Dawn Patrol

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

We Are All Misinformed! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
You guys always said you don’t get all the news from Iraq. And I always agreed with you!
...I told my friends yesterday that the terrorists played it wrong. if they want to provoke a civil war, they should attack shrines of Sunni Imams, because that would upset more Sunnis than Shiites, not like yesterday. Yesterday, the attack upset and angered Sunnis and Shiites equally.]
Here are some information,which, for whatever reason, you don’t get in your news about the bombing:
...I was amazed how only the provocative and civil-war-style quotes were published today in the newspapers. Almost no newspaper showed how great, it appeared to us, the solidarity among Iraqis was yesterday. It is true that Sunni mosques were attacked by unknown men yesterday, and some Sunnis were killed. But that wasn’t the only thing happened as a reaction. Newspapers should have been neutral, as we were taught, and show both sides. Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, Arabs, Christians, Sabians, Turkumans, and others publicly condemned the attack, but no one wanted to show the truth.

Sadr's peace. -- [Free Iraqi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...I'm not aware of any Iraqi outside those gangs and militias who keep mortars in their homes. This happened while clowns from both the Sadr trend and the Association of Sunni Scholars were signing an honor agreement that prohibits Iraqis from fighting each other. But why am I surprised! They are actually prohibiting Iraqis, average people, from killing each other but they are not prohibiting their own militias from killing Iraqis!
Why are they faking this and what do they want from it? I'm not sure, but one thought is that this behavior is typical of all ME dictators. They start the killing and the chaos and then they blame it on the people. They show themselves in public as the peacemakers and then continue to pursue their crimes in the dark. These are not ideological fighters. They're opportunists and hypocrites who seek the help of criminals and thugs and still present themselves as religious and patriotic people, mimicking dictators to a great extent.

The wicked warmongers -- [IraqPundit - an Iraqi in exile]
...The New York Times also has a story speculating on what a civil war might lead to in the region. This guy's ideal dream of a spreading civil war is so detailed that it includes ethnic cleansing:
...Why do these reporters want to see a civil war so badly in Iraq? It looks to me that they hate Bush so much that they will stop at nothing to prove that he's wrong about Iraq and they are right. The reporters have sunk so low as to take this cheap angle of insisting that an all out civil war has been underway for three years. When will they wake up and realize that this is not a White House scandal. This is about Iraq and its people.

Is Iraq on a civil war? -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Civil war is going on now but on a scale less than that which was planned by the known and unknown groups and forces.
The responsibility for what is going on now is not only on Al-Qaeda and its supporters among some of the political parties but all the other parties bear responsibility because of their failure to form the government. The recent unprecedented and biased statements of the US ambassador in Baghdad (Z. K. Zada) were of great push for the terrorists to commit their acts. These statements were condemned by many Iraqi writers and Intelligent as they are based on a sectarian attitude. We feel that ZKZ is a better Ambassador in Kabul. Iraq needs a healer not a high commissioner.

A rare interview with Abo-Hafsa Alansari -- [Hammorabi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Alwatan alarabi magazine (London) published an interview with Abohafsa claimed to be one of Zarqawi deputies.
He stated that their Qaeda group in Iraq has the ability to recruit into Iraq one million fighters. He explained that this number can be introduced from everywhere along the borders which are all open for them!
He told that they are very well funded financially from the oil Gulf States and their Arab big companies and investors which is another reason keeping their operation inside Iraq.

The shrine crisis…words that need to be said. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
... it seems there are also some positive outcomes from this incident and its aftermath; the first one in my opinion was the performance of the Iraqi army which had a good role in restoring order in many places. Actually the past few days showed that our new army is more competent than we were thinking.
But the latest events have also showed the brittle structure of the interior ministry and its forces that retreated before the march of the angry mobs (if not joined them in some cases) and I think the statements that came from the meetings of our politicians pointed this out so clearly when Sunni politicians said they wanted the army to replace the police and police commandos in their regions and this indicates growing trust between the people and the army.

The Event in Pictures\Curfew in Iraq after Mosques Attacks -- [Photos From Iraq - an Iraqi in Iraq]
(pics)

William F. Buckley says we have lost -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Columnist William F. Buckley says the war in Iraq is lost:
If the war is indeed lost, then I’d like to know what he proposes we do. Should we abandon the country like we did in Vietnam? Leave everyone who cooperated with the coalition to their fate? Let the country devolve and destabilize further? Let the evil men run the show?

Marine doesn't just protect Iraqis; he becomes their friend -- [MilTracker]
Since arriving in western Al Anbar Province in July, Cpl. Michael C. Kissiah, Jr. has delivered medical supplies and food and catalogues the needs of the people here. Who says Marines ain't got hearts?

To war! -- [Talking Salmons - in Iraq]
...Luckily, the media seems to be hyping things a bit too much. I spent a good two hours flying over the capital the day after the Golden Mosque was destroyed.
Everything seemed normal from the air, but the way the news read, the whole city was erupting in mass riots like some New Orleans repeat.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

A new force in Iraq news coverage is coming of age – the Iraqi blogosphere -- (Aljazeera.net)
Inside and outside Iraq, bloggers report on events from their own perspective and give a voice to the community that they say often goes unheard in Western media
Salam Adil, 38, an Iraqi blogger who lives in the United Kingdom, says: "I compared reporting from the BBC and the British newspapers to the [Iraqi] blogs and there is a world of difference.
"It is as if the Western media are on a different planet," he told Aljazeera.net.

The Soldiers Speak. Will President Bush Listen? -- (NY Times)... Nicholas D. Kristof -Subscription Required
When President Bush held a public meeting with troops by satellite last fall, they were miraculously upbeat. And all along, unrepentant hawks (most of whom have never been to Iraq) have insisted that journalists are misreporting Iraq and that most soldiers are gung-ho about their mission.

Hogwash! A new poll to be released today shows that U.S. soldiers overwhelmingly want out of Iraq — and soon.

The poll is the first of U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq, according to John Zogby, the pollster. Conducted by Zogby International and LeMoyne College, it asked 944 service members, "How long should U.S. troops stay in Iraq?"
Only 23 percent backed Mr. Bush's position that they should stay as long as necessary. In contrast, 72 percent said that U.S. troops should be pulled out within one year. Of those, 29 percent said they should withdraw "immediately."
That's one more bit of evidence that our grim stay-the-course policy in Iraq has failed. Even the American troops on the ground don't buy into it — and having administration officials pontificate from the safety of Washington about the need for ordinary soldiers to stay the course further erodes military morale.

...So what would it take to win in Iraq? Maybe that was the single most depressing finding in this poll.
By a two-to-one ratio, the troops said that "to control the insurgency we need to double the level of ground troops and bombing missions." And since there is zero chance of that happening, a majority of troops seemed to be saying that they believe this war to be unwinnable.
This first systematic look at the views of the U.S. troops on the ground suggests that our present strategy in Iraq is failing badly. The troops overwhelmingly don't want to "stay the course," and they don't seem to think the American strategy can succeed.

...Will a timetable work? I don't know, but it's a better bet than our present policy of whistling in the dark. And it's what the troops favor — and they're the ones who have Iraq combat experience. It's time our commander in chief stopped stage-managing his troops and listened to them.

Iraq Invasion: A Study in Unintended Consequences -- (Arab News)
“We must cooperate and work together against this danger...of civil war,” said Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani, but others think that the civil war has already arrived. At least 130 people, almost all of them Sunnis, were murdered in reprisal killings, and over a hundred Sunni mosques attacked, in the 24 hours after the destruction of the Al-Askariya shrine in Samarra, sacred to the Shiites, on Feb. 22. But it is not yet time to say that Iraq has slid irrevocably into civil war.

Soldiers Caught Between 2 Sides -- (Los Angeles Times)
...For the American soldiers it was an unfamiliar role. They found themselves in the middle of a fight they could only partially comprehend, stuck between two sides on the edge of civil war. This was an Iraqi problem, their commanders told them. The solution would have to be Iraqi as well.

For U.S. Troops: Tough Choices -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
Army Lt. Michael Mattingly was leading late-night raids in a city south of Baghdad last week when a new assignment came in via a 2 a.m. radio message.

Iraq makes terror 'more likely' -- (BBC News)
The US has ruled out any hasty withdrawal
People across the world overwhelmingly believe the war in Iraq has increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks worldwide, a poll for the BBC reveals.
Some 60% of people in 35 countries surveyed believe this is the case, against just 12% who think terrorist attacks have become less likely.
In most countries, more people think removing Saddam Hussein was a mistake than think it was the right decision.

Sectarian Slaughter Sets Iraq On Road To Schism -- (London Times)...James Hider and Ali Hamdani
Sunni and Shia extremists are dividing their land by murdering fellow Muslims

Iraq symbolizes failure of U.S. Middle East policy: Leader -- (Tehran Times)
TEHRAN – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that the Iraqi government symbolizes the failure of U.S. policies in the Mi...

No Peace for the Middle East -- (Spiegel Online)
As Iraq's religious and political leaders try to calm internecine violence and the West sizes up the Russian-Iranian uranium enrichment deal, German commentators on Monday look at the broader prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East.

Surge in Violence Kills More Than 1,300 in Iraq -- (Washington Post)
Toll from week of attacks is more than three times higher than once reported, making recent days the deadliest outside major U.S. offensives.

FACTBOX-Developments in Iraq, Feb. 28
Feb 28 (Reuters) - The following are security incidents and political developments in Iraq reported on Monday, as of 0600 GMT.
U.S. and Iraqi forces are battling a largely Sunni Arab insurgency against the Shi'ite- and Kurdish-led government in
Baghdad.

U.S., Iraq Looking For A Few Good Firms Willing To Do Business In A War Zone -- (Los Angeles Times)...Evelyn Iritani and Borzou Daragahi
The seminar was billed as "Doing Business in Iraq." A better title might have been "Think Twice About Doing Business in Iraq."

Major al-Qaida in Iraq Figure Jailed -- (The Guardian/ AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi security forces announced the capture of a senior al-Qaida in Iraq figure as they sought to deflect criticism of their handling of a surge of sectarian violence. The U.S. ambassador said the risk of civil war from last week's crisis was over.

AL-ZARQAWI SAID TO HAVE NEW COMMAND STRUCTURE -- (AKI)
Baghdad, 27 Feb. (AKI) - The organisation of al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian miltiant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has adopted a new command structure, according to Salafite sources quoted by the Arabic news portal Wifaq. The new line-up is said to include a sort of shadow government at the head of the organisation mandated to direct all the activities of the group. Al-Zarqawi has been flanked by six 'ministers' and by a chief of staff who will coordinate all the operational brigades, the sources said.

Germany Denies Giving U.S. Iraq's Plan To Defend Baghdad -- (New York Times)...Richard Bernstein and Judy Dempsey
The German government on Monday labeled as "false" a report in The New York Times that two agents of the BND, the German intelligence agency, obtained Saddam Hussein's plan for the defense of Baghdad before the American invasion of Iraq and that the information was passed along to the United States Defense Intelligence Agency ahead of the war in early 2003.

AFGHANISTAN

I Suspect He is Not Bluffing -- [Miserable Donuts]
Pol-i-Charki Prison has had a wing taken over by prisoners. "We can take all these prisoners in one hour," Mohammed Qasim Hashimzai, the deputy justice minister, told The Associated Press as he traveled to the prison Monday. "But to prevent bloodshed we are trying to negotiate."
I rather think he isn't bluffing.

Terrorist Porn -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2006: In Afghanistan, a recent Taliban radio broadcast asserted that some 6,500 American and Coalition troops had been killed by Taliban fighters so far, and that not a single civilian had suffered in the process. Now, to any Afghans in the areas where fighting is taking place, this is absurd. But to some pro-Taliban Afghans, outside of the combat zone, this will be believed,

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghan prison siege enters 4th day; some optimism -- (Khaleeji times/ Reuters)
PUL-I-CHARKHI, Afghanistan - A siege at the Afghan capital’s main jail entered a fourth day on Tuesday but the government expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to a bloody revolt by hundreds of inmates.

Taliban attacks on schools create 'lost generation' -- (The Independent)
...The attack at Kartilaya High School in Lashkar Gar was just one in a series which is crippling Afghanistan's education system. At least 165 schools and colleges have been burnt down or forced to close so far by a resurgent Taliban and their Islamist allies.
Five years after the end of the Afghan war and Tony Blair's famous pledge that "this time we will not walk away", it seems the Taliban and al-Qa'ida are back with a vengeance, and one of their main targets is the country's education system.

AFGHANISTAN : MONEY SHORTFALL THREATENS EFFORT TO FEED 3.5 MILLION -- (AKI)
New York, 27 Feb. (AKI) - With a break in food supplies looming in Afghanistan in March, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday urged donors to immediately make up an 11-million US dollar shortfall in critical funds to feed 3.5 million vulnerable people. "Basically we don’t have enough food for vulnerable communities as they come out of winter and head into the lean season prior to the summer harvest," WFP country director Charles Vincent said.

Kidnapped Nepali dies in Afghanistan, another safe -- (Reuters)
KABUL (Reuters) - One of two Nepali security men kidnapped in Afghanistan has died of illness during more two weeks in captivity but the other has been found safe, a government official said on Tuesday.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

US Ports Fiasco Effects on Korean Business -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Many of you have probably heard about the US port management controversy involving a Dubai based Arab owned company. I find it interesting that the same people like Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer who are complaining about this business deal are the same people that complain about police using racial profiling yet are willing to use racial profiling when it comes to business deals, but that is whole different rant. This fiasco has now wisely been referred to a 45 day security review where I expect it will get approved anyway.

Not just another “U.A.E. ports” post: a GOP blogger speaks out brilliantly -- [Gun Toting Liberal]
My good Republican friend, Mark, of Liberty Just In Case has some sharp words for our President:
...Now before you go assuming this is just a “lovefest” going on between the two of us today, allow me to point out the fact that Mark is completely for the U.A.E. ports deal and I am, as you know, completely opposed to it. But that is obviously not what Mark’s concern is.

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Coast Guard Warned of Port Deal Intel Gaps -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican congressional leaders had hoped to curtail bipartisan outcries over a United Arab Emirates-based company's pending takeover of some U.S. port operations by brokering an agreement for a new investigation of the deal's potential security risks. Then came the disclosure that the U.S. Coast Guard had raised concerns weeks ago that, because of U.S. intelligence gaps, it could not determine whether the UAE company, DP World, might support terrorist operations.

Bush, Speaking Up Against Bigotry -- (Washington Post)
There are times when George Bush sorely disappoints. Just when you might expect him to issue a malapropian explanation, pander to his base or simply not have a clue about what he is talking about, he does something so right, so honest and, yes, so commendable, that -- as Arthur Miller put it in "Death of a Salesman" -- "attention must be paid." Pay attention to how he has refused to indulge anti-Arab sentiment over the Dubai ports deal.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

The Long War Strategy: Varian's War, My Heroes, and Rear Admiral Bill Sullivan's Strategy Brief -- [Bobby's World]
...have heard the critics proclaim that we are doomed to lose, and yet still found themselves raising their right hand and swearing to obey the orders of the officers appointed over them in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. They are an awesome collection of young men and women-- America's finest, perhaps not in socioeconomic status or academic inclination, but absolutely in character and spirit. If I thank them every day for their service (and I try to), it is still not enough. They are my heroes, each and every one of them.

And so it was that I realized one of the ironies of contemporary politics. The Bush Administration's critics are convinced that America is losing the War on Terror, a point that I believe they make not because they believe it to be quantitatively or qualitatively true, but because they think they need to beat that drum to win their elections. Similarly, perhaps their favorite argument is to claim that we have no "strategy for victory" in Iraq; in their minds, they think they're scoring political points against the Bush Administration when they posit this claim. What they don't realize is that, as a rather senior mentor of mine at the Pentagon recently pointed out to me in an email, the argument doesn't really hit the White House-- it strikes ...

Money, Media and the Moslem World -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2006: The war on terror has led to some subtle tactics that are not much noticed. For example, in the Islamic world, media is seen as a tool, not an independent institution dedicated to finding and reporting the truth. Most news media (print and electronic) in the Islamic world cannot survive on advertising revenue.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Taliban ‘renews Bin Laden offer’ -- (Business Day)
ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s former ruling Taliban militia had on Sunday renewed an offer for dialogue with the US on al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, according to a report.
“We have imposed restrictions on Osama, and there are several ways to solve this issue,” said Taliban spokesman Abdul Mutmaen. “We are ready for talks with the US to resolve the problem, but it should solve the problem amicably and not through the use of power.”

America outwitted on world stage -- (The Cincinnati Post)
Can America win a sustained war in this media age? The U.S. military doesn't seem to be too sure.
According to a Pentagon report released earlier this month, "Victory in the long war ultimately depends on strategic communication."
...For his part, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld doesn't offer a whole lot of hope. "Our enemies have skillfully adapted to fighting wars in today's media age," he declared in a speech last week, "but for the most part, we - our country, our government - has not adapted."
Those words are worth pausing over. Can it really be true that al-Qaida is beating Uncle Sam at the communications/propaganda game? Are Arabs really better at getting their message out?

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

New Project -- [The German Princess]
There is a new Project I am working on. It's actually a new video for Dales son, but wow.. never thought it could take so long. It must be perfect, Dale's son only deserve the best and I hope it'll be great.

He stepped on IED and lost his leg up to the knee. I was so shocked when I heard the news and thank God he's still alive. It could have killed him.

I thought I could call him in Walter Reed but they didn't put me through, they didn't want to give the information to me. Instead ...

Patriot Guard Riders Pass 10,000 Membership Mark -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Congratulations and THANK YOU to the Patriot Guard Riders.
Bikers Guard US Military Funerals Against Protesters
(CNSNews.com) - A group of motorcycle riders who attend U.S. soldiers' funerals to protect them from anti-homosexual protestors on Saturday surpassed the 10,000-member mark.

MILITARY

A Sense of Where You Are -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2006: The use of the new Stryker wheeled armored vehicle in Iraq has accelerated the development of the new "Land Warrior" equipment for the infantry. The Strykers were using a partial set of the "Mounted Warrior" equipment. Put simply, the Land Warrior gear is a wearable computer/GPS/radio combination, plus improvements in body armor and uniform design.

Bitches, gripes, complaints -- [Fun with Hand Grenades - in Iraq]
Sometimes we’ll have meetings with everyone in the platoon to dish out news in the company and tell us about any upcoming missions or any plans for the next few days. Whenever it’s over the guy who’s doing the talking always ends with “Anybody got anything? Bitches, gripes, complaints?”
Yes, actually…
#1: We have new pieces to go with our body armor. Two pieces go on either side of you and attach to the inside your main vest, essentially shielding your kidneys. The other pieces look like huge ass shoulder pads, which we call “water wings.” All of them have Kevlar inserts. Besides being unbearably hot (the air conditioning in our Humvees is now negated, as I found out today) I’m now totally immobile. I seriously hope I never have to get out of my Humvee and run for cover because if I do I’m totally fucked and will be cut down in a hail of machine gun fire.

Mission #3 -- [Basic Training in Iraq]
Had my trip outside the wire on the 23rd. I was the driver:
As you can see, not a lot of room in those things with all that armor on. I still think before any more armor is added to what we wear, technology needs to advance so we can get the same protection with less weight. I feel that for me, more armor would be detrimental. Please don't let the media or your politicians trick you into thinking we are not being protected as much as possible. People that need the armor are getting it and as for those occurances like the soldier who had to pay for his destroyed insert plates, the army is a massive bureaucracy and although it sometimes takes a while to get through the red tape, this type of thing usually gets sorted out in the end.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Saving The Fish, Not Troops -- (New York Daily News)...Douglas Feiden
Body armor that can mean the difference between life and death has been shamefully tough to find for battalions of U.S. troops on the bloodiest battlefields of Iraq. But that hasn't stopped Congress from squandering Pentagon funds on thousands of wacky and wasteful projects that do more to protect pols' jobs than save soldiers' lives.

Following Orders From Administration, Army Trimmed Supplemental Request -- (National Journal's CongressDailyAM) (Subscription required)
Army leaders sliced nearly $3 billion from their latest wartime supplemental spending request under last-minute orders from the White House, forgoing money needed to upgrade a hard-worn fleet of heavy tanks and armored vehicles, defense sources disclosed Monday.
...Late Monday, company officials met with staff in the office of Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio. And last week, just days after the Bush administration released the supplemental, the firm called on Ohio Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, an appropriator in the middle of a challenging re-election campaign.
"Obviously, Sen. DeWine is working to supply the military with the equipment they need, and evidence shows that the Bradley and Abrams are critical to the warfighter," a spokesman said.
The Army, according to a General Dynamics spokesman, is aware of possible breaks in production schedules and is "aggressively working this issue."
United Defense Industries, a BAE Systems subsidiary that makes the Bradley, also is tracking the issue, a company spokesman said.
"There's a lot that both the Army and DOD are trying to do with a limited number of dollars," he said. "It is something that we obviously are going to be paying close attention to."

Veterans May Face Health Care Cuts in 2008 -- (Yahoo News/ AP)
WASHINGTON - At least tens of thousands of veterans with non-critical medical issues could suffer delayed or even denied care in coming years to enable President Bush to meet his promise of cutting the deficit in half — if the White House is serious about its proposed budget.

POLITICS

Bush’s Strategy/Bush’s political failures -- [Austin Bay]
...The “Bush political failure” I worry about hasn’t happened yet– but signs of failure abound. What preparation is the administration is the administration making to hand over strategic control of The War on Terror to a subsequent administration? How is the administration preparing to fight a multi-generational, multi-administration war?

Senator Arlen Specter: friend of liberty or wolf in sheep’s clothing? -- [Gun Toting Liberal]
It seems to me that an increasingly alarming number of Democrats and so-called “liberals” have begun to praise our Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter (R-PA) for his opposition to President Bush’s domestic wiretapping of U.S. Citizens lately.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Poll: Bush Ratings At All-Time Low -- (CBS News)
CBS) The latest CBS News poll finds President Bush's approval rating has fallen to an all-time low of 34 percent, while pessimism about the Iraq war has risen to a new high.
Americans are also overwhelmingly opposed to the Bush-backed deal giving a Dubai-owned company operational control over six major U.S. ports.

GOP Governors Say Bush Missteps Hurt Them -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican governors are openly worrying that the Bush administration's latest stumbles - from the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina to those of its own making on prescription drugs and ports security - are taking an election-year toll on the party back home....

Analysis: Bush Beset by Political Miscues -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush has been buffeted by one calamity after another. Try what he may, he just can't seem to find traction for his second-term agenda....

BUSH NOW ADMITS BIN LADEN HELPED HIM BEAT JOHN KERRY -- (Drudge Report) **Exclusive**
President Bush now says his 2004 victory over Sen. John Kerry, who is mulling a comeback in 2008, was inadvertently aided by al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

Sen. Clinton: Rove Spends Time Obsessing About Me -- (FOX News)
Noting that Rove and his White House aides have met regularly with her possible opponents in the 2006 Senate race, Clinton said, "He spends more time thinking about my political future than I do."

Dawn Patrol

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

Let's blame it on the Sunnis. -- [A Free Iraqi - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...The main problem is us, Iraqis whether we're She'at, Sunni or Kurds. And the problem is also the American administration's ignorance on many of the facts on the ground with the exception of the American embassy and namely Khalil Zada who I think is doing a great job, but unfortunately it seems like most of the influence is still in the hands of the military and some people in the white house who seem to still think that Sunnis are the enemy.
But I don't want Iraqis and Americans to blame each other, as that's not productive at all. Americans have been doing us a HUGE favor and we need each other and we need to trust each other and part of our cooperation is to tell each other when we're wrong, and I believe some Americans are not seeing what's happening in Iraq very clearly and many decisions were made based on this blurred vision.

Curfew Extended, Situation Still Tense -- [Healing Iraq- an Iraqi in Iraq]
The daytime curfew in the capital, and surrounding governorates of Salah Al-Din, Diyala and Babel has been extended to Monday morning, as was announced during a live press conference for the ministers of Defense and Interior today

Night time boom boom -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Today was very quiet again in the International Zone. I normally hear more sounds of Baghdad flowing in from across the river. Not today. The curfew has quieted things down a lot. Very little gunfire punctuated the day, which is very unusual.

Civil War? -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
Standing out on the precipice tonight, what do you see? Is it a hiccup, a momentary lapse along the long and difficult route to democracy (or theocracy, or whatever form of stable and/or secure government Iraq can potentially come up with that allows Americans to return U.S. soil)? Or do we stand on the brink of Civil War here in the cradle of civilization, a rising tide of more than one thousand years of intra-Muslim hatred and conflict ready to come crashing down on a nation at a crossroads, reeling from three years of war?

The Iraqi Shi'a: A "United" House Divided -- [CompleteTheMission - in Iraq]
Western observers often consider Iraq's Twelver Shi'ites a cohesive community. American policymakers believe that a common sense of persecution, shared rich religious heritage, and unprecedented opportunity for self determination will unite Iraqi Shi'ites. I will argue, however, that this community is fractured among competing schools of religious thought, social demographics, and Arab-Persian animosity centered in two main camps, with only the preeminent influence of Ali al Sistani bridging the divide and keeping the Iraqi Shi'ite community from splintering entirely.

Iraq in Flames? Not so much so -- [Sapper Sgt - in Iraq]
...I don't know what is happening in Baghdad, there have been some interesting visuals coming out on the news that I watch briefly in the chow hall on those occasions when I get a hot meal.
But Tal Afar? We had what was referred to as a "peaceful demonstration" the other day. I drove past, and it looked to me like maybe 150-200 adult males standing around in a line. Plus groups of them sitting down. Don't know what they were doing, but there was no dancing around, waving arms, burning anything, they didn't even appear to be chanting or anything. One guy was reading something off a paper, possibly out loud since there was a group of people that seemed to be paying attention to him. But it really didn't impress me as impending civil war.

Please don't hurt me Mr. Buckley -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
I hesitated and actually quivered a bit as I contemplated writing this, but honesty means taking on your icons too. William F. Buckley Jr. is one of the most brilliant and entertaining thinkers in American history. When he recently wrote a column saying we need to admit defeat in Iraq, I was disheartened.

A False Postulate -- [Dadmanly]
I am gravely disappointed in William F. Buckley. Among the most literate and well educated men in America, an archetype of American Conservatism, Buckley taught several generations of thoughtful analysts how to, well, analyze. I would never hope to achieve his stature, prominence, or achievement. Still, he disappoints.

Celebrating with Iraqi Policemen -- [Grandma in Iraq - in Iraq]
This is a picture of a police station in Diwaniyah Province that I saw last week. About a hundred or so Iraqi policemen, Army soldiers, Iraqi contractors, our security team members and the US Army Corps of Engineer representatives were present to celebrate a ribbon cutting at this station. This is the 32nd and final police facility to be built within the province of Diwaniyah.

Taking it Personally -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
...As many of you know, my Battalion is intimately involved in recruiting local Iraqis into the Al Anbar Police Force. We have been doing so for months, and even kept working with the local residents after a suicide bomber detonated his vest and created death and destruction that many of us will never forget for the rest of our lives. LTC M was recently down at the Glass Factory checking on his soldiers who were getting the recruits ready to load up and travel to their nation’s capital for training. We had soldiers working in different capacities - from security to overall management of the logistics involved in moving the Iraqis from their home town to their training site. They were checking the men outside the gate again, not far from where the suicide attack had occurred just weeks ago. Soldiers were searching the men’s baggage, not only for weapons, but to ensure they had everything that was on the packing list, that they were ready for the training.

Bitches, gripes, complaints -- [Fun With Hand Grenades -- in Iraq]
...Whenever it’s over the guy who’s doing the talking always ends with “Anybody got anything? Bitches, gripes, complaints?”

Yes, actually…

#1: We have new pieces to go with our body armor. Two pieces go on either side of you and attach to the inside your main vest, essentially shielding your kidneys. The other pieces look like huge ass shoulder pads, which we call “water wings.” All of them have Kevlar inserts. Besides being unbearably hot (the air conditioning in our Humvees is now negated, as I found out today) I’m now totally immobile. I seriously hope I never have to get out of my Humvee and run for cover because if I do I’m totally fucked and will be cut down in a hail of machine gun fire.

Home Sweet Bunk -- [Chris Whong - in Iraq]
...Good soldiers turn situations like the one I just described into success stories that I can write about on my blog. Without a hell of a maintenance team and very responsive and coopertive escorts, a 30 minute tire change could have taken a lot longer and put us in a lot more danger.
After 6 months over here, I can safely say that the Mechanics out on the road have the toughest job, and in some cases may be the most influential to the success of the mission.

Provincial governments moving forward -- [Grandma in Iraq - in Iraq]
...The men are reviewing 29 contract proposals and rating them for technical content. This is part of the contracting process to evaluate the merit and competency of the bids put forth by contractors on a scope of work for construction projects. This is a totally new concept for the Iraqis. Meetings like this are being held at each of the nine Southern provinces with local Iraqi officials and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

TOMATO SEMINAR -- [2006 Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
This was taken in southern Iraq during a recent agriculture seminar about growing tomatoes. These are all fresh picked out of the fields. This country has a lot of potential for vegetable crops as they have a longer growing season...

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Female Pilots Get Their Shot In The Iraqi Skies -- (Washington Post)...Ann Scott Tyson
Buzzing over this northern Iraqi city in her Kiowa scout helicopter, a .50-caliber machine gun and rockets at the ready, Capt. Sarah Piro has proved so skillful in combat missions to support U.S. ground troops that she's earned the nickname "Saint."

Desk Jobs In A War Zone -- (Los Angeles Times)...Doug Smith
Among the U.S. personnel in Iraq are civilians such as Ruby Pierce, a Virginia grandmother with a taste for adventure.

Iraq lifts curfew after week of violence -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Authorities lifted an extended curfew in Baghdad on Monday as the Iraqi capital returned to relative normality after a week of sectarian violence that claimed more than 200 lives.

Moqtada Sadr urges Iraqis to unite -- (The News International)
BASRA, Iraq: Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr on Sunday urged Iraqis to unite with a call for US forces to withdraw, after four days of sectarian violence that raised the spectre of civil war. "I call on all Iraqis, Sunnis and Shias, Muslims and non-Muslims, to take part in a demonstration of unity in Baghdad to call for the withdrawal of the forces of occupation, even if this has to take place over time," he told supporters in the southern port city of Basra after arriving there from Iran.

German Intelligence Gave U.S. Iraqi Defense Plan, Report Says -- (NY Times)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 — Two German intelligence agents in Baghdad obtained a copy of Saddam Hussein's plan to defend the Iraqi capital, which a German official passed on to American commanders a month before the invasion, according to a classified study by the United States military...

GERMANY: IRAQ SPYING AFFAIR PROMPTS GROWING CALLS FOR FULL INQUIRY -- (AKI)
Berlin, 24 Feb. (AKI) - Calls among Germany's opposition are growing for a full parliamentary inquiry into the role of German intelligence during the US-led and occupation of Iraq. A government-commissioned report released late on Thursday said two German spies provided the US with intelligence on Iraq but rejected allegations it aided the US bombing campaign in 2003. The issue is sensitive because Germany's former Social Democrat chancellor Gerhard Schroeder strongly criticised the war and insisted Germany had no direct part in it. Incumbent chancellor Angela Merkel has also ruled out sending troops to Iraq.

29 Killed in Iraq; Blasts Rattle Baghdad -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Violence killed at least 29 people Sunday, including three American soldiers, and mortar fire rumbled through the heart of Baghdad after sundown despite stringent security measures imposed after an explosion of sectarian violence.

No Word on Kidnapped Writer After Deadline -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi police conducted raids in search of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll on Sunday, the deadline set by her captors for the United States to meet their demands, but the day passed without word on whether her captors carried out their threat to kill her.

AFGHANISTAN

OPERATION ENDURING BOREDOM - EPISODE IX -- [American Citizen Soldier - in Iraq]
Saturday 27December2003
Kabul, Afghanistan
The Afghan National Council is in the final stages of their Loya Jirga, the process by which delegates from across the country have met in Kabul to hammer out a new constitution. This is their historic equivalent of Philadelphia circa 1789. The role of women in Afghanistan’s future has been hotly debated throughout the process, and understandably so considering the country’s ancient Islamic culture and recent fundamentalist track record.

Canadian Invovement -- [Afghan Reality]
...At the heart of the problem lies a serious lack of awareness about and appreciation of the complexities of the obstacles confronting Afghanistan’s post-conflict recovery. No matter how much we might tend to distance ourselves from Afghanistan, the reality is that it is in Canada's interest to stay the course in Afghanistan. There are several significant reasons why Canadians should support Canada's long-term commitment in rebuilding Afghanistan.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Rioting Inmates Seize Afghan Prison -- (NY Times/ AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Hundreds of Afghan soldiers with tanks and grenade-launchers surrounded Kabul's main prison after rioting inmates seized control of much of the facility in an uprising that officials blamed on al-Qaida and Taliban militants.

AFGHANISTAN: TROOPS CALLED IN AS JAIL RIOTERS RESIST -- (AKI)
Kabul, 27 Feb. (AKI) - Afghan security forces have surrounded a high security prison which is the scene of a riot involving some 2,000 prisoners. The prison houses ordinary criminals as well as members of the ousted Taliban regime and al-Qaeda members. The riot erupted on Saturday night and negotiations with the rioters have so far failed, although talks were expected to continue on Monday. There are reports that the rioters have taken over the women's wing of...

Afghanistan: UN on attack on schools and teachers -- (Scoop)
Friday, 24 February 2006, 3:23 pm Press Release: United Nations Afghanistan: new UN envoy calls for halt to attack on schools and teachers The new top United Nations envoy in Afghanistan

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

U.A.E. -- [Sgt Hook]
All week I’ve been hearing about the controversial decision allowing a United Arab Emirates company to take over management of several of our seaports. Some of what’s been said makes sense, some doesn’t, and some sounded more like political grandstaning than genuine concern. Still, it’s an important issue worthy of discussion, IMHO.

