldiers in Afghanistan -- (Reuters)
KABUL- Three U.S. soldiers were wounded when a roadside bomb hit their convoy in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said on Monday. | The incident occurred on Sunday near Dai Chopan...
Grand opening for Afghan parliament -- (Dawn)
| KABUL, Dec 4: Afghanistan is preparing a “glorious” ceremony for the opening this month of its first post-conflict parliament, an official said on Sunday. | President Hamid Karzai will be joined at ... (photo: Getty Images) Dawn
U.S. Helicopters Attacked in Afghanistan -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Two U.S. helicopters that made emergency landings during a day of violence in volatile southern Afghanistan were hit by fire from insurgents, a U.S. military official said Monday....
Journalists Couldn't Find their own Asses With Both Hands and a Map -- [Way Down in Kosovo - in Kosovo]
Everything that is vomited forth from my TV screen(on the news, that is) seems to decry every single thing that we do wherever in the world we are. It is a downer in the worst imaginable way, let me tell you. It seems that the only sexy story is the story that tells of scandal; if it's uplifting in anyway whatsoever, then it must not be published...EVER!
... Everything in the following story happened over a month ago in Kllokot, a Serbian enclave village near here. I wrote the following on the afternoon of October 24, just a few hours after the incident described.
...Trindle moved the vehicle forward slowly, nudging the angry geese out of our way, even as they beat their wings furiously in protest. As we moved past the flock, I heard what sounded like three, perhaps four gunshots from directly to our right front (south-east of our position).
"Bill, stop the vehicle." The Colonel ordered.
"What was that?" Dada asked nervously.
"Shots, those were shots." I responded.
The Latest Project -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
I've kind of picked up a side job here in Kosovo for the last part of time I'm here. It's working with PsyOp, illustrating.
They put out publications and stuff to the locals to help sway their minds about certain issues, and the big issue in Kosovo is getting the Albanians and the Serbians to try to find some way past their respective differences and get along. Because as soon as they stop fighting each other, this little community might be able to gain independence.
US Sanction Macau Bank; North Korea Cries Foul -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
The US is really increasing the pressure on Pyongyang during the latest six party talks. First the US stopped all food aid to the Stalinist country and now the US placed sanctions on a Macao based bank that was allegedly being used to funnel counterfeit US dollars printed in North Korea:
UN orders "stringent" security following attack in Kosovo -- (Xinhuanet)
BELGRADE, Dec. 4 -- The UN administration ordered "stringent measures" for security Sunday in Serbia's province of Kosovo hours after a grenade attack on a bus which caused no injuries.
Soren Jessen-Petersen, Kosovo's top UN official, ordered policeto step up patrolling and erect checkpoints throughout the province following the overnight assault.
Iran and Russia sign $1 bln defence deal - reports -- (Reuters)
MOSCOW - Russia plans to sell more than $1 billion worth of tactical surface-to-air missiles and other defence hardware to Iran, media reported on Friday.
S. Korea seeks direct U.S.-N. Korea talks -- (Miami Herald)...JAE-SOON CHANG
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's top official responsible for relations with North Korea urged the United States on Monday to hold direct talks with the North to resolve concerns over its missile development, human rights abuses and other non-nuclear issues, a report said Monday.
U.S. Delays Food Donation to N.Korea -- (Chosun Ilbo, South Korea)
The United States has put off purchasing 25,000 tons of food aid that it had promised to donate to North Korea this year because of concerns over the distribution process.
U.S. cancels food shipment to North Korea -- (UPI)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 -- The State Department said food shipments to North Korea have been suspended because there are no guarantees the aid will get to those in need.
The North Korean government has ordered the United Nations World Food Program, which oversees the distribution of foreign aid, to reduce its staff in the country, the Washington Times reported.
Reports: Senior Saudi Al-Qaida Member Sets Off Suicide Blast in Dagestan -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
According to various reports from credible mujahideen sources, Abu Omar Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Saif (a.k.a. Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Saif al-Jaber)--a top tier Saudi Arabian Al-Qaida commander in Chechnya and personal military advisor to Shamil Basayev--has been killed during a Russian counterterrorism operation in neighboring Dagestan. Unable to escape after Russian soldiers backed by helicopters surrounded his temporary hideout, Abu Omar allegedly detonated an explosive device he was carrying and collapsed the building on top of himself.
Suspected Belgian Terrorists & Suicide Bomber Could Have Entered U.S. Without Visa -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
On Thursday I saw a report on CNN about a woman who detonated a bomb she was carrying in an attempt to kill American soldiers in Iraq. Fortunately she did not kill anyone but herself. What was particularly disturbing about this story is that the woman was not born in the Middle East but was rather a native and citizen of Belgium. She converted to Islam upon her marriage to a citizen of Morocco who was involved with terrorism. I did a bit of searching on the Internet and came up with several articles not only about her, but about the growing crisis of terror cells sprouting in Europe.
Monday's Winds of War: 5 Dec 2005 -- [Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Peace Like a River and Security Watchtower.
Rice To Defend U.S. On Reports Of Prisons For Terror Suspects -- (New York Times)...Joel Brinkley
Just before she leaves for a trip to Europe on Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to offer the Bush administration's first studied defense in the debate over reports of a network of secret prisons for terror suspects in several European countries.
Evidence suggests U.S. missile used in strike -- (MSNBC)
Shrapnel bearing American markings found at blast site in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Shrapnel that appeared to be from an American-made missile was found Sunday at the house where Pakistan said a top al-Qaida operative was killed in an explosion, although President Bush’s national security adviser declined to confirm the death.
U.S. and Pakistani officials declined to confirm an NBC report, citing anonymous officials, that the attack on the house where Hamza Rabia reportedly died was launched by a U.S. drone.
Suicide bomber strikes mall in Netanya -- (MSNBC/AP)
At least four killed, scores wounded in coastal city blast, police say
A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up among people waiting to enter a shopping mall in the northern Israeli town of Netanya on Monday, killing at least four shoppers and wounding 35.
Saving Soles -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
One of the things we get a lot of requests for from soldiers is boots. On November 8, I wrote about how I had ordered boots online for a soldier. Well a little over a week later, he e-mailed me that they had arrived. A lot of people don't understand why they need boots, but his note says it all:
A Few Stories Worth Reading -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Found these stories on a message board, and I'm sure there are many more similar stories just like them waiting to be told....
From a Marine Mom:
Christmas For Our Troops - Video -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
There are 21 days left until Christmas. To get everyone in the mood for the upcoming Christmas season I'm going to have a song a day that you can click to listen to if you like. I love great Christmas music! To start things off with a bang I'm made a video to go with the first song I've chosen. Christmas spent far from home isn't easy, whether it's your first time or not. This first song is dedicated to our military men and women who will be spending this holiday season away from their families.
A Blue Day for CodePink -- [Smash]
SUNDAY was another perfect day here in San Diego. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and across the street from Balboa Naval Hospital, a handful of anti-war protestors were preparing to rally under the banner of CodePink.
ONE TEAM ONE FIGHT -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...Here is a “No shit Breaking News story” ITS Christmas because it is Jesus’s Birthday, celebrated different by different religions and that’s fine but it’s a religious holiday. If you don’t believe in it, don’t celebrate it, get coal, I don’t care! However, we arnt going to change it nor other holidays because we are afraid of offending you. If your offended……..pound sand I don’t care. I respect other religions even Muslim but you don’t see me telling them not to play their loud 5 times a day Muslim prayer over their loud speakers forcing it down my neck do you?
CHRISTMAS IF YOU CAN KEEP IT -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - in Iraq]
...That was over 80 years ago. Men, who were enemies at war killing one another by the thousands, stopped fighting and crossed the field of battle to celebrate Christmas. CHRISTMAS, the celebration of Jesus Christ, you remember him, the man upon which the entire Christian faith is based (Which by the way is the main religion of the United States). The man who was sent down from heaven to die for our sins. As I have said in the past I am not an overly religious man. I am among the worst Catholics in the world, I look at my watch during mass, and grow restless when it goes past the 42.5 minutes I am accustomed to. I haven’t been to mass since I left home, I use the war as my excuse, yet I know in my mind it really is no excuse. Yet now I see in the “news” that there is an attack on Christmas at home.
