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Iraqi Bloggers Central asks MilBoggers "Was Iraq Worth Your Time And Effort?"
T.F. Boggs in Iraq has Part II: Interview With An Iraqi General.
And in case you missed Part I
24 Steps to Liberty gives us some vivid, Iraq Testimonies here, here, here, and here.
Seems the Taliban was commeratiing the Fourth in their way with Explosions in Kabul
Bill Roggio has a web page that compiles the articles, photographs, and multimedia from the May-June embed in Afghanistan.
Great reports at Counterrterrorism Blog:
Yemen Recaptures Jamal al-Badawi, USS Cole Bombing Mastermind and Yemen Al Qaeda Leader
Iraqi Insurgent Group Announces "Martyrdom" of Commander
Some iteresting discussions going on at MilBlogs in regards to North Korea's Missiles, starting here, and here, with some different views on how US should respond here , here, and here
MaryAnn passes on a soldiers thoughts about Soldiers' Angels:
Make Them Proud to Wear the Uniform
Soldiers submitting themselves for "adoption" at Soldiers' Angels are asked to leave a message for their Angel communicating any special needs, security instructions, etc.
Here's one of those messages from yesterday's submissions:
...TO SEE PEOPLE LIKE YOU GIVING OF THEMSELVES MAKES ME PROUD TO WEAR THE UNIFORM WITH OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG ON IT.
And MaryAnn and I usually repond with, "And it is an honor to serve our soldiers"
Blue Crab Boulevard honors a fellow fallan hero
Previous Dawn Patrol Here
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs, other blogs, and the mainstream media. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. (We have a daily "Open Post" too, if you have something on another topic you can link there.)
EDITOR'S NOTE: MSM reports will be temporarily eliminated from the Dawn Patrol until PCSing is complete.
Interview With An Iraqi General -- [T.F. Boggs - in Iraq]
I wrote a story for Michael Yon’s Frontline Forum a week ago about the town I am stationed in right now named Qayyarah. Qayyarah is a model for other Iraqi cities because it was once a haven for terrorists but is now safe enough for anyone to travel around in without fear of terrorists. The main reason for the safety of Qayyarah lies with one man: General Ali. He is a myth-like figure around our base and everyone knows his name. He is a strict military man but is the type of man Iraq needs so desperately right now. I hope people the world over will read this interview and learn just what kind of men are in Iraq right now willing to take control of their own country. What follows is the truth. It comes directly from the mouth of a man who knows intimately what is going on in Iraq and knows where Iraq has come from and where it needs to go.
My brother -- [Murphy Around The World - in Iraq]
I was talking to Mo (Mohammad) last night; he’s one of our full time interpreters. We had gotten up around midnight to let the convoy in our IA gate. He’s invaluable to me; he’s the best of the group. He told me last night he still keeps in contact with the previous MiTT chief we replaced. Before they left, they had asked him if he was going to stay on for the new team (us) and he told them he’d see how well the new team treated him. He’s still here, so I guess we passed. Either that or he’s pulling my leg to get a raise. We’re still feeling each other out, but he’s worth his weight in whatever he’s getting paid.
Bullets, Beans and Kidney Stones, Part I - Part II -- [Vets For Freedom - in Iraq] HT: Owen West
The operation in Ramadi has no name. That isn't by mistake. It isn't an operation, nor an offensive, but rather a "stabilization" of Iraqi forces in the region. Media reports claim that 1,500 have been displaced. Iraqi Army officials tell me the number is lower, estimated to be half that and the term 'displaced' tends to give the perspective that these families are living elsewhere in Iraq. Most have simply moved in with in-laws down the street.
Aadhamiya...again. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
I'm afraid what we predicted yesterday is beginning to happen…
The mostly Sunni populated Aadhamiya district in eastern Baghdad came under heavy mortar fire this afternoon. The bombardment lasted for about 30 minutes and I could count more than a dozen explosions. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks but the residents of Aadhamiya and surrounding neighborhoods think it was most likely the Sadr militias.
Reflection, part one - [Fun With Hand Grenades -- home from Iraq]
...At the airport I had a conversation with a Vietnam veteran. We exchanged war stories. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the feelings of embarrassment and shame knowing that my war is so much tamer compared to theirs, yet still I suffer. However I’ve also reached a conclusion; however bad your combat stories someone always has one that can top them. I can’t even imagine being called out to the aftermath of a car bomb and trudging through human body parts like the corporal I sat next to on the plane flight home. I guess I’ve learned to be content with what I’ve seen.
