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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.)
"Juba" = "Baghdad Sniper" -- [Treasure of Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq]
On Saturday, I took the day off and spent it at home resting, studying for the TOEFL and the GRE and hanging out with my friends whose main subject at that day was the Baghdad Sniper.
Baghdad Sniper is a man who shoots US soldiers with his silent guns. He fires once and vanishes just like ghosts. There is never a follow-up shot, never a chance for US forces to identify him. It’s a matter of seconds. You’ll never hear it.
In my neighborhood, a new phenomenon is incredibly increasing. CDs with videos of this ghost shooting at the US soldiers in Baghdad are being sold and exchanged by young men and teenagers who are incredibly interested in that mysterious sniper. As people say, he uses silent guns in his shooting and he never missed a target.
...Now, whom to blame for this? I'll leave the answer to you. But my own point of view is this man and many others like him are leading the destruction of this country. They kill and only kill whether Iraqis or Americans. It doesn't matter for them now. They are powerful but someone should stop them. Iraq is no more a country. It is hard to do everything in it now. It is even hard to fight in it.
Operations and Negotiations in Iraq -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio]
The ‘maintenance’ phase of the Anbar Campaign proceeds as Iraqi Army units continue to take greater responsibility for security operations in Anbar province. Iraqi units are increasingly conducting independent operations in the region after joint Coalition and Iraqi operations over the fall placed a permanent presence in the towns and cities along the Western Euphrates River Valley. Operation Moonlight on the Syrian border was one such example. Operation Final Strike is the latest.
Where do they come from? -- [Ask the Soldiers - in Iraq]
In reading news releases from CentCom.mil (yea, I read it straight fromthe source - how right wing is THAT?) over and over there are stories aboutall these weapons caches found and destroyed (hooray for our guys!)Where do all the weapons come from?Are they left over from Sadaam's reign of terror?Smuggled over the border from a neighboring "friend?"Weapon-Mart?
High Tech Missions -- [Fraser From Iraq - in Iraq]
I wish I could tell you about all the gizmos and gadgets that make our mission easier, and The Bad Guy's life miserable. We do own the night, and we use it to our full advantage. It is our Magical Cloaking Device. What they cannot see they USUALLY cannot hit. The element of surprise and the tactics of stealth are employed like shields.
Breath Deep the Gathering Gloom.... -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Today I struggled with a nocturne. I have a very vivid memory of a trip out into Fallujah shortly after first arriving here. Under a blazing full moon we visited a gothic nightmare of a place called Observation Post Ethan. Getting into OP Ethan was like entering the decaying skeletal remains of a leviathan. The building's roof was flayed off of the rafters and hanging in fleshy tatters. To get to the main part of the OP you had to cross a courtyard thick with the dendrus of battle and, in the light of a full moon, combed by the exposed rafter's jagged shadows.
Deployment Items -- [Hajji-Net - in Iraq]
Stuff to bring to the desert. I am a company IMO and a geek. So, there is plenty of computing gear listed. There is also general deployment items.
"Chunky" -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
You know, call signs and acronyms are abundant in the Military and the Marines so I thought I would talk about that today for those of you new to my blog. This will help you non-military types understand the lingo that you may encounter out there in Cyberland when reading other MilBlogs.
The new chief judge in the trial of Saddam and his gang -- [Hammorabi]
The new chief judge Mr Raof Rashied Abdulrahman (61 years) opened the session in a much better way than the resigned judge (Mr R M Amien). He has much more concentration and using a much better judgment and interrogations of the witnesses and the accused to clarify the evidence in a more concentrated and better way.
Saddam’s Trial -- [IBN_ALRAFIDAIN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
To judge any matter one should have sufficient knowledge about it. For that, it is unfair to carp at Mr. Ameen for his conduct in running the courtroom. The man was very calm and understanding in listening to the whole sides. Such way of behavior is unfamiliar to the Iraqi society.
Pulitzer Prize -- [Michael Yon]
Michelle Malkin was the first serious blogger to suggest that my work deserved consideration for the Pulitzer Prize. Her sentiment was echoed by thousands of email messages and comments on the open forum site, asking me about a Pulitzer Prize, and whether my work might receive such a great honor. I was clueless. I knew that Pulitzer was synonymous with first-rate and prestigious, but that’s about it. A Pulitzer Prize was as far from my mind as the moon was from my feet.
Hey, GTL - where the hell have ya been??? GTL comes out of the proverbial "closet"... -- [Gun Toting Liberal]
Hey, I've been in the "sandbox", that's where. That's right, I am a non-commissioned officer in a component of the United States Air Force, and proudly so. Nobody shot at me and I didn't have to shoot anybody, thank God. I know some speculated that I was going to prison, and it turns out those people weren't THAT far off after all, but nope - I was eating, breathing, and drinking sand in defense of democracy in the sand, on the other side of the world.
IRAQ: TRIBAL MILITIAS SAY THEY'VE SEIZED 270 AL-QAEDA FIGHTERS -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 30 Jan - Some 270 Arab and foreign fighters have been detained in Iraq's restive al-Anbar province in a 'defensive campaign' launched by the local population towards the al-Qaeda network, tribal leaders say. A source close to tribal chiefs told Adnkronos International (AKI) that "the Iraqi security forces, with the help of the local population, have managed to arrest terrorists and Iraqis who provided them refuge." "Most of them were Syrian, Saudi...
CNN's Christiane Amanpour: Iraq war 'a disaster' -- (WND)
Personal opinion from chief international reporter: 'It just gets worse and worse'
Christiane Amanpour, the chief international correspondent for CNN, has injected her personal opinion about the Iraq war into the public domain, twice calling it "a disaster" on national television, saying the situation "just gets worse and worse."
"The war in Iraq has basically turned out to be a disaster and journalists have paid for it,
Abducted Reporter Asks That Prisoners Be Freed, Network Says -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 -- The Arab satellite television network al-Jazeera aired a video Monday night of American reporter Jill Carroll, who was kidnapped in Baghdad more than three weeks ago and had not been seen since a previous video shown Jan. 17.
Identity of many kidnappers in Iraq remains vague -- (Christian Science Monitor)
Officials say it is difficult to determine who is being held by insurgents and who is being held by criminals.
In the past 10 days, four more foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq, two Germans and two Kenyans. Agence France-Press reports that a video of the Germans pleading for their government to help them was broadcast Friday.
IRAQ: SUNNIS AND SHIITES CONDEMN CHURCH ATTACKS -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 30 Jan. - Political and religious leaders from Iraq's Shiite and Sunni communities have unanimously condemned Sunday's car-bomb attacks on churches in the Kurdish city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq and in the capital, Baghdad, which killed three people and wounded nine. A car-bomb also exploded outside the Vatican embassy on Sunday, although no casualties ...
In First Iraqi Case, Bird Flu Kills Girl in North -- (NY Times)
15-year-old Iraqi girl has died of bird flu, Iraqi and international health officials said yesterday, indicating the arrival of the disease in another country — one that, in its war-torn state, may be ill prepared to control its spread.
Iraqi Official Says Foreign Forces Could Fall Below 100,000 This Year -- (NY Times)...DEXTER FILKINS
The chairman of a group planning the transfer of security from American to Iraqi troops said an overwhelming majority of foreign soldiers could be out in two years.
“Fallujah - The Real Story” -- (Aljazeera)
The real story of Fallujah offensive is not what Washington gave out
The Real Story of Fallujah offensive that took place in November 2004 killing thousands of Iraqis, including civilians, isn't what the Bush administration gave out.
100th British military death in Iraq -- (Guardian Unlimited)
A British soldier was killed in southern Iraq today, taking the total death toll of UK military personnel in the country to 100 since the US-led invasion began in March 2003.
Report Says 2006 Critical Year for Iraq -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It will take far more U.S. support before the Iraqi government can take control over billions of dollars in reconstruction projects, including problem-plagued oil and electricity improvements, according to a government report released Monday....
The Truth about John Walker Lindh -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
John Walker Lindh aka John Walker aka Suleiman Ferris aka Abdul Hamid aka The American Taliban is a person that I will mostly likely to be associated for some time to come. I am sure on my obituary there will be a bombastic note that I was “the journalist who “discovered” Lindh after the battle at Qali Jangi” (the afghans have that dubious honor) Many have told me that Lindh’s story was a big deal back in the States. I will never know, I was in Afghanistan covering combat operations with in the ongoing war against the Taliban for CNN so I will never have the chance to the get the full impact of finding an American professing his love for the Taliban.
Innocent but still not released -- [Cao's Blog]
The entire TASK FORCE SABER 7 Team was declared innocent of all charges by the Afghan Second Court, which had granted a trial de novo (a new trial) in November 2004. Closed hearings took place between December 2004 and March 2005. All men were originally ordered released by the Appeals Court based on new evidence and the decision was endorsed by the Supreme Court of Afghanistan.
...We should be asking some serious questions as to how and why Americans held for charges they were declared innocent of–could have been subjected to horrible torture like this after their arrest.
Afghans thwart bomb attacks on eve of talks -- (Reuters)
KABUL, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Security forces in the Afghan capital defused two bombs on Monday that were found next to the main road to the city's airport while a car bomb was intercepted in the restive south, officials said.
Afghans to get promise of help for next five years -- (Reuters)
An international conference meets this week to endorse a five-year plan for Afghanistan's development.
Afghans Find Key Promises Unfulfilled -- (Washington Post)
PAGHMAN, Afghanistan -- When pledges of foreign aid began pouring into Afghanistan after the collapse of Taliban rule in late 2001, Mohammed Latif Kokan was sure he would soon be rid of the artillery shell fragments that had lodged in his shoulder during the Soviet military occupation of the 1980s.
Afghans arrest nine suspected bombers in raids -- (Reuters)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Afghan security forces arrested nine people suspected of plotting attacks including two Pakistanis preparing to become suicide bombers, a provincial governor said on Sunday.
State of the Union and Iran -- [The Adventures of Chester]
...Iran fails all of these tests. The capabilities of a nuclear Iran WOULD introduce multipolarity into the system of states, its intentions ARE threatening to the legitimate constitutional sovereignty of Israel, and its political culture is NEITHER stable enough to ensure the endurance of benign intentions (which don't exist) NOR does it possess representative institutions coexisting with fundamental human rights.
Even so, Bush should not make some grand gesture that were Iran only a democracy, we would condone its nuclear goals.
Flood -- [A Mobilized Year - in Kuwait/Iraq]
A couple months ago, I wrote a light-hearted post on the rain in Kuwait. It was at a point when I hadn't seen rain for quite some time--the early August rains of Mississippi in fact. Well, we’ve had a lot more rain since then. So much so, we had what amounted to a flood. Yes, I said a flood. Here are some pictures:
Jimmy Carter: At Least Hamas Isn't Corrupt -- [The Daley Times-Post].. Jim Kouri
When asked by the media for his thoughts on the Hamas triumph in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, former President Jimmy Carter replied that while they have a terrorist past, at least they're not corrupt. One of the complaints by many in the Middle East was the corruption within the Palestinian Authority and Yasser Arafat's Fatah Party. Arafat himself squirreled away millions of dollars from aid packages that were intended to help the Palestinian people. However, Carter's comment appears to dismiss the years of death and destruction perpetrated by Hamas on the Jewish State."
Hamas Leader: Israel Must Change Its Flag -- (The Jerusalem Post)
A senior Hamas leader indicated Sunday in an interview to CNN's "Late Edition" that his group's landslide victory in Palestinian legislative elections changed little in its stance toward Israel. Mahmoud Zahar reiterated that his movement would not ever recognize Israel's right to exist, nor did he reveal any willingness to negotiate. "Negotiation is not our aim; negotiation is a method," he said. If Israel would concede to Zahar's stipulations then, Zahar said, the Palestinians would be willing to allow a 10-15 year trial ceasefire "in order to see what the real intention of Israel [was] after that." The several conditions Zahar named included a demand that Israel change its flag.
World powers tell Hamas to change or lose aid -- (Reuter)
LONDON (Reuters) - World powers trying to broker Middle East peace said Islamic militant group Hamas must reject violence and recognize the state of Israel or risk losing vital aid when it forms a new Palestinian government
Both Fatah and Hamas Leaders Urge West to Continue Aid to Palestinians -- (NY Times)...GREG MYRE
GAZA, Jan. 30 — Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, and the Islamic faction Hamas urged Western countries on Monday not to cut aid to their government, saying it would impose further hardships on the impoverished Palestinians.
Mujahideen Army Calls Upon Fighters to Attack Denmark and Norway -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
The Mujahideen Army in Iraq--a prominent Sunni insurgent group--has released a new communique threatening to attack Denmark and Norway over a series of recent cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammed. According to the statement:..
Zawahiri's message: "your -US- assessment is wrong, we're winning" -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
The new Zawahiri videotape released by al Jazeera today shows a sophistication in the propaganda war waged by the Jihadists worldwide against the US and its allies. Designed to "crumble" the morale of the American public and "boost" the commitments of the Jihadi forces, the tape is another attempt to score points in the War of ideas and media. The results were immediate in the West. T
ACLU Chief Calls on President to Shut Down “Illegal Spying on Americans” -- [Stop the ACLU]
The State of Our Union Cannot be Strong if the President Continues to Violate the Law,” Says Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU
Al-Zawahri Mocks Bush Over Terrorism War -- (AP)
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - In a new video aired Monday, al-Qaida's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri mocked President Bush as a "failure" in the war on terror, called him a "butcher" for killing innocent Pakistanis in a miscarried airstrike and chastised the United States for rejecting Osama bin Laden's offer of a truce. Al-Zawahri, wearing white robes and a white turban and speaking in a forceful and angry voice, also threatened a new attack in the United States - "God willing, on your own land."
TERRORISM: WAR WILL SWITCH TO U.S. SOIL SAYS AL-QAEDA NO. 2 -- (AKI)
Doha, 30 Jan. - Qatar-based al-Jazeera Arabic satellite TV network has aired a new video featuring al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri. In it he confirms that he survived the US airstrike targeting him in Pakistan earlier this month, and calls US president George W. Bush "the butcher of Washington and a failure" with reference to the attack. "The war will be transferred to Bush's soil," al-Zawahiri warns.
My Turn -- [Courage Without Fear - in Iraq]
Ok, so I was going to sit back and watch all the comments flow freely after Micah made his last entry...but it seems some people feel the need to attack my husband personally...which I won't stand for. You can say what you want about the war, the President and whether or not you believe my husband should be over there, but don't think you can attack his character. No, my husband isn't a wife beater...
A Hint of Honesty -- [Faces from the Front]
...Stein, a humor columnist whose writing I have enjoyed over the years is pointing out an uncomfortable truth for the left.
If the troops support the war, want to win, want to see it through to the end, how can calling for their immediate withdrawal be supporting them?
When I was in Iraq, about the time Cindy Sheehan hit her peak, I had a converstion with Rick Steele, a photographer for Zuma Press.
Warriors and Fools -- [Grey Eagle - in Iraq]
I would like to order a dozen window stickers of Calvin urinating on Joel Stein please. Seriously, anytime you read something like this and come away with more respect for the insurgents then Mr. Stein then you know you have punished your brain by forcing it to endure reading this. But give Mr. Stein credit,
Salute the True Super Stars -- [A Long Strange Trip]
...Yep, well, I hope no one at KFAN reads this, and I am very honored they had the idea in mind to honor the "True SuperStars", but they didn't put too much planning into the float we rode on yesterday! You can see by the pictures that we had fun at the Winter Carnival Parade and the crowd at the parade was just awesome with their support and thank you's and I have to say that I didn;t kow what to expect when starting as Minnesota is a pretty (very) liberal stae, and a lot of people will tell you if they don't agree with the war or whatever, but the crowd was just amazing, and with Lee Greenwood on the loudspeakers, and Toby Keith blaring, it was pretty cool, even though it was starting to rain, and windy! I am truly proud to be an American!
A Canadian Editorial Thanks American Troops -- [Andi's World]
America-bashing has become a past-time for many, both inside and outside of our borders. That's why it's particularly nice to read a Canadian editorial expressing appreciation for American troops who came to the assistance of Canadian troops in Kandahar after they were hit by a suicide bomber.
Honor After the Fall -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
This slideshow presentation requires few words of explanation. Beautifully put together it is worth the time to read and watch.
The Stand -- [BlackFive - Laughing_Wolf]
To say that things are hectic at work right now is an understatement, and the schedule (and deadlines) are tight. Yet, all my plans changed in the blink of an eye this morning when I found out that a certain unmentionable group was going to protest at the funeral of Army Specialist Matthew Franz in Lafayette, Indiana, today. For me, there was no choice or debate, and I knew what I had to do. I re-arranged things, and I drove to Lafayette on my lunch break.
Press Release: Anti-Military Discrimination at Columbia University -- [Columbia University MilVets Library]
The current discrimination policy of Columbia University, which limits codified protection to “Vietnam era and disabled” veterans, is outdated and inadequate for the present-day veteran and military-related population. Last semester, a student at a university event was verbally attacked for being a U.S. Marine. This combined with a recent poll among Columbia’s veterans and military-related persons further confirms the need for reform of the Discrimination and Harassment Policy.
This Seems Odd -- [Balloon Juice]
Something does not seem right with this at all. I was under the impression that hundreds if not thousands of troops were buying body armor, and my experiences with the military and watching people fill out travel pay and TDY forms, if they were due a refund,they would have filed for it. This leads me to several possibilities:
Military Transition or Lifestyle Adjustment - Part 1 -- [Veterans In Motion - V.I.M.]
Recently I ran across a civilian gentleman that asked,"How can military transitioning can be complicated for a person
leaving the military?" Basically, he wanted for me to define the term military transition to where he could relate and understand the process. "It's just changing jobs, right?", he asked.
A New Kind of Care in a New Era of Casualties -- (NY Times)...ERIK ECKHOLM
The surge in complex injuries sustained by soldiers in Iraq has challenged the doctors at four special rehabilitation centers.
Just When You Thought They Couldn't Stoop Any Lower... -- [Soldier's Angels Germany]
So a group working to block the Alito nomination is asking you to call your Senator and say what?
SECOND, call the "URGE ABSTENTION" Senators identified immediately below and do the same -- say that you hope they vote NO on cloture this afternoon but if they can't, urge them to ABSTAIN from the cloture vote by doing something good that most Republicans would never do, like visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital instead.
Will Democrat Senators Use the Wounded Troops as political Cover? -- [BlackFive]
You usually don't come here for commentary on the Supreme Court (right?). While this post is related to Justice Alito's confirmation, that's not what this post is about.
Senate Votes to End Debate on Alito Nomination -- [Stop the ACLU]
Today the ACLU urged Senate to vote no on Alito cloture vote, saying he was too far outside American mainstream. I’m sure they are broken hearted that the majority of Senators decided the ACLU’s idea of mainstream was outside of the mainstream, which makes me happy.
Proud of My Party -- [RedState]
...I have to confess that after years of betrayal and squishiness, the unpleasantness of October was pretty much what I had come to expect of the GOP, nationally. And, as a result, at that point in time, I was very much prepared to leave. But then, a funny thing happened: the President decided to actually listen to the people who elected him.
Ohio Dems Grill Rep. Rahm Emanuel on National Security Issue -- [The New Editor]
The Chicago Tribune's Jeff Zeleny has interesting and revealing article on some tense exchanges at a recent breakfast meeting that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) had with Ohio Democrats over their party's position on national security.
Problems for President -- (Times Online)
Kidnapped and injured journalists pose problems for President Bush before key speech tonight
'Don't Offend Muslims, Mr. President' -- (CNSNews.com)
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, says President Bush should avoid using "loaded and imprecise terminology" when he refers to Islam in his State of the Union address.
Senate Moves Alito Close to Confirmation -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate on Monday all but guaranteed Samuel Alito's confirmation as the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice, shutting down a last-minute attempt by liberals to block the conservative judge's nomination with a filibuster....
Bush Budget Calls for Renewal of Tax Cuts -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush will renew his call for personal accounts within Social Security and ask Congress to renew tax cuts and curb the growth in benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid in his 2007 budget request next week, according to administration officials....
Sen. Clinton Has Strong Lead in N.Y. Poll -- (AP)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton remains in a strong position in her bid for re-election this year with almost six in 10 New York voters saying they will vote for the former first lady, a statewide poll reported Monday....
Odds and Ends -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
...Here's a story from Gen. Casey talking about how 'thin' the troops in Iraq are stretched. Not at all related to the platoon, but the accompanying photo is of the platoon, taken of guys who were providing security for the release of prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison (as the caption states). There are two more photos here and here of the same group of guys. The final photo shows some of the guys trying to get the media the hell out of the way, but of course instead of worrying about the security on the ground there, the photographers were busy snapping photos. And they wonder why so many journalists get kidnapped and killed? I think I've probably got a pretty decent idea.
The President of ABC News "Gets It" -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
Here is the President of ABC News commenting on the serious injuries suffered by their news anchor and cameraman in an IED explosion in Iraq:
This passes for intelligent reasoning? -- [Media Lies]
Mark Tapscott highlights a court decision that will have journalists in an uproar.
"'Persons who have unauthorized possession, who come into unauthorized possession of classified information, must abide by the law,' said Judge T.S. Ellis III. 'That applies to academics, lawyers, journalists, professors, whatever.'
It's In the Koran (Karaoke) -- [Jawa Report]
Since Vinnie appears to be asleep at the wheel on that whole Blog Sabbath thing, enjoy this music video. It's even got words so you can sing along!
Face Of The Earth!!! -- [devildoc8406]
... to let everyone know what I have done in my last three months of being home. There are only two things that I feel are of real importance. I am now a married man! On Jan 7th, 2006 I got married to my girlfriend of two years. I met her family over Christmas leave and asked her to marry me on christmas eve. I had to get the ok from her dad before I even thought about popping the question. I have some pics but will have to post them later when I get on my personal computer.
Promoted - finally! -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
I was finally promoted officially today to the rank of Sergeant. I had my orders over two weeks ago, but we were waiting for a friend of mine to get his orders for his promotion before actually going through with the ceremony - that way we didn't have to do two. So today, I officially have the rank pinned on and I recited the NCO creed (I have to admit I stumbled through it a little since it was by memory) in front of my squad out at the Cross Sabers. Nerve racking...
Home sweet home -- [Phil and Becky - Phil's home from Iraq]
I arrived home safe and sound and am currently preparing to take 30 days of well-earned block leave. Prior to signing out on block leave, there were a number of mandatory tasks to take care of. Some of them dealt with reunion with family members (i.e. briefings from the chaplain),
HOME! -- [So Far From Home - home from the Balkans]
I think the title says it all! I'm so happy to be home with my family and friends. It's truly a wonderful feeling. My family and I are getting ready to take a short trip to the Lake for a little R&R. Then it’s back to my civilian career. So with that said, forgive me but I'm going to take a break from writing and get back to being a husband and father. I'll see you in a couple weeks.
Minus 131 Days - HE'S HOME!!! -- [Wayn'e World - home from Iraq]
Wayne and Lauren just arrived!!!
Our Daddy is HOME!! 1/13/06 -- [My Daddy is a Soldier in IRAQ]
Yeah!! Our daddy is home.
NBC News: Coretta Scott King has died. More details soon ...
Another Somber Day -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
...But it was having to tell one of the members of the platoon who was good friends with SGT Herrera that made me realize how much we are one extended family here. We're friends, neighbors, fellow soldiers, and much more. God willing, I will never have to tell another one of my soldiers that one of their friends have died, because that is one of the toughest things I have ever had to do. And I'm only experiencing about 1/100th of what he and SGT Herrara's loved ones are having to go through. It makes me wish that military decision makers were the ones to notify families, because whether their decisions are right or wrong, good or bad, they would realize up close and personally the effects of their decisions on Americans.
The Challenger and Changes -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
...Yesterday was the 20 year anniversary of the crash. We still fly the Space Shuttle. I am still working in this God Forsaken hell hole part of the world. NASA still makes mistakes. The world has changed in many ways but in many ways it is still the same.
(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.)
Gallows humor -- [An independent look at Iraq - in Iraq]
I interviewed an Iraqi army battalion commander this afternoon. I've been following his battalion around for a couple of days now. All in all, they're light years beyond what I saw of Iraqi soldiers in early 2004. But, as many have correctly pointed out, they have some ways to go before they're able to independently operate without American soldiers around.
Keeping the Euphrates Valley quiet -- [Peace like a River]
MNF-Iraq reports that Operation Koa Canyon is wrapping up in Hit, a city along the Euphrates west of Ramadi. This cordon-and-knock operation began Jan. 15, and was a search for terrorists and their weapons caches. It takes courage to conduct these kinds of operations. Though it isn't all out free fire combat, you never know what's waiting behind the next door, in the next cave. The operation involved both Iraqi and US forces, and is yet another example of how the Iraqi security forces are performing well.
Weather and War -- [wordsmith at war - in Iraq]
...In Vietnam, we called the enemy Charlie. In Operation Iraqi freedom, he has earned the moniker of Haji. I don’t mean it disrespectfully, but it’s easier than saying terrorist or enemy or insurgent or “freedom fighter,” so I choose to use it. Haji doesn’t like this weather. Apparently he doesn’t want to get wet. Coalition forces still get killed and injured. Iraq can still be a dangerous place. But in my little chunk of this ancient country, fewer mortars and rockets get fired at the FOB when the wind is gusting across this massive desert and the rain clouds hover like a foreshadowing of evil.
Barbwire and HESCOs -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
This is an image which is played out over and over both here and in Afghanistan; combat engineers putting out barbwire and setting up HESCO barriers. HESCOs are large light gray foursquare bags, fitted into wire mesh receptacles and then filled with dirt. Think of a paper grocery bag with its top edges folded over lining a trash can. Urban legend has it that each HESCO is incredibly expensive. Based on the rumors, which I won't repeat, anyone who invested in their namesake company prior to 9/11 is standing in high cotton. Inside the perimeter of these HESCO fortresses a thick blanket of gravel is laid down over the dirt. As a result inside the wire one develops a certain way of walking, much like the bowlegged gait used when strolling across soft deep sand at the beach.
You are reckless and wrong and you need to reconsider your worldview -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
So you are anti-war. You think we invaded Iraq “illegally.” You think we’re over here slaughtering innocents and trying to extend an American empire into the heart of the Middle East. You’ve protested. You want to impeach Bush. You believe America is headed down the wrong path. And you’re completely wrong about all of it. If you’re still willing to listen I’ll explain why…
Civilian casualties in Iraq soar to 250,000! Not. -- [TigerHawk]
Not content with the Lancet's extrapolated estimate (as of October 2004) that 100,000 Iraqi civilians in excess of the usual rate had died since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Attaturk (one of Atrios' co-bloggers) is now saying that the Lancet study underestimated civilian deaths by 60%. The supporting "analysis" is here.
Emails from the public -- [Courage without Fear - in Iraq]
...It seems that Theresa Thoma, in Elkader, Iowa thinks I should be home in the U.S. cleaning up after Hurricanes or doing some other civic duties. Well Theresa, I’ve got some news for you, I’m an Officer in the United States Army. I do what I’m told. And right now, I’ve been told to come to Iraq, fight a war against the insurgency and help the people of this once proud country to rebuild their government.
Here is one of the emails I have received from Theresa and my reply back to her.
MND-B SOLDIERS DETAIN KIDNAP CELL LEADER, 3 OTHERS -- {Centcom}
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Acting on a tip, MND-B Soldiers were moving to the house of a suspected kidnapping cell leader Jan. 28 west of Baghdad when they came across the decapitated bodies of three Iraqis on a soccer field.
The Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, detained the suspected criminal who lives just north of the soccer field. In the house, Soldiers found a pistol, a sniper rifle, improvised explosive device batteries, timers and circuit boards.
Is America Actually In A State Of War? -- (Boston Globe)...James Carroll
...Iraq is not a war, because, though we have savage assault, we have no enemy. The war on terrorism is not a war because, though we have an enemy, the muscle-bound Pentagon offers no authentic means of assault.
Iraq aims to boost oil exports -- (Gulf News /Reuters)
Davos: Iraq aims to boost crude oil exports by around 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.5 million bpd within six weeks, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi said on Saturday.
Voices from Iraq: Stryker brigade 1st Lt. Mark Brogan -- (Ancorage Daily News) HT: [Stryker Brigade News]
... Many of the children I speak with know at least some English and are able to communicate with soldiers, always eager to converse and tell them their names. They bombard soldiers, asking questions about where we are from, what is our name, and many other small facts about soldiering.
Army Forces 50,000 Soldiers Into Extended Duty -- (New York Times on the Web)...Reuters
The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended under a policy called ``stop-loss,'' but while some dispute its fairness, court challenges have fallen flat.
Direct Talks—U.S. Officials And Iraqi Insurgents -- (Newsweek)...Scott Johnson, Rod Nordland and Ranya Kadri
American officials in Iraq are in face-to-face talks with high-level Iraqi Sunni insurgents, NEWSWEEK has learned. Americans are sitting down with "senior members of the leadership" of the Iraqi insurgency, according to Americans and Iraqis with knowledge of the talks
Millions In Iraq Aid Squandered -- (Houston Chronicle)...Jim Krane, Associated Press
Iraqi money gambled away in the Philippines. Thousands spent on a swimming pool that was never used. An elevator repaired so poorly that it crashed, killing people
Embedded With U.S. Marines -- (AP Correspondent Antonio Castaneda is embedded with U.S. Marines)
For all their armor and weaponry, the Humvees sharply turned away from each vehicle they passed, carefully steering away from both tiny, aging jalopies and large cargo trucks. The soldiers methodically scanned the vehicles and roadsides.
Shortly after we turned off onto a small paved road that led to a U.S. military base, a suspicious mound of trash lay beside the road. Our driver tried to stop, but he hit the brakes too late.
Wounded ABC Anchor Evacuated to Germany -- (AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - ABC's "World News Tonight" led its nightly broadcast with its own journalists in the news: Co-anchor Bob Woodruff and a cameraman had been seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Woodruff and Doug Vogt both suffered head injuries, and Woodruff also suffered broken bones. They were in stable condition following surgery and were being evacuated to medical facilities in Germany, ABC News President David Westin said.
Body Armor Likely Saved ABC News Pair -- (New York Post/AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - Surgeons removed shrapnel from ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff's head and neck, a family friend said Monday, and a hospital official said body armor likely saved the journalist's life. Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously injured when a roadside bomb exploded Sunday while they standing in the open hatch of an Iraqi military vehicle. They underwent surgery in Iraq, then were flown to a U.S. military base in Germany for further treatment.
Bombs Strike Christian Targets in Iraq -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Car bombs exploded in quick succession Sunday near four Christian churches and the office of the Vatican envoy, killing three people and raising new concerns about sectarian tensions. At least 17 other people were killed in other violence around the country....
Saddam, Defense Leave Trial in Protest -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A new judge cracked down Sunday in a chaotic session of Saddam Hussein's trial, ordering a co-defendant and a lawyer expelled from the courtroom. The entire defense team left in protest and Saddam was escorted out after a shouting match in which he yelled, "Down with America!" Despite the turmoil, chief judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman pushed ahead, replacing the defense lawyers with court-appointed attorneys and hearing three prosecution witnesses before adjourning the trial until later this week.
What Islamic Radicals and Iraqi Christians Have In Common -- [Strategy Page]
January 30, 2006: The major Sunni Arab resistance groups have formed a council for negotiating with the government and American forces. Such negotiations have been increasingly common over the past year, as more and more Sunni Arabs turned against the al Qaeda terror campaign.
An Open Letter to Arianna Huffington -- [Fire Power Forward - in Afghanistan]
Now I normally don't let the simpering drivel of the left wing bother me too much, but a column regarding the stability of Afghanistan by Arianna Huffington showed up in Stars and Stripes the other day and it is so far off the mark that it demands a response.
If -- [Fire Powere Forward - in Afghanistan]
I suppose that the reason you area reading more and more of the politics of the GWOT here than before is that it is a function of where we are in the deployment cycle. Our time remaining here is in the single digits now and I think it is normal that when you reach a juncture such as this, you cast a retrospective glance at the things you have both accomplished and endured.
Afghan Dining -- [Miserable Donuts]
One night at dinner, my son asked me if we could pretend we were at a restaurant. "Sure Kiddo, we can". I was scurrying back and forth to the kitchen, so he thought it would be fun to pretend he was ordering from the cook - me. Then he looked up and asked, "Daddy, do they have restaurants in Afghanistan?"
Base in the clouds!! -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Bad weather and more bad weather! The bowl here has been dishing out some nasty WX the last few days. So not much flying going on at all. As I watched a Russian fixed wing land today I had to hlod my breath. I heard the IL-62 before I could see him.
OPERATION ENDURING BOREDOM - EPISODE VIII - [American Citizen Soldier - in Iraq]
...Suffice it to say, no one exactly “beat feet” to go comply with his ultimatum. The village elder eventually turned up and, seemingly eager to curry favor with the generous but gullible Americans, announced: “We don’t have any of your missing equipment--but our rival village over there does!” (Points to area roughly two klicks away). Wouldn’t you know, our leadership actually fell for that one.
Afghan Province's Problems Underline Challenge For U.S. -- (Washington Post)...Griff Witte
...As one senior U.S. military official describes it, Uruzgan is "the last frontier" -- a place that exemplifies why the international mission to secure Afghanistan still has a long way to go, why well-intentioned foreign assistance often ends up in the wrong hands, and why -- more than four years since the defeat of Islamic Taliban rule -- the insurgency has proved so difficult to defeat.
New optimism in Afghanistan -- (Khaleej Times)
AS AFGHANISTAN changes for the better in many ways, that gets reflected in the people's responses. A survey conducted by BBC in Afghanistan shows an overwhelming majority of the people there are optim...
Afghan Suicide Attacks Foiled -- (London Times)...Associated Press
Seven Afghans and two Pakistanis allegedly plotting suicide attacks were arrested in southern Afghanistan yesterday, officials said.
The Hamas Gate.. -- Counterterrorism Blog]
Walid Phares
As soon as the Palestinian commission for elections declared Hamas as a winner of the legislative elections in Gaza and the West Bank, a hurricane of questions slammed international media, Governments, politicians, and analysts. Among officials of the Palestinian Authority: what's next? Will Hamas ruin the advances in international recognition? Within Israel: Is the Peace process dead? How can we deal with a Terrorist Government?
Hamas - past, present and future -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
My advice to Hamas leadership: less dressing up of the babies. More reading variety. Reading is good for your brain.
Palestinian Gunmen Take Over EU Office -- (AP)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Masked gunmen on Monday briefly took over a European Union office to protest a Danish newspaper's publication of cartoons deemed insulting to Islam's Prophet Muhammad, the latest in a wave of violent denunciations of the caricatures across the Islamic world. The gunmen demanded an apology from Denmark and Norway, and said citizens of the two countries would be prevented from entering the Gaza Strip.
Merkel, threatening aid cut-off, to meet Abbas -- (Reuters)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has threatened to cut vital European Union aid to the Palestinians, said on Monday President Mahmoud Abbas should urge Hamas to recognize Israel and renounce violence.
Monday's Winds of War: 30 Jan 2006 -- [Winds of Change]
Members of the terrorist organization Hamas captured 76 out of 132 parliamentary seats in the Palestinian elections, while the ruling Fatah party won only 43 seats. In response, thousands of Fatah members rioted in Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli authorities gathered for a security meeting and expressed serious concerns, while the United States is expected to review their foreign aid to the Palestinians.
Let's Accept Osama's Olive Branch -- [Andi's World]
John Arquilla, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, is advocating taking bin Laden seriously and negotiating with al Qaeda.
Arquilla is concerned with the suffering of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
...Apparently, little thought was given to this:
Fewer Terror Assets Frozen -- (USA Today)...Kevin Johnson
The amount of assets frozen by U.S. anti-terrorism units is declining dramatically each year, prompting a former Bush administration official who helped oversee the program to suggest that a “lack of urgency” is hurting efforts to block terrorist fundraising.
Pakistan 'delay' let Bin Laden escape US strike -- (Gulf News)
| Karachi: Prevarication by the Pakistani Government cost America the chance to kill Osama Bin Laden in an airstrike near the Afghan border two years ago, the Sunday Telegraph has said.
HEARTS FOR HEROES PICTURES -- [Yikes]
This is a picture of me & Brie sorting and counting the V-day cards.. we are still counting....
Bad Timber -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
There is a fellow back home In California, who is doing his job. Writing. I would say that he is very successful and with his last little OpEd piece, will get a lot of attention for a long time. I give him credit because he did his job, right, wrong or indifferent on how you feel, emotions aside, he has you talking. Now I feel sorry for the S.O.B. because what he wrote might be the straw that broke the “Camels” back for some guy that has been over here in Iraq fighting and he might go pay this nameless person a visit one night. I believe that he wrote this to get people fired up and mad on purpose. Why?
Free to Rock at Walter Reed -- [Gunn Nutt]
There were no commie Pinkos blighting the entrance to Walter Reed again this week. In their place were happy, cheering supporters on All Four Corners delivering their thanks to the wounded warriors, caregivers, and families.
5 States Consider Bans On Protests At Funerals -- (Washington Post)...Kari Lydersen
At least five Midwestern states are considering legislation to ban protests at funerals in response to demonstrations by the Rev. Fred Phelps and members of his Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church, who have been protesting at funerals of Iraq war casualties because they say the deaths are God's punishment for U.S. tolerance toward gays
Could We Stop Being So Dramatic Please? -- [Officer's Club]
Al-Reuters....
Army Forces 50,000 Soldiers into extended active duty.
For god's sake, knock it off Reuters. The army "forces" soldiers to do things all the time, the more appropriate term for it is "orders." That's what the military is, that's what they do. That's why service is a sacrifice, and that's why soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are so special to the American people.
Corrections -- (Newport News Daily Press)...Newport News Daily Press
The Military Update column in Sunday's newspaper incorrectly stated, "Combat-zone tax exclusions, combined with changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and child tax credits, have reduced - even wiped out - the tax liability of thousands of military families." Combat-zone exclusions don't affect Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Army to Investigate Gay Porn Allegations-- (AP)
...Martha Rudd, an Army spokeswoman at the Pentagon, said soldiers accused of homosexual activity might be removed from their units, although she did not have specific information about the investigation of the 82nd. When asked if the soldiers involved had been moved out of barracks, Hannah declined to comment.
"We are concerned about the privacy and rights of each trooper involved and that they are treated with dignity and respect," Hannah said.
Clarification -- (European Stars and Stripes)...Stars and Stripes
In a Jan. 28 story that reported the U.S. could soon reach an agreement to establish shared military facilities in another country, Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, U.S. Army Europe’s deputy chief of staff for operations, was asked about bases in Bulgaria. In his response he did not mention the nation by name, instead saying “areas of the world, but I won’t say where.”
Army's Rising Promotion Rate Called Ominous -- (Los Angeles Times)...Mark Mazzetti
Struggling to retain enough officers to lead its forces, the Army has begun to dramatically increase the number of soldiers it promotes, raising fears within the service that wartime strains are diluting the quality of the officer corps
Military Family Relief Fund Goes Untapped. -- (LA Times)
The National Guard is blamed for a lack of awareness but says the rules are too restrictive SACRAMENTO — A year after it was launched to help activated National Guard families suffering financial hardships, the California Military Family Relief Fund has been a major disappointment to its sponsors.
In 2005, the fund paid out only $7,687 to just three families from among the 7,000 soldiers activated for federal duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other postings that year.
Few Seeking Repayment For Gear, Military Says -- (New York Times)...John Files
Fewer than 70 service members have sought reimbursement for the cost of combat equipment they bought for use in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a program that the Pentagon originally opposed.
DoD May Outsource Mail Delivery -- (Federal Times)...Karen Jowers, Stephen Losey and Dan Davidson -LINK UNAVAILABLE
The Defense Department is starting to move forward on a plan to outsource its billion-dollar-plus mail operation, which would be one of the government's biggest privatization projects in recent years.
Sheehan Considers Challenging Feinstein for Senate -- [Outside the Beltway - James Joyner]
Cindy Sheehan is considering a run for Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat, arguing that California needs someone "in touch" with the voters.
Kissing A Commie -- [Stop the ACLU]
Update: Kender says he will sponsor a prize to make this a caption contest. The prize will come from our store. So, caption away.
Cindy Sheehan on Military Training -- [Andi's World]
I would like to see the military training manual which teaches our troops that the Hajis of Iraq are "less than people."
Chavez Backs Sheehan Plan for Bush Protest -- (AP)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Cindy Sheehan, who gained international fame when she camped outside President Bush's ranch in an anti-war protest, plans to pitch her tent again, Venezuela's president said Sunday as he urged activists worldwide to help bring down "the U.S. empire."...
Bush State of Union part of election-year strategy -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech will stress his optimistic vision for Iraq and the U.S. economy in a strategy aimed at giving Republicans a potential road map to victory in November and boosting his own weakened standing.
No Media Bias? -- [Outside the Beltway - Leopold Stotch]
For those of you who disbelieve the evidence that the mainstream media slants leftward, please explain to me what exactly is being "reported" here:
"It's turning into our Vietnam"
The Associated Press: Smothering the voice of the victim -- [Counter Column]
There's no other way to put it.
Saddam Hussein gets the dramatic photo. He gets top billing. His brother gets fellative press in the top few graphs for being dragged out of the courtroom after calling the court "the daughter of a whore."
Welcome Home, James! -- [Soldier's Angel - Germany]
A very special welcome home, thank you, and well done from all of us at Soldiers' Angels!
(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.)
America's patience is running out, the UIA rejects pressures. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Today al-Hurra TV reported that the presidency council (Talabani, and his deputies Ghazi al-Yawir and AbdulMahdi-met in Baghdad to discuss the results of the elections and the necessity to form a government that reflects national unity. The meeting also discussed the first session of the new parliament that is planned to take place two weeks after the election authorities finish studying the objections and certifies the final results.
Immature Discussions Reveal Hard Emotions And Concern Me! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
I’ve been hearing strange analysis of the political process in Iraq and how the state is being formed. It is normal to hear Iraqis discuss politics, even under Saddam, but then they were mostly politics against “the occupiers and enemies” and rarely about the Iraqi internal politics.
“The Iraqi defense minister converted to a Shiite,” said one I know. “No Sunni would visit Iran,” he said as an evidence of the minister’s adoption of Shiite Islam.
...That’s a real story and real conversation that took place in a place in Iraq and among three average Iraqis. My point is: I wonder how many people have such conversation in Iraq every hour? And how much this contributes to provoking people to violence?
The Turban Republic of Iraq -- [Treasure of Baghdad an Iraqi in Iraq]
Few days ago and when I was going to work with a colleague of mine, we passed by a gas station in Karrada near the headquarters of Abdul Aziz Hakim, the prominent Shiite leader who runs the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. At 8:30 a.m. and when most of the people were going to work and school on a rush hour, I saw something shocking. Two SUV’s that belong to “Badr” troops blocked the street. Four masked men were directing their rifles at the people. Literally, people were scared. Do you know what the Badris were doing? They were filling their vehicles with fuel and they blocked the street fearing possible attacks occur against them. It was really insulting. Even Saddam, the worst dictator on earth, did not do it.
Now this area is not Iraqi; it’s Hakimi and Badri.
U.S. hands over security of part of Mosul to Iraqi troops -- (Azzaman)
U.S. troops have withdrawn from the part of the northern city of Mosul situated on the right bank of the Tigris River....
Iraq Trip Yields Answers, Huckabee Says -- (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock))...Jake Bleed
Gov. Mike Huckabee said Wednesday that his surprise visit to Iraq has quieted his concerns over how long U.S. forces will be required in the country, that a lengthy stay remains in store and that putting a deadline on withdrawal would be "a huge, and frankly, costly mistake."
US commander in Iraq acknowledges military stretched -- (Yahoo/AFP)
The commander of multinational forces in Iraq, General George Casey, acknowledged that US military strength around the world is stretched, during a handover ceremony in the south of the country.
SUFFICIENT TROOP STRENGTH IN IRAQ -- {Centcom}
An Associated Press story earlier today incorrectly reported that General George W. Casey, Multi-National Force Iraq commanding general, implied American forces in Iraq are “stretched.”
During an interview in Diwaniyah, Iraq, General Casey was asked about the current operational tempo and if insurgents could possibly “outlast” the U.S. Army in Iraq.
Having talked to the Chief of Staff of the Army only yesterday about overall troop strength and operational tempo, General Casey replied that the Army could sustain this effort for a long time.
U.S. Rebuilding In Iraq Found To Fall Short -- (New York Times)...James Glanz
Because of unforeseen security costs, haphazard planning and shifting priorities, the American-financed reconstruction program in Iraq will not complete scores of projects that were promised to help rebuild the country, a federal oversight agency reported yesterday.
Iraqi Minister Survives Bomb Attack -- (Arab News)
BAGHDAD, 27 January 2006 — A roadside bomb hit an armed convoy carrying Iraqi Industry Minister Osama Al-Najafi yesterday, killing three bodyguards but leaving him unharmed, his mini
The Afghan Air Force - We'll Be Back -- [Miserable Donuts] (pics)
The Afghan Air Force had fallen on hard times. When the Soviets left, the Afghans still had a respectable force. The continual fighting wore them down, and by the time the US Air Force came looking for targets in 2001, they were down to a handful of operational aircraft.
5,000 Troops Are To Be Sent To Afghanistan -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Thomas Harding
The biggest Army deployment since the Iraq invasion will begin next month.
Afghanistan: London Conference To Shape Agenda For Next Stage Of Reforms -- (GlobalSecurity)
Delegates from 70 countries are gathering in London next week (31 January-1 February) for a two-day conference on Afghanistan's future. Organizers say a key document, known as the Afghanistan Compact, will be their focus. It will map out a five-year plan for cooperation between the Afghan government and the international community. The Afghan government also will unveil its development priorities in its National Development Strategy.
U.S. Military Helps New Hospital Symbolize Afghan Progress - (Defend America):
Few infrastructure projects inject the Afghan people with as much hope for a stable and healthy life for their families as a new hospital. Along with many of the new roads and bridges built during reconstruction, a new hospital will now bring that hope to the people of southern Afghanistan.
Taliban sets fire on girls school in Afghanistan -- (Xinhuanet)
KABUL, Jan. 27 -- Suspected Taliban militants set fire on a girls school Thursday night in Afghan eastern province of Laghman, a local police said.
"Last night at about 12 p.m. (8:30 p.m. GMT) some suspected Taliban militants blazed a girls school in Haidar area, but there is no casualty of school staff," Hizbullah, the spokesperson of the governor told Xinhua.
Germany gives 10,000 guns to Afghans -- (UPI)
KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 26 -- Germany has donated 10,000 Walther P-1 pistols to the Afghan security forces.
The weapons were handed over at a ceremony in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, the Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan announced. They were all 9mm German-made Walthers from the German Armed Forces.
Border Badlands -- [Kevin Sites - journalist in Syria]
TANEF BORDER CROSSING, Syria -- They are like toy soldiers in plastic poses -- frozen in space, pointing their weapons in the direction of Iraq. It's not that I doubt their intentions, it just seems, well, a bit staged -- for me.
Officials Meet to Decide Future of Yongsan Garrison -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Korean officials are currently meeting to decide the future of the US military's Yongsan Garrison in Seoul:
The South Korean government held its first planning meeting this week to decide the future of the 600 acres in the capital city that is now Yongsan Garrison, according to a spokesman from the Korean prime minister’s office.
Happy Australia Day! -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
Visit the National Australia Day website to find out what the holiday is all about, and don't forget to hug an Aussie!
Iran Seeks Direct Flights With U.S. -- (International Herald Tribune)...Reuters
Iran has asked the United States to allow direct flights between the two countries after a break of more than two decades, a senior civil aviation official said Thursday.
57% Back A Hit On Iran If Defiance Persists -- (Los Angeles Times)...Greg Miller
Despite persistent disillusionment with the war in Iraq, a majority of Americans supports taking military action against Iran if that country continues to produce material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.
The ACLU’s Palestinian Terrorist Friends -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The American Civil Liberties Union has sent a letter (Acrobat) to Department of Justice calling for the dismissal of the remaining charges against former University of South Florida professor Sami al-Arian. Citing Al-Arian’s acquittal on 8 of the 17 charges against him, the ACLU claims that since “the two most serious charges” were thrown out, that al-Arian should be set free, and that such a move would demonstrate that the United States “welcomes religious and ethnic diversity.”
Americans Who Support Totalitarianism, or The Friend of My Enemy... -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
I couldn't help but notice the big news today; Google has agreed to censor the internet, restricting Chinese users from thousands of websites and search terms. Funny, but if you Google google you'll find that it's currently being sued by the U.S. government because the U.S. wants to 'make more use of internet data for fighting crime and terrorism.' In other words, Google won't release search data to the U.S. government to help it track down crooks, perverts, and terrorists, yet it's more than happy to support the Chinese government's brutal squashing of human rights and free speech.
Paper Says Mossad Tried To Kill Bin Laden -- (Reuters)
Israel's Mossad spy service and a foreign counterpart enlisted a confidant of Osama bin Laden to kill the al Qaeda leader in 1996 but the plan fell apart over a political dispute, a newspaper said yesterday.
Strategy Targets Terror WMDs -- (Washington Times)...Bill Gertz
The Pentagon's latest four-year strategy report calls for setting up a special military task force to prevent weapons of mass destruction from being transferred to terrorist groups, The Washington Times has learned.
Joel Stein Answered - By Theodore Roosevelt -- [Winds of Change - Armed Liberal]
I've avoided commenting on Joel Stein's "look at me, I'm so lame!" column in the L.A. Times, because there's really not much to say about it - or him - once you read the transcript of his interview with Hugh Hewitt.
Joel Stein: You've been Fredited -- [Fred Schoeneman]
Yeah, so I didn't agree with Joel Stein's opinion, recently in the LA Times, in which he said he doesn't support the troops. I decided to take out my red "cyber-pen," if you will, and do some Frediting.
Soldiers' Challenge To Army Policy Fails -- (USA Today)...Unattributed Link Unavailable
A federal judge has dismissed a challenge to the Army's stop-loss policy that keeps soldiers on active duty even though their terms of enlistment have expired. Army National Guard soldiers David Qualls and Rafael Perez claimed the military fraudulently persuaded them to enlist without specifying their service might be involuntarily extended.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled this week that Qualls' claim was moot because shortly after filing suit, he voluntarily re-enlisted for six years and got a $15,000 bonus.
The judge said Perez's enlistment contract made clear that the Army might extend his service, and there was no evidence his recruiter misled him.
US court dismisses challenge to extended Army duty -- (Yahoo News/Reuters)
A federal judge has thrown out a legal challenge filed by two soldiers to a U.S. Army policy forcing them to remain in the military for duty in the Iraq war after their voluntary service commitment ended.
Jimmy Carter Upset Over Palestinian Election Results -- WuzzaDem]
Color me shocked:
"It is unconscionable to perpetuate fraudulent or biased electoral practices in any nation."
Yes! Say it, brother!
All the President's Dodges -- (Slate)
How George Bush ducks questions.
...Here are three of the president's favorite dodges, as executed at the press conference:...
Press Conference of the President -- (GOP)
THE PRESIDENT: Sorry to interrupt. (Laughter.) Thank you all very much. I look forward to answering some of your questions here in a minute. I'm also looking forward to going up to Capitol Hill next Tuesday to give my State of the Union address. I thought it probably best not to practice my speech in front of you here, so you'll pay attention to it when I deliver it. But I do want to give you some thoughts about what I'm thinking about.
Comprehending the mindset of the mainstream media -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
If you have the time, read this transcript. The transcript in question is of a weekly summary given to the press by Major General Rick Lynch (who I indirectly work for) of what’s happening in Iraq. Notice that after he discusses a positive piece of news, the press doesn’t ask a single question about it. Why? I don’t presume to know. But here is a synopsis of the positive news from the transcript:
(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.)
Tall Afar -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
Tall Afar is a northern city in Iraq that until recently was a hotbed of insurgent activity. 5,000 US and Iraqi troops swept the area in September 2, 2005 and roughly 57 insurgents were killed during the course of the day according to the Washington Post. Of course there are likely still insurgents in the city and certainly still in the region.
The good news is that things appear to be improving. Najim Abdullah al-Jubouri, the mayor of Tall Afar, recently wrote a letter to General George W. Casey, Commanding General Multi-National Force - Iraq, thanking US troops for their participation in the liberation of Tall Afar.
Redman and Rotten eggs -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
Dear Gang,
Well in the light of my glass half full, here is a post that hopefully will bring a smile to your face. This happened three months ago and is a bit of old news. The hardest part about writing is to make sure I don’t violate any operational security directives. That’s why you may only read the mundane side of life here and not the action. Although if I was in charge of the country, I would...
THE YOUNG MARINE BREAKS THE CODE -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...below is Sgt M’s essay.
One day in the summertime, shortly after the invasion of Iraq, I was told to assist in the preparation of a memorial service that was for Marines who died in the first wave invasion of Iraq. I figured I would be setting up chairs and tents for the ceremony. That day, however, changed my life; my duty was much different from what I pictured in my mind. As we ushered the families of the fallen heroes, I realized how much had been given by these Marines. I was selected to accompany a young woman, who was approximately 20 years old, carrying two children. I took one of the children, and she wrapped her arm inside mine as we walked forward to the memorial service.
After you read it you too will agree America is lucky to have these young warriors on our side and so eager to serve,...
Of Quasimoto, Dogs, Death and God -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Out on the battlefield communication is important on many levels. Company commanders follow closely behind their Marines as they press forward through a maze of walled courtyards and Byzantine streets. With a radio handset pressed into one ear and a strangle hold on a well worn map these seasoned professionals orchestrate a deadly game of cat and mouse. Geometry of fire is the watchword of the day as they regulate the movement of their platoons trying to stay on line with flanking sister units while maintaining aggressive contact to the front. Often the only things these captains have to go on are the tin can garble of radio traffic, the sound of gunfire, and rising plumes of smoke. They ultimately have to trust their own experience and intuition. Most will tell you ...
Out with the big MTTS -- [An independent look at Iraq - journalist embedded in Iraq]
...This camp used to be an Iraqi mukhabarat facility, the old secret police under Saddam. Remember all those stories about torture rooms, vats of acid and wood chippers? The stories are true and they happened here.
One of Saddam's sons, Tim isn't sure if it was Uday or Qusay, would come here and have dissidents thrown into wood chippers -- feet first.
Saddam Sues Bush -- [Stop the ACLU]
In what one would expect to be satire, it isn’t!
Defence lawyers for Saddam Hussein Wednesday distributed copies of a lawsuit against President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair for destroying Iraq.
The future of Iraq -- [Peace like a River]
Maya Alleruzzo tells a powerful story in the Washington Times. It is the story of Capt. Furat, an Iraqi soldier fighting back from severe injuries. It is the story of the kind of man who will form the backbone of a free Iraq.
I know someone who fought with Capt. Furat, and who trusts him.
The Paths We Follow -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
I sat in a meeting today with two retired Lt. Generals, a retired Brigadier General, a serving Brigadier General and a host of retired and serving officers from Colonels on down. I wonder sometimes how I got here and just what the hell I am doing with such an august group of Americans.
Operation Arabian -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
...So there we were...plodding along in our Stryker at a comfortable rate when the gunner yelled out into his mic, "STOP!...STOP THE TRUCK!", as he whipped his .50 cal around the the right side of the vehicle. At the time, I was standing in the rear gunner's hatch and had communication with the crew so I heard his gentle request. I immediately began scanning the barren landscape for any movement; ready to engage. The crew chief asked the gunner what he had. His response caused my heart to race. "Boss", he replied, "I think we just drove into a mine field". I looked outside the vehicle and saw symmetrical circles in the sand in a perfectly straight line on either side of our Stryker...our tires had miraculously passed directly in between two of these circles.
Age of Soldiers -- [Ask the Soldiers - in Iraq]
How many enlisted soldiers in the Guard are in their 40's? Soon to be 45 I'm wondering if I could hack a tour in Iraq. How are these middle age soldiers doing? I'm prior service (5 years in the chair-force)
ROUGH RIDERS IN IRAQ -- [2006 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
When units deploy they always find a way to show off their logo and the cement T-barriers make a good place to show your art work. This is the Rough Riders and their motto "Strike Hard"...
General Sees Rift In Iraq Enemy -- (USA Today)...Rick Jervis
A deepening rift between radical foreign-led fighters and native Iraqi insurgents has turned violent, the top U.S. intelligence officer in Iraq says. That creates an opportunity for American forces to try to persuade local guerrillas to put down their weapons and join the political process, he says.
Insurgent Attacks Repelled -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
U.S. Marines and Iraqi soldiers repelled coordinated attacks on the provincial government headquarters in the western city of Ramadi on Tuesday afternoon, killing seven insurgents, the military said Wednesday.
Iraqi Army Getting Stronger -- (Miami Herald)...Jim Krane, Associated Press
With American help, the Iraqi army is emerging as a lightly armed counterinsurgency force that may control more of the country than the U.S.-led coalition by this spring, U.S. military officials say. But in coming years, the Iraqi army will remain too weak to defend the country and will be reliant far into the future on America to guarantee Iraq's sovereignty, experts say.
U.S. Military to Release Iraqi Women -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. military said Thursday it would release five Iraqi women detainees, a move demanded by the kidnappers of an American reporter to spare her life. A U.S. official said the release had nothing to do with the kidnappers' demand. The women will be freed Thursday and Friday as part of a release of 419 Iraqis to be freed after officials concluded there was no reason to keep holding them, said Lt. Col. Guy Rudisill, spokesman for the U.S. detention command.
Abduction Forces A Grim Look At What A Story Is Worth -- (Los Angeles Times)...Alissa J. Rubin
When Jill Carroll was kidnapped, other journalists in Iraq were aghast that something so horrible had happened to someone they knew. But many insisted privately that it never would have happened to them.
Prince Harry could be sent to Iraq -- (Yahoo News/AFP)
LONDON (AFP) - Prince Harry, completing his army officer training, has chosen to join a regiment which could be deployed in Iraq.
Dayton Wants Panel Hearing Into Claims About Tainted Water -- (The Hill)...Roxana Tiron
Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) is calling for Armed Services Committee hearings into allegations that Halliburton supplied contaminated water to the U.S. military in Iraq.
Jordan Jails 4 For Plotting To Attack Troops In Iraq -- (USA Today)...Unattributed LINK UNAVAILABLE
Jordan's military court in Amman convicted four Palestinians in two plots to attack U.S. forces in Iraq. The men were sentenced to prison terms of three to four years. Three other Palestinians were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Saddam's atrocities exposed on video -- (WND)
Footage released in response to charges dictator 'demonized'
Responding to accusations Saddam Hussein is being "demonized" as his trial resumes, a U.S. group has released videotapes documenting torture and murder ordered by the former Iraqi dictator.
Busy -- [Andi's World]
...Check out the differences between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to Afghanistan.
Back in Business -- [Fortunate Son - in Afghanistan]
We're back, baby! I've cleared it with my command to keep posting as long as I don't post pictures from the PRT or any of our operations and that none of the subject matter discusses any of our operations, past, present and future. Aside from the occasionally picture of me giving toys to a refugee or the standard mug for the team photo, this has never been an issue anyway, and I never discuss operational issues anyway as a matter of course, so it shouldn't have much of an effect on content.
Taliban break out of Pulacharke Prison -- [Cao’s Blog]
On the outskirts of Kabul, 7 members of the Taliban escaped from Pulacharke prison on Sunday. Disguised as visitors, these seven Taliban terrorists escaped what people are calling a ‘high security prison’ in Kabul. mheh. Some ‘high security’ prison when the prisoners are allowed to walk right out of there along with visitors.
Thursday, January 26, 2006 -- [goose0370 - in Afghanistan]
I shouted that at the top of my lungs the other day, but I couldnt hear myself, the roar of the wind in my ears and dust in my face.. I could barely breathe, the dust was so think and my adrenaline rushing so fast through me. Well, Im sure that after rocking the Ma Deuce (.50 Cal) was the reason my ears were ringing like Carol of the Bells...and as long as theyre ringing, it means they work, right? Either way, my adrenaline addiction was sated for the day, and several afterwords, I got the shakes again once we made it back to the wire. Im sure its just the body going through withdrawls of the natural high, at least I hope so.
Two awarded Soldier’s Medals for rescuing Afghan men -- (Army Times)
FORT EUSTIS, Va. — Two Fort Eustis soldiers who rescued a group of Afghan men from a burning building have received Soldier’s Medals — one of the highest recognitions a soldier can receive for heroism outside combat...
191,000 Iraqis put to work in 2005 -- (Azzaman.com, Iraq)
By Ikhlas Majeed. Labor and Social Affairs Ministry says it put more than 191,839 unemployed Iraqis to work in 2005 out of 611,688 registered jobless Iraqis. ...
Iraq needs $60 billion to revive domestic industry -- (Azzaman)
To modernize the country’s industry, investments in the range of $60 billion are needed, said Minister of Industry and Minerals Usama Abdulaziz.
The huge sum, he said, was not difficult to raise.
“Foreign investment and flow of foreign capital will make the money available,” he added.
Otherwise, Iraqi industry will not be able to cope with the rest of the world, he said.
He said currently his ministry was receiving only 10% of the actual allocations it needs to modernize the industry.
Afghanistan needs more US help than Iraq -- (Gulf News)
| I returned recently from a six-day trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan inspired by the progress that has been made in the region. Afghans and Iraqis yearn for a new beginning predicated on freedo...
No end in sight to Afghanistan's years of violence -- (Reuters)
U.S. military warns of rise in bomb attacks on civilians and troops by Afghan militants.
The Just War Theory and Iran -- [Officer's Club]
An excellent way to clarify the justification for military action against the Iranian regime is to examine the crisis through the lens of the Just War Theory.
Carnack the magician -- [Neptunus Lex]
...there’s a lot to learn from the electoral success of the Islamic “resistance” group Hamas during today’s Palestinian elections. And something to hope for as well.
For the frolicking folks from Yasser Arafat’s governing Fatah, who may now be forced to include Terror, Inc. executives in the ruling cabinet, it’s a reminder that the old Arafat days are well and truly over:
Leta's Kosovo Diary (Part the 5th) -- [Way Down In Kosovo - in Kosovo]
...We’re going to Stubbla today to the Catholic Church. Several of the Soldiers who are rotating out have donated blankets, etc. for the church to disburse to the poor. That just kills me – the poor. I always wonder just how they determine who is “poor” when the majority of the population is. The Soldiers were late in picking us up. At one point neither Danny nor Adelina (who speaks great English) were around so to call so I wanted Danny’s sister to call Danny to call them to find out where they were and when we could expect them……I needed to “talk” to Danny’s sister who speaks Albanian. I would speak English to Dada who would speak Serbian to Mr. Ilazi (who speaks Albanian and Serbian) who would speak Albanian to the sister then back around again. It was comical but got the job done. Anyway
Hamas wins upset victory in Palestinian election -- (Reuters)
GAZA (Reuters) - The Islamic militant group Hamas swept to victory over the long-dominant Fatah faction on Thursday in the Palestinian parliamentary election, a political earthquake that could bury chances for peacemaking with...
China opposes sanctions to resolve Iran dispute -- (Reuters)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China opposes sanctions against Iran's nuclear ambitions and urges countries to consider a Russian compromise, a Chinese spokesman said on Thursday, as Tehran's nuclear negotiator held talks in Beijing
The Pakistani Frontier -- [Threatswatch - Bill Roggio]
When more is not enough; Counterterror efforts net successes but fall short on The Frontier
The airstrike on al-Qaeda leadership in the town of Damadola has done more than just kill up to five senior al-Qaeda commanders, including Abu Khabab, the chief of al-Qaeda’s WMD program; it has shone a light on the largely hidden war occurring on the Afghan-Pakistani border, the pervasiveness of al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the tribal belts, and Pakistan’s struggles in fighting al-Qaeda in the region.
Europeans Question How Far to Go in Combating Terrorism, American Debate May Follow -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
My colleague, Olivier Guitta , in an excellent blog posted January 23rd, posited an improved level of cooperation between the United States and Europe in combating terrorism. Considerable strides have been made since the March 2004 Madrid bombing to enhance intelligence sharing and other cooperation between the US and Europe. Yet, public support, in Europe, for such cooperation is beginning to wane. This stems in part from a series of allegations during the past six months that the United States may have gone too far on issues that touch on European and American civil and human rights sensibilities
Bush: Bin Laden Should Be Taken Seriously -- (AP)
FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - President Bush, defending the government's secret surveillance program, said Wednesday that Americans should take Osama bin Laden seriously when he says he's going to attack again. "When he says he's going to hurt the American people again, or try to, he means it," Bush told reporters after visiting the top-secret National Security Agency where the surveillance program is based. "I take it seriously, and the people of NSA take it seriously."
Europe's C.I.A. Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Secret Prisons (NY Times)
Correction Appended
STRASBOURG, France, Jan. 24 - An inquiry by the Council of Europe into allegations that the C.I.A. has operated secret detention centers in Eastern Europe has turned up no evidence that such centers ever existed, though the leader of the inquiry, Dick Marty, said there are enough "indications" to justify continuing the investigation.
Victoria Toensing: FISA Fears Shielded 9/11 Plotters -- [NewsMax]
Contrary to the claims of Bush administration critics, the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has seriously hampered U.S. counterterrorism efforts - and actually helped to shield at least two key 9/11 plotters from detection by U.S. law enforcement.
The Power-Madness of King George -- (Slate)...Jacob Weisberg
Is Bush turning America into an elective dictatorship?
It's tempting to dismiss the debate about the National Security Agency spying on Americans as a technical conflict about procedural rights. President Bush believes he has the legal authority to order electronic snooping without asking anyone's permission. Civil libertarians and privacy-fretters think Bush needs a warrant from the special court created to authorize wiretapping in cases of national security. But in practice, the so-called FISA court that issues such warrants functions as a virtual rubber stamp for the executive branch anyhow, so what's the great difference in the end?
Terrorism, by the numbers -- (Asia Times)
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing.
The US State Department is mandated by law to produce a report for Congress on an annual basis. The report should provide details of the past year's terrorist incidents, the idea being that Congress can then analyze and study the impact of terrorism. The theory goes that given this information, one can manage terrorism. Yet the idea has lost support within the State Department, and the statistical aspect of report has been dropped.
Stein, Again: An Officer and a Gentleman Responds -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
The American Thinker has published a gentlemanly but powerful reply to Joel Stein, written by the Lieutenant Colonel who commanded the Task Force that captured Saddam Hussein. It is the epitome of grace, class, and quiet confidence. In part, LTC Steve Russell writes:
Patriotic Essay - A Better Writer Than Joel Stein -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...Countless platoons are begging loved ones at homes to send shoes, school supplies, candy, clothing for the children of their war zones. “The kids here have nothing, we want to give them something,” I am told over and over. These youth that serve America are not motivated by materialism, but pure altruism. America’s youth in the military are motivated by a higher intent than to have the latest stereo, I pod, fast car, minimalist designer gear or get to the next great party. Don’t get me wrong, they are beautiful inside, and would love all those things just like the rest of our youth in America—and don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge our American youth anything, I am a parent and like most parents, want to give them everything. But America’s youth in the military have searched within themselves—and responded to a spiritual calling within their higher self, their soul, if you will. America’s youth in the military have chosen to put their own needs to the side,
The Ugliest of Things -- [Dadmanly]
Joel Stein dropped quite the incendiary device in Tuesday’s LA Times. He claims that he meant it to detonate on the flanks of his anti-war fellow travelers, but, since he commenced his tantrum with “I don’t support the troops,” the collateral damage potentially spreads to anyone in uniform. (That is, if we even bother to concern ourselves with what an LA Times opinion columnist thinks about anything military-related.)
Battling Over Support For The Troops -- (Letter) -- (Los Angeles Times)...Maj. Daniel L. Davis
I am an officer in the active Army who has fought in Iraq and served in Afghanistan. As you might guess, I disagree with the views Joel Stein expressed, but I honor and respect his decision to disagree with what we're doing, and appreciate the fact he does so in a fairly respectful way.
The Soldier's Load. -- [Argghhh!]
Given the way the comments moved [well, the *serious* comments] in my Any Soldier, Any Era post, this is probably a good time to drag something up out of the archives.
...And it ain't just our Army, either. Any soldier. Any era. Just ask these Canadians.
Enlistment Oaths -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
All persons, upon entering Military Service and upon reenlistment, are required to take the Oath of Enlistment. At one time, the Oath of Enlistment was the same for all services. Due to changes in both society and the differing Military Branches, the Oath has undergone marked change and has been specifically tailored to each branch of the Military and their specific function. Here are the latest versions of the Oath of Enlistment as recently released by the Joint Chiefs of Staff: NEW ENLISTMENT OATHS...
What About This Torture Case? -- [Grim's Hall]
The Armed Liberal, who is one of the more honest and pugilistic folks in the blogosphere, threw down on the Army for letting CWO Lewis E. Welshofer, Jr., off of a murder charge and an assault charge, and convicting him of only a much lesser offense. Uncle Jimbo, former Special Forces, joins in the anger.
The Donald pushes back... -- [Counter Column]
...against the Krepinovich study, and argues that with a "total force" of more than 2 million, there shouldn't be any reason why we can't sustain a 138,000 strong force in Iraq.
US military 'at breaking point' -- (BBC)
Donald Rumsfeld said the military was capable and battle hardened
The US military has become dangerously overstretched because of the scale of its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, two reports have warned.
One, by former officials in the Clinton administration, said the pressure of repeated deployments was very corrosive and could have long-term effects.
The second, ordered by the Pentagon and yet to be released, reportedly calls the army "stretched to breaking point".
Rumsfeld: Army Not 'Broken' -- (Washington Post)...Ann Scott Tyson
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld yesterday strongly rejected warnings in a Pentagon-contracted study that the Iraq war risks "breaking" the U.S. Army, and he said a recent decision to scale back U.S. troop levels in Iraq did not grow out of a need to relieve the strain on American ground forces.
Study: Most Reservists Earn More in Combat -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Most military reservists who left their civilian jobs to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan made more money there than in their regular jobs, according to a study that contradicts the notion that citizen soldiers lose money when they go to war. The study, by RAND's National Defense Research Institute, found that 72 percent of the troops surveyed made more while on war duty in 2002 or 2003 than they did in their civilian jobs in 2001. More than half made at least $10,000 more
No ‘Brokeback Mountain’ for overseas troops -- (Star & Stripes)
Officials: Film’s absence due to timing, not subject matter
Jake Gyllenhaal, left, and Heath Ledger star as cowboys — and ill-fated lovers — in “Brokeback Mountain.” As an independent film with limited prints available to theaters, it won’t make it to overseas military screens, officials say.
New Film Is Making Waves -- (Washington Post)...Ray Rivera
Navy distances itself from 'Annapolis,' which opens tomorrow.
Correction - Jan 25 2006
-- (Baltimore Sun)...The Baltimore Sun
An article in Tuesday's editions stated that Naval Academy personnel were instructed not to wear their uniforms to showings of the movie Annapolis. The academy says that is a misreading of the following instructions, issued by e-mail, to its personnel: "Navy personnel should avoid the appearance of support to the film as members of the Department of the Navy. Anyone attending a screening or promotional activity for the film should not attend in uniform."
It Ain't Gonna Happen, People -- [WuzzaDem]
ONLY 16% FIRM ON HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT
...If Hillary were to run, then, yes, it would be sweet to see her get stomped by Condi Rice, but that's never going to happen. I'm still not convinced Hillary will run. I have serious doubts about her willingness to open the Clinton closet and risk a skeleton avalanche.
New PAC To Back Antiwar Veterans -- (Los Angeles Times)...Ronald Brownstein
An organization of veterans disillusioned with President Bush's handling of the Iraq war plans to launch a political action committee today dedicated to electing antiwar veterans to Congress.
Senators Say Ethics Beyond Lobbying Reform -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of Congress must look at their own behavior as well as lobbyists' if they are to regain the trust of the American public, senators said Wednesday....
Sen. Clinton Blasts Bush on Eavesdropping -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called President Bush's explanations for eavesdropping on domestic conversations without warrants "strange" and "far-fetched" Wednesday in blistering criticism ahead of the president's State of the Union address....
Schwarzenegger Approval Rating Recovering -- (AP)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating is showing signs of recovery after tumbling late last year, according to a poll released Thursday....
Cyber Patrol: Careless keyboards can kill -- [Cyber Patrol] HT: Argghhh!
ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, Jan. 24, 2006) -- Fewer people would know about a deployment or operation if you screamed it out at the Superbowl than if you posted it on a Web log or blog.
Common sense will tell you not to discuss sensitive subjects on the streets of Baghdad. The same common sense should apply on the highways of cyberspace. Soldiers need to keep this in mind, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it could land them in a world of trouble.
We're Supposed To Be Better Than This -- [Villainous Company]
James Joyner's oft-repeated observation aside, I've never been particularly daunted by what he aptly terms the food-fight nature of blogging. If I have something to say, I speak up. But trading thoughts in the marketplace of ideas is one thing. In any contest of logic, persuasive rhetoric, or ideology I've never hesitated to pit myself against other bloggers, commenters, pundits, or authors. After all, this is what the blogosphere is all about: a vigorous and free-wheeling exchange of ideas that enriches all who participate.
...But discussion - especially reasoned discourse between the Left and Right sides of the blogosphere - presupposes some rudimentary amount of civilized behavior from the parties involved. It is impossible to exchange ideas during a shouting match.
Scott McClellan Fights Back Against Liberal Media (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
MR. McCLELLAN: After Martha. Martha has got the floor, and then I’ll go to Ivan so he can get to the Pentagon. I’ve got to go to the National Security Agency, so I’m trying to go through this.
Rumsfeld To Reporters: Why Don't You Report The News, Not What "Might Be" The News? -- [RightWinged]
Reporters, as always, are trying to do press conference battle with Rummy... And as always, he's mopping the floor with them, busting their partisan BS all over the place.
I wish I had the video of this, but I thought I'd at least share the line I just heard with you all. After many minutes reporters trying to insist that the military is broken and Rummy destroying them all, someone asked another stupid question and Rumsfeld's response (just half listening to it in the background) was:
Oh, How I Love The Smell.... -- [Villainous Company]
...of schadenfreude in the morning...
Lawyers for a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney told a federal judge Friday that they want to subpoena journalists and news organizations to seek additional documents they may have related to the leak of a CIA operative’s name.
There They Go Again -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
A NYT Op-Ed titled Al Qaeda's Big Boast offers an analysis of Osama bin Laden's recently released audiotape (free registration required).
The conclusion, neatly summed up in the last sentence, is that AQ is winning:
Curious Inaccessibility of AP (and Reuters, et. al.) Writers -- [Jammed Gun]
I am writing about something that is hardly original. And yet, not enough is made of the curious inaccessibility of ‘writers’ (scare quotes intended – to indicate that these characters are very often simply wannabe-editorialists with an overseas dateline) for the ‘wire agencies,’ such as AP, UPI, Reuters, AFP, and so on.
Commie Radio Comes Crashing Down! -- [The Real Ugly American]
At least according to Mark Cooper who should know. Marc worked at Pacifica’s KPFK doing a drive time show from 1998 - 2001.
You have to read the post. It is a fantastic insiders look and critique of the moonbat left, and the communists who run KPFK by intimidating and slandering anyone who differs with their written in stone ideology or crazy conspiracy theories.
The best part is how Marc’s post could be applied to the Democratic Party as a whole which is controlled today by the Pacifica / Moveon / Daily Kos crowd.
Telegraph loses Galloway libel appeal -- (Guardian)
The Daily Telegraph has lost its appeal against a £150,000 libel award to the MP and Big Brother contestant George Galloway.
The court of appeal today upheld a high court judgment in 2004 that the Telegraph libelled Mr Galloway in an article alleging that he received money from former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime.
Back Home -- [365 and a Wake Up]
After 18 months away the 1-184 IN returned to the sunny shores of California last Monday. It has only been a week since A Co touched down, but when I look back at my days in Baghdad they seem somehow vaugely unfamiliar. It is almost as if I were watching the actions of an unfamiliar other move through my memories.
Doing Dishes at 32,000 Feet -- [A Storm In Afghanistan - home from Afghanistan/Germany]
...I'd like to say a big thank you to Continental Airlines for providing truly great service. The trip was wonderful. They even provided a bassinet that mounted to the wall for Thomas to sleep in. And in Newark, when we ran into some difficulties with our scheduled wheelchair, the flight crew STAYED with us to ensure we were taken care of. And by stayed, I mean they walked with us through security and one attendant followed us almost all the way to the next gate. Truly exceptional.
(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.)
Women are the biggest losers..so far. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
The talks among the winning-and losing-political parties in Iraq have slowed down quite a bit, actually the whole process is somewhat taking a pause since the announcement of the final results which by the way seem to be objection-proof; Aadil al-Lami from the election commission appeared on TV today and said that all 20+ objections that came form different blocs since Thursday have been rejected by the interim judicial electoral committee that has replaced the election commission since the latter has completed its mission…or has it?
Captain Furat, Iraqi Hero -- [Redhunter]
A few weeks ago I related the Washington Times story about Captain Furat, the Iraqi hero who led his men in many battles with the terrorists.
Furat is a Captain in the new Iraqi Army, and has become one of those larger-than-life figures in post-invasion Iraq. Maya Alleruzzo is a reporter for the Washington Times, who went to Iraq, and was with Furat many times when his unit was attacked:
Transient -- [Chapter: War - in Iraq]
As gun truck crews we live with the transport operators that we protect. This means being a transient living on other bases other than our own.
To get an idea of what transient billets (housing) are like, imagine being at woodstock two, or any other large concert. Picture the dust, mud, oppressive heat, and disgustingly dirty porta potties. That will give you a taste of what its like. Also imagine other units trampling in during the middle of the night (or day) constantly waking you up.
"Bada Bing" -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
I have received requests before to talk about the “Bing” and what we have here. First of all, I live and work in a tower, not a pretty tower but never the less we call it home. On top of this old control tower there were tons of busted air conditioning units, scrap wood and basically left over junk from when the Iraqi’s had this joint. When my boss showed up here last year, that is where they would smoke cigars at night and drink near-beer.
Website Launched -- [About Hajji-Net - in Iraq]
Hello, this site is just getting off the ground, but I wanted to get what I have out there now. We'll see where it goes...
So whats the point? Right now we have a lot of guys in Iraq (and probably Afghanistan) who are running private internet networks... Basically, ISPs in a combat zone. So far I haven't found a good place to find information on how to do this... What usually happens is the "computer guy" for any given unit gets handed a rather complicated problem without having a decent place to go for specific information. Hopefully, this site will fill that need.
So your FOB needs internet access -- [About Hajji-Net - in Iraq]
The article covers a few lessons learned from setting up a field ISP (internet service provider) which is still in operation. Currently, the government does provide MWR access to soldiers serving in combat zones. However, these are located at small internet cafes and MWR centers and generally speaking the supply does not meet the demand. The only internet access available in our area is satellite based, and the conditions are harsh when compared to a normal civilian environment. These lessons reflect my experiences, your milage may vary. If you have any questions feel free to email me at ...
Around Your Army -- [Sgt Hook]
...V Corps out of Heidleberg, Germany has assumed command of Multi-National Corps- Iraq in Baghdad from the XVIII Airborne Corps of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Not that big of a deal? Perhaps, but read some of the remarks made by the incoming and outgoing commanders…
IRAQI DATE SHOW -- [2006 Tour of Duty] (pic)
Believe it or not there are over 300 varieties of dates, some say more like 600, but here is the picture to confirm the claim. This photo was taken at a date seminar held recently in Baghdad. It was an opptunity for the local date growers to display their favorite date...
No prison sentence for Chief Welshofer -- [Counter Column]
The jury declined to sentence Chief Welshofer to prison for the death of an Iraqi detainee during an interrogation session in November of 2003.
'People Realize That Bush Does Not Have a Plan' -- (AP)
This is a full translated text of an audiotape believed to be from Osama bin Laden. Parts of it were aired on Al Jazeera television, which published the entire version on its website. Bin Laden appears to be addressing the American people:
Poll finds surprising optimists -- (BBC News)
Iraqis and Afghans are the among most optimistic people in the world when it comes to their economic future, a new survey for the BBC suggests.
IRAQ: INSURGENTS 'DISOBEY' AL-ZARQAWI -- (AKI)
Baghad, 24 Jan. (AKI) - A number of insurgent groups have refused to take orders from al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, since elements linked to his Tawhid e Jihad formation killed a number of tribal and religious leaders, according to well-informed sources in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi, in Iraq's central Anbar province. "There have been armed clashes in the past few days between al-Zarqawi's supporters, and elements from the national resistance," sources speaking on condition of anonymity told Adnkronos International (AKI).
Corrections -- (Washington Post)
A Jan. 23 article about former Abu Ghraib prison guard Megan Ambuhl should have said that a noncommissioned officer gave Ambuhl her first tour of the Iraq prison. The article said that "an enlisted officer" gave her the tour.
Galloway may face serious fraud office investigation -- (The Guardian)
George Galloway faces the prospect of a criminal investigation into his activities by the serious fraud office, which has collected evidence relating to the oil-for-food corruption scandal in Iraq.
Two Kidnapped in Iraq; No Word on Reporter -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Armed men wearing military fatigues seized two German engineers from a car in northern Iraq on Tuesday in the latest brazen kidnapping to push a foreign government into another desperate race to free its nationals. On Wednesday, Iraqi police shot dead a Sunni cleric at a checkpoint north of Baghdad while gunmen killed a policeman in the capital's Sadr City neighborhood.
Fewest U.S. Troops In Iraq Since Summer -- (Washington Post/AP)
The number of U.S. troops in Iraq has been cut to the lowest level since last summer, when a buildup for election protection expanded the force to about 160,000, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.
Observers: Light Sentence May Tarnish U.S. -- (AP)
DENVER (AP) -- An unexpectedly light sentence for an Army interrogator who once faced life in prison for the death of an Iraqi general could tarnish the government and hurt human-rights efforts around the globe, observers said....
Four U.S. Governors Meet GIs in Iraq -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Americans should not expect the war in Iraq to be wrapped up quickly as violence and instability will likely continue, a U.S. governor said Tuesday during a visit here with three other state governors....
Iraqi cameraman killed in clash between US, rebels -- (Reuters)
RAMADI (Reuters) - An Iraqi television cameraman was killed in clashes between Sunni rebels and U.S. forces in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi on Tuesday, witnesses said on Wednesday.
The Kashmir Effect -- [Strategy Page]
January 25, 2006: In the first nine months of 2005, there were only four suicide bomb attacks in Afghanistan. In the last four months, there have been over twenty. There were only two in 2003, and none before that. There were four in 2004. The manpower and technology for the suicide bombs is coming from Pakistan, where suicide bombing has long been used by Islamic terrorists operating in Indian Kashmir.
Pride -- [Signaleer]
Cadets from the first class to graduate Basic Training swear in to the National Military Academy of Afghanistan, March 17, 2003 at the NMAA Parade Ground near Kabul, Afghanistan.
Karzai rules out peace talks with Osama -- (The News International)
| KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai ruled out on Tuesday talks with Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who was believed to be playing a key role in an insurgency led by the ousted Taliban.
4,000 troops to be sent to troubled Afghan province -- (The Times)
THOUSANDS of British combat troops are to be sent to one of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan, John Reid is expected to announce within days. | The Defence Secretary is understood to be ready to...
Getting their story straight -- [Peace like a River]
Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall in this meeting
Tied together by oil and construction and defense deals, Russia and Iran are in an awkward position. Russia does not want to alienate itself from the West by openly supporting Iran against the West in Iran's determined push for nuclear weapons. On the other hand...
Musharraf: Airstrike may have killed al-Qaeda members -- (USA Today)
OSLO (AP) — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Tuesday there were indications that al-Qaeda members were killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Afghan border earlier this month.
Palestinians Vote in Parliament Election -- (AP)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Amid tight security and a sea of green and yellow flags, Palestinians cast ballots in their first parliamentary election in a decade Wednesday - a historic vote that could shape the future of the peace process with Israel. Both the ruling Fatah Party and its challenger, the Islamic militant Hamas, said they were confident of victory, while pollsters said the race was too close to call.
Iran Welcomes Russian Enrichment Offer -- (AP)
MOSCOW (AP) -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Wednesday that Tehran views Moscow's offer to have Iran's uranium enriched in Russia as a positive development but no agreement has been reached between the countries....
MIDDLE EAST: MEDICAL OBSERVERS SAY SHARON 'VEGETATIVE' -- (AKI)
Jerusalem, 25 Jan. (AKI) - Hospitalised Israeli premier Ariel Sharon's condition can now be defined as a "vegetative state," according to senior physicians not connected to his treatment, quoted by Israeli daily Haaretz. But the doctors stressed that they cannot rule out the possibility of Sharon coming out of the medically-induced coma he has been in since undergoing major surgery after a massive stroke on 4 January.
U.S. & Pakistan Must Face Facts About Al Qaeda's Reported Resurgence -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Pakistan's Prime Minister is in Washington, trying to persuade American policymakers that his government has successfully stripped Al Qaeda of its leadership and assets. As he makes the diplomatic rounds here, President Musharraf is on a public relations campaign claiming,
TERRORISM: AL-QAEDA INSPIRED GROUP THREATENS LEBANON -- (AKI)
Beirut, 24 Jan. (AKI) - Threats to use car bombs against UN premises, embassies, security forces and Palestinian leaders in Lebanon have been made by a previously unknown group calling itself "The Black Tigers - the millitary wing of al-Qaeda in Lebanon". A statement released by the group Tuesday, and seen by Adnkronos International (AKI), threatens imminent attacks against a wide range of targets.
"We will strike with car bombs all the offices of the UN inside and outside the [Palestinian refugee camp] Sabra and Shatila and we will hit many foreign embassies" says one of the ten points in the 'first statement' by the group.
How the Bush administration and neocons look at America’s war on terror -- (The News International)...Kaleem Omar
American presidents seem to be obsessed with wars. President Lyndon B. Johnson had his "War on Poverty", President Ronald Reagan had his "War on Drugs", and President George W. Bush has his "Global War on Terrorism".
Pursuing Terrorists in the Great Desert -- (The Village Voice)
In the early months of 2004, a lone convoy of Toyota pickup trucks and SUVs raced eastward across the southern extremities of the Sahara. The convoy, led by a wanted Islamic militant named Ammari Saifi, had just slipped from Mali into northern Niger, where the desert rolls out into an immense, flat pan of gravelly sand. Saifi, who has been called the "bin Laden of the Sahara," was traveling with about 50 jihadists, some from Algeria, the rest from nearby African countries such as Mauritania and Nigeria. There are virtually no roads in this part of the desert, but the convoy moved rapidly. For nearly half a year Saifi and his men had been the object of an international hunt coordinated by the United States military and conducted primarily by the countries that share the desert.
Operation Love Our Troops - World Record Broken!! -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Soldiers Angels, in collaboration with the company Library for Life, began an attempt for the Guiness Book of World Record's entry for the largest digital Valentine's Day card ever on January 9th, 2006. The Guiness Book of World Records does not currently have an entry for the largest digital Valentine's Day card ever, but it does have a record for the largest print Valentine. The current record-holder for the largest print Valentine had more than 5,000 signatures, and was created in 2000 in Bombay, India.
Soldiers' Angels -- [Ask The Soldiers]
I'm a volunteer for Soldiers' Angels (soldiersangels.org) and I'm wondering what would you most like to get in a care package? (A few suggestions for things that fit in flat rate boxes would be helpful.) Also, are there any subjects that are best avoided when I write? I get lots of feedback on the Angels website, but I'd like to get some ideas from actual deployed military as well. Thanks for you input.
Caring for our Warriors -- [Andi's World]
SGT Eddie Ryan could use our help.
Ryan took one bullet to the brain and a second to the jaw while
fighting in Iraq in April. Doctors expected him to die. He's still
going, battling through rehabilitation, learning to walk again,
Bangor Greeting -- [Miserable Donuts]
This post reminded me of my unit's arrival back from Afghanistan. We landed early in the morning at Bangor, Maine. When we filed off the plane, I saw a group of people standing at the end of the hall.
Los Angeles Times columnist Joel Stein today saying he doesn't support the troops. -- [Radio Blogger] (MP3)
Here's the audio and transcript of Hugh's interview with Joel Stein. It's another glaring example of why the Times is the worst newspaper in America:
Punkin’ Joel Stein -- [Neptunus Lex]
It had to happen I suppose. The default anti-war position had for so long been that “I support our troops, but not the war: Let’s bring them home,” because that was the lesson that anti-war types had internalized from the Vietnam era, what with its “excesses” and “mistakes” that were made.
Second: -- [Grim's Hall]
Joel Stein seconds the "military men are like toilet cleaners" comments of earlier this week. He, like the Kossak commenter, feels that the proper liberal position is to despise the soldiers:
And WHAT was Santorum Thinking? VIDEO -- [Balloon Juice]
Apparently Rick Santorum needs to join Joel Stein for a little sit-down:
...Rick Santorum, equating putting a Santorum bumper sticker on your car with giving your life for your country while in uniform.
Hard To Put Into Words -- [a Soldier's blog]
...It was nice to be received with open arms by everyone I came in contact with. Other than someone stealing the 'support our troops' magnets off the back of my truck, I have not had any bad experiences as I adjust to life not in Iraq.
...Thank you Kevin for driving through the pain of recovery, and being such a strong Soldier. Those in the US who never really feel the pains that pay for freedom owe you so much. You and all the other Soldiers who were injured or killed have absorbed the pains (cost) of freedom. Even though you are enlisted and I am an officer, I salute YOU first for who you are..
Is the Army broken? -- [Counter Column]
No. Not by a long shot, though it's creaking a bit. My very anecdotal sense is more positive than Andrew Krepinovich's, though:...
Military For Dummies -- [Andi's World]
Henry M. Bowles III tells us that the "creepy" U.S. Military has no place in universities, especially given their policy on gays.
Missions in Iraq, Afghanistan straining Army, a study warns -- (The Boston Globe)
WASHINGTON -- Stretched by frequent troop rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has become a ''thin green line" that could snap unless relief comes soon, according to a study for the Pentagon.
Indictment Has Followed In 1 Of 20 Abuse Cases -- (Washington Post)...Josh White - NO LINK AVAILABLE
The Justice Department has been investigating 20 cases of alleged detainee abuse that were referred by the Defense Department and “another agency” for possible prosecution, but only one of the cases has resulted in an indictment, according to a letter from an assistant attorney general to Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) last week.
Officers Discharged Under Gay Policy -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Hundreds of officers and health care professionals have been discharged in the past 10 years under the Pentagon's policy on gays, a loss that while relatively small in numbers involves troops who are expensive for the military to educate and train. The 350 or so affected are a tiny fraction of the 1.4 million members of the uniformed services and about 3.5 percent of the more than 10,000 people discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy since its inception in 1994.
Point Blank Body Armor Gets $18M Order From U.S. Military -- (Long Island Newsday)...Unattributed
DHB Industries Inc., a Westbury-based maker of protective gear, said yesterday that its Point Blank Body Armor unit won an $18.8 million order from the U.S. military for its body armor vests.
Dems Tried To Stall Alito Hearings -- [WuzzaDem]
EXCLUSIVE: Must credit WuzzaDem.
Apparently, C-Span has been editing its coverage of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the Alito nomination.
Here's the tape they don't want you to see.
Organization to Promote Democratic Agenda -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In an effort blessed by the top Democrats in Congress, a freshly retooled political organization is launching an election-year drive to highlight issues such as congressional reform, education and health care....
W. House accused of foot-dragging in Katrina probe -- (Reuter)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the top Democrat on the Senate panel investigating the government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina, on Tuesday accused administration officials of failing to cooperate and trying to run out the clock on the congressional probe.
A good one, but a liar nonetheless. Greenwald claims -- [Media Lies]
In light of Gen. Hayden's new claim yesterday that the reason the Bush Administration decided to eavesdrop outside of FISA is because the "probable cause" standard for obtaining a FISA warrant was too onerous (and prevented them from obtaining warrants they needed to eavesdrop), there is a fact which I have not seen discussed anywhere but which now appears extremely significant, at least to me.This is patently false. General Hayden never claimed any such thing.
From Hayden's speech
The Press - Hoist On Its Own Petard -- [GM's Corner]
Scooter Libby is planning to subopena a number of journalists in his defense trial. This poses a series of tough decisions for the press for a number of reasons. Timothy Phelps has a lengthy (but worth the time) article in the Columbia Journalism Review regarding the background of the Plame case, including his own actions and the actions of others.
Time for More Military Humor -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
You Might be a Soldier If....
(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.)
TALES FROM THE FRONT -- [American Citizen Soldier - in Iraq]
Once Upon a Time in Mosul
Where better to get your view of the frontlines than straight from the soldier’s mouth?
Several recent critics have dismissed this site as being more pro-Bush shillblog than pro-victory milblog, all but accusing yours truly of being on the GOP payroll. While I would ascribe my personal philosophy more to conservative values than purely Republican ones, it did strike a chord. Perhaps I have been too focused on the overall politics of the war, and less so on the day-to-day events and experiences that have been shaping and sharpening my opinions on it in the first place.
Iraqis vs. al-Qaeda, Continued -- [Threats Watch - Bill Roggio]
Al-Qaeda’s situation in Anbar province and the embattled city of Ramadi has slowly worsened since the deadly suicide strikes against police recruits. The attack did not deter Sunnis in Ramadi from volunteering for the police, and provoked a backlash against al-Qaeda’s gruesome tactics. Sunnis in Anbar, including in the cities of Samarra and Ramadi, have vowed to fight al-Qaeda, and six insurgent groups, including the Islamic Army of Iraq, declared war on the foreign terrorists.
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL AND WEAPONS -- [Strategy Page]
January 23, 2006: American troops in Iraq have run across chemical artillery shells on quite a number of occasions. There’ve never been more than a handful found in any particular cache, and all of them have been old, easily dating back to the period of the ’90-’91 war. These shells were probably stashed away for “safekeeping” and then forgotten. Apparently none of the shells are usable, and in most cases the chemicals have deteriorated or leaked away. It would be extremely unlikely that any of these shells would be of tactical use. But if someone were to use one in an IED attack,
Getting Out Without Victory Is Not An Option Part I -- [Victory in Iraq - in Iraq]
There's been a lot said in the news recently regarding plans for bringing our troops home from Iraq. As an Operation Iraqi Freedom vet, one who's experienced all the joys post-war Iraq has to offer, I thought I'd weigh in with a introspective examination of the war there.
...Any sensible American knows the risks we face if we were to leave Iraq prematurely, and the public officials who run on a platform that call for an immediate withdrawal are either very misinformed or aren't making priorities regarding a sound withdrawal plan. I question the motive of the political naysayers who think that we just can't win this war and need to leave immediately. Instead of taking a good look at what's actually required to achieve our aims in Iraq and bring our troops home, they look to capitalize on the judgments made in the court of public opinion--"if so many Americans are tired of the war and think we should leave Iraq now, maybe I can score some points by saying the same." Wrong answer! A hasty pullout is only a short-term solution, and will only serve to embolden the major terrorists overseas at the expense of our reputation.
BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
Iraq, like America continues through its growing pains and tribulations to become a new nation. Great strives have been accomplished throughout the country at the expense of Iraqi, Coalition and International forces over the past year. Like America it has become a new nation conceived through liberty and freedom.
Its amazing how solid history tends to hold true throughout time. Like America, Iraq is growing as a country and we can see the same growing pains in Iraq that we experienced here in America.
We're Surrounded...That Simplifies the Problem -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
We Marines have long cultivated a penchant for being surrounded by the enemy and convincing ourselves this is a good thing. Our Corps' lore is steeped in legendary encirclements from the Boxer Rebellion in Peking, to the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, and the Khe Sanh firebase in Vietnam. To this list will be added Observation Post Horea in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. The main artery running through Ramadi is called Main Supply Route (MSR) Michigan.
Ar Ramadi Images -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
...The city of Ar Ramadi was a target rich environment visually alive with people, objects and surfaces. Here are several photographs of things mentioned in the previous entry along with a few others to give some sense of the atmosphere that pervades a place such as OP Horea. Here is the face of an Iraqi jundi, brave and generous. The Marines, weary of MREs, look forward to their invitations to share home cooked meals on the first deck. A sergeant of the guard disolves in the dappled light under the mantle of camouflage netting. A belt of machine gun ammunition at the ready coiled and deadly. A view of Saddam Mosque as seen from a fighting position, and a devestated
Baghdad Snow -- [Dan in the Desert - in Iraq]
...Driving along Route Irish, from the IZ to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport). The drive itself is only 10 or 15 minutes, but this used to be the most dangerous run in all of Iraq, and possibly the world. It's amazing how it has changed. Hell, I could probably skateboard down it.