The progressivist left reveals its official plan for the War on Terror -- [Protien Wisdom]
Winning the war against the other: Don'ts and Do's
Democrats Find Iraq Alternative Is Elusive -- (Washington Post)...Robin Wright
...In interviews, veteran policymakers offered no end of criticism about how President Bush maneuvered the United States into its present predicament, but only one had a clear vision of what he would do if the Iraq problem were handed over to a Democratic administration tomorrow. Several accept Bush's premise that a rapid withdrawal anytime soon would leave Iraq unstable and risk a strategic disaster in the broader Middle East.
GOP Pushing for Spending and Tax Cuts -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders in Congress are hoping to complete a bill to curb the growth of student loans, Medicaid and other benefit programs before Christmas, though they may delay extending tax cuts until next year....
Bush relies on pithy phrases -- (USA Today)
WASHINGTON — From "compassionate conservatism" to "No Child Left Behind," Bush strategists have since the 2000 campaign consistently designed phrases for voters who don't study the fine print of issues such as deployment in Iraq.
Journalism Versus Reality in Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
American troops are developing a hate-hate relation with journalists. The basic problem is that soldiers and marines in Iraq have access, usually via the Internet, to what the mass media is saying about what they think is happening in Iraq. These news reports, all too often, do not reflect what the troops experience.
The Knucklehead of the Day award -- [The Florida Masochist]
Today's winner is Palm Beach Post columnist George McEvoy. Mr. McEvoy is the third Palm Beach Post columnist to get an award, plus a fourth went to the entire paper's editorial board and a fifth to the paper's political cartoonist.
...Now back to Mr. McEvoy. The columnist is no fan of Bush in the least but that's not why he gets today's knucklehead. McEvoy turns his hate towards the US military in the lowest of democratic or ways.
THE NEWS STOOPER -- [One Marines View - in Iraq]
So there we are watching good ol reliable CNN……….well it was worth a shot to fool you but you are all too smart for that and know its not reliable. A continuous replaying report came on how multiple government facilities and bases were attacked in downtown Ramadi, Iraq on Thursday. They continued to show video of masked men shooting down a street (which should be criminal, if a US reporter cooperates with and films the enemy at their location and aides them in any way, he should be tried for treason and executed in public if found guilty). But wait a second, the report and video don’t match, but who back in the states would notice so lets role this footage and fool the sheep who follow our every word. They are too stupid and they won’t know. Its video of anywhere but Ramadi.
Dis-Strib-Ute -- [Peace like a River]
In the Sunday Star Tribune, on page 6 of the A section (the news section) there was an article with this headline: Wisconsin professor: War is now a debacle
I cannot explain to you why this was in the news section, and not in the opinion section. Well, I can explain it. It's because a finance professor from UW-River Falls said this about the war in Iraq: "The whole thing has turned into a huge debacle".
'Milbloggers' Report Real Life War Stories on Web -- (NewsMax.com)
...While the quality of the milblogs ranges from crude to bell-and-whistle professional, they mostly follow the same mold. Essentially, they are diaries of the servicemen and service women, and as the months in the overseas tour pass, older entries are consolidated in an archive. There are generally plenty of pics posted, links to other milblogs favored by the amateur journalist-in-uniform, and a way for the reader to e-mail comments.
Many of the postings by the milbloggers are humorous or rough-hewn stories about the routine life at their bases, but others bring the reader face-to-face with heated military operations or the bloody gore at aid stations and hospitals – often just hours after the fact.
As could be imagined, it is this latter genre of blogging that causes the brass concern.
NBC exclusive: Blogging Baghdad
Please check back on Monday when we launch. Online entries will include the realities of daily life for ordinary Iraqis, the American troops and the media. Reports will also examine the behind-the-scenes aspects of government and military operations, and will profile people, places and projects. “Blogging Baghdad” will also feature video clips and video-blogs from correspondent Richard Engel and the other members of the NBC News Baghdad Bureau as they travel around Baghdad and the country. The footage will include behind-the scenes coverage of life in city and other web-exclusive video footage.
Saddam Lawyer Demands Torture, Execution -- [ScrappleFace]
(2005-12-05) — Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, part of Saddam Hussein’s defense team, today attacked the credibility and fairness of the court where his client faces mass murder charges, and demanded that Mr. Hussein be treated as defendants were during the former Iraqi president’s rule.
it seemed like it took forever to get home. sorry the pics suck
(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 Sulemani -- [ThreatsWatch.Org - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
Airstrikes, a Meeting with Sheikhs, a Cache on the River and a Trip to Camp al-Qaim
HUSAYBAH, IRAQ: Thursday morning started off with strikes at undisclosed locations near the Syrian border by “the task force”, presumably Task Force 626, the group assigned to hunt Zarqawi and the leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Bombs and gunfire rained from the sky in the early hours during darkness. No information is available about the targets or the results of the attack.
Rebels Without a Pause -- [Kevin Sites - Journalist embedded in Iraq]
They are some of the toughest fighters around. But will they give their loyalty to the new Iraq?
NORTHERN IRAQ -- The peshmerga know a thing or two about insurgent warfare. The Kurdish militia have fought the Iraqi government for nearly half a century using hit-and-run tactics, dating as far back as 1961. They attacked Iraqi forces then took refuge in the rugged terrain of Mt. Halgurd, Iraq's highest mountain, and other mountains in the region.
Iraqi Commandoes and Coup Protection -- [Strategy Page]
December 2, 2005: As the Iraqi military and police are rebuilt, they have found their greatest success in forming specialized units. The troops are paid more, and recruiters are very selective. One of the most elite of these units (commandoes, SWAT and the like) is the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). Used for hostage rescue, EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and any high-risk missions, the ERU gives the government some troops for missions that previously had to be left to the Americans.
Thursday, December 01, 2005 -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Hi,
Long time no see. Your friend Alaa is still alive and well by the grace of God. So many things are happening that I was kind of jammed not knowing what to comment on. The speach by President Bush was great. It should be clear to anyone with even minimum amount of intelligence, that if anybody has the facts it is the President; he does have more that one hundred and fifty thousand men and women on the ground to report to him.
And I am always astonished at people wondering about how the Iraqis feel about the American and allied presence in Iraq. Was not the present Iraqi Goverment elected by 8 million people at the risk of their lives? Are the more that two hundred thousand soldiers and police not Iraqis, or perhaps they came from Mars?
Do we see progress in Iraq? -- [Ask the Soldiers - in Iraq]
How do the Iraqi people respond to the American Soldier's presence?
What kind of progress to you see in Iraq?
Kristi
Gigotti78- Well, Kristi, as far as how do ppl respond to us, they seem to warm up to us as each passing day. They now realize that we are not here for any other reason but for their independence and for them to be able to be free and have a voice. We as soldiers, reach out to the Iraqi people every chance we get to show them our gratitude. Now, progress, I was waiting for this question....this is a fun question. If you just read the daily paper and watch the MSM, you would think that we are losing this war on terror and that we are making no progress whatsoever. I say BULLSHIT!
The Great Debate -- [A Female Soldier 2 - in Iraq]
...We believe our cause is just not because of whether they didn’t find WMD, or that the administration did or didn’t have other motives, or as in your argument, oil. It doesn’t matter what my political views are. We believe our cause is just simply because at the end of the day, there will be one less suicide bomber to force his views on others though terror, destruction and murder. There will be one less terrorist to murder at random, who met his fate at the hand of a U.S. soldier. A soldier is a soldier, we don’t make policy, we carry out our mission, and leave the debate of its merits to those that have been elected freely by the citizens to decide its course in history. This is where you and I so strongly disagree. In your opposing argument you...
Who elects these idiots? -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
LATROBE, Pa. - Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq within a year because the Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth," Rep. John Murtha told a civic group.First of all, of course most US troops will leave Iraq within a year because deployment rotations are usually a year long at most. Maybe just a bad choice of words...
