Dawn Patrol 08/10/09

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.

IRAQ

ORG, TPE, MTOE -- [S4 at War - in Iraq]
COL Reese's memo is making the rounds over here. Commander's warning that whatever we may believe, we aren't leaving in the next few months and still have a mission, my friends and I in almost total agreement with COL Reese.

A Good Thing -- [Far From Perfect - in Iraq]
It's been terribly slow here for the last few weeks. Outside of a few "priorities" that were really routines, there hasn't been anything happening. This means that the Iraqi Army and Police have been able to quell the bad guys,outside of a few incidents in the news, since we left the cities. It also means that U.S. soldiers aren't getting in accidents, or firefights, or being blown up. The downside is that I am not doing anything (and as such I don't have much to say). Its that old medical Catch-22 again.
...So the point of this was just to say that things are quiet out here on my little remote piece of dirt. They aren't as quiet everywhere, but the days of constant bombardment, IEDs, and firefights are long over

EXCLUSIVE: Report sees recipe for civil war in Iraq -- [Washington Times]
A report to be published this month by the U.S. government's prestigious National Defense University warns that the Iraqi army and police are becoming pawns of sectarian political parties -- a trend that it calls "a recipe for civil war."
The report by Najim Abed al-Jabouri, a former Iraqi mayor and police chief who helped run the first successful counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq after the U.S. invasion, also concludes that U.S. forces have failed to use their remaining leverage as trainers to insulate the Iraqi army and police

Iraqis Take the Lead, With US Trailing Closely -- [New York Times]
"Yes, we are in charge now," said an Iraqi Army soldier, Sgt. Salman Fallah Jassim, as he led a mixed Iraqi and American patrol through the saw grass of a dried up irrigation canal, sweeping the ground in front of him with the long wand of a metal detector. "But we need help all the time." The United States military, in fact, provided the metal detector, the explosives-sniffing dog and even transportation on a joint mission at the end of July to find a weapons cache in an area of Diyala Province only recently cleared of insurgents.

The Truth Is Too Much To Bear -- [Strategy Page]
Terrorist violence was down by a third last month, with 275 Iraqis dead from such violence in July. This was the first month that Iraqi security forces had complete control of the urban areas, and responsibility for preventing terror attacks. There are over 700,000 Iraqi soldiers and police on duty, in addition to 128,000 U.S. troops (who mostly offer training, air reconnaissance, air support and intelligence assistance). Of the 275 Iraqis who died in July, 19 percent were soldiers and police. Some 400 terrorists were captured or arrested, and 41 killed last month.

Street Scenes, Aug 05- 10 AUG -- [Mungadai Days - in Iraq]
To all our loved ones, especially the Mungababes: sorry we haven't been posting much (uh, okay, at all) lately. Everyone (the Coalition, the Transition Teams, the Federal Police, the Army, and the good citizens of Mosul) has been busy adjusting to the new, post-30 June "Combat Forces out of the Cities" clause of the US/Iraqi Security Agreement. Although the Mungadai are extraordinarily adept at that whole "combat" thing, we count as advisors, and are therefore allowed, in the Security Agreement, to accompany our counterparts the Federal Police (yes, it used to be the National Police, but everyone here thought that "Federal Police" had a little more pizzazz to it). As we all know, though, the details of actually executing a treaty can be a little more messy than just writing it down and signing it. So, the Mungadai have been really constrained, in the last few weeks, in actually accompanying our counterparts out and about on operations. However, we've worked through a lot of the legal-ese and are getting things squared away. So, here are some scenes from today's operations:

10 AUG, or "Why I Love Aviators" -- [Mongo's Montreaux - in Iraq]
Scenes from today's operation posted over at the team blog.
A couple of posts down, I spent some time articulating my gratitude for the aviators that cover our asses every time we go out. Our air cover performs two vital functions: close air support--i.e., firepower, which is pretty much what everyone thinks of when they think of air cover, but more frequently and as importantly, they provide invaluable Situational Awareness. I often can't see two or three blocks away. The air guys tell me what's going on around me, whether we have any "squirters" trying to escape if we hit a building, suspicious vehicles approaching our formation, groups of military aged males congregating in our general vicinity, and even where our counterparts went if they haul ass and leave us to lumber behind...

Baghdad Murder Investigation and Slushies -- [Iron Camel - in Iraq]
tags: Army, army life, Baghdad, combat, death, Hummer, Iraq, killing, life, murder, pistol, shooting, slurpee, slushie, terrorist, war storiesby ironcamelarmyThe heat was bearing down on our vehicles as we barreled down the streets of Baghdad. Packed with cars and people, it made for a difficult day to maneuver. Following our Iraqi counterparts, we found ourselves weaving our way through tiny back street alleys, kicking up dust and blowing around trash. A dozen American and Iraqi Humvees forced their way through the pedestrian traffic, under low hanging wires, and through the tight narrow spaces. Some people waived, but most sneered.

