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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.Refresh for updates.
SPC Chad Edmundson KIA at 20 -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
My brigade, 56th SBCT, has suffered its second KIA. Spc Chad Edmundson of Williamsburg, PA died on the 27th of May. He suffered fatal wounds from an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) while on a dismounted patrol in Abu Ghraib. His death hits closer to home for he's not only in the same battalion but his company and mine share some of the same battlespace. The blast that killed Chad also injuried 3 other soldiers though not seriously. Also 16 Iraqi civilians were injured.
Maliki calls citizens to trust Iraqi Forces -- [Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV]
Two days ahead of the withdrawal of the US troops from the Iraqi cities, Iraqis live an amalgam of feelings combining pride on one hand and challenge on the other. The challenge of how to handle the situation in face of a promising secure and prosper future that seems to loom after years of distress and agony. In this context, during an interview with Alsumaria TV, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called all the Iraqis to support the Iraqi national forces and to trust their capacities. Maliki stressed that Iraq will accept nothing less than the full implementation of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
When Will The Americans Invade Us? -- [Strategy Page]
Another prison scandal in Iraq, this time featuring at least 43 Iraqi policemen and prison guards accused of corruption. Offences include jailing people without a warrant, and then demanding a bribe to get them out. Jailers are accused of torture, and demanding bribes so inmates can see visitors, get food or a better cell. Most of these abuses disappeared in 2003, when the Americans took over the prison system. But now most of the U.S. run prisons are controlled by Iraqis, and the prisoners mourn the sharp decline in living standards, and fair treatment by the guards.
Top US Officer Says Iraqis Ready for Handover - [Voice of America]
The United States' top military officer says he believes Iraqi forces are ready to take full control of their country's cities on Tuesday, as called for in the US-Iraq security agreement. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen spoke to reporters traveling with him in Europe. In a conversation with a small group of reporters, Admiral Mike Mullen was asked whether he is confident the Iraqi forces can handle the duties they are about to take on. "I am, and I take that from not only my own interaction there, which is infrequent, but really the reports I get back routinely and the leaders I talk to, not just General Odierno but others that have that confidence as well,"
Is the Job Done? - [Los Angeles Times]
On Tuesday, US troops will leave Iraqi cities in accordance with an agreement negotiated under President Bush. Although President Obama has largely endorsed the Bush timeline for reducing the US military presence in Iraq, far less clear is the extent to which he has also adopted his predecessor's appreciation for the importance of achieving America's strategic goals there. For all his administration's mistakes in Iraq, Bush clearly understood the imperative of victory once US forces were committed.
Before I go...(hopefully) -- [Wings Over Iraq]
...One question that hasn't gotten that much attention is what will happen not only between the Sunni and Shia, but also between the Arabs and Kurds. While I would venture to say that there won't be massive pitched battles between the Iraqi Army and Peshmerga fighters in the next few months, the situation in Kurdistan still leaves many unresolved issues. Anyway, I could see those as the leading challenges in the next few months.
Mosul: Post 30 JUN -- [Mongo's Montreaux - in Iraq]
On thinking about it, I'm not going to post squat on the 30 JUN withdrawal of US combat forces from urban areas in Iraq. Too easy to get crosswise with OPSEC, PAO, etc. Instead, I'll link to this article, which does a good laydown of the situation. One note, though: the Iraqi Police that the writer mentions as the "weak link" are the local police, or shurta mahlhauli, not the Iraqi National Police, or shurta wattaniya, with whom we (the team) are partnered.
What does June 30 mean? -- [Blogs Over Baghdad - in Iraq]
We also have been handing over facilities and bases throughout the country to ISF. Many of the ones where we remain are now joint bases with the Iraqis commanding there.
...I don't think most Iraqis are necessarily happy that our combat forces are leaving the cities - because most of the ones I meet seem to like Americans, whether it is us personally or the opportunities we bring to exercise their freedoms or make a better living.