Second. I look around me and see everyone doing their jobs, doing them well.
Everything You Need To Know About The Murtha Vote [Faces from the Front]
Democrats say having an actual debate and Roll Call vote on whether the troops should be brought home now is a stunt, but proposing a resolution complete with press conferences and talking points that the troops should be brought home now is not a stunt?
From the Associated Press:
"Just a day after Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., stoked a surging political fire over President Bush's Iraq policies by proposing that troops return home now, Republicans brought a measure to the House floor urging that a pullout begin immediately." [Emphasis Added]
I watched Bush speaking on television last night. It was my first day off since arriving in theater one month ago.
Please, America, listen to the man. -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
The moment anyone puts a timetable on coalition forces leaving, we’ve lost the war. You can’t put a timetable on the good guys unless you can put one on the bad guys too. That’s ridiculous. You can’t put an exact timetable on training up the new Iraqi military and police forces. It would be irresponsible.
Team update - 01 Dec 05 [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
An hour later, there we were, the entire team, all of the terps, in the back of LMTVs, heading downtown. Great. Long story short: everyone did well, got to enter a mosque, of course the electricity was out, so it was flashlights and NVGs. The two strange moments of the night: first, getting out of the LMTV, sprinting to the side of the street, looking around to get oriented and seeing through NVGs about 100 meters away… a ferris wheel. I knew this place was a circus, complete with clowns, and looky here, in downtown Ramadi: indisputable proof. Second, ...
Come On Now -- [BradleyGunner6-8Cav - in Iraq]
In the comments:
30,000 dead Iraqis and counting - you guys are doing a great job in the tradition of the GI baby killers of the Vietnam era.
Iraq Pictures - 02 December 2005 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Soldiers from B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Cavalry discovered a large weapons cache in an Abu Ghraib chicken coop. The Soldiers found two Dragunov sniper rifles, two 130 millimeter artillery rounds, six anti-tank mines, a pipe bomb, two hand grenades,16 82 millimeter mortar rounds, 19 rocket propelled grenades, three rockets, five rocket launchers, one mortar tube, three AK-47s with twelve magazines, one RPK rifle, a 9 millimeter pistol, one 50 caliber machine gun, 20 primers, 20 SKS magazines, seven rifle grenades, and 10 pounds of various ammunition.
The Heroes Beside Me -- [Guidons, Guidons, Guidons!]
The following is a newspaper article written about my Brigade, that I just found ...
TAJI, Iraq - The Black Hawk helicopter flew low and fast over the bright lights north of Baghdad, then suddenly the lights were gone. In the darkened cockpit, the two pilots could make out an expanse of date palms through their night-vision goggles.
"Two-point-five kilometers to LZ. Tell him to start the buzz saw," said 28-year-old Capt. Jeremy Loeb, of Hamburg, Pa.
In a clearing 50 feet below, an infantry soldier began twirling a chemical light - mimicking a glowing circular saw - to signal his unit's position to the helicopter.
Memories -- [It's a living... sorta - in Iraq]
This story caught my eye by the headline. I couldn't help but wonder if they were talking about an assault on the base where I was, or one of the other bases in the area. It wouldn't be the first time terrorist thugs had tried to storm in and take over. It happened at least three times while we were there. A couple of Marines and officers have been nominated for medals for valor because of their conduct during those attacks, too. Oh, there was a story a few months ago about this "huge protest" in the streets of Ramadi demanding that America leave Iraq forever. To tell the truth about that one; it was about 40-50 bad guys grouped in front of cameras to make the "crowd" seem much bigger than it was and as soon as Humm-Vee's rolled up to the scene, they scattered and seemingly vanished. Yeah, tough dudes alright. It's not the truth when you hear stories about American troops losing control of the city or being overrun by "insurgents" as they are often called.
Courage and judgment -- [Donald Sensing - Blue Star Dad]
The Briton is 74-year-old retired Prof. Norman Kember, a “life-long pacifist even made it to the door of No 10 before the 2003 invasion to present a petition warning of disastrous consequences for Iraq and its people.”
Six months ago, he wrote: “Personally it has always worried me that I am a ‘cheap’ peacemaker. Being in Britain talking, writing, demonstrating about peace is in no way taking risks like young servicemen in Iraq. I look for excuses why I should not become involved.”
I Saw No Torture in Iraq -- [Faces from the Front]
Army Captain Ian Fishback and Anthony Lagouranis, a former Army Specialist (E-4) say they are witnesses to a pattern and practice of abuse against terrorists--I'm throwing the B.S. flag.
...And like all the upstanding citizens in prisons, the detainees always said they were framed and that the Marines abused them. One even said he was sodomized with a wiffle ball bat. But, the medical exam he received upon book-in to the detention facility showed no bruising, scraping or lacerations to his spread cheeks.
But, a lawyer was still dispatched to question the Marines--and that is the situation I know.
There is no pattern and practice of abuse and it is definately not condoned by the commands. In fact it is the opposite.
Artist's Statement -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq] HT: Holly Aho
".. sent into harm's way with one basic order, do art. This official directive has no subject matter, medium or quantity attached. The Marine Corps simply makes it possible for the combat artist to create from one of the most elemental visual sources, people and places in time of war. We Marines who have been honored with the opportunity to be combat artists are absolutely free to follow our own creative instincts."
Combat is a paradoxical dish whose recipe asks for generous dollops of the murderous garnished with a few dashes of the mundane. I was with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment from November 8th through the 19th for Operation Steel Curtain. These were 12 uninterrupted days and nights of combat against a devious and determined foe well apprised of our intention to do them harm. The local population was informed in no uncertain terms 24 hours ahead of time that the Marines would be attacking the following morning. There was no element of surprise. Civilians had to be taken into consideration and given the opportunity to exit from neighborhoods generously salted with foreign fighters; ...
Police Training Tightrope in Iraq - Watch Out -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
An objective review of police training in Iraq shows a remarkable flight path, and real gains. But watch out. Weather ahead. Even after a good flight, absence of a landing plan will spoil your day ... The premier training center for Iraqi police was established in Jordan in November 2003, by the State Department's Bureau on International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). Designed to support General Petreaus' effort to build security forces in Iraq, the Jordan-based school, located outside Amman, has been the unheralded "salt mine at the bottom of the sea." As of December 1, 2005, this school - led by an American civilian but boasting 17 nations' participation - has trained 24,742 police and deployed them back on to Iraqi streets. But there is rough water ahead ...
Governor Visits 48th BCT While On Visit to Iraq -- [PARTAMIAN REPORT]
Hooah to Governor Perdue! (pic)
Governor Sonny Perdue returned from the Middle East yesterday evening following a six-day trip to visit Georgia servicemembers serving in Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thursday, November 24, 2005 -- [Birding Babylon - in Iraq]
The weather in Iraq has cooled down considerably. Many of the winter resident birds have returned to Iraq. The huge flocks of rooks, the most social of the crows, have come back as well as the ducks and shorebirds. The nightly spectacle of thousands upon thousands of rooks returning to their roosts after a day of foraging in the surrounding farmland will treat both the residents of the surrounding villages and towns and some of the new troops at LSA Anaconda. Sometimes the rooks would gather in large groups and form a tight spinning column as they rode a thermal.
Last year around this time I gave an interview on NPR about my birding in Iraq.
Murtha Assesses Army As 'Broken' -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
Rep. John P. Murtha is continuing his assault on the Bush administration's Iraq war policy, asserting this week that the U.S. Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth." The Pentagon and a senior Republican senator sharply disagreed with his assessment.
. U.S. Turns Over Control Of Two Big Power Projects To Iraqis -- (Mideast Stars and Stripes)...Anita Powell
Weeks before Iraqis head to the polls to elect a national government, U.S. forces are pushing hard to give more power — quite literally — to the fledgling Iraqi government.
Army General Sees Brighter Days Ahead For Iraqi People -- (San Antonio Express-News)...Scott Huddleston (subscription)
...Yet today, as more than 20,500 soldiers with Fort Hood's 4th Infantry Division prepare to deploy by Dec. 31 for a second rotation in Iraq, Metz said he's convinced that the nation can prosper, once the political and economic rebuilding process is no longer undermined by terror.