A JIHAD WINDOW AT THE EMIRATES GATE? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Walid Phares
The controversy about the UAE-based company projected to take over operations in a number of US seaports, quickly –and unfortunately- dove into domestic politics. The issue was turned into trusting or not the will and the capacity of the Government, particularly the executive branch to “secure the nation against Terrorists.” And once the debate mutates into investigating the intentions of the policy makers –particularly the President and his assistants – regarding the prosecution of the War on Terror, most of the exchange diverts to “politics” instead of “policies.”

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Analysis: DP World's Offer a Gift to Bush -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House got a gift in the ports security debate, a chance for the president to sidestep a battle with members of his own party and to tone down bipartisan criticism of the deal.
The offer by Dubai-owned DP World to submit to a broader review of security issues in its deal to take over major operations at six U.S. ports also could salvage a business deal critically important to its economic future.

Yet another big lie Bush won't admit -- (Times Union)
...No amount of international embarrassment, no pleas from the United Nations or from European governments -- not even a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court -- changes the way the United States conducts itself there. We must assume that the shame of Guantanamo is with us for as long as the shameless George W. Bush is president.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Al Qaeda Fact and Fiction -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2006: The latest taped message from Osama bin Laden is coming after a bad year for al Qaeda. His call for a boycott of Iraqi elections was ignored not once, but three times. A recent missile attack in Pakistan has killed some key al Qaeda staff. Now, Osama bin Laden is in the position of ...

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Hit Osama (And Maybe Saddam, Too) -- (Washington Post)...Dan Eggen(Link not yet available)
Thad Anderson, a New York City law student who runs the Web site OutragedModerates.org, recently received a copy of the following notes through a Freedom of Information Act request. The notes by senior Pentagon aide Stephen A. Cambone, taken at 2:40 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2001, indicate that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was considering whether to "hit S.H. [Saddam Hussein] @ same time" as Osama bin Laden (UBL).

The notes, which were summarized but not quoted directly by the Sept. 11 commission, also indicate it would be "hard to get a good case" and that they needed to rapidly compile all information "related¬."

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Support the Troops' Families -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
Soldiers' Angels has come up with another wonderful way to Support the Troops--the Deployed Family Support Group:
...Soldiers' Angels has long done things to support the familes of the deployed, such as Operation Topknot and periodic financial assistance in purchasing housing, groceries, etc. for young military families in need while their soldiers are deployed. However, this program will focus largely on offering "moral support" and encouragement to those suffering the challenges and worries of the homefront during a wartime deployment.

Our Canadian Friends Stand With Us Again -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
From our friend Candace at the Canadian blog Waking Up On Planet X:
Soldiers Angels Germany
Many of you will remember the American-based organization Soldier's Angels stepping up to the plate to support our Canadian heroes as they were treated in Germany.

Thank you Angels -- [Soldiers Angels Forums]
We want to thank Soldiers’ Angels, the Red Cross, the USO and the VFW for their wonderful help to our soldiers overseas. In December, our son Blake was injured in Iraq while dismounting his armored vehicle while preparing for a mission, resulting in the amputation of a finger. As you can imagine, getting the phone call about an injured loved one is alarming, but to hear about the wonderful support that has been made available put our hearts to rest when we couldn’t be there.

MILITARY

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Army to Pay Halliburton Unit Most Costs Disputed by Audit -- (NY Times)
The Pentagon's own auditors had identified more than $250 million in charges as potentially excessive or unjustified.

POLITICS

Pray For Baby Charlotte -- [Stop The ACLU]
Hat Tip: Pro-Life Blogs Is this the direction America is headed? Is this where the ACLU, and the right to die folks will take us? In England, a judge has ruled for doctors to withold life support from a two-year old, brain damaged

The Essence of being Pro-Victory -- [Officer's Club]
...Today I could care less about stem cell research and gay marriage, abortion and taxes. I don't give a damn about the petty squables of the pre-9/11 world. All I care about is winning this war.

Thus my new ideology is that of victory. I'm not conservative or liberal or liberatarian or Green or Republican or Democrat. I'm pro-victory. Once upon a time my vote would have gone to a Republican 99.999% of the time. Today my votes will go to the candidates who prove themselves as committed to fighting this fight to the end, even if it takes years, decades, or centuries.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

BUSH, ROVE SAY HILLARY WILL WIN DEM PRIMARY -- BUT LOSE GENERAL ELECTION -- (Drudge Report)
**World Exclusive**
President Bush and his top strategist, Karl Rove, say Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will be tough to beat in the Democratic presidential primaries of 2008 -- but not in the general election!

Another White House Briefing, Another Day of Mutual Mistrust -- (NY Times)
Mike McCurry, who was President Bill Clinton's press secretary a decade ago, is kicking himself to this day for ever allowing the White House briefings to be televised live.
It was a huge error on my part," Mr. McCurry recalled the other day after watching a relentless White House press corps badger Scott McClellan, the current White House press secretary,..

The Clooney left -- (The Guardian)
If only George Clooney would run for president. John Patterson sizes up the star's political prospects
'Just another loopy Hollywood liberal?' ... Clooney at the Baftas. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty

Ever since Arnold Schwarzenegger became Der Kali-Führer in 2003, I've been wondering if the Democrats could ever find an equivalent figure to run for office. And suddenly it seemed so obvious: If Mr Freeze can run on his celebrity-recognition quotient alone, with a campaign platform containing no discernible political ideas whatsoever, then surely Batman himself can run for the White House.

Clooney relishes 'traitor' attacks -- ( Agence France-Press)
US actor and director George Clooney said this morning he was proud to be denounced as unpatriotic for questioning US policy because he wanted to be on "the right side of history."

Interviewed on BBC television's Newsnight about his latest films Syriana and Good Night, and Good Luck Clooney said that not only did he accept the right to be attacked for his views but he even relished them.

THE MEDIA

What Were They Thinking? -- [RantingProfs]
The New York Times has an article about a group that for all intents and purposes is engaged in terrorist operations in Nigeria that are threatening the oil industry there. As part of the reporting for the article, the journalist, along with several others, apparently went out into rural Nigeria, met with members of the group.

Fine, good, terrific. Intrepid reporting, slap the gal on the back for her courage and determination.

But here's where I have very serious problems:

Freespeech Fascists -- [Austin Bay]
A must-read essay in the LA Times by Catherine Seipp.
A trip to San Francisco’s famous “City Lights” book store reveals lots of Ward Churchill screed, but no copies of Oriana Fallaci’s “The Force of Reason.” Why?
Seipp says her friend asked a clerk if the new Fallaci book was in yet.
“No,” snapped the clerk. “We don’t carry books by fascists.”

Considering The Paperless Newspaper -- [Dougpetch]
Reading this Jeff Jarvis post made me wonder - Which mainstream newspaper will be first to abandon ink and newsprint in favor of totally digital delivery? And when will...

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

AP War Blogs -- [Fred Schoeneman]
AP correspondent Antonio Castaneda has some blog entries about his time with Marines in Iraq, "far away from the flagpole." It's way better than most of the 'it bleeds, it leads stuff' we're used to seeing from them. Check it out:...

The Debut of MilTracker -- [Camp Katrina]
Visit our new site at MilTracker.Com!

Check it out, Katrina Campers: it's been fun here, but our efforts to tell the good news about the U.S. military have started to outgrow this blog's name and design. In an effort to focus more attention on providing bloggers with daily links to good news about our armed forces, we've set up shop at MilTracker.

WELCOME HOME

Finally Home -- [Lag in Iraq - home from Iraq]
I recall looking at the flag and reflecting. I had been waiting for this moment for months, but I'm somewhat sad to be leaving. Was it all for the flag? Or for each other...me...the future? So much of it was scary, but so much of it was fun too. Most of it really was boring. So boring that I was able to blog now and then. I really didn't do anything brave. I just did my job. It was still all for that flag though, no matter what the current debate is.

Home sweet home! (well... New Jersey...) -- [A Soldier's Diary - home from Iraq]
Wow, I cannot believe we are finally in the US. It is unbelievable, very hard to describe how wonderful it is to be back in the states. There are so many things I am enjoying that were not available to me for the last year, it is really incredible. I am currently drinking a real Mountain Dew, eating Chinese food, and using internet that is like lightning, and about to call Susan from my new cell phone. Crazy, huh? Oh, and I am nursing a hangover. :) Yep, I had beer!

Dawn Patrol

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

Holy Shia shrine bombed in Samarra. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
As if we didn't have enough problems already!

The quality of the target and the timing of the attack were chosen in a way that can possibly bring very serious consequences over the country.

The situation in Baghdad is so tense now, it wasn't like this in the early hours of the morning as it took a few hours for the news to spread but on my way back from clinic I saw pickup vehicles with loudspeakers roaming the streets calling on people to shut their stores in the name of the Hawza and join the protests after the noon prayer to condemn the attack on the holy shrine.

Civil war, is it close, and is it really a disaster? -- [Free Iraq - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Today's attack on the holy shrine of two She'at Imams in Samarra has created so far a huge wave of protest and anger accompanied with sporadic reprisals here and there by zealous She'at led and urged mainly by the Sadirists and the SCIRI while Sistani is calling for peaceful protests and is forbidding any revenge against Sunnis and their warship places.

Civil War, Sectarian Strife, and "Liberation"! -- [Treasure of Baghdad - an Iraqi in Iraq]
It was a sunny, cool, and beautiful day till the bad news was spread in allover the country. "One of the most revered shrines in Shiite Islam was bombed early this morning, causing the collapse of its dome," I heard the anchor saying on radio saw while I was going back to the office after a short assignment. Here is news again. I did not expect that this time it is not a mere explosion. It was worse than that. When I returned back to the office, I started working on gathering the information and then my bureau chief assigned me to write the story to the web.

YES, IM STILL HERE -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
IED’s , mortar attacks and the ever so crappy SVBIEDs are continuous throughout the area. I say that not to say things aren’t getting better because they are but I say it because the American public needs to be aware that although our trusty news service doesn’t report it we still are fighting our asses off here and Marines are still dieing.

Stirring up trouble in Iraq -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
...More importantly, voices of reason were heard in Iraq today. While idiots fired mortars at the U.S. Embassy and tried to spread more seeds of hate, other leaders called for restraint and peaceful protest:

If You Don’t Agree, You Are Against Us! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
“Why have you become anti-American. You used to be pro-American,” he accused me with anger in his voice. He was like someone who was waiting for the right moment to say this sentence.

I stretched my back in the chair and said “I am not anti-American. And they’ve become anti-Iraqi too.”

The Beginning of the Universe -- [Michael Totten]
LALISH, IRAQ – In Northern Iraq there is a place called Lalish where the Yezidis say the universe was born. I drove south from Dohok on snowy roads through an empty land, seemingly to the ends of the earth, and found it nestled among cold hills.

Iraq's Sunnis: A possible Partner for Peace? -- [Complete The Mission - in Iraq]
The exact structure and composition of the insurgency has been and remains opaque. It seems, however, that the Sunni-led insurgency is made up of two general groups. The first of these can be described as nationalist in character; for the purposes of this paper, these insurgents will henceforth be referred to as "nationalists". The nationalists have varying goals. Some are loyal to the former Baathist regime and hope that a similar government will reemerge in Iraq upon the departure of Multinational Forces. Others fight because of the loss of privilege and position they experienced after the fall of the Baathist government.

Where are my updates?! -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
...Today was a crazy day in Iraq. Mosques getting blown up and riots in the streets. Of course, that doesn't really affect the area I'm in...but we did get the "duck and cover" order on the loudspeakers today. So, of course I went into one of the bunkers...but I didn't even hear any mortars. They changed the Uniform Posture too so that we are always wearing our protective gear...which isn't a bad idea anyway.

The U.S. Army Owns the Night...but I'd be Happy to Sell -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
We’ve been out on a lot of nighttime missions lately (more of those it seems, than daytime missions) and we’ve been all over the place, and it is remarkable to see the city at night versus daytime. Seems much cleaner (at least from a distance, when you can’t see all the trash) and nicer, and when the power is working it appears like any other non-war-torn city you might find. Although having the power working is a sporadic event—the only indicator that the power is out during the day is when you pass blacked-out traffic lights, so it's not as obvious. But at night

From south to north -- [Fast Bunnies - in Iraq]
Out of Kuwait. A respectable one day visit, but it was raining and time to leave. Now I am enjoying the sights and sounds of Mosul.
Flying in a C-130 is an uncomfortable experience, for anyone. About half the seats have metal bars underneath, the "seats" are cloth netting, the plane is alternately too hot or two cold, you are usually packed way too tight. And

Iraqi High School Girls Speak Engish -- [Grandma in Iraq - in Iraq] HT: Wizbang]
I visited an all-girls high school last week with engineers and construction representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers who recently finished building two new classrooms and a new bathroom at the school. It is very obvious that we could have done a lot more for this school, but unfortunately we don’t have the funds to refurbish every school in Iraq. Never-the-less, the school is very grateful for what we’ve done. We were at the school to bring 25 boxes of school supplies collected by one of our engineer’s daughters.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Iraq's main Sunni bloc pulls out of govt talks -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's main Sunni Muslim bloc pulled out on Thursday of negotiations for the formation of a new government, blaming the ruling Shi'ite alliance for sectarian violence that has killed dozens of Sunnis in the past 24 hours.

Iran: U.S., Israel Destroyed Iraqi Shrine -- (AP)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blamed the United States and Israel on Thursday for the destruction of a Shiite shrine's golden dome in Iraq, saying it was the work of "defeated Zionists and occupiers."...

Iraqi cleric Sadr vows revenge over shrine blast -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has blamed the bombing of a Shiite shrine in the Iraqi town of Samarra on Sunni Arab militants and vowed to take revenge, a spokesm...

Police: 23 Bodies Found Dumped in Baghdad -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The bodies of 23 men were found dumped at six sites in Baghdad, most of them in predominantly Shiite parts of the city, police said Thursday....

Three Iraqi Journalists Found Killed -- (AP)
SAMARRA, Iraq (AP) -- The bodies of three Iraqi journalists, including a well-known correspondent for Al Arabiya television, were found Thursday near Samarra, police and the Arabic network said....

IRAQ: CABINET DENIES CLAIMS THAT ITALIANS WERE AMONG ABU GHRAIB TORTURERS -- (AKI)
Rome, 23 Feb. (AKI) - The Italian government denied late on Wednesday that Italian citizens were among the torturers of the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In an interview to Italian state broadcaster RaiNews24, recorded in Amman, Ali Shalal el Kaisi, whose picture as the hooded prisoner with electrodes attached to his hands has travelled the globe, said he was acquainted with an Iraqi diplomat who had told him that two Italian men were present while he was being tortured in Abu Ghraib. The diplomat, whom el Kaisi identified as Haitham Abu Ghaith, "knows your language well."

Rumsfeld declares war on 'bad' press -- (Asia Times)
By Emad Mekay | WASHINGTON - Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld has signaled that he plans to intensify a campaign to influence global media coverage of the United States, a ...

Bulgarian Parliament OKs Iraq Troops -- (New York Times/ AP)
Bulgaria's parliament on Wednesday endorsed a government decision to send a 120-member non-combat unit to Iraq.

AFGHANISTAN

The Taliban Spring Offensive -- [Strategy Page]
February 23, 2006: With the end of Winter approaching, it is believed that the Taliban are preparing for a major "Spring offensive." Taliban information operations have been cranked up of late. In some areas of Afghanistan where economic conditions are still very hard, covert Taliban agents have

How Recently Were Abu Musab al-Zarqawi & Family in Afghanistan? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A highly respected terrorism analyst in Washington sent me information on the possible presence of the al-Zarqawi clan in Afghanistan since the 2003 American invasion of Iraq, and I asked Evan Kohlmann to comment on it. I invite other comments. First, the information from the terrorism analyst:

Tuesday, February 21, 2006 -- [goose0370 - in Afghanistan]
Price of the head of an American Soldier in Afghanistan : $15,000
Bounty for a Special Forces' soldiers beard : $25,000
Bounty a PSYOP Soldier's head (prefferably with a beard) : $35,000

Is The Speech Over Yet -- [Miserable Donut]
The students at the Aibatkhil Girl's School grand opening were pretty well behaved for a bunch of kids being forced to sit through a series of local politicians making speeches...

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN: NEW BUS SERVICE TO KICK OFF IN MARCH -- (AKI)
Islamabad, 23 Feb. (AKI) - Afghanistan and Pakistan will launch a new bus service that will run from the Afghan city of Jalalabad in the province of Nangarhar to Peshawar in north-western Pakistan. The first bus will travel from Jalalabad on 15th March and the one from Peshawar will run on 17 March. After a one-month long trial period, the service will be operational, according to an agreement between the transport authorities of the neighbouring countries.

Troops Walking Into More Trouble In Afghanistan, Says US General -- (Sydney Morning Herald)
A senior US officer has predicted increased violence in Afghanistan, where more Australians are to be deployed. The officer in command of US forces in the Middle East, General John Abizaid, said he told the Prime Minister, John Howard, he was "optimistic but realistic" on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reservist Goes to Trial in Afghanistan -- (AP)
FORT BLISS, Texas (AP) -- Army prosecutors in the final case involving an Army reserve unit from Ohio linked to prisoner abuses in Afghanistan say a sergeant abused two prisoners while they were shackled and helpless.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

The obvious response -- [TigerHawk]
Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn United States and Israeli flags to condemn the bombing on the Golden Mosque, one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest sites in the Iraqi city of Samarra, at a rally in Karachi, Pakistan on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006.

Hysteria and politics… -- [Neptunus Lex]
But we’re selling our ports! To Arabs!

ARABS!

Well, we’re selling loading docks, anyway. The “port facilities” being sold by British-owned P&O to Dubai-based Dubai Ports World are little more than marine baggage handling terminals. I will grant our disaffected politicians the favor of not believing that they are really quaking in their Guccis over the fear of immigrant waves of southwest Asian longshoremen swarming our beaches the better to offload suitcase nukes. Because they know, they have to know (don’t they?) that security will continue to be performed by the US Coast Guard and container clearance performed by US Customs.

Port Ahoy -- [Villianous Company]
These two items certainly add an interesting bit of perspective to the ports kerfuffle:

Arab Company, Administration had "Super Secret" Agreement -- [Wizbang]
And this year's award for the most misleading headline goes to... the Associated Press.
Check out this headline: Arab Co., White House Had Secret Agreement
That damned secretive White House at it again. First Cheney, now this... Tonight we learn the administration had a "Secret Agreement" with the Arab company they sold the ports to. Or then again, maybe not....

The DP World Port Sale: Overblown Fears -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
In an election year, it certainly makes for a powerful rallying cry: "They want to turn our port security over to Arab states!" Indeed, politicians on both sides of the aisle have already been leaping to skewer the administration for approving the Dubai Ports of the United Arab Emirates (DP World) taking over the operation of six U.S. seaports. But moving beyond the politics of the situation, the fears surrounding DP World's purchase appear overblown.

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Kicking Arabs In The Teeth -- (New York Times)...David Brooks -Subscription needed
...All Arabs may look alike to certain blowhard senators, but the United Arab Emirates is a modernizing, globalizing place. It was the first country in the region to sign the U.S. Container Security Initiative. It's signed agreements to bar the passage of nuclear material and to suppress terror financing. U.A.E. ports service U.S. military ships, and U.A.E. firms have made major investments in Chrysler and Time Warner, somehow without turning them into fundamentalist bastions. In short, there is no evidence this deal will do any harm.

Considered An Ally Now, UAE Backed Bin Laden -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
The United Arab Emirates has become what the Bush administration calls a reliable partner in the war against Islamic terrorists, but its rulers maintained close ties to Osama bin Laden before September 11, and the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have since served as operations and financial bases for al Qaeda terrorists.

Arab Company, White House Had Secret Deal -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Under a secretive agreement with the Bush administration, a company in the United Arab Emirates promised to cooperate with U.S. investigations as a condition of its takeover of operations at six major American ports, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press....

Terror fears, stoked by Bush, now bite him -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For almost five years President George W. Bush has warned Americans to fear terrorism, but now those words may come back to bite him.

Bush Port Defiance Fuels Bipartisan Anger -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's marquee issue, the war on terror, is being turned against him by Democrats and rebelling members of his own party in an election-year dustup over a deal that allows an Arab company to manage major U.S. ports....

DeLay Says Bush Making Mistake on Port -- (AP)
HOUSTON (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay said Wednesday that President Bush is making a big mistake backing a sale of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports to a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates....

MIL-OLYMPICS

Spc. Shauna Rohbock Takes Home Silver in Women’s Bobsled -- [Camp Katina]
Spc. Shauna Rohbock, a member of the Utah Army National Guard, won Silver in the Women’s Bobsled competition as the pilot of USA-1 at the XX Winter Olympics on Tuesday

Dawn Patrol

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

“Our Jerusalem” -- [Michael Totten]
ERBIL, IRAQ – Iraq may not survive in one piece. The overwhelming majority of Iraqi Kurds are packing their bags. Most have already said goodbye. Erbil (Hawler in Kurdish) is the capital of the de-facto sovereign Kurdistan Regional Government. Baghdad is thought of as the capital of a deranged foreign country.

The Evil men do. -- [The Iraqi Roulette - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...I was told ,so torture became a synonym to whipping for me back then . I grew older and friends and even relatives told me more about torture , speciously when one of my cousins got into trouble with the ( Amin = the security forces), he was locked up for 2 months after that he withdrew to a self-imposed solitary confinement for the rest of his life, ...
...Yet Yet Yet all those years of imagination do not compare with one image from Abu Ghraib and the streets of Basrah, proving that an image is better than a thousand words . Children now are seeing and talking about these images as a matter of a fact , although not fully understanding what is going on: “ why are those men stripped and why are they laying like that ?... “ what is that American so pleased about?

Fatal Distraction -- [Strategy Page]
Despite Sunni Arab leaders trying to work out an accommodation with the government, most Sunni Arabs still feel put-upon and persecuted. Opinion surveys held after the January elections showed that five percent of the Sunni Arabs felt the elections were fair, while 89 percent of Shia Arabs and 77 percent of Kurds did. Overall, 66 percent of Iraqis were satisfied with the elections. As for the new government formed by those elected to parliament in January,

Night Raid -- [Dispatches from Iraq - USA Today journalist embedded in Iraq]
...U.S. troops here, as in other regions across Iraq, are focused on “standing up” Iraqi forces, and are increasingly looking for opportunities to take a back seat in the offensive. I was able to see this first hand in the wee hours Sunday morning, as 4-23 staged a large-scale operation with the Iraqi army’s 3rd Battalion 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division. “Operation Juhr Jam IZ Da Gem,” as they called it, was meant to disrupt a localized insurgent cell believed to be connected to Ansar Al Sunnah, the regional arm of al-Qaeda.

Leadership and Parenthood -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
...Last week one of my soldiers, SGT M, slipped and fell off of an 8 foot roof. He’s fine, but seeing him lying there just after it happened gave me a scare. There was a small pool of blood beneath his head, and he was unable to move his limbs without pain. I thought he had broken his neck, or at least his arm and leg. I was very relieved when they put a few staples in his head and let us take him back to his room to recover. I am always concerned about fellow soldiers out here, especially those in my section, but perhaps SGT M getting hurt has put me a little on edge. I had another commo soldier get injured in the suicide bombing, but luckily he is going to be fine, and he had been tasked out to other missions. He didn’t work directly for me.
This week I’ve felt like a worried father more than once.

You don't say? -- [Shawn's (Highly) Motivated Life - in Iraq]
I started reading sappersgt's LJ because he recently came to Iraq and he's the husband of soldiergrrl. In his LJ he talk all about the so called "AIF" which really got me to thinking. I haven't seen the term AIF since Fort Stewart nearly a year ago. They never dropped that term at the NTC and I haven't seen it here, in Iraq. But it seems the Army still likes to use the term "Anti Iraqi Forces" somewhere, because that guy certainly believes in it. And I'm not picking on him.

20 February 2006 -- [Sappersgt - in Iraq]
I'm going to kvetch about boredom more often. At least today we got to react to a for-real IED. We'd been called out on IED reports before, but it would be trash, or some poor guy trying to repair a drainage ditch, or whatever. Today, real thing.

I'm Outta Here! -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
For now anyways. I am due R&R and I leave tonight. One helicopter flight, one charter flight and four commercial legs across the pond and down the CST for 14 glorious days of sleeping late and having beer for breakfast. Dinner with the Mrs., walks with the dog, Thomas the train with my son, gossiping about family with my sister, BBQ at night on the patio. It's just amazing how much you can look forward to those simple things.

Iraq Pictures - 21 February 2006 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
LTC Charles Webster, Commander, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, awards a 4th Iraqi Bde Soldier a certificate of appreciation for a job well done. Pic: SGT Dennis Gravelle

Garage Sale -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
Life is good here. Not as good as when I get home very soon, but for the most part good. I called my wife up to tell her the good news and oh by the way, I mailed home a trunk full of junk from Iraq. Her response, “That’s great and we’re going to put this stuff where???” My mind is racing now, “Honey, don’t worry, I took apart the engine from an old Mig 25 that was sitting out in the junk yard.” Mind you it took six Marines on their day off, four hours in bitter cold, brute strength and a heavy duty hammer to make all this happen, so by God, I was going to get my turbine fan blades come hell or high water!!

...And thus, the Chapter Ends. -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
...So much has been gained here, so much has been lost. So many memories, so much I wish I could erase from my memory. Iraq will be a different country than it was when I arrived, and I will leave a different person; although how different, only time and reacquainting with friends and family will tell. But I can say without reservation that Iraq is a better country than it was before I landed.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Ex-Official: Russia Moved Saddam's WMD -- (NewsMax News)
A top Pentagon official who was responsible for tracking Saddam Hussein's weapons programs before and after the 2003 liberation of Iraq, has provided the first-ever account of how Saddam Hussein "cleaned up" his weapons of mass destruction stockpiles to prevent the United States from discovering them.

U.S. Counterinsurgency Academy Giving Officers A New Mind-Set -- (Washington Post)...Thomas E. Ricks
If the U.S. effort in Iraq ultimately is successful, one reason may be the small school started recently on a military base here by Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the U.S. commander in Iraq.

Iraq hit by 7 bomb attacks in one day -- (CNN)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Seven bomb attacks ripped through Iraq on Monday, killing 16 people, including a U.S. soldier, and wounding 56, officials said.

Report: Navy lawyer tried to warn about Abu Ghraib trouble -- (Army Times/ AP)
The Navy’s former general counsel warned Pentagon officials two years before the Abu Ghraib prison scandal that circumventing international agreements on torture and detainees’ treatment would invite abuse, according to a published report.

U.S. Warns Iraq It Won't Support Sectarian Goals -- (NY Times)
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The American ambassador to Iraq issued an unusually strong warning on Monday about the need for Iraq's political factions to come together, hinting for the first time that the United States would not be willing to support crucial public institutions plagued by sectarian agendas.

Trip To Iraq Fuels Her Convictions -- (St. Petersburg Times)
After a recent trip to Iraq, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite was left with one lasting impression.
"We need to stay longer," she said. "We're just trying to get them to the 20th century - forget the 21st."
Part of a no-frills, four-member congressional delegation to visit the country, Brown-Waite said U.S. forces have made a great deal of progress but still have much to do. She last visited Iraq in 2003.
"There were a lot of differences," she said. "Kids are out playing in the streets. I saw three times as many satellite dishes."

Iraqi Province Cuts Off U.S. Forces -- (Newsday/ AP)
KARBALA, Iraq -- The governing council of Karbala province said Monday it was suspending contact with U.S. forces over the behavior of soldiers during a visit to the governor's office two days ago.
The decision followed similar moves by leaders of Maysan and Basra provinces, which have frozen ties with British forces in southern Iraq.

Iraqi Police Tied to Death Squads -- (LA Times)
U.S. officials suspect Iraq's highway patrol, staffed largely by Shiites, is involved in torture and killings.

Record sales by steel enterprise -- (Azzaman)
Al-Simoud State Enterprise, the country’s largest steel manufacture, achieved record sales in 2005, company figures reveal.
The figures show that the company had sold products worth 10 billion dinars.
The highest figures the company had achieved were in 1995 when it sold products worth 8.5 billion.

Troops kill three bomb-planters -- (Army Times/ AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Car bombs and gunmen killed more than 20 people on Saturday across Iraq, including a U.S. soldier, as the government said insurgency-related violence cost the country’s vital oil industry about $6.25 billion in damage and lost revenue last year.

AFGHANISTAN

The Warming Trend -- [Kabulog - in Afghanistan]
...The meeting was an overview of a project some of us had been working on for the past couple of months. I had been floating in and out of it, assisting here and there. Sadly it’s part of our wrap-up for our work here. Even more sadly was that I finally see, or rather clearly appreciate, all that we are doing here and how it all fits in. I don’t think I was the only one to appreciate this, the scope and the necessity of the work.

FOB in the Rain -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan]
...Ah, the rainbow. Made me smile and gave me some nice hope for the people of this land until my buddy here pointed out that it ends in Pakistan. Ok, that's just being wicked, but there are many Afghans who are resentful of their neighboring country, for good reason. While Pakistan is a poor country by most international standards, Afghanistan is one of the very poorest by a wide margin. The barest essentials are all that most people in this land have, if even that. Hopefully most of the recently-promised international aid from the London conference gets where it needs to go out here.

The New Afghan Army -- [Strategy Page]
February 18, 2006: The Afghan army is now up to 35,000 troops, half its eventual 70,000 man size. The emphasis has been on quality this time around. Past Afghan armies have used quantity, or just contingents sent by friendly tribes, to serve as the king's "army."

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghans Hail Al-Qa'eda -- (London Daily Telegraph)
Hundreds of Afghan students shouted support yesterday for Osama bin Laden and threatened to join al-Qa'eda in a protest against cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

Australia to send 200 more troops to Afghanistan -- (Reuters)
Australia will almost double its troop numbers in Afghanistan by sending a 200-member security and reconstruction team to the country's volatile south, Prime Minister John Howard said on Tuesday.

Some See Hand Of Former Governor Behind Muslim Clash In Afghanistan -- (Washington Post)
...Local officials and international observers said the violence was probably orchestrated by Khan in a possible move to return to power -- less than 18 months after he agreed to leave office in a well-publicized deal brokered by U.S. diplomats. Equally worrisome, observers said, is the apparent unwillingness of the U.S.-backed president, Hamid Karzai, to challenge Khan.

CARTOON CRISIS: MORE PROTESTS IN AFGHANISTAN -- (AKI)
Around 2000 protestors took part in a protest in Afghanistan on Monday against the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The demonstration was held at the Nangahar University, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, where reports say the students were shouting "long live Osama" and "long live Zawahiri", as well as anti-Danish and anti-American slogans. The students also called upon the Afghan president Hamid Karzai to shut down the Danish, American and French embassies and to send all their troops away from Afghanistan.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Another story you won’t hear reported in the mainstream media -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Jew tortured, murdered by Islamic gang in Paris

Another headline you didn’t read. Why? I don’t know. Because the mainstream media doesn’t consider it newsworthy, or purposefully ignores some stories and runs others. You decide which one is the correct answer.

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Bush, Fox Discuss Mexico Border Security -- (ABC News/ AP)
MILWAUKEE Feb 20, 2006 (AP)— President Bush and President Vicente Fox of Mexico exchanged ideas Monday on how to stop violence and improve security along the two countries' mutual border, the White House said.

La. Governor Unveils Home-Rebuilding Plans -- (AP)
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco outlined a $7.5 billion rebuilding, relocation and buyout plan Monday for thousands of residents whose homes remain damaged or destroyed after last year's hurricanes....

Katrina made police choose between duty and loved ones -- (Usa Today)
NEW ORLEANS — In 30 years as a cop, Paul Schubert says, he was called a lot of things — but never a coward.

Iran: End anti-cartoon violence -- (CNN)
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Iran's foreign minister has called for an end to violent protests over cartoons of Prophet Mohammed that have swept across the Muslim world after the images were published in several European newspapers.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

DP World Expands Worldwide, including to United States Ports. What effect on Port Security? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The sudden announcement that Dubai Ports of the United Arab Emirates (DP World) will soon take over the operation of six US seaports has set off alarm bells in Congress and among homeland security specialists. A bipartisan Congressional group has written a letter to Treasury Secretary John Snow, strongly objecting to ceding control of US ports to a country with a spotty record on terrorism. The US approval of this transaction couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Department of Homeland Security which is already reeling from Katrina criticism.

Family Matters -- [Strategy Page]
One of the most difficult forms of terrorism to deal are those that come from within. In Iraq and Afghanistan there are many instances of government officials backing away from going after terrorists because members of their own extended family have either joined the terrorists, or agreed to deliver threatening messages for the bad guys.

The Case of Louai Sakka -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Washington Post today has a fascinating story on al Qaeda operative Louai Sakka, a would-be bomber who accidentally set off the bomb in his own apartment in Antalya, Turkey. What is interesting is not just that Sekka has been active for years, learned how to make bombs in Iraq, provided dozens of Salafist jihadi with fake documents, and had big plans for blowing up Israeli and U.S. targets.
What is really interesting is that he had money to burn. He had undergone plastic surgery on his face to alter his identification, put down $60,000 on a luxery apartement near the beach,

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

GOP Governors Threaten to Block Port Deal -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Two Republican governors are threatening legal action to block an Arab company from taking over operations in major U.S. ports and some GOP lawmakers say the deal should be closely examined. In the uneasy climate after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration decision to allow the transaction is threatening to develop a major political headache for the White House.

Saudi students invade U.S. Universities [25,000 US Visas over 5 years] -- (WorldNetDaily)
More than 10,000 students from Osama bin Laden's homeland are attending U.S. colleges and universities this year, thanks to an agreement between President Bush and King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. While U.S. universities welcome the Saudis – especially because Riyadh is paying 100 percent of their tuition and enrollment costs – some critics see potential security problems associated with the tremendous influx of Muslim students from a closed society that virtually invented Wahhabism, the radical brand of Islamism that spawned al-Qaida. Because of the agreement, as many as 25,000 Saudi students are expected to arrive over the next five years, with all their bills paid by the Saudi ...

