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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. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.
Bird’s Eye View: The Battle for Baqubah -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
A Tactical Operations Center (TOC) is the headquarters for a unit. Company-level TOCs are the smallest I have seen. A typical infantry company has about a hundred or more soldiers. The commander will normally be a captain. A company-level TOC often consists of a radio and a map, and one person on duty 24/7. It might have a coffee maker, too. In fact, there is a company TOC at the other end of the tent in which I now reside with a company called C-52. C-52 is the smallest company with only 54 men, who all live in this tent with a huge amount of weapons, and great combat experience to back them up [to whit: Superman.]
Peace Agreement in Diyala - [Duty in the Desert - in Iraq]
This is how lasting peace will be achieved in Iraq.
The effort centered on the city of Khalis, near Baqouba, where U.S. and Iraqi troops are conducting an ongoing house-to-house sweep of the city.
Earlier this week, around 75 sheiks and local leaders met at the Iraqi Army Headquarters in Khalis to air long-standing grievances with each other, suggest security improvements and pledge to work against al-Qaida in Iraq and other insurgent groups.
As has been the case in other areas, many local residents have chafed at the continuing violence sponsored by the insurgents and the hard-line Islamic law imposed in some areas...
Entrepreneurs or Insurgents? Economic Growth in Iraq -- [ONPoint]
An untold aspect of the “Surge” is to create jobs for the local citizenry. With “Clear-Hold-Build” finally being an accepted part of the Coalition strategy to pacify Iraq, what is being done to provide the Iraqis with jobs that will let them support their families? Security in a town is necessary for it’s own sake, but to provide jobs for the locals, where they can feed and house their families in some semblance of rationality – that’s what is necessary to stop the locals from saying “we were better off under Saddam”, and joining the insurgents or a militia group.
...Although JCCIA operates in both AO’s, the emphasis of these questions concerned JCCIA activities in Iraq :
Operation Fardh al-Qanoon achieving good results -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and Iraqi Army Lt. Gen. Aboud Ganbar, commander, Baghdad operations, Fardh al-Qanoon, held a briefing to discuss the successes of current operations in and around Baghdad at the Combined Press Information Center Thursday.
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces detain rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi cell leader -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Soldiers, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained a cell leader of the rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia near the southwest neighborhood of Bayaa in Baghdad, July 26.
The Iraqi Soldiers detained their primary suspect without incident during the early morning operation in Baghdad.
The primary suspect is believed to command a rogue JAM improvised explosive device cell that is allegedly responsible for attacks on Coalition Forces. He is also alleged to have received financial support and explosively formed penetrators from Iran, which were distributed to other JAM cell members in the Bayaa and Aamel areas of Baghdad.
Senior terrorists eliminated
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain al-Qaeda in Iraq members -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisors, detained two primary targets of an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell near southwest neighborhood of Jihad in Baghdad, July 26.
The Iraqi Forces detained their primary targets at several different residences during the early morning operation in Baghdad. One other suspicious individual present during the operation was also detained.
The al-Qaeda in Iraq cell is alleged to be responsible for conducting extra judicial killings of Iraqi citizens and emplaces improvised explosive devices. They are also believed to have conducted attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces as well as local Iraqi citizens.
From the Front -- [Fuzzilicious Thinking ]
Courtesy of a proud Marine Dad, from a lieutenant who doesn't get to email often:
It is a little bit of fun working with these Iraqis.
...I can't wait to be done training these guys, so we can go operational and start interdicting some insurgents on a grand scale, lol. I led the first set on their final class--a real patrol--a couple days ago, and they weren't bad. Not Marines, but not bad for what we had taught them.
Tet Comes Early This Year -- [Cannoneer No. 4 - in Iraq]
I don’t want to go through this again. I don’t want these Marines and soldiers and sailors and airmen I live with to suffer the morale-destroying disillusionment. I was an Air Force brat in Japan last time. My school bus drove past the Pacific Theater Graves Registration Tranfser Point at Tachikawa every day. Stacks and stacks of zinc coffins being moved with forklifts. The casualty list took up the entire back page of the Pacific Stars and Stripes. Big green ambulance buses. Wounded on cots in the hospital hallways, IV bottles hanging from rods attached to the cot. Walking wounded in neon blue pajamas on pass at the BX. And nobody was glad to see the Chaplain walking in their housing area in Class A’s. My father was stuck in Korea, caught up in the Pueblo Incident. We didn’t get Walter Cronkite. What I knew of the Vietnam War I did not learn from American television.
I was a cadet when Saigon fell. The psychological wounds of the men who trained me were to a certain degree contagious.
It’s happening again.
What the hell is going on around here? -- [Eighty Deuce On The Loose - In Iraq ]
...Usually company missions are accompanied by Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police, which this one was. The Army works with us and usually does the meat and potatoes of the mission and the IP's work with the MP's doing the cordon and whatnot. The nice thing is that our job is not to actually do these mission. We are there to help, advise and make it go quicker, but not actually do it ourselves. I've noticed that in the last 5 months or so that we've been working with these guys that they have been getting better and more effeciet. We're normally not out there as long as we used to be and we are having to do less and less as they take on more of the responsibility and become better at doing these things.
This mission was to clear out a local cemetary for some stuff that the IA had intel on. The weird thing is ...
Iraq Report: Al Qaeda strikes in Baghdad -- [The Fourth Rail]
After a lull of several weeks in major mass casualty suicide attack inside Baghdad, al Qaeda in Iraq struck three times against Iraqi civilians over the past 24 hours. Yesterday's attacks occurred during the celebration of the Iraqi soccer team's victory at the Asia Games, which advanced the club to the finals.
25 dead in Baghdad car bombing
A car bomb in the Karradah district of Baghdad has killed at least 25 people.
Destroying Happiness -- [Dude, where's the beach? - in Iraq]
...In that instant 28 men, women, and children were murdered about 2 miles away from where I sat in the comfort of my office. 95 men, women and children were sprayed with glass, metal, and debris while I sent my last email and picked up my gear. These people were preparing to celebrate an Islamic holiday. The night before they were happy because the Iraqi soccer team won another game in the Asian Cup. They were happy, and happiness is so rare for them these days. Why would someone want to destroy such happiness. All of those smiles were stolen away last night by people who can't stand to see joy and happiness.
"The terrorists, curse them, are behind this act," said Firas Rahim, who sells clothes at a stand near the site of the blasts. "They are angry because the people were celebrating and happy yesterday. Now they took their revenge."
The longer I'm hear, the more I love the Iraqi people. They're vibrant, emotional, patriotic, and strong.
Full Speed Ahead -- [Major Andrew Olmsted - in Iraq]
Sunday was reasonably quiet early on, after a busy Saturday afternoon, but that changed late when we received word that several of our Iraqi Army (IA) outposts had been hit by the enemy. We headed down to the IA battalion headquarters to learn what they knew about the attacks while U.S. forces moved to the scene to do their own assessment. That evening we put together the different stories to see if we could determine, at least roughly, the ground truth about what had happened so we could start planning for what to do about it.
That evening we also learned that a general officer would be coming to visit, and the unit we're working with had a number of other issues on the plate and didn't have an officer to spare to meet the general.
Guest Blogger, Colonel Michael Visconage -- [The Gunner's World -in Iraq]
The Camp Victory Life:
The Victory base camp is on the Southwest outskirts of Baghdad is part of a much larger expanse that has a number of other sub camps for the combat divisions and a variety of support troops. My guess would be that is covers perhaps 20 square miles and houses 40-50,000 people. While the staff has the easy life in terms of a low level of immediate danger, the fighting troops are usually out in the various forward operating bases and have much harsher living condition. They do get to rotate back to larger bases for periods of time, which I am sure they appreciate.
Everyday in Mosul.... -- [Jim Spiri - in Iraq]
The cavalry mounted up today, again. I remember as a young kid growing up on an arroyo in southern New Mexico, I would come home after sports practice and ride my horse. Just like sports practice to stay in shape, so it is with riding a horse. I had a good quarter horse, named "Jigger". I rode him almost everyday to keep not only him in shape, but to keep my riding skills fine tuned. Such is the case here in Mosul, in a way. Everyday, the Cav rides into town keeping a strong presence while at the same time handing over more and more responsibility to the Iraqi Army as the transition moves along.
We headed out in force early in the morning to the north side of Mosul today. We passed through some crowded business areas where people like ants were going about their daily lives. When the "herd" of Humvees comes through, all eyes are watching and no vechiles dare impede the way.