Instant democracy -- (Iraqi, Salam Pax writng for the Guardian Unlimited)
On the street there doesn’t seem to be much interest in the elections either. You just don’t feel the spark. Last year newspapers dedicated large sections to debating democracy and the elections. Television stations had endless programmes about the same issues. It was all so exciting.
These days ...
Official Removed Amid Detainee Torture Scandal -- (Los Angeles Times)...Richard Boudreaux
The Iraqi official responsible for investigating human rights abuse and corruption among Interior Ministry police said Thursday that he had been removed from his post in the aftermath of a scandal at a detention center where some of the 169 prisoners had been tortured.
Joint chiefs chairman faults military for not explaining Iraq war ... --(San Diego Union Tribune)
WASHINGTON – The military hasn't done a good enough job of explaining to the American people what is going on in Iraq and the political and military progress ...
Baghdad's Haifa Still No Easy Street -- (Los Angeles Times)...Ashraf Khalil
...But a brief visit to Haifa Street also provides a reminder that "safe" remains a relative concept in Iraq. Suspicion of outsiders continues to run high. So does antipathy for U.S. forces. Some residents said the newfound peace has been due less to the presence of Iraqi troops than to the absence of American soldiers to shoot at.
Iraqis Doubt Bush Plan As Insurgents Flex Muscle -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Iraqis shrugged off President Bush's speech outlining his strategy to win the war, pointing at the brief takeover by hooded gunmen yesterday of the western city of Ramadi.
Arab Papers Wary Of Bush Words -- (Washington Times)...David R. Sands
Arab press outlets reacted with caution and suspicion yesterday to President Bush's new blueprint for victory in Iraq, saying the president's ambitious words still must confront the messy realities on the ground in Iraq.
Ramadi Insurgents Flaunt Threat -- (Washington Post)...Ellen Knickmeyer
Armed fighters claiming allegiance to Abu Musab Zarqawi took to the streets of a western Iraqi provincial capital Thursday in a fleeting show aimed at intimidating Iraqi Sunni Arab leaders taking part in dialogue with U.S. Marines in a stronghold of the insurgency, provincial officials, residents and other witnesses said.
Coalition Troop Withdrawals Add Pressure For U.S. Pullout -- (Houston Chronicle)...William J. Kole, Associated Press
Two of America's allies in Iraq are withdrawing forces this month and a half-dozen others are debating possible pullouts or reductions, increasing pressure on Washington as calls mount to bring home U.S. troops.
Covert Media Offensive In Iraq Sparks A Furor -- (Los Angeles Times)...Mark Mazzetti
The White House demanded Thursday that the Pentagon hand over information about a secret U.S. military operation to plant news stories in the Iraqi news media, and senators plan to meet behind closed doors with military commanders to learn about the information offensive underway in Iraq
Digging a Well -- [Miserable Donuts]
The Summer of 2004 was a dry one in Afghanistan - little did we know or even hope that the drought would be broken that winter. Drought hurt everyone in the area I was stationed, and also ewncouraged people to plant poppy, since that plant did well in a dry season, and the farmers had to do something to sustain their familes.
Medical Supplies Have Arrived! Your Donations At Work! -- [Fortunate Son - in Afghanistan]
...The medical supplies have arrived and are awaiting the short ride to San Antonio-- soon to be off to Afghanistan--all due to your generous donations!
Kiwis in Afghanistan -- [Travels with Shiloh]
Speaking of New Zealand reminded me that there was a contingent of New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan when I was there. Two things really stood out about them. The first is that they used a rifle that looked like something out of Star Wars. I don't know if they're any good or not but they look cool as hell. You kind of expect laser beams to shoot out of them or something.
The second thing about the Kiwis (which is I'm pretty sure they're called) that caught my eye is that they had ...
Ex-CIA Allies Leading Afghan Fight Vs. G.I.s -- (New York Daily News)...James Gordon Meek
Two former CIA allies in Afghanistan are now fearsome warlords responsible for killing scores of American troops in the escalating border war, intelligence experts told the Daily News.
U.S. Aid To Afghanistan To Reach $5.5 Billion -- (Washington Post)...Unattributed
U.S. development assistance to Afghanistan is expected to reach $5.5 billion in the next five years, the Afghan finance minister said Thursday as the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on aid agreements.
Americans Banned from Syria -- [Outside the Beltway]
Michael J. Totten was denied entry to Syria. I presumed it was because they read his blog but, alas, it was just his passport:
2ID Soldiers Share Thanksgiving with Orphans -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Here is a good news story, that USFK will never get credit for in the Korean media, that was published in the Stars and Stripes:
Orphans from Dongducheon got a taste of holiday fun here Thursday at a Thanksgiving feast served up by 2nd Infantry Division soldiers. ...
This is a common event throughout USFK spending time with children from the orphanages not only during the Holidays but also during regular weekends. ..
...However, all the good will these soldiers create is always seems to be negated by a couple of idiots getting drunk and standing on top of a taxi and the story is spread all over the Korean media.
Paranoid Fantasies Persist -- [Strategy Page]
December 2, 2005: North Korea is trying to crack down on its young adults, who are increasingly lawless, and more interested in having a good time, than in being good little followers of their Great Leader Kim Jong Il. The strict control that the communists enforced for so many decades, is weakening, and has been for over a decade. It's getting very noticeable, and the North Korean leadership live in fear of a popular uprising similar to those of Eastern Europe in 1989.
A Note to My Readership -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
I just wanted to let you all know how much your comments meant to me. I found out I was deploying to Kosovo in October of Last Year and had been gearing up for it through November. I didn't know what would really come of my blog, which I had already had for three years before that. In fact, I thought it would probably die and I wouldn't use it that much. My blog has been on its deathbed before where I wouldn't post much of anything for a few months at a time.
Picture of the Day - Kosovo -- [KOSOVAREPORT]
Originally uploaded by kosovareport. Former ethnic Albanian rebel commander Fatmir Limaj, addresses the cheering crowds celebrating his acquittal from the allegations by U.N war crimes court of torturing and murdering Serbian and Albanian civilians at a prison camp during the 1998-1999 war, in Pristina on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005. Thousands of cheering supporters and celebratory gunfire greeted ...
Top General Lashes Out At The West -- (Moscow Times)...Simon Saradzhyan
The chief of the armed forces' General Staff, Yury Baluyevsky, accused the West on Thursday of trying to weaken the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States and of using nonproliferation regulations to sideline Russia on the world arms market.
Police, Not Armies, Stop Terrorism -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
In the final analysis, there is a piece missing from the current debate over Iraq, and for that matter over Afghanistan. As MacArthur and others realized decades ago, police prevent, deter and stop terrorism in any democracy. Armies do not.
The jasmine mind of a terrorist -- [Peace like a River]
The Moscow News has an enlightening interview with a terrorist. He is Shukhrat Masirokhunov, and is said to be the former chief of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) counterintelligence service. (One past operation he was involved in is described here.)
He is to stand trial for taking part in the events in May that led to the deaths of several hundred people. (Masirokhunov denies he was involved.)
Showtime tackles terrorism -- (Detroit Free Press)
... family's comfy lifestyle. "Sleeper Cell," which plays off post-9/11 dread of terrorism, is sure to stir some controversy. But besides ...
Car Crashes Kill Many More People Than Terrorism -- (Forbes)
... by traffic crashes in the United States and other developed countries is nearly 400 times greater than the toll taken by international terrorism, notes a study ...
TERRORISM: ITALY WARNED OLYMPICS AND ELECTIONS COULD BE TARGETS -- (AKI)
Rome, 2 Dec. - Italy's Interior Minister, Giuseppe Pisanu, has warned that the 2006 Winter Olympics being staged in the city of Turin in February and the campaign ahead of April's general elections could be targeted by terrorist organisations. However, he reassured the Italian parliament, in a briefing on the country's new anti-terror legislation, that so far they have not seen any "clear signs of preparatory activities" for terror attacks. Pisanu affirmed...