Kick For Nick - Soccer Ball Donations -- [Sour Swinger - in Iraq]
Over the course of the last few months, I've been handing out soccer balls from the organization Kick For Nick. With their help, over 200 balls and 100 some pairs of socks have gone to various teams and kids in my units AO. I received their information from my brother who utilized them in his previous tour here in Iraq.

Another Stateside Article -- [In Iraq Now (at 56) - in Iraq]
The front page of today's Harrisburg Patriot News has an article abut my unit and I am in it. Yes, Meredith, what a surprise!! The online version is here. If I get the print version with pictures I will try to post them.

AFGHANISTAN

When Supporting Our Troops Means Supporting Their Troops -- [The Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
After my first full week in Kabul during the run-up to national elections, I have a growing feeling that our chances of success in Afghanistan may improve in inverse proportion to how much we talk about our own competence.

No Young Soldiers -- [Michael Yon - in Afghanistan]
Daily dramas unfolded, including the bangs, booms and small-arms fire that punctuated the times. At 1800, I was preparing to go to orders with 1 Platoon, A Company of 2 Rifles, when shots from a large-caliber rifle began cracking low over base. I passed by sniper, Kris Griffith, and said, "Hey Kris, why don't you grab your rifle and go shoot that guy?" Kris replied that two other sniper teams were on it. "He's close," I said, and Kris answered, "About 600 meters." Then we went our separate ways.
Orders were given and then the soldiers performed final checks on their gear and tried to fall to sleep in the sweltering evening heat. Some nights I would go to sleep using the sleeping bag as a pillow, only to wake up with it drenched in sweat.

To Watangatu -- [Outside the Wire - in Afghanistan]
The Afghan government with the support of USAID and the local military Provisional Reconstruction Team is building a paved road up the valley, but the sniping and violence is slowing construction.
Rather than go in with a heavy hand and use an infantry battalion like a sledge hammer to try and swat a few flys, the US Army Battalion in charge of Lagham province and the PRT decided to use the traditional Afghan approach--a Shura.

US, Afghans seek to protect voters from Taliban -- [AP]
The notes appear at night, border police say, dropped off around town, always with the same ominous message: Don't vote or we'll slit your throat.
Even if the Taliban don't make good on those threats, such warnings alone could be enough to keep many Afghans at home on the Aug. 20 election. U.S. troops moving into remote areas are hoping to bolster public confidence that it will be safe to vote.

White House: Afghan war not in crisis -- [AP]
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is asking Congress for time to see whether a revamped war plan for Afghanistan is taking hold and does not rule out adding more American forces to help turn around a war widely assessed as a stalemate.
James Jones, a retired Marine general with experience in Afghanistan, said the United States will know by the end of next year whether the strategy President Barack Obama announced in March is working. In the meantime the White House is redefining how it will measure progress, with new benchmarks expected next month. The outline will be presented to Congress with an eye to creeping skepticism among many Democrats about the war's prognosis and costs.
Making the rounds of the Sunday talk shows, Jones, Obama's national security adviser, said the war is not now in crisis but did little to dispel the growing expectation that Obama would soon be asked to supplement the 21,000 additional forces he already approved for Afghanistan this year.

U.S. commander says Taliban have Afghan momentum -- [Reuters]
The Taliban have advanced out of traditional strongholds in Afghanistan's south and east, gaining the upper hand as they moved into the north and west, the top U.S. and NATO commander said in an interview on Monday.

Taliban Winning in Afghanistan, U.S. Commander Warns -- [FOX News]
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the commander offered a preview of the strategic assessment he is to deliver to Washington later this month, saying the troop shifts are designed to better protect Afghan civilians from rising levels of Taliban violence and intimidation. The coming redeployments are the clearest manifestation to date of Gen. McChrystal's strategy for Afghanistan, which puts a premium on safeguarding the Afghan population rather than hunting down militants.
Gen. McChrystal said the Taliban are moving beyond their traditional strongholds in southern Afghanistan to threaten formerly stable areas in the north and west.

The Afghanistan Strategy Dialogue: Day Three -- [Abu Muqawama]
For more on this dialogue, click here. A number of you have asked why this dialogue did not begin with me answering my own questions, which is a fair enough question to ask. I have some thoughts on this, obviously enough, but it might surprise you to know just how open I am to being persuaded in either direction on the issue. So I am enjoying this and will likely conclude this in a week or two with my own thoughts. I found Bernard's post yesteday to be thought-provoking and persuasive, though, and as far as considerate arguments for a continued engagement in Afghanistan go, so too is this one. Enjoy.
Is the war in Afghanistan in the interests of the United States and its allies?