The Body Army Debate -- [Jack Army]
OK, time for me to wade into this true quagmire. As a Soldier who has worn body armor in the past and one that will wear it again in a few months for a year or so, I feel like I'm in a good position to speak intelligently about the pros and cons of body armor.
What made me finally want to speak about this? Well, this group of letters to the USA Today editors! Let me start out by fisking some of their comments.
Iraq War Not Most Expensive In History -- [NRO]
Critics of the war in Iraq often complain about the “escalating cost of the war.” Listening to them, you’d never know that the war is one of the least expensive in American history. (HT: Bear Creek Ledger)
Father and Son -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
LTC Richard O'Conner talks with his son PFC Ryan O'Conner. He met his son Ryan for a birthday celebration. Both are here in Iraq.
Kind words from an Australian Ally -- [The Patriette]
From this article: Australian doctor: Coalition forces reflect Army values
“I am impressed by the quality of all of the American Soldiers I served with in Iraq,” said Ti. “I could not believe just how seriously American Soldiers take Army values and I am absolutely humbled by the sacrifice and effort you are putting in. I consider it a personal privilege to have served with American troops and consider it right that Australia stands beside America in fighting terrorism.
Iraqi Army gearing for the future of Iraq -- [Live in Iraq - in Iraq]
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Jan. 21, 2006) -- Twenty-five-year-old Iraqi Army 1st Lt. Hussin, who’s been a soldier for five years, smiled at the thought of a promising future for Iraq and the hopes of defeating terrorists which plague his country. When asked if he thinks whether the country will divide or remain together he responded, “Together, but not just Iraq…all of the world.”
Remembering the Good Guys - Sgt. Mike Stokely, fellow Georgian -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
...Having been in Baghdad for several months now, I’m more cognizant than ever of my own mortality, and of the expiration date that all of us have. I want my life to make sense and mean something. I think it does, despite all the rowdy people back home who scream and slobber about the “illegal war,” poking at what is being done over here with a stick, afflicted by intellectual myopia, making the wounds worse by offering stinging criticisms but no positive alternatives to the current course of action. They ask so many questions, but are never satisfied with the answers. They gloss over the evil that is Saddam Hussein and the mass graves of somewhere between a quarter-million and half-million human beings.
Sand in my Crack -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
...Because of this, fine dust is pushed through every crevice and hole in the buildings/tents/cans etc so that you always have a layer of dust on all of your items including the food you eat. People ask if it’s hard to breath, the answer is it’s so minuscule; you just kind of get use to it. It happened pretty fast and the visibility dropped down to about a ¼ mile which grounded an Air Force C130 from Alaska.
Around Iraq in 80 hours -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
Well, its time for me to take another trip around Iraq in 80 hours. I am going on a little journey and will not be able to post for a few days but by the looks of things so far, it should be an interesting journey. I will be sure to post of my adventure upon my return.
While I am gone, go over to Guppyman's Rant Zone and check out a guest post I did.
Guest Post.....
I asked a friend in the Army to write up his view of what's going on in Iraq....
Here is what he had to say....
The Midnight Express;48th Soldiers Provide Escort to Supply Convoys -- [48th BCT - in Iraq]
...The 48th Brigade Combat Team from the Georgia Army National Guard deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After six months of combat operations in Southwest Baghdad in an area that is known by the locals as the "Triangle of Death," the 48th BCT conducted hundreds of combat patrols, discovered large and dangerous weapon caches and in general made dangerous neighborhoods safer for their residents.
British, Americans try to speak same language -- [ajc.com /The 48th goes to war - journalist embedded in Iraq]
Tallil Air Base, Iraq — The Italians control Nasiriyah in southeastern Iraq and have a huge contingent stationed at this base, just outside the city.
Then there are the Americans — The Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team among them — Australians, Japanese, Romanians and of course, the British.
Leaving Iraq, same as it was -- [Daily News-Miner Blog - journalist embedded in Iraq]
With four hours notice, my time in Iraq was over.
I was scheduled to leave Sunday from Mosul to begin my journey home. Further investigation revealed that in order to make my commercial flight on Tuesday from Kuwait I had to take a military flight TODAY. It was hustle and bustle and a quick goodbye.
...Luckily I was able to spend my last morning on patrol with the very first soldiers I met when I arrived, 3rd Platoon of Charlie Co. 2-1 Infantry.
Leaving for Iraq on Friday -- [Michael Totten]
It looks like I’m going to (Northern) Iraq on Friday. Supposedly my visa is ready and I can pick it up tomorrow morning. My travel logistics are arranged. All that’s left for me to do at this point is schedule more interviews, wrap up a Hezbollah article I’m working on, and wait for the date.
Is it possible most would say no I know otherwise -- [The corner stone Of communism - in Iraq]
Here I am in iraq in baghdad and i'm wearing more gear here than I would be back home cold weather wise. Some ask is that possible in a desert well i'm here to tell you HELL YES! My hands yes they go numb if you don't cover them and the ears start bitching because of the wind well here I wait for my flight out of this god forsaken excuse for a"not third world country" I really have started to dislike this place a whole lot and am more than glad to get out of here. There is however a part of me that wishes I hadn't the medic in me goes what are you doing dude? You still have your guys out there and yes mind you they have another medic you know them better than anybody else our happy little dysfunctional family and our trucks that always had something wrong with them. AH yes the good ol days ...
Just Another Day -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
...I digress. While listening the track "Just Another Day" came up. I stopped what I was doing and really listened. It dawned on me that over here every day is "Just Another Day". Folks back home are getting excited about the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. Not here. I'm not getting up at zero dark thirty to watch two teams in a league I could care less about. Super Bowl Sunday, while a defacto holiday in the USA is "Just Another Day" over here. Like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Day, etc. They are all "Just Another Day." The days roll together like
New Experiences -- [Desert Chief - in Iraq]
Things are going relatively well, and I'd like to think that I've made some progress and made a difference. It's a high visibility office with much to do. There are days that I wonder -- why me? I particularly like the comic strip's take -- grow, learn, new horizons, solutions, etc........
As Covered By All Major Media (NOT!) -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
Despite insurgent activity, Iraqi workers completed repairs to two water treatment plants in south Baghdad after nearly four months of work. Due to their skill and bravery, an estimated one million Baghdad residents will benefit from the renovations that continued regardless of insurgent attacks.
...“Mahmoudiya and Latifiya residents in south Baghdad this week had water flowing from their faucets for the first time in nearly eight years,” said Alfred Everett, GRC Resident Engineer supporting the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “That’s what people in those communities are telling us.”
Iraq Rebuilding Badly Hobbled, U.S. Report Finds -- (NY Times)
The first official history of the reconstruction depicts a program beset by understaffing, infighting and a lack of technical expertise
Pentagon Planning Document Leaves Iraq Out of Equation -- (LA Times)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has long been accused of always planning to fight its last war. But as the Pentagon assesses threats to national security over the next four years, a major bluepri...
Iraq rebuilding effort is said to be faulty -- (Boston Globe)
NEW YORK -- The first official recounting of the $25 billion American reconstruction effort in Iraq describes a program hobbled from the outset by gross understaffing, a lack of technical expertise, ...
We Can't Stop Rebuilding Iraq - Funding Cutoff Imperils U.S. Goals -- (Washington Post)
According to recent news reports, the Bush administration will not ask Congress for additional foreign aid for Iraq in its coming budget request. This would be a major strategic mistake. Iraq's infrastructure is still in mediocre shape, and most of its citizens are still seriously underemployed. Such an aid cutoff would be especially surprising coming from a president who has built his Iraq policy on an unflinching commitment to staying the course and completing the mission. Economics is a critical element of any success strategy for Iraq.
Iraq War Not Breaking The Bank -- (National Review Online)...Jerry Bowyer
Critics of the war in Iraq often complain about the “escalating cost of the war.” Listening to them, you’d never know that the war is one of the least expensive in American history.
‘Blair could have opted out of Iraq invasion’ -- (Dawn)
| MANHATTAN, Jan 23: US President George Bush said on Monday that he had given British Prime Minister Tony Blair the option of pulling out of the US-led alliance on the eve of the Iraq invasion.
Sunnis in Iraq Urged to Defend Themselves -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A leading Sunni Arab party Tuesday urged fellow Sunnis to confront armed attacks on their community following a raid on a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad in which three men were killed and more than 20 abducted....
IRAQ: ITALIAN TROOPS HELP REACTIVATE HOSPITAL -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 23 Jan. (AKI) - The Italian military contingent based in the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriya has provided important medical equipment, machines and apparatus for the hospital there, as well as basic material required for disinfection and for surgical operations. Hospital chief Haydar al-Hamishi explained that this donation "will contribute to the support of the ever-growing needs of the health sector", recalling that the Italian forces last year provided the hospital with a CAT scan machine.
Commander: Progress in Iraq in '06 (Knight Ridder News)...Joseph L. Galloway
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Gen. John Abizaid, said in a year-end interview that he believes 2006 will see substantial progress in Iraq because "there are more people trying to hold it together than take it apart."
Mines, Aardvarks, Hydremas and Sappers -- [Miserable Donuts]
I realize the title of this post sounds like a list of things found in a computer fantasy game, but it isn't...
When the post-Soviet government was ousted, the mines were still there. They had done nothing about them. The short lived successor regime couldn't do much - they ended up in a fight with the Taliban. That's where it got really ugly. Bagram changed hands no less than 9 times in a 21 month period of 1999-2001. The Northern Alliance/Rabbani government moved mines around into positions to defend from Taliban attack. The Taliban moved mines to stop them from retaking Bagram. Both sides imported more mines to lay.
Afghan Ladies' Driving School -- [Misadventures of a Not-So-Intrepid Explorer - in Afghanistan]
BBC writes about how women are actually now legally able to drive in Afghanistan. This is fairly significant, as women still are not able to drive in countries like Saudi Arabia. Yeah, no women driver jokes please.
U.S., Coalition Efforts Helping Improve Afghanistan -- [Camp Katrina]
(U.S. DOD): Humanitarian efforts continue in Afghanistan as coalition forces helped remove snow from impassable roads and built "hygiene facilities" at a small school. In addition, international diplomats visited a provincial reconstruction team Jan. 21.
World Bank accuses West of undermining Karzai -- (The Independent)
The system used to channel Western aid to Afghanistan is undermining the government of Hamid Karzai and damaging development prospects, the World Bank has warned. | Donor countries including Britain
Call for state role in Afghan aid -- (BBC News)
Development aid for Afghanistan needs to be channelled through the government and its budget in order to gain maximum benefits, the World Bank has said. | In its report Afghanistan:
7 Taliban Rebels Escape in Afghanistan -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Seven Taliban rebels have escaped from Afghanistan's main high-security prison, officials said Tuesday....
Letter to President Rugova's Family and the People of Kosovo from the President of the United States -- [Kosovo Report]
The White House
I was deeply saddened by the news of President Ibrahim Rugova's death. For many years, President Rugova led the campaign for peace and democracy in Kosovo, and he earned the world's respect for his principled stand against violence.
The United States has lost a true friend. Throughout years of conflict, Ibrahim Rugova was the voice of reason and moderation that helped Kosovo's people lay the groundwork for a peaceful future.
Victory for conservatives in Canada -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Canadians voted to switch governments yesterday. The current political climate in the land of “free health care” bears watching. I was born there, and a number of Canadians stop by the blog from time to time. Let’s see how the conservatives handle things.
Our Neighbors to the North -- [BlackFive]
Austin Bay has a really great piece up today about the Canadian military and Canadian politics. It's worth your time to read.
There's quite a few Canadian readers here. And, Joe Katzman, one of my favorite bloggers is a *gasp!!!* Canadian
Oh Canada! -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
Check out the latest from Canada's elections. Looks like the conservatives beat the liberals real bad - I haven't been paying a whole lot of attention to the election process there, but I hope the change will be great for Canada. A Michelle Malkin readers asks, "Our losers always tell us they are going to move somewhere like Canada if the voters have the arrogance to elect Republicans. Where do Canadians threaten to go?" And I wonder, where will Michael Moore and the rest of the loonies threaten to move to if Canada become much more conservative? Hmm... How about France!
Pakistan Prime Minister to Visit U.S. -- (The Guardian)
| WASHINGTON (AP) - Pakistan's prime minister is visiting Washington at a time of rising tension between the two allies, with thousands demonstrating regularly in Pakistan to denounce a U.S. airstrike...
SOUTHEAST ASIA: OIL DISCOVERED IN MALAYSIA -- (AKI)
Sarawak, 23 Jan. (AKI) - A consortium made up of Vietnam's Petro Vietnam, Indonesia's Pertamina and Malaysia's Petronas has discovered oil off the coast of Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, officials from Petro Vietam announced. The well is expected to yield 3,072 barrels per day of crude oil immediately, and the block could pump up to 25,000 barrels per day by 2009, the officials said.
Conservative Party Wins in Canada Election -- (AP)
OTTAWA (AP) - Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party won national elections Monday and ended 13 years of Liberal rule, a victory expected to move Canada rightward on social and economic issues and lead to improved ties with the United States. The Conservatives' winning margin was too narrow to avoid ruling with a minority government, a situation that will make it difficult to get legislation through a divided House of Commons.
British agents caught red-handed by Russia -- (Telegraph)
Russia said yesterday it had caught four British diplomats "red-handed" in espionage after releasing surveillance video revealing how they used a fake rock as an electronic version of the age-old "dead-letter drop".
France defends right to nuclear reply to terrorism -- [Open Fire]
The president of France, Jacques Chirac, is sounding like a unilateral cowboy. That is, he is sounding like our President Bush. Of course this is a good thing.
Chief Welshofer and the question of intent -- [Countercolumn]
A reader, Al Maviva, who commented quite a bit around the blogosphere on the NSA story a couple of weeks ago, writes in:
Remember Farris Hassan? -- [The Thunder Run]
Well it appears that maybe, just maybe, the entire world was duped by wanna be jihaddist.
I wrote about Hassan here when news broke that he had traveled to Iraq alone and without his parent’s knowledge to gain insight for his journalism class.
A curious incident -- [Peace Like A River]
Italy's justice minister has formally asked the United States to allow Italian prosecutors to question 22 purported CIA operatives they accuse of kidnapping an Egyptian cleric in 2003 from a Milan street, a Justice Ministry official said Sunday.
...This was not an operation that covered the CIA in glory. Some rather egregious violations of spycraft, and some top-notch work on the part of Italians, allowed Italian authorites to build a fairly complete picture of how the operation was conducted. Worse, these details made it into the public press.
Overview of Euro-American cooperation on terrorism -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The clear rapprochement between U.S. and European intelligence services is one of the most striking aspects of this new cooperation. Former CIA official Stanley Sloan recently noted: “U.S.-European cooperation has been one of the more successful aspects of post-September 11 efforts against international terrorism.” Indeed before September 11, European services would complain of the lack of U.S. cooperation, especially regarding Islamist terrorism. But ...
Bush Defends 'Terrorist Surveillance' -- (AP)
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- President Bush pushed back Monday at critics of his once-secret domestic spying effort, saying it should be termed a "terrorist surveillance program" and contending it has the backing of legal experts, key lawmakers and the Supreme Court....
Judge Orders U.S. To Supply Prisoner Names -- (New York Times)...Julia Preston
A federal judge has ordered the Pentagon to release the names and nationalities of hundreds of prisoners detained at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, rejecting the government's argument that it would be a violation of their privacy and expose them to retaliation by terrorist groups.
Leader Who Worked To Reshape Agency's Image Is On The Defensive -- (New York Times)...Scott Shane
On a rainy night in August, a black-tie crowd gathered at the National Security Agency for a tribute to Gen. Michael V. Hayden, who had led the eavesdropping agency for six years. The corridor to the banquet room at agency headquarters in Fort Meade, Md., was lined with favorable press clippings, in part the results of his courting of writers who covered the secret world of intelligence. But now General Hayden finds himself on the defensive.
Investigator: U.S. 'Outsourced' Torture -- (AP)
STRASBOURG, France (AP) - The head of a European investigation into alleged CIA secret prisons in Europe said Tuesday there was evidence the United States outsourced torture to other countries and it was likely European governments knew about it. But Swiss senator Dick Marty said there was no formal evidence so far of the existence of clandestine detention centers in Romania or Poland as alleged by the New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Libby Wants to Use Classified Evidence -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawyers for a former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday made their first request to use classified evidence at his trial, launching a highly secretive court process that could bog down the case.
In the filings made under seal in federal court, lawyers for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby put the judge and prosecutors on notice that they want a jury to hear evidence the government now says is classified.
The Phoenix Project -- [MVFAF] HT:Patti Bader
Soldiers and Veterans Transitional Retreat
At a briefing and panel discussion on December 8, 2005 in Alexandria, Virginia hosted by Rep. Lane Edwards on Capitol Hill Thursday, December 8th, the National Military Family Association’s (NMFA) Director of Government Relations, Joyce Wessel Raezer, offered a unique perspective of the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues on military families. While the focus of the discussion was on PTSD, Ms. Raezer was clear in stating that families need support across the whole spectrum of mental health care citing the that families called for more information on what their service member is experiencing and they need help in understanding how to help their service member Families also need to know when “normal” post-deployment anger morphs into abuse and where they can get help if it does. Almost 70 percent of active duty family members knew that counseling services were available to them and 50 percent stated they or someone in their family would seek counseling or had used counseling services. While most families—even isolated National Guard and Reserve—may be aware of at least some DoD/military support services, most know nothing about what is available through the VA.
I FEEL THE LOVE IN THIS ROOM! -- [Yikes]
AWRIGHT! WAY TO GO, Y'ALL!!! I came home today to about FIVE BIG FAT ENVELOPES filled with Valentine's cards for my "soldier-babies"!!! :-) Two were from two different Girl Scout Troops in Florida, one was from a lady here in Georgia, and the others were from various locations around the U.S. that I can't recall right now cuz I'm so tired, haha! :) Anyway... it was awesome! I also got TWO HUGE BOXES from my dear friend Janis in Meridian, Mississippi, one containing over 70 and one containing over 80 cards
"They Didn't Die in Vain" - Gold Star Families to Iraq -- [Move America Forward]
...Some times the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces sacrifice their lives in this mission, and the mothers and fathers they leave behind here in the U.S. are known as Gold Star moms and dads.
These parents know their children did not die in vain, they know that their children stand as heroes who helped secure a future for generations to come that will not include the threat of terrorist attacks like we saw on September 11th, 2001.
Don’t Support the Troops -- [Outside the Beltway]
...Our soldiers were sent to Iraq by the president pursuant to an overwhelming authorization of force by the Congress. At that point, they have a duty to go off to war regardless of whether they like it. It would be untenable to put the country in a position where it is paying for warriors that it relies on in times of crisis and then give those warriors the ability to opt out at the moment when they are needed.
Warriors And Wusses -- (Los Angeles Times)...Joel Stein
I don't support our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on.
Thanks A Million -- (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)...lINK CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE
...Shauna's new goal is to collect a million valentine cards and messages in the next few weeks. By reaching her goal, Shauna will have symbolically given a thank-you to every man and woman actively serving in the U.S. military including reservists.
How Mainers Greet Troops: Hugs, Fudge And 41 Cellphones -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Sara Miller Llana
It is well after dinnertime for Kay Lebowitz, but she hardly notices - she has hundreds of American troops to greet.
Should We Have "Built Up the Military"? -- [Winds of Change - Robin Burk ]
This will of necessity be a very quick post, and I especially invite our military readers to add their own extensive comments to my brief outline.
I'm responding to Armed Liberal's claim a few days ago:
I’ll lay blame at the feet of President Bush, who missed two clear opportunities: to build the strength of the military over the last four years ...
TurboTax for Military Service Members -- [The Patriette]
TurboTax Online (tax filing software) is being offered by the DoD at no cost to military service members. Find out more info here: Military OneSource
A Bottle of Jarhead Red -- [Strategy Page]
January 22, 2006: A former marine decided that the marines needed a special wine for celebrating social occasions. So he started a vineyard and began producing “Jarhead Red”, a $10 Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a red wine with an alcohol content on the high side of the scale. Or, as the marines like to say, “strong and red.” It’s a decent wine that has acquired a good reputation in the military, where it is much in demand, as anticipated, for celebrations. Part of the profits go to the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund, and two $10,000 scholarships have already been awarded to the children of marines. The wine is available
Pentagon plan seeks increase in special forces: report -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new Pentagon review of U.S. defense strategy would add thousands of troops skilled in fighting terrorists and insurgents to the ranks of the elite Special Operations Forces, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday
Pentagon dismissed tips on wasteful spending, documents show -- (Knight Ridder News)
WASHINGTON - A retired Army Reserve officer complained to the Pentagon's fraud hot line last year that the Defense Department had overpaid for kitchen appliances, paying $1,000 for popcorn makers and toasters and $5,500 for a deep-fat fryer that cost other government agencies $1,919.
Moonbats? We got 'em. -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
The moonbat capitol of NY is Ithaca, home of the infamous St. Patrick's Four. News today of a sentencing for a protest.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) A peace activist rebuked the U.S. government Monday before being sentenced to six months in federal prison for splattering his blood at an upstate military recruiting station.
The Next Great Communicator -- [Officers Club]
President Bush still sucks up a quite a bit of grief from the unhinged left for handful of times he misspoke during Campaign 2000 (unificator, strategery, etc). The more I listen to the President's speeches, the more undeserved that criticism appears.
President Bush is a Texan, and speaks like one. That may tick off big-city leftists, who tend to frown on folks who say ya'll and still refer to their elders as sir or ma'am, but Virginia boys like Charlie and I -- and the rest of small town America for that matter -- love his plain spoken midwest American charm.
33 Years Later ... -- [Daisy Cutter]
Are we better off?
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court did not "legalize" abortion. This is uneducated, journalism-school-speak. In fact, approximately one-third of the states allowed abortions in circumstances other than to save the mother's life at that time.
Alito To Receive Committee Vote Today -- [Stop the ACLU]
If all goes well, Judge Alito will be voted to the full Senate today.
...Assuming that the democrats will behave rationally, which is of course a gamble at best, the vote will go to the full Senate. If cloture, which requires 60 votes is denied, then you have a Democrat filibuster.
Republicans to Give Alito Committee Win -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito takes his first step toward the high court with a preordained Senate Judiciary Committee victory Tuesday, but the strength of opposition among panel Democrats may forecast his margin of victory in the full Senate. The GOP-controlled committee was advancing the nomination of Alito - President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor - on Tuesday. All 10 Republican senators already have announced their support for the conservative judge, leaving the eight Democrats with no way to stop the committee from giving him a positive report.
Photos of Bush With Disgraced Lobbyist Are Confirmed -- (NY Times)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 - These pictures may be worth more than a thousand words.
On Monday, White House officials acknowledged that, yes, photographs did exist of President Bush in a classic grip-and-grin with Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist at the center of a bribery and corruption scandal in the capital. But that did not mean, they said, that Mr. Bush had a personal relationship with him
White House Was Told Hurricane Posed Danger -- (NY Times)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 - The White House was told in the hours before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans that the city would probably soon be inundated with floodwater, forcing the long-term relocation of hundreds of thousands of people, documents to be released Tuesday by Senate investigators show.
Bush Approval Rating Holds Steady At 43% -- (USA Today)...Susan Page
...The good news for Bush is that he has rebounded from his low rating of 37% in mid-November, says political scientist Charles Franklin of the University of Wisconsin. “It is stabilized,” he says. The bad news is that a concerted White House PR campaign launched in November, including a series of speeches citing progress in Iraq, hasn't improved views of Bush or the war, Eichenberg says. “When the president gives an issue sustained attention, a reasonable person might think he'd change some minds. He clearly didn't.”
NYT Imagines Self as Besieged Dissenters, Observes that America Lacks "True Freedom of Discussion" -- [Media Blog]
How else to interpret this prolonged whine from "editorial observer" Adam Cohen?
...The editorial observes that Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America still provides "[great] insight into contemporary American democracy" — specifically, the insights that "he knew of no country with 'less independence of mind and true freedom of discussion' than America," and that "Tocqueville would not have been distracted by all the talk that warrantless wiretaps, indefinite detainment of enemy combatants and other civil liberties incursions are serving the cause of freedom.
Father of Suicide Bombing Victim: Golden Globe to "Paradise Lost" Legitimizes Terrorism -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
In connection with the Golden Globe award bestowed last week on “Paradise Now” (a movie I have not seen), I wanted to share this response from Yossi Zur, who lost his son in a senseless and depraved suicide bombing in Haifa.
Last night the Palestinian movie "Paradise Now" won the Golden Globe award. The movie shows the route that two young Palestinians take to become suicide murderers, up until the minute they board a bus in Tel Aviv filled with children.
Capt. Z on CNN - a Transcript -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Capt Z (Chuck Ziegenfuss), was on CNN's show On the Story this weekend. You can read what Chuck thought of being asked to appear as a guest on the show, see a nice picture (very, very nice picture! Such a handsome couple!) of them on the set and let Chuck know your thoughts (and read his) about how it went. If you missed it, I couldn't find the video....but here's the transcript:
The End Of The Road -- [Schadenfreude]
Well everyone, all good things must come to an end....
I've had a lot of fun writing Schadenfreude. The time has come, however, when I must depart the blogosphere and shut 'er down.
Don't Panic -- [Incoherant Ramblings]
When I refresh this, it might work. . .
Um, my website was down. Before you start conspiracy theories thinking that the army is out to get me and shut me down for good, rest assured that this is not what happened. It was actually a lot more innocent then that.
Well, see, I was out of the country for a year. I wasn't able to keep on top of certain things as well from out of the country. This included things like Credit Cards.
EPILOGUE/HOME -- [Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum - home from Iraq]
...I truly believe if we have nothing worth fighting to the death for, then life is the bitterest fruit, and for me I can not live in a world where I have no reason to hold onto what sweetness life can offer. As part of our human condition, we have grown far too fond of strife, and war. Yet, despite ourselves we find something oddly comforting in our little wars. We find a reason to go on.
Back Home! -- [The Flying Swede - home from Afghanistan]
Hello everyone.
I made it back home! It took a bit longer than It was supposed to, but I made it. What can I say, I’m glad to be back!
Deployment Complete -- [Incoherant Ramblings - home from Kosovo]
I just flew back into the states in the last hour.
It feels good to be back.
Welcome home 107th -- (THE DAILY MINING GAZETTE)
Some of our own are returning to us, perhaps as early as this week. The Copper Country received word that Company A of 107th Engineering Battalion of the Michigan National Guard is coming home.
Members of Company A, which is based out of the Calumet and Baraga armories, had been gone for about 15 months with the with about a year of that time spent in Iraq.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
Operation Iraqi Children: A Bright Shining Hope -- [Michael Yon]
...Years of war between Saddam’s Army and the Iranians, and Saddam’s Army and the Kurds, and Saddam’s Army destroying Kuwait, and Saddam’s Army versus the two separate Coalitions, have left thousands of tons of ordnance scattered around Iraq. Even if there were no explosives in Iraq, the cities are filled with dangers for children: tons of broken glass, metal shards and garbage harbor microbial perils unknown, on vacant lots where clinics may stand some day. Until then, prevention is paramount.
The surreal nature of life in a war zone -- [The Will To Exist - in Iraq]
This morning I was performing my duties as a public affairs soldier when I had one of those moments where something burns itself into your retina forever.
Time In A Bottle -- [Grey Eagle - in Iraq]
...I thought I was prepared. I was well trained, I was anxious, even a little excited at the romantic illusion of war, and I deployed long before the plane ever left the ground. Now I get cold. Glad that people around me with greater knowledge of the reality of my illusion made me prepare for. At some point you realize that you are very glad you brought your cold weather gear, and grateful no one listened to my logic and rationalization as to why cold weather gear was just extra weight to carry in the desert. Gone are the romantic notations and the John Wayne mentality that walked with a swagger as I boarded the flight from Ft. Campbell that would eventually bring me here. What remains is dedication, devotion, and a comrade, and a unrelenting desire to go home. This is not a political statement, this is a human statement that says you don’t know what you have until it is gone. I am more committed to the soldiers than ever before, love the Army, and yes feel we make a difference. This is not defined in the bigger picture of the war, just a narrow perspective of soldiers caring about those in the streets.
A eye opening experience... -- [There and Back Again - in Iraq]
One of the duties as the Camp Mayor Cell is giving tours of the facilities, specifically the Victory Over America Palace pictured below and the Ba’ath Party Headquarters. Most of our clientele is American, either military or civilian. They come through to see the millions upon millions of dollars that Saddam wasted on building his own ego. These people also are interested in seeing where some of the first strikes of the war took place.
Life in the Big City!!! -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
...I paused for a minute to take in the sounds around me. Not only was there the police siren but a few other familiar sound that reminded me of the big city. There were back up beeps from what I imagined being a dump truck dropping a load of hot steaming tar in order to fill in the pot holes from a wintery ice storm. There were dogs barking off in the distance, which reminded me of a pack of wild muts running a muck. Dumping over trash cans and chasing the neighbors little fluffy pussy cat back into a corner. Barking and laughing as they went from house to house, trash can to trash can. Overhead flew a flock of birds in a perfect V formation. Hawking and crowing as if they are flying south for the winter. Then out of no where shots rang out.
The good things about Baghdad -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
Recently, a fellow Baghdadian wondered why I haven't mentioned why life in Baghdad is so much better than elsewhere. He's absolutely correct that life is much better here. This post is to explain why. Here are the unbelievable amenities that we have that other soldiers don't even come close to having. Constant electricity, extremely hot water, very nice trailers with only one roommate, access to a pool (although I'm not much for swimming and it's a little chilly right now), access to enormous amounts of pretty good food for free, a food court with some fast food stuff to buy, two coffee shops in walking distance, a government issued cell phone, a big gym with everything you need, and to top it all off security is very tight here and we live in relative safety.
Truck Drivers AKA Motor Transport Operators -- [Chapter: War - in Iraq]
...I dedicate this portion of a speech made by the infamous General Patton to all the truck drivers who conduct missions in Iraq. There are some differences between the drivers of Pattons Third Army and the ones of today. There are now female soldiers that do this dangerous job too, as well as men. While they do not get shelled everyday they live with the constant risk of being wounded, maimed, or killed by an improvised explosive device, mortars, and small arms fire from the enemy.
Shoppin' Iraqi-Style -- [They Call Us, "Doc"] (pic)
A typical "strip-mall" in Iraq. These little buildings were located on the side of the road just outside our FOB (Forward Operational Base). The people that owned them sold drinks and snacks and they were usually hopping with business, but on this particular day were closed...
Sorry so long! -- [My Iraqi Saga - in Iraq]
...There are some great things going on over here, I really see that now. There are a lot of stories about how much the Iraqi Army is doing for the people of this country; I wish I could market those to the States somehow. Like how many people got running water/electricity/roads/safety precautions just this week. The US is doing a ton, don't get me wrong, I think we hit a point where we aren't teaching this country as much as we've stepped back to let the Iraqi's start helping themselves.
Back in Baghdad! -- [Desert Chief - in Iraq]
Hi Blogger Buddies ~~
I know that my big brothers advised me to keep my backside out of Iraq -- but duty calls and I'm back at Camp Victory. I got here on January 8th, to temporarily serve as the theater property book officer (PBO) for the theater equipment. That means I have a HUGE dollar amount of equipment that I'm entrusted with, along with 14 teams that manage the hand receipts and property. We have approximately 2500 customers or elements that we support throughout Iraq and Kuwait.
hink about it -- JB's Sancutary]
While relations with Europe have appeared to migrate back to more friendly status, let’s think back a bit on how two of our “allies” help with the former Iraqi regime and Saddam.
Iraqi Security Forces Move Toward Independence, General Says -- {Defense News}
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2006 – The past year showed a significant increase in the number of trained and equipped Iraqi security forces and in the capability of these forces to conduct independent operations, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said today.
A year ago, there were 127,000 trained and equipped members of the Iraqi security forces. Today there are more than 227,000, which reflects a 78 percent increase, Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, said at a news conference.
Two Baghdad Blasts Kill More Than a Dozen -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Two near-simultaneous bombings targeted a crowded downtown Baghdad coffee shop and a nearby restaurant Thursday, killing more than a dozen people. The attacks came as a foreign assessment team reported evidence of fraud in the Dec. 15 elections, but did not endorse calls for a rerun. The bombings occurred despite government moves to heighten security as the election commission prepares to announce the election results. The announcement, which could come Friday, sets the stage for talks on a new national unity government U.S. officials hope will help calm the insurgency and enable the United States to begin withdrawing its 140,000 troops.
IRAQ: ITALIAN TROOPS OUT BEFORE END 2006 -- (AKI)
Rome, 19 Jan. (AKI) - The Italian military contingent in Iraq will withdraw from the country by the end of the year, Italy's defence minister said on Thursday, providing the first timetable for the end of the mission. Defence minister Antonio Martino told a a parliamentary committee, that the operation "will be considered concluded at the end of the year, having definitively completed its mission." Italy's 2,600 troops based in the south of Iraq are the fourth largest contingent of the US led coalition force in Iraq after the US, Britain and South Korea.
Winning hearts and minds? -- [Misadventures of a Not-So-Intrepid Explorer]
Lousewies van der Laan, deputy leader of the D66 party which is part of the ruling Dutch coalition, argues: "If you are busy fighting the Taliban and al-Qa'ida, how do you have the space to win hearts and minds by building schools and hospitals?"
I say: If there continues to be security concerns, and if the Taliban continues to behead teachers and burn down schools, then what's the point in building schools and hospitals?
Ancient Relic or Panjshir River Ferry Boat - You Decide -- [Miserable Donuts] (pic)
One early Winter day, I was crossing the Panjshir River - or rather, where the Panjshir River would flow once the Spring rains and snow melt off reached it's bed. I happened to see a boat for the first time since I came to Afghanistan. Upon closer examination, I wasn't sure if I should try to contact ...
Foreigners back suicide attacks: Afghan FM -- (ABC News Online)
The suicide attacks that have struck Afghanistan in the past months are clearly the work of Al Qaeda and the Taliban fighters operating with foreign support, the Afghan Foreign Minister says.
Abdullah Abdullah has rejected a statement from a purported spokesman of the Taliban regime that the group is not behind a suicide blast on Monday that killed 22 people.
Dutch jitters 'imperil' Afghan mission -- (NZ Herald)
...In the Netherlands, critics are lobbying parliament to veto the Government's promise, saying the new deployment is not a stability job but a de facto combat mission against Taleban and al Qaeda fighters.
INTERVIEW-Afghans seek five-year international security pact -- (Reuters)
KABUL, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Afghanistan wants to lay down a five-year blueprint for its security and development at a conference in London this month, including an international commitment to its stability, Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said on Thursday.
Our Darkening Sky: Iran and the War -- [Winds of Change - Joe Katzman]
In the wake of Tom Holsinger's article "The Case For Invading Iran," I was going to enter a comment, but it became long enough to deserve a full post. To begin with, it's time to lay my own cards on the table.
I personally believe that we're very likely to see at least 10 million dead in the Middle East within the next two decades, with an upper limit near 100 million. I do not believe pre-emptive action will be taken against Iran. I do, however, believe the extremist mullahs in Iran mean exactly what they say. They are steeped in an ideology that believes suicide/murder to be the holiest and most moral act possible. They have
Reading up on Iran -- [TigerHawk]
I'm pretty swamped today, what with sitting in a conference room in a Dallas airport hotel for five hours, flying home, and attending a certain co-blogger's 40th birthday party this evening. I did want to report that I am reading up on Iran, starting with Kevin Pollack's The Persian Puzzle: The Conflict Between Iran and America. I love the way Pollack looks at geopolitical problems through the prism of history, and The Persian Puzzle is no exception. I am about half way through it -- which means that I have covered about 2,500 years of Iranian history through the embassy hostage crisis -- and am persuaded by at least one of Pollack's core arguments: That while both the United States government and the American people know very little about Iran, Iran and Iranians have historically had an even poorer understanding of the United States.
1/20/2006 Syria in Iran's back pocket -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
Okay, now this is getting out of hand. Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in Damascus for a few days schmoozing the Syrian government. They are having a little summit that involves just them to. They will be discussing industrial, cultural, and bilateral economic issues and agreements. Now that is all fine and good but Syrian president Bashar Assad agrees with Mahmoud that they should have nuclear capabilities. Another words, he is going to agree with him in hopes that Syria can get their hands on nuclear capabilities and become more than an annoying fly.
Kosovo's future: Independent thinking -- [KOSOVAREPORT]
IF YOU were to assess the future of Kosovo only from the local media, you might think that megaphone diplomacy was all that was happening. Kosovo will be Serbian forever, trumpet Serbia's leaders. The province's Albanian majority retort that nothing less than full independence will do for Kosovo's 2m people, more than 90% of whom are ethnic Albanians. It seems an impasse.
US demands quick U.N. action on Iran dispute -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday demanded that the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions, promptly confront Iran over its nuclear ambitions, while Russia and China urged caution.
Hillary Clinton Says White House Has Mishandled Iran -- (New York Times)
"I believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and to outsource the negotiations," Ms. Clinton said, according to a transcript of the speech published by The Daily Princetonian. "I don't believe you face threats like Iran or North Korea by outsourcing it to others and standing on the sidelines."
FACTBOX-Main points of U.N. peace plan for Ivory Coast -- (Reuters)
Jan 19 (Reuters) - Young supporters of Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo kept up demonstrations outside U.N. peacekeepers' bases on Thursday in a fourth day of protests against what they say is interference in their country.
Here are some key elements of U.N. Security Council resolution 1633 (2005), adopted on Oct. 21, setting out a blueprint for reuniting the world's top cocoa grower which has been divided in two since a brief 2002/2003 civil war.
Jack Cafferty Questions Timing of bin Laden Tape (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
This wasn’t the first time Jack said anything odd, nor is this the first time that a media personality has questioned the motives of terrorists during Bush’s administration, either. And that wasn’t the only time either, just do a search for Jack Cafferty on this site and you will find other liberal, anti-Bush remarks that came out of his mouth.
Osama's Terms -- [Austin Bay Blog]
Essentially, the new Bin Laden tape says please dont wage war on our turf, but let us wage war on yours. Bringing the War on Terror to the center of the politically dysfunctional Muslim world is absolutely key to obtaining th
Steven Emerson: Bin Laden's Bluster "Is Still Bluster"(Video) - [Counterterrorism Blog]
Steven Emerson appeared on MSNBC today about the new bin Laden tape. You can see video of his MSNBC appearance here (Windows Media), and here is the transcript (emphasis mine):
Die Terrorists Die!Al-Jazeera shows videos for al-Qaeda, and so do I. Just not the kind they like to see…-- [Euphoric Reality] VIDEO
In light of Iran’s latest BS, and bin Laden’s latest BS, I thought this was an appropriate time for my favorite kick-jihadi-ass military video! Welcome to any and all visiting dhimmis and jihadis. This one’s for you.
At Play in the Fields of Propaganda -- [Dadmanly]
Glenn Reynolds, Austin Bay and others cite the recently publicized Bin Laden statement as evidence that we’re winning. I think we are, too, and Bin Laden’s press release is surely a piece of evidence of our success.
As Bay humorously paraphrases, Bin Laden begs, “Please don’t wage war on our turf, but let us wage war on yours.”
Bin Laden Tape Won't Raise Security Level -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States has no plans to raise the security threat level because of a new tape of Osama bin Laden saying al-Qaida is planning attacks, counterterrorism officials said Thursday. The White House firmly rejected bin Laden's suggestion of a negotiated truce. "We don't negotiate with terrorists," Vice President Dick Cheney said in a television interview. "I think you have to destroy them."
US on bin Laden tape: no negotiations -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States dismissed on Thursday a conditional truce offered in a tape attributed to Osama bin Laden and said it "does not negotiate with terrorists."
'American Taliban' Father Urges Clemency -- (AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- After years of silence, the father of American-born Taliban soldier John Walker Lindh called on President Bush on Thursday to grant clemency to his son, who he says was wrongly maligned as a traitor and murderer....
Joshua Sparling On Sean Hannity Show, Discusses His Operation (AUDIO) -- [Political Teen]
A week ago Joshua underwent his 19th surgery where a halo device was attached to his leg to stablize it and give him some mobility. The doctors at Walter Reed are now 90% sure that his leg will be saved and Joshua sounded really upbeat about that news. He took his first steps since this injury, walking (hopping) 12 feet to the door and 10 feet back to the chair to sit down. He will be on crutches for about one year from today.
HEARTS FOR HEROES UPDATE! -- [Yikes]
Hello, all! Just popping by with a Hearts for Heroes update. As you know, the deadlline for getting cards (to Kat Orr, Hearts For Heroes, 740 Thompson Lane, Loganville, GA 30052) and emails (to Hearts_4_heroes@yahoo.com) to me is JANUARY 28, 2006 (Saturday) as they are getting boxed up that weekend and shipped out on 1/30. However, unfortunately, the response so far has been... well, very low. :-( I have gotten cards from people, don't get me wrong...but unfortunately, that would be very, very few people so far. :-(
Recap of Recent Operations -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
Your help is still needed on the following projects:
Operation Love Our Troops - Go to http://www.operationloveourtroops.com/ and leave an online valentine message for the troops. We need everyone's help with this!
Operation Pillowcase - Plain pillowcases for Nellis Air Force Base Family Readiness Group. Can you send even one?
Sew for Airlifted Patients - Hand and foot coverings needed for our wounded troops for when they are airlifted on those cold transport planes.
March for Millions of Vets - http://www.vetmarch2006.com/ March for issues affecting current and future Veterans in Washington on April 25, 2006
Personal Body Armor Ban - Debunked -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
Folks,
The muscles of the milblogosphere flex again debunking another myth. The claim was made that SOCOM and MacDill AFB had issued a directive forbidding the wearing of personal body armor.
Soldiers Make Olympics -- [Military.com]
Two Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program captured spots on the U.S. Bobsled team and will compete at the twentieth Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Feb. 10 through 26.
Destabilizing Missiles? -- (Washington Post)
Tony Capaccio of Bloomberg News has another scoop that probably portends the most important strategic military development of our generation.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has given the Navy go ahead to develop a conventionally armed Trident missile.
The Clinton Coverup -- [Austin Bay Blog]
Hey, it works when you have : (1) a sympathetic national press corps, (2) corrupt underlings, and (3) senators who are willing to “redact” information from the prosecutor’s report.
Robert Novak comments (via the Houston Chronicle):
American Dummitude: The End Of Western Civilization? -- [Villinous Company - Cassandra]
On a brilliant September morning in 2001, four planes hurtled out of an azure sky and caused the world to tilt on its axis. The shock of their impact is still felt halfway around the globe.
It has become fashionable (or perhaps merely convenient) to forget the unity America displayed in those early days. But when George Bush stood atop that pile of smoking rubble and vowed the terrorists would shortly hear from us, he had the backing of both parties in Congress. The Patriot Act passed 357–66 in the House and 98–1 in the Senate.
Blunt Attacks "Shadowy 527 Organizations" -- [Media Blog]
Did he forget about his shadowy 527?
Blunt's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today contained several punchlines — "Congress must continue to work to shrink the size of government" (continue?), "The Republican legislative agenda for the year is not one crafted in response to the day's headlines or the latest poll numbers" (ahem) — but none funnier than Blunt's vow to crack down on "shadowy 527 organizations" with "new requirements" that subject them to "to the same rules and regulations as others who attempt to influence the legislative and political process."
Bush faces battle to regain political clout -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush is battling eroded public confidence in his leadership over issues like Iraq, the economy and corruption as he seeks to recapture his political clout before November's elections.
Inquiry on Clinton Official Ends With Accusations of Cover-Up -- (New York Times)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 - After the longest independent counsel investigation in history, the prosecutor in the case of former Housing Secretary Henry G. Cisneros is finally closing his operation with a scathing report accusing Clinton administration officials of thwarting an inquiry into whether Mr. Cisneros evaded paying income taxes.
The legal inquiry by the prosecutor, David M. Barrett, lasted more than a decade, consumed some $21 million and came to be a symbol of the flawed effort to prosecute high-level corruption through the use of independent prosecutors.
Analysis: GOP Re-Embraces Maverick McCain -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. John McCain, the best-known political reformer in Congress, is popular again - among Republicans....
Abramoff's dad bashes George Clooney's 'glib and ridiculous attack' in Golden Globes speech -- (The Desert Sun/ Drudge Report)
...Frank Abramoff, in a letter addressed to Clooney and sent to The Desert Sun this morning, said he was watching the Golden Globes Monday night when Clooney, during his acceptance speech for best supporting actor, thanked Jack Abramoff “just because” and made a comment about the lobbyist’s name.
“Who would name their kid Jack with the last words ‘off’ at the end of your last name? No wonder that guy is screwed up,” Clooney said during the internationally televised awards show.
Matthews Lies About Laura Bush Saying “God Wants New Orleans To Be Rebuilt” (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
(Hat Tip: Free Republic)
On last night’s edition of Hardball, Chris Matthews made up a quote that First Lady Laura Bush did not say. Matthews claims that Bush said “God wants us to rebuild New Orleans”, when no such words came out of her mouth. However, Bush did say “she didn’t really think she could speak for God” and then added that she “believes Nagin wants New Orleans to be rebuilt”.
NYT Anonymous Sources -- [Media Blog]
MB reader Mark C. makes a great point:
Here's how The New York Times characterizes a "leak" when the target of the leaker is a Clinton:
Bin Laden Releases Audio Transcript on Clay Tablets -- [ScrappleFace]
Reclusive billionaire political entrepreneur Usama bin Laden, concerned about CNN’s ability to accurately translate his recently-released audiotape, today issued a full transcript on clay tablets inscribed with a bronze stylus.
Sergeant P! -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
Has a nice ring to it, right? I am getting promoted in a day or two to the rank of Sergeant. It has been over a year since my last promotion, which is about right. I have been memorizing the Noncommissioned Officer's (NCO) creed, and I thought you might like to see it. I will be reciting it in front of my platoon and whoever else is at my promotion ceremony - should be fun. :) Oh, NCOs are enlisted soldiers ranking from Sergeant up to Sergeant Major of the Army.
Back on the ground and back in Germany -- [The Hooker and his Girl - coming home from Afghanistan]
...Oh and a "Welcome Home" to the Advance Party folks who arrived back in Germany 2 nights ago!! That is so exciting to see that the redeployment started. It makes you feel more closer to the fact that your own soldier is coming home soon...
We Made To Ft. Lewis -- [So Far From Home - coming home from Kosovo]
We've made it to Ft. Lewis and are now going thru Demob. Yea! We're very busy and hoping to get home soon.
(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.)
Wax and Wane -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
I'm back at Camp Fallujah after 10 days in Ar Ramadi, the provincial capitol of Al Anbar Province. I departed Fallujah in the wee hours of the 10th and arrived at Camp Ramadi after a chilly 2 hour hop under a waxing moon. We deplaned that evening with long moonshadows following us across a mud flat to awaiting HUMVEEs, our boots making "shtick,shtick" sounds in the cold thick goo. Over the hum of idling vehicles could be heard the thud of boot heels banging against bumpers, doors and tires in vain efforts to shake the best of Mesopotamia off of Alley Oop'ed feet. We were wisked to the transient tent only to be awakened around 0700 to the blare of sirens and a disembodied voice entoning "INCOMING,INCOMING".
THE MARINE -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
He’s Billy from down the street, you friends kid, you old student. He might have cut your grass you might have watched him as a kid. He left home to the unknown, was taught and tested until he earned the title. He has learned the meaning of Semper Fi. He doesn’t see black, white or brown, just green and we never leave green behind. He became comfortable being miserable and welcomes fear and knows how to deal with it. Sent around the world to do a man’s job and became a man in the process. He puts up with a shit ton of crap, bitches and moans but gets it done and better than most adults.
Fort Drum Soldiers Found French Hostage -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
A French engineer, who had been held hostage for 35 days in Iraq, can thank members of Fort Drum's 10th Mountain Division for his freedom.
Members of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team found Planche on January 7th as they patrolled a neighborhood in Eastern Abu Ghraib.
Their bows cannot be broken soon enough -- [Peace Like a River]
...It is folly to believe that those who murder civilians, those who murder children, and those who drag people from their cars and shoot them by the road, can ever be dissuaded from their violence through talk, and tender words.