U.S. Reclassifies Many Documents in Secret Review -- (NY Times)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 — In a seven-year-old secret program at the National Archives, intelligence agencies have been removing from public access thousands of historical documents that were available for years, including some already published by the State Department and others photocopied years ago by private historians.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

I am going to Atlanta to hug the Col. -- [The German Princess - a Soldiers' Angel]
...So I went to the Website and picked the first Telephone Number I've seen, and it was the phonenumber of Lt.Col.Ledee! He picked up the phone and I told him that I am a German Soldiers Angel and that a Soldier of mine is in serious need. He asked me what Military Service I am supporting and I said "The United States Military Service of course!"

Then he asked where I am calling from. From Germany. He was so surprised that a German Chick called him to request stuff for the Troops

POLITICS

Fukuyama throws in the towel -- [Neptunus Lex]
In a long, but fascinating article in this weekend’s NYT’s magazine, Francis Fukuyama, the Johns Hopkins scholar, and author of “The End of History and the Last Man,” declares himself at last to be a former Neo-Con, that “Neoconservatism, as both a political symbol and a body of thought, has evolved into something I can no longer support.” While clearly sympathetic to the goal of promoting democracy as the highest form of good governance in the world, Fukuyama states

Coulter and Huffington Duke It Out On Hannity & Colmes -- [Expose the Left]
Conservative author and columnist Ann Coulter and liberal “blog” hostess and Drudge Report wannabe Arianna Huffington appeared on Hannity & Colmes tonight to discuss unhinged liberals, which are now accepted in the mainstream of the Democratic party

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Democratic Senators Push For Military Pay Increase That Exceeds Bush's Proposal -- (Washington Post)
Ten Democratic senators are urging the Senate Budget Committee to provide military personnel with a 2007 pay raise higher than the 2.2 percent increase proposed by the president.

Approval for Cheney Stands at 29% in U.S. -- (Angus Reid Global Scan)
Few adults in the United States are satisfied with the performance of their vice-president, according to a poll by SRBI Public Affairs published in Time. 29 per cent of respondents approve of the job Dick Cheney has done in the Bush administration, down three points since January.

Ex-Malasian Leader Says He Paid Abramoff -- (AP)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Monday that disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was paid $1.2 million to organize his 2002 meeting with President Bush, but denied the money came from the Malaysian government....

Bush Promotes Renewable Energy Proposals -- (AP)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - President Bush says he wants to diversify the nation's energy mix to end America's dependence on foreign oil, yet some critics are wary of his commitment and point to cutbacks at a government energy laboratory here. Two weeks ago, 32 workers, including eight researchers, were laid off at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. The lab helps develop the very renewable energy technologies the president is promoting.

THE MEDIA

More Controversy, Crap, & Confusion! -- [Captain's Quaters]
Yesterday I noted an interview with former Senator Alan Simpson and his statement that the Washington press corps seemed to specialize in "controversy, crap, and confusion". I asked CQ readers to send me their best logos for what should shortly become a classic motto for the DC gaggle. I posted a couple of entries I received shortly after I asked in my original post, but here are a few others that have come in since. Click on the link to

Will The NYT Ed Board Listen to NYT Reporters? -- [Media Blog]
The NYT has published back-to-back articles about how the military is turning things around in Iraq. First, Dexter Filkins published this article in the New York Times Magazine. The article is billed on the cover as "The U.S. Military Gets It Right, Too Late." I didn't think the piece was as pessimistic as that headline suggested. Filkins noted that sectarian violence might have progressed to the point where the military can't turn things around, but he didn't declare defeat inevitable. He charted progress in the military's methods for dealing with the insurgency and praised the new strategies of the commanders who are training the Iraqi forces to police their own country.

Delta Force -- The TV Show? -- [Banter in Atlanter]
Eric Haney, a bonafide Jawja boy and author of Inside Delta Force (a great book) is writing and filming a television show about his experiences as a Delta Force operator. The pilot episode of The Unit is set to air on March 7th at 9pm on CBS.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

A Small Example of Blogging Helping the Army -- [Miserable Donuts]
Two e-mails I recently received have shown me that blogging is a good thing for the Army. First off, I had one from a fellow Army Major, a staff officer at a higher headquarters that was going to be responsible for a new unit, the same type as mine. He was hoping that I could share some of our procedures with them.

CONGRATS

Happy Anniversary to Us! -- [A Soldier's Wife]
I have been spending the last 10 days soaking up Sgt Wally while he's on leave! Since he's still snoozing away this morning, I decided to take this time to blog a little about the wonderful anniversary we just spent together!

WELCOME HOME

On the Way Home! -- [Courage withour Fear - leaving Iraq]
Micah sent me an e-mail to let me know where he is in the journey home and asked me to update everyone. It says he arrived in Kuwait yesterday after spending a few days at the Baghdad airport. He says he'll be leaving Kuwait soon, but of course, can't tell me when...

Guess where I am? -- [A Soldier's Diary - leaving Iraq]
I finally landed in Kuwait! Sweet! It is nice here, good food - I had McDonald's for the first time since July, it was delicious! I tell ya, you crazy civilians and all your wonderful little things you take for granted. I will be in NJ in the next few days, assuming nothing goes wrong with our flight out of here.

Dawn Patrol

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

BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE -- [American Citizen Soldier - in Iraq]
A CONVERSATION WITH A CITIZEN OF MOSUL
A self-described 58-year-old medical doctor, husband and father of three daughters, this Iraqi blogger who writes under the name "Truth Teller" has been posting his opinions and observations about his home country of Iraq since January 2005. He recently agreed to be interviewed by email for the first in a planned three-part series of ACS interviews with local Iraqis.

An Interview with Colonel Davis -- [The Fourth Rail - Bill Roggio]
Colonel Stephen W. Davis is the regimental commander of Regimental Combat Team -2, 2nd Marine Division, serving in AO Danger in Western Iraqi. His area of operation is comprised of the Qaim Region on the Syrian Border to the Triad cities of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana, as well as Rutbah, Anah, and Khan Al Baghdadi. I embedded with RCT-2 from November 26 to December 17th of 2005.

Iraq wants to join the NATO! -- [IRAQ THE MODEL - an Iraqi in Iraq]
The senior advisor in the Iraqi defense ministry Mohammed al-Askari told the press today that the ministry is looking forward to seeing Iraq become a member of the NATO and that the minister Sa'doun al-Dulaimi, the chief of staff and the higher commanders are planning to propose this plan to the new government once it's seated.

Route clearance -- [Sappersgt - in Iraq]
...if there ever was a mission which can be described as six months of boredom interspersed with thirty seconds of terror, this is it. Haji isn't too busy with the IEDs lately. This is a Good Thing, but leaves us starting at dirt mounds and tearing up trash piles on the side of the road for lack of anything constructive to do. Wheeeee! The biggest excitement so far was the other night, when a transformer exploded in a shower of white sparks that got us going for a whole. . . 5 seconds.

THE NEWS ILLUSION AROUND THE WARRIOR -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
We travel a lot around the country of Iraq we we see alot of great things being done by the Coalition & Iraqi forces. Im sorry, but to hear nothing but how the VP shot a fellow hunter, a four legged show mutt bailed at the air port and has ran away, or any other sorry filler for “news” is a dang disgrace.

The lights are out.
-- [An independent look at Iraq -- freelance journalist in Iraq]
The life of a very freelance war correspondent is great. I'm tapping this out in my darkened hotel "suite." The power's gone out for the umpteenth time today.
Electricity, as many of you know from reading articles out of Iraq, is a huge sore point with the locals. There isn't enough of it to go around for everyone to have 24-hour, seven-days-per-week power.

Taking care of DOD civilians -- [Intel Dump - Phillip Carter - home on leave from Iraq]
While I'm back here on leave, I thought I'd pen a note about a story that I read in this morning's Washington Post concerning DOD civilians in Iraq. The story observes that there are a number of government employees over there during a great job for the U.S. military. Unfortunately, however, these civilians aren't getting as good of a deal as others who happen to be over there as contractors:

Northern Iraq: A Photo Gallery -- [Michael Totten]
...Looking into Iran on the road to Biara.
Biara is exactly, precisely, on the border between Iraq and Iran. If you walk twenty feet beyond the last house you’ll be outside Iraq. I took this photo, facing into Iran, from the center of the village.

Engineering -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Army Engineers from the 505th Engineer Battalion Charlie Company worked through the night to repair holes left from the destruction of an Improvised Explosives Devices in Mosul. Charlie Co. leaves the wire four times a week to repair roadsides. They do this to protect coalition forces and to deter Anti-Iraqi Forces from ...

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

US troops taught Iraqi gestures -- (BBC News)
The US military has funded a computer game to teach its troops how to use and decipher Iraqi body language.
The purpose is to teach soldiers that using the wrong gestures can potentially cause offence and escalate already tense situations.

U.S. Church Alliance Denounces Iraq War -- (Seattle Post Intelligencer/ AP)
A coalition of American churches sharply denounced the U.S.-led war in Iraq on Saturday, accusing Washington of "raining down terror" and apologizing to other nations for "the violence, degr... (photo: U.S. Army file)
CBS News

Iraqi Political Parties Run Into Obstacles -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi political parties have run into major obstacles in talks on a new national unity government, officials said Sunday, raising the possibility of a major delay that would be a setback to U.S. hopes for a significant reduction in troop levels this year. On Monday, two kidnapped Macedonian contractors were released in the southern city of Basra, a British official said.

Iraq Warned Over Creating Sectarian Govt -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq warned Iraqi politicians Monday they risk a loss of American support if they do not establish a genuine national unity government, saying the United States will not invest its resources in institutions run by sectarians....

U.S.-Funded Power Plant on Line in Iraq -- (AP)
BASRA, Iraq (AP) -- Glistening in Iraq's barren southern salt plains, a natural gas-driven power station has come on line, generating sorely needed electricity for war-weary Iraqis and demonstrating that much-maligned U.S.-led reconstruction efforts are beginning to bear fruit....

AFGHANISTAN

GI injured in Afghan war wins lawsuit; Unique case: Court awards default judgment to man blinded in one eye." -- [How Appealing -Howard Bashman] HT: Instapundit
Saturday's edition of The Salt Lake Tribune contained an article that begins, "A Utah soldier blinded in one eye during a firefight in Afghanistan that killed his comrade has won a default judgment against a father accused of training his young son to be a terrorist."

Swedish Troops Head for Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
Sweden is sending some 400 troops to Afghanistan, to form the core of a PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team). Although Sweden has been militarily neutral for nearly two centuries, it has been active in contributing troops to peacekeeping missions.

Why Indian Troops Are In Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
February 17, 2006: India is sending 300 special police (Indo-Tibetan Border Police, or ITBP) to Afghanistan to help guard Indians working there on reconstruction projects. Eighty of the ITBP are already in southern Afghanistan, guarding Indians helping to build roads there.

Egyptian Doctor Pickup -- [Miserable Donuts]
In May of 2004, the Egyptian Hospital at Bagram AF was rotating its doctors. The new docs were flying in to Kabul International Airport, and the Egyptians asked for some help in retrieving them and their luggage. Our Task Force agreed and CSM Mark Bowman arranged some vehicles and personnel to go get them. The CSM also had been paying particular attention to what had been going on in our area, and thought that a whole load of Coalition medical personnel would be the highest value target to roll up or down the road in quite some time. So, being a top-notch NCO, he went and coordinated a little helicopter support.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

GI, Widow Win $102.6M Judgment for Attack -- (AP)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A soldier wounded in Afghanistan and the widow of his slain comrade were awarded a $102.6 million judgment from the estate of a suspected al-Qaida financier.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

US draft dodger monument -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...Here's the planned memorial sculpture, courtesy of the Our Way Home Reunion website.
What's really confusing is this statement on the Our Way Home website:
"The Our Way Home Reunion will also honour the courage of those resisting current US militarism by seeking safe haven in Canada now, during the US war in Iraq. The Our Way Home Reunion will honour the thousands of Canadians who helped them resettle in this country, both then and now."

Who exactly would need to seek a safe haven in Canada now, during the US war in Iraq? There's no draft.

Spreading peace in the name of Allah -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
I can’t find anything in the Qur’an that encourages putting a tire over a Christian and burning him to death. Where is that part again?

US Navy asked to act as Somali "fishery patrol" -- [EagleSpeak]
In a sort of logical follow-on to anti-piracy efforts off the Somali coast, the "Somali government" has asked for some help from the US Navy in keeping its coastal waters free of illegal fishermen, as reported here:

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Hugo Chavez to Condi Rice: 'Don't mess with me, girl' -- (Yahoo News)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez launched a new verbal attack against US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, bluntly warning her "don't mess with me, girl."

U.S. Marines 'Devastated' After Crash -- (AP)
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Ten U.S. service members died when a pair of Marine Corps helicopters from a unit based in North Carolina crashed off the coast of Africa, U.S. military officials confirmed Sunday. The two CH-53E choppers, carrying a dozen crew and troops from a U.S. counterterrorism force, went down during a training flight Friday in the Gulf of Aden, near the northern coastal town of Ras Siyyan in Djibouti.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

American Al-Qaida Operative Surfaces Again in Bin Laden Video Release -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
As wire agencies are now reporting, Al-Qaida's As-Sahab Productions unit has released a full-length visual presentation of Usama Bin Laden's latest audio recording first broadcast on Arab satellite television last month. Interestingly, one of the versions of the UBL audio released by As-Sahab includes English-language voice-overs by "Azzam al-Amriki", an American Al-Qaida operative who has been identified as California-native Adam Gadahn.

Islamic Terrorists Turning Into Gangsters -- [Strategy Page]
A growing concern is the growth of the "Islamic gangster" element in the criminal underground. With the disappearance of nations where terrorist training facilities can be maintained, there is no way to prepare, and evaluate, candidates to be really effective terrorists.

Monday's Winds of War: 20 Feb 2006 -- [ Winds of Change]
...Other topics today include: Sakka admits funding attacks; Israel sanctions on PA; IDF arrest IJ terrorists; Palestinian parliament convenes; Iranian suicide bombers prepared; US broadcasts in Iran; Iranian propaganda in Europe; al Aqsa commander arrested; Iran demands British withdrawal from Basrah; Lebanese parliament gives Lahoud 1 month; Iranian talks with Russia; Islamic Jihad chief killed near Nablus; Rice presses Syria; Able Danger; Port Security; Jury selection in Moussaoui trial; No bond for Padilla; Islamic charities in the U.S.; LAX warnings; US protests; Russian-Hamas relations; Tensions between Russia & Georgia; Beheadings in Pakistan; More Taliban attacks; Protests in Pakistan;

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Bin Laden Vows Never to Be Captured Alive -- (AP)
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Osama bin Laden vowed never to be captured alive and said the U.S. military had become as "barbaric" as Saddam Hussein in an audiotape reposted on a militant Islamic Web site after first being broadcast last month. In the tape posted to the Web site Monday, bin Laden offered the United States a long-term truce but also said his al-Qaida terror network would soon launch a fresh attack on American soil. The tape was initially broadcast Jan. 19 on Al-Jazeera, the pan-Arab satellite channel.

TERRORISM: FBI INFILTRATED U.S. PAKISTANI COMMUNITY, COURT HEARS -- (AKI/DAWN)
San Francisco, 20 Feb. (AKI/DAWN) - An FBI informer in a terror case against two Pakistani Americans was paid 250,000 dollars to infiltrate the Pakistani-American community in Lodi, California, a defence attorney has said. In her opening statement at the trial of Hamid Hayat, 23, and his father Umer Hayat, 48, lawyer Washma Mojaddidi charged that the government case was founded on cultural ignorance that confused a wedding party for a terrorist gathering and depended heavily on the testimony of an FBI-funded informer. The younger Hayat is charged with materially supporting terrorist activity and three counts of initially lying to FBI agents.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Letter’s From Home -- [Pass the Brass - in Iraq]
Today I picked me up a letter from Kat in GA. Thanks for writing Kat! You and your family’s support is received with an abundance of gratitude! With the media potraying us as “occupants” and oft times criminal, it’s good to see that there still are good ole home grown Americans who are with us all the way.

Valour-IT Update -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
As I've mentioned here before, Project Valour-IT has been expanding exponentially. The Sponsor a Wounded Soldier program was created under Valour-IT to match up donors with wounded soldiers who would appreciate knowing they haven't been forgotten throughout their recovery period. This has resulted in our better getting out the word to wounded warriors who can benefit from Valour-IT, and so we are averaging several requests a day.

“Operation Firing For Effect” -- [Iraq War News]
This is the first in a series of public relation releases to be published concerning Operation Firing For Effect and The Veteran’s March on the 25th and 26th of April 2006 to be held in Washington, DC.
...The objectives are very simple and straight forward. First, we want to draw public awareness and media attention to serious problems facing our former military personnel and their families. Second, we want to send a message to our Congress and Senate demanding Veterans Affairs issues take precedence over special interest issues. Third, we want to send a message to our deployed troops that we support them and they can count on us to fight for the protection of their earned benefits and services.

MILITARY

Air Force Losing Money to the Army -- [Strategy Page]
February 17, 2006: The U.S. Department of Defense is getting another $28.5 billion to spend next year (Fiscal 2007, which begins in October, 2006), for a total of $439.3 billion.. The biggest chunk of that (35 percent) goes to "Operations & Maintenance" (O&M). This is a key ingredient in making the American armed forces so effective,

MRE's, the Quasi Currency -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
MRE auction on E-bay causes "MRE-gate" scandal for US Army:
Meals, Ready to Eat, the prepackaged rations infamous among service members, remain hot collectibles on the online trading site eBay.com, despite defense officials’ efforts to stop the practice.
This is actually a scandal that the military is really working on clamping down on. Usually units keep a few spare boxes of MRE's on hand in case of a last minute tasking or a range comes up and soldiers need to get out there quick and there is no time to coordinate for chow for them. Now commanders are going through unit areas to search for spare boxes of MRE's to ensure no extra boxes are lying around that can be picked up and sold on E-bay to survivalists or the curious.

Around Your Army -- [Sgt Hook]
In an ongoing effort to keep the gentle reader informed about your Army, I’ve put together yet another roundup of your Soldiers spending their time in ways other than playing cards, drinking booze, and chasing women.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

POLITICS

University of Washington Doesn’t Like Black Sheep -- [Jump Blog]
As a kid I loved Robert Conrad’s portrayal of Pappy Boyington in Baa Baa Black Sheep. It would appear that many of the younger (and more clueless) residents of my state don’t share my enthusiasm. As reported by World Net Daily the utterly ignorant University of Washington student senate rejected a proposal to erect a memorial to the fighter ace and Congressional Medal of Honor awardee who volunteered with the Flying Tigers and sent 26 enemy fighters blazing into hell.
That’s not exactly shocking, but some of the senators comments were

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

NAACP Wants New Orleans Election Delayed -- (AP)
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Department of Justice should postpone upcoming elections in New Orleans until displaced voters have been located, NAACP officials said Saturday....

Congressmen threaten probe of U.S. seaports deal -- (Washinton Times)
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle yesterday threatened a congressional investigation of a deal to give control of six U.S. seaports to an Arab company, while one key Republican said the Bush administration's security reassurances were not adequate.

Bush Tries His Hand at Winter Sports -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush tried his own version of winter sports this weekend - two bike rides in subfreezing temperatures - after watching some of the Winter Olympics on Air Force One on Friday....

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

IED Roll-Up #14 -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
I got an email from “the Army” about these IED Roll-ups. While I’m glad that people are out there looking for OPSEC violations, I think they are slacking a little in their research. I was asked a key question in the email: “are you ensuring that specific unit related information and route information is not published to ensure the safety of soldiers and Marines?” Now, I have to admit I was a little offended.

Obviously, they aren’t READING my IED roll-ups to figure that out themselves. I can’t help but wonder if I was sent a mass email with a brief change to the first sentence relating to my specific focus. Their goal in sending the email wasn’t to curtail what I’m posting, “but only to ensure that specific identifying information” wasn’t getting read by the enemy. After all, anti-Iraqi forces and terrorists owe their resilience in part to their “canny exploitation of the Internet“.

WELCOME HOME

27th Public Affairs Det. Coming Home! -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
The 8 person unit deployed to Iraq in March 2005 and worked for the first six months of their deployment in Balad, Iraq and produced the Anaconda Times, a newspaper for the military community assigned to Logistical Support Area Anaconda. During the remainder of the unit's deployment, they produced the Victory Weekly newspaper for the Multi-National Corps - Iraq.

Dawn Patrol

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

“This is Your Country” -- [Michael Totten - back from Iraq]
...Iraqi Kurdistan is more pro-American than America. People there refer to George W. Bush as “Hajji Bush” (meaning he made the Muslim pilgrimage, the hajj, to Mecca), an incredibly high honor for a Christian from Texas whom most people hate. Bill Clinton may have been America’s first “black” president. But people in at least one part of the world say Bush is the first “Muslim” president. Weird and amazing, but true.

A Handshake -- [Chapter War - in Iraq]
Although numerically speaking their contribution is small, the presence of other nations of the coalition is largely felt. They are a small percentage of the entire force in - country yet they are highly visible and seen everywhere.

Recruiting for Iraq: not a crime -- [Counter terrorism Blog]
“The recruitment of volunteers to fight in Iraq against American soldiers cannot be considered under any point of view a terrorist activity.” These words, which would have been more fitting in the speech of a radical anti-war militant, were the core of the ruling with which a Milan Court of Appeals acquitted three men linked to Ansar al Islam (the motivation of the November 2005 ruling were made public only recently and excerpts from it can be found here).

The luckiest IA of all time. (graphic photos) -- [An independent look at Iraq - journalist embedded in Iraq)
..The junedi was guarding the parking lot outside the Abu Ghraib Council Hall, located not far from the prison and a fairly violent mosque. There were other junedis out there too. Some one stopped, aimed and shot looking for a kill. It was an area the IA and 1st of the 87th Infantry, had taken some contact in. Nothing major, the guys out there said, just some small roadside bombs and pot shots.

Valentine's Day -- [Kimberly Johnson - embedded journalist for USA Today]
...Battalion commander Lt. Col. John Norris allowed me to accompany him Tuesday as he conducted a walk-through of a newly completed regional training center for Iraqi forces, just outside of Mosul on the campus of what was once an agricultural college. The training center has been a major focus for Norris and the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTCI), which oversees the ramp up of Iraqi security forces. The center is one of six scattered around the country, where recruits will receive intensive instruction, such as medical and hand-to-hand combat training.

Exclusive: Prisoner Abuse Photos from Iraq that MSM Won't Show You -- [**Jawa Report Exclusive**]
The Jawa Report has obtained new photos from a new prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq. The photos show Iraqi prisoners being murdered by troops. The photos have not been published by a single mainstream news outlet.

The war no one sees... -- [My Iraqi Saga - in Iraq]
Hey everyone! I was doing my job today in Media Outreach and part of that is to scan all the news coming out of Iraq and see if there are any good stories to try to get ran in soldiers' hometowns. Today I ran across this article and absolutely loved it! It's well written by a real subject matter expert. This is the sort of thing people should share with family and friends, this is the stuff that everyone should be hearing about!

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Rumsfeld Slams War Statements By Murtha -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, in his first public faceoff with Rep. John P. Murtha since the Pennsylvania Democrat called for a quick U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, rejected yesterday the congressman's charge that the U.S. cannot win the war.

Billions Asked For Afghans And Iraqis -- (New York Times)...David S. Cloud
The Bush administration sent a request to Congress on Thursday for $72.4 billion in additional funds for the current fiscal year, largely to pay for military operations and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Provincial officials call on Danish troops to leave over Mohammed cartoons -- (Azzaman)
Danish troops will have to leave unless their government officially apologizes for the publication of cartoons abusing Prophet Mohammed, Basra’s provincial council has said.
In a statement the council made the stay of Danish troops in the country contingent on a public apology by their government.

Australian TV Defends Abuse Broadcast -- (AP)
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- An Australian television network on Thursday defended airing graphic images of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, amid U.S. concerns the photographs could heighten anti-U.S. sentiments in the Middle East and endanger the lives of American troops....

Support eroding for reappointment of Iraqi prime minister -- (Mercury News /Knight Ridder Newspapers)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Opposition is growing to reappointing Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, just days after he narrowly won the support of his political slate, the United Iraqi Alliance, for the job.

Gunmen Kidnap Iraqi Bank Boss and His Son -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Gunmen wearing Iraqi special forces uniforms have kidnapped a wealthy banker and his son after killing five of their bodyguards, police said Friday. Police found the bodies of three men who had been shot execution-style in northern Baghdad.

The Other Americans In Iraq -- (Washington Post)...Thomas E. Ricks
When Americans think about Iraq they tend to focus on the 137,000 U.S. troops here. But there also are 944 Defense Department civilian employees working in the country.

Wis. Referendums Call for Troop Withdrawal -- (AP)
KEWAUNEE, Wis. (AP) - Peace activist Jill Bussiere wants the United States to bring its troops home from Iraq immediately, so she went door-to-door in this community in the hopes of getting others to join her cause. Bussiere helped organize a petition drive that resulted in a referendum on Iraq being put on the ballot during Kewaunee's upcoming spring election.

AFGHANISTAN

UK to Deploy Apaches to Afghanistan -- [ROFASix]
The UK is deploying its AH-64D Apache Longbows to Afghanistan. I have always admired the Brits. They are tenacious warriors and first class soldiers. My only wonder is where they get such soldiers. Between their wussy government and altruistic citizens the fact they are able to find and train warriors has always been a wonder.

In Bound -- [The Siegrist Blogs]
As I write this Chalk 1 from big windy should be on short final for landing in Germany. We sent a hook and some BW people out today for their long awaited journey back home to Gieb. Job well done for all those who are on their return trip back home. Not much longer

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: EX-GUERRILLAS READY TO COMPROMISE AS NEW ASSEMBLY GAINS PACE -- (AKI)
Kabul, 16 Feb. - The Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), has emerged as the single largest party in the recent Afghan parliamentary elections. Yet the HIA is also against the presence of the US-led forces in Afghanistan and calls for a jihad in the Kunar valley which has seen bloody attacks on US forces.

PAKISTAN: KABUL CALLS ON ISLAMABAD TO TACKLE TERRORISTS -- (AKI)
The Afghan government has handed over a list of some 150 Taliban suspects and other militants who Kabul believes are responsible for a series of cross-border terrorist attacks on Afghan territory.

Four Canadian soldiers hurt in two vehicle accidents in Afghanistan -- (Canada Dot Com)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - Two more Canadian soldiers have been injured in a road accident, this time in a collision Thursday involving a light truck and an armou...

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Japanese Officials Raid Companies Suspected of Aiding North Korean WMD Programs -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
The Japanese government has begun a crackdown on businesses exporting possible WMD technology to North Korea. The first raid was of a company suspected of exporting nuclear technology to North Korea:
Investigators raided the headquarters of Mitutoyo Corp. on Monday morning, according to a company official who refused to be named, citing internal regulations. The official said she could not provide further details, but said the company was "cooperating fully" with investigations.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

TRUE AMERICAN WAYS -- (WorldNews)
"THE AMERICAN WAY" is possibly the catchiest tried and true maxim of all American clichés. It is most often used by Americans in fond reference to matters which make them proud, and there are many, but when these same words are spoken by non Americans, their meaning sometimes takes on a different twist, one which was not intended by the fathers of American lexicology.

Russia: Strike On Iran Could Stir Muslims -- (USA Today)...Unattributed
Russia's top military officer warned the United States that a military strike against Iran's nuclear plants could incite a global Muslim uprising.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Al Qaeda...in Lebanon -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Revelations of Al Qaeda's presence in Southern Lebanon has not been given much press. It seems to me nonetheless an interesting and important development. I just wrote a piece on that topic for TCS Daily.

Islamic recruiting in Europe -- [Peace like a River]
A report by Michael Taarnby entitled Recruitment of Islamist Terrorists in Europe: Trends and Perspectives looked at a process that isn't understand in exquisite detail, the means by which terrorists are recruited into terror networks in Europe. The report was funded by the Danish Ministry of Justice, and was published Januray 14 2005.

The Emperor Has No Clothes -- [Sgt Hook]
It seems the United Nations has issued a “report” calling for the immediate closure of the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the release of all the terrorists detainees residing there.

Reserving comment on the “United Nations” (oxymoron?) as an effective international body actually worth a fuck (pardon my french), let me just ask, “why it is, said body is calling for shutting down Gitmo?”

United Nations: "Close Guantanamo Bay", United States: "Up yours!" -- [Gun Toting Liberal]
...I know you've all heard this argument before, but these bastards are NOT mere "criminals", they are sworn enemies of the United States of America and we are still at battle with their fellow pedophiles. As long as this is the case, I personally, fully agree they must be generously afforded all of the rights of enemy combatants under the Geneva Conventions. And they are.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Annan Says U.S. Should Close Gitmo Prison -- (AP)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday said the United States should close the prison at Guantanamo Bay for terror suspects as soon as possible, backing a key conclusion of a U.N.-appointed independent panel. White House spokesman Scott McClellan rejected the call to shut the camp, saying the military treats all detainees humanely and "these are dangerous terrorists that we're talking about."

UK to build ties with banned Islamist group -- (The Guardian)
A leaked Foreign Office memo published yesterday reveals that the government is to establish ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group banned by the Egyptian go...

Al Qaeda has 50-year plan, UK police say -- (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
| Britain's anti-terrorism chief said that the Al Qaeda threat was unlikely to be defeated in a mere five or 10 years, but that it was more likely to take police 50 years to get on top of the group's

White House Ordered to Release Spy Papers -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge ordered the Bush administration on Thursday to release documents about its warrantless surveillance program or spell out what it is withholding, a setback to efforts to keep the program under wraps.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Why Angels Write All Those Letters -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
This email was received by another angel at Soldiers Angels, from a soldier her daycare had adopted. It beautifully explains why angels do what they do.

Stats From Recent Visit to Landstuhl and Kleber -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Backpacks and Duffel Bags
118 Transitional Backpacks were provided to the Chaplains office, DWMMC, and 101st Liaison at Landstuhl and the outpatient barracks at Kleber.

MILITARY / MILITARY LIFE

Can I Have a Volunteer from the Audience, Please. -- [Miserable Donuts]
I was invited by the daughter of a Soldier's Angel to help with her school project. She was doing a comparison of World War I soldiers and those of today. While I talked, I had a young volunteer from the class put on as much of my gear as he could fit. He was a good sport about it.

What were they thinking??? -- [Semper Fi]
To Keep Recruits, Boot Camp Gets A Gentle Revamp
Army Offers More Support, Sleep, Second Helpings
"Today, the Army is opting for a quieter approach. "I told my drill sergeants to stop the nonsense," says Col. Edward Daly, whose basic-training brigade graduates about 11,000 soldiers a year. Last fall, Col. Daly began meeting with all new recruits shortly after they arrive at boot camp to thank them. "We sincerely appreciate the fact that you swore an oath and got on a bus and did it in a time of war," he recently told an incoming class. "That's a big, big deal."

Pentagon to commence 6.8 million dollar financial education program -- [ Counter Column]
The effort will be paid for out of the $12 million dollar fine that First Command had to cough up to securities industry regulators.
The Pentagon, securities regulators and lawmakers from both parties have developed a $6.8 million program aimed at giving the 1.4 million people in the U.S. military and their families reliable financial advice.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Don't Dumb Down The Army 99 -- (New York Times)
Cambridge, Mass.--DESPITE claims to the contrary by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the Army is facing a manpower crisis. The evidence can be found in two separate reports released last month — one commissioned by the Pentagon, the other by Congressional Democrats — and in this simple fact: last year the Army accepted its least qualified pool in a decade.

Bush Aide Denies Exit Tied To Chaplain Issue --(Washington Times)...Joseph Curl and Julia Duin
Claude A. Allen, the top White House adviser on domestic policy, said he is not leaving the post today to protest new military guidelines urging chaplains to perform only "non-denominational, inclusive prayer or a moment of silence."

POLITICS

Dick Morris Joins “Cheney Was Drunk” Brigade (VIDEO) -- [Expose the Left]
... from Dick Morris suggesting Cheney may have been hammered and that the secret service and other members of the hunting party are covering for him (which I guess we can attribute to “Post-traumatic Clinton Syndrome” and

Debunking Cheneygate Myths -- [WizBang]
A few of the spinning lefties, notably firedoglake, have noted that The Smoking Gun has a copy of the official police report on the Dick Cheney hunting accident. Here's what they're not telling you...

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Sheriff: Dick Cheney Won't Face Charges -- (The Guardian)
SARITA, Texas (AP) - The sheriff's department closed its investigation Thursday into Dick Cheney's accidental shooting of a hunting partner and said no charges will be filed.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Airplanes and women -- [Neptunus Lex]
Sixteen reasons why airplanes are easier to live with than women:

Iran Expands Pastry-Name Retaliation to U.S. -- [ScrappleFace]
In a dramatic escalation of the conflict over cartoons, first published in Denmark, depicting a connection between terrorism and the founder of Islam, Iranian bakeries that retaliated this week by renaming Danish pastries as “Roses of the Prophet Muhammad,”

THE MEDIA

CNN Slams Fox? -- [Dude, where's the beach?]
It's just too rediculous. Instead of whining about being such a loser network and missing the Cheney scoop, why doesn't CNN enroll itself in a 'Cable News gym'. Go hire a personal 'Cable News Trainer' and work off that crusty, flabby, 1980's Ted Turner spare tire around your waist. After that

CONGRATS

Happy Anniversary or How my friends made my day! -- [The Hooker and his Girl - husband in Afghanistan]
Today is our 1st aniversary and I got invited by my friends for lunch. It was so neat and they really made my day just because of the thought not to let me be alone on such a special day !

Dawn Patrol

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

IED -- [Chapter War - in Iraq]
I saw it go off in the near distance. It did not look how I expected it might.
It more resembled a childs drawing, the kind that is scratched from black painted over another color.
...During one of these reprieves I saw the blast. It appeared as red lines shooting upwards into the blackness, formed as a vee. It looked almost as if a child had drawn it, and lasted for only a second. Moments later I heard the loud thud and felt its concussion in my chest, jolting through the vehicle.

