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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 various 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 Army chief sees Iraq, Afghanistan occupations continuing for a decade -- [WSW]
In an invitation-only interview Tuesday with selected reporters and think tank representatives, Casey said that the protracted US occupation of the two countries was necessary in order to meet a "sustained US commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism in the Middle East," the Associated Press reported.
Casey's remarks came amid mounting signs that the US attempts to pacify Iraq are coming unraveled, even as the Obama administration is carrying out new deployments that will double the number of troops in Afghanistan to 68,000.
Of headlines and half truths -- [Armed and Curious - in Iraq]
Army Chief-of-Staff General George Casey just had another one of those days. Today the AP is bannering its reports with the provocative headline "Army chief: Troops could be in Iraq after 2012". The story goes on to imply those rascally war mongering Army leaders are trying to drag out the war against the wishes of our political leaders. The blogosphere is diving on the headline as yet another example of the Pentagon flipping off the Commander-in-Chief. Yet, that's not what he said at all.
...and hard truths -- [Armed and Curious - in Iraq]
I have written before of a core group of journalists who truly have tried to get inside the multi-faceted world that is Iraq, beyond the bombings, raids and atrocities. There have been those who have always strive to dig behind the scenes both of what we as soldiers are trying to do there and who the Iraqi people are. I haven't always agreed with what they say...but I always find it fascinating. CNN's Arwa Damon is one of those.
Some Iraqis who fled home return to fight for U.S.-- [USA Today]
BAGHDAD -- In the fall of 2007, Forat Aldawoodi fled Iraq through a special visa program for Iraqis who worked with the U.S. government. He landed in Pawtucket, R.I., where he soon became a New England Patriots fan, traveled to the Atlantic Ocean and enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Today, after a year's absence, Aldawoodi is in Iraq again -- this time as an American soldier.
Hi from Iraq! -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
Forgive my absence but things have been somewhat busy of late. All the battalion's 1stSgts have been on deck for a get together. This is a big deal as we haven't seen each other for a couple of months now. You have no idea how many of the world's problems can be solved by a group of cigar smoking Marine 1stSgts.
The Global Economic Crisis and Iraq's Future -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
My colleague Josh Goodman and I have an article in the new issue of inFocus examining the impact that the global economic crisis will have on the future of Iraq.
Heraldry, Part II: Task Force Dragon -- [Grim's Hall - in Iraq]
At various times, units of different sizes have held the distinction of being "task forces" here. "Task Force" can mean one of several things -- "Task Force Troy" is the counter-IED unit, for example -- but when assigned to a combat arms unit it denotes which level of command is considered the "ground owning" unit. When I was in Iraq the first time, it was with "Task Force Marne," a division-sized element commaned by the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters.
On convoy duty to Uzbin -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
"Roll Out!" was the command as it crackled across the radio network. Our destination would be a remote Combat Operating Post (COP) in the Uzbin valley. ...While on this same road we passed a truck overflowing with middle-aged men. Could this be Taliban or are these local villagers, which sometimes are the same? My gunner reinforces his stance and watches with a vigilant eye. This is his last patrol and he is anxiously waiting to depart here and see his girlfriend and family members. Suddenly the radio transmission is garbled...Break...Break...our brakes our smoking and the vehicle is overheating. Convoy Rule #1: Never stop unless you have to. This was one of those times.
Taliban strike in Peshawar -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Eight Pakistanis were killed in three bombings and an ambush in the provincial capital of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province. The Taliban take credit for the Lahore strike and threaten to attack in Pakistan's major cities.
Coalition targets Haqqani Network commander, kills 29 fighters -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
A large firefight broke out in the Wor Marnay district of Paktika province after US and Afghan forces attempted to detain a senior Haqqani commander known as Sangeen.
Pakistan's Wali of Swat blames Taliban, government -- [AP]
His family once ruled the Swat Valley. Now he can only watch as his beautiful ancestral homeland is torn apart by clashes between the Taliban and the Pakistani military -- with millions of civilians forced to flee.
"It's disgusting," says Miangul Aurangzeb, the 81-year-old Wali of Swat, who blames the military, the government, the Taliban and just about everyone else for the mess.
Petraeus: Video Shows Strike Aimed At Taliban -- [NPR]
Army General David Petraeus commands U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. One big challenge is fighting insurgents within a civilian population. Petraeus talks with Steve Inskeep about last month's bombing of a target in Afghanistan. Petraeus says the target was a Taliban facility. Critics say civilians were killed primarily in the bombing.
Changing Commanders, Changing Tactics -- [Bouhammer]
Well I must say I expected this to a degree. You put a Spec Ops Warrior like McChrystal in place and he is going to do what he has seen work. However I hope he does remember the words of Bouhammer, "Afghanistan is not Iraq" and he is ready to adapt and tweak the previous tactics to better fit the Afghanistan war zone. There is a lot of talk about Counterinsurgency (COIN) warfare in Afghanistan, not because of the incoming commander but because that is what is needed now.
Countering Terrorism from the Second Foreign Fighter Glut -- [SWJ - Clint Watts]
Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended in early 1989, created a glut of foreign fighters, who found themselves unwanted by their home/source countries and restless for another Jihadi campaign. This "First Foreign Fighter Glut" spawned al-Qa'ida (AQ) and a decade of increasingly lethal terrorist attacks leading up to September 11, 2001.
Today, Western nations face a smaller, more lethal threat resulting from the "Second Foreign Fighter Glut."
Chapter 1: Gear -- ["A.L.L.: Afghan Lessons Learned"]
In partnership with Bouhammer, we are starting a new series of posts designed to help inform the thousands of troops headed to Afghanistan in 2009, some of whom expected to deploy to Iraq. Those who thought they were headed to Iraq now find themselves behind the power curve in coming up to speed on the peculiarities of Afghanistan. By request from SGTDanger, here is the first chapter in our attempt to help them to be more successful in A'stan.
Something New -- [Afghanistan Women's Clinic - in Afghanistan]
We tried something new on Sunday for clinic. We wore head scarves in the hopes that it would make the new women that we are seeing a little more comfortable. After getting a class on how to put the scarf on, we were good to go. We thought that since the mid-wives will be leaving soon and we will be handling all their patients, head scarves would take away the initial shock that we still get sometimes from some women. I have a feeling that once the mid-wife leaves we will be VERY busy delivering babies. I can't wait
Winning the Hearts and Minds... continued.-- [Misuchan's Milblog - in Afghanistan]
All jokes and nationalism aside, the French here with us on our FOB do a pretty damn good job. Well at least this team of them does, and I've been through three teams of them. To continue to show the non-military part of the world what exactly we're trying to do here,
Afghanistan Expedition -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes]
I am beginning to feel a bit like Captain Willard in the opening scenes of the movie Apocalypse Now.
No, I'm not getting stoned, doing shots and practicing kung fu in my underwear, but I am ready for the next mission. This one is to Afghanistan.
I just got my transit date for mid-July and am making all the logistical arrangements.
This trip is significantly more expensive than Iraq. It is almost double the cost of an Iraq expedition.
I finance these trips with DVD sales .
New York set to welcome Prince Harry -- [AP]
... for having deployed alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan,'' said Alan Collins, the British consul general ... Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. A British soldier who lost both legs in an explosion ... The prince is training to be an Army helicopter pilot and was the first member ...
Gates: North Korea Ain't a 'Crisis' Yet -- [Danger Room]
Speaking to reporters en route to a security conference in Singapore, Gates said, "I don't believe that anybody in the administration thinks there is a crisis."
Gates added that he saw no reason to boost U.S. troop levels in the region. North Korea,
UN expert: US failing to properly probe war crimes -- [WaPo]
An independent U.N. human rights investigator said Thursday that the United States is failing to properly investigate alleged war crimes committed by its soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Gitmo, Liberals, Politics & Deceit -- [Family Security Matters]
...The truth of the matter is, as I stated in a previous article, that the criticism of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility originated with the anti-war/anti-Bush contingent right here in the United States. This criticism, advanced by a media filled with bloodlust for President Bush and based on hearsay, rumor and the "testimony" of former detainees - detainees who practice the fundamentalist Islamic tenet of al taqiyya, was even debunked by one of the Left's most ardent operatives, US Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) who said of the facility after his visit in 2006
Europe Objects Anew to Detainees -- [WaPo]
Reluctance Centers On U.S. Refusal to Also Admit Inmates
Obama administration's push to resettle at least 50 Guantanamo Bay prisoners in Europe is meeting fresh resistance as European officials demand that the United States first give asylum to some inmates before they will do the same.
Yemen: From Bad to Worse? [The Tank - Fred Schwarz]
The last time we mentioned Yemen, President Obama and his crew were planning to send 97 Yemeni terrorists from Guantanamo back to their home country, where they would be taught good manners and released with a pat on the head. Now even the hard-core transnationalists at the Department of Justice are starting to realize that this might not be a good idea. In fact, the whole close-Gitmo thing may be delayed by a year or two while they cook up either (a) a plan to find enough states and foreign countries willing to take in hundreds of trained and fanatical terrorists from Yemen and ...
Back to the law-enforcement model? -- [Hot Air - Ed Morrissey]
This doesn't exactly come as a surprise. After all, Barack Obama spent the entire presidential campaign criticizing George Bush's military approach to terrorism, and once elected, his administration floated the nomenclature "overseas contingency operations". That didn't stick after widespread derision, but the move back to the pre-Bush law-enforcement model of counterterrorism apparently has...
Bush: 'The information we got saved lives' -- [CNN]
Former President George W. Bush on Thursday repeated Dick Cheney's assertion that their enhanced interrogation program was legal and garnered valuable information that prevented future terrorist attacks.
Military Night Zephyr Stadium -- [Soldiers Angels LA]
We salute the United States Military, with free admission to all military personnel and their families. Stick around after the game for a spectacular fireworks show!
CONGRATS to Operation Gratitude - Every Charity a Winner in Target Facebook Contest -- [Soldiers' Angels Network]
More Than 22,000 Votes Cast To Send Care Packages
Operation Gratitude will receive $232,948 from Target as part of the company's first-ever giving campaign on Facebook®, Bullseye Gives. From May 10 through May 25, Operation Gratitude's Facebook "fans," volunteers, donors and supporters joined forces to cast 22,627 votes, earning the organization 7.8% of a $3 million charitable donation pledged by Target.
Pentagon Plans New Arm to Wage Wars in Cyberspace -- [NY Times]
The Pentagon plans to create a new military command for cyberspace, administration officials said Thursday, stepping up preparations by the armed forces to conduct both offensive and defensive computer warfare. The military command would complement a civilian effort to be announced by President Obama on Friday
Attention all White Soldiers: You're RACIST! -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
According to the Army's Equal Opportunity (EO) Program, only white Soldiers are capable of racism. The Commander's EO Handbook writes:
...The passage above implies that only the dominant group, white Soldiers, can be racist. On the other hand, the Equal Opportunity Representative Course (Currently called the Equal Opportunity Leader's Course) is more open to the idea that only white Soldiers are capable of racism. The course defines racism this way:
More New Jersey troops coming home from Iraq -- [Philadelphia Inquirer]
New Jersey is planning an official welcome home ceremony on June 12 that will include a parade of the troops through downtown Trenton.
The Loudest Cheers in Heaven -- [ChristianityToday]
We kept repeating: "Welcome home! We're glad you're back! We appreciate you!" Some soldiers wiped away tears, while others displayed huge, self-conscious
White House Spars With British Media Over Detainee Abuse Photos -- [FOX News]
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs attacked the British media Thursday over a Daily Telegraph article that reports there are photos of American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners that include images of rape and sexual abuse.
Crittenden's Boutique Right-Wing Warmonger Bookshop & General Store -- [Jules Crittenden]
...The bookshop is a labor of love ... obsession, if you like ... the result of my own and friends' combat experience spanning decades and continents. You try it and see if you don't spend the rest of your life mulling it over. But you don't have to try it to want to understand it, from the eternal misery, terrors and courage of infantrymen to the weight and whims of command, with its triumphs and failures.
The best place to start ...
"At War": Stunning. -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure]
I've been waiting for months to review Scott Kesterson and David Leeson's film, "At War." I finally received a copy for review purposes and took awhile this afternoon to sit down and screen it all by myself.
I'm glad that I was alone.
Kicking & Screaming: Journo Dragged From Near AF1 -- [LA Times]
A reporter for a small newspaper was forcibly removed from a press area near Air Force One shortly before President Barack Obama arrived at Los Angeles International Airport to depart California early Thursday.
SWJ is Hot? Yep. So Says Rolling Stone... -- [SWJ - Dave Dilegge]
What do Lady Gaga and Small Wars Journal have in common? One is on the cover of the Rolling Stone and one isn't - but sure enough both made the Rolling Stone 2009 "Hot List" - go figure.
Stocks may tumble and fortunes may fall, but hotness, it seems, is eternal.
There was some concern about compiling our latest Rolling Stone Hot List during an ice-cold era. But ...
Four national security questions for Sotomayor. -- [Family Security Matters]
JUSTICES of the US Supreme Court in the 21st century, right or wrong, need to demonstrate some level of expertise in national security and military affairs.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
Godspeed Terry Barnich -- [Blackfive]
Over the last few years, I've posted a few dispatches, disguised to protect the author, from a State Department advisor in Iraq. His name is Terry Barnich and he worked for and with some very good friends of mine here in Illinois.
Former Illinois Chairman dies in Iraq -- [Chicago Sun-Times]
Former Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Terry Barnich was helping build a waste water treatment plant in Fallujah, "the largest and most comprehensive" such project "ever undertaken in Iraq" when he was killed by a bomb, U.S. State Department authorities said today.
The Future of Iraq, Part II -- [Michael Totten]
...“Iraq is about to experience a power vacuum,” I said, “when you withdraw from Iraqi cities.”
“Exactly,” he said. “When we leave and transition all of what we do now to the Iraqi security forces, will there be a spike in activity? Absolutely. One hundred percent.”
“Yes,” Captain Boyes said. “There will be a spike in violence. They're going to want to test the new Iraqi Security Forces. What is their reaction to an attack going to be compared with what it is now? How will the Iraqis operate independently? It should be up to the media to portray this as something expected. There will be a spike in violence because the insurgents are going to test the Iraqi Security Forces, but I have complete faith that the resolve of the Iraqis will be there.”
A Stroll Through Sadr City
A unit on foot patrol through Sadr City, getting a feel for what the community thinks about the job the Iraqi army is doing.
US Forces evacuate 19 security stations in Baghdad -- [Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network]
Deputy Chief of multinational forces in Iraq Major Mike Mori announced that US Forces evacuated 19 security stations in Baghdad so far in preparation for the withdrawal from Iraqi cities.
8 special groups leaders to be executed -- [Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network]
Diwaniya criminal court issued a sentence to execute eight leaders of special groups for charges of killings, planting bombs and launching missiles. Diwaniya police Major Abdul
Quick Post--The New Media in peril? -- [Wings Over Iraq - in Iraq]
Excuse typos and whatnot, I need to post this before the power goes out again.
I just received this e-mail from someone involved in an Army-based web forum called "CompanyCommand.com" (whose sister site is "PlatoonLeader.com"). Seems that, with projected budget "cuts", the first thing to go isn't bloated programs like the F-22 Raptor or the Army's Future Combat System, but rather, inexpensive projects which have actually yielded impressive results by spurring innovation from the field. Says the e-mail:
Unprecedented -- [Strategy Page]
Disputes over how many Sunni Arab terrorists to grant amnesty to is causing an increase in violence. Shia leaders believe too many of the Sunni Arabs released from prison, or no longer subject to arrest, are still participating in terrorist activities.
...and Back in Baghdad... -- [The Intrepid Reporter - in Iraq]
One observation in the ‘supposed’ drawdown is the uptick in Iraqi military activity. I’m not giving any secrets away because even the bloody insurgents can tell the difference between the US troops (grey-digital ACU uniforms) and the Iraqis, (desert tan old style US camo) Seems that the Iraqis, from my observations, are getting more ‘hot n heavy.’ A few weeks ago I was on Route Irish, formerly known by Newsweek magazine as “The SINGLE most DANGEROUS section of highway in the known Universe” (quick aside: my how things have changed!) and as I rolled down the pockmarked pavement, what should I see but a convoy of Iraqis.
An impatient patient -- [Armed And Curious]
I can't believe I have been off my posting for almost two months. I guess I have a decent excuse. I have been laid up with cast on my leg. I have had the interesting experience of being in the military medical system for almost 7 weeks but the really interesting part to me is that its been a remarkably positive experience.
I am actually in the communications business. I spend my time trying to find ways to tell soldiers, families and the public what we do and, hopefully, what we are doing right and unfortunately, sometimes what we are doing wrong.
"The Editor" -- [My Point of View - SPC Alperin - in Iraq]
...This month's blog must be focused on my current responsibities here at Camp Liberty, as they have changed from reporter to editor of our internet newspaper, The Daily Charge.
I am enjoying my time at night and the early morning hours in the 1st Cav. Div. main building, getting the paper prepared for the next day's viewing. There is some artistic thought required as each paper must be designed individually and laid out for the viewer to read at their leisure. The paper should be aesthetically pleasing to the eye and catchy for the reader.
Iraq rejects girl’s killer’s ruling -- [Aswat Al Iraq]
MP and member of the human rights committee, Hanien Qadou, condemned the ruling as unfair.
“The decision is biased and we had hoped that the trial was held in Iraq,” the lawmaker told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The American judiciary system permits the death sentence in several states and the court should use this ruling on the soldier as he perpetrated several crimes, including raping, killing and burning,” he added.
Regarding the Iraqi government’s stance on the ruling, he said that “no official stance has been taken by the government yet.”
A former U.S. soldier convicted of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her and her family will be sentenced to life in prison after a jury on Thursday failed to agree on whether he should be executed.
Taliban Threatened by Twin Terrors -- [Strategy Page]
This year's Summer offensive has started off with the Taliban on the defense, and no talk of a Taliban offensive. This is a big comedown from the last few years, when the Taliban always made a big deal about the years "offensive."
Taliban Calls For A Timeout, Are Ignored -- [Strategy Page]
As the Pakistani army advanced into the Swat valley, they found thousands of Taliban prepared to fight. The terrorists had built bunkers and set up roadside bombs. As the army moved up the valley, armed civilians in many towns turned on small contingents of Taliban and drove them out.
Taliban blamed for Lahore attack -- [BBC News]
Pakistan's government has blamed Taliban fighters for a bomb attack in Lahore which killed 23 people and left hundreds more injured.
Gates Says Taliban Have Momentum in Afghanistan -- [WSJ]
American public support for the Afghan war will dissipate in less than a year unless the Obama administration achieves "a perceptible shift in momentum," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in an interview.
Pakistan: deadly blast rocks Lahore
The Dutch Boy Dilemma -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
Bonus feature alert: this post includes a photo story board covering last Monday’s assassination attempt on President Karzai’s brother. I was on the road that day too with my faithful finance officer Misael, who hails from the island of Mindanao but claims to be a Catholic and not a Abu Sayef member. When we turned a corner in the Tangi Valley and saw all the expended brass in the road, he ignored his collateral duty as photographers mate and wedged himself firmly under the dash board. Misael has spent the last year in Kandahar and has developed an exaggerated sense of danger but I’ll get him snapped in soon enough.
From Iraq? -- [Bouhammer - The Dude]
Seeing the recent reports of the bad guys in Afghanistan using US supplied ammo really isn’t a surprise. With the ANA always at the ready to sell their gear and equipment at the local bazaar, this is basically old news to the people who have served in Afghanistan.
...What I did find surprising was what we discovered while doing Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) after a firefight we had with the bad guys. We had recovered four RPG launchers from the bad guy’s position and brought them back to the FOB to re-distribute to the ANA. While cross-referencing the serial numbers ...
Driving Afghan style -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
It started out for what seemed would be a great day for a convoy mission. The heavy-armored beasts (HMMVW) were loaded with our overnight packs; guns mounted accompanied by a ton of ammunition, radios checked, plenty of water and MREs to feast on. The convoy commander gave the mission brief and we rolled out of the gate in single file.
Afghanistan: Kabul and the locals
Winning the Hearts and Minds -- [Misuchan’s Milblog - in Afghanistan]
A lot of times the Afghani local women will bring their kids to the FOB to be seen by our medics. Whenever I can I go over there and give them colored pencils, paper, and stuffed animals. Sadly we haven’t received any in about 5 months so we’re out. We literally have nothing left to give, and with the way things are going, we could really use it to help the locals not hate us so much. If anyone can donate some small toys, candy, coloring books, or anything like that, please please email my team at yakimandu96@yahoo.com. Any donations given go directly to the women and children of Afghanistan. Thanks to all the agencies that have supported us in the past.
A Brief Update (from Day 1) 52409 -- [Fab - in Afghanistan]
Students from Bagrami and other villages nearby have started coming to the lab since a month ago. They’re being taught in 1 hour shifts but in smaller class sizes, between 8 and 16 students per teacher
18-year-old Fusilier finds Taliban weapons -- [Ministry of Defense]
An 18-year-old soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers has found a haul of Taliban weapons on his second patrol in Afghanistan.
The “Flood” of Drugs -- [Registan]
Then there is this to think about: the UN official in charge of controlling or eliminating drug trafficking in Afghanistan thinks it is okay to advocate crashing its economy in pursuit of a single, narrow goal, as if crashing the price of opium in one year could ever be done in a vacuum without severe economic, political, and security consequences for the area. Afghanistan’s GDP is 60% opium—how will suddenly crashing its price be anything other than disaster? And the biggest of windfalls for the Taliban?
Quick Update -- [A Year In The Sandbox - in Afghanistan]
Everything’s going good here, we’re in the home stretch now. My shop got reorganized and I don’t have an office anymore since all I really do is the convoys. Unfortunately that means I don’t have internet access on my laptop anymore so it’s a little tougher to update now. I’m going to try tomorrow to get some videos that I’ve taken uploaded, there are some good ones. We spent a day out in the middle of nowhere last week just blowing stuff up.
Welcome to the axis of evil -- [Frontline Club]
She rightly mourns the closure of the American Cultural Centre - shut in retaliation at the US army's attack on a village near the Iraqi border last year. But to say that Syrians would flock there to get a rare glimpse at life in the land of milk and honey is just wrong. American culture is everywhere in Damascus.