Little Things Can Mean A Lot -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
A Thanksgiving day email exchange between a Soldier in Iraq and Soldiers' Angels.
Dear Soldiers’ Angels,
I just re-submitted my name and info because I was trying to get help on how to contact my buddy's Angels. He was seriously hurt in an accident and I'm sure he would like them to know what’s going on. His name is...
Soldier's Family Asks for Help for Iraqi Children -- [Holly Aho - A Soldier's Angel]
Received notice of this story on WTOL News via email:
TOLEDO -- A US Army sergeant from Toledo is on his second tour of duty in Iraq. While Sgt. Nicholas Mielke faces the challenges of war, he's now challenging his family and his city to make his Christmas wish come true. All he wants is a little help for a whole lot of Iraqi children.
CHRISTMAS IN IRAQ ~ THE FINAL COUNT -- [Yikes]
...this year, I set out to collect as many cards as possible to send to three units in Iraq ~ one of them being my own local Dear Heroes of Georgia's 48th National Guard Brigade Combat Team, along with two other units that have sustained heavy casualities and many wounded in action. Well, all of y'all came through in a HUGE way... so much more than I ever expected!!! You are all wonderful, and PROOF that miracles still happen!!!!!
Between the christmas greetings I received via email, and the actual "regular" christmas cards people sent to me via snail mail, we were able to collect.... **drum roll please**
The NFL Reaching Out to Our Wounded Troops -- [Andi's World]
We often hear about the dark side of professional athletes and organizations, but today I'm going to tell you about the bright side.
...At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and other hospitals across the country, our wounded heroes are fighting yet another war. A war for survival and recovery. Many of these soldiers have severe burns, amputations or other serious injuries which prevent them from doing something as simple as getting dressed. Luckily, there's an organization which helps gives these wounded warriors some comfort and dignity. A small army of seamstresses comprise the organization Sew Much Comfort.
Duke, how could you? -- [Neptunus Lex]
The naval hero of Vietnam era fighter aviation may well go to jail, having admitted to taking bribes to direct federal moneys to favored contractors - potentially against the interests of troops in the field, fighting and dying in another war, in another place. Not just small time venality either: $2.4 million worth.
I’ve met the man, dined at his table, listened to him recount the famous (in our circles anyway) tale about his fifth and final air-to-air victory on the way to becoming the first ace (and only one of two ace crews) of the Vietnam War. It was a story he told well, relished in the telling and had clearly had the opportunity to polish over the years.
Some Republicans Returning Cunningham Money -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- Some congressional Republicans, seeking to distance themselves from former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, are donating to charity political money that he gave them over the years....
Court Orders Schwarzenegger to Remove Video -- (AP)
SACRAMENTO, Calif.-- A judge Thursday ordered Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration to remove a state-produced video intended to look like an objective news report from a government Web site....
Apart from that, we stand by our story -- [Neptunus Lex]
From the corrections page in today’s Chicago Tribune:
- A Page 1 article Friday about Gen. George Casey, commander of multinational forces in Iraq, contained a sentence in which Casey was misquoted as saying “the debate at home doesn’t take a toll on the soldiers and their families.” In fact he said that the debate “does take a toll on the soldiers and their families.”
Update:
In other news, the New York Times responds to the President’s speech at Annapolis yesterday by insisting, on this, ...
Thursday, December 01, 2005 -- [Salem Pax - an Iraqi in Iraq]
First rumours about bombing al-Jazeera and today this:
U.S. Is Said to Pay to Plant Articles in Iraq Papers.
The US administration isn’t having a particularly good media week here in the Middle East.
Being my own propaganda operation I have been planting articles in the Western press. Instant Democracy was on the Guardian’s Newsblog ...
Being Objective = Being Critical, Round 3 -- [Open Fire]
Early yesterday morning my alarm clock goes off as usual and as always, it's set to News Radio WBBM so I can get a taste of the mainstream media's lead topics for the day. Today's lead was a war "controversy" in regards to our American Army helping Iraqis publish a series of news articles, which will run in many newspapers throughout Iraq. What appears to be getting some people's panties in a bunch is that such stories paint the terrorists as "bad" while at the same time paint the Americans as "good." A truly shocking and controversial plan, I know. This item is news worthy apparently only because...
Thank God, It Ain't Necessarily So -- [Wayne's World 2005 - Blue Star Mom]
...After a lifetime of research examining the molecular mechanisms by which cells process information, Lipton proves that genes do not, in fact, control our behavior. Instead, he purports, genes are turned on and off by influences outside the cell. These influences include perceptions and beliefs.
In layman’s language, Lipton’s research shows how beliefs — true or false, positive or negative — affect genetic activity and actually alter our genetic code. In other words, how perception affects reality.
So what?
So what difference does it make to the men and women with boots on the ground in Iraq if the preponderance of mainstream media focuses on seemingly hopeless causes and a growing lack of support for the mission to help Iraq establish democracy?
From a soldier in IRAQ -- [My Daddy is a Soldier in IRAQ - Blue Star Family]
...The News Media. I have no faith in the news media back home. They always point out the negative, never talking about the positives. Why aren't they filming the town meetings showing democracy at work? Why aren't they looking at the life support projects that are under way here? Did you know that the country of Iraq now has more electrical power for its people than prior to the war, why don't you see that in the news? It was a major subject when it was negative, now that it's positive, you don't here about it. I find myself ashamed as an American of the political bickering in our congress and among our people at the expense of those who suffer. The media basically fuels strife and division. It points out and focuses the differences in public opinion, rather than unifying our country and creating ...
Line Number 3553 -- [Resurgemus - in Alaska]
I sewed on a new stripe today. It's now Technical Sergeant JP. That's E-6 for those unfamiliar with Air Force rank.
This photo was taken by my buddy Brandon yesterday at the Commander's Call.
U.S. planning surprise attack on insurgents -- [Riding Sun]
BAGHDAD, Dec. 2 (NYT/Rooters) — Code-named “Operation Silent Strike,” a U.S. surprise attack scheduled to take place tomorrow will aim to eliminate insurgent forces in the city of Mosul.
“Armed insurgents, 40-50, large multistory stone building, southeast quadrant, sector 7G”, the formerly secret plan began. “Recon Team Alpha rooftop insertion 0200 hours, neutralize sentries. On Alpha signal, Fire Team Bravo perimeter breach, eliminate remaining enemy."
(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.)
CRUMP! -- [One Marines View - in Iraq]
Silent, dark ……..a bit chilly, then the most annoying sound you can imagine blaring in my ear. The alarm clock! Strategically, I smack it down but its china made plastic makes it durable as only for it to roll under my rack and continue to blare its annoying noise. I get moving stand up………..Crump! A single mortar round impacts close enough to rattle my hooch, with the glass rattling. Silence………maybe it was a single round as they like to shoot and scoot and Im counting seconds to my self to measure flight time, one thousand one one thousand two. Perhaps it was a single…….. Crump, Crump two more impacts hit.
WAR REPORT: Nov. 16 - 26 -- [WELCOME TO EAST OF KURDISTAN - Iraqis in UK]
Clashes between Kurdish HPG and Iranian military forces, sabotage attacks on a Turkish military train in Hakkari and Turkish military telecommunication access points in Osmaniye and hot clashes between Turkish military and HPG guerrillas all over Botan, were reported by the HPG Press and Liaison Office (BIM) in communiques between Nov. 16 and Nov. 26.
Transferring Control -- [ThreatsWatch.Org - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
HUSAYBAH, IRAQ: The morning began with a patrol in the darkness to a home on the far side of Husaybah. 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Marines, 6th Battalion, received a tip that am Improvised Explosive Device was located outside the home. After a scan of the property, the joint Marine & Iraqi Army squad entered the home for a search. Nothing was found but a startled family of three. They cooperated with the search, and we left waving goodbye to the smiling father and child. Mom didn’t appear too happy.