AWE, EDUCATION, HATRED !!! -- [Children's Voice from Iraq - an Iraqi in Iraq]
In former regime time schools were very corrupted and now too, obviously there was teaching but under Ba’athists (Saddam’s men) basics. Basic 1 the headmaster has to be a member in Ba’ath party to control on the type of education that Ba’ath party wants in that region.
...This was one of thousands examples how they were doing in their missions and this continue until you get graduated from university.
Now still some teachers are doing this but fewer than past and secretly. I ask the new Iraqi government to take care about this to save our kids from crimes, terrorism and evil seeds before rain comes on it.

Baath Reborn -- [Strategy Page]
A major split may be imminent in the leadership of the Iraqi Baath Party. Most of its senior leaders mostly either dead or prisoners of Iraqi and Coalition forces. The balance of the party's leadership is in exile. Some are known to be in Syria

THE UNBREAKABLE CHAIN -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...I have been out and about a lot lately across Iraq. The destination names change but the Marines there are the same wherever you go. They have been trained with the same foundation of warrior ethos and know what is expected and demanded of them as Marines. We police our own and fix it if discipline strays or leadership weakens well before others get the chance to do it for us. As an officer if you see something wrong and you don’t correct it, your just as guilty...

They are us, yet they are better than we will ever be -- [Peace like a River]
Midwest Heroes has a new commercial running. It can be viewed here. The latest commercial lets us hear from family members of some who lost their lives in Iraq. It puts faces to the families behind the statistics. For every news report that condenses the heartstopping terror and confusion and exhilaration of combat to a brief notice that a soldier or Marine was killed, there is a family made up of people just like you and me who are left to struggle with the loss.

A Moment In Time -- [Hardtack and Havoc - in Iraq]
...Last night I was sewing up a blown out cargo pocket on my DCUs. I probably should have just turned them into patching material for my other uniforms but these were kind of special to me, also much like the private soldier of the Army of Tennessee their ain't no more where that one came from. They are kind of old and getting ratty cuz I have campaigned in them before which was why they are kinda special to me. They were issued to me on my last deployment which was to east Africa and saw good service there.
...Last night as I was, sitting, sewing (perish the thought) thinking, time bent around itself and a private soldier of the Army of Tennessee back in 1864, Civil War reenactor back in 2004 and deployed Sailor in Iraq sat down with needle and thread and mended a pair of trousers as one.

A Khaki World -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
...I miss the colors of the world, especially green. There is nothing here that is green save some water, the black-green helicopters, and the new light green/Khaki digpixel ACUs the troops are now wearing. The sparse vegetation is grayish-green or some other odd color. There are no bright, glowing greens, no luminescent comforting greens. There is no blue water. The rivers are a dark, dank, putrid mix of dark green and brown.

Ballistic Eyewear -- [Sappersgt -- in Iraq]
—goggles or glasses, either or—sucks. Because it has to close off your eyes, it has a tendency to fog up very badly in humid weather. Normally, in Iraq this is Not A Big Deal, but when it is pouring rain, the issue arises. Ballistic eyewear has become something of a fetish due to a high proportion of blast injuries to the eyes from this war. In 1st BCT, they are required whenever a helmet is worn regardless of the threat or lack thereof. Blahblahblah. I only worry about it when I’m likely to get caught or when I’m out on mission. Of course, on mission I ...

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

The Lessons of Counterinsurgency -- (Washinton Post)
TALL AFAR, Iraq -- The last time the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment served in Iraq, in 2003-04, its performance was judged mediocre, with a series of abuse cases growing out of its tour of duty in Anbar province.
But its second tour in Iraq has been very different, according to specialists in the difficult art of conducting a counterinsurgency campaign

Even Saddam must be given a chance -- (National Post)
Despite circus, guilt can't be presumed
NEW YORK - The trial of Saddam Hussein plumbed new depths of farce yesterday as the former Iraqi dictator announced that he and his seven co-accused were in their third day of a hunger strike to protest their treatment.

EXCLUSIVE: The Secret Tapes -- Inside Saddam's Palace -- (ABC News)
ABC News Obtains 12 Hours of Recordings of Saddam Hussein Meeting With Top Aides
Feb. 15, 2006 — ABC News has obtained 12 hours of tape recordings of Saddam Hussein meeting with top aides during the 1990s, tapes apparently recorded in Baghdad's version of the Oval Office.

The New Documents -- [The Weekly Standard]
The release of the Saddam tapes should neither be hyped nor dismissed.
FOR MORE than a year, THE WEEKLY STANDARD has sought the release of documents captured in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have pressured Pentagon officials, cajoled intelligence analysts, listened to would-be whistleblowers, interviewed Iraqis and filed numerous Freedom of Information Act requests with multiple government agencies. Today, because of two developments that have nothing to do with these efforts, we will all learn more about the captured documents and what they tell us about our enemies in the global war on terror.

Iraqis say Saddam could exploit Abu Ghraib images-- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein could seize on new images of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison to attack his U.S.-sponsored trial, which is intended to show that the days of such excesses are over, Iraqis said on Thursday.

Saddam Reportedly Warned U.S. of Terrorism -- (CBS News/ AP)
(AP) Saddam Hussein told aides in the mid-1990s that he warned the United States it could be hit by a terrorist attack, ABC News reported Wednesday, citing 12 hours of tapes the network obtained of the former Iraqi dictator's talks with his Cabinet.

Iraq Death Squad Claims Being Investigated -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq's Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into claims that a police death squad has been operating in the country, a top official said Thursday. Meanwhile, attacks around the country killed 10 people, including six Iraqis who died in a car bomb in Bagdad. Iraq Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari also condemned the latest images of detainees abused in the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in 2003, but noted that those responsible had already been punished.

Rebuilding suffers in Iraq -- (Denver Post)
Sadly, the Bush administration's goals to fix Iraq's war-beleaguered infrastructure will never be reached, according to a new government audit.
That's not because of a lack of will, or money, but because the U.S. government severely underestimated the power and reach of the Iraqi insurgency.

U.S. Iraqi military strategy aids radicals, critique says -- (Seatle Times/USA Today)...JOHN DIAMOND
WASHINGTON — The United States should rely more on indirect propaganda and allies in the Middle East, because the current military strategy is only helping radical Muslims, according to a West Point critique of U.S. terror policy.

The politics of fear (or how Tony Blair misled us over the war on terror) -- (The Independent)
HOW TONY BLAIR MISLED THE NATION
On 28 February 2005, with the Prevention of Terrorism Bill being discussed in Parliament, Tony Blair made the following comment to listeners to Women's Hour: "What they [the security services] say is that you have got to give us powers in between mere surveillance of these people - there are several hundred of them in this country who we believe are engaged in plotting or trying to commit terrorist acts -

AFGHANISTAN

"Warlords" -- [Miserable Donuts]
I am dismayed when the media uses the term "warlord" to describe various Afghan notables. There are very few that deserve that epithet.
...People like Mohammad Almos (Below and Left) are often described as "warlords" or "former warlords", especially in press accounts that parrot each other's points about the new Afghan parliament.

Afghani Ramblings... -- [Afghani Dan- in Afghanistan]
I went out on another of these missions this past weekend (any excuse to get out into town, but also to see more of the incredible difference our trained people and resources can make), and will get those photos up soon.
Burqas are still an absolutely jarring thing to witness in person. In a very religious region like this, the burqa is still omnipresent, and I really find it ghostly to watch them interact with each other.

Patterns of Violence in Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
Over the past year or so, the level of attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban and other opposition groups, including inter-group fighting, have averaged about 50 a week (the normal "range" seems to be between 40 and 60), though peaking during the September elections at about three times that many.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Tough G.I.'s Go to War Armed With Afghan ABC's -- (NT Times)
FORT DRUM, N.Y. — As the 10th Mountain Division prepared to go to Afghanistan this month, its Third Brigade ordered boxes of the Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid's seminal book "Taliban" to be issued to officers along with body armor, high-tech seven-layer cold weather uniforms and ballistic-grade Oakley Blade wraparound sunglasses.

Portugal Extends Military Mission in Afghanistan -- (Defense News / AFP)
Portugal will extend the mandate of its roughly 160 troops serving in a NATO-led international security force in Afghanistan until February 2007, the defense ministry said in a statement on Feb. 14.

Taliban claim success in killing four US troops -- (The Independent/ AFP )
KABUL...A purported Taliban spokesman said the battle showed the rebels were capable of conventional battle, despite claims to the contrary by Afghan officials. "Our men took positions in the area and were prepared in advance. We blew up one of their vehicles with a bomb and then we attacked the convoy from two sides," the spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, told AFP.

AFGHANISTAN: TWO ITALIAN AID WORKERS FOUND DEAD -- (AKI)
Rome, 16 Feb. (AKI) - Two Italian aid workers have been found dead in the Afghan capital Kabul, the Italian foreign ministry said Thursday.The bodies of Iendi Iannelli and Stefano Siringo were found in a guarded compound, there were no signs of violence and it was not clear how they had died, the ministry said.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Spinning up -- [Peace like a River]
Iran has put another card on the table in this high stakes game over its nuclear program
...He said International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors had observed Iranian scientists putting UF6 gas into a "very small number" of centrifuges, machines that can turn uranium into fuel for nuclear reactors or, if enriched to high levels, atomic bombs.

Hardline Bloggers: Baseej Embassy Attackers Confess Leadership Aided in Planning -- [Regime Change Iran]
...One of the embassy assailants describes his preparations for the attack in his personal web blog. He says the night before the attack, he and his friends used two cars and seven motorcycles to scout the Danish embassy and coordinated their efforts with the embassy guards. He also revealed that he and his “friends” carried gasoline tanks to the site and how they all planned to celebrate the event as a party. He specifically names ...

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Bush too weak to attack Iran over nuke issue: Poll -- (AFP / Independent)
Feb 14: Americans are deeply worried about the possibility that Iran will develop nuclear weapons and use them against the United States, but they also fear that the Bush administration will be too quick to order military action, USA Today reported Tuesday.
Citing a new USA Today/ CNN/Gallup poll, the newspaper said seven of 10 of those surveyed over the weekend said they were concerned that the United States would move prematurely to use force.

France: Iran Nuke Program a Military Cover -- (AP)
PARIS (AP) -- France's foreign minister said Thursday that Iran's nuclear program was a cover for clandestine military activity, in an unusually direct attack on Tehran for a European diplomat....

Last U.S. MASH unit bows out on humanitarian mission -- (Reuters)
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - The U.S. Army bade "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" to perhaps its best-loved institution on Thursday when it decommissioned its last Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) and handed it over to Pakistan.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

West Point Center Issues Al-Qa'ida Study With Newly Released Documents -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point has produced an interesting new study entitled, "Harmony and Disharmony: Exploiting Al-Qa'ida's Organizational Vulnerabilities" (browser-friendly view). The study includes documents, captured in the course of operations and stored in DOD's "Harmony" database, and released here for the first time to the academic and policy community. Brief summaries of the released documents and the full texts can be accessed from within the report, both in Arabic and in English.

Predator Attack Did Get Al Qaeda Brass -- [Strategy Page]
...DNA analysis of the bodies recovered from the attack on an al Qaeda meeting in Pakistan last month, have confirmed that the main target, al Qaeda number two leader Ayman al Zawahiri, was not there. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, it was apparent that al Zawahiri was late arriving at the dinner meeting. However

The Thwarted Weapons of Mass Destruction Strike on Jordan -- [Austin Bay]
In April 2004 Jordan claimed that its security forces and intelligence services had discovered and foiled an attempted chemical weapons attack. The Jordanians blamed Al Qaeda–including Jordanian-born Al Qaeda operative, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Knocking on Osama's Cave Door -- (Washington Post)
The CIA Operative Says He Was There at the Right Time. His Ex-Bosses Insist No One Was Home.
Gary Berntsen was known at CIA headquarters as an aggressive field operative, the type inclined to act first and ask permission later. But he possessed the right combination of brawn and brains for tough missions.

In the name of democracy -- (International Herald Tribune)
COPENHAGEN The Western democracies, so keen on exporting their political model to the rest of the world, seem to be perfecting the art of shooting themselves in the foot.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Troops Can Now Get Reimbursed... -- [Blonde Sagacity]
Finally! A new memo from the DOD details the equipment that deploying troops have been paying out of pocket for...and will now be reimbursed (if it was purchased between 9/2001 - 4/2006 for OIF, OEF and ONE)
"To be reimbursed for equipment, service members must complete DD Form 2902, "Claim for Reimbursement for Privately Purchased Protective, Safety or Health Equipment used in Combat." This form must be submitted to the service member’s chain of command or, for former members, to an authorizing official designated by their former service at an address on the form. All claims must be submitted by Oct. 3, 2006.

Powerlifters Pull for our Troops -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
The Niagara Powerlifting Club of Niagara Falls, NY will be donating the proceeds of their Red Brick Bench Press Championship to the 107th Air Refueling Wing Family Readiness Support Group for the second year in a row. The competition is scheduled for this Saturday, February 18th at 10:00 a.m. at Red Brick School in Lewiston, NY.

POLITICS

New PAC to Back Antiwar Veterans -- [Van Taylor Website]
...One Iraq veteran, Van Taylor, is seeking a House seat in Texas as a Republican.
"If there is one truism that I find with returning veterans, it is that they have seen the success we've accomplished in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they believe in the mission and want to complete it," said Larson, who last summer founded the group Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission.

Midlander Van Taylor draws local support in his race for Congress -- [Van Taylor Website]
Native Midlander Van Taylor of West is bringing his experience as a Marine Corps captain in Iraq to bear on his race for the 17th Congressional District seat with bumper stickers and yard signs saying, "I fought for you in Iraq. I'd like to fight for you in Washington."
..."I'm running for Congress for the same reasons I fought in Iraq. I want to make a better, stronger America for the next generation."

Surprise, surprise... As history shows, President Bush and VP Cheney have handled each of their unfortunate hunting accidents QUITE differently -- (Gun Toting Liberal)
...If you are the type of person who listens exclusively to the self-proclaimed "America's Anchorman", Rush Limbaugh, you might have easily missed the fact that both the criticism, and the humor being aimed at this whole story is coming from BOTH sides of the aisle.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

WASHINGTON - I told you people Dick Cheney was dangerous. -- (The Cincinnati Post)
Let's all wish a full and speedy recovery for Harry Whittington, the man Cheney accidentally shot on Saturday while they were out on in the Texas boonies hunting quail. As for the trigger-happy vice president, let's hope he takes this unfortunate episode as a hint to pack up his shotgun and go home. Lord knows he's done enough.

Franken: Cheney Was “Drinking” Or Being an “Amazing Jerk” For Not Going to Hospital -- [Expose the Left]
AL FRANKEN: It’s inconceivable that you don’t go to the hospital unless there’s a reason you don’t go to the hospital. If you had been drinking you wouldn’t go to the hospital. Or, you’re an amazing jerk, that’s the other, or both.

THE MEDIA

Helen Thomas hangs up on Hugh Hewitt. -- [Radio Blogger] HT: Right Side of Redux
appeared on the program a little while ago, and it didn't end well, with Ms. Thomas hanging up on Hugh. Here's how it went:...

Lunatics with pens are the most dangerous kind -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
What in the hell is wrong with Barry Saunders? This is exactly the sort of thing I said would happen in an earlier blog entry. Saunders wrote his piece yesterday, but I came across it after writing that the media consistently focuses on the wrong things. Saunders is either not serious or he’s a lunatic:

HUMOR / SATIRE

U.N. Tables Iran Nukes, Debates Cheney Threat -- [ScrappleFace]
United Nations Security Council today tabled discussion about how to react to Iran’s ongoing nuclear weapons development in order to take up debate on what to do about U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney’s recently disclosed weapons capabilities.

Long Feared "Bush Purge" Reportedly Now Underway, "Reality Based Community" Crying Out for Action
posted by Mr. Right -- [The Right Place]
All over America, in the dead of night, liberals are disappearing --- kidnapped from their beds by marauding, brown-shirted, goose-stepping Republican goon-squads, who show them no mercy! At least, that is what many have come to believe...

Dawn Patrol

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

Jalalabad PRT in the Media -- [Fortunate Son] MUST SEE VIDEO!
We've been getting some pretty decent media coverage as of late. Just the other day CSPAN ran a show covering a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) that was here last month. I wasn't a part of that one myself since I was out-of-town but some of my friends are interviewed at length in it.
The links are here and here (requires RealPlayer) ...

Tal Afar -- [Sappersgt - in Iraq]
Tal Afar is a dump. Now that you mention it, Iraq is a dump. But Tal Afar looks poorer than the area near Tikrit I was in last time. Certaintly rattier than Baghdad, according to the guys who spent a year there. It's also shot up pretty bad, demolished buildings, etc. The AIF fought to hold this town
and failed, but the price of throwing them out was a lot of collateral damage. On the bright side, a lot of construction is going on.
...Kids and adults in Tal Afar are generally friendly towards the Coalition, so we are told. I know I'm seeing very few 'death looks', and anyone who has been to Iraq knows what I mean.

This leads me to the next point. IA/IP. That's Iraqi Army/Iraqi Police. Wow. Lightyears beyond what I expected. They don't wear masks in Tal Afar, which means they aren't afraid of the AIF anymore. That's good. That's really good, actually. The IA/IP checkpoints are everywhere in Tal Afar--this is their town.

Glesne at War: Battalion Operation -- [War & Political Honesty - in Iraq]
Yesterday we participated in the Iraqi Army's battalion-sized operation.
We were up and at'em at 4am prepping the vehicle and checking our communications. After staging our vehicles we waited to move into position. After a few pictures of the excited IAs putting huge Iraq flags on their vehicles, we moved out and swung around the AO (area of operation) into our position.

Ingraham Talks About Her Iraq Trip (VIDEO) -- [Expose the Left]
Radio host Laura Ingraham, who just returned from a trip to Iraq, appeared on The O’Reilly Factor this evening. She discussed what she did, who she met, and the lack of good coverage the media is giving to the successes in the War.

The Dream City of the Kurds -- [Michael J. Totten - Middle East Journal - back from Iraq]
In no country are Kurds closer to realizing their dream of freedom and independence than they are in Iraq. They are wrapping up the finishing touches on their de-facto sovereign state-within-a-state, a fact on the ground that will not easily be undone. And they’re transforming the hideously decrepit physical environment left to them by Saddam Hussein – a broken place that is terribly at odds with the Kurdistan in their hearts and in their minds – into something beautiful and inspiring, the kind of place you might like to live in someday yourself.

Who's selling and who's buying? -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Just found this disturbing report regarding some worrisomely big weapon bazaar in Qurna, the largest town at the center of the triangle formed by Basra, Nasiriya and Amara.
Qurna is located 6 kilometers from the Iranian border, population around 100,000 with a strong presence for Sadrists and there's a story running among thr locals that their town was the spot where Adam first landed at on earth after he was expelled from heaven.

There are no men in black here -- [American Soldier - in Iraq]
There are no men in black here. This area that I am in is a slum hole. Some areas are built up like shacks upon shacks. Hidden nooks and holes in many of the walls for snipers to take pop shots at you. The roads are all tore up from IED’s of old or recent explosions. Every turn you take is a turn you take with ease. You turn the corner and a trash mound could be a hidden IED within it. The people look at you with such hate. Where is the winning of the hearts and minds? The children wave and we wave back. With any luck they will see that we have tried to help their people.

tick...tick...tick -- [Talking Salmons - in Iraq]
I’ve taken to counting Sundays. Well, I guess I don’t count them, but do notice them when they pass.

Sundays are seafood days at the dining facility – a good a marker as any. Every Sunday, when I walk in to get my fried shrimp and scallops to go, I say to myself, “Wow, Sunday again? Another week gone. Nice.”
The ritual is completed when I get to the office.

Soldiers are Human -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
It's true, underneath all this kevlar and body armor soldiers also have a heart and soul. Even though we sometimes don't show it, we even have feelings too. We are not always the cold-hearted ruthless trained warriors that is sometimes portrayed. Even when we may be on the front lines doing our job, our heart and soul can be in other places. Their is a balance that each soldier must find between the military and his personal life.

Mid - Tour Leave Briefing -- [Chapter War - in Iraq]
Families most frequent complaint about leave: Their soldier does not seem entirely present. Although physically present they act as if they are somewhere else mentally (know that this is normal and try not to take it personally).

Do not try to make major changes in the household while on leave. It is too disruptive. ...

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Grandmothers Arrested After Trying to Enlist -- (Yahoo News/ AP)
Several elderly women were locked up when they refused to a leave a military recruitment center.

Quick Rise For Purveyors Of Propaganda In Iraq -- (New York Times)...David S. Cloud
Two years ago, Christian Bailey and Paige Craig were living in a half-renovated Washington group house, with a string of failed startup companies behind them. Mr. Bailey, a boyish-looking Briton, and Mr. Craig, a chain-smoking former Marine sergeant, then began winning multimillion-dollar contracts with the United States military to produce propaganda in Iraq.

Iraqi battalions rapidly taking place of U.S. troops -- (ARMY TIMES /USA Today)
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The U.S. military says 40 percent of Iraq’s combat battalions are effective enough to have been given the lead role in fighting the insurgency, a key measure for determining when U.S. forces can be reduced.

Around Iraq In 4 Days -- (Los Angeles Times)...Doug Smith
U.S. Army historian Sherman Fleek came to Iraq to write the official record of postwar reconstruction. With thousands of projects underway across the country, there was a sense of urgency to his research.

The photos America doesn't want seen -- (Sydney Morning Herald)
MORE photographs have been leaked of Iraqi citizens tortured by US soldiers at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad.

Abu Ghraib Called Incubator For Terrorists -- (New York Times)...Thom Shanker
American commanders in Iraq are expressing grave concerns that the overcrowded Abu Ghraib prison has become a breeding ground for extremist leaders and a school for terrorist foot soldiers.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Reshuffles Their Brass -- [Strategy Page]
Taliban Reshuffles Their Brass
February 14, 2006: There was a major Taliban command conference in Pakistan recently. Some regional, provincial, and district commanders inside Afghanistan were shuffled around, and a couple actually relieved. In addition, ...

Candy and Flowers? -- [Miserable Donuts]
Flowers? Fake ones - a militia building and they have these fake flowers sitting on the desk for the highest ranking person. Not very militant, if you ask me.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Gas Pipeline Nears Reality -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Scott Baldauf
If all goes well this week, Afghanistan may soon be on its way to having a gas pipeline going through its territory.

AFGHANISTAN: NATO TROOPS BEGIN EXPANSION SOUTH -- (AKI)
Kabul, 15 Feb. (AKI) - The first batch of NATO troops that are to form part of the alliance's expanded operations in southern Afghanistan arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday. The troops from Britain, which in May takes control of NATO's Stabilisation Force in Aghanistan(ISAF), will be deployed to secure the area ahead of the arrival of more soldiers who will be flown in on British military aircraft. The NATO force is replacing a separate and much smaller American force which is hunting the Taliban.

Afghan Suicide Bombings, Tied To Taliban, Point To Pakistan -- (New York Times)...Carlotta Gall
Arrests and interrogations of suspects in a recent series of suicide bombings in Afghanistan show that the attacks have been orchestrated from Pakistan by members of the ousted Taliban government with little interference by the Pakistani authorities, Afghan officials say.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Citizens of New Orleans Should Control Federal Budget -- [Wizbang]
There is a story that all the New Orleans bashers are jumping all over. It seems some of the FEMA money sent to Katrina victims was "misspent." According to the Smoking Gun, here is a list of questionable expenditures from the GAO report.
45 calibre pistol--$1,300
Gentlemen's club--$1,200
Diamond engagement ring--$1,100

Army Transformation Continues In Korea -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
If brigade are going to be rotated into Korea that would mean then that the 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division would at some point in the near future either redeploy to the United States or even Iraq, much like what 2nd Brigade, 2ID did.

The last hurrah -- [Way Down In Kosovo - in Kosovo]
...For some reason, my amazing powers of deductive reasoning are completely lost on some of these people. Not all though. For instance my good friends Svezdan and his father Georgij agree with me completely. Georgij, whom I call "grandpa", is probably the wisest, kindest, and monetarily poorest man in the village. He likes to say that his neighbors are simple and selfish, but basically good people. I agree, but man can they be frustrating sometimes.
This has been true with our efforts to get their sewage problem underground, and it is likewise true of the effort to fix the whole water pump problem. This is what happened in the meeting...

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Japan: Managing Crisis With China Critical -- (DefenseNews.com)...Agence France-Presse
Japan said Feb. 14 that managing its deteriorating ties with China had become critical amid warnings of a potential military conflict between the neighbors that could drag in the United States.

SAUDI ARABIA: NO RED ROSES FOR VALENTINES -- (AKI)
Riyadh, 14 Feb. (AKI) - As millions of people around the world marked Saint Valentine’s Day, with gifts between loved ones and traditional red roses,a florist in the Saudi capital Riyadh has closed his shop for three days to avoid harassment by the kingdom's moral police, al-Watan daily reported. The Saudi religious authorities several years ago issued a fatwa which specified, "a Muslim is prohibited from celebrating, approving or congratulating on this occasion." Red roses are often a target of the moral police and many shops prefer closure to harassment.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Another Example of Muslim Hacking of American Websites -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
...I did come across some interesting info though. Lately my website has received frequent visits from people in Turkey clicking links to the site that have been posted on two separate forums, each of them clearly forums for Islamic cyberterrorists. They are here and here. I was not able to get into these forums to see what they were saying about my website, but I can only assume they were discussing plans of attack. I thought you might be interested in this information."

Terror Trial Begins for U.S. Citizens in Lodi, FBI Investigating Newspaper Leak -- [Jawa Report]
The trial for two Lodi, California, men who have extensive ties to terror supporters in Pakistan begins today. The Sacramento Bee, which has been following the case closely, is now the target of a FBI investigation over information it published from a sealed federal indictment.

Weldon Says Able Danger Data Was Not Destroyed!!! -- [QT Monsters]
Able Danger Blog has the transcript of Rep. Weldon's Able Danger press conference today. There is major breaking news here

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Weldon: 'Able Danger' ID'd Atta 13 Times -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pre-Sept. 11 intelligence conducted by a secret military unit identified terrorist ringleader Mohamed Atta 13 different times, a congressman said Tuesday....

325,000 Names on Terrorism List -- (Washington Post)
Rights Groups Say Database May Include Innocent People
The National Counterterrorism Center maintains a central repository of 325,000 names of international terrorism suspects or people who allegedly aid them, a number that has more than quadrupled since the fall of 2003, according to counterterrorism officials.

9 Sentenced to Death in Jordan Terror Plot -- (AP)
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- A military court sentenced nine men, including al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, to death Wednesday for a plot to carry out a chemical attack on the kingdom....

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

SF Supervisor Against Docking of USS Iowa, For Military Disarmament, and Against The Troops (VIDEO) -- [Expose the Left]
San Francisco Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval appeared on Hannity & Colmes this evening to publicly go against the docking of the USS Iowa in his city and to go on a tirade against our troops. Sandoval is so far to the left, that even Alan Colmes blew a gasket over him.

Hidden Heroes: Help for Military Families: -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
...The article goes on to give some excellent suggestions on how to support our military families. From the wife of a veteran, these suggestions are excellent advice from one who's been on the receiving end.

MSM REPORT ON SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

MILITARY

Reactive Armor for Stryker -- [Strategy Page]
The U.S. Army is equipping 150 of its Stryker wheeled armored vehicles with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor.) Invented by the Israelis in the 1970s, ERA consists of explosives packaged between layers of sheet metal. When the hot gas jet produced by a shaped charge (of an RPG or missile warhead) hits the ERA explosives, the gas jet is disrupted and rendered harmless by the ERA explosion.

CLARIFICATION OF FREE TURBO TAX -- [Subject: FW: CLARIFICATION OF FREE TURBO TAX -- [Kathie Biloxi FAC-Dixie Sappers]
...There has been a computer glitch causing the program to ask for payment when preparing to complete your returns, but this is a FREE service offer through Military Onesource. The staff of Military Onesource is aware of these issues, and is assisting those having problems with the programs asking for payment.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Army Officials Reassure Senate Panel On Personnel Plan For National Guard -- (CQ Today)...Anne Plummer (Link Unavailable)
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee backed down Tuesday from their fervent opposition to a personnel plan for the National Guard after Army officials reassured the lawmakers that funding would be found to pay for extra Guard troops.
But some lawmakers remained concerned that the military is not adequately staffed and equipped, and the Senate panel peppered the Army leaders with questions on the health of the force and whether active and reserve troops are stretched too thin by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans' Fee Increases Defended -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Elizabeth Fitzsimons
Veterans younger than 65 would pay more for the military's health care program under a controversial set of fee increases proposed by the Department of Defense. The rate increases requested for Tricare were defended Monday by Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, during a visit to San Diego.

POLITICS

Allen v. Webb -- [Hugh Hewitt]
The news that former Reagan-era Navy Secretary, Marine officer and author James Webb is going to challenge for the Democratic nomination in Virginia for the chance to face off against George Allen in November is serious but not necessarily bad news for Allen's presidential ambitions.

Knock, knock. Who's there? A Shotgun blast to the face. --[The World From 1250 Feet AGL.]
...I have been bird hunting. I have been sprayed and I have sprayed my fellow hunters with birdshot. None of these incidents required medical attention. I don't know what exactly happened, and I am not going to pretend like I do - but in order to hospitalize someone with a shotgun blast, you have to be relatively close, a conservative guess - within 100 yards, to the shooter. According to the mandatory Texas hunter's safety class I had to take, being born after 1971, the responsibility still lies with the shooter to identify the target before a trigger is ever pulled.

They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity -- [Peace like a River]
The White House Press Corps has been in high dudgeon over the most regrettable hunting accident involving Vice President Cheney.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Fellow Hunter Shot by Cheney Suffers Setback -- (NYTimes)
The 78-year-old lawyer shot by Vice President Dick Cheney in a hunting accident over the weekend suffered a minor heart attack early Tuesday caused by birdshot lodged in his heart, hospital officials in Texas said.

With Hackett Departure, Old Politics Win -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- With a shove from party leaders, Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett abruptly quit a key Senate race in Ohio and further exposed a disconnect between the Democratic establishment and Internet-fueled challengers....

Former Pentagon official eyeing Clinton challenge -- (Newsday)
ALBANY, N.Y. -- A former top Defense Department official under President Reagan said Tuesday she is considering jumping into the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid this year for a second term.

THE MEDIA

Don't Plame Me If This Backfires.... -- [Villianous Company]
Former NY Times reporter Judy Miller may be getting more than she bargained for in court this week. Frustrated by her refusal to cooperate with his investigation into the Plame matter, special prosecutor Patrick Fitgerald has now subpoena'd her phone records:

MSM REPORTS ON MEDIA

CONGRATS

Happy Birthday To Me -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
And for those of you that missed the news yesterday, I got my birthday present early, sort of. I'm pregnant! How's that for alot of news to cram in one short post?

WELCOME HOME

Heyyyy. -- [The World From 1250 Feet AGL. - home from Qatar]
As I am sure you have fathomed by now, I am home again. I got home on Friday night, and I have been lazy as hell all weekend. Holly cooked steaks the first night I was home and they were really awesome. It was nice to spend some time with Holly, I have missed her alot over the last 4 months or so.

Well I’m home now, -- [Just Another Thunderhorse - home for R&R from Iraq]
for the time being. I can’t say how long I’ll be home but just to say that I’m happy to be home.
...I was surprised and delighted when we arrived in Maine to the greetings of the Maine Troop Greeters. It’s the first time I’ve met this group of fine volunteers. They are so wonderful.

Dawn Patrol

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.)

UPDATING...

IRAQ

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THIS PLACE?? -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
The Marines are doing very well along with the Iraqi’s who are gradually coming up to speed and taking things on themselves. Throughout our travels and as a light at the end of the tunnel begins to appear you come to forget some of the basic things you might take for granted back in the states. Besides the obvious, running water, cars and economic structure that allow you to buy anything you want just about anytime of the day, you forget about what’s it like to do the basic things that use to be common practice.

Iraq Without a Gun -- [Middle East Journal - back from Iraq]
ERBIL, IRAQ – Until just a few months ago, Iraq was one of the last places in the world a normal person would want to fly into. Baghdad had the only international airport in the country, and you risked your life just taking a taxi to the kinda-sorta half-way “safe” Green Zone from the terminal. Today you can fly directly to Erbil (known as Hawler in Kurdish), the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan in the north, where the war is already over.

Canadians, Bradleys, and Teamwork -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
We finally stopped guarding FOB Honor, which the Iraqis have taken over. Hopefully they won’t loot it like they did the palace we handed over to them up in Tikrit, but frankly they’re really just sifting through the leftovers after American units had at it for about a month.

German Civilian Hostages in Iraq Threatened on Video -- [Jawa Report]
The name of this terror organization is eerily similar to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Tawhid i jihad and the Kurdish al Qaeda offshoot of Ansar al-Sunna.

Blood for Baghdad -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
Since November my platoon, lead solely by the effors of my squad leader SSG Fabian, has donated more blood platelets that any other element of any size in either Iraq or Afghanistan!

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

For The Record -- (Los Angeles Times)
A front-page article Thursday about Internet war correspondent Michael Yon said that during a firefight last summer in Mosul, Iraq, Yon called for a grenade to be thrown at the enemy after a U.S. soldier came into the line of attack. It was before.

Power Problems Persist Despite Billions Earmarked -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
...For many Iraqis, chronic power problems have become a litmus test of U.S. promises of a better life without Hussein's tyranny. Iraqis often ask why a superpower that can send thousands of soldiers, tanks and Humvees to fight a war half a world away cannot guarantee that the lights work.

U.S. Role In Iraq Security Shifting -- (USA Today)...Rick Jervis
The U.S. military says 40% of Iraq's combat battalions are effective enough to have taken the lead role in fighting the insurgency, a key measure for determining when U.S. forces can withdraw.

British make arrest in Iraq abuse case -- (USA Today/ AP)
LONDON (AP) — British military police said Monday they had arrested one man in their investigation of a video that allegedly showed soldiers abusing prisoners in Ira...