North Korea Threatens Military Strikes on South - [New York Times]
North Korea on Wednesday threatened to launch military strikes against South Korea if any of its ships were stopped or searched as part of an American-led operation to intercept vessels suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction. South Korea agreed to join the global interdiction program after North Korea tested a nuclear device on Monday.
North Korea Tests Obama -- [Washington Times]
While President Obama pushes soft power, the North Korean dictator plays hardball. North Korea's underground nuclear test and missile trials show that the regime is probing Mr. Obama's resolve. Pyongyang apparently has concluded that the president's rhetoric of conciliation and understanding betrays serious weakness as a global leader. Like all tyrants, Kim Jong-il sees an open hand as a weak one.
We Have A Chinese Problem, Not A North Korean One -- [Forbes]
...President Obama will never have a successful Korea policy until he has a successful Chinese one. North Korea can continue to defy the international community as long as it has Beijing's support. So we don't have a North Korea problem. We have a China one.
Iran Sends Warships to International Waters -- [VOA News]
Iranian media say Iran has sent six warships to international waters, including the Gulf of Aden, just days after it test-fired a new ballistic missile.
Israel: Venezuela, Bolivia Supplying Iran With Uranium for Nuclear Program -- [FOX News]
Venezuela and Bolivia are supplying Iran with uranium for its nuclear program, according to a secret Israeli government report obtained Monday by The Associated Press.
The two South American countries are known to have close ties with Iran, but this is the first allegation that they are involved in the development of Iran's nuclear program, considered a strategic threat by Israel.
France Opens its First Military Base in Gulf Region -- [VOA]
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has inaugurated France's first military base in the Gulf region at a time of heightened political sensitivities in the volatile Middle East - and as France seeks to expand its presence in the region.
Identifying Domestic Terrorists -- [Austin Bay]
It took a couple of awkward weeks, but Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano finally issued a real apology to American military veterans. Recall in early April, at her direction, DHS issued a sloppy, politically slanted "warning" about potential domestic terrorism. Insulting language fingered "disgruntled" military veterans as potential recruits for violent (likely "right-wing") organizations.
Montana town offers to take Gitmo detainees. -- [RedState]
Hardin, Montana - a very small, very poor town with a very new, very empty jail, is willing to take on the responsibility of holding Gitmo detainees...
...Of course, they know what they’re asking for. They’re asking for the state government to cough up some regular prisoners to house at Hardin so that the town could generate some revenue and maybe pay off its bond. Failing that, they’re advertising - and if you don’t think that there’s money in prison facilities, go talk to the hardcore Left: they have a bee in their bonnet on the subject, as a Google search of the phrase “prison industry” will quickly determine.
NEFA Foundation Chart: "Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)" -- [Counterterrorism Blog - Evan Kohlmann]
The NEFA Foundation has released a new interactive chart that I have created titled, "Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)." The chart maps out in detail the multi-step process by which multimedia recorded by mujahideen organizations in the field is distributed online--including the critical roles played by the pre-eminent Internet logistical service providers (namely Al-Fajr and the GIMF).
To the Strong and Wonderful Women! --- [AFGHANISTAN SHRUGGED - in Afghanistan]
How does one say “Thank You” for such an incredible debt owed?
This is a post that I’ve struggled to write many times during my deployment and each time it seems that I’ve failed. At the end I’m always left with the feeling that I didn’t quite describe their hardship, give them their true credit or convey our true gratitude. I’ll try; but am afraid I shall fail them.
Army Wives, Part 1: Train-Up -- [Notes from Iraq]
...As Soldiers, we make the sacrifices required of us to perform the duties for which we volunteered. However, the most difficult sacrifice is separation from our Families, Wives and Children. A train-up of three months followed by a deployment of 12 months equates to 15 months of nearly uninterrupted separation—a deep sacrifice, especially for the Army Wives, who themselves did not volunteer.
Army Wives, Part 2: Deployment and Going It Solo -- [Notes from Iraq]
Occasionally, Soldiers are complimented for their service. While recognition never fails to bring a smile, there is a group of much stronger, much more deserving individuals: Army Wives or military spouses.
For our Troops and Families -- [Talking With Heroes]
Talking with Heroes Talk Show and troop support groups in the Colorado Springs area are honored to produce a Two LIVE on the Internet Event at the Community Partnership for Child Development Building at 2330 Robinson in Colorado Springs On May 29th. The program goes LIVE on the internet at 7pm MST - 6pm PST. Doors open 5:30pm.
And the award for worst Memorial Day post goes to….[envelope]… -- [This Ain't Hell...]
First up is Sheldon Richman of Free Association (with a h/t to our friends at Doubleplusundead):
Anyone who questions the morality of a war is automatically suspected of being unpatriotic, unappreciative of the bravery that has “kept us free,” and disrespectful of “our troops,” in a word, un-American.
But in fact the forces aren’t “serving their country” or “keeping us free.” They are doing the bidding of hack politicians, well-connected economic interests, and court intellectuals who are striving to achieve personal ambition, wealth, and historical legacies.
...Another contender is Cindy Sheehan
Sinise urges more funds for disabled vets -- [Washington Times]
Actor Gary Sinise, an advocate for American troops, urged the government and private sector on Memorial Day to spend more money on disabled veterans and to provide more counseling for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or become suicidal.
"The issue is what happens when they leave the hospital. They are still struggling for benefits and still struggling to recover and get things that are owed to them and, quite frankly, we have just fallen down in certain areas where we need to do more," Mr. Sinise said.
Diana DeGarmo Supports Troops, Has Her Identity Stolen -- [FOX News]
Diana DeGarmo was piped at the post by Fantasia Barrino during the third season of "American Idol," but the first runner-up is making her mark by making music for the troops, inspired by her visit as the youngest celeb ever to perform for our men and women in Iraq.
"We spent NYE in Saddam Hussein’s palace in Baghdad, then not even eight hours after we left there was a mortar attack,
Lunch with Casey -- [Abu Muqawama]
Gen. Casey said his single biggest concern was the long-term health of the commissioned officer and non-commissioned officer corps.
He said his mission was four-fold:
Sustain soldiers and their families.
Prepare them for combat.
Reset the force upon return.
Transform the force.
Some phony POW statistics -- [This Ain't Hell...]
I’ve read these somewhere before (I think TSO sent it to me once), but I thought y’all’d like to see these statistics on phony POWs in light of yesterday’s revelation about super-secret recondo Eugene Reed;
Hey Soldier, You're Fired -- [Strategy Page]
The U.S. Army is using the surge in new recruits to raise the overall quality of their personnel. High civilian unemployment, and far fewer troops headed overseas, has brought in a flood of higher quality recruits. This has put pressure on marginal soldiers to shape up, or be out of a job.
More from Fleet Week -- [Lejeune Deployed]
The Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force New York placed this wreath at Ground Zero in remembrance to those who died in the 9/11 attacks here,...
On brigade's return: 'Thank God he's home and he's safe' -- [Minneapolis Star Tribune]
Sgt. 1st Class Randy Klossner got a long welcome-home hug from his wife, Joan, at the Welcome Home Ceremony on Tuesday evening after his 12-month deployment ...
'It's good coming home' -- [Philadelphia Inquirer]
... and other family members and friends - all anxiously awaiting the troops' arrival. Many held babies, balloons, flags, and "Welcome Home" signs. ...
NY Times claims it knew of Watergate scandal first -- [AP]
The Watergate scandal that brought down US president Richard Nixon was one of the great news scoops of the 20th century, and the New York Times on Monday revealed it nearly had the story in its grasp.
Missing the point -- [This Ain't Hell]
Well I wrote a letter to the author of the newspaper story, Sarah Thompson to warn her of the deception. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one to write to her because she sent a shotgun email to all of us last night;
Troubles With Too Many Troops -- [Strategy Page]
Two years ago, the U.S. Army was ordered by Congress to expand its personnel strength 13.5 percent (from 482,000 to 547,000) within five years. The army said this would cost $70 billion, but Congress did not provide all that money. While the army was able to recruit the additional troops, they didn't really want them. Some politicians are urging the army to expand by another 30,000 troops
Al-Qaeda Kidnaps Obama's Teleprompter -- [GroupThink]
In an audacious raid Friday, al-Qaeda terrorists managed to slip past White House security and seize President Obama's teleprompter. Their demands were released in a grainy video, which apparently showed the president's teleprompter, bound and blindfolded but unharmed, while heavily armed masked men stood behind it, quoting from the Qur'an. The content of their demands is not being released.
President Obama, visibly shaken, attempted to address the White House press corps on his own. "Words, uh, um, I, uh, heh-heh, well..."
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
Memorial Day -- [Ramblings from a painter - in Iraq]
Memorial Day in Baghdad is not like it is in the States. Okay, so we got a full day off. Our little group was sitting around dinner in the DFAC last night discussing what our options were.
It is best you pay attention -- ["Because We're Here Boy, No One Else; Just Us." - in Iraq]
We were flying around and around one night minding our business. It was a clear, smooth night and not much was happening. Not much has been happening lately. We hadn't been on station long so we weren't sleepy, just getting relaxed; when we hear on our headphones-
UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT AT LAT-LONG XX XX NORTH XX XX EAST.
THIS IS NEXTDOORISTAN AIR DEFENCE ON GUARD.
YOU ARE APPROACHING NEXTDOORISTAN FIR
Home Stretch -- [Chris' Almost-Weekly Update - in Iraq]
We've been doing well, continuing to wrap up and get ready for our replacements. I'm told they're in Kuwait already. Hopefully we'll finish up the last of the trench today, and that will be the last of our big projects.
Almost There… -- [The Gun Line - in Iraq]
We’re still here, in Iraq, doing the job, haven’t lost anyone ot enemy action, and I pray that it continues, that we bring everybody home (except for the ones who went back early, and most of them will be waiting for us at the drill hall).
As for me, this deployment looks like it has done all that I had expected… It has prepared me to lay down the rifle with grace and on my own terms.
Tournament Showcases Fun, Unity Throughout East Baghdad -- [NewsBlaze]
The tournament symbolizes the success of a month-long effort between FC Unity, a London-based organization, and U.S. and Iraqi officials to provide the people of Iraq a platform for development and education through a series of soccer programs.
Iraqi Police Prove Ready to Assume Security Responsibility -- [NewsBlaze]
Nine local Iraqi Police stations of the Tikrit district received validation establishing independence from the 342nd Military Police Company, who was responsible for advising the IPs on the security of the district.
Thank You Sergeant Jeffers -- [Deebow - BlackFive]
And for those that don’t know Sergeant Eddie Jeffers, he had a blog about his experiences in Ramadi and around Iraq. And this piece was very prescient and spoke a great deal about the experiences of the young men and women who are walking the mean streets of Iraq.
Memorial Day 2009 -- [McQ - BlackFive]
He had a 101st Airborne Division tattoo and I naturally engaged him in conversation, asking which unit he’d served with and when he’d been in Iraq. ...
He ducked his head again and glanced at his family. Then, looking me straight in the eye, but in a voice that was lower so only I could hear he said, “I have some friends here I need to say goodbye too”. He said it knowing I’d understand. I nodded in answer, reached out and put my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. We parted, he with his family and me with my thoughts.
What that young soldier was doing is what Memorial Day is all about.
How Strategic Communication Helped the Surge Succeed in Iraq -- [World-Wide-Matel]
Colonel Patrick Malay, my friend and colleague from Iraq, is coming to Washington and together we will make a presentation at the Strategic Communication Network (formerly known as Fusion Team) on May 29 about the importance of strategic communication in Iraq and how the Marines and the ePRT worked with the people and leaders of Anbar to help create stability and relative prosperity. Below is more or less what I plan to say.
Now what? -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
I know being deployed will cause you to really look at yourself. Well, it has for me. I’ve never really had to do something that was out of my comfort zone before.
Since being deployed I’ve had to really evaluate what I want to do once I finish my deployment. I have so many possibilities but I’m afraid of choosing the safest one. Why? It’ll be easier. Meaning not stepping out of the box is what everyone wants including me
Memorial Day -- [Bad Dogs and Such - in Iraq]
Same statement as I put up every year, folks.
Cook out. Barbecue some critter. Hang out with your family and friends. Enjoy yourselves, because that's what the folks who didn't make it home would have wanted you to do. Do that for them, because they gave up a lifetime's worth of slightly-charred burgers and games of catch to preserve those things for the rest of us.
A Farewell to Arms -- [Afghanistan Shrugged - in Afghanistan]
It is humbling to stand in a war zone and see your country’s flag flown at half mast in honor of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice on her behalf. I think back to others in my family that glimpsed a similar site. My father in Vietnam, with the Sky Soldiers, and his father before him with the Tough Hombres at Normandy; I’m just the next in line to pick up the family trade; the profession of arms.
This year is different though. I lost one of my soldiers several nights ago during a mortar attack.
Catching a cold and storage Afghan style -- [Afghanistan my last tour - in Afghanistan]
This morning I visited the ANA Brigade warehouse to get a feel of how they store their supplies and equipment. Unlike the warehouses I’ve managed in the past, this warehouse had some uniqueness to it. MSG Abdullah is the warehouse manager and takes great pride in keeping his warehouse clean and organized. He listens intently and is open for suggestions as he occasionally strokes his black beard. I inquired how he knows where everything is located because the usual location markers on the bins and floors were absent. He said that
Command Post May 25, 2009 -- [Kudzu’s Wandering... - in Afghanistan]
I stood in the command post and listened to the daily update brief. This briefing informed everyone in the command what was happening within the unit and across Afghanistan. Today was different though. I had a flash back to the first night in country; A flash of the families that would soon be notified of a terrible loss.
Memorial Day 2009 -- [Miserable Donuts - in Afghanistan]
It means a bit more this year, because CSM Bones has been in Afghanistan and lost some Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in his Task Force.
Pakistani troops advance into Swat’s main town -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Soldiers have seized several strategic intersections in its initial move into the town of Mingora, according to the military. The Taliban appear to be conserving its main force for future battles.
Transcript: Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen -- [ABC News]
Exclusive Interview with President Barack Obama's Top Military Official
Former S. Korean President Commits Suicide -- [Jawa Report]
(Seoul, South Korea) Former President Roh Moo-hyun committed suicide early Saturday morning by throwing himself off a cliff. Roh fell about 100 feet and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
Later he was taken to Pusan National University Hospital where extraordinary measures failed to save him.
North Koreas’ Largest Concentration Camps on Google Earth -- [One Free Korea]
This page constitutes the first published delineation of the boundaries of North Korea’s largest concentration camps, known as kwan-li-seo in Korean. Outsiders know of five such camps: camps 14, 15, 16, 18, and 22. Each of these camps consists of hundreds of square miles. All are located in remote areas of central or northeastern North Korea.
North Korea’s Concentration Camps: Their Scale and Significance...
North Korea Successfully Explodes Nuke in Underground Test, Fires Short-Ranged Missile -- [BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT]
The People’s Democratic Republic of Korea has successfully tested an underground nuclear bomb, sending the South Korean stock market into a plunge....The underground nuclear test created an earthquate registering 4.7 on the Richter scale that could be felt in South Korea, or the Republic of Korea, around 9:54 am this morning.
American capitalism gone with a whimper -- [Pravda.Ru]
It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed...
First Jihadi Cell of 2009 Busted In the United States — What Does It Mean? -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
A successful counter-terrorism operation led by the FBI and the New York City Police Department ended with the arrest of four New York City men in connection with plots to bomb Jewish synagogues and gun down military planes in upstate areas.
Remembering . . . -- [Learning to Live - Gold Star Wife]
I saw this commercial the other day and thought it was fitting . . . today is one of 'those' days for me. My mind is so busy thinking about the trip but of course the obvious is in the front of my mind . . . and just like any other day . . . I remember
Memorial means "serving, or intended, to preserve the memory... to keep in remembrance". -- [Robert Stokely, Gold Star Father]
...Ask yourself an honest question - Is that how America views Memorial Day? Honestly, I have to say that before my son went to war and died, it wasn't for me and from what I have observed, it isn't for most of America.
Memorial Day -- [Jules Crittenden]
On June 6, 1944, when he jumped out of a C-47 to land in the bosom of history, a tiny French town called Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Tucker was a 20-year-old kid from Roslindale. He survived that leap, only to have a change of orders separate him from seven fellow members of the 82nd Airborne’s 505 Parachute Infantry Regiment.
A couple of days after D-Day, those seven soldiers - Tucker’s closest friends - would be massacred by Germans lurking in the hedgerow just outside a bucolic village called Fresville.
Boeing Memorial Day Commercial
Memorial Day -- [Bring the heat, Bring the Stupid]
Today, if you are killed in action, you will be escorted all the way home, from the battlefield to your final resting place. The Air Force will fly you from the theater of operations to Dover, Delaware. You may well be the only cargo on the entire aircraft. A servicemember will accompany you from Dover to your hometown, or to Arlington, or wherever it is that will be your grave.
But it was not always thus.
Memorial Day by Greta Perry
With time off from work and the beach calls your name
Many gather with friends and family to grill over open flame.
As Americans we we should not just look at it as extra time to play
Please don’t forget the true meaning of Memorial Day.
This day has been set aside to stop and pay tribute
To our fallen heroes and warriors who gave a final salute.
"Remember Me and Not My Fate" -- [Villianous Co.]
...One of the tombstones there is inscribed "Remember Me And Not My Fate".
That is what this post is about: remembering the lives of some who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The first fifteen Marines are all fallen Highlanders from 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The next is the son of an old friend of ours.
Remembering the Gold Star Families -- [NewsBlaze]
While immense honor is paid to our men and women who have died in combat, I was recently reminded of a void where we, as citizens of this brave nation, often fall short.
Join Us Monday for a Special You Served Blog Talk Radio Show
May 23, 2009 By Claire
Posted in Patriotism, Podcast, Spouse and Family
Join me Monday, Memorial Day (observed), at 1:00pm EST, for a special You Served Blog Talk Radio show. -- [You Served]
Bob Parks, a Navy Veteran, owner of the website Black & Right.com, an “African American leader” according to the Washington Times, conservative activist, and co-founder of New Media Alliance Television will join us Monday to talk about Memorial Day, what it means to him and any how we can observe it respectfully.
Raritan students remember Vietnam War dogs, handlers -- [K9 Pride]
When students in Evelyn Van Nuys’ seventh grade history class were studying the Vietnam War, they learned that thousands of dogs served in the military, attacking enemy soldiers and sniffing out explosives. They also learned that many of these “war dogs” were abandoned and forgotten after the war.
The J.P. Case Middle School students decided the heroic canines and their handlers should be remembered, so they joined with their teacher to create a memorial at the Raritan Township school.
Happy Memorial Day -- [Stop The ACLU]
Today all honors possibly from our heart goes out to those that have given their lives for the freedom of all! There is no way to fully express our appreciation and gratitude to the heroes that shed their blood for all of our liberty!
Remembering -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Today, and every day. We love you.
SOLDIER OF THE FUTURE -- [New York Post]
HOW THE MILITARY IS PLANNING FOR THE WARS OF TOMORROW
...Aided by "smart drugs," enhanced with prosthetics, and protected by a lightweight suit of armor, this soldier of the future possesses near super-human capabilities and weapons that would make even Iron Man jealous. He's suited up in an "exoskeleton" - essentially a Storm Trooper-esque external shell - that allows him to carry heavy loads.
The Few, The Proudest, A Marine Dad -- [Sgt Grit - HT: MaryAnn]
It was a quick 'ceremony', but what amazed me most was those Marines had just gotten back from sand, heat and months without their loved ones and yet the reverence and pride for the flag was without question. I wish every American could've seen the look of pride and respect that was on each Marine's face as they paid respect to their flag that evening. It took several minutes after Taps was done sounding off those buildings, at Area 22, for anyone in that parking lot to move or make a sound. Looking around revealed that many loved ones were just as in awe as I was.
'Welcome Home' event to support area veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan -- [Las Vegas Review]
Today, he will be thinking about US troops who are in Iraq and Afghanistan and hoping they can come home and let the armies of those countries fight their
Okla. soldiers celebrate, remember on Memorial Day, OK -- [Product Design & Development]
Our main thing is to welcome them home and let people know how much we do appreciate them." Eshbaugh, Thompson and Rudolf were among eight Oklahomans who ...
Soldiers Return Home to Fort Leonard Wood -- [Ozarks First]
Tomorrow is, of course, Memorial Day, a time of great patriotism around the country and at Fort Leonard Wood. Families say it's a blessing to welcome home ...
Troops due home for holiday -- [Asbury Park Press]
The first of some 2800 New Jersey National Guard troops will return home from Iraq to Fort Dix to be reunited with their families on Memorial Day,..
Welcome home troops -- [The Purcell Register]
Purcell, Ok -- The Lexington based 2nd Battalion 149th Aviation Unit will be returning home Sunday from a tour in Iraq. The unit will be returning from Fort Sill in Lawton after going through debriefing since their return on Wednesday.
NBC: National Broadcasters Against Conservatives -- [Big Hollywood]
Robert Avrech’s lovely paean to the patriotism of Old Hollywood reminds me, by way of contrast, of a blink-and-you-missed-it scandal from seventeen months ago. Even in a cultural arena rife with liberal outrages against military families, it marked a new low. And although it was but one small battle in the culture war, it is worth recalling in the wake of Memorial Day as a reminder of just how far our popular media has fallen from the sterling ideals of our forefathers.
The Fallen -- [Greyhawk]
Today the media has insulted the fallen. In an article on corruption charges against the Iraqi Trade Minister the photo included is of the return of SFC Brian Naseman's remains at Dover AFB. The reporting agency should issue a public explanation of how the photo relates to the story outside of trying to tie every story about Iraq to emotionally charged photos of the fallen.
Celebration Marks 20 Years of National Memorial Day Concerts
Casual Defamation? -- [McQ - BlackFive]
You know I honestly don't go looking for these things. And in this case, I could be persuaded that the author of the objectionable line below just said it poorly and didn't mean it the way it came out. But it still struck me as an almost casual defamation of the many heroes that the war in Iraq has produced.
...I can't let the line about "few heroes" pass without remark. If it was a mistake and Mr. Emerson meant there were few heroes evident early in the war, then he needs to clarify that.
Memorial Day -- [Foreign and Domestic]
Despite what many elected officials like to tell us on Memorial Day, today is not a day to honor all veterans, or all who have served in the military, or those currently serving. Memorial Day is the day we set aside, as a whole country at once, to honor those who gave their last full measure of devotion.
