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. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.

IRAQ

US makes progress in Iraq's `triangle of death' -- [AP]
ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (AP) -- When the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Iraq's once infamous "Triangle of Death," violence there and in neighboring Baghdad was so intense that hundreds were dying every day and the country was virtually in a state of civil war.
Now as the division heads home at the end of May, the region stretching south from Baghdad and across central Iraq has become a showcase for what the U.S. military hoped to achieve in Iraq.
"When we first arrived here 15 months ago there was nothing but sectarian violence, al-Qaida, Shiite extremists," the division commander Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch said as he wrapped up a tour of an industrial complex.

Al Qaeda Discusses Losing Iraq -- [Straregy Page]
May 27, 2008: Al Qaeda web sites are making a lot of noise about "why we lost in Iraq." Western intelligence agencies are fascinated by the statistics being posted in several of these Arab language sites. Not the kind of stuff you read about in the Western media. According to al Qaeda, their collapse in Iraq was steep and catastrophic. According to their stats, in late 2006, al Qaeda was responsible for 60 percent of the terrorist attacks, and nearly all the ones that involved killing a lot of civilians. The rest of the violence was carried out by Iraqi Sunni Arab groups, who were trying in vain to scare the Americans out of the country.

Fall in violence lures Iraqis home -- [USA Today]
BAGHDAD — One year ago, Sahba Shukry hid her tears from her daughter as the family fled their home in Baghdad's violence-wracked Saidiya neighborhood. When they returned home last month, the only tears in the family came from her daughter Sama, 3. The little girl was impatient because her mother was too busy hugging neighbors and downing celebratory glasses of orange slush to help unpack Sama's toys.
"Your toys will stay unpacked this time," Shukry, 31, told her daughter, who was tugging crankily at the folds of her dress. "We're done moving around."
The Shukrys are one among many Iraqi families who, emboldened by the fall in sectarian violence since last year's U.S. troop increase, have returned to homes they left behind. The number of returnees may be growing, although it represents a small percentage of the more than 5 million Iraqis who have fled their homes since the war began in 2003. According to the latest figures available from the Iraqi government, about 30,000 Iraqis had returned home through Mar

Iraqi booze sellers unfazed by threats -- [NewZealand News]
After living in fear for months, liquor store owners in Baghdad are proudly displaying everything from Iraqi Asriya Arak to Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, a sign that peace and stability may return.
Bombings, shootings and hand grenade attacks by suspected Muslim militants forced many alcohol salesmen to shut down but a security crackdown by US and Iraqi forces have made it possible for them to re-open along one of the capital's busiest streets.

Baghdad Zoo Making a Comeback -- [Nick News]
It goes without saying that living in Baghdad is probably pretty stressful.
But more and more Iraqis are finding a refuge from the war at the Baghdad Zoo.
According to the Associated Press, 8,000 to 10,000 Iraqis now visit the zoo each week, on average, now that there's less violence in much of Baghdad.

Bin Laden Message A Surrender In Iraq? -- [Yankee Sailor]
There’s been an intriguing series of events playing out over the past few weeks that appear to be forming a pattern. If you recall the happenings in Iraq from two years ago, Abu Musab Zarqawi was said to be demoted from his position as the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. That ambiguity was removed with the death of Zarqawi in 2006 and he was succeeded by Abu Ayyub al-Masri.
Al-Masri made his public debut to much fanfare in jihadi circles, but his leadership has proven quite ineffectual, to the extent that the U.S. has slashed the reward for his capture from $5 million to a paltry $100,000 over the course of the last year.

FIFA Suspends Iraq, Putting a Hero Team Out of the Olympics -- [NY Times]
FIFA announced today that it has suspended Iraq from all international soccer competitions for one year after last week’s decision by the Iraqi government to dissolve its national Olympic committee. Iraq was already facing a suspension from the International Olympic Committee that could prevent its athletes from going to Beijing, but with FIFA’s suspension coming first, it now means that the Iraq men’s soccer team cannot appear in the Games.
FIFA said that if Iraq reinstates its Olympic committee before 2 p.m. London time on Thursday, it will lift the suspension.

The Bon Jovi IED -- [Kaboom - in Iraq]
O Dark Thirty. Memorial Day weekend, not that any of us were really aware of that at the time. Patrolling up and down Route Daytona, the highway stretch that serves as the logistical spinal column for the massive American body draped across this part of Iraq.
“Gravedigger 1, this is X-Ray.” My entire vehicle groaned along with me. Radio calls at this time of night rarely bring good news.