And so, on these days our spirits often flag, for it seems like holding back this violence is like holding back the sea.
But let's remind ourselves of the good, of the progress that is undeniably there.
Talabani insists on giving the Sunni their share...Fadheela Party may leave the UIA. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
In what looks like a reaction to the conditions put by al-Hakeem for the Sunni Arabs to fulfill before joining the government, president Talabani said that “the Sunni must be part of the government under any circumstances but on one condition; that the program is agreed upon by everyone…nothing justifies a government of two parties except the need to form an emergency government” Dar al-Hayat wrote. And when asked ...
Hey, Sunni Areas Are Under Destruction! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Yarmouk neighborhood, a predominantly Sunni neighborhood. Yarmouk is where the most famous streets in Baghdad are. They are called The Four Streets. they are know because they are extraordinarily beautiful and there are no streets like them in a resident neighborhood anywhere else in Iraq.
She needs all of us… She needs our prayers… -- [Treasure of Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The abductors of Jill have threatened to kill her if the United States does not free Iraqi women prisoners within 72 hours, Aljazeera reported last night.
Micromanagement In Action -- [Intel Dump - J.D. Henderson]
Gen. Wesley Clark recently sent out a newsletter advocating that the Senate Armed Services Committee launch an investigation into the "body armor controversy."
The letter reads in part:
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 -- [Iraqi Bounty Hunter]
upper portion of an add-on armor kit as it is lowered onto the cab section of an M931 truck tractor at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2006. The add-on armor kit provides the driver and gunner added protection against weapons fire and improvised explosive devices. Hild is deployed to the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Squadron at Balad Air Base.
Breaking Ranks -- (Washington POst)
In an overheated old schoolroom in Washington, Larry Wilkerson, a retired Army colonel, is doing his best to impose military discipline on 25 pupils as they prepare to attack a mountain of pizza, cupcakes and cookies. It is the year-end party for Macfarland Middle School's Colin L. Powell Leadership Club, a tutoring and mentoring program that Wilkerson oversees as a volunteer. Striding before his charges in smart burgundy suspenders, the colonel -- everybody here calls him the colonel -- makes a point about duty:
Bush Meets Victims of 'Butcherer' Saddam -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Iraqis who said they were beaten, imprisoned and lost loved ones at the hands of Saddam Hussein's government shared their stories Wednesday with President Bush, who said the former Iraqi president "will get his due justice."...
In Iraqi Oil City, a Formidable Foe -- (Washington Post)
BAIJI, Iraq -- Pfc. Robyn Houston fires bursts of bullets into the air as his Humvee swerves around a pothole and lurches over a highway median. His convoy bears down on oncoming traffic, forcing Iraqi cars to swerve onto a dirt shoulder. Lying 120 miles north of Baghdad on the Tigris River,... At...
Kidnapped Journalist's Family Asks for Release -- (Washington Post)
Captors Threaten to Kill Jill Carroll Unless Female Prisoners in Military Custody Released by Friday
Iraq Ask U.S. to Free Six Iraqi Women -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq has asked U.S. authorities to release six of the eight Iraqi females in military custody but not as part of a bid to free a kidnapped American female journalist, a government official said Thursday. Militants holding 28-year-old Jill Carroll have demanded U.S. authorities release all Iraqi female detainees or else they would kill the freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor newspaper, who was kidnapped Jan. 7 in Baghdad.
IRAQ: WOMEN AND CHILDREN SUFFER ABUSE, SAYS UN REPORT -- (AKI)
The rights of women, children, detainees and religious leaders are being seriously violated in Iraq, according to a new UN report. The bi-monthly assessment of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq - covering the period from 1 November to 31 December 2005 - says terrorism, lawlessness, kidnapping and targeted killings continue to wreak havoc on civilians in Iraq.
Apologies, Iran, bomber, definition, Canada, and images. -- [Going Down Range - in Afghanistan]
...This was ugly. Most of the dead were women and children shopping before Eid-Islamic version of Christmas- a happy festive time. The Afghans I talked to want to kill all the Taliban for targeting women and children, but the Taliban just shrug their shoulders saying “inshallah” or God wills it.
Oh yes, Mr Journalist here is a tip, I know it might be picky, but it was not a suicide bomber. A suicide bomber is one who loads up with explosives, walk out in the field, cries out “ bye, bye cruel world!” and kills himself, hence “suicide” bomber. The asshole who at this attack killed children, women, men where innocent and was at the wrong place and time was a murder. Right? He wanted to collect his 72 virgins, but forgot that he will be standing in line behind a few thousand dead terrorist before he can have his way with his burka boy.
Another Good Question -- [Miserable Donuts]
Muslihoon asked me a pretty good question: "What do the Afghans think of the Iranian Bomb/nuclear ambitions?"
The answer is a bit more complex than my first reaction. (which was, "oh no, there goes the neighborhood").
The Afghans who made up the Northern Alliance were primarily ethnic Tajik, Dari speakers. These people have some strong ties to Iran - in fact
Stockholm Syndrome -- [Firepower Forward - in Afghanistan]
... With the end of our rotation here just beyond our fingertips, I seem to be looking at this country through a different prism seeing and appreciating its beauty in ways I never thought possible before. It is a stark, harsh beauty where the richness lies in it's simplicity rather than its complexity or texture, but I have found that I can now appreciate it for what it is rather than despise it for what it's not.
AFGHANISTAN: PROTESTS AGAINST RISING VIOLENCE -- (AKI)
Kabul, 18 Jan. (AKI) - Several hundred Afghans have protested in the southern town of Spin Boldak, near the Pakistan border, to protest against terrorist violence. The Kandahar region has been the scene of increasing attacks by militants, using Iraqi-insurgent tactics such as car and suicide bombs. The demonstrators called on the Afghan authorities to hunt down those responsible for the attacks in the area on Monday, arrest them and give them exemplary sentences.
"The demonstration began at 11 am local time and the number of people is growing," said the governor of Kandahar province, Assadullah Khalid.
Possibility of WW3....pt.1 -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
While I have had the luxury of being here in Iraq, I have really followed all news that pertained to the Middle East like an obsessed fan. Their has been alot of things that have happened in the last 6 months and when you tie them all in, it is frigging scary. I will say this now that everything that has gone on so far does not tie into the USA being in Afghanistan or Iraq, that's just a lame excuse a liberal will use. No, the events and exchange of words are true feelings of fascist people who have radical ideas and the Middle East is getting to the boiling point. What I am talking about is Iran and Syria. Both these countries and their radical leaders scare the living piss out of me. Why you ask? I was hoping someone would ask that question. I will tell you why.
Iran is Now Open -- [Michaehl Totton - in Egypt]
Getting a visa to enter Iraq is more of a bureaucratic hassle than I thought it would be. It’s the kind of pain in the ass paperwork nightmare that makes me want to break things. Just figuring out the procedure has become my new full time job. (If I lived in Washington DC it would be easier.)
If you think bureaucracy is bad in the US and the EU, come hang out here for a couple of months. Gack!
Meanwhile, Iran has decided to issue tourist visas on arrival for people from every country in the world except Israel.
Brown Accepts More Blame on Katrina -- (AP)
MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. (AP) - Former FEMA Director Michael Brown has placed blame on everyone from New Orleans' mayor to Louisiana's governor for the chaos following Hurricane Katrina. Now, he's including himself. Brown said Wednesday he fell short of conveying the magnitude of the disaster wrought by the nation's deadliest hurricane, and calling for help.
Iran scorns EU trio's draft nuclear resolution -- (MY Way News)
BERLIN (Reuters) - EU powers began circulating a draft resolution on Wednesday for a February 2 meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog asking it to report Iran to the Security Council, but Russia was seeking moves that stopped short of a formal referral.
Conservatives Lead Polls in Canada -- (AP)
MONTREAL (AP) -- The leader of Canada's Conservative Party set his sights Wednesday on the traditional Liberal Party strongholds of Ontario and Quebec as he maintained a lead in the polls five days before Canadians pick a new government....
Top Al-Qaeda Bombmaker & Other Senior Al Qaeda Reported Killed in Pakistan Strikes (updated with photos) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
ABC News broke the story this afternoon that al Qaeda's master bomb maker and chemical weapons expert, Midhat Mursi, a.k.a. Midhat Mursi al-Sayyid Umar, a.k.a. Abu Khabab al-Masri, a.k.a. Abu Khabab, was killed in last week's U.S. missile attack in Pakistan. A friend in the media with excellent official sources, as well as CNN's David Ensor, report that US government officials can't confirm the killing but won't dissuade the reports either.
The Pakistan strike and the defeatist joy of left wing blogs -- [Tigerhawk]
Notwithstanding the headline bleatings of the left ("Bush kills 24 innocent family members in Pakistan," and don't miss the comments), it is increasingly apparent that Friday's attack on a suspected al Qaeda gathering in western Pakistan took out several of the real bastards in that organization.
Abu Khabab al-Masri: A Master of Terror -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
According to a growing number of media reports, a recent U.S. airstrike on a Pakistani border village has likely killed a senior Egyptian Al-Qaida commander named Midhat Mursi (a.k.a. Abu Khabab al-Masri). Since the late 1980s, Abu Khabab has served as a top military aide and deputy to Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan. Mursi was responsible for co-managing Al-Qaida's notorious Derunta military training complex near Jalalabad, where he maintained his own elite terrorist graduate school aptly named the "Abu Khabab Camp."
Pakistan names 3 al Qaeda believed killed in strike -- (Reuters)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani intelligence sources on Thursday identified three of four al Qaeda members believed to have been killed by a U.S. airstrike last week, though they have yet to recover the bodies.
INDONESIA: AIDES TO JEMAAH-ISLAMIYAH CHIEF ARRESTED -- (AKI)
Jakarta, 19 Jan. (AKI) - Indonesian police have arrested two suspected aides of the country's most wanted terrorist, Noordin Mohammed Top, considered responsible for the bloodiest attacks in the country including the 2002 Bali bombing which killed 202 people. Subur Sugiarto, also known as Abu Mujahid, who is accused...
Help Our Soldiers Help Iraqi Children -- [Soldier's Angels Germany]
Soldiers' Angels received this request today. If you can help by sending shoes to SGT Best in Iraq, please email me for his APO address.
Doing Business with Terrorists
From another Soldiers Angel....
"WE WOULD RATHER DO BUSINESS WITH 1000 AL QAEDA TERRORISTS THAN WITH ONE SINGLE AMERICAN" -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Philadelphia. You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement. One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be marching on this business . . and that the National Guard might have to be called to keep the angry crowds back.
Valentine Messages - (Stars and Stripes)
Click the heart to enter your free message.
Stars and Stripes will publish Valentine's Day Messages in its Tuesday, Feb. 14th editions worldwide. Messages will be published in the edition indicated by the message sender in the box above (Europe, MidEast or Pacific). Messages submitted for recipients located in the United States will be published ONLY online, not in print.
America Supports You: Fox News Spotlights Teen's Letter-writing Campaign -- [American Forces Press Service]...Paul X. Rutz
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2006 – The 16-year-old founder of "A Million Thanks," a nationwide program encouraging students to write thank-you letters to servicemembers, appeared on "Fox and Friends" this morning to speak about her new campaign to send 2.6 million cards and letters to the troops in 2006.
Talking With Heroes Talk Show Schedule -- January 22, 2006
Host : Bob Calvert, Founder of YoungHeroes.US, Editor of Walking with Heroes Book One
Guests: Gregory Wawrytko - VFW District Commander, Colorado Springs, CO
...The VFW assists veterans by supporting active deployed and non-deployed units in the Colorado Springs area. We assisted the wounded soldiers returning from Iraq from the 2nd Infantry Division who were redeployed to
Fort Carson. The VFW worked with the community to provide TV sets, radios and whatever the troops needed to make their home more comfortable. The VFW supports the families of the troops and provides food or other needed items. At Christmas VFW Post 101 sponsored a Christmas party for the children at Fort Carson and Santa Clause gave personalized gifts to every child.
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior - The Little Helicopter That Could -- [ROFA Six]
The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior aircraft is special for a lot of reasons. It was always a "black sheep" in the Army. The Aviation Branch treated the aircraft as an ugly step child for years fearing that it might somehow threaten their "darling" the RAH-66 Comanche.
People in the Kiowa Warrior community started calling the aircraft "The Bridge to Comanche," trying to remind the Army leadership that this aircraft was an important part of the fleet until Comanche fielded sometime in the ethereal future.
GI Schmo -- (Slate)...Fred Kaplan
How low can Army recruiters go?
Three months ago, I wrote that the war in Iraq was wrecking the U.S. Army, and since then the evidence has only mounted, steeply. Faced with repeated failures to meet its recruitment targets, the Army has had to lower its standards dramatically. First it relaxed restrictions against high-school drop-outs. Then it started letting in more applicants who score in the lowest third on the armed forces aptitude test—a group, known as Category IV recruits, who have been kept to exceedingly small numbers, as a matter of firm policy, for the past 20 years.
Army to Slow Growth and Cut 6 National Guard Combat Brigades -- (Washington Post)
The Army announced yesterday that it will cut six National Guard combat brigades -- or up to 24,000 infantry and other combat troops -- as part of an effort to ease budgetary pressures and shift manpower into homeland defense missions.
WVHTC Foundation Captures Robotics Contract from U.S. Navy -- (Yahoo News / WVHTC Foundation)
Contract Calls for Manufacture of Remotely Controlled BomBot(TM)
FAIRMONT, W.Va., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Virginia High Technology Consortium (WVHTC) Foundation has captured a $9.6 million contract from the United States Navy to manufacture the BomBot(TM), a robot designed to disable and dispose of improvised explosive devices.
Breaking Pink Hawk's Purple Heart -- [Gateway Pundit]
More on the "swiftboating" of John Murtha...
In the "Grape Vine" segment on Special Report tonight Brit Hume noted that the actual attack on Murtha garnered very little attention but the defending of Jack Murtha (who was recently honored with a "Pink Badge of Courage" from liberal anti-war group Code Pink) is drawing quite a bit of press,
VIDEO HERE.
WHAT IS AN "ABRAMOFF DEMOCRAT"?: A Democrat Who Is Hypocritical Enough To Think Jack Abramoff Isn't A Democrat Problem -- [GOP Blog]
...MEET SOME OF THE HYPOCRITICAL "ABRAMOFF DEMOCRATS"
Dems And The "Revolving Door":
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "Law-Enforcement Authorities And Others Said The [Abramoff] Investigation's Opening Phase Is Scrutinizing ... Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat ..." (Jerry Seper and Audrey Hudson, "Abramoff-Linked Probe Focuses On 5 Lawmakers," The Washington Times, 1/11/06)
Obama Backs Clinton's Criticism of GOP -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Barack Obama and other black Democrats are defending Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's description of the House of Representatives as a "plantation." First lady Laura Bush says Clinton's remark was "ridiculous."...
Inquiry on Clinton Official Ends With Accusations of Cover-Up -- (New York Times)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 - After the longest independent counsel investigation in history, the prosecutor in the case of former Housing Secretary Henry G. Cisneros is finally closing his operation with a scathing report accusing Clinton administration officials of thwarting an inquiry into whether Mr. Cisneros evaded paying income taxes.
Democrats Unveil Lobbying Curbs -- (Washington Post)
As Party Escalates Reform Push, GOP Calls Scandal Bipartisan
Diplomats Will Be Shifted to Hot Spots -- (Washington Post)
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that she will shift hundreds of Foreign Service positions from Europe and Washington to difficult assignments in the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere as part of a broad restructuring of the diplomatic corps that she has dubbed "transformational...
CNN grabs Beck -- [Right Side Redux]
MSNBC tried and failed to do anything with their conservative lineup. Scarborough Country is just too wishy washy, Dennis Miller was in the wrong timeslot, Savage was too Savage... but I think CNN might come away a winner here.
Pundit Review Radio Featured In Boston Herald -- [Pundit Review Radio]
A double dose of good news this morning…Pundit Review Radio has been extended by one hour each Sunday evening. Our new time slot is now from 8-10pm est. Also, today’s Boston Herald features a solid article by reporter Jesse Noyes on the show and the expanded time slot.
Hello -- [Major K - home from Iraq]
For those of you that have inquired, I have arrived home. I have several make-up posts to do over the next few days or even weeks, but for right now, I am just savoring EVERYTHING,
(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.)
Forming a new governmenmt; the long hard labor... -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
The international investigation team that came to Iraq to check on election results announced that they are delaying the announcement of their report until Thursday.
The interesting thing about this is that the team said they’d disclose their report after the team members leave Iraq! This suggests that the team wants to avoid upsetting any particular Iraqi party while they are still here.
Brrrrrrrrrrr! -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
Today, I saw some fruits of our labors here. As I was on a patrol with the Iraqi army, I saw large groups of children walking to school. Backpacks, books, and smiles. It was a real joy. I saw an American soldier help a young girl fix her shoe which had broke sometime on her way to school; 550 cord and duct tape will fix absolutely anything! It was moving. I have said all along that among other things, this is a generational war we are fighting. These young children will one day lead this country. Every simple gesture, such as what I witnessed today, will be a memory tomorrow that will eventually lead to our long-term success in this country. It has without a doubt been a collective effort, but I gained a real sense of personal satisfaction by what I witnessed today, and I hope and pray that tomorrow will bring the same.
Step by Step -- [Peace like A River]
I've mentioned before I view the process of bringing stability to Iraq as a series of steps that cannot be taken all at once. In 2003, Iraq was in the thrall of a brutal dictator. At some point we hope and expect Iraq to settle down into a stable nation, one able to defend itself.
The Scent of Home -- [Marine Corps Moms]
Mail from home is a major motivator for depoyed Marines. Motomail is efficient, messages are delivered the next day, but there is something special about being handed a sealed envelope. My son mentioned one time that each time mail was passed out, he was up on his tippytoes until he heard his name. Letters are read and reread, pictures are tucked inside a helmet and worn out on patrol as a reminder of loved ones safe at home. And when the envelope is ripped open, sometimes there is an intangible, yet very real, reminder of home.
Army stress -- [Marketing Iraq? - in Iraq]
I want to take a minute to talk about a situation that I'm pretty familiar with. I'll say up front that I don't have a solution to the problem either. It is one of the bigger reasons that Army re-enlistment isn't higher though. Also, I'll say that part of this is my opinion and part of it is from a news story I read (link following). Let me try to explain it. Throughout your daily life in the civilian world every part of what you are doing has a flavor of your personality. The way you talk to people, the way you dress, the way you work, and the way you have a good time all show the kind of person you are. In the Army that's not the case most of the time. In fact, quite often you are doing a job in a manner that will represent the Army in the most positive light. This is something I understand and appreciate.
Today -- [Chris Whong - in Iraq]
We have all returned to Arifjan for the memorial service. It’s great to see everyone in one place again, even if the reason is tragic… Our Battalion Commander and Sergeant Major said the same thing when they addressed the 243rd Engineers this afternoon. Having the company together allowed them to issue awards that would have had to wait a few more months, and to have a “pow-wow” question and answer session with the Colonel.
Donation -- [Treasure in Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq]
On my first entry about Jill’s kidnapping and Allan’s terrible assassination, I received a comment from Lisa Ramaci, Steven Vincent’s wife saying that the Steven Vincent Foundation will donate $500 to Mrs. Enwiyah, and if they can scrape some more money together, they will add to that total.
Thanks a lot Lisa. I am really speechless. The whole world is honored of knowing how great you are and how your late husband, the hero, died for the sake of revealing the truth and the word of righteous.
Iraq Pictures - 16 January 2006 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
SGT Stephen Phillips of A Company, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion helps a local child with repairs to his book bag during a visit to the recently constructed, and as yet, unnamed schoolhouse in Husseinia. Visits such as these help to better assess the needs of the local population as well as what issues must be addressed so that they can better serve the community and carry out their civil responibilities.
Iraq: 99 Percent of Dec. 15 Vote Was Valid -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's electoral commission ruled Monday that more than 99 percent of the ballots from the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections are valid, opening the way for a new government to start coming together. Final election results have been delayed by fraud complaints mainly lodged by the Sunni Arab minority, and groups looking for a political edge in dealing with the Shiite Muslim majority could still make further protests and hold up the naming of new leaders for two or three months.
Fraud detected in Iraq election -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| The Independent Electoral Commission in Iraq, which is collating the results of December's parliamentary election, has announced that the votes cast in 227 ballot boxes have been annulled because of...
US tries to loosen Shiite grip in Iraq -- (Christian Science Moniter)
Sunni Arabs have gained US backing in government negotiations, causing Shiites to strengthen their resolve.
Noticeable Improvement In Performance Of Iraqi Economy -- (Al Sabah newspaper)
16 January 2006 (Baghdad: Al Sabah newspaper) -- In a second series of statistical data published by the commercial section of the US Embassy in Baghdad concerning the Iraqi economy’s performance ...
Social security to cover 1 million families, official says -- (Azzaman in English)
All Iraqis with no income or financial support will receive for the first time “meaningful” monthly salaries from the state, Finance Ministry Undersecretary said.... more
Iran coastguard kill Iraqi, Basra governor says -- (Reuters)
DUBAI (Reuters) - The Iranian coastguard has killed one Iraqi soldier and kidnapped nine others in a confrontation with the Iraqi coastguard, the governor of Basra told al Jazeera television on Monday
Spain court remands alleged militant ringleader -- (Reuters)
MADRID, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Spain's High Court has remanded the alleged ringleader of a group of suspected Islamists accused of recruiting fighters to send to Iraq to carry out suicide bombings for al Qaeda, a judicial source said.
IRAQ: SHIITE'S MOST REVERED SPIRITUAL LEADER REFUSES CITIZENSHIP -- (AKI)
Najaf - The man revered by most of Iraq's shiites as their spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Mohammad al-Sistani, says he will not accept Iraqi citizenship, choosing intead to remain a national of Iran. "I was born Iranian and I will die Iranian," al-Sistani reportedly told the Baghdad government which had offered him an Iraqi passport. Al-Sistani, 75, was born in Mashad, Iran, but has lived in the Shiite holy city of Najaf for over 30 years. In recent months some Sunni and secular party have described his comments as "foreign meddling in Iraq's internal affairs."
Australia inquiry into Iraq 'kickbacks' -- (Aljazeera.net)
Australia's monopoly wheat exporter was aware of paying secret "service fees" to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq through inflated wheat prices, but hid it from the United Nations, an inquiry has been told.
Carmaker's managers in Iraq bribery allegations -- (Times Online)
THE German-American carmaker DaimlerChrysler has suspended at least six managers over allegations that they had bribed officials to obtain import licences for Iraq under the United Nations Oil-for-Food programme.
Judge Refuses to Drop Charge in Iraq Death -- (AP)
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) -- A military judge on Monday rejected a request to dismiss a murder charge against an Army officer accused of suffocating an Iraqi general in 2003....
An Army Death, and a Family Left In the Dark -- (Washington Post)
'Friendly Fire' Incident In Iraq Remains Murky
Army Spec. Jesse Buryj was in the gun turret of a Humvee that night, guarding a traffic circle in Karbala, Iraq. The soldiers were on edge -- they had been warned about a car bomb -- so when a dump truck came barreling into the intersection, they opened fire from all sides. But the truck kept coming and crashed into Buryj's armored vehicle, sending the 21-year-old hurtling to the ground.
U.S. tally of wounded drops 26% -- (USA TODAY)
WASHINGTON — The number of U.S. troops wounded in Iraq fell by more than a quarter in 2005 from a year earlier, Pentagon records show. Military officials call that a sign that insurgent attacks have declined in the face of elections and stronger Iraqi security forces.
God Speed Renegades -- [Firepower Forward]
When you live at one end or the other of Bagram Airfield, you are awakened at some very odd hours by the noise of various and sundry aircraft conducting maintenance runs on their engines, pre-flight checks, or most notably, C-17s performing a short field take-off (consisting of running all the engines to full power while standing on the brakes) or reversing their engines in order to stop before over running the end of the runway and drifting into a minefield. Regardless of the aircraft or the procedure, it takes a little while to get used to all the noise and develop the ability to sleep through it.
Afghanistan Video Roll Up for 2005 -- [Siegrist Blog - in Afghanistan]
Another great video by Don
Motorbike Bomber Kills 20 in Afghanistan -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A suicide bomber drove a motorbike into a crowd at a wrestling match in an Afghan border town Monday, killing 20 people. It was the third deadly bombing in a little over 24 hours in the Taliban's former stronghold province of Kandahar....
Remember Afghanistan? Insurgents bring suicide terror to country -- (The Independent)
A 15-year-old suicide bomber killed five Afghan soldiers yesterday by throwing himself in front of a convoy. In a separate attack, 20 more died when a motorcyclist detonated his explosive-packed vest..
Karzai warns that Afghanistan could again be used as a terror base if the West leaves --(Boston Herald)
Afghanistan’s president urged nations not to turn their back on his country four years after the ouster of the radical Taliban, warning it could again be used a staging post for terrorists to at...
Mexican military incursions reported -- [Small Town Veteran]
The U.S. Border Patrol has warned agents in Arizona of incursions into the United States by Mexican soldiers "trained to escape, evade and counterambush" if detected -- a scenario Mexico denied yesterday
...So, what is it going to take to get George Bush to face the fact it's time to tell Donald Rumsfeld to defend our borders by whatever means necessary? We have an Army and Air Force quite capable of doing the job. Why aren't they being told to?
New Orleans Mayor Says God Mad at U.S.-- (AP)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Mayor Ray Nagin suggested Monday that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other storms were a sign that "God is mad at America" and at black communities, too, for tearing themselves apart with violence and political infighting. "Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country," Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.
China's Answer to Columbus -- (New York Times)
The unveiling of an old Chinese map has revived the claim that Chinese explorers were the first to discover America. Go to Article
EU3 launch move to refer Iran to Security Council -- (Reuters)
LONDON (Reuters) - European powers on Monday began drafting a resolution to have Iran referred to the U.N. Security Council next month over its contentious nuclear work, diplomats said, after Russia and the West neared agreement on strategy.
News Brief - (Christian Science Moniter)
This weekend, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (l.) was sworn in as president of Liberia, and Michelle Bachelet (r.) won a presidential runoff in Chile. Each woman is the first female elected leader of her respective country.
Major Terror Plot Against US Ignored By US Media -- [Open Fire]
According to the following article a major terror plot against the United States was disrupted by the use of an Italian wiretapping program. The eavesdropping program alerted authorities to a small group of Algerian terrorists with plans "to conduct a series of major attacks inside the U.S."
Civil War Within Al Qaeda -- [Strategy Page]
January 17, 2006: The rift appears to be widening between what might be termed “Al Qaeda Center,” represented by by Osama Bin Laden’s right hand man Ayman al-Zawahri, and “Al Qaeda-in-Iraq” (AQII) leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The bombings earlier this month of Shia religious sites in Karbala which caused some 50 deaths and scores of injuries, resulted in an enormous amount of bad publicity for Al Qaeda throughout the Moslem world. Reportedly, as a result of the attacks, al-Zawahri admonished al-Zarqawi over attacks against civilian targets and Shia religious sites. Al-Zarqawi’s reaction was to post on an “official” AQII website a statement denying responsibility for the attacks, though reaffirming that Shia were heretical swine.
Saddam's Terrorist Connections Are No Secret -- [Strategy Page]
January 17, 2006: One of the most unreported stories concerns Saddam Hussein’s connection to various terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda. This has been lost in a lot of the arguments over weapons of mass destruction. Some of it is due to skepticism about any claim made by the American government. Another part is due to an insistence on a court-room level of proof – an impossible standard for intelligence agencies to meet in most cases. That said, evidence is emerging of the Saddam Hussein regime’s connections to terrorism. The regime openly handed out checks to the families of Palestinian murder-suicide bombers. It also harbored the terrorist Abu Nidal – until the terrorist’s reported suicide. Abu Abbas, the mastermind of the Achille Lauro hijacking (during which a wheelchair-bound American citizen was killed), also was in Iraq when captured.
Monday's Winds of War: 16 Jan 2006 -- [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.
TERRORISM: BIN LADEN 'DEAD' SAYS AUSTRALIAN EXPERT -- (AKI)
Sydney, 16 Jan. (AKI) - An Australian terrorism expert says he has seen evidence, which could show al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is either seriously ill or dead. Professor Clive Williams, from Macquarie University told the Australian state radio ABC that he has been provided with evidence, by an Indian colleague, supporting the theory that bin Laden died of massive organ failure in April 2005.
Spy Agency Data After Sept. 11 Led F.B.I. to Dead Ends -- (New York Times)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 - In the anxious months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the National Security Agency began sending a steady stream of telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and names to the F.B.I. in search of terrorists. The stream soon became a flood, requiring hundreds of agents to check out thousands of tips a month.
Pakistani Ruling Party Demands U.S. Apology -- (AP)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's ruling party on Monday demanded an apology for an alleged CIA airstrike that killed at least 17 people, but the country's prime minister said his trip to the United States this week would go ahead as planned. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Monday condemned the alleged U.S. airstrike on a village near the Afghan border, which intelligence officials have said targeted al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri
AirTran Airways Crewmembers Adopt Soldiers -- [Web of Support]
From Altitude Newsletter AirTran Airways ORLANDO CREW MEMBER WEAVESWEB OF SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS Although he has managed in just two months to transform the lives of several U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq, Crew Member George Freed refuses to take any credit."I just see myself as a funnel or an instrument," said George, who works in Material Planning for AirTran Airways in Orlando. "The soldiers are just glad to hear from somebody. They enjoy what we do for them." When he is not working at AirTran Airways, George is sending care packages and letters of encouragement to soldiers in Iraq through the Web of Support.com Soldier Adoption Program.
On the Sidewalks of Walter Reed -- [The Gunn Nutt]
The writing may not have been on the wall exactly, but it was visible to all who walked along the PinkoPath tonight. There were some special messages awaiting Gael Murphy and her acolytes that could not have been ignored or misunderstood.
Military Forward Command Post Toy -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
It's the Military Forward Command Post with Two 12" Military Action Figures. Apparently this is such a popular toy it's sold out everywhere, but you might find one on ebay. Not surprisingly, there's controversy from the anti-war left. They recommend instead the World Peace Keepers Battle Station. I have to ask though - what do they think all the guns in that 75 pc play set are for? The soldier in the peace keepers battle station has 8 rifles and numerous handguns.
Pentagon Thinks US Soldiers Need Adult Super-Vision -- [Winds of Change - Joe Katzman]
USMC LCPL SensingNew firm PixelOptics of Roanoke, VA has announced that it will receive $3.5 million from the Defense Department to develop "SuperVision," a technology that may improve the vision of US soldiers beyond 20/20 via electro-active prescription lenses. The technology uses sensors and electro-active transparent material to alter the index of refraction of the lens dynamically, without any moving parts.
Marine busted after 36 years AWOL -- (United Press International)
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A man who went AWOL from the U.S. Marines after learning of the My Lai massacre is behind bars in Texas.
Ernest McQueen dropped out of high school to join the Marines in January 1968. He walked away from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in November 1969.
"I just decided I didn't want to be a part of killing anybody," McQueen told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "That's about as plain as I can say it."
ACLU Sues NSA --- [Stop The ACLU]
...So, while our military fights the good fight, the ACLU are sueing over an inconvenience in its ability to talk to the very people who want to kill us all. Like I said before, the ACLU’s slogan of “Keep America Safe and Free” is an absolute lie. They care more about the imaginary rights of our enemies than any kind of safety for America. They have done absolutely nothing for America’s safety, and everything in their power to fight the efforts to protect America!
Quote Of The Day - Martin Luther King Day Edition -- [WizBang!]
"When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation and you know what I'm talking about..."
Hillary Clinton, pandering to the crowd at The Martin Luther King Day celebration at Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network, when asked what distinguished Democrats from Republicans right now.
Murtha and the Mudslingers -- Washington Post)... E. J. Dionne Jr.
I underestimated the viciousness of the right wing.
Last November, Rep. John Murtha, a Democrat and a decorated Marine combat veteran, came out for a rapid American withdrawal from Iraq. At the time, I wrote: "It will be difficult for Bush's acolytes to cast Murtha, who has regularly stood up for the military policies of Republican presidents during his 31 years in Congress, as some kind of extreme partisan or hippie protester."
Ted Kennedy's Club Discriminated -- (NewsMax)
When Ted Kennedy tried to chastise Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito for his one-time membership in a group opposed to admitting more women and minorities to Princeton, the pot was calling the kettle black.
Sen. Kennedy still belongs to a social club for Harvard students and alumni that was thrown off campus nearly 20 years ago after refusing to allow female members, an investigation by the Washington Times reveals.
McCain says Republicans 'lost our way' on spending - (Reuters)
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina (Reuters) - Republican Sen. John McCain, back in the state where a bruising primary loss crippled his 2000 White House bid, said on Monday his party had "lost our way" on spending and needed to clean up widespread influence-peddling and lobbying abuses.
Former President Gerald Ford Hospitalized -- (My Way News /AP)
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) - Former President Ford was undergoing treatment for pneumonia Monday at the same facility where he was briefly hospitalized a month ago, his chief of staff said. He was said to be doing well.
Spotlight on Lobbying Swings to Little-Known Congressman -- (New York Times)
...He had made his biggest public splash in 2003, when he ordered the House cafeteria to start calling French fries "freedom fries" because France had opposed the war in Iraq. Fluent in Farsi - an interest that grew out of having an exchange student live with his family - Mr. Ney lived for a time in Iran as a teacher, and later taught in Saudi Arabia.
The NYT strikes again -- [Winds of Change - Donald Sensing]
There is a kerfuffle about this New York Times web site photo.
New York Times publishes more propaganda for Al Qeada -- [No End but Victory]
Better open your note books and take note. The New York Times is spinning for Al Qeada again. In its haste to claim that the attack in Pakistan was another screw up for the United States, the New York Times ran this photo.
Check out the caption and see if anything strikes you as odd. […]
A Question About Leaks -- [Tiger Hawk - Cassandra]
I have a question about leaks of classified information. In 1972, the Supreme Court (in Branzburg v. Hayes) refused to recognized the concept of journalistic privilege...
Time Magazine Cites Our Blog in "Slamming Its Doors on the World" -- [Reigime Change Iran]
...It was an honor to be mentioned, but unfortunately their copy proofers didn't catch the mistake in the title of our blog. They cited RegimeChange not RegimeChangeIran. (RegimeChange.blogspot.com is an small anti-Bush blog, not an Iran blog). They made the same mistake on Bloomingdales link). I fixed them in this post.
CNN allowed to resume work in Iran after apology -- (Reuters)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran on Tuesday lifted its ban on CNN after the US news network apologized for misquoting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Tehran wanted nuclear weapons, a top culture ministry official said.
I Have Been Reviewed -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
No, I havent got smacked yet by I Talk 2 Much although I am still waiting. Actually, I got an email from the Editor over at Blog Tribune who wanted to ask me a few general questions. After reviewing the questions to make sure I could honestly and accurately answer them, I decided why the hell not. He had 8 questions for me ranging from where I'm from to daily life over here in Iraq. I sent the email back to him last night and already he has finished the review and it is posted already. If anyone is interested in what its like over here in a short story compared to going through my archives click here.
The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
...Where is it useful? It’s filled with practical advice as the title suggests. Most of that practical advice is more related to being a decent human being than it is to blogging. The Weblog Handbook is a good read if you are ethically challenged or prone to getting into flame wars with other citizens of the virtual reality we called the Net. It’s a good read if you want to blog for the long term and aren’t sure what sort of writing will make people come back to visit you again and again.
Schools Warn Teen Bloggers --(Washington Post)
Administrators concerned students' remarks may be read by college admissions, future employers.
...In recent weeks, several Washington area schools have taken action against the use of blog sites, in particular Facebook.com but also the sites MySpace.com and Xanga.com, which allow teenagers -- and sometimes younger children -- to post details of their lives for all to see.
Happy Blogiversary -- [Peace like a River]
Today marks the beginning of the fourth year of this blog.
Thought I'd give a very brief history of how this electronic heap of ASCII characters got to this point.
(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.)
Girl's tip foils IED -- [Multi-National Force-Iraq]
BAGHDAD , Iraq – A young girl phoned in a tip of a possible roadside bomb to Coalition Forces Jan. 14, potentially saving innocent lives.
The girl reported seeing a white bag in a hole on a road in southeast Baghdad . When Coalition Forces investigated, they found a man hiding in the grass by the road, as well as four masked men in a car. A man carrying an AK-47 and talking on a cell phone was observed walking over to two suspected trigger men who were in the prone position. Attack aviation engaged the terrorists preventing them from carrying out the attack
SAVING THE WORLD -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
There are many things we do to assist the Iraqi people both visible and sometimes not very visible. Many smaller events get accomplished so that larger ones can continue to move on and form the country’s independence. The event themselves I wont discuss but you can get a feeling at least of how we felt traveling around the area saving the world or so it seemed.
Saturday, January 14, 2006 -- [Chapter - War - in Iraq]
Today while approaching a base there was a large detonation, smoke rising into the air. From our vantage point it appeared to be an IED but then we were informed by one of our own that it was at the front gate of the base. From a distance it looked almost like mortars had impacted. At the same time a group of men were standing by their truck on a bridge with ak-47s watching us
30 MPH in the Right Lane -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
In the meantime, I’m starting to feel like a caged animal in downtown Baghdad, waiting for the opportunity to do what I came here to do, rather than sitting on my hands. The Army is very good at offensive operations, and it is very good at defensive operations, but when you start to mingle the two together in a murky environment such as Baghdad, it starts to stray from most units’ area of expertise. I am a trained infantryman, with my specialty being the destruction of any type of enemy. I am not a cop, and I am certainly not a security guard for KBR (one of Halliburton’s children, if you’re not familiar with them).
That being said, I will accomplish whatever mission is thrown my way, small or large, essential or idiotic.
Stryker patrol field trip -- [Reporting from Iraq - journalis embedded with the 172nd Stryker Brigade
Going on patrol Friday was a little like school field trip day, and the soldiers didn’t seem to mind.
Educational patrol
After witnessing the sacrifice of a cow, the platoon drove south of Mosul about 15 miles to the Nimrud ruins. It’s a rural area along the Tigris River Valley and part of the platoon’s area of responsibility, but they don’t come here on a daily basis. Soldiers said the Iraqi police in this region are reliable, dependable and well-trained and keep the area relatively safe.
Insurgents Sentenced -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
An Iraqi insurgent will spend 15 years behind bars for shooting and wounding a New York soldier in an attack that the assailants recorded as a training video for terrorists. The July 2 attack on Pfc. Stephen Tschiderer led to an Iraqi court convicting Ali Said Abbas Al-Khaz'ali of attempted murder and threatening the public safety.
The incident drew national attention in the United States because Tschiderer, despite the attempt on his life, rendered first aid to Al-Khaz'ali after the assailant suffered a broken leg and gunshot wounds while trying to escape.
The Civil War Among Sunni Arabs -- [Strategy Page]
January 16, 2006: Terrorist attacks against certain types of targets get lots of media coverage, especially when, as there usually are, lots of attacks. What is less reported is the ultimate success, or failure, of those attacks. For example, there were several attacks on foreign diplomats, in an attempt to prevent those countries from establishing diplomatic relations with the new Iraqi government. That campaign failed, as there are over fifty countries that have reestablished their embassies in Iraq, or are in the process of doing so.
Marine Killed, Police Thwart Ambush, Raids Nab Terrorists -- [Iraqi Bounty Hunter]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2006 – A U.S. Marine was killed in Iraq yesterday, Iraqi police recently thwarted a roadside bomb ambush on coalition forces, and raids yesterday in northern Iraq led to the capture of five terrorist suspects, U.S. military officials in Baghdad reported today.
Officials said the Marine, assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, died of wounds received from small-arms fire in Ramadi. The Marine's name is being withheld until next of kin are notified.
Life in Iraq -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
...Somethings are just ment to be seen while lookin through the sites of a 240 charlie. This is lookin out the loader's hatch on one of our tanks. Nice town aint it? I'm thinkin of movin here when the war's over. NOT!
Sunday, January 15th, 2006 -- [My Turn - in Iraq]
Ever since I left the US, i've noticed a saying that seems to be apparent in all places that our soldiers go as far as being deployed to Iraq.
The unwilling,
do the impossible,
for the ungrateful.
Make sense? I'm sure it does to some degree. It's usually on barrier walls, building walls, and port-o-john walls.
Sunday, January 15, 2006 -- [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
Ssgt Walsh, having finished building the team a pullup bar, putting decking down to the heads (to avoid the mud), and shoring up the roof with 8 x 8's, is now patching holes in tires. The guy does not stop. Master Guns Kistler, you have taught your apprentice well.
SGT dock [Blog Machine City - Home from Iraq]
An old friend of mine, SGT Dock, is with 1st Brigade, 34th ID, on his way to Iraq.
Back on the Block [SGT Dock's Holiday - deploying to Iraq]
I was thrilled to be down with a "line unit" since it brings me closer to my EMS backround. Up at Charlie Co. I was bound to just be a hospital technician or something like that.
I can already hear people looking at the screen and saying, "He's got to be nuts to want to be closer to the madness". But it's true... I can't stand looking at the same four walls whether it's an office or a tent. I hated working as a clerk when I was on active duty. It was 5 months of hell. I curse red pens and secretary work.
WTF, President Bush? -- [Winds of Change - Armed Liberal]
I commented in passing on the Administration's apparent disinterest in proving more reconstruction funds for Iraq. I was temperate in my comments in part because I wasn't sure what, exactly was going on - the budget process is opaque and complex on good days.
FRESH VEGETABLES -- [2006 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
This is one of the small fruit and vegetable stands in one of the rural villages. These vegetables looked like they were fresh. Notice the boy in the pictue is selling gas.
A question from Luke - The Cross Sabers [A Soldier's Diary - In Iraq]
(photo blog) One of my favorite places here in the International Zone is the Cross Sabers - what once was Saddam's old parade grounds.
Gut check 101 [Across the Pond - In Iraq]
The holidays have come and gone and I am now over the hump. I am past the halfway point of my deployment and that much closer to getting home to my fiance. You would think that it would be a point of rejoicement knowing that I will soon be home with my love. But that doesnt seem to be the feelings these days.
Vigilant (new pics) [photos from Rock and Roll Soldier - In Iraq]
Believer's Palace (photo essay) [Dan in the Desert - In Iraq]
Saddam has dozens of palaces, but this one is unique in many ways. The most obvious thing about it is that it really isn't a palace. It's a shell, designed to hide the bunker underneath it.
Cronkite: Time for U.S. to Leave Iraq -- (AP)
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was unwinnable keenly influenced public opinion then, said Sunday he'd say the same thing today about Iraq. "It's my belief that we should get out now," Cronkite said in a meeting with reporters.
US helicopter shot down in Iraq: witnesses -- (Reuters)
Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:46 AM ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. helicopter was shot down north of Baghdad on Monday, witnesses said
'Marshall Plan' for Iraq Fades -- (LA Times)
Once the $18.6 billion for reconstruction is spent, the nation might have to rely on private investment. 'No pain, no gain,' a U.S. official says.
BAGHDAD — After more than 2 1/2 years of sputtering reconstruction work, the United States' "Marshall Plan" to rebuild this war-torn country is drawing to a close this year with much of its promise unmet and no plans to extend its funding.
US frees two Iraqi journalists -- (Reuters)
Jan. 15 - The U.S. military freed two Iraqi journalists who work for Reuters on Sunday after holding them for several months without charge.
Al-Qaeda forms body to coordinate fight against US, allies -- (The News International)
| DUBAI: Al-Qaeda in Iraq and some other militant groups have set up an umbrella body to coordinate their fight against US-led forces and the Iraqi government, according to a Web statement posted on S...
More than 500 Iraqi detainees freed -- (Al Jazeera)
The US military has freed more than 500 Iraqi detainees from three prisons in Iraq, including two journalists. | The prisoners had been held for several months without charge at Abu Ghraib prison... (photo: Getty Images)
Al Jazeera
2,000 More M.P.'s Will Help Train the Iraqi Police -- (New York Times)... ERIC SCHMITT
Army military police advisers will work with Iraq's officers in one of the most extensive efforts yet to team Americans with Iraqis.
In a story to appear in its Monday editions, the Times said the mission was just starting in Baghdad and would expand to all 18 provinces by the end of the month, and that it "entails significant new security risks for United States forces."
Soldiers' books show Iraq's front line -- (BBC News)
The war in Iraq may be far from over, but it has already produced a small crop of books by soldiers who fought in it.
These books are not like Anthony Swofford's acclaimed marine memoir Jarhead, a searing but elegiac account of the first Gulf War written a decade after the events it describes
Saturday, January 14, 2006 -- [InstruMetal - in Afghanistan]
I've decided that sycophantic officers, who are only in command of soldiers to enhance their career, should all be drawn and quartered.... After seeing so much idiotic bullshit pulled by these idiots in combat, it would do mankid a service by ridding the earth of these morons.... it will get fewer men killed this way. Its rediculous that men with no combat expertise push for a combat command, just to write on a personnel paper that they had one, are 'leading' troops in combat by sitting inside the quasi-protected up-armor....
Protect Afghan Kids This Winter - Part IV - Pictures of the Week -- [BlackFive]
RE: Protect Afghan Kids This Winter - Part I, Part II and Part III
Received this email about your donations of winter clothing to the Afghani children. Major Alan McKewan sends pictures - I'll put them in the Extended Section - maybe you'll see your kid's old winter jacket in Afghanistan. And thank you!
Injured soldiers were to be shipped home (CNews)
EDMONTON (CP) - Three Edmonton-based soldiers injured in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan were due to come home in the next few weeks, military officials said Sunday.
Canada Diplomat Killed in Afghanistan -- (Yahoo /AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan - A suicide car bomb hit a Canadian military convoy Sunday in southern Afghanistan, killing two civilians and a senior Canadian diplomat, officials said.
A purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammed Yousaf, claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded three Canadian soldiers and 10 other people.
Ex-Taliban Minister Killed in Afghanistan -- (AP)
| KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Gunmen killed a former Taliban leader who renounced the hard-line Islamic regime after it was ousted in late 2001 and had since supported Afghanistan's U.S.-backed governm...
American Honored with North Korean Medal -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Strangely enough, an American has been post-humanously honored with a North Korean medal:
North Korea has awarded a medal for the first time to an American — the late leader of a U.S.-based aid group — for his efforts to help the communist state fight hunger and poverty, a news report said.
Senators say military strike on Iran must be option -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican and Democratic senators said on Sunday the United States may ultimately have to undertake a military strike to deter Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but that should be the last resort.
"That is the last option. Everything else has to be exhausted. But to say under no circumstances would we exercise a military option, that would be crazy," Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said on CBS's "Face the Nation."
Israel Will Allow Palestinians to Vote in East Jerusalem; Tracheotomy Aids Sharon's Breathing -- (New York Times)
JERUSALEM, Jan. 15 - The Israeli cabinet agreed Sunday to let a limited number of Palestinians vote in East Jerusalem in the Palestinian parliamentary elections on Jan. 25, but barred all electioneering in the city by the Islamic faction Hamas.
Death of Kuwaiti Emir Raises Long-Term Leadership Worries -- (New York Times)
The crown prince of Kuwait, elevated to the post of emir after the country's longtime leader died Sunday, is believed to be 76 and is in ill health.
Walid Phares: Allies or Not Allies is the Question -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Walid Phares asked me to post the following for him (quote him directly):
The Predator's strike inside Pakistan's border area, aiming at al-Zawahri's possible stay in a village may have (or not) missed its target. But the missile attack triggered a series of political explosions in the region. In short, the issues are out. I addressed them in a series of interviews over the weekend: Here is a summary:
More questions than answers -- [Peace like a River]
Friday evening came reports that Al Qaeda's #2 man, Ayman al-Zawahiri, arguably more important than Osama bin Laden from an operational standpoint, may have been killed in an air strike.
However, officials in Pakistan were soon claiming Zawahiri was not at that location.
Taliban Taken Over By Bean Counters -- [Strategy Page]
January 16, 2006: The Taliban in Afghanistan is apparently suffering from money problems, as a result of both bad PR and Western attacks on their sources of revenue from the outside world. One result of this is that the Taliban is reportedly restructuring its funding of operations. Hitherto, regional commanders in Afghanistan have been given blocks of money to use as they though most wisely. Apparently some of these regional commanders decided that the wisest course was to a goodly portion of the money away for a rainy day, rather than use it to fund operations against the government and the Coalition forces.