Obama: Honor Veterans This Memorial Day
ACLU vs. Veterans -- [This Ain't Hell...]
Somewhere in a desolate part of the Mojave Desert, on a craggy hill is a war memorial, a single, simple cross, the existence of which somehow threatens the rights of people who didn’t even know it was there until the American Civil Liberties Union filed a law suit to have it removed. The Washington Times recounts a bit of the memorial’s history;
...The ACLU explains why this memorial is so offensive to the hundreds of millions of Americans who have never seen it;
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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 Iraq's enigmatic Sadr headed for a comeback? -- [Reuters]
Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose fiery anti-American message mobilized millions of poor Shi'ites after the 2003 invasion, has faded from the public eye since he embraced religious studies in Iran two years ago.
Now he may be seeking a new, less militant image designed to win him wider support across Iraq's sectarian spectrum.
Border Conflicts Test Kurdish Tightrope Act -- [Institute for War and Peace Reporting]
American support seen as crucial to helping Iraqi Kurds resolve rebel conflicts with Turkey and Iran.
Road trips -- [Bad Dogs and Such - in Iraq]
The Bossman was recently out of town (yet again), hanging out in a much nicer and more Kurdish area, doing...well, field grade stuff (naps and PowerPoint).
...We packed our assault packs, loaded the radios, stuck SGT B in the turret, SSG C in the driver's seat and Yours Truly in what I like to refer to as the "aircraft commander" seat. Trading an open seat in the back for a spot in an outbound convoy, we hit the road.
War Artist Arabella Dorman: Paintings From The Front Line In Iraq
Britain's first official war artist Arabella Dorman has put together a collection of works painted on the front line in Iraq.
The weather is here. I wish it were beautiful... -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
Soon enough the oppressive heat will make a mere walk to the chow hall seem down right volcanic. If you want to know how hot it is here turn on your oven all the way and then stick you head in. To experience Iraqi summer temperatures at home simply climb into an asbestos sleeping bag, have someone ram a flamethrower in one end and let her rip.
There are other interesting weather phenomena occurring at this time as well.
Afghan and US forces battle Taliban in northern Helmand stronghold -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The district of Nad Ali hosts Taliban command and control centers and a narcotics hub as well as al Qaeda camps used to train the Shadow Army.
Patrols in the Korengal (PHOTOS) -- [Rapport Press]
IED kills and we’re back to medical training -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
I took another picture of one of the camp vehicles that was engaged in a fire fight with the enemy yesterday. Once again the armor and protective glass did their jobs and nobody was injured. However, there is one less bad guy to deal with ...On a tragic note, the Air Force lost a female Lieutenant to a roadside bomb along with the life of a government contractor yesterday. Ironically we traveled this same road a few days ago.
God Speed 1LT. Roslyn L. Schulte -- [You Served]
From my friend~a Navy Lt serving in Afghanistan:
Yesterday, my closest friend for the last couple months, Roslyn Schulte, was killed in a roadside bombing halfway between here and Bagram. She is one of the most incredible people I have ever known, and I want to tell you about her. I had only known her about three months, but she was assigned to my unit, and so, she and I being the only two junior officers in the group, she had the unfortunate pleasure of having to hangout with me. I can probably count on one hand the number of times we did not eat at least one meal of the day together since she arrived here in early March.
Uzbeen Valley Part 3 The Shura
French and American Soldiers meet with Afghan Force in former Taliban stronghold
Taliban agrees to pull out from some parts of Lower Dir in NWFP | Pak Army -- [Big News Network]
The Taliban has agreed to move out of the Asbanr and Gulabad areas of the Lower Dir region of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) within the next two days.
New Strategy Treats Afghanistan, Pakistan as Integrated Theater -- [Defense Link]
The new strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan treats the area as an integrated theater of operations, the Defense Department’s policy chief said today.
Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, spoke of the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, dangers from Iran and detainees during a wide-ranging interview with the Defense Writers’ Group.
“We have to regard Pakistan and Afghanistan together, because each affects the other so profoundly,” Flournoy said. “That said, the strategy calls for different but integrated approaches in either country. In Afghanistan, we are pursuing -- really for the first time -- a fully resourced counterinsurgency strategy with military on the ground and civilian experts as well.”
US troop surge in Afghanistan 'could push Taliban into Pakistan' -- [Guardian]
The buildup of US troops in Afghanistan could force more Taliban fighters into neighbouring Pakistan, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff conceded last night.
Admiral Mike Mullen told the US Senate's foreign relations committee: "We can't deny that our success may only push them [the Taliban] deeper into Pakistan."
U.S. Envoy To Afghanistan Has Seen War Up Close -- [NPR]
The new U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan is a retired Army general who used to be the top military commander in that country. Karl Eikenberry, a soldier turned diplomat, took over earlier this month at the heavily fortified American embassy in Kabul at a critical moment:
SWAT Analysis: Rah-e-Rast, Desperate Taliban and Divided Elites -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
Pakistan’s military offensive against Taliban in Swat and Malakand division in Northwest part of the country has entered into a crucial phase. After almost 25 days of skirmish, the Pakistan army and political elites are struggling to cope with the realties of war. While the military fears that it could be losing public support if Swat offensive persists for long, the political leadership seems divided on prevailing situation in Swat and Malakand. Clamoring for troop withdrawal, Political parties like Jamaat-i-Islami, and Tehrik-i-Insaaf have clearly rejected the Army operation at the recently concluded all party conference at Prime Minster’s house. Many smaller parties even threatened to walk out from the APC on the military action clause, quite contrary to what President Asif Ali Zardari believes about the unity of his entire nation behind the ongoing operation against Taliban militants. (Govt ‘lying’ about unanimous APC resolution: JI, 19 May, 2009)
Firefight with Taliban in Helmand, Afghanistan (8/20/2008)
INTENSE Firefight with Taliban in Helmand, Afghanistan. After numerous mortars being launched at the enemy position, enemy fire was still being received so they decide to fire A M97 LAW at them.
Closures after Taliban Threats: German Army Can’t Protect Afghan Girls’ Schools -- [RAWA News]
Six schools in the northern region of Kunduz closed following Taliban threats in recent weeks. The German army says it can't protect them. The schools received letters threatening acid and gas attacks, and teachers and pupils responded by staying home. The Afghan authorities finally decided to shut the schools altogether. The affected district of Chahar Darreh in the province of Kunduz is largely under the Taliban's control.
Biden Holds Talks with Lebanese President -- [VOA< News]
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in Lebanon Friday during a short visit to show support for that country's Western-backed government ahead of parliamentary elections.
Clinton: Middle East May Start Arms Race If Iran Gets Nukes -- [VOA News]
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told senators Wednesday that if Iran obtains a nuclear weapons capability, it would trigger an arms race in the Middle East and beyond. She said the Obama administration is pursuing a diplomatic track on the issue with Iran but within a specific time-frame.
Clinton said the specter of a nuclear-armed Iran has created what amounts to an "alliance" among Israel and many Arab states, and she is hoping the shared interests will give impetus not only to diplomacy with Iran but also a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Obama: Still Opposed to Truth Commission -- [TIME]
Plans for a truth commission, originally proposed by Senator Patrick Leahy, had seemed doomed by Obama's initial thumb's-down. But they gained some traction in recent weeks, thanks to fresh controversies over the CIA's detention and interrogation policies under Bush. Former Vice President Dick Cheney has repeated claims that the harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects helped save thousands of American lives.
Caucasus jihad: Terror tactics back on the horizon? -- [LWJ - Benjamin Shapiro]
The leader of the Emirate has said this year will be the "offensive year." With it, suicide bombings and more radicalized tactics may be returning to the scene.
Clinton-era hard drive missing from archives -- [The Hill]
A massive amount of sensitive, national security-related information from the Clinton administration has gone missing from the national archives.
The Inspector General of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) told congressional committee staffers Tuesday that a hard drive containing over a terabyte of information -- the equivalent of millions of books--went missing from the NARA facility in College Park, Md., sometime between October 2008 and March 2009.
Tom’s Medevac Journey: The rest of the story -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
The photo above is quite well known. I've even used it here myself. But I never knew the rest of the story until I recently found this archived page
...“My main thing was to not let (Tom) see what was happening, if he was awake enough to see it,” Altman said. “He didn’t know (two of his friends had been killed), but even if he did know, you don’t want him to see the caskets. It’s better that way. I didn’t want (Tom) to start thinking ‘why wasn’t I killed? Why couldn’t it have been me instead of one of my buddies?’ He needed to be thinking about himself and getting better.”
United Airlines earn coveted A+ Weaver award -- [Desert bound - heading to Afghanistan]
She took my name, but it didn’t sound promising. Five minutes before we boarded, my nervousness was washed away with relief when I heard my name and the three others in our party called over the loud speaker. It seems they had worked it out and in two minutes our coach seats were switched to business. They then thanked us for our service to our country and wished us a safe trip.
Army Delays in Body Armor Testing -- [The Captain’s Journal]
...It is, after all, the Army. To expect that the Army would keep people in their employ who were technical experts in all areas of application is unreasonable. Also, this report doesn’t say that the Army did not perform adequate testing. But the efficiency with which it is done calls into question the propriety of having this function done in-house.
Shots fired in re the Defense Budget. -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
The Army pretty much rolls over on FCS (which is instructive, really). The Air Force sends out the proxies. Over at National Review, retired AF Major General Bently Rayburn weighs in.
Army Terminators Walk Like Men -- [Danger Room]
Round four of mankind’s epic battle against the walking, talking, killer machines starts tonight with the opening of Terminator Salvation. But humanoid robots aren’t confined to the movies. Turns out the U.S. military is backing research into robots that act like people, as well.
Why Embeds are Important -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes]
In a previous post I mentioned how embeds can enhance operations in the media battlespace by providing fact from the ground. Today's Wall Street Journal shows a classic scenario.
If an embed had been with the unit in question, a lot of the back-and-forth would have ended immediately.
But now we have Taliban sympathizers putting bodies on display and the military offering a 'report.'
The military report is likely 100% correct, but in the media battlespace imagery wins.
Western Media Continues to Ignore Mass Graves In Iraq -- [Gateway Pundit]
...Nibras Kazimi wrote today at the Hudson Institute about the hundreds of mass graves that have been discovered in Iraq and the apathy of the Western media to report this news
Why journalists deserve low pay -- [Christian Science Monitor]
Journalists like to think of their work in moral or even sacred terms. With each new layoff or paper closing, they tell themselves that no business model could adequately compensate the holy work of enriching democratic society, speaking truth to power, and comforting the afflicted.
Actually, journalists deserve low pay.
Wages are compensation for value creation. And journalists simply aren't creating much value these days.
History Is (Re)Written By The Winners -- [Redstate]
Highly inflammatory, as well as disputable, and clearly anti-American. I immediately started looking into the story to find out why, or even if, the History Channel would actually run such vile ads, and why Ogilvy & Mather would create them. While I was researching, the story changed.
Less than a day after I read it, the article was updated with the following information:
THE UNBEARABLE VAGUENESS OF DRAPER -- [Greyhawk]
Once at the link you'll need to scroll down a bit to find the 'unbearable vagueness' header; I urge you to do so. All too often pundits on any side of an issue are quick to latch on to "news" that supports their position. The author of this piece recognizes that the practice says less about the subject (or the issue) and more about the credibility of his critics. Providing a detailed examination of the technique used (especially since it's often used) is a service worthy of praise.
The HuffPo's Lonely Planet Foreign Policy -- [Michael Totten]
Roger Cohen seems to have invented a genre. At the very least he has imitators. Olivia Sterns just published a piece at the Huffington Post decrying Syria’s “misrepresentation” in the media and arguing that President Barack Obama “embrace” Damascus’s tyrant Bashar Assad as a peace partner because the locals were nice to her when she visited Syria on vacation.
Obama v. Cheney -- [Neptunus Lex]
The president says that the US went badly off course in its conduct of the GWOT, the former Vice President disagrees. All the usual lines are drawn in the sand, nothing new to learn and few, if any, minds to change.
Except these lines jump out at me:
Pelosi: I Stand By My Comment
Outrage! Obama To Apologize For "American" War Crimes at D-Day Ceremonies? (Updated) -- [Gateway Pundit]
Barack Obama is going to visit Dresden, Germany during D-Day ceremonies this year. For Germans, Dresden is the symbol bar none of German suffering at the hands of the Allies. It was already reported that Obama would recognize German suffering during the anniversary ceremonies. Obama will likely apologize for "American war crimes" during his Dresden stop.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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 Releases Video of Purported Al-Qaeda Leader -- [Gateway Pundit]
Iraq Releases Tape of Purported Captured Al-Qaeda Leader Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi--
The captured Al-Qaeda leader says he took orders from former Saddam offiicials and from Al-Qaeda. He also said his group was funded by charity organizations in Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Groundhog Day, Revisited -- [Ramblings from a painter - in Iraq]
So within my own little Groundhog Day here in Baghdad, I'm getting to somewhat the same place as my dogs on their walks. I know what the routine is expected to be each day. But it never plays out the way it's supposed to. Meetings are changed or cancelled. Something that wasn't even on the radar is suddenly my top priority, at least for a few hours. I'll be tasked with preparing a decision briefing for the general that will affect how the Corps of Engineers will operate in Iraq for the next couple of years. Meanwhile
Have We Learned to Learn?? -- [S4 at War - in Iraq]
After inquiring as to my job in the Army (infantry type job, not S4 type job) they were curious about what we were doing in Iraq right now and I explained that kicking in doors is no longer the soup du jour. Strengthening governance, builing infrastructure, bolstering the economy, I explained, are all major focuses of ours. They looked at each other and said, “that is exactly what we are going to school to do, what training do you get to do that?” The answer, of course, is none. The Army has demonstrated a surprising capacity to learn on the fly in Iraq and has been unusually receptive to bottom up learning, something it totally neglected in Vietnam to its own peril.
Quick Reaction Force Ride Along
Iraq - Order of Battle -- [Institute for the Study of War]
This document (in Adobe Acrobat format) describes the location and area of responsibility of all Multi-National Force-Iraq units, down to the battalion level updated as of May 2009. Many new units have assumed responsibilities in Iraq. ISW derives all information in the Order of Battle from open sources that are readily available and cited in the document.
VIPs Stay Away -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
Back in April President Obama decided to make a surprise visit to Victory Base which is right next door to my duty station, Camp Liberty. I remember this day quite clearly for two reasons. I failed my #2 fear and it set the record (at the time) for the longest mission.
NEFA Foundation: Q&A With Taliban Media Wing Representative -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The NEFA Foundation has obtained and produced an edited transcript of an open question-and-answer session with Afghan Taliban media wing spokesman Ahmad Mukhtar that took place several days ago over an Arabic-language Internet chat forum.
Director of Political Committee of Taliban in Afghanistan Warns Iran, Tajikistan Against Cooperating With U.S. -- [MEMRI]
In an interview, Agha-Jan Mu'tasim, director of the political committee of the Taliban in Afghanistan, warns Iran against "cooperating with America" and demanded that "Tajikistan not allow the U.S. and NATO to use its territory." During the interview, which aired May 10, 2009 on an Arab TV channel, Mu’tasim’s face is blurred.
When in Doubt ATTACK! -- [Afghanistan Shrugged - in Afghanistan]
...The evening sets in and the wind begins to slow, with the dissipation of the heat. The sun sets over the mountains in Pakistan and calm rests upon the desert floor. An orange light is cast across the landscape almost pleasant, a harbinger of the next day. Maybe not a harbinger of ill events but a seizure of events. A choice to act before being acted upon.
After this we began putting the plan into action.
Pakistani al Qaeda leader killed in March 2008 Predator strike -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
A mid-level al Qaeda leader known as Dr. Arshad Waheed was killed in the March 16, 2008 airstrike in South Waziristan along with 19 other al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
Pentagon Has Video of Afghan Civilian Casualty Incident -- [VOA News]
The Pentagon says it has video of the incident in Afghanistan's Farah Province two weeks ago, in which a U.S. air strike apparently killed some Afghan civilians. But U.S. officials dispute the Afghan government claim that as many as 140 civilians were killed.
NATO airstrike kills eight civilians in southern Afghanistan -- [Earth Times]
A NATO airstrike targeting the Taliban in southern Afghanistan resulted in deaths of eight civilians, the alliance said Wednesday, blaming the militants for using civilians as "human shields."Meanwhile, the US military said Wednesday that its ongoing investigation had found that only 20-30 civilians may have been killed in a May 4 airstrike in western Afghanistan. The Afghan probe said 140 civilians had been killed in the attack.
Afghans killed during insurgent attack -- [ISAF - NATO News Release]
On the morning of 19 May, ISAF troops came under fire from approximately twenty-five insurgents. Finding it difficult to extract themselves from this dangerous situation, ISAF troops resorted to calling for close air support. An aircraft supported the soldiers by dropping one piece of ordnance, which ended the engagement.
The ISAF troops, however, were not aware that the insurgents were once again using civilians as human shields.
ISAF Goes Social -- [Registan]
One of the big challenges facing the mission in Afghanistan is that, given the severe disadvantages in strategic communications and information operations, they need to be more transparent about their methods, methodologies, and intentions. As one example, some of the elders in Kapisa province complained bitterly that the Coalition soldiers were behaving too gruffly with their search operations.
Afghan gov't regains control of southern district from Taliban -- [Trend News]
Afghan forces in an operation flushed out Taliban from Marja district of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan and re-established government writ there Tuesday, a private television channel reported.
"Marja, after one and half year, was regained by government troops," TOLO reported in its news bulletin.
SecDef Gates: Afghans Lead 2 to 4 Years Away -- [American Forces Press Service]
The Afghan national army could lead operations in Afghanistan in two to four years, with the U.S. playing a support role, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a May 8 interview, portions of which aired on CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday.
Taliban Tactics: Massing of Troops -- [The Captain’s Journal]
There remains an uproar over this incident because of noncombatant casualties, and some of it even over military analysis web sites. The focus of much of the discussion is on how counterinsurgency cannot succeed with noncombatant casualties, and that successful counterinsurgency must be population centric. True enough within context, this point misses the mark by a wide margin and succeeds only in parroting doctrinal talking points without a true understanding of what this incident can tell us about the campaign.
Regular readers of The Captain’s Journal can do better. Be circumspect, smart and deliberate, and consider the question of what we might learn from this incident?
News from a not-so-forgotten war. Heartless Libertarian got his gun. -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
The Heartless Libertarian has deployed to Afghanistan, and has kindly, with only a little arm-twisting, taken on the role of Castle Argghhh! (FWD). This is his first publishable report.
...One of the guys I'm replacing (I'm replacing three guys, at least temporarily, until SAMS spits out its next class) told me, "There are fun experiences, and there are life experiences. This is mostly a life experience. But a year from now, when you look at that map, and remember what it used to look like, you'll say 'Damn, look at what we did.'"
Khalilzad Said to Be in Talks With Karzai -- [WaPo]
Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan American who served as ambassador to Afghanistan in the Bush administration, has been holding discussions with Afghan President Hamid Karzai about becoming a senior adviser to his government, U.S. officials said.
Op Ed: What’s This AGF Crap!? -- [A Battlefield Tourist]
It is time to officially coronate the enemies of the Afghan government, and ultimately coalition forces, as Anti Government Forces or AGF for short. ...In Regional Command East, not only are you dealing with Pashtun nationalists, but wahabbi extremists, islamic revolutionaries, timber barons, drug smuglers, al Qaeda operatives, nationalists, opportunists and, of course, Taliban.
Point is, there are dozens of groups with dozens of issues loosely operating together in a fluidity of rivalry, opportunity and convenience and they are NOT all Taliban. They ARE all AGF.
Arms Sent by U.S. May Be Falling Into Taliban Hands -- [NY Times]
Insurgents in Afghanistan, fighting from some of the poorest and most remote regions on earth, have managed for years to maintain an intensive guerrilla war against materially superior American and Afghan forces.
Military burns unsolicited Bibles sent to Afghanistan -- [Trend News]
Military personnel threw away, and ultimately burned, confiscated Bibles that were printed in the two most common Afghan languages amid concern they would be used to try to convert Afghans, a Defense Department spokesman said Tuesday, CNN reported.
US troops urged to share faith in Afghanistan
I’m female, I couldn’t be in charge. -- [Misuchan’s Milblog - in Afghanistan]
May 18th, 2009 No comments When we get a new person on the FOB and they come into our work area for the first time, they always seem to introduce themselves to the wrong person. Part of the reason is that we don’t wear our ACU tops in here due to the heat. So myself and a male soldier will be sitting here, and they automatically start talking to him as if I don’t exist. Then my soldier directs them to discuss the issue with his sergeant, and motions his hand towards myself, the “female.” And they wonder why I seem like a bitch when they first meet me.
Iran Says It Tests Missile, Israel Within Range -- [WaPo]
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile Wednesday with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe.
1.4 million Pakistanis Flee Fighting, 250,000 Pigs Slaughtered in Egypt, Women Win in Kuwait -- [PJ TV]
The latest Sharia & Jihad headlines you aren't going to find in the mainstream media.
North Korea’s Body Snatchers -- [Pajamas Media]
Is Kim Jong Il taking hostages to get what he wants from the international community?
Last Thursday, North Korea announced that the trial of two American reporters, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, will begin on June 4. Pyongyang’s soldiers snatched the pair on March 17 while they were, according to conflicting reports, in North Korea, in China, or wading across the Tumen River, which forms part of the border between the two countries. The young journalists, working for Current TV of San Francisco, were reporting on refugees fleeing Kim Jong Il’s paradise. Last month, Ling and Lee were charged with illegal entry and hostile acts and could spend at least five years in prison.
US and Russia Begin Arms Talks With a December Deadline -- [New York Times]
After months of prelude, Russian and American teams sat down in Moscow on Tuesday to begin renegotiating the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or Start, a key plank in the promised “reset” of relations between the countries. The negotiators face a tight timeline if they are to replace the old agreement, which runs more than 700 pages, before it expires on Dec. 5. In recent days, top Russian officials have suggested that success at renegotiating Start is contingent on changes to an American plan for a missile defense system, a difficult negotiation in its own right.
Exclusive: Liberty City Six al Qaeda Cell Convicted for Conspiracy to Kill Americans -- [Family Security Matters]
In what should be big news, five men were convicted of multiple charges, including conspiracy to wage war against the U.S.
