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Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Widow of abducted soldier gives to Iraqi boy -- [Air Force Times]
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — At about the same time an 11-year-old Iraqi boy was on an operating table having heart surgery on Long Island last week, the widow of an Army captain abducted and slain in Iraq was opening a package at her home in California.
...On Tuesday, Charlotte Freeman fought back tears as she presented the gadget to the smiling, gum-chewing boy named Ali as a token of what she hoped would be a lifelong friendship that began between the boy and her husband in Iraq.
2-27 -- [American Soldier - injured in Iraq]
Let me take you back a year ago. An irrelevant city, nameless street and a small home where a little girl and her mother lived. I never did see the father during my many trips past this home. I often wondered where he was, dead, divorced, who knows. I’d have my gunner hand out extras candy whenever we’d pass this home. The child looked like my own daughter. Dark wavy hair, charcoal eyes and tan skin. She always had a smile and waved while the boys tried to look tough. She would giggle and laugh at us. It brought a piece of home to the long nights on patrol or the early morning stroll. Just another day in Iraq right?
We all had ways to deal with our tour. For me it later evolved into seeing the future of Iraq. These children loved us and we appreciated it. However this was not meant to be a happy story. This is reality in a war.
Dividing the Mahdi Army -- [The Fourth Rail]
With Muqtada al-Sadr now in Iran, the Iraqi government and Coalition forces are stepping up efforts to divide and conquer his Mahdi Army. Asharq Alawsat has confirmed that Multinational Forces Iraq (MNF-I) is "holding talks with commanders of Muqtada al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi Army with the 'Iraqi Government's blessing,'" as well as "several Iraqi armed group."
The Next Steps in Iraqi Economic Reform -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
Call it an economic and political victory for "New Iraq" -- and an indication that we may see more in the future.
This past Monday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's cabinet finally agreed to a reformed "oil law." The cabinet will forward the legislative package to the Iraqi parliament for action later this spring.
The more the merrier... -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Advancing a political track is indispensable for a stable future for Iraq for sure. Experts and observers differ in their suggestions for solutions; some think politics must be given the priority while others insist the solution is military, but in fact both tracks are essential and should go hand in hand without giving one track a priority over the other even though one or the other sometimes seem to pose the greater challenge.
Bush's 2007 Proposal -- [No Pain No Gain - an Iraqi blogger]
...I have gained some interesting insight from this new strategy plan that changed the sense of direction with USA and Iraq politics.
...Alot of the American friends I know seem to worry about the fate of their troops in Iraq which encourages them to want their troops immediately pulled out of Iraq. However, such Americans need to be aware that there is a right time for everything on Earth. US troops cant just leave Iraq with no plan with how Iraq will survive the chaos by itself.
If US troops sought to withdraw from Iraq 2 years ago, I would have certainly agreed to it but demanding the withdrawal as of now is not a good idea. I believe this for certain reasons, one of them because Iran and Israel do not have one of the most relevant relationships between them and US having to completely step off Iraqi soil will have Iraq dragged into this circle of more tension and violence with its neighbors.
This Is The Easy Part -- [Strategy Page]
February 28, 2007: "Witness protection" has become a major tactic in the effort to clear terrorists out of Baghdad. While cell phones make it easy to call in the location of bomb factories, terrorist safe houses, and car bombs on the move, the terrorists make a point of trying to locate and kill the snitches. The Iraqi police are still pretty corrupt. With enough cash, you can get information on phoned in tips. Tipsters getting murdered may not make the headlines, but the word gets around. The only way to protect the witnesses is to take down entire gangs, and that requires capturing the gang bosses, and shutting down most of the gang operations in a short space of time.
Iraq Pictures -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
Newbern, N.C., native SGT Shawn Mackey, a health care specialist with Company C, 299th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, assesses the health of a newborn Iraqi baby during a medical assistance mission in the village of Abidone inside the Bay Al Sabir High School of the Abu Ghraib district of Baghdad. The event was to thank the community for its continued support of coalition and Iraqi security forces by offering health and dental care to the village's residents.
The Diyala Two-Step -- [Intel Dump]
Two recent articles about the Diyala province -- what some call "Little Iraq" because of its demography and geography -- help to illuminate why forward progress seems so elusive in Iraq.
On Saturday, Rajiv Chandrasekaran reported in the Washington Post on the difficulties faced by the State Department-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Diyala. The article comes on the heels of another report characterizing the Diyala PRT efforts as difficult, to say the least. To put it bluntly, they lack the people, the resources, and the support they need to do their job. Consequently, counterinsurgency efforts in Diyala have stalled.
Top U.S. Intel Official: Iran Training Iraqis To Use Munitions -- [Defense News]
Iran is training anti-American Iraqi Shiites at sites inside Iran and Lebanon in the use of armor-piercing munitions blamed for the deaths of 170 U.S. troops in Iraq, the top U.S. intelligence official said on Feb. 27.
Iraqi tip leads to large IED find -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – A large cache of improvised explosive devices was discovered Monday by Iraqi police and Coalition forces near the Baqubah area in the Diyala province
Hostages freed by paratroopers, weapons cache secured -- [MNF-I]
KALSU, Iraq – Dismounted paratroopers located an insurgent safe house uncovering a
weapons cache and freeing two hostages south of Baghdad Feb. 26.
Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division located the safe house, where
they found the two hostages and a weapons cache near Mahmudiyah.
Iraqi swat captures eight Mahdawiyah insurgent group members -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Al Hillah Iraqi Special Weapons and Tactics personnel captured eight suspected members of the Mahdawiyah insurgent group during operations with Coalition advisors Feb. 26 in the Wardiyah district of Al Hillah. The suspects are believed to be involved in attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and civilians in the area.
The suspects are allegedly part of the insurgent group that fought against the Coalition force and Iraqi Security Forces Jan. 28 in Najaf. The suspects are believed to threatening the lives of persons within the leadership of Iraqi Security Forces in Babil Province.
There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi forces or Coalition force casualties.
Neon Genesis Evangelion -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue - in Afghanistan]
...One thing I want to do more of is to introduce you to some of the fine Afghans who make CMA the great organization that it is. Today I’d like to introduce Maj Abdul Hafiz. He is the S1 (personnel officer). I’ve been working with him since my arrival here, and I’ve seen him grow into a real dynamo of an officer. When I first arrived here, he would, as so many ANA officers did, expect me to work all the problems he encountered. However, it did not take much mentoring before he worked personnel issues on his own, and he’s been on top of things ever since. He is a competent, hard-working man who is always smiling and always thankful for our help (though we rarely have to help him anymore).
Spartans Turn Over Southern, Western Provinces -- [Centcom]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan — Task Force Spartan turned over five provinces in the southern and western portions of their former battle space to Task Force Fury during a transfer of authority ceremony held here Feb. 21, 2007.
Task Force Spartan, comprised of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, handed much of Regional Command-East to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers of Task Force Fury.
Britain to Send 1,400 More Troops to Afghanistan -- [Global Security]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2007 – Great Britain will deploy an additional 1,400 troops to Afghanistan this summer, British Secretary of State for Defense Desmond Browne told the country’s Parliament yesterday
Clash of Conservatives in Iran -- [Strategy Page]
February 28, 2007: There seems to be a major political clash developing in Iran. The religious leadership seems to want to avoid an outright clash with the UN/U.S. over the nuclear issue, and appears to prefer not having nukes. Apparently, they believe having nukes makes them more vulnerable to attack than not having them. This is not as unreasonable as it may seem at first – after all, they'll never be able to have enough nukes to deter the US, and so their nuclear "threat" will have little impact on American policy. Worse, even if they have just one or two nukes, it will be enough to seriously threaten Israel, which they believe would have no compunctions in taking preemptive action.
The Mecca Agreement -- [MEMRI]
– A Strategic PLO-Hamas Alliance for Establishing a Palestinian State Without Hamas Recognizing Israel
The text of the Mecca agreement, which was signed under Saudi auspices on February 8, 2007, is couched in general terms and deals mainly with intra-Palestinian relations. The policy section of the agreement appears in the letter of appointment for the future Palestinian government, and is part of the agreement
China Surprise -- [Strategy Page]
February 28, 2007: China is putting a lot of effort into its commando forces, and not letting many details get out. However, based on what has been published in China, and what leaks out of the country via the Internet, is that the Chinese special operations forces (SOF) remain small, well equipped, and well trained. There are fewer than 5,000 troops in the Chinese SOF, organized into 6th Special Warfare Group, 8th Special Warfare Group, 12th Special Warfare Detachment and Naval Commando Unit.
UN Counter-Terrorism Handbook -- Form Over Substance -- [Countrterrorism Blog]
Following up on a recommendation contained in last year’s UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the UN has put together a new on-line “counter-terrorism” handbook which is meant to help guide countries wishing to assess UN counter-terrorism support services. As the UN Counter-Terrorism Handbook Site states:
Medical Warriors -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
I've been getting some emails about the first installment of a 5-part NBC News Special called Wounds of War. Although I don't get American TV here, Bonnie sent me the link to the piece on the MSNBC website. From what I know and have seen personally, this is the real thing and quite well done.
Hero to Hero Appreciation Project -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
Soldiers’ Angels have adopted the wounded service members at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
We encourage all Veterans and active duty personnel to write letters and cards of support and encouragement to the wounded and ill troops who are being treated in medical facilities in Germany.
The cards and letters will be included in Transitional Backpacks or separately as needs dictate, but in both cases distributed directly through Soldiers’ Angels Germany.
Your Soldier -- [Sgt Hook]
A couple of weeks ago I received an email that originated from the office of the commanding general of my division inquiring into a soldier of mine, PFC Charley Benton. My initial thoughts were understandably, “what the hell did Benton do that the CG is involved?” Well, the following letter was sent to the general and I think it explains everything (editor’s note: all names and unit designations have been changed as releases were not obtained prior to publication):
On January 31, 2007, I was involved in a serious vehicular accident on I-25 near Big City. I was traveling in my 2004 Ford F-150 when I spun out of control on the ice at 70 mph. I was struck on my driver’s door, sprayed with broken glass, and sent skidding into the grassy median. The van that struck me vanished. Traffic never slowed. No one stopped to help. I sat stunned and in shock in the broken glass beside the twisted metal of my driver’s door. I remember looking up and seeing a man in a military uniform running across the highway dodging cars and sprinting to my assistance. He seemed like an angel. I was alone, scared, and in a cloudy stupor with a concussion. He climbed into the passenger seat and checked on my and calmed me. My cell phone rang, and I remember telling someone I was in an accident, but I would be alright now because the army had arrived. I felt incredibly safe and comforted.
A red sports car spun out of control and was following nearly my exact accident path heading for my vehicle but luckily stopped short. Once he knew I was alright,...
Online claim created for items lost in moves -- [Air Force Times]
The Air Force is easing the hassle of airmen whose property is lost or damaged during moves.
The Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps has created an online claim filing system for personnel claims, available at https://claims.jag.af.mil.
Iraq’s only Similarity to Vietnam: Its Dangerous Anti-War Movement -- [Iraq War News]
Contrary to media reports and the perception of a majority of Americans, the United States was winning the war in Vietnam following the successful watershed battle known as the Tet Offensive. Sadly, the Vietnam War was not lost on the battlefield. The carnage and repressive regimes that followed the U.S. exit may have been avoided had the truth been known by the American public. The United States was defeated by a carefully conceived, multi-pronged propaganda campaign that set the stage for America’s eventual failure ...
At the risk of further arguing with fools… -- [Neptunus Lex]
…. and that neutral observers might not be able to tell the difference, here’s an interesting discussion by McQ, on Greenwald, on Lieberman. Contrasting Lieberman’s 2005 WSJ op-ed on Iraq with his most recent effort, Greenwald purpored to find dishonesty in the Senator’s argument. But as McQ points out:
PORTRAIT OF THE CONGRESS AS A WRUNG HAND -- [American Citizen Soldier]
..."This may become the first time in the history of the United States Congress that it has voted to send a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose his plan that is necessary to succeed in that battle." I'll allow that President Bush is no historian, but I'm pretty sure he's correct. If the Pelosi Bunch is so sure of their position, why did they not put their mouths where our money is and reject Gen. Petraeus outright, coax Wesley Clark out of retirement with a vintage "We Like Ike" campaign button, and then withhold funds and turn out the lights, roll over, and go to sleep?
Obama on Iraq in '02 -- [Real Clear Politics ]
File this clip under "more trouble for Hillary Clinton." It's Illinois State Senator Barack Obama on a local public affairs television show in late November 2002 giving a pretty clear explanation of why he would have voted against the Iraq war authorization: ...
Analytic Challenge -- [Dadmanly]
I have been tracking an ongoing conversation that springs from new reporting from Mother Jones, of all places, journalism-wise. As part of a series “Iraq 101,” Mother Jones hosts a piece written by Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank, entitled The Iraq Effect - The War in Iraq and Its Impact on the War on Terrorism.
Bergen is as reliable an anti-war critic as can be found, but he strenuously attempts to do so with evidence and data he marshals to achieve that end.
Two Big Iraq Reporting Blunders Yesterday? -- [IraqSlogger]
Officials Say Two Stories That Grabbed Headlines Yesterday Are False
Alleged blunder number one: U.S. and Iraqi officials today dismissed as false reports yesterday that a car bombing killed 18 children and women in Ramadi. The initial report came from the state-run al-Iraqiya TV network.
Alleged blunder number two: Yesterday, Iraqi press reports claimed Iraqi VP Adil Abdul-Mahdi was accusing an unnamed "official" of involvement in the Monday assassination attempt against him -- a bombing that left the VP slightly wounded and killed and badly wounded others.
Sensationalism Abated -- [No End but Victory]
Bob Woodruff was severely injured in an attack in Iraq back in January 2006 while embedded north of Baghdad. Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were seriously wounded by an improvised explosive device that hit the Iraqi personnel carrier they were riding in.
...Woodruff has a newfound appreciation for the suffering and sacrifice our Soldiers and Heroes endure in defense of our country. He “got religion” you might say, and he selflessly means to get THEIR stories told.
Why can’t more of our so-called “Journalists” turn their backs on their editorial agendas, and their “if it bleeds it reads” mentality, and fight FOR our GI’s instead of always fighting AGAINST them?
Must-See: Bob Woodruff's "To Iraq and Back" -- (ABC News)
Phenomenal, Moving TV Documentary Now Can Be Seen in Full Online
Hersh: Bush World's Biggest Worry -- [NewsBusters]
If there were any doubt as to the degree to which the MSM loathes and distrusts President Bush, it should be dispelled by the performance of Sy Hersh on today's Hardball and the way he was applauded by Chris Matthews. At the end of Hersh's appearance, Matthews put this question to the investigative reporter:
"What's your biggest worry in the world? Is it Iran? Is it this administration going to war with Iran? Is it a civil war in Iraq? Is it Musharraf's inability to fight the Taliban on his own soil? What's your biggest worry?"
Thoughts: Drudge, Hypodermic Needle Theory & 'The Drip' -- [Jawa Report]
There's a case to be made the Drudge helped tank the markets today, particularly when thinking about information/news sensitive environments like the market floors.
...By the same token, the overall MSM coverage of the war in Iraq has had a negative net impact on the opinions and perceptions of many Americans regarding the daily events taking place there. Individual stories are not enough to do it alone. This is not to say that covering the markets is exactly like covering a war, but I would surmise that market reporters at least report positive developments in the markets from time to time without hesitation.
Gore Lives Carbon-Neutral, Fat-Neutral Lifestyle -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-28) — Oscar-winning filmmaker Al Gore today expanded his call for Americans to reduce their output of greenhouse gases — the so-called carbon-footprint — adding a demand to cut the rate of adult-onset obesity, which he termed “your gluteal fatprint.”
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
U.S. Finds Major Weapons Cache in Iraq -- (Breitbart.com)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. officers said Monday they had discovered a factory for assembling sophisticated roadside bombs from Iranian-made components _ the first such facility uncovered in a religiously mixed province north of Baghdad.
The officers, who displayed weapons for reporters at a U.S. base in the capital, said the find provides more evidence that the Iranians are providing weapons used to kill Americans.
Sectarian Executions Drop in Baghdad -- (AP)
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Execution-style killings have fallen sharply in Baghdad since the security crackdown began this month, the No. 2 U.S. commander said Tuesday.
News On the Surge From a Family in Baghdad -- [Gateway Pundit]
The surge in Bahgdad is going better that expected according to one Iraqi family living in Baghdad.
US Army captain Clayton Combs inspects a major arms cache his unit found near the Shiite village of Jadidah. US troops in Iraq have found a huge cache of weapons and material to make deadly armour-piercing bombs of a type Iran has allegedly smuggled to Shiite militias.(AFP/Ali Al-Saad)
The following is a Haider Ajina translation of a news article from Iraq’s "Alsabah Aljadeed" or "New Sabah"
Iraqi Army detains 16 suspects during operations against rogue JAM -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Special Iraqi Army Forces detained 16 suspected militiamen during operations Feb. 27 with Coalition advisers in Sadr City targeting the leadership of several rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi cells operating against Iraqi civilians.
Iraqi forces targeted several individuals who allegedly control multiple rogue JAM cells and illegally direct and perpetrate sectarian murder, torture and kidnapping. The wanted individuals are reported to operate out of Sadr City and are linked to attacks on Coalition Forces and the supply of weapons and munitions which support continued rogue JAM violence.
Iraqi business restoration progressing -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD— A Defense Department official Monday discussed the ongoing work to improve Iraq’s business and economic stability during at press conference at the Combined Press Information Center here.
Coalition Forces in Iraq Still Finding Foreign Aid For Terrorists in Recent Captures -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Captures in Iraq in recent days highlight the continued prevalence of foreign fighters and funding for Al Qaeda and other terrorists from Iraq's "neighbors" in the Muslim world. Today, according to a Defense Department press release, coalition forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir in Baghdad, three "suspected foreign terrorist facilitators" in operations near Samarra, and eight more in "a foreign fighter safe house" west of Mahmudiyah.
Iraqi Police take back Hit -- [Marine Corps News]
In yet another step toward Iraqi sovereignty, U.S. Army soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, recently teamed up with Iraqi Security Forces here for Operation Shurta Nasir (Police Victory). Unlike previous operations, this one was...
Iraqi Cabinet Approves Oil Revenue Sharing -- [Captain's Quarters]
The plan recently approved by the Kurds to split the oil revenue of Iraq with the Sunnis won approval from the Iraqi cabinet. It now faces debate in the National Assembly, whose final approval will resolve one of the toughest issues in post-war Iraq and one that has helped fan the flames of the insurgencies:
SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA EMIR, ELEVEN OTHERS DETAINED IN RAIDS THROUGHOUT IRAQ -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 12 suspected terrorists including a suspected Al-Qaeda in Iraq emir during raids Tuesday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitators and the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.
During an operation in Baghdad, Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq emir and three of his associates. Based on intelligence reports, these suspects are allegedly involved in the production of improvised explosive devices.
Insurgents thinking bigger in attacks -- [Air Force Times]
BAGHDAD — Troops from Maj. Jeremy Siegrist’s battalion were following up a tip recently when they came across something odd: two restaurant-sized freezers sitting in the middle of a palm grove.
The Surge: It's Effective... Almost... Too Effective -- [Ace of Spades]
That's a bit of snark for Time Magazine, which headlined the story about the dramatic drop in violence in Baghdad thus:
It's Quiet In Baghdad. Too Quiet.
...and went on to lard up their article with a lot of quotes from troops about how scary the quiet was. Well, I'm sure they did find it a little unnerving, given their expectations of constant shooting and explosives. But Time Magazine didn't see fit to include a quote from one of the soldiers, which one of them certainly must have said: "Sure, it's kind of scary... but it's a lot less scary than being shot at every few hours."
U.S. troops to forgo training in rush to Iraq -- (CNN)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rushed by President Bush's decision to reinforce Baghdad with thousands more U.S. troops, two Army combat brigades are skipping their usual session at the Army's special training range in California.
They are now making preparations to leave their home bases.
Some in Congress and others outside the Army are beginning to question whether that decision means the Army is cutting corners in preparing soldiers for combat.
Cheney Targeted by Suicide Bomb -- [Jawa Report]
(Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan) From an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Mullah Hayat Khan said, "We wanted to target ... Cheney." Fortunately, the Taliban was unsuccessful.
Taliban 'knew of Cheney visit' -- (News24)
Islamabad - A suicide attack at an Afghan air base where US vice-president Dick Cheney was staying shows that the Taliban and al-Qaeda have penetrated local intelligence agencies, analysts and officials said.
British in Afghanistan: "We do not use the word 'win'" -- [Jihadi Watch]
"Officials say the new tactics are to identify 'Talibs who are sick of fighting' and persuade them to rejoin their tribes and benefit from the human rights laws and state structures being set up in the country." Good luck with that, but it is certain to come up against the objection that such things are "un-Islamic." But that is territory that neither the British nor any other Western powers wishes to venture into.
Hey?! Knock it off! -- [Miserable Donuts]
Bomb...in a shipping container near Bagram (bonus quote from my friend Kabir Ahmad!). Yeah, while a good way to transport it to BAF, you'd never get it on base. So this looks like someone taking a poke at the front gate area:
Tribal Power Struggle At The Center of it All -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Afghanistan is trying to get Pakistan to agree to arm and support tribal chiefs, to go after the Taliban, al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups. The traditional tribal chiefs have lost power over the last two decades, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as younger, less well-connected, men have used force to establish themselves as warlords. Many of these lads are Taliban warlords. Pakistan is reluctant to give the tribal chiefs guns and legal authority to enforce the law, because getting that kind of power back is very difficult. But for the tribesmen, the traditional leaders (the older guys with more wisdom and experience) are preferable to the warlords (the younger guys with more guns and greed).
CLOTHING DRIVE INFO -- [Afghanistan JAG - in Afghanistan]
Thanks to everyone who has so generously agreed to help with our clothing drive! We are trying to determine the amount of clothes that are being sent so we can determine the best way to distribute and decide on which village to go to first.
A Hero -- [Task Force Phoenix 5 - in Afghanistan]
...Saturday we had a big HA drop at a Kindergarten in Polacharkee. We handed out over 200 bags of clothes and shoes and 150 backpacks filled with school supplies. So far all the shoe money I have collected has been spent on shoes and we have bought over 400 pairs and when I get back I plan on buying about 300 to 400 more!!! I’m so happy everyone has helped out so much and I appreciate it SO SO much, thank you. Also some of the money has been used to buy medical supplies for our MedCaps. We spend about 600-700 dollars every time we have a MedCap and that is all from donations from large companies or individuals back in Oklahoma. But since we have been doing so well with the Afghan Children’s Fund we started using some of that money since we were running very low on funds for the MedCaps.
Love is in the Air -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue]
I asked Wali about children, and whether it was a shame for a couple not to have kids.
“Yes, it is very important for a couple to have children. If they can’t, then they both go to a doctor to see if either has a medical problem. If the wife has a problem, then the husband may marry again so that his second wife may bear him children. However, it is not fair to the woman. If the man has the problem, she is not allowed to have a second husband. It is not fair to her. She should be able to have children.”
...Although a devout Muslim, Wali sometimes expresses more progressive views like this. However, never doubt his devotion to Islam. That is very evident from discussions with him.
I nodded. “Sure, if it’s so important, why shouldn’t she have the same rights as a man?”
Wali replied. “Many things that seem unfair are because of our culture, not because of Islam.” This reminded me of Hamid’s protestations earlier. Bad things came from Afghanistan, not Islam.
Wartime Control Delayed to 2012 -- [GI Korea]
I sure hope this isn’t true:
South Korea will reclaim wartime operational control of its forces from the United States as of April 17, 2012, the two countries announced Thursday.
The South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) will consequently be disbanded as of the same day, according to a joint press statement issued by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
...I have been hoping the wartime control would be resolved by January, 2010 to coincide with the Camp Humphreys relocation. If this is true the Pentagon has once again given in to Korean governmental delay tactics.
40 Days -- [Soldier of Africa - in Darfur]
As of today I have 40 Days left in the mission. In South Africa the day when a soldier has only forty days left on a deployment is significant
I believe if we want to make a difference in Darfur it starts with us. Maybe the view you have of other people is distorted because of what you have in your eye?
DARFUR: FORMER SUDANESE INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLICATED BY ICC PROBE -- (AKI)
The Hague, 28 Feb. (AKI) - The Internantional Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague announced on Tuesday that prosecutors have gathered evidence implicating Sudan's former interior minister Ahmad Muhammad Harun in war crimes against the local population in the African country's troubled Darfur region.
Winning the Long War -- [CDR Salamander]
In the Philippines.