SuperShura! -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan]
Morning shines its light on the strangest outpost in Afghanistan, as Afghan soldiers perched on top of one lumber pile look out. It wasn't nearly as serene a scene if you could hear the horrific music blasting from their boom box though...which was more like cats being tortured as a rythm-less class takes drum lessons.
The Lumber Yard -- [AfghaniDan - in Afghanistan]
Late afternoon light at the lumber yard outpost in the Korengal, and blackhawks are still busy. There was a constant pace of activity as Marines and soldiers (even the occasional sailor or airman), supplies and weapons, building materials and everything else were shuttled to points throughout the mountains of Kunar in support of the massive operation...
News of Afghanistan XIII -- [Miserable Donuts]
...Jaw Jaw better than War War. Still some hissing going on, however!
Afghan Art by Yar Mohammad Taraky - go look, would you please?
IDF Targets Hamas, Elected or Unelected -- [ThreatsWatch]
Israeli Airstrike Hits PM Haniyeh’s Empty Offices as Karni Crossing Opened for Food, Fuel & Medical Supplies
As Israel struck the empty Gaza City offices of the PA’s Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the IDF has reopened the Karni crossing to allow for food, medical and fuel supplies to enter Gaza. Israel, now the sole source of electrical power for the Gaza Strip, has also increased the power transfers into the area after having taken out Gaza’s sole electrical power plant.
Anarchy in Somalia -- [ROFA Six]
Somalia is constantly in the news again in one context or another. A BBC News headline “Somalia - al-Qaeda new safe haven?” suggests the US chose poorly when it backed some rival warlords over others. The story says the US fears al-Qaeda will use Somalia, as it did Afghanistan, as a base for launching terrorist operations. The US rationale is based on the idea that because Somalia lacks a strong central government there is no power to prevent that from happening.
Turnabout is fair play -- [Peace like a River]
At the beginning of the year, Russia shut off the gas to Ukraine, sparking a major uproar. Today, Turkmenistan threatened to do much the same thing to Russia.
ICU attempts to distance itself from bin Laden; Ethiopia Army pushes into central Somalia -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Bill Roggio]
Osama bin Laden's endorsement of the Somali al-Qaeda affiliate Islamic Courts Union has caused some consternation within the organization. Osama bin Laden referred to the Islamic Courts as "our kinfolk and brother mujahidin," and implored them to "Seek God's help and prepare the necessary means, especially tank mines and anti-armor RPG's. Be patient like your brothers in Iraq and Afghanistan in this world crusade against our Islamic nation. You have seen several years ago the defeat of the United States and its allies on your land."
Monday's Winds of War: 3 July 2006 -- [Winds of Change]
Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Friday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Peace Like a River and Security Watchtower.
Bin Laden Applauds The Killing Of 62 Shiites -- [Sweetness & Light]
Bin Laden warns Iraq Shi’ites after bomb kills 62
Osama bin Laden appeared to warn Iraq’s majority Shi’ite Muslims they were not safe from al Qaeda’s new leader in the country after a car bomb devastated a Baghdad market on Saturday, killing more than 60 people.
...Weren’t we told after Zarqawi died (and even before) that he had lost influence with Bin Laden because of his attacks against fellow Moslems?
Our one party media need to pick a story and stick with it.
Nobody Cares About Soldiers -- [Blue Star Chronicles]
Yesterday an American Soldier told me that nobody cares about Soldiers. There wasn’t the tiniest hint of self-pity in his words. It was stated as fact, just simple cynical fact.
Me, being me, declared ‘YES they do. Many people do. The AMERICAN PEOPLE CARE!‘ I said it with passion and conviction.
‘Why do you think that?’, I asked.
‘We are pawns in a political game.’ he replied. He told me about how the guys over there all talk about it - privately. They see the news, they hear what people say. They know they are expendable.
‘It’s disheartening’, he said. Again said not with self-pity - just as fact.
Stolen VA laptop turned in -- [The Will to Exist- in Iraq]
AFIS is reporting that the stolen laptop containing the personal records of millions of U.S. veterans has been returned. Apparently, someone was feeling the heat, or had a conscience when it came to screwing American veterans over.