Pirates and Iraq Upates -- [The Intrepid Reporter - in Iraq]
Baghdad has seen a bit of an uptick in the ultraviolence, but not to worry me Droogs... Ye Olde I.R. of fame and lore is safe and sound on Base.
Seems the stuff as of late has been concentrating downtown in the typical "Shiite Versus Sunni" Deathmatch, and the favorite tools of the tools in question are indiscriminate Car Bombings and such. ...Problem is, these jokers for the most part these days are cowards. They use little kids to do the dirty work that they are too cowardly to do themselves.
The High Price of Eliminating the Taleban from Buner-- [The Times]
The road home for Sultan Mahmood was hardly a welcoming sight. The route through the mountains was scattered with burnt-out cars and lorries and lined with the wreckage of buildings destroyed as the army mounted its assault on the Taleban in and around the northwestern region of Swat. At makeshift checkpoints along the way, troops peered from sandbagged machinegun posts as cars and vans snaked back into Buner, the district neighbouring Swat, that has now been declared free of the militants.
Some NATO Allies in Afghanistan Should Just Stay Out of The Fight -- [P.J. Tobia - in Afghansitan]
...The New York Times has a story about German Chancellor Angela Merkel being in a tough spot at home because of her country's involvement in Afghanistan. German soldiers are dying in a war that nobody in Germany wants any part of, and some don't even want to call a war.
Obama's AfPak Envoy Says Opium Eradication Policy 'Least Effective Program Ever' -- [P.J. Tobia - in Afghansitan]
In what is probably the most significant shift in US strategy in Afghanistan since the invasion, US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke told reporters at the G8 summit that NATO forces would no longer focus on poppy eradication. Instead, ...
A Path we need to take to Win in Afghanistan -- [Bouhammer]
I had an opportunity to ask the Secretary-General about how NATO is dealing with the opium problem in Afghanistan. You can listen to the segment below, but the jest of what he said was "Not our job". He then asked me what I would do about it, and I referred him to the fact that US Army is deploying the National Guard Agricultural Development Teams (ADT) into Afghanistan to help farmers with how they grow crops and show them alternatives to growing poppy. The Secretary-General then told me how he ran into one of the teams when he was in Ghazni and how he was impressed by them.
Talking the IMU in Northern Afghanistan -- [Registan]
When discussing the possibility of the IJU being a faked terror group, I declared the IMU inactive in Northern Afghanistan. After Namangani died and Yoldashev fled to Waziristan in 2001, I said, there hasn't been an IMU presence up near Kunduz. Well. A friend working in Balkh wrote to me about that, and mentioned something I haven't heard in the news yet:
82nd Airborne DSTB supports local district -- [Combined Joint Task Force - 82 / CJTF]
...According to the Central Intelligence Agency the unemployment rate in Afghanistan is approximately 40 percent. New jobs could usher in the potential for increased money, which would bolster the local economy.
"Almost everyone in our village is jobless, so they go to Iran and Pakistan for work," said Naqibullah, village elder and teacher for Sanjali Village.
After the villager explained his plight, Capt. Wilson carefully explained his plans and potential solutions.
Cruizin in the Uzbin -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...As we wound down through the J-Bad pass our convoy stopped rather abruptly. Typically livestock or a broken down vehicle is the usual cause. However, today's short halt is was for a small rock slide. Considering the height of the towering cliffs, we wanted to avoid our gunners in the turret from being knocked out by a falling rock. Besides this would be embarrassing to visit the TMC for being knocked in the cranium by a rock.
Our next stop was to a strategically positioned outpost in the wealthy (by Afghan standards) town of Serobi.
McChrystal's Afghan 'listening tour' -- [BBC]
The official told the commander that he had only taken his job after being led to believe by the Afghan government that the security situation was good - but it turned out it was not. Gen McChrystal then joked that US President Barack Obama had "done exactly same thing to me" - provoking laughs from the assembled audience.
It was a rare moment of humour from the commander known for his seriousness.
McChrystal is the man of the moment - a general tasked with changing the course of the war in Afghanistan.