Thousands of miles from the bazaars of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, U.S. military forces are quietly helping defeat terrorists in the jungles of the southern Philippines, a forgotten front in the global war on terrorism.
Cyberspace as a Combat Zone: The Phenomenon of Electronic Jihad -- [MEMRI]
Alongside military jihad, which has been gaining momentum and extracting an ever growing price from many countries around the globe, Islamists have been developing a new form of warfare, termed "electronic jihad," which is waged on the Internet. This new form of jihad was launched in recent years and is still in its early stages of development. However, as this paper will show, Islamists are fully aware of its destructive potential, and persistently strive to realize this potential.
Al-Qaeda Wanted To Kill Blair In Front Of The Queen -- [Sweetness & Light]
Tony Blair defied an assassination threat from al-Qa’eda to take part in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in central London, it can be revealed for the first time.
The risk to the Prime Minister was disclosed to a new BBC documentary by Lord Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in 2002. He positioned marksmen around Buckingham Palace in readiness for an attack by bombers or snipers.
No Terrorist Camps Along the Border, No Sir -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2007: In eastern India, Maoists killed four policemen and tore up part of the main rail line. The Maoists also managed to hold a meeting, in a remote area, of their national leadership. The leaders reorganized once again (as they have every few years since the Indian Maoists were founded in 1969) and vowed to fight on for a communist state and workers paradise.
Kids Learn History to Aid Military Families -- [GX Online]
2/26/07, Falls Church, VA — Rachel and Kelsi Okun kicked off their organization's second treasure hunt today to raise scholarship funds for military children and spouses with the help of their classmates at Haycock Elementary School. "Treasure Hunt Aiding Needs of Kids and Spouses of those serving the United States of America," or ThanksUSA, is a member of America Supports You. The DoD program highlights the ways Americans are supporting the nation's Service members.
Ironman for Fisher House -- [Soldiers Angels New York]
As part of his journey to becoming an Ironman, he is raising money and awareness for the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps the families of injured American military men and women. He has decided to campaign for Fisher House because he believes the help that we can provide to these injured service members and their families is the least that we can do for them. He also wants to show our troops that there is support for them back home.
Military's Capability Shattering, reports Joint Chiefs Chairman -- [On Point]
Strained by the demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a significant risk that the U.S. military won't be able to quickly and fully respond to yet another crisis, according to a new report to Congress.
Disputes Over Distress Pay -- [Strategy Page]
February 27, 2007: A U.S. Department of Defense proposal to pay troops "distress pay" if they were sent overseas sooner than expected, has caused a vigorous debate among the brass over how far to go with what is also called "inconvenience pay." The current proposal would pay soldiers $1,000 dollars for each month of stateside time they lost because they were needed overseas sooner than expected. The U.S. Army wants to have troops at their home bases at least 24 months between overseas assignments. So if you were sent back to Iraq 20 months after getting back, you would get $4,000 for loss of "dwell time" (at your home base.)
America's Choice in Iraq: War or Peace -- [Talkwise]
The Democratic initiated non-binding resolution against the President’s efforts to increase troop levels in [Iraq] and the subsequent reaction amongst the presidential contenders is remarkable and at the same time troubling because it reveals a lack of seriousness on the part of our elected officials in dealing with [War] and [Peace]. Americans are probably not surprised by the pandering of the individuals in Congress however the ability of the presidential aspirants to shift their position or lack thereof one in response to perceived public sentiment is something which should cause Americans concern.
LTC Allen West May Challenge Florida Rep. Ron Klein in 2008 -- [Onion Bug]
I’ve learned through the grapevine that LTC Allen B. West, U.S. Army (Ret.) may challenge Congressman Ron Klein for Florida’s 22nd District congressional seat in 2008.
Many may remember LTC Allen West as FrontPage magazine’s 2003 Man of the Year. I know LTC Allen West to be a man of the highest integrity; he loves America and has sought to serve wherever his country has needed him. And that just may be in the U.S. House of Representatives now.
Intelligence Failures -- [Dadmanly]
Intel channels are buzzing today over Ralph Peters’ searing indictment of their community in this NY Post editorial.
He starts his critique with an anecdote of questionable import, describing how American troops “mistakenly” detained, searched and “jerked around” Amar al-Hakim, the son of the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), presumed to be a cooperative Shia partner to the US and Coalition efforts in Iraq.
MAINSTREAM MTV - THE JIHAD GENRE -- [Atlas Shrugs]
This is where it's going. In the toilet. As shocking as this is, it comes as no surprise to Atlas readers.I have been following the cultural corruption for well over a year. This is certainly part of the jihad genre illustrated here. This propaganda follows the same strategy as holocaust denial.
...Three of the most famous US rap stars, Mb Def, Immortal Technique and Eminem composed a song to denounce the September 11th lie : “ Tell the Truth, Nigga ! ”.
Exposing the GI Fifth Column -- [GI Korea]
Just when I think the American media couldn’t get any worse it does. I’m not sure if there has been a bigger piece of propaganda under the cover of investigative journalism than this week’s 60 Minutes piece on the Appeal for Redress frauds. If you have the stomach you can download the video here. Let me get everyone up to speed on what Appeal for Redress really is.
What a Difference a Day -- and an Assassination Attempt -- Makes [Andy McCarthy - The Corner]
One sobering result of the Taliban's attempt to murder Vice President Cheney in Afghanistan is that the New York Times has tamped down — at least for a day — its standard caricature of the dark, secretive Veep.
Compare the following. This is from yesterday's pre-bombing coverage of Cheney's Pakistan trip
Investment Bank Downgrades NYT Co. -- [Media Blog]
Lehman Brothers cut the New York Times Co. to underweight, saying recent cost cuts are a strong indication that management is increasingly concerned with its top line. "We remain concerned about the deteriorating top line at all three of the company's newspaper divisions," the broker said.
The NY Times Preens About Its 'Skepticism' of Govt. Claims of Iran Meddling in Iraq -- [Newsbusters]
After no huge caches of weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, the New York Times felt burnt by liberal accusations of being water-carriers for Bush in the run-up to the Iraq war -- an accusation based almost entirely on a handful of overly credulous pieces filed by former reporter Judith Miller.
These days, the Times is leaning heavily in the opposite direction, preening about how skeptical it has been about U.S. government evidence demonstrating Iran's role in providing bombs to Shiite militias in Iraq. Monday's headline makes that clear and the front-page story itself by James Glanz and Richard Oppel Jr. is hedged to the hilt: "U.S. Says Raid in Iraq Supports Claim on Iran, but Doubts Persist."
Friendship and Survial Part 2
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
The Surge Is Working -- [You Tube]
Video of one of the worst streets in Baghdad and the turnaround there since the surge began
Operation Baghdad: Week II -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
It's been less than two weeks since the Baghdad operation was officially launched. This period, though short, has been full of events; both good and bad ones.
Here we are not in a rush to judge the operation unlike some media or politicians who seek anything they can use to serve their agendas. We, Baghdadis, only want this operation to succeed and we still have some patience to show.
The Other Face of Iraq -- [MEMRI]
For most people, the images of Iraq are of a country mired in sectarian violence or civil war - a country suffering car bombs, random killing, kidnapping, ethnic cleansing - a country in collective despair. There is validity to these images.
However, alongside these tragic daily occurrences Iraq has its other face, a face of life and a degree of normalcy. This other face of Iraq is reflected in a series of pictures published by Halim Salman in his two monthly magazines published in London.
Duke in Iraq - 2/23/07 -- [Broken Masterpeices - dispatch from Iraq]
Duke as a lot of interesting things to say about the GWOT, Islam and losing heart:
...I bring this up in the context of the US Congress wanting us out of Iraq regardless what the security situation is like. It reminds me of other great conflicts where the people lost heart in the midst of a battle. It started with Israel not finishing the job God had given them to clear out the land before them after crossing the Jordan, instead to this day they still live with enemies surrounding them. Others include: World War I and Germany returning just a few years later to fight again; World War II and Russia, that Patton wanted to finish, but instead we had years of Cold War; Korean War, now with North Korea; Iran taking our Hostages and Carter’s ineffectiveness; and Desert Storm and not finishing Saddam at that time. There is a long history of paying a costly price for losing heart in the middle of a battle.
Nervous Tics -- [Acute Politics- in Iraq]
Several days ago we were on another mission out through the farmland surrounding Falluja. It's the middle of the night, and my truck is out in front again, swapping places periodically with the mine sweeping truck. The road is ugly- it's narrow, muddy, sloped slightly towards the deep canal on the right, and elevated between six and ten feet above the field to the left. It's the kind of road that would make you nervous to drive on at home, and here there are people trying to blast you off of it into the canal. It makes me very nervous.
Iraqi Army sends troops to support Fardh Al-Qanoon -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Government took an important step Sunday in both uniting their country and following through with Fardh Al-Qanoon (the Baghdad Security Plan) when Soldiers from Kurdistan arrived at the Iraqi side of Baghdad International Airport and set out to train and eventually augment with Iraqi Soldiers currently protecting Baghdad.
Iraqi translator has American dreams -- [MNF-I]
CAMP TAQADDUM — He’s got the strut, the confident Devil Dog swagger.
He peppers his speech with “awesome” (and more than occasionally drops the F-bomb). He’s definitely gung-ho.
Those who left the battlefield but brought the battle home -- [Some Soldier's Mom]
When Noah deployed for his first tour in Iraq, there was no describing the worry. It was intense. It was consuming. It permeated every minute of every day. Like our skin or our heartbeats, it was with us and around us and in us no matter what we did or where we were.
The Choice on Iraq -- [JOSEPH LIEBERMAN - Opinion Journal]
"I appeal to my colleagues in Congress to step back and think carefully about what to do next."
...What is remarkable about this state of affairs in Washington is just how removed it is from what is actually happening in Iraq. There, the battle of Baghdad is now under way. A new commander, Gen. David Petraeus, has taken command, having been confirmed by the Senate, 81-0, just a few weeks ago. And a new strategy is being put into action, with thousands of additional American soldiers streaming into the Iraqi capital.
NH Guard Members to Mentor Afghan National Army -- [GX Online]
Governor John Lynch and other state leaders joined family and friends to honor a team of 16 NHARNG members here today as they prepare for duty in Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. The Soldiers, representing different military specialties, will support a mentorship program with the Afghanistan National Army. They will first report to Fort Riley, KS for several months of theater-specific training and are expected to be in Afghanistan by early summer.
Tribal Power Struggle At The Center of it All -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Afghanistan is trying to get Pakistan to agree to arm and support tribal chiefs, to go after the Taliban, al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups. The traditional tribal chiefs have lost power over the last two decades, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as younger, less well-connected, men have used force to establish themselves as warlords. Many of these lads are Taliban warlords. Pakistan is reluctant to give the tribal chiefs guns and legal authority to enforce the law, because getting that kind of power back is very difficult. But for the tribesmen,...
Operation Shoe Fly -- [Sgt Hook]
When I was in Afghanistan, one of the things my soldiers readily noticed was the tremendous amount of children who were either barefoot, or wearing worn out tattered shoes. We decided to launch Operation Shoe Fly asking folks back home to send us those gently used shoes that were stacked in the back of the closet, or in a box in the garage, after their children had grown out of them. We were humbled by your overwhelming support as we quickly found oursleves sorting through thousands upon thousands of pair of shoes.
Afghanistan: February 25, 2007 -- [Afghanistan Watch]
...Rockets Ineffective: As Usual
NATO forces here came under attack Saturday night when insurgents fired two rockets into the sprawling military base in southern Afghanistan.
Irans Terrorism Expediters -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Iran has its own Special Forces, the secretive al Quds Force, which belongs to the IRGC (the Iranian Republican Guard Corps.) Also known as the Pasdaran, the IRGC is a paramilitary force of about 100,000 full timers that insures that any anti-government activity is quickly eliminated. To assist the Pasdaran, there is a part-time, volunteer force, several hundred thousand Basej, which can provide additional manpower when street muscle is required. The Basej are usually young, Islamic conservative men, who are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Top of the World - [You Tube]
The anniversary of the first World Trade Center bombing
In Memory of September 11"_ Although the majority of space in the WTC complex was off-limits to the general public, 1 WTC (North Tower) had a restaurant on the 107th floor called Windows on the World, and 2 WTC (South Tower) featured a public observation area aptly named "Top Of The World."
When visiting the observation deck, visitors would first pass through security checks added after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Next, visitors were whisked to the 107th floor indoor observatory and greeted with a 360 degree view of the New York City skyline, and exhibitions including a three-dimensional scale model of Manhattan, and a simulated helicopter ride around the city.
Claim: Iraqi Terrorists Shoot Down Black Hawk Helicopter (Video) -- [Jawa Report]
A Salafi jihad group in Iraq known as the Jaish al Mujahideen (Army of the Mujahideen) has released an 11 minute video in which they claim to show the downing of a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter. The video is posted below.
Complete Text: "Bin Laden and the Oil Weapon" (from Al-Qaida's Sawt al-Jihad #30) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Al-Qaida's Committee in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia) has recently released the first new issue of its official magazine, Sawt al-Jihad ("Voice of Jihad"), in nearly two years. Among other subjects, Sawt al-Jihad #30 addresses the aftermath of the Abqaiq (Buqayq) oil refinery attack in early 2006 in an article titled "Bin Laden and the Oil Weapon."
Al Qaeda Smuggling Operation Busted -- [Strategy Page]
February 26, 2007: Tunisian police believe that al Qaeda has moved its headquarters from Algeria to Tunisia. There have been more arrests of Islamic terrorists in Tunisia lately, and the Tunisian population is not as alert to, and hostile towards, Islamic terrorists as most Algerians are. Terrorists are finding another danger in Algeria, the growing use of cell phones. While seemingly a boost for terrorists, in practice, cell phones make it much easier for a hostile population to turn in terrorists, and to alert police to terrorist operations in progress. Two years ago, there were only 50,000 cell phone users in Algeria, now there are 21 million.
Another Friday at Walter Reed -- [Smash]
"SUPPORT THE TROOPS." For some people, it's second nature. For others, it's just an empty political slogan.
On Friday, Tantor and I went to Walter Reed to visit some friends. But first, we stopped in front of the main gate to visit the seven remaining members of the Code Pink "vigil" that has been gathering on Georgia Avenue every Friday evening for the past eighteen months.
Anyone else find it strange... -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
...that the results of a Washington Post "investigation" about Walter Reed were published a week before this story?
"They are our heroes" -- [Soldiers' Angel Germany]
(The video is not work safe if you are weepy like me.)
Person of the Week: Bert Brady
Feb. 2, 2007 — Just about every morning for the past year, Bert Brady has been getting up, having a cup of coffee and heading over to the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. But this ritual has nothing to do with travel. He's at the terminal to welcome home American troops as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
We Need a Little Christmas: Please Help!!! -- [Some Soldiers Mom]
How about some more Christmas? I know of a place that needs a little Christmas... now.
Well, if you watch the news, you know we have guys deployed. 3ID is deployed and deploying... Some of our guys are already in Ramadi. When one of the wives asked her husband what could she send him... what did HE need? His response was that he needed nothing for himself, but he could use all the children's clothing and shoes he could get... he was distraught at the level of poverty these children experience.
Documentary views war through Iraqi doctor -- [Air Force Times]
Film added to Air Command and Staff College curriculum
SAN ANTONIO — An Oscar-nominated documentary that examines the situation in Iraq from an Iraqi point of view was shown to airmen attending the Air Command and Staff College’s cultural-awareness program this winter.
Military Deaths (all causes) 1980-2004 -- [Murdoc Online]
Instapundit points out this post at Red State which notes that the increase in the total number of deaths in the US military isn't all that much greater under GW Bush than it was under the previous three (plus) Presidents. Here's the gist:
Yet Again Proving We Need More Than One Party That Understands Warfare -- [Chapomatic]
This article should not have to come from the rightish Weekly Standard. First, it shouldn’t need to have been written in the first place; the vow to “double the size of our Special Forces” should have been crushed or made viable by some military-savvy Dem. Secondly, the concepts in this article are not Republican or Democrat concepts; they’re military.
Drive to "de-authorize" war failing in Congress -- [QandO]
If Robert Novak is correct, Democrats in Congress are going to be left with only one choice of actions soon - defund the war. Apparently this is becoming more and more clear to those such as Senators Biden and Levin who are attempting another Murthaesque end-around:
Iraq: Sunni vs. Sunni, Shiite vs. Shiite, Democrat vs. Democrat -- [Hot Air]
The surge is starting to open rifts. None of the players within each group seem sure yet how to respond to it, so they’re taking advantage of each other’s momentary uncertainty to jockey for power.
Shock: Media Almost Entirely Embargoing ACLU Child Porn Story -- [Ace of Spades]
From the Catherine Herrige's reporting on the O'Reilly Factor, we know the FBI and ICE actually "pushed" this story out into the media, because, due to this solid citizen's selfless work as a "youth coach," it's possible there are victims of physical molestation out there. That hasn't been proven yet; it hasn't even been alleged.
But it's a concern. And that's why law enforcement pushed the story. They want the victims to come forward.
They even avoided id'ing the guy as a former ACLU Chapter president.
Video: Dan Rather warns Hillary not to come off as a “chickenhawk” -- [Allahpundit - Hot Air]
Send to a Friend | printer-friendly Portrait of a man using a term he’s clearly heard used before and just as clearly never quite grasped the definition of. But watch how quick Matthews is to ask him to clarify. You’d better believe he knows what it means.
Krugman Rib-Tickler: Positive MSM Coverage To Blame for W's Election in 2000 -- [NewsBusters]
If, as I am, you're stuck in a seemingly endless winter, here's something to bring a sunny smile to your lips, courtesy of that one-man cavalcade of mirth, Paul Krugman. The New York Times columnist this morning blames the election of George Bush in 2002 on -- ready? -- the MSM! Yes, according to Krugman, Bush "got within chad-and-butterfly range of the White House because the public, enthusiastically encouraged by many in the news media, treated the presidential election like a high school popularity contest.
Vilsack Surges on News of Presidential Pull-Out -- [ScrappleFAce]
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who dropped his White House bid earlier today, said he may re-enter the race for the Democrat nomination on the strength of a surge in name-recognition spawned by his withdrawal.
Kummeli - Aziz The Combat Fighter -- [You Tube]
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Soldiers On The Ground Hopeful For The Future Of Iraq -- [Thinking Right]
I’ve had the great opportunity to work with Sgt. Keller at CENTCOM public affairs he and his superiors have graciously allowed this amateur internet journalist interview another soldier. This time, I spent some virtual time with SFC Smith who is serving his country in the area around Basra, Iraq. I would also like to thank SFC Smith for taking time out of his very busy schedule to spend time answering my questions. As I said during my last “boots on the ground” interview, I believe that it’s vitally important to publish the opinions of those serving their country. I also believe that it’s important to find out about the good stuff going on in Iraq. The MSM joined the out of Iraq drumbeat long ago, and because of that I feel that we often don’t hear about the good things happening there. So, without further delay, here’s my interview with SFC Smith.
Tell me about some good things that are happening there… hospitals, schools, Iraqi troops, etc.
A Little Media ‘Interaction’… -- [Justice Soldier - in Iraq]
...The other night, we got bombed. Does not happen very often for us, but on occasion the bad guys get “froggy” and decide to lob some fireworks at us.
...So, there I sat half awake in my tennis shoes waiting to see just how many fireworks the bad guys brought with them this time. So, I decided to turn on my TV. Sometimes the base blocks the stations and puts out info, but the news was still on. I don’t remember the name, but it was some CNN show. They had a panel of guests, and it was one of hose typical “negativity” hours where they slam everything. Some “analyst” from NEWSWEEK was on and as she was ranting she proclaimed “…and the President’s new intelligence on this supposed Iranian connection, well, that evidence is speculative, at best..” Right then I heard 2 more explosions rock our base. (Here in Southern Iraq we have known for a long time where the “fireworks” come from.) I thought to myself- yeah lady, I got your speculative right here for ya…. another media “expert analysis” I guess.
More "he said", "she said" with Nancy Pelosi -- [A Proud Infidel - in Iraq]
...So Nancy, I really have to ask why you are running to the principal when you are strategically attempting to end the war in Iraq, be it through your posturing or through the threat of legislation, which is also Al-Qaeda's goal. You claim to put the national security of our nation above individual liberties and at the same time prevent the possibility of a terrorist attack on US Soil.
How then is pulling out of Iraq, giving a victory to Al-Qaeda thus emboldening the enemy, limiting the possibility of a terrorist attack on US Soil?
Good News and Bad News -- [Jules Crittenden]
Sometimes they make it sound bad when its good. Sometimes they make it sound good when its bad. Sometimes good is good, and bad is bad, but not for the reasons you might think.
Good news on Iraq: Senate Democrats are moving to rewrite history, by limiting the Iraq war authorization they voted in 2002. Good news how? Well, if you’re a surrender enthusiast, it’s a step in the right direction! But if you believe the United States must fight and win in Iraq as in all the theaters of this generational war on Islamic extremism, then every move the anti-war Democrats make to undercut a wartime president and troops in the field is a shot in the foot that will drive Americans farther from them.
Al-Doura residents welcome Soldiers, security -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — “Face time.” It seems to be a term used more by celebrities than Soldiers, but as Iraqi Army and Police go on patrols with Coalition forces, “face time” is something one unit is saying is very important to their mission of capturing the bad guys.
A Company is like a Family.... -- [1016th - in Iraq]
Distant, brotherhood, sacrifice, disappointment, and the feeling of accomplishment are some of the many emotions the 1016th QM have experienced during this deployment. With 80% of this company coming from all around the Northwest and with different backgrounds, you might say we have learned to adapt in new ways to accomplish many goals we were tasked.
Blowback in Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS
February 23, 2007: For the third time in a month, Sunni terrorists in Iraq have set off bombs that included cylinders of chlorine. This is a chemical normally used to purify water, or as a disinfectant or bleach. But when you put a lot of it into the air, people can be killed or injured by inhaling the fumes (a thousand parts per million, which is a pretty thick concentration.) The terrorists are basically targeting children here, as kids are the most vulnerable to chlorine fumes. So far, these "chlorine bomb" attacks have not caused massive casualties, but over a hundred children have been injured.
"Chemical" Iraq Enters a New Equation (Photo)-- [MEMRI]
An Iraqi woman holds two chlorine canisters used to blow up a truck
Al Qaeda in Iraq Promises Revenge For Alleged Rape in Iraq -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The leader of Al Qaeda's "Islamic State of Iraq," Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, issued an audio tape today titled, “At Your Rescue, Sister,” threatening revenge for the alleged rape of "Sabrin al-Janabi" (a pseudonym for a Sunni woman) by Iraqi police. You can hear the entire tape ...
Basrah IA division transfers to Iraqi command -- [MNF-I]
BASRAH — The Iraqi Army division based in Basra has transferred from Coalition command, and is now – for the first time – taking its orders direct from an Iraqi headquarters in Baghdad.
Friday, February 23, 2007 -- [Sgt Dub - in Afghanistan]
...Many of you have posted about the way Congress is acting these days. I am glad to see that not everyone has lost their marbles. The Democrats, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid made grand gestures about changing and reforming Congress, to make it better. This would indeed be a modern day miracle as it appears the only thing on the agenda is....how did they put it....yes, to "slow bleed" the troops. Yes, they support the troops so much they are willing to sacrifice them for their political gain. Now, this does not pertain to all liberals. Clinton and Obama are way too busy to even show up for work these days.
U.S. Soldier Wrestles Suicide Bomber: US -1, Terrorists -0 -- [Jawa Report]
This is how good our guys our. Seriously, this has action movie written all over it.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan – Seven U.S. Soldiers were wounded Tuesday, when a suicide bomber detonated himself during the opening ceremony of a new emergency section of the Khost City Hospital in the city of Khowst, Khost Province.
...A U.S. Soldier wrestled him to the ground, restraining him long enough to allow the crowd of people to move safely away. He was able to break free from the bomber prior to the explosion. He sustained only minor injuries from the blast.
News of Afghanistan -- [Miserable Donuts]
Men such as former warlords (l-r) General Atta Mohammad, Ismail Khan and General Abdul Rashid Dustum may be granted immunity for alleged war crimes
Wolsei Jirga (lower chamber) already said "yes", now the Meshrano Jirga (upper chamber) gives it a thumbs up...off to President Karzai's desk.
Britain Planning A 1,000 Man Afghanistan "Surge" -- [Sweetnes & Light]
Britain is preparing to send more troops to Afghanistan in anticipation of an upsurge in violence from the Taliban, it was reported today.
...Do you think this “surge” of 1,000 soldiers to Afghanistan will get as much media attention as the possible “withdraw” of 1,600 soldiers from Iraq in the coming months?