The drone, the CIA and a botched attempt to kill bin Laden's deputy -- (The Guardian)
In the hunt for al-Qaeda, a missile attack on a mountain village killed women and children. The attack was precise, the intelligence was flawed, and the strained relation between Pakistan and the US has been pushed to breaking point
Pakistanis Decry U.S. After Deadly Strike -- (AP)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - Thousands of Pakistanis took to the streets Sunday to rage for a second day against a purported U.S. attack on a border village, chanting "Death to America" and demanding U.S. troops leave neighboring Afghanistan, as more details emerged about the airstrike. Pakistani intelligence officials said the reported target, al-Qaida No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri, had been invited to the attacked village for a dinner marking a Muslim festival on the night of the missile strike but he failed to show up.
Senators Defend Airstrike in Pakistan -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senators defended on Sunday a purported CIA airstrike that Pakistani officials said killed at least 17 people in a village near the border with Afghanistan but not the intended target, al-Qaida's No. 2 leader....
U.S. Faults Saudi Efforts on Terrorism -- (LA Times)
WASHINGTON -- Although Saudi Arabia has cracked down on militants within its borders, the kingdom has not met its promises to help prevent the spread of terrorism or curb the flow of money from Saudis to terrorist cells around the world, U.S. intelligence, diplomatic and other officials say.
As a result, these critics say, countless young terrorism suspects are believed to have escaped the kingdom's tightening noose by fleeing across what critics call a porous border into Iraq.
Specter Skeptical of Domestic Spy Program -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed skepticism Sunday over President Bush's domestic eavesdropping program, joining a chorus of Republicans and Democrats who are questioning its legal justification....
Sunni group vows to behead Iranians -- (Washington Times)
Deep in the lawless triangle connecting Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, eight Iranian soldiers are being held hostage by a Sunni group that is vowing to kill them if Tehran does not meet its demands.
Get to work on this (cross post, etc.) [From My Position - On the Way!]
Lil Toni is auctioning off a very cool bit of Beatles Memorabilia, and the Auction ends tomorrow! The proceeds go to Project Valour-IT, which needs money, badly! There's lots of guys on the wards here at Walter Reed with F'd up hands, and the ones I've met are all jazzed about being able to get started. If you want to bid, (and I know you do) go here.
Operation Pillowcase -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
The Nellis Air Force Base Family Readiness Group is requesting help for their "Operation Pillowcase" program this year. This event will take place in March and they are requesting donations of white pillowcases (or very light colored pillowcases). Operation pillowcase was started last year on the base and was a huge success. What the family readiness group (FRG) does is they ask family members of deployed troops to bring photos of them and their families to their March FRG meeting. They take family photos and transpose these photos onto the pillowcases for their loved ones in Iraq. These pillow cases are then mailed to the airmen.
A Thank You from a wounded sailer -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
I wanted to let you know that many Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and a few Sailors (not many of us come through Landstuhl) read and took comfort in the Christmas Messages From Home. I watched many of them as they read through and every one had a smile on their face when they were finished. Thank you for taking the time to put it together.
The Necessity Of Military Preemption -- [Open Fire]
Here's an attempt at explaining why I believe military preemption is our only recourse with which to respond to militant Islam.
20th-century conduct of foreign policy utilized deductive reasoning to mitigate the risks of going to war. This reasoning is possible because numbers ran everything e.g. the Soviets had X number of tanks, Y artillery pieces, Z troops and we knew where they all were. Recall McNamara's whiz kids running Vietnam as if it was an actuary convention. Our thinking is similar in Iraq and Afghanistan and it's working because those variants are conducive to conducting war using 20th-century paradigms for war.
After 155 Years, Marine Sentries Removed -- (AP)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A Naval Academy tradition that lasted 155 years has come to an end: The Marine Corps sentries who guarded the gates and the crypt of Revolutionary War Capt. John Paul Jones have been withdrawn and sent to war.
A hero scorned -- (USA Today)
In 1968, helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson flew into the thick of what he thought was a fierce battle in South Vietnam and discovered, instead, that a massacre was going on - of women, children and elderly men at the hands of U.S. soldiers. Horrified, he landed his helicopter between the soldiers and the civilians, ordered his crew to fire on any American who continued shooting, called for back-up and rescued victims, digging through corpses to scoop up one child.
...What Thompson really deserved, and never got, is the hero's recognition afforded other national icons of moral courage, such as Rosa Parks. Not so much for his benefit as for the nation's. The mob mentality that took over at My Lai was an extreme manifestation of a common human instinct. It's just easier to go along with the crowd, rationalizing corrupt behavior, than it is to face the danger of stopping it. That was true at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and at corrupt Enron.
San Francisco Democrats Illustrate the Problem the Party Faces -- [The New Editor]
Erin McCormick's San Francisco Chronicle piece describing Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's town hall meeting with constituents in her district is illustrative of one of the challenges facing the Democratic Party's coalition: how to deal with the Utopian pacifists that are overrunning the party.
Remembering May, the 'gang of 14' and the vindication of various people -- [TigerHawk]
The New York Times surrendered this morning. On its front page we read the headline "Glum Democrats Can't See Halting Bush On Courts." The opening paragraphs say it all:
Anti-war activists take Pelosi to task -- (San Fransico Chronicle)
Minority leader negotiates with lawmakers to her right
Her opposition to the Iraq war may have earned her a reputation as a radical lefty in Washington.
But when Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi came home to hold a town hall meeting in San Francisco on Saturday, she was greeted like a pro-establishment warmonger.
Feinstein Warns Against Alito Filibuster -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Democrat who plans to vote against Samuel Alito sided on Sunday with a Republican colleague on the Senate Judiciary Committee in cautioning against a filibuster of the Supreme Court nominee....
Dems Ready Proposal on Code of Conduct -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats intend to unveil a sweeping plan this week to tighten Congress' code of conduct, officials said Saturday night, including a ban on lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers and a crackdown on special interest provisions slipped into legislation in the final moments before passage....
Insurers told to provide Medicare drugs: report -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration has told health insurers under contract to the new Medicare drug plan that they must provide a 30-day supply of any drug a beneficiary was previously taking after tens of thousands of people were unable to get medicines promised by Medicare, the New York Times reported on Monday.
Family Feud, New Book Threaten King Legacy -- (Yahoo News /AP)
ATLANTA - On the eve of what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 77th birthday, his legacy is under attack and its greatest defender is unable to speak
Walter Cronkite is saying we should get out now. -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Sometimes, it’s best to fade away gracefully. Of couse, Walter is entitled to his opinion. I’m thankful he no longers holds much influence over the public. Get out now, and then what would be my question Walter. If we left today, would Iraq follow the same path Vietnam has? I doubt it.
CBS to Air North Korea Report on 60 Minutes -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Nomad provides a great link to a 60 Minutes report that airs on January 15th that includes such gems as this North Korean general telling Dan Rather that they will nuke the US if the Americans invade North Korea:
More of Leta's Kosovo Diary -- [Way Down In Kosovo - in Kosovo]
...Since my last visit to Kosovo I have been working to secure Sister Cities partnerships for some of the major cities around Kosovo. My initial focus is to find the right “fit” for Ferizaj. I’ve talked with the Sister Cities International people and had all of the information I needed in order to get the ball rolling on this.
I mentioned in my first diary entry that I wanted to go to Kosovo “under the radar” on this trip. Well, now I’ll tell you why. There is SO much to do there.
Good Bye Kosovo -- [So Far From Home - in Kosovo]
...As I look back on the past 16 months I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished on this deployment. We’ve helped keep security and stability in a region that has known nothing but death and destruction over the past decade. Everyday I was here; I never ceased to be amazed by what things these young soldiers accomplished in the name of freedom and the United States. On the flip side, my family was never far from my mind. There was not a day that went by that I did not think of them and wonder how or what they were doing.
Missed Target -- (Slate)
The New York Times and Washington Post lead with protests in Pakistan following the U.S. airstrike on a village that targeted al-Qaida's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Pakistani officials said they are sure the intended target was not in the village, and that 18 civilians (the WP says 17) were killed, including six children. Thousands of Pakistanis participated in a protest near the site of the attack, where they chanted anti-American slogans. The Los Angeles Times does not front the Pakistan story and leads with U.S. officials saying that Saudi Arabia hasn't been doing as much as it promised to fight terrorism. Although Saudi Arabia has improved terrorism prevention within its borders, it hasn't been so effective in stopping prospective terrorists from leaving the country and has not stopped millions of dollars of local money from going to terrorist groups around the world.
Drum Roll Please!!! -- [Gypsy Life - in Iraq]
It is my extreme pleasure to introduce to everybody my baby neice Sophia Reina LaRon. I wish I could be there with you two, Sky and Hiromi. I love your family so much. Thank you for sharing this picture of your daughter with me and brightening up my week here in Baghdad!!
Deployment Complete -- [Incoherant Ramblings - home from Kosovo]
I just flew back into the states in the last hour.
It feels good to be back.
Back in the USA -- [My Days at Division - home from Iraq]
After a few hours of standing around (because we arrived much earlier than expected), we had a very short homecoming cermony. MAJ Flyfish and I followed that up with quick dash to Waikiki and downed some early cocktails and Hawaiian BBQ. It's great to eat something that's not made by a military contractor.
It's Astounding...Time Is Fleeting... [All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front- home from Iraq]
I've gotten to cook a real meal in a kitchen, sleep in a decent bed, go to a bookstore, and drive my own car again. I haven't heard anything explode or a shot in days. It even rained the last two days.
I miss all the pockets in my DCUs, and I feel strange not being armed constantly. This will take some getting used to.
Home in the USA [Armywriter22 - home from Iraq]
I made it home safely and soundly yesterday morning. We had our little ceremony and were released for the day. Lots of people hugging and kissing.
Shelley Winters dies at 85 -- (New York Daily)
Sadly, the curtain falls on Shelley Winters.
Shelley Winters, the blond bombshell from Brooklyn who broke into the movies playing sexpots and won two Oscars portraying unglamorous mothers, died of heart failure yesterday. She was 85.
(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.)
Iraq's Business Environment -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
I thought I would brighten the picture a little bit more for you all today. What I have in front of me is a break down of a multitude of topics (such as employment) during Saddam's regime and after the Coalition forces deposed him. It's dated December 12, 2005 and I cannot confirm any of this data. There is also no source to attribute. I did find it at the conclusion of an Iraqi press conference so I believe it was handed out to Iraqi media from the Iraqi government. Please share your thoughts on these accomplishments. I feel like these things are proof that the standard of living is increasing thanks to everyones efforts and sacrifices.
Losing in Iraq -- [Winds of Change - 'Callimachus']
They pronounce it with a wicked smile. They seem to like the feel of it on their loose lips.
"We're losing in Iraq." It sure riles up the wingnut contingent when you say it, eh? The right people. Let's say it again, as often as possible. Let's find evidence of it in every news story.
They positively squeal with glee when someone "respectable" like Republican Senator Chuck Hagel says, "The reality is that we're losing in Iraq." By "respectable" they mean someone they lampooned mercilessly as one of Chimpy's minions right up to the moment he said something they agree with.
Success in Iraq Depends on the Media -- [TBone's War Journal]
The mainstream media continues to highlight stories from any source that is critical of the war in Iraq, critical of the Bush Administration's decisions vis-a-vis the war, or critical of the conduct of US Forces engaged in the War Against Terrorist Scumbags. One such article in the Guardian Unlimited online entitled US army in Iraq institutionally racist, claims British officer deserves some attention and critique. The title alone gives us an indication of the article's purpose - to discredit the United States and its conduct in Iraq. I'd like to point out that the Brigadier doesn't sound malicious to me in his comments. The article starts out:
Hey out there -- [Writing in the Sand - in Iraq]
...As you all know, there is a lot of talk about handing the country back over to the Iraqis, so that we can leave. The Iraqis want this, and we do too. There will be no lasting peace without the Americans gone, but that can't happen until the Iraqi security forces and government are able competently take on that role. Well, a few weeks ago, we attended the ceremony of the hand over of battlespace to an Iraqi Army (IA) Battalion. This means that the IA will now have control of that area, only calling for American assistance if needed. This is a huge deal. It is only the third to occur in Iraq, and the first one in the North of the country.
Hub of the Hunkered -- [One Free Korea - in S Korea]
Since the South Korean contingent in Iraq won't go to where the mission is, someone had the bright idea of bringing a mission to them:
Korean authorities are looking into a request from the U.S. government to let the development agency USAID move its office in northern Iraq into the base of Korea’s Zaytun Unit stationed there.
Wow! Way more famous! -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
I clicked on a Yahoo News Article on yahoo.com today and noticed we are in it! Sweet. Check this one out about troops upgrading their humvees.
"Drawing on the part-time soldiers' backgrounds as mechanics, electricians and carpenters, the 126th Armor Battalion based in suburban Grand Rapids, Mich., added thermal imaging cameras and a 6-foot boom that can be lowered in front of the Humvee. Dangling chains and an infrared countermeasure on the boom can help trigger explosives before the Humvee is directly over them, said Lt. John Caras."
Well this wasn't on the news -- [Courage Without Fear - in Iraq]
As the traffic on my blog increases, my time in Iraq is decreasing. Since I won't have as much first hand "Army stuff" to post about, I'm offering my blog as a place for warriors still in theater to tell about the stuff you don't see on TV.
This is the first of those posts.............
Roadside Clearing, Baghdad -- [Iraq War News]
A few gripes... -- [Rock and Roll Soldier - in Iraq]
First off, I'd like to let you people who read this thing know that our readership now includes my battalion commander... which could be good or bad.
Before i start: I'd like to say this: The Army's official policy on blogs is that as long as they don't violate OPSEC, they're good. Now, is this policy being followed? Nope...
Numerous soldiers' blogs have been shut down for being critical of things in the army. I found this quote by Jason Hartley, whose blog was shut down, and he was demoted and fined.
Iraq Pictures - 14 January 2006 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
An Iraqi soldier celebrates the graduation of a new group of Iraqi police officers at the Iraqi police academy in Baghdad Pic: SPC Teddy Wade
It's time to bring in Disney -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
If you have never been to the Middle East or any other Muslim run area you really have no idea why we are just not shocked at all by the headlines that 345 people were killed in a stampede during Haj. There is no order like you are used to in the West. People don't patiently wait in line for anything. They bunch up, yell, try and throw any weight around that they may have and are in general just quite rude about it. The more educated ones are not (The UAE and Bahrain are the exceptions) but the majority are like this.
Murtha: “Vast Majority of U.S. Troops Will Be Out Of Iraq By The End Of The Year” (VIDEO) -- [Political Teen]
JOHN MURTHA: I think the vast majority will be out by the end of the year and I’m hopeful –
MURTHA: VAST MAJORITY OF U.S. TROOPS WILL BE OUT OF IRAQ BY END OF YEAR -- (Drudge Report)
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) believes the vast majority of U.S. troops in Iraq will be out by the end of the year and maybe even sooner. In his boldest words yet on the subject, the outspoken critic of the war predicts the withdrawal and tells Mike Wallace why he thinks the Bush administration will do it. The interview, a portion of which will appear on tonight's (13) CBS EVENING NEWS, will be broadcast on 60 MINUTES Sunday Jan. 15 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
In a tactic reminiscent of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth assault on Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) during the 2004 presidential campaign, a conservative Web site yesterday quoted Murtha opponents as questioning the circumstances surrounding the awarding of his two Purple Hearts.
AP: Soldiers Upgrading Armor on Humvees -- (AP)
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - Soldiers exposed to Iraq's increasingly lethal roadside bombs, which can rip through armored Humvees, are drawing on wartime experience and stateside expertise to protect their vehicles with stronger armor and thermal detection cameras. The upgrades are being done by individual soldiers and units as the Pentagon decides how Humvees should be changed, and follow public criticism of the Bush administration for not armoring all Humvees ahead of the war.
All Dressed Up With No Way to Fight -- (New York Times)
THIS week Senator Hillary Clinton, citing a secret Pentagon report that suggested some marines killed in Iraq might have survived had they been wearing more body armor, became the latest in a long line of politicians to castigate the Pentagon for a supposed failure to adequately protect our fighting men and women. Well-intentioned as the senator might be, the body-armor issue, like so many in war, is just not that simple.
Military Copter Crashes Common in Winter -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of fatal U.S. military helicopter crashes in Iraq has spiked in recent weeks, fitting a wartime pattern of more frequent accidental and combat crashes during winter months....
Saddam trial judge plans to quit -- (Reuters)
SULAIMANIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - The chief judge in the trial of Saddam Hussein plans to step down, a source close to the judge told Reuters on Friday, in a development that could throw an already turbulent process into further disarray.
A Viking in the Salang Valley -- [Miserable Donuts]
A group of former NFL players came over to visit us early in 2005. The player who impressed me most was Matt Blair. Now, mind you, I grew up (and remain) a Chicago Bears fan. I was used to feeling very disappointed in Mr. Blair - usually because he was destroying some poor Bears quarterback...
Matt had been on several visits to see the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I asked him why he would do this so much, he told me it was an easy choice. He grew up with his father in the service - so...
al-Qaeda Attacked: Zawahiri Dead? -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio]
al-Qaeda's second in command was targeted in an airstrike in Pakistan, unconfirmed reports indicate he has been killed
Unconfirmed reports from Pakistani and U.S. intelligence sources indicate a CIA airstrike was carried out against a compound in Pakistan which contained Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s number two in command, and four other unnamed senior al-Qaeda leaders. Eighteen people are believed to have been killed in the strike.
CIA Targets Ayman al-Zawahiri in Pakistan - Pakistan Officials Say He Was Not at Site (updated 1/14) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
CIA airstrike against Al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri in Pakistan - CIA got "good reporting" on al-Zawahiri's presence in a building and it ordered the Predator airstrike. But AP reports on Saturday morning that "Al-Qaida's second-in-command was not at the site of a U.S. airstrike on a Pakistan village near the Afghan border that killed at least 17 people, two senior Pakistani officials said Saturday."
US targeted al Qaeda No. 2 in airstrike -- (Reuters)
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. airstrike in Pakistan targeted al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, but it was unclear if he had been killed, U.S. sources knowledgeable about the strike said.
Strpce: Go to hell, but protect us first! -- [Kosovo: A blur of chaos]
Kosovo is almost a unheard of place these days. A lot has happened in the world since the spring and summer of 1999. I still look back at that time a time where I learned the most about life, devastation, hate, pride, and so on. Living the daily life as a paratrooper in these mostly war torn villages and towns, I have a lot of memories that I will write about. I will write mostly just for myself to reflect back on that time. I am not a good writer, nor will I ever be (just a fair warning). I did change names for the privacy of people who just would prefer no to be mentioned.
Renews threats to end IAEA Inspections as cracks reappear in fleeting EU unity -- [Threats Watch - Steve Schippert]
Iran has threatened to end IAEA snap inspections of its nuclear facilities as provided by the Additional Protocol agreement, signed after the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In response to the growing clamor to have Iran referred to the United Nations Security Council, it has renewed the threat and grown increasingly belligerent in the face of international pressure to cease uranium enrichment work restarted at the underground Natanz facility. The value of having such IAEA inspection measures in place must be questioned in the shadow of recent events, as Iran defied IAEA observers by opening the Natanz IAEA seals themselves when the IAEA officials would not.
RUSSIA: ACTING PRIME MINISTER PROPOSES POLIGAMY -- (AKI)
Moscow, 13 Jan. (AKI) - Muslim-majority Chechnya has lost so many men in its long-running conflict that survivors should be legally allowed to take several wives, acting prime minister Ramzan Kadyrov said on Russian radio. The pro-Moscow politician said this was "necessary for Chechnya because we have war - we have more women than men."
Britain's Celebrity Legislator -- (New York Times)
Some say George Galloway, the famously independent Scottish member of Parliament, went too far by appearing on a television game show, "Celebrity Big Brother," pretending to be a cat.
Senator Mikulski Responds -- [Michael Yon]
We are writing to urge you to formally request that the Government of Lebanon immediately arrest and extradite to the United States Mohammed Ali Hamadi, the cold-blooded murderer and terrorist who has sought refuge in Lebanon since being released from German custody last month. As you know, Hamadi brutally murdered a United States Navy diver, Robert Dean Stethem. Petty Officer Stethem was 23 years old and from Waldorf, MD. He was killed solely because he was an American serviceman.
Truthout's Accidental Truth -- [Confederate Yankee]
Left wing truthout has breathlessly issued a press release claiming they have a document proving that President Bush authorized NSA wiretaps prior to 9/11/01.
Al Qaeda's Zawahri the brains behind bin Laden -- (Reuters)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Doctor and surgeon Ayman al-Zawahri is the brains behind Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network and most recently its public face, repeatedly denouncing the United States and its allies in widely aired video messages.
Gonzales to Testify on Domestic Spying -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Friday he will testify publicly at a Senate hearing on the Bush administration's domestic spying program, in the face of questions from lawmakers and legal analysts about whether it is lawful. Gonzales said he reached an agreement with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to answer questions about the legal basis for the National Security Agency's warrantless eavesdropping on telephone conversations between suspected terrorists and people in the United States
Bush Rejects Call to Shut Gitmo Prison -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush rejected a suggestion by Germany's new leader that the U.S. close its prison at Guantanamo Bay, saying after a first meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday that the facility is "a necessary part of protecting the American people."...
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!
robot killers -- [Blog Machine City]
In this month's issue of GX magazine, there's an interesting article about the Army's Future Combat Systems, or FCS. In short, it's the Army's program for a high-tech, networked force, comprising numerous manned and unmanned combat systems and vehicles, all tied together via a tactical network.
Eleven Bravo -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
To better understand it, Infantrymen shoot, move and communicate. In a nutshell, everything we do is centered around those three tasks, with the primary purpose of closing with and killing the enemy in close quarters (especially light infantry). Every other job in the Army supports us in one way or another in accomplishing our mission, which is the tip of the Army’s spear. From aviation to tankers to field artillery to transportation to quartermaster and everything else, their purpose aids our purpose. Aviation might be the pretty boys of the Army world, and a hellfire missile coming toward you from an Apache Longbow is going to result in you having a very, very bad day, but it’s the infantryman on the ground who is calling for and directing that Apache. It’s the infantryman who is calling for artillery fire. It’s the infantryman who needs to be moved from point A to point B.
Holocaust Denying Imam's New York Mosque Visited by Mayor Bloomberg -- [Jawa Report]
The spiritual leader of a New York City Shia mosque, the Al Khoei Islamic Center, has gone on record as a holocaust denyer. Sheik Fadhel al Sahlani told the New York Sun that the Nazi massacre of an estimated 6 million Jews during World War II "has been exaggerated". Al Sahlani joins the radical leader of Iran, President Ahmadinejad, in denying the extent of the Holocaust and calling for an international scholarly conference to reopen debate on it.
REPORT: Ted Kennedy Used Quote from SATIRE Piece to Attack Alito! -- [The Right Place]
Dinesh D'Souza, an editor of the Concerned Alumni of Princeton magazine during 1983-1985, which was used repeatedly by Sen. Edward Kennedy (Jackass-MA) to smear Judge Samuel Alito as a bigot by mere association during the Senate confirmation hearings this week, is quoted by ABC reporter Jack Tapper at his Down and Dirty blog as saying one of two articles used by Kennedy was a work of satire!
What The Mainstream Press Won’t Tell You About Congressman Murtha -- [NewsBuster]
You can’t swing a dead cat lately without smacking into an article concerning Congressman John Murtha’s (D-Pennsylvania) view of the necessity to withdraw American troops from Iraq. In fact, as reported by the MRC’s Brent Baker, Murtha is going to be on CBS’s “60 Minutes” discussing exactly that on Sunday with none other than Mike Wallace. However, for some reason, that same demised feline has little chance of ever coming in contact with a report of the Congressman’s proclivities to take funds from Washington lobbyists. Today, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette broke ranks from the mainstream media in this regard.
Instapundit and N.Z. Bear Want To Clean House (AUDIO) -- [Political Teen]
Earlier today N.Z. Bear released a letter titled “An Appeal from Center-Right Bloggers” that asks congressmen, basically to clean house. Over a dozen bloggers have signed on to it and shared it with their readers. The amount of traffic those blogs receive in a day is over 1,000,000 unique hits, which gives this letter huge visibility.
Through the Prism of Bush -- [Dadmanly]
Howard Kurtz, writing Media Notes in the Washington Post, posts a fine essay, Dems vs. Dems, and links to an even better essay by Peter Beinart, writing on Both Sides in The New Republic.
Murtha's War Hero Status Called Into Question (CNSNews.com Staff)
Having ascended to the national stage as one of the most vocal critics of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman John Murtha has long downplayed the controversy and the bitterness surrounding the two Purple Hearts he was awarded for military service in Vietnam.
Web Site Attacks Critic of War -- (Washington Post)
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), the former Marine who is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, has become the latest Democrat to have his Vietnam War decorations questioned.
Steamed about Rice, Russian pol unleashes rant -- (New York Daily News) HT : Drudge
"If she has no man by her side at her age, he will never appear," Zhirinovsky ranted on. "Condoleezza Rice needs a company of soldiers. She needs to be taken to barracks where she would be satisfied.
"Condoleezza Rice is a very cruel, offended woman who lacks men's attention," he added. "Such women are very rough. … They can be happy only when they are talked and written about everywhere: 'Oh, Condoleezza, what a remarkable woman, what a charming Afro-American lady! How well she can play the piano and speak Russian!'
Laura Bush Sees Woman President in Future -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Laura Bush predicted on Friday that the United States soon will have a female president - a Republican, and maybe even Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "I think it will happen for sure," Mrs. Bush said about a woman in the Oval Office....
Democrats May Delay Alito Nomination Vote -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats confirmed Friday that they will make a last-ditch attempt to slow Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's momentum by delaying the first vote on his candidacy....
It is a federal crime to publish classified information. -- [Counter Column]
Cori Dauber is reporting, via an informed source, that the military strenuously requested that New York Times and Washington Post not publish the results of a study on body armor.
One Marine's View - Interview w/ Capt B in Iraq -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
Many folks asked for interviews with milboggers who are "boots on the ground", Capt B of One Marine's View is the first victim. I like his mix of enthralling stories and a bit of a smart ass tone, but you can decide why you like it for yourself. I sent some off beat questions and he came through with some flavor in return.
So long "Paper and Pencil?" -- [Miserable Donuts]
The front page of the Daily Illini features two articles on blogs. "Who's Behind Local Blogs" focusing on the local public and "Teacher Uses Blogs instead of Paper and Pencil" looks at changes in education.
The article about the local efforts even features Prairie Biker, who we link to on our "Friends of Donuts" list.
Congratulations SPC Lewis! -- [Will to Exist - in Iraq]
I want to congratulate my fellow soldier, SPC Harold Lewis Jr. on the birth of his daughter. I’ll post her name here when I get it. Welcome to this crazy world, Alyssa!
Fallen Warrior -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
These are the days you'll remember about being in a war - when a fellow soldier, leader, and friend meets death. LTC Michael McLaughlin was a force of nature. His dynamic personality and sense of humor were things no one could forget. Those who new him well called him "Colonel Mac," or just "Mac." There is a vast field of linguistics known only to people who are familiar with the military lifestyle. Its tomes are filled with quick comebacks, catchy phrases, acronyms, and rhetorical spoofs. LTC Mac knew them all, and could pull one out of a hat in any situation like a magician with a white rabbit. I once heard him say "Look, they might be the toothpaste, but I’m the one squeezing the tube, okay?"
From the TAG -- [Chris Whong - in Iraq]
My old First Sergeant from the 121st, now CSM Skip Adkins, forwarded this memo. SGT McMullen was in my training group for 2 weeks in Alabama before we deployed. He had much to contribute to the unit, and brought with him a sense of duty and an ethos of public service from his civilian job as a paramedic. He was one of the no-nonsense soldiers, who never complained and always kept things positive for all those around him. May he rest in peace.
Day -7 - One Week Already -- [Big Al's Army Life - home from Iraq]
...We sure hope everyone is doing great - almost everyone should be home or is already home from the the 155 BCT - YAY! I know that it is a good feeling for everyone to not have to worry constantly, wait for the phone to ring or everything else that goes along with a deployment. I am sleeping through the night now and I am no longer married to my computer or the phone - but I have a real, live husband in my house which is wonderful and scary all at the same time. Transitioning from a deployment to being a full time newlywed sure is INTERESTING to say the least - not to mention the fact that I am a terrible control freak to boot. Yikes. Poor Al! It's a good thing he's the most laid back person on the planet!
THE LAST OF OUR GUYS IS HOME!!!-- [Some Soldier's Mom]
Vinny arrived HOME tonight quite unexpectedly!!! Seems when they got to Kuwait for their special detail, they were told that some other unit had picked up the work AND THEY WERE GETTING ON A PLANE TO GO HOME!
Christopher is back from Iraq! -- [BayerBoysnAction]
Christopher arrived back at Ft. Bragg NC around 4:15 am on Thursday, Dec. 29th. His plane came in over 2 hours early, so Julie, Calli and I were still enroute. Oh, well!! As long as they all made it back, that is all that counts.
(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.)
Gear -- [Learning to Live - wife of a fallen soldier]
I am hesitant to even write about this topic but figured why not? There is once again more media coverage on the gear our soldiers are wearing or are not wearing. I believe that our soldiers deserve the best possible protection and that the government should provide for them. I also know that the gear is very bulky, heavy, and provides limited movement. I once put on some of Sean's gear without all the plates and it was very difficult for me to move . . . granted I am out of shape but the thought of wearing that day in and day out for over a year is amazing.
This issue has also rekindled my emotions about Sean's death. It was reported that about 80% of the soldiers who have died could have been prevented if they had this gear . . . would not have helped Sean.
A Letter to Senator Clinton -- [Dadmanly - recently returned home from Iraq]
Reading Senator Hillary Clinton’s recent remarks on body armor on ABC’s Good Morning America got me all fired up. Following the suggestion of Michelle Malkin, I wrote a letter to the Senator, text as follows.
Body Armor -- A Soldier Weighs In -- [Bantler in Atlanter]]
I'm sure that you have been subject to reports by the MSM by now that claim that our military personnel are not adequately protected by the body armor that they have been issued. On this subject, I am no expert, but it has been my experience that anytime the MSM tries to analyze technical subject matter, most of the time they get it wrong. So I defer to 1st Lieutenant Micah J. Garrison:
More Body Armor and Lower Casualties -- [Strategy Page]
January 12, 2006: The latest media created military scandal revolves around accusations of inadequate body armor for the troops. What these breathless accusations missed was that combat troops are already carrying too much weight in combat. Weight is a matter of life and death. Even the most fit troops are slowed down by trying to fight while carrying up to a hundred pounds of gear.
"Happy Gear" -- [They Call Us, "Doc" - recently returned from Iraq]
...I think there is a fine line between having tons of armor on and being totally protected and not being able to maneuver, thus compromising the security and safety of yourself, your team and the mission. I wanted protection so that I could make it back home to my family but I believe that if it's your time to go, it's your time to go and there's nothing you can do about it.
Fear, future weigh on Baby Noor’s family -- [The 48th goes to war | AJC Blog - journalist embedded in Iraq]
Abu Ghraib, Iraq — Family members of Noor al-Zahra, the baby with a birth defect who underwent lifesaving surgery in Atlanta this week, said Tuesday they were considering moving because of possible retribution by anti-American insurgents.
I'm Back But She is Gone... -- [A Treasure in Baghdah - an Iraqi in Iraq]
For almost a week before I returned back from the U.S., I was sad. I thought I am going to be happy to be among my friends and family. But what happened was shocking. I never expected it. “Jill is kidnapped and Alan is killed,” O. told me when I called him the moment I left the Baghdad airport going back home. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe him first or in fact, I did not want to believe him. “You must be kidding!” I said. “Do not joke with me now. This is not the time to joke,” I added. And of course, I was wrong. He wasn’t kidding. He was saying the truth.
Kidnapping and the ethics of blackouts -- [Counter Column]
As if we need more evidence that the journo class has uncoupled itself from reality, here's an incongrous pairing of statements from Sig Christenson, president of Military Reporters and Editors.
From Editor and Publisher: ...
Ar Ramadi -- [A Mobilized Year - in Iraq]
Traffic was “well behaved” when we drove into Ramadi. Vehicles stood off from our convey at least 100 meters and there were no threatening actions taken by the civilians we encountered. Just as I was about ready to relax as we moved through the entry control point gate at the Ramadi base, a VBIED (vehicle borne IED) rushed the gate just behind us. The gate guards lit them up with crew serve automatic weapons and killed the three passengers in the vehicle.
...Below are a few articles about the incident at the glass factory. If anyone doubts how the agenda or perspective of a reporter or periodical/news agency influences public opinion, compare your feelings after you read about the violence, chaos, blood and gore painted by the typical reports of the event by Reuters ...
Welcome to the war, part three -- [Fun With Hand Grenades - in Iraq]
...First you hear the explosion and feel the shockwave as it rattles the entire truck. Then everyone starts screaming various combinations of curse words, "f***" and "s**t" being the most prevalent. The blast was loud enough that I thought it was us that got hit, but since there was no giant fireball, no cloud of dust, and our gunner wasn't screaming bloody murder, we realized it wasn't us. All at the same time we knew it was the truck behind us and we were all turning around in our seats as if we could magically see through our Humvee to assess the damage. Immediately I started sweating very heavily.
SACRIFICE -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
While in this country of Iraq, I have seen a lot of great things transpire, people stand up and a country become proud and strong. I could tell you how your Marines brave small arms attacks; tracers in the cold night, IEDs exploding just feet from them, sometimes underneath them, nightly Islamic prayers played on loud speakers during sundown and intermingled with a low base IED explosions off in the distance. The smell of trash and tires burning continuously throughout the day. I could explain how during a cold brisk morning we went out and about through the city escorting a few more “passengers”. Life is good, things are just freaking chipper. The schedule is on track and we pause and stop to observe some
My new neighbor looks like an insurgent! -- [Treasure of Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Oh Oh!! He looks like an insurgent," I told my father. I did not go out immediately because I was carrying my laptop bag. I did not look like someone celebrating Eid. Instead, I looked like someone going to work. I was afraid this man might see my bag and then guesses where I work.
"Who is that man? I haven't seen him previously," I asked my father. He said, "These are our new neighbors." I was surprised. "What happened to Um Abbas and her handicapped son?" I wondered. Simply, my father said that she died and her son wasn't her real son. Inheritors rented the house to these new people and no one knows where they came from. But they look like they came from Falluja or Ramadi, my father said.
1 for the "Brain Bucket" -- [Casper's Calamity - in Iraq]
Often referred to, by those I know, as the "Brain Bucket" -this one saved a soldiers life recently in Tikrit!
Feeling an explosion -- [Daily News -Miner Blog - journalist embedded in Iraq]
We were just sitting there, waiting for the explosive guys to come check out and dispose of what the soldiers figured was an IED when the darn thing just blew up.
Shaking hands, Changing hands -- [Peace like a River]
...I'll reiterate, for the first time in the Ninewah Province, the provincial capital of which is the city of Mosul, the Iraqi Army assumed military control of a battle-space.
Progress is measured in steps, not in leaps, and this is a step forward.
Team update - 11 Jan 06 -- [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
..Everyone is still doing well. It is still very strange NOT walking on missions. We have been here a month, so you’d think we would be used to it by now. You would be wrong. Speaking for myself, when we were in the mix of actually walking on the missions, our contribution felt more tangible, more concrete. We were right there outside the wire with the guys we were mentoring; we were often THE link between the American force we were supporting and the Iraqis of 3-2-1. We were leading by example by sharing the same risks as they, walking the same streets, engaging the same people and the same enemy. Now, our operations schedule is not NEARLY as busy as it had been in east Ramadi, or even Habbaniyah, but the strangest thing is still being a part of the plan as before, but waving the kids off to school when they mount up in the Marine MTVR trucks and head out on mission.
IRR Crack Down -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
...The last time the IRR was called up was in 1990 when the Army mobilized 20,000 soldiers to head to...you guessed it, Iraq.
Not only did I not expect the IRR to be mobilized, I certainly did not expect them to start mobilizing Broadcast Journalists. Now to be clear, I'm not exactly happy about being called up and I'm also not mad. This is where the decisions of my life led me and I'm confident I've made the right choices. I will say that it's also quite an honor to be here doing something so special.
In any event, when I heard that nearly 2,000 of the 5,700 IRR soldiers called up were not reporting for one reason or another I was absolutely livid. I mean, come on guys...we signed up for this, it needs to be done, and we're trained to do it. After all, isn't Integrity the sixth Army value?
Mud -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
I guess we have entered the rainy season finally. The other night it rained pretty steadily for a few hours. The mud created is simply incredible. Even with just a light mist, it sticks to your boots and after taking 4 or 5 steps, you have a few pounds of extra weight on each foot - it even
Overworked and underpaid -- Fast Bunnies - in Iraq]
Well, maybe not underpaid, considering I just got another 3.1% raise.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............
Yeah, underpaid. But technically not overworked either. Perhaps better defined as worked at a level generally higher than I would prefer.
Escape from Baghdad -- [Once Upon A Time In Baghdad - in Iraq]
I thought we might never make it out of Baghdad, what a nightmare!
Did I mention the engineers took one of the heads back to the States? (Ft. Stewart I hear)
FARMING ACTIVITIES -- [2006 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
I like this picture because it captures various farming activities. You have the corn being harvested by hand and loaded in the pickup. Wheat fields getting watered. Vegetables are being planted. Cows in the alpha field along with the dogs in the planted field. The neighbors driving by to see what your doing... (pic)
Body Armor: Services try to find right mix of protection, mobility -- (Army Times)
Protecting troops is a top priority, but weighting them down with so much body armor that they are practically unable to move is not the answer to the continued deaths and injuries among armor-wearing deployed forces, military officials said Wednesday.
Army to Send Body Armor Plates to Iraq -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army plans to send thousands of ceramic body armor plates to Iraq this year to better protect soldiers while the Marine Corps already is delivering such gear, military officers said Wednesday. In a private appearance before members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the officers defended the body armor available to U.S. troops. A Pentagon study done last summer but only disclosed recently found that improved armor may have prevented or minimized torso wounds that proved fatal to Marines in Iraq.
Army's Iraq Work Assailed by Briton -- (Washington Post)
Senior Officer Points to Cultural Ignorance In an Essay Published by the U.S. Military
FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- A senior British officer has written a scathing critique of the U.S. Army and its performance in Iraq, accusing it of cultural ignorance, moralistic self-righteousness, unproductive micromanagement and unwarranted optimism there.
Senior British officer brands US soldiers 'racist' in Iraq -- (Scotsman)
A SENIOR British officer has launched a scathing attack on the United States army and its operations in Iraq. | Brigadier Nigel Aylwin-Foster accused the Americans of "cultural insen...
Poll: Iraq won't be governing itself soon -- (CNN)
Asked if it was worth going to war, smaller majority says no ((?)Mrs G's emphasis)
WASHINGTON -- Americans overwhelmingly lack confidence that Iraq will have a stable government in place within the next year, and more than half say that the war has not been worth its cost, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Wednesday.
Leaders remain optimistic; Forces see continued success -- (Multi-National Force-Iraq)
BAGHDAD - Gen. George Casey, commander of Multi-National Force - Iraq, said the sectarian tension and terrorist violence in recent days was “an anomaly” and remained optimistic and hopeful of the democratic processes that took root in Iraq over the past year.
In an interview with CNN today, Gen. Casey stated, “(Iraqis) are in a vulnerable period during the formation of the government, but I don't think it's on the brink of civil war.”
Merkel to tell Bush Germany can do more for Iraq -- (Reuters)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will couple criticism of the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay with a vow to do more to help stabilize Iraq when she meets President George W. Bush on Friday, a senior German diplomat said.
Local Insurgents Tell of Clashes With Al Qaeda's Forces in Iraq -- (New York Times)
The clashes present a rare opportunity to enlist local insurgents to cooperate with Americans and Iraqis against Al Qaeda.
Many adults in Afghanistan express optimism in the future -- [Afghan Reality - an Afghani in Afghanistan]
"Many adults in Afghanistan express optimism in the future, according to a poll by the Program on International Policy Attitudes released by WorldPublicOpinion.org. 83 per cent of respondents think things in the country are going in the right direction," reports Angus Reid Consultants.
The results of the poll reflect the reality in Afghanistan given greater role for Afghan youths in the areas of decision making, education, employment and opportunities for success.
Free Jack Idema Blogburst -- [Cao's Blog]
Each time I write about the plight of Jack Idema, the U.S. Special Forces soldier illegally imprisoned in Afghanistan along with his right-hand man, Brent Bennet, and Emmy award-winning journalist, Ed Caraballo, I’m conscious that I haven’t really talked, in detail, about Jack’s relationship with the Afghan troops he trained and fought alongside.
There are two, conflicting, accounts of Jack’s involvement with the Afghan military: ...
Bad pipes and all -- [Misadventures of a Not-So-Intrepid Explorer - Aussie in Afghanistan]
Today has been quite warm, and the snow has been melting. But for a few days there, it was getting damn cold (well for an Australian anyway). Like -25C at night. And our pipes froze. Yep, I'm not the only one with bad pipes.
So we were without water for three whole days. Enter our Plumbing Dream Team... whose objective was to insulate our pipes.
Taliban Reorganize to Stave off Defeat -- [Strategy Page]
January 11, 2006: Over the past few months of the Taliban has undergoing a reorganization, in response to widespread defections at all levels, as well as a general lack of effectiveness against Afghan and Coalition security forces, coupled with a decline in recruits and shortfalls in revenues.
Dutch must send troops: US -- (The Australian)
WASHINGTON'S former administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer has warned the Dutch they could face economic penalties in the US if they fail to send troops to Afghanistan.
AFGHANISTAN: Year in Brief 2005 - Chronology of key events -- (IRIN Asia)
[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
4 January - More than 100,000 mt of ammunition will be collected from across the country under a new programme, the United Nations backed Afghanistan New Beginnings Programme (ANBP) confirmed. Although a huge programme of heavy weapons' collection, disarmament of militia forces and land mine clearance is already under way, the existence of such a sheer quantity of ammunition stockpiles is another major challenge for the post-conflict country.
Catch & Release -- [Michael Yon]
He was only 23 years-old but by any measure he was a man. A real man who stood up to the terrorists who were savagely torturing him on an airliner. Those same terrorists shot the young Navy diver and dumped his body onto the tarmac. I remember the day in 1985 that Robert Stethem was murdered.
Fast forward: More than 20 years later, one of Robert’s murderers, who was in a German prison, apparently was used by the German government as currency to pay other terrorists to release a German hostage.
Hard Line, Hard Times -- [In The Hot Zone - Kevin Sites]
...KS: What about the Russian proposal in which they would do the uranium enrichment for you, ensuring that the fuel is not enriched to weapons-grade, but only for energy applications?
KJ: If the intention of the Russians is to share the efforts then we can talk. But if it's about prevention, then it's a ridiculous suggestion.
KS: How far have you gone in your enrichment process?
KJ: We have reached the UF6 [depleted uranium] process and reached the capability of centrifugal technology. But since we suspended our technology development [in November 2004] as a goodwill gesture, we haven't moved beyond that.
NY Times Take on the HK11-- [GI Kores - in S Korea]
The NY Times has a good article about everyone's favorite Korean rioters. I like the Hong Kong government's response to the demands from the Korean government, movie stars, and others for the immediate release of the criminal rioters:
SYRIA: ASSAD WILL NOT MEET UN INVESTIGATORS -- (AKI)
Cairo, 12 Jan. (AKI) - Syrian president Bashar al-Assad will not meet United Nations investigators probing the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, Syria's information minister said on Thursday. The minister, Mehdi Dakhlallah, made the announcement in an interview with an Egyptian radio station. On 2 January the UN commission of inquiry into the Beirut bomb attack that killed Hariri and 20 others on 14 February 2005 indicated it wanted to speak...
IRAN: NEWSPAPER INVITES READERS TO CHOOSE HEADLINE FOR 'SHARON'S DEATH' -- (AKI)
Teheran, 11 Jan. (AKI) - The first issue of a newspaper that went on sale in Iran on Wednesday invites its readers to submit "the best headline for a story on [Israeli premier] Ariel Sharon's death." Published by Ansar Hezbollah, a group which represents the most extreme wing of Iran's radical Islamist movement, the publication is edited by Bagher Kharrazi, the nephew of Iran's interior minister, Kama Kharrazi.
Russia Won't Block U.S. on Iran -- (Washington Post)
The Bush administration, working intensely to galvanize international pressure on Iran, has secured a guarantee from Russia that it will not block U.S. efforts to take Tehran's nuclear case to the U.N. Security Council, American and European officials said yesterday.
Iranian Military Plane Crash: Act of Sabotage? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
On Monday, an Iranian military plane crash killed eleven top commanders in Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Gen. Ahmad Kazemi, the commander of IRGC's ground forces, died in the crash. The dead also included a number of other military notables whose names were released by the Islamic Republic News Agency, including the commander of Rassoulollah Army Division 27, the deputy commander of ground forces for operation affairs and the official in charge of information for ground forces.
TERRORISM: GERMAN COURT CONVICTS IRAQI IN HISTORIC RULING -- (AKI)
Munich, 12 Jan. (AKI) - An Iraqi man has been sentenced to seven years by a German court for helping smuggle suicide bombers from Europe to his native country in what is considered a landmark ruling. Amin Lokman Mohamed, 31, was convicted by Munich judge, Bernd von Heintschel-Heinegg, of "belonging to a terrorist association and recruiting militants to send to Iraq."
Bush Signs 2-Year Terrorism Insurance Extension -- (Architectural Record)
President Bush has signed into law a bill to continue the federal terrorism insurance program for two years. The program had been set to expire Dec. 31
John Murtha Cozies Up to Code Pink -- [Andi's World]
Congressman John Murtha has crossed the line by "partnering" with Code Pink to help "support" our wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This is an outrage.
...I'd like to know if Congressman Murtha arranged for Code Pink to have access to Walter Reed. Wonder if he knows they view our troops as "killers"? Lots of questions for Congressman Murtha to answer.
Hear Yea, Hear Yea!!! -- [Random Bits of Pomposity]
I'm putting this back on top, and I now have the "thumbs-up" from not only a MIGHTY WARRIOR, but a beneficiary of Project Valour-IT; THE Chuck Ziegenfus!
This item has now been listed on e-Bay (thank you, bloggy momma, for dealin' with THAT!).
A very special "thanks" to Soldier's Angels, and all that you do.
"Project Valour" was created in memory of Chuck's dad.
PLEASE, folks, it's for a GREAT cause!
Can You Knit or Sew? -- [Soldiers Angels Forums]
Hand and Foot Coverings Needed for Wounded Soldiers on Medevac Flights Back to the US. Simple Fleece or Knitted Coverings Used to Help Keep Critical Patients' Extremities Warm...
Making a Difference -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
From Soldiers' Angel Christina:
I got home this evening and was not even home 5 mins and the phone rang. So I answer and this strange lady's voice comes on and says, "Hi is this Christina?" And I say yes thinking "great, telemarketer".
She then tells me "Hi this is Xxxx and I am the wife of Xxxx. You wrote to him in Iraq when he was deployed" - I did not know what to think at this point. ...
American Death Star Coming to a Universe Near You (or so MSNBC would have you believe) -- [The Officers' Club]
More sloppy military reporting from MSNBC has fired up an old debate: the weaponization of space. Today MSNBC ran an article claiming that the US is on the cusp of employing space-based directed energy weapons (read: frickin' lasers). The truth is we are nowhere close.
Abramoff Scandal - Details -- [Right Side Redux]
Per FEC records here is the list of monies received by Republicans and Democrats by Abramoff:
...Dan Boren (D-Okla) $2,000
Charles W. Boustany Jr (R-La) $2,000 ...
Ms. Alito Walks Out of Hearings Crying (VIDEO) -- (Political Teen)
Judge Samuel A. Alito’s wife Martha left the confirmation hearing room in tears this evening, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned...
This will have to be short -- [Neptunus Lex]
(he said, and she nodded knowingly)
Can’t watch the SCOTUS hearings on account of the fact that I don’t have a TV at work, do I? So I’m pretty much forced to follow the show on the SCOTUS blog and occasionally over at the National Review online. The NRO folks are cheering Judge Alito on of course, which is to be expected I suppose, but the SCOTUS bloggers seem to be fairly even-handed about the whole thing.