Pakistan asks U.S. to stop drone attacks in tribal region -- [Xinhua]
Pakistan Thursday asked the United States to review its policy of drone attacks in its northwest tribal region, saying the attacks are counterproductive.
"We would continue to convey the concern of the people of Pakistan to the United States," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
Taliban kill 12 soldiers in North Waziristan ambush -- [LWJ - Bill Roggio]
The ambush capped a bloody weekend in the Waziristan region, where the military has yet to take on Baitullah Mehsud in a full-fledged ground offensive.
HORRIFIC Video Captures Basij Thugs Shooting At Protesters From Rooftop -- [Gateway Pundit]
Busted! Regime thugs shoot down at democracy protesters on the street from a rooftop in Tehran. This is one of those videos that you will not forget. What kind of regime fires on its own people peacefully demonstrating for freedom?
Honduran President Is Ousted in Coup -- MEXICO CITY -- The Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, was ousted by the army on Sunday after pressing ahead with plans for a referendum that opponents said could lay the groundwork for his eventual re-election, in the first military coup in Central America since the end of the cold war.
Chavez threatens military action over Honduras coup -- [Reuters]
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday put troops on alert after a coup in Honduras and said he would respond militarily if his envoy to the Central American country was kidnapped or killed.
Killer Video -- [Strategy Page]
The CIA has admitted that one of the more dangerous sources of Islamic terror attacks in the West, is among the 2.4 million Moslems in Britain. This reasoning is simple. According to a recent survey, some 76 percent of British Moslems believe it was wrong for foreign troops to be in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the same time, 11 percent thought it was alright for Taliban fighters to attack NATO troops in Afghanistan. In the same vein,
Military Spouses Thank Gates for Support -- [Soldiers' Angels Network]
Since he took office two and a half years ago, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has traveled the world talking with troops about their service and sacrifices.
At each meeting, the secretary is careful to thank the troops' families, recognizing their sacrifices as
Britains Celebrate First Armed Forces Day -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Until today, the UK didn't have a holiday like our Veteran's Day. Now, finally, they do. Thank you to all of our British brothers in arms for your service! We're proud to stand with you.
Fort Sill Families Proudly Welcome Home Their Soldiers -- [KAUZ]
Fort Sill honored about 160 soldiers with a welcome home ceremony on June 28th. The soliders are from the Alpha and Charlie batteries, second battalion, ...
Fort Drum puts on free air show to welcome soldiers home -- [WTEN/AP]
Fort Drum is putting on an air show and Mountainfest this weekend to welcome home the soldiers of the...
Reliable Sources: Journos spar over Obama presser question -- [CNN]
Tensions flared between "new media" reporters and print and television journalists last Tuesday when President Obama called on Nico Pitney, HuffingtonPost.com national editor, to ask the second question during a news conference at the White House.
Obama names envoy to Muslim communities (Woman) -- [The Hill]
The Obama administration on Friday named America's first ever special representative to Muslim communities. ...Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday named Farah Pandith as the United States Special Representative to Muslim Communiites. Pandit is expected to engage with Muslims around the world on a grassroots and organizational level.
Congress Coordinates Combat Colors -- [Strategy Page]
June 29, 2009: The U.S. Congress has ordered the Department of Defense to provide a new camouflage color pattern for combat uniforms of troops going to Afghanistan. This came about because many legislators received letters from troops complaining about how the camouflage pattern that worked in Iraq, doesn't work in Afghanistan. The army told complaining legislators that this was not true, even though SOCOM preferred a different camouflage pattern for their troops in Afghanistan. Is it any surprise who won that argument?
U.S. Bio Research & Defense -- [Threats Watch]
As time passes, the discussion of "The Risk/Reward Ratio" of BioResearch becomes more interesting and complicated. Last week, while the Senate approved the first $36 million designated for the construction of the National Bio and Agro Defense facility at the campus of Kansas State University, However, the House version of the Appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, omitted that funding. Instead, the House allocated $5 million to fund an independent study the safety of conducting research into Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at a mainland laboratory.
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