Summertime Blues -- [Jason's Iraq Vacation - in Iraq]
BOOM!-thud-
ughhh . . . I groan and roll over to look at my clock.
BOOM!-thud-
It's 3:15am, and the Artillery detachment is sending out some care packages to our boys outside the wire. No surprise there; the artillery men send out their lovin' every night, and since we are almost right next to them I get to hear every round up close and personal. The only question is what time and how often. The nightly barrage goes on...
These are a couple typical nights for us here. Nothing exciting, just the sounds of the battle going on around us. Our job isn't out there at night; it begins the next day with our Iraqi counterparts. Everyday we work with them, side by side, imparting what knowledge we have and trying to help them do their part better. Many nights I wish I was out there with my coalition counterparts, fighting a battle I know a little better; but I'm not, and many days it’s hard for me to accept that my battle is in getting the Iraqi's to sustain themselves without our help.
In the Wake of the Surge -- [Michael Totten - in Iraq]
... The battalion I’m embedded with here in Baghdad hasn’t suffered a single casualty – not even one soldier wounded – since they arrived in the Red Zone in January. The surge in this part of the city could not possibly be going better than it already is. Most of Graya’at’s insurgents and terrorists who haven’t yet fled are either captured, dormant, or dead.
...Graya’at’s streets are quiet and safe. It doesn’t look or feel like war zone at all. American soldiers just a few miles away are still engaged in almost daily firefights with insurgents and terrorists, but this part of the city has been cleared by the surge.
...Everyone was friendly. No one shot at us or even looked at us funny. Infrastructure problems, not security, were the biggest concerns at the moment. I felt like I was in Iraqi Kurdistan – where the war is already over – not in Baghdad.
...“Do they ever get pissed off when you search them?” I said.
“Not very often,” he said. “They understand we’re trying to protect them.”
“This is not what I expected in Baghdad,” I said.
“Most of what we’re doing doesn’t get reported in the media,” he said. “We’re not fighting a war here anymore, not in this area. We’ve moved way beyond that stage.
Temple of UR!!! -- [West Coast Notorious - in Iraq]
So we have been on the road for the past couple of days, same ol' stuff here and there. On are way north yesterday we saw an explosion to our three o'clock, we called it up and moved on. Everyone just watched quietly as the smoke from the blast rose into the air. "It's a controlled detenation over" we hear over the radio. Look's like someone found an I.E.D., this is always a welcome thing! We make it camp and decide to make a trip to Tallil. There we visit the temple of UR, this thing's been around since the early A.D. period. It was built by a Babylonian politician who ruled the area at the time.
The Night Shift -- [Strategy Page]
There's a war going on in Iraq that you rarely hear about. It goes on at night, and has been very successful.
While U.S. infantry and tank units make raids all over central Iraq, the other war, fought largely at night, by engineers and non-infantry troops (often artillerymen) serving as infantry, to catch and stop teams of terrorists trying to set up roadside bombs. The American troops are guided by an intelligence effort that keeps track of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) by type and location. Over 90 percent of IEDs do not do any damage to Americans, or anyone else. Many of these are captured, or at least examined remotely by a robot, before being destroyed.
Iraq Pictures - 26 July 2007 -- [Iraq Pictures - in Iraq]
CPT Paul Morton, commander of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, native of Fullerton, Calif., speaks with local elders of Jazira, a village within the Shaab neighborhood of Baghdad's Adhamiyah District. The meeting allows Morton to gauge how residents feel about coalition forces because the elders are respected members of the community who represent their people's interests.
Near the Iraqi Border -- [The Tank - W. Thomas Smith Jr. - heading to Iraq]
ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE (Kuwait) — Internet is touch-and-go here at this huge tent city in the Kuwaiti desert about 23 miles from the Iraqi border. So this will be quick.
Will be flying to Baghdad in a day or so.
It's hot here: Close to 130 degrees in the shade (and believe it or not, humid). Mercifully, it drops down into the 90s at night. The dust and sand, like talcum powder, are also much worse than when I was here in March and April.
Iraqis Celebrate Win over Korea in AFC Asian Cup 25/7/07
Four Years -- [All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front - in Iraq]
My battery's about to die, so I'll be brief.
This is four years in. My ETS date, by my original contract. I'm out, my term is up.
But not really. Call it 'Stop-loss', call it deployment, call it 'needs of the country', I'm still here, and will be for a year more and then some.
But for tonight, drinks are on me, party's at my place, and honey, I'm glad I joined.
To all the guys out on the front lines with me; I'm proud to be here.
Video Chat -- [Far From Perfect - in Iraq]
As you know, I am paying for internet in my CHU. Most of the month it has been useless. The connectivity is generally in the bytes/second range if there is any at all. It takes upwards of two hours to check my e-mail, if it connects. I am pretty ready to just give it up. However, tonight for the first time I was able to chat with my wife!
...its still pretty surreal to me to have internet available in a warzone, let alone video chat from my CHU. I guess its a sign of the times. Our grandfathers had letter mail that took 3 months. Now, its video chat and email.
Back to Blackhorse -- [A JAG in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan ]
Since I’ve told you about the travel to each location let me comment on our trip to Blackhorse – it was fast and easy. Since Blackhorse is just down the road it was a short drive down on the mail truck. The thing that was new and different was the fact that the road between here and Blackhorse is now completely paved. It’s been almost two months since I was last there and I was amazed and impressed with how much work has been done. They are now working on the road between here and downtown Kabul. At some point the Afghans will have a nice road/highway to travel on.
More Faces of Afghanistan (Photos) -- [A JAG in Afghanistan - in Afghanistan ]
Here are some more "faces of Afghanistan." These were taken by LCDR Steven Parks down in Kandahar. Thanks for sharing
News of Afghanistan - Edition 63 -- [Miserable Donuts]
Friday again? Ah, I guess this means it is time for the News! Come on then
Still here -- [ETT PA-C - in Afghanistan ]
Hi all. Borrowing some internet to check in. For those of you that have passed on toys in your packages, I've got some pics of the children that have received them. Thanks so much. These kids have never seen toys as such and are always so excited to get stuffed animals, cars, dolls, balls etc.
Not much else occurring here. Our missions have gone well without issue thus far and we take every one as serious as the one before. Safety first and stuff!
Heroes of Baylough
Story about U.S. Soldiers at a forward operating base in Afghanistan who face daily attacks.
New operation launched against Taliban extremists -- [ISAF - in Afghansitan]
The task force-level operation, codenamed “Chakush” or “Hammer,” began this morning in the area between Heyderabad and Mirmandab, northeast of Gereshk. The operation is continuing the momentum towards expelling Taliban extremist forces from areas of the Upper Gereshk Valley.
“This operation is another important step in continuing the progress we have made recently in providing the enduring security conditions required for the Afghan government to remove Taliban extremist influence from the communities in Sangin and the Upper Gereshk Valley,” said Lt. Col. Charlie Mayo, Task Force Helmand spokesman.
Taliban Executes First Korean Hostage -- [GI Korea]
UPDATE: I just saw on CNN International that it has confirmed that the eight Korean hostages have not been released and are still threatening to kill the others. Whoever it was in the Korean government that leaked word that eight hostages were released should be fired for getting the family member’s hopes up like that.
Majority Backs Getting Invaded -- [Strategy Page]
July 27, 2007: Much to Iran's annoyance, the U.S. is cracking down on financial institutions that moves money to terrorist organizations Iran supports. This includes Hizbollah and Hamas. The U.S. has ramped up its intelligence effort to discover who is paying who, and is ordering banks to cease providing services to terrorist related organizations, or face being cut off from the American banking system. Iran has to scramble to find banks that do not fear U.S. banking sanctions, and is discovering that this is not easy.
Buried Videos Surface in HLF Trial -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
By The Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT)
A Northern Virginia man’s home landscaping chore became evidence Thursday in the terror-support trial of the Holy Land Foundation and five of its officials in Dallas. Marcial Peredo told jurors how he was leveling the yard at his new Falls Church home when he stumbled into a stash of videotapes buried in the ground.
Their War--My War -- [Marching Camp - in Iraq]
The Washington Post published (I'm shocked) an excellent article on the disconnect between the American warrior class and the mass of the (largely unarmed) public.