Durbin on Alito -- [Pajamas Media]
Illinois’ Dick Durbin symbolizes what’s wrong with the Senate. The Springfield senator has spent most of his adult life either as a legislator, or working for one. For instance, he spent many years working for the late Paul Simon. In short, Durbin’s never held what most people would call a real job.
Ted Kennedy, Russ Feingold Discuss Impeachment -- [Open Fire]
Those pesky democrats just keep looking for a chink in the Bush armor. The problem is that in the process they seem to be undermining the war against militant Islam.
Our President continues to catch shit for ordering wiretaps on calls made outside the country to suspected scumbags.
Scott Ritter’s debate…Audio -- [Baghdad Dweller - an Iraqi in the Netherlands]
The debate of 22-December but it’s the first time you can listen to it.
Kerry cautiously backs India-US nuclear deal -- (Reuters)
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - United States Senator and leading Democrat John Kerry gave cautious backing on Thursday to a controversial deal granting India access to civilian nuclear technology.
George Bush, Diplomat -- (Newsweek)
The civilized world is now united against Iran. Can the American president exploit the opportunity?
...In fact, Ahmadinejad, who has piled idiocy upon idiocy in a series of offensive remarks that have alarmed the world, has achieved a truly amazing feat. He has made George W. Bush look like a statesman. Since Ahmadinejad has embraced his role as this era’s Muammar Kaddafi, the Bush administration mustered international unity against Iran of the kind that hasn’t been seen since right after September 11.
Bush's would-be assassin begins life term -- (The Guardian)
· Man who threw grenade in crowd sentenced
· Attacker says he would try to kill US president again
A man who tried to assassinate President George Bush with a hand grenade was yesterday sentenced to life in prison. Vladimir Arutyunian threw the grenade at a podium from which the US leader and Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili were addressing crowds during Mr Bush's visit to Georgia last May.
Alito Turns Aside Democrats' Criticism -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Long hours of Senate questioning seem to have done little to alter Samuel Alito's prospects for a seat on the Supreme Court, with Republicans confident that the conservative jurist is well-suited for the job while skeptical Democrats warn that President Bush's nominee could help overturn abortion rights. In a contentious Day 3 of hearings Wednesday that at one point left Alito's wife in tears, the federal appeals court judge remained unflappable under persistent questioning by Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats who attacked his credibility
Alito Leaves Door Open to Reversing 'Roe' -- (Washington Post)
The once-sluggish confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr. turned confrontational yesterday, as the nominee signaled he might be willing to revisit the ruling that legalized abortion nationwide and Democrats pummeled him over his membership in an alumni group that wanted...
FOB Warrior is too cushy... -- [Ma Deuce Gunner - recently returned from Iraq]
...The article leads with audio quotes from the author and from the soldiers he profiles. In his audio quote, he can't even get the division's home station correct.
He then heralds the accomplishments of the 101st Airborne during the initial liberation of Iraq. The 101 did a great job accomplishing their mission, and there is nothing wrong with singing their praises.
He immediately brings up body count,...
ABC Distorts Bush’s Admonition on “Lying/War for Oil” Rhetoric About Iraq War -- [NewsBusters]
At an event in Louisville, Kentucky Wednesday afternoon, President George W. Bush said that “I expect there to be an honest debate about Iraq” and he urged people to be “mindful about what messages out of the country can do to the morale of our troops.” He went on to “welcome the voices of people saying, you know, ‘Mr. President, you shouldn't have made that decision,’ or, you know, ‘you should have done it a better way,’” but castigated those who say “‘he lied.’ Or, ‘they're in there for oil.’ Or ‘they're doing it because of Israel.’ That's the kind of debate that basically says the mission and the sacrifice were based on false premise.”
William M. Arkin obviously hasn’t read my milblog -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
This guy I don’t know, William M. Arkin, of the Washington Post, writes a long editorial on the military’s consideration of “exclusive editorial content” for some milbloggers. He opines:
Blogs, however, are the epitome of independence, perspective, and rebellion. For the Army to blog, its bloggers would need to have an opinion, show some emotion, make a joke, make a case. We all know that the moment some public affairs flunkie strayed from the official happy talk and openly engaged in the information fight, he or she would get nuked.
New header and sadness -- [Lance in Iraq Lance Frizzell - Back from Iraq]
Bill Hobbs has created a great new header for this site but, by announcing his respite from blogging, has brought about a black day in the blogosphere. He will be missed. His was the first blog I read regularly and he single-handedly improved coverage of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Jihad's Funniest Bloopers -- [Peace like a River]
Helmet Hair'd Announcer: And now, the host of Jihad's Funniest Bloopers, Bob Saget!
*wild applause from audience whipped into a frenzy by a 20-year old production assistant*
Bob: Welcome to Jihad's Funniest Bloopers! I'm your host, Bob Saget, and the next person to point out my initials are B.S. will be taken out and shot.
*laughter*
Bob: Our first video is sent in by this comic duo. Well, sent in by their next of kin, actually. As you'll see, their act...bombed.
*groans from audience*
Kennedy Quizzes Alito on ‘One Fetus, One Vote’ -- [ScrappleFace]
During an emotional barrage of questions about 20-year-old written statements by Judge Samuel Alito, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, today inadvertently asked the Supreme Court nominee if he “believes in the principle of one fetus, one vote.”
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 -- [Bravo Battery Friends and Family]
Meet Nicholas, he was born while his father was at Camp Atterbury. nicholas is attending his first Family Support meeting. Looks like his mother Tara is very proud of him. I bet Bobby Biddle has a smile on his face just as big. Congratulations Bobby and Tara.
The Men Will Cheer, The Boys Will Shout... -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
UPDATE: ALL BUT ONE OF THE GUYS ARE HOME!! Rob, Mike, Kevin, Pat all arrived... but our Guy Vinny is still in the Sandbox... he volunteered to take a special detail... might be home some time next week.... So, still waiting... but this morning's phone call sure was glorious!! Nothin' like, "Hey, Ma!" to get your day started!
Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig -- [All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front - home from Iraq]
A long, long flight, a breif stop in Shannon, Ireland, and an even longer flight, and finally I'm on US soil again. Cool and foggy at the Ft. Benning airstrip, and it was so good to be on the ground again.
Helping soldiers reintegrate into civilian life -- [The Patriette]
Okay, so Josh hasn't even been gone a week, but I'm already trying to look forward to when he'll be coming home. On that note, I found this article today describing efforts by the Minnesota National Guard to help soldiers adjust to civilian life as they return from Iraq. I suspect this program will be modified and changed prior to my husband's return to Minnesota in just over a year, but at least it's good to know that the Guard is attempting to meet not only the needs of those going to war, but the troops coming home as well. Read the article about the efforts to help ease the transition back to civilian life here: A proper welcome home for Iraq vets
In Memoriam - Sgt Adam Cann/USMC -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
It's been a tough week for me. America lost a great warrior this week, and I lost a very close friend and fellow dog handler. On the morning of the 6th of January, Sgt Adam Cann was killed in action in Ar Ramadi while conducting security operations at an Iraqi Police recruiting station. The coward that took Sgt Cann from us, walked into the crowd of recruits and detonated his suicide vest, killing Sgt Cann and many others. ...
While his brave passing has hit me like a ton of bricks, I have a cherished memory of him that I will carry with me on every future battlefield that I am on. He was my roommate at Camp Lejeune while we were preparing to deploy, and it was there that he shared with me a part of his heart. He told me that if he wasn't able to come home with us, that he wanted us to press on without him.
Honoring A Fallen Comrade: 1SG Tobias Meister -- [Fortunate Son - in Afghanistan]
...1SG Meister was truly a soldier's soldier being named the "U.S. Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year" in 2002, he was at one time head of the Drill Sergeant school at Ft. Jackson, SC. To have made the rank of First Sergeant before the age of thirty is truly a remarkable accomplishment that indicates just what a tremendous asset he was to our team and equally what a devastating loss his death has been to his family, his friends and to us.
He was traveling between our PRT here at Jalalabad and his PRT just a few hours north of us in Asadabad when his vehicle was hit with an IED.
(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 View From Al Qaeda -- [Strategy Page]
January 10, 2006: The al Qaeda reaction to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq was interesting. Al Qaeda declared that this was a sign that the terrorists were winning. The terrorists are in need of a morale boost, for they have been losing the military and, more importantly, the media war, for some time now. Chatter on some pro-terrorist websites even suggests that maybe attacking the United States was not such a good idea, and perhaps the war should be kept within the Islamic family (or nations) until all Moslems can be united. Then go after the infidels. The reasoning here was that 911 just pissed the Americans off, and, gee, four years later, they don’t seem to be getting tired of chasing Islamic terrorists all over the place, and killing them.
Reflection on 1862 - War critics offer nothing new in 2006.-- [VDH's Private Papers] HT: Way Down In Kosovo
Lincoln was as good as his word, finally getting rid of McClellan and putting in charge U. S. “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, who like the President understood the tragic nature of war, what Lincoln called the “terrible arithmetic”: killing some today so that more don’t die tomorrow. We, on the other hand, demand that the “rough angles of war” be smoothed away, believe that “lighter blows” are preferable to decisive heavy ones, pretend that we really don’t have to kill some today because we’re ready to gamble that more won’t die tomorrow, and are eager to abandon the struggle because the tragic, eternal realities of conflict disturb our psychic well-being.
This is the difference between 1862 and 2006 that offers little comfort, for we are facing a jihadist enemy fanatical in his devotion to his cause and counting precisely on our failure of nerve to compensate for his military weakness.
Monday, January 09, 2006 -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Some other friends ask what would happen if U.S. troops withdraw hastily. I still think the scenario that I have painted then remains valid. One remark that creep Al Zawahiri made in his latest video, which was aired on that favorite Network of the terrorists, the Qatari Al Jazeera, has some truth in it, he said something to this effect: “If the United States with its mighty capabilities and its Warplanes, tanks etc. could not defeat the “Mujahideen”, how could the army of “the agents and hypocrites” (as he called the Iraqi Forces) be able to do that on their own.”
...the point I was trying to make, in the hope that it might reach some people who are in the decision-making circles. For my part, I remain utterly convinced, that it is in the profound interest of our country and people and their future, to forge a lasting strategic alliance with U.S.; and that the Super Power can render a most needed help and protection to forge the kind of future that we are dreaming of.
Iraqi Police Foil Suicide Attack -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2006 – Iraqi police pre-empted two suicide bombers today and a French hostage was rescued over the weekend
Back Into the Goo -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Marines have started to call being out in the field close to the fight the "goo". Jarheads stuck inside the wire in support activities are chided by those outside as "leaf eaters"; the guys out in the "goo" being "meat eaters". Well, I'm sharpening my canines and packing up my gear for a trip out to the sticky parts. Later tonight the dark figure of an embark Marine, with a blue chem stick in hand and night vision goggles, will lead myself and a few others into the back of a darkened helicopter "turning and burning" on the camp's makeshift airstrip. The helo's crewchief will quickly take note of the final destination penned with an indelible marker on the back of our left hands, and point us to our seats. We'll carefully move up the back ramp slick from hydraulic fluid and engine oil, drop our packs, insure our rifles are muzzle down and strap ourselves in.
Change for the Better -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
I recently posted a picture of Samir, one of our translators. Samir helps in a number of faculties around our area though.
... I had my camera and was taking pictures of the sites. A young Iraqi soldier asked if he could take a picture with me. I said sure and handed my camera to Samir. We showed the soldier the picture of the two of us. He immediately asked Samir how he can get a copy of the photograph. I said I had no problem emailing it. Samir asked the soldier what his email address is. Through translation, I believe his response went something like this, "Email? What is email?". He didn't know what it was and certainly didn't have an address yet. Samir's response, "Soon you will have it all, brother."
Great-grandmother Returns from Iraq -- [Defense Link]
Folks in Oklahoma are readjusting to an image not typically associated with the global war on terrorism, a 73-year old great-grandmother just back from Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lena Haddix, a native of Lawton, has spent the last six months in full battle armor helping troops find snacks, shampoo and other American products at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Post Exchange/Base Exchange in Camp Liberty, Iraq.
Georgia Guard Troops Help Ailing Iraqi Teen -- [Defense Link]
In the middle of a country where medical care is tough to come by, a new bond was recently forged between Georgia’s Army National Guard soldiers and local Iraqi citizens. Ibitisam Hameed Kassar, a 17-year-old Iraqi girl from the An Nasiriyah area, was born with a rare blood vessel disorder called pulmonary hypertension.
"Happy Gear" -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
...I think there is a fine line between having tons of armor on and being totally protected and not being able to maneuver, thus compromising the security and safety of yourself, your team and the mission. I wanted protection so that I could make it back home to my family but I believe that if it's your time to go, it's your time to go and there's nothing you can do about it.
Some of the 101st agree with me:
The Way It Is -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
In Iraq, America is not fighting a traditional war. There will never be a declaration of surrender signed by our enemy conceding their defeat. Understand this...this war will not end with signatures. I say this for many reasons, but foremost is because our enemy has no true leader. Sure, they have cave-dwellers who claim to be in charge, but these cowards understand that their minions will not cease their campaign of terror simply because they have signed a document. We are fighting a war of counter-insurgency...the most difficult, and I would argue the most misunderstood and complex type of war that exists in modern times.
07 January 2006 -- Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
A plume of smoke surrounds a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division conduct an aerial assessment of an oil pipeline fire outside Forward Operating Base McHenry. Elements of the 101st Airborne Division are deployed to Iraq from Fort Campbell, Ky.
The Most Photographed War in History -- [Strategy Page]
January 10, 2006: The Iraq war is probably the most photographed war in history. That is largely thanks to digital cameras, and troop access to the Internet. In Iraq, and most parts of Afghanistan, troops can get daily access to email. That’s the combination that has created a flood of photos from the front. Daily emails to and from home, which result in requests for photos, got the flood going, and keeps it going. The digital cameras, of course, need no film or developing, so the troops attach each days digital pictures to their emails. In some units, commanders have had to limit the amount (in megabytes) of digital pictures being emailed back home, because on some nights, they clogged the relatively narrow pipe the troops used to access the net.
Kurds tap Talabani for Iraqi presidency -- (ABC News Online)
| Iraq's powerful Kurdish Alliance has nominated Jalal Talabani to be the country's president for a second term. | "We had a meeting yesterday and we agreed to nominate President Talabani to one of th...
'Hearts and Minds' in Iraq -- (Washington Post)
As History Shows, Ideas Matter More Than Who Pays to Promote Them
Once again we are confronted with stories about how the Pentagon and its ubiquitous private contractors are undermining free inquiry in Iraq. "Muslim Scholars Were Paid to Aid U.S. Propaganda," reports the New York Times. Journalists, intellectuals or clerics taking money from Uncle Sam or, in this case, a Washington-based public relations company, is seen as morally troubling and counterproductive. Sensible Muslims obviously would not want to listen to the advice of an American-paid consultant; anti-insurgent Sunni clerics can now all be slurred as corrupt stooges.
Calling A Truce In D.C.'s Iraq War -- (Los Angeles Times)...Leon Fuerth
The terms: Democrats would support Bush for six months in return for a little honesty.
America is going to lose this war -- (Aljazeera.Net)...Sandy Shanks
...For the first time I greatly fear the outcome of this war. Bush's address to the Annapolis audience creates the identical scenario - overstating our ally's capabilities while underestimating the abilities of our antagonists - that many experienced during the Vietnamese war.
For the very first time, realisation is setting in that this war could be lost. Such a fate would be as a direct result of the actions of the president who put the troops there in the first place.
Only to lose. The pure irony of this impending defeat is that it is not being caused by the withdraw-now crowd or the more moderate set-a-timetable bunch, both of which draws the ire of Bush, Cheney, and company, but it is being caused by Bush, Cheney, and company
'Bremer called for more troops in Iraq' -- (The News International)
| WASHINGTON: The Pentagon acknowledged on Monday that Paul Bremer, the former US occupation chief in Iraq, warned in May 2004 that more US troops were needed to secure Iraq, but it said the US milita...
Pentagon Rejected Bremer's Call for Troops -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pentagon officials acknowledged Monday that Paul Bremer, the senior U.S. official in Iraq during the first year of the war, told Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in May 2004 that a far larger number of U.S. troops were needed to effectively fight the insurgency but his advice was rejected....
‘US should rebuild Iraq’ -- (The News International)
BAGHDAD: The United States should pledge more money to help rebuild Iraq’s war-torn infrastructure after current funds dry up later this year, a visiting US senator said late on Thursday. Jack Reed, a senator from the minority Democratic Party, said President George W Bush’s administration had indicated it was not ready to pledge extra cash on top of some 18 billion dollars already allocated for reconstruction and other projects in the country.
Iraq Celebrates Four-Day Festival of Eid -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A Sunni Arab politician giving a holiday sermon Tuesday denounced a suicide bomb attack on a Shiite mosque last week that killed more than 60 people but said "Iraqis would live as brothers" if the occupier - the U.S. led coalition - left Iraq....
Iraqi Police Seek Kidnapped U.S. Reporter-- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi police were searching Monday for an American journalist who was kidnapped over the weekend when gunmen ambushed her car and killed her translator in western Baghdad. Jill Carroll, 28, a freelance reporter on assignment for The Christian Science Monitor, was seized Saturday in the al-Adel area, a Sunni Arab neighborhood and one of the capital's most dangerous. Police said she went there to meet a Sunni Arab politician.
Iraq oil minister returns to job -- (The News International)
| BAGHDAD: Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum who last month said he was resigning his job in protest at fuel price hikes has returned to his post, the government said on Monday.
Iraq war ‘could cost US $2 trillion’ -- (Bahrain Tribune /Guardian)
Washington (guardian) | The real cost to America of the Iraq war is likely to be between $1 trillion and $2 trillion, up to 10 times more than previously thought, accordi...
Impeach Blair on Iraq, says general -- (The Guardian)
A former general has called for impeachment proceedings against Tony Blair, accusing the prime minister of misleading parliament and the public over the invasion of Iraq. | General Sir Michael Rose
Steven Emerson: Al Qaeda & the Taliban "Resurrect" Themselves -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Appearing on Fox News Channel this morning, Steven Emerson discussed the comeback of Al Qaeda in the Middle East and the Taliban in Afghanistan, with the latter profiting from the Afghan drug trade (see Robert Charles' post related to that subject). Quotes: "Over the past year, there has been a quantum rise in the number of attacks, suicide bombings, and the introduction of the Taliban within Afghanistan as well as the introduction of Al Qaeda throughout the Middle East - not just in Iraq, by the way, but also as far away as Gaza and Lebanon. So we're seeing Al Qaeda resurrect itself throughout the Middle East now in the past year...
Afghan Soldiers Learn to Maintain Medium Tactical Vehicles -- [Defense Link]
The Afghan National Army met another milestone recently when 19 soldiers graduated from the medium tactical vehicle familiarization course held at the German maintenance facility.
Afghan National Army students get familiar with the new International Trucks medium tactical vehicle facility during a course that focused on safety and maintenance. Photo by Staff Sgt. Mason T. Lowery, USA
ANA soldiers who completed the weeklong training will train fellow soldiers in their respective kandaks, or units.
Another short article I did for another blog; Pak Story -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
Hi all,
Sorry I have been out of the forum for the last year now. I just returned from Pakistan after helping quake victims. I was quite an effort for all involved. Since my unit was the closest one to the epicenter. (Its only a 2 hour flight by helicopter to Islamabad from here in Afghanistan) The American, Brit, Japan, Korea, Paki and Afghani military spent the first month after the earth quake hauling supplies into the mountains and back hauling the sick and wounded. It was very rewarding and hard work, and thank fully so, if I was not so busy I would have had to much time to think about the destruction death and sadness all around us. Nothing worse than seeing a small child missing a leg or arm. The devastation was so overwhelming all you could do was keep at it day after day and just try and help anyone.
Kabul People Support the Removing of Security Barriers -- [Afghan Warrior - Afghani in Afghanistan]
The people of the capital Kabul support the decision of their government regarding the removal of the security barriers from the streets of Kabul. These barriers create a huge traffic congestion in Kabul, which the people of Kabul have been complaining about for the last 3 years via radio and TV. They say that Kabul belongs to the people of Kabul and it is not up to others to block its road and footpaths.
AFGHANISTAN: AUSTRALIA SENDS 110 MORE TROOPS -- (AKI)
Sydney, 10 Jan. (AKI) - Australia is set to dispatch a further 110 troops to Afghanistan - adding to its contingent of 190 that arrived in the country last September - Australia's defence minster Robert Hill announced on Tuesday. The decision follows a request by Afghan president Amid Kharzai for more military support. Afghanistan is facing a renewed offensive by Taliban fighters in the south of the country, an area which is being vacated by US troops who are leaving the country. NATO is also seeking to increase its troop presence in the country to compensate for the American departure
Karzai invites Mulla Omar for talks -- (The News International)
KABUL: President Hamid Karzai on Sunday invited Taliban leader Mulla Omar to reconcile with the government, but said he thinks the fugitive won't come out of hiding and suicide attacks will continue...
Assailants kill eight Pakistani security forces in attack near Afghan border -- (Canadian Press)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Assailants armed with rockets and assault rifles attacked a newly built checkpoint near the Afghan border in Pakistan before dawn Saturday, killing all eight security forces, officials said.
Protest lodged with US-led forces in Afghanistan -- (Dawn)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with US-led forces in Afghanistan after a cross-border firing incident over the weekend in which had claimed eight lives...
IRAN - More Planes Falling Out of the Sky? -- [Rocket's Brain Trust]
OK - Good news?
I just posted a comment over at Roger L. Simon's re Ledeen's NRO article. Here's an excerpt on a related Iranian thread on the planes falling out of the sky in Iran.
Anyone taking notice of the planes "falling" out of the sky lately in Iran? First there was the plane of Iranian journalists and now a plane carrying top generals in the revolutionary guard (See Winds of Change)
Iran provokes West by resuming nuclear research -- (Reuters)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran removed U.N. seals at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant and resumed research on nuclear fuel on Tuesday, drawing sharp Western criticism but no immediate threats of punitive action.
Israel Agrees to Permit Palestinian Voting -- (AP)
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Tuesday said Israel will permit Arab residents of Jerusalem to vote in upcoming Palestinian elections - a key step toward resolving a standoff that had threatened to derail the balloting....
Saddam's Terror Training Camps -- [Open Fire]
During the 1990's no one every really questioned Iraq's ties to terrorism. Clinton would bomb Iraq, and rightly so, while so-called peace activists, the UN and the entire world community would complain little. The news media would provide cover for Clinton by running stories about Saddam's ties to terrorism. ABC News would in fact run a special report linking BIN LADEN TO SADDAM (mp3 available). Only after the invasion of Iraq and toppling Saddam in 2003 under President Bush did it suddenly become apparent to those left-of-center that Saddam was innocent in regards to Islamic terrorism.
The elephant in the room -- [Peace like a River]
...As I wrote about here, lately Hayes has been trying to obtain documents from a vast cache of documents retrieved by the US in the wake of the invasion of Iraq, and now in the control of the Pentagon. The great majority of these documents remain untranslated. Even the very titles of some of these documents hint at undeniable connections between Hussein, terrorism and even Al Qaeda.
...Certainly the blogs are discussing this, but there's one thing that some may miss, and that's this.
Saudi Arabia contributing to the expansion of terrorism -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
This according to Quinnan Al Ghamdi in a recent column in Al Watan. Here's a rundown of Al Ghamdi's points:
. He criticizes the use by some of the expression “Conquest of Manhattan” to describe the 9/11 attacks.
· He acknowledges that the fanatical ideology used by terrorists is still alive and kicking in Saudi society. It has infiltrated schools, universities, offices, administrations as much among women and men.
· We haven’t done anything to eradicate this sickness except arresting terrorists. All the speeches against the fanatical ideology have been vague general statements, which actually encourage extremism and give birth to new fanatics.
AL-QAEDA HIV BOMBERS -- [Open Fire]
Cindy Sheehan's "freedom fighters" that killed her son might start taking advantage of people infected with HIV. This is nothing new. I remember reading reports years ago about HIV infected suicide bombers being used in Israel.
Zarqawi: Bin Laden Ordered Katyushas -- (Jerusalem Post)...Margot Dudkevitch
In a video broadcast on an internet web site, the leader of the anti-US insurgency in Iraq, Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab Zarqawi, claimed Monday that Osama bin Laden ordered the latest firing of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon into Israel last month.
Spain arrests 17 Islamist suspects: radio -- (Reuters)
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police arrested 17 people on Tuesday suspected of helping recruit Islamist militants to carry out attacks in Iraq, Spanish state radio reported.
Terrorism threat worse in wake of Iraq war: (ABC News Online)
The Federal Opposition says allegations that terrorists are attempting to recruit members in Australia show the terrorism threat in Australia has worsened.
Authorities are investigating claims Al Qaeda members are operating in Sydney, seeking supporters and donations.
Daniel Pearl and the body of evidence -- [HindustanTimes]
...To find out the truth about 9/11, the brutal murder of Pearl , the London explosions, the violent anti-US demonstrations in Afghanistan and many other incidents, it is important to have Omar Sheikh brought out of Pakistan and interrogated by independent non-Pakistani investigators.
Since 9/11, Musharraf has, without a moment’s hesitation, co-operated in the rendition to the US of many brutal terrorists from Pakistan. According to one estimate, about 300 Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists and terrorist suspects had been flown out of Pakistan by the CIA, with the help of Musharraf. The more prominent among them were Abu Zubaidah, Ramzi Binalshibh, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and Abu Faraj al-Libbi. According to Musharraf’s own statements, Abu Faraj was the Al Qaeda mastermind of the two attempts to have him (Musharraf) assassinated in December, 2003. One would have, therefore, expected Musharraf to
2006 Budget Increases Pay, Benefits -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2006 – President Bush ushered in an across-the-board 3.1 percent military pay raise, effective Jan. 1, and a variety of other new or enhanced benefits for servicemembers and their families when he signed the 2006 National Defense Authorization Bill into law Jan. 6. In addition to a pay raise that's a half percent higher than the average private-sector increase, the new budget provides about 20 new or increased bonuses or special pays or benefits
Action-Packed Friday Evening at WR -- [Soldiers' Angels - Germany]
Marine's parents hang supportive sign on WR fence which is removed by CodePink protestors because it is on "their" side of the street.
CodePink protestors get busted for stealing sign because said fence happens to be US Government property. Evidence of the theft is caught on video.
Body Armor - [Neptunus Lex]
Just between you, me and the lamppost, it’d be hard to find an individual in the military less qualified to speak on the topic of body armor than your correspondent. We didn’t much go in for it, in the TACAIR community, trusting instead to speed of horse and maneuver, high technology and low cunning.
And yet, when I read this article in the NYT last week, claiming that:
Hello again -- [John in Iraq]
I was going to do away with the blog after I got home from Iraq but I cant seem to do it I guess I just have to much time and work invested in it to just close it down
...I decided the civillian life is just a life not ment for me and my friends and family can see I am only happy when I have a uniform on so I decided to go talk to a active army recruiter and set up a deal with him I lucked out the 116th national guard cav brigade is going to release me from service to go active duty but the best part was the recruiter told me if I wanted to and could pass a diagnostic pt test he could get me a Ranger contract so i would enter active duty and ship from here straight to ranger school.. A few days ago I was notified by my recruiter that my contract had been accepted by the Active Army and as soon as my papers were back from my national guard brigade they could get me a ship date for Ranger school in ft.benning GA I am looking forward to it and told the recruiter I would sign a 23 year contract if they wanted me to.. My dad told me some people were meant to push papers and some were meant to drive trucks and that very few of us were meant to wear a uniform he said he had no doubt in his mind I was one of those people meant to wear a uniform and serve my country.
Armor G.I.s Better - Hil -- (New York Daily News)...Associated Press
Sen. Hillary Clinton urged Congress yesterday to reexamine the Pentagon's standards for soldiers' body armor in Iraq, after a new study found most fatal torso wounds to Marines would have been prevented or minimized with more protection.
Seoul Paid 40% Of USFK Cost In 2002 -- (Korea Times)...Yonhap
South Korea contributed $843.11 million toward the cost of having United States military forces stationed on the peninsula in 2002, about 40 percent of the total expense, according to a recent Defense Ministry report.
Fasting Chaplain Declares Victory -- (Washington Post)
Navy Denies That He Couldn't Pray In Jesus's Name
A Navy chaplain who had been on an 18-day hunger strike resumed eating Saturday and reported for duty yesterday at the base chapel in Norfolk, saying he had finally wrung from the Navy the right to pray publicly in the name of Jesus.
Penalties Eyed For No-Show Reservists -- (Miami Herald)...Robert Burns, Associated Press
The Army took initial steps Monday to expel dozens of reservists who failed to report for active duty, in effect warning hundreds of others that they too could be penalized if they don't heed orders to return to active service.
A Slap at Bloggers Concerning Duckworth's Run for Congress -- [Andi's World]
Major Tammy Duckworth has officially declared her candidacy for Congress representing Illinois' 6th district, but she will face a primary challenge. Duckworth, a Major in the Illinois National Guard, almost lost her life while co-piloting a Blackhawk over the skies of Iraq. The chopper was struck by an RPG and ripped through her body leaving her a double amputee. Somewhat surprisingly, Duckworth is running as a Democrat. Surprising because the armed services lean heavily republican.
Kennedy: “Alito’s Record Troubles Me Deeply” -- [Stop the ACLU]
Oh brother! Kennedy troubles me deeply! I didn’t get to hear everyone’s remarks, but I was unfortunate enough to catch Senator Kennedy’s. This alcholic lush gets on my nerves more than Dean and Polosi put together!
Burns Out/Rehberg In? -- [Ankle Biting Pundits]
Considering the fact that Sen. Conrad Burns from Montana was below 50% in the pre-Abramoff "I'm guilty" ballot question, word is now spreading like wildfire inside Washington, DC that Burns will soon announce his retirement.
A source on Capitol Hill tells me that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is polling feverishly to see if the Senate seat is salvagable should Burns seek re-election.
Senators Begin Questioning Alito -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The battle lines are clear for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito: Moderates and liberals want him to repudiate his work for the Reagan administration while conservatives urge him to hold his ground - or his tongue - on issues that could provoke a Democratic filibuster. On Tuesday, the second day of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, "we get down to business," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat
This story, as reported, is shocking and should result in an immediate investigation. -- [Confederate Yankee]
There is the distinct possibility that everything Dr. Fadhil says is accurate, at which point Central Command will have some serious explaining to do.
But as of the time I’m writing this article, every single post being written about this story comes from testimony provided by Dr. Fadhil himself in the Guardian, with no other witness testimony, or physical evidence provided to back his contentions. In addition, some of his charges do not seem to square with American tactics.
His case, as published, is thin.
The Guardian article has no concurring witnesses. In a city of 2 million, no one else heard shots or saw them enter Fadhil’s home?
Russert Resisted Testifying on Leak -- (Washington Post)
Lawyers for NBC News reporter Tim Russert suspected in the spring of 2004 that his testimony could snare Vice President Cheney's top aide, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, in a lie and Russert resisted testifying at the time about private conversations with Libby, according to court papers released yesterday.
(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.)
GLADIATORS! -- [One Marines View - in Iraq]
Modern day warriors. So we aren’t beating the crap out of criminals or fighting lions on Saturday afternoons in coliseums and eating chicken drumsticks in the streets (ok Im not sure about that last one) but today’s warriors are as tuff and have the same fight in them as the old Roman tuff guys did. Covered with armor, multiple weapons hanging on them and traveling in packs, today’s Marines bring victory in multiple size cans of whoop ass and flexibility to respond anywhere in the world. Tuff, young full of tenacity and spirit, we defend a country and help the little guy all in the same set of armor. We wear the white hat and do what’s right even when its not popular. Selfless sacrifice, it isn’t uncommon to here of Marines giving their all to aide others and paying the ultimate price in doing it.
Measuring Victory and Defeat -- [Strategy Page]
January 9, 2006: The terrorists know how to play the media, grouping their suicide bombing attacks together and aiming them at spectacular targets (women and children, mosques and funerals). Between these clusters of attacks, there is often nothing. In the last week, this clustering has made the violence in Iraq front page news throughout Iraq, and the Moslem world. These attacks have horrified most Moslems. You have to be a pretty strange bird to be encouraged by the sight of dead children or blood splattered mosques. These attacks are made deliberately, and it's difficult to be sure what the purpose is. Captured terrorists indicate the idea is to cause a civil war between Sunni Arabs and the Shia Arabs. But this makes no sense, as there are three times as many Shia Arabs, and there are as many Kurds as there are Sunni Arabs. Such a civil war would
Iraqi Army Day -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
The Iraqi's celebrate a national holiday called Army Day. The Iraqi Army Day is a celebration marking the activation of the Iraqi Army, which occured Jan. 6, 1921. Today was the 84th anniversary. This Army Day was special though. In years past, Saddam's brutal regime had turned this celebration into a perverted observance of Saddam and his supposed greatness. The press obviously was controlled completely. That's the part that I saw so differently today. We worked closely with Ministry of Defense officials to ensure that the ceremony was covered properly by the press. The leaders at the Ministry of Defense seemed thrilled at the end of the day about how the ceremony went and the opportunity to witness the FREE press reporting on it.
07 Jan 2006: -- [Any Soldier.com - Maj John M. Bell - in Iraq]
Dear Gang,
I had finished my post for about space A nonsense yesterday morning when I received the call that a Mass casualty evacuation was going on at a nearby Base. Suicide bomber, lots dead, many wounded and not a very clear picture of what was going on. I emailed Capt. Bourland to make sure he and his crew was good to go over there. His reply told it all. A suicide bomber, in line to interview to be a policeman lit off his vest filled with ball bearings to kill 56 and wound over 60 young Iraqi men. There were only a handful of Marines there thank God.
Body Armor -- [Baghdad Guy]
So I guess body armor has become a little bit of a debate in recent days when I wasn't paying attention, so I figure I'll throw in my two cents on the subject (both my father-in-law through my wife and my mother have inquired into the status of my armor in recent days). Since I have to wear it, I'm going to operate on the assumption that I'm entitled to speak from an at least mildly knowledgeable standpoint. The debate was brought on my a study of Marine combat injuries that was featured prominently in this New York Times article (I don't know how long NYTimes lets you link to them, but it should work for now). The lead sentence of the article: " A secret Pentagon study has found that at least 80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to their upper body could have survived if they had extra body armor."
The Suuni choose Allawi as their leader, the Kurds unite their administrations. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Stage two of the current phase of the political in Iraq which we anticipated a few days ago has just begun and its beginning is marked by the emergence of a new large political bloc.
Ansar al-Bad Guys -- [Peace like a River]
An interesting article from Kurdish Media explores the roots, and connections between, Ansar al-Sunna and Ansar al-Islam, two jihad groups in Iraq.
Pastor Believes in Iraq Policy -- [They Call Us, "Doc" ]
In Febuary of 2005, I had the oppotunity to meet Chaplain (Maj ) Berry, a visiting chaplain filling in for our 3rd Squadron chaplain who had been promoted to a Regimental position. His worship services were warm and fufilling, but it wasn't until later that most of us discovered that in his civilian position, he served as the pastor of the Crawford United Methodist Church in Crawford, Tx. Guess who attends Pastor Berry's church services while he's home from the White House??
Al-Qaeda broadcasts new message -- (BBC News)
Zawahiri tapes appear periodically. This one is from June 2005.
The deputy leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has appeared in a new videotape shown by Arabic satellite television station al-Jazeera.
In the tape, he claims that US hints of a future reduction of troops in Iraq are "a victory for Islam".
And he calls on US President George W Bush to admit defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan and says he will soon be defeated in Palestine.
Purported Taliban Spokesman Rejects Talks -- (Forbes)
A purported Taliban spokesman said Monday the ousted former regime rejected any offer of peace talks from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
U.S. helicopter crashes in Iraq; 12 killed -- (MSNBC)
A U.S. helicopter carrying 12 people has crashed in Iraq, and all aboard were killed, the U.S. military said Sunday. Separately, the military announced the deaths of five Marines.
Attack on Iraq Interior Ministry Kills 21-- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Insurgents exploded a suicide car bomb and launched two mortar shells at Iraq's Interior Ministry during National Police Day celebrations Monday, killing 21 people and injuring 24, police said. An Internet statement by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the name of his al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group rebuked Sunni Arabs for taking part in last month's parliamentary elections, saying they had "thrown a rope" to save U.S. policy.
NO REPORTS
Taliban leader vows more attacks in Afghanistan -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Monday vowed more attacks against U.S. forces in Afghanistan, a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai suggested he "get in touch" if he wanted peace.
Miscalculating Ariel Sharon -- [Strategy Page]
January 9, 2006: As usual, the media has made the fatal assumption that with the ill health of Ariel Sharon, somehow the peace process will be derailed. Nothing could be further from the truth. What is being missed by the nay-sayers is that Sharon did not start a movement but responded to public sentiment regarding continued involvement in the disputed territories. Israeli's have been wanting a separate peace. They've been burned too many times in the past to trust any comprehensive peace package, so the current enthusiasm for a separation from the Palestinians may allow them time to sort themselves out. Everything in the past two years has been building toward this and with the illness that has come over Sharon, it can be expected that this process to accelerate, not fall by the wayside.
Transfer of Authority -- [So Far From Home - in the Balkans]
Tomorrow is going to be a great day. The official Transfer of Authority to Task Force Alamo from Task Force Tornado. I can't believe we have reached this point. What a feeling! We are done! All weapons and ammo are accounted for. Everything is done and now we are waiting. Waiting on transportation to take us back to the wonderful place called the United States of America.
What a year and half! One that will be with me forever. I will continue to try and post up until the time we leave.
The Violence Behind the Violence -- [Strategy Page]
January 9, 2006: While terrorism, civil war and political instability get most of the media attention in the Balkans, the major problem on the ground is corruption and gangsters. These two problems confront people every day, and in increasingly annoying ways.
N. Korea says nuclear talks with US are illogical -- (Boston Globe)
North Korea sees no point in returning to six-country nuclear talks because of US sanctions, Pyongyang said on Monday, adding Washington would probably ...
Sharon Reportedly Moves One of His Hands -- (AP)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Doctors started bringing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon out of an induced coma Monday to assess the damage caused by his massive stroke, and he reportedly moved one of his hands. Doctors said earlier that Sharon immediately began breathing on his own when the anesthesia was lifted. Israel's Channel 10 reported that Sharon also moved one of his hands. Hadassah hospital officials said they would not discuss Sharon's condition until the next scheduled briefing Monday afternoon.
Will Counterterrorism Experts Ignore New Evidence of Saddam's Terrorist Ties? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Stephen Hayes' "Weekly Standard" article on Saddam's terror training camps discloses a massive Iraqi intel stash pointing to a systematic program to train thousands of terrorists. Hayes reports that Saddam's regime "trained thousands of radical Islamic terrorists from the region at camps in Iraq over the four years immediately preceding the U.S. invasion." ALL of that evidence must be seriously examined, analyzed, and released to the public, and I hope House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Hoekstra sticks to his guns and forces the Pentagon to release the stash, hopefully in public hearings.
Terror 'threat' leads Canada to shut embassy in Jordan-- (Globe and Mail)
Citing the "credible threat" of a terrorist attack, Ottawa has temporarily closed its embassy in Amman and warned Canadian citizens there to take special precautions.
New Soldiers at the VA Hospital -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
I made another visit to the VA hospital in Minneapolis. If you aren't familiar with me or my blog, I have been visiting the VA hospital for about a year now, and you can read some of the stories by searching my blog for VA (or hospital, or Kyle...lol). As you may remember, a laptop was requested for a soldier named Eric, through the SA Project Valour-IT, and I intended to bring it to him in person. Patti sent me that laptop over Christmas (who knew UPS could be so fast during Christmas!!??), but I had not yet given it to Erik because reports indicated he would not be able to use it yet. I think God gave Patti Bader the desire to send that laptop to me right now regardless, as he had other plans.
New Way To Join Soldiers Angels! -- [[Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Have you ever considered joining Soldiers Angels but didn't because you were afraid of committing to adopting a soldier? Or perhaps you enjoy supporting our troops through letter writing but don't have the time needed to put into adopting a soldier? Well, I have good news for you! There is now an alternate way to join Soldiers Angels, without adopting a specific soldier.
Women Want It Both Ways On "Choice" -- [Tiger Hawk - Cassandra]
This is a reprise of something I wrote earlier on my private site and also posted on No Government Cheese. I am re-posting it here since Judge Alito's confirmation hearings are coming up, and also because I reference it in my response to TigerHawk's Lefty Thoughts.
Grim makes a good point on the Alito nomination:
SMASH vs. Filner
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, I attended an "Out of Iraq" forum at a local church, featuring a keynote address by anti-war Congressman Bob Filner. After his speech, Filner opened up the floor for questions. He fielded a few softballs from the largely friendly crowd.
Then he called on me.
Cheney Hospitalized, Then Released -- (AP)
WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney was taken to George Washington Hospital early Monday experiencing shortness of breath, a spokeswoman said. He was released four and a half hours later. Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said Cheney was taken to the hospital at 3 a.m. He was released about 7:30 a.m. Doctors found his EKG, or electrocardiogram, unchanged and determined he was retaining fluid because of medication he was taking for a foot problem.
ANOTHER RIGHT PLACE EXCLUSIVE: College Journalism Exam with Answer Key! [The Right Place]
The Right Place has managed to obtain a faculty only answer-keyed copy of a final examination that is regularly administered to the students in the prestigious journalism program at a major American university! The contents of this exam may shock and horrify you! Then again, they may go a long way towards explaining the sad state of journalism in this country these days...
Interview with Thunder6, Military Blogger 365 and a Wakeup -- [MilBlogging.com]
(JP, Host): With the media providing only part of the story from the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan, the truly personal journals of milbloggers who share what they experience on the ground is reshaping reporting as we know it. From his operating base in Iraq, Danjel Bout aka Thunder6, author of “365 and a Wakeup” a Company Commander in the Army National Guard, has helped to establish military blogs as a powerful source of information for people all over the world. Telling the story of himself and his troops during his deployment he reveals the successes that are being made everyday in Iraq. He writes a reality that no reporter could provide. What follows is a transcript of an email interview I had with Thunder6.
Our First Anniversary - Thanks to Contributing Experts & Readers - Some Perspectives -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Yesterday was our first anniversary - you can read my opening post on January 5, 2005. This is the 1,121th article posted in the center column, and to date we have linked to over 7,100 news articles and columns in the "Today's News" box in the right sidebar. One site which measures blog popularity consistently ranks us in the top 200 of all blogs in the world. More importantly, I am told that we are "required reading" by leaders in the counterterrorism community, the news media, and policymakers in the U.S. and overseas, and that was my first goal when I envisioned and developed the site.
HOME SWEET HOME -- [A Soldier's Thoughts - home from Iraq]
Finally the journey is over and I am back again. They say that life is a circle and I have come full turn. I will expound more but for now I just want you all to know that I am safe and well back in the arms of my lover and wife Tara, and my children have their father back again.
(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.)
Combat report -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
COMBAT REPORT
(Press release # 6-004) Despite a suicide bomber attack at 10:55 a.m. on a crowd of Ramadi citizens at an Iraqi police recruitment center near the Ramadi Glass and Ceramics Works, the applicants returned and continued the screening process. Approximately 30 Iraqi males were killed when the bomber detonated his suicide vest. Military physicians immediately began treating the wounded until the injured could be transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment. The four-day Iraqi Police recruitment and screening drive in Ramadi started Jan. 2 and has produced ...
Be Proud America -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
I woke up this morning to the walls of my hooch shaking and the unmistakable "thud...thud" of mortars being fired and impacting. I wasn't totally convinced that I had not dreamed the sounds and shudders so I laid there giving the wall that, "Are you playing with me?" look. Nope..."thud...thud...thud...thud", this time accompanied by SAF (small arms fire). After a quick kiss from my girls [' picture], I donned my "battle rattle" and headed out to take a look-see. Bingo voiced his objection to me leaving him inside, certain that once again, he was going to miss out on all the action.
Welcome 2006 - A Year In Review -- [A Female Soldier's Story II - in Iraq]
Those of the 101st Airborne serving their country deployed here now, and the spirits of all of those who served and died here before us. It swirls in the air, somedays thicker than others, but always present. Over time it seems very odd, it can be 1400 hrs (that’s 2pm for you civilian folks) and suddenly my ears will pick up and I will look up as if to hear something, but only my surroundings provide the background noise. I see others in the same eerie curiosity, and then return to their duties. Later I will discover that an IED exploded a hundred miles away at that time and I can’t help but wonder if my heart heard the sound of two more fallen soldiers.
Homage to Herodotus and Farris Hassan -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
...The drawing I include today shows three Marines who've been waiting hours for a helicopter ride out of a forward operating base. These guys are what's referred to as "assorted cats and dogs". Marines with specialized skills, such as photojournalists, dog handlers with their bomb sniffing canine cohorts, satellite communications specialists and of course, yours truly, who've been attached to operational combat units for the duration of a specific fight. After the operation is over they're detached and left to their own devices to retrograde back to home commands for further assignments. This means signing up for space "A" (A for available) flights and then waiting for hours out in the sun on some rough graveled landing strip hoping that a sortie of helos shows up that's eventually going your way and has enough room for you and all your stuff.
What the Troops Buy With Their Own Money -- [Strategy Page]
January 5, 2006: American troops in Iraq are discovering, through combat experience, that more changes are needed in the type of weapons they should carry. As the U.S. Army Special Forces have discovered, if you are well trained and know what you are doing, you should carry a pistol, in addition to your rifle. But not the official issue 9mm pistol, but something with a bit more stopping power. The Special Forces prefer a new model .45 caliber (11.43mm) pistol, although ...
Delusions to Die For -- [Strategy Page]
January 6, 2006: The Sunni Arab community is dividing, with a minority backing terrorism, while the majority joins the new government, or trys to. The Sunni Arab terrorists are themselves a coalition, including people who hold the following beliefs;
Hammurabi’s Code -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
I don’t know that this statue is Hammurabi, but I think of him when I see the statue, because Hammurabi’s Code represents the beginning of civilization in my mind.
“Hammurabi was ...
Deuce Four -- [Open Fire]
NOTICE! This is a new video direct from a former soldier of Deuce Four. If you've seen the Deuce Four video from December this is all new! Check it out.
AIR SUPPORT PREEMPTS POSSIBLE IED EMPLACEMENT-- {Centcom}
TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition forces reconnaissance aircraft observed three men suspected of emplacing an improvised explosive device digging in a road near Bayji after 9:00 p.m. on Jan.2, prompting a military response against them.
MALE IRAQI DETAINEE DIES -- {Centcom}
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – An unidentified male Iraqi detainee died yesterday while being transferred from Ar Rutbah to Camp Korean Village Jan 4.
The man was detained after a coordinated series of raids, along with 22 other men suspected of insurgent activities.
Hope Seen Amid Violence -- (Los Angeles Times)...Louise Roug
Bomb attack on Ramadi police recruits is a setback, but some men refuse to be driven away.
Iraq Challenge: Staying Hopeful About The Future -- (Salt Lake Tribune)...Matthew D. LaPlante
Visible from many parts of their base, the crumbling towers of the nearby glass factory had become a symbol of hope for many Utah service members at Camp Ramadi - a sign that the Sunni Iraqis in Al Anbar province were increasingly choosing security and democracy over insurgent violence.
Media Deaths In War Top Vietnam Era -- (Chicago Tribune)...Associated Press
More journalists and media staffers have been killed during the Iraq war than during 22 years of conflict in Vietnam, Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday.
A Look at Iraq's Deadliest Days Since 2003 -- (The Guardian)
| The deadliest days in Iraq since the war began in March 2003: | -August 21, 2005: At least 1,000 Shiite pilgrims are killed in a bridge stampede caused by somebody clai...
Day of record bloodshed in Iraq -- (NZ Herald)
KERBALA, Iraq - Two suicide bombers killed at least 110 people and wounded more than 200 in the Iraqi cities of Kerbala and Ramadi this morning.
11 U.S. Troops Killed in One Day in Iraq -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. military on Friday announced the deaths of six more American troops killed in the recent barrage of violence that has swept Iraq, bringing to 11 the number of troops slain on the same day. A U.S. Marine and soldier died in the attack by a suicide bomber who infiltrated a line of police recruits in Ramadi on Thursday, killing at least 58 and wounding dozens. Two soldiers were also killed in the Baghdad area when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb, the military said Friday.