Insurgent Get OWNED By His RPG While Trying To Shoot A US Military Humvee In Iraq

"Failed RPG Attack At US Military Humvee"
"BTW The Insurgent Killed Some Of His Insurgent Team Also By His RPG"

Iraqi Special Forces capture Special Groups commander in Baghdad -- [LWJ]
Iraqi Special Operations Forces have captured a senior Mahdi Army Special Groups leader in the Shula neighborhood in the Ghazaliyah district in northwestern Baghdad. The Shula neighborhood has been a target of US and Iraqi forces over the past several weeks as the fighting in Sadr City has largely subsided.
The Iraqi Special Operations Forces captured what Multinational Forces Iraq called a "mid-level Special Groups leader" along with two associates during a raid on May 25. The commander, who is "affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps," is thought to lead a 300-man battalion of Mahdi Army fighters.

GEN Petraeus on Muqtada al-Sadr and How Iraqi Troops Saved Basra

Cat’s Out of the Bag: Onwards to Maysan -- [Talisman Gate - Iraqi Blog]
Well I guess enough people are openly discussing this now in Baghdad that it’s okay for me to write about it. Mind you, all the following is classified under the category of gossip:
The Iraqi Army and the Marines are preparing for a major campaign against Mahdi Army and Iranian targets in Maysan Province (‘Amara). Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may even put the entire elected leadership of ‘Amara—many of whom are Sadrists—out of a job, by flexing his authority under emergency powers. There is even talk of air strikes against military targets—weapons depots, transportation vehicles and individuals—on the Iranian side of the fence; these are targets that are arming and otherwise supporting the Special Groups throughout Iraq.

Outside the wire -- [James Aalan Bernsen - in Iraq]
On a mild Spring morning a while back, I climbed into an armored vehicle and took up my seat. With my body armor wrapped tightly around me and my Kevlar helmet firm about my head, I took my seat inside what is known as a Rhino - a fortified bus. But this was no ordinary morning commute. At a final stop before passing through our gates, we were told to load our weapons.

‘Forbidden pleasures’ return to Mosul -- [Middle East Online]
Weddings, park visits, coffee shops and restaurants back into circulation as Al-Qaeda melts away in northern Iraq.
Taha and his fiancee took advantage of the offensive against Al-Qaeda to don their wedding finery and head for the so-called "Forest Park" where newlyweds traditionally pose for pictures surrounded by friends and family.
Frightened residents deserted the park in north Mosul after radical Al-Qaeda militants imposed their extremist view of Islam on the city.
But since the local campaign against Al-Qaeda began residents have been returning in force to celebrate weddings in the park, especially at weekends.

Sen. Lindsey Graham asked GEN Petraeus what sparked the remarkable turnaround in Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Gates Says Lack of Patience Could Cost Victory -- [Defense Link]
U.S. strategic objectives “are within reach” in Afghanistan and Iraq, but a lack of patience could doom those prospects, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said last night.
Gates spoke to the second Special Operations Forces International Conference at Tampa, Fla., the home of U.S. Special Operations Command.
Afghanistan and Iraq are the most important battlefields in the fight today, the secretary said, and his priority has been “getting us to a point where our strategic objectives are within reach in those two countries.”
America’s best opportunity to discredit and deflate the extremist ideology is in Afghanistan and Iraq, Gates said.

Progress in Iraq: Security 2008

See how and why the surge worked; watch Iraqis talk about the safety they experience now and hear the untold story of how Iraqis stepped up to the plate and made the surge work. No one should argue for or against Iraq until they educate themselves with this video.

Iraq News (27 May) -- [LT Nixon - in Iraq]
The Good
Muqtada al-Sadr might be trying to brush up on his studies and boost his theological credentials according to WaPo, but the LA Times reports that the Mahdi Army is losing popular support in the Shi'ite district of Sadr City due to its racketeering and thug-like tactics.
The U.S. Presidential hopefuls may address the women in combat issue. Haha, silly politicians, military women are already in combat roles, get with the times!
Reuters reports that major heads of the state-run oil industry have been replaced, which is most likely an attempt to curb the corruption that has plagued the Iraqi oil industry.
Six young boys, who were being trained to be utilized as suicide bombers by a Saudi foreign fighter, have been rescued by Iraqi security forces in Mosul.

Memorial Day -- [One Marine's View - in Iraq]
...This Memorial Day as 3 others that I have spent on a deployment I ponder of the warriors who came before us, the ones we try to emulate. It’s an unwritten rule, that we try to fulfill the expectations of those that have gone before us and have changed the world. WW I, WW II, all the wars and battles before and after, one constant theme has been in every one, American men and women have volunteered to stand for the country and keep the wolf at bay. Some returning home, many paying the ultimate sacrifice.

'Ayatollah will not allow US-Iraq deal' -- [Press TV]
Iraq's most revered Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has strongly objected to a 'security accord' between the US and Iraq.
The Grand Ayatollah has reiterated that he would not allow Iraq to sign such a deal with "the US occupiers" as long as he was alive, a source close to Ayatollah Sistani said.