Going The Distance, Part I -- [Kabul Blog - in Afghaistan]
...So there has been a decent amount happening in this place. Kabul, as usual (well except for today), remains largely outside the fray. Most of the military activity has been in the usual trouble spots, and of course attacks have been increasing in Pakistan as well as that string of attacks in southwest Iran. So the instability seems to be increasing. Maybe it’s just a random confluence, or maybe it’s several factors and movements coalescing, specifically the Iranian influence expansion efforts, the Balochi independence movement, the Taliban resurgence, the Kashmiri fighters, Musharaf’s military efforts along the Af-Pak border and his efforts in Balochistan, and Al-Qaeda’s purported strengthening of camps and manpower in Waziristan.
Bear and Rat -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue - in Afghaistan]
...When you adopt a world-view, a religious conviction, a moral certainty of how things should be, what are the implications for those on the wrong side of your beliefs? In America, the phrase I heard a lot in churches was, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” In Afghanistan, it’s more like “Hate the sin, kill the sinner.” But in either case, you have decided, for whatever reason, that the lifestyles of others are unacceptable. Inthe US we wonder if gays should be allowed to marry, while in Afghanistan the question is, “Should gays be allowed to live?” In the states, we have at least gotten past that point, except for the few, Taliban-like pinheads who actually go out and beat-up and/or kill gays. In both cultures we have real morons. We should not be too smug in our superiority; thugs walk our streets too.
AFGHANISTAN: RUSSIA OPENS NEW EMBASSY IN KABUL -- (AKI)
Kabul, 23 Feb. - The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov formerly opened a new Russian embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday, according to a report on the Russian ITAR-TASS news agency, which said that the embassy was destroyed in 1989. Other reports said that it was closed in 1992 after the mujahadeen forced the last Russian soldier out of Afghanistan. Reconstruction work began in 2002 after the then Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov visited Afghanistan.
Tony Blair: It would be wrong to take military action against Iran -- [Jihadi Watch]
Evidently it would be the decent thing to do just to allow them to nuke Israel. "Fears grow over Iran," by Tom Baldwin and Philip Webster in the TimesOnline, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
Iran Leader Khamenei: Iran Today in Best Situation Since Revolution -- [MEMRI]
The website of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said today that Iran and its government are currently in the best situation ever since the victory of the Islamic revolution, and that "the nation and the authorities will stay on their successful and winning path by sticking to the chief factors of revolutionary victory and survival, to wit, patience and gratitude to God."
Trouble in Paradise -- [Strategy Page]
February 23, 2007: Police stumbled upon a terrorist training camp in Bahrain. A small (665 square kilometer) island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, Bahrains population is only 700,000. But oil and gas provide a per-capita income of over $20,000. While generally peaceful, the country has many unhappy, and violence prone, citizens. The problems are many. First, there is the monarchy. Although competent, many of the educated citizens would prefer a democracy.
Tolerance of The Left -- [Boots & Sabers]
Mike Hahn is an Iraqi War veteran who writes a column for The Badger Herald, an independent college newspaper at UW-Madison. Recently, he wrote a column supporting the troop surge.
...Obviously, Mike, as a war veteran, feels pretty strong about this. But what is really remarkable about this column is the vitriolic comments underneath it. Here’s a few examples:
WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE.
Rolling Victory Fast Update: 23 February 2007! -- [Tanker Brothers]
Sign Up For A Day: Here or send an email to TankerBrothersReconATgmail.com
Updated Duty Roster: Here
Pick Up Your RVF Tee Shirts (Limited Edition, Only 50 printed, Only $10 each): HERE (All proceeds go to help support Soldiers Angels)
Facing the Wall -- [Old War Dogs]
When we band together on March 17, 2007, we will turn our back on those that have turned their backs on America. We will face the Wall. I have a new project that I hope will also “face” the Wall. Please read what has been posted at the original GOE forum, and hopefully will be posted in many locations this weekend:
Gathering of Eagles -- [Allah Pundit - Hot Air]
Charles at Age of Hooper checked out the press conference and counter protest, ANSWER vs sane patriots, in DC yesterday. He has videos, pics, commentary, the whole nine. The interviews with Richard Becker are especially entertaining. Becker’s brother Brian is the leader of International ANSWER, the group that’s been patiently building the anti-war movement since the afternoon of 09-11-01. Charles pesters Becker, bugs him and to my ear catches him in a bald faced lie about ANSWER’s connections to Communism.
Remember -- [BlackFive]
W. Thomas Smith, a former Marine and author who we link to frequently here, sent this email about remembering Iwo:
Sixty-two years ago today, AP photographer Joe Rosenthal snapped a photo of five U.S. Marines and one Navy Corpsman raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
Computers Reading the Troops Email -- [Strategy Page]
February 23, 2007: The U.S. Department of Defense is quietly introducing a censoring system for email. Or trying to. Internet security is not just about keeping hackers out, but also about keeping an eye on what normally goes out. In a word, watching what's contained in email. Corporations, worried about losing valuable information via innocent, or deliberate leaks, plus exposure to lawsuits from "inappropriate" comments, want to screen outgoing email. And that they have been doing that, with increasing success, over the past few years. So the Department of Defense is testing commercial email filtering programs, to find those that can screen email for information that should not be in the email.
...The U.S. Air Force is taking the lead in testing new products, apparently because air force bases have the manpower to monitor filtering systems, and lots of high tech secrets to keep inside. But army and marine commanders suggest that the Department of Defense just back off on this stuff until there is evidence of a real problem to be solved.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is: -- [Appeal for Courage]
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
Democrats Legislate to Fight Al Qaeda in Iraq That Is Not In Iraq -- [Gateway Pundit]
You've got to love this one...
Democrats plan to handcuff American troops in Iraq to "only fight Al-Qaeda"...
The same Al-Qaeda they say is not in Iraq!
Just two months ago... On November 28, 2006 Speaker Pelosi said this about Al Qaeda in Iraq:
Leaving Iraq: A Taste of Things to Come -- [Hot Air]
One argument against withdrawing our troops from Iraq prematurely is that doing so would look like a defeat for us and a victory for our enemies, and that would embolden our enemies to ramp up their activities and rhetoric against us.
On the other hand, Democrat point-man John Murtha says that the second we leave Iraq, the Iraqis will route Al Qaeda (because we’re just holding them back, I guess) and then the whole region, now scourged of terrorism, will right itself.
Associated (with Coverups) Press -- [Jihadi Watch]
In this week's Jihad Watch videoblog at Hot Air I discuss the strange reluctance AP seems to have to identify Muslims who commit crimes as Muslims -- a reluctance they do not display when the perps are Christians.
Ollie North and Fox continue coverup of North's role in Ramadi deaths
On December 6, Marine Maj. Megan McClung, Army Capt. Travis Patriquin, and Army Spc. Vincent Pomante were killed instantly in Ramadi when their Humvee was ripped apart by an IED. At the time, they were accompanying Fox TV's Ollie North and his crew plus a Newsweek reporter to their embed positions. Newsweek never even mentioned their deaths. North subsequently noted McClung's death, while ignoring that of the soldiers. He also made no mention that any of them died helping him. Fox went even further, falsely claiming on February 7th that they “died while supporting combat operations.†Sorry, embedding is not a combat operation. North had a chance to change this during his "War Stories" broadcast of Feb. 11, when he mentioned the deaths. But all he said was they occurred, "while War Stories was embedded with 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division."
WaPo Editor: Obviously We're Not Liberal, Because We Get So Much Hate Mail From Liberals! -- [Ace of Spades]
Liberal media outfits do loves them their unhinged-leftist hate-mail. Because they use it again and again as proof positive that they must be reporting straight down the middle to incur so much wrath from the left.
F-Bombs Away! Chris Matthews, Cursing and Character -- [Pajamas Media]
In the midst of commending the presidential candidacy of Rudy Giuliani on NBC radio’s “Imus in the Morning” show, the MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews dropped the F-Bomb: “We love good mayors, because we love our cities and Giuliani is a city guy … I’m so sick of Southern guys with ranches running this country. I want a guy to run for president who doesn’t have a f***ing ranch”
Helen Thomas Loses Her Seat -- [Media Blog]
Every theater-style seat in the White House briefing room, now closed for renovation, had a brass plaque inscribed with the name of a news organization. Only one, in the middle of the front row, had a name: “HELEN THOMAS,” it said. The unique assigned seat between the chairs for CBS News and ABC News was reserved for the legendary United Press International correspondent who is now a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.
Dems Want Repeal of 2002 War Bill, GOP Offers Trade -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-23) — Democrats in the Senate plan to introduce a measure next week to repeal the 2002 Iraq war authorization, and Republicans have already announced they’re willing to discuss the bill in exchange for Democrat support of a measure repealing the 1935 Social Security Act.
02/23/2007 Day by Day -- [Chris Muir]
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Soldiers On The Ground Hopeful For The Future Of Iraq -- [Thinking Right]
I’ve had the great opportunity to work with Sgt. Keller at CENTCOM public affairs he and his superiors have graciously allowed this amateur internet journalist interview another soldier. This time, I spent some virtual time with SFC Smith who is serving his country in the area around Basra, Iraq. I would also like to thank SFC Smith for taking time out of his very busy schedule to spend time answering my questions. As I said during my last “boots on the ground” interview, I believe that it’s vitally important to publish the opinions of those serving their country. I also believe that it’s important to find out about the good stuff going on in Iraq. The MSM joined the out of Iraq drumbeat long ago, and because of that I feel that we often don’t hear about the good things happening there. So, without further delay, here’s my interview with SFC Smith.
Tell me about some good things that are happening there… hospitals, schools, Iraqi troops, etc.
A Little Media ‘Interaction’… -- [Justice Soldier - in Iraq]
...The other night, we got bombed. Does not happen very often for us, but on occasion the bad guys get “froggy” and decide to lob some fireworks at us.
...So, there I sat half awake in my tennis shoes waiting to see just how many fireworks the bad guys brought with them this time. So, I decided to turn on my TV. Sometimes the base blocks the stations and puts out info, but the news was still on. I don’t remember the name, but it was some CNN show. They had a panel of guests, and it was one of hose typical “negativity” hours where they slam everything. Some “analyst” from NEWSWEEK was on and as she was ranting she proclaimed “…and the President’s new intelligence on this supposed Iranian connection, well, that evidence is speculative, at best..” Right then I heard 2 more explosions rock our base. (Here in Southern Iraq we have known for a long time where the “fireworks” come from.) I thought to myself- yeah lady, I got your speculative right here for ya…. another media “expert analysis” I guess.
More "he said", "she said" with Nancy Pelosi -- [A Proud Infidel - in Iraq]
...So Nancy, I really have to ask why you are running to the principal when you are strategically attempting to end the war in Iraq, be it through your posturing or through the threat of legislation, which is also Al-Qaeda's goal. You claim to put the national security of our nation above individual liberties and at the same time prevent the possibility of a terrorist attack on US Soil.
How then is pulling out of Iraq, giving a victory to Al-Qaeda thus emboldening the enemy, limiting the possibility of a terrorist attack on US Soil?
A Company is like a Family.... -- [1016th - in Iraq]
Distant, brotherhood, sacrifice, disappointment, and the feeling of accomplishment are some of the many emotions the 1016th QM have experienced during this deployment. With 80% of this company coming from all around the Northwest and with different backgrounds, you might say we have learned to adapt in new ways to accomplish many goals we were tasked.
"Chemical" Iraq Enters a New Equation (Photo)-- [MEMRI]
An Iraqi woman holds two chlorine canisters used to blow up a truck
Al Qaeda in Iraq Promises Revenge For Alleged Rape in Iraq -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The leader of Al Qaeda's "Islamic State of Iraq," Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, issued an audio tape today titled, “At Your Rescue, Sister,” threatening revenge for the alleged rape of "Sabrin al-Janabi" (a pseudonym for a Sunni woman) by Iraqi police. You can hear the entire tape ...
Friday, February 23, 2007 -- [Sgt Dub - in Afghanistan]
...Many of you have posted about the way Congress is acting these days. I am glad to see that not everyone has lost their marbles. The Democrats, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid made grand gestures about changing and reforming Congress, to make it better. This would indeed be a modern day miracle as it appears the only thing on the agenda is....how did they put it....yes, to "slow bleed" the troops. Yes, they support the troops so much they are willing to sacrifice them for their political gain. Now, this does not pertain to all liberals. Clinton and Obama are way too busy to even show up for work these days.
Going The Distance, Part I -- [Kabul Blog - in Afghaistan]
...So there has been a decent amount happening in this place. Kabul, as usual (well except for today), remains largely outside the fray. Most of the military activity has been in the usual trouble spots, and of course attacks have been increasing in Pakistan as well as that string of attacks in southwest Iran. So the instability seems to be increasing. Maybe it’s just a random confluence, or maybe it’s several factors and movements coalescing, specifically the Iranian influence expansion efforts, the Balochi independence movement, the Taliban resurgence, the Kashmiri fighters, Musharaf’s military efforts along the Af-Pak border and his efforts in Balochistan, and Al-Qaeda’s purported strengthening of camps and manpower in Waziristan.
Bear and Rat -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue - in Afghaistan]
...When you adopt a world-view, a religious conviction, a moral certainty of how things should be, what are the implications for those on the wrong side of your beliefs? In America, the phrase I heard a lot in churches was, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” In Afghanistan, it’s more like “Hate the sin, kill the sinner.” But in either case, you have decided, for whatever reason, that the lifestyles of others are unacceptable. Inthe US we wonder if gays should be allowed to marry, while in Afghanistan the question is, “Should gays be allowed to live?” In the states, we have at least gotten past that point, except for the few, Taliban-like pinheads who actually go out and beat-up and/or kill gays. In both cultures we have real morons. We should not be too smug in our superiority; thugs walk our streets too.
Tony Blair: It would be wrong to take military action against Iran -- [Jihadi Watch]
Evidently it would be the decent thing to do just to allow them to nuke Israel. "Fears grow over Iran," by Tom Baldwin and Philip Webster in the TimesOnline, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
Iran Leader Khamenei: Iran Today in Best Situation Since Revolution -- [MEMRI]
The website of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said today that Iran and its government are currently in the best situation ever since the victory of the Islamic revolution, and that "the nation and the authorities will stay on their successful and winning path by sticking to the chief factors of revolutionary victory and survival, to wit, patience and gratitude to God."
Democrats Legislate to Fight Al Qaeda in Iraq That Is Not In Iraq -- [Gateway Pundit]
You've got to love this one...
Democrats plan to handcuff American troops in Iraq to "only fight Al-Qaeda"...
The same Al-Qaeda they say is not in Iraq!
Just two months ago... On November 28, 2006 Speaker Pelosi said this about Al Qaeda in Iraq:
Leaving Iraq: A Taste of Things to Come -- [Hot Air]
One argument against withdrawing our troops from Iraq prematurely is that doing so would look like a defeat for us and a victory for our enemies, and that would embolden our enemies to ramp up their activities and rhetoric against us.
On the other hand, Democrat point-man John Murtha says that the second we leave Iraq, the Iraqis will route Al Qaeda (because we’re just holding them back, I guess) and then the whole region, now scourged of terrorism, will right itself.
Associated (with Coverups) Press -- [Jihadi Watch]
In this week's Jihad Watch videoblog at Hot Air I discuss the strange reluctance AP seems to have to identify Muslims who commit crimes as Muslims -- a reluctance they do not display when the perps are Christians.
Ollie North and Fox continue coverup of North's role in Ramadi deaths
On December 6, Marine Maj. Megan McClung, Army Capt. Travis Patriquin, and Army Spc. Vincent Pomante were killed instantly in Ramadi when their Humvee was ripped apart by an IED. At the time, they were accompanying Fox TV's Ollie North and his crew plus a Newsweek reporter to their embed positions. Newsweek never even mentioned their deaths. North subsequently noted McClung's death, while ignoring that of the soldiers. He also made no mention that any of them died helping him. Fox went even further, falsely claiming on February 7th that they “died while supporting combat operations.†Sorry, embedding is not a combat operation. North had a chance to change this during his "War Stories" broadcast of Feb. 11, when he mentioned the deaths. But all he said was they occurred, "while War Stories was embedded with 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division."
WaPo Editor: Obviously We're Not Liberal, Because We Get So Much Hate Mail From Liberals! -- [Ace of Spades]
Liberal media outfits do loves them their unhinged-leftist hate-mail. Because they use it again and again as proof positive that they must be reporting straight down the middle to incur so much wrath from the left.
F-Bombs Away! Chris Matthews, Cursing and Character -- [Pajamas Media]
In the midst of commending the presidential candidacy of Rudy Giuliani on NBC radio’s “Imus in the Morning” show, the MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews dropped the F-Bomb: “We love good mayors, because we love our cities and Giuliani is a city guy … I’m so sick of Southern guys with ranches running this country. I want a guy to run for president who doesn’t have a f***ing ranch”
Helen Thomas Loses Her Seat -- [Media Blog]
Every theater-style seat in the White House briefing room, now closed for renovation, had a brass plaque inscribed with the name of a news organization. Only one, in the middle of the front row, had a name: “HELEN THOMAS,” it said. The unique assigned seat between the chairs for CBS News and ABC News was reserved for the legendary United Press International correspondent who is now a columnist for Hearst Newspapers.
Dems Want Repeal of 2002 War Bill, GOP Offers Trade -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-23) — Democrats in the Senate plan to introduce a measure next week to repeal the 2002 Iraq war authorization, and Republicans have already announced they’re willing to discuss the bill in exchange for Democrat support of a measure repealing the 1935 Social Security Act.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Badgers Down: 8 February 2007-- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
At 0818 8 February 2007, Team Badger’s 3rd Platoon departed Camp Falluja to return to the CH-46 crash site. The Marine Aviators had been recovered, now we needed to recover the aircraft. The insurgents were claiming the bird was shot down, but some reports indicated there might have been a mechanical failure. The question of why the helicopter went down needed to be answered. And the forces protecting the crash site need to be brought out.
Terrorists Use WMD in Iraq -- [Jawa Report]
Terrorists have claimed to use "chemical weapons" on at least half a dozen occasions in the past in Iraq with exactly zero media coverage. To the right is an image from a video produced by a terrorist group in Iraq called JAMI in which they used chemical weapons against U.S. forces. But now, mass casualties after chlorine laced bombs targetted civilians. The LA Times, CNN, The Chicago Tribune, and the New York times continues to call the Salafi terrorists who specifically target civilians with WMD "Sunni insurgents". Reuters calls them "militants".
2nd chlorine gas attack in Iraq -- [Jihad Watch]
The second chemical attack in as many days. "Iraq insurgents use 2nd 'dirty' attack," by Brian Murphy for AP:
Two HBIEDs explode on IP patrol, kill innocent Iraqi civilians, children -- [MNF-I]
TAL’AFAR, Iraq – Two house-borne improvised explosive devices were detonated Feb. 19 while Iraqi police officers were conducting a search for illegal weapons and insurgent elements.
The first explosion killed one IP and three local civilians, including a 12-year-old child. The second HBIED exploded, wounding two IPs and two Iraqi civilians.
Mystery Weapon #2: Experts Only -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
The jury is . . . out.
“What in the world is this?” That sentence was translated into “Mystery Weapon Found in Iraq.” The “mystery weapon” characterization packed pizzazz, but the words were not mine. Had the “mystery weapon” been found somewhere other than Mosul, Iraq alongside 27 surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank mines, RPGs, blasting caps and tons of other munitions, the weapon likely would have been dismissed.
Binge and Surge -- [Defense Tech]
According the Associated Press and thinkprogress.org, the Iraq-fueled tension in the Middle East is setting off a defense buying binge. Fears that sectarian violence could spill over into countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia has those countries looking at expanding their weapons programs.
Back to Iraq -- Revisited -- [Michael J Totten]
My old friend Sean LaFreniere went on that spontaneous and rather ill-fated road trip from Istanbul to Iraqi Kurdistan with me last year. Inspired by the short video from the region on 60 Minutes last Sunday, he posted some of his own observations and photos.
Girls’ school in benefits from Iraqi Army, Coalition support -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — The life of an Iraqi girl was forever changed in the chaotic aftermath following an improvised explosive device attack. The Hamid Shaban neighborhood in the district of Abu Ghraib was the target, but an innocent girl was inadvertently the victim. Tragically, a stray round from an Iraqi army soldier, fired in defense, missed its mark and struck the harmless child at play.
Medical operation helps soldiers build trust -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — When Spc. Michael Benusa needs to do his job it’s usually a bad thing. As a medic for Company B, 2nd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, the last thing Benusa hopes for is to be needed to treat one of his fellow Soldiers.
Iraq says ready to take over Basra after UK pullout -- (Reuters)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government said on Thursday it was ready to take over security in southern Iraq once Britain withdraws 1,600 troops in the coming months, but insisted that British forces would still be needed for support.
One of our own... -- [Task Force Pheonix - in Afghanistan]
... I knew Hughie just because both of us had been in the Battalion for so long and when you have been in the 1-180th for awhile you know everyone. Hughie was a great guy and always had a smile on his face or a kind word to say about anyone. I had the pleasure of riding out on a convoy a few months back with Hughie when we dropped him off out east in Nuristan. Hughie had lots of friends and the Battalion is taking it pretty hard. This was our first soldier lost in over 50 years I mean we haven’t lost a soldier in Combat since the Korean War.
22 February 2007, Down to business first -- [Sgt Dub - in Afghanistan]
Today was another busy day and a late day as you can tell. I'm hoping things will slow down in March. It appears to be busy at home too. After watching the news this last week I have discovered there are only 4 events happening in the world right now, It's Anna Nicole Smith, Brittney Spears, American Idol that other thing in the middle east, but it's not getting much coverage after the first three. Once again I am amazed at the media, but I'll save this for a soap box.
Marriage -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue - in Afghaistan]
...Here’s the second part of my conversation with Hamid from yesterday. I continue to learn more and more, not all of it good. Despite this, Hamid is my friend. His world is stunningly different from mine, and sometimes the realization is jarring. If you’ve read the comments on my last post on The Sandbox, you’ll see that some people are wondering why we are over here supporting a government made up of people with such beliefs. The political and security issues aside, simply working with Afghans and sharing ideas is a good thing. No, they aren’t all going to suddenly change overnight, but ...
Iran Likes Them Big and Dumb -- [Strategy Page]
Iran recently announced more "test firings" of its missiles. This was done largely for PR purposes, and to give domestic morale a boost. Also firing the rockets enables the builders to verify quality control, and gives the troops some practical experience. The two missiles fired in this round of "tests" are the Fajr-5 and the Zalzal.
In Attempt to Create Sunni Alliance Against Shi’ites and Iran, Pakistan Calls Meeting of FMs of Islamic Countries -- [MEMRI]
Pakistan has called a meeting in Islamabad next Sunday of seven Islamic countries, in an attempt to create an alliance of Sunni countries that would confront the Shi’ite flood in the Middle East and Iran’s ambitions and nuclear program.
Cuba Wants to Drill for Oil 60 Miles Off U.S. Coast -- [Redstate]
Later this year, Communist Cuba could be drilling for oil just 60 miles from Key West, Fla. USA Today reports on Cuba's pursuit of oil in the waters off the U.S. coast, including its desire to attract American oil companies to do the work. Meanwhile, we continue to twiddle our thumbs and make no progress on off-shore drilling.
Jihadis Count Their Victories -- [Strategy Page]
February 22, 2007: From an Islamic terrorists point of view, the last decade has been one of many victories. Not only were there 3,000 killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the earlier embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania killed 292, mainly African civilians. After 2001, there were no more attacks in the United States, so Islamic terrorists struck where they could (Bali, Indonesia, 202 dead, Beslan, Russia, 333 dead, Madrid, 191 dead, London, 51 dead, Mumbai, India, 200 dead, and so on). All this has attracted tremendous media attention, especially in the Moslem world.
Business Leaders Work to Hire Military Vets -- [GX Online]
More than 300 business leaders will visit a southern CA military base tomorrow to observe Marine Corps training as part of their support of the military.
The business leaders belong to the Entrepreneurs' Organization, a 20-year-old global group that has more than 6,000 members across 120 chapters in 40 countries. They plan to hire U.S. military Veterans through the "Hire A Hero" program, which assists former active-duty, National Guard, and reserve members and their families in finding careers after military service.
Warrior Foundation Aids Wounded Troops -- [GX Online]
With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan underway, the San Diego-area community was looking for ways to help wounded Service members returning to the area. So in 2004, community members started the Warrior Foundation, an organization that reaches out to wounded troops and their families.
To the American People -- [Move America Forward]
The following message is from Marine Mom, Deborah Johns. Her son, SGT William Johns of the U.S. Marines, is currently serving his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq.