I was tricked says Saddam -- (Gulf News)
BAGHDAD: Saddam Hussein was tricked into making a court appearance yesterday, his lawyer said.

Iraq Has Become The Deadliest Place For Journalists, Report Says -- (New York Times)...Katharine Q. Seelye
Iraq has become the deadliest country for journalists in the last quarter-century, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

AFGHANISTAN

I was going to defend my non-dorkiness -- [Miserable Donuts]
I was going to post the above photo as an example of how I do not always look like a dork (see posting of 2-11-06). I was going to describe this wonderful civil assistance mission we had - delivering school supplies to a new school building that we had finished for the village of Chobbahksh, and mention...

Signs of Hope -- [Afghan Reality - Afghani in Afghanistan]
...Afghanistan's success over the next five years will be based on the progress made in security, governance, human rights, rule of law, and economic and social development. The achievement of these goals depend strictly whether the Afghan government genuinely...

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Taliban say attacks will increase, U.S. "helpless" -- (Reuters)
SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan, Feb 14 - Afghanistan's Taliban guerrillas are gaining strength and will step up attacks against government and foreign troops when spring comes next month, a Taliba...

Afghans call on US to improve security -- (Financial Times)
| Local leaders in southern Afghanistan have called on the US to put pressure on Pakistan to quell cross-border terrorist attacks ahead of a visit by President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad later this week...

Mounting Concern Over Afghanistan -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Scott Baldauf
...Tie it all together, and it's a picture that suggests Afghanistan could be reverting back to a failed state. None of these issues is new, with the exception of the US decision to start drawing down its forces in Afghanistan and the expected arrival of NATO forces this summer. Yet four years after the government of President Hamid Karzai came to power, these various factors seem to be converging, with explosive results.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

GAO Report: Military MRE's for Sale on eBay -- (WSFA TV)
Some emergency military rations intended for Hurricane Katrina victims or relief personnel were offered for sale on eBay, investigators told Congress on Monday.

U.S. Troops May Be Sent To Sudan Region -- (Miami Herald)...Ron Hutcheson
In a move that ultimately could lead to the deployment of U.S. troops to Africa, President Bush on Monday agreed to work with the United Nations on the creation of a new international force to stop ethnic killings in Sudan's Darfur region.

U.S. And Israelis Are Said To Talk Of Hamas Ouster -- (New York Times)...Steven Erlanger
The United States and Israel are discussing ways to destabilize the Palestinian government so that newly elected Hamas officials will fail and elections will be called again, according to Israeli officials and Western diplomats.

US strikes will kill thousands in Iran, says study -- (Dawn)
LONDON: A surprise American or Israeli air strike on Iranian nuclear sites could cause a large number of civilian as well as military casualties, says a report published today.

Annan Calls For U.S. Calm On Iran -- (Washington Times)...Bill Sammon
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday warned President Bush not to "escalate" tensions over Iran's nuclear ambitions because the world wants to "find a way out of this crisis."

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

USF TO HOST ISLAMIC GROUP PROMOTING VIOLENCE AND HATRED -- [Americans Against Hate]
Coral Springs, FL) According to the website of the Muslim American Society of Tampa (MAS-Tampa), a radical Islamist organization tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, its 2006 MAS Olympics will be held at the University of South Florida (USF). The event will take place March 11th through the 12th. This will be the third year in a row that USF will have hosted MAS-Tampa's Olympics.

Why al Qaeda Prefers Police -- [Strategy Page]
February 13, 2006: Why is terrorism being treated as less of a law-enforcement issue, and more like a military one? Two recent events may help put the failure to treat terrorism as a law enforcement issue into perspective. All too often, treating terrorism as a criminal matter, to be dealt with by law enforcement

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Excellent Video - "American Troops Making Real Progress" -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
From MidwestHeroes.com and Progress for America comes a beautifully put together video called Midwest Heroes. The video is 1 minute long, includes 3 soldiers from Minnesota and Iowa and definately worth the time to watch.

Dawn Patrol

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

A Commander's Stress -- [a mobilized year - in Iraq]
I got dressed and went to the TOC. It was business as usual there. Soldiers in the TOC were dealing with the typical late night/early morning cases of small arms fire and IEDs that were “close.” I looked at the clock, 0145. “What’s the deal with my guys, you got an update?” I asked. “They called in a MedEvac, one casualty was ‘urgent’ and one was ‘priority,’” the battle captain replied. “Was one of my guys injured?” I quickly jumped in as he was speaking. “We don’t know yet, but we don’t think so,” he replied. “We’re trying to find out,” he said.

Since the real media won't say it -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
Ok, this is a pretty long post today. I've been wanting to gather some really good info about what is happening in Iraq. This is something that I bet you are unlikely to see on the news. Due to the nature of my job, I'm fortunate enough to be around for the press conferences that our top officials give. Major General Lynch gave a very informative and useful press conference yesterday. Here's what he told the media.

A conversation with my interpreter -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
One of my new favorite blogs is the Strategy Page - The post is fantastic, but I wanted to comment on a particular section on why terrorist activity has been down lately in Iraq. Commenting on the success of the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police, the author writes...

A note from the CO -- [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
...I learned that Iraqi civilians can cry tears of joy in the middle of company sized firefight; because Iraqi soldiers and their advisors came to their help, bandaged their wounds, evacuated them like brothers and provided them the best medical care the US can give. At no time in the past 30 years have they experienced a moment when they mattered; when they counted. Those events are not lost on the people and we will win this fight; one person at a time.

BAGHDAD BLOG TO THE RESCUE -- [Blogging Baghdad - NBC journalist embedded in Iraq]
...We had been trying to get in touch with the "ROC," the nerve center of the reconstruction effort in Iraq, for several weeks. Between bad phone connections and emails seemingly lost in cyberspace, we very nearly gave up. In Iraq, the story can be so close … yet so far away, especially given the security precautions we have to take when moving around town.

Then the Baghdad blog came to the rescue.

Dillon, we’re happy to know, reads our blog. And unaware NBC had been struggling to get in touch with the ROC’s public affairs officer..

AMERICAN CITIZEN SOPHISTRY -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
...In the past six months I have witnessed firsthand here in Iraq what economists would call the "opportunity costs" of freedom. I believe, as Thomas Jefferson did, that freedom is endowed to us by our Creator -- no matter what name He goes by. But it was left up to us to...

Ninevah, our new home! -- [Combat Medic In Iraq]
Writing to you from Mosul finally. A long time coming, but we finally made it! Everything is going great, getting to know our new job and ready to get to kicking some terrorist butt!

Survival Guide -- [Fraser From Iraq - in Iraq]
...5. Never come to country without a MP3 player. You may sit your entire tour next to a guy that enjoys tapping and singing way too much.
6. Always share everything you get in your care packages. It is going to be stolen anyway, and you can at least pretend that your mother taught you how to share.

CORN ON THE COB -- [2006 Tour of Duty - in Iraq
This is one example of how the farmers market their corn. They pile it up along side the road or at a local market place and sell it by the ear. I was told that this is for both human and animal consumption. Now that's an ear full...

A Very Good Day -- [Updates from Your CWFour - in Iraq]
Brought all our footlockers and tuffboxes down to the hangar. Had to arrange them on the hangar bay floor and open them up. Navy customs guys then rooted through everything looking for stuff we can't bring home - bullets, grenades, war trophies, camel spiders - the list is long. The guys were pretty cool though. Can you imagine being the only Navy guys on a base in the middle of the freeking desert,

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Incumbent Named Iraqi PM in Tight Voting -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Shiite lawmakers Sunday chose incumbent Ibrahim al-Jaafari to be Iraq's new prime minister, endorsing the physician and longtime exile for a second term by a single vote - thanks in large part to support by a radical anti-U.S. faction. On Monday, a suspected suicide bombing tore through a crowd of Iraqis waiting at a bank in eastern Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 32, police said.

Britain Investigates Video Said to Show Abuse of Iraqi Youths by Troops -- (NY Times)
The investigation concerns allegations that British soldiers kicked, butted and beat Iraqi teenagers in custody at an army compound in Basra in 2004.

Iraq to boost refining capacity to 1 million barrels a day -- (Azzaman)
By Ali Khalil. Iraq plans to propel its refining capacity to 1 million barrels daily by the end of 2006, Oil Ministry sources said

Saddam may stage hunger strike -- (Independent Online)
The trouble-plagued trial of Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity is set to resume on Monday amid conflicting reports about plans by the ousted Iraqi dictator to stage a hunger strike.

AFGHANISTAN

Danish Cartoons of Mohammed -- [Afghan Lord - Afghani in Afghanistan]
I strongly condemn the publication of Prophet Muhammad's cartoons in the Danish newspaper and some other European newspapers. This publication has hurt the feelings of more than one bilion Muslims around the world and caused protests and casualties.

Goofy rumors of females soldiers dying of fear! -- [Travels with Shiloh]
Well, if you've read my blog for any length of time now you know I'm not a huge fan of the Bush administration or the war in Iraq. I think there are enough legitimate reasons to hold those positions.
There are, however, rumors and outright lies that don't serve either side of the debate.
...I do have a bit to add based on my experience in Afghanistan so I wanted to mention it here as well.

Measuring progress in Afghanistan -- [Arms and influence]
Although the PRTs are doing a better job than their counterparts in Iraq, it's important to note where they haven't succeeded, or where they could have made more progress. The Parameters article provides just this sort of sober look at the PRTs, including some matter-of-fact statements about how to measure their success:

Fragmentation vest with plates: 20 lbs -- [Canada to Kandahar - in Afghanistan]
Tac Vest complete with water, sunscreen and ammo: 20 lbs
Weapon: 10 lbs
Me walking around all day with everything on

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: RESTORED ROYAL PALACE OPENED TO PUBLIC -- (AKI)
..."The brutal civil war destroyed this legacy of modern Afghanistan but thanks to the US aid agency and the personal interest taken by the provincial governor, Gul Aga Sherzai, this historic site has been preserved,” Ghamsharik said.

Karzai to visit ICCI on 16th -- (Dawn)
ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai will meet traders on Feb 16 at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to discuss measures for increasing trade

Poverty, drugs and corruption fuelling Afghan insurgency -- (Tehran Times/ AFP)
| KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- The bloody insurgency being waged in southern Afghanistan by loyalists of the ousted Taliban regime is being fuelled by poverty, drug money and corruption, according t...

Years After 2 Afghans Died, Abuse Case Falters -- (NY Times)
Of 27 soldiers and officers against whom Army investigators had recommended criminal charges, 15 have been prosecuted.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iranian President Ahmadinejad vows destruction of Isreal, again refutes holocaust; US prepares for devastating military offensive of Iranian targets -- [Gun Toting Liberal]
Are ya ready for a rumble? Another one? A showdown at the good ole' "OK Corral" with another far right, wacko, religious zealot? I know, I know; we just got rid of the one in Iraq and we're still a little BUSY over there and in Afghanistan at this moment... but hey, you gotta do whatchya gotta do, right?

Camp Humphreys Protests Peaceful for Once -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Of course the anti-American website Voice of People would have the first reports and pictures concerning the protest Sunday at Camp Humphreys.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

U.S. Gives Mexico Millions For Security -- (Washington Times)...Jerry Seper
The U.S. government has sent more than $376 million to Mexico in the past decade for that country's military and police to help stop alien and drug smugglers, guard against terrorists and protect America's southern border, including $50 million due this year.

America needs its friends -- (Telegraph)
When it comes to dealing with the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme, the Bush administration is prepared to take a far more measured - some would say mature - approach ...

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

The African Bin Laden -- [Strategy Page]
While much attention is given to the search for Osama bin Laden, there are other terrorist masterminds on the run, and being eagerly sought. For example, the leader of al Qaeda in East Africa, Harun Fazul (or Fazul Abdullah Mohammed), a native of the Comoro Island with dual citizenship in Kenya, is being hunted aggressively.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Scope of Los Angeles Terror Plot Remains Murky -- (Voice of America)
On Thursday, President Bush revealed some new details of what he described as a terrorist plot against a target in California. But, it is still not clear how far the plotters got, and how serious the plot was.

Al Qaeda's Mad Scientist -- (Yahoo News/ Weekly Standard)
BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY DEMISE in Damadola, Midhat Mursi al-Sayid Umar--a man known better among both jihadists and intelligence agencies as Abu Khabab al-Masri--was one of the most reclusive members of the al Qaeda leadership. Despite having been identified as a senior member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, little public information exists about him.
..."Rewards for Justice" poster circulated by the U.S. government which offered a $5,000,000 reward for his capture.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

A Soldier in Need -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
A very special Soldier has recently come to my attention. He was wounded quite awhile ago and is well down his path of recovery, but has been rather isolated due to his injuries and living situation. He will soon be receiving a Valour-IT laptop, but he needs more than that.
Here is a report from someone who has spoken to him:
He was shot 6 times, including 3 in the right shoulder and one in the head. He is now finishing his recovery at home but is lonely and feels forgotten.

Soldiers' Angels Provides Hand/Foot Warmers to Landstuhl ICU -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Last December Soldiers' Angels received a request from the Intensive Care Unit of Landstuhl hospital - the staff needed a way to keep the extremeties of critically wounded patients warm during medevac flights back to the US.

Don't Forget Vets On Valentine's Day -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
Valentine's Day is only a few days away. No doubt you have made plans for your spouse, significant other, children, parents, etc. to show them they are loved and appreciated. Maybe you've already sent off things to deployed toops overseas, and you've participated in Operation Love Our Troops. What else is there to do?

MILITARY

What You Won't See On the Evening News -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Here is something I'm sure no one will see on CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, NY Times, orthe LA Times tonight:
Active-duty services exceeded their January recruiting goals, while some reserve branches fell short, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Final Flight -- [Desert Oddessy]
...On the last leg into Davis-Monthan, I deferred to my younger wingman the honor of leading our two-ship formation into the boneyard. I had a hidden agenda: I wanted to be the last Laughlin AFB pilot to fly the T-37 by being the last to land.

Army Screwing Troops -- [ROFA Six]
...Actually this pretty much explains it. The LA Times, not surprisingly missed it. There is something called “jointness” out there in the military today. It means that it recognizes (finally) that duplicative projects between services waste money. Here we have a case where the JIN is going to the field for final testing. The USMC is going to do it.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Bomb Buster for Iraq Hits Pentagon Snag -- (LA Times)
-Army brass says a device that destroyed 90% of roadside explosives in tests needs further study. Marine Corps decides to bypass the bureaucracy.
WASHINGTON — A new high-tech vehicle that destroys roadside bombs has passed a series of U.S. military tests but has not yet been sent into battle, prompting charges that Pentagon bureaucracy is slowing the effort to protect American troops in Iraq.

POLITICS

The Gorebot: attacking America from the fountainhead of jihad -- [TigerHawk]
Al Gore has travelled to the heart of the Wahabbi Muslim world and attacked the United States. One is almost forced to wonder whether he has completely lost his mind.

Policy vs Politics -- [Neptunus Lex]
In a weekend Wall Street Journal article (subscription only, alas) dealing with Scooter Libby’s classified information disclosures to the press, an administration critic, one Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists is quoted. His choice of words is, probably unwittingly, very revealing:

Iraq war referendums in Wisconsin -- [Phil and Becky]
I learned today, while perusing the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that several localities in Wisconsin are putting Iraq war referendums on the ballot in their April and November elections. I first learned about the Milwaukee referendum when I came across this editorial from the 10 February 2006 MJS. The editorial, written by a supporter of the referendum, offers a laundry list of negative assertions about Operation Iraqi Freedom that the reader must unquestioningly and uncritically accept because she doesn't offer any substantiation to her claims -- just the list

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Sympathy for Cindy -- (Yahoo News / USA Today)
...As a member of the U.S. Navy, you would think that Mr. Trantham would realize what a tragedy it is for Ms. Sheehan and other parents to lose their children in a war that is becoming more like the Vietnam War each day.

Gore Laments U.S. 'Abuses' Against Arabs -- (AP)
JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Former Vice President Al Gore told a mainly Saudi audience on Sunday that the U.S. government committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that most Americans did not support such treatment....

Cheney accidentally shoots hunting companion -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally wounded a companion with shotgun pellets on a weekend quail hunt in Texas, his office said on Sunday.

The President who cried al Qaeda -- (NZ Herald)
WASHINGTON - Once again, George W. Bush finds himself in deep political trouble. And, once again, he has chosen to invoke the spectre of a terrorist attack on US soil, only to draw immediate suspicion about his motives at the start of what promises to be a long, bruising mid-term election campaign.

HUMOR/ SATIRE

The Power Of A Bronze Rat -- [Open Fire]
A tourist walks into a curio shop in San Francisco. Looking around at everything, he notices a very life-like, life-sized bronze statue of a rat. It has no price tag but is so striking that he decides he must have it. So he takes it to the owner and asks, "How much for the bronze rat?" The owner replies, "$12 for the rat and $100 for the story." The tourist gives the man $12 and says, "I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story."

THE MEDIA

Back up -- [FAST BUNNIES - in Iraq]
From the fine folks at ABC News: Intense Training Prepares Journalists for War.
When journalists from major media organizations head into a war zone, they typically go armed with specialized training that could save their lives if something goes wrong.

Army of Davids gets a 1-star review at Amazon.com before it has even started shipping -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
I’m not sure how it’s possible to get a 1-star review from Amazon.com before your book is even shipping to customers, but Glenn Reynolds, the godfather of bloggers, has managed to do so.

More AP Falsehoods -- [Dadmanly]
Rand Simberg at Transterrestrial Musings catches the Associated Press (AP) perpetuating a long-standing media falsehood and erstwhile Democratic talking point.

Reynolds to CNN on the Muslim Cartoons: “You Guys Have Blown It” (VIDEO) -- [Expose the Left]
Glenn Reynolds appeared on CNN’s On the Story to discuss the reaction from the Muhammad cartoons that picture the Muslim prophet in a demeaning way, in their view. Reynolds began the interview by telling CNN that they have “blown it” because the network did not show the cartoons, instead they blurred them out in a visual.

MILBLOGGING/ BLOGGING

Writer's Blog Anthology -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
This blog will be included in the publishing of the first annual Writer’s Blog Anthology. Deborah Woehr, founder of the Writer’s Blog Alliance, has done a fine job of collecting “writing blogs,” and a great service to the writers as well. She is still accepting submissions for the new “milblog” category, but you only have a couple of days left until the deadline of February 15th.

CONGRATS

Randomness - [The Deployment - in Kuwait]
...Tarah is very huge now. And by huge I mean her belly because we are having a child. It is the most beautiful thing I have seen in some time. The due date is barreling down on us hard and fast. I am guessing baby Rebekah will be with us in the first weeks of March.
I am also guessing that is the time I will be home on leave

Pictures from my promotion ceremony at the cross sabers -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
Well, I finally was able to acquire the pictures from my promotion! My LT ran off somewhere for a few days and he had the pics, so it took a lot longer than expected. (He is the gigantic one in the picture pinning my rank on)

18 and life to go! -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
...So today is my birthday... I napped most of it. Finished up out in sector nice and early today and managed to catch some zzzz's. Who want's to celebrate getting old anyways? It's a bunch of nonsense! Oh but it's ok. It's just like Valentine's Day. The spirt of the celebration and holiday is what really matters.

WELCOME HOME

Operation Homecoming -- [Officer's Club]
February 12th marks the 33rd anniversary of Operation Homecoming, the day the C-141 Starlifter, the "Hanoi Taxi," took off from a North Vietnamese airfield to ferry home the first load of American POWs.

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

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

Keep that K-pot on your head, soldiers! -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
...My old roomate, Frank, asked me about the new improved army helmets a long time ago and I kept forgetting to give him some info. Well, Frank, here you go. The first kevlar helmet I was issued was incredibly uncomfortable and unstable as far as I was concerned as well as anyone with any experience with it whatsoever. This first picture shows the MILES system (think laser tag, but with real weapons using blanks) which adds to the instability - it is horrifying trying to lay down with that on your head in the first place - add on a few pounds from the MILES system and ...

Iraqi security forces successfully guard 1 million Shiites celebrating Ashura -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
To say that I don’t understand Ashura would be an understatement. Flagellating myself has never been an attractive idea, and I certainly wouldn’t want to lacerate my own head with a knife. But hey, that’s a choice for free people to make, and Iraqis are working on becoming a free people, at least relative to what they lived under during the reign of madman and mass murderer Saddam “Insane” Hussein. Progress is progress.

The Ingrahammer in Iraq, Part III -- [Political Pitbull]
Here's a clip from today's show. Laura spoke with General George Casey about the security situation on the ground, the progess of Iraqi force training, future troop reductions, and U.S. opinion polls, among other things. For those of you sick of listening to the so-called experts and pundits on cable news, I think you'll find this interview refreshing.

Drier and Happier -- [Fraser From Iraq - in Iraq]
It was a long mission the other night, 5 hrs sitting in the aircraft. I will never ever complain about the seats in the jet at work. You can recline the seat, and there is actually a seat cushion in the airliner cockpits. Our helicopter seats might as well be made out of bricks. They are made out of Kevlar, which is good because it stops bullets. But they don't recline

2/8/2006: Half-way Home -- [Capt Shack's Tour of Duty - in Iraq]
This update finds us about half-way through our deployment and already starting to see our redeployment as a small light at the end of the tunnel. But in the mean time my soldiers continue to do an amazing job on a daily basis in an incredibly challenging environment and on an incredibly challenging battlefield. Morale continues to be high and we continue to be as busy as we have been during this entire deployment with the vast majority of us out on mission on any given day.

Cookie Tin -- [Fraser From Iraq - in Iraq]
OK - so there is The New Guy in town. Everybody is The New Guy when he arrives, no matter how many tours he has under his belt. So, of course he arrives just prior to the local tsunami I’ve been writing about. After arrival he is trying to get caught up on the sleep cycle, which is hard enough.

Only the best for our guest!! -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
You have to love VIP’s, those Very Important People who cause all sorts of chaos around the area as they just stop by for lunch and some “I love Me” pictures with the Marines etc. I received a call from higher headquarters somewhere out in the green zone that we had 6 congressmen arriving who just wanted to pop in say hi and then go tour another base. I said, “that’s fantastic, give them my number, I’ll say hi and they can stay there with you!” He just laughed at me “Nice try bubba, they are coming to you, I’m tired of dealing with them, and so I’m passing this monkey to your back.”

Secret Weapon Rushed to Iraq: Green Laser Pointers -- [Winds of Change - Joe Katzman]
Feel the force...Army Times reports that the US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) at Fort Belvoir, VA is expediting the first shipment of 2,000 new laser devices to Soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq. No, not devices like the ones in this $1.37 billion order. Just simple green laser pointers. Having one pointed at you seems to be very effective at stopping aggressive oncoming traffic and personnel as they approach checkpoints et. al. As civilian laser pointers like Megalaser show, hand-held green laser pointers can be quite bright; their beams are visible in low light conditions and carry effectively.

Poem -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
I wrote the following poem after returning from a particularly "challenging" mission.
I’m a man whose been torn in two;
giving all to my family and the job that I must do.
It is my hope that one day they will understand,
it is for them that I fight in this foreign land.

Freedom...ahhh... -- [My Iraqi Saga - in Iraq]
Hello eveyone...just wanted to drop in and say hi. Nothing much going on here, it's been pretty quiet. We did have a get together where General Order #1 was excused for the night and we were each allowed 2 beers and got to wear civilian clothes...that was really nice! I found Stongbow beer which was awesome, sweet and apple juice-ey...mmm. I felt like a human being with choices and options for just a minute. I actually felt like a girl for a night.

Semper Fido -- [Politics of a Patriot]
...Fluffy is a blonde 6lb. female Maltese currently assigned to the 7th Marine Division K9 unit serving in the Iraq Anbar province. Recently she assisted the Marines in the capture of 21 insurgents. Fluffy's handler, CPL Brian Sunland said, "Congress thought they were going to screw us again with their 'kinder/gentler' war bullsh*t when they sent us Fluffy. They forget that Marines have a history of making men out of boys and we used that same training regimen on Fluffy."
...To save money spent on dog food, frustrated anti-war members of Congress are threatening to send the Marines Chihuahuas to replace their existing large breed K9 corps. The unit's Gunnery Sergeant proudly told me, "I'd rather have just one them 'Yo quiero, taco bell' dogs then 50 of them 'pendejo' congressmen. At least dogs are loyal." "They can send us a gerbil and we'll train it to do night recon. Send us a goldfish and we'll train it to think it's a piranha", said another Marine.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Facts vs. Fiction: A Report from the Front -- (The American Enterprise - Karl Zinsmeister)
Has the Iraq war been too costly?
In Iraq, 4 percent of our soldiers have been killed or wounded. Those losses are lower than we suffered in nine previous wars. The Civil War, Mexican War, War of Independence, Korean War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam, and Philippine War were all half-again or more as costly as Iraq has been.
But aren’t our losses mounting?

Peace Prevails in Iraq as Shiites Observe Holy Day -- (LA Times)
Unlike in previous years marred by bombings, pilgrims throng shrines across the country in relative calm. US cites improved security.

Iraqi Shiites March in Religious Ceremony -- (LA Times/ AP)
KARBALA, Iraq -- Tens of thousands of Iraqis marched and beat themselves Thursday in blood-soaked processions through this holy city and other Shiite centers across the country to mourn the 7th century death of their revered martyr, Imam Hussein.

Attacks 'cripple Iraq rebuilding' -- (BBC News)
Iraq's rebuilding is being undermined by continuing insurgent attacks and will cost more than the $56bn (£32bn) forecast, US officials say. | Special Inspector-General Stuart Bowen said the cost of rebuilding

Troops in Iraq 'to lose support' -- (BBC News)
Support among Iraqi people for British troops will decline as the foreign force begins to withdraw, a senior soldier says.
..."You almost move from being part of the solution to becoming part of the problem," he added.

Iraqi Voices Drowned Out in a Blizzard of Occupiers’ Spin -- (The Guardian)
Three years after invading Iraq, George Bush and Tony Blair are still dipping into the trough of deception and disinformation that launched the war: Hailing nonexistent progress, declaring sanctimonious satisfaction with sectarian elections and holding out the mirage of early withdrawal. In reality, the occupation and divide-and-rule tactics have spawned death squads, torture, kidnappings, chemical attacks, polluted water, depleted uranium, bombardment of civilians, probably more than 100,000 people dead and a relentless deterioration in Iraqis’ daily lives.

We lost Iraqi hearts and minds long before current occupation -- (The Seattle Times)...Bert Sacks
I recently attended an alumni meeting in Seattle of a well-known East Coast college. The president of the college spoke and a hundred alumni came to listen. I used the chance to speak to several of them about something I know well from my nine trips to Iraq: the 12 years of U.N. and U.S. economic sanctions on Iraq, reinstated after the Gulf War in 1991 and ending with this war in 2003.

Kidnapped U.S. Reporter Appeals for Help -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll appeared in a video aired Thursday on a private Kuwaiti TV station, appealing in a calm, composed voice for her supporters to do whatever it takes to win her release "as quickly as possible."...

Clinton blasts Bush on war -- (Newsday)
WASHINGTON - Ignoring GOP criticism that she's too angry for prime time, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday walloped Karl Rove and President George W. Bush for "playin...

UP IN THE AIR -- (The New Yorker)...SEYMOUR M. HERSH
In recent weeks, there has been widespread speculation that President George W. Bush, confronted by diminishing approval ratings and dissent within his own party, will begin pulling American troops out of Iraq next year. The Administration’s best-case scenario is that the parliamentary election scheduled for December 15th will produce a coalition government that will join the Administration in calling for a withdrawal to begin in the spring. By then, the White House hopes, the new government will be capable of handling the insurgency. In a speech on November 19th, Bush repeated the latest Administration catchphrase: “As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.”

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Tea Quest -- [Miserable Donuts]
One constant feature of Afghan hospitality is tea. And damned fine tea it is. Afghanistan is a player in the tea market, as they consume so much. Others have noted how the Afghans make and drink it.

The Amateur Assassins of Afghanistan -- [Strategy Page]
February 10, 2006: Prior to 2005, suicide bombings were rare in Afghanistan, with perhaps one or two occurring since the war of liberation from the Taliban began in October of 2001. But during 2005 there were approximately 25 such attacks. And so far this year there have been eight such attacks

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: MOVIE-MAKING AFGHAN STYLE -- (AKI)
Jalalabad, 9 Feb. (AKI) - Four years after the fall of the hardline Taliban regime in Afghanistan, satellite dishes now dot the city skylines and cable television is also widely available. It's a stark contrast to the Taliban era when all forms of television, imagery, music and sports were officially banned. However those in Afghanistan's burgeoning film industry say there are still difficulties in putting together an Afghan film. Adnkronos International (AKI) spoke to Afghan actors Najeebullah Sadiq and Mashooq Shadaab on the trials of movie-making in Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN: AT LEAST FIVE KILLED IN SUNNI-SHIITE CLASHES -- (AKI)
Kabul, 9 Feb. (AKI) - At least five people were killed and dozens injured in clashes between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the city of Herat in western Afghanistan. The violence began as the Shiite Muslims were marking Ashura, the commemoration of the death in battle of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Reports say that the fighting erupted after insults were exchanged between the Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Armed Resistance Against Kim Jong Il? -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
The Daily NK is reporting armed border attacks against North Korean guard posts along the Chinese border that may be from armed resistance:

Taking one for the team... -- [Far east Cynic - in Japan]
Here in Japan, there are some hopeful sighs of relief.
Princess Kiko is pregnant. "The Imperial Household Agency announced that Princess Kiko, the wife of Emperor Akihito's second son, is pregnant.

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

White House Knew of Levee's Failure on Night of Storm -- (NY Times)...ERIC LIPTON
The Bush administration was alerted to broken levees and flooding in New Orleans hours after their collapse, documents show

Russia invites Hamas to Moscow talks -- (Globe and Mail)
Moscow -- Russia intends to use contact with the Hamas leaders to urge them to "responsible decisions" and peace with Israel, the Kremlin said yesterday.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

President Bush Releases Details of Foiled Terrorist Hijacking (updated) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
President Bush today at the National Guard Association (text of speech at White House website): In October 2001, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who masterminded the 9/11 attacks, set in motion a shoebombing plot to hijack plane and fly into Liberty Tower in Los Angeles (actually the "Library Tower," since renamed the U.S. Bank Tower), the highest building on the West Coast. He recruited young men from SE Asia and tapped Hambali of JI (Jemaah Islamiyah) to lead it, who then recruited operatives training in Afghanistan. They met with Osama Bin Laden and began preparations. In early 2002, a "South East Asian nation" arrested "a key operative." The debriefings revealed the plot and helped others capture the other operative.

Mental Wires: Revising Definitions, Compromise, Vision, and Wire Tapping -- [Bobby's World]
...It's an interesting concept, but one, unfortunately, that is not likely to be implemented. The Republicans have taken to reflexively protecting the President, while the Democrats have taken to reflexively attacking him, and so both want this issue to continue for their own selfish reasons-- why seek a political compromise that could actually produce results for this country, when you can grandstand and oppose each other on every issue? The GOP, meanwhile, don't want to resolve the issue because they know they actually win elections when Americans emphasize national security; the Democrats. meanwhile, love the controversy because the idea of a runaway wiretapping program reminds

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Bush details Qaeda plot to hit LA -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush disclosed new details on Thursday of a thwarted al Qaeda plot to use shoe bombs to hijack a plane and fly it into a Los Angeles building, as he sought to justify his tactics in fighting terrorism.

L.A. Mayor Blindsided by Bush Announcement -- (AP)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he was blindsided by President Bush's announcement of new details about a purported 2002 plot to crash a plane into a downtown skyscraper....

Poll: Surveillance Wins Some More Backers -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's campaign to convince Americans that the government's eavesdropping program is essential to the war on terrorism has made an impact: Last month people disapproved, 56 percent to 42 percent. Now it's basically 50-50....

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

A Special Forces Friend -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Last year I met a wonderful woman named Anne. I've mentioned her a few times in the past in my blog. I met her visiting Kyle, and she volunteers at the AFCS. She's the neatest lady, she's been visiting the wounded and doing all sorts of things to support our troops since 1968. She recently joined Soldiers Angels and adopted a soldier. She's on the level of a saint with her dedication to our troops. She visits the wounded every single day, sitting and talking with them for hours. Every day for years.

Angels in Times Square -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
Angels met in New York City at Times Square on Tuesday, February 7th, to support the troops as part of the Guinness World Record attempt to send the largest ever electronic valentine.

MILITARY/ MILITARY LIFE

Life -- [Pinwheels and Orange Peels - in Guam]
...I'm on the deck of the loader, waiting to take the patient from those on the ground. We lift her gently, then move her to the front of the loader where we all kneel in preparation for the lift. I help a family member on board and show him where to kneel until we're in position. The loader's engine, designed to lift sixty thousand pounds of cargo, spins up and we rise slowly to the door of the aircraft. It has never lifted anything more precious. The crew goes into action, swiftly moving the patient and accompanying bags onto the aircraft. Our job done, the loader settles back down to the ground, ...
People ask why I like working in the Air Mobility Command (AMC) so much. The hours are long, we fly 24-7, 365 days a year, and fighters are much sexier. They can keep 'em. It's missions like these that make working for AMC so rewarding.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Still Shortchanging the Troops -- (NY Times)
Pentagon budgeters showed themselves so pathetically unable to restrain spending on expensive ships and planes that they actually cut back, rather than increased, the overall size of the Army over the next few years to pay for it.

It would cost about $4 billion to $5 billion a year to give the Army 30,000 more troops, the minimum it needs to check its alarming slide. Instead the Pentagon chose to begin the construction of two unneeded new stealth destroyers, which will end up costing $2 billion to $3 billion each.

POLITICS

Dean Compares Bush’s Wiretapping To Something “A Country Like Iran” Would Do (VIDEO)-- [Expose the Left]
Wiretapping is certainly necessary and the Democrats certainly approve as spying on al -Qaeda. What we don’t approve of is breaking the law to spy on americans. The present law is very adequate and the white house itself said so four years ago. All we ask is that they we not turn into a country like Iran where the President can do anything he wants.