Is Sistani Promoting Attacks on Coalition Forces? -- [Weekly Standard]
While this certainly isn't beyond the realm of possibility, I have spoken to several US intelligence sources who think this is highly unlikely. The primary reason is that one of the groups cited in the article, the Jund al Marjaiyah, which means the Soldiers of the Religious Authorities or Army of the Marja, essentially serve as "the Shia version of the Swiss Guard for Sistani's religious circle." This means their purpose is to protect the religious sites and the senior leadership of Sistani's circle. If the Jund al Marjaiyah starts to conduct attacks on Coalition forces, this would invite reprisals and directly endanger the senior leadership and religious sites.

Andrew Sullivan celebrates Memorial Day with Iranian propaganda -- [Protien Wisdom]
Excitable Andy relays — without the slightest hint of skepticism — an anonymously sourced piece from PressTV claiming that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has strongly objected to a ’security accord’ between the US and Iraq.
PressTV is an arm of Iran’s state broadcasting apparatus. As Michael Goldfarb notes, it is an outlet that seriously reports on claims that the Holocuast was “scientifically impossible.” While it is possible that Sistani is taking a more aggressive stance toward the US presence in Iraq, his general philosophy of quietism runs against getting involved in politics (and thus against the general philosophy of the Iranian mullocracy). So it is also entirely possible that the anonymously-sourced piece is pure Iranian government propaganda, gullibly lapped up by the BDS crowd in the way they lapped up Sadrist propaganda about Sistani last month.

A Year in Iraq

Some videos and pics of my year as an advisor to an Iraqi Commando unit.

Memorial Day Memories -- [Courage Without Fear - in Iraq]
Once again I'm celebrating a Memorial Day from the desert. This marks the second time I've been in uniform, overseas for Memorial Day. Even though I hate to say it, I don't think it'll be my last. After 9/11/01 it's a different world we live in.
...Many of my soldiers here on this tour wear bracelets etched with the name of a soldier. Many of them personally knew the Soldier whose name is engraved on that piece of metal. They were friends, comrades, Brothers. Even after they leave the service and continue their lives without the Army, they'll keep those bracelets.

Chicken feed and city council, working civil affairs in Iraq -- [IN Iraq - Jim Foley in Iraq]
Captain Carlstein Lutchmedial, originally from Trinidad, asks a ton of questions. When the village catfish farmer tells him he only has a thousand fish in his pond at one time, Lutchmedial asks why he can’t breed more. When the water plant operator says he needs more gas to keep the generators going, Lutchmedial asks how much more he needs. When Tikrit city council members say they want a new clinic, Lutchmedial asks them to recall what happened to the last clinic. He asks about rent, cost of living, fuel and jots their answers down in his green book.

Iraqi Heroes.

I made this before people were making them. A British Muslim helped me create it.

Iraqi orchestra stages rare concert -- [Middle East Online]
BAGHDAD - Iraq's national symphony orchestra staged a rare concert in Baghdad in what organisers said was an effort to preserve the nation's cultural heritage despite years of warfare.
A repertoire of Arabic, Kurdish and classical Western compositions was played on Wednesday to an audience of 400 people including UN officials, diplomats, military officers and Iraqi lawmakers, according to the UN organisers.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq said the concert, held to mark the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, was intended to "remind the world of what Iraqis can offer and to preserve the country's cultural heritage."

AFGHANISTAN

Thank you Pakistan....... -- [Miserable Donuts]
Seems our Friends in Islamabad have made another deal with the Taliban in the western wastelands. "We will leave you alone if you just play nice". I have always been convinced that Afghanistan's stability has never been the goal of her neighbors. Here is more proof. With the Pak Army backing off, the tribes are allowed to continue their fight across the border. Attacks are already up 300% in the eastern ISAF areas and so are casualties on both sides, and those caught in the middle. Negotiation without Strength = Appeasement. This has been proven again and again. Take notes Obama, lets see how this works out.

Following the Marines Through Helmand III -- [The Captain’s Journal]
Take particular note of the words of town elder Abdul Nabi: “We are grateful for the security. We don’t need your help, just security.” Similar words were spoken at a meeting in Ghazni with the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan: ““We don’t want food, we don’t want schools, we want security!” said one woman council member.”
Again, similar words were spoken upon the initial liberation of Garmser by the U.S. Marines: “The next day, at a meeting of Marines and Afghan elders, the bearded, turban-wearing men told Marine Capt. Charles O’Neill that the two sides could “join together” to fight the Taliban. “When you protect us, we will be able to protect you,” the leader of the elders said.” The narrative emerging is not one of largesse, roads, education, crop rotation, irrigation and all of the other elements of the soft side of counterinsurgency. To be sure, these elements are necessary and good, but sequentially they come after security.