I am sick and tired. Sick and tired of how some in this country are turning their backs on our troops at a time when they need our support the most!
This is why I am taking action to speak up, and in particular, why I am helping to lead the “THESE COLORS DON’T RUN” national pro-troop/patriotic caravan being organized by Move America Forward.
The Blame Game -- [From My Position... On the way!]
Dr. Harvey issued a statement laying the blame for the outpatient mess at WRAMC squarely on the shoulders of the chain of command.
...A commander is responsible for everything his unit does or fails to do. However, the commander of a hospital is bound by several things: patient needs, civilian workforce contracts, available manpower, and of course, budget.
Science makes fallen soldier a father -- (USA Today)
From USA Today on Sunday, the most fascinating story of the week...
AUSTIN -- Seven-month-old Benton Drew Smith is the spitting image of his father, with the same blue eyes, fair hair and infectious grin.
Bouncing on his mother's lap in olive-green overalls and slippers festooned with lizards, he also holds a special place in history: He is one of the first children to have been conceived from sperm left behind by a soldier who was killed in battle
Ragging Rumsfeld for the Wrong Reasons -- [Strategy Page]
February 22, 2007: U.S. senator John McCain recently claimed that former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld mismanaged the war in Iraq, and was one of the worst performances as Secretary of Defense ever. McCain's comments, however do not really reflect the reality of the situation. While Iraq has not been without its bumps in the road, there have been successes in that country. At the same time, Rumsfeld may have made mistakes, but he also had a number of accomplishments to his credit.
Cheney Says Pelosi & Murtha Plan Validates Al Qaeda -- [Gateway Pundit]
In an interview today with ABC News Vice President Dick Cheney said that the Murtha and Pelosi plan for Iraq validates the Al-Qaeda strategy:
The One Man Counter-ProtestERIC ODESSIT takes on 300 defeatist protesters in San Diego. -- [Smash]
Jeeni Criscenzo, former candidate for Congress, has organized a protest called “Bring their buddies home“. The leftists dress in black and stand along a road, with names of US soldiers killed in Iraq pinned to their chests. They call it “An Act of Art."
What Eric does next is so simple and elegant, it drives the "artist" nuts.
Facebook nightmare: College Republican targeted by stalker speaks out -- [Michelle Malkin]
This is Richard Reed Pannell. He's a student at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA. On Saturday, he was minding his own business, taking a shower in this house he shares with classmates...
...when an unhinged stranger--a raving leftist who had tracked him down on social networking site Facebook--barged in and attacked him and his roomies after impersonating a military recruiter.
A World Without America -- [Real Clear Politics]
Two weeks ago I mentioned that Brit Tim Montgomerie was spearheading an advertising campaign around the theme of "A World Without America" - a concept derived from this excellent Peter Brookes column last year. Well, the first ad just launched:
Mass media owe our troops more -- Ken Allard - MySa.com
What do we owe the American soldier?
And not just the current crop of bravehearts serving in the Afghan and Iraqi hot zones, but also those future warriors now in junior high school or safely cuddled in their mothers' arms?
I ask that question after having found myself in the middle of a media controversy, one that sparked a rare return to TV, dueling blogs and hundreds of e-mails.
Washington Times: Changing Minds -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
I have a column in today's Washington Times about a promising initiative in the American Muslim community designed to promote civic engagement. This initiative picked up steam after the terrorist plot uncovered last month in which nine Pakistani Muslims living in Britain planned to kidnap, torture and behead a fellow British Muslim -- a soldier who had served in Afghanistan.
Foggy on Farrakhan -- [Media Blog]
Journalism school students could learn from Washington Post reporter Zachary Goldfarb today about burying the lede. In a short story about how "controversial" Louis Farrakhan says he may be giving his last major address, Goldfarb waited until paragraph seven to get to the kooky anti-Semitism and kissing up to enemy dictators (oops, "foreign leaders"):
FDR, Hitler … Natural Allies! -- [Jules Crittenden]
Got to hand it to the Iranians. They know their audience. The charm offensive continues with unnamed senior Iranian official kissyface with Christiane Amanpour. It’s got a coy kind of 1940s spy thriller noire thing going on: ...
GQ Publishes Articles of Impeachment for Vice President Cheney -- [NewsBusters]
Here’s the disgraceful introduction “Over the past six years, as the country has spiraled into military misadventure, fiscal madness, and environmental meltdown, the vice president has not merely been wrong about the issues; he has been duplicitous, deceitful, and deliberately destructive to the American democracy.” Nice, huh? The author despicably continued:
These things can no longer be denied by rational minds:
That in the buildup to war in Iraq, the vice president, lacking confidence in the true casus belli, conspired to invent additional ones, misrepresenting the available intelligence, crafting new “intelligence,” and then spreading these falsehoods to the public, perverting the democratic process that he is sworn to uphold.
That as the war devolved into occupation, the vice president again sabotaged the democratic system, developing back channels into the Coalition Provisional Authority, ...
Pelosi phones Bush to complain about Cheney’s painfully accurate criticism -- [Hot Air]
He had the gall to suggest today that the Democrats slow-bleeding us into withdrawal might be something Al Qaeda would approve of. Quote:...
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib -- [Via email]
In his new documentary, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, acclaimed filmmaker Rory Kennedy (HBO’s Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable) looks beyond the headlines to investigate the psychological and political context in which torture occurred at Abu Ghraib. A major contributor to this documentary is Al McCoy, author of A Question of Torture: CIA Interrogation, from the Cold War to the War on Terror, who is interviewed and featured extensively.
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib airs on HBO tonight, February 22nd at 9:30 eastern time. For a synopsis, along with a list of future airings, visit the documentary’s page at hbo.com.
Closing Shop -- [Andrew Olmsted]
As I noted yesterday, it turns out that I have been blogging in violation of a Department of Defense directive that restricts how much political activity soldiers may be involved with. This directive is intended to prevent even the appearance of impropriety among military personnel: the United States prides itself on being a nation where the citizens tell the military what to do and not the reverse.
...While I am hardly well-known within the blogosphere, I have established enough of a brand that simply no longer noting my connection to the military is not sufficient for me to continue blogging. While I enjoy blogging, I cannot do so with a clear conscience in violation of orders. I could continue blogging while attempting to remain within the rules, but that kind of blogging is not really my style.
Gore: Climate Change Makes Hillary Less Polarizing -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-22) — Oscar-nominated filmmaker Al Gore today agreed with fellow Hollywood mogul David Geffen and other supporters of presidential candidate Barack Obama that Sen. Hillary Clinton is an “incredibly polarizing figure”, but said global climate change will make her “more temperate” by the time she assumes the presidency in 2009.
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Hey, Everybody -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
This story relates to this war on terror. We may not realize many tangible results from this war, especially not if we have a timeline based on a news cycle or an election. But it’s worth every can full of water every day we fight over here. I am resolved to fight these bastards for however long it takes, every day until my retirement.
I am stationed in Mosul, Iraq and things are busy. We have about 15 - 20 incidents a day.
HOW HUMAN ARE WE? -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq via the Sandbox]
It's time for another one of those posts. The kind that gets nutjobs at places like Vanity Fair all up in a tizzy. Maybe I'm pushing too far with this one. I'm writing about something that I feel many of you can never understand.
I left the billets early tonight for the mission. I racked my machine gun in the cradle, and sat on top of the truck. I plugged in my iPod, took a sip of coffee, and sat back to watch the sunset. ...
Faces of the Surge -- [BlackFive]
Do you see defeat?
Sgt. Kenneth Labutis, scans the area providing an out cordon near the Zanjaliah village, Iraq, Feb. 1, during Operation Lightning. Operation Lighting is an Iraqi army planned operation looking for weapon caches, personnel of high interest and gathering of intelligence with the help of the U.S. Army Soldiers from Forward Operating Base McHenry, Labutis is from the Delta Company, 2nd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
ON Point Exclusive: Ramadi's Mayor Praises Marines, Blasts Iraqi Government -- [ON Point]
A chance encounter last weekend at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq became an opportunity to talk more about the future of Ramadi. ON Point’s Andrew Lubin bumped into Ramadi’s Mayor Latif Obaid Ayadeh at the Al-Asad airstrip. Lubin was on his way
Going’s On.. -- [Far From Perfect - in Iraq]
What have I been up to? I was interviewed for some newspapers a few weeks ago (I can let you know where to look privately), I have been involved in teaching CLS classes to US troops and Iraqi Troops, and treated a few patients in the BAS. Still no heavy fighting here, although the IED count is going up. I am learning a bit of Arabic which helps a lot in just getting around here, especially when the Iraqis find out your the “Doctor” and start molesting you with all their ailments. Unfortunately, I don’t carry the things they need and end up directing them to the local hospitals and doctors.
Badger 6 in Local St. Louis Media -- [Badgers Forward - home on R&R from Iraq]
Channel 5, KSDK in St. Louis came to interview me and Mrs. Badger 6 yesterday. We led the 10Pm news. Check out the story here.
I also appeared on Allman and Smash in the Morning today.
The Real News Behind "The Surge" -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
"More troops" isn't the most significant aspect of the military "surge" in Iraq.
Since at least fall 2003, an increase of 5,000 to 10,000 troops over a three-month window has been an option for coalition forces. For example, deploying a "ready brigade" from the 82nd Airborne Division would quickly bump troop strength in the region by around 4,000 soldiers. On several occasions
CCCI convicts 23 insurgents -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 23 security detainees from Feb. 11 - 17, for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons, possessing fake identification, passport violations and illegal border crossing.
The trial court found a Moroccan man guilty of Article 24 of the Iraqi Penal Code for illegal boarder crossing.
Troops capture 61 terror suspects -- [MNF-I]
Spc. Martin Garza, an artilleryman with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, gets behind cover during a patrol down a street in Adhamiyah known as an IED "hot spot," Feb. 16. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mike Pryor.BAGHDAD — Iraqi and Coalition Forces captured 61 suspected terrorists, destroyed five improvised explosive devices and seized several weapons caches during operations across Iraq in the past four days.
What's Not News -- [Strategy Page]
At least a hundred, of the six million people in Baghdad, were killed by Sunni Arab terrorist attacks in the last four days. The two week old "Battle of Baghdad" has forced Sunni and Shia gangs to stay in hiding. That has helped the terror bombing operations, as these depend on stealth and surprise. The army and police catch many of the bomber vehicles at check points, but there are so many attempts that the terrorists can still carry out a few successful attacks a week. However, recent attacks appear to be of the "use it or lose it" variety. The more intense security operations inside Baghdad have uncovered bomb workshops and safe houses, meaning
Whither Sadr City? -- [Captain's Quaters]
The US has a decision ahead of then with the new surge strategy that could either help drive out the Shi'ite insurgents or lose them the entire city of Baghdad. The joint Iraqi-American forces have cleared and held Shi'ite enclaves around Sadr City, but have not yet entered that power base of the Mahdi Army. They must determine whether and when to do so, and the credibility of the US forces and the Iraqi government depends on their next moves:...
Iraq War Attitudes -- [Outside the Beltway]
Public Opinion Strategies* has released a survey [PDF file here] of likely voters’ attitudes toward the Iraq War that finds that most voters think the country is going in the wrong direction (67%) and President Bush is doing a poor job (60%), and that Iraq will never be a stable democracy (60%). No real surprises there, right?
British military is wary of sending Prince Harry to Iraq -- (Herald Tribune)
The Ministry of Defense has dismissed the idea as speculation, but newspapers have already started speculating on a different tack — not so much about whether he will be deployed in Iraq as about his security if he does go. He would, one report said, be a "bullet magnet" in an area where British troops confront what the authorities here call Iranian-backed Shiite insurgents.
Children -- [Afghanistan without a Clue - in Afghanistan]
...“Well, in America, we can only have one wife. Suppose I had gotten married, and my wife could not have children. What should I do?”
Hamid answered easily and quickly. “You should divorce her and marry someone else. What is a marriage without children?”
The cultural gulf exploded in my face. The utter casualness with which he said this was as shocking as when Wali told me gays and apostates should be executed.
“I married my wife because I love HER. Why in the world would I leave her if she couldn’t have children? I want to be with her.”
Hamid seemed as baffled as I was. “But a marriage is nothing without children.”
“Why?” I demanded.
“Who will take care of you when you are older? Who will pray for you when you die?” he explained.
“That sounds incredibly selfish. You only want kids to take care of you when you are old?” I countered.
Empathy: a mental or affective projection into the feelings or state of mind of another person. -- [Afghanistan JAG - in Afghanistan]
I went on a civil affairs mission today. We visited a local village to see if we could provide some humanitarian assistance. The pictures really speak for themselves. Since I left the village this morning, I've been walking around in a fog. I am overwhelmed by what I saw.
FAMILY BONDS -- [Doug Templeton - The SandBox]
I write this post from the safety of my office back in the States. I am here on 30 days emergency leave. My father died after a four-year battle with cancer. Never in that time did he ever complain about the pain or worry me about his suffering. When the end came it was a shock to me because he seemed to be doing well. I know it was his way of keeping me from being distracted. He believed in what I am doing, and would not have wanted to bother me with things I couldn't control. He was a trooper and I will miss him terribly.
Since this site is for passing along the events and feelings of servicemembers, I thought I would try to explain what has been going through my mind the last few days.
21 February 2007 -- [sgtdub - in Afghanistan]
It's Wednesday, so for everyone the week is almost over. We've had a bit of interesting weather over the last couple of days. We went from Sunday being a high of 68 F/19C to Monday morning seeing it snow again. It has been raining since Monday night and turning back into snow yesterday afternoon and night. Now, as I've said, Afghanistan needs this type of precipitation, but the locals are complaining. You see, they still build most of the houses out of mud to include the roofs
ITALY: GOVERNMENT LOSES SENATE VOTE ON AFGHAN MISSION -- (AKI)
Rome, 21 Feb.- The Italian government lost Wednesday a key Senate vote on its foreign policy centred on the deployment of its troops in Afghanistan. The Senate, where the center-left government has a mere one-seat majority, voted 158 in favour of a motion supporting the government's foreign policy, failing to reach the required 160-ballots quorum; 136 Senators voted against while 24 abstained. In statements to the press published by all main Italian newspapers...
AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN CLAIMS IT IS READY FOR SPRING OFFENSIVE -- (AKI)
Kabul. 21 Feb. - The Taliban said they "have completed the preparations for the pre-announced spring military offensive" which has the objective of conquering new provinces in Afghanistan. In an interview with the Arabic language television channel Al Jazeera aired on Wednesday, Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban's military commander announced that the offensive will focus particularly on the southern Afghan province of Helmand where at least 6,000 fighters are ready to fight as soon as they get the signal from Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Somalia and Iran -- [Strategy Page]
February 21, 2007: UN and American counter-terror investigators are trying to uncover the foreign supporters of the Islamic Courts movement in Somalia. With the Islamic Courts broken by an Ethiopian invasion last December, investigators are able to question a lot of people, and they are getting some interesting answers.
The Others -- [Strategy Page]
While most of the terrorism committed these days is carried out by Islamic radicals, they have found allies in existing radical leftist groups. For example, in Okinawa, a group calling itself the "Revolutionary Army" set off three pipe bombs in the last week. The same group claimed responsibility for similar attacks in 2002. Leftist radicals have been around for over a century.
al-Zawraa vs al-Qaeda -- [The Fourth Rail]
Mishan al-Jabouri goes on al-Zawraa and attacks al-Qaeda
While the Sunni insurgency is often seen as a united block, the reality is that under the surface, there are great tensions and disagreements between the 'domestic' insurgents and the 'foreigners.' Nibras Kazimi has reported that Mishan al-Jabouri, the owner of al-Zawraa,
As-Sahab Video of Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan -- [Globalterroralert.com]
Al-Qaida's central media wing, known as the As-Sahab Media Foundation, has released a new video depicting a recent suicide car bombing attack in Afghanistan. The video includes a recorded "martyrdom" will by the bomber, footage of the creation of the bomb, and the execution of the actual attack itself. The video also features an excerpt from an interview with Taliban supreme military commander Mullah Dadullah, in which he endorses suicide bomb operations as a key weapon in confronting heavily-armed "superpowers."
Islamist Websites as an Integral Part of Jihad: A General -- [MEMRI]
...Islamist websites operate out of various countries, both Muslim and non-Muslim, and their target audience includes countries and communities all over the world. Accordingly, the websites address their audiences in various languages, from Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and Turkish to Western languages such as English and French.
New Address -- [Lumberjack in a Desert]
Good news! J.R. and I have moved rooms at Walter Reed and we are now living in the Fisher House. For those who are not familiar with the Fisher House, it is an organization that supports military families in time of need. The house we live in holds eight families. We all have our own room and bathroom and we share a common kitchen, dinig area, and living area. It is the best home away from home that anyone can ask for.
For everyone wishing to cards and well wishes here is our new address:...
I can not begin to tell you all how lucky we were to be able to move into the Fisher House. There are hundreds of soldiers at Walter Reed and many of them live in horrible conditions. The facility is overcrowded, understaffed, and confusing to navigate.
Second Look at the Walter Reed Story -- [ROFA Six]
When Pam sent me this story about conditions at Walter Reed, I was livid after reading it. But then, after years of being lied to by the media my next reaction was one of caution. Could it really be that bad, or was this another politically motivated "Bush/America/Army bash" so typical from the main stream media?
Reading the MilBlogs, I tried to get a better feel of how accurate the story was
Full Circle: Two Years, Two Soldiers, One Blog...Last month, I meant to get to a post to note my 2-year blog-iversary.
Hard to believe it's been two years since I started here.
...A darker element of the beginning of my blogging days is that they started right about the time that we lost a young Hero named Gunnar Becker. I have posted about Gunnar before. He was very special to Soldiers' Angels, as is his Mom, Debey. It was Debey that let me know about an anti-war display that was using Gunnar's name, and then sent the pictures of how fallen Heroes should be honored. If you can today, please spare a moment to honor his memory.
Moral Authority -- [Media Blog]
Today FNC's Neil Cavuto interviewed Deborah Johns, a "Blue Star Mom" who has organized a caravan to "let our military men and women know that we love them, we support them and their mission":
Promoting Failure -- [NRO]
The Army gets the lead out.
Earlier this month, the Senate voted 83–14 to confirm Gen. George Casey as Army chief of staff. Ten of those “no” votes came from Republicans, four of whom — John McCain, John Ensign, Saxby Chambliss and Lindsey Graham — serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). The four grilled General Casey during his confirmation hearing, forcefully taking him to task for lack of progress in Iraq during his tenure as the commander of US ground troops there.
Not Everyone Loves a Parade -- [Strategy Page]
February 21, 2007: American units stationed in Europe, and sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, used to get a big ceremony and party when they returned from the combat zone. The parties have been cancelled. Cost was given as a factor, as each party cost about $250,000 (for food, entertainment, and large tents.) The U.S. Army is cutting back on just about everything in order to pay for combat operations. Turns out that most of the troops don't miss the party.
Welcome to the Danger Room -- [Danger Room - Wired Blogs]
Welcome to the DANGER ROOM, people. Make yourselves at home.
We'll be talking about what's next in law enforcement, homeland security, and the military here. Not just the gear -- although you'll get more than your fair share of killer drones, electronic weapons, and nuclear threats, don't worry. We'll look at new strategies, new thinking, and new tactics in national security, as well. And we'll follow the personalities and politics surrounding these developments. Because within a military-industrial complex that chews up a trillion dollars a year, there are plenty of power struggles, both behind the scenes, and in front of the cameras.
US deficit is shrinking, for now -- (CSM)
Despite the ongoing costs of US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, the outlook for the federal budget has grown substantially brighter.
... Already, the federal deficit is shrinking toward about half the size that it has averaged since 1970, when analyzed as a percentage of gross domestic product
Death and Politics -- [Dadmanly]
...We lose no more soldiers in Iraq than we would lose, on average, through training accidents, other accidents, and other causes. In other words, soldiers are no less safe (or no more in danger) in Iraq than they are anywhere else.
Sound incredible? It shouldn’t.
Are American Teachers Failing their Students? -- [GI Korea]
I know I have some school teachers that read this blog so I am particularly interested in what they have to say about this LA Times article about teachers in a Los Angeles high school doing everything possible to ban a JROTC program at the school. Is this acceptable behavior for teachers in America’s high schools today?:
Black President More Likely than Mormon or Atheist -- [Outside the Beltway]
A recent Gallup poll reveals that Americans are much more likely to elect a black man or a woman president than a Mormon or an old man. More interestingly, they’d rather be governed by a homosexual than an atheist:
Poll: Validating My Gut Instinct (Cap on Again) -- [Oustside the Wire]
From the Public Opinion Strategies Poll released today.
As I see it, here are the key data points and they, in their own way, show the cunning of the Murtha slow bleed strategy.
Back in the U.S. -- [Diary of the Deployed Mama - home from Iraq]
Wow... what a feeling! I won't babble much today... I'll journal soon... telling tales of rough landings... delayed flights... canceled flights... rude people... and all the other joys of being back in the wonderful United States of America!!! My visits with loved ones was wonderful and I haven't heard a 'boom' in several days.... nor has any helicopters tried to snuggle up in my bed space with me... so... life is GOOD! I'll write more soon... just wanted all to know I'm safe! Stay tuned!
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Faces in the Crowds -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
Every time I get into a conversation about Iraq with someone back home, they ask me what the kids are like, or what the people are like, or what the women do. Normally, the only time I see given to the Iraqi people in the news is for the numbers of the dead, and the rantings of radical Muslims. I can look around me as I go on patrol and see faces everywhere that belong to neither group.
"Tell the American people we need the U.S. Army here:" -- [INDC Journal - in Iraq]
An Interview with the Jundi
As outlined in my analysis of the Military Transition Team (MiTT) mission, the story of the Iraqi Army in Fallujah is a mixed bag. The "Jundi" (Iraqi Army soldiers) are aggressive and some units are quite competent, but training is ongoing, the quality of their leadership varies, and logistical and pay issues significantly hamper operations. Observing some IAs on a mission and meeting with others at Forward Operating Base Castle in northeast Fallujah reinforced almost all of these assessments initially voiced by various Marine and Army MiTT members.
Bombs strike again but hope remains. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
...Although attacks happen here and there, the general feeling is still closer to hope and appreciation of the plan than pessimism. More families are returning to the homes they were once forced to leave, and we’re talking about some of the most dangerous districts such as Ghazaliya and Haifa Street.
Al-Sabah reports that yesterday alone 327 families returned home and that the scene of vans loaded with furniture of refugees leaving Baghdad is no more.
A Baghdad Homecoming -- [IraqPundit - an Iraqi in exile]
...They’re back in their own home now. The man called the other day to give us all the welcome news. The kind of thugs who had been terrorizing Sunnis, at least in my relatives’ part of town, have been forced to disperse as a result of the crackdown, and they no longer decide who can stay and who must go. My relatives were welcomed warmly by their old neighbors, who wanted to see this return as a sign of increasing normality.
Violence, progress mark 2006 in Iraq -- [MNF-I]
The year 2006 was a complex time, marked in Iraq by violence, often of the sectarian variety, but also by progress.
The past year was one of inclusiveness, as Iraq’s elected government functioned with representatives from nearly every sect and tribe. The year also saw major strides in security operations, as Iraqi Security Forces took the lead in law enforcement and anti-insurgent activity.
Odierno outlines Iraq accomplishments, reflects on way ahead -- [MNF-I]
The problems facing Iraq are complex and stem from a combination of insurgent activity, sectarian violence, governmental dysfunction and corruption. Despite these obstacles, members of Iraq’s military and government have shown a commitment to achieving a secure Iraq and a stable government, Odierno said.
“The bottom line is [Iraqi forces] are working extremely hard. They are being injured along side of us. They are being killed along side of us. They are standing and fighting, and they are dedicated to their country being successful,” Odierno said.
Michael Moore's Minutemen Detonate Chemical Weapon -- [Jawa Report]
Chemical weapons? A chlorine bomb? What chemical weapons? Don't you theeeeocons know that Bush created those chemical weapons, or something?
Jawa Exclusive: Released Gitmo Detainee Arrested En Route to Iraq -- [Jawa Report]
He seemed to think that going to Iraq via Yemen was a good route. Maybe catch a flight on Yemenia.
Weblog -- [1016th - in Iraq]
It’s mid February here in Iraq, the temperatures are rising and the day count is falling away. With all the work we still have and more coming, we could stay busy for another year though I hope not to be here too much longer. I have seen a lot of personal growth in the last 11 months. Many promotions for my friends and now my leaders. Life long friendships have formed, many aquaintences made. Courage and discipline have been tested and struggles with some I now consider brothers. All of us have experienced exhaustion at least in the last year... for most, a new scene or two being away from home for the first time, aside from Basic Training.