Go, Keith!! -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Keith is one of "our" former patients and it's wonderful to see him zipping around on his Segway. What's particularly amazing is that he was hurt just three months ago. You can see video stories about him from his local newspaper here and here.
OPERATION GRATITUDE SALUTES MEMORIAL WEEKEND WITH PATRIOTIC CARE PACKAGE DRIVE -- [Operation Gratitude]
Van Nuys, CA - May 20, 2009 - On Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Weekend, May 23-24, 2009, hundreds of dedicated Operation Gratitude Volunteers will assemble and ship 20,000 Care Packages to U.S. Military personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and on ships at sea, during the signature weekend of the organization's 2009 Patriotic Drive. Additional assembly days will take place during the weekend of June 13-14 to complete the goal of shipping 40,000 Patriotic Packages this season.
Legislation in the House of Interest to Veterans -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
Of the 2377 House and 1016 Senate pieces of legislation introduced in the 111th Congress to date, the following House Bills are of interest to the non-active duty veteran community. The whole list being too long for the blog software to handle, the Senate legislation is a separate entry.
Moonbats Target West Point Graduation -- [You Served]
They line West Point Highway with flag draped coffins and banners with disgustingly negative messages to demoralize our graduates and their families. The families of these graduates already have a high anxiety level with their children embarking on a military career in a time of war. The additional stress is unwelcome and unwanted.
For the third year the Gathering of Eagles (GOE) will provide a counterpoint to the insurgents. We will hold flags and signs of encouragement for the graduates, our troops and their families.
They Were My Brothers -- [Villianous Co.]
I received an email today about a medically retired young Marine running a 100 mile marathon down in the Keys over the weekend.
He ran it for the Marines who won't ever run again.
He ran it for the special ops guys from all branches who won't either.
His youtube is found here.
By the way, he finished the marathon in 31 hours, 03 minutes and 21 seconds. 0321 is the MOS for Recon.
Get great Music and help Fisher House -- [Bouhammer]
Last Thursday on You Served Radio I had Tom Neely on from the band, Bridge of Sighs on the show. They donated a couple signed copies of their first studio released CD, Angry Clouds, to be auctioned off on the You Served eBay store to raise money for Fisher House.
Well the band has went one step further.
GPS system threatened by satellite failures -- [Inquirer]
By INQUIRER Newsdesk THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SERVICE (GPS) on which satellite navigation devices rely could begin to fail by next year, a report has warned.
Boeing loses lawsuit on pricing for GPS satellites -- [AP]
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force can disclose the rates that Boeing Co. charged for the next generation of global positioning satellites to the public and
EFMB - the mark of distinction among medical professionals -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
The Expert Field Medical Badge, or EFMB, is earned by a only a fraction of the hundreds who try for it every year, and almost no one makes it on their first attempt.
Not Sure -- [Conversations in the Desert]
I will be reviving posts from my first blogging venture. Starting with my second post which was brought on by a few disgruntled students of a local university after I sent a mass recruiting email to them.
As your local Army Recruiter, I’d like to tell you about the many opportunities the Army has to offer students like yourself.
...The response I recieved:
I find your email laughable and rather ironic.
The army doesn't have a place for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons, now does it?
World War II Vets Get Paid -- [Strategy Page]
After over sixty years of lobbying, Filipinos who fought against the Japanese in the Philippines, or served in the colonial armed forces, during World War II, are finally receiving the compensation. The Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund pays $15,000 to those veterans who are now American citizens, and $9,000 to those who are not.
Ft. Sill troops homecoming -- [KSWO]
The troops trained at Fort Sill, and deployed to Iraq last August. A hearty welcome home to the 34th Combat
Aviation Brigade from all of us here at 7News.
Welcome Home Celebration For Troops -- [WCPO]
The group offers care packages and greeting card from school children and the community to give troops abroad a taste of home. Another his group offers is ...
Families welcome troops home -- [Quad City Times]
Olivia Naber 3, from North Liberty gives her father, Iowa National Guardsman Jacob Naber, a kiss during welcome home activities. (John Schultz/Quad-City ...
Imaginary Death Squads -- [Greyhawk]
...can result in real death.
Accusation's that U.S. military members assassinated Benazir Bhutto aren't the first such allegations built on the foundation of Seymour Hersh's fable of "Dick Cheney's Death Squads" - and Hersh isn't the only "credible" source providing fodder for world-wide conspiracy theorists. They should be the last. They won't be.
Sigh, Hersh -- [Jonah Goldberg/NRO]
Greyhawk does a wonderful service taking him apart.
PSEUDOLOGIA FANTASTICA OF THE SINISTER VARIETY -- [Dr. Sanity]
Is Seymour Hersh flagrantly psychotic and paranoid?? That would be the kindest explanation of his behavior that fits the facts. It would even be treatable.
Of course, pseudologia fantastica also fits the bill...which is just the fancy name for pathological lying, which (to quote from the link) "is falsification entirely disproportionate to any discernible end in view, may be extensive and very complicated, and may manifest over a period of years or even a lifetime."
Disconnect between journalists & the military (& everything else) -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
...So let's take a look at how a hugely respected magazine The New Yorker treats reporting on the military. Here is a succession of Tweets detailing the hiring and story development of the new military writer for them. It is also a perfect example of just how stupid Twitter is for anything other than live updates of an event in progress. Try to ignore the foolishness of 140 character content farts and focus on the fact that they are shameless and unapologetic about their ignorance.
Oh, the Irony... After Hiding Khalidi Tape Before Election- LA Times Demands That Obama Release Torture Photos! -- [Gateway Pundit]
Oh, this is rich!
The LA Times demanded this week that President Obama release the detainee torture photos:
Perfect Valor at the GI Film Fest -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
The film Perfect Valor takes you to the second Battle of Fallujah by telling the personal tales of five people who were there, two grunts, a doctor, a nurse and a chaplain. In case you need any introduction to this battle one of the grunts SSgt Jeremiah Workman offers it "At the time, Fallujah was the most dangerous city on Earth".
Enter the Labyrinth -- [Belmont Club]
The Associated Press reports the loss of a mere terabyte of data recording the Clinton era from the National Archives. An investigation has been launched with the hope of recovering the data. The dates during which the data went missing — “October 2008 and March 2009″ –may provide a clue as to the perpetrators. Just saying.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Archives lost a computer hard drive containing massive amounts of sensitive data from the Clinton administration, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and Secret Service and White House operating procedures, congressional officials said Tuesday.
Senate Democrats won't fund Gitmo closing for now -- [AP]
President Barack Obama's allies in the Senate will not provide funds to close the Guantanamo Bay prison until the administration comes up with a satisfactory plan for transferring the detainees held there, top Democrats said Tuesday. And in a further break with Obama, the Senate's top Democrat said he opposes transferring any Guantanamo prisoners to the United States for their trials or to serve their sentences. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said 50 to 100 Guantanamo detainees may be transferred to U.S. facilities.
"I can't make it any more clear," Reid said. "We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States."
Senator Reid’s Gitmo truth: ‘You can’t put them in prison unless you release them’ -- [911 Families - Tim Sumner]
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) finally told the truth about President Barack Obama’s plan to bring Guantanamo detainees into the United States. The New York Times (and others) has Senator Reid on the record.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
Images, the Law and War -- [NY Times]
...Disclosure of abuses can also provoke a backlash. The indelible images that emerged from the Vietnam War helped turn the nation against the war, and may have steeled America’s enemies. And earlier photographs of abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were used for propaganda and recruitment by insurgents there.
How, then, to apply the lessons of history and law to the possible disclosure of additional images of prisoner mistreatment by Americans in the current wars?
On Wednesday, when Mr. Obama announced that the government was withdrawing from an agreement to comply with court orders requiring release of the images, he said there was little to learn from them and much to fear. But he offered speculation on both sides of the balance.
...the claim that harm would follow disclosure — that terrorists, for example, would exact revenge — is hard to measure or prove. “The terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan do not need pretexts for their barbarism,” Judge Hellerstein wrote. In the Pentagon Papers case, too, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of publication, saying, in essence, that speculation about potential harm was not sufficient.
Kurdish Mass Grave Discovered in Iraq -- [MEMRI]
The Iraqi Human Rights Ministry announced that a mass grave has been discovered in southern Najaf, containing the bodies of 3,000 Kurds murdered by the Saddam Hussein regime. It should be noted that about 100,000 Kurds were murdered by this regime, and that, even six years after its fall, the bodies of thousands of murdered civilians remain undiscovered. In Najaf alone, 48 mass graves have been found.
Mistaking Technology for a Strategy -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes]
"We can't kill our way out of this," Brigadier General Mark Gurganus told me in the early summer of 2007.
Gurganus, a larger than life character was the embodiment of the warrior general. At the time he commanded the Ground Combat Element of Coalition Forces in western Iraq. I first met him 2005 when he was Colonel on a dusty patch of asphalt north of Fallujah after his humvee was blown up by an IED.
His orders were pretty straight forward that morning--find those SOBs and kill them. A few hours later the IED team caught in the act and a team of snipers dispatched them.
Gurganus' statements in 2005 and 2007 may seem contradictory in isolation, but in 2005 he saw clearly that the solution to the IED threat was not more technology but the elimination of the insurgency.
War is Economics...Redux -- [Wings Over Iraq - in Iraq]
The other day, we discussed the economic situation in Iraq and how it might be influenced by the American drawdown. I decided to share this information with a fellow captain, who, like me, is Irish and thus, possesses the stereotypical Irish hobbies (i.e., drinking).
I discussed the effects of the closure of many combat outposts and forward operating bases, noting that when the Americans left these bases, so did American dollars. This was exceedingly critical, since the global economic downturn has hit Iraq hard,
What I’m Doing Where I’m Going -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
Since the start of March, I’ve been running missions in my company’s AO. It originally started as one mission a day, 6 days week. How long the mission went was very dynamic. Anywhere from 4 hours to over 12. It was rough because our unit was still very new to handling combat missions. Battle rhythms needed to be developed and adjusting SOPs and so forth for smoother, easier operations.
Just as we were finally getting used to things, even more missions began to rain down on us. Before we knew it, conducting 2 missions a day was a normal occurrence. Not even our one day of rest to conduct maintenance was no longer a guarantee.
Betraying the Sons of Iraq -- [Captain's Journal]
Professor W Andrew Terrill, Research Professor of National Security Affairs, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, has a good history of the Sons of Iraq program, including the near and present danger that Iraq faces by refusing to make good on the promises to the Sons of Iraq.
Improved Security Leads to Closing of Joint Security Station Yarmouk -- [MNF-I]
BAGHDAD — The Government of Iraq (GoI) and U.S. Soldiers shut down Joint Security Station (JSS) Yarmouk in a closure ceremony in northwest Baghdad, May 16. The land was returned to the man who graciously lent it out to serve as part of the JSS for the past several months.
Welcome to my home -- [Blogs over Baghdad - in Iraq]
After a few requests, I took out my camera today and got some pictures of my home sweet home here in Iraq. As I mentioned before, I live in a compartmentalized housing unit, or CHU, on FOB Prosperity. It isn’t much, but I can’t complain — at least I am not sleeping in a tent.
Bark With Me Now... -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
I had the privilege of meritoriously promoting one of my dog handlers the other day. We’ve got quite a few Military Working Dogs attached to us this trip. Cpl Montecalvo was Combat Meritoriously promoted to Corporal May 2nd. He’s a ninja.
GQ: Secret 2003 Iraq intel reports began with Bible quotes -- [Hot Air]
That’s just the sexiest detail in a devastating profile of Rumsfeld assembled by Robert Draper, but since it fits the left’s narrative that the Iraq war must have been conceived with an ulterior motive — war for oil, war for Israel, war because Bush heard God’s voice in his head — it’s the detail the media will focus on. You can view a slideshow of the reports here. Proof that Don Rumsfeld was actually a closet crusader? No, more like proof that Rumsfeld tried to speak Bush’s language in the early days of the war to give him strength as the first casualties were taken.
Tiny steps in Paktika -- [Soldier's Angel Germany]
Somehow I think Captain Boris, for whom the FOB was named, would like this story.
Down a dirt alley a half-mile from Forward Operating Base Boris - a no-frills bastion that houses several hundred U.S. and Afghan troops behind 10-foot-high, sand-filled walls with a pair of 145 mm mortars at the center - American soldiers slinked like cats on the prowl.
3000 meter sniper rifle -- [Miserable Donuts - CSMBones in Afghanistan]
I was also a TOW gunner in a past life. As I walked the perimeter of a firebase in Konar, it warmed my heart to see Troopers manning a system over looking the valley below. I asked them where the Tank threat is, and they told me they have been engaging mortar teams at over 3000 meters. Decent stand off saves lives.
Taliban move forces eastward into Battagram -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Click map for full view. Taliban presence, in the Islamabad region. Information on Taliban presence obtained from open source and derived by The Long War Journal based on the presence of Taliban shadow governments, levels of fighting, and reports from the region. As the fighting between the Pakistani military and the Taliban heats up in the war-torn district of Swat, the Taliban has moved a small force eastward into the district of Battagram.
Afghan President's brother says survives ambush -- [Reuters]
A brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Monday he had been ambushed on the road to Kabul by Taliban insurgents, ...
The Part-Time Taliban -- [Afghan Corner]
The Taliban insurgents find it extremely easy to recruit unemployed impecunious young Afghans as part-time fighters.
In a country where average income rate is less than $50 per month, Taliban’s high-paid job offer is hard to deny. Also, it is flexible and could be done in various shifts. This means the newly recruits do not need to have a permanent membership of the infamous group. Taliban’s pliable vacancy makes it easier for the struggling men to work according to their own schedules. They can ‘work’ for a few hours per week and go back to their daily chores just like any other citizen. These few hours of ‘work’ could earn them from $100 to $500 and more. All these young men need to do is kill some government or foreign troops and personnel.
The warlords casting a shadow over Afghanistan -- [The Independent]
One of the most feared of the Afghan warlords, Faryadi Zardad, was notorious for robbing, raping, torturing and killing travellers on the road between Kabul and Jalalabad. He kept a savage assistant in a cave who would bite and rip the flesh of his victims; other captives were murdered or imprisoned until they died of their sufferings or bribes were paid for their release.
Status quo ante bellum -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
...Afghanistan now has a good road network, a functioning central government, and an increasingly capable army. The Taliban can at best, leverage their popularity and numbers in the south for a seat at the table with the central government but that is about the best they could do if we pulled out tomorrow and let the chips fall where they may. Look at how the Pashtun tribesmen are reacting to the Taliban who have taken over the Swat Valley in Pakistan - do you think Afghans want a return to that? They don’t and they have enough guns, organization and support from the people to ensure they will never be under the Taliban yoke again.
Yet we continue to battle the Taliban,...
Winning the information war... -- [SIPRI BLOGs]
...or, why we don't yet understand it...
The Council on Foreign Relations have issued two related pieces on the information war in Afghanistan. One is a paper on “winning the information war in Afghanistan and Pakistan”, the other an interview with the Director of Communications for the US Central Command, Rear Admiral Gregory Smith. Both are trying to highlight the fact that there is a need to counter Taliban media, information and propaganda activity. Both are very timely reminders of an important problem. Both are swept up in the idea that the Taliban are very effective because they communicate information very quickly. Both pieces (like many written on this issue) risk missing some key points.
Interesting Anti-Civilian Bias -- [Registan]
Nick Dowling continues his dispatches from Northeast RC-East:
the military is a constant (nine whole months running governance in an entire province!), while those unreliable civilians are always gone, or on vacation, or can’t “work effectively” on the PRT. Notice that the PRT commander has a name, but his “USAID rep” does not. That’s to say nothing about those “particularly clever” Laghmanis, and I guess all those Pashai who crowd out those southern Alisheng Pashtuns.
While Dowling notes, indirectly, the problems associated with the extremely short PRT rotations (nine months is NOT enough time to come in cold and know the power players of a region to operate effectively), and is absolutely right that the entire PRT system needs to be fixed from top to bottom, I’m really curious as to why the military guys he meets have names, but none of the civilians do.
Missions Leave No Soldier Behind In Afghanistan -- [NPR]
he war in Afghanistan is the first in American history in which no soldiers have been listed as missing in action.
What a day -- [Desert Bound - heading to Afghanistan]
I just got back from a very long day! My goodness. Who would have thought the second to last day of training would be one of the most boring of the month? Today was Convoy training, which sounds cool — Drive in a HMMWV and learn how to get out of an ambush, avoid IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and how to assault the enemy. Well, true to Army standards we died in an onslaught of powerpoint.
Stars & Stripes Waves Over Embassy in Libya -- [Jawa Report]
(Tripoli, Libya) In a ceremony last Wednesday, the flag of the United States was raised over the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli for the first time in 30 years.
Rebels Threaten Somali Government -- [WaPo]
A major offensive by Somalia's Islamist rebels is posing the most serious challenge yet to the country's latest central government, reviving long-standing concerns that the chaotic Horn of Africa nation could fall entirely to militants with alleged ties to al-Qaeda.
US to Israel: Tone down rhetoric on Iran -- [JPost]
Ahead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington this week, the US has been urging Israel to "tone down" its rhetoric on Iran and to stop threatening a military strike on its nuclear installations, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
This was one of the purposes of a secret trip to Israel three weeks ago by CIA Director Leon Panetta, foreign diplomatic sources said.
Iraq war case wasn't built on the waterboard, Liz Cheney says -- [CNN]
Wilkerson, a retired Army colonel, was former Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff during the Bush administration's first term. Since leaving office, he has become an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq.
In an online essay Thursday, he wrote that al Qaeda captive Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi was "waterboarded" by Egyptian intelligence until he told interrogators that Baghdad trained terrorists to use chemical and biological weapons — a key element in the Bush administration's case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
But Liz Cheney told ABC that Wilkerson "has made a cottage industry of out of fantasies about the vice president," and pointed out that al-Libi was not among the three al Qaeda figures the United States has admitted to subjecting to waterboarding. ..."I think that it's important for us to have all the facts out — and the first and more important fact is that the vice president has been absolutely clear that he supported this program, this was an important program," she said. "It saved American lives."
Behind the scenes -- [SOLDIERS' ANGELS - WOUNDED WARRIOR SUPPORT]
Behind the scenes, we have many Angels, quietly working hard for our warriors. We have Angels who give as much of their time as is possible and all their efforts are greatly appreciated.
One Angel in particular stands out:
May -- [Knottie's niche Ramblings of a Gold Star mom ...]
May is probably the hardest month of the year for me. most people think it would be February the month we lost Micheal but May holds so many reminders for me that is it like a constant scratching at the scars. And I know I am truly not myself during May. With Mother's day, armed forces day, Micheal's Birthday, and memorial day all one weekend after the next it is just plain difficult. add to that May was the month Micheal was scheduled to come home on leave.
Military Monday - [Greta]
Carson Daly @carsonjdaly and me @kissmygumbo have joined forces to start #MilitaryMon on Twitter! This should really draw attention to the military community and those who support it! HOOAH!!!
Troop Supporter Could Use Your Support -- [
Now, Chrissie supports the troops. Not just with words, or a fashionable magnet on a car, but she went with Bob Hope to a little place called Vietnam to help entertain the troops. She is married to a Navy veteran. In short, she's put her butt on the line for our troops, which is more than many/most in the alt weekly crowd have ever ...
Unfriendly Fire; let’s end America’s lawfare against our troops -- [911 Families]
Last night on Freedom Radio, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Robert Weimann talked about his open letter to Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. Within it, ‘Capt Roger Hill Case: Mister Secretary, it’s time to end the double standard,’ LTC Weimann demonstrates that political considerations have endangered the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and resulted in more than a few unjust prosecutions of our troops.
Profiles of American Service: Shauna Fleming -- [National Museum of Americans in Wartime]
In response to her father’s challenge, high school freshman Shauna Fleming started a campaign in 2004 to collect and distribute one million letters and emails of gratitude and appreciation to America’s military forces. With approval from her principal, Greg Pinick, Shauna made “A Million Thanks” into a school-wide service project. As the morale-boosting letters poured in, the teen continued to promote her campaign by teaming up with NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth in California and country music superstar John Michael Montgomery, with whom she did more than 70 radio and television interviews. Actor Gary Sinise, star of CSI: NY and co-founder of Operation Iraqi Children, also helped Shauna spread the word through television interviews.
Stop-Loss in the Age of Obama -- [This Ain't Hell...]
Sporkmaster reminded me in an email about our newest coward, Victor Agosto, a specialist in the 53rd ESB at Fort Hood, Texas, a place I know too well. Well, Victor is understandably upset that, while looking forward to his discharge from active duty in August, he was notified that he was stop-lossed and would have to pull an extra few months in Iraq Afghanistan instead.
Oh, um, Victor is also a member of the IVAW, did I mention that?
Countering the Military's Latest Fad -- [WaPo]
...Counterinsurgency doctrine is on the verge of becoming an unquestioned orthodoxy, a far-reaching remedy for America's security challenges. But this would be a serious mistake. Not all future wars will involve insurgencies. Not even all internal conflicts in unstable states -- which can feature civil wars, resource battles or simple lawlessness -- include insurgencies. Yet COIN is the new coin of the realm, often considered the inevitable approach to fighting instability in foreign lands. Now the Pentagon is shifting its budget and seeking to "rebalance" U.S. military power in order to institutionalize counterinsurgency doctrine.
Welcome Home Celebration Meant to Surprise Pocatello Soldier -- [KPVI-TV]
Jodi Dunn, Army Specialist Welcomed Home: "It seems like a lost more people are a lot more supportive of the troops now then they were about four years ago
NYSlimes Killed Obama ACORN Story -- [Jawa Report]
Why, I guess maybe they were worried about future access to Obi-One?
Via The Spectator: Acknowledging what the blogosphere has known for weeks, the New York Times finally went on record to admit that just before last Election Day it killed a politically sensitive news story involving corruption allegations that might have made the Obama campaign look bad.