Afghanistan Campaign Gripped by Confusion -- [The Captain’s Journal]
In Command Structure Changes for Afghanistan we discussed the possibility that Secretary of Defense Gates would demand changes in the strategic alignment of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Promotion of General Petraeus to Commander of CENTCOM without a realignment of U.S. troops to his direct command (they currently report to NATO command) removes the possibility for any strategic changes needed to make the campaign successful.
There are further developments in the potential realignment of forces, and General McNeill has made his position known.

In Pictures: Eastern Afghanistan's most wanted -- [LWJ]
Shortly before the Combined Joint Task Force-82 transferred authority to the incoming 101st Airborne Division on April 10, CJTF-82 shared a list of the most wanted insurgent operatives' active in the areas under Regional Command East with The Long War Journal. The list is separate from the 12-most wanted Taliban list drafted up by the US military in October 2007. The current list includes a plethora of regional, provincial and district level insurgent commanders and criminal kingpins wanted for facilitating attacks against Coalition and Afghan National Security Forces. The list marks the first glimpse into the ground-level hunt for key insurgent commanders in areas such as Logar and Laghman provinces.

U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan Love Their Job

Busy ,Busy, Busy -- [48th Combat Support Hospital - in Afghanistan]
...Remember a couple of months ago I wrote a post about "Sad Faced Children"? Well, I must admit...we just discharged a patient that was a young boy and he was always smiling. He had been struck by a vehicle and had received a bad burn to his lower leg. The doctors were amazing with the care they provided as was the rest of our staff. This boy had a smile that could lighten up the entire room. He thought much of what we did was funny and his smile would warm your heart. He loved throwing ball. We didn't have an actual baseball (probably best for safety reasons), but we had a plush easter egg and a baseball glove. We would throw the ball with him and he would set there in his wheelchair and throw forever. He loved it any time the staff would miss and get hit with the ball. He would do one of those "belly laughs" where you can hear the laugh come from deep within. I am so glad that he is better but hate to see him go. We should be able to keep pre-packaged muffins stocked no because that boy could really tear into some blueberry and chocolate muffins.
Other than that, its basically business as usual here at Salerno.

New from MEMRI TV: VIDEO -- [MEMRI Blog]
The Emir of the Pakistani Taliban Beitullah Mahsoud: Pakistan Should Use Its Nuclear Weapons to Challenge the Enemies; Five Percent of Fighters in Afghanistan Are Our Men

Making life a little better -- [Voices from the War - in Afghanistan]
I'm SSG Frank Broncato from Buffalo, and I am Humanitarian Aid Coordinator in the Civil Military Affairs Section of 27th Brigade Combat Team, CJTF Phoenix VII Kabul, Afghanistan.
I keep track of all incoming and out going aid supplies. I distribute clothes, toys, food and school supplies, which are desperately needed here. We are opening up a lot of schools for the children of Afghanistan.

Breaking point -- [Sun reporter | David Wood in afghanistan]
As fighting in Afghanistan intensifies, Marines battle an ever-present enemy: combat stress
GARMSIR, AfghanistanIn - In the dying sunlight, the day's heat radiates from a farm compound's baked adobe walls, which enclose Marines slumped wearily against their rucksacks.
Here in southern Afghanistan, where the men of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are battling Taliban insurgents, life comes in a simple equation: There are men out there who will kill you, unless you kill them first.
Out here, you've got to figure out how to handle the stress of that exhilarating and awful equation.
Bust it or park it, use guesswork or patchwork or whatever works. Suck up the heat, the dust, the physical exhaustion, the fear, the loss. Help is a long way away.

I’m sorry -- [From the ’stan - in Afghanistan]
I just read a comment on one of my stories about the Court of Inquiry from someone who was offended by the fact that I was able to go to Afghanistan since my husband is there. He also said my husband should not have eaten meals with me because his Marines didn’t have that option.
In light of that, I just wanted to apologize to any of you who are or were upset and/or offended by me going to Afghanistan. I know we are all under a lot of stress when our loved ones are deployed, and I certainly did not want to cause any additional stress for any of you. As I mentioned early in the blog, I did discuss that issue at length with my editors and we determined that our readers were better served by me going and writing about what life and work is like over there than by me staying home.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

John Bolton to be target of citizen's arrest at Hay Festival -- [Telegraph]
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, faces a citizen's arrest when he addresses an audience at the Hay Festival in Wales this evening.
George Monbiot, the journalist and activist, is planning the action because he believes Mr Bolton is a "war criminal".
He said he was surprised that Mr Bolton would be allowed to "swim through the politest of polite soirees – which is of course Hay."