Film To Be Made on Saddam the Hero -- [MEMRI Blog]
Preparations are under way to produce a new film about the life of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
The film, which is likely to be financed by a Libyan company, will portray Saddam as a hero who was a victim of the new leaders of Iraq, who ordered his execution.
Afghan Forces Retake Town Briefly Held By Taliban -- [Radio Free Afghanistan]
February 20, 2007 -- Afghan security forces backed by NATO troops are reported to have retaken control of a small town in western Afghanistan that was briefly seized by Taliban militants
Canadian Soldiers on Patrol in Afghanistan Marked as: Mature -- [Live Leak]
Soldiers explain morning routine while on armoured patrol in the Panjwayi desert.
The Phony Peace -- [Strategy Page]
February 20, 2007: The latest North Korean disarmament deal is similar to the one in 1994, the one that North Korea violated the terms of, while accepting most of the goodies. But this time it's different. The verification routines for the new deal are stricter, and the U.S. has partners (China, Japan, South Korea and Russia). The main component of the bribe (worth up to half a billion dollars) is oil, to be delivered by South Korea.
Chinas Rapidly Evolving Air Force -- [Strategy Page]
February 20, 2007: China announced that it plans to have an air force equipped with a about a thousand modern aircraft (J10A, Su27 and Su30 and J8F) within three years. Currently, China has about 400 Su27 and Su30 aircraft, a few dozen J10As, and not many more J8Fs (an attack aircraft). Currently, the Chinese air force is mostly some 2,000 locally built copies of Russian MiG-19s (J6) and MiG-21 (J7). There are also several hundred bombers, mostly Russian knockoffs. The Chinese announcement might have been largely for morale purposes, as actual number of Chinese aircraft are state secrets.
Time to Come to Grips with Russia's Real Agenda -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Secretary of State Rice seems baffled by Vladimir Putin's recent speech denouncing the United States in some of the harshest terms possible, as Anne Applebaum eloquently points out in the Washington Post.
N.Y. Businessman Indicted for Terrorist Financing - Some Interesting Connections (updated 2/19) -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, 53, a.k.a. "Michael Mixon," a businessman and self-described "peace advocate" in New York, was indicted yesterday on multiple felony counts, including financing terrorism, material support of terrorism, and money laundering. You can download and read the entire indictment from here. With respect to the terrorism charges, Alishtari was indicted of sending $152,000 to Pakistan and Afghanistan to support a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan by funding the purchase of night-vision goggles, and of laundering $25,000 from a New York bank through a bank in Montreal as part of the funding scheme.
India Releases Sketches of Suspects... J & K Terror Group Implicated -- [Gateway Pundit]
Indian officials are looking into leads that implicate a Hizbul Mujahideen terror cell for the deadly blasts yesterday on the "friendship train."
The Others -- [Strategy Page]
February 20, 2007: While most of the terrorism committed these days is carried out by Islamic radicals, they have found allies in existing radical leftist groups. For example, in Okinawa, a group calling itself the "Revolutionary Army" set off three pipe bombs in the last week. The same group claimed responsibility for similar attacks in 2002. Leftist radicals have been around for over a century. The most successful were the anarchists, a 19th century movement that killed several heads of state, and hundreds of other officials, before being wiped out my the more bloody minded communists before World War II.
Improvements Already Being Made at Walter Reed -- [Andi's World]
Updated. Scroll down for more.
As a result of Sunday's Washington Post Walter Reed story, some improvements in living conditions at Walter Reed are already being made.
Warrior Foundation Aids Wounded Troops -- [GX Online]
2/19/07, Washington, DC — With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan underway, the San Diego-area community was looking for ways to help wounded Service members returning to the area. So in 2004, community members started the Warrior Foundation, an organization that reaches out to wounded troops and their families.
Wounded and waiting -- [Air Force Times]
A slow medical evaluation process leaves many injured troops in limbo
...when it was time for the Army to take care of him, one of its wounded warriors, Van Antwerp gave up before he even began. Rather than fight for a higher disability rating, he quietly signed for 20 percent — and no medical benefits — saying he knew he couldn’t do better. He inherited his father’s stubbornness, he said, and refused to ask anyone to pull strings based on his dad’s rank. Then his first medical board counselor, the person who would help him make his way through the medical evaluation board system, left. The second, he said, “wasn’t on the ball.”
“The Army is trying to give you the lowest amount of money possible,” he said. “A lot of people are appealing, but I’ll be going to [the Department of Veterans Affairs]. I want to go home.”
Official BoD's Position on the Gathering of Eagles -- [Patriot Guard Riders]
This is the official response of the Board of Directors of the PGR in response to the Gathering of Eagles scheduled to take place on 17 MAR 07 at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
We urge our members to follow their conscience and participate in this event if that is your desire as an individual. In regards to your PGR gear, that is yours, wear it proudly and as you see fit. It is not our place or desire to dictate what our members wear - nor where they wear it.
In Medias Res -- [Castle Argghhh!]
The sun was just rising, so the temperature was only about 110F as I slogged along the PSP taxiway bordering the North Swamp. I passed a Scout pilot single-mindedly preflighting a Loach in the Cav revetments and loosened the underarm fasteners of my chicken plate to let some of the heat out. I wanted a drink of anything cold and wet, and I wanted a shave and a shower to get rid of the night’s accumulation of sweat, dust, blood, jet fuel, gunpowder residue, grease and hydraulic fluid -- aka, Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Flight Funk.
Sequel As Prequel -- [Castle Argghhh!]
The Time: 0730 on the morning of a day three weeks prior to the vignette I recounted yesterday.
The Place: Flight Operations, 162d Assault Helicopter Company.
The Cast: The 164th Combat Aviation Group S2, three Copperhead Aircraft Commanders (gunship guys) and an Air Mission Commander (me) from the 162d, a Mission Commander from the 9th Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam and his US counterpart.
IF WE NEED THIS KIND OF REALPOLITIK IN THE WHITE HOUSE, I guess we'd better vote Democratic: -- [Instapundit]
The first time I proposed a snatch, in 1993, the White House Counsel, Lloyd Cutler, demanded a meeting with the President to explain how it violated international law. Clinton had seemed to be siding with Cutler until Al Gore belatedly joined the meeting, having just flown overnight from South Africa. Clinton recapped the arguments on both sides for Gore: Lloyd says this. Dick says that. Gore laughed and said, "That's a no-brainer. Of course it's a violation of international law, that's why it's a covert action. The guy is a terrorist. Go grab his ass."
War of the "Advocacy" groups -- [QandO Blog]
The left has MoveOn.org, the well financed and effective advocacy group which has been integral to advancing the "progressive" and anti-war agendas. Now comes the "Victory Caucus" led by conservative talk-show host Hugh Hewitt
Senator John McCain: “Donald Rumsfeld, Worst Secretary of Defense In History, Deserves Deepest Gratitude And Respect” -- [GunToting Liberal]
Folks, this is just Senator McCain in a nutshell for you: untrustworthy, shifty, doubletalking, NEOCON extraordinaire. THIS guy makes fellow Senator John Kerry seem solidly partisan… and that is saying something…
For the war before he was against it. Against torture before he was for it. For gay marriage before he was against it. Against flag burning amendments before he was for them. For former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld before he was against him.
Murtha “running the show” -- [Hot Air]
Send to a Friend | printer-friendly Time to take our medicine, kids.
It’s fun to make fun of the clownish, obviously foolish Jack Murtha, who among other things thinks it’s possible to fight a war in Iraq from Okinawa. But we’re all jabbing him from far outside his power base. Robert Novak explains what’s going on inside Murtha’s anti-war command post...
Apogee -- [Smash]
DID YOU FEEL IT?
At some point in the past few weeks, a shift occured. Maybe it started back in November, when Congressman Jack Murtha lost his bid to be House Majority Leader.
Heroes And Cowards -- [NY Sun]
...The total military dead in the Iraq war between 2003 and this month stands at about 3,133. This is tragic, as are all deaths due to war, and we are facing a cowardly enemy unlike any other in our past that hides behind innocent citizens. Each death is blazoned in the headlines of newspapers and Internet sites. What is never compared is the number of military deaths during the Clinton administration: 1,245 in 1993; 1,109 in 1994; 1,055 in 1995; 1,008 in 1996. That's 4,417 deaths in peacetime but, of course, who's counting?
AP: Claiming Small Towns Taking 'Disproportionate' Numbers of US KIAs -- [NewsBusters]
Talk about creating a false dichotomy geared to discrediting a policy! The AP has generated a doosie in theirs titled "Rural America bears scars from Iraq war" and subtitled "Nearly half of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq came from a small town".
Their main thrust is that small towns are somehow seeing their sons fall on the field of battle in "unfair" numbers.
New York Times: Then and Now -- [ArmyLawyer- MilBlogs]
The NYT on 19 FEB 2007: Making Martial Law Easier
...Now I seem to remember a LOT of caterwauling around the time of Hurricane Katrina about the slow federal response and why National Guard troops weren't more quickly utilized (even though they did outstanding work while there). And lo and behold:
The New York Times on 3 SEP 2005: Katrina's Assault on Washington
Hillary Shaves Head to Grab Limelight from Obama -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-20) — Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, whose presidential campaign has been overshadowed in recent weeks by charismatic rival Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL, today walked into a K-Street beauty salon in Washington, D.C., commandeered the clippers and shaved her head down to the bare skin.
A Scary Hillary Joke -- [Seaspook's Rants]
Here's a Hillary joke that is not the least bit funny because it represents the reality of Hillary:
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Attacks in Baghdad down by 80% -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Since the multiple bombings in Shroja market district on the 12th, Baghdad hasn’t seen any major attacks and there’s a tangible decrease in all kinds of attacks.
<...>
I agree with what some experts say about this lull in violence being the result of militants keeping their heads down for a while.
Iraqi troops make 25th ID Soldier proud -- [MNF-I]
KIRKUK — Staff Sgt. James Lee looked like a proud father. A group of Iraqi Strategic Infrastructure Brigade soldiers, who Lee has been helping to train for six months, huddled around him after showing off their warrior skills during a demonstration for Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander, Multi-National Division - North and 25th Infantry Division.
Badgers Down: Prelude -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
Falluja, Al Anbar, Iraq. I walked into the supported unit’s Combat Operations Center (COC) a little before 1400 on February 7, 2006.
“Hey Badger 6. You showed at just the perfect time, we need to call your 3 element off of their current mission. A CH-46 went down and we need to get out there.”
"I genuinely believe the United States Army is a force of good in this world" -- [Michelle Malkin]
The immortal words of 2LT Mark Daily live on. The Los Angeles Times has picked up the story: "Mark Daily wrote on MySpace that he joined the Army to help the suffering people of Iraq. In death, his words have become a call to service."
Why the Stinger Unit Was Sent to Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
February 19, 2007: As part of the effort to give all marines an opportunity to serve in Iraq, the U.S. Marine Corps is sending the 1st Stinger Battery, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The 130 marines and sailors in this unit normally provide dozens of Stinger teams, each using shoulder fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to take down low-flying enemy aircraft.
How the West was won: ‘Sons of Fallujah’ set stage for victory in Anbar -- [Marine Links]
Caption: Members of the Fallujah Iraqi Police Special Missions Group stand in formation while awaiting orders from IP leadership. The Fallujah IPs are composed almost entirely of dedicated local ...
TET FOR TAT? -- [Jules Crittenden]
Frontal assault on a base in Iraq kills two, wounds 17.
This raises a question I’ve been wondering about. We’ve seen surge results, and we’ve seen the brief peace broken. No surprise here. Obviously it is to the benefit of the enemy to paint the surge as a failure, and well with the enemy’s capability to keep launching attacks. They can continue launching sporadic attacks as they are able, and the Surrender Camp will seize on them as signs of failure.
How Human Are We? -- [Acute Politcs - in Iraq]
...I left the billets early tonight for the mission. I racked my machine gun in the cradle, and sat on top of the truck. I plugged in my iPod, took a sip of coffee, and sat back to watch the sunset. Somehow, the setting sun always seems to look better here than at home; the sunsets are the one beautiful thing about this place. I watch as the dying sun slowly sinks, its rays falling across sand, mud, guard towers, satellite dishes, and all the other things that have come to mean home for a time.
Kurdistan: The Other Iraq -- (CBS News)
Try to imagine a peaceful and stable Iraq where business is booming and Americans are beloved. Now open your eyes because 60 Minutes is going to take you to a part of Iraq which fits that description: it's called Kurdistan.
Australia considering more trainers for Iraq -- [GX Online]
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia is considering sending more military trainers to Iraq but does not plan to increase its combat forces there, Prime Minister John Howard said Monday.
Friends -- [Afghanistan Without a Clue - in Afghanistan]
Hamid has been very excited about all the new guys coming in. For a while it looked like many of us weren’t going to be replaced, and Hamid was understandably concerned about his job. It looks like it is secure for another year, fingers crossed. He is especially interested in the captain that is replacing me, as Hamid will most likely be working with him a lot. He wants to know if he is funny (since I am endlessly entertaining), have I met him before, what is he like, did he volunteer to come, and so on. Unfortunately, I don’t know him, and can’t provide much insight.
BE AFRAID -- [CAPT Doug Traversa - The Sandbox]
Just when I think nothing will surprise me, Afghanistan throws me a curve ball. Let me set the stage. Maj Apple, Wali, Hamid (our interpreters) and I were sitting in our office having a Deep Discussion about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Somehow the topic of gays serving in the military came up, and Maj Apple and I both think they will be able to openly serve in the military very soon. (I mention this to set the stage, not to start a debate. Personally, it wouldn't bother me. If they want to come over and fight for their country, it's fine with me. Welcome.)
The Reality of War -- [gwot dot us - in Afghanistan]
Many of my fellow Americans feel that this war is distant, that it concerns them none. Heck, they don’t even know anyone in the service or haven’t even had a family member in the service in all of the generations. This poem shows them that they have known someone in the service, whether they realize it or not.
Too Few Good Men -- [Celestial Junk]
The following video serves as a good lesson to Canadians who try to score cheap political points by constantly poking holes in the Afghan mission.
Iranian Nuclear Plant Falls Prey To Collection Agency -- [Captain's Quaters]
The Russians have decided to delay their assistance to the Iranians on the construction and operation of the Bushehr reactor that has the West infuriated with both nations. Moscow has not come to its senses about giving radical Islamists the nuclear cycle, however. They're just refusing to work until the Iranians catch up on their bills:
The Covert War with Iran -- [Captain's Journal]
...Iranians have been caught destroying oil pipelines in Iraq under orders from Iranian intelligence. IED technology has been developed in Iran, tested by Hezballah in the recent war with Israel, and shipped to Iraq, this IED technology having an unmistakable Iranian signature. In response to “the surge,” dozens of Iranian Intelligence officers were taking positions around Baghdad, in Salman Pak, Hilla and Kut, in preparation for an attack to drive out the remaining Sunni population from districts on the Rusafa side, east of Baghdad, in order to assume full control by Shi’ite political parties loyal to Iran.
Holocaust Now: Looking Down Into Hell at Camp 22 -- [OneFreeKorea]
Those who have lived to tell us about Camp 22, located in the bleak northeastern tip of North Korea, can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and all of them are former guards or staff. Of all of North Korea’s numerous labor camps and detention facilities, large and small, Camp 22 is one of the largest, and almost certainly the most terrible, if only for the inhuman experiments witnesses say were done to the men, women, children, and even infants sent there.
N.Y. Times: Al-Qaeda Gaining Strength in Pakistan, Waziristan Accord Has Failed -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A report in today's New York Times discusses American intelligence and counterterrorism officials' view that al-Qaeda's senior leadership has "re-established significant control" over the worldwide terror network. Their operations hub is located in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area:
Do You Want The Terrorists To Win? -- [Jules Crittenden]
Take the quiz here. h/t Tim Blair
This is a test you want to fail. I got 15 percent, and was informed I’m a proud flag waving American who wants to kill terrorists, something like that. I think I effed up on “Did you start calling French Fries ‘Freedom Fries’” by checking “No, That’s Retarded.”
Operation Take A Vet Fishing -- -- [Soldiers' Angels New York]
Veterans or active-duty service members who like fishing or who would like to learn are invited to check out Operation Take a Vet Fishing. Though the founder of this operation is based in the New York City/Tri-State area and fishes mainly in Long Island Sound and off the New Jersey coast, there are fishermen in other states also getting on board and offering their boats and equipment as well. This offer is open to any active or retired combat veteran who would like to join for a day fishing.
SF schools to teach "witty and devastating portrait of US military history" -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
First JROTC programs are banned from San Francisco schools, and now Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can't Kick Militarism is to be included in the public school curriculum.
Although the book has had significant distribution within the Los Angeles public school system for some time, San Francisco Unified is the first entire district to approve use of the book after a unanimous vote by the Board of Education's Curriculum and Program Committee last fall.
Scary SEAL Stories Hurt Recruiting -- [Strategy Page]
February 19, 2007: The U.S. Navy has found a way to lower the attrition rate (75 percent) of candidates for SEAL training. Having decided to expand the SEAL force, and not getting enough new candidates, the navy established a "prep school" for recruits wanting to become SEALs.
Leadership Traits for Congress -- [The Realist]
What makes an ideal member of Congress? I intend to explore what mix is needed to get the perfect Senator or Representative. For my discussion I will be referring in this post to the official list of Leadership Traits from the Marines. They worked well for me for 22 years. Right up front I admit that I am skeptical of whether a politician really can live up to the lot of these. But in all fairness we expect our Marines to live up to them on a daily basis.
The Wounded are "Combat-Addled" Druggies -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking]
That title offend you much? Well, that's how the Washington Post paints wounded American warfighters. Yesterday they published a story about a run-down facility off the Walter Reed grounds that houses some of the outpatients. I have some thoughts about what can be done to help, but that's a separate post.
Breaking News from MSNBC: Accusations of Poor Conditions at WRAMC -- [Iraq War News]
Breaking on the internet tonight, and hitting the papers tomorrow, is the story of a Washington Post investigation of conditions faced by outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The picture it paints is not a pretty one, to say the least:
Departing NBC Analyst Cites "Retreat From Journalistic Standards" -- [Media Blog]
Retired colonel and NBC News military analyst Ken Allard announced in his San Antonio Express-News column today that he is formally severing his ties to the network, partly because network execs did not fire William Arkin for calling U.S. troops "mercenaries":
Correction: PBS 'Frontline' Producers Contacted MRC For 'News War' -- [NewsBusters]
Last Tuesday, in a blog suggesting the PBS Frontline documentary on 'News War' would be biased, I added: "Suffice it to say PBS has not contacted the news watchers at the MRC." Frontline executive editor Louis Wiley protested that they had. I asked our publicists, and they located an e-mail from April, requesting a 90-minute interview with MRC president Brent Bozell, which was refused. I was not aware of the request, and I was incorrect. Here is the e-mail I received from Wiley of PBS:
Krugman's Infallibility Complex -- [Real Clear Politics]
In the New York Times today, Paul Krugman explains why it's so vitally important to the left - and to him - that Hillary say she was wrong about her vote on the Iraq war...
The Internet Mob Versus the Mass Media -- [Strategy Page]
February 18, 2007: One thing about the Internet is that the increase in speed by which information is spread across the globe. This can cut both ways. Not only can the American debates be spread across the globe, where certain statements can give al Qaeda and its allies encouragement. News of events, as well as al Qaeda's statements, can make its way around the world as well.
Random Tidbits -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
Good Humor:
I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to give thirty bored soldiers super-strength mouse catching glue (the humorous translation from Arabic on the tube is "Magic Power Adhesive") and a box of mousetraps, but it happened. NEWS FLASH: FUNNY, BUT BAD IDEA!
Democrats Mull Alternatives to Iraq War Funding Cut -- [ScrappleFace]
(2007-02-19) — After failing to pass a non-binding resolution condemning a U.S. troop surge in Iraq, Democrats, reluctant to cut funding for the war, are reportedly studying a host of alternatives designed to show that they support the troops yet oppose the commander-in-chief, President George Bush
(Need more? The previous Dawn Patrol is here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Operation Baghdad Update. -- [Iraq the Model -- Iraqis in Iraq]
After being technically in progress for about over a week, Operation Imposing the Law officially started yesterday.
Al-Maliki who's been on a tour in the mid-southern region announced the beginning of the operation from Kerbala. This choice I think delivers two messages; first it looks that Maliki was trying to show that the plan is solid enough and could go on without his immediate supervision and presence in Baghdad and that the military commanders are operating without interference from politicians.
Best Feeling Ever! -- [24 Steps to Liberty - an Iraqi in Iraq]
...Today, the United States announced that it will accept 7,000 Iraqi refugees this year!
It was the best news I’ve heard about Iraq and Iraqis for months now. It is very important that we give hope to Iraqis. And maybe this step will encourage other countries to do the same and welcome Iraqis. Not Arab countries of course because we lost hope in our brothers years ago! We depend on friends now.
Immigration follies -- [Jihad Watch]
Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday had a message for President Bush: any plan to relocate thousands of refugees uprooted by the Iraq war to the U.S. shouldn't include Ohio.
The Bush administration plans to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to settle in the United States over the next year, a huge expansion at a time of mounting international pressure to help millions who have fled their homes in the nearly four-year-old war.
...Strickland, a Democrat who opposed the war as a U.S. House member, said Ohioans cannot be expected to have open arms for Iraqis displaced by the war. More than 100 Ohioans have been killed since the war began.
Iraqis, Wolfhounds build relationship to achieve success -- [MNF-I]
HAWIJA — When they arrived six months ago, they knew success in their area of operation would hinge on integrating Iraq’s tribal culture. For centuries, tribal sheiks have influenced the social, economic and political landscape of the predominantly Arab southern portion of the Kirkuk Province.
"But again, it's a cultural thing, and it's going to take some time:"
Analysis of the Fallujah MiTT Mission and an Interview with a MiTT Commander -- [INDC Journal - in Iraq]
The story of the Military Transition Team (MiTT) mission in Fallujah is a fairly positive one tempered by significant negatives. Many of the Iraqi Army units that the MiTTs work with are considered reasonably competent and brave, and - in contrast to most of the Iraqi police - the IA's are currently on the offensive against the insurgency.
Soldier survives sniper scare, still serving -- [MNF-I]
CAMP LIBERTY — The life of one paratrooper was forever changed Sept. 2, 2006. A 7.62mm round from a sniper’s rifle found its mark and struck the 20 year-old.
Unlike other stories of fallen heroes, the story of Pfc. Andrew Woods continues to unfold. Today the saw gunner carries on despite the life-threatening wound he received just over six months ago – he has made a full recovery.
Now on his second tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Woods is assigned to 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, attached to 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div., which is securing the city streets of Baghdad.
E-Mail from Tazz, Airman in Iraq -- [Rush Limbaugh]
I am scratching my head here. None of this makes any sense...but I wonder what you think about all of this...
The national news media shows lots of our American servicemen and women dying over there in Iraq and getting killed, helicopters being shot down, roadside bombs going off...etc...etc. Yet, when you are there, when you work with Americans and Iraqis who are actively engaged in re-building the country, who are out going after the enemy...there’s this ever-present sense of optimism, this prevailing upbeat mood of doing good. Just go talk to the wounded servicemen at Brooks or Bethesda.
...Rush, there’s an upbeat mood out there in Iraq. The country and its new democracy are moving forward. And the enemy hates it.
Abu Ayuuab al-Masri Still At Large. "No DNA Match" -- [Intel Officer - Pajamas Media]
Media reports that the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq was captured today are false, our sources in the intelligence community tell us. Don’t believe al Arabiya, Associated Press or Reuters, at least not yet.
The new head of Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which controls the nation’s intelligence and police forces, apparently “jumped the gun.”
Good News Bad News -- [Jules Crittenden]
Good news from Iraq: al-Zarqawi’s replacement wounded and a top aide killed, Iraqi officials say. No confirmation, no word on how they know, though, and PJM with more detail on the raid says there was no capture and questions whether he was wounded. Well, if he was, I hope it hurts!
Good News from Iraq and Afghanistan 5: Rebuilding Basra. -- [Crumbling Spires - from UK]
Continuing the occasional series of stories unlikely to be found the mainstream media.
In Iraq, the Yorkshire Regiment is in Shit Street, literally. Az Aubayr is the second largest town in Basra province and it has a sewage problem. On one particular road patrolled by the regiment, the tarmac is hidden under a layer of the brown stuff. What else would the army call it?
Iraqi Police train to lead, protect -- [Centcom]
Iraqi Policemen from the Babil and Karbala provinces took a big step on the journey towards Provincial Iraqi Control on Feb. 10.