Fear of ACLU lawsuits force Scouts to scrap troop charters -- [Stop the ACLU]
Troops of Boy Scouts in Macomb County and around the country are scuttling their organizational charter agreements with local governments, fearing legal action from the American Civil Liberties Union for requiring allegiance to God.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Libby: White House 'Superiors' OK'd Leaks -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney told a federal grand jury that his superiors authorized him to give secret information to reporters as part of the Bush administration's defense of intelligence used to justify invading Iraq, according to court papers....

Ex-Cheney Aide Testified Leak Was Ordered, Prosecutor Says -- (NY Times)...NEIL A. LEWIS
I. Lewis Libby Jr. told a grand jury that he was authorized by his "superiors" to disclose classified information in June and July 2003.

No Senate Run for Activist Cindy Sheehan -- (AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Peace activist Cindy Sheehan said Thursday she will not run against U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the Democratic primary....

THE MEDIA

NYT Says "No" to Muhammad & donkey, "Yes" to Crap on Mary -- [Gateway Pundit]
The New York Times has no problem printing a picture of the Virgin Mary covered in dung in today's (Wednesday 2-8-06) edition:
But just yesterday they refused to print this picture of Muhammad with a donkey:

Any Time Now... -- [Baldilocks]
...we Christians will start rioting.
...One problem with that, however: a portrait of the Virgin Mary covered in dung--and looking suspiciously Sambo-like--does absolutely nothing to shake the faith of those who believe in her Son as the Savior of mankind. Yes, it's offensive, but burning down the New York Times building or issuing some form of Christian fatwa--an idea that is completely foreign to this Christian at least--on the artist (Chris Ofili) would violate the tenets of everything in which Christians believe and bring absolutely no credit upon Jesus Christ nor his followers. The editors of the New York Times know this. That's why they feel total comfort in publishing a photo of this painting, but balk at showcasing the Danish cartoons in question.

MSM REPORTS ON MEDIA

Islam and free speech -- (Economist)
WHEN, last September, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a dozen cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, it knew it was testing the limits of free speech and good taste.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

This Is Gonna Piss Off The Blogs... -- [Winds of Change - Armed Liberal]
The LA Times today has a Page 1, Column 1 article on journalist/blogger Michael Yon.

It's an interesting 'personality' article about him; not very deep or analytical - and not much news that those who haven't followed him in the blogs won't know.
...Boy, you'd think the story would go deeply into the wide-ranging debate on the specific quality of his work.
read the rest!
Instead, we get the Carl Prine quote that was widely circulated around the blogs:
"As someone who has seen a great deal of combat in my life and who earns his daily bread as a reporter," Prine opined on the Internet, "I can assure you that a lot of what Michael Yon writes is misleading, inaccurate and vapid."

Interviewed -- [Sgt Hook]
I had the pleasure of being interviewed recently by the good folks over at My Music Highway, just wish I had some of the pizza! Sgt Hook out.

Blogs get things done -- (MSNBC)
Plus... 55 mile per hour Parcheesi
A few recent news items highlight that bloggers continue to use basic investigative and networking skills to get things done beyond the virtual world.

CONGRATS

Birthday In Iraq (February 11th) -- [Grey Eagle - in Iraq]
One year younger…..

Well, readers it is that time for me to let everyone know that the clock has officially moved back a year again… Yes, I am 26 for another year. Okay, so I have been 26 for a while now. But who is counting….

HUMOR / SATIRE

Fear, Loathing, And Excrement in Iraq -- [Hardtack and Havoc - in Iraq]
On the bright side, I was moved to permanent quarters the other day. Very nice, room to myself, a chifarobe to hang clothes in a chest of drawers to my skivies in and a bed to sleep on and my very own bathroom. It rocks! There is one unfortunate problem with my new largesse. I have an eastern style toilet, also known as a squat thruster. It is essentially a hole in the floor and I suspect it contributes mightily to the Ode du A$$ bouquet ever present in my room.

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)

IRAQ

The Waiting... -- [Chapter: War - in Iraq]
...I am beginning to suspect the Army is becoming obsessed with limiting casualties due to public opinion back home at the risk of the aggressiveness that saves lives and accomplishes missions.

I live for those hours spent on missions, actually on the route protecting those that move the goods that make an Army go. I live for the tension, trying to figure out the enemies next move.

Celebrating Ashura in Iraq -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Many Iraqis will celebrate Ashura today.

The Iraqi government has worked very hard to ensure the safety of pilgrims this year. Last year, there were many coordinated attacks on celebrants. Keep your eyes on the news today - how Iraqi security forces deal with today’s events will be used by both pro and anti-war pundits as a yardstick to measure progress or lack of progress in this nation.

Laura Ingraham is in Iraq, blogging -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
...Journalists visit Iraq all the time. What makes Ms. Ingraham’s visit significant is that she a) cares about our troops on a human level and b) would prefer that the United States and the new Iraqi government actually accomplish their stated goal of making Iraq a country that respects human rights and is hostile to terrorists. I’m sure this upsets many people, but it makes me grateful. I like being supported.

Day 4: Feb. 8th, 2006 - [Laura's Iraq Journal - journalist embedded in Iraq]
...We left Camp Victory at 0530 in a very formidable-looking 4 Humvee convoy up to the International Zone in Baghdad . Army policy required us to wear full body armor--chest, abdomen, neck, deltoid kevlar. So of course I flubbed our first "fire in the Humvee" clear out drill--those armored door latches are hard to open wearing an extra 40 lbs. After a short, safe ride north to the Green Zone we met up with a very impressive young man--MAJ John Hudson, who manages $250 million of current construction projects in central Baghdad . If I were to approve cloning, John would be tops on the list. He has it all- engineering acumen, diplomatic skills, and compassion. Tucked away in his ID badge holder is a photo of his wife and two sons--close to his heart. To visit the Iraqi orphanage he has "adopted,"? we had to leave the (relatively) safe Green Zone with a 20-person security detail, including an advance team (many Blackwater guys), all in fully armored vehicles (of course we were armored too!). At all hours of the day in Baghdad it is commonplace to see traffic backed up for long stretches because of added checkpoints or recent car bombs.

Major Crimes Unit -- [OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM - in Iraq]
Today I visited the MCU HQ in Baghdad. The MCU is equivalent to the FBI. They solve major crimes such as kidnapping, murder, terrorist attacks, and narcotics. Part of our Brigade's mission is to train these guys so that they can be more responsive and effective in solving crimes.

Had my fill -- [Talking Salmons]
There’s a certain thrill that comes with strapping yourself to the front of a 4,800 gallon fuel tank and taking off down the roads in Iraq.

“Those things armored?” I asked my driver.

“What, the trailer? Naw, but diesel doesn’t blow up, so we’re good,” he responded.

Team update - 08 February 06 -- [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
...As mentioned earlier, our replacements arrived more than a week ago. There are 10 Marines and one Navy Corpsman. The head of the team is Maj David Richardson. Capt Leo Gregory, my replacement, actually knows LtCol Garay from when they worked together for PP&O at Quantico. They are not (almost) all artillery guys like we have been. A couple of artillery guys, a couple of infantry grunts, an amtracker, a couple of school trained intelligence guys. They all seem like great Marines and sailors, and I think we are leaving 3-2-1 in good hands. I am sure that they are ready for us to leave, too. Besides living four to a small room (imagine your college freshman dorm, but littered with rifles, pistols, helmets and flak jackets), they are ready to take the reins. And we are ready to hand them over.

Land of the Flies.... -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
...The ground vibrates every time. Amongst all of this action, or should I say relaxation, there is one thing that we all have in common. Flies. Every one of us had at least 6 or 7 flies attached to us like a freshman in college attaches to the books. Seeing all of these flies today, reminded me of the movies that are now being filmed about Iraq or soldiers in this war. Were are the flies. I don't think any movie I have seen yet talks about the constant bombardment of flies.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Shiite Urges Restraint By Security Units -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
The leader of Iraq's most powerful Shiite political party called Wednesday for greater respect for human rights by the country's security forces, whose violent raids and arbitrary detentions have provoked anger among the Sunni Arab minority.

Going, going, gone? U.S.-led coalition shrinking this year -- (WTNH, CT)...William J. Kole, Associated Press
The Ukrainians are long gone. So are the Norwegians. The Italians and South Koreans are getting ready to leave, and the Britons and Japanese could begin packing their bags later this year.

Polish Troops May Stay In Iraq Until 2007: Report -- (DefenseNews.com)...Agence France-Presse
Poland could maintain a troop presence in Iraq until 2007, President Lech Kaczynski’s foreign policy adviser Andrzej Krawczyk said Feb. 8, ahead of the Polish head of state’s visit to the United States.

U.S., Iraqi Officials Woo Sunnis -- (Los Angeles Times)...Solomon Moore and Richard Boudreaux
U.S. and Iraqi officials have begun bartering prisoners, aid and key positions in the army and police for the allegiance of Sunni insurgents, in an effort to lure them away from foreign Al Qaeda fighters in Iraq's most restive province.

Iraqi Soldiers Get Renovated Theater, Clinics -- (Defend America)
CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2006 — As the partnership between the Iraqi army and coalition forces grows each day, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has invested more than $3.5 million into the local Iraqi community to open a renovated Iraqi army theater Jan. 28 and is getting ready to open two renovated health clinics within the next couple of weeks.

Iraqi Construction Funds Go To Security -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
The State Department has spent nearly half the U.S. money allocated for Iraqi reconstruction on security, not on the projects themselves, according to testimony yesterday at a Senate hearing.

Iraq Utilities Are Falling Short Of Prewar Performance -- (New York Times)...James Glanz
Virtually every measure of the performance of Iraq's oil, electricity, water and sewerage sectors has fallen below preinvasion values even though $16 billion of American taxpayer money has already been disbursed in the Iraq reconstruction program, several government witnesses said at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Sheik Among 10 Iraqis Killed In Raids By Militants -- (New York Times)...Sabrina Tavernise
At least 10 Iraqis were killed in attacks by militants on Wednesday, including a prominent Sunni Arab sheik from the northern city of Kirkuk.

Insurgents Use Ransom Kidnappings For Funds -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
Nearly half the money funding insurgents comes from outside the country, according to a senior Iraqi official. But officials suggest old sources are drying up and the radical groups are turning to ransom kidnappings – up to 10 a day in Baghdad alone – to finance their guerrilla attacks.

AFGHANISTAN

Big Taliban Attack Busted Up -- [Strategy Page]
February 8, 2006: Islamic radicals have tried to gain some traction with riots protesting the Danish cartoons (of Mohammed, which is forbidden in Islam). Some large demonstrations were held, but the people involved were the true believers. About a dozen people have died in these demonstrations.

Education Oasis -- [Miserable Donuts]
Afghanistan is seriously short of teachers. Too many fled or were killed during the constant warfare of the 1980-2001 timeframe. The training of new teachers all but ceased under the Taliban. Some people are trying to help rectify that situation.

On Flying -- [Fire Power Forward - in Afghanistan]
...Last night, our C-17 turned onto the end of the Bagram runway, the cabin lights went dark, and then with brakes holding us fast, the massive engines roared up to full throttle. Suddenly the brakes were released and I was jolted back in my seat as the mammoth aircraft lurched down the runway. A moment later we rotated into I am sure was a space shuttle like trajectory, and at 14:45 Dublin Pub Time I left Afghanistan soil for the last time.

J-bad from a Blackhawk -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan] (pics)
...The PRTs are set up in each province to assist communities in pretty much everything, often using methods decided upon by local jirgas (councils). From enhanced security to building schools to funding projects that not only build but teach trades to local Afghans, they do it all. The cops I met who train Afghan Police cadets are part of a PRT, for example. So are a number of soldiers and Marines I've met so far in country, and they have civilian representatives of various agencies there to provide expertise...you know, in areas other than defeating the enemy through fire and maneuever.

Afghanistan NGOs bounced for fraud and corruption -- [Cao's Blog]
Kabul: The Afghan government Tuesday de-licensed more than 1,600 national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), accusing them of committing economic fraud and corruption.
This is something that has not received a lot of media attention, but has been a big problem.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Dutch To Bolster NATO -- (Washington Times)...Boudewijn van Eenennaam
The Netherlands will send 1,200-1,400 troops, complete with Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter jets for support, to Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan Province.

3 Demonstrators Are Killed, And 27 Hurt In Afghanistan -- (New York Times)...Carlotta Gall
Three protesters were killed and 27 wounded in clashes with the police on Wednesday in Qalat in southern Afghanistan, officials said, in the third day of violent demonstrations over cartoons satirizing the Prophet Muhammad. The violence has killed a total of 11 people and injured dozens around Afghanistan.

Opportunists Make Use Of Cartoon Protests -- (Washington Post)...Griff Witte
..."Ordinary Afghan citizens who are protesting do not walk around with hand grenades in their pockets," said a U.S. military spokesman, Col. James Yonts, referring to a protest Tuesday in which demonstrators lobbed grenades into a NATO base. "That leads us to believe there is something else behind this."

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

What's so funny about War, Hate and Misunderstanding? -- [Peace like a River]
The terror masters may come to regret ginning up the violent demonstrations over cartoons published several months ago in a Danish newspaper. And make no mistake, Iran and its sidekick Syria have used this controversy to send some very clear signals

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Airmen Reach Out, Brighten Sick Kyrgyz Children’s Days -- (Mideast Stars and Stripes)...Anita Powell
At first, 5-year-old Darica peered fearfully from behind her face mask at the unfamiliar visitors. Within minutes, the mask was off, her face beaming as Air Force Master Sgt. Bert Quick handed out candy, cookies, books and toys to her and a dozen children like her: born to a poor, rural family; bald and weakened after successive rounds of chemotherapy at Kyrgyzstan’s only charity cancer hospital.

Iranian VP: Rumsfeld is like Dracula showing teeth -- (Jerusalem Post)
An Iranian vice president said Thursday he did not believe that the United States will attack his country over its nuclear program, and compared US defense secretary to a vampire showing his teeth.

Bush Budget Would Cut Military Aid To Bolivia By 96 Percent -- (New York Times)...Joel Brinkley
Less than a month after an assertively anti-American president took office in Bolivia, the Bush administration is planning to cut military aid to the country by 96 percent.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Torturers, Terrorists and Iraq -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
In May 2004, I wrote an article concerning the potential of US law enforcement and intelligence agencies, led particularly by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), identifying and pursuing former Saddam Hussein regime operatives who served as members of elite military, intelligence and security forces who were involved in torture, political murder and other human rights abuses. The purpose of such an operation would be to

Senate Building Reopened After False Alarm -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Chief Terry Gainer of the U.S. Capitol Police announced on CNN's Larry King Show that the "all-clear" has been given, and a U.S. Senate building can be reoccupied. It was emptied after a security sensor indicated the presence of a nerve agent.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

U.S. Terrorism Suspect May Be Among Escapees -- (Los Angeles Times)...Times Wire Reports
An American charged with being part of an Al Qaeda cell in New York was probably among 23 men who escaped from a Yemeni prison last week, an FBI official said.

White House Agrees To Brief Congress On NSA Surveillance -- (Washington Post)...Charles Babington
Responding to congressional pressure from both parties, the White House agreed yesterday to give lawmakers more information about its domestic surveillance program, although the briefings remain highly classified and limited in scope. Despite the administration's overture, several prominent Republicans said they will pursue legislation enabling Congress to conduct more aggressive oversight of the National Security Agency's warrantless monitoring of Americans' phone calls and e-mails.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Bringing Eddie Home -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the plight of NY Marine Eddie Ryan and his family. Eddie was shot in the head and miraculously survived. But their home needed major remodeling to accommodate Eddie's new needs.

Once again, Americans delivered. A story by Paul Brooks in the February 7 edition of The Times Herald-Record tells of the donations pouring in. They may break ground in a few weeks.

"Buckley's Inn Between" -- [Bold Brave Courageous - Commited to Supporting Our Wounded Heros]
The purpose of Bold Brave Courageous is to offer comfort items to injured Military Personnel who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq. These items include supplemental clothing, toiletries, and entertainment devices such as CDs, CD players, DVDs, books, and games. We package these "comfort items" up in rolling suitcases, then deliver these suitcases to the injured personnel who are recovering in our Nations military hospitals.

Soldiers' Angels in the News Again -- [Iraq War News]
Remember that electronic Valentine's Day card I told you about - the one Soldiers' Angels set up with the Library of Life? Well, lookie here...

Cartoonist Helps Troops, Fisher House -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany] (pic)
Kathy Gregory, manager form the Fisher House Landstuhl gave me last time this book to read. The book "The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time," tells the story of comic strip character "B.D.," a National Guardsman who lost his leg during the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq and suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

IN MEMORY OF...

Fallen Soldiers Remembered -- [Baghdad Guy - in Iraq]
...I don’t think insurgents understand that the few successes they have against Americans here versus numerous setbacks serve to steel the resolve of soldiers here. No matter the original justification for war, or what the American public at large thinks of what’s going on, most soldiers here are motivated by the memory of fallen warriors, both the ones we knew, and the ones we didn’t know. We fight for their memory, we fight so 2,100 plus men and women didn’t give their lives in vain, we fight so the next soldier doesn’t have to sacrifice his life.

MILITARY / MILITARY LIFE

Left behind: The toll of war -- [HT: Miserable Donuts ]
...How Do They Cope?

Linda Price is the mother of Army Specialist Jayson Winn and Marine Cpls. Toby and Matt Winn. Within the same year, each was deployed to the Middle East. Although they have returned safely now, Price recounted to Revolution Health News what it was like when they were gone.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006 -- [Cassandra- Grims Hall]
...My first comment is this: whose battalion commander? Presumably not Lt. Rebrook's. But if this is true, the commander in question needs to be taken aside and counseled - this should not have gotten past him. The second thing that doesn't sit right with me is this:
Rebrook, 25, scrounged up the cash from his Army buddies and returned home to Charleston last Friday.
This will undoubtedly make several people angry, but put aside your emotions for just a second and recognize that I am not saying what happened to this man was right.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

GI Billed For His Body Armor Gets Refund -- (Los Angeles Times)...Associated Press
A former soldier injured in Iraq is getting a refund after being forced to pay for his missing body armor vest, which medics destroyed because it was soaked with his blood, officials said Wednesday.

About That Pay Raise... -- (Washington Post)...Stephen Barr
...Defense Department officials offered a slightly different rationale when discussing the proposed raise. "I think it's a continuing effort to make sure we work towards parity, if you will, in pay for our military forces at the equivalent civilian-educated" level, Vice Adm. Evan M. Chanik, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday.

Military Supporters Outnumber Protesters From Anti-Gay Group -- (Nashville Tennessean)...Leon Alligood
Six members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., brought their mixed message of hate for homosexuals and God's judgment on America to the main entrance of the 101st Airborne Division's home yesterday. Their spiteful rhetoric did not play well.

POLITICS

A Characteristic Display -- [Dadmanly]
ADAM NAGOURNEY and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG write of the growing unease among Democrats in Some Democrats Are Sensing Missed Opportunities, appearing in today’s NY Times.

I mention and link only to remark on the following paragraphs (undoubtedly known at the Times as the obligatory Hillary tie-in):...

Gummint Accountability... sort of. -- [From My Position... On the way!]
If we don't know what's broke, we can't fix it.

It seems the Feds have figured that out to--at least the OMB has. It's listed every federal program, and includes the agency, etc. in a searchable index, and has broken them down into what works and what doesn't, and, why, and more importantly, what's being done about it.

Admittedly, it's a neat idea. Unfortunately,...

KING FUNERAL TURNS POLITICAL -- [Open Fire]
Liberals and lefties are classy people as demonstrated during the memorial service for Coretta Scott King yesterday. Using a memorial service as a platform for their Bush-bashing political statements former president Jimmy Carter and Joseph Lowery, co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, turned the service divisive and political. Ironically those who are so-called civil rights activists fighting for a color blind society are the ones who continue to divide America based on color.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Bush Trims Medicaid, Medicare Over 5 Yrs. -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush signed a measure Wednesday that trims Medicaid and Medicare spending over the next five years, but he said Congress must make bigger changes as baby boomers retire....

House Committee Squashes Torture Queries -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans easily defeated three resolutions seeking information about the Bush administration's policies on torture after a heated committee hearing....

Sen. Clinton Urges Democrats to Speak Up -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday accused Republicans of "playing the fear card" of terrorism to win elections and said Democrats cannot keep quiet if they want to win in November....

THE MEDIA

Profiles in courage -- [Neptunus Lex]
...Perhaps it’s too much to expect of NYT Arts page writer Michael Kimmelman that he might, over the course of more than 1400 words of text on the topic of the Danish cartoon kerfuffle, say something. His inability to do so is, however, noteworthy in itself. Up front, we are placed on notice...

...Let us all be clear: Freedom of thought, conscience and consequent expression is the fundamental feature of our societal success. It is the one thing, without which, no other progress would have been possible. And the http://austinbay.net/blog/?p=897current “rage” of the Arab street is little more than a cynical political manipulation by the worst elements of Islamic society to frame the word “freedom” within terms amenable to their interpretation of propriety. Giving in to this kind of terrorism - and that is what we’re facing here - is the worst kind of calm, vile submission.

A lesson for Anne Applebaum: Reporting versus Editorial Opinion -- [Austin Bay]
Anne Applebaum is confused, so what does a confused American liberal do? Blame American conservatives. Hey, read the DailyKos and you’ll conclude Bush is the enemy, not Al Qaeda.

So a reporter was injured and that means....?????? -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
I am concerned about Bob Woodruff. I am concerned that he is being used as a tool of the left to drum up even more hysteria about the situation over here. Sure, I feel bad for him and his family but no more so or less than I do for ANY Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman who has been injured or killed. Why is this news but the deaths of three Iraqi Soldiers who were killed in almost the exact same spot just yesterday any less newsworthy?

RIOT IN TOONTOWN--REAX -- [Noble Eagle]
A sampling of some columns on the Cartoon Jihad:

Wounded journalists -- [Phil and Becky]
...I don't know what type of vehicle these journalists were traveling in. Maybe they couldn't ride inside. But I am guessing that they just didn't stay inside the vehicles like they should have. Every time a combat patrol rolls outside the wire, the patrol commander gives a patrol brief that stresses, among other things, for all gunners to stay at chinstrap defilade in order to survive the blast. Gunners need to survive the blast in order to repel the ensuing small arms/RPG ambush (if it is a complex attack and not simply an IED strike). I'm guessing that these journalists had their torsos and heads exposed and, when the IED detonated, they were wounded right where we'd expect them to be. Who knows, I wasn't there. I'm not saying it was definitely their own fault because,

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Lone Gun In War Reporting -- (Los Angeles Times)...James Rainey
...Michael Yon may not be a household name, but he emerged last year as the reporter of choice for many conservatives and supporters of the war. His blog inspired so much buzz that by last month only 83 other blogs, out of about 26 million on the Internet, received more links from other websites.

CONGRATS

Home Sweet Home -- [Hello from Hell - in Iraq]
My beautiful wife Shelle is now pregnant (and yes it is mine!!!), we thought we would have to wait a while and possibly have to use medical science to concieve but it only took one night. We pretty much got it on the first try, Literally!!!

Stop The ACLU’s One Year Blogiversary Blogburst: Top Ten Myths About The ACLU -- [Stop the ACLU]
Today I turn 29 years old, and Stop the ACLU turns one. We started out on blogsnot. Here is our first post. Enough about that…on with the blogburst

Blog birthday -- Far East Cynic
Today my little blog is one year old. As is typical for me lately, the day just sucked at work so all the pithy comments I had to say will have to wait until I'm in a better frame of mind. The last year has

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)

IRAQ

THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD -- [AMERICAN CITIZEN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
Give War a Chance: a Buck Sargent film

Two For the Road -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
All good things must come to an end. This sojourn to Iraq is quickly drawing to a close and Friday night I'll start my return trip to the land of the big PX. For a final time an ASR number will be scrawled on the back of my left hand. In the darkness one last "seabag drag", weighted down with ALL my gear, into the back of a waiting helo. The dark expanse of Iraq will glide below us. Into memory will fade golden fragments of light spilling out from windows and doorways of Iraqi homes, and the strands of silvery headlights coiling across the landscape marking the midnight path of a coalition convoy. I suspect I'll feel both drawn home and wanting to stay. I wonder if there is word for this, a word like bittersweet;

Army Charges Wounded Soldier For Lost Body Armor -- [Wizbang]
U.S. Army Lt. William "Eddie" Rebrook of Charleston West Virginia, who was honorably discharged last week because of an arm injury sustained in battle, was forced to pay $700 for the body armor that was destroyed when he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

Time for a cartoon post… -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
...We have a piece of wisdom here that says "The bird got mad at the grain field!" which as you can see means that sometimes people make stupid decisions that can harm only their own interests yet they think that by doing what they did they would harm those they're boycotting.
This saying applies to all Muslim countries in general and to our interim government in particular.

CARTOONS -- [THE MESOPOTAMIAN - an Iraqi in Iraq]
Those who have been following my blog should know that I am a practicing believer in the religion of Islam; so naturally I consider it offensive to show disrespect to Islamic religious symbols or any religious symbols of any kind, for that matter. However there is more to this than meets the eye. It seems to me quite suspicious that this storm is created at this particular time. To start with this is certainly not the first time that insults and affronts of this nature appear on print in western media in many countries and places. Such things do not deserve any kind of reaction other rather the contempt they deserve. Yet

Ur -- [A Mobilized Year - in Iraq]
During a delay on a recent mission, I was able to visit the ancient city of Ur. It is located just outside of the city of Nasiriyah. What a neat place. Other than it being the birthplace of Abraham (revered as a patriarch in the Bible, Torah and Koran) and the starting point of his migration westward to Palestine in about 1900 B.C., I really didn’t know much about the city . But, the tour guide there, Muhsen, gave us an informative, close up tour of this amazing place.

CENTCOM / PA REPORTS

NFL Players Visit Iraq -- {DVIDS}
16 hours 22 minutes ago (02.07.2006) TIKRIT, Iraq (February 6, 2006) -- The Super Bowl has long been an event that excites football fans everywhere. Soldiers in Iraq look forward to that 2 a.m. game that will ...

Youth of Al Rasheed Clean Up for a Better Future -- {DVIDS}
BAGHDAD -- The city council in Al Rasheed is taking positive steps to clean up the city by hiring local youth.

Army helping Iraqi businesswomen win contracts -- (Army News Service)...Lt. Col. Stan Heath
About 250 reconstruction contracts worth more than $250 million have been awarded to women-owned businesses in Iraq over the past eight months.
Opportunities for Iraqi businesswomen are increasing, with help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ...

New water treatment plant brings hope to Iraqi village -- (Army News Service)...Pfc. Michael Molinaro
AL MUHAWIL, Iraq (Army News Service, Feb. 7, 2006) – In the Al Muhawil muhallah, located about 54 miles south of Baghdad, a new water treatment plant opened Sunday with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by residents and the town council.

Iraqi, U.S. troops aid flood victims in Iraq -- (Army News Service)
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers rescued dozens of people southeast of Mosul Saturday after powerful storms swept through northern Iraq, causing flooding along a Tigris River tributary.

Soldiers Find Block of Gold Worth $110K -- (Army News Service)
A unique challenge in Army values for two Soldiers in Iraq arose recently with the discovery of a very special doorstop in their workspace: a 25-pound block of solid gold. Master Sgt. Jay Phelps and Sgt. Teresa Burroughs never wavered in making the right decision; they agreed the gold was not theirs and should be returned to the proper Iraqi authorities. “It ultimately came down to what your integrity is really worth,” Burroughs said. “My parents taught me that money isn’t everything, and what I’ve done in the Army is more important.”

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Tapes of Hussein to Be Analyzed -- (New York Times)
Mr. Hoekstra believes the recordings may shed light on whether Mr. Hussein hid unconventional weapons before he was toppled in 2003, said the aide, Jamal D. Ware.

The voice on the recordings has been confirmed by intelligence analysts as Mr. Hussein's, Mr. Ware said.
...Representative Jane Harman of California, the committee's top Democrat, has pushed for hearings but has been rebuffed by Mr. Hoekstra.

"If the committee is reopening an investigation into W.M.D. in Iraq, it should be bipartisan and based on facts, not politics," she said.

Iraqi forces arrest top Al Qaeda leader -- (THE TIMES OF INDIA)
BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces have arrested a top leader of the Al Qaeda terror network, General Mahdi Sabeh Hashim of the interior ministry said in press remarks published on Monday.

Germany charges Iraqi man with funding insurgency -- (Swissinfo English /Reuters)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German prosecutors said on Tuesday they had charged an Iraqi man in the latest of a series of probes into fundraising or recruiting for the insu...

Iraq culls poultry as new bird flu cases feared -- (NZ Herald)
SULAIMANIYA, Iraq - Culling teams moved through villages in northern Iraq today as the war-ravaged country sought to contain an outbreak of bird flu that has killed a ...

US senators to probe general's Abu Ghraib testimony -- (Yahoo News/ Reuters)
A Senate committee will look into discrepancies in accounts of how dogs came to be used to abuse detainees at a U.S. prison in Iraq, after a general who testified to the committee then declined to testify in military court, senators said on Tuesday.

Lawmakers Fear Lack of Progress on Iraq -- (Yahoo News/ AP)
The Bush administration is falling short in its efforts to rebuild Iraq, increase oil production and spawn a new government that is representative of all factions there, lawmakers of both parties said Tuesday.

Iraq War Draws Veterans Into Politics (Yahoo News/ AP)
After 20 years in the Air Force and Bronze Star service during the 1991 Gulf War, Democrat Jay Fawcett decided to come home and run for Congress, largely out of disgust with the way American troops were being used in Iraq.

AFGHANISTAN

The big payoff -- [Travels with Shiloh]
I've got a question with regards to the cartoon protest.

Where the heck to all these people get the flags that they're burning?

I mean I just can't believe that there's an outlet store full of Danish flags in Quetta or Kabul, let alone some of the more remote, god-forsaken places in the region.

So, I've been wondering if maybe, just maybe, this whole protest started because some gift shop owner got his orders mixed up and instead of getting 5,000 Koosh balls imported from Chinese slave labor he ended up with dozens of boxes filled with Danish flags.

Poison gas against protesters in northern Afghanistan -- (Afghan Lord - Afghani in Afghanistan]
Today morning hundreds of people in different provinces of Afghanistan ran on the streets for demonstrating against Danish publication in blasphemy about Mohammad the prophet of Muslims. Protesters in Maimana the central of Fariab blazed the PRT office. PRT soldier to avoid of further danger used poison gas against extremists and protesters.

Disheartening News from Bagram -- [Miserable Donuts]
...My old friend Kabir Ahmed is quoted a few times. I did notice that the Washington Post calls him the Bagram Police Chief...er, not as such. He is the District Attorney - granted, their version of the District Attorney has a lot more power than ours, and he can direct police forces - but he is not the district police chief.

**SHORT FINAL** -- [...PZ CONTROL... - in Afghanistan]
...We have accomplished so much during the past year. We have protected the President of Afghanistan, saw the fruit of democratic elections bloom all over the country, and flew more combat hours than we thought possible (close to 8000, compared to approximately half that many in Iraq). We've done very well, and are proud of our service.
But as I think and plan for the days ahead, my excitement is tempered by what we have also lost.

American Cigarettes... -- [Kabulog - in Afghanistan]
...the silver lining of 3 hours spent scrambling to, around and from the airport. Three hours wasn’t that bad, but I was the cause of 7 men missing lunch.
So I’m still here in Kabul. Hoping is a fool's game. I got to see some back roads while avoiding the protests. The NGOs and the UN and other organizations are starting to scramble, even issuing warnings to prepare for evacuation and such. Not looking to good for getting out of town for some RnR.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN: WARDAK PROVINCE IS POPPY-FREE, SAYS GOVERNOR -- (AKI)
Maidan Shehr, 7 Feb. (AKI) - (Syed Saleem Shahzad) - The United Nations says Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, accounting for more than two-thirds of global production, and no-one is arguing. But one central Afghan province is trying to make a difference. The administration in Wardak has made remarkable strides in curbing poppy cultivation and ensuring the Taliban movement does not reemerge. Adnkronos International (AKI) spoke to the governor of the province, Abdul Jabbar Naeemi who claimed that his region is poppy-free and that they have successfully intergrated former Taliban into society.

Afghan girls learning fast -- (The Australian)
IN a tin-sided shack in a Kabul neighbourhood known as Karte Se, a dozen teenagers sit on wooden benches, their thick coats buttoned up against the chill. They are students in an English grammar class...

Afghanistan Welcomes Debt Cancellations -- (Washington Post /AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan on Wednesday welcomed a move by the United States, Russia and Germany to cancel all of the nation's debts.

India sends police to guard workers in Afghanistan -- (Reuters)
NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (Reuters) - India is sending paramilitary police to Afghanistan to protect civilian workers after an engineer was killed by the Taliban militia last year and another national died in a blast, an official said on Wednesday

The Taliban's bloody foothold in Pakistan -- (Asia Times)...Syed Saleem Shahzad
KARACHI - By taking control of virtually all of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area on the border with Afghanistan, the Taliban have gained a significant base from which t...

Clerics Seek End to Protests Over Drawings -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghanistan's top Islamic organization on Wednesday called for an end to violent protests against drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, as police shot dead two protesters to stop an angry crowd from marching on a U.S. military base in the southern part of the country. Fourteen people were wounded in the clash in Qalat city, including ten protesters and four Afghan security forces who were struck by flying rocks, said Ahmad Khan, a doctor at the city's main hospital.