Israel: Carter Offers Details on Nuclear Arsenal -- [Reuters]
Former President Jimmy Carter said Israel held at least 150 nuclear weapons, the first time a current or former American president had publicly acknowledged the Jewish state’s nuclear arsenal. Asked at a news conference in Wales on Sunday how a future president should deal with the Iranian nuclear threat, he sought to put the risk in context by listing atomic weapons held globally. “The U.S. has more than 12,000 nuclear weapons, the Soviet Union has about the same, Great Britain and France have several hundred, and Israel has 150 or more,” he said, according to a transcript. The existence of Israeli nuclear arms is widely assumed, but Israel has never admitted their existence and American officials have stuck to that line in public for years.

Amid Middle East Peace Talks, Political And Military Problems Cause Domestic Uncertainty In Israel -- [Threats Watch]
The recent announcement by Israel, Syria, and Turkey concerning the advancement of indirect negotiations on the Golan Heights has diverted attention away from some significant developments in Israel and the Middle East region. More damaging evidence against Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges has been temporarily muted by the Golan announcement, as has the outcome of talks in Qatar between various factions of the Lebanese government. Hizballah now has veto power over decisions made within a new national...

Oil Hysteria Driving Price More Than OPEC Supply, Global Demand -- [Threats Watch - Steve Schippert]
America’s greatest strength in wartime has long been its economic and industrial might. Record oil prices are damaging this capacity. Yet the cause for the sustained spike in oil prices has less to do with increased global demand or fluctuations in supply than most acknowledge. Rather, an irrational market panic is by far the greatest variable in the economic equation. Nevertheless, we continue to look to address the problem by cajoling or even intimidating the suppliers. Regardless of what one...

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

Media and Intel Community Caught by Apparent Al-Qaida Nuke Message "Prank" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
As of early this evening, ABC News and the Drudge Report are running a headline claiming that "al Qaeda operatives will post a new video on the Internet in the next 24 hours, calling for what one source said is 'jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.'" The ABC News report quotes FBI spokesman Richard Kolko as acknowledging that "there have been several reports that al Qaeda will release a new message calling for the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against civilians."
For the record: there is no indication whatsoever that Al-Qaida's As-Sahab Media Foundation is preparing to release anything in the next 24 hours. There has been no notification posted on the usual channels, there are no glitzy advertisements, and there is no credible electronic chatter, period. Rather, the intel community appears to have (once again) fallen victim to poorly researched open source news reporting.

Video Urges Nuclear Jihad Against US [UPDATE: "Code" Threatens September 2008 Attack?] -- [Jawa Report]
The most popular jihadi web forum has posted an "unofficial" video urging Muslims to use nuclear weapons against the U.S. and the West. The video is titled "Nuclear Terrorism". By unofficial they mean that it was produced by forum users, and not by al Qaeda's official video production arm.
The lengthy video uses reports popular in the Arab and European Leftist press that the U.S. used chemical weapons in Fallujah as justification for using WMD against the United States. The star witness is Jeff Englehart.

Al Qaeda Supporters' Tape to Call for Use of WMDs -- [ABC News]
Intelligence and law enforcement sources tell ABC News they are expecting al Qaeda supporters will post a new video on the Internet in the next 24 hours, calling for what one source said is "jihadists to use biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West."
"There have been several reports that al Qaeda will release a new message calling for the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against civilians," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko told ABC News in an e-mail.

Osama Bin Laden Located in Himalayan Mountains? -- [Gateway Pundit]
UPDATE: Top Pakistani Taliban official Baitullah Mehsud announced that Osama Bin Laden is dead.
UPDATE 2: Then there is this other report from today claiming that Osama is hiding in northern Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan.

TERRORISM: AL ARABIYA, BIN LADEN IS ON K2 -- [AGI News]
(AGI) - Cairo, May 26 - Osama bin Laden is hiding on K2: Dubai's sat tv 'Al Arabiya' claimed that a vast military operation carried out by US secret services is being conducted there to capture the leader of al Qaeda. According to the arab channel, which quotes anonymous military forces, the imminent military operation is being readied at the base of the second highest mountain in the world in a tribal area of northern Pakistan where Bin Laden has been living for some time under the protection of pashtun populations. In order to prepare the operation US secret services and army officials met in recent days in a military base in Doha, Qatar. The meetings have allegedly been attended by US general David Petraeus who is leading American forces in Iraq and the US ambassador in Islamabad Anne Peterson. News of the possible raid against bin Laden, yet to be confirmed by other sources, arrives at the same time as an al Qaeda announcement requesting for attacks against US interests in Yemen. An announcement "attributed" to al Qaeda and posted on the 'al ekhlaas' website, the terrorist organisation asks its "brothers in Yemen to undertake attacks such as the one against the USS Cole or the one against French tanker 'Limburg'" because "only attacks of this kind can be considered effective these days".