Good news: Genius VP announces existence of secret bunker -- [Hot Air]
Ever wonder about that secure, undisclosed location where Dick Cheney secreted himself after the 9/11 attacks? Joe Biden reveals the bunker-like room is at the Naval Observatory in Washington, where Cheney lived for eight years and which is now home to Biden. The veep related the story to his head-table dinner mates when he filled in for President Obama at the Gridiron Club earlier this year. He said the young naval officer giving him a tour of the residence showed him the hideaway, which is behind a massive steel door secured by an elaborate lock with a narrow connecting hallway lined with shelves filled with communications equipment. The officer explained
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
General Lee Returns -- [Micahel Yon]
During Operation Arrowhead Ripper in Iraq, I got to know Lieutenant Brad Krauss and his crew. They had fought in many places around Iraq and were nearing the end of their tours. His men showed great respect for their Stryker vehicle, which is normal for soldiers who use great gear. Soldiers often name their weapons and vehicles, but this crew had a particular reverence for the “General Lee,” which by this time had been blown up so badly that it eventually was hauled back to the United States. Back in 2007, I wrote about the crew and the General Lee, which landed on FoxNews.com. The reputation of the General Lee and its crew kept going from there. Recently, I got an email from a high ranking soldier along with some photos of the General Lee. One of the photos included civilians who keep the Strykers rolling. And so I contacted the now Captain Brad Krauss (promoted from lieutenant) asking if he would write a few words about his crew and the General Lee. Brad’s a bit modest about all the fighting they really did. They had a full-on combat tour in Iraq, helping to break al Qaeda’s back in various cities, such as this recounting in “Surrender or Die.”
Senior al Qaeda leader in Syria sanctioned by US Treasury -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Abu Khalaf funnels suicide bombers into Iraq and the Levant while operating from Syria and Iraq.
Reversal in Iraq -- [Stephen Biddle, Council on Foreign Relations]
Iraq is currently in the early stages of a negotiated end to an intense ethnosectarian war. As such, there are several contingencies in which recent, mostly positive trends in Iraq could be reversed, threatening U.S. national interests. This Center for Preventive Action Contingency Planning Memorandum by Stephen Biddle assesses four interrelated scenarios in Iraq that could derail the prospects for peace and stability in the short to medium term and posits concrete policy options to limit U.S. vulnerability to the possibility of such reversals. It argues that the effectiveness of mitigating the consequences of a reversal is uncertain and that, therefore, a vigorous preventive strategy in the form of slowing the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is less costly both politically and militarily in the long run.
5 Soldiers Shot Dead -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
Granted there have been numerous reports of this incident that occurred on 11 May 2009. Five soldiers were gunned down by another fellow soldier. Here’s one link that explains the whole event well. You’re probably thinking, blogger stationed at the very base this occurred….he can offer some great insight into the incident not found any where on the internet. Right? Well yes but not in the way you think.
Killings Away From Combat Deal Sharper Blow to Families of Five Military Men -- [NY Times]
Two days after one of the worst cases of soldier-on-soldier violence among American troops in Iraq, friends and relatives spoke through tears and grief on Wednesday to reveal portraits of the five slain soldiers. They were as different in age as they were in backgrounds and reasons for being in Iraq. They were teenage cavalry scouts and middle-age Navy commanders, recent high school graduates and accomplished family men with wives and children.
Father says son ‘broke’; A good boy … gone bad -- [Arab Times]
...His father said the younger Russell, an electronics technician, was at the stress center to transition out of active duty. He said his son was undergoing stressful mental tests that he didn’t understand were merely tests, “so they broke him.”
“His life was over as far as he was concerned. He lived for the military,” the elder Russell said. “We’re sorry for the families, too. It shouldn’t have happened.”
The soldier’s son, John M. Russell II, said Tuesday that he has communicated with his father by e-mail regularly. In the last message he received from him, on April 25, his father sounded normal and planned to be back in Texas to visit in July.
“He’s not a violent person,” he said. “For this to happen, it had to be something going on that the Army’s not telling us about.”
In New Audio Recording, Emir of the ISI Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi Attacks Iraqi Government as 'Lying Collaborators' -- [MEMRI Blog]
Several hours after the Islamic State of Iraq released its official denial of reports that its commander Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi had been captured, the group released an audio address from Al-Baghdadi titled "Lying Collaborators."
The Palatial Prisons Of Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
May 15, 2009: The U.S. is dismantling the prison system it established in 2003 in Iraq, to hold terrorism suspects. A new treaty with Iraq calls for all Iraqis held by the U.S. military to be released, or turned over to the Iraqis.
Big news in the next week or so -- [Wings Over Iraq - in Iraq]
I'm not going to give a whole lot of details at this time, but stay tuned this week, as there is going to most likely be some big news concerning me and the art of milblogging in the very near future.
George W. Bush: Liberator and Environmentalist -- [Gateway Pundit]
One of the worst environmental disasters of the late 20th Century was the destruction of the Iraqi marshes by Saddam Hussein.
George W. Bush restored the Iraqi marshes.
In early 2003, less than 10% of the Mesopotamian Marshlands remained. By early 2004, 40% of the marshlands had been re-flooded. Since the liberation of Iraq the marshes have been restored to over 85% of their former glory.
60-year-old Army soldier is oldest killed in Iraq -- [MSNBC /AP]
A 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has become the oldest Army soldier to die in that conflict, the military said Thursday.
Missions -- [Afghani Kush - in Afghanistan]
Well, as per the norm we had another mission today. Went out and went looking for the 'bad guys' out in a valley that's actually pretty near the base. But with the river being as high as it as and the terrain being as difficult as it is, it took us a couple of hours to get out there.
Tracer Burnout -- [Afghanistan Shrugged - in Afghanistan]
Today, I was informed that my team will be replaced in a matter of weeks by a team from the Georgia National Guard. Not so bad on the surface, but the hazardous rocks lay below the calm exterior. The team is commanded by a Second Lieutenant (2LT) and his Non-commissioned Ofiicer in Charge is a Sergeant (E5). The remainder of the team is made up of E5s and below. Not exactly the experience rich combination that you’re looking for in a Combat Advisor Team. In fact my S3, CPT Brain is being replaced by a Corporal.
At this point I have to shake my head and wonder, “What the ..?” Is this what we’ve come to?
Does the building of the ANA mean so little that this is what we’re committing to the fight?
Is this the surge that’s supposed to win the war and bring us all home?
I’m perplexed, pissed off and to be perfectly honest depressed.
Frontline in Focus- Afghanistan w/ Megan Ortagus -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
Megan Ortagus discusses her recent trip to Afghanistan where she spent time on a remote outpost in sight of the Pakistan border. She also took a trip into Jalalabad with Tim Lynch of Free Range International minus body armor but with a hijab. She talks about what is working and where we have some short falls in our operations.
Gen. McCaffrey on general’s ouster
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Will Afghanistan Be President Obama's Vietnam? -- [KCRW Radio]
The President is sending is more soldiers and changing commanders in Afghanistan. General David McKiernan has now been replaced by Lt. General Stanley McChrystal, “a rising superstar” who’ll be leading “an all-star team.” Some conservatives praise him for starting to nation-build. But powerful Democrats want to know if he’s making an open-ended commitment that can’t be sustained, like previous Presidents in Vietnam. Obama says the real issue is the threat from al Qaeda, but even General David Petraeus says al Qaeda’s now totally in Pakistan. Is the war still legal? Will more violence be counterproductive, especially with increased civilian casualties?
Afghanistan Shake-up
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
U.S. Probes Whether Afghan Forces Colluded With Taliban in Deadly Attack -- [FOX News]
Kunar River Valley, Afghanistan — A pre-dawn attack by the Taliban that killed three American soldiers and six other coalition troops earlier this month is raising new questions about many of the Afghan soldiers who were supposed to be fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with them.
Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Counterinsurgency -- [Captain's Journal]
...My reaction to General Stanley McChrystal was that the Afghanistan campaign will turn into even more of a SOF direct action program against high value targets, in which case I believe that it’s better to leave Afghanistan entirely and deploy back to the states (for both SOF and GPF). It won’t work.
I also had not seen any valid objection or problematic instance concerning General McKiernan’s leadership - at least, not until now. But a few more words before we dive into the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad counterinsurgency.
Ralph Peters is a hot mess. -- [Registan]
Ralph Peters is just so so so so so wrong, it’s difficult to know where to start. He doesn’t seem to get that limiting ourselves to Special Forces in the beginning is why the Taliban has the space to return; that abandoning any pretenses of COIN to begin a totally black-ops war of HVT strikes is a surefire way to lose; that actually no one on “Team Obama” is a war virgin, unless he means to impugn SecDef Gates and Adm. Mullen, and Gen. Jones, and so on.
The Taliban Can Be Stopped -- [SWJ]
The Taliban are not ten feet tall, and there is no horde of Taliban supermen overrunning either Afghanistan or Pakistan. That is not how they operate. We and the Pakistanis tend to try to put their “offensives” in our frame of reference, and then are continually surprised when massive applications of force fail to stop them, and only result in increased negative publicity and civilian casualties.
MPs train ANP medics -- [Combined Joint Task Force - 101]
“Your buddy is shot in the arm, what are you going to do?” Army Sgt. Brenna McAllister, of Destin, Fla., asks a young Afghan National Police officer, while he examines a fellow officer.
Rural village sees brighter future with new school -- [Combined Joint Task Force - 101]
Local officials expressed their happiness with the completion of the school because of the benefits it will offer the people of Safer Kala village.
“This is a proud moment for everyone here because even in this remote area, where no school existed before, the government, through the help of the [International Security Assistance Forces,] was able to provide a school building for the children to be educated,” said Mohammad Ibrahim, Nangarhar province deputy director of education.
Afghanistan Success Depends on Pakistan, Gates Says -- [Defense Link]
Without success on the Pakistan side of the border, efforts to rid both it and Afghanistan of the Taliban will be significantly harder, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee today while testifying on the fiscal 2010 defense budget request.
Illegals from China Caught at Border -- [Jawa Report]
(Nogales, Mexico) Here's evidence that a porous U.S.-Mexico border attracts people from everywhere.
Uppity Arabs And Nuclear Weapons -- [Strategy Page]
Iran has become quite close to China. In South America, both countries have cooperated in expanding their influence there. Both countries have long been trading partners. China needs Iranian oil, and Iran needs Chinese weapons and technology. The Chinese are the only major power willing to flaunt UN sanctions against Iran (at least if there's a big enough payday involved.)
Brace for a Hezbollah Victory -- [Michael Totten]
Brace yourself for a possible Hezbollah victory in Lebanon. On June 7, 2009, Lebanese voters will go to the polls, and even some in Beirut’s current “March 14″ government think the Hezbollah-led “March 8″ coalition might squeak out a win.
Obama to renew military tribunals -- [LA Times]
He had pledged during the presidential campaign to end the controversial trials of terrorism suspects. Human rights groups are outraged.
The Obama administration will announce plans today to revive the Bush-era military commission system for prosecuting terrorism suspects, current and former officials said, reversing a campaign pledge to rely instead on federal courts and the traditional military justice system.
From the patriotic mouths of babes -- [Kiss My Gumbo]
Below is an essay done by a little Patriot who I adore, had to share.
“I have a dream that the war in Iraq will end. I want us to have a victory and have a treaty with them. No more suicide bombings and no more deaths. The soldiers will go home and be reunited with their families. Soldiers in hospitals that will return to active duty once again, won’t have to. They can spend more time with their kids and catch up on birthdays or something important that they missed.They finally get to spend another Christmas with their families. The best thing of all is that they don’t need to worry what their kid’s life will be like if they die.”
Sky Soldier Visits Elementary School To Thank Them For Their Support Of His Battalion While Deployed -- [Tanker Babe]
I know I promised this post a few days ago but I've been so focused on COL Evan getting better that I just haven't wanted to post until today. I am so thankful Evan IS feeling better. I'm also thankful for all of the prayers that you all have been saying for him.
HELP US -- TO HELP ANOTHER-- TO HELP OUR TROOPS
Soldiers' Angels is PROUD to support Operation Gratitude in their efforts to gain the most funding possible in this fan competition sponsored by Target. All funds they receive will be used to pay the $11 postage and shipping costs on the 100,000+ Care Packages they are sending this year ($1.1 Million).
But even more important than the dollars, this is an opportunity for all of us in the Military Support community to make a loud statement to the entire nation, and especially to our men and women in uniform, that we appreciate and respect our Military and will stand up and be counted for them!
Report citing veteran extremism is pulled -- [Washington Times]
A contentious "Rightwing Extremism" report that warned of military veterans as possible recruits for terrorist attacks against the U.S. was not authorized, has been withdrawn and is being rewritten, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Capitol Hill lawmakers.
Today's Medal of Honor Moment -- [Castle Argghhh!!]
Five men, one fight. As has been observed before, the criteria for award of the Medal of Honor has evolved over time, arguably becoming more stringent (especially of late, when it seems you can't get one unless you die during the action). During the period of these awards, the Medal of Honor, along with either full or "brevet" promotion, was the only award for heroism in combat. Congress would occasionally authorize a medal be struck for generals, and civic organizations would do things such as present custom swords and such (pretty much exclusively to senior officers). The criteria has changed.
IVAW/VoteVets fraud was an Escaped Mental Patient? -- [Mrs Greyhawk / Greyhawk]
It seems an anti-war “Marine” from IVAW has now been unmasked as a lying mental patient. He’s never served a day in the Marines, as he has claimed.
...I'd bet that Strandlof - as part of his plea bargain, was receiving outpatient "mental health treatment" during his probation period (during which he was also "setting up" the Grand Prix) - and that's the extent of his "mental patient" status.
Pelosi invokes Soldiers Sailors Relief Act -- [BlackFive - Uncle Jimbo]
Gen. Nancy Pelosi invoked the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act today saying she could not be held responsible for the briefings she was given about torture since.
"I was fighting a war in Iraq at that point, too, you know."
Nancy Pelosi Gets Flustered
The Take: Pelosi's Comments Raise Interrogation Debate to New Level -- [Washington Post]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's extraordinary accusation that the Bush administration lied to Congress about the use of harsh interrogation techniques dramatically raised the stakes in the growing debate
Gingrich: Pelosi 'Lied,' 'Despicable,' 'Dishonest,' 'Vicious,' 'Trivial' -- [ABC News]
"I think she has lied to the House, and I think that the House has an absolute obligation to open an inquiry, and I hope there will be a resolution to investigate her. And I think this is a big deal. I don't think the Speaker of the House can lie to the country on national security matters,” Gingrich said.
..."Speaker Pelosi's the big loser, because she either comes across as incompetent, or dishonest. Those are the only two defenses,” Gingrich said. “The fact is she either didn't do her job, or she did do her job and she's now afraid to tell the truth.”
Pelosi yesterday accused the CIA of giving her “inaccurate and incomplete information” on the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics by the Bush administration, saying that CIA officials are guilty of “misleading the Congress of the United States.” Her recollection is contradicted by an intelligence report sent to Congress last week, ...
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
Personal Accountability, Alive and Well in the Camp of Castra Praetoria -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
Reports surrounding the Camp Liberty incident have stressed the importance of finding out what led to this tragic incident. The media seems to assume combat deployments lead servicemen to commit inappropriate acts of violence, (appropriate being the lawful elimination of enemy forces). As if it wasn’t the shooter’s fault, but the stress of multiple tours that made him do it. This infuriates many of us who have and continue to serve on multiple combat tours. The assumption that all veterans coming home could snap at any moment spraying the area with automatic gunfire is as bigoted a concept as any I have ever heard.
The other implication is that we in the service aren’t taking care of our troops is a slap in the face to those of us who consider duty and loyalty the highest of human virtues.
Killings at Camp Liberty: A Lateral View on PTSD -- [Susan Katz Keating]
Much will emerge in the days to come on yesterday's soldier-on-soldier killings at Camp Liberty. The key question is how Sgt. John M. Russell, the man charged, arrived at a crisis that ended in such tragedy.
Hot Town, Summer in the City... -- [Greyhawk]
One briefing (General Odierno, 8 May 2009) - two headlines:
New York Times - General Sees a Longer Stay in Iraq Cities for U.S. Troops...
AFP - US on track to exit Iraqi cities by end June: commander:
...The American media-created myth of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities continues unabated. But the reality isn't that complicated and has not changed since the SOFA (pdf) and Strategic Framework Agreement (pdf) were signed last Fall. Prime Minister Maliki understands it - reduced numbers of ("non-combat") U.S. troops will remain in Iraqi cities functioning as enablers (coordinating air support and other services the Iraqis can't yet provide themselves) and advisers (trainers, etc.). Others stationed outside the cities will be available if needed to provide security.
The Future of Iraq, Part I -- [Michael Totten]
Captain Todd Allison slipped off his helmet and tucked it under his arm as he and I walked on a dusty residential street in a Shia quarter of Baghdad.
“This is the safest place in the city,” he said. He no longer needed his helmet or body armor, and neither did I. “This street is protected by JAM.”
JAM is short for Jaysh al Mahdi, Moqtada al Sadr's radical Mahdi Army militia. Not much of that militia remains since the Iraqi Army purged Basra and Sadr City of Shia insurgents last spring, but...
Subtle Sense of Pride -- [The Writings of a Man’s Man - in Iraq]
Being an Infantryman in Baghdad when there are really no major battles going on can often be a thankless job. If you aren’t performing the mission of the infantry (closing with and destroying the enemy) it often feels as though you are accomplishing nothing. Our job, when not actually shooting at the enemy, is roughly equivalent to being the lid on a pot that is trying to boil over. Thus for as long as we keep the lid on, and it doesn’t boil over, it feels like we are doing nothing.
Two Years Later, Still Not Lost -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes in Iraq]
First Iraq Vendor Fair a Huge Success (Baghdad) -- [MNF-I]
The vendor fair was attended by over 80 different Iraqi owned businesses. The purpose of this vendor fair was to educate the Iraqi business owners on the process involved in doing business with the Multi-National Security Transition Command- Iraq. The larger than expected turnout, proved to be a tremendous success and will result in more vendor fairs in the near future.
Back in Iraq -- [Blogs over Baghdad - in Iraq]
It took some time, but I have begun to get back into the groove. I found the best way was just to “thrust myself into the vortex”, or in other words, I forced myself to insert myself into conversations and work teams to let all know that I was back and ready to go.
One thing that helped me through the rough spot was the delivery of several “care packages” from family and friends back in the United States. I am not sure if this will help others who are returning, but if you have a loved one here, I would surprise them by sending a care package while they are still back in the United States on R&R leave with you….so they will arrive back (tired and bit disoriented) and see that everything is still right with the world.
A little bit of fighting, a lot of boredom -- [Afghani Kush - in Afghanistan]
First off, sorry that I haven't updated in a while. A lot has happened lately. First off we got into one firefight in a valley while my truck was broken down. Me and the mechanic had to fix it during a not so bad firefight. That did suck, I was laying down next to the truck shooting up a mountain while handing tools to the mechanic underneath the truck. But we got the truck fixed and no one got hurt. Supposedly we killed two of them too, so that's always a good day.
Newly Declassified Data Reveals Insurgent Use of White Posphorus -- [Denizens - Castle Argghhh!!!]
COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE- 101 out of Bagram, Afghanistan has released information indicating that they believe that the Taliban have been using White Phosphorus munitions that they have been stockpiling. Via a CJTF-101 Press ReleaseRELEASE # 002Declassified data reveals insurgent use of white phosphorusBAGRAM, Afghanistan (May 11, 2009) – Today, CJTF-101 has declassified a report of 38 events in which insurgents have used or stockpiled white phosphorus munitions in the Regional Command-East area of operations.
HILLARY & OBAMA Blame US Soldiers For Taliban Slaughter -- [Gateway Pundit]
Hillary & Obama Fall For Taliban Scam-- Blame US Troops First
The Apologist Administration was eager to blame US troops first after a slaughter of innocent civilians in Afghanistan. It was later discovered the civilians were actually slaughtered by the Taliban and that the Taliban reported the incident to the Western press.
How to Wage War
Taliban launches complex assault in Haqqani country -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Suicide assault teams target military and government buildings in Khost, the home of the Haqqani Network
Special Operations Forces Save Lives After Bomb Attack -- [Defense Link]
As soon as they heard the news of the suicide bombers yesterday, a coalition Special Operations team in southern Afghanistan sprang into action.
Ex-Air Force Chief: Recruit Bloggers to Wage Afghan Info War -- [Danger Room]
Every time an American bomb kills civilians in Afghanistan, the U.S. loses another battle in the information war to the Taliban. And despite more accurate weapons, more careful targeting, and speedier responses to the press, the Pentagon can’t seem to figure out how to stop the setbacks in this decisive struggle for influence. A former top military official believes he may have the answer, however: let troops blog in combat, so they can ward off the accusations of atrocities as they fight....
Petraeus's Tougher Fight - David Ignatius -- [Washington Post]
It's a small irony of history that Gen. David Petraeus, attacked by the left for his role in revitalizing the Bush administration's effort in Iraq, is now being asked by a Democratic president to do much the same thing in Afghanistan.
Opium roads -- [[My] State Failure Blog]
"In the green zone, everything is irrigated, and everywhere there's a field. That's a problem, because the Taliban, instead of wanting to fight with us, they plant mines, so we have to drive in the fields. Now, what the talking was about - it was about - we've been driving on the fields, we try to drive on poppy, but sometimes we also have to drive on their wheat. If we can establish that the claim is valid, we have a CIMIC team who can pay compensation for it."
A Double-Edged Sword -- [Registan]
The Pentagon just announced the surprise replacement of General David McKiernan with Lt. General Stanley A. McChrystal, who commanded JSOC from 2003-2008. The replacement, which comes eleven months into a typically 24-month tour for McKiernan, is very sudden, and potentially indicative of a serious lack of confidence in McKiernan’s abilities by the Obama administration.
Acts of Conscience -- [Esquire]
As President Obama taps Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to run the Afghan war, do these revelations, divulged to Esquire at great personal risk by an elite Army interrogator two and a half years ago, imply the new commander's aiding and abetting of torture?
New Boss for Afghan Fight -- [Michael Yon]
The inbox is full this morning. General McKiernan, our top leader in Afghanistan, is to be replaced. National Review Online and others have asked me for comment....
"In December 2008, I saw General McKiernan briefing Secretary Gates in Afghanistan. That's as close as I've come to General McKiernan. Though I do not personally know General McKiernan, I have heard only positive reports about him. His replacement, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal, has an outstanding reputation in the special operations community. McChrystal has a solid reputation for knowing the fight. Unfortunately, though our special operators are the best in the world at the fight, they only stumble and fumble with the press. With media, our special operations forces are clueless and self-defeating. This is crucial. McChrystal can win every fight on the ground and still lose the war. Time will reveal whether McChrystal can adapt and win."
What Do We Know? -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure]
...There's something that I would like to point out; there is very consistent feedback coming out of the veterans of Afghanistan. There are a number of us now, and there are a number of us who write, and we all say very similar things. Whether or not we are fans of Galula or of FM 3-24 or whatever. We differ on small points, but our feedback is remarkably similar.
Tillman's parents want general's record reviewed -- [NPR]
The parents of slain Army Ranger and NFL star Pat Tillman voiced concerns Tuesday that the general who played a role in mischaracterizing his death could be put in charge of military operations in Afghanistan.
Combat Advising in Afghanistan (Full PDF Article) -- [SWJ - Christopher Bluesteen]
Combat advising is central to successful counterinsurgency operations in existing U.S. conflicts around the world. As U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates observed, “The most important component in the War on Terror is not the fighting we do ourselves, but how well we enable and empower our partners to defend and govern their own countries.”
Holbrooke Defends Pakistan Funds as Senators Question U.S. Plan -- [EIN News]
... and more troops for Afghanistan yesterday as senators took issue with the ... was skeptical of expanding funding for Pakistan’s military. “I’m reticent to continuously vote” for more ... we are working intensely with the Pakistani Army, that they are aware of it, that ...
The High Cost of Western Idealism: Saving Schoolgirls From Being Poison-Gassed in Afghanistan and Honor-Murdered in Sweden. -- [Chesler Chronicles]
Yesterday in Charikar, Afghanistan, for the second time in two weeks, 50 innocent schoolgirls were poison-gassed at school and had to be hospitalized. Many girls lost consciousness and collapsed. Some girls were dizzy, nauseous, and threw up. Amazingly, Noor Jahan, a ninth grader at the Ura Jalili Girls High School said:
“I am pretty sure whoever has done this is against education for girls, but I strongly ask the parents not to be discouraged by such brutal action and send their children to school.”
Such attacks on Afghan girls schools have escalated within the past year. However, this barbaric, Taliban mentality is alive and well among some Afghan immigrants in the West.
US-Pak jointly carrying out drone strikes against Taliban now -- [Big News Network]
In a significant move, Pakistan for the first time 'officially' has allowed US Predator drone aircrafts to fly inside its geographical territory to carry out missile strikes against the Taliban and other extremist groups.
Under the new partnership, U.S. drones will be allowed for the first time to venture beyond the borders of Afghanistan into Pakistan's territory under the direction of Pakistani military officials.
Big Dog Bot to Scamper across Afghanistan -- [War is Boring]
The Pentagon is set to release the Big Dog robot, pictured, in Afghanistan. Big Dog, “the most advanced quadruped robot on Earth,” is a robotic pack-mule that can carry ammo and equipment across Afghanistan’s rugged terrain.
Personally, I would argue there’s a simpler, less noisy, less expensive, less petroleum-dependent alternative. Special Forces troops have been making use of locally acquired Afghan mules
Elections in Lebanon -- [Abu Muqawama]
Hey, it's not all Afghanistan. Regular readers know that my wheelhouse is not to be found in Central Asia but in that tiny country on the banks of the eastern Mediterranean. No, not that one. Mitch Prothero reports on the upcoming elections in Lebanon:
“This year’s round of elections is going to present a serious security challenge for the Lebanese Armed Forces,” said Andrew Exum, an analyst at the Centre for a New American Security who specialises in Middle East security issues.
The Year of the Elephant -- [TNR]
Our cold war with Iran unfolds in Lebanon.
The true importance of the June 7 elections has less to do with the contest between Hariri and Nasrallah, or the formal balance of power inside Lebanon, than it does with the increasingly tense struggle between the two main power groupings in the Middle East: the alliance of America's regional clients that includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel; and the Iranian-Syrian axis whose push for a bigger share of political power in Lebanon was ratified by last year's Doha agreement. The formal power-sharing arrangement reached by the Lebanese in Doha can be understood as the product of a political stalemate that resulted from a Syrian campaign of assassination and a failed attempt by the U. S.-backed government to counter Hezbollah's weapons by extending the power of the state. The Doha agreement granted Hezbollah and its allies a "blocking third" in the cabinet, which allowed the Party of God to veto any decisions of the Lebanese government with which it did not agree--like taking Hezbollah's cameras out of the airport, or shutting down the party's private communications network, or controlling the country's borders with Syria so that Iranian missiles cannot continue to enter southern Lebanon.
There are two likely outcomes in the upcoming election...
Lebanon Before the Collapse -- [Michael J. Totten]
I have a bad feeling about Lebanon on even and odd numbered days. I don't know anyone who has been there recently who thinks the future is bright, that more war isn't coming, that enormous geopolitcal tectonic plates aren't gearing up ...
U.S. Military Delivers 30,000 Protection Kits for H1N1 First Responders in Six Nations -- [U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs]
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster departed Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., today with 30,000 personal protection kits destined for Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
With the threat of the influenza A/H1N1 virus raising concerns in the region, the United States worked in consultation with local government officials to identify countries in need of pandemic influenza preparedness supplies.
Why Civilian Integration is Essential in Post-Stability Operations -- [SWJ - Master Gunnery Sergeant John Ubaldi]
The current national security strategy is badly flawed and a total reorganization of how the U.S uses its immense power is long overdue. The U.S. will face many types of contingencies in the future, and how we respond will have repercussions beyond the region that the U.S is engaged. For the U.S. to avoid a repeat of Iraqi Freedom it must reform its national security structure, have a designated unity of command in the initial post stability operations, and finally integration of civilian agencies into the military command structure.
Man Convicted in New York of Trying to Start Al Qaeda Training Camp in Oregon-- [FOX News]
A jury convicted a Lebanese-born Swede on Tuesday of plotting to help Al Qaeda recruit by trying to set up a weapons-training post in Oregon and distributing terrorist training manuals over the Internet.
A Chance To ReMind, A Chance To Do, Honoring My Heros -- [Laughing Wolf - BlackFive]
Bob Woodruff did survive, and both he and his wife are very well aware that he is alive because of our troops. Our troops who risked their lives to get him, give him aid, and get him out. Our troops who treated him as they would one of their own, until such time as he could be put into civilian care.
...Bob and Lee simply could not sit by, for they had to do for those who were wounded. So, the Bob Woodruff Foundation was born and with it ReMind. This is not a re-invention of the wheel, for what is done is to raise money that goes to the organizations that DO for our wounded, our troops, and their families. Bob and Lee reach audiences that we in the military blogosphere don't, and have gotten them involved to support those who need it most -- our wounded.
VI-DAY CELEBRATION JUNE 13, 2009 -- [Gathering of Eagles]
Folks, this is an emergency. Come what may, on June 13th we will thank our troops for their sacrifices
in achieving victory in Iraq. However, there’s a minor hiccup: the major-donor financing
we were hoping to get to underwrite the event has apparently fallen through.
Maybe we got too big for our britches in expecting someone to be the George Soros of our side,
but, whatever the case, we don’t have the money to conduct Victory in Iraq Day. It is therefore
with much embarrassment and humility that we must ask you to do what thousands of Americans
did for the very first Gathering of Eagles on March 17, 2007—send as much as you can as soon as
you can.
PCS Checklist -- [SpouseBuzz]
The Displaced Dutchican made a checklist for all the things that need an address change when you PCS. She made a printable file for other milspouses to enjoy. This may be a good thing to bookmark or print out for future moves...
Gay soldier: Don’t fire me -- [AMfix]
Open Letter to President Obama and Every Member of Congress:
... have personally served for a decade under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: an immoral law and policy that forces American soldiers to deceive and lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception and lying. These values are completely opposed to anything I learned at West Point. Deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force. As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse ...
White House: Law only answer for gays in military -- [Breitbart /AP]
The White House says it won't stop gays and lesbians from being dismissed from the military while the Obama administration works to repeal a decade-old policy banning openly gay people from serving in uniform.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that President Barack Obama does not plan to intervene in current cases against men and women who announce their homosexuality.
Gibbs says the president wants to...
Welcome-home celebration for troops set for today at Veterans ... -- [Alexandria Town Talk]
The celebration will be held in front of Building 2 on the facility grounds in Pineville and is for military service members throughout the state who have ...
Troops get big welcome -- [Pembroke Daily Observer]
With CFB Petawawa soldiers currently returning from their latest deployment in Afghanistan, the Red Friday ladies felt it was time for a welcome home party ...
What Fragging? Where? -- [This Ain't Hell...]
When the media and the Left learn a term, they apply it to everything. Today’s word is “fragging”. The first place I saw in relation to the incident at Camp Liberty was on a VFP blog of sorts called “Imagine” (recalling the John Lennon song) in which the author, James Starowicz, one of the chief crackpots of the Geezers For Peace writes;
Hot Town, Summer in the City... -- [Greyhawk]
One briefing (General Odierno, 8 May 2009) - two headlines:
New York Times - General Sees a Longer Stay in Iraq Cities for U.S. Troops...
AFP - US on track to exit Iraqi cities by end June: commander:
...The American media-created myth of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities continues unabated. But the reality isn't that complicated and has not changed since the SOFA (pdf) and Strategic Framework Agreement (pdf) were signed last Fall. Prime Minister Maliki understands it - reduced numbers of ("non-combat") U.S. troops will remain in Iraqi cities functioning as enablers (coordinating air support and other services the Iraqis can't yet provide themselves) and advisers (trainers, etc.). Others stationed outside the cities will be available if needed to provide security.
How Does This Joker Get Published? Pt. III: It’s Not a “New Great Game,” Not Really -- [Registan]
Pepe Escobar, a reporter for the Asia Times, has a long essay on Tom Dispatch about how “Af-Pak” is really all about oil...Hrm. So far, we have totally unconnected wars (Kosovo was about an oil pipe? Georgia wasn’t about South Ossetia?), and a phrase (”Asian Energy Security Grid”) I’ve only ever read in paranoid Noam Chomsky columns and Pepe Escobar dispatches. Along with the “surreal” Turkmenistan, and something about Iran and a sloppy metaphor about sprawling mass of pipelines, this is not a very promising start.
Is it worth going through point by point? No ...who in their right mind would publish this? It is just uneducated crap.
And Just Because: Tweeple Magazine Claims #MilitaryMonday a Huge Success! Really? What was it before? -- [Milblogging.com]
Yesterday I wrote a story about Carson Daly taking credit for starting #MilitaryMonday. Since then, I’ve received several colorful emails and I realized many of those same people don’t regularly read my blog. Now, come on folks, if you’ve been one of my 5 loyal readers since 2004 (Hi Mom), you’d know this is the stuff that I always get a kick out of. I’ve never blogged about military policy, military strategy, and not even about current events. I cover military bloggers and occasionally I throw in a personal story. Even when I was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, I wrote about the mundane things in life, and how we [as Infantrymen] approached those “mundane” things...
Which leads me to my next comment about Carson Daly - Tweeple Magazine ran a story today as a follow up:
(Tweeple Magazine) Carson Daly lent his support and celebrity to help make #militarymonday a huge success!
I do however, want to start out by saying that #MilMonday was started a while back by Greta Perry (@KissMyGumbo). Thank you Greta!
Two great-news items on the film front -- [Hot Air]
Last year, I had the privilege of seeing The Stoning of Soraya M, a harrowing, depressing, and remarkable depiction of a horrific crime in Iran and the sequence of events that led up to it. I reviewed the film at the time, but it never got into the theaters. It wasn’t difficult to understand why; the film is mostly told in subtitles, more or less bookended in English, and handles a very disturbing true story about an atrocity carried out by an entire village.
The second piece of good news is more local. Brothers at War ...
Did the President Read Andy McCarthy Today? -- [The Corner - Kathryn Jean Lopez]
Andy wrote: American soldiers, American civilians, and other innocent people are going to die because Pres. Barack Obama wants to release photographs of prisoner abuse. Note: I said, “wants to release” —not “has to release,” or “is being forced to release,” or “will comply with court orders by releasing.” The photos, quite likely thousands of them, will be released because the president wants them released. Any other description of the situation is a dodge.
Lawmakers Urge Obama to Fight Release of Photos of U.S. Detainee Abuse -- [FOX News]
The Pentagon plans to release the photos by May 28 in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Lieberman and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., urged President Obama in a letter to "fight" the release of the photos.
Democrats: CIA is out to get us -- [Politico]
Democrats charged Tuesday that the CIA has released documents about congressional briefings on harsh interrogation techniques in order to deflect attention and blame away from itself.
Kris Goldsmith leaves IVAW -- [This Ain't Hell...]
... looking back over the majority of actions and conversations that I’ve been a part of or have seen since my last year of being involved in IVAW, it became overwhelmingly clear that there was no reason for hope. IVAW has proven to be more damaging than constructive to nearly everything that it touches, especially to some of it’s own Veteran Members....When someone who’s never even showed up to Drill for National Guard or Reserve musters, let alone a single day on Active Duty, (Carl Webb, for example) is wearing a shirt that would lead most people who are able to read English to assume said person is an actual “Iraq Veteran” who is “Against the War” that they served in… That’s not only doing a disservice to the organization ...
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
Breaking - Officials: U.S. soldier in Baghdad kills 4 troops, self -- [CNN]
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier in Baghdad opened fire on his fellow soldiers Monday, killing four American troops before killing himself, a senior defense official said.
Three others were wounded in the incident at the U.S. military base, Camp Liberty, in Baghdad, the official said.
The U.S. military issued a news release saying only that five coalition soldiers were killed Monday in a shooting at Camp Liberty. The military did not give the soldiers' nationalities or provide further details.
Update - MNF-I: CAMP LIBERTY, BAGHDAD – Five U.S. service members were killed in a shooting at Camp Liberty in Baghdad today at approximately 2 p.m.
A U.S. Soldier suspected of being involved with the shootings is currently in custody.
“Any time we lose one of our own, it affects us all,” said Col. John Robinson Multi-National Corps – Iraq spokesperson. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all the service members involved in this terrible tragedy.”
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification and release by the Department of Defense.
The incident is under investigation and more information will be released when it becomes available.
Strangers in the night [vision goggles -- [Wings Over Iraq - in Iraq]
Every so often, you have to fly an hour of night vision goggles not because the mission dictates it, but for the sole reason of re-setting your currency in that particular mode of flight. Last night was such a night. I was flying with an experienced warrant officer who had spent most of his time in the venerable UH-1 Huey helicopter, and whose last assignment was in the mountains of Washington State.
Ali, The Birdman of Baghdad -- [Down Range 46 - in Iraq]
I recently made a trip to the International Zone (IZ) in downtown Baghdad. While I was there, SGM Troy Falardeau, a fellow public affairs puke like me, took me on the nickel tour of Camp Prosperity there.
They try... -- [Bad Dogs and Such - in Iraq]
but they fail.
Higher sent some people down today with some crap for us to hand out. They also brought snacks. A couple cases of soda (good), a box of fresh fruit and veggies (great) and a big box of bagels (awesome!).
Ok, so maybe not so much awesome on that last one. I popped it open so we could stick most of them in the freezer, and...
Taliban Forced Civilians to Remain in Targeted Buildings, Petraeus Says -- [Defense Link]
Taliban operatives shaking down villages for money appear to have forced civilians to remain in buildings that were bombed in the course of a long May 4 firefight, the commander of U.S. Central Command said today.
Gen. David H. Petraeus said on “Fox News Sunday” that a joint U.S.-Afghan investigation team looking into the incident addressed the events leading up to the aerial attack targeting Taliban fighters in which an undetermined number of Afghan civilians were killed.
Pakistan's timing of attack on Taleban is no coincidence -- [Times Online]
The coincidence of the Pakistan Army’s apparently full-blown assault on the Taleban in the Swat Valley with President Zardari’s visit to Washington is no accident.
Petraeus: Al Qaeda No Longer Operating in Afghanistan -- [FOX News]
The head of U.S. Central Command said Sunday that Al Qaeda is no longer operating in Afghanistan, with its senior leadership having moved to the western region of Pakistan.
Gen. David Petraeus said affiliated groups have "enclaves and sanctuaries" in Afghanistan and that "tentacles of Al Qaeda" have touched countries throughout the Middle East and northern Africa. But...
Pakistan: 200 Taliban die in 24 hours -- [CNN]
Pakistani forces have killed as many as 200 Taliban militants in the past day in the Swat and Shangla areas, the military said Sunday.
Pakistan has launched a massive military operation against the Taliban in the Swat Valley.
CNN could not verify the account, because journalists are barred from the region.
Collateral Damage -- [Free Range International -- in Afghanistan]
It is time to turn the ole gimlet eye onto the news, cut through the clutter, provide a little ground truth, and introduce another obscure military concept to the FRI family and their informed friends. The start point is this article concerning the killing of a little girl by the Italian army ISAF contingent in Herat which I want to compare to the current civilian casualty flap in Farah Province where over 100 people are reported to have been killed in ISAF air strikes. In my opinion one these incidents should result in a murder charge and the other is the way things have to be – but we are not managing that message well at all.
Earthquake In Sherzad -- [A Year In The Sandbox - in Afghansitan]
Our Civil Affairs team has had a few 1151s since we got here and they just picked up a couple new MRAPs a couple weeks before. They haven’t had very good luck with them. They’re the ones that almost rolled the MRAP off the side of a bridge. File this tidbit under obvious foreshadowing. I ended up in the back of their MRAP, which was the lead vehicle. We made it just past the ECP before the driver managed to get it stuck in a ditch beside the road. We hadn’t even made it completely off the FOB and we were already stuck. We hooked up the winch to a tree and managed to get it out and on the road again.
The first hour of the drive to Sherzad is on hardball, after that it’s all dirt roads. About 5 minutes after
World’s Finest in Action -- [Castra Praetoria]
Today’s offering is an article about one of my gunslingers who deployed with Kilo Company last year. He extended to participate with the Embedded Training Teams in Afghanistan.
Cpl Conroy was part of a squad I was on patrol with in Kharmah, Iraq when a sniper took a shot at us (a story for another day). Since then he has probably seen more action than I ever will.
Below, the forces of evil tremble as an American fighting man patrols the area.
Gates: History Shows Cost of Turning Backs on Afghanistan -- [Global Security]
FORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan, May 8, 2009 – History provides an important lesson on the perils of ignoring Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today as he visited this remote site in Wardak province.
Fighting together with the Canadians in Kandahar province -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Nice to see some news about these guys. The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division assists NATO in providing a permanent presence in southern Afghanistan. They're based at FOB Ramrod, the only battalion-sized U.S. unit operating in the Kandahar province - and the only U.S. military unit that falls under a Canadian command.
Two of their companies accompanied Canadian forces on a recent four-day operation into the Panjwayi district, where some of the sharpest fighting has occurred in southern Afghanistan.
The Generals Take Over Up North -- [Strategy Page]
May 10, 2009: The North Korean soap opera continues to take odd turns. The most recent development is an sharp jump in North Korean demands. They have resumed their nuclear weapons program and are threatening to set off another underground nuclear bomb test unless; ...
Iranian Reformist: We Have Made America Our Scapegoat -- [MEMRI Blog]
Iranian reformist Sadeq Zibakalam condemned the habit of the Iranian regime to blame the U.S. for all its failures. He also criticized the Iranian media for disregarding Obama's positive steps, such as his support of the establishment of a Palestinian state.
U.S. Initiative Aims to Present Israel with Incentives to Advance Peace Process -- [MEMRI Blog]
American sources have told the UAE daily Al-Khalij that, in order to achieve significant progress in the Middle East process, the U.S. wants to present Israel with an incentive in the form of a recognition, by all Arab states and most Muslim states, of its right to exist and of the Saudi Peace Initiative.
According to the sources, Obama is also investigating the possibility of convening an international peace summit.
Mash'al: I Do Not Accept the Two-State Solution -- [MEMRI Blog]
According to a report on the website www.paltoday.com, Hamas Political Bureau Head Khaled Mash'al has denied accepting a two-state solution,
US Journalist Roxana Saberi Freed From Iranian Prison -- [FOX News]
An American journalist who was detained in Iran on espionage charges has been released after an Iranian appeals court suspended her prison term, an Iranian judiciary source told Reuters.
King Abdullah of Jordan's ultimatum: peace now or it’s war next year -- [Times Online]
America is putting the final touches to a hugely ambitious peace plan for the Middle East, aimed at ending more than 60 years of conflict between Israel and the Arabs, according to Jordan’s King Abdullah, who is helping to bring the parties together.
The Obama Administration is pushing for a comprehensive peace agreement that would include settling Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians and its territorial disputes with Syria and Lebanon, King Abdullah II told The Times. Failure to reach agreement at this critical juncture would draw the world into a new Middle East war next year.
Protecting the Seas More Important Than Ever -- [SGT Stryker]
I talked a while back about the problem with pirates and what the military is doing about it. I want to talk a little more about the Navy in general. There are a lot of seamen out there that are doing a great job for their country, staying out to sea for long periods of time so that they can do what they were trained to do and do it well. This is important for a lot of reasons, especially if you look at history.
Sea dominance has won or lost a lot of wars. Today,...
NATO war games hinder US-Russia ties: Putin -- [Reuters]
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said NATO military exercises in Georgia did not help efforts to rebuild Moscow's relations with the United States in comments published on Sunday.
Not The Terrorists -- [Strategy Page]
Deaths in Iraq fell even more sharply (73 percent). But Iraq, which gets most of the Western media attention for terrorism, only accounted for a third of the total terrorist attacks last year, and only ten percent of the terrorism related deaths. Even during the peak years (2006-7), Iraq only accounted for 20 percent of worldwide deaths. It turns out that there's a lot more terrorism going on than the mass media reports on. Can't blame them, though, because, when you start digging, you find that there's a lot of violence in the world that is terrorism related.
Long journey home for injured soldier -- [CapeCodOnline.com]
He struggles to his feet, greeting visitors with a smile and outstretched hand.
There aren't too many 21-year-olds today who stand as a gesture of respect when a guest enters a room.
Vincent Mannion does.
Happy Mother's Day!
Guardswomen Return from NYC Mother's Day Event for Soldier Support (UNCLASSIFIED) -- [Soldiers' Angels Network]
..."It was Soldiers' Angels honor to fly such amazing women from the Ladies of Liberty to participate in the first 'Mothering Soldiers' event. Their participation brought the event to another level of excellence and I look forward to this becoming an annual event in Times Square," said Shelle Michaels, national communication director for Soldiers' Angels. Michaels, of Grand Forks, took part in the event with her daughter, Rebbekah McPherron, 13.
General Petraeus performs miracle.......brings soldier out of coma
United States Air Force MedEvac In Iraq - "It's All Worth It"
The US Air Force has been conducting Medical Evacuation operations in Iraq since the outset of the war. It’s a mission they perform with bittersweet determination. The exhilaration of providing such critical support is tempered with the knowledge that someone has potentially suffered a life threatening injury in the line of duty.
Tarnished Brass: Is the U.S. Military Profession in Decline? -- [World Affairs Journal]
Nearly twenty years after the end of the Cold War, the American military, financed by more money than the entire rest of the world spends on its armed forces, failed to defeat insurgencies or fully suppress sectarian civil wars in two crucial countries, each with less than a tenth of the U.S. population, after overthrowing those nations’ governments in a matter of weeks. Evidence of overuse and understrength in the military abounds: the longest individual overseas deployments since World War II and repeated rotations into those deployments; the common and near-desperate use of bonuses to keep officers and enlisted soldiers from leaving. Nor is it only the ground forces that are experiencing the pinch.
“Tarnished Brass”--Thoughts -- [Wings Over Iraq - in Iraq]
Small Wars Journal's council posted a link to an article in World Affairs Journal entitled "Tarnished Brass", which bears many similartities to Lt. Col. Paul Yingling's article in Armed Forces Journal entitled "A Failure of Generalship", posted two years ago. Like "Generalship", "Tarnished Brass" talks about many of the shortfalls in military leadership that have arisen and manifested themselves in recent years.
For Veterans Back From War, Writing Proves to Be a Balm -- [NY Times]
Facing a weak job market and lured by a new, generous G.I. Bill, returning soldiers are enrolling in colleges and are writing about their experiences.
Mother's Day soldiers' homecoming -- [NECN]
The 150 soldiers from Troop 1109 returned home after a year-long deployment overseas. Connecticut Govorner Jodi Rell was on hand to welcome the troops back ...
Soldiers' emotional return home -- [WTNH]
Shots On Goal -- [Greyhawk]
...First, let's dispense with this: US troops aren't leaving Iraqi cities by June 30th - that's a media fiction. In fact, the "non-combat" troops who will remain will be doing a lot more than distributing wheelchairs.
As for the unanswered question of why the Iraqi troops wandered off, we'll never know.
In Which I Strangely Agree With Frank Rich... -- [Outside the Wire]
I was back inside the wire, having an actual breakfast with some Marines and Fox News was on the big screen TV. Two "strategists" one Democrat, one Republican were debating the Surge.
Midway through the segment, a young Marine leaned over to me, "Mr. Johannes, those two women have no idea what they are talking about." The Marine was correct. They had no idea what they were talking about, but they played their parts well and with conviction.
It was later that I learned where these chat show "strategists" come from .
Top Pelosi Aide Also Knew of Waterboarding Back in 2003 -- [Gateway Pundit]
Yesterday, Pelosi admitted that she lied a week earlier about waterboarding.
Obama Bans the Commonfolk from Normandy -- [Big Hollywood]
The 65th Anniversary of D-Day is fast approaching. Barack Obama will attend the events on June 6th as George Bush did in 2004 for the sixtieth memorial service. Here is the rub, as of now Obama’s State Department has asked (read demanded) the French government not allow tour guide services to operate that day. It is a big day for Normandy tourism. Yet, the king will not allow those not connected with government to enjoy the day. Obama is very important you know. This is an unprecedented request. I hope the French come to their senses and deny it.
VoteVets is not a veterans’ organization -- [This Ain't Hell]
...Today, the charlatans are veterans themselves. Veterans like those at VoteVets. Besides having a stupid name, they’re run by stupid people. They claim to protect veterans’ interests, but remember what happened when SGT David Aguina spoke up at the Yearly Kos two years back? Twink Jon Soltz charged him from the stage and got in the young sergeant’s face like so many other punk-ass LTs I’ve seen in my time. And what does VoteVets vice-chairman Brandon Friedman (also known previously as Angry Rakkasan) do? He writes a comment in the Daily Kos accusing SGT Aguina of being mentally ill;
Veterans/Troops become a political force -- [This Ain't Hell]
...So what has changed that Democrats have finally started paying attention to the needs of the troops suddenly? Because veterans have become a political force. While many veterans of WWII and Koreas sat out the Vietnam War on the sidelines for whatever reason, the Vietnam War veterans have refused to sit by while this wars’ troops get the same treatment.
Military Office Director Louis Caldera has Resigned -- [Jawa Report]
...amid controversy over a low-altitude flyover of New York
...And all the photo below cost was 400k and a little panic. It is a nice pic though, no?
If you look really close you can see tiny people that appear to be the size of ants running for their lives.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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.
A big ass weapons cache -- [One Marine's View]
Not every cache is as big as represented in the pic but I can tell you one thing, you never loose respect for any discovered or foiled IED or discovered cache. As soon as you loose the respect of it (like lets say lightening in a thunder storm) it gets you. (click on picture for larger version)
First Team Update
This edition features stories about 82nd Airborne Division military police paratroopers who are helping keep Baghdad residents safe and improving their standard of living, security details designed to.
Impact of Words Part III -- [Castra Praetoria]
During the first few weeks I came on board with Kilo, the company was in the midst of major transition. All the platoon commanders were brand spanking new. Many of the newly joined Marines out of school had only been in the fleet a month or two. In the next three months the battalion would be deploying and in that time we would get a new company commander. No worries, right?
Why Civilian Integration is Essential in Post-Stability Operations -- [SWJ - Master Gunnery Sergeant John Ubaldi]
After the euphoria of the removal of Saddam Hussein from power had abated in April of 2003, disorder and chaos became the order of the day. It became apparent that the United States had failed to plan for the restoration of the political and economic order after major combat operations had ended. U.S. experience in Iraq and Afghanistan have amply shown that America’s national security structure is still engrained in the Cold War mind set and not adequately prepared to meet the challenges of a post Cold War environment. Civilian and defense leaders failed to understand that combat operations and governance are integral parts of warfare and do not end on a set timetable.
Kids' Drawings -- [Ramblings from a painter - in Iraq]
A co-worker of mine participated in a special daycamp with a bunch of Iraqi kids aged maybe 6 to 13. She was in charge of the art table. Her kids were enthusiastic, going through hundreds of pieces of paper during the day. She brought in a bunch of them, and I thought I'd share some with you. I photoshopped out the kids' names - even though the security situation here is better than last year, it's still best to be safe.
Freakin' Lovely -- [Bad Dogs and Such - in Iraq]
Seriously - if only I could figure out how to buy retirement property here...
It's warming up, which is fine. I mean, it is Iraq - it's not supposed to be cool. The warmth brings the flies - fine. Flies are an integral part of the Iraq experience (can you eat with one hand while waving flies off your food constantly with the other and not break up your conversations? We can).
The mice are gone, and there are rumors of snakes.
Iranian Troops Invade Iraq -- [Strategy Page]
May 7, 2009: In the last month, the war between Iran and Kurdish separatists has escalated. Over thirty people have died, and, for the first time, Iran used airpower (three armed helicopters) to raid a village in Iraq that was used as a base for Iranian Kurd rebels.
You Are Not Tall Enough For This Firefight. -- [Afghani Kush - in Afghanistan]
...After that we got towed by a mountain and immediately got shot at by one lone dumbass. He missed us and we pretty much blew the hell out of the mountain, and then after pulling forward a little further one of out .50 cal gunners smoked him. Blew him in half. Good shooting Furg.
Then another 300 meters or so, we get into contact again.
Alot of times drivers don't get out of the truck to shoot, they have to keep driving, man the comms and feed ammo to the gunner. I always get out. So I get out and my TC (truck commander) was yelling at me to get back in, I just shrugged and got out anyway. The gunner had ammo, he had comms and we had dismounts out of the truck, another rifle might not do much but why not at least help? Plus, who doesn't like shooting? (except the other firefight I wrote about, when I see bullets skipping off the dirt around us ...
And Contact -- [Afghani Kush - in Afghanistan]
We were pushing into a valley and just got hit from the left side. It was pretty intersting, we had bullets skipping off the dirt in front of us. I moved my truck up to support some guys on foot and got out and started shooting. I only got to dump a mag or two into the mountain before we had to move up. When we moved up we started taking contact from a big rock on the center of the valley. After that we moved up and started taking more contact from a mountain to our left. I didn't know it until later but we had an RPG go right over our head.
‘Dozens of Civilians’ Killed in Afghanistan Air Raid (Updated Again) -- [Danger Room - Noah Shachtman]
Coalition airstrikes “killed dozens of civilians taking shelter from fighting” between Taliban militants and international troops Afghan officials and ordinary citizens tell the Associated Press.
Reports are still preliminary. And the reputed death tolls vary widely — from 30 combatants dead to “well over 100 civilians.”
Officials: Taliban May Have Faked Civilian Slaughter -- [Danger Room - Noah Shachtman]
Did the Taliban stage a slaughter of dozens, to make U.S. forces in Afghanistan look like butchers? That’s what American military officials are implying in response to claims that coalition airstrikes killed dozens of civilians taking shelter from fighting between Taliban militants and international troops in Afghanistan’s Farah Province.
Revelations -- [Greyhawk]
So, the Red Cross complains that Obama is just airraiding villages and killing civilians.
...One must conclude that successfully bringing internal and international pressure on the Obama administration to halt the attacks is a significant enemy goal, and the higher the number of civilian dead the more swiftly that goal can be achieved. Obviously, "International Red Cross" reports like the one relayed by the AP in the first link above - regardless of how well intentioned - further this goal.
Travels With Nick # 3 -- [SWJ]
The road from Kabul to Jalalabad is as spectacular a drive as you can find. Toyota Corollas and jingle trucks snake along a river that cuts through dramatic mountains, along the edge of spectacular gorges, and across lush river valleys. As we made the trip, scores of Kuchi nomads walked the road, shooing their livestock off the road as we pass. The drive also gave me reason to ponder the example of Nangarhar province, often cited as the success story of the East. The drive is relatively safe because Nangarhar is relatively safe -- and increasingly prosperous thanks to its fertile land and its trade route to Pakistan.
Many attribute Nang's success to its legendary and controversial warlord governor, Gul Agha Sherzai.
Taliban On Ridge Get Engaged
Great Moments in Afghanistan -- [AFGHANISTAN SHRUGGED - in Afghanistan]
There are some good points to being in Afghanistan; at times their pretty difficult to identify but at others their fairly simple to see. I’ll give you some examples.
As we stand in knee deep stinking Afghan Ass mud; with our 14 ton vehicle stuck up to its marker lights. MSG Famine turns to me and says, “Hey Sir, think how great this is for our skin”. Positive time which is hard to identify.
Here’s another one. ...
A new beginning in Wardak province? -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
About a year ago, a handful of US soldiers were tasked with holding down the entire Wardak province. (To understand the impossibility of that task, read this.) Now, thousands of troops led by the 10th Mountain's TF Spartan have a chance of making real progress.
Administration Is Keeping Ally at Arm's Length -- [Wasington Post]
Afghan President Hamid Karzai began talking as soon as his luncheon guests had taken their seats in his wood-paneled dining room at the presidential palace in Kabul, across a long table covered with platters of lamb and rice, baskets of flatbread, and glasses of pomegranate juice.
Taliban and Pakistani military battle in Swat -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The Pakistani military claimed 37 Taliban were killed during fighting in Swat and 27 more were killed in neighboring Buner. The government has not nullified the Malakand Accord.
Getting on the same page in Pakistan -- [Abu Muqawama]
We all know that Pakistan is key to Afghanistan. And it's clear that Pakistan is in trouble. How comes, everyone wonders, is that the people that rule Pakistan don't get it?
Never Again -- [Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure]
...COIN is awful business. It boggles the best minds. It can never be done perfectly, only adequately, but it can be done. I hope that Afghanistan is the last time this nation ever engages in foreign COIN or FID, but I don't for one second believe that it will be, especially in a world where the only way to really interfere with American interests or strategies is asymmetric. I am here to tell Michael Cohen, Maj.Gen. Dunlap, or anyone else that never again will I listen to someone who tells me to be willfully negligent in my duties to my Soldiers and my nation, and to help them prove their points by purposely failing in Afghanistan; or that it would be alright to do so. Never again will I ...
Afghan Culture 101 Part Two -- [A Major's Perspective]
The Taliban realized that their extreme beliefs would not sit well with everyone, so they toned down their rhetoric. They also realized that they needed help if they were going to try to take on ISAF. So they began forging alliances. The first place that they went was their original home within southern Afghanistan. If you remember from yesterday, this is the home of the Durrani Tribe. They also reached out to groups like the Haqqani Network and HIG in Eastern Afghanistan that are generally associated with the Ghilzai Tribe. The Durrani and the Ghilzai have historically been bi-polarly opposite from one another. But now, they began to unite certain members of the tribes into a loosely unified movement. They still do not like one another, but are willing to work together to try and attack ISAF.
Avoid The Foreigners -- [Strategy Page]
May 6, 2009: The Taliban are finding cell phone service to be a growing problem. As more rural areas get service, and people get their cell phones, the police tend to quickly get calls about Taliban movements. Efforts to halt the spread of the cell phone towers have failed, because the cell phones are so popular. Although a poor country, the cell phone is one aspect of modern technology that Afghans can hold and use. So
The Pirates Are Winning -- [Strategy Page]
May 7, 2009: The Western "catch and release" tactics against the Somali pirates are failing. The pirates are encouraged by the fact that the foreign warships will not shoot. At most, pirates will usually be disarmed then released to take their speedboats back to shore. There, the pirates can obtain new weapons, and be back on the hunt the next day. While the "catch and release" methods take some pirates out of circulation, and prosecute a minority of them (the French, Americans and a few other catch and prosecute, or even kill, but ...
Congress hijacks itself on piracy
A very welcome addition to the discussion on piracy.
It can no longer be argued with success that merchants shouldn't arm themselves. The world's navies have neither the capacity, or in many cases, even the will to defend merchant ships on the high seas.
Top US Senator: US no longer wants Iranian ‘regime change’ -- [AFP]
The United States no longer seeks "regime change" in Iran and Tehran should respond accordingly by heeding global demands it freeze its suspect nuclear program, a top US senator said Wednesday.
"We are not in ‘regime change’ mode," Democrat John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told a hearing exploring the prospects for US President Barack Obama’s new policy of engaging the Islamic republic.
Muslims Caught Enroute to the U.S. -- [Jawa Report]
Within the past week, it's been reported that the southern border of Mexico is open. The Mexicans have effectively dismantled border checkpoints and traffic from Guatemala and south flows unabated.
Cold War Reignites Off The Chinese Coast -- [Strategy Page]
May 7, 2009: For the fourth time in two months, Chinese ships tried to interfere with a U.S. Navy survey ship operating in international waters. This last incident occurred on May 1st, about 300 kilometers off the Chinese coast, when two Chinese fishing came within meters of the USNS Victorious at night. Noting that a Chinese warship was nearby, the Victorious radioed the Chinese warship and asked for assistance in dealing with the two Chinese fishing ships. The Chinese warship came closer,
Obama's Gitmo Mess -- [Wall Street Journal ]
The best answer is Gitmo. But the antiwar left wants terrorists treated like garden-variety criminals in the civilian courts or maybe military courts
Guantanamo Bay Terrorists: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You?
The Torture Follies — Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Worse ...-- [The Corner]
As K-Lo notes, I have an article (posted on the homepage this afternoon) which recounts how the Obama administration is urging the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to adopt the same interpretation of federal torture law
Justice Dept. Finds Flaws in F.B.I. Terror List -- [NY Times]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has incorrectly kept nearly 24,000 people on a terrorist watch list on the basis of outdated or sometimes irrelevant information, while missing people with genuine ties to terrorism
Let’s Win the Wars We’re In (pfd) -- [John Nagel]
A stunning if predictable development in the military community over the past 2 years has been the backlash against
the promulgation of counterinsurgency learning in the midst of the ongoing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars have spurred long-overdue changes in the way the U.S. military prepares for and prioritizes irregular warfare.
Gian Gentile: Exposing Counterfeit COIN -- [Antiwar.com]
..."As soldiers, our role is to do whatever we are told to do by our civilian masters. However, my experience is, that the idea of using military force to change entire societies — to use John Nagl’s words — at the barrel of a gun, is highly problematic and it is not as clean and as clear and as sensible as I think our own COIN doctrine makes it seem to be," he said. "I saw what it is like changing the entire society at the barrel of a gun in Baghdad in 2006, it wasn’t as simple."
USAF Staff Sgt Zachary Rhyner Receives Air Force Cross For Heroism In Afghanistan Battle -- [marinemom]
An Air Force combat controller received the Air Force's second highest award for valor on March 10 for saving his 10-man team from being overrun twice in a 6.5-hour battle in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Zachary J. Rhyner received the Air Force Cross for his actions on April 6, 2008, in the Shok Valley. Although shot in the left leg, he called in airstrikes, fired his M-4 rifle at the enemy and
A House for DJ Emery -- [Villainous Co.]
For those of you who've been around the milblogosphere for some time, the name DJ Emery is a familiar one. He's someone we've worried about. He's someone we've prayed about. And when the occasion arose, we've celebrated his successes and joyous milestones.
Recovery from such horrific wounds is long and requires adaptation by the servicemember but also requires adaptation of his/her surroundings.
Homes for Our Troops wants to give DJ and Carlee just that: a home that fits DJ's physical needs.
Group giving Iraqi war vet a new home in Herriman -- [Salt Lake Tribune]
Jacobs was chosen to receive the new home after applying to Homes for Our Troops program last year. Volunteers will finish installing walls
Angels in Time Square May 5th -- [Soldiers Angels LA]
Several women who have deployed with North Dakota Army National Guard units in recent years have been selected to take part in a Mother’s Day event in Midtown Manhattan.
“Operation: Birthday Cake,” a nonprofit partnership between Bake Me a Wish! and Soldiers’ Angels, will hand out 5,000 Freedom Cakes in Times Square to those who volunteer to “mother” a deployed service member. Another 5,000 cakes will be sent with hand-written notes to those serving overseas.
Geneva school kids collect shoes for Iraqi school kids -- [Soldier's Angels - Medical Support]
The students of the Mill Creek school in my home town collected almost 300 pair of shoes for the students of the Al-Sanoober school in Dhi Qar province. This school has about 60 students who are currently in a mud hut and doesn't have enough room for everyone.
Now recruiting virtual members for Soldiers' Angels' Bethesda Lunch Team -- [View from the 8th Floor]
How would you like to be part of a Soldiers’ Angels Bethesda Lunch Team?
I’m not actually inviting you to lunch. In fact, even if you lived here in DC, I couldn’t invite you along. It’s not that kind of lunch. It’s the kind of lunch where I show up with food to feed other people. Those people are some our troops – Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines – and their families and friends who, for whatever reason, happen to be at our National Naval Medical Center-Bethesda.
Good Search & eBay help SA -- [Soldiers Angels LA]
Let your fingers do the walking across your keyboard… and raise money for Soldiers’ Angels by making your regular purchases! In honor of Military Appreciation Month, eBay is has made this “Spotlight on Servicemen and Women” month, and GoodSearch has made raising money by just shopping online or browsing the web even easier than ever.
Happy Birthday Murph~In Loving Memory~Lt Michael P. Murphy USN SEAL~5/7/76-6/28/05 -- [LongIslandGirl’s Blog]
Sign the guest book~the family reads the messages~remind them that Michael has not been forgotten
2010 Budget Detail Rollout LIVE -- [Defense Tech]
We're going to host a live blog event today at 12:30pm EDT with Military.com Editor Ward Carroll who will discuss with Defense Tech and DoD Buzz readers the detailed 2010 Pentagon Budget rollout.
Make sure to watch
[Bump] Fed Up With Stop Loss -- [You Served - CJ]
UPDATE: I’m bumping this post because we’re all about to get a much needed education from what I’m sure is a well-researched and thoughtful Soldier about how our government works and declares its wars. Stay tuned to the comments. We all desperately need this constitutional tutoring!
Veterans lose a leader and a pal -- [Charlotte Observer]
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the nonprofit friends say was his dream come true: Welcome Home Veterans Inc., 13817 Tributary Court, Davidson, ...
Welcome Home Fox Co. Marines -- [Soldiers Angels LA]
May 2nd at 6:05 PM, 34 Marines from the Fox Co. (-) Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 1st Platoon, 4th Marine Division arrived at the New Orleans Airport . A group of supporters from Soldiers’ Angels, Ecole Classique Key Club, Military Veterans support groups and Councilman Joseph Stagni from Kenner were there to greet them. Flags were waving, banners and signs were held up and applause echoed the terminal.
A rowdy welcome home -- [Stars and Stripes]
Justin Cannon, 4, gets a good look at daddy as he and his mom, Sarah, welcome home Staff Sgt. Tim Cannon. BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Sgt. Nathan Carter came home
Operation Serve and Tell: Servicemembers encouraged to blog -- [Stars and Stripes]
U.S. troops are invading the blogosphere in increasing numbers to speak their minds about everything from the most mundane topics to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Web site www.milblogging.com links to blogs originating in 43 countries. The majority are created by Americans and 1,550 links come from the U.S. Iraq is a distant second with more than 400 military blogs, most of which were started by U.S. military members serving in Iraq.
Bouhammer.com featured in Stars and Stripes -- [Bouhammer]
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
I seem to have bad luck with reporters getting my name right. I am not sure what is so difficult about my name as this is not the first time it has happened,...
Graham: ‘If we’re going to let the bloggers run the country, then the country’s best days are behind us.’ -- [Politico]
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Republicans would fight back hard if Democrats or liberal groups try to make the Supreme Court confirmation process about Sessions’ record, rather than about Obama’s nominee to replace Justice David Souter.
“If people try to go down that road, it’ll blow up in their face, because Jeff is a good guy,” Graham said. “My hope is that our Democratic colleagues — if you start listening to the bloggers — if we’re going to let the bloggers run the country, then the country’s best days are behind us.”
CNN Wants to Talk to Troops Using Twitter -- [Honor, Duty, eMail]
CNN's Pentagon Unit is interested in speaking or tweeting with deployed military service members who are using twitter to keep in touch with their family and friends. Please use the hashtag #CNNMG on twitter to connect with them. Give us a shout out if you get an interview!
Media and Social Media Panels at WPAS -- [Army Live]
Two of the most popular panels at the Worldwide Public Affairs Symposium each year are those which bring media professionals to the stage for remarks and discussion about the relationship between the U.S. Army and the media. It’s always a candid discussion, with both sides bringing challenges and issues to the table.
“Facts-on-the-ground” reporting -- [Registan]
I don’t share Spencer’s enthusiasm for Nick Dowling’s dispatches from his trip to Afghanistan. The first two were perfectly okay—there was nothing wrong with them, and they were charmingly written. His third, however—which Spencer highlights—is actually terrible.
...This is a gross distortion of the truth (starting with the fact that no one calls the province “Nang,” except maybe some lazy staffer somewhere). Jalalabad City itself is reasonably safe, but the rest of the province is actually not a success story, nor is it particularly safer than it was last year.
He said...he said -- [The Torch]
NATO has imposed tough new restrictions on foreign journalists covering the war in southern Afghanistan, changes that could affect how much Canadians see and hear from war-torn Kandahar.
The new measures, imposed in early March, mirror the way the U.S. military manages reporters in Iraq.
Obama criticized Bush for “just airraiding villages and killing civilians.” -- [Instapundit]
Now the Red Cross complains that Obama is just airraiding villages and killing civilians. But the antiwar movement isn’t showing the degree of moral grandstanding that it showed when Bush was President. This I-told-you-so from Moe Lane is worth repeating.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various 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 sticking with US withdrawal plan despite attacks -- [CNN]
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's government said Sunday it won't extend a June deadline for US combat troops to leave Iraqi cities despite concerns about
Army and Police Working Together (Pictures) -- [Notes from Iraq - in Iraq]
Recently the Iraqi Army brigade that we advise and the neighboring National Police unit conducted a joint search mission of a less patrolled area. This cooperation between agencies is a first for the region and a current trend across the country. The below post is pictures from that mission. Read more »
In Iraq's Anbar Province, the Awakening Grapples with a New Role -- [Los Angeles Times]
At the pink mansion that is home to Anbar Awakening leader Ahmed abu Risha, the talk these days has shifted from how to fight Al Qaeda in Iraq to more mundane matters such as balancing a budget. "The Awakening is an economic and political entity now, and our strategy is financial and economic," said Abu Risha, who has led the Awakening since his brother's assassination in 2007. The Awakening, called the Sons of Iraq by the US military, might be simmering with resentment at the way it has been sidelined by the country's Shiite-led government. But here in Anbar province, birthplace of the Awakening movement, the Sunni Arab paramilitaries who turned their guns on fellow Sunni insurgents have become the government.
Still Unfinished Business -- [New York Times]
President Obama has correctly refocused American attention on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the real front in the war on terror. But the recent surge in bombings is an alarming reminder of all of the unfinished business from President Bush’s unnecessary war in Iraq.
The Impact of Words: Part II -- [Castra Praetoria - in Iraq]
Last year I was the 1stSgt of a rifle company. This billet has probably taught me more about the impact I make on the Marines around me than any other I have held. Initially, I assumed that in this position I would be so separated from the Marines and their daily activities, my influence would not be as great. Of course, a leader in my opinion should make a conscious effort to insert himself into a Marine’s daily routine. I did, but ...
SITREP -- [The Writings of a Man’s Man - in Iraq]
...Those long hours we spend on patrol (although sometimes they feel without cause, when no one is shooting at us) are needed because while the security situation in Iraq has certainly improved over the past two years, since the implementation of GEN Petreaus’s surge and counter insurgency doctrine, danger still lurks around every corner. In the past few weeks a series of close calls have taught me that the adage, “combat is game of minutes and inches” remains as true to day as in war’s past.
Children Of Iraq -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
My units AO (area of operation) is fairly small compared to most others however we still are in charge of a few towns. After visiting them all, I learned one thing. Poverty sucks! You know those adopt an african child commercials? That’s what I think of. Pictures and stories will give you an idea, but I truly didn’t realize until I saw first hand.
Taji: -- [Grim's Hall - in Iraq]
I'm in Taji this week, guest-instructing a couple of classes in my area of specialization at the COIN Academy. When not teaching, I'm spending the week going through the Counterinsurgency Center for Excellence Leaders Course alongside the unit that I will be working with as my old unit RIPs out.
It's good stuff, to be sure. I wish we could have a trusted journalist, one known to be fair and careful with America's genuine secrets, sit through it and tell the story.
Air Mobile… -- [111 Infantry Recon - in Iraq]
Our unit recently conducted the Brigade’s first air assault mission. Air assault means that we utilize helicopters to get where we need to go. It was a solid mission. The Iraqi Army that we took with us never flew before, so they were pumped. Your soliders performed just as I expected them to… well.
Mail Bag: Crew Coordination -- [Wings over Iraq - in Iraq]
Today I got a question from Sarah from Syracuse, who asks, "Do you ever hit things with your helicopter blades"?
Good question. The answer is no. Well, aside from that one bird, but that doesn't count.
This is actually quite a dilemma with helicopters.
It's that time of the year... -- [Wings over Iraq - in Iraq]
It's beginning to look a lot like summer in Iraq. Temperatures are getting close to the high 30s C (in the 90s F), and you can definitely tell it in the aircraft. One of the little peculiarities of the Black Hawk (and most Army helicopters) is that there's no air conditioning in it. Seriously, they paid $8 million for the aircraft and it has no air conditioning.
Those Priceless Americans -- [Strategy Page]
The government has released data showing that 110,000 Iraqis have died, mostly from sectarian and terrorist violence, since 2003.
4th Platoon (GREEN), Charlie Company -- [C CO 1-111 INF - in Iraq]
Recently Choctaw 6 has granted the platoons publishing access to the company blog. This will prove to be an excellent addition to the blog, allowing families and friends to see and hear from their soldiers' individual platoons. Below are some images from 4th Platoon:
Chapter 1: Gear -- [A.L.L. = Afghan Lessons Learned for Soldiers]
The following list is from my experiences and from friends in Iraq that pertain to here Afghanistan also. Some of these won’t be needed until you get in country, so you may want to set them off to side for mama to pack up for you and send to you once you get settled. This listing has been the single most popular blog posting ever,...
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble -- [Afghanistan Shrugged - in Afghanistan]
The white flash splits the Afghan night and I see the world in reverse color for several moments. Then the concussion hits me and I feel it through chest into my heart and lungs. KARUMPH!
Our little cabal is huddled in the lee of a high ridge doing our best to avoid an enactment of Kipling’s on Afghanistan’s plains. An airstrike just crushed the ridgeline beyond the one currently giving us shelter. Our ridge rises above us and perched on top like Masada is a Combat Outpost (COP) occupied by US soldiers.
Pulling Teeth: An Infantry Platoon Leader's Perspective on a Year in Afghanistan -- [Abu Muqawama]
LTC Jim Crider -- one of our military fellows here at CNAS -- passed along this article from Army Magazine (.pdf) that I think you might enjoy. Always good to see Airborne Ranger-qualified platoon leaders from schools like Davidson doing their part for the country. Smart, tough, motivated. What more could you want from a platoon leader?
Combat Outpost Belda established in Alasay -- [Combined Joint Task Force - 101]
The Afghan, French and American militaries recently established Combat Outpost Belda in the Alasay District here at the entrance of Skent and Spee valleys. The establishment of this outpost is symbolic of the multi-national militaries working in Kapisa, as well as for the Afghan p...
The Fight for Alasay Continues -- [Registan]
TF Tiger, the French battalion in charge of security in Kapisa Province, has reported the construction of a new combat outpost in Alasay District. Their press release is below. I’m working on confirming it with some people there.
Some Quick Hits on Afghanistan -- [Registan]
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Qalat and got an earful. It’s about time—a friend told that several years ago, just as things were turning nasty there, the Qalat PRT fabricated a bunch of good news stories for Don Rumsfeld. Whether that was true or just sour grapes, it is nice to see senior officers being exposed to the problems we face and not just the happy news (which happens depressingly often).
Petraeus: Next Two Weeks Critical to Pakistan's Survival -- [FOX News]
Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, has told U.S. officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, FOX News has learned.
"The Pakistanis have run out of excuses" and are "finally getting serious" about combating the threat from Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists operating out of Northwest Pakistan, the general added. But...
Petraeus Gives Stark Warning of Potentially Imminent Pakistani Collapse -- [ThreatsWatch - Steve Schippert]
...There is trouble ahead. And, as General Petraeus is trying to warn, the next two weeks will by critical to whether Pakistan survives in the short term, let alone the long term. The clock is ticking and time is running out.
Malakand Accord 'practically stands dissolved' - Taliban spokesman -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
Muslim Khan said the Swat Taliban are retaliating against security forces and government officials, and will conduct attacks nationwide.
US Aims to Unify Efforts on Afghan Border -- [Wall Street Journal]
President Barack Obama will seek a unified strategy to subdue Islamist militants in the tribal regions straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan when he meets with the presidents of the two nations in Washington this week. The meetings with Presidents Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan come as the Obama administration grapples with how closely to embrace two, who are key allies but flawed leaders.
Taliban Push in Pakistan Served as Wake-Up Call, Gates Says -- [Defense Link]
The recent push by Taliban forces to take more ground in Pakistan has served as a wake-up call for the government there, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. In a broad-ranging interview with CNN that aired today, Gates said he feels the Pakistani leaders now realize that the Taliban is an existential threat there. “We and others have been talking with them about how what is happening there in the western frontier area is truly an existential threat to democratic government in Pakistan,” Gates said. “And I think
‘Army fears disintegration if war ordered on Taliban’ -- [Daily Times]
* US official says Pakistani government and army are still not coming to grips with crisis
LAHORE: The Pakistan Army officers are afraid that if they ask the rank and file to fire on the Taliban too much, the whole army might disintegrate, Bruce Riedel, a senior Obama administration official, has said.
The Obama administration is considering expediting aid to Pakistan to block militants threatening a cluster of strategic installations
DOD Security Assitance and Swine Flu -- [Budget Insight]
Check out these two interesting articles from Inside the Pentagon about DODs role in the Swine Flu crisis and the Army’s new field manual elevating the importance of security assistance in US national security and military objectives. Full text of the articles below the jump.
Smart Power: White House Apologizes for Scaring NYers with 9/11 Type Fly Over -- [Amy Proctor]
The White House apologized Monday after one of Barack Obama’s presidential planes flew alarmingly low over New York city, sending residents into a panic and triggering fears of a new 9/11. The Obamaites in the White House thought it would be a good idea to have a photo op of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Here’s what happened:
Mysterious Places [Michael Yon - in Borneo Island]
A quick email Borneo Island: Jungles are mysterious places. There was a small, round stone on the ground. The coarse grey orb was larger than a marble but smaller than a golf ball. Two strips of tape were fastened around it. One strip was fastened around the stone’s “equator,” and the other was fastened “pole to pole.” A small tail of monofilament line was taped to the stone. Five yards away was a skinny tree, maybe thirty or forty feet tall. A strong cord was looped over the top branch, and the two ends of the cord were tied to some wood down by my feet. Up in the branch where the cord looped over hung a small sack which looked like a tea bag. “What in the world is that?” I asked.
A Chilling Effect on U.S. Counterterrorism -- [Stratefor]
...Politics and moral arguments aside, the end effect of the memos’ release is that people who have put their lives on the line in U.S. counterterrorism efforts are now uncertain of whether they should be making that sacrifice. Many of these people are now questioning whether the administration that happens to be in power at any given time will recognize the fact that they were carrying out lawful orders under a previous administration. It is hard to retain officers and attract quality recruits in this kind of environment. It has become safer to work in programs other than counterterrorism.
The memos’ release will ...
Lawyer's Letter Counters Torture Report -- [Washington Times]
The top CIA lawyer in charge of overseeing the agency's interrogation program after Sept. 11 says his stance on certain harsh techniques was misrepresented in a Senate hearing and that he actually told Guantanamo Bay officials to be careful, warning that some tactics could violate international protocols. In a Nov. 18 letter to senators on the Armed Services Committee, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times, Jonathan Fredman said he was trying to tell top Guantanamo officials that legal uncertainties surrounding the word "torture" meant that interrogators needed clear and specific guidance rather than having to figure it out themselves in individual cases.
Is "waterboarding" torture? (with Video) -- [ROFASix]
If you have been though one of the week or more SERE "experiences" there is a good likelihood you got to experience this technique presented here in a video by left leaning liberal Playboy magazine.
Is it torture? It is something that the left loves to whine about. Is there a resistance process one can use when exposed to the technique? All things you walk out of SERE knowing.
But, is it torture?
Condoleezza Rice meets with some students
Protecting the Inoocent -- [Greyhawk]
January, 2009 NY Times headline: OBAMA WILL SHUT GUANTANAMO SITE AND C.I.A. PRISONS
May, 2009 NY Times headline: "U.S. May Revive Guantánamo Military Courts"
Which brings Tom Maguire to condemn (tongue firmly in cheek) "That darn U.S., undoing Obama's good work."
Can There Be A Terrorist-Caused Chernobyl? - International Terrorism Monitor---Paper No. 521 -- [South Asia Analysis Group]
Group offers free therapy for Iraq, Afghanistan vets in need -- [FOB Tacoma]
...Pearce, a psychiatric nurse from Stanwood, then asks for basic information and links the caller with a nearby therapist, who offers free sessions. The military chain of command isn’t notified.
It’s the work of Soldiers Project NW, a 14-month-old program that aims to help veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who, for whatever reason, simply aren’t comfortable using the numerous mental-health programs the military medical system provides. Pearce, who has 30 years experience in the mental health field, has been the project’s director for the past six months. She organizes meetings every few weeks to draw support from therapists across the area.
It’s a way to help serve the men and women who serve the United States, she said.
EXCLUSIVE- CPT Roger Hill in his own words -- [Bouhammer]
...First off, I would like to thank Troy Steward and all the other men and women in the military blogging community that have shown their support for the men of Dog Company. Your support has been unwavering. I hate to think of where I would be had this story not broken the mainstream media headlines. Your support has once again forced a level of transparency that would not have otherwise been achieved. Below are links to articles that a group of highly respected retired infantry officers wrote concerning the circumstances surrounding this case.
National Military Appreciation Month -- [Breifing Room - Jeff Bader]
My wife Patti is the great niece of the infamous General George Smith Patton Jr. She spent part of her childhood growing up in the Patton estate in San Marino California. My wife is very much like "Old Blood and Guts" - a fierce warrior during times of war - and a pain in the ass during times of peace! Patti inherited a few Patton items, and she gave me one of the "The Great Liberator's" last awards presented to him a few months before he was assassinated by Russian and OSS spies; a 1945 certificate from the San Gabriel VFW (in which George was a member) to four star General George S. Patton Jr. in appreciation of his exploits in the Great World War II. I professionally framed and donated this historic plaque to the Soldiers Angels "Tribute to Heroes and Angels" museum
Fundraiser for 56th SBCT -- [Stryker Brigade News]
The Altoona Mirror describes an effort to raise money to send care packages to soldiers with the 56th SBCT.
Good Work -- [Bad Dogs and Such - in Iraq]
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is exactly what it sounds like - an organization dedicated to the folks who've participated in the wars we're fighting now. Far be it from me to pass judgement on any of the veterans' organizations out there, but I do think each conflict is different enough that perhaps an organization dedicated to veterans of one particular period of conflict might be valuable.
Troops wait for help -- [The News Tribune]
bailout uncertain: Military families who move often lose money on sales
Selling a home in the midst of a housing downturn is less than ideal. But for military members facing new assignments elsewhere, moving is an order – not a choice.
Mail Call -- [HT:American Infidel]
A Child in the Fight: To Kill or Not to Kill -- [Command and Leadership]
“I tightened my finger on the trigger of my sniper rifle as I sighted on the child moving toward the weapon.”
Situation: The city raged with automatic rifle fires, combat aviation, and various grenades. The coalition assault on the mosque continued with coalition snipers on rooftops engaged in a counter-sniper fight. Beneath me, Soldiers from my unit continued their assault. I had just killed the enemy sniper on a rooftop across from me who had pinned down coalition troops and stopped them from advancing on their target, the mosque. Immediately after killing the enemy sniper, I...
Strangling OSINT, Weakening Defense, Censoring Criticism: The Pentagon -- [Zen Pundit]
William Lind has a new post up at Defense and The National Interest that addresses the issue of the IT restrictions on the use of the internet by military personnel. This topic has been touched on previous by others such as at the SWC, SWJ Blog, Haft of the Spear, Hidden Unities and many milbloggers, intel and cyberwonks but previously, IT policy varied across services and from command to command. That appears to be changing - for the worse.
Photo of the Day - 1 May 09 (US Central Air Force Band) -- [A Soldier's Perspective]
Friends of Hawaii's 29th Brigade Plan Welcome Home Events for ... -- [Honolulu Advertiser]
The Friends of the 29th BSB FRG need to raise funds to properly welcome our troop's home as well as demonstrate strong support from our community. ...
Welcome Home Parade For Troops Aug. 29 -- [KRDO]
Because of the city's tight budget, organizers say they'll rely more on private donations than they did during a similar "welcome home" parade in June of ...
Army National Reserve Members Honored -- [cbs4denver.com]
Read more in our Privacy Policy The troops received the "Welcome Home Warrior Citizen Award." It is designed especially for National Reserve members. ...
Getting it -- [Greyhawk]
...And per my observations above (along with emails and comments I receive), military people read milblogs too, probably in the same proportions as non-military members of the general population - at least,those military people who do so on leisure time. Others read for other reasons, among them the seekers of those ever frightening but mostly elusive opsec violations but beyond that those who wisely want to anticipate what hot topic might be looming. Which is also why mainstream media reporters read milblogs, too - though their search for a story might have different motives. And certainly non-milblogger bloggers are frequent visitors, especially those whose sites are primarily political in nature but who see the obvious overlap and utility of citing a subject matter expert - at least, when it supports their point.
But they come and go - as both political parties (and subsequently most "mainstream" media) are too busy with "big" issues to devote significantly limited resources to any wars we're engaged in...
Panel #1 - 2009 Milblog Conference -- [You Served - CJ]
This is the first panel of the 2009 Milblog Conference. The panelists are - from right to left - Alex Horton of Army of Dude, Rebekah Sanderlin of Operation Marriage, TSO of This Ain’t Hell, Maggie of Boston Maggie and Castle Argghhh! The moderator is Matt Burden of Blackfive.
Panel #2 - 2009 Milblog Conference -- [You Served - CJ]
Moderator, David Stanford of The Sandbox, publishing, freelancing with Gary Trudeau of Doonesbury; AirForceWife of SpouseBUZZ, Lily Burana of I love a Man in Uniform book; Uncle Jimbo of Blackfive; JD Johannes of Outside the Wire; Craig Stewart of the National Museum of Americans in Wartime.
Panel #4 - 2009 Milblog Conference -- [You Served - CJ]
This panel is titled “The New Media Agora”. This one of the more popular panels in my opinion, which was odd considering it was the last and people were getting tired. What is the impact of the “new media” on issues concerning national security, military doctrine and concept development, training, education, and lessons learned? A discussion of the issue by those at the frontlines of the debate by Moderator, Greyhawk of Mudville Gazette; Andrew Exum of Abu Magawama, Bill Nagle of Small Wars Journal, Bill Roggio of The Long War Journal.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ATOMIC BOMBS -- [Eject Eject Eject - Bill Whittle]
A couple of nights ago, Jon Stewart said that Harry Truman was a “War Criminal” for dropping the atomic bombs on Japan.
From the moment I saw that clip I have dropped everything I was doing in order to research, write, shoot, edit and post a reponse. It’s a story I already knew well. I think this is very good work, and I will update the post when I have had some sleep. For now, if you have 16 minutes of free time, I think you’ll find this one rewarding.
Another of my award-winning book reviews -- [This Ain't Hell]
I think I may very well be the only person in America to read these pieces of shit. This is borne out by the sales at Amazon.com. So far I have read Camilo Mejia’s The Road from Ar Ramadi, which was kind of like Ishtar, only with more fantasy. Then I read Joshua Key’s timeless classic The Deserter’s Tale, wherein the laws of Physics cease to operate in conjunction with the rest of the universe when Joshua is in the area. I read Winter Soldiers even though I had gamely sat through the testimony prior to that, and I have read everything Raoul sends to me, which is a Herculean task in and of itself. This book is currently ranked #322,224 at Amazon, and I wish I could send it back and read 322,225 just to see how this book could possibly be better than any other.
Tugging On the Right Heartstrings -- [Villianous Co.]
...Like AirForceWife, I found the challenges of military life inspiring rather than depressing and debilitating. Everywhere I looked, I saw women who dealt head on with their problems; who rose to every occasion and overcame every obstacle in their path.
It is this side of military life I wish the media would pay more attention to. So often, it is the difficulties we are dealt in life that make us stronger, more confident, and more resourceful.
My Explanation -- [SpouseBuzz - airforcewife]
But I've been thinking about one question from the conference ever since - mulling it over in my mind and dissecting my own answer. I've been trying to really define what I was trying to express in a way that someone who is not a member of the military can understand without feeling as though the answer itself was an attack (I'm pretty sure that the military folks there "got it").
The question, paraphrased, was this: (see live blog here) I hear that the MSM has failed the military community. Why do you think that is the case? I hear there are all kinds of communities that feel the media has failed them.
My answer was short ...
N.Y. Times to File Notice It Will Close Boston Globe -- [Washington Post]
The New York Times Co. said last night that it is notifying federal authorities of its plans to shut down the Boston Globe, raising the possibility that New England's most storied newspaper could cease to exist within weeks.
We'll Do Those Military Commission Things After All -- [Ace of Spades - DrewM]
The most in over its head administration continues to realize the world is a wee bit more challenging than a campaign of just words (caution...link to NY Times).
Officials said the first public moves could come as soon as next week, perhaps in filings to military judges at the United States naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, outlining an administration plan to amend the Bush administration’s system to provide more legal protections for terrorism suspects.
In the Barracks, Out of the Closet -- [NY Times]
President Obama has said he will abolish the 16-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which allows gays and lesbians to serve in the military only if they do not disclose their sexual orientation. Nationwide, polls show that a majority of Americans support lifting the ban on openly gay members of the military. But support in the military’s ranks and among retired officers is mixed.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