Combined Forces -- [ThreatsWatch.Org - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
Life with Iraqi forces and U.S. Marines at Battle Position Beirut
HUSAYBAH, IRAQ: A new batch of Iraqi troops rotated into service at Battle Position Beirut as the last group was heading out on leave. The Iraqi soldiers are an extremely friendly bunch and very interested in getting to know you. Several of the soldiers spoke English, and served as translators for the groups who came by to say hello. All were extremely interested in the satellite connection and accessing the Internet from such a remote location. Looks of wonder appeared on their faces as they repeated “Internet? Internet!” To be fair, many of the Marines expressed amazement as well.
Running after "Haj Cong" -- [An independent look at Iraq - Ind. journalist in Iraq]
We were the center of attention this morning on the banks of the Tigris River. Locals, mostly men and boys, stood around us. They stared or quietly asked us for small items, “chockalata, mistah or “sura mistah?”
All of us had a feeling the today would be one of those days. It would drag on and on. No amount of cigarettes or small talk would make it go faster.
...Then I noticed there were no kids around. Kids are around us all the time here. This was different. No kids mean something is going to happen. ...
Progress IS Being Made -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
...If you want to know if progress is being made in Iraq, I can tell you, "YES." As the Medic on the MTT (Military Training Team), I was personally involved in the training of hundreds of Iraqi Army troops (and some Iraqi Police).
The vast majority of the Iraqi Security Forces that we trained are dedicated and want to learn as much as they can so that they can soon take over the security and stability of their new, free nation...
Lost and Left -- [Sisyphus Today... - in Iraq]
Just taking a brief left turn from current topics on my mind to expose a more human side of my recent experiences. I have gone through a lot of angst this year in how I view my participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Depending on the scope, I have differing attitudes towards Iraq, its people, the 'enemy', and our mission.
Operation Iron Hammer in Hit -- [ThreatsWatch.Org - Bill Roggio - in Iraq]
Coalition forces have launched Operation Iron Hammer in the city of Hit. This is a multi-battalion operation consisting of one Iraqi and two to three U.S. battalions; approximately 500 Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and 1,500 Marines and Sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit along with 500 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion-114th Field Artillery Regiment.”
Acts of kindness should be the norm -- [The will to Exist - in Iraq]
I work with an interpreter in my job because my current Arabic is limited to a few words. A few days ago, a man was waiting in line and the intrepreter was assisting him in filling out his badge renewal form. I heard laughter coming from that part of the room a few times. I hear laughter a lot. Sometimes it is forced, and sometimes it is drunken, and every now and then it is pure and infectious, making those who hear it smile without realizing that they are. The laughter I heard coming from my intrepreter was last of these types of laughter. It made me smile and only after I smiled did I realize that I had.
I looked over and saw a small man sitting in a chair,
Loony peace activists kidnapped -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
I read this article via Early Bird News about four peace activists kidnapped by insurgents. This unfortunate turn of events has caused the group to rethink who the real villains are here in Iraq.
Er, wait... no it hasn't. Here is the statement from Christian Peacemaker Teams, an antiwar organization out of Chicago:
Haiku Of Links -- [The Stupid Shall Be Punished]
Naïve progressives
Kidnapped by those they support
The U.S. did it!
(And while the CPT was just being rhetorical -- I think -- here's a moonbat who thinks that a U.S. military "black ops" team really did kidnap them.)
Evil celebrates evil -- [Peace like a River]
My fellow MOB blogger, friend and good guy Uncle Ben from Hammerswing75 had some troubling news on Monday:
This post is going to be difficult to write. Four civilians were kidnapped in Iraq on Saturday. I haven't been able to find lots of details, but here is the general story, which is:...
The Victory Roadmap: White House Releases National Strategy for Victory in Iraq -- [Bobby's World]
There have been more than a few things about the War on Terror (in general) and the War in Iraq (specifically) that have frustrated me. Some of it has been internally directed-- mistakes made by our military forces or other government actors because of bureaucratic inertia (e.g., the reluctance to understand and accept that an unconventional war requires different tactics and methods than a maneuver war), misguided perceptions (e.g., prematurely disbanding the old Iraqi army and refusing the multinational Muslim Corps as a supplemental peacekeeping force), or just plain downright stupidity (e.g, Abu Ghraib).
Operation Wishbone -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
A blocking position is put in place in support of C Co. 2-502 conducting Operation Wishbone. The blocking position was set to ensure no one enters or leaves the area of operations during the mission...
National Strategy for Victory in Iraq -- [GOP Blog]
The following document articulates the broad strategy the President set forth in 2003 and provides an update on our progress as well as the challenges remaining.
"The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All Iraqis must have a voice in the new government, and all citizens must have their rights protected.
POTUS Speech Open Thread -- [Kris Alexander - Intel Dump]
...The middle part of the speech was the real meat of what he had to say, and he told me some things that I did not know about what the Iraqi security forces have accomplished. And that’s a problem. I’m a fairly well informed person. I should know these things. If the Iraqi security forces are doing as well as the president says, the administration better figure out a way to start showing that progress in order to instill confidence in both the Iraqi and American people. Why are there no embeds in Iraqi military units? We ought to be publicly pressuring media outlets like Al Jezzera to start showing what is happening. What the president had to say has an interesting juxtaposition to James Fallow’s story in this month’s Atlantic.
Feingold: Pay No Attention to That Elected Government In the Corner -- [NZ Bear]
Here's an appalling little exchange I heard on NPR this morning, where Senator Russ Feingold, everybody's favorite defender of free speech, exercises his own to question the legitimacy of the elected Iraqi government.
Want to know which Iraqi party shares more political views with you? -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
It’s kind of possible now, this website offers an interesting interactive “Electionnaire” that will ask you 25 questions on the top political topics in Iraq.
Multiple Questions from Maria -- [Ask The Soldiers - in Iraq]
First and foremost,thank you for starting Ask the Soldiers. What a great idea! I do have a few questions.
How is the morale of the troops? I am very concern because I feel you have the hardest of jobs being stationed in Iraq. I'm sure it's hard enough being in a war without feeling the country is becoming divided about it. Are the troops affected by what is going on back home, or do they pretty much ignore it?...
Sister Riverbend -- [IraqPundit- an Iraqi in exile]
...This blog has condemned the violence against Iraqi civilians whether by U.S. soldiers, Zarqawi thugs, Badr thugs, Mehdi thugs and so on. Why, Riverbend, would you say, that you hate suicide bombers, "But I completely understand how people get there"? We all have problems in this World but don't have to kill innocent civilians in order to solve them. You know very well that the thugs deliberately target civilians at mosques, schools, funerals and hospitals.
Saddam Supporters Welcomed in Europe -- [Strategy Page]
November 30, 2005: Oops, some of Saddam Hussein’s henchmen have been found, hiding out from war crimes prosecution, as “war refugees” in Western Europe. Thousands of men (and a few women) who had done Saddam’s dirty work, hastily fled Iraq after the American 2003 invasion. Some had developed “escape plans,” while others just grabbed all the cash (American hundred dollar bills were a favorite) and portable valuables they could, jumped into the Mercedes, and headed for Syria or Jordan. With enough cash, new identification can be bought, and asylum sought in Europe.
Bush Refuses to Set Timetable for Iraq War -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Amid growing pressure to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, President Bush is refusing to set a timetable but indicating that by 2006, Iraqi forces will be sufficiently trained to let American troops shift to less visible and possibly less dangerous roles. In a speech Wednesday at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., Bush spelled out what he called his strategy for victory in Iraq, a plan that contained no new approaches and no start date for withdrawing U.S. troops. He urged patience, claimed steady progress and vowed to accept nothing less than "complete victory."
Pelosi Calls for Withdrawal From Iraq -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday embraced a call by a prominent member of her rank-and-file to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, two weeks after she declined to endorse it....
Iraqi adviser predicts looming US pull-out -- (Financial Times)
| Iraq's national security adviser is predicting that as many as 60,000 US-led coalition troops will be withdrawn by the end of next year, with most of the rest leaving by the end of 2007. | Muaffak a...
Bush Attempts Hard Sell on Iraq Progress -- (AP)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush's depiction of Iraqi security forces as "helping to turn the tide" is difficult to square with persistent setbacks in handing control of the country back to its own people....