Mourning turns to anger in Iraqi Shi'ite city -- (Reuters)
KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) - Umm Ali held her hands to her face and burst into tears, praying to God to punish those who killed her eldest son and at least 52 others in Thursday's suicide bombing in the southern Iraqi city of Kerbala
Iraq Facing Hurdles, U.S. General Warns -- (New York Times)...Eric Schmitt
The top American operational commander in Iraq has offered a sober assessment of the hurdles facing a new Iraqi government, voicing concerns that sectarian rivalries and incompetence could cripple major ministries and turn newly American-trained Iraqi security forces into militias for hire.
Bush reaches beyond inner circle on Iraq policy -- (Reuters)
President George W. Bush reached beyond his tight circle of trusted aides on Thursday to solicit views on Iraq of former secretaries of state and defense, including some who have publicly criticized his policy.
The meeting, part of the president's effort to defend his policies on Iraq and the war on terrorism as he tries to recover from low opinion poll ratings, took place as insurgent violence surged anew this week in Iraq.
Voices From History Echo Anew -- (Washington Post)...Jim VandeHei
President Bush summoned most of the living former secretaries of state and defense to the White House yesterday for what participants described as a cordial but pointed discussion about the future of Iraq.
Iraqis Making Connection To The Outside World Online -- (USA Today)
Mohammed Rahi has an addiction that's been growing in Iraq since soon after the U.S. invasion: the Internet
...Not only can he explore a world of websites not accessible during Saddam Hussein's era, but “I use the Internet to download the software for my job,” selling and servicing mobile phones and other electronics, he says.
Internet service has been one of the most dramatic changes in Iraq since 2003. Like cellphone service, it has expanded sharply.
The Stan- Year in Review -- [Sgt Hook]
The other battlefield in the Global War on Terror has seen a productive year in 2005.
Soldiers Complete Road in Afghanistan -- [Camp Katrina]
(U.S. Department of Defense): Engineers from Task Force Pacemaker recently completed the construction of a 66-kilometer major logistical road linking the towns of Shinkay and Qalat in eastern Afghanistan.
Hey, Look What the Americans Brought! -- [Miserable Donuts]
Hey, Look What the Americans Brought!
"Adjmal, the Americans sure brought some good stuff today"
"Yes, Waheed, the food and clothing is most welcome"
"Oh, yes, that too. But I was talking about this newspaper!"
Every two weeks we printed up a Drai/Pashto/English newspaper, in full color, named Peace. Good source for regional Afghan news and info, and a little about what the Coalition was doing too....
REMARKS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT AT A RALLY FOR THE TROOPS - {Centcom}
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Don't hold back. (Laughter.) Well, that's quite a welcome. And Lynne and I are delighted to be here today. And I want to thank you for that fantastic welcome. And, General Eikenberry, for your kind words, and say good afternoon to my fellow Americans. Let me also thank General Sterling and Command Sergeant Major Savusa. It's great to be here today. I have a message from the folks back home: We're proud of you; we're grateful for your service; and we're behind you 100 percent.
It's good to be back at Bagram Air Field
Transfer of radar site improves operational flexibility -- {Centcom}
KABUL, Afghanistan – As part of the closing of Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan this fall, U.S. Central Command Air Forces leaders transferred one of its radar sites here.
With the kickoff of Hajj (a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia) this month and ongoing flight operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, that decision is already making an impact.
Some in Guantanamo to Go to Afghan Jail -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A prison near Kabul is being refurbished to house about 100 Afghans who are expected to be sent back here from U.S. military custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, officials said.
Afghan Blast Kills 10 During Envoy's Visit -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A suicide bomb exploded in a crowded market Thursday in an Afghan town just a few hundred yards from where the U.S. ambassador was meeting with local leaders. Ten Afghans were killed and 50 wounded in the deadliest of a recent series of attacks
Suicide bombing hits Afgan town during U.S. ambassador visit -- (Canada Dot Com)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- ...A purported Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammed Yousaf, called The Associated Press shortly after the blast to claim responsibility, saying the bomber intended to attack the U.S. officials but detonated the explosives prematurely near a group of policemen.
He said the assailant was an Afghan and had hidden a landmine under his clothes
Afghan President Takes Landmark Turkey Trip -- (AP)
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with his Turkish counterpart on Friday at the beginning of a landmark visit to Turkey to boost historic ties with one of his impoverished country's biggest private investors.
US begins to loosen its Afghan grip -- ( Hong Kong Standard)
NATO is preparing to take control and help rebuild the troubled nation's most volatile region, writes Griff Witte | Friday, January 06, 2006 | NATO is preparing to take control and help rebuild the tr...
Deja vu -- [JS Online Blog - journalist embedded w/ Wisconsin National Guard troops in Iraq and Kuwait]
One of the first things he did when he arrived in Kuwait and found out he would be the officer in charge of security at a dock at what the Kuwaitis call Abdulla Port (the Americans call it SPOD for Sea Port of Debarkation, though I think Abdulla Port has a nicer ring to it) was look at his old maps from Desert Storm. Of the 40 combat missions he flew, a couple of missions were right over the port which 15 years ago was filled with Iraqi artillery pointed up at him. The bombs he dropped destroyed some of that artillery as well as Soviet-made mechanized vehicles used by the Iraqis after they invaded this oil-rich nation on the Persian Gulf.
Oriental Expressions of "Take that!" -- [Peace like a River]
How's this for a metaphor. Diplomacy is the art of stuffing one velvet glove with cotton balls, one velvet glove with brass knuckles, putting them on, but not letting your enemy know which hand is which.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that next week in Sydney the US, Japan and Australia will hold a high-level security summit.
Korean Man Arrested for Damaging Camp Casey Statue -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
...Yangju police detective Yun Yeo-gil said the man, identified only as Choi, smashed the statue with a brick at about 10:20 p.m. Dec. 31. Riot police guarding the U.S. base apprehended Choi and turned him over to local police. Yun said Choi also is accused of vandalizing the statue on Dec. 15. Choi’s anti-American sentiments and state of intoxication led to the incidents, according to Yun.
Syrian troops are gone, but the shadow remains -- [Kevin Sites - in Lebanon]
It was here between these two buildings that former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed by a massive car bomb along with 20 other people ten months ago. Now an initial UN investigation seems to point the evidence towards Syrian officials.
Sharon stroke a blow to Bush Mideast hopes -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's bid to resolve the Middle East conflict and forge a Palestinian state will likely grind to a halt without Ariel Sharon running Israel and setting the pace for the White House.
Iranian President Hopes Sharon Perishes -- (Yahoo New)
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's president said Thursday he hoped for the death of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the latest anti-Israeli comment by a leader who has already provoked international criticism for suggesting that Israel be "wiped off the map."
Keeping Terrorists On The Outside -- [Strategy Page]
January 6, 2006: Iraqi police are having problems with terrorists joining the police force, and tipping off the bad guys when there is a police operation aimed at them. It’s not a problem unique to Iraq. All over the Moslem world, police and intelligence agencies fighting Islamic terrorism, have to worry about the enemy getting people inside. Even Saudi Arabia is having this problem, despite the public backlash against Islamic terrorists. This is one reason for the current shakeup in the Saudi security services.
Belgium, hotbed for Islamist terrorism -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
After the revelation of the suicide attack from the first Western female-a Belgian citizen- in Iraq on November 9, Belgium is emerging as a crucial country in Counter Terrorism terms. Here are some facts:
al-Qaeda Counteroffensive -- [Threats Watch - Bill Roggio]
Unlike the New Year’s Day failure, the latest attacks have deadly results al-Qaeda and the insurgency began the New Year with an anemic offensive of thirteen car bombs in Baghdad and northern Iraq which resulted in only twenty casualties, no deaths. The past two days have seen a dramatically increased level of effectiveness in the employment of suicide bombers and attacks on infrastructure. Over 160 Iraqis have been killed and hundreds wounded in over eight suicide and car bomb attacks in Baghdad, Ramadi, Najaf, Kerbala and Muqdadiyah. Oil production and gasoline distribution in northern has been disrupted by effective attacks.
McCain To Bush: 'Don't Try It, Pal' -- (Los Angeles Times)...Rosa Brooks
...The good news is that McCain made it clear Wednesday that if President Bush tries to circumvent congressional prohibitions on the inhumane treatment of prisoners, McCain — one of the few American politicians with a functioning backbone — doesn't intend to let him get away with it.
Man nabbed with 'suicide bomber' in journal -- (Reuters)
An airline passenger with the words "suicide bomber" written in his journal was arrested when his plane arrived in San Jose, California, on Wednesday, but the words appeared to refer to music and he was later released, officials said.
SUPPORT YOUR TROOPS - SUPPORT YOUR PRESIDENT -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
It’s a nice day today a bit brisk but nice after I have my Pop Tart and Cigar breakfast I read about how some article is boasting about how the support for President Bush and the fight in Iraq is dropping from troops. This is a pretty good article……………..a good article to poop ON! Give me a break, the democrat that wrote this article that based it off a Military Times Poll is another example how desperate the Dumboscabs are and how weak their attempts are to bruise the Boss. The article even disproves itself when it states, the survey was conducted through the mail, which affects the sample and margin of error.
Anatomy of a care package -- [Daily News-Miner Blog - journalist embedded in Iraq]
The battalion gave me a care package today, sent from the states and addressed to “Any Female Soldier” so I could see the types of things strangers send in support of troops. And since they only have two female soldiers in the battalion, they had a few extras of these types of care packages.
A Letter of Thanks -- [Dadmanly]
...I make mention of my gratitude to underscore another blessing that came my way via my employer, but from a very special person. A staff member happened to have a very young daughter, let’s call her Lisa, visiting the Corporate Headquarters, and she found out that the Company President was sending me a letter welcoming me back from Iraq and thanking me for my service. Already in the habit of sending cards of encouragement to soldiers overseas, Lisa wanted to make and send along a card of thanks and a photo, and asked her Mom to include it with the President’s letter.
Soldiers' Families Given Free Computers -- (Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader)
...Operation Homelink gave away 110 refurbished computers to spouses or parents of Fort Campbell soldiers as part of the non-profit group's mission to help deployed soldiers keep up with developments back home. The computers were donated by Dell.
Guest Post -- [Gunn Nutt]
...I was talking to a lady the other day whose husband is in the National Guard and was deployed to Iraq about 2 months ago. I called to ask how she was, if the Soldiers needed anything, etc. She said that she had the opportunity to speak to her husband recently and that none of the Soldiers were in need of anything at this time. Then she began to tell me about how her house had been struck by lightning – how all the appliances had been “fried”. How she had had to go out and buy replacements, file the insurance, have them delivered, set up, etc. Throughout this conversation she was eluding to the fact that she’d never had to “handle” situations like this alone before and that she would gladly (tongue in cheek) trade places with her husband because that experience had been very challenging and difficult for her to handle without him there as was normally the case.
And there he went. -- [The Patriette]
...All in all, I think I held up pretty well. I don't like crying and did my best to hold in the tears as much as possible. I got to join him for breakfast at the airport and wait with him at his gate until it was time for him to board the plane. We sat on the floor since all the seats at the gate were taken and talked about our baby a bit. He had a tight grip on my hand and I think we were both trying to ignore the fact that he was about to leave for a long time. I tried to make him laugh and managed to keep it together until they called his row. Then he stood up, picked up his bag, and said it was time to go. We hugged. I cried and told him I loved him. I watched him board the plane, but didn't wait around to see the plane leave. I cried as I walked out of the airport.
...Josh was so excited about the ultrasound.
“This is my blog, so I will rant like I want to” Post No. 4536 -- [CaliVally Girl - in Germany]
...Most people working for companies would like to renew their contracts with their employers when the contracts expire. If someone says, my contract is expiring at ABC and Co., but I would like to renew it, most people nod in agreement. But if a soldier wants to do that, instead of that decision being respected as one having been made after considering all the options, it is usually met with disbelief, because they assume that most people want to get out of the military as soon as they can.
Comments like: “well, I guess they are a little brainwashed*” are not uncommon. (*Someone actually said that to me recently about my boyfriend when I said he wasn’t in a hurry to leave the military.)
Padilla Makes First Court Appearance -- (My Way)
Jose Padilla, the alleged al-Qaida operative held as an "enemy combatant" for more than three years, made his first appearance in court Thursday after he was taken from a Navy brig and flown to Miami.
The transfer from military to civilian custody began after a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Lawmaker's Talk About Military Irks Joint Chiefs Chair -- (Washington Post)...Josh White
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, criticized Rep. John P. Murtha yesterday for sending "the wrong message" to American youth when the congressman indicated in an interview this week that he would not join today's military.
Murtha Denies Causing Recruitment Woes -- (CBS/AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. John Murtha says the military is blaming him for a recruitment slump instead of recognizing mistakes that have led to an enlistment shortage....
600 Listen to Critic of Iraq War -- (The Washington Post)
In an emotional two-hour public forum in Arlington last night on the Iraq war, one of the Bush administration's chief critics, Rep. John P. Murtha......
Commander Of USS Donald Cook Reassigned -- (Newport News Daily Press)...Jim Hodges
The commanding officer of the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook has been relieved of duty "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command," the Navy said Thursday.
Blame Bush! -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
Ok, even in Kosovo, I can follow the news. One of the stories I've been following is the whole Coal Miners issue in West Virginia and how ate up that story has gotten and how sorry I feel for those people ...
But what get's my gall is that somehow, this is all Bush's fault. (I probably shouldn't add to this dude's thunder. He looks to be acquiring enough attention as it is.)
Pat Robertson - Speaks For God? -- [ROFA Six]
Sometimes it is easy to too easy to dismiss Pat Robertson as simply a kook. But this time he has pretty much gone over the top as reported in, "Robertson blamed Sharon stroke on policy of "dividing God's land".
US - More Trouble for Hillary Clinton -- [USS Neverdock]
The AP wants you to think that Clinton has been cleared of campaign finance wrongdoing.
...Ah, but which investigation and which laws? As you will see here, this is the beginning not the end of the "investigation". There's a lot about the specific laws that apply and this:
Foreign-Language Learning Promoted -- (Washington Post)...Bradley Graham
President Bush announced plans yesterday to boost foreign-language study in the United States, casting the initiative as a strategic move to better engage other nations in combating terrorism and promoting freedom and democracy.
Visited By A Host Of Administrations Past, Bush Hears Some Chastening Words -- (New York Times)...David E. Sanger
...But if it was a bipartisan consultation, as advertised by the White House, it was a brief one. Mr. Bush allowed 5 to 10 minutes for interchange with the group - which included three veterans of the Vietnam era: Robert S. McNamara, Melvin R. Laird and James R. Schlesinger - before herding the whole group into the Oval Office for what he called a "family picture."
Schwarzenegger proposes huge spending in key speech -- (Reuters)
SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - A year after picking a bitter fight with legislators that he ended up losing at the polls, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a massive 10-year spending plan on Thursday aimed at winning back Californian support ahead of his November re-election effort.
Dems Weigh Alito Confirmation Vote Delay -- (Breitbart/AP)
Senate Democrats are considering a plan that could delay a committee vote on Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination for at least a week, slowing what could have been a quick confirmation for President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Hiding Behind Sprayed Ink -- [Winds of Change - Armed Liberal]
by Armed Liberal on January 6, 2006 06:19 AM
I wasn't nearly hard enough on Michael Hiltzik (at least I can try and spell his name correctly - I guess I'm missing my four layers of editors).
I read Part Two of his - there's really no other word for it - venomous screed, and a few phrases just leapt out at me. Here are some highlights from both parts...
For The Record -- (Los Angeles Times)...Los Angeles Times
An article in Wednesday's Section A about the book "State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration" by New York Times reporter James Risen reported that the CIA had said the book contained "serious inaccuracies," but a portion of the statement by the agency was omitted.
Trouble in the Blogosphere -- [JEFFBLANCO.BLOGDRIVE]
It seems like one of our Northern blogizens is having a little trouble with some comments he made on his blog Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
...What makes the blogger different than the MSM is that we don't have the luxury of already having the people's trust. We have to earn it, whereas, the major media already has it and is losing the people's trust. A blogger has to work their way into the hearts of his/her readers and gains their respect by being honest.
I MAY GET SUED FOR THIS...OH WAIT, I ALREADY HAVE -- [Minnesota Democrats Exposed]
My attorney would probably advise against me posting this, but I have to do it.
...MDE is being sued...
A Democratic public relations consultant has sued a Republican blogger for defamation in a case that could offer a key test of the First Amendment rights of bloggers.
The lawsuit pits Blois Olson, the president of PR firm New School Communications and a well-known Democratic political commentator, against Michael Brodkorb, a Republican operative who publishes the blog "Minnesota Democrats Exposed."
Weighing The Risks Of Milblogging -- (CBS News - USA)
... He told Newsday: "The [milblogs] that stay up are completely patriotic and innocuous, and they're fine if you want to read the flag-waving and how everything's ...
Operation blogger freedom -- (Jossip - New York)
Not only did we just recently learn about law blogs, but now we learn that there are military blogs (aka "milblogs") out there, too? ...
Facing suit, anonymous blogger lifts his mask -- (Star Tribune)
A local lawsuit has the potential for breaking new ground in the legal issues associated with blogging.
A feisty anonymous Minnesota political blogger has unmasked himself in the face of a lawsuit that claims his blog defamed a local public relations firm.
Detritus -- [Neptunus Lex]
Did you know that service dress blue uniforms shrink in the closet, if you don’t wear them? True story! I had to put mine on yesterday after not having worn them for a while.
You: How long had it been, Lex?
Me: We’ll I’ll tell you. I was forced to perform a heavy wave-off on my first approach, but I set myself up more carefully for the second (no KY or baby powder required, thanga ver much) and completed the event, after no small amount of grunting and straining and a-holding of my breath. Once in, I found a key in the pocket of the trousers.
You: What key, Lex?...
Murtha Rejects Military Service, Heads for Canada -- [ScrappleFace]
Pennsylvania Rep. John ‘Jack’ Murtha, a Vietnam veteran, told ABC News this week that because of the Bush administration’s Iraq policy, he would not serve in the U.S. military today, and he discouraged others from enlisting.
Stewart to Host Oscars, Rumsfeld to Give GOP Response -- [ScrappleFace]
Just hours after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences named Comedy Channel news anchor Jon Stewart to host this year’s Academy Awards show, the White House announced that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has been tapped to deliver the GOP response.
Here she is! -- [The Patriette]
The sonogram was this morning. We're having a girl! I was surprised. I really thought it would be a boy, but I am just as happy. The technician complimented our daughter on her "well-defined brain structures." Our baby was eager to show off her brain, but was a little more shy about her other body parts. After awhile, however, we managed to see more of her. Everything looked healthy. We saw her arms, legs, hands, heart, stomach, spine, and kidneys. We even saw her stick out her tongue once.
Notes Left by Miners: We Didn’t Suffer -- (Chicago Sun-Times - News)
Tragic footnotes to a tragic story, left by those trapped in a mine to their loved ones now trapped in dealing with loss and the aftermath.
(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.)
National Guardsman Serves Despite Injury, Cancer -- [Camp Katrina]
(Las Vegas Review-Journal): Nevada National Guard Sgt. Henry Lujan of Las Vegas never picks the easy way out. He had two ways to avoid active duty after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but took neither.
SIX MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES CAN GET ALONG……IF 5 ARE NUKED. -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...Last Sunday it was a quiet day, weather was nice and then friendly counter artillery began to pound Haji into submission. (this time I wasn’t in the head) Then four enemy mortars impacted just off base with no injuries to anyone. We delivered another barrage of artillery fire to the points of origin of the mortars. Almost simultaneously a small arms attack began off base between a check point and insurgents. It only lasted about 45 seconds but to those fighting it seems like a lifetime. After a lull in the small arms, our counter battery radar identified incoming rounds to our position. The recorded “Incoming” “Incoming”, ”Incoming” voice began to sound off on the loud speaker and those of us outside didn’t hang around to see if it was accurate or not ...
Soldiers Use Tip to Stop Car Bomb -- [Camp Katrina]
(MNF-I): After receiving a tip from an anonymous Iraqi citizen, Iraqi Police and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers seized a vehicle-carried improvised explosive device in southern Baghdad Jan 1.
Old Fashioned Cops Threaten Democracy -- [Strategy Page]
January 4, 2006: Traditions and customs are hard to change. This is a problem in Iraq, where the newly recruited and trained police force often finds itself operating the same way Iraqi security forces have always done. That means lots of terrorism and torture. For generations, it was Sunni Arab police coming in the middle of the night and taking people away. These victims were either never seen again, or their bodies were found, shortly thereafter, to serve as a warning to friends and relatives.
Approaching stage two... -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
I’m going to start this with a correction, yesterday we said that the election commission was going to delay the final results for two more weeks but today it has been announced that results will be available on January 10th.
Iraqi Security Forces: Increasingly in the Lead -- [GX Exerience]
1/3/06, Baghdad, Iraq—Iraqi Security Forces now number more than 223,000 trained and equipped soldiers and police. These troops are spread throughout the country and are taking an ever increasing roll in securing their country against terrorist and insurgents in areas across the country.
Streets of Baghdad -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
Well, if I had to use one word to describe them, pardon my French, it would be 'shithole.' And it's possible that I'm being generous. I must of course caveat this by saying that I'm used to modernized American cities that are among the most advanced and cleanest (ususally) in the world, but it really is a whole different world here. It's everything...the occassional, sometimes, or often lack of power and running water, poor sewer system, mediocre trash collection, dust and dirt, etc. Even without all sorts of insurgents running around blowing shit up, this place would still need a lot of work. Maybe Saddam could have put a little less money into palaces and weaponry and a little more into public works and he woulnd't have been pulled out of a hole in the ground by the U.S.
Home-front Lines -- [Salt Lake Tribune / Blog- Matthew D. LaPlante - journalist embedded in Iraq]
On the day after Christmas, the Tribune's print edition carried a story about how improvements in technology have changed the way deployed troops communicate with their families back home, along with a piece about how service members determine whether or not to share every detail of their sometimes dangerous lives, given that they now have the technological ability to do so.
As usual, there were far more voices and opinions than space in the newspaper. Here are a few...
Deluded dictator -- [IraqPudit]
As a pleasant thought to begin the New Year, Saddam Hussein told his lawyers that he would prefer to be executed by firing squad rather than by hanging. You can see the story on the Washington Times site. Sorry, Blogger won't allow me to insert a link.
The reporter, Paul Martin, quotes the former dictator's lawyers who said...
History lesson softens war’s realities -- [AJC Blog - journalist embedded in Iraq]
Ur, Iraq — It almost felt like time travel.
Within minutes, the small bus and a few Humvees had transported the Georgia National Guard soldiers from the middle of a 21st-century military base to an ancient civilization.
From the modern wonders of sophisticated weaponry, Internet technology, cafeterias and laundromats, soldiers of the 48th Brigade Combat Team found themselves
January 1st 2006 -- [We will make it through - in Iraq]
I find it amazing how the younger generation here loves us. As one can see, they run up to the side of the road as our convoy passes through their village. Sometimes practically the whole village is lining the side of the road. Well, up until a certain age the adore us though. It seems that when they become teenagers they become brainwashed with the ideals of the older generation. Thats when they start throwing rocks and whatnot at our convoys (which has happened to me a couple times). However, it seems ...
Interview on BBC Radio -- [My Iraqi Saga - in Iraq]
So the interview that SGT Trevor Snyder and I did the other day on BBC Radio turned out to be alot of fun! I was really excited afterward because my Mom and Dad called as soon as we got off the air and said they had listened to it in Missouri! Just by a stroke of luck my Aunt Lisa heard it on the radio and called my parents to tell them what station. They were driving my sister to the airport after her Christmas visit so they all got to listen to it! My Aunt Cara listened to it online! I'm still so stoked that so many people heard it.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 -- [Team Med-fah]
This is the note on the front door of the combat Operations Center to 3rd Bn 7th Marines. While the Marine Corps has occasionally frustrated me, the Marines I serve with have never disappointed me.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 -- [Bravo Battery - in Iraq]
Heres your sign!!!!!
IRAQI VODOO -- [2005 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
This is the head of a wolf hanging on a fence in the rural area. it is intended to be a warning to ward off the evil spirts.
Pictures. -- [My Vacation in Iraq - in Iraq]
Here are a few pictures that I would have liked to post while I was living in the tents with out internet at BIAP. Enjoy...
Suicide Bomber Kills 32 at Iraq Funeral -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A suicide bomber killed 32 mourners and injured dozens at a funeral for the nephew of a Shiite politician, one of several attacks Wednesday across Iraq that killed a total of 52 people - making it the deadliest day since the Dec. 15 elections. The increased violence came as Iraq's three major political parties were close to forming a coalition government that would include Shiites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds, according to a Shiite politician.
The Brave Pay Price Of Defiance -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Hanan, a 22-year-old Iraqi translator, defied terrorist threats to work in the U.S.-controlled Baghdad area know as the green zone. She ignored the threats. Then she disappeared.
Cautiously, Iraqis Open For Business -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Charles Levinson
But many of the 24,000 new businesses remain idle due to shortages, security.
US out of cash for Iraqi projects -- [The Australian]
THE US is nearing the end of its $US18.4billion fund for Iraqi reconstruction, with little prospect of further multi-billion-dollar injections.
In language mirroring the announcement of a planned reduction of troops, US officials in Baghdad have begun talking of "drawdown", "transition" and the "wind-down" of US reconstruction projects.
U.S. Strike On Home Kills 9 In Family, Iraqi Officials Say-- (New York Times)...Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Omar Al-neami
American F-14 warplanes killed nine members of an Iraqi family, including women and young children, during a bombing and cannon strike on Monday night that obliterated a home near the northern industrial city of Baiji, Iraqi officials said Tuesday.
Multiple attacks on Iraq's bloodiest day in weeks -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed 36 people and wounded 40 at a Shi'ite funeral and gunmen ambushed a vital fuel convoy outside Baghdad amid a wave of attacks that made Wednesday Iraq's bloodiest day in weeks.
U.S. Military Calls Copter Report False -- (AP)
BAQOUBA, Iraq - The U.S. military said Tuesday that none of its helicopters had crashed after searching for a downed aircraft following a report by an Iraqi army soldier that one went down northeast of Baghdad.
Fuel convoy ambushed near Baghdad - police -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Gunmen ambushed a convoy of 60 fuel tankers north of Baghdad on Wednesday, destroying 20 of them, police and oil officials said, adding that the convoy's police escort was still fighting attackers.
CIA Enlisted Aid Of Iraqis In U.S. -- (Washington Times)...Combined Dispatches
A new book on the government's secret anti-terrorism operations describes how the CIA recruited an Iraqi-American anesthesiologist in 2002 to obtain information from her brother, who was a figure in Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's nuclear program.
Iraq Wants U.S. Choice Out As Chief Of Brigade -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
Over the strong objections of U.S. commanders in Baghdad, the Iraqi government has nominated a new leader for a brigade that is set to assume control over some of the capital's most sensitive areas. This dispute appears likely to postpone an already overdue handover by American forces for at least another month.
US General Wants Faster Security Transition in Iraq -- (VOA News Report)
The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East says he wants to accelerate the handover of security responsibility in Iraq to the country's new security forces this year. In an interview with reporters traveling with him in Iraq in recent days, the general said that is the only way for Iraqis to take control of their future.
In the interview with reporters from USA Today and Knight Ridder newspapers, General John Abizaid said his trainers are sometimes reluctant to hand over responsibility to their Iraqi counterparts. And the general acknowledged there are risks associated with putting relatively inexperienced Iraqi officers and soldiers in charge of security in their areas.
But he said the American trainers have to accept that Iraq belongs to the Iraqis, and that once they are given what he called "the tools of sovereignty" they must be allowed to "grab hold of the controls."
AIR SUPPORT PREEMPTS POSSIBLE IED EMPLACEMENT -- {Centcom}
TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition forces reconnaissance aircraft observed three men suspected of emplacing an improvised explosive device digging in a road near Bayji after 9:00 p.m. on Jan.2, prompting a military response against them.
An unmanned aerial vehicle from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division observed the would-be attackers as they dug a hole following the common pattern of road-side bomb emplacement.
Pace Warns 2006 Will be 'Bad Year' for U.S. Enemies -- {Defense Link}
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 2, 2006 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told servicemembers here that 2006 will be "a bad year for the enemies of the United States."
"I promise you that I won't forget who is doing the work when I make my recommendations" to the president and the National Security Council, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said at an air base near here as part of a United Service Organizations tour he is leading.
OPERATION GREEN TRIDENT TURNS UP 72 CACHES -- (CENTCOM)
U.S. Marines discovered more than ten metric tons of munitions hidden at 72 cache sites 39 km south of Fallujah during the week-long Operation Green Trident.
Afghan Border Police Open New Airport Facility -- {Defens Link}
KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 2, 2006 – The Afghan National Police recently opened a new facility for its protection battalion at the Kabul International Airport.
The new facility, constructed by the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief and financed by the German Federal Foreign Office, was handed over to the Afghan Border Police on Dec. 15. The buildings, which were rebuilt and renovated during the past year, were refitted with modern conveniences such as electricity, plumbing and kitchens, and now provide space for 120 employees.
One of Two Things I Miss from Bagram -- [Miserable Donuts]
There are only two things I miss from Bagram, AF; ...
Australia waits for Dutch waits for Parliaments waits for... -- [Misadventures of a Not-So-Intrepid Explorer]
Australia, for example, cannot seem to commit to having a Provincial Reconstruction Team in southern Afghanistan. They are making it dependent on the Dutch parliament's decision. And are also now influenced by a British intelligence report.
Regardless of NATO and Australia's clusterfucking, the US continues on its decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Instead of being portrayed as a cop out, it is somehow seen showing a growing willingness to cede those jobs to others. Oh how generous. Nothing to do with Bush's falling opinion polls?
In Memory of Alexander the Great -- [Strategy Page]
January 4, 2006: Fighting in 2005 took the lives of some 1,500 Afghans, and 80 Americans. Quite different from Iraq, which has about the same population, but ten times as many deaths from Islamic and tribal violence. The situations in the two countries are quite different. There is a lot more ethnic and tribal strife in Afghanistan, but the violence is not as intense.
Suspected Rebels Behead Afghan Teacher -- (AP)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- Suspected Taliban militants have beheaded a high school teacher in a central Afghan town, the latest in a string of attacks against educators and schools where girls are taught, officials said Wednesday.
Gunmen Kill Afghan Aid Worker in Mosque -- (AP)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- Suspected Taliban gunmen killed an Afghan aid worker who was praying in a mosque in southern Afghanistan, the latest rebel attack on those rebuilding this war-shattered country, officials said Tuesday.
The extraordinary folly of Britain's new opium war -- (The Guardian)
In the next few weeks, an army of 3,400 British troops expects to be deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. This is nearly half the number deployed in Iraq. Everything I have heard and
Israeli general believes strike against Iran could succeed -- [TigerHawk]
IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz spoke to an audience at Tel Aviv University yesterday about Israel's security matters. Toward the end of the article there is this interesting tidbit:
Secret services say Iran is trying to assemble a nuclear missile -- (The Guardian)
Document seen by Guardian details web of front companies and middlemen
The Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb, according to the latest western intelligence assessment of the country's weapons programmes.
Scientists in Tehran are also shopping for parts for
CIA Gave Iran Bomb Plans, Book Says -- (Los Angeles Times)...Josh Meyer
In a clumsy effort to sabotage Iran's nuclear program, the CIA in 2004 intentionally handed Tehran some top-secret bomb designs laced with a hidden flaw that U.S. officials hoped would doom any weapon made from them, according to a new book about the U.S. intelligence agency.
Young, Clueless and Dead -- [Strategy Page]
January 4, 2006: An unexpected ally in the war on terror is, increasingly, poorly trained terrorists who either kill themselves, or screw up their operations. The number of accidental or premature explosions by suicide bombers is increasing, as is the accidental detonation of bombs under construction. In Afghanistan and Iraq, there have been recent incidents of suicide bombs going off before the bomber reached their objective, Many bombers are intercepted by security personnel because of poor discipline and ignorance.
Global War, Global Enemy -- [Threats Watch - Bill Roggio]
al-Qaeda continues to direct its wrath at governments worldwide
In the current environment of politicizing the War on Terror, it is often lost that the fight against al-Qaeda and its global allies of the International Islamic Front far exceeds the scope of operations in Afghanistan or Iraq. The presentation on the major al-Qaeda attacks worldwide reinforces the global nature of the fight, but al-Qaeda’s statements must also be looked at as well to obtain a full understanding of their strategy. They provide a constant reminder of the nature of the enemy.
GSPC wants to establish Al Qaîda in the Maghreb -- [Counterterrorsm Blog]
Recently,four Algerians presumably close to the GSPC were placed in temporary detention in Spain. The Spanish judge, a Madrid native, Fernando Andreu suspects them of financial and logistical support to GSPC and of having tried to acquire in Grenade, dynamite Goma-2 in exchange for hashish ; interestingly this is the same dynamite that was used in the Madrid attacks of March 11, 2004.
Agency First Acted on Its Own to Broaden Spying, Files Show -- (New York Times)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 - The National Security Agency acted on its own authority, without a formal directive from President Bush, to expand its domestic surveillance operations in the weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, according to declassified documents released Tuesday.
Bush Fights Resistance to Patriot Act -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is taking advantage of a winter congressional recess to lobby for permanent extension of the terror-fighting USA Patriot Act and rap lawmakers who thwarted it in a rush to recess last month.
Bush Could Bypass New Torture Ban -- (Boston Globe)...Charlie Savage
When President Bush last week signed the bill outlawing the torture of detainees, he quietly reserved the right to bypass the law under his powers as commander in chief.
Woe after woe -- [Soldiers Angels New York]
...Jesse Alcozer, 57, is a Vietnam veteran. He served in the Marine Corps and was wounded seven times in Vietnam. He suffered much disrespect when he returned from the war. He went on to raise a family. In recent years, due to disabilities resulting from his service, he became unable to work. Four of his sons had joined the military. Six weeks ago, son Christopher was killed in Mosul, Iraq. The day of his funeral, war protestors gathered at his funeral carrying signs that said "thank God for dead soldiers". I can't even begin to express my feelings for this man who suffered so much for his own service to his country then have to see it repeated 37 years later at the funeral of his son. Two of his sons still serve in the Army.
But that was not the end to their woes. Yet another tragedy has befallen this family. The new year of 2006 opens with the family homeless due to a fire in their home which started from a candle on a memorial to their son, Christopher.
Teen's Goal: 2.6 Million Thanks -- [Defense Link]
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3, 2006 – The Defense Department's "America Supports You" program and Shauna Fleming, 16, founder of "A Million Thanks," launched the "2.6 in 2006" letter-writing campaign Jan. 1. Story
January 8, 2006 Schedule -- [Talking With Heroes Talk Show Schedule]
Host
Bob Calvert, Founder of YoungHeroes.US - Editor of Walking with Heroes Book One
Guests
SFC Darrin M Domko - Currently Stationed Ft Carson
Emery McClendon - Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day/ ARMAD
Linda Spurlin-Dominik, Co-Founder/Treasurer -Guardian Angels for Soldiers Pet
An American Soldier and his little bit of home -- [Web of Support]
Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq, standing by a big sand box. He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer and some grass seed, so he can have the sweet aroma and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. When the men of the squadron have a mission they are going on they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil to bring them good luck. If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.
Soldier gives Marine a kidney -- (Army Times)
BUHL, Idaho — You never call a Marine a soldier and you never call a soldier a Marine.
And never confuse a Marine’s “oorah” with a soldier’s “hooah.”
In fact, one of the few things a Marine and a soldier will agree on is how much fun it is to make jokes about the Air Force.
Home for the Holidays... and Gone Again -- [Green... again - in pre-deployment training fot Iraq] NEW MILBLOG RING MEMBER!
I'm happy to report that the Marine Corps made good on its promise and sent us home for a couple of weeks to spend the holidays with our families.
I had the distinctly unique experience of spending my time playing "Mr. Mom" while I was home, and I have only one thing to say: Whatever they're paying full-time Moms (or those working Moms whose husbands run off on deployment whenever the call comes), it isn't anywhere near enough. I feel like I've been beat up. But it was well worth it. After all, it will be quite some time before I get to see those little rascals again.
The whole experience has shed a lot of light, for me at least, on how difficult and important the job of a service member's spouse really is. Every time I started to get frustrated with the kids, I thought about how my wonderful wife is going to have to deal with this for the better part of the next year without any help from me. Rest assured that I'll never look at it the same.
Some people recently asked me ... -- [in Defense - in Basic Training] NEW MILBLOG RING MEMBER!
why I felt forced into joining the Army and why I blamed it on my failures at college.
That is all wrong. First of all, I didn't get forced into enlisting. It was a choice made entirely without feeling pressured or trapped. I didn't decide to enlist because a judge told me to. I didn't decide to enlist to avoid homelessness. I didn't decide to enlist because I had no job. I decided to enlist because I felt it was the BEST CHOICE. I find it ridiculous that people continually view military service as a last resort. In fact, I think it should be considered FIRST, for several reasons, the least of which is it's a fast track to a career.
A LOOK AT THE MILITARY TIMES POLL -- [Michelle Malkin]
A new Military Times poll is being gleefully spun by the moonbats as proof that President Bush has lost the support of our troops. (The Military Times cautions that its mail-in poll, of 1,215 active-duty servicemen who subscribe to the Military Times and its family of newsweeklies, "is not necessarily representative of the military as a whole.")
MurthaWatch: They Also Serve...Who Refuse To Serve -- [Cassandra - TigerHawk]
Well folks, he's at it again. Let no one say the Democrat Party is Soft on Terror. Soft-headed perhaps, but tough as nails on the kind of folks who fly planes into buildings... and the people who try to protect us from them. Now comes John Murtha, another great American War Hero of the Left in the grand tradition of Gunga John Kerry.
Rep. Murtha can't wait to take the GWOT to al Qaeda in a fashion reminiscent of Tinkie Winkie:...
Will the West survive? -- [Neptunus Lex]
Mark Steyn is the kind of guy who spends a lot of time thinking about Western culture, whether you define that as going out at night to the theatre or whether instead you concern yourself more closely with the arc towards self-government and personal freedoms whose trajectory is best enshrined in the liberal democracies. He does so as a clear enthusiast of the notion, so when he asks whether or not the West is serious about its own survival in the new millennium, or whether it carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction, you get the idea that he does so from a position of concerned interest:
TCS Daily - The Triumph of “Angry and Stupid” -- [Outside the Beltway]
My latest at TCS Daily, "The Triumph of 'Angry and Stupid'," is up. It's about the poisonous tone of American political rhetoric.
Abramoff Deal Opens Trove of Information -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a deal that clears the way for the next phase of a widespread Capitol Hill corruption probe, lobbyist Jack Abramoff has agreed to tell prosecutors and the FBI about alleged bribes to lawmakers and their aides on issues ranging from Internet gambling to wireless phone service in the House....
Blair presses Bush on engine deal -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair has written to U.S. President George W. Bush to try to save a multibillion-dollar contract to develop an engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's costliest warplane program, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday
Maine Democratic Legislator Bolts Party -- (AP)
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- A Democratic state legislator announced Tuesday she has quit the party, leaving the Maine House evenly split between Democrats and Republicans....
The Day Journalism Died -- [Dude Where's the Beach]
I blame it on the 24 hour news cycle and the ridiculous need by cable news networks to be the absolute first to break a story. Their desire for profits and bragging rights have finally put the nail in the coffin of real journalism.
Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC are all culprits in this debacle. The fact that they broadcast an erroneous rumor as fact without vetting it through the proper channels to verify its accuracy says everything about their quality of service.
Osama Debunks A Myth -- (Washington Times)...Richard Miniter
The first of three excerpts from Richard Miniter's new book Disinformation: 22 Media Myths That Undermine the War on Terror.
Corrections -- (Washington Post)...The Washington Post
A Jan. 2 article misstated the volume of Iraqi oil production. At present, production is 2 million barrels per day, not 2 billion, according to U.S. government statistics. Before the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the statistics show, output was about 2.6 million barrels per day, not 2.6 billion.
The Incredible Journey; Homeward Bound [NcoDutyToWorkAndHome - on his way home from Iraq]
Ah, The journey home. It is the time we all look foward too here in the sand box. Finally I have transitioned to my first stop in a few on my trip to Ga and my wife. It has been quite the trip over here and let me say that in no way will I miss the middle of the night explosions that wake you up and make you think, was that incoming or out going? Or the minding your own business driving down the street and BAM IED going off. But now that we are heading home the job still isnt over. It makes me recall the other deployments I have been on and on those I was a soldier and remember how I thought the NCO's were being jerks with all the acoountability and recall formation to tell us they knew nothing new. I told myself no way would I do that and look here now I am that NCO
Welcome Home 236th Medical Company Air Ambulance -- [Soldier's Angels Germany]
Flying medical unit is back home at Landstuhl
They love to do their job, but doing it means a fellow servicemember is hurt somewhere beyond the horizon.
It’s a bittersweet task for soldiers with the 236th Medical Company Air Ambulance out of Landstuhl, Germany, who returned in December from a yearlong deployment supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
'Milblogs' Being Shut Down Rapidly -- All Headline News - USA
Washington, DC (AHN) - US military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan are clamping down on military Web logs, known as milblogs. ...
Soldiers may be saying too much in blogs -- Baxter Bulletin - Baxter,AR,USA
... The Army's shut down some military blogs, or "milblogs," and even demoted and fined some of the bloggers for revealing a little too much data. ...
In Memory -- [365 and a Wake Up - in Iraq]
New Year’s Eve is a time of both reflection and renewal, a time where a giddy sense of opportunity and hope seep into even the most hardened heart. But there was no joy in Killer Company this New Years Eve… because on New Years Eve we lost a cherished brother. CPL Marcelino “Ronnie” Corniel was a warrior prince. He cut his teeth in the United States Marine Corps, then after a short return to the civilian world he joined the ‘Hard Guard” as he affectionately called it. Shortly after his enlistment he was once again on point for his country.
In Memory of PFC John Steenge -- [Sisyphus Today... - in Iraq]
I never wanted to salute a friend's boots, but I did so tonight. I don't have much to say about it right now. Things have been crazy since I touched ground on civilized soil and they may just start slowing down soon. Crazy when your friend dies. Been a hell of a year.
(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.)
Capt. James S. Eadie: Media ignoring all the George Baileys on Iraq's front lines -- [The SA Forums]
Capt. James S. Eadie
...The emergency rooms in Iraq can be eerily quiet or suddenly explode into a flurry of action, such as the day a Bradley troop carrier was hit by a roadside bomb, engulfing the occupants in flame and twisted metal. As an emergency physician, these are the days I trained for, but dread to see.
...I often reflect during the holidays on the classic story of George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life." I, too, find myself standing at that metaphoric bridge wondering if I have made a difference here in Iraq. Is the poignant story still valid? The answer for me is a resounding yes.
I met the first of many heroes on the night of the Bradley accident. The courage and sacrifice of this soldier is not isolated; it is the norm here, a daily occurrence. What I have witnessed has profoundly affected me. I was completely unprepared for this.
Why had I never heard these stories at home? As a physician in a stateside military hospital, certainly I should have heard these stories, but either I had not listened or, more likely, they were not told. The news that I was accustomed to at home seems but a shell of what I see before me.
2005: The Year In Military Heroism -- [Riehl World View]
Between seeing this post of Sondrak's on Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith and all the brouhaha over various nonsensical year end lists, I decided to do a tribute post to America's War Heroes of 2005. In my view, they cannot get and certainly haven't gotten enough attention via the MSM.
Oh Boy, This Will Be Controversial! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
I was encouraged to talk about the situation in Iraq under Saddam’s time and now. So, here, I will talk about myself in both eras.
...Before, I was forced to accept to be restricted in making friends, making comments, expressing my feelings, and judging the government. And that applied to all Iraqis. If I decided to be free and do whatever I liked under Saddam, I don’t think I would be breathing now.
Now, I am free to choose to be free or to fear. I can decide to be brave and practice the freedom I have, or decide to continue living silently and whatever happens is none of my business. Now, I am free whether to criticize lack of services provided by the government and the ill performance of this government, or choose to be silent. Now, I am free to choose to leave Iraq, or stay, or leave and come back to stay. Now, I am free to choose to love the government and admire it, or to curse it in public and criticize it.
A Failed Offensive -- [Threats Watch - Bill Roggio]
New Year's Day bombings a bust; operations continue up north
The insurgency kicked off the New Year with a coordinated suicide/roadside bomb offensive in Baghdad and northern Iraq. Thirteen bombs total were detonated; nine bombs in Baghdad alone over the span of three hours; two in Kirkuk; one in Tikrit;and one in Muqdadiyah. The targets were Iraqi Security Forces and U.S. Soldiers.
Will the attacks were coordinated, they weren’t very effective. Twenty were wounded, and the majority were civilians. Two of the attacks appeared to be manned by suicide bombers, who killed themselves with very little to show. The rest of the attacks appeared to be bombs planted within vehicles parked alongside the roads.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 -- [Chairborne Stranger - in Iraq]
Too busy today-we've been attacked a half dozen times or more in the last few days, more small arms fire and ground attacks, more indirect fire, mortars, rockets, the whole nine yards-it's like the insurgents picked out 2006 to come back and harass us here. Plus there is all of the stuff that goes with that--getting all your gear on, trying to figure out what in the hell is going on, waiting around to see if you need to respond to the attack, groups of men cursing at each other and cramming into vehicles and rolling out to---??? what, exactly, is always a mystery-- checking to see if everyone is ok. There were a few injuries in one of the attacks.
Chicken soup on a fire -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
Yes we have a microwave. But it is rather weak and a simple can of soup takes about 20 minutes to get even lukewarm. I find this method a little bit easier. I made this soup a few mornings ago and put it in a thermos to take with me. It's chicken noodle. It's the simple things in life that make this shit bearable sometimes.
2006: Year of the Eternal Optimist -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
My Battalion had a good year in 2005. We haven’t lost a single soldier. We have lost fellow soldiers in our Brigade, and even a soldier from back home. We have attended memorial services here on the FOB, and been surrounded by death and violence, but we have been blessed. *knocking on wood here* Our situation is a rarity in this area. We spent 6 months training up, and we have now been in the deadliest place in Iraq for 6 months. Yes, we’ve had injuries. We’ve had a lot of close calls. Our soldiers have been hit by a lot of IEDs, a truckload of mortar and rocket attacks, RPGs, and sniper fire. We have been called upon to support the Brigade in countless missions in cities and villages of the Al Anbar Province. We send soldiers outside the wire everyday on logistical convoys and combat missions. Some of our soldiers have been sent home from shrapnel wounds. We have a soldier who had most of his left arm amputated, and almost lost both eyes. I’ll call him Sergeant First Class G. I did not know him well, but I’ve listened to his Commander speak of him often, giving updates on his condition.
Middle of the road -- [Talking Salmons - in Iraq]
Things have settled in to a day-in day-out sort of operation. It’s a normal thing, I hear, to hit this hum-drum lull at month four or five – where you’re far enough in to the year to be established, but shy of the half-way mark.
Photos From the Front -- [Andi's World]
I always find it offensive when the left claims that our troops are nothing more than trained killers, conveniently putting aside the fact that our armed forces are comprised of fathers, sons, brothers and husbands who have hearts and compassion for others. Pick any blog written by someone in Iraq or Afghanistan and you'll quickly find that their biggest morale booster seems to come from their interaction with the locals, especially the children. This interaction tends to put their mission into focus and gives them a sense of pride, and rightly so.
844 In U.S. Military Killed In Iraq In 2005 -- (New York Times)...Dexter Filkins
At least 844 American service members were killed in Iraq in 2005, nearly matching 2004's total of 848, according to information released by the United States government and a nonprofit organization that tracks casualties in Iraq.
Military support for Bush drops: poll -- (The Austrailian)...From correspondents in Washington
SUPPORT for President George W Bush's Iraq policy has fallen among the US armed forces to just 54 per cent from 63 per cent a year ago, according to a poll by the magazine group Military Times published today.
In its annual survey of the views of military personnel, the group reported on its website that support for Mr Bush's overall policies dropped in the past year to 60 per cent from 71 per cent.