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iran: Mullahs' regime admits to building 50,000 centrifuges -- [East of Kurdistan]
Proper response to Tehran's challenge is urgent adoption of sanctions, support for democratic change by the Iranian people and Resistance
NCRI - Ali Asghar Soltanieh, the Iranian regime's representative to the IAEA in Vienna, confirmed today that the regime "will soon install 50,000 centrifuges in the Natanz facility for enrichment of [UF6] gas." Tehran also informed the IAEA in a formal letter that it would halt cooperation with the agency and demanded the removal of surveillance cameras at nuclear sites in Iran

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Thousands of Katrina Victims Evicted -- (AP)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hauling everything he owned in a plastic garbage bag, Darryl Travis walked out of the chandeliered lobby of the Crowne Plaza, joining the exodus of Hurricane Katrina refugees evicted from their hotel rooms across the country Tuesday. The occupants of more than 4,500 government-paid hotel rooms were ordered to turn in their keys Tuesday, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency began cutting off money to pay for their stays.

Saudi envoy says Bush oil comments "topic of hour" -- (Reuters)
DALLAS (Reuters) - President Bush's call for the United States to end its dependence on Middle East oil has become "the topic of the hour" for Saudi Arabia and left the it wondering what the White House has in mind, the Saudi ambassador to the United States said on Tuesday.

Vote Count Begins After Big Haiti Turnout -- (AP)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Scuffles broke out and polling stations opened hours late Tuesday as masses of Haitians waited - sometimes in mile-long lines - to vote under the protection of U.N. peacekeepers crouching behind machine guns and patrolling alongside armored vehicles. Outside the gang-controlled Cite Soleil slum, frustrated voters pounded on empty ballot boxes and chanted, "It's time for Cite Soleil to vote!" In one rural town, a Haitian policeman shot and killed a man in line at a polling station; a mob then killed the officer, a U.N. spokesman said.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

A long war -- [Neptunus Lex]
All weekend long this post has been bubbling inside me, asking to be let out. All weekend long I demurred, procrastinated, changed the subject, argued with myself. It’s a deep subject, susceptible to error, even to over-generalization. It might be long to write, uncomfortable to think about and challenging to get my mind around.Because most of all, I wish it was not so:

Abu Hamza al-Masri Conviction: An Important Step Forward in the UK's War on Terrorism -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
The conviction in British criminal court of radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri (aka Mustafa Kamel Mustafa), and his sentencing to 7 years in prison, stands out as an important landmark in the war on terrorism. Great Britain has long been a beacon of tolerance. It has provided safe-haven to those who espouse radical positions and preach radical ideas, however offensive or dangerous. This tolerance stands as an exemplary standard for all who value high principles of freedom of thought and expression. But, there is a line,

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

U.S. Navy Boards Suspected Pirate Ship -- (Washington Times)...Richard Halloran
The United States was striking a pre-emptive blow when it ordered a U.S. Navy destroyer to detain and board a suspected pirate ship in the Indian Ocean last month, aiming to see that terrorists do not lash up with pirates in the Asia-Pacific region.

Weapons dealer caught in FBI sting -- (The Australian)
A LONDON-based arms dealer was caught by FBI agents trying to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a Colombian terror group, the Old Bailey was told. Syed Bukhari allegedly agreed to supply ro...

Terror training camps in UK: police -- (The Australian)
POLICE said they uncovered evidence of terrorist training camps in Britain after raiding Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri's north London mosque, which they believe was a global magnet for Islamic militants.

Germany Frees Man in Qaeda Cell Linked to 9/11 Terrorists -- (NY Times)
FRANKFURT, Feb. 7 — Germany's highest court on Tuesday released a Moroccan man who had been convicted of belonging to a cell of Al Qaeda whose members included the Sept. 11 hijackers, pending an appeal of his case.
The court ruled that the man, Mounir el-Motassadeq, should not be jailed while his lawyer appealed his conviction by a Hamburg court last August, when he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Putin Warns FSB on Terrorists and NGOs -- (Moscow Times)
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged the Federal Security Service to prevent foreign governments from interfering in Russia through NGOs and said terrorists should be hunted down "in caves

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Amateur Radio Operators have begun a unique way of showing support for our Military Veterans, and Active Duty Members. Emery McClendon, KB9IBW, founded ARMAD - Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day as a way to allow the people of communities worldwide to express thanks, and appreciation to those that serve in the military.

National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
From February 12 - 18 the annual National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans will be observed at VA Hospitals across the country. From the Dept of Veterans Affairs website

Fallen Heroes on the SA Living Legend Team's Blog -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
The Living Legends Team at Soldiers Angels has created a blog to honor fallen heroes. The Living Legends blog created a post for each family they have helped. At the end of some of the fallen hero's information a SA logo, this means they were part of Soldiers' Angels organization and had Angels.

MILITARY

Big Army just does not get it !! -- [The Siegrist Blogs - in Afghanistan]
just dont get it!! Right now we can pick up a phone and call back to Germany and talk for 15 min every day if we like. Now USAREUR wants everyone to think they are going that extra step. Here is a deal for soldiers who are away from home for a year at a time, and in our case gone 2 out of the last 3 years. I get to talk to my family 2 times a week. Oh what a deal!! Soooo if we break this down, what it realy says is that I get to be away from home 365 days, and only get to talk to my wife 104 times in a year.Or 1560 min a year which breaks down into 26 hours for the whole year>>>> Hmmm.
...Now I see why every soldier I talk to about staying in the Army and going Warrant Officer just smiles at me and says "NO Way in Hell;Sir" !!!

Peace of mind is only a phone call away" -- [Canada to Kandahar - Canadian soldier in Afghanistan]
MISSION INFORMATION LINE
The Mission Information Line (MIL) is a bilingual telephone service for families of Canadian military personnel serving in operations outside Canada. The toll-free, 24-hour service features detailed reports about Canadian Forces missions and operations from around the world and provides the kind of assurance and support family members depend on.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Bush Weighs Military Death-Row Cases -- (ABC News)...Lisa Hoffman
President Bush now faces a decision that no commander in chief has confronted in more than 40 years -- whether inmates on the U.S. military's death row should live or die.

We Promise: A Commitment To Our Troops -- (Chicago Tribune)...Thomas Mockaitis, a history professor at DePaul University
A little more than a decade ago, the Republican Party issued its famous "Contract with America." Although we should be leery of contracts with politicians who never show us the fine print, the idea of such has some interesting possibilities. In light of continuing developments in Iraq and new revelations about the treatment of National Guard members on active duty, it may be time for Washington to consider a contract with the men and women of our armed forces. For lack of a better term, let's call this pact "A Covenant with the American Soldier." The title's biblical connotations should accord well with the Bush administration's evangelical leanings.

Setting partisan politics aside and recognizing that soldiers don't get to choose their wars, the covenant might contain the following clauses:

Active-Duty Military Can't Sue For Malpractice -- (Honolulu Advertiser)...Rob Perez
...Under the Federal Tort Claims Act and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 1950, active-duty military personnel are barred from suing the U.S. government for injuries "incident to service," even if gross negligence was the cause.

Accountability Of Military Doctors Debated -- (Honolulu Advertiser)...Rob Perez
...A bill by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., that would allow military members to pursue lawsuits for injuries caused by improper medical care has passed the House several times. But each time the legislation died in the Senate. Frank last proposed the measure in 2003.

POLITICS

Books and Covers: Inside the Democrat Drive to Recruit Military Veterans for Political Office -- [Bobby's World - in S Korea]
Years ago, during the 2000 Presidential campaign, I happened to watch Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" one night. I don't remember much about the show itself (I hardly watch television), but I always found its premise-- inviting four celebrities to sit around and talk (usually half-jokingly) about serious political issues-- somewhat non-sensical. If you want to hear a discussion of serious political issues,

Wellstone “Funeral” Used As Front For Liberal Politics -- (Expose the Left)
Hannity & Colmes played a few clips from the Paul Wellstone “funeral”.

Compare and contrast this video to Lowery and Carter’s ‘speeches’ today -- [Outside the Beltway]
Like the controversial funeral for Paul Wellstone, much of it struck me as incredibly inappropriate for the occasion. Of course, applause and standing ovations, which were routine in this event even for non-controversial comments, also are something that I am unaccustomed to at funerals. Funerals are places to honor the deceased and for the living gathered there to find unity in their loss.

Meow -- [Andi's World]
Is a cat fight brewing in California? Cindy Sheehan has been running around threatening Senator Diane Feinstein to a duel challenge for her senate seat. This seems ludicrous on its face, but then again, Sheehan redefines outlandish.

Now, Senator Barbara Boxer is weighing in.

Two Women -- [Baldilocks]
But what can we take from observing the behaviors of Mrs. King and Mrs. Sheehan? What can we learn about what each woman thinks of Martin Luther King and Casey Sheehan by looking at what they have done since the two men were killed? There are many similarities, but all too many differences; three of the latter stand out.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

Angry Over Iraq War, Veterans Launching Congressional Runs -- (Boston Globe)...Jon Sarche, Associated Press
After 20 years in the Air Force and Bronze Star service during the 1991 Gulf War, Jay Fawcett, a Democrat, decided to come home and run for Congress, largely out of disgust with the way American troops were being used in Iraq.

A Eulogy for King, a Scolding for Bush -- (LA Times)
The funeral for the civil rights leader becomes a platform for criticizing the president's policies.
Bush and his wife, Laura, sat on stage as more than 10,000 cheered suggestions from several speakers that the 1960s civil rights movement led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — and fostered by his widow since his assassination — remains alive and that its goals have not been fully realized. They cited the debates in Washington over the war in Iraq, the recovery from Hurricane Katrina and government eavesdropping.

Bush Plan Would Trim Survivor Benefits -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's budget calls for elimination of a $255 lump-sum death payment that has been part of Social Security for more than 50 years and urges Congress to cut off monthly survivor benefits to 16- and 17-year-old high school dropouts. If approved, the two proposals would save a combined $3.4 billion over the next decade, according to administration estimates.

Some Democrats Are Sensing Missed Opportunities -- (NY Times)
Heading into this year's elections, senior Democrats said that they sense they had failed to exploit Republican vulnerabilities.

THE MEDIA

Newspaper Staff Walks When Mohammed Cartoons Are Pulled -- [Jawa Report]
The editorial staff of the alternative weekly New York Press walked out today, en masse, after the paper's publishers backed down from printing the Danish cartoons that have become the center of a global free-speech fight.

Question to the Media - Part II -- [The Counterterrorism Blog]
Our current environment requires cooperation and consideration of all segments of society, to include the media. I also believe in accountability, which revisits the question... at what point is the media accountable for compromising intelligence and investigative collection techniques?

MSM REPORTS ON THE MEDIA

CIA chief looks inside agency for media leaks: ABC -- (Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA director Porter Goss has launched an internal investigation into leaks of secret information about covert operations to the media, ABC News reported on Tuesday.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

The growing role of bloggers -- (Washington Times)
...From the lefty bloggers, one would never know that polls showed Samuel Alito was supported by about 53 percent to 55 percent of Americans, and opposed by only 27 percent to 30 percent. Democrats in Bush-supporting red states couldn't dare support a filibuster of a popular nominee, and every Republican senator except Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island knew the political wind was at their backs -- and even Chafee couldn't bring himself to support a filibuster of a qualified, well-liked nominee.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Cartoon Riots Caused by Looney Tunes, Not Koran -- [ScrappleFace]
A spokesman for the Children’s Television Workshop (CTW), producers of Sesame Street, today said that global riots in response to Danish editorial cartoons connecting the prophet Mohammad with terrorism have nothing to do with the teachings of Islam, but are the “natural legacy of a generation raised on violent cartoons like Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner.”

Brokeback to the Future... - [The Drunk Report]
Brokeback mountain - back to the Future style. Hilarious edit job. Bravo!

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

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

By the Twos -- [Fire and Ice - in Iraq]
The two individuals whose photographs appear today, Michael Phillips of The Wall Street Journal and Hollywood documentary film maker Pat Dollard, were my battle buddies while at Ar Ramadi's Observation Post Horea. These two gentlemen, though fundamentally different creatively and politically, have fearlessly shared the common lot of the Marines here in Iraq. Mike was here on his fourth visit and Pat his third. Mike, a seasoned photo-journalist, works diligently to maintain the aloof impartiality of a judge even while enduring all the dangers and hardships faced by the Marines he covers. In addition to dispatches appearing regularly in The Wall Street Journal, he's also written a book entitled The Gift of Valor: A War Story. Lest one thinks his prose is limited to arid reporting, his reviewers assure us that this book displays the hand of a sensitive and evocative wordsmith.

Outside the Wire -- [Wordsmith at War - in Iraq]
We’ve got to keep Haji on his toes, lest he think he can blatantly transport weapons and bomb-making materials through our area of operations. Those who would do us harm need to know that we frown on this behavior, we Americans fighting over here, and if they’re going to try, they better damn well be afraid of getting caught.

As I’ve stated many times in this blog, I am a communications officer. My job on this deployment is to keep my Battalion connected through various means. I advise the Commander and staff on all things Signal. Still, the Commander feels it is important for even his staff officers and NCOs to get out and participate in operations. This doesn’t happen all the time.

Funeral -- [MREater]
Here are some pictures, the likes of which you probably won't see in traditional media. This is a "ramp ceremony" for a soldier killed in Iraq.

Wake for a Sioux Warrior and U.S. Marine -- [Winds of Change - Robin Burk]
From a Native American colleague of mine who is also an Army officer:

This is a slide show that shows a Lakota Sioux wake and ceremony for a Marine that was killed in Iraq. It shows you the integration of 2 cultures and the specific Sioux culture. Native Americans have the highest per capita service than any other ethnic group. We are only less than 1% of the total US population.

Rewarding work -- [A Soldier's Diary - in Iraq]
I had a few realizations the last week of how starved I am to actually have more responsibility than just myself. A couple days ago my squad had to take some of our replacements to another camp through the "Red Zone" as we like to call it. These guys are fresh off the plane and this is their first time outside the International Zone (or Green Zone), so it is kind of a big deal for them. You can see the slight nervousness in all of them - we all had the same thing, but my squad has run this particular route probably 30 or 40 times and we know it to be a very safe road.

Quick note - [Team Med-fah - in Iraq]
Hi, all. Been very busy lately due to working with our REPLACEMENTS. Six of them arrived on the 28th; the remaining five on the 30th. We have all been very, VERY busy ever since, keeping the ball rolling on ops, etc., while explaining every nuance of our lives for the past eight months to them. They are all billeted with us, so we have doubled up occupancy (which was tight to begin with). They are all good to go; I am really pleased with them individually and as a team. I will NOT be disappointed to leave, but it is good to be handing everything over to a team who I fell will continue to grow it vice re-invent what we have already done.

Bet you didn’t know about MNF-Iraq.com -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
...Did you know you can read transcripts of the weekly briefings given by generals in Iraq to the media? You can take a look at the PowerPoint slide presentations too. It’s not light reading, but there is gold buried in them thar hills if you’re willing to prospect a little bit. Plenty of other features will probably catch your interest, including video and photos. If you care about what is really happening in Iraq, you should see a side of things you probably haven’t seen in detail.

I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
So, Im in my sleep coma and life is good. Then the alarm clock from hell part two sounds off at 0130 Monday morning. The Super Bowl pre game is starting and I asked myself, self why am I getting up?? The Cowboys aren’t playing, the Broncos aren’t playing (the two greatest teams that exist-in that order I might add) so why get up? Knowing I could watch the game and enjoy a cold haji Pepsi and cigar was a good enough excuse to get up and check it out.

The Holy Grail -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
Last night we had a little going away party for one of the high ranking officials here in Baghdad. Some of you already know about General Order Number 1. The order basically says no alcohol, no gambling, no adult entertainment, and no fraternization. The alcohol part can be lifted temporarily based on the commanders discretion.

The party gave everyone a chance to change into civilian clothes for the evening too. So, here's how it happens though...we all got two beer tickets and burgers for the evening. It was extremely nice to sit down and have a cold beer which was my first in over two months now.

"Singing in the Rain" -- [SandGram - in Iraq]
I once wrote about the hazards you face while out here on Combat duty. You worry about the rockets and stuff, but it’s the simple things that can really hurt you around the base. Take for example the rain. When it rains here, it comes down like a cow pissing on a flat bed rock. Big ole’ drops that actually hurt when they hit. Since this is all talcum powder sand with a clay base, there is nowhere for the water to run off so it collects and forms little mini lakes around here.

Thunderstorms -- [Chapter: War - in Iraq]
We've had thunderstorms and rain that have soaked much of Iraq, and most of the areas I am in are a foot deep in mud. Everything is drenched including all gear, clothes, and weapons. The inside of the vehicle is soaked and smells. Mud is caked on everything.

It's raining, it's pouring...Boy do I hate this place! -- [Combat Medic In Iraq]
Well, along with winter months in any region comes precipitation. Unfortunately, since Iraq doesn't get a lot of rain strewn out over a few months or a season; it all just comes down at once! The accumilation of water hear is something like that seen in New Orlean's during the first stages of it's demise, or maybe this is what Noah built the *Ark* for...days like today!

FLOOD WATERS -- [2006 Tour of Duty -- in Iraq]
This is the rainy season in Iraq. When it rains it pours all the low areas fill up and the water does not soak in as fast as the soil is like clay. The total rainfall is about six inches a year. So far we had had about three inches...

Civil Engineering 201 -- [Fraser From Iraq - in Iraq]
The Air Force engineers forgot about something called drainage. So, instead of a muddy road- we now have a muddy pond. And the only thing that stands between us and the XXXXX (insert truck, shower, bathroom, food, gym, flight line, internet, mail, or pretty much anything) is a 2-foot deep pond of mud, and refuge.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Congress's Secret Saddam Tapes -- (Ny Sun) HT: [Stop the ACLU]
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is studying 12 hours of audio recordings between Saddam Hussein and his top advisers that may provide clues to the whereabouts of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

War in Iraq not worth the life of another soldier -- (Times Union)
The ongoing debate about Iraq frequently overlooks the fact that false intelligence was hyped as a means to garner early support for the President's action, and now focuses on the negative consequences that might result should we make a premature withdrawal from Iraq.

Team Bush Shrugs Off 300B War Costs -- (New York Daily News)...Kenneth R. Bazinet
When the estimated cost of the Iraq war soared beyond $300 billion yesterday, White House officials said there were no regrets about humiliating two top aides who had accurately predicted the war's cost.

World In Brief -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer
A row between Iraqi Transport Minister Salam Maliki and British forces has shut down the international airport in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, to civilian traffic.

Poland's Leader Hopes To Gain From Support Of U.S. Policies -- (Washington Post)...Craig Whitlock
Poland's new president, Lech Kaczynski, said his country might keep troops in Iraq until sometime in 2007 if necessary, in an extension of its military commitment there, even as other nations are withdrawing or making plans to do so

Attacks Rock 'Foundation' That Marines Built in Anbar -- (Washington Post)...Nelson Hernandez
HIT, Iraq, Feb. 6 -- The troops of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit had every reason to feel a sense of accomplishment. Violence in this ancient town along the western Euphrates River had dropped sharply since their arrival. They were only a few days from heading home. And they had not lost a single Marine during two months in Iraq's most dangerous province.

Split In Iraqi Insurgency Spawns New Sunni Militia -- (Arizona Daily Star (Tucson))...Wire reports
Sunni Arabs have formed their own militia to counter Shiite and Kurdish forces as part of an attempt to regain influence they lost after Saddam Hussein was toppled.

Two Explosions Kill at Least 7 Iraqis -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Two bombs exploded minutes apart Tuesday near a square in central Baghdad, killing at least seven people and wounding about 20, police and hospital officials said....

Tokyo Sees Troop Pull-Out From Iraq 'In Months' -- (London Financial Times)...David Turner
Japan will pull its soldiers out of Iraq "within several months", according to remarks attributed to a senior official.

Saddam Team 'Gives Up' -- (London Daily Telegraph)...Unattributed
Lawyers for Saddam Hussein said yesterday that they had all but given up on participating in his trial, insisting that America and Iraq's Shia leadership had fixed proceedings.

AFGHANISTAN

Just a few more weeks -- [The World From My Perspective v2.0 - in Afghanistan]
...A few days ago I was dispatch on a quick reaction force mission to secure the site of a suicide car-bomb attack. Not the most desireable of circumstances to leave the realitive safety of the forward operating base...I would much rather be handing out children's vitamins and school supplies, but that is beside the point.
...Three Afghan Army soldiers were killed, a farmer on a tractor, and the suicide bomber of course. I guess one positive you can take out of it was when the man was stopped at the checkpoint he blew himself up, it was presumed that he was heading towards the provincial capital of Khowst. I could only imagine the carnage he would have caused had he been able to drive himself to the university, the UN building, or any other number of suitable sites that Afghans frequent, going about their daily lives.

Afghans thwart al Qaeda suicide bomber -- [Cao's Blog]
Their target was General Atta Mohammad, one of the most powerful members of the Northern Alliance. General Atta joined forces with General Dostum to reclaim Mazar-e-Sharif from the Taleban in 2001.

Farewell to a brave Marine -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan]
This past Thursday- James Joyce's birthday, for those in the know- I managed to get outside the wire, but for a solemn occasion: to fly out and attend the memorial for a Marine who was killed by an IED last week. He was by all accounts a dedicated, sincere young Marine who knew more about engines than anyone else in his mechanic shop...and those guys bust their butts to keep vehicles running in every sort of imaginable terrain and weather. Now he is the first fatal casualty in a battalion that saw more than its share of tragedy last year in Iraq, but one who continues to inspire his brothers to accomplish their mission. Now that's not a line from some public affairs officer, that's what they'll tell you, these warriors who stick their necks out each day when every convoy or patrol could bring a deadly encounter.

Afghanistan Battles Continue -- [ThreatsWatch - Bill Roggio]
The battles between the Taliban and Afghan Army and police units, backed by U.S. forces, enters the third day in the troubled southeastern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. Six Afghan policemen are killed in a roadside bombing near Kandahar as U.S. air forces conduct strikes in the Ghoraz region, where “close-air support was called to the scene of the attack. British Harriers, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and B-52 Stratofortress aircraft responded to the scene, attacking enemy positions and forcing them to flee into a nearby town.”

The Stick (and the Rock) is Mightier than the Firearm (maybe tied with the Pen) -- [Miserable Donuts]
One big difference between Afghanistan and America involves sticks, rocks, guns and pens. In America if you are even seen with a firearm, people become, well, more aware of you. If you make a theatening move with one - people scatter and panic. Not the same case in Afghanistan. When our security at Humanitarian Assistance drops, the front gate of our base, or anywhere a group of Afghans (particularly the younger ones) would gather tried to be menacing looking with their rifles - the crowd yawned. If they reached for a rock or a stick, people became more aware of them and the kids would scatter at full speed.

Going Home -- [An Eagle's Story - in Afghanistan]
With our final heavy missions flown now, it is safe to say that everyone is now on their way home. Just wanted to take minuet to name the crew we lost that wont be making it home.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghans Protest Against Prophet Cartoons -- (AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Norwegian troops opened fire on protesters who attacked a NATO base Tuesday in the second straight day of violent demonstrations in Afghanistan over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, Afghan officials said. In neighboring Pakistan, 5,000 people chanting "Hang the man who insulted the prophet" burned effigies of one cartoonist and Denmark's prime minister. And a prominent Iranian newspaper said it was going to hold a competition for cartoons on the Holocaust in reaction to European newspapers publishing the prophet drawings.

Cartoon Protests Stoke Anti-American Mood -- (Washington Post)...Griff Witte and Ellen Nakashima
Three Killed Outside U.S. Base in Bagram
KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 6 -- Afghan police shot dead three people who stormed the largest U.S. military base in Afghanistan Monday to protest caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, as continuing demonstrations in Muslim countries grew more deadly and in places took on a new anti-American tone.

NATO Troops Fire on Afghan Attackers (Yahoo News/ AP)
KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO peacekeepers exchanged fire with protesters who attacked their base Tuesday in the second straight day of violent demonstrations in Afghanistan over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, Afghan officials said. One demonstrator was killed and dozens wounded.

Suicide bomber kills 13 in attack on Afghan police -- (Reuters)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed 13 people and wounded 13 on Tuesday when he set off explosives outside the police headquarters in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, a government spokesman said.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Sherlock Whong -- [Chris Whong - in Kuwait]
This deployment has already given me a wealth of experience that typical M-day (one weekend a month) officers just don’t ever see or do. The latest and greatest is investigations! Of course I can’t go into much detail, but when bad things happen, an officer is assigned to investigate, find out what happened, and make recommendations for liability to whoever it is that gives out the punishment. The rank of the investigator usually corresponds to the level of the incident. Lieutenants investigate little things like physical altercations, missing equipment, minor infractions of policy and things of that nature

Mexico Invades US - again! -- [ROFA Six]
What is happening on the US-Mexico border? Once again, Mexican soldiers have invaded the US for the second time in two weeks.

This time it was caught on camera by El Paso Fox affiliate KFOX-TV as it was visiting the scene of a Jan 23 armed confrontation between US law enforcement and armed Mexicans on the US side of the border.

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

House Bill Funds Guard Border Duty -- (Arizona Daily Star (Tucson))...Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Unwilling to wait for federal help, a House panel voted unanimously Monday to use state tax money to deploy the National Guard along Arizona's southern border.

Hawks Have Warplanes Ready If The Nuclear Diplomacy Fails -- (London Times)...Richard Beeston
IT IS the option of last resort with consequences too hideous to contemplate. And yet, with diplomacy nearly exhausted, the use of military force to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme is being actively considered by those grappling with one of the world’s most pressing security problems

Iran to publish Holocaust cartoons -- (AFP)
From: Agence France-Presse From correspondents in Tehran
IRAN'S largest selling newspaper announced today it was holding a contest on cartoons of the Holocaust in response to the publishing in European papers of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.

"It will be an international cartoon contest about the Holocaust," said Farid Mortazavi, the graphics editor for Hamshahri newspaper - which is published by Teheran's conservative municipality.

Denmark warns its expats as cartoon protests rage -- (Reuters)
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Denmark urged its citizens on Tuesday to leave Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, as Islamic outrage over a cartoon controversy continued to rage across Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Chechnya bans Danish aid workers over cartoons -- (Reuters)
MOSCOW, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Chechnya's pro-Moscow government on Monday banned Danish humanitarian organisations from the shattered region in response to the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

Haiti votes for democracy under shadow of violence -- (Reuters)
Haitians vote for a president although many fear rival armed gangs could wreck the election.

Mayor: New Orleans will seek aid from other nations -- (My Way News/Reuters)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Shortcomings in aid from the U.S. government are making New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin look to other nations for help in rebuilding his hurricane-damaged city.

Louisiana governor vows 'hardball' with Washington -- (Reuters)
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco warned state lawmakers on Monday that corruption could no longer be tolerated as the area rebuilds from the Hurricane Katrina disaster and vowed to "play hardball" with Washington over oil and gas revenues.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

More on my al-Maghribi speculation -- [Peace like a River]
In this post, I speculated that a chain of intelligence successes in the latter part of 2005 may have provided a lead that played a role in the Jan 13 missile strike in Damodala that killed perhaps as many as 5 senior Al Qaeda commanders.

Congressman Charges Bush Purposely Did Not Capture bin Laden -- [Expose the Left]
Add Congressman Maurice Hinchey to the list of those who have accused the Bush administration of either not capturing Osama “when they could have” or having alterior motives to go into Iraq.

Terrorists Seek Cases Tossed Due to NSA Spying -- [Jawa Report]
You had to know this was coming. The lawyer for Iyman Faris, convicted of plotting to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge, asked a federal judge today to throw out the case because the National Security Agency illegally spied on him.

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

War Plan Targets Terrorist Resources -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
The Pentagon yesterday issued its first comprehensive strategy for defeating Islamic terrorists, saying it has embarked on a war plan to deny extremists the resources they need to operate and survive.

Chief Of CIA's Counter-Terror Center Ousted -- (Los Angeles Times)...Greg Miller
The head of the CIA's counter-terrorism center was forced to step down Monday over concerns that he was not aggressive enough in leading the agency's pursuit of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, current and former intelligence officials said

Officers May Have Helped Prisoners Escape -- (Los Angeles Times)...Times Wire Reports
Investigators are looking into the possibility that Yemeni intelligence officers helped 23 Al Qaeda prisoners escape from an underground prison beneath a heavily guarded security headquarters, officials said.

Moussaoui removed from court after outbursts -- (Reuters)
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - Declaring "I'm al Qaeda," Zacarias Moussaoui, the convicted conspirator in the September 11 terror attacks, was removed from court four times on Monday for disrupting jury selection in his sentencing trial.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

Thank You V -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
Packages for the Abu Ghraib elementary school children arrived from:
Deborah Tuttelman - El Cerrito, CA
Tom Buttrick & Val VanMeier - Nelson, NH (BCT Dad and Step-mom)

Thanks for All You Do -- [Courage Without Fear - in Iraq]
Recently there have been several comments from people who do not necessarily support the troops, or who just believe we should not be here. That is fine. It was citizen soldiers like me who guarnteed you your right to speak your mind by fighting for freedom and democracy since the Revolutionary War.

But there have been substantially more comments and emails from those of you who support me and my fellow soldiers. I thank you, as do my soldiers.

"Thank you" from the front ~ TISSUE ALERT -- [Yikes]
Remember way back at Christmas, y'all sent me a few gazillion Christmas cards to send to several units in Iraq that had suffered heavy casualties? Well, I got a letter from the Chaplain of one of those units today...

Drill Suprise -- [MREeater]
...When we mobilized in June 2004, a few thousand local soldiers assembled in a local arena for a goodbye tribute. Mayors from 6 local towns showed up, but the mayor of Boise didn't. He is a Democrat, and the rest are republicans. Our Adjutant General, a 2-star (Major General), spoke at the rally. He is the top state Guard officer, appointed by the (Republican) governor. At the rally he took a shot at the Boise mayor for not being there.

This put the Boise mayor on the defensive, and he showed up at our departure to shake everyone's hand and give out a City of Boise lapel pin. He also put together a plan for a big welcome home party, involving local units and many of the larger corporations and businesses.

New Book Encourages Americans To Support Our Troops -- [Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho]
Yes, I have another book out there, but this time it's not a children's book (fun as those are). This book is a non-fiction book, and I very much hope that it will inspire and encourage its readers to support our troops on an individual and personal level. The name of the book is From Here To There and is a collection of true short stories from my personal experiences supporting our troops as a Soldiers Angel, and also includes letters from our troops as well.

MSM LOCAL REPORTS ON SUPPORTING THE TROOPS

Supporting The Troops Requires More Than A Button -- (St. Petersburg Times)...Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite - SUBCRPTION ONLY -LINK UNAVAILABLE
As my brother, cousin and friends came home from Vietnam, I heard their frustration at not being allowed to win the war. It's a frustration I've felt and heard shared by countless Vietnam vets across my district.

...As bad policy choices compounded in Washington, our troops were not given the chance to win. The failure of the liberal left in Vietnam still haunts the Democrat Party today. But liberals did learn one thing: Their vicious rhetoric against our troops cost them dearly at the polls and took decades to correct. This is a mistake liberals are trying desperately not to make in Iraq.
As far as I can tell, when liberals say, "We support the troops," they mean this time around they aren't going to spit on our vets and they won't protest welcome-home celebrations.

When liberals say, "Support the troops," as far as I can tell, they mean refrain from personal attacks on our soldiers. This time, liberals are hiding behind the rhetoric of a button and a slogan.

I disagree. Support is not a slogan. Support is more than wearing a button. Support is active. Supporting the troops is not saying things that encourage our enemies. Support is not saying things that make it harder for our troops to fight. Supporting the troops requires a commitment to win.

MILITARY

Active Duty -- [Across the Pond - in Iraq]
In the past few weeks, I have been tossing around the idea with Kristen about putting in an active duty packet under the new "seamless transfer". Basically I put in a packet to the National Guard Bureau and they let me know which jobs I hold that the Army would take me back in. I already have 5 years of active duty time plus another 2 1/2 active duty time in the Guard. So in my 9 year career, 7 1/2 is on active duty. Depending on the job their are pretty good monetary bonuses associated with this program.

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Same 2.2% Raise Proposed For Civilians And Military -- (Washington Post)...Christopher Lee
President Bush proposed a 2.2 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees and members of the armed forces yesterday, marking the first time in his presidency that he has called for equivalent raises for both groups.

Bush Budget Includes $250 Million For Tankers -- (Los Angeles Times)...Reuters
President Bush's defense budget plan for fiscal 2007 earmarks $250 million to start replacing the military's aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers, an Air Force budget official said.

Deploying Video On The Home Front -- (Los Angeles Times)...Lisa Richardson
...Called United Through Reading, a project of the San Diego-based Family Literacy Foundation, the videotape program was started by Betty Mohlenbrock during the first Gulf War. Working mostly with the Navy and the Marines, the foundation trains deploying personnel and volunteers at home to manage the program while ships are underway. A grant from Target Corp. will allow the program to expand to the other military branches.

POLITICS

ACLU Welcomes Senate Inquiry Into Warrantless NSA Spying Program With Full Page Propaganda -- [Stop the ACLU]
The ACLU are running this full page ad in conjunction with today’s Senate hearings over the NSA.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

McCain Criticizes Obama on Lobbying Ethics -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Sen. John McCain on Monday accused his Democratic colleague Barack Obama of "partisan posturing" on the issue of lobbying ethics reform - a charge Obama called puzzling and regrettable....

Bush's Budget Bolsters Pentagon -- (Washington Post)...Amy Goldstein
President Bush yesterday proposed a $2.77 trillion spending plan for the coming year that drains money from two-thirds of federal agencies, continues a large military buildup and predicts that the federal deficit this year will far eclipse the previous record, reaching $423 billion.

Mike pushes Silverstein for WTC control -- (NY Daily News)
Mayor Bloomberg warned yesterday that World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein would "run out of money" in a few years and leave "everybody high and dry."

THE MEDIA

Islamic Outrage -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - in Iraq]
Cartoons. Friggin cartoons. People wonder why we can't have meaningful dialoge with the insurgents. Here is a prime example. 1 billion uneducated, fanatical, fatalistic people willing to die for their .......religion. Yeah, over a cartoon. How many times have you seen the Christian God, Jesus, Buddha, Shiva, and other gods parodied? How many times have you seen something that is explicitly against your religious scruples and been made angry? Did you riot? Did you burn a building with innocent people inside? Did you state that they all deserved to die?

