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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.
US troops leave more security in hands of Iraqis -- [AP]
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. military in Iraq is abandoning - deliberately and with little public notice - a centerpiece of the widely acclaimed strategy it adopted nearly two years ago to turn the tide against the insurgency. It is moving American troops farther from the people they are trying to protect.
Iraqi Insurgents Issue Open Letter to President-Elect Obama -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The NEFA Foundation has obtained an Arabic-language communiqué issued by the Political Council of the Iraqi Resistance (PCIR), an umbrella organization which oversees the political interests of several major Sunni insurgent groups in Iraq—including the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), the Salahudeen al-Ayyubi Brigades (JAAMI), Hamas al-Iraq, and the breakaway “Shariah Committee” from the former Ansar al-Sunnah Army.
Day 145. Winning-- [Rocinante's Burdens - in Iraq]
More signs of winning are showing up.
1. US Forces have been directed to take the signs off of the backs of our vehicles. No longer do we say, "DANGER, STAY BACK 100M". No longer will we drive aggressively and hog the roads. Now we will share the roads and obey traffic signals. This is a big deal and demonstrates the real confidence senior army leaders (a real risk averse bunch of guys if ever there were any) have in the current security situation here in Iraq.
Winding Down -- [Up Country Iraq - in Iraq]
Things are winding down here in Multi-National Division-North (MND-N) for the 1st Armored Division (1AD) soldiers, which means that they (and I) will be heading home in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, the beat goes on.
...I joined the MPs on mission on Halloween Friday. The day began as we relieved a Special Ops group after they conducted a successful early morning mission against some not-so-friendlies out in town. The MPs and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team arrived on scene at the raid and the EOD folks went to work clearing explosives and other IED making material from the front yard of one of Tikrit’s finest insurgents. He and a couple of neighbors were obviously on the wanted list of the special operators, and now that list is a little shorter.
Kurdistan Is a Model for Iraq -- [WSJ]
Iraq's Kurds have consistently been America's closest allies in Iraq. Our Peshmerga forces fought alongside the U.S. military to liberate the country, suffering more casualties than any other U.S. ally.
And while some Iraqi politicians have challenged the U.S.-Iraq security agreement, Iraq's Kurdish leaders have endorsed the pact as essential for U.S. combat troops to continue fighting terrorists in Iraq.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is committed to a federal, democratic Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors.
Greener Days in Iraq
A new recycling plant in Iraq and the efforts to spread enthusiasm about recycling to the surrounding areas.
Veteran's Day -- [Annex B - in Iraq]
I used to think of Veterans as a group of old men who were once in the Army. Now that I am one, and I serve with so many young Americans abroad I have a different view. Veterans, young and old, men and women, have put on the uniform of our country and voluntarily served all over the world in conditions that cannot adequately be described....and we come back multiple times to do it again.
Has he lost his mind? Can he see or is he blind? -- [Fobbits need ice cream too - in Iraq]
...All the crews in the lot are getting ready to push back south, and I have 30 fellow Joes staring in our direction as I get cut down. I had my fists clenched, and was getting ready to open up on him when the little bit of sanity left in my head advised me to walk away. After I left, he smoked Misfit in the mud because Misfit refused to take a side when Shitty TC asked him if he thought I could have avoided the ditch or not. I went to the bravo team leader and asked for his advice and was basically told that everyone's hands are tied with Shitty TC because he is getting out of the Army as soon as we get back (he is on stop-loss). I've never met a more bipolar person or a bigger failure of a human being. One of his character quirks is that he's in constant competition with everyone, even if they are unaware that they are in a competition.
On My Way to Baghdad -- [Michael Totten]
...I’m told the city will be unrecognizable to me now. I know this is true. It is beyond controversy at this point that the war has wound down. But I still have a slightly difficult time believing it on a gut level. News reports from Iraq have been so few and far between lately that I can’t help but picture the old Baghdad in my mind. My experience hasn’t yet caught up with reality. This trip will remedy that. So stay tuned for an in-depth tour through Baghdad after the surge.
Louie and the Irishman -- [Notes from Iraq - in Iraq]
Soldiers sometimes take in dogs and cats here in Iraq as pets or unit mascots. We try to justify this practice, saying that they'll keep mice away or alert us of dangerous persons. But, to be honest, many Soldiers just have big hearts. Read more »
Afghan Quicksand Awaits Obama -- [Michael Yon]
Our enemies are winning. The enemies know it. We know it. Who are they? The Taliban, with its deep local roots, is enemy number one. Al-Qaeda is hanging around to make trouble. Some Paks, who don’t want to see a thriving Pushtun state on their border, are our enemies. They fund and shelter the Taliban even though we rely on them to help us defeat it. Nothing is straightforward in this part of the world. We have other enemies in Afghanistan who hate the Taliban.
...So, let me stipulate that it’s still a real fight. While the AOGs are making progress on some fronts, success is no more assured for them than for us. Mostly they destroy things that their countrymen want — including peace and the prospect of increased prosperity. They cut off lips and noses and douse women with gasoline and burn them alive. Just recently, a group of enemies apparently tried to bait us into killing a wedding party.
A Plea to Obama Regarding Afghanistan: Don't Be Ellis! -- [NT Nixon]
It is true that the Iranian theocracy has a vested interest in keeping the bordering countries of Afghanistan and Iraq stabilized. But the past few years has shown that they are much more interested in fighting their holy war against The Great Satan. Whether it be using Hezbollah surrogates to murder our troops, shipping weapons to the Taliban, or deliberately undermining newly-formed democracies to make America look bad, the motivation for Iran's nefarious activities remains clear.
The President-Elect needs to weigh these options carefully and consider the consequences.
Afghan girls scarred in acid attack -- [Al Jazeera]
Battery acid was thrown at the girls while they were walking to school
Five Afghan schoolgirls have been attacked with battery acid by suspected Taliban fighters in the southern city of Kandahar.
Walid Phares: "How can we ally ourselves with Iran in Afghanistan and tell them we don't want them to have the nuclear bomb at the same time?" -- [Gateway Pundit]
Good question.
Walid Phares explains why liberal foreign policy is so very dangerous for the international community
Our Humble Home -- [Jake's Life - in Afghanistan]
Well, I guess next up would be our actual living area. There's REALLY not a whole lot to write about here... Let's see- no water, no AC, no toilets, occasional power, lots of bugs/mice/cats, and nonstop explosions right outside our front door. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
The 11th Hour, of the 11th Day, of the 11th Month... -- [Jake's Life - in Afghanistan]
Today, as many of you know, is Veteran's Day. My email box has already been flooded with thank yous and God bless yous, and I want you to know that I sincerely appreciate it. Being a veteran is certainly something that I am proud of, my whole life I looked at veterans with sincere admiration. Every time they were asked to stand to be honored at sports games, or when they marched down Main Street for every parade, I looked at them and thought about the things they had done, the things they had seen. I was too young to truly understand what it meant to fight for your country, I thought it was all parades and uniforms and funny hats with ribbons on them. I thought it would be neat to watch a movie some day and be able to say, "I was there, they're making a movie about what I did."
Guardsmen receive Bronze Star at Veteran's Day ceremony -- [Stay in Touch - in Afghanistan]
Two New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix received Bronze Star Medals with Valor during a Veterans Day ceremony at Camp Phoenix in Kabul on Tuesday.
Getting the Basics Right in Afghanistan - (pdf) -- [Small Wars Journal]
Although there is much to do at the strategic level in Afghanistan … it is at the tactical level … that the most immediate and tangible change for good can be made. Tactical actions resonate throughout the local communities ISAF troops are supposed to protect and influence audiences across the world. And, because insurgency is a violent political competition, tactical actions can have significant political impact.
Operation Combat Blue Balls Is A Go... -- [Embrace The Suck - in Afghanistan]
Everyone knows that soldiers have to wear a ton of stuff and have to carry around all sorts of shit. Weapons, body armor, tools, knives, ammunition, food, water, and whatever else the soldier deems necessary. (Cigarettes, pornography, skittles, iPod's and what not.) So when you have all this stuff on you are significantly larger that you would normally be. Now the buses that they used to transport us from the tents to the airport were the school bus kind and we are going to have to fill every single seat with 2 GI's who are loaded down with about 60 pounds of gear and have expanded a few dress sizes due to the wearing of all this shit.
....In any event, seeing a bus load of soldiers looking as pitiful as we must've looked, singing all those songs would really be a sight to see. Where was I, the airport. ...
Syria Glows In The Dark -- [Strategy Page]
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS
November 12, 2008: UN nuclear weapons inspectors found traces of processed uranium at the site of a suspected nuclear weapons research center in Syria. Commercial satellite photos of the suspected Syrian nuclear facility,
Iran test-fires new missile, Israel within reach -- [Reuters]
Iran said it test-fired a new generation of surface-to-surface missile on Wednesday and that the Islamic Republic was ready to defend itself against any attacker.
New Video on "Voting in the Midst of the New Crusade" -- [MEMRI Blog]
An English-language video posted November 11, 2008 on Islamist websites explains why Muslims must not participate in elections held in the U.S. and other non-Islamic countries.
The Return Of The Russian Game -- [Strategy Page]
November 10, 2008: Russia is returning to its Cold War espionage techniques, in an effort to stay current on NATO secrets. Recently, for example, Estonian counter-intelligence efforts revealed that an Estonian defense official, and a Spanish citizen working for the Russians (but passing himself off as a businessman, while secretly recruiting spies for Russia), were stealing NATO secrets.
Oldest veteran recalls end of war -- [BBC]
Henry Allingham is one of a tiny number of people left to tell the story of the moment the Great War ended.
He was on active duty with the Royal Navy Air Service in Flanders when World War I ended on 11 November 1918.
"You try to forget, you want to forget, but you couldn't forget," he said.
"Those men must not be forgotten ever. They sacrificed everything on my behalf, and your behalf as well."
Cell Phone Payments Make the World Easier For Terrorists, Too -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A Reuters article discusses the ease with which developments in cell phone technology are rapidly enabling mobile payments, replacing credit cards and other instruments controlled by traditional financial institutions.
UK Terrorism Intelligence Report highlights extremist 'enclaves' -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A report entitled ‘International Terrorism’ drawn up by the intelligence branch of the Ministry of Defence in the UK, was leaked to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper in the UK. The document outlines the continued high threat to the UK from international terrorists aligned with al-Qaeda and in particular the severe threat to the Government Security Zone (GSZ) in the center of London, which covers the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall and Buckingham Palace. The report also highlights
Figuring out where they fit in.... -- [SouseBuzz - AWTM]
Dr. Suzanne Best, who contributed to the book Courage After Fire, will be joining us at SpouseBuzz Talk Radio this Thursday night at 8pm CST to discuss reintegration. This show will be part 1, of our 2 part series on the book of the month.
I seriously think reintegration is one of the most important issues facing our Veterans who have served this great Nation.
Private Group Aids Military Personnel -- [The Bulletin]
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff saluted the Soldiers' Angels, an organization dedicated to keeping America connected with its military last week. "You reflect America's communities, united in spirit, and action, across thousands of lighted hilltops across the land," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told members. The group's motto is "May no soldier go unloved."
...Adm. Mullen said the nation still has much to do to reach out to service members and to wounded warriors. Aiding wounded service members is the job of all Americans, he said.
The government has made progress in helping service members and their families. The GI Bill is more generous today, and there are new efficiencies between the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the admiral noted.
"We have, no doubt, sent a new sense of urgency down the spines of our governmental organizations," he said.
Anyone who wants to participate in these programs can go to each group's Web site:
* Soldier's Angels: www.soldiersangels.org
* Adoptaplatoon: www.adoptaplatoon.org
* Adoptamarine:www.ryanrust.com/AdoptAMarine.html
Fundraising Competition 2008 -- [Valour-IT Blog]
It's that time of year again, and the wonderful bloggers out there have stepped up to raise money for Valour-IT (the mission has expanded recently, so make sure you're up-to-date). This year we are particularly proud to have a Coast Guard team aboard.
Please pick a branch and join the fun! The competition lasts through Thanksgiving Day.
Give it Up for the Troops! -- [Valour-IT Blog]
The need is great right now--the accounts are empty and the only way the wounded will get laptops, Wiis or handheld GPS from Soldiers' Angels to assist their recovery is through the money raised by this competition. Financial times are uncertain, of course, but that doesn't change the needs out there.
Veterans -- [Wizbang]
What makes America different, is that Americans do not like war. Even our troops have no desire to do the business of war, the destruction and the killing things they would just as soon not see happen, and these soldiers are only too happy to come home to a normal life. That's why it matters, that we respect these men and women, not just when we know the cameras are rolling and there's political gain or cost to a gesture, but in recognition of genuine sacrifice.
The war in Iraq and Afghanistan (parts of the same war, though some would lie and pretend otherwise) is controversial, not least because it requires stamina and patience, and the democrats have seen fit to use the war as a political football in more than one election. The soldiers simply want to win, finish the job, leave a stable and independent and free Iraq and Afghanistan, and come home. Anyone who wants to settle for less neither respects nor honors the troops.
Veterans Day 2008 -- [SOME SOLDIER'S MOM]
I have written before about the members of my family that have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States and how proud I am of them. I have also stood as personal witness to the terrible cost of Freedom (start with the picture of my father at left... notice he has lost his left arm above the elbow)
Program sends holiday cards to troops -- [Army Times]
WASHINGTON — This holiday season, Americans can send soldiers and wounded troops greeting cards — even if they don’t know their names.
Court rules for Navy in dispute over sonar, whales -- [AP]
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the Navy's use of sonar in training exercises off the California coast, a defeat for environmental groups who say the sonar can harm whales. The court, in its first decision of the term, voted to allow the Navy to conduct realistic training exercises to respond to potential threats by enemy submarines.
Yea for Me Day! -- [Miserable Donuts - home from Iraq]
That is what I facetiously call Veteran's Day. I always say it is my one day each year where I say "good for me." It means an awful lot this year, as I have now been home from OIF for all of 48 hours.
Free welcome home banners -- [From my position... On the way! ]
I'm an employee at Buildasign.com, and we just launched a promotion in honor of Veteran's Day. We're giving military families a free customizable banner to help welcome home their loved ones returning from overseas or the option to send a free customizable jumbo card to a loved one overseas. I was wondering if you could offer me any tips or suggestions on who to get in contact with to get the message across to people that can take advantage of this promotion. Also, it would be great if you could help spread the word by posting about our promotion on your blog. The link to this promotion is www.buildasign.com/Troops.
Kalb Suggests Wartime President Bush ‘Avoided Military Service,’ Forgets About Clinton -- [NewsBusters]
On Tuesday’s The O’Reilly Factor, FNC host Bill O’Reilly showed clips from the Kalb Report show in which moderator Marvin Kalb, a veteran of both CBS and NBC News, interviewed O’Reilly. During the interview, which was recorded on September 27, O’Reilly managed to embarrass Kalb as the liberal host seemed to criticize President Bush for ordering American troops into war after the President himself "avoided military service," but he seemed to forget that Bill Clinton, who ordered a war against Serbia,
Shame on The New Yorker for Glorifying Bill Ayers -- [PJM - Ron Radosh]
Now he's a well-connected celebrity, not a sordid chapter in America's past.
Walls and Bridges -- [Greyhawk]
On Iraq, the UK newspaper the Guardian has declared: "peace has come to stay".
Missed that, you say?
...Although they were generally ignored in contemporary "news" coverage, others expected a different result.
Pentagon launches TroopTube, its own YouTube -- [AFP]
US soldiers are still allowed to write online journals, or "milblogs," using Department of Defense networks as long as they adhere to requirements not to ...
The 2008 Weblog Awards are taking nominations -- [TigerHawk]
Nominations are rolling in for the 2008 Weblog Awards. Check out the many award categories and nominate your favorite blogs.
Soldiers in the Blogosphere -- [Greyhawk]
The motivation for this blog is to discuss how we could tap into the power of blogs to help get the Army's story out - how blogs may be used to help round out traditional media. I'm an Army Major and currently a student at the Air Command and Staff College. As a graduation requirement, we each must complete a research project and I've
The Fifth -- [Greyhawk]
This Veterans Day marks the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Milblogs Ring.
Obama taps veteran Dems for DoD, State handovers -- [WaPo /AP]
President-elect Obama has hired former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sam Nunn to help shepherd his Pentagon transition, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Can We Talk? -- [Powerline]
We and others were alarmed when Hamas endorsed Barack Obama for President, even though the endorsement was later withdrawn. We were also concerned about Obama's feckless promise to meet with the leaders of hostile states--not for any particular reason, but just because talk is good. But Obama did say Hamas was one group he wouldn't be meeting with; not until they renounce terrorism and recognized Israel's right to exist.
Apparently, though, that assurance was inoperative even when Obama gave it. Yesterday, in an interview in the London-based Al-Hayat, Ahmad Yousef, political adviser to Hamas's Prime Minister, said that Obama's aides have already been meeting with senior Hamas officials:
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