The Iraqi Police stations across the Babil and Karbala provinces sent 20 dedicated, experienced officers to the forward operating base to attend the Iraqi police sustainment training program. After 10 days, the officers graduated the course having gained valuable knowledge to provide advanced instruction to fellow officers at their home stations.
AFGHANISTAN: MILITANT VIDEO SHOWS 'OCCUPATION' OF US MILITARY BASE -- (AKI) Video Here
Kabul, 16 Feb. - A video purportedly produced by al-Qaeda has appeared on the internet with the claim that it shows the conquest by Taliban and al-Qaeda militants of a US military base in southern Afghanistan. The images show what an Arabic-speaking narrator says is the preparation and execution of the attack on the base situated in Arghandab in the southern Zabul province. Footage allegedly shot before the attack from a clifftop overlooking the base are followed by post-battle images of victorious Islamist militants entering the base and destroying vehicles that, according to the narrator, were abandoned by the fleeing Americans.
UPDATE:
Al Qaeda Attack Video Appears to Be Staged -- [The Blotter]
An al Qaeda-produced video claiming to show how U.S. and Afghan forces were driven out of a heavily defended base in the last few weeks appears to be a phony.
President Bush Outlines Strategy for Afghanistan -- [GX Online]
Success against terrorism in Afghanistan is important to U.S. security, and the administration has key areas it will be working on to improve the situation there, President Bush said here today.
In an address to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research Bush said action in Afghanistan will include strengthening NATO forces and bolstering local governments.
Preparing for the Spring Offensive -- [Strategy Page]
An American paratroop brigade, that was headed for Iraq, has been ordered to Afghanistan instead. That would put two U.S. combat brigades in Afghanistan, rather than the usual one. Various special troops, including Special Forces, give the U.S. the equivalent of another combat brigade. There are 27,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and the additional brigade will increase that to 30,000.
News of Afghanistan ۴۷ -- [Miserable Donuts]
Ah, the past weekend reminds me of what one of my favorite interpreter's father would say... "Snow in the mountains is better than gold in the bank." As, I do not have any farmland along the Panjshir River, he may have my allotment of snow.
Don't Mess With the Bride Price -- [Strategy Page]
In Afghanistan, the Taliban's "war on schooling for girls" has been running into resistance from many tribes. There are a number of reasons why these otherwise religiously conservative, tradition-bound tribesmen have decided to resist the Taliban's efforts to curb education for girls.
Letter from the Afghan Front -- [Strategy Page]
...We employ several thousand Afghans on our various bases. Not to mention the economy that is fed by the money these locals are making.
Some are laborers and builders, but some are skilled workers. We even have one Afghan that just became OSHA qualified, the first ever. Some are skilled HVAC workers.
Anyway, there is this one Afghan that we call Rambo. We have actually given him a couple of sets of the new ACU uniforms (the new Army digital camouflage) with the name tag RAMBO on it. His entire family was killed by the Taliban and his home was where our base currently resides.
BUSTING AT THE SEAMS -- [CAPT Matt Smenos - The SandBox - in Afghanistan]
It used to be the remoteness of it all. The lean, Spartan efficiency of a "Forward Operating Base" made us uncomfortable. In July of 2006, when we first arrived in Sharana, my team of Airmen and I couldn't believe how little there was here. Our huts were simple, four-walled boxes. The occasional dividing wall or curtain within was seen as a decadent extravagance and spurred jealousy and vandalism.
New York Army National Guard Responds to Excessive Snowfall -- [GX Online]
Approximately 100 Citizen Soldiers and 40 vehicles responded from hometown armories and assembled in Central New York to begin support operations for the Oswego County Emergency Operations Center in advance of a snowstorm expected to add more than two feet of snow to a region already recovering from nearly 10 feet of lake-effect snowfall over the past week.
Tribal Rebellion in the East Gets Nasty -- [Strategy Page]
Iran has instigated an arms race in the Persian Gulf. The Arab nations across the water have placed orders for more than $100 billion in weapons, mainly from the U.S., Europe and Russia. This is several times what Iran can afford to buy. While Iran has a greater population, and military tradition, the clerics running the country for the last two decades have trashed the economy with corruption and mismanagement.
Geopolitical Diary: Putin's Strategic Reshuffle -- [Stratfor]
Russian President Vladimir Putin reshuffled his Cabinet on Thursday. Though some of his personnel selections might seem unorthodox, Putin is aptly maneuvering people extremely loyal to him into positions of power.
New "Martyr" Stories From Al-Qaida's Network in Iraq -- [Globalterroralert.com]
Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" and its supporters have distributed a new series of biographies detailing the lives of prominent fighters who have been killed while fighting U.S. and Iraqi government forces over the past three years. The stories include the history of two young mujahideen recruits from Sudan, one of whom was a member of Al-Qaida's feared Al-Baraa bin Malik suicide brigade and likewise a former online subscriber to the notorious Muntada al-Ansar Internet forum. ...
How Austria Supports Terrorists -- [Strategy Page]
The United States has captured nearly a hundred Austrian (Steyr-Mannlicher) HS50 12.7mm (.50 caliber) sniper rifles in Iraq. These rifles were part of a shipment of 800 sold to the Iran national police in 2005, at a cost of some $20,000 each. The Austrians believed that the Iranians wanted the rifles for use against Afghan and Pakistani drug smugglers. The United States saw the weapons as eventually being used against
Saudi Petition Calling for Reforms Issued by Islamists who Support Terrorism -- [MEMRI]
A petition addressed to King Abdullah bin Abd Al-Aziz was published on February 2, 2007 demanding economic, social, and political reforms in the country. [1] The 19 signatories stated that the success of reforms in Saudi Arabia depends on involving the public in decision-making by establishing a parliament through free elections, on ensuring just distribution of resources and on fighting poverty.
Supporting the Troops -- [Andrew Olmsted]
I know I'll never convince anyone about this, but I'll point it out anyhow: today's example of what I expect to see more and more of over the coming months, people who never did like the troops and are no longer afraid to say so.
Professor(?) June Scorza Terpstra asks can we really support these troops? The answer, to her, is a clear no.
H&I Fires -- [Castle Argghhh!]
Two views on something you should get out your stress relief referee doll for.
One from Murdoc.
The other from Jason at COUNTERCOLUMN.
How do we define "Support"? -- [A Proud Infidel - in Iraq]
Reminiscent of Bill Clinton's "What is is" Word Game, it appears that Congress has decided to take a page from the Clinton playbook and now, in a much more defiant and detrimental move, are playing with the word "support".
Making Life Tough for Snipers -- [Strategy Page]
...Ambush has long been the favorite form of combat, but these gunshot detectors make it more difficult for the most deadly type of ambush, the sniper, to succeed. Not every combat unit going on patrol is going to take a gunshot detector with them. But if troops are going somewhere that is a known hangout for snipers, than the detector is good to have along.
When Ambushing Recruiters Backfires -- [Army Lawyer]
Radar Online (don’t worry, you’ve never read it) has an article documenting a “prank” on military recruiters ostensibly to find out how desperate they are for recruits. The article includes purported transcripts of phone calls between the prospective “recruit” and the recruiter. The “recruit” pretends to be a variety of people, from the fashion-conscious-maybe-gay guy to the to a guy with lots of odd health-issues.
Dems Find Way to Block Surge -- [Military.com]
Murtha is preparing legislation that would set strict conditions on combat deployments, including a year rest between combat tours; ultimately, the measure would make it impossible for Bush to maintain his planned deployment of a total of about 160,000 troops for months on end.
The Cat's Out of the Bag -- [Dean Barnett - Hugh Hewitt]
This story deserves more attention than it’s gotten, so I’m going to give it some.
The eagle-eyed NZ Bear while running the show at the Victory Caucus noticed a strange little blurb on the website of MoveCongress.org. MoveCongress.org, for those of you fortunate enough to be unfamiliar with the group, boasts on its masthead that it wants to “Move Congress to End the War in Iraq.” This morning, the group was scheduled to be blessed with an exclusive briefing from Jack ...
De-legitimizing the Troops -- [The American Thinker]
It is no coincidence that NBC reporter Richard Engle, who has long offered slanted reporting from Iraq to portray American actions in the worst possible way, and Bill Arkin of NBC and the Washington Post have made recent ‘gaffs' in their reporting.
The House of Murtha by Anne Flaherty (redacted version) -- [Roger Simon]
Anne Flaherty of the AP fervently kisses the feet of John Murtha in her idolatrous news reporting today"Murtha Moves to Forefront of Iraq Debate." I doubt who John Murtha really is slipped her mind (even though it isn't in the article), but I will remind her. John Murtha is a creepy, corrupt politician who escaped an Abscam indictment by testifying against his peers:
Less Than 10% Is A 'Broad Swath'? -- [Captain's Quarters]
The Washington Post needs better headline writers. Today's story on Republican defections to the anti-surge resolution in the House implies that a massive revolt has taken place in the GOP over the war. Instead, we find out that around 6.5% of the caucus will vote with the Democrats:
Broad Swath of GOP Defecting on Iraq Vote
...Thirteen seats among 200+ does not a "broad swath" make. It's newsworthy, but the group still comprises a small minority in the Republican caucus.
NBC Military Analyst Quits Network, Citing Left-wing Bias -- [NewsBusters]
NBC military analyst Ken Allard, a former army colonel, has resigned from the network, citing a general drift to the left at MSM outlet, especially following NBC's inaction over scurrilous remarks made by one of its other analysts, a leftist named Bill Arkin, that implied the military was full of "mercenaries" raking in "obscene amenities."
WaPo's Priest on the Press and Military Secrecy -- [Media Blog]
During a livechat today, the Washington Post's Dana Priest took a question about whether the media would alert us to impending hostilities against Iran:
The Jamil Hussein Name Game -- Iraqi General Weighs In -- [Pajamas Media]
What’s in a name? When it comes to one that starts “Jamil Hussein,” and involves the credibility of the Associated Press, quite a bit. From “Is AP Iraq source Jamil Hussein for real?” the story has morphed into “Who, exactly, is the source and what is his real name.?” Blogger Bob Owens of Confederate Yankee has been bulldogging this story from his sources in Iraq. Here’s his latest update in this game of “Now we name him. Now we don’t.”
Al Franken Announces He Was Once a Comedian -- [ScrappleFace]
Former liberal radio host Al Franken, in announcing his candidacy for the U.S. senate in Minnesota, yesterday shocked his potential constituents by revealing that he was once a comedian.
Al Franken announces a run for the Senate: a Transcript -- [Doug Ross @ Journal]
Hi, I’m Al Franken. I'm running for the United States Senate here in Minnesota. I'd like to talk to you about why I'm running.
A jab -- [chic[k]pilot]
At some of my favorite grunts...
You know I love you guys. Someday you'll love me too when you're calling me in for that air strike...
Iraq, Afghanistan, War, Terrorism, Military, Politics, Media, MilBlogs, Dawn_Patrol
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Iraqi troop levels pass key test -- [UPI]
BAGHDAD -- Iraqi troops have passed a key test by showing up at 70 percent strength or better for President Bush's "surge" in Baghdad, a senior U.S. general said.
"This movement of these three brigades and two separate battalions into Baghdad to our way of looking at it has gone very well," Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, said in an interview.
Iraqi Army Captures Weapons Supplier -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Special Iraqi Army Forces captured a suspected weapons supplier and financier of sectarian violence conducted by rogue Jaysh Al Mahdi cells. The capture occurred during operations with Coalition advisers Feb. 13 in Raminiya, in northern Baghdad.
Iraqi Army Captures Members of Kidnapping, Murder Cell -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Special Iraqi Army Forces captured an alleged member of a rogue Jaysh Al-Mahdi militia during operations with Coalition advisers Feb. 13 in northern Baghdad. The suspects are believed responsible for kidnapping, torture and murder of Iraqi citizens and security forces in the area.
Iraqi Army detains 10 after receiving small arms fire -- [MNF-I]
KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi Army troops working with Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers detained 10 insurgents northeast of Al Haswah, Iraq, Sunday.
Soldiers or 2nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division working with Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment detained the suspects after coming under small arms fire near the village of Ubaydah. There were no casualties in the incident.
The suspects are being held for further questioning by Iraqi security forces.
Al Qaeda network targeted; 27 suspected terrorists detained -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces detained 27 suspected terrorists during a series of coordinated raids targeting the al-Qaeda in Iraq network Wednesday morning.
CCCI convicts 13 insurgents -- [MNF-I]
One sentenced to death, one sentenced to 15 years imprisonment
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 13 terrorists from Feb. 2 - 10, for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons, possessing fake identification, violating terrorism laws and illegal border crossing.
Iraqi Army, 2-7 Cavalry take down insurgent operation; solve murder, uncover large weapons cache -- [MNF-I]
MOSUL – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division and A Co., 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, raided several buildings in northeast Mosul on Feb. 9 in response to intelligence received about a possible weapons cache.
2-7 Cavalry Soldiers arrived on site and began receiving small-arms fire from the upper floor of an adjacent mosque.
They managed to suppress the fire while the IA soldiers investigated. No additional fire was reported and the 2-7 troops continued their mission.
MUST SEE!... Amazing Iraqi "No Terror" Campaign Ad -- [Gateway Pundit]
You don't need to speak Arabic to understand this video...
This is an amazing anti-terrorism ad running on Iraqi television!
The Battle for Baghdad Begins -- [Strategy Page]
February 15, 2007: How are the bad guys doing in Iraq? The Iraqi media is full of information on what the various Sunni, Shia and Kurdish factions are up to. Lots of the reporting is speculation, but a lot of it is not. If you've been following the action long enough, you can pick out the accurate stories. And the talk on the street and in the shops is also pretty dependable.
Duke In Iraq - Soul Scrape -- [Broken Masterpieces]
Side by side, there is a soldier who was blown up by an IED and next to him is a terrorist who was found setting the IED and was blown up by a rocket or missile fired by those trying to protect and give freedom to the fledgling Iraqi nation. How do these doctors deal with this, well part is summed up by a quote from Abraham Lincoln that is written on the plywood wall of the tent where the surgeons rest between cases. “With Malice toward none, with charity for all…..let us strive….to care for him who shall have bore the battle.”
Ramadi Video from 1/506th: "God's Gonna Cut You Down" -- [Michael Fumento]
Spc. Andy Johnson from A. Co., 1/506th, 101st Airborne sent me this video montage he put together from his vacation at Camp Corregidor this past year. It includes a couple of video clips of mine and some other good action shots - though I think he should have included this great clip of an F-18 ground attack. Among the most interesting is footage of a Humvee he and two others from his platoon were in when the back end was hit by an RPG-7. It knocked the whole back off and nobody inside suffered more than a bad case of nerves. Best of all, it's not set to heavy metal music - which I cannot stand - but rather a nice tune from The Man in Black
Missiles, Snipers Add to Insurgency's Arsenal, reports the Jamestown Foundation -- [On Point]
IEDs, land mines, and suicide bombs are not the only threats to U.S. forces in Iraq. Americans are also facing a growing arsenal of advanced weaponry and highly trained snipers. In their weekly newsletter "Terrorism Focus", the Jamestown Foundation reports that jihadist websites claim to have acquired a new generation of anti-aircraft missiles. Possession of this missle, the article says, has enabled insurgents to target helicopters with greater precision and...
Baghdad Tide -- [Sgt Hook]
While the debate continues in D.C., your Soldiers and Marines are tightening up their bootstraps while cinching down their chinstraps and taking to the streets of Baghdad. The “surge” is underway, but don’t be fooled by the terminology, this is a tactical maneuver aimed at turning the tide in Baghdad, permanently, and not a tidal wave flooding the streets initially, and then washing away. Our forces along with the Iraqi military intend to not only take back the streets, but keep them. Though some have seen the rising waters and taken to high ground, others appreciate what the changing tide brings.
CASH, A LATTE, AND A HAIRCUT -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
...I cross a small footbridge and find my self in a field of connex containers. This is also were we stage the logistic patrols before they leave. It is a field of mud, or more accurately drying mud. Some parts are still soft and pliable, other parts have dried and begun to harden. The large wheels and tracked vehicles have created peaks and valleys in an ostensibly flat piece of ground. It will be fascinating to watch as the moisture departs. The mud changes to hardened clods of dirt, which will evolve into a concrete like substance, only to have the last bit of binder finally leave through the process of evaporation and return the individual particles to moon dust and a flat surface.
Time on the road.... -- [SPC, 1st Platoon, 1016th - in Iraq]
Freedom, that is what I think of when I’m told that I’m on the next convoy. Not the freedom of Iraq, but of the road. Most every summer when I was growing up, my Mom, sisters and I would take a road trip to Meaker, Colorado from wherever we were living at the time. It was time to spend with my mom, uninterrupted by a phone call asking her to take on anther shift. Now the sounds of the road just seem to clear my mind. I love the hum of tires on the asphalt, the growl of the engine, and the whistle of the wind passing by. Even here, where you are looking at the side of the road for things that might blow-up, it is more relaxing than doing the little jobs that need to be done in the motor pool.
B-1 Bomber Seen Over Baghdad -- [Pajamas Media]
PJM Baghdad editor Omar Fadhil reports via IM seeing a USAF B-1 bomber patrolling the skies over Baghdad in daylight. The bomber circled the city for about 75 minutes between 4 and 6 PM Baghdad time. The altitude was estimated to be between 3 and 4 kilometers above the city. As far as is known B-1 bombers have not been flown over Baghdad since the shooting phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
NATO Under Attack From Within -- [Afghanistan Watch]
NATO's top commander warned yesterday that alliance members were endangering the lives of British, Dutch, Canadian and American soldiers by failing to provide reinforcements for Afghanistan before an expected Taliban offensive.
Parents Take Up Arms Against the Taliban -- [Strategy Page]
Terrorists have to be careful that they don't do something that will enrage, rather than terrify. A recent example of this can be found in Afghanistan, where the Taliban attempt, to terrorize Afghans into shutting down secular schools, backfired. Last year in southern Afghanistan, the Taliban burned down 200 schools, and terrorized parents into shutting down another 400.
The NATO Winter Offensive in Afghanistan -- [The Fourth Rail]
NATO doesn't wait for the Taliban's spring offensive as the Taliban attempts to seize Heland province, launches Operation Kryptonite
NATO forces and the Taliban aren't waiting for the snows to melt in the mountain passes, and are battling it out in the southern province of Helmand. The Taliban openly assaulted the town of Musa Qala in late January, a region the British ceded over to the Taliban in November, and is said to be reinforcing battle positions by "digging trenches and laying mines".
ROK Drop Recognized by Oh My News -- [GI Korea]
This was unexpected, via the Marmot, I found out that Oh My News wrote an article about the English language Korea blogs. Most of the article was about the Marmot’s Hole and the former Korea Life Blog, but some of the other Korea based bloggers were mentioned in the article.
Another Day in "Paradise" -- [Soldier of Africa - in Africa]
"I have been in Darfur long enough now. Time to go home." That is the attitude of most guys who have been here for more than eight months. For most of us it is a matter of getting the days over. I also hope that the UN takes over this mission sooner rather than later. The presence of the AU has probably prevented genocide from continuing,
How Microsoft Vista Helps Terrorists -- [Strategy Page]
Laptop computers are a major asset in the war on terror. Not because our troops use them, which they do in large quantities, but because the enemy uses them as well. Terrorist organizations have records, use email and are constantly on the go. Thus a laptop is an excellent terrorist tool. At the same time, your average terrorist has not had a lot of formal training in what he is doing. That sort of specialized training is particularly useful when it comes to keeping data on a laptop secret.
American al Qaeda Traitor & Blogger Arrested in Texas -- [Jawa Report]
Daniel Maldonado (aka, "ABU MOHAMMED"; aka "Daniel Aljughaifi"), a native born American who converted to Islam, went to Somalia following the call to jihad to fight for the African Taliban. Maldanado was born in Massachusetts, but presently lives in Houston Texas (specifically at 9888 United Drive, Apartment #2207---so, he may be your neighbor). Why was he fighting in Somalia? Because he wanted to practice "true Islam".
Speech by Al-Zawahiri Titled "Tremendous Lessons and Events in the Year 1427 AH" -- [The MEMRI Blog]
Islamist websites posted the transcript of Ayman Al-Zawihiri's audio speech summarizing the events of the Muslim year 1427 under the title "Tremendous Lessons and Events in the Year 1427 AH." In addition to the Arabic transcript, an English transcript produced by Al-Qaeda's "Al-Sahab" media group was provided.
The Pakistan Taliban -- [Jonathan Winer - Counterterrorism Blog]
The recent spate of suicide bombings in Pakistan are just one troubling aspect of what some are now terming "the Pakistan Taliban," a force that is exercising increasing influence throughout the country, and which by some accounts now controls North and South Waziristan.
Denver Volunteers Form Giant Valentine For Troops -- [cbs4denver.com]
An estimated 1,000 volunteers formed a human Valentine heart at Invesco Field at Mile High on Wednesday as part of a local radio station's plan to show support for American troops serving overseas.
Society's Standards, Not Military's, in Decline -- [SPY THE NEWS!]
It wasn’t enough for John Kerry to insult the intellectual capacity of the soldiers in Iraq. Congressman Marty Meehan, D-MA, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, has now added “criminals” to the list of derogatory terms used by Democrats to describe our troops. That is what passes as support for the armed services in the new Congress. Rather than praise the military for giving some who have made mistakes the chance to improve their skills and future employment prospects, Congressman Meehan puts a negative spin to recently published Pentagon recruiting statistics and warns that the military is filled with criminals.
Disgusting. -- [Hot Air]
Top House Democrats, working in concert with anti-war groups, have decided against using congressional power to force a quick end to U.S. involvement in Iraq, and instead will pursue a slow-bleed strategy designed to gradually limit the administration’s options.
If they do what they’re apparently planning to do, “slow bleed” will be a very apt description. Those doing the bleeding, slowly, will be US troops.
Troops on the Resolution -- [YouTube]
“Fortunately for us, they don’t watch C-Span and what silly politicians do.” – Jack Kingston
“I was born and raised a Democrat, but when I see that, it just … makes me sad.” – First Sgt Louis Barnum
Bush Calls Claims of Manufactured Evidence "Preposterous" -- [Media Blog]
UPDATE: VIDEO ADDED He also mocked NBC's David Gregory, who (probably under orders from Chris Matthews) had just asked him if he was trying to gin up a pretext for war with Iran:
War on the Press? -- [Media Blog]
Jack Shafer watched the first installment of Frontline's "News War" and has this to say about the notion that the Bush administration is "at war" with the press:
Blogs are CentCom's new target -- [SP Times]
TAMPA - It begins almost imperceptibly, one lonely posting on a blog. It says that U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan use candy to lure children so they can be used as human shields.
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Video: American Soldier Held Hostage in Iraq Alive -- [Jawa Report]
A video posted on a Shiite Islamist website has emerged of an American soldier being held hostage, Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie. The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the video. It is posted below.
Badgers Down: Starting to Move Forward -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
...One of my Soldiers asked rhetorically, "How do you honor men that were always laughing and smiling? You smile and then you laugh. And that is what we started to do again today.
Iraqi Embassy Reopens in Riyadh -- [Jawa Report]
Diplomatic relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia were severed in 1990 when Saddam invaded Kuwait. Effective today, formal ties are resumed.
Iraqi Police, U.S. Soldiers secure city -- [Centcom]
It is a day much like any other for the U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi Police in Samarra. They unload from their vehicles and spread out, Iraqis and Americans intermingling ranks as they work together to patrol neighborhood streets.
The increasing levels of proficiency Iraqi Police demonstrate gives confidence to Soldiers at Patrol Base Olson, who work closely with IP to maintain security in the city.
Progress in Iraq -- [A Second Hand Conjecture]
In a previous post I pondered if Congress bothers reading the progress reports and benchmarks that the Defense Department already produces. Since I have long distrusted the mainstream media, and politicians in general, the internet has consistently been the conduit for information regarding the war and conditions in Iraq. Now, some also say we should distrust any reports coming from the government to, in which case, I say, great, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about global warming is there…
Iraqis “get answers” from Civil Affairs Marines in Al Anbar -- [Marine Corps News]
...Citizens from this western Al Anbar city come to the U.S. Marines of the Virginia-based 4th Civil Affairs Group (CAG) seeking answers for their many questions. Whether the CAG Marines were able to accommodate all the requests or not, they have built a strong rapport with the local population in the four months since their arrival through their tireless effort to help, according to Capt. William Parker, the CAG team leader.
Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines search “smugglers town”[Marine Corps News]
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq -- While the rest of the battalion is miles away, Marines from Company C are working a “smugglers town” in western Iraq.