US top official wants more troops in Afghanistan -- [Brunei News.Net]
The United States government is likely to announce another troop surge for Afghanistan. US national security adviser General Jim Jones has said he will not rule out the option of sending more American troops to bolster the other nations which are contributing to the effort, including the UN and NATO.
He said problems in Afghanistan would be better solved with added troop strength.

Bomb blast kills 6 Taliban while planting IED -- [AP]
KABUL -- Six Taliban militants are dead after a roadside bomb they were planting exploded prematurely.
Abdul Zarif, an Afghan official in Zabul province, says the six militants were planting the bomb around 3 a.m. Monday in the Naw Bahar district of Zabul when the bomb exploded.
Militants have greatly increased their use of roadside bombs in Afghanistan this year. A record number of U.S. and NATO troops were killed in the country in July, many of them from roadside bombs.

The Second Mission -- [Sgt Danger - in Afghanistan]
...When the manifest was released (a secret-classified document that shows where each soldier, vehicle, weapon, and asset fits into the order of march) I found my crew listed as the second vehicle in line. It's less labor-intensive than the "assistant convoy commander" position that I worked on our first mission... but when you're that close to the front you're responsible to watch out for everyone behind you. "Bring your a-game," keep your head on a swivel," "stay on your toes," "be johnny-on-the-spot," and all the other cliches apply. Threats come in the form of roadside bombs, car bombs, AK-47 fire, rocket propelled grenades, among others. The sooner someone identifies a threat, the better off everyone is. The lead vehicles also give the convoy a heads up over the radio on difficult terrain, congestion, and traffic. The mission started off rocky.

For Whom the Bell Tolls -- [AFGHANISTAN SHRUGGED]
...Our departure comes at an inauspicious time. Several days ago while we were on a dismounted patrol we learned that a US Soldier was missing and captured by the Taliban. Radio calls every 10 minutes to account for all our personnel were a prelude to the actual notification. The circumstances of the incident are cloudy to say the least. Since notification we've established check points trying to find the soldier and were awaiting orders to air assault to the south.
The rotors now build to a deafening fortissimo as the bird circles overhead and flares to land. The rest of Team Vampire is there to say goodbye. It's difficult to sum up a year in the brief moments before getting on our ride. The noise is too loud to hear anything so maybe it's for the best, Soldiers do very poorly at goodbyes.

Wardak Soldiers -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
From our friend LTC Steve Osterholzer with the 10th Mountain Division in Wardak Province, Afghanistan:

One final salute -- [Desert Bound - in Afghanistan]
Today we held a ceremony for the three Soldiers from our battalion that were killed Aug. 1 by two roadside bombs. The pictures didn't turn out as well as I liked, but the service itself was very emotional and you could tell these Soldiers left a lasting impact on everyone that knew them.

Honoring Capt Freeman, SPC Lowe + other camp business -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
Our connectivity has been terrible lately but sadly it was also purposely cut off as we had another fatality. Until the proper family notifications were made, we were under an Operational Security (OPSEC) emergency and ordered not to discuss disposition of casualties. The fallen warrior and sister ETT member was Marine Capt Matthew Freeman. His body was flown back to the U.S. and the Department of Defense officially released the news about his death today (some media has already reported on it), so we are allowed Internet access again. I am in the process of gathering information so I can honor this fallen hero.

Soldier died retrieving Afghan comrade -- [BBC]
Pte Williams was a "loving and caring son", his family said.
A British soldier who died while trying to retrieve the body of an Afghan comrade has been named.

In The Graveyard of Fuel Tankers -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
For the first time in this conflict it appears that Taliban fighters are moving out of the "Southern Triangle" of Nangarhar Province and attempting to interdict the road to Kabul. The latest attack was on 6 August and it occurred much further east than the series of attacks last summer which we think emanated out of Laghman Province and featured the impressive shooting of The RPG Mechanic. The 6 August attack happened in broad daylight at around 0800 in the morning (I just missed it having left that day for Kabul at 0700) and the ambush team stayed on scene to fight with the ANP for around an hour pulling out only after American soldiers arrived on scene.

Communications: Critical to Marines on the battlefield -- [Lejeune Deployed]
A squad of Marines is patrolling through the Helmand River valley in southern Afghanistan, and suddenly machinegun fire rings out from a nearby compound filled with insurgents. The Marines immediately attain a grid coordinate for the exact location and radio for a fire mission. Within minutes, a precision round lands directly on the target and neutralizes the threat.