Sri Lanka 'will defeat terrorism' -- [BBC News]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vowed "not to stop until terrorism has been defeated".
He was speaking after at least eight people were killed and more than 70 injured in a bomb attack on a packed commuter train on Monday

Religious Frictions In The Moslem World -- [Strategy Page]
May 27, 2008: The West, and non-Moslems in general, aren't the only ones suffering from the effects of Islamic extremism. It isn't just the violence of terrorists, it's the threats and harassment. Moslems suffer from this the most, and that has led to a strange revival of Christianity in Moslem nations. In Algeria, for example, the local Christian community has grown from a few hundred, to over 30,000, in the last 25 years. Moslems are looking for a change, and those that cannot get out, try and find solutions closer to home. This in spite of the fact that Islamic extremists are particularly hostile to Moslems who convert to any other religion.

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

521 Soldiers need adopted -- [Soldiers' Angels]
Adopting a Soldier:
To adopt a soldier you must commit to sending a card or letter each week and a minimum of 1 or 2 care packages a month. This is one of the most important things we can do to help bring home a healthy hero--It is so very important for each of them to know that we care and support them, and your letters and care packages will do just that.

Heart Full of Soul Being Sent to Military Hospital -- [Soldiers Angels Network]
Jewelry Sprout is sponsoring the Proud Of Our Troops drive. They are asking everyone to please support and uplift US troops who are patients at Walter Reed military hospital in Washington, DC by sending them the inspirational book by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. The autobiography is titled 'Heart Full Of Soul.' Jewelry Sprout is accepting both the hardcover and the audio versions of the book. Show your love and thanks to the troops and give them something that will lift their spirits and give them enjoyment during the time that they are recuperating at the hospital. The goal for this drive is to have a book for each inpatient at the hospital. There are approximately 270 patients at Walter Reed hospital.

Vandals Deface Welcome Home Display For Marine -- [WCSH6.com]
WINTERPORT (NEWS CENTER) -- A Winterport woman's "Welcome Home" message for her fiance, a Marine who has been serving in Iraq, was vandalized Friday.
Brittney Ginn put up a display along North Road in Winterport to welcome her fiance, LCPL William Shibles, home from Iraq. But vandals all but destroyed the display. They ripped flags off and stuck them upside down in the ground, slashed the banner with a knife and drove a vehicle over it, leaving tire marks.
The vandalism has shocked and angered Ginn's family and friends. Ginn has fixed the display and added a message for the vandals.
"We washed it back up and put it right back up there and put another one," said Ginn. "'Respect those who serve,' that's the key word, respect those who have gone."

Turning Our Backs on the Gold Star Families -- [Thunder Run]
Most of America just doesn’t get it.
In point of fact, only a select few know what it’s really about.
To most of America, Memorial Day is the beginning of summer, the start of vacations and days at the pool, of sales and parties and friends all together to kick off the biggest party of the year…summer. A time when backyard parties occur for no reason other than everyone was available, the beer is cold and the sun still shines on warm summer evenings, but to some families Memorial Day still holds true to its original intent, a day set aside to honor their loved ones - who fell in combat.
Have we ever considered what a slap in the face it is on Memorial Day to the families of those whom gave the ultimate sacrifice? To see consumerism run amuck, sales and discounts and an extra 10% to active duty military when their loved one couldn’t take advantage of any discount even if they wanted to - because their loved one is dead. Yes dead, I said it, the word that scares so many people.

Charlie and the Troops -- [The Corner - David Freddoso]
As a Golden Domer, I cannot help but draw attention to Charlie Weis's words at the White House yesterday, on his trip with other college football coaches to visit the troops in Iraq in celebration of Memorial Day:
We went over there to help motivate the morale of the troops -- but I think we came home probably more inspired than even they were. I mean, it was just an unbelievable experience to watch the enthusiasm and the pride and the teamwork over there…

David Hardt on PTSD & Courage -- [Blog-ah]
I opened the paper the other day and read that the government has started to implement a one-stop shop to possibly cure or at least help those of us who have PTSD. When I first read this it was almost like a joke. I commented to my wife, “Hey, from what I am reading, they’re going to treat us all the same, sit us in a circle like we are in AA, and we will just talk it all out.” My wife looked at me and laughed, “You in a circle talking it out; that would be entertaining.” In an effort to write responsibly, I have to admit that for some talking it out will suffice, and for others, listening to a recording of ocean waves crashing down will do the trick. But on a serious note, let’s be real about it. Some of us are far beyond that.
...Since I am included in these numbers, I have a front seat to what is really going on, and let me tell you, what I am seeing and experiencing is angering me and slowly discouraging me.

Father Travels To Iraq To See Where Son Was Killed

An American father traveled all the way to Iraq just to see where his son was shot dead by an islamic insurgent sniper.