Muqtada al-Sadr left Iraq, in Iran -- [The Fourth Rail]
Under pressure, the leader of the Mahdi Army fled to Iran
Muqtada al-Sadr, the radical Iranian backed leader of the Jaish al-Mahdi, or Mahdi Army, left Iraq several weeks ago and is staying with 'family' inside Iran, according to an ABC News report. Military officials told ABC News Sadr is said to have left Iraq just prior to the deployment of U.S. forces, and feared being targeted by U.S. Air Force.
High-Powered Austrian Rifles Found in Iraq -- [Davids Medienkritik]
Just another reason for the Americans to thank the European "friends" in the Austrian government. High-powered 50 caliber rifles sold to Iran "to fight drug smugglers" by the Austrian firm Steyr-Mannlicher are now killing US troops in Iraq, and the Austrian government expressly approved the sale in 2005 despite U.S. protests, describing the deal as "unimpeachable":
Maybe if they Look and Talk like Americans... -- [Michael Ledeen - Faster, Please!]
Remember the kidnapping and subsequent murder of five Americans in Najaf not so long ago? Everyone was impressed that the terrorists had found blond guys to looked and sounded like Americans to beat the security system at an Iraqi stronghold. I kept asking myself, well, what if they were really Americans?
So this little note from the Houston Chronicle caught my eye...
MOCHA CHOCOLATE SALVATION -- [SGT Roy Batty -- The Sandbox - in Iraq]
...Year-long deployments into combat zones are not conducive to healthy marriages. We do better than most, and have been luckier than some. There are friends of mine, here on this deployment, who have been home with their families for 18 months out of the past four years, due to almost constant rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is my first tour -- well, I should say our first deployment, since it affects us both, in equal yet different ways. She has to deal with my close encounters with car bombs, snipers and IEDs.
Time on the road.... -- [SPC, 1st Platoon, 1016th -- in Iraq]
Freedom, that is what I think of when I’m told that I’m on the next convoy. Not the freedom of Iraq, but of the road. Most every summer when I was growing up, my Mom, sisters and I would take a road trip to Meaker, Colorado from wherever we were living at the time. It was time to spend with my mom, uninterrupted by a phone call asking her to take on anther shift. Now the sounds of the road just seem to clear my mind. I love the hum of tires on the asphalt, the growl of the engine, and the whistle of the wind passing by. Even here,
Taliban flee battle using children as shields: NATO -- (Reuters)
Taliban fighters used children as human shields to flee heavy fighting this week during an operation by foreign and Afghan forces to clear rebels from around a key hydro-electric dam, NATO said on Wednesday.
MOUNTAIN FURY -- [1SG Troy Steward - The Sandbox - in Afghanistan]
Day 6 of Operation Mountain Fury started with a good breakfast shared with my ANA brothers. The half of Recon Company we have here is doing a really good job, and the 10th Mountain boys really like them and say they are the best ANA they have ever worked with. Face and I drank coffee while the ANA drank chai tea. I ate some oatmeal along with some Afghan sweetbread -- we'd picked up some sweetbread the other day while at the bazaar, and it is good stuff in the morning with coffee.
Ex-CIA Contractor Gets 8 Years For Afghan Prisoner Abuse -- [Radio Free Afghanistan]
RALEIGH, U.S.A.; February 14, 2007 -- An American man has been sentenced to more than eight years in U.S. prison for assaulting a prisoner in Afghanistan, who later died.
The Fuzz! -- [Task Force Phoenix 5 - in Afghanistan]
Well on Sunday we had our 10th Med Cap for the Police Officers and the family members of Afghan Police Dept. 9 here in Kabul. We also took out a lot of clothing and shoes but that turned out to be a little disappointing. I guess this was possibly one of our worst ones. We had WAY to many (military) people there that we like to call “strap hangers” they go somewhere just to be there, they serve no real purpose besides getting in the way.
General: Afghanistan forces inadequate -- [Airforce Times]
NATO’s top commander renewed an appeal Tuesday for allies to fill gaps in the international military force in Afghanistan, warning that failure to send reinforcements was weakening the mission and jeopardizing the lives of soldiers fighting the Taliban.
The Europeans Win Some -- [Strategy Page]
European opposition to American efforts in Iraq is expressed in many little ways. For example, American transports flying badly wounded U.S. troops back to the United States, often ask European air controllers for a more direct flight path through European air space. This is in order to get the wounded soldier or marine to the American hospital more quickly. This is particularly useful when the aircraft have been turned into a flying ECU (Emergency Care Unit), and doctors are actually treating the seriously wounded in flight. The European air controllers rarely allow the direct flight.
Writing Now on Wall for Handling of Iranian Assets -- [Jonathan Winer - Counterterrorism Blog]
Today's announcement by the EU that it will be adopting wider economic sanctions against Iran contains limits, caveats, deferrals, and safe harbors -- all the kinds of things one would come to expect from an economic union that has continued to do lots of business with Iran throughout the period of U.S. sanctions.
Death Squads and Roadside Bombs -- [Strategy Page]
February 14, 2007: Increasingly, Moslems are the ones being shot dead by unknown gunmen in the south. There are also increasing use of roadside bombs against soldiers and police, who patrol regularly in vehicles. Some of the attacks on Moslems are by Islamic terrorists, trying to keep Moslems from cooperating with the police.
GSPC (now "Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb") Claims "Battle of Shaykh Abul Baraa Ahmad" -- [Evan Kohlmann - Counterterrorism Blog]
Yesterday, the Algerian Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat (GSPC)--now known as "Al-Qaida's Committee in the Islamic Maghreb"--claimed responsibility for a series of six car bomb attacks targeting "apostate police stations" in Tizi Ouazu and Boumerdas, "destroying 5 fortresses for the apostates, in addition to killing and wounding more than 140 of them."
A Soldier Needs Your Help -- [Andi's World]
Yesterday, Becky Davis posted a disturbing story of an OIF veteran who was stabbed in his front yard and who is now "fighting for his life."
Soldiers' Angels Operation Outreach -- [Soldiers' Angels]
Supporting the Families of Deployed Heroes
The purpose of Operation Outreach is to offer support to military families at home. We have had many requests from our Heroes asking for items not for themselves, but for their families at home. Deployment isn't just hard on a Hero, it's extraordinarily difficult for their family as well.
From Alabama With Love -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Prior to her visit to Germany last year, Soldiers' Angel Bonnie initiated efforts to involve members of her church in supporting our fighting men and women. Since then, the Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur, AL has allowed Bonnie to set up boxes to collect items for care packages for deployed Soldiers and the wounded, and "work parties" are held to pack the items for shipment.
Unreported Gifts -- [Strategy Page]
Theme park operator (and beer brewer) Anheuser-Busch will allow active-duty members (including reservists on active duty) of the U.S. armed forces to use Busch's SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Williamsburg; Sesame Place; Water Country USA; and Adventure Island, theme parks for free, for one day, any time during the rest of the year.
Local Marine Saves Wreck Victim -- [Banter in Atlanter]
[...“Me and another fellow pried the door back and got her on my shoulder and went marching up the hill and got her across the street,” Sawyer siad.
Rules of Engagement and Pre-Theoretical Commitments -- [Captain's Journal]
..So that we don’t remain in the realm of the incomprehensible to most people, let’s tackle a couple of examples, the first coming from my sniper coverage. There has been an evolution even during OIF in how the sniper threat is treated when potential non-combatants are in the vicinity. The first example comes from Camp Habbaniyah and Lt. Col. Desgrosseilliers’ Battalion after it had sustained a sniper attack.
Land Warrior Died For Our Sins -- [Strategy Page]
February 14, 2007: After ten years of effort, and about $500 million, the U.S. Army is halting its Land Warrior program. Well, sort of. A lot of this futuristic gear for infantrymen is already out there. The Land Warrior program included a lot of technology that still isn't ready for prime time
My Two Cents: The Gathering Storm -- [Iraq War News]
The Left's ever-echoing refrain about the November 2006 elections is that America voted for change - a new direction. I'm not convinced that America, as a whole, voted for anything. Rather, America showed an alarming amount of apathy. In an election that was excruciatingly important - not just with regard to Iraq, but to the future of this country. 2006 voter turnout was approximately 40%. Forty percent of America gave a hoot. Sixty percent simply abdicated their choice - their freedom to have a choice.
Time to Fix the Great American Failure -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
The Washington press corps has discovered the war -- the self-defeating tug of war between the Pentagon and virtually every other Washington government agency.
Right-Wing Attack Puts Bloggers' Lives in Danger -- [Catholic Church -- Huffington Post]
The ramifications of Bill Donohue and the Catholic League's reckless rhetoric has materialized in the form of death threats to bloggers Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan. This is what happens when the ultra-right wing is given the megaphone of mainstream media. It is also a complete break down in the responsibility that the media has in vetting those who are given a platform to spread a message.
Apology Botched -- [Jules Crittenden - journalist]
You know, I’m seeing everywhere news reports that insist Obama fell over himself to apologize, twice, for describing as “wasted” the lives of U.S. soldiers killed in combat to free an oppressed people and make the world a safer place.
But I have yet to see a news report that includes an actual apology. He expresses “regret” that he had “misspoken” and experienced a “slip of the tongue.”
Deconstructionism In Action: Obama "Restructures" Remarks On Dead Soldiers -- [The Astute Blogger]
BOTTOM-LINE: THE LIVES OF THE TROOPS WHO DIED IN IRAQ WERE NOT WASTED. OBAMA'S LIFE IS A WASTE - IF NOT OBAMA'S LIFE, THEN A LEAST HIS INTELLIGENCE AND LOQUACITY.
ABC Showcases Take from Soldiers in Iraq on Anti-Surge Resolution: 'Sick' & 'Treason' -- [Newsbusters]
Of the broadcast network evening newscast stories Tuesday night on the House debate over the non-binding resolution that “disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush...to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq,” only ABC’s Jake Tapper included the views of soldiers in Iraq. Tapper's report on World News featured soundbites from two Army Sergeants in Ramadi, and both condemned the resolution. First Sergeant Louis Barnum declared: “It makes me sick. I was born and raised a Democrat, but when I see that it just kind of makes me sad.” Sergeant Brian Orzechoski went even further: “I don't want to bad-mouth the President at all. I mean, to me it's treason.”
The most idiotic sentence ever to appear in a New York Times editorial -- [TigerHawk]
Admittedly, that sounds like the title of a goofy blog contest. If there were such a contest, surely the first sentence in today's lead editorial would be a candidate:
Before things get any more out of hand, President Bush needs to make his intentions toward Iran clear.
Pentagon Sued Over Milblog-Monitoring -- [Defense Tech]
The digital rights crusaders over at the Electronic Frontier Foundation are suing the Department of Defense, "demanding expedited information on how the Army monitors soldiers' blogs," according to an EFF statement.
EFF filed its suit after the Department of Defense and Army failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests about the blog monitoring program...
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Muslims say God bless America (MUST SEE) -- [You Tube]
Baghdad bombings, al-Qaeda and the insurgency -- [Bill Roggio - The Fourth Rail]
The National Intelligence Estimate gets it wrong
A map of the Sunni Islamic State from an al-Qaeda video. Image from MEMRI.
A pair of bombs ripped through a predominately Shia market in eastern Baghdad, killing at least 80 and wounding hundreds. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the likely culprit is al-Qaeda in Iraq. In an effort to dissociate itself as a force promoting civil war and sectarian violence, al-Qaeda has ceased to claim credit for brutal attacks against Shia. But it hasn't ceased the attacks.
What in the World is This? -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
Do you know what this is?
(This photo is posted in high resolution.The RPG in the foreground provides a reference for dimensions.)
The recent loss of five helicopters in Iraq has caught the attention of the media. Also in the media is all the new talk of Iranian influence on weapons in Iraq, although my readers learned about the issue more than a month ago in Walking the Line (Part Two of Three).
Iranian Smoking Guns Found ... Literally -- [Captain's Quarters]
The Telegraph reports this morning that rifles imported from Austria by Iran have surfaced among insurgents in Iraq. Steyr-Mannlicher exported 800 of its high-powered HS50 models, capable of piercing body armor, to the National Iranian Police Association for their anti-narcotics efforts:
Paratroopers stand up joint security station -= [ MNFI]
KADAMIYAH – The sudden clap of a firearm’s discharge prompts the split second reaction of the paratroopers patrolling the volatile streets of Iraq’s capital. The paratroopers are poised for contact with the unseen threat
Coalition captures numerous terrorists -- [MNFI]
WASHINGTON — Coalition Forces captured a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq military planner and detained 14 other suspected terrorists during multiple operations today, military officials reported.
Terrorists resume their attacks on Baghdad's markets. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
The president called for a war to annihilate terrorists and I couldn't agree more. Those terrorists must be annihilated; blowing up civilians in markets is genocide. It's a crime against humanity... The victims had nothing to protect themselves from bullets and bombs, they were not soldiers and they were not politicians
Engineers build high school in northern Baghdad -- [MNFI ]
BAGHDAD — A new high school for girls opened in northern Baghdad Feb. 5, courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The school is one of many projects focusing on education and reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure.
Turks Prepare to Invade Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
February 13, 2007: Several European countries have begun arresting PKK activists and financial supporters. Belgium arrested at least four people allegedly tied to the PKK, but on February 10 released the suspects. France arrested 13 PKK members on February 5
VIDEO SHOCKER!!! -- [Pat Dollard - in Iraq]
CNN Alliance With Jihadis Finally Exposed: CNN Correspondent Jack Cafferty Argues That Iran Has The Right To Continue To Kill Americans With IED’s And Other Weapons They Supply To Iraqi Insurgents.
To civil war or not to civil war, that is the question ! -- [The Iraqi Roulette -- An Iraqi in Iraq]
...A friend of my father was driven out of his house last week . No big deal you may say, it is happening every minute in Baghdad these days . Well, that is not the news actually. The news is that he is a Sunni and has been driven out by Sunnis . How is that? Well, he had a Shi'i neighbor, who was threatened and had to leave his house, So my father's friend helped him move and promised to take care of everything for him till things get back to normal. And he agreed with this Shi'i friend to bring a Sunni tenant for him. That is a procedure widely followed now, to insure that the house is at least in trustworthy hands, instead of being invaded by total strangers .
The Road To Hell -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
The DOD has officially announced the deaths of our guys. This is the post I mentioned earlier: written on the 8th and held until the brief came out.
I reported this morning for guard duty at 1115. The sergeant of the guard told us that someone had been hurt in Falluja, and taken to the Falluja Surgical Center. Falluja. My thoughts ran wild: is it my guys, or another platoon? Who was in front today? Who was it? Right before we leave for the towers, the sergeant comes back outside and tells us that...
Italian Silicon Infantry -- [Strategy Page]
February 10, 2007: Italy is the latest nation to realize that it's troops have to be equipped with new communications and computer gear, to make them capable of "network-centric" operations. The Italians have first hand experience in Iraq, with American units equipped for this sort of thing. They note Germany, and other NATO countries, spending billions on this. So the Italians have budgeted $13 billion to buy the equipment needed to operate with a battlefield Internet capability.
Despite Risks, Air Still Safest Travel in Iraq, General Says -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2007 – Air travel is still the safest way to transport troops and supplies in Iraq, despite the recent rash of downed helicopter incidents, a top official there said yesterday.
Parents Take Up Arms Against the Taliban -- [Strategy Page]
February 13, 2007: Terrorists have to be careful that they don't do something that will enrage, rather than terrify. A recent example of this can be found in Afghanistan, where the Taliban attempt, to terrorize Afghans into shutting down secular schools, backfired. Last year in southern Afghanistan, the Taliban burned down 200 schools, and terrorized parents into shutting down another 400.
Afstan: More Norwegian troops -- [The Torch]
But what particular use are special forces in mostly calm Kabul?
Norway announced Tuesday [Feb. 13] it would deploy an additional 150-strong special forces contingent in Afghanistan. The decision was announced in parliament by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen and marked the end of an internal tug of war in the ruling red-green coalition that has gone on since last year.
Pics or it didn’t happen -- [gwot dot us - in Afghanistan]
Above: Meet Alex, our “high protector”, this dog does more for the War on Terror than many of your fellow Americans. Being our third line of defense, her bark will immediately alert us to any Tango presence. She works in tandem with another “high protector”, Daisy.
Update! Stay tuned -- [Task Force Phoenix 5 - in Afghanistan]
So far since I put the info on my Blog I have received over 20 boxes of clothes and shoes. I went to pick up mail today and had about 12 boxes just for me. The mail handlers where a little upset but hey who cares about them right!!
Embed with the Afghan army -- [Claire Billet - journalist in Pakistan and in Afghanistan]
(Editor's note: google translated)
8h00 of the morning, with the opening of the offices of the Afghan ministry for Defense, in the hope to obtain an authorization of embed with the Afghan army, in the valley of Kunar.
Two hours of waiting, to drink the tea in a tiny part occupied by 7 unoccupied civils servant. It was initially necessary to present my chart of French press: I obtain a first polished refusal.
Partners Battle Terrorism in Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region -- [Defense Link]
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Feb. 12, 2007 – Afghan, Pakistani and NATO forces in the International Security Assistance Force are actively thwarting terrorism along the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan through communication, coordination and cooperation.
“Tentative” NK Nuke Deal Reached -- [GI Korea]
0 Comments Published by GI Korea February 13th, 2007 in NK Nuclear Issue.
I’m willing to bet this deal will last longer than 2005 deal that lasted only one day, but bottom line is we have been down this road before and this deal will ultimately fail:
Pace: Military, Other Agencies to Forge New Relationships in Africa -- [Centcom]
SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 11, 2007 – Africa Command, which President Bush announced Feb. 6, may be a chance for the military and other U.S. agencies to forge new command and working relationships, the top U.S. general said.
Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke about a new role and direction for combatant
Al-Zawahiri Blasts Bush, Calls For Muslim Unity in New Tape -- [Andrew Cochran - Counterterrorism Blog]
In a new 40-minute tape released by Al Qaeda's As-Sahab media arm titled, “Tremendous Lessons and Events in the Year 1427 AH,” Al Qaeda #2 Ayman al-Zawahiri unloads on President Bush. He claims that Bush is an alcoholic and addicted to drinking, lying, and gambling. But he's not enamored with Bush's opponents either,
State Department Acts Against Hezbollah & PIJ Terrorists, Sends Signals to Lebanon & Germany -- [Andrew Cochran - Counterterrorism Blog]
Secretary of State Rice today added Mohammed Ali Hamadei and Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah, leaders in Hezbollah, and PIJ, respectively, to the U.S. State Department Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program, each with a potential reward of up to $5 million. According to the State Department announcement, Hamadei and Shallah were added at the request of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, and both are already on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists List.
Yet Another New Zawahiri Ranting -- [Jawa Report]
Laura Mansfield has the general outline of Zawahiri's latest speech here.
We'll try and get a copy and a full translation ASAP. Interesting in the tape Zawahiri pledges his loyalty to Mullah Omar of the Taliban.
Al Qaeda Fights, Flees and Frets -- [Strategy Page]
February 13, 2007: In Pakistan's capital, the government has forced the issue of illegal religious schools. Moving to tear down a large school (Jamia Hafsa, which houses 7,000 students), built illegally on public land, the government was confronted with male and female students armed with spears and automatic weapons.
8 Feb 2007: -- [Any Soldier Inc.]
"We are doing a very special project with the central medical command in Iraq. There are 5 evacuation hospitals in Iraq. The most serious injuries are sent to one of these hospitals and stabilized and then sent to Germany, Italy or some other military base for definitive treatment. They are suppose to be forwarded within 24 hours, and many of them are staying for 7-10 days. They are requesting 5 laptops for each facility, obviously they must have wireless connectivity, you can't have cat 5 cables running across the floor of an intensive care unit. The laptops will be used for communication with friends and family while they are in the ICU.
A Gathering of Eagles Against a Gathering of Vultures -- [Rurik - Gathering of Eagles]
At the start of February, we were alerted by a few vets that the hard left, anti-American protesters organized around Cindy Sheehan, Jane Fonda, and their ilk planned to demonstrate in Washington on March 17, 2007, starting at the Vietnam War Memorial and marching on the Pentagon. Word spread via e-mail, and then by website.
Indiana soldier Receives President’s Volunteer Service Award -- [GX Online]
SFC Ricky Weber received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from Mr. Kelly Perdew at the National Military Recruiting Workshop. SFC Weber has volunteered countless hours serving his community which contributed to him being selected as the Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention NCO of the Year (2006). Mr. Perdew is the winner of Donald Trump’s Apprentice II and serves on the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
CSM serves with assertiveness, grace -- [MNFI]
BAGHDAD — After nearly two decades of service, setting the standard and leading the way has become a way of life for one Army Soldier.
Murphy's Law for the MilSpouse -- [Guard Wife -- SouseBuzz]
Murphy's Law basically holds that if you give something a chance to go wrong, it generally will.
As military spouses, we know a special kind of Murphy's Law that applies to us and our relationship with our cell phones: You can carry your cell phone for days without it ringing, but forget it once and your loved one is sure to call.
Ready or Not? -- [Real Clear Politics]
Barack Obama's campaign for president isn't even three full days old and he's already made his first gaffe:
Shortly after making the comment that U.S. soldiers' lives have been "wasted" in Iraq, Obama told reporters that he "absolutely apologized" to military families who were offended, adding further that, "Even as I said it, I realized I had misspoken."
Hear Armitage Tell Woodward About Valerie Plame -- [Sweetnes & Light]
Woodward: Well it was Joe Wilson who was sent by the agency, isn’t it?
Armitage: His wife works for the agency.
Woodward: Why doesn’t that come out? Why does that have to be a big secret?
Armitage: (over) Everybody knows it.
Woodward: Everyone knows?
Armitage: Yeah. And they know again because Joe Wilson’s been calling everybody. He’s pissed off ’cause he was designated as a low level guy went out to look at it. So, he’s all pissed off.
Waiting for Tet? -- [Intel Dump]
In an interview with the Associated Press, Sen. John McCain had a very interesting and provocative comment comparing Iraq in 2007 to Vietnam in 1968:
Run Obama Run! -- [Blonde Sagacity]
...Do I care if Obama smoked pot or did some coke here and there when he was young? Me personally? No.
BUT, what I do care about is the hypocrisy of the left's acceptance of this. Do a Google Blog Search on "George Bush and cocaine/pot/partying" and see how many slanderous posts you find --and those posts are based on speculation, not cold hard facts in GWB's own published words. But since Obama is "struggling with who he is" because he's of mixed race that's okay? He gets a pass on snorting coke because he revealed the drug use eloquently in a literary medium?
Chief Campaign Blogger for John Edwards Quits -- [Media Blog]
Amanda Marcotte has resigned. She blames the "right wing noise machine."
AP Misrepresents John McCain & Rewrites History -- [Gateway Pundit]
A Second Hand Conjecture notes how the AP is now rewriting history.
Sad.
Bush: "I'm Wise Enough Not to Bash the Media" -- [Media Blog]
Via TVNewser, C-SPAN's Steve Scully interviewed President Bush today, and asked him for his thoughts on the media's coverage of Iraq:
THE PRESIDENT: I'm wise enough not to bash the media. I would hope, however, that they would take a good look at, for example, the rest of the country outside of Baghdad and Anbar province — at least the reports I get are people are beginning to live a normal life.
Couric Touts (Slight) Opposition to Funding Surge, Skips Even Split on Iraq Resolution -- [NewsBusters]
A new CBS News poll, released Monday night, determined that Americans are almost exactly evenly split on whether Congress should “pass a non-binding resolution against sending additional troops to Iraq” with 44 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. But in highlighting how the Senate on Tuesday “will begin a three-day debate on a non-binding, symbolic resolution stating its disapproval of President Bush's Iraq troop build-up,” CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric ignored that finding of an evenly-divided nation. Instead, she focused on how “a total of 53 percent say Congress ought to block funding for additional troops or for the war entirely.”
What Happens If a Deficit Falls and Almost No One Reports It? -- [NewsBusters]
US Tax Revenues Up 9.7% through four months, Deficit Down 57%; US Media Outlets Mostly Ignore the News
There's a good chance you didn't hear about this (original US Treasury report is here):
...Even with spending control slipping a bit (up 6.4% in January 2007 compared to January 2006), the deficit is 57% lower through the first four months of FY07 than it was at the same time in FY06. I believe that merits a "Wow."
Going Deep! -- [The Desert Periscope - home from Iraq]
It's been a long few days of traveling, but I have finally arrived home. The excitement, smiles, and hugs have been wonderful as I've enjoyed the day with my family. But crossing eleven time zones in two days without more than a few hours of sleep has left me exhausted. I'll be crashing early tonight, and spend the next few days getting reacquainted with a normal life
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
"On the Baby Steps" in the "the Bullseye:" -- [INDC - in Iraq]
The Fallujah Police Transition Team Mission
arrived in Fallujah just as the bulk of American troops were pulled out of barracks in the city and back to the heavily fortified Camp Fallujah on the outskirts of town. There remain exceptions, however: the Military and Police Transition Team advisors to the Iraqi Army and police continued to operate and live in the city proper, embedded with the Iraqi units recently charged with taking primary responsibility for security.