Soldiers' Angels Responds to the Washington Post -- [Iraq War News]
Soldiers' Angels has joined the ranks of those responding to the Washington Post and Tom Toles for their tasteless cartoon.
The letter reads, in part:
"The depiction of a severely wounded soldier in this cartoon, regardless of the point Mr. Toles was trying to get across was not only just tasteless, it was hurtful. Hurtful to the many soldiers who have suffered from traumatic injuries in the fight for freedom, both in this current conflict, and in past conflicts. Hurtful to the families who have had to endure and care for their loved ones. Hurtful to the many citizens who have a passion for supporting and serving the heroes who fight for our nation."

Fisking "Civilisation" -- [Dadmanly]
Efraim Karsh conducts a competent "fisking" of the namesake himself, in a review of Robert Fisk’s The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, in Commentary Magazine. Karsh finds that, as a journalist, writer or historian, Fisk fails in this work:

MSM REPORTS ON THE MEDIA

Dying To Tell The Story? More Than You Know -- (International Herald Tribune)...Eason Jordan
...Just as we acknowledge, mourn, and salute the 61 (mostly Iraqi) journalists noted killed in the CPJ tally, we must pay the same courtesy and respect to the other 40 journalists and news organization employees killed or who died on the job in Iraq. Before I explain the disparity in the death toll tallies, let's examine how the Pentagon tracks the deaths of U.S. service men and women in Iraq.

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

SMASH Joins Panelists at the Milblog Conference -- [Andi - MilBlog Conference 2006]
I'm pleased to announce that Citizen Smash will be a panelist on Panel #1, Milblogs: Past, Present and Future. We're very happy to have Smash join the list of featured milbloggers.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Unseen Super Bowl Commercial -- [God Bless America]
A commercial that you won't see during the Super Bowl.

CONGRATS

The Day They Called Me Sgt. Grey Eagle -- [Grey Eagel- A Female Soldier - in Iraq]
Today I was pinned my sergeant’s stripes. That’s right. I am officially Sgt “Grey Eagle” Wilkinson as of February 01, 2006

I Got My Retirement Orders -- [TBone's War Journal]
I am very happy because I just got my retirement orders in the email!! I will return to the States soon and be on the retirement roll by summer. Woo hoo!!

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date... -- [Jack Army]
...namely, my blogiversary! Yeah, February 1, 2005 started my adventure in the blogosphere. No, I won't bore you with a "year in review" or "where are they now?" recap of events. I will say that I've thoroughly enjoyed the blogging experience and look forward to continuing into the future... especially while I spend a year or so in Iraq.

IN MEMORY OF...

Godspeed, Mrs. Puller -- [Blackfive]
Victoria Evans Puller, the wife of Lieutenant General Chesty Puller, has passed away. Funeral services are on Saturday. She was 97 years old.

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

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

Charlie Mike -- [AMERICAN SOLDIER - in Iraq]
I only have a minute but just want to drop by. No shit there I was in Iraq and I got pegged by shrapnel from an IED explosion. Good thing for body armor! Gotta love it.

Sunni Arab Sniper Makes The Most Wanted List -- [Strategy Page]
February 2, 2006: Increasingly effective Sunni Arab snipers are becoming a problem in Iraq. These men are usually former members of Saddams elite forces, out to score a big payday by killing American and Iraqi troops. To encourage these snipers to retire, the U.S. sometimes puts prices on their heads. Last year, an expert Sunni Arab sniper in Fallujah was put out of business via a $100,000 reward. This year, there’s another ace sniper operating in Haditha, a town of 200,000 that is 300 kilometers west of Baghdad.

Foreign Fighters Found in Ramadi -- [Threats Watch - Bill Roggio]
The Iraqi Army busts a cell of 11 Syrians and 4 Iraqis
The city of Ramadi has seen some progress of late in the fight against the insurgency. While Ramadi, the provincial capital and largest city in Anbar, is perhaps one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq, the government has been working to gain local support and cleave off the domestic nationalist elements of the insurgency from the more violent Islamist and foreign elements. One result has been the declaration of war against al-Qaeda by the Islamic Army in Iraq and other insurgent groups.

Iraq Pictures - 02 February 2006 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Iraqi Army Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division conduct a cordon and search as part of a Brigade size raid throughout their area of operations. The battalion is responsible for the city of Kirkuk. Pic: SPC Barbara Ospina

Mosul, Rawah, Mosul, Rawah......MOSUL!!! -- [Combat Medic In Iraq]
Back in Rawah for a short period of time. Soon B. Co. 2-1 Infantry will be patrolling the mad streets of Mosul instead of the tiny, IED laden highways of western Iraq. It's a happy move for all of us I can assure you. We would all agree that it is better to die fat, clean, and happy than dirty, hungry and pissed off like Rawah will make you. On top of all that, we will escape the Spur and Stetson way of life and head straight into the the *Infantry Way* of doing things again!

Rawah. A Memoir... -- [Combat Medic In Iraq]
On an early yet warm morning in September of 2005, Bravo Company 2-1 Infantry made their way to stage and get ready for the long drive down to Rawah, from Mosul. Through a relatively straight drive, it was mainly through uncharted desert wadis and small towns seemingly sprouting from the sand. Mixed emotions ran through the minds of the soldiers with me, as well as in my own mind. Before leaving Alaska for Iraq we heard stories of Rawah that would chill most peoples spines.

My Mind...My Weapon -- [America's Son - in Iraq]
Sleep is always elusive on the eve of a mission. On these nights, my mind is constantly going over scenarios, "what if's", IA (immediate action) drills...and over and over and over. It is a cruel combination of my survival instinct and training, and it can be extremely frustrating. But one thing is certain and will be for as long as I am over here: I will ALWAYS be mentally prepared. It's the intelligent warriors who win wars; those warriors who study their enemy's techniques, tactics and procedures; who have mentally prepared themselves for any number of circumstances and who are never,

Poll shows nearly half of Iraqis support attacks on US led forces -- [Chapter-War - in Iraq]
The bad news first (as always)...
47% Iraqis approve of attacks on US troops
Sunnis 88%
Shia 41%
Kurds 16%
80% of Iraqis think the US plans to maintain permanent bases in Iraq
23% of Iraqis think the US will not leave even if asked to by the Iraqi government

Ouch

Now the good news…

Groundhog Day! -- Intel Dump - Phil Carter - in Iraq]
"In Iraq, every day is Tuesday. You worked yesterday, you’re working today, and you’re working tomorrow – and it'll be a long time before you see the weekend. The Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day" gets cited so much here that it's become code for everything we don't like about life in Iraq. When you’re sick of the food (roast chicken again!), you say it's "Groundhog Day". After the umpteenth staff meeting where you discuss the same issues, someone will invariably call out "Groundhog Day". We’ve all become so routinized that even our term for the routine has become a cliche."

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Bush 'tried to lure Saddam into war using UN aircraft' -- (TIMES)...Rosemary Bennett and Michael Evans
PRESIDENT BUSH had plans to lure Saddam Hussein into war by flying an aircraft over Iraq painted in UN colours in the hope he would shoot it down, a book reveals.
Mr Bush told Tony Blair of the extraordinary plan during a meeting in the White House on January 31, 2003, six weeks before the war started, according to an updated version of Lawless World by Philippe Sands, a human rights lawyer.

Resistance suspends talks with U.S. troops -- (Azzaman)
Iraqi armed groups have halted their talks with U.S. occupation troops, Azzaman has learned.
Sources, speaking to the newspaper from Damascus, said the armed groups suspended their talks when U.S. negotiators rejected drawing a timeline for the withdrawal of their troops.
The sources said the talks did not involve all anti-U.S. factions, but were set to expand had they succeeded.
They said the U.S. insisted the groups disarm in return for “integration in the political process.”

Lag in Forming Iraq Government Troublesome -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi efforts to form a government are only now beginning in earnest nearly two months after key elections, and the hard bargaining could take weeks - if not months - to produce a new leadership. That could delay the eventual drawdown of U.S. forces....

Rumsfeld to Iraqis: 'grab ahold' of your nation -- (The Star/Reuters)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Thursday Iraqis must exert greater authority over their country, while also calling it likely the United States will be able to make further cuts in troops.

Pull British Troops Out of Iraq -- (Arab News /The Independent)...Mary Dejevsky
....Next to no pride accompanied our soldiers into the fray. The only Union flags on display have draped coffins. Audacious this war may have been in its ambition, but it was wrong — and time has only compounded the misgivings.

AFGHANISTAN

Article: War in Isolation -- [Fortunate Son - in Afghanistan]
My friend Robert Bryce just published another article recently in Atlantic Monthly discussing the IED threat we face out here every day. Having been hit by a couple of IEDs, its obviously something on my mind every time we head out of the wire.

My Afghan Parliamentary Hook-up -- [Miserable Donuts]
I was not too surprised to see that Mohammed Almas won a seat in the lower house of the Afghan Parliament (the Wolesi Jirga). He is a very wealthy and influential man, and he had made sure there was enough good will toward him in his district.
The first mention I can find of Mr. Almas was in an article from November 2001 in the LA Times, briefly mentioning his role as a General in the Northern Alliance. He was happy enough to dump the General role and get back to what he did best

The Primacy of Tribal Politics -- [Strategy Page]
February 1, 2006: The Taliban violence in the last year, which has left over 1,600 dead (including 91 American troops), is driven by drug gangs looking for allies, and tribes, and Islamic conservative groups, in Pakistan, providing money and volunteers to try and put the Taliban back in power. The Afghan government believes that the Pakistani government is behind the support from Pakistan. The Afghans believe this because Pakistan has interfered, using these same tactics, before.

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Taliban turn to suicide attacks -- (Christian Science Monitor)
"The Taliban have been doing a lot of guerrilla attacks in the last year, but they didn't get any credit for that; it didn't create enough instability," says Mullah Abdul Salam Rocketi, a former Taliban commander who threw his support behind the Karzai government last year after being released from Afghan prison. "Now, with the suicide attacks, they have added a lot of instability and nervousness and anxiety to the people and the government, and now their name is bigger than it was before."

Dutch parliament votes troops to Afghanistan -- (Swissinfo English / Reuters)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch lawmakers on Thursday voted in favour of sending up to 1,400 troops to Afghanistan after being pressed by NATO allies to join their deployment in

Huge battle to rebuild Afghanistan made harder -- (NZ Herald)
LONDON - The conference on Afghanistan ended yesterday, with Hamid Karzai's Government receiving just a fraction of what it claimed was need...
...The Afghan Government had said that a minimum of US$20 billion ($29 billion) was needed over five years. But the total promised aid at the end of the summit was $10.5 billion. However, since 20 per cent of that was "old pledges", the real figure was $8 billion.

The US was the biggest contributor, with an offer of US$4 billion over five years, while Britain said it will give US$885 million. Another $1.2 billion will come from the World Bank.

We must finish what we started in Afghanistan -- (Scotsman)
FOCUS GEORGE SOROS | WHILE the unremitting violence in Iraq grabs the world's headlines, Afghanistan is still struggling for peace. The country's parliament is packed wit...

Al-Qaida militants are coming from Iraq to fight in the Afghan insurgency -- (CNews/AP)
By AMIR SHAH | KABUL (AP) - Several al-Qaida militants are coming from Iraq to take part in the insurgency in Afghanistan, a provincial governor said Thursday after inter...

US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Rumsfeld wants to cut US presence in Kosovo -- [Kosovoreport]
Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, wants to reduce the number of American troops in Kosovo, signalling that the Pentagon would like Nato allies to assume more responsibility for the mission in the breakaway Serbian province.

Korea and India Fight Petro-Political Battle in Nigeria -- [GI Korea - in S Korea]
Oddly enough, Korea is currently in a petro-political battle with the much larger country of India:

India and South Korea are contesting control of two Nigerian oil exploration areas as the Asian importers increase lobbying to secure energy supplies for their expanding economies.

MSM REPORTS ON US AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Twisters Add Insult to New Orleans' Injury -- (AP)
KENNER, La. (AP) - Tornadoes tore through New Orleans neighborhoods Thursday that had been hit hard by Hurricane Katrina just five months earlier, collapsing at least one previously damaged house and battering the airport, authorities said. Roofs were ripped off, utility poles came down and a radio tower fell near a major thoroughfare, but no serious injuries were reported.

Michael Costello: Bush is right, the Middle East is ripe for democracy -- (The Australian)
...The Palestinians have made their choice (which I suspect was driven much more by a desire for peace and economic security than Islamic fundamentalism or a desire to obliterate Israel). Whatever their reasons, they now have to live with the consequences of their choice of government, which are likely to be severe in economic and political terms.

PM demands US apologise over AWB comments -- (The Age)
Prime Minister John Howard is demanding a powerful United States senator apologise for implicating the Australian government in an Iraq bribes scandal

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

For the European Union, Al Qaeda is NOT a terrorist organization -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
In fact, while researching a paper on EU-US cooperation, I found out that Al Qaeda was not included in the EU's list of terror organizations. Here is the complete list.
European officials confirmed to me that stunning fact.

Department of Homeland Security to dedicate valuable resources to insuring SuperBowl XL safety... from PHONY NFL MERCHANDISE???!! -- [GTL]
I know, I know... this HAS to be a freaking JOKE, right? Sorry, y'all... it most certainly is NOT a "joke". The Department of Homeland Security has vowed to protect We, the People, from purchasing phony, unlicensed NFL merchandise at SuperBowl XL (source: WorldNet Daily). Thank God above that the U.S. Government is working so hard to insure the corporate profits of another monopoly remain 100% intact, even if it *might* be at the peril of its people, right?

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Military force an option against terrorists: Merkel -- (Reuters)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said military force can be used as a "last option" in the fight against terrorism and warned Iran not to curtail cooper...

Congress Extends Patriot Act Five Weeks -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress sent President Bush a second five-week extension of the Patriot Act as Senate negotiators worked to close a deal with the White House on renewing the antiterrorism law with some new civil liberties protections. "We need the Patriot Act," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter. "I'm prepared to work on it further to improve it."

Web jihad: tackling terror on the Internet -- (Christian Science Monitor)
A British citizen faces US charges for running a militant site hosted in Connecticut.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

LCF Marine's Dying Wish Honored By Fellow Marine -- [Iraq War News]
What do a 55-year-old Oklahoman and a 23-year-old La Cañada Marine have in common? When Sgt. Don Grit learned that 2nd Lt. Andrew Torres' dying wish was to help find a cure for cancer, he decided to help.

ACLU PROTECTING FUNERAL PROTESTERS -- [Stop The ACLU]
They have been known to yell things at the memorial services such as, “Thank God for dead Soldiers” and “Thank God for Body Bags”.

A New Semester, Troopies And A New Official -- [The German Princess]
It is a little ago that I wrote the last message. I've been pretty busy the last couple of days. The new Semester started and we have gotten some new people. Our class is growing and growing. It was pretty cool because we have gotten some new guys. One is from the German Armed Forces, he's Airborne, another one is from TV Münster and I have seen him a couple of times. When we introduced ourselfes they also asked me what I am doing and I just said "Well besides going to school I am volunteering for a Foundation that take care about Soldiers that are deployed to Iraq" ...silence...than someone said "Hey, that is cool, someone has to take care about them." and some others agreed. One said "But Bush is an asshole, he didn't even care about the people in Katrina." and a new debate started until someone else said that this debate is absolutely senseless because we are all here to introduce ourself and we shouldn't fight each other about political issues just because someone is volunteering for a Foundation like Soldiers Angel.

POLITICS

Lawrence Guyot Compares Hitler to Bush (VIDEO) -- [Expose the Left]
Lawrence Guyot appeared on Hannity & Colmes tonight to discuss and agree with NAACP’s Julian Bond’s comparison of the GOP to Nazis. Guyot charged that Hitler burning a town is equal to President Bush “eavesdropping” on terrorists. In the beginning of the interview, host Alan Colmes artfully tried to get Guyot to sound rational when he asked him “I don’t advocate comparing any political party to Nazis, do you Lawrence”, where then he said this situation is “far game”.

MSM REPORTS ON POLITICS

NAACP chairman compares GOP to Nazis -- (WND)
Civil rights activist and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond delivered a blistering partisan speech at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina last night, equating the Republican Party with the Nazi Party and characterizing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell, as "tokens."

Impeachment: Time for citizens to insist Bush obey law -- (Aljazeera)...Kevin Zeese - candidate for U.S. Senate
On May 31st last year Ralph Nader and I wrote in the Boston Globe: “Based on the mountains of fabrications, deceptions, and lies, it is time to debate the 'I' word.”

Today, I would say it differently: THE U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH and Vice President DICK CHENEY have so clearly violated the rule of law and so systematically abused the powers of their office that they need to be removed from office.

Bush to Request $439.3B Defense Budget -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush next week will request a $439.3 billion Defense Department budget for 2007, a nearly 5 percent increase over this year, according to senior Pentagon officials and documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The spending plan would include $84.2 billion for weapons programs, a nearly 8 percent increase, including billions of dollars for fighter jets, Navy ships, helicopters and unmanned aircraft. The total includes a substantial increase in weapons spending for the Army, which will get $16.8 billion in the 2007 budget, compared with $11 billion this year.

Bush to Request $120B More for War Funding -- (AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration said Thursday it will ask Congress for $120 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $18 billion more for hurricane relief this year....

THE MEDIA

In Hollywood, the U.S. is the enemy, not the terrorists -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
It's clear from the Oscar nominations and current crop of movies that Hollywood just isn't going to aim its cameras at the terrorists who hate us (especially the Hollywood culture) and who try to kill us. In Hollywood, the enemy is the United States of America. Note this wire story about the "political action" in movies says about Oscar nominee "Syriana" and its producer-star, George Clooney: "Clooney and his Section Eight production partner Steven Soderbergh also put their clout on the line to produce "Syriana," writer-director Steven Gaghan's journalistic investigation of the machinations of the U.S. government and oil companies in the Middle East."

Dumb Mistakes Journalists Make -- [Strategy Page]
February 2, 2006: The tremendous growth in the number of NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) and international news outlets over the last two decades, has put a lot more Westerners into combat zones, and into danger. These folks are looking for ways to avoid becoming casualties. And some have found it.

Hollywood stars lose their heads -- [Basic Training - in Iraq]
I realize Gary Busey suffered brain damage in a motorcycle accident, but what the hell is wrong with Billy Zane?

In the most expensive Turkish movie ever made, American soldiers in Iraq crash a wedding and pump a little boy full of lead in front of his mother.

They kill dozens of innocent people with random machine gun fire, shoot the groom in the head, and drag those left alive to Abu Ghraib prison

Class with a Capitol "K" -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
The title of this post is something a good friend of mine says often. It's intended to mean "Klass" which is obviously incorrect...and the phrase is commonly used when someone says something that is extremely inappropriate. I believe it to be most certainly applicable to a recent editorial cartoon by Tom Toles of the Washington Post. A good friend of mine, Trevor Snyder of The Will To Exist, filled me in on this cartoon and posted not only the cartoon but also the great response from our leaders.

MSM REPORTS ON THE MEDIA

The glamour of war -- (Boston Globe)
...The dangers of war reporting have been brought into high relief with the near-fatal injuries sustained by ABC News anchorman Bob Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt. A few weeks earlier, Jill Carroll, a freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, was taken hostage after an ambush in which her translator was murdered.

CARTOONS: JORDANIAN DAILY WITHDRAWN -- (AKI)
Amman, 2 Feb. (AKI) - In an apparent U-turn, the publishers of the Amman-based al-Shihan weekly - which on Thursday published three of the 12 controversial Danish cartoons satirising the Prophet Mohammed - has withdrawn all copies of the newspaper. In a note, the owner says it is "suprised" by the paper's publication...

MILBLOGGING / BLOGGING

Blackfive On CNN -- [BlackFive]
Chances are very good that I'll be on CNN's On the Story this weekend to discuss the uber-coverage of the Bob Woodruff (and Doug Vogt) story. I'll know for sure tomorrow night and will post an update.

HUMOR / SATIRE

French Strike Deal to Quell Anti-Cartoon Riots -- [ScrappleFace]
The French newspaper that set off Muslim riots this week by republishing Danish editorial cartoons implying a connection between Islam’s founder and modern acts of terror, announced today it had reached a negotiated settlement with a leading Islamic group to end the controversy which has sparked boycotts, violence, gunfire and hostage-takings.

(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)

Dawn Patrol

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

ACE IN THE HOLE -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
Have you ever had to do something that was complex, crazy but required. Something that if it went astray the domino affect would be catastrophic? When you experience these type of events and you are hit with a size 12 shoe from Murphy (Murphy’s law) you had better have a plan B set up. Well My plan B was shot to hell and we were loosing altitude and airspeed quick as we were headed towards a very bad area. To say shit was hitting the fan is an understatement.

Fun and Games - [SandGram - in Iraq]
...Now when you leave this place, sometimes you leave a little present behind for the next set of guys. One group put two cups of milk up in the rafters of the tent by the lights overhead. You couldn't see the suckers up there, but after about 2 days of 112 out, the milk started to pump out the most insidious putrid smell as it wafted down to the occupants below. They thought there were dead rats or dogs under the floor boards until one sharp set of eyes spotted the cups up around the top of the tents. I know the homeward bound bubba's were laughing all the way back to the states about that one and bets on how long it would take the others to find the source of the smell.

Judging the war in Iraq: fact vs. fiction -- [The Will to Exist - in Iraq]
Well, nearly every war is riddled with disappointment and pain, Iraq certainly included. But judged fairly, Iraq has been much less costly and debacle-ridden than the Civil War, World War II, Korea, and the Cold War—each considered in retrospect to have been noble successes.

Things getting close -- [J Barne's Coffee Shop - in Iraq]
..As for Habinniyah living, where should I begin. Hmmm.... Well, there's no hot water for showering and shaving. There's the crappy food the chow hall slops on my plate everyday. And to top it all off, it's colder than a well digger's chicken. To tell you the truth, it's not that it's that cold it's simply a matter of having piss poor heating and insulation on our dilapidated building.

Another day another dollar -- [Marketing in Iraq? - in Iraq]
...Today was a day like any other though...I tried to escort some media into the PX and coffee shop and couldn't get through. I think there was a suspected car bomb in our parking lot...can't verify that...it's just something I heard. I do know for a fact that traffic was being turned away though. To be honest, stuff like that stops being scary and just becomes annoying after a while.

MSM REPORTS ON IRAQ

Rebels foil Iraq's reconstruction -- (Chicago Tribune)... Jim Krane.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- American goals to repair Iraq's infrastructure will never be reached, in part because ...

Insurgency cripples Iraq reconstruction -- (Indianapolis Star)...Jim Krane.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Guerrilla attacks in Iraq have forced the cancellation of more than 60 percent of water ...

Mosul Makes Gains Against The Chaos -- (Washington Post)...Nelson Hernandez
A year after its police force melted away and the streets descended into anarchy, Mosul has climbed up from the abyss. But this city of 2 million, a key battleground in the Iraq war, still teeters on the edge of chaos.

Iraqi Army Desertions Are Harming Anbar Mission -- (San Diego Union-Tribune)...Antonio Castaneda, Associated Press
Just two days before a mission to send hundreds of Iraqi soldiers after insurgents in this troubled western part of Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi commanders confronted an untimely problem – an Iraqi battalion commander was suddenly fired for incompetence.

Rumsfeld Doubts 'Long War' In Iraq -- (Washington Times)...Rowan Scarborough
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said yesterday that he does not think Iraq will be a "long war" like the global fight against Islamic terrorists.

Pentagon Now Prepares To Fight Long War -- (San Jose Mercury News /AP)...Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
Now, the Pentagon is preparing for The Long War. In the 2007 budget due out next week and a soon-to-be-released long-range plan for reshaping the military, the Defense Department talks about the military's future in terms of its ability to fight a new kind of war. It is one that cannot be won in days or weeks, and will be fought on many fronts and against a vast array of enemies.

Sunnis Propose Deal For Peace -- (Washington Times)...Sharon Behn
Iraq's Sunni leadership presented the majority-Shi'ite government yesterday with a 10-point ultimatum that they said would either end the violence or lead to a national strike and widespread street demonstrations.

What's Driving The Kidnappings In Iraq -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Peter Grier
A wave of abductions is sweeping through Iraq - as evidenced this week by three videotaped demands by groups holding Western hostages.

Plan For Clinics In Iraq At risk -- (USA Today)...Rick Jervis
The centerpiece of a $786 million plan to modernize Iraq's health care system has stalled amid spiraling costs and insurgent threats, jeopardizing one of the country's most ambitious reconstruction projects.

A Different Operation For U.S. Doctors In Iraq -- (Washington Post)...Thomas E. Ricks
Maj. Hans Bakken and Maj. Brett Schlifka were bone-tired as they sipped bad coffee from foam cups on a chilly morning in a U.S. military tent. The men, both neurosurgeons, had worked on two serious head wound cases the previous evening and then, after going to sleep about midnight, were awakened at 1:30 a.m. to treat a soldier flown in with a gunshot to the head.

Iraqis angered by Bush's remarks in address about staying the ... -- (San Diego Union Tribune)... Sinan Salaheddin. BAGHDAD, Iraq – Some Iraqis expressed anger with President Bush's pledge in his State of the Union address ...

In Hussein's Absence, Witnesses Take Spotlight -- (Washington Post)...Jonathan Finer and Bassam Sebti
A woman described being stripped naked and hung by her feet, while Saddam Hussein's half brother kicked her in the chest until her ribs cracked.

AFGHANISTAN

Cushy Forward Base -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan]
Welcome to my workplace! Just when you think cubicle life in an office in New York is no way to live, you land a desk in a cramped, hot little workspace in a building much like this. Trust me, "Office Space" has nothing on this place. Of course, there's no having a case of the Mondays when there isn't a weekend, is there? The day may say Saturday or Sunday, but it matters not in the land of the wandering nomad we call the Afghanidan.

Health Care -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan]
...This clinic was significant for being the first in this region primarily planned and coordinated by the Afghan National Army, who is learning that their military shouldn't simply aim to intimidate, but needs to play a role in getting the local population back on its feet.
I was amazed to see the women in burqas change their minds and see the doctor. At first they had huddled together in their burqa-bonding way, and almost left as a group because there was no Muslim female doctor, but they were talked into staying by the local doctor and our cultural liaisons.

Final Weeks -- [An Eagle's Story - in Afghanistan]
February will be our last month in theater. It really feels like it has been a year. Some people say that it went by so fast that it doesnt feel that long. But I cant understand this, I know exactly how long I've been out here, and it feels exactly that long. We put our boots all over this country and, some of us, even in Pakistan..

MSM REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Schools Face Torch -- (Christian Science Monitor)...Scott Baldauf
Attackers tried to burn a girls' school Monday in the latest attack on education.

World pledges $10.5bn for rebuilding Afghanistan -- (The News International)
LONDON: More than 60 nations have pledged $10.5 billion to build a stable Afghanistan, British Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells said on Wednesday as diplomats at a two-day

US pledges extra $1bn Afghan aid -- (Gulf Daily News)
LONDON: The United States pledged an extra $1.1 billion in financial aid to help Afghanistan as world leaders launched a five-year compact lending financial and military ...

Bush Guest Grateful For U.S. Commitment -- (Washington Times)...David R. Sands
Fawzia Koofi, the veiled woman shown repeatedly at first lady Laura Bush's right elbow during the State of the Union, does not care about her newfound celebrity or that President Bush did not recognize her by name in his address Tuesday.

Alarm In Afghanistan -- (Boston Globe)...Nasrine Gross
...Afghans perceive the impending drawdown of US military forces and cutback of economic assistance with alarm and misgiving.

DOD REPORTS

Iraqi Army assumes control of two areas Army News 01 Feb 2006
Iraqi Army units took over an installation in Baghdad and a region S of Mosul ...

Iraqi SWAT team trains for success
FOB KALSU, Iraq – No terrorist can live comfortably in this region. The Hilla Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics team is taking control of the neighborhoods...

Securing a military academy
Zakho , Iraq- In northern Iraq , there is a school under reconstruction that may have a greater impact on the future of Iraq than any other reconstruction effort. The school is Zakho Military Academy.
...The force protection upgrades performed on the academy are now complete. These upgrades included the design and construction of nine guard towers located around the perimeter of the ZMA compound, installation of lighting on the perimeter wall, and the renovation of two compound entrances. The lighting will provide protection and security to the Iraqi Army cadre and cadets who live on campus. The guard towers will serve both as training opportunities for the cadets to learn first hand the nuances of guard mount, and as operational guard posts for the facility.

Reconstruction Continues...
ELECTRICAL SECTOR:
1,500,000 residents of Basrah and potentially all Iraqi Citizens have more reliable power with the installation of Units #5 and #6 at the Khor Az Zubayr Power Plant together producing 250 MW to the national electrical grid.

News from Around Iraq
U.S. president George W. Bush addressed Americans in his annual State of the Union Address Jan. 31 while Iraqi and Coalition forces continued to search out and destroy terrorist cells and their weapons. In his speech Bush highlighted the progress being made in Iraq.

...“If there are terrorists hiding in buildings, we’re going after them,” said Iraqi SWAT leader Lt. Husham Azeez. “We learn many good things from the Coalition Forces. They are always improving our skills and pushing us forward.”
...“The area is definitely becoming safer for our people,” Azeez said. “We are making it harder for the terrorists to operate, and that’s why I like this job – despite the danger.”

Survivors Praise Use of Body, Vehicle Armor
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2006 – Three soldiers just back from Iraq – including two who credit personal and vehicle armor with saving their lives – traveled to Capitol Hill today to tell Congress that when it comes to protecting troops, more isn't always better.

Iraq Reconstruction
Timeline 2004-2006

Afghanistan Progress
Timeline 2003-2006

Afghanistan UPDATE
New Hospital Symbolizes Progress

East Meets West
Afghanistan -A different culture means a whole new set of rules for construction.

USACE EXTREME MAKEOVERS
The Qalaa House
Makeover: What used to be the Iraqi Embassy has become the offices and home of the Corps of Engineers’ Afghanistan Engineer District. Named the Qalaa House meaning “fortress house” in Dari, renovations and construction were completed by an all local Afghan workforce.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

A crumbling Russian army? -- [Peace like a River]
MosNews has been tracking an awful story in Russia, an extreme incident of hazing.
Russian army conscripts were reportedly badly beaten in the city of Chelyabinsk, in the Russian Urals over the New Year holidays, with the incident only being made public now.

In re Saudi nuclear weapons -- [TigerHawk]
I've been reading up on Iran. Last week I finished Kenneth Pollack's The Persian Puzzle, which provides an excellent foundation in Iranian history and its relations with the West, particularly the United States. With that essential background (I had been pretty ignorant on Iran), I'm reading a monograph from the Army's Strategic Studies Institute, "Getting Ready For A Nuclear-Ready Iran" (download pdf here).

MSM REPORTS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Bush Says U.S. Would Defend Israel Militarily -- (Washington Post)...Glenn Kessler
President Bush said yesterday the United States would defend Israel militarily if necessary against Iran, a statement that appeared to be his most explicit commitment to Israel's defense.

Iran's message to the west: back off or we retaliate -- (The Guardian)...Ewen MacAskill and Simon Tisdall
Iran's foreign minister yesterday threatened immediate retaliation over a move to refer its nuclear weapons activities to the United Nations security council in comments which deepen his country's confrontation with the international community

World Nuclear Panel Meets Today To Consider Motion To Take Iran To Security Council -- (New York Times)...Elaine Sciolino
Britain, France and Germany introduced a draft resolution on Wednesday asking the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran's nuclear case to the United Nations Security Council.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Searching for Monsters in the Closet -- [Strategy Page]
...Our country is again at that crossroads. While it is reasonable and logical to draw distinctions from World War II and The War on Terror, there are chilling similarities.
Hitler wanted to eliminate all groups of people not fitting the mold of the master Arian race. Al Qaeda and other radical Islamic groups have an unholy mission to exterminate Israel and its ally, America, which both fall into the category of “the Zionist unbelievers.” Similarities are evident between the Japanese kamikazes of World War II and the terrorists of today, who are willing to fly passenger planes into buildings, or strap explosives to their own bodies. Yes, monsters existed in the past and they walk amongst us today.

Variation on a Theme -- [Officers Club]
As I discussed below, I believe that Al Qaeda is in an intractable position in Iraq. They are engaged with an adaptable and determined force, they have limited manpower and resources, a rapidly shrinking pool of support locally, and limited amount of support from nearby nation states. So in this situation, how can AQ accomplish its stated goals of reducing western influence in the MidEast, overthrowing secular Arab regimes, and establish a Caliphate? As an intel guy, I frequently put myself in the shoes of the Red Commander. So how, as the red commander, do I accomplish my stated goals?

MSM REPORTS ON WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

U.S. Agencies Find No Proof Of Looming Al Qaeda Attack -- (Washington Times)...Bill Gertz
Despite statements by senior al Qaeda leaders, U.S. intelligence agencies do not have information indicating the group is ready to conduct a major attack, U.S. counterterrorism officials said.

New Team Plans To Identify Nuclear Attackers -- (New York Times)...William J. Broad
The Pentagon has formed a team of nuclear experts to analyze the fallout from a terrorist nuclear attack on American soil in an effort to identify the attackers, officials have said.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

300 Soldiers Waiting for Angels -- [Soldier's Angels Germany]
2 weeks ago I posted here that Soldiers' Angels had received over 500 adoption submissions in a single week.

Although many have been adopted since then, submissions keep coming in.

Operation Valentine -- [Thunder Run]
Paula Westbrook, who teaches in Keene Independent School District (ISD), received $25 for her Teaching Tip for this week form the UEA. Her tip is getting her classes to participate in Operation Valentine being supported by Hayes & Associates. She writes of her project:

MSM REPORTS ON MILITARY

Air Force To Weigh Rapid-Strike Options For Global 'No-Warning' Threats -- (Inside The Pentagon)...Elaine M. Grossman - LINK UNAVAILABLE
The Air Force in March will launch a two-year review of weapon concepts that could allow the United States to respond to surprise threats by destroying targets halfway around the world within 60 minutes of an order to strike, according to defense officials and documents.