REVEILLE - HT: Jawz
A salute to Veterans
Warrior -- [Michael Yon]
...Brad Kasal has been a Marine since he was eighteen. The story behind the famous photo, taken by Lucian Read at the height of the battle for Falluja in November, 2004, has been told often and well in other forums. For now it suffices that, in addition to injuries from using his body to shield another Marine from a grenade blast, he was also shot seven times. Despite bleeding from dozens of holes in his body, Brad Kasal never stopped fighting. For many, Lucian Read’s photo of Brad Kasal — pistol at the ready even as he was being helped from the building, but still with presence of mind to keep his finger off the trigger despite that he had nearly bled to death — is emblematic of the heart and fighting spirit of every United States Marine.
Can Hillary win? Some think so…-- [Gun Toting Liberal]
including President Clinton’s chief campaign strategist, James Carville; and he makes a pretty interesting case in this piece in today’s Washington Post:
Sick and Twisted -- [Andi's World]
Earlier this week, John Donovan posted a photo of President Bush jogging with OIF Veteran SSG Christian Bagge, a photo which warmed the heart. Now, take a look at a cartoon on the website of Historians Against the War, which appears to be a take off on the photo of SSG Bagge and President Bush. Bad enough, but check out the entire 2006 archive.
AP Cites Al Qaeda Group As Moral Authority -- [Sweetness & Light]
Muslim group condemns reports of U.S. rape
By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer
An influential Sunni organization in Iraq said Sunday that allegations U.S. soldiers raped an Iraqi woman, then killed her and her family were "a sign of shame to the American invaders."
Funny that the Associated Press couldn’t be bothered to tell us exactly who the Association of Muslim Scholars are...
Media Continues to Spread Misinformation about Zarqawi Successor -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Evan Kohlmann]
Yesterday's audio recording released by Usama Bin Laden on the Internet caused a flurry of reactions in media circles, particularly focused on Bin Laden's discussion of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's role within Al-Qaida and the identity of his successor at the helm of Al-Qaida in Iraq. Unfortunately, once again, mainstream media has made some very serious mistakes in reporting on this issue. Let's try and make this issue as clear as possible:
Did He, or Didn't He? -- [Andi's World]
Did Jack Murtha really phone the New York Times and ask them not to publish the story about how the United States monitors financial transactions of terrorists? There seems to be some confusion over this. Murtha's opponent, Diana Irey, has asked Murtha to clear it up.
I’m Done Playing Sides -- [Pass the Brass - in Iraq]
...I’m sick and tired af hearing the left’s spin on shit, and then when the news switches over to Fox and then I get to hear some of the right wings spin. I have always considered myself a right winger just because where most of my beliefs stand, but I am starting to see the same stupid crap on Fox that I see on CNN. The spin’s are so out of control that I don’t know who the hell to trust anymore. I hate hearing CNN pull 2nd grade tactics and pop off stupid comments that crack on the right…and the same goes for the right side.
If I’m to sit there and watch the news, I don’t want a damned spin on it. Just give me the news as it happened..I could give to shits about why you think it did, or why you think the other guys are to blame. I don’t want your God pounded opinions…I want facts or nothing at all.
Does the Media Use al-Qaeda & Iraqi Insurgency Organizations for Reports? -- [NewsBusters]
There have been many complaints about how our media reports the stories from Iraq. Countless articles have been written about the selective nature of reports from the field – focusing on the negative and completely ignoring the positive. Documents uncovered in Iraq have demonstrated how the insurgents use the American media for propaganda dissemination.
Keller's Contradictions -- [Media Blog]
NYT editor Bill Keller appeared on Face the Nation this morning to defend his decision to expose the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program. Contrary to those who argue that the details of the program were an open secret, Keller gloated that, “the members of Congress who were beating up on us this week, most of them had not even been briefed on this program, or weren't until the Times exposed it.” Then he said
SURPRISE! -- [Those Wacky Iraqis - on R&R from Iraq]
...I contacted my sister and asked if she thought I should surprise my wife and son. She has the same sense of humor I have and she just said "Do it." I called my wife and told her I was going to a "no commo" area. That has happened before so she was not surprised by that. Instead I caught a Black Hawk and then grabbed my British Airways flight and zipped out of the Middle East.
Two days, 9000 miles, three changes of clothes, and 6 hours of sleep later I was at my sister's house while she called my wife.
502nd Infantry Memorial Ceremony -- [BlackFive]
This video is Army B-Roll (rough unedited footage) of the memorial service for SPC David Babineau, PFC Kristian Menchaca and PFC Thomas Tucker. It was filmed on June 26th in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, for the 502ND Infantry Regiment, 2ND Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA). Sergeant Joy Kroemer filmed the event