Why Our Military Despises Donald Rumsfeld (Common Dreams News Center)...Ralph Nader
Civilian control over the military is a long established democratic tradition in our country. It was the military that was believed by our founding fathers to be susceptible to plunging our country into foreign adventure. Presently, however, the boondoggles, crimes and recklessness of draft-dodging George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and former Air Force pilot, Donald Rumsfeld, together with their draft-dodging neo-con associates, have turned this expectation upside down. The civilians are the war-mongers.
The Army, Faced With Its Limits -- (New York Times)...Fred Kaplan
One million men and women serve in the United States Army, so why is it proving nearly impossible to keep a mere 150,000 of them in Iraq?
A Life, Wasted -- (Washington Post)...Paul E. Schroeder
Let's Stop This War Before More Heroes Are Killed
Early on Aug. 3, 2005, we heard that 14 Marines had been killed in Haditha, Iraq. Our son, Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II, was stationed there. At 10:45 a.m. two Marines showed up at our door. After collecting himself for what was clearly painful duty, the lieutenant colonel said, "Your son is a true American hero."
Since then, two reactions to Augie's death have compounded the sadness
Bush pulls the plug on Iraq reconstruction
White House to withdraw funding for rebuilding Iraq -- (The Independent)
The US government is not planning to continue funding reconstruction projects in Iraq, in what appears to be a major climbdown from the White House's one-time pledge to build the best infrastructure i...
Iraq must rebuild itself after £10bn fund is exhausted -- (The Times)
THE United States is nearing the end of its $18.4 billion (£10.7 billion) fund for rebuilding Iraq, with little prospect of further multi-billion dollar injections. ...
Washington goes back on its words, refuses to rebuild Iraq -- (alJazeera Magazine)
The U.S. President is looking at ways to lessen the U.S. commitment to Iraq amid increasing political pressure to start finding a way out.
US air raid kills Iraqi family: officials -- (Reuters)
BAIJI, Iraq (Reuters) - A U.S. air strike killed several members of a family in the oil refining town of Baiji in northern Iraq, Iraqi security forces said on Tuesday
Murtha says he wouldn't join military now -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. John Murtha, a key Democratic voice who favors pulling U.S. troops from Iraq, said in remarks airing on Monday that he would not join the U.S....
Iraqi Civil War? Some Experts Say It's Arrived -- (Los Angeles Times)...John Daniszewski
...In a speech delivered as Iraqis prepared to go to the polls, President Bush said he didn't believe a civil war would break out in the country. But some observers believe it has already begun — a quiet and deadly struggle whose battle lines were thrown into sharp relief by the highly polarized vote results.
Memorial To G.I. Sets Off Blaze -- (New York Times)...Associated Press
A burning candle that was part of a shrine to a soldier killed in Iraq caused a house fire outside of Chicago that left a family homeless. No one was injured in the blaze, which occurred last Tuesday in Elmhurst.
Saddam Prefers Death By Shooting -- (Washington Times)...Paul Martin
Saddam Hussein has told his lawyers that he wants to be shot by firing squad, not hanged, if sentenced to death during his murder trial, which resumes later this month in Baghdad.
Al Jazeera Crew Arrested Photographing Security Features of US Base In Kabul -- [Jawa Report]
From The Peninsula:
KABUL: US forces yesterday arrested three employees of the Al Jazeera TV channel for filming near a US base here, but later released them. Correspondent Waliullah Shaheen, cameraman Nasir Hashimi and driver Mahmood Agha were filming the removal of concrete block barriers which had been installed outside all military bases and offices of foreigners for protection. “We were arrested and detained by coalition for an hour, then handed over to Afghan police, who kept us for four hours before releasing us,” Shaheen said. “The American soldiers confiscated five telephones and our camera, and kept it,” he added. A US military spokesman, Lieutenant Mike Cody, said the three were held after they were seen “filming security features in the vicinity of Camp Eggers in Kabul”.:
Al Jazeera claims that:
Protect Afghan Kids This Winter - Part III -- [BlackFive]
Protect Afghan Kids This Winter - Part I and Part II
Major Doug McKewan sends this message to us - you all have done wonders for those children:
Deadline for foreign NGOs -- [Afghan Lord - an Afgani in Afghanistan]
On 31st of December, Interior ministry issued one week deadline to all national and foreign NGOs, to remove their barricades that are blocked the roads and subway in the capital – Kabul to ensure smooth traffic in the city. This deadline is including military base and institutes based in the crowded part of Kabul.
Afghan Certificate Lust -- [Miserable Donuts]
If there is one thing that will set an Afghan official's eyes ablaze with desire, it is a certificate. Our Task Force CSM had given out some simple ones that had been highly prized. So I stepped it up a notch. I had made one up in English and Dari, put it in a flag holder-frame with a small Afghan flag and presented it to Kabir Ahmad, the District Attorney of Bagram District, Parwan Province. He had been a terrific help to us, and to his people, so I thought a little public recognition wouldn't hurt.
U.S. Cedes Duties In Rebuilding Afghanistan -- (Washington Post)...Griff Witte
Four years into a mammoth reconstruction effort here that has been largely led, funded and secured by Americans, the United States is showing a growing willingness to cede those jobs to others. The most dramatic example will come by this summer, when the U.S. military officially hands over control of the volatile southern region -- plagued by persistent attacks from Islamic militias -- to an international force led by the NATO alliance.
Afghanistan deployment in doubt -- (The Australian)
AUSTRALIAN plans to send a military reconstruction team to Afghanistan have been thrown into doubt by warnings that al-Qa'ida and Taliban forces are threatening a fierce ...
A rumble in the east -- [Peace like a River]
Over the weekend, there was an unsettling step in Russia's efforts to use its natural resources to put it in a position to dominate its neighbors.
China Tries to Sell Stolen U.S. Technology -- [Strategy Page]
January 3, 2006: China has produced a new twin 23mm antiaircraft gun that, apparently uses stolen American technology. The Chinese describe their new antiaircraft system as using “Chain Gun” technology. The U.S. Boeing company holds patents on the chain gun feed mechanism. In 2001, China first mentioned that they had adopted the “chain gun” technology, but at the time, these weapons were only available for Chinese use.
Reservists Rebuild After Katrina -- [Strategy Page]
January 2, 2006: The U.S. Army is allowing over two hundred Louisiana National Guard troops, just returning from Iraq, to stay on active duty for up to a year, to help with reconstruction. Priority will be given to troops who had their civilian job destroyed by Katrina, and have a skill needed for reconstruction efforts. In a low wage area like Louisiana, many reservists make more money on active duty, than they do just with their civilian job.
Russia, Ukraine to Resume Gas Talks -- (AP)
MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian and Ukrainian officials agreed Tuesday to resume talks on resolving a dispute over the price of natural gas that has reverberated across the continent and left Ukraine cut off from its supplies....
Life under Saddam and Post-Saddam Iraq -- [Iraqi Blogger Central]
...Meanwhile, as Raed Jarrar watches the New Year's fireworks over the bay of San Francisco, he starts to think about his new "project":
I’m planning on starting a new project estimating the compensation that should be paid by the occupation countries to Iraq as a country and to Iraqis as individuals. This project will be based on the legitimate and fair UNCC compensation scale that Iraq followed in the last decade in paying compensation to Kuwait.
Raed Jarrar, (Raed in the Middle) the guy who glories in and counts and laughs at the deaths of American soldiers, is sitting in the Bay Area, awaiting his greencard interview after marrying Niki Akhavan, and now he is trying to figure out how much money the US owes the Iraqi people in general and the JARRAR FAMILY in particular.
I have contacted Homeland Security about Raed Jarrar. I urge that you do, too. I know that others have already left a tip at the Homeland Security website, as I have done. Join us. Let your voice be heard.
TERRORISM: VIDEO OF AL-QAEDA No.2 APPEARS WITH ITALIAN SUBTITLES -- (AKI)
Rome, 2 Nov. (AKI) - A video message by al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, first broadcast by the Qatar-based TV network Aljazeera in September, has been posted with Italian subtitles on several Islamist internet sites. The move appears to be an attempt by al-Qaeda to reach directly to an Italian audience. In the 40-minute clip, titled 'A meeting with Doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri four years after the [September 11, 2001] attacks agaisnt New York and Washington," the Egyptian-born militant denounces last September's general elections in Afghanistan, and praises the July bombings in London.
New Rules Set for Giving Out Antiterror Aid -- (New York Times)
The Department of Homeland Security will evaluate new requests for city grants based less on politics and more on assessments of where terrorists are likely to strike.
God Bless Them - Every One -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
I had another post ready for today... but my high school girlfriend Gail (whose son is a Navy pilot and currently stationed in a hot zone) sent this to me and it moved me just as much as it affected her... so I wanted to share it with all of you. God Bless the Levins and God Bless America! What a great country we live in!
The Liberty Limited -- [Sgt Hook]
A couple in Philadelphia decided that they wanted to do more than just say, “we support the troops.” So they did support the troops, 88 wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Washing ACUs -- [The Patriette]
In preparation for his departure, one of the great challenges I'm facing is to wash his new ACUs. Why is this such a challenge? Well, you CANNOT wash them in ANY laundry detergents that contain optical brighteners. What the heck are those? Well, I don't know for sure, but I do know two things: 1) Almost every detergent seems to have them even if they don't SAY they have them and 2) They are bad for ACUs. So what is a girl to do? Turn to the 'net of course!
Here's what I found out....
The Pentagon's Homegrown Theater of War -- (Washington Post)
Grandma used to say that there's a silver lining inside every dark cloud and maybe she was right. This month, Harper's magazine has found a big, heartwarming silver lining inside that gloomy old Global War on Terrorism. Here it is:
Our government has hired a bunch of poor souls who lost their arms and legs in accidents and has rigged them up with bags of fake blood so they can play wounded civilians in war games down at Fort Polk, La.
Scott McClellan’s Mom Runs for Texas Governor -- [Outside the Beltway]...James Joyner
Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the mother of White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, is running for Texas governor as an independent.
The AP presents this as a stunning break in the GOP.
Chaplain ’starves himself’ over Navy no-Jesus prayer policy -- [Stop the ACLU]
The chaplain who has gone without food for two weeks in protest of the Navy’s policy against praying in Jesus’ name says Americans are giving the White House switchboard a workout each time he appears in the media, as supporters urge President Bush to sign an executive order allowing military clergy to pray according to their own faith traditions.
Bush Pardon's Less! (Excuse me?) -- [ROFA Six]
USATODAY.com reports that "Bush grants pardons less than predecessors." It is a non-story about how Bush has granted pardons to "people who have surmounted their mistakes."
Democrats to hit White House, Republicans on privacy issues-- (THE WASHINGTON TIMES)
Democrats on Capitol Hill are drafting a strategy to attack the Bush administration and Republicans as having little regard for the privacy of Americans.
Schumer: Loony Leftard Likely Leaker -- [Gunn Nutt]
Chuckie Schumer wants to know what motivated the leaker who gave classified NSA info to the NYT. "There are differences between felons and whistleblowers, and we ought to wait 'til the investigation occurs to decide what happened," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told "FOX News Sunday."
Anyone want to take a guess?
The diligent picking of nits -- [TigerHawk]
Hard as it may be to believe, I'm going to begin the day picking on the New York Times. As full as the paper's editorial pages are with misrepresentations, sleight-of-hand arguments, blown predictions masquerading as statements of fact, and unacknowledged changes in position, it is more relentless than a Japanese customs inspector in its pursuit of tiny defects. Behold the sum total of the corrections in this morning's "for the record" box:
The ethics of journalism: A proposal for reform-- [TigerHawk]
...I am appalled that the press has gone ahead and published stories that palpably undermine our security in time of national peril over the specific request of the President of the United States. Yes, it is their lawful right to do so, but it is, frankly, disgusting that they have exercised that right. That the leak came through the same newspapers that thought that the outing of Valerie Plame was the worst affront to national security since Aldrich Ames exposes their political agenda in stark relief. That the New York Times seems to change the position of its unsigned editorials without a hint of acknowledgement gives away its own intellectual bankruptcy.
The MSM is Full of it: Bush Support Still Strong Among Military-- [Camp Katrina]
Check it out: the MSM is trumpeting a new poll that shows support for President Bush among the U.S. military has dropped, although it still remains far above fifty percent. From the article:
AP Shills for Risen's New Book -- (NewsBusters)
Who needs a publicist to promote your book when the AP will do it for free? The AP is shilling for James Risen's new book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration. In an article titled, "CIA Ignored Info Iraq Had no WMD", posted on yahoo.com, the AP states that the book "describes secret operations of the Bush Administration's war on terror". The articles cites an instance of the CIA sending an Iraqi-American MD to Iraq to talk to her brother about Iraq's nuclear weapons programs. Despite reports of a nuclear weapons program that ended years before, the article reports "In October 2002, a month after the doctor's trip to Baghdad, the U.S intelligence community issued a National Intelligence Estimate that concluded Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program". According to the article, "New York Times reporter James Risen uses the anecdote to illustrate how the CIA ignored information that Iraq no longer had weapons of mass destruction.
On leakers and the MSM -- [Macsmind - News, Conservative Commentary and Common Sense]
"Every journalist who is not too stupid or full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible. He is a kind of confidence man, preying on people's vanity, ignorance, or loneliness, gaining their trust and betraying them without remorse.
--Janet Malcolm, The Journalist and the Murderer, 1990"
AJ Strata is drumming up support to possible throw a little class action on the MSM because of all the recent "leak reporting", specifically by papers such as the NY Times and Washington Post.
MSM Asshat: Kevin Sites – Part 2 -- [JammedGun]
...The latest offering by Mr. Sites, is nothing less than a "puff piece" for one of the most vicious terrorist organizations on the face of the globe: "Hezbollah." But, leave it to Mr. Sites to give Hezbollah a much-needed "face lift" for Yahoo's reading public -- a facelift, which (to read from the comments posted on the site) seems to have been swallowed hook, line, and sinker by many uninformed and gullible readers around the world. (Not all those posting comments are fooled, however.)
U.S. curbs soldiers' blogs -- (Newsday.com)
Letters home filled with tales of death and danger, bravery and boredom are a wartime certainty.
And now, as hundreds of soldiers overseas have started keeping Internet journals about the heat, the homesickness, the bloodshed, word speeds from the battlefront faster than ever.
More and more, though, U.S. military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan are clamping down on these military Web logs, known as milblogs.
Happy New Year from The BERRY BUNCH! -- [RustyBerry.com - husband home from Iraq]
We have some very good news, Rusty is home.He was able to get an earlier flight than planned. What a great way to start the New Year.He will have a few more days at the base then he will be home for good! It's hard to believe it's been eighteen months. We want to thank everybody for your support.
Our Soldier is HOME! -- [Two Blue Lines]
My Soldier is home from Iraq!! He got home last night and it is so wonderful to have him home again. I have posted pics below. He has had his first hot plate of homemade spaghetti with the kids all around asking questions about the incredible DVD collection he has amassed during his travels overseas. He got a chance to hold Annabelle for the first time and even actually changed a dirty diaper (yes, we took pictures!). He finally filled the void space that has been next to me in the bed for the last 18 months. I am not giving details there…… but I am smiling really BIG!
Welcome Home, RAOC! -- [The Ammo Crate]
The 151st Rear Area Operations Center (RAOC), in Iraq for the last 11 months, retuned home to Montevideo, MN on Friday night much to the delight of hundreds of friends and family members throughout Minnesota.
Home for a Holiday! -- [Combat Medic - home on R&R from Iraq]
R & R, and what a feeling it brings...
...The old days of the *spoils of war* or taking back a trophy are now history! Today if you want to take back something tangible to remind you of t he year of your life you dedicated to Iraq you have to buy it at a bazaar or a U.S. owned, Iraqi run *gift shop* that is on almost every post. Luckily, I escaped with my tin sign that I brought back for my mom, who collects them. After making sure I had no weapons, ammunition, cats, small children, palm trees, RPG’s, naked lady pictures or WMD’s, I was finally allowed to go through customs and wait 8 hours until the bus came to bring me to the airport, where freedom was within my grasp!
Dénouement -- [Medicine Soldier - home from Iraq]
...Meanwhile at the demobilization station, we were ready to receive over 1,500 soldiers before the holidays and try to process them before the holiday shutdown. We made frequent trips to Gulfport to receive the units coming home. We tried hard to vigorously and enthusiastically greet every single soldier coming off the planes. Although it was great to see everyone home and look for people I had not seen since early in the deployment or worked more closely with, it was almost like the end of Return of the King with the continuing endings. Our fellowship was over four thousand and after greeting the first couple hundred, or when it was the fourth consecutive plane in 24 hours of no sleep, it was hard to smile and welcome these guys and girls home. Still, everyone did their part and deserved a warm welcome home.
The Polish Are Staying!! -- [My Turn - in Iraq]
The Polish should be anyways, staying here at Echo. This is good news as they practically run the show here and I don't really want to go anywhere else. I enjoy how things are here, go to work, come back to the room, go on the internet, go lift weights... crazy cycle but it works. Besides, it gives me plenty of time to dream about my future and what I can do to make it actually happen.
(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.)
Little Girl and a Landmine -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported that a little girl was sitting in the road and she just wouldn't budge.
...I soon saw her sitting there, and in her arms was a little toy bear that we had given her a few patrols back. Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop. The rest of the convoy paused, and I got out to make sure she was okay. The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed.
There was a land mine in the road.
65 Years Ago... -- [Strategy Page]
January 1, 2006: Sixty-five years ago, U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt called for the people of the world to have “Four Freedoms” (from fear and want, along with freedom of speech and worship want). The war on terror is making it clear that the Islamic world is desperately in need of the “Four Freedoms.” Iraq is a vivid example, if only because 150,000 American troops are fighting to bring the Four Freedoms to this corner of the world.
Friday, December 30, 2005 -- [Gozar the Traveler - in Iraq]
...The most pressing questions the kids had were, "Where have you been?" and "When are you leaving for America?" I told the kids that this would be my last visit, and I was flying back to America very soon. Apparently they considered that the wrong answer. They yelled "No! America no good! You stay here!" Elmo and her sister Irjoey told me, "Father and mother say 'Joey no leave to America. He stay here.'" I took that to mean that they were sad to hear that I was leaving also.
HAPPY NEW YEARS FROM IRAQ! -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
BANG…..BANG BANG BANG!!...........Its 0001 Jan 1st 2006!!!! (eastern standadrd time + 8hrs)
Plan “B” - Things have been very busy here as we have been continuing to take the fight to Haji. You can’t stop the clock not even on New Years and so time continues to tick away at our fun filled adventure here in Iraq.
Bombs over Baghdad -- [Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Today there seems to be a great deal of insurgent activity. Explosions and gunfire were the heralds of the New Year here in Baghdad. The gunfire was mostly celebratory, but the explosions hardly were. I was awakened by more explosions. I don’t really react anymore, other than to note mentally or verbally how close and what type I think the explosion was. Mortar or bomb? 100 yards? 1,000 yards? None of it really seems relevant to me, because I have a job to do, and the bomb or mortar hasn’t disabled my ability to do it.
New Year's Eve Fireworks -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
I finally got a chance to leave the wire on a mission last night. I was sent with an engineer squad on an IED hunting mission. They did their normal thing and I rode along collecting my reconnaissance intel for later analysis. We were supposed to leave at 1030 but when I arrived at my company, I found out they had delayed the departure until 1400. About 1/2 hour later, it was changed again to 1600, so I returned to my trailer and slept a little (I had a tough time getting to sleep the night before). We reassembled around 1430 and I set up my equipment and got ready. I was in the backseat of a crowded humvee. 4 seats full and the topgunner, who rides half sitting in a strap, and half standing through a hole in the roof where his .240 machine gun was mounted. There was also another humvee, 2 RG31s, which look like range rovers on steroids, and the main IED investigating vehicle: a buffalo, which is a massive beast of a truck that has a long hydrolic arm that is used to poke and prod suspicious objects, and a body that is designed to withstand powerful blasts. We rolled out just about 1600.
An interesting night -- [Intel Dump - Phillip Carter - in Iraq]
IRAQ -- New Year's Eve was quite tranquil over here. We worked through the day, had a decent dinner, lifted some weights, worked some more, and then went to sleep. I expected that something might happen, so I arranged my boots and gear next to my bed in case I had to wake up in a hurry. But fortunately, nothing happened, and I was able to sleep through the night.
Happy New Year -- [My Days at Division - in Iraq]
Happy New Year everyone! It's been a long year and I am glad to see it come to a close. That means my time here in Iraq is waning; not sad about that either.
However, I don't regret one single day I've spent here on this noble errand. We are winning this war. I'll say that again, WE ARE WINNING THIS WAR. ...
Bringing in the New Year, Enshalah! -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
Happy New Year to one and all! A couple of insurgents did their level best to help us bring in the New Year last evening by launching a salvo of rockets at the base. Nary a scratch was suffered by anyone here on the receiving end of this small bit of indirect fire. Enshalah!
Sunday, January 01, 2006 -- [Chairborne Stranger - in Iraq]
Attacks on the camp started back up again--great way to start the New Year! We got hit by mortars and rockets today, I suppose this is a fitting way to start 2006. No injuries at least. We hadn't received any of these in the last couple of months, after we took care of the last group of people doing this.
Happy New Year! -- [Chris Whong - in Iraq]
I inadvertantly set our departure time last night to 2400 (or 0000) without knowing at all what day it was, specifically that it was December 31st.
I realized about 45 minutes before we left that it was new year’s eve… this was due to the little “concert” that was going on, that we could not attend because we were prep-ing our vehicles. I heard some music and saw some fires and wondered “what’s the occasion?” Ohhhhhhhh… new years.
Mortality Strikes -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
...The walk to the chow hall is a short one across wide open spaces, and at one point you pass the dirt softball field. Maj X was making his daily walk, most likely thinking of food (well, more than likely he was working out some algorithm in his head or contemplating the environment variables of a Linux operating system as opposed to a Window’s one … open source.. man … why couldn’t the Army go Linux?... my life would be so much simpler … or wondering where best to place his new satellite modem or whether his wife receive the IPOD nano he ordered her for Christmas) and lost in his own thoughts.
In an instant, the unspeakable happened. He heard a loud WHOOOSH, and the next thing he knew...
It's Called Commitment -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
I suppose there is a time where every warfighter is afraid. The soldier storming the beach at Normandy, the trooper crawling into a tunnel in the jungles of Vietnam, the Marine patroling the streets of Iraq...fear on the battlefield is nothing new. And truth be told, I am certain that I am not the only one who has, at one time or another, been afraid over here. But I want to share with you something that America knows of her Marines, but is sometimes at best taken for granted and at worst forgotten alltogether; the commitment of your Marines when faced with fear.
...America, your Marines will not stop taking this fight to the enemies of our country. I wish that everyone could see just a fraction of what I see here everyday. I wish that you could hear the conversations between Marines that I hear. For if you did, you would understand why we are going to win this war...
My New Years Eve -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
So I've said before that holidays here are milestones more than holidays. New Years Eve was uh... well... anti-climactic to say the least. I was driving with my squad to go get a hot meal before I head to work (like we do every night) around 11:45 pm and we got stuck behind a convoy of trucks. After waiting for a bit, I am about to get out and clear my weapons and the clearing barrels when I look at my watch and say to my team leader, "Hey, it's 12:03." He glances at me and says, "Yep."
That was it.
Another chapter closed -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
...I have been in Iraq now since June and I have seen quite a bit of shit. I have had the opportunity to go through an IED incident and actually take a piece of shrapnel to my nose. I am a lucky bastard because it didnt do any real damage, besides you cant make this mug any uglier. I have been through a few mortar and rocket attacks and let me tell you, these insurgents have the worst aim. I have already gone on my leave for my tour in October. It is then, after only 10 short months of dating that I proposed to Kristen when we had our "Christmas in October" with our families. I was nervous but I got through it. And to my delight and surprise she said yes. The wedding is planned for May of 2007.
If This is "Propaganda"... -- [TBone's War Journal]
...I'll take another helping please.
"The gangster jihadis who call themselves “Al-Qaida Organization in the Land of Two Rivers,” the “Islamic Army in Iraq” or the “Victorious Sect” posted multiple press releases to the internet in which they bragged about targeting and killing men of the Iraqi security forces. By killing those charged with security, these jihadists menace the lifeline of the community – its trade routes – and make the people afraid to use the roads, forcing them to rely on foreign armies for protection. But these transgressions upon the community were not enough for this week’s crime spree. In retaliation for the betrayal by the “guides to Hell, the pseudo-Sunnis,” the jihadists deliberately murdered families at a wedding feast, to include the fathers of the bride and groom. ...
...This was written by Iraqis for Iraqis; not by Americans.
IED Roll-Up #9 (Happy New Year) --
...Before going into my IED Roll-Up, here is a look at some of the equipment delivered to Iraqi Security Forces in 2005... -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
...Okay, this one is a little late, but here’s the last IED Roll-Up of 2005 (even though it’s already 2006). For those new to the site, this is where I take all the caches and weapons discovered by coalition and Iraqi Forces that would have been used as IEDs, killing innocent civilians and soldiers. This is a story of success:
'Army Water' Makes Debut in Balad, Baghdad -- {Defense Link}
BALAD, Iraq, Dec. 29, 2005 – You can call it "Army water" or "No-name water," but whatever you call it, servicemembers here will stay hydrated while keeping soldiers and civilian truckers safer.
Bottled water is a mainstay of life in this theater, and the 3rd Corps Support Command has opened a water purification and bottling plant at the massive logistical area here.
A Year Ago, Today...In Iraq -- [They Call Us, "Doc"]
Fri, 31 Dec 2004 17:31
Saddam's government kept he and his family, along with thousands of other Iranian refugees, in a "camp." They were told that they could not leave the "camp" and if they were ever caught outside the gates, they would be jailed. He is 19 years old now, has lived in Iraq all of his life and before the country was liberated he had only ever seen two cities during that entire time.
He thanked me for what we are doing here. He said that so much, "bad has been stopped," by us being here.
Single Digit Midget -- [Major K - in Iraq]
Time for redeplyment is gettting close, real close. I am busy transitioning with my replacement, and the new LAN is slower than the old one, with more people trying to use it because of the changeover. I will keep this short.
Bush Awards 9 Purple Hearts to U.S. Troops -- (AP)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- President Bush began the new year on Sunday at the bedsides of wounded servicemen and women, and awarded nine Purple Hearts to U.S. troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan....
Bush starts New Year with visit to wounded troops -- (Reuters)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - U.S. President George W. Bush started the New Year on Sunday by visiting wounded troops, mostly from the Iraq war, who are receiving care
Man 'frightened off' paying Hassan ransom -- (The Australian)
A MILLIONAIRE who wanted to pay a ransom for the release of Margaret Hassan, the British aid worker kidnapped in Iraq and later murdered, was allegedly intimidated into d...
New year in Iraq shaken by 13 bombings -- (Denver Post)
Baghdad, Iraq - Militants blew up 13 cars in three hours Sunday, injuring at least 20 people, while 13 Iraqis were killed in other violence that fed the turmoil following last month's contested parlia...
U.S. Has End in Sight on Iraq Rebuilding -- (Washington Post)
BAGHDAD -- The Bush administration does not intend to seek any new funds for Iraq reconstruction in the budget request going before Congress in February, officials say. The decision signals the winding down of an $18.4 billion U.S. rebuilding effort in which roughly half of the money was eaten away by the insurgency, a buildup of Iraq's criminal justice system and the investigation and trial of Saddam Hussein.
Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile -- (Telegraph)...Toby Harnden in Ramadi
Gazing through the telescopic sight of his M24 rifle, Staff Sgt Jim Gilliland, leader of Shadow sniper team, fixed his eye on the Iraqi insurgent who had just killed an American soldier.
Iraq's Kurdish President, Shiite PM Meet -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A suicide car bomber targeted police recruits riding in a bus north of Baghdad on Monday, killing seven people, and gunmen in the capital killed five laborers, police said. Iraq's Kurdish president met with the Shiite prime minister in northern Iraq for talks on the formation of the country's next government....
5 Police Recruits Killed by Suicide Bomber -- *(AP)
DIYALA, Iraq (AP) -- Five police recruits were killed Monday after a suicide car bomb slammed into the bus they were traveling in, police said. Thirteen people were wounded....
Florida Teen Home After Iraq Adventure --(AP)
MIAMI (AP) -- Inspired by a high school journalism class, Farris Hassan journeyed to the Middle East so he could immerse himself in the lives of Iraqi citizens....
A-10 Impact in Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
January 1, 2006: In Afghanistan, one of the most effective aircraft weapons has been the 30mm automatic cannon carried by the A-10 aircraft. Stationed outside of Kabul, the A-10s average about 18 sorties (each nearly four hours long) a day. Several times a month, an A-10 will be called on to apply some precision firepower with it’s 30mm cannon. For these missions, high-explosive/incendiary rounds are used. Pilots are very accurate with the cannon, and it is the preferred weapon when the bad guys are operating close to civilians.
Christmas in Afghanistan -- [Marine Corps Moms]
Happy New Year - we're still wrapped in Christmas spirit here, and this commentary by Air Force Staff Sgt. Jess Harvey will have you smiling too.
Happy New Year 2006!!! -- [Afghan Lord Afghani in Afghanistan]
Hope you and your family a year full of luck!!!!
Happiness for all human all over the world, including Karzai (of mine) Bler, Bush and Osama :) :) :)
And good future for Iraq people. A good success for U.S.A to promote their democracy in Afghanistan and the world.
Peace and Love for Afghanistan my injustice land and down with Terrorist.
Good Ridance, 2005 -- [Miserable Donuts]
However, it wasn't completely without some very interesting moments, and some good things happening. As far as this blog is concerned, all you are going to get is half a year o' highlights, since I didn't start blogging until May. Until April, I was the Instapundit's Afghanistan Correspondent.
Everyone seemed to like this -- [Signaleer]
...me, the wife, the dog, both cats.....
Mourgh (Afghan Chicken)
Long, slow marinating in garlicky yogurt tenderizes, moistens and adds deep flavor, so you end up with skinless grilled chicken that's as delicious as it is nutritionally correct. Serve with Afghan Naan (below) and fresh yogurt.
Snowflakes and asylum seekers -- [Misadventures of a Not-So-Intrepid Explorer - in Afghanistan]
...Tis an interesting time of the year. Most of our field offices have closed due to snow and ice. So we have field-based colleagues come into the Kabul office. Many are surprised to see that I don't wear hijab in Kabul. Our gentlemanly Badakhshani agronomist did not know where to avert his eyes to when he saw me in my shameless state. Heh. I'm so badass.
A new Afghan man has joined our organisation. Hearing my accent, he asks me where I am from. Australia, I say.
AFGHANISTAN: SUICIDE BOMBER KILLED IN KANDAHAR ATTACK -- AKI)
Kabul, 2 Jan. (AKI) - A suicide bomber was killed when the car he was driving exploded into a convoy of foreign soldiers in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Monday. The head of the police in the province, Abdul Hakim, confirmed the death as well as those of two civilians according to a report by the Xinhua news agency. Other reports say that there were no casualties among the foreign troops.
Blast heard near foreign forces in Afghan south -- (Reuters)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Jan 2 - An explosion was heard near a convoy of U.S.-led foreign troops in southern Afghanistan on Monday, but it was not clear what caused the blast or whether there ...
Celebrating New Years -- [Incoherant Ramblings - in Kosovo]
Well, this wouldn't be a proper New Years post without me telling everyone all about my New Years, right?
Oh yes, it was one of those novel things I can tell people about years from not.
I was on Guard Duty. I will not explain the circumstances of what I was guarding or what not, but Guard Duty came and me and my battle buddy ordered pizza and watched the Kosovars celebrate with Fire Works. And Tracer rounds. I think a few people shot up flare guns.
We watched from the distance and observed. It was a quiet moment.
UN envoy says Kosovo status to be based on "desire of majority" -- [KOSOVAREPORT]
..."We are at the end of one momentous year for Kosova and the beginning of another. The past twelve months, like every year, have had their ups and their downs - their triumphs and their tragedies. But they have ended on a high with the opening of the process to determine the status of Kosova. The coming year will more likely see the end of that process," Jessen Petersen stated.
Saturday, December 31, 2005 -- [JununAD1 - in Dji Bouti, Africa]
Well happy new years... I stayed at the cantina til about 12:15... new years came and by this year and you know what it didn't make a difference...
I looked at the last two new years and how they were life changing... two years ago today I decided to join the Marines....
a year ago today I started going out with the most amazing girl I had ever met...
and today I find myself stuck in Africa... without the most amazing girl that I had ever met... but still with the marine corps...
I left all the other marines at the cantina... cause I just couldnt have a good time tonight and I didn't wanna ruin their new years...
So 2006, how is this year going to be different then any other... I have only one resolution this year and that is to make sure that I come home safely.
Iran: Really Stupid -- [Tanker Brothers]
Once again, Iran has stuck it's collective foot in its collective mouth. Will these guys ever learn?
Haji Mohammed's Cabin -- [Right-Wing of the Gods - NEW MILBLOG RING MEMBER!]
Katrina inspires Iranian director to stage “Uncle Tom's Cabin”
A Special New Year's Message From North Korea -- [GI Korea Blog - in S Korea]
Does anyone think North Korea would issue a New Year's message wishing for peace and happiness for the upcoming New Year? Of course not.Instead North Korea released a New Year's message threatening war and demanding the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea:
IRAN: AYATOLLAH ISSUES FATWA AGAINST SUICIDE ATTACKS -- (AKI)
Tehran, 2 Jan. (AKI) - A fatwa or religious edit has been issued against suicide attacks in Iran by Ayatollah Ozma Seyyed Yousef Sanei, one of the highest Shiite authorities. When asked about the suicide attacks that were carried out on the London transport system on 7 July last year in which 52 people were killed as well as the four suicide bombers, the grand ayatollah Sanei said that suicide attacks were "legitimate" only in the case of war.
'US planning strike against Iran' -- (Jerusalem Post) HT: Drudge
The United States government reportedly began coordinating with NATO its plans for a possible military attack against Iran.
The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel collected various reports from the German media indicating that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are examining the prospects of such a strike.
Putin sends a shiver through Europe -- (Telegraph)
Russia took Europe to the brink of a winter energy crisis yesterday when it carried out a Cold War-style threat and halted gas deliveries to Ukraine, the main conduit for exports to the West.
Strong Quake Registered in South Atlantic -- (AP)
TOKYO (AP) -- A strong earthquake struck Monday off the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, but there were no reports of injuries or a tsunami. News of the quake prompted thousands of residents along the coast of Sri Lanka - thousands of miles away - to flee inland, officials said....
Monday's Winds of War: 2 Jan 2006 -- [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.
Where is Osama bin Laden? -- [US Neverdock]
...The idea that bin Laden is not communicating so as not to get caught doesn't wash. He could still make a video tape and have it delivered by hand to al Jazeera. Unless he is dead or being hounded so relentlessly that he doesn't dare take time out to make one.
A Chilling Final Threat from Abu Musab al-Suri: "O' Sleeper Cells, Wake Up Now!" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Abu al-Tawab al-Shami--the official spokesman of most wanted Al-Qaida terrorist training camp manager Abu Musab al-Suri (a.k.a. Omar Abdel Hakim, Mustafa Setmariam Nasar)--has confirmed the latter's capture by coalition forces sometime in September 2005. Abu al-Tawab has also made available a final audio message from Abu Musab al-Suri responding to the July 2005 London bombings. During the recording, Abu Musab adamantly denied having played any significant role in the 1995 Paris Metro bombings, the March 2004 Madrid commuter train bombings, nor the most recent London attacks--but conceded to having specifically trained American and British nationals at Al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan to carry out catastrophic terrorist strikes. He further admitted:
DOJ Should Appoint Patrick Fitzgerald to Investigate Two Leaks of Classified Information -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Justice Department is initiating a second investigation into the leak of classified, terrorism-related information to a news source, this time over the NSA intercept program as initially divulged by the New York Times. DOJ already initiated an investigation into the leak of classified information about a network of secret CIA prisons for suspected terrorists. The disclosures alone could be extremely damaging to the pursuit of terrorists, compromising sensitive sources and methods of investigation without a substantial benefit. DOJ should appoint a special investigator who knows the legal issues surrounding the release of classified information, has an outstanding track record in terrorism investigations, and is respected for his objectivity and integrity.
Hard Times in the Heartland -- [Strategy Page]
December 30, 2005: In the two countries that Islamic terrorism was born in, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the terrorists are taking a beating. This is good news that doesn't get much attention, but it says much about the future of Islamic terrorism. In Egypt, the majority of the population continues to be turned off by the seemingly random violence of Islamic terrorists. The radical groups continue to survive, partly because of the fact that Palestinian Islamic terrorist groups thrive right next door in Gaza.
Iraq Report, 2 January/06 -- [Winds of Change - Joel Gaines]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. This briefing is brought to you by Joel Gaines of No Pundit Intended and Andrew Olmsted of Andrew Olmsted dot com.
Al Qaeda's Growing Air Force -- [Strategy Page]
December 29, 2005: Terrorists and rebels the world over have embraced the radio-controlled aircraft hobby. Over the past few years, hobbyists have used off the shelf vidcams and transmitters, mounted on large radio-controlled aircraft, to build their own UAVs. Even American troops have done this, when there was a shortage of official issue UAVs for them.
Alleged al-Qaida Aide Said to Fake Death -- (AP)
ISTANBUL, Turkey - An alleged al-Qaida operative accused of serving as a key link between the group's leaders and suicide bombers hid his tracks so well that even fellow militants thought he was dead. Loa'i Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa, wanted by Turkey for 2003 bombings in Istanbul that killed 58 people, is said to have eluded intelligence services by using an array of fake IDs, employing aliases even with his al-Qaida contacts and finally faking his death in Fallujah, Iraq, in late 2004.
Bush Defends Spy Program and Denies Misleading Public -- (New York Times)...ERIC LICHTBLAU
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 - President Bush continued on Sunday to defend both the legality and the necessity of the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping program, and he denied that he misled the public last year when he insisted that any government wiretap required a court order.
Bush Calls Domestic Spy Program 'Limited' -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is standing firmly behind his domestic spying program, saying his decision to let the intelligence community listen in on phone calls Americans have with suspected terrorists is lawful and does not result in widespread domestic eavesdropping....
CIA 'needs to rebuild service' -- (The Australian)
A FORMER CIA counterterrorism officer who tracked Osama bin Laden through the mountains of Afghanistan says the US spy agency could need a decade to build up its clandestine service for the US war on ...
Good Morning, 2006 -- [The American Spectator]...Ben Stein
...BUT WHAT JUST OCCURRED to me today, December 29, 2005, is that none of this, absolutely none, not one bit of it, would have been possible without the men and women of the Armed Forces. While I was busy being born (and not dying), men and women were getting blown to pieces by German 88's and Japanese mortars to win the big one. While I was growing up, our freedom was saved by the Strategic Air Command ("Peace is our Profession") and by men and women patrolling in the Arctic Circle. While I was in elementary school, my cousin Joe and my uncle Bob were fighting and fine men and women were dying at Cho-Sin Reservoir.
End of the Year at Walter Reed -- [Gunn Nutt]
2006 may see the end of the weekly commie "vigils" outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The increase in police activity over the past few weeks has prompted speculation among the FReepers that CodePink is looking for a face-saving way to end their blood dance by getting the permits for both sides revoked.
Once again, someone called D.C.'s finest complaining about "the noise", but our permit actually allows us to use megaphones (which we have not used...yet)
Soldiers' Angels Mourns SPC Peter Navarro and SPC Aaron Forbes
"One can not fathom the enormity of emotions running through the family and friends of these brave soldiers. We can only hope when these horrifying times become history pages that it was all for something. That the world is a more peaceful place and these deaths praised for the heroism it was. To die in a strange land with hatred and viciousness makes this all the more daunting and hard to stay the course. If we break now though it will have been for naught. We reach out to the loved ones of the slain and with hope and faith holds them in our hearts forvever."
A TEEN'S RESPONSE TO A MOONBAT CARTOONIST -- [Michelle Malkin]
In October, Atlanta Journal Constitution's left-wing cartoonist Mike Luckovich used the names of the fallen in Iraq to create this anti-war image touted by moonbats:
Madeleine Albright: Bush Talks 'Victory' Too Much -- [Let Freedom Ring Throughout the World]
Is that the most boneheaded thing you've heard in ages or what? Would she prefer he talked about beating a hasty retreat instead? Actually, Ms. Albright said something even more outrageous in her podcast on the DNC homepage:
"They clearly had some kind of a new pollster in the White House tell them that the word 'victory' had to be repeated endlessly," Albright griped.
Succinct, Coherent and Correct -- [Andi's World]
I don't know David James, but I do know that he has succinctly and coherently exposed the anti-war movement for what it is - a band of Bush-hating, anti-American groups who are undoubtedly rooting for an American defeat in Iraq.
Sen. John Kerry Keeps 2008 Options Open -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's almost as if Sen. John Kerry never stopped running for president. He still jets across the country, raising millions of dollars and rallying Democrats. He still stalks the TV news show circuit, scolding President Bush at every turn....
The Hillary-Condi avalanche -- (TRIBUNE-REVIEW)...Salena Zito
Curb your enthusiasm and fasten your seat belts; today marks the first day of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid.
This is a moment of glee in many camps. Others are observing a moment of silence with a primal scream quickly to follow.
Checking the pulse on Moore's 'Sicko' -- (Variety.com) - HT: Drudge
Where in the world is Michael MooreMichael Moore?
This time last year, word was that the incendiary auteur behind "Fahrenheit 9/11" had the country's top pharmaceutical companies looking over their shoulders in anticipation of "Sicko," his look at the American healthcare industry.
NY Times's Ombudsman: Explanation of decision to report NSA program was "woefully inadequate" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Today's New York Times includes a column by Brian Calume, the "public editor" (basically an ombudsman), tited, "Behind the Eavesdropping Story, a Loud Silence," in which he complains about lack of cooperation by NYT management in answering his questions on the decision to disclose the NSA intercept program. Last week, my colleague Evan Kohlmann termed the administration's execution of the program "arrogant and bumbling." In light of Mr. Calame's column, those terms might be equally applicable to the NYT's reporting decision. See selected excerpts of the column below:
Dis-Strib-Ute -- [Peace like a River]
In the Sunday paper today, the Star Tribune provided its customers yet another fair, balanced, informative look at the situation in Iraq. (I know a sarcastic tone of voice doesn't translate well in this medium, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit.)
Now, in fairness to the Strib, the article is from the Associated Press. (Are we sure AP doesn't stand for Against Progress? All Putrid?) Still, I doubt the Strib just took the article off the wires and blindly threw it unread into the paper.
Sunset near Ad Diwaniyah -- [Iraq Calling - in Iraq]
I continue to be baffled by the media coverage of Iraq and the US government's inability to break through in getting the message out that the juggernaut of progress is moving in Iraq. The media is a strategic battleground and the target is primarily the American public. The insurgents still believe that they can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with the right mix of made for TV bombings and killings. That is their strategic focus, not to hold any significant piece of territory or gain public support for their cause. They believe the fulcrum is American public opinion. If they can just keep up the metrics like number of attacks per day or number of "collaborators" killed, the Americans will pack up and go home. On a parallel track they seek to slow rebuilding and any deviation from their plan for Iraq. The average Iraqi may be unhappy with American soldiers on the street but they suffer as a direct result of insurgent violence and sabotage of the economy.
ABC and CBS Revive Fears of Impending “Civil War” in Iraq -- [NewsBusters]
Interviewing General Peter Pace, from Iraq, on Sunday’s This Week, fill-in host Terry Moran pressed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "One of the concerns that people have right now, post-election, is that it's one thing in a democracy to learn how to vote, it's another to learn how to lose. Are you concerned at all, and is the United States prepared, for the potential of a civil war?" Pace assured Moran that is unlikely. Later in the day, on the CBS Evening News, after Kelly Cobiella reported from Iraq on Sunni dissatisfaction with the election results, anchor John Roberts put “civil war” into play: “Are we seeing the very first signs of a potential civil war here?"
AP notices Sakra --[Winds of Change]
I see that this story on Louai Sakra (Loa'i Saqra) and his importance within al-Qaeda is finally making some serious rounds in English press, though I noted it back in August when he was captured....
US - NYT Editor Slams Own Paper -- [US NeverDock]
Glad to see someone at the New York Times speaking out.
THE New York Times's explanation of its decision to report, after what it said was a one-year delay, that the National Security Agency is eavesdropping domestically without court-approved warrants was woefully inadequate. And I have had unusual difficulty getting a better explanation for readers, despite the paper's repeated pledges of greater transparency.
On leakers and the press ... [CounterColumn]
I think the public has an interest in prosecuting leakers, but no particular interest in prosecuting reporters who report what the leakers tell them.
There's a difference, I think, between a journalist reporting information, even if that information is classified, and someone with a security clearance, in the employ of the people, who has been specifically entrusted to safeguard classified information, and who violates that trust by leaking it - whatever the motive.
The LA Times, considered -- [CounterColumn]
Don't miss Patterico's list of egregious LA Times errors, misreportings, deliberate omissions, and distortions for 2005. It is truly damning.
Media as a 5th Column ... -- [CounterColumn]
KROM is a Spanish-language radio station in San Antonio Texas. Lately, they've been taking calls from listeners tipping them off about the movements of U.S. Border Patrol officers as they do their jobs, and broadcasting the information, warning illegals to stay away.
That crap needs to stop.
Behind the Eavesdropping Story, a Loud Silence -- (New York Times)
THE New York Times's explanation of its decision to report, after what it said was a one-year delay, that the National Security Agency is eavesdropping domestically without court-approved warrants was woefully inadequate. And I have had unusual difficulty getting a better explanation for readers, despite the paper's repeated pledges of greater transparency.
For the first time since I became public editor, the executive editor and the publisher have declined to respond to my requests for information about news-related decision-making. My queries concerned the timing of the exclusive Dec. 16 article about President Bush's secret decision in the months after 9/11 to authorize the warrantless eavesdropping on Americans in the United States.
Muslim Scholars Were Paid to Aid U.S. Propaganda -- (New York Times)... DAVID S. CLOUD and JEFF GERTH
A Pentagon contractor that planted G.I. news stories also paid Sunnis in Iraq in return for assistance with its propaganda
Giving the ultimage view from inside -- (Newsday.com)...JOSEPH MALLIA
It is sometimes said that journalism is the first draft of history. Milblogs, now, are the first draft of war.
Among thousands of pages on blackfive.net, mudvillegazette.com and milblogging.com are glimpses of the intensity of war and the desire to write about it, in real time.
"War makes us want to share our stories, and that's true whether it's letters sent during the Civil War, or the e-mails or blogs of today," said Jon Peede, director of Operation Homecoming, a National Endowment for the Arts program that gathers blogs, memoirs and letters written by troops overseas.
Winners: 2005 Milbloggies -- [MilBlogging.com]
It’s been three months since Milblogging.com debuted. 1,067 military blogs, 22 countries, 1,072 registered members, a plug on Rush Limbaugh, one action movie, and four hundred cases of Red Bull Engery Drink later, today, I’m proud to announce the winners of the 2005 MILBLOGGIES --- winners of the best military blogs on the internet. [More on the Winning banners, finalists (scroll to the bottom of this entry to view), and upcoming buzz to follow this week].
MCMLXXIII -- [Resurgemus - in Alaska]
I turned 32 today. One of the outstanding young Airmen on the shift brought in some homemade carrot cake last night. Delicious.
GUESS WHAT!? -- [Greg Notes - home from Iraq]
I AM HOME!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!! GOT HERE TODAY!!!!!! HAPPY DANCE………
So long Iraq.......... -- [Sandboxmedic - home from Iraq]
...Well like the title says I’ve left Iraq. It was getting time to move on and try something different plus I needed to get registered for classes anyways. I’m going to miss the paycheck and some of the people but overall I’m glad to be back. I owe Jean a huge thanks too for getting me back in such a timely manner- thanks!
I’m Baaack! -- [stardotstar.org - home from Iraq]
Sorry for the big delay in posting. I made it back as scheduled on the 19th of Dec. The reunion ceremony was short, which I was glad for. I quickly found Mel who was coming towards me with a kid under each arm. It was great to get a warm hug and kiss from her and the boys. The boys were a little wierded out by the 100+ men in uniform and all the chaos. Once we got home, they seemed pretty happy to have me home.
Home -- [Steven Kiel - home from Iraq]
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.)