UP IN THE AIR Where is the Iraq war headed next? -- (The New Yorker )...Seymour Hersh
...The former senior official said that after the election he made a lengthy inspection visit to Iraq and reported his findings to Bush in the White House: “I said to the President, ‘We’re not winning the war.’ And he asked, ‘Are we losing?’ I said, ‘Not yet.’ ” The President, he said, “appeared displeased” with that answer.
“I tried to tell him,” the former senior official said. “And he couldn’t hear it.”
U.S. occupation makes Hussein regime look good -- (SaFran Chronicle)
Yet, as investigative reporter Seymour Hersh reports in the current issue of the New Yorker, it is unclear what it's going to take to convince our increasingly isolated commander in chief to change course. Bush, according to a highly placed unnamed source Hersh cites, thinks his razor-thin win in 2004 is "another manifestation of divine purpose," and that history will judge him well.
Kurdish Oil Deal Shocks Iraq -- (LA Times)
'This is unprecedented,' one official says after a Norwegian firm begins drilling in the north.
A controversial oil exploration deal between Iraq's autonomy-minded Kurds and a Norwegian company got underway this week without the approval of the central government here, raising a potentially explosive issue at a time of heightened ethnic and sectarian tensions.
U.S. Use of `pillars' Echoes Muslims -- (AP)
A Bush administration policy paper outlines eight "pillars" of its strategy to win the war in Iraq - a word that echoes the five "pillars of Islam," used by Muslims to describe the bases of their faith....
What 'staying the course' really means -- (Asia Times)
Nearly three years into the war in Iraq, the Bush administration tells us that it wasn't about weapons of mass destruction or Iraqi ties to al-Qaeda, but about America's holy miss...
Joint U.S.-Iraqi Sweeps Target Insurgency -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi troops launched a joint operation Wednesday in an area west of Baghdad used to rig car bombs, while American soldiers rounded up 33 suspected insurgents in a sweep of southern parts of the capital. About 500 Iraqi troops joined 2,000 U.S. Marines, soldiers and sailors in a move to clear insurgents from an area on the eastern side of the Euphrates river near Hit, 85 miles west of Baghdad, the U.S. command said in a statement.
IRAQ: MILITANTS TAKE CONTROL OF RAMADI -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 1 Dec.- Armed Iraqi militants have attacked several US military bases near the city of Ramadi, in the volatile Anbar region of Iraq, as well as the offices of the city's governor, firing mortar rounds and rockets, satellite TV network Al Jazeera reports. The guerrillas are said to have taken control of all the main roads in Ramadi, with around 400 heavily armed and masked men patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints on roads in and out of the city.
Afghan National Army -- [Iraqi Bounty Hunter]
Afghan soldiers from the 4-1 Afghan National Army Battery run a crew member drill on a 10 5 MM Howitzer, Nov. 19, 2005, during Operation Atal Wali conducted at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
Afghanistan flashback!! -- [Travels with Shiloh]
Here's a story from one of my little excursions. It took place in August of 2003. Enjoy!
We received a report of an artillery piece and an anti-aircraft gun within a few miles of our base. We weren’t positive if they were a threat or not, but we really didn’t want to take any chances. Our base commander had a meeting with the local warlord in charge of that area and he said “Sure, go ahead and disable those guns.” So, that’s what we decided to do.
U.S. Promises to Back Dutch in Afghanistan -- (AP)
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- The United States promised Wednesday that Dutch troops deploying to Afghanistan would receive military support, hoping to avert a reversal of the Netherlands' agreement to send 1,100 peacekeepers.
Shopping in Aswan (international incident adverted #2) -- [Patiently Waiting - Blue Star Wife visiting Eygpt]
The photos will take a week to come back to me, so I will just post some of them later. Again this is out of date order but it is funny enough that I really don’t want to forget it.
If you have ever been to a country that barters or haggles, or even if you’ve been down a carnival strip of side show tents you should know exactly what I mean. Walking down a street Aswan is somewhat like a gauntlet, with the barkers calling out to you and often stroking your ego. If you spend just five minutes in their store, they hope that you will leave with a gift in your hand and money in their wallet.
Polls Open in 3rd Round of Egypt Elections -- (AP)
ZAGAZIG, Egypt -- Voting was light and the atmosphere peaceful when polls opened in this Nile Delta city Thursday for the third round of Egypt's legislative elections, which have been marred by violence and allegations of fraud....
Japan to Submit Female Succession Bill -- (AP)
TOKYO-- The Japanese government will submit a bill to allow women to assume the imperial throne in the parliamentary session starting in January, a top official said Thursday....
SAUDI ARABIA: TWO WOMEN ELECTED IN LANDMARK VOTE -- (AKI)
Jeddah, 1 Dec. - Two women have been elected to the board of directors of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, in a landmark vote. Lama al-Sulaiman and Nashwa Taher surprised everyone by winning two of the 12 seats on the board in an election where women were allowed to run for the first time, but which none of the 17 female candidates were expected to win.
14 Terror Suspects Detained In Belgium -- [Outside the Beltway]
Buried on page A19 of the Washington Post we find...
...Good to see the Belgian Police taking some action here, as they have been scandal ridden in the past. Belgium has Moslem integration problems similar to France, with huge unemployment among the Moslem youth.
Yemen, sponsor of terror again? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Indeed as the Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al Awsat recently reported citing Yemeni sources along with Western intelligence services, two AK 47 were used during the Al Qaeda’s attack on the US Consulate in Jeddah last December. The Kalashnikov’s serial numbers proved that these weapons belong to the Yemeni Defense Ministry. According to the same sources, US authorities have ...
Designating the Abu Sayyaf: A Case Study in a Broken Inter-Agency Process -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The US Government’s effort to block of terrorist assets is “broken” according to the forthcoming GAO report, leaked to the New York Times. The turf wars between the relevant agencies, Treasury, State, the FBI, the Intel Community, military commands, and the NSC are legion. Each has their own bureaucratic interest in the issue and their missions tend to be at odds with one another especially when it comes to terrorist financing. The State Department’s official response, as quoted in the November 29, 2005, New York Times, denied the lack of inter-agency coordination: "No interagency process is without flaws," but continued: “there is much evidence” that the inter-agency working group on terrorist financing “is one of the most successful examples of interagency cooperation.”
UK airports 'are stop-offs in torture flights' -- (The Times Online)
Eleven police forces were today threatened with legal action if they fail to investigate allegations that UK airports are being used as secret stop-overs by CIA jets transferring terror suspects to torture camps.
Bomb Blast Injures 30 in Bangladesh Town -- (AP)
DHAKA, Bangladesh - A powerful blast ripped through a town near the Bangladeshi capital Thursday, wounding about 30 people, officials said, just two days after suspected Islamic suicide bombers killed seven people there. The blast occurred outside a sprawling complex that houses the chief government administrator's office and a courthouse in the town of Gazipur, a police official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
UN gives up on anti-terrorism treaty by year-end -- (Reuters)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. treaty writers have given up on completing a long-stalled comprehensive treaty against terrorism by the end of the year, as called for by U.N. leaders, diplomats said on Wednesday.
...While 13 global treaties already target various aspects of terrorism, the draft "comprehensive convention on international terrorism" has been stalled in the legal committee since 1996 in a dispute over how to define terrorism.
Operation Phone Home -- [The Word Unheard]
In an effort to facilitate more troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and elsewhere overseas to be able to have more contact with their families and loved ones back home during the Holidays, the USO and Joe Scarborough & MSNBC have apparently teamed up for Operation Phone Home. The goal is to deliver as many phone cards as possible to make that happen. It's very worthy of your attention.
The military is FINALLY defending itself in regards to WP: -- [Balloon Juice]
It is about damned time, and merely reiterates what I have been stating from the beginning. Those who have been making charges that ‘chemical weapons’ were used against civilians, or the more sanitized charge, that we used WP ‘carelessly’ or ‘indiscriminately,’ with no regard for civilian life, have had their charges go without an official response for far too long.
Uniform fun -- [A Healthy Alternative to Work]
The Army has officially (at least here at A Healthy Alternative to Work) entered the "Make Your Own Uniform" phase. This phase exists between the beginning of the issuance of the ACU ("Advanced Combat Uniform") and the wear-out date for the old BDU ("Battle-Dress Uniform"). It's a strange period, and it pretty much means that it's a crapshoot as to what exactly the next soldier you come across is going to be wearing.
Another Fun Email -- [Confessions of a Military Recruiter]
I received an email the other day from Tania Themmen. Here is her email:
I am sure you are inundated with arguments about this, however I couldn't just let this go. Now, I understand the military thinking. We will give you a future. But you fail to mention it may be at the expense of your life. These kids are getting into a war ...
DEBUNK -- [Trying to Grok]
The other day I lost my temper with people who look down their noses at those in the military. Therefore, information on this study caught my attention on the news this morning.
Debunking the myth of the underprivileged soldier -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
Lively discussion on gays in the military
Again, for clarity, Uncle Jimbo started this ruckus not Matt/Blackfive. I figured a piece supporting removal of the ban against gays in the military would spark a lively debate and we got one.
UPDATE: One point I haven't made is that the policy prohibiting gays is not due overriding special consideration because it is the status quo.
Bronze Star Abuse Reappears -- [Strategy Page]
November 30, 2005: American troops are grumbling about what is perceived as disrespectful use of Bronze Star medals as “attaboy” awards for officers and senior NCOs who serve in Iraq, or for lower ranking personnel you want to pin a medal on for no good reason (like giving an IED victim, who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, something in addition to a Purple Heart).
The truth about WP --(LA Times)...John Pike
DESPITE EFFORTS to improve its image abroad, the United States has just suffered a damaging global propaganda defeat. And unfortunately, some of the wounds were self-inflicted.
Three weeks ago, the world's news media erupted into a feeding frenzy over new charges that the Americans were up to their evil old tricks. The story was all too familiar: Once again, it seemed, the United States had committed unspeakable atrocities, then lied about its illegal activities and been exposed. Every day there were fresh revelations and allegations. There is just one problem. It isn't true.
Cindy Sheehan has a secret -- [The Makaha Surf Report (Forward Deployed) - in Iraq]
...What people don't know about Cindy Sheehan is that she openly sides with and allows herself to be photographed with people that have pledged solidarity with Iraqi insurgents. Not only photographed with them, but aiding their causes and giving speeches for them with no shame for who they are and what they stand for.
Whoever am I talking about? Well the ...
Why I Am Not a Leftist Liberal (Part One) -- [Right-Wing of the Gods]
I found this while visiting a very left-wing blog (who referred to me as "a brown shirt" because I dared to state that I was still waiting for John Kerry's form SF 180):
My Liberal Manifesto
Which is great, because at least a liberal is stating what they stand for other than "Bush lied" or being anti-war-in-Iraq. Of course I want to use this to re-iterate to why we oppose such ideas, because we (conservatives) aren't racists, fascists, uncompassionate (or whatever else we've been painted as) but because we are very much opposed to these things. Nor do I intend to flame, but to give people something to think about.
There are 27 points in this manifesto, I will address the first 6 in this post.
*cracks knuckles*
I am a Liberal. ...
Laura Bush predicts Rice won't run in 2008 -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON - First Lady Laura Bush believes U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would make a great president but predicts she will stay out of the race in 2008.
RNC Chairman Questions Democrats on Iraq -- (AP)
LOS ANGELES -- The head of the Republican National Committee accused Democrats of trying to exploit the Iraq war for political gain at home - the latest attempt to turn mounting criticism away from President Bush....
Alito Hinted at Overturning Roe -- (LA Times)
In a 1985 memo, he urged the Justice Department to defend states seeking to restrict abortion.
Michael Moore denies owning Halliburton! -- (WND)
But author who made charge answers tax returns don't lie
In a nationally televised speech, filmmaker Michael Moore told a college audience he absolutely does not own any Halliburton stock – or any other stock for that matter – a charge leveled at him by author Peter Schweizer in the best-seller book
Media time again -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's in Iraq]
My little conspiracy theory is that the villains in the media are not necessarily the guys on the ground getting the stories but rather it is the editors and ideologues back home who pick and choose which stories to run.
Hosting reporters is something of an inconvenience but in this case it was relatively painless. He wanted to write about Iraqi Security Forces and their progress (or lack?), and so we hooked him up with the Military Transition Team that works with our local Iraqi Army brigade. Too easy.
Corrupt Bush Ally Resigns in Shame -- [Camk Katrina]
Check it out: we all knew it would only be a matter of time before the MSM pulled out all the stops to tie disgraced Republican congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham to President Bush, as illustrated in a particularly rancid article from The Australian entitled "Corrupt Bush ally resigns in shame."
Journalism vs. Information Operations -- [Officers Club]
From the LA Times article today:
As part of an information offensive in Iraq, the U.S. military is secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to publish stories written by American troops in an effort to burnish the image of the U.S. mission in Iraq.
FOX News Holiday Hypocrisy -- [Stop the ACLU]
UPDATE2: Fox has changed the “Holiday Ornaments” to Christmas Ornaments. Now if they can just fix that dang “Holiday Tree”. Our deadline still stands, but unless they turn a deaf ear, they should be changing it.
Distorting Guantanamo Bay -- [Strategy Page]
November 30, 2005: The prison camps at Guantanamo Bay have been the subject of controversy for over three years. The latest flap involves photos used by the media when reporting on the detainee camps. This has become the latest bone of contention between the military and the media. The images most commonly used are of Camp X-Ray, a temporary camp that was replaced by Camp Delta in April, 2002. The newer camps are going to be on the level of the latest correctional institutions anywhere in the world.
The Case of the Secret Memo -- (Newsweek)
The White House denies plans to bomb Al-Jazeera. But a warning sent out to British newspaper editors has given the controversy a fresh twist.
U.S. Is Said to Pay to Plant Articles in Iraq Papers --(New York Times)
A covert campaign is under way to plant paid propaganda in the Iraqi news media and pay Iraqi journalists monthly stipends.
Wizards of Winter -- [God Bless America]
Wouldn't want to live across the street from this guy! -- (VIDEO)
Why yes, I would like some cake -- [An American in Italy]
Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me.
Yep, I'm turning 26. My grand plans for the day involve work, school and having cake at home, maybe with RB.
Big Day... -- [ONE MORE DAY... ]
Tomorrow is my last day as a United States Army Drill Sergeant.
I wish I could say that the time flew by, but that would be a load of crap. It was long, slow, and painful. It was worth it, I am glad I did it, and I even had a lot of fun sometimes... but it's time for someone else to have all the fun for awhile. One of the best parts is going to be getting rid of that big ass hat.
4 million visits - [Unlce Jimbo - BlackFive]
If Matt isn't going to blow his own horn, I will. Blackfive has crested 4 million site visits and that is incredible. Congrats to Matt and as a reader for several years.
1,000th Execution Delayed, Murder on Schedule -- [ScrappleFace]
Virginia Gov. Mark Warner yesterday granted clemency to convicted murderer Robin Lovitt, commuting his death sentence to life in prison and so delaying the 1,000th execution since the U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976.
12/01/2005 -- [A Long Strange Trip - home from Iraq]
I am back on the ground in my own country to Ft. Bliss Texas and it is a good feeling. For all military members and spouses who know that once you move via transport you lack communication, and also are so into the travel and the cattle truck mentality that you forget about that piece. We got in here at 3pm yesterday after leaving Kuwait at 5am Kuwait time the 29th. We hd our customs brief 12 hrs prior to our departure and of course the planes was delayed for 3 hours so no sleep as we were locked down after going through customs. Curt and I volunteered for baggage detail for the flight cause you get to sit in the front of the plane and space yourselves out. I was able to get about 5 or 6 total hours of sleep on the plane as we trekked through Shannon, Ireland and Bangor, Maine. Both BEAUTIFUL places to land I can tell you that.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