MILITARY

Shitbags and Thieves -- [Toby Nunn]
For the past month people have been looking at me pretty hard trying to find something to get at me with. Proudly its easy to keep the wolves from the door when you don't have a steak hanging on your door knob. It was apparent that some leaders not all where going to use things against me if given the opportunity so I had to with hold some posts from publication. Here is one that was written a few weeks ago and had to sit on the burners but is worthy of publication still because I will have no reason to be ashamed of my feelings. This post will not affect the future of the men like had been threatened so without further adue, I give you Shit Bags and Thieves:

Does The U.S. Military Use The Wrong Bullets On This ‘New’ Enemy? -- [Pat Dollard]
US uses bullets ill-suited for new ways of war
WASHINGTON - As Sgt. Joe Higgins patrolled the streets of Saba al-Bor, a tough town north of Baghdad, he was armed with bullets that had a lot more firepower than those of his 4th Infantry Division buddies.
As an Army sniper, Higgins was one of the select few toting an M14. The long-barreled rifle, an imposing weapon built for wars long past, spits out bullets larger and more deadly than the rounds that fit into the M4 carbines and M16 rifles that most soldiers carry.
“Having a heavy cartridge in an urban environment like that was definitely a good choice,” says Higgins, who did two tours in Iraq and left the service last year. “It just has more stopping power.”
Strange as it sounds, nearly seven years into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bullets are a controversial subject for the U.S.

MILBLOGGING

Missing the Real Point Of Military Blogs?!?! -- [The Marine Corps, Social Media and Millennials]
I’ve been pretty busy since my last post in which I requested some feedback on Blogger X and I’ve also been doing some thinking and further researching on the phenomenal of Military Blogging.
A Different View of Military Blogs and Social Media
What’s intrigued me in my research thus far, is that no one is really looking at military blogs or the military using social media as a recruiting and retention tool. All the focus is on the potential security risks…and the harm of blogs on official military operations.
To me this is due to complete lack of understanding of Social Media by the military. Blogger X is an attempt at using blogging for social media purposes but unfortunately, it’s not properly implemented.

WELCOME HOME

Families welcome soldiers home from Iraq -- [ABC7Chicago]
Sunday brought a happy homecoming for soldiers in one Illinois National Guard company. The group has returned home after nearly one year in Iraq.
More than a dozen members of the National Guard's 3625th Maintenance Company out of North Riverside were greeted by their loved ones.
It was a long day for the Chicago area soldiers that began with a flight from Ft. Hood in Texas to Springfield. There, soldiers had a parade and welcome-home ceremony, after which they boarded a bus to North Riverside. The trip was delayed, however, after the unit's bus broke down, but finally, late Sunday afternoon, the soldiers arrived home.

Marine gets welcome home from Iraq -- [Southtown Star]
Sixty-nine-year-old grandmother Carolyn Dean last rode on a motorcycle 50 years ago.
At that time - a memory she doesn't recall with too much fondness (she alluded to an "accident") - she was six months pregnant with the first of what would be eight children.
On Saturday, she finally got back on the horse - after all, it was a momentous occasion.
Her grandson, Marine Corps Pfc. Kenneth Stoots, returned home from Iraq last week, and for his big welcome party, several local motorcycle rider organizations escorted him from his house to the party spot at American Legion Post 1160 in Chicago Ridge.

POLITICS

Another... MAJOR FOREIGN POLICY GAFFE By Obama Campaign -- [Gateway Pundit]
Barack Obama Is Going to Open New Channels Of Diplomacy With Iran
Barack Obama believes that:
"We have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting the Iranian threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them.
Barack Obama- Is ready to offer the Iranian Regime membership into the World Trade Organization:
But, Oops!... There appears to be a problem with this plan.
Amir Taheri at The Wall Street Journal has some critical information that was missed by Obama's staff of foreign policy advisors

Exclusive: McClellan whacks Bush, White House -- [Politico]
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing memoir to be published next week that President Bush “veered terribly off course,” was not “open and forthright on Iraq,” and took a “permanent campaign approach” to governing at the expense of candor and competence.
• McClellan charges that Bush relied on “propaganda” to sell the war.
• He says the White House press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to the war.
The eagerly awaited book, while recounting many fond memories of Bush and describing him as “authentic” and “sincere,” is harsher than reporters and White House officials had expected.
McClellan was one of the president’s earliest and most loyal political aides, and most of his friends had expected him to take a few swipes at his former colleague in order to sell books but also to paint a largely affectionate portrait.
Instead, McClellan’s tone is often harsh.

Obama admits reference to Auschwitz was wrong -- [Reuters]
Democrat Barack Obama admitted on Tuesday he was wrong to say his uncle helped liberate the Nazis' Auschwitz concentration camp after Republicans said Soviet troops freed the camp.
Obama's campaign said the candidate meant to say that his great-uncle, Charlie Payne, had helped liberate a part of the Buchenwald camp, not Auschwitz.