Video: The Taliban leadership election process -- [Hot Air]
If anyone wondered why the death of Baitullah Mehsud would make our job easier in Afghanistan, the Taliban may have provided an example. When leaders of violent movements suddenly die without succession plans, the people below them usually rely on the methods they know best to determine who gets to be the next supreme leader. So far, this report is unconfirmed ... but it's still instructive:

A Children's Treasury of Worthless Experts -- [Registan]
Michael Semple is lecturing us in Foreign Affairs on why we need to make friends with the Taliban in order to "reconcile" with them and end the war. Semple, if you recall, had his hands all over the disastrous secession of Musa Qala, yet couldn't find it within himself to mention such a stupendous

Mystery over Noordin Mohammed Top thickens -- [LWJ]
Top was initially reported as killed during a raid, but police have detained an individual who witnesses say resembles Top.

U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD

Iraq Asks Iran to Release 3 American Hikers -- [Los Angeles Times]
Iraq has appealed to Iran to free three American hikers after concluding that the trio who apparently strayed across the Iranian border were just lost tourists, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Sunday.

Iranian Official Acknowledges Torture of Protesters -- [New York Times]
A top judiciary official acknowledged Saturday that some detainees arrested after post-election protests had been tortured in Iranian prisons, the first such acknowledgment by a senior Iranian official. Meanwhile, a second day of hearings was held in a mass trial of reformers and election protesters, with more than 100 people accused of trying to topple the government. The accused included a French researcher and employees of the French and British Embassies, prompting angry responses from Britain, France and the European Union. But

Britain Behind 'Coup Attempt' Claim Iranian Hardliners -- [Daily Telegraph]
Britain has been accused of directing a coup attempt against the Iranian government as hardliners demanded an even tougher response against protesters and opposition leaders. Pro-government newspapers gave an uncompromising response to protests from the Foreign Office and from the European Union over the trial of a British embassy employee on espionage and national security charges.

Israel Recalls Envoy Over Leaked Memo -- [Washington Times]
The Israeli consul-general in Boston has been summoned home for "clarifications" after sending the Foreign Ministry a memorandum saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attitude toward the Obama administration is causing Israel strategic damage. "There are political elements in America and Israel who oppose Obama on ideological grounds and are ready to sacrifice the special relationship between the two countries for the sake of their own political agendas," wrote the consul, Nadav Tamir.

Kim Jong Il 'in Full Control' of North Korea, US Official Says -- [Los Angeles Times]
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il appeared to be "in full control of his government" when an American mission met with him last week to free two imprisoned US journalists, White House national security advisor James L. Jones said Sunday. Jones, appearing on news programs, said that despite months of credible reports that Kim was struggling with grave health problems, "he seemed in control of his faculties" and "sounded very reasoned" in wide-ranging discussions with former President Clinton.

WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISM

No Beating About the Bush for Hillary Clinton -- [The Australian]
Secretary of State's comments on Somalia are spot-on. Different name, same struggle. US President Barack Obama's desperate desire to distinguish his administration from that of his unpopular predecessor means US officials no longer talk of the war on terror. But the reality of the struggle against Islamist aggression remains the same. So does the rhetoric. While the US is withdrawing from Iraq, where it appears the terrorists are defeated, the President is pumping up the American presence in al-Qa'ida's Afghanistan fiefdom. Last month, Mr Obama denounced as terrorists al- Qa'ida's allies, who are attempting to recreate an African Afghanistan in the failed state of Somalia. And last week his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, denounced the al-Shabaab Islamist militia there, pointing to allegations that Somalis in Australia were planning terror attacks, as evidence of the way Somalia is becoming a base for international terrorism.

NEFA Foundation: Transcript of Latest Zawahiri Interview, "The Facts of Jihad and the Lies of the Hypocrites" -- [Counterterrorism Blog]
The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a new video interview of Al-Qaida Deputy Commander Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri produced by Al-Qaida's As-Sahab Media Foundation. During the interview, al-Zawahiri strongly criticized Iran, noting, "Iran had her image scandalized in front of the entire world, and it has become clear that it is... ready to sell out the Muslims to the invading crusaders and assist them against the Muslims." Al-Zawahiri also attacked President Barack Obama and his continued policy of drone strikes in Pakistan and Afghanistan: "I see it as a new massacre of Muslims at the hands of the criminal, liar Obama who claims to seek the start of a new relationship with the Islamic world and Muslims, while every day his hands are dripping with their blood... We are not a nation of silly imbeciles who will permit Obama to fool us with vague phrases that have no meaning, when he is just a new face of the same old American criminality... He is like a wolf whose teeth are engrossed in your flesh, his claws are scratching your face, and both are dripping with your blood."

SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOT

The Last Night at Landstuhl -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
John, this is Chaplain Smith, the ICU Chaplain. I'm here with MaryAnn of Soldiers' Angels. She asked me to visit before you go home tomorrow.
I'm looking at a family photo your wife Jane sent her to print out and keep at your side. I'm sure you know it; it's the one where the baby is wearing the yellow sun hat...

Paper: "No matter what we produced on the deaths of Fort Drum soldiers, