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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.
Is the War Over? -- [Michael J. Totten]
I’m reluctant to say “the war has ended,” as he did, but everything else he wrote is undoubtedly true. The war in Iraq is all but over right now, and it will be officially over if the current trends in violence continue their downward slide. That is a mathematical fact.
While America Slept (Part one) -- [Greyhawk]
...While I was there I had a different perspective than Mike Yon. I had a view of the bigger picture, knew how many missions were ongoing, knew where the fighting was, and knew how fierce it was. But a funny thing happened through the summer of '07: all the right numbers fell.
..."We've won the war" - I said back then. I even explained how we did it - and the shift in the narrative that was about to follow:
Bravo Company 2/6 Infantry Regiment Conduct Patrols in Suwayrah
The New Reality in Iraq -- [WSJ]
All of the most important objectives of the surge have been accomplished in Iraq. The sectarian civil war is ended; al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) has been dealt a devastating blow; and the Sadrist militia and other Iranian-backed militant groups have been disrupted.
Meanwhile,
A War of Convenience? -- [WaPo - Dan Froomkin]
President Bush and Vice President Cheney could have reacted to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in lots of ways. What they chose to do was launch a global war on terror -- potentially a war without end.
4ID Association
Early Reflections on Baghdad Today -- [Newsweek - David Botti - embed in Iraq]
With my first embed complete and my second about to begin in earnest, I’ve begun to notice similarities in the way people here view the situation in Baghdad. Everyone, from privates to captains, from journalists to civilians, seems to be experiencing a collective sigh of relief
...No matter what the future holds, or what the present reality truly is, the fact remains that for soldiers operating in Baghdad the worst seems to be over.
Dinner With the Sons of Iraq -- [Newsweek - David Botti - embed in Iraq]
....Salam is the founder and leader of his neighborhood's Sons of Iraq, a type of local policing force usually organized by prominent members of a community. Rank-and-file members generally receive $300-per-month directly from the U.S. military. Sons of Iraq units are showing up all over country, which the American commanders say has lead to a significant reduction in violence throughout areas of conflict.
British Briefing on Conditions in Basra
Hoedown At the Eyeraq Corral -- [Fraser in Iraq - in Iraq]
Hey. Yeah it’s another day on the ranch. Days around here really rotate around meals and missions. If you’re flying, the days seem like they only have about 12 hrs to shove into 24 hrs. If you hit a dry spell of missions, the days seem like they are 48 hrs long. We have weird sleep cycles that don’t line up with regular chow time, so we really only get two meals a day.
British Rules of Engagement and Brave Warriors -- [The Captain’s Journal]
It is intractable, this refusal to address offensive operations, and it is pathological, this notion that lawfare should hold such an esteemed and prestigious perch in the middle of combat. The Captain's Journal has worked tirelessly to knock lawfare off of this perch, but lives continue to be sacrificed to this nonsense. Britain apparently suffers from the same stupid ideas of lawyers sitting in sterile offices writing rules for warfare they have never experienced, and to which they will never risk their lives.
An Alamo with a Different Ending: Overwhelmingly Outnumbered Coalition Forces Repel a Complex Attack in NE Afghanistan -- [Jeff Emanuel]
International newswire activity spiked two mornings ago when word came from Afghanistan that nine U.S. troops had been killed in an attack on a remote coalition base.
...Reporters were quick to point out that this battle, which began in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday and lasted well into the day, resulted in the highest number of American casualties in Afghanistan since sixteen were killed when a helicopter was downed by RPG fire.
However, when the smoke of the battle cleared, and there was no mounting total of dead Americans to cover, news agencies lost interest, and moved along to cover other, bloodier developments in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Military Effort Underway Along Pakistan And Afghanistan Border -- [The Strata-Sphere]
There have been tell tale signs that there will be a major effort to deal with the last major Islamo Fascist sanctuary in Pakistan’s Tribal region, which is where al-Qaeda and similar Jihad fighters have been massing since their defeat in Iraq. One sign was a recent visit to the region by a top level US military commander:
A Dangerous Situation -- [A Major's Perspective - in Afghanista]
...One of the reasons that many of these foreign fighters were able to enter Afghanistan against the Soviets was the support of Pakistan and the problems even then with the border. But now instead of going into Afghanistan and fighting a tyrannical regime that was whole-sale slaughtering their people; these fighters are coming for no other reason then the call to destroy a non-Islamic government, and to re-institute an extremist Islamic government. An operation being aided again by a safe haven in the border regions of Pakistan.
Interpreters Ensure Marines Aren't Lost in Translation
Afghan interpreters work with Marines in Helmand Province.
Faces of dedication and courage -- [Staying in Touch - embed in Afghanistan]
...I set up a phone interview with a young infantry soldier from Rochester with his hometown newspaper. He and other friends are volunteering to stay longer and be transferred to serve as security force members for Embedded Training Teams. They have been here since last September, pulling mostly guard duty. Now they want to go downrange and help the trainers and mentors. That's where the risk is. I thought the folks back in Rochester ought to know that young men like Specialist Sean Shillington, age 20, are here on the job and determined to do it.
My Son Goes Off to War in Afghanistan -- [Family Security Matters]
On Thursday I drove us to Chris's unit where he drew his weapon from the arms room and I noticed the somber mood of many of the other soldiers there as they had their pictures taken, kissed their wives and held their small children.
Within an hour, the order was given for everyone to bring their duffle bags and rucksacks a short distance away to a gymnasium for final instructions before departing to the airfield.
Two older gentlemen, wearing polo shirts and hats that identified them as members of the "Military Order of the Purple Heart," shook hands with many soldiers. Coincidently, I spied an off-duty soldier who was fumbling with the right pants leg of his bell bottomed jeans. Then I noticed his lower right leg was actually a prosthesis. He was also there to wish his fellow soldiers well.
Gen. Stalder’s comments about the 24th MEUposted by Jennifer Hlad on Jul 15 -- [From the Stan - Jennifer Hlad - embed in Afghansitan]
I recently interviewed Lt. Gen. Keith Stalder, commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force. He is getting ready for a change of command July 25, when Maj. Gen. Dennis Hejlik will become the commander of II MEF. I wrote this story based on the interview, but Gen. Stalder also mentioned the 24th MEU a few times, and I wanted to share that part with you.
Taliban Cross-Border Operations -- [The Captain’s Journal]
...Recently The Captain’s Journal said that the most recent deals with the Taliban made Afghanistan the sacrificial lamb while intending to maintain Pakistan’s stability. Almost as if on cue, a report comes to us on current Taliban freedom to roam to and fro about the border region.
Pakistani Taliban destroy paramilitary fort in Hangu -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
More than 250 Taliban fighters surround Frontier Constabulary fort, order personnel to leave, loot then destroy the outpost.
Legislation Introduced in Congress to Account for American Children in Radical Islamic Madrassas in Pakistan -- [Karachi Kids]
Responding to the release of the film the "Karachi Kids", U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) has introduced legislation seeking an accounting of how many American children in in radical Islamic madrassas in Pakistan. H.Res 1336 encourages "the United States Secretary of State to work with the government of Pakistan to secure the return to the United States of all American children being educated in madrassas in Pakistan."
Israel, Iran and the Bomb -- [WSJ - JOHN R. BOLTON]
Iran's test salvo of ballistic missiles last week together with recent threatening rhetoric by commanders of the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards emphasizes how close the Middle East is to a fundamental, in fact an irreversible, turning point.
'Iran will not reject US call for talks' -- [Press TV]
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says if the US calls for dialogue in a fair atmosphere the Islamic Republic will not reject it.
An Abominable Blood-Logged Plain -- [Michael Totten - in Kosovo]
It’s European, but it isn’t Christian. It’s majority-Muslim, but it is not anti-American. Foreign soldiers are hailed as liberators and protectors rather than occupiers. Most Western countries recognize the majority-Muslim nation’s recent declaration of independence from Serbia, but not a single Arab country has done so – partly, perhaps, because Israelis as well as Americans are thought of as allies and friends.
Mueller: As FBI Turns 100, 'Threat Is Real' -- [ABC News]
As It Reflects on the Past, the Bureau Focuses on its Anti-Terror Plans
As the FBI prepares for its centennial celebration this month, Director Robert Mueller, the often taciturn leader of the law enforcement agency, sat down with ABC News for a rare interview. The FBI has shifted dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and Mueller reflected on the bureau's strides forward, its more regrettable moments and the direction he hopes to lead it in in the remainder of his 10-year term.
One Million Names? -- [Stop the ACLU]
The ACLU has claimed that the Terrorist Watch List has reached one million names. Aside from such blatant out and out lying which we have come to expect from the American Communists Lawyers Union, and fear mongering, which we also expect, is the fact that mathematically so few Americans are on this list as to make this almost a non-issue.
As one can see from the graphic here (click this) the actual number of people on the list is 60% less than the ACLU claim. What SHOULD be shouted from the rooftops is the following bit from this report;
Results Of Military Officers Survey -- [US Global Engagement]
On behalf of the Center for U.S. Global Engagement, the bipartisan polling team of Peter D. Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R) recently conducted a survey among 606 commissioned U.S. military officers, including 499 active duty officers and 107 officers who retired after the 9/11/2001 attacks. The survey was conducted from June 24 to 30, 2008, and included a combination of telephone and Internet interviews. This memorandum highlights a few of the most notable findings that emerge from this unique and compelling survey, which explored officers’ attitudes toward the United States’ use of military and non-military tools to enhance our national security.
Gitmo Detainee Sobs on Video -- [Patterico’s Pontifications]
— But for Himself, Not from Remorse for the U.S. Army Medic He Killed
A Gitmo detainee cries that his interrogator doesn’t care about him, on video.
Well . . . we care about the U.S. Army medic he killed. That’s caring, right?
His family is a piece of work, too:
Two Great deals for Military folks to pass on -- [SandGram - in Afghanistan]
....I’m sending this to all of you who are among the troops I have supported, the troop supporters I know who will make sure the word gets out to their troops, and to those of you who work with the troops and those who have blogs and may want to investigate it further and write about the program.
Excuse me if you have already publicized it and I just wasn’t aware that you had!!
This sounds like an awesome program to offer our troops!!
Post-Iraq Psych Screening Account -- [LT Nixon]
Since the way military medicine and the VA handle PTSD after Iraq/Afghanistan deployments has become a political football, I thought I'd provide a frank account of the required post-deployment psych screening I had to get today at medical.
Aviation Brigade's torch party and more Second Brigade troops come home -- [WSAV News]
About 200 soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team came home to friends and family members at Fort Stewart's Cottrell Field. A 75-soldier torch party for the Combat Aviation Brigade was welcomed home at a hanger on Hunter Army Airfield.
Guardsmen Return Home After Deployment -- [Emmetsburg News]
There were cheers, tears and applause on Friday as members of the First Battalion Battery A of the 194th Field Artillery returned home to loved ones and friends after a year's deployment as peacekeepers in Kosovo.
Milblogging: How the Troops' Writing Affects Our View of the War -- [Netroots Nation]
Military blogs (milblogs) have played an increasingly important role in not only the dissemination of battlefield information in real time, but also in shaping how Americans view the troops and the wars in which they’re fighting. In recent years, milblogs both supportive and critical of the war effort in Iraq have sprung up across the blogosphere. Some, like VetVoice and Blackfive, have even evolved into online communities for troops and veterans. This panel will explore the implications of milblogs on military policy by discussing them with three veterans who blog and a traditional media military reporter.
Brit Hume Stepping Down as 'Special Report' Anchor -- [NewsBusters]
Following the November elections, Brit Hume, the longtime host of "Special Report" on Fox News Channel and one of its earliest big-name reporter will be stepping down from his post as anchor as well as his role as managing editor for the Washington bureau.
Winning in Afghanistan -- [Weekly Standard]
Obama sees problems; McCain sees a solution.
...By contrast, the McCain approach, as outlined in brief remarks this morning: three brigades, not two. A clear counterinsurgency strategy, modeled on the success of the surge in Iraq (a method that Obama still contends is a failure). A coherent campaign plan, synchronizing not just military but U.S. and NATO civilian
Now for the Hard Part: From Iraq to Afghanistan -- [Stratfor]
...What was important about the surge is that it happened at all. In the fall of 2006, when the Democrats won both houses of Congress, it appeared a unilateral U.S. withdrawal from Iraq was inevitable. If Bush wouldn’t order it, Congress would force it. All of the factions in Iraq, as well as in neighboring states, calculated that the U.S. presence in Iraq would shortly start to decline and in due course disappear. Bush’s order to increase U.S. forces stunned all the regional players and forced a fundamental recalculation. The assumption had been that Bush’s hands were tied and that the United States was no longer a factor. What Bush did — and this was more important than numbers or tactics — was demonstrate that his hands were not tied and that the United States could not be discounted.
In this segment Obama explains how surrendering in Iraq would bring victory
CAMPAIGN 2008-Poll Finds Voters Split on Candidates' Iraq-Pullout Positions--A new Washington Post-ABC News poll finds the country split down the middle between those backing Sen. Barack Obama's 16-month timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and those agreeing with Sen. John McCain's position that events, not timetables, should dictate when forces come home,
Time for Some Campaignin' Jib Jab
Our latest election satire!
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