Senator Lieberman compares generals Petraeus and Odierno to Patton and Eisenhower, Grant and Sherman:

Lieberman called Petraeus’ assessment of the Basra offensive and Maliki’s efforts “nothing short of thrilling

Petraeus/Odierno Brief War Progress to Media Blackout -- [Amy Proctor]
Did you know LT GEN Ray Odierno and GEN David Petraeus appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday in Washington, DC? Neither did most people because the MSM ignored the briefings designed to promote the generals, Odierno to Multi-National Force-Iraq commander and Petraeus to CENTCOM commander as they sought approval for those positions before the Senate committee. Both were nominated by President Bush.
The MSM had good reason for not covering the hearings, which weren’t even live on C-Span. The news from both commanders about progress and security in Iraq are irrefutable and contradict the logic for withdrawal that has been flaunted by Democrats for the past several years and we all know how liberals in the media want this war to end. Even Democrats on the committee were docile, agreeable and non-confrontational. Violence in Iraq is at a 4 year low. B-O-R-I-N-G. The Obama/Clinton campaign fiasco is so much more important than how the troops everyone supposedly supports are doing in combat.

Why Memorial Day is a Double-Whammy for Me -- [Middle East Online]
On this Memorial Day, remember, too, to look at the pictures of Iraqi children being lifted out of rubble after their homes have been bombed by US jets, says Cindy Sheehan.
Memorial Day is a double-whammy for me.
You see, my son Casey was born on Memorial Day 29 years ago.
...Seeing all the flags and the battered vets paying homage makes my stomach turn and my heart break for all the broken families that have had to pay needlessly high prices for this war, and other imperial wars, like Vietnam.
...With a presidential election season upon us, we need to recognize the militarism of each candidate and realize that their positions on war and empire are not so different from each other.
We need to rededicate our lives to opposing empire, war and unbridled presidential power so that Memorial Day is not grief-soaked for thousands more families to come.
I know I will never experience Memorial Day as a holiday again.

Hamas : US President Clinton Would Speak With Arab Leaders While Having Sex With "The Jewish Monica

THE MEDIA

It Was a Bogus Story 2 Days Ago... But, Who Cares?... TIME Mag Throws It Out There Anyway -- [Gateway Pundit]
TIME Magazine followed the AP in reporting the same bogus story on Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq.
Two days ago the AP reported that Iraq's moderate and popular Ayatollah Ali Sistani was issuing fatwas for Iraqis to go out and kill US soldiers.
Iraqi-American blogger Nibras Kazimi at Talisman Gate quickly dismissed the report as a "Red Herring Fatwa."
Sure enough, after a few hours the Iraqi website Iraq Alalaan disputed the shocking report by the Associated Press.

The Huffington Post's Memorial Day: Bush Is a Murderer -- [NewsBusters]
When the national political conversation turns to excessive nastiness, will the media remember The Huffington Post? On Bush's last Memorial Day as Commander-in-Chief, Democratic activist Bob Geiger posted an article titled "Dead Troops Remembered by President Who Had Them Killed." Bush is a murderer? Geiger says yes: "Make no mistake about it, George W. Bush is as responsible for the deaths of those men and women as if he himself had fired the bullet or set the IEDs that ended their lives."

CBS: 'Substance Abuse'? People Think McCain War Injuries 'Funny'? -- [NewsBusters]
The night after ABC's World News raised the possibility John McCain's POW ordeal caused "psychological damage," on Friday's CBS Evening News Dr. Sanjay Gupta thought it noteworthy that the release of McCain's medical records ignored the Senator's "mental health," any "mention of post-traumatic stress disorder" or of "substance abuse." Oddly, Dr. Jon LaPook asserted that "people" notice McCain is "not able to raise his arm" and think "'doesn't that look funny?'" Who thinks McCain's limitation, caused by an attack on him after his plane crashed in North Vietnam and he was denied medical care, looks funny? In what circles does CBS's doctor travel?

Will Media Report Obama Seeing Dead People in Memorial Day Audience? -- [NewsBusters]
The gaffes continued this holiday weekend for the media's presidential candidate.
Having mispronounced the name of the Florida city he was speaking in on Friday, as well as erred about what president was in the White House when Hugo Chavez took over Venezuela, Barack Obama talked about seeing dead people in the audience during a Memorial Day speech in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Note: The Obama website scrubbed the "dead people in the audience" from his speech:

Circulation Arcana [Media Blog - Kevin D. Williamson]
One of the worrying things about the publications we turn to for honest reporting is that they are not always all that strictly honest when reporting things about themselves, especially when reporting their circulation/readership numbers to advertisers. News publications do all sorts of things to artificially pump up those numbers, in order to command higher advertising rates. One of the things they do is give away, or practically give away, lots of copies for public spaces — doctors' offices, business lobbies, shopping malls, even parking garages.
Mediaweek reports that ABC, the big daddy of circulation auditors, is changing the way it counts those copies:

HUMOR / SATIRE

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