It's hardly infantrymen alone, though their job has changed least. At the basic level, Soldiers are killers, regardless of how you dress it up in fancy words. The difference between a Soldier and a bandit is in intent and restraint. We kill those who deserve it, bandits prey on the weak regardless.
"But these days, that part of the job apparently makes America's civilians uneasy. World War II headlines celebrated accomplished military killers and called them heroes. Second Lt. Audie Murphy mowed down dozens of attacking German soldiers, won the Medal of Honor and went on to become a movie star. Today, U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who win medals for successfully doing their jobs while obeying the laws of war might get local coverage. But the brightest national spotlight is reserved for killers who are war criminals, such as the alleged perpetrators of the Haditha massacre, or heroes who are victims, such as prisoners of war. American civilians no longer seem comfortable labeling a soldier as both a killer and a hero.
America's Biggest Lie: "We Support The Troops" -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
The most pathetic hyperbolic chamber of them all-Congress.
Of the myriad fluff lines from our political heroes, paid well BY us to lie TO us, perhaps Hillary Clinton's lie about how best to support the Troops sums up just how little these clowns in Public Office truly understand what it means to actually "support" anyone:
FIRST THINGS FIRST -- [Soldier's Mom]
As most of you know, the fair treatment of wounded warriors -- active duty and Veterans -- has become a personal mission of mine. In that vein, here is the text of an email sent to our Congressman:
...We believe strongly that Congress has a fundamental responsibility to establish relative priorities, put first things first, and ensure that there is better proportionality between compensation and service and sacrifice rendered.
As the parents of a 22-year-old disabled U.S. Army soldier who faces a lifetime of inadequate compensation for his sacrifice, we say fix the current inequities before Congress creates others.
Also, if you use TRICARE (if you don't know what that is, you're not affected) be sure to check out this information on POSSIBLE TRICARE DATA COMPROMISE.
Freedom Walk -- [Sgt Stryker]
...The Freedom walk is a way that all Americans can show their support for this nation as well as honor our troops who are defending our county with their lives. One of the wonderful aspects of the Freedom Walk is that anyone can organize or host a Freedom Walk in their own community.
If you see that there isn’t a walk scheduled for your area, you can organize your own walk. The official America Supports You Freedom Walk is located here: Freedomwalk.
Museum aircraft carrier could serve as Emergency Operations Center -- [EagleSpeak]
the aircraft carrier museum ship USS Intrepid is available to be used as a contingency Emergency Operations Center for New York in the event of a disaster or attack.
Back in, Back out -- [From My Position... On the way!]
I am in from the field (and back out tomorrow--I've been recovering for the last couple days after spending almost a week getting pissed on by WA's "unseasonably rainy" weather.)
Training cadets is usually pretty fun. You have to realize (and it is a pretty large leap) that they are NOT trained soldiers. Worse, they haven't been working together for months, and really barely know each other. Luckily, we don't just evaluate them on tactical and technical abilities. We look at attributes (Mental, Physical, and Emotional), skills (Conceptual, Interpersonal, Technical, Tactical) actions (Communicating, Decision Making, Motivating, Planning, Executing, Assessing, (Subordinate leader) Developing, (Team) Building, and (individual) Learning.
2600 Minnesota ARNG Soldiers Return Home -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Over the past week the last of thousands of MNARNG troops with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division have returned home after a 22-month deployment including mobilization time and a short stay at Ft. McCoy in Wisconsin.
'It Didn't Happen' -- [Opinion Journal - JAMES TARANTO]
Democrats go soft on crimes against humanity.
Barack Obama's latest pronouncement on Iraq should have shocked the conscience. In an interview with the Associated Press last week, the freshman Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate opined that even preventing genocide is not a sufficient reason to keep American troops in Iraq.
"Well, look, if that's the criteria by which we are making decisions on the deployment of U.S. forces, then by that argument you would have 300,000 troops in the Congo right now--where millions have been slaughtered as a consequence of ethnic strife--which we haven't done," Mr. Obama told the AP. "We would be deploying unilaterally and occupying the Sudan, which we haven't done. Those of us who care about Darfur don't think it would be a good idea."
WINNING IN IRAQ AND LOSING IN WASHINGTON -- [Ralph Peters - NY Post]
TO a military professional, the tactical progress made in Iraq over the last few months is impressive. To a member of Congress, it's an annoyance.
The herd animals on Capitol Hill - from both parties - just can't wait to go over the cliff on Iraq. And even when the media mention one or two of the successes achieved by our troops, the reports are grudging.
Yet what's happening on the ground, right now, in Baghdad and in Iraq's most-troubled provinces, contributes directly to your security. In the words of a senior officer known for his careful assessments, al Qaeda's terrorists in Iraq are "on their back foot and we're trying to knock them to their knees."
Do our politicians really want to help al Qaeda regain its balance?
"Worst Case of Voter Fraud in Washington History" -- [Jawa Report]
Courtesy of the leftwing group ACORN.
When the libs try to scream about stolen elections, oppressed voters, yadda yadda, all you need to do is say "How about ACORN?"
King County prosecutors filed felony charges Thursday against seven people in what a top official described as the worst case of voter-registration fraud in state history,
Document drop: A new critique of the 2004 Lancet Iraq death toll study -- [Michell Malkin]
Update 9:30pm Eastern. Shannon Love at the Chicago Boyz blog called foul on the Lancet 2004 study early on and, with vindication, reacts to David Kane’s new analysis of the 2004 Lancet Iraq death toll study: “Kane shows that if the Falluja cluster is included in the statistical calculations, the confidence interval dips below zero, which is a big no-no. Since the study’s raw data remain a closely guarded secret, Kane cannot be absolutely certain that the inclusion of the Falluja cluster renders the study mathematically invalid…but that’s the way to bet. In science, replication is the iron test. I find it revealing that no other source or study has come close to replicating the original study. All my original points still stand. Ah, vindication is sweet.”
Responding to the Bridge at No Gun Ri -- [GI Korea]
In my prior posting I posted in full the Associated Press’ entire uncut article about their version of what happened at No Gun Ri for everyone to review before posting a rebuttal to it. Unlike the AP writers I don’t mind people reading both sides of the story and judging the facts for themselves. In the rebuttal I have posted paragraphs from the original AP article in bold print and then offered my comments below them.
Newsweek of McCain's Implosion: America 'Won't Listen to a Military Man' Anymore -- [NewsBusters]
...There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth now that their favorite Republican looks to be a goner, at least if Michael Hirsh of Newsweek is any indication. In "Why McCain’s Collapse Matters", Hirsh not only laments McCain's diminishment of influence, but blames the American people for not listening to military "heroes" on how evil this war is. Hirsh also uses his piece as an excuse to repeatedly bash Fred Thompson using the media's "He's just an actor" mantra. Naturally, Hirsh learns all the wrong lessons from his review of history and displays it in this little tsk tsking tirade aimed at the American people for their gall in not fawning over McCain like the MSM does.
Hollywood joins the Long War In about the way I expected. -- [CDR Salamander]
On a night four years ago, five soldiers back from three months in Iraq went drinking at a Hooters restaurant and a topless bar near Fort Benning, Ga.
Before the night was over, one of them, Specialist Richard R. Davis, was dead of at least 33 stab wounds, his body doused with lighter fluid and burned. Two of the group would eventually be convicted of the murder, another pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and the last confessed to concealing the crime.
Soldiers Having Fun
(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. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.
Giggles -- [Jack Army - in Iraq]
Since I've figured out how to embed video, I'm able to give you a couple of more. Next up is a video from a visit to a town outside our area. This town gets almost no notice from anybody, good or bad. It's just a quiet town doing it's own thing, but security there is good, services are getting better, and the townsfolk are very supportive of the government and the Coalition.
....After the school, we visited the hospital. And then we left town and stopped at a small compound about two miles out and had lunch with an old gentleman. Not sure who he was, but he was very keen to host a lunch visit with us and told us many stories about the past. One very interesting story was about his grandfather who had worked with the British when they occupied a fort about 500 meters away from his house.
Iraq Report: Taji Tribes Turn on Mahdi Army and al Qaeda -- [Roggio Report]
Operation Phantom Thunder and the Baghdad Security Plan continue to place pressure on al Qaeda in Iraq, allied Sunni insurgent groups, the Mahdi Army and the Iranian-backed Special Group. In Baghdad, junior al Qaeda in Iraq operatives are reportedly cooperating with Coalition forces and a series of car bombs hit a Shia area of the capital. In the Belts, U.S. and Iraqi forces maintain aggressive operations against al Qaeda and insurgent cells as both Sunni and Shia tribal leaders in and around Taji have banded together to fight the Mahdi Army and al Qaeda. Meanwhile, the U.S. captured two more members of the Special Groups and have indicated that Iran is now smuggling Chinese made weapons into Iraq.
“The Three-Block War; The Mission Continues” -- [ONPoint]
Back in February OnPoint interviewed LtCol William Jurney, CO of 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, who were based in Ramadi. “It’s clear-hold-build, but all done at the same time,” he said, and it’s his strategy that’s being adapted to the current Coalition “Surge” efforts throughout Iraq. Not surprisingly, 1/ 6’s successes in Ramadi are now being duplicated in the various battle-spaces.
Yesterday, MajGen Benjamin Mixon, commanding general of Task Force Marne commented that he thought he could soon take several thousand of his soldiers out of their current combat zones and re-assign them to other AO’s; he thought that the Iraqi Army units assigned to him were good enough to work independently. Col John Charlton, CO of 1stBrig., 3rd I.D, who inherited LtCol Jurney’s pacified Ramadi, also declared that he might be able to re-assign some of his army units also - this is how clear-hold-build is supposed to work; a joint American-Iraqi operation where as the Iraqi Army and Police step up, the American can step down.
Fighting To Win Hearts And Minds In Anbar -- [Matt Sanchez]
In a conflict that relies heavily on the native population, civil affairs units are in demand. Civil Affairs are a strange hybrid because they require a strong interaction with the general population. Most units consists of reservists, but with the demand so high, that is quickly changing. Many CAG units (for the Marines) or CAT units (for the Army) have fanned out across Iraq and Afghanistan. The task is enormous. CAG units work with the local population and support the pillars of their society: governance, security and education. There is also the added obstacle of helping to put "an Iraqi face" on what they do, a task that can be difficult for a country that does not have a "customer service" mentality.
Chief Warrant officer Steve Townsley said, "We're working to get the trust of the local population, but we also want to put as much of an Iraqi face on this as possible." For Operation Alljah, local police officers, some of whom live in the neighborhoods we visited, handed out the huge sacks of foods and necessities to the local population. The "swarm" tactic of taking a neighborhood and locking it down, works best with the cooperation of those who actually live in the neighborhood.
Progress continues in Iraq despite acts of violence -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — Success on the ground in Iraq is being overshadowed by spectacular attacks designed to draw attention from good things which are happening there, a U. S. Central Command officer told online journalists and bloggers in a conference call Thursday.
Sheiks meet in reconciliation effort -- [MNF-I]
CAMP TAJI — Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks from Iraqi villages of Aqar Qaf, Bassam, Salamiyat and Fira Shia moved closer to reconciliation Monday here during a meeting facilitated by the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment.
The sheiks put aside their differences to end violence in their villages and met to discuss ways of starting neighborhood watch programs made up of volunteers to protect their communities.
According to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Kamper, commander of 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt., the sheiks are tired of attacks on innocent civilians and Coalition forces in their neighborhoods and want to put an end to the presence of al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups operating there.
Engaging Anti-Iraqi Forces
Cresting the Summit -- [Mission Iraq - Round 2 - in Iraq]
From my position it is easy to refer to every Iraqi with our slang word, Haji, and believe they are all guilty and rotten to the core. I am reminded by viewing this picture of the weeping man that it is the corps of rotten, filthy, bastard extremists and radicals who are truly the enemy here. They will force the average Iraqi - who is just trying to survive and provide for his family - to carry out acts of violence against Coalition Forces. Although he normally wouldn't do this, he has been coerced through the threat of his entire family being exterminated (while he watches) if he doesn't submit to the radicals. This example is one of many factors seated in the heart of failure for this region.
...One last thought pertaining to success v. failure for Iraq. For those members of Congress trying to "help" US troops by clamouring about bringing troops home early...one phrase for you ..."Silence is golden". Actually, I mean to say "Shut your pie hole"
Will Engineering Efforts Be Coalition’s Legacy In Iraq? -- [US Army Corps of Engineers - in Iraq]
...Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, speaking to the diverse group of civilians and military comprising the Gulf Region central district in Iraq. Brooks, the deputy commanding general for Support, Multinational Division Baghdad, was a keynote speaker for a two-day senior leader conference hosted July 1-2 at the GRC headquarters on Victory
Base Complex, Baghdad. He talked about the years of decay in Iraq’s infrastructure. “And so the challenge
you face, in concentrating your efforts as world-class engineers to leave the situation better than you found it, is
harder than you could ever imagine,” said Brooks. “You have to be an All-Star Team because average work is simply not going to be adequate. Only above average work, superb work, excellent work, will give us even a chance to progress further than we are right now,” said Brooks. He also said that Iraqis have very high and often unrealistic expectations of the United States.
Back to the grind!!! -- [West Coast Notorious - in Iraq]
Regarding the I.E.D. that hit one of the trucks in our company the other day, I spoke with Cpl. "H" and he gave me the run down. While conducting combat operations in southeren Iraq an EFP went off striking the the back of a gun truck that was taking up the rear position and then following with some SAF only to take off and not be seen. Sgt. "N", Cpl. "H", and Pfc. "T" suffered no injurys except for some ringing in their ears. " I really did'nt even hear the blast."said Cpl. "H". " I was furious!" Sgt. "B" from my company said that when he arrived Cpl. "H" was scanning his sector looking for the S.O.B. that hit them. The good thing here is everybody is o.k., we'll get'em!!!
Letter from the Raider Brigade Commander -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
As requested, progress report from Ramadi:
Security here in Ramadi continues to improve as the Iraqi police and army forces work daily to keep the population safe. When we arrived in February, we were averaging 30 – 35 attacks per day in our area of responsibility. Now our average is one attack per day or less. We had an entire week with no attacks in our area and have a total of over 65 days with no attacks. I attribute this success to our close relationship with the Iraqi security forces and the support those forces receive from the civilian population. The Iraqi police and army forces have uncovered hundreds of munitions caches and get intelligence tips from the local population every day.
Our biggest challenge with the Iraqi police is getting them fully equipped, paid, and consolidated in police stations. The support system that begins with the MOI [Ministry of the Interior], and extends through the provincial police chief, is still a work in progress. As a result, the Iraqi police still rely heavily on coalition logistics and support.
Paratroopers Start Marne Avalanche - Iraq
B-roll of aerial Apache footage. Scenes include helicopters landing and U.S. Soldiers moving toward their objective
Militias -- [Acute Politics - in Iraq]
I have written previously about some of the major distinctions in the structure of the Iraqi Security Forces. Over the course of the last year, I have had the opportunity many times to see various Iraqi units in action. The Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police have greatly increased in number- there were few of either evident in Ramadi last October, and they are everywhere now. I like to see IAs and IPs; I like to see that Iraqis fighting for their own country. However, the guys I really like to see are the PSF and Neighborhood Watch fighters.
I have witnessed the appearance of local fighters in an area several times- an advent that is normally followed quickly by relative peace.
Fuel -- [The Unlikely Soldier - in Iraq]
...Someone reports up that there are guys digging. It's after curfew. There is an AK. And a pistol. Someone gets permission to engage.
BOOM. A group of five guys gets their world rocked. The apocalypse descends on them and a 240bravo opens up with automatic 7.62mm fury. Some manage to run or limp away. One tries to climb under a fence. He's cut apart with machine gun fire.
One of my friends dismounts with a few other guys. They find blood trails. Scouring fields, night vision burning green migraine fury into their eyes, his eyes dart from one spatter to another. He keeps walking until he trips over something.
"This country is our country... we will defend it." -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
...senior Coalition Force officer in Diyala, talk about future operations with Maj. Aziz, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, on top of the roof of the Zaganiyah Patrol Base in the Diyala River Valley, July 19.
“The heart of al-Qaida members is dead. They kill women, children and everyone,” said Aziz. “This country is our country. Nobody is forcing us to fight and we will defend it.”
Patton Returns [HT:Soldiers' Angels Germany]
...and he's not happy, either.
Typical Patrol (Video) -- [Jack Army - in Iraq]
Here I am, "rolling out the wire", on a typical patrol. No action, nothing exciting, just driving around doin' stuff. 119 times out of 120, this is what our patrols are like. It's that 120th one that makes things real interesting, if you know what I mean.
A couple of notes about some of the things you see in the video.
1. As soon as we make the turn, you see an white car with orange quarter-panels....
Iraq, Fairy Tales -- [Strategy Page]
...While an Iraqi Tet would also result in a great slaughter against the "guerillas," the only neighboring country capable of invading and taking over is Iran. But Iran is the traditional foe of the Sunni Arabs. So what do the Sunni Arabs expect to achieve by attempting a general uprising? Well, it seems that the Sunni Arabs are still very full of themselves and believe that, if they can force American troops to leave Iraq, they will be able to outsmart and outfight the Kurds and Shia Arabs, and regain control. To understand what's going on in Iraq, you have to understand that fantasies like that are taken very seriously.
Will the "empire" strike back -- [Powerline]
Former Bush administration official Michael Gerson makes the case for tougher action against Syria. Although Syria is not the primary outside player causing trouble in Iraq, it's in the top two. As Gerson notes:
Fallujah -- [The Gunner's World - in Iraq]
... I interviewed their commanding officer in Al Taqaddum a while back. This is an interesting group; PRP is the old Mortuary affairs unit, although now they have been assigned a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and also have a formal school to attend. This is an all volunteer unit based on the work that they do, and you can leave the MOS upon request as well. This was not always the case as many Marines were randomly selected from various backgrounds and assigned to Mortuary Affairs, having no background in it but Marines were needed in times of war for the duties of processing deceased service members. The USMC has now formalized the field and assigned it a MOS for continued consistency in the field. Although I did learn that of the 35 members of PRP who were deployed last year to Iraq only 4 have returned for this deployment. This is a very difficult and emotional job, retrieving and processing deceased service member’s for their final flight back home.
Calamity in Basra and British Rules of Engagement -- [Captain's Journal]
Published July 23rd, 2007 by Herschel Smith in Rules of Engagement, Iraq, War & Warfare |
Soon after the invasion of Iraq, some thought that the British presence in Basra might very well join the short but remarkable catalog of counterinsurgency victories in history. The British did what they have always done, including implementation of “soft” rules of engagement. More than a little ridicule has been wasted and ink has been spilled in the excoriation of U.S. rules of engagement, which even though seen by us as lacking the robustness to win OIF at times, are “harder” than the British ROE. Juan Cole gives us a preening communication from a British reservist from July of 2005. “One aspect that is rarely discussed is the vast difference between the British and American rules of engagement. You will quickly respond by saying ‘oh but things are so much safer in the South because it is predominantly Shia’. Yes but
It's a Party!! Iraqis Dance in Streets After Big Soccer Win! -- [Gateway Pundit]
"All this is not only for the game- It's for the wounds of Iraq!"
Sahar Abd Ali
40 year-old Iraqi mother
After Iraqi Soccer Team wins at Asia Cup
Iraq exploded with celebration today after a huge win for the country's soccer team.
Soccer fans wave the Iraqi flag in central Baghdad, Iraq after Iraq defeated Vietnam 2-0 in Bangkok Thailand in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, Saturday, July 21, 2007, providing a welcome relief from the daily violence facing Iraqis.
Week 25--A Typical Day -- [Richard's Deployment - in Afghansitan]
There is no typical day at a forward surgical hospital. It's like working in a big city emergency room/trauma center 24/7/365. There are slow days where I get to the gym and the bazaar and hang out with the guys. There are other days where it is busy from dawn until late at night with traumas and surgeries and patients on the ward. And there are lots of days in-between. But every day is an adventure.
This week was crazy. Lots of days with lots of traumas. A few deaths. And a few quiet days.
Taliban take credit for suicide attacks in Pakistan -- [The Fourth Rail]
North Waziristan Taliban commander said attacks are in retaliation for the Red Mosque assault
As the Pakistani government continues with negotiating to restore the Waziristan Accord with the Taliban in North Waziristan, the Taliban has admitted to conducting suicide attacks across the country. Maulvi Abdul Khaliq Haqqani, a member of the Taliban Shura in North Waziristan who is wanted by the government for past attacks, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the recent suicide attacks, and praised the "martyrs" of the Taliban-supporting Red Mosque,
Geopolitical Diary: Pakistan Reacts to U.S. Call for Action -- [Statfor]
U.S. forces on Monday moved a day closer to launching a major military operation into Pakistan. Pakistan has realized that the United States was not kidding when, last week, it broached the topic of launching major operations into Pakistan. The United States has seized people's attention, but it remains to be seen whether the chaos that is Pakistani politics can solidify for an internal housecleaning before Washington must make a final decision.
The Taliban Campaign for "Hearts and Minds" -- [Miserable Donuts]
They have learned when they attack Coalition troops and the Afghan Army they get dead. They are moving more and more to kidnapping and killing soft targets. Targets from countries whose populations are not totally convinced their Soldiers should be participating. I have noticed they always Kill the Afghan drivers and interpreters just there trying to feed their families.
Commander of the Provincial Reconstruction Team of the Gardez province -- [Matt Sanchez - in Afghanistan]
I asked the commander of the PRT some of the questions and concerns you sent me.
Lt. Colonel Gilhart -- [Matt Sanchez - in Afghanistan]
After all is said and done...
More Reports from Afghanistan -- [Matt Sanchez - in Afghanistan]
Breaking: Missile Launcher Discovered in New Jersey -- [LGF]
A missile launcher has turned up in the front lawn of a house in New Jersey, along the flight path to Newark Liberty International Airport: Feds Seize Rocket Launcher In NJ.
From the description it sounds like a shoulder-launched SAM.
Les Vents du Change: -- [Embassy of France] HT" PJM
2500 PEOPLE GATHER ON OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY TO FORM A “HUMAN CHAIN” OF GRATITUDE AND HONOR THE FALLEN AMERICAN HEROES WHO LIBERATED FRANCE DURING WW II
In the spirit of its mission statement, “The French Will Never Forget” (www.thefrenchwillneverforget.com), organized an extraordinary gathering of approximately 2500 people in Omaha Beach, Normandy for July 4 th 2007. The crowd formed on the sand the letters of the phrase: “FRANCE WILL NEVER FORGET”, aimed at honoring the fallen American heroes who scarified their lives to liberate France at the end of WW II.
FRENCH TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN FRANCE to FREE EUROPE (more)
Something Is About To Happen -- [Strategy Page]
July 23, 2007: Starvation deaths in North Korea have returned to 1990s levels. That means over a thousand people a week dying from lack of food. Over a million people died during the 1990s food shortages. This time around, the shortages are caused by government refusal to allow in food that must have its distribution monitored (making it difficult for the government to divert the food to the army or private sale). The government also took its time with the current round of nuclear disarmament talks, delaying shipments of food from South Korea. These have just arrived and are being distributed.
Why Warriors Make Lousy Terrorists -- [Strategy Page]
July 23, 2007: Al Qaeda has been on a downward spiral since September 11, 2001, and there's no general agreement on why this is. No attacks in North America, and the many thwarted plots there, revealed a lack of professionalism quite at odds which attacks in the 1990s, and up to September 11, 2001. The terrorist violence in Iraq, often attributed to al Qaeda, is largely the work of Saddams rather efficient security organizations. Those lads were not much good at fighting the U.S. armed forces, but they have, over three decades, become quite good at killing Iraqis, and terrorism in general.
One Thousand Two Hundred Marines: Urgent Alert for Massive Support -- [Soldiers' Angels Kansas]
One Thousand Two Hundred Marines (yes! 1200) [no! make that 3000 as of Thursday afternoon] from the Fighting 13th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) have been submitted to Soldiers' Angels for support.
The Marines may be looking for a few good men, but we are looking for a lot of great citizens who are willing to help support these men and women. Some of these marines are on the fifth deployment in defense of our nation.
We need Angels to adopt as many marines as possible. We need many more patriotic citizens to sign up to become Angels to adopt some fine marines. Please help us support these men and women.
Video: A. Whitney Brown salutes our “morally retarded” troops, still isn’t funny -- [Hot Air]
This one would be a career killer if there was a career left to kill; as it is, although it’s clearly not a joke, it’ll magically become one once it starts making the rounds and the requisite outrage is mustered. I guess the new, not-at-all-O’Reilly-inspired pre-electoral housecleaning operation hasn’t gotten going in earnest yet.
Update: Brown has clarified his remarks in the comments at dKos by indictating, yup, he meant every word.
So to sum up, I don’t like our troops, I don’t like what they’re doing, I don’t like their fat, whining families, and yet, I support them. Thank God I live in a free country. Thank You.
Oregon Seniors Carve Walking Canes for the Wounded -- [Gazing at the Flag]
A Salem, Oregon senior group has turned their collective hobby of carving into a philanthropic endeavor.
About ten members of the Capitol Carvers made the three-hour drive to Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington, to meet with Oregon National Guard Soldiers who are recovering at MAMC from wounds received while deployed to the Middle East.
The group presented Soldiers with hand-carved walking canes. Each cane came with an accompanying letter thanking the individual Soldier for their sacrifice and service.
Pro: Opponents of the Afghan military mission who say they `support our troops' are simply spewing platitudes -- [The Star]
If truth is the first casualty of war, then the tendency to spew platitudes must be war's first-born child. A current Canadian bromide is, "I don't support the war in Afghanistan, but I support our troops."
On the surface, that would seem an acceptable sentiment. But if you scratch the surface, many who object to Canadian participation in the war will begin spewing further platitudes, each more nonsensical than the previous. Platitudes about imperialism, about the wanton killing of civilians, about the war on terror being "all about oil."
If one honestly believes that foolishness, how can one "support" our troops?
If you believe Canadian troops are taking part in the slaughter of civilians for no reason other than to line Dick Cheney's pockets, then how can you "support" said troops?
If you believe that Canada's forces should only be donning their renowned "peacekeeper" hats, then how can you support them when they are at war?
A Summary of Friday's (Mostly Hate) Mail -- [Begin Each Day As If It Were on Purpose]
Technically, it's still flowing in, so it isn't just Friday's mail. And thankfully, it wasn't all hateful.
But most of the reaction to my recent Toronto Star column was nasty. People:
..."If you support the deliberate killing of bad people, then why don't you kill yourself, you dumb bitch."
But the best had to be this, from the Nationalist Party of Canada
Your bitchy warmonger face explains your ugly pro-Zionist attitude of kill, kill, kill. You're a disgusting example of Western womanhood. Begone, you Witch of the West, and we promise not to spit on your totalitarian persona, but instead, will put you on thelist of controlled media hooligans known as the Walter Duranty Award for Obfuscating Propaganda Journalism
All of the above, disturbing as it is, was washed away by the positive email I got from Lewis Mackenzie. Yes, Lewis Mackenzie. Not to mention several messages -- all supportive and flattering -- from Canadian troops in Afghanistan. I know whose opinions matter most to me.
The 9/11 Generation -- [The Weekly Standard]
...I've spent much of the past two weeks speaking with young people (and a few not-so-young) who have made the decision to serve their country by volunteering for the military. Some of these men have Ivy League degrees; all of them are talented and intelligent individuals who--contrary to John Kerry's infamous "botched joke" ("Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq")--could have chosen to do anything with their lives. Having signed up, they have either gone to Iraq or look forward to doing so. Not surprisingly, the mainstream media have underreported their stories.
One of the excesses of the 1960s that present-day liberals have disowned and disavowed since 9/11 is the demonization of the American military. While every now and then an unrepentant liberal like Charlie Rangel will appear on cable news and casually accuse U.S. troops of engaging in baby-killing in Iraq, the liberal establishment generally knows better. They "support" the American military--at least in the abstract, until it does anything resembling fighting a war.
Disgraceful anti-Military Blog at Daily Kos: Armed Forces Creating Serial Killers -- [NewsBusters]
The hatred for America's military emanating from the left in this nation reached a new low on Thursday when a blog was posted at Daily Kos entitled "KILLITARY: Are America's Armed Forces Creating Serial Killers and Mass Murderers?
In it, Corey Mitchell, a crime author and editor of In Cold Blog, addressed the "list of serial killers and mass murderers who have spent time in the military" while making the case that "a seemingly normal, everyday, All-American soldier [can] turn into a brain scooping cell phone camera posing beast."
That Deleted Daily Kos Post About Our Government-Issue Psychopaths, Discovered -- [Ace of Spades]
DP provided me with the details of the post and it seems to just be a cross-posing of this post. He told me the post was titled "KILLITARY" (in caps, by the way); it didn't take long to discover the beauty excerpted below.
DP writes back to say this is the diary he read on Kos... but softened now:
Psycho-Death Cult -- [Jules Crittenden]
Archaeblogogist Ace does some digging, uncovers traces of an anti-military cult in our midst, in the recent past. As in last week, briefly, at Kos, before the high priests feared what they had wrought and exorcised it. Spirit summoned up here in a Google seance. Psycho-death cult is obsessed with the myth that all soldiers are psycho-killers.
Emails to Congressman John Murtha page 8 -- [Gathering of Eagles]
Editor – Emails are posted newest to oldest, with one fitting exception; Darryl Sharratt’s letter will remain in the lead at the top of the lastest post. Add your email to Mr. Sharratt’s, the ones I will take to Congressman Murtha’s district office, by clicking here. Please, be succinct and civil while telling Congressman John Murtha how you really feel.
Haditha Marine Father has a Conversation with John Murtha -- [9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America]
I will personally deliver Darryl Sharratt's email to Congressman Murtha's office this week, along with all those sent to me at letters:
Throughout this Haditha investigation our family has believed in the innocence of our son L/Cpl Justin Sharratt, we knew he was innocent. There are things I do not understand and I would like to find the answers. We do not seek revenge, but we would like to see justice. In a conversation with Congressman John Murtha, my questions still remain unanswered. With the help of the American people, I hope to find justice.
On Wednesday morning, July 17th I spoke with Congressman John Murtha via telephone from his Washington, DC office. We had a courteous conversation. I knew what to expect from a career politician and Congressman Murtha did not disappoint. Mr. Murtha avoided answering the hard questions and I was unable to press him for the answers. I wanted the conversation to remain amicable and decided to let him speak and avoid a heated confrontation.
Harper's Takes Lame Swipe at Milbloggers -- [Weekly Standard]
Harper's took a shot at the WWS and others on Friday in the context of a piece about the Pentagon's "Blogger Outreach" program. Author Ken Silverstein writes that the program
...The funny thing is, Silverstein took a while to arrive at this uninformed conclusion--this was a follow-up web piece to an equally half-cocked piece that appeared two days earlier. That first piece on the Pentagon's "new spin unit" revealed the administration's dastardly plan "to bypass the traditional media and work directly with talk radio and bloggers, mostly those with a heavily conservative tilt." Making the whole thing sound even more scandalous, Silverstein adds that he hasn't "been able to learn which blogs and individuals the unit has been working with, but urge[s] anyone with such information to contact me via email." But even the most cursory Google search for "Pentagon blogger call" turns up dozens of hits from the participants. We invariably include "Blogger's Roundtable" or "Blogger Call" in the titles of our posts, and as he concedes in his second piece,
American Legacy: Wayne Downing -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
These words come with more news about the passing of General Wayne Downing, one of America’s finest. This rare man was highly respected by the best of the best. I had the honor of talking several times with General Downing in Iraq earlier this year. He was still leading the way, providing his seasoned analysis on the air with NBC’s Brian Williams. At the time, I wrote of meeting General Downing in a dispatch entitled “Ernie is Dead”:
Home At Last!!!!! -- [Foreign and Domestic - home from Iraq]
650 days after leaving, I am finally home. Not the home I left, of course, but home none the less.
I've been out of touch with the internet for a while, so I'll try to recap the last 3 weeks.
We first had to leave Al Asad, which meant selling anything you couldn't pack, and living out of a rucksack for a while. After 8 months, even an 8x17 box begins to feel like home, so it really does feel like leaving.
Welcome Home - (mp3)
This is for SSG Thul and the rest of the Red Bulls.
Mission Complete - Welcome Home - HHC Group 1, 1/34th BCT
The Patriot Guard has been asked to assist in welcoming home MN National Guard soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division. The "Red Bulls" have been on deployment for 22 months, and were in the combat theater in Iraq for 16 months, the longest deployment of any unit since the beginning of the Global War on Terror. They have performed admirably and we are glad to finally be able to welcome them home.
Group 1 from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 1/34 Brigade Combat Team will be returning to Bloomington on Monday, 16 July 07. We will be providing a small escort group for the buses returning, and have flag lines set up at the arrival point where they will be dropped off. If you would like to participate in the escorts please contact your sector Ride Captain and advise them of your availability. If you are unsure who your ride captain is contact Nate "Birdie" Zenker at birdie@mnpatriotguard.org . Please keep in mind that we must keep the escort groups small for safety and security reasons. We will want most people to stand a flag line at the welcome home locations.
We will post staging and itineraries for the flag lines as soon as they are available. Thank you in advance for your help in welcoming home the Red Bulls!
Our hometown heroes come home, part 2 -- [Powerline]
There is no word in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on the festivities that greeted the return of the Minnesota National Guardsmen from Iraq in Owatonna yesterday. To fill the vacuum, reader Jim Snyder has kindly provided us this report as well as the photo display that can be viewed here.
Cnn YouTube Debate- Democratic- Iraq
Troop Withdrawal: Considering the Consequences (Video) -- [Heritage Focus]
Poll: U.S. Support for Iraq Invasion Inches Up -- [NYT - The Caucus] HT Jawa Report
American support for the initial invasion of Iraq has risen somewhat as the White House has continued to ask the public to reserve judgment about the war until General David Petraeus files his report in the fall.
Instapundit and Wonkette Discuss YouTube and Politics with Howard Kurtz
An Undeniably Bad Case of Denial -- [Badgers Forward - in Iraq]
Rosa Brooks, erstwhile law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, has a profoundly disturbing column in the LA Times today. In her view the "reality" of a post 9/11 that included the violence of that day and the subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, was mostly an ideological construct of the "neo-cons" in her view:
Scott Free -- [Matt Sanchez]
Baby-killer was already a cliche, but dog murderer? In a world where PETA membership is taken more seriously than citizenship,
Thomas Scott, a pseudonym for a soldier supposedly stationed in Baghdad, told the story of how he was becoming insensitive to those around him. As "The Baghdad" diarist for The New Republic " penned such liberal literary jewels like "The Zombie Dogs of Baghdad."
the self-analyzing private asked the deep questions. Am I a monster," he mused in a tone dignified of Hamlet. The problem was that the story also included a skull, and too many details that just didn't add up.
The Thomas Affaire -- [Matt Sanchez - in Afghansitan]
The big point to remember about an incident like the Scott Thomas Affaire is that it only gets published because publications like the New Republic truly want to believe his story, even when the story itself doesn't even come close to passing the sniff Test.
I was at Camp Falcon earlier this month and didn't recognize any of what Scott Thomas described. So, I e-mailed the public affairs officer Major Luedeke at Camp Falcon:
Per COL Boylan's request, I have prepared the following
1. There was no mass grave found during the construction of any of our coalition outposts in the Rashid District at any time. Such a discovery would have prompted an investigation and close attention paid at levels higher than ours to making sure that the victims were properly interred and attempts would have been made to determine their identities. It is difficult to fathom that a unit's leadership would condone Soldiers disrespecting the remains of anyone in the fashion described.
2. Due to the threat of IEDs, our combat vehicles are driven professionally and in control at all times. To be driving erratically so as to hit dogs or other things would be to put the entire vehicle's crew at risk and would be gross dereliction of duty by the noncommissioned officer or officer in charge of the vehicle. Drivers aren't allowed to simply free-wheel their vehicles however they see fit, and they are *not* allowed to be moved anywhere with out a vehicle commander present to supervise the movement. Therefore- claims of vehicles leaving the roadways to hit animals are highly dubious, given the very real threat of IEDs and normal standards of conduct.
3. As for the alleged woman with severe burn scars, we have nobody matching that description here at FOB Falcon. As Soldiers, we practice the value of Respect: "Treat people as you want to be treated." If the blogger and his friends can't live the Army value of respect, I have little doubt that someone around them who does would have made an on-the-spot correction. The Falcon dining facility is not a spacious one. Anyone being rude, loud or raucous calls immediate attention to himself. It is hard to fathom that anyone would be able to get away with such callous behavior without somebody intervening and stopping it from happening.
Johannes to Thomas, Radio Check, Over -- [Outside the Wire]
"Scott" you've caused quite a stir of late. I really don't care who you are but I spent a little time around Falcon and think I know how to find you.
I'm guessing you are a member of 1-18 Infantry. They are the primary unit out of Falcon with Brads.
As for the archeological dig. My guess is that was at COP Ellis. Most of the other outposts are so urban, there is nothing much to dig.
With the Brads and Archeology, that may put you as Alpha 1/18 attached to Combat 1-28 Infanty.
If my guess is correct, that narrows it down to about 100 guys and your organic C.O. is Captain Robby Johnson.
I ran through Mahala 885 with CPT Johnson and a great group of guys last May and hammered out a little story about it.
The "Shock Troops" Crap -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Ok, this is how a real female service member reacts to adversity:
Just as Padmore reached the scene, he saw Saalman staggering toward him, her charred, flayed hands held up before her, her eyes vacant in a blackened face. She'd lost her rifle during the explosion.
"Sally, pull yourself together," he said. "You are not going to die. I promise: You are not going to die. But we need some leadership."
He watched her expression change instantly from shock to rage. "Somebody give me a fucking weapon!" she screamed. "I need a f*****g weapon!"
"Shock Troops" Pressure Builds -- [Weekly Standard]
...And the response from FOB Falcon identified the site of this alleged mass grave as Combat Outpost (COP) Ellis--the only COP that fits the description provided by "Thomas" to the New Republic. Riehl World View links to this story from Marine Corps News detailing the recent renovation of COP Ellis, complete with pictures of the Navy's Sea Bees building a new chow hall and storage facility. According to the article, the Marines and sailors of BLT 2/4 came to Ellis in November, when it was "a dusty bare piece of ground in the desert just outside of Barwanah, Iraq." As "Thomas" is described as a soldier, not a Marine, one wonders how he could have been involved in the initial construction of COP Ellis--let alone have discovered a mass grave there and frolicked amongst the remains.That is unless "Thomas" wasn't referring to Ellis, but, again, the PAO at Falcon says this is the only COP that matches "Thomas"'s description. More inconsistencies. But hey, "by the numbers" there have to be American troops somewhere in Iraq doing bad things...so why question the dubious and uncorroborated charges of an unidentified soldier.
Doubting Thomas: Simple Questions for the New Republic -- [Confederate Yankee]
As time wears on, it seems increasingly unlikely that the writings of the pseudonym-shielded soldier "Scott Thomas" in the New Republic are anything other than works of macabre creative fiction.
...I was based at Falcon last year for six months with the 101st Airborne. I never saw a woman who fits Thomas's description. That's not conclusive since I haven't been there for almost eight months.
Another soldier (an officer whose ID I have positively identified but whose name I do not have permission to publish) who has been at FOB Falcon since March describes the claims of Thomas as "total nonsense."
The New Republic must establish the following if they intend to continue claiming that this story of abuse by Thomas is true.
They must produce the year, month, and week that this attack took place, and make this time public knowledge.
If the New Republic cannot or will not release the time-frame during which the claimed assault took place, then there is no way for the military and agencies employing contractors at FOB Falcon to check their logs to prove or disprove the existence of a severely wounded soldier or contractor matching the description provided by Thomas.
The Fake Diary of a Fake Soldier -- [Guidons, Guidons, Guidons! - in Iraq]
I won't even attempt to address the motives of the person who wrote that piece of tripe. I will however say that the fact that a magazine would print or post to the INTERNET this stuff and present it as being true shows the contempt and utter lack of understanding they have of the culture surrounding today's military.
...On top of their dislike of who and what we are, you can add that they are actively opposed to the war itself and some see opposing and stopping the war anyway they can trumps being objective or looking for the greater truth.
We in the military can try and reach out to council, teach and mentor these people but it is after all a free country (you're welcome). So if the majority of the press isn't willing to learn then what are we to do?
Time Magazine - Soviet Gunship Steals the Letter "A" -- [Blackfive]
Got this message from reader John S. about this week's cover of Time:
...Great imagery to match the fall of Saigon, right? But look closely at the silhouette of the chopper. It's a Soviet-era Mi-24 "Hind" gunship!!!!!!! It was no doubt stock clip art dropped in by some person in their art department who wouldn't know an M-16 from an F-16, but nice Freudian touch, TIME!!!!
(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. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.
Badger 6 Television Interview -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Must-see TV interview with Badger 6 from Iraq and Mrs. Badger 6 from home on their local TV station.