A Sunday Night in Baghdad. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Last night was a sleepless one for me. It rolled on until around 4 in the morning and though exhausted I couldn’t sleep. I’ve come to actually like these times because at this hour 99% of Baghdad’s private generators are shut down and the city becomes, for a brief period, enjoyably silent.
General speaks on recent enemy attacks on Coalition aircraft -- [MNFI]
Maj. Gen. James E. Simmons, deputy commanding general for support, Multi-National Corps–Iraq, speaks to the media about increased enemy engagements with Coalition aircraft at the Combined Press Information Center – Baghdad Sunday.BAGHDAD — The deputy commanding general for support, Multi-National Corps – Iraq, addressed the recent enemy assaults on Coalition aircrafts here Sunday.
Alleged Al Qaeda military planner, 14 others captured -- [MNFI]
BAGHDAD –Coalition Forces captured a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq military planner and detained 14 other suspected terrorists during operations Sunday.
In Mosul, Coalition Forces detained two suspected terrorists including an alleged al-Qaeda military planner who is suspected of attacks in the Muhalabiyah village.
The Other Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
February 11, 2007: What's going on in Iraq isn't unique. There's another place where democracy struggles to establish itself amidst corruption, religious strife, ethnic hatred and rampant terrorism. That other place is Africa, and it's generally ignored. Iraq gets the world's attention because over 100,000 foreign (mostly American) troops are trying to help out, and ...
"Saddam Was Not Executed" -- [Iraqi Pundit]
Want to do a little light reading while waiting for news about the Baghdad crackdown? If so, I have a likely title for you. It's a new Arabic-language volume, hot off the press, entitled, Saddam Was Not Executed, and according to this account, it spends 365 pages arguing that Iraq hanged a Saddam double. The book, whose thesis was completely predictable to anyone who follows the twisted byways of Arab conspiracism, was reportedly the hottest title at the recent Cairo Book Fair, the premier annual showcase for Arab publishing.
Heads Up: -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
As many of you have no doubt heard, we lost three soldiers just a few days ago. There was something of a slip up somewhere in the process, and the facts of the incident were released before the official DOD brief (but after the families had heard, thank God). All three were from my platoon, and I was pretty good friends with two of them. It's been a rough week,...
Snake Eater - Fingerprint ID System -- [Spirit of America]
Marine Major in Anbar requests identification and information system for Iraqi Army to track insurgents
Major Owen West, US Marines, requests assistance with fingerprinting and information system to be used by Iraqi Army to identify and track insurgents and terrorists in Khalidiya, Iraq.
The Story Behind The Photo -- [TheTrukstoP]
Wounded Marine returns from Iraq to marry his girl
Every so often, one comes across a story so unreal and so amazing, that it leaves a memorable impact on you. This is one of those stories. His name is Tyler Ziegel. He is 24 years old. Her name is Renee Kline. She is 21 years old. They love each other in the most
Evidence of Iran's War Against Coalition Forces in Iraq Unveiled (updated with photo) -- [Andrew Cochran - Counterterrorism Blog]
For some time, there have been claims of Iran's direct involvement in attacks against Iraqi and U.S. troops, but without the presentation of sufficient actual evidence to persuade Congress or the American public at large. Congress - Members of both parties and key staff - have been very reluctant to trust any such claims ever since the Iraqi WMD intelligence debacle.
My Iraq -- [Tanker Brothers]
What are we doing here? That is a question I hear quite often from those who oppose our actions in the Middle East. What are we doing here? We are giving people the opportunity to fight for their freedom. Freedom is not a concept that is given, it is earned. It is the costliest of human aspirations and the one thing most easily squandered. I take the dhimmitude that infects the West today as my “Exhibit A”.
Trade Minister: Most cities are ready for investment -- [Iraq Updates]
Iraqi Trade Minister, Abdul-falah Assudani, said: “Most areas of the country live a stable and secure environment and are ready to invest, so if companies thought of working in Iraq, they would gain preference”.
Minister of Planning: optimistic about the investment allocations -- [Iraq Updates]
The Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation, Dr. Ali Baban, expressed his optimism about the investment allocations within the budget of 2007, pointing out that the achievements of the budget for the past year were modest.
Top Police Training Official in Iraq Sees Encouraging Signs -- [Defense Link]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2007 – Despite ongoing violence and intimidation around the country, Iraq’s police forces are steadily growing in numbers and professionalism, the U.S. Army general who oversees Iraqi police training said today.
Iraq Report, 12 Feb/07 -- [Andrew Olmsted -- 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 Iraq that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday.
Pakistan: Peace in our time -- [Bill Roggio - Fourth Rail]
U.S. shells Taliban in Pakistan; The Musharraf government insists on negotiating with the Taliban, despite their string of attacks on government institutions and continuation of attacks in Afghanistan
Ski, Me, and the Third Herd -- [WELCOME TO AFGHANISTAN SEND MORE AMMO! - in Afghanistan]
...CPL Polanski was an infantryman to the core. He chomped at the bit before each mission, hoping we would get a chance to tangle with the enemy. He was not one to wax humanistic in these moments. His normal response to most questions about the Taliban would be a diatribe about vanquishing them in combat. But one day, after overrunning Taliban positions in a small village, Ski came across a wounded and dying Taliban fighter. Upon seeing the wounded man, Ski immediately grabbed his Combat Life Saver medical bag and moved to begin treating the fallen enemy.
Russia Helps China Screw Russia -- [Strategy Page]
February 12, 2007: Russia recently announced that none of the 500 Russian RD-93 jet engines China is buying could be exported to a foreign country. This is a problem, as China needs those engines for the 150 JF17 fighters it is building for Pakistan.
Attack Suspected After Explosion Near U.S. Base in Japan (updated) -- [Andrew Cochran - Counterterrrorism Blog]
Japanese police have reportedly found parts of a rocket launcher near a U.S. base following an explosion there. Kyodo News reports, "(P)olice had also found a "launch pad" near the base and suspected an attempted guerrilla attack." Reuters reports that police "searched the area near to the camp and found two pipes about 300 yards (metres) from the camp.
Sanctions against Iran would work but they won't be tried -- [Olivier Guitta- Counterterrorism Blog]
I just have an article on this topic in the latest issue of The Weekly Standard.
You can read the whole piece here.
Here's an excerpt:
After nearly four years of fruitless negotiations between the EU-3 (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) and Iran over the nuclear issue, the U.N. Security Council on December 23 passed Resolution 1737.
Guess Who Iran Into -- [Jules Crittenden]
Strangely, there are people in this country and elsewhere who think we are bullying Iran, who talk about the threat of an unprovoked US attack on Iran, who can’t believe George Bush is manufacturing excuses for another war, this time with Iran.
The drug front -- [gwot dot us - in Afghanistan]
Just got back from a 3-day mission down south. While I can’t go into operational specifics I will list the keywords: Taliban, weapons, poppy. From that, I’ll let your mind come up with the rest.
Iraq's terrorist connections -- [Andi's World]
It has been a long-standing claim among the war protestors that there was no connection between Saddam’s Iraq and al Qaeda. Again, this is more wishful thinking than reality.
I have lost contact with my Middle-eastern NSA/State Department source, so this part will have to remain undocumented. He told me that an Iraqi newspaper reported on the pending 9/11 attack three months prior to the attack
America Supports You: 'eCarePackage' Program Ships Love to Troops -- [GX Online]
Operation Homefront is encouraging Americans to have a heart and "Share the Love" with a service member or military family this Valentine's Day through its "eCarePackages.org" program. Operation Homefront is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector are supporting the nation's service members.
Late Night Sabbath Video: Remember the Troops -- [Jawa Report]
What better way to celebrate the day of rest than remembering our troops? May take a bit to load, but worth it. HT: Saul who got it from Misha.
Wounded warriors hit the powder… -- [A Soldier’s Mind]
Another great program provided by the Wounded Warriors Project. The the 9th of February, the Adaptive Sports Center and Crested Butte Mountain Resort accepted ten disabled veterans. These veterans are currently undergoing rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Bashing Baby Killers -- [Strategy Page]
...The attack on the troops was also factually-challenged in one other aspect. In the post, Arkin also claimed that nobody had been spitting on troops and calling them baby killers. Apparently he did not hear of the incident involving Joshua Sparling during the protests in late January. At least one anti-war protestor spat at the Iraq veteran, who had lost a leg while over there. There have been other incidents reported by the blogosphere where veterans have been called baby killers as well.
1LT Elliot Ackerman -- [Neptunus Lex]
Awarded the Silver Star for service in the assault on Fallujah in 2004.
Above and Beyond -- [Jules Crittenden]
More heroism at the Ia Drang recognized. Bruce Crandall has just been awarded the Medal of Honor, 40 years after the fact:
Casting Call -- [Sgt Hook]
The Militiary Channel is looking for personal videos shot by the men and women in our armed forces as part of a new series focusing through the lens of those who serve.
Video: Pat Dollard on Iraq, media bias, and George Clooney -- [Allahpundit - Hot Air]
He used to be Steven Soderbergh’s agent. Then he went off to the sandbox with his camera and embedded with the Marines in Ramadi, home base for Al Qaeda in Iraq. He shot a pro-war documentary there called “Young Americans” and along the way got blown out of a humvee when it was hit by a roadside bomb. There’s a photo of the wreckage at his website.
The NYT’s cooked up editorial -- [Sister Toldjah]
First the editorial, on the now-debunked but widely talked about news reports from several news outlets about pre-war Iraq intelligence reports that were supposedly ‘cooked up’ to fit the admin’s agenda of ‘forcing a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda’.
Badgers Down: More How the Media Gets It Wrong -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
I think this will get repetitive.
Jacqueline Bennett at Channel 6 News in Boise files this report. Unfortunately she uses stock footage of the 10th Mountain Division handling unexploded ordnance describing this as what we do. They are not in vehicles and they are walking through fields.
Are you listening, MSNBC, WaPo, and Los Angeles Times? -- [Counter Column]
As the color guard entered the assembly, the wounded soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen who could do so rose. One of them was Staff Sgt. Jon Arnold-Garcia of the 101st Airborne Division. Arnold-Garcia lost the lower half of his right leg when insurgents attacked his convoy in Hawija, Iraq. He has not yet been fitted with a prosthesis.
New York Times' John Burns on Iraq and American media's coverage of it. -- [Hugh Hewitt]
HH: John F. Burns is my guest. He is the foreign correspondent for the New York Times, widely recognized as a preeminent war reporter of his generation. He’s been with the New York Times since 1975. He is the recipient of two Pulitzers for his reporting from Sarajevo, as well as from Afghanistan under the Taliban…in fact, he holds the double-double, which is he’s reported from Afghanistan under the Taliban, and after their overthrow, and he’s reported from Iraq under Saddam, and after his overthrow. Mr. Burns, welcome to the Hugh Hewitt Show.
Iran Sends IEDs to Iraq for Peaceful Purposes -- [ScrappleFace]
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today confirmed U.S. allegations that high-ranking Iranian officials provide Shiite militias in Iraq with armor-piercing explosives, however, Iran’s president said the devices are for peaceful purposes only.
Soldiers' Angels Mourns Aunt Mary -- [MaryAnn - Soldiers' Angel Germany]
It is with great sadness that Soldiers' Angels announces the passing of its dearest and oldest member, Aunt Mary. Mary Irvin Roun was born on April 13, 1905 in Turnersville, NJ and died peacefully in her sleep on February 8,2007.
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and other sources around the world. 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.
Distant Death Hits Home -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
“All personnel with O positive blood report to Charlie Med.”
The Big Voice boomed from the loudspeakers around camp. I was sitting in my office contemplating bed, irritated that my civilian internet service was down for the second day in a row. Then one of my radio operators piped up.
“Sir, another company has been hit. The request for blood is for our Task Force. They have also called for a communications blackout.”
Ah – a communication blackout. My lack of civilian internet is now moot. Since I have O positive blood, I decide to head over to Charlie Med.
Victories You Don't Hear Much About -- [Strategy Page]
February 7, 2007: There have some major set backs for terrorist organizations in Iraq recently. These generally don't get reported. Bad news sells, good news doesn't. But for those concerned about the progress of the war on terror, these battles in central Iraq are very important. For example, a battalion of troops from the U.S. 82nd Airborne division spent nine days last month (January 4-9), in a Sunni area about 70 kilometers northeast of Baghdad.
Deploying the The Snake Eater in Khalidaya -- [Bill Roggio - The Fourth Rail - reports from Iraq]
In the middle of January, I embedded with the joint U.S. Marine and U.S. Army Military Transition Team based in Khalidaya in Anbar province. The MTT was then commanded by Major Owen West. Major West's greatest criticisms of the war effort is our failure to recognize the nature of the insurgency, which in many parts of Iraq is fought by applying what he calls "heavy police tactics," and our failure in applying the right tools to deal with the problem.
Missions Complete -- [1016th - in Iraq]
When I mobilized with the 1016th, I had only been back in the states for 9 months after my first deployment. I didn’t know what to expect from Iraq, as I had only been to Kuwait previously. I knew it would be a bit more dangerous and more exciting.
The missions I’ve been on have been so different in so many ways. My first line haul was mail. We picked up two 40 foot containers of mail and took them to Camp Echo.
Still No Love -- [Half a World Away - in Iraq]
Well, we are still locked out of our blogs and I am beginning to think it is permanent. It is really annoying, because the majority of mil blogs that I read are highly supportive of our effort over here and in my opinion help to counteract some of the bias from the media. I really don’t understand why they don't want us telling us our story and keeping our friends and families up to date on what we are doing. It is especially aggravating for me and the guys in my unit, as we got another 4 months added to our sentence and our blogs were a nice break from the day to day grind that is our 16 month vacation.
NEWS ON INTERVIEWS FROM IRAQ! -- [Bob Calvert - Talking with Heros]
Talking with Heroes was in Iraq in October 2006 interviewing Military Personnel. See the Grand Opening of Tourist Town School in Iraq and hear the joy of the children. See and hear from the Principal. See them handing the children school supplies and toys ... both Iraqi and American Troops working side by side. Other interviews covered Training the Iraqi Army. One program took place at Bear Cat Chapel with the Chaplain, his Assistant and some of the soldiers who attended services. Hear the messages to America from our Brave Men and Women.
The Hands of God -- [Michael Yon - dispatched from Iraq]
He was dressed as a woman as he walked down the alley toward the mosque full of worshippers. It was Friday, just before Ashura, and the air was chilled.
OPERATION: BOREDOM -- [Slate - The Sandbox - Acute politics dispatces from Iraq ]
I'd like to try to describe a bit of what I feel every night, what it's like to roll out of the relative safety of the Forward Operating Base to hunt for bombs and bad guys. Last night was typical for me and my platoon. We were slated to conduct route clearance operations near the center of Ramadi to "prep the route" for the Marines following us to raid several houses. Prepare to be bored. I was.
Operation Baghdad, Day 2. -- [Iraq the Model - Iraqis in Iraq]
Last night continued to be quiet for the most part and nothing indicated that the operation in Azamiyah faced resistance.
I woke up late this morning and again it was very quiet. I asked Mohammed if there was anything going on and the answer was negative.
About Me -- [Afghan Warrior -- Afghani in Afghanistan]
My name is Waheed. I am 22 years old. I work for the US Army as an interpreter, since 2002. I have mostly spent my life in war and conflict.
...I have enjoyed working with the US Army. I have been on over 800 patrols with the US Army to provide security for the Afghans. During these patrols I have meet many people and interpreted between the locals and US Army.
Meanwhile, Back in Afghanistan -- [Austin Bay - Strategy Page]
"As I've said in the past, it will be a bloody spring."
With that sentence, Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States, Said Jawad, acknowledged that the Afghan government believes the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies will launch a "new offensive" within the next two months.
Liberators Who Refuse to Fight -- [Strategy Page]
February 9, 2007: U.S. forces in Afghanistan have nearly tripled in the last three years, from 9,500 in 2002, to 26,000 today. Most (14,000) of the current force is assigned to NATO, while the rest are training Afghan troops or Special Forces running special operations.
News of Afghanistan ۴۶ -- [Miserable Donuts]
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) greets to his Afghan counterpart Abdul Rahim Wardak (C) next to NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (R) during an informal meeting of NATO defence ministers in Seville February 8, 2007
OFF TO MEZAR-E-SHARIF -- [Slate - Sandbox -- Yambo dispatches from Afghanistan]
...We finally get to the camp, which looks much better than Kandahar. It's clean and the troops look more professional. But the routine is the same -- handshakes all around (I am starting to feel like a politician) and Chai tea. This Afghan unit is definitely better trained than others we've worked with. When I ask why, it becomes clear. The corps general is the area warlord, and these troops, before they were Afghan Army, were Northern Alliance. So basically they have been fighting someone or other for close to twenty years. When we start our inspection their attitude is, "What can you tell me that I don't already know?"
GETTING SHOT AT -- [Slate - The Sandbox - B.C. dispatces from Afghanistan]
I'm still at Firebase Snake, which is a cool-sounding name for a small group of ramshackle brick buildings and a Hesco wall tucked in a river valley somewhere in Uruzgan province. I can't talk specifics, but there aren't a whole lot of Americans here, and our only link to friendly forces is by air, due to the bad roads and worse people who control them. I'm working on month eight of this deployment, and I've been on plenty of patrols, but getting shot at is a relatively new experience for me.
A Plan Colombia for Afghanistan: Exporting Success? -- [ Aaron Mannes - Counterterrorism Blog]
Speaking in Bogotá a few weeks ago, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace praised Colombia’s success at battling a drug fueled insurgency and cited it as a “good model” for Afghanistan.
Threats Against U.S. Forces and Interests in the Middle East and Against Israel -- [MEMRI]
In a meeting with Iranian air force commanders on February 8, 2007, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei threatened that any attack by the U.S. would be met with a forceful Iranian response: "[The U.S.] is not frightening the Iranian nation with its [threats of attack]. After all, hasn't America attacked Iran before? Moreover, the enemies know well that any aggression [on their part] will be met with a forceful response on the part of the entire Iranian nation against the aggressors and against their interests all over the world."
New Core Staff Deploys to the Horn of Africa -- (Navy News Stand)
NORFOLK (NNS) -- A team of 85 Navy members will leave Naval Station Norfolk on Feb. 8 to begin a yearlong deployment to fill vital staff billets for Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and to serve a crucial role in a region of strategic importance in the global war on terrorism.
The North Korean Freeze Tactic -- [GI Korea]
have said this before and I will say it again, Kim Jong-il has no intention of giving up his nuclear weapons. He developed nuclear weapons in order to appease his military eager to join the prestigious nuclear club and to ensure regime survival. He is using the current six party talks to buy time to perfect his nuclear weapons program.
Video: Terrorists Shoot Down U.S. Chinook Helicopter (Updated) - [Jawa Report]
The Salafi jihadi umbrella organization which includes al Qaeda, The Islamic State of Iraq, has released a video showing the downing of a U.S. Chinook Helicopter on February 7th. The video is posted below. Updates at end of post.
Terrorizing the Terrorists With American TV -- [Strategy Page]
February 9, 2007: Iraqis are in awe of American technology. So much so that they think we have stuff that we don't. Iraqis get a lot of this from watching American TV. American crime shows, like the CSI series, circulate on CDs and DVDs, and are avidly watched. So when terror suspects find they are photographed, finger printed and have DNA taken, they know what they are in for. But late last year, American soldiers and marines working in Anbar province got the idea of having a portable kit, with the database built in, to do this.
Palestinian Textbooks Preach Hate and Support Terrorism -- [Andrew Cochran - Counterterrorism Blog]
The Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli-based organization which examines Palestinian culture, today released an important new report on the content of textbooks introduced at the end of last year into the 12th grade in schools run by the Palestinian Authority. The books lie about the U.S., Israel, and the West in general, and brainwash the kids into believing that terrorist attacks against us are appropriate and meritorious.
Al Qaeda Renews Call to Attack Oil Supplies -- [Andrew Cochran - Counterterrorism Blog]
In the new issue of "Sawt al-Jihad" (Voice of Jihad), issued today, Al Qaeda returns to an attack policy used in 2005 and 2006, that of targeting oil supplies intended for the West. Rita Katz's SITE Institute provides this commentary:
Donate A Car -- [Laurie - Soldiers' Angels New York]
Donated Cars "Add Mileage" to Purchasing Needed Items for Wounded Servicemembers; Soldiers' Angels Car Donation Program Now Accepting Donations of automobiles, boats or recreation vehicles
Congressman, Why Won't You Support Us? -- [MaryAnn - Soldiers' Angels Germany]
This post is contributed by reader and friend Robert Connolly.
I am contemplating writing my Congressman. My Congressman is David Price, a Democrat, and the new chair of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. Dr. Price (he used to make his living as a professor at Duke University) is not given to the rhetorical nonsense that comes from the likes of Charlie Rangel, or the two U.S. Senators from the State of New York.
Many 1967-72 Spitting Incidents Are Documented in the Press. [Jim Lindgren - The Volokh Conspiracy] HT:Countercolumn
Hundreds of Vietnam-era veterans have publicly claimed in recent decades that they were spat on by citizens or anti-war protesters because of their military status, either before they went to Vietnam, when they were on leave, or after their returned from overseas. Yet several journalists and at least one scholar, sociologist Jerry Lembcke of Holy Cross, think that such things never happened, that they are an “urban legend.” Lembcke claims: “Stories of spat-upon Vietnam veterans are bogus.”
USS New York -- [Via email]
It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .
It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite ...
Memo To Our Sources In Iraq -- [Hugh Hewitt]
The Democrats in the Congress have decided to allow access to the intelligence in which your identity is either made explicit or from which it could be deduced. We are sorry that the Democrats have no grasp of the danger in which they are putting you, or if they do have that grasp, no concern for you, your family members, or the continuing effort to bring stability to Iraq.
Socialists plan to Commemorate 1967 March on the Pentagon -- [A Proud Infidel]
A major hat tip to the Capital Police! Your stupidity and lack of foresight has now fueled the flames of the ANSWER(Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition. They have just announced on their Party for Socialism and Liberation website, complete with Che Cuevera icon) that they have had their permits approved to demonstrate on March 17, 2007 and march on the Pentagon,here.
Don't Spit on Me -- [Smash]
RESPONDING to some attempted historical revisionism by the radical left, Jim Lindgren provides contemporary documentation from the Vietnam era of protesters spitting at, assaulting, and generally abusing veterans.
"Amenities International": An Arkin video smackdown -- [Michelle Malkin]
We haven't forgotten WaPo weasel William Arkin's troop-bashing about the "obscene amenities" supposedly enjoyed by our soldiers on the battlefield. Hot Air and Sout al-Kuffar have teamed up to bring you a special video response. Click on the sandstorm pic to watch:
Report says Pentagon manipulated intel -- [Uncle Jimbo - BlackFive]
That's not the truth, but it's what the AP headline reads. Do they ever bother to report facts any more or are they just an opinion and propaganda service.
AL-SADR PRESS: -- [Jules Crittenden - Journalist]
But let’s give the AP credit where it’s due. Even though this article on the arrest of anallegedly corrupt deputy health minister is overly concerned with the reaction of Sadrist members of parliament, it does include some kickass details. This is surge as surge is supposed to be done, and gives me hope. I’d like to thank the Associated Press for the following imagery...
Announcements -- [MilBlog Conference 2007 site]
I realize that it's been a while since we've released new information. We're working on a host of items for the conference -- and making progress -- even though the lack of posting around here may seem to indicate otherwise. The venue has been selected and we're currently working on the administrative details. Information will soon be posted.
HOME SWEET HOME! -- [Yikes]
Well, folks, there it is -- our brand-new home!!!! Isn't it GOREGOUS?! I think it is -- especially so because this isn't just any ole house ~ my Soldiers, Robert Stokely, Marcia Kincaid (mother of fallen Hero Aaron Kincaid), several Patriot Guard Riders, multitudes of people from my church and multitudes of people from our community worked VERY hard on this house...
2 Year Blogiversary Open Trackback -- [Stop The ACLU]
It’s Stop The ACLU’s 2nd Blogiversary Open Trackback Weekend!
Jay has worked hard for the last two years to expose the ACLU and this site’s immense success and popularity is a tribute to his dedication paying off. Thank you to our readers and contributors for your efforts to keep America afloat and from being drowned by the ACLU in a sea of liberalism