From the KSDK NewsChannel website:
In al Anbar province, Captain Eric Coulson is in charge of route clearance. His unit removes IEDs from the roads. It's admittedly a dangerous job, but one he says becomes a little less dangerous each day. We spoke to Coulson Wednesday via the internet.
He says, "We have made such progress that instead of being a lost cause, al Anbar is talked about as the model for what Iraq could be." ...
The progress Coulson sees goes hand in hand with the frustration he feels. He dislikes the political infighting, the all-nighter on Capitol Hill, and those he feels are making uninformed decisions.
Al Qeada In Iraq Hoax.
An Al Qeada group in Iraq has that was described as one of the most violent,has been exposed by the US military as an online hoax.
7 Rules: 1 Oath -- [Michael Yon - in Iraq]
Today marks D+30 since the start of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. The initial goal of Arrowhead Ripper was to clear Baqubah of al Qaeda, and then attempt to “jump start” the city back into civic life, which had all but ceased while the terrorists were in control. Though relatively minor clearing operations are still underway, there is little combat in the city.
Today Colonel Steve Townsend, the American commander of the 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, presided over a meeting with Iraqi Army officers and former insurgent leaders. The insurgent leaders who seem to be sincerely working toward peace are now collectively referred to as “the Baqubah Guardians.” I was allowed to attend the meeting, but was—understandably—not permitted to photograph or videotape the proceedings.
General David Petraeus on the conditions on the ground in Iraq -- [Hugh Hewitt]
HH: Do you think al Qaeda in Iraq is buckling, General Petraeus?
DP: Well, it’s probably too soon to say that, but we think that we have them off plan. Now having said that, they clearly retain and have demonstrated, tragically in recent, the past week or so, the ability to continue to carry out sensational attacks. They continue to demonstrate the ability to counterattack against our forces, and those of our coalition partners. But the detention, or the capture or killing of the number of leaders that we have taken out in recent months, and weeks, actually, and the progress in terms of just clearing areas of them…as you know, Anbar Province has really become quite relatively clear of al Qaeda. Eastern Anbar still has some, and we are working in that area. We have recently cleared Western Baquba, which was almost al Qaeda central, the capitol of the new caliphate that they have tried to establish here in Iraq. So there has been considerable progress against them, but they do continue to receive foreign fighters through Syria, who become suicide bombers in many cases, and they do certainly have an ability to regenerate, to regroup, and to come back at us.
Why Pulling Out Won't Work -- [Guidons, Guidons, Guidons! - in Iraq]
We've all heard over the course of this long war...well at least since President Bush appeared on the deck of an aircraft carrier with a "mission accomplished" banner waving proudly in the sea breeze that we need to "pull out".
Being one of the many that are "in" right now, I think it really might be a good thing to discuss the merits and the down side of "pulling out".
"They" say if we "pull out" now then we won't have any problems in the future with our current partner.
Just a simple update. -- [Sergeant Grumpy]
... What we need to look at as is where we go next. I have an opinion, but in fact no matter what Congress decides I am pretty sure I will be there anyways. But we have to look at the present situation and decide which course provides the best benefit to the Nation. We should not be trying to minimize losses or worried about what other nations think, we should focus ondesireable outcomes. Kosovo was an "illegal" war, but no except the far right was upset about it. We need to look at where we are, and what the consequences are for pulling out.
A wise man once said - "the military doesn't make policy decisions". That is true. Do I want to go to Iraq, hell no. Do I want my son and daughter to have to deal with the consequences of our failure there? Hell no. So I am off to Iraq.
The US Army's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, engages an insurgent sniper trying to make a getaway.
A sad day. -- [West Coast Notorious - in Iraq]
...The missions seem to be picking up more action, alot of the guy's feel that the troop surge is working to draw the enemy out. They are starting to become more active which suits me just fine, the more of them that come out, the more of them we will kill! About two hours ago an I.E.D. went off destroying a gun truck, no one was injured. When somthing like this happens and no one is hurt, it is a great feeling. You buddy's are still alive and your equiptment worked. The enemy thinks by planting roadside bombs, RPG attacks, and mortaring FOB's that we will begin to become scared. That morale will lower causing the soldiers to not want to fight. They are dead wrong, these actions only strengthen are will to destroy the enemy. They are cowards who will never have the backbone to attack us face to face. By conducting these types of attacks, all they are doing is driving us to look for them even harder.
Caught In A Quandary -- [USAF Guy's Milblog - in Iraq]
If you haven't figured it out, I’ve come to be quite good friends with many of the Iraqis and they tell me they have great respect for me and what I do for them. Not every day is a picnic working with them (some days are far from it) but we have all agreed that business is business and not to be confused with the person.
I try to help them out in small ways and, of course, I share everything sent to me with them. However, the ones I’m closest with inevitably come to me and ask for assistance in some large manner. It might be something somewhat difficult but achievable.
...Most of us would love to help any one of them immigrate and the ones we would help would genuinely make great Americans but we’re caught in a quandary. There is a large exodus occurring in Iraq particularly amongst educated Iraqis fleeing to other countries in the Middle East or Europe (i.e., Ghassan fleeing to Norway). Additionally, educated professionals are far more likely to support/work with the Coalition so they become targets by the militia within Iraq. Case in point is the bravery our guys show by simply serving in the Iraqi Air Force. The result, we think, is a large "brain-drain" occurring in Iraq.
Every Day Is Yesterday, Every Day is Tomorrow -- [All Quiet on the Southwest Asian Front - in Iraq]
It got real busy. A lot has happened. An EFP burned his HMMWV to the ground and took of CPT W's leg. He not only survived, but was still in command of his platoon, giving orders as the medic was tourniqueting his leg on the hood of another vehicle to rush him to the CSH (Combat Surgical Hospital, think an updated M*A*S*H). More EFPs in a lot of places. We have done some good raids, nabbed a few bad guys. We've also gotten rocketed a lot more. A lot more. Like, 4-times-a-night-and-once-in-the-day more. No one's been hurt on our base just yet, but sometimes you know your luck has got to be running thin.
IED Factory
"Third Platoon, 2nd Squad and the Industrial Area"-- [Jim Spiri - in Iraq]
Third Platoon was on dismounted patrols during most of the times I was present recently. For that reason, I was able to accompany them more frequently than the others. Among each platoon, there are three squads, of which I've come to know each of them at separate times. Yet, 2nd Squad, led by Sgt. Keller, I've become most familiar with. And this is why I must write about them. It is only because I've spent more time with them and they too became familiar with me on a regular basis.
Third Platoon is commanded by Lt. Orr, a tall young man, in his mid to latter 20's, yet is looking older these days from all his experiences. He was prior enlisted with the Marines before he became an officer.
He was here in Fallujah during 2004, and participated routinely in combat operations when times were more volatile than they are nowadays. Put simply, he is a well seasoned combat marine who now leads marines into the same areas he was once being led through. If ever there was a case for "Leading by example," Lt. Orr fits that billing. He is very, very good at what he does.
My number must almost be up... -- [Eighty Deuce On The Loose - In Iraq]
OK, well I'm going to make this a short entry, because I dont have much time but I just wanted to get this little story out there because it scared the hell out of me today. So my last post I was talking about how I almost got hit by Iraqi drivers twice with a 3rd close call. Well, wouldn't ya know, today I almost got crushed by a Iraqi driving pickup truck. Jesus! This is starting to get a little old.
Basically we were walking along this road durring the busy "rush hour" type of Iraqi traffic. The sidewalk became impassable so we moved in to the street to bypass this one part. I was walking in between a parked utility truck and a pickup truck stopped in traffic.
State of the Suspect Address 2.0 -- [The Unlikely Soldier - in Iraq]
...I'd been informed that in the very near future, I would be taken from my current squad and put in the driver's seat of a different vehicle. Which is a bummer of course. Pile on sleep deprivation, endless mission cycles, the inability to use superhuman powers to cure the disease that is the state of this country, and a slew of other boo-hoos.
"Hey Suspect, Sgt Supply Dude needs you to go to the TOC and fill out a paper with all your uniform sizes."
This, my dear friends, is the straw that shattered the camel's back and forced its internal organs outward in fecal sprays of rage. Allow me to utilize my caps lock feature.
The “Surge” Continues: Operation Ithaca -- [ONPoint]
With the combat operations segments of the Surge Strategy less in the public view recently, the after-effects of Operation Phantom Thunder continue to be effective. Last week the 82nd Airborne launched “Operation Ithaca” on 12 July, and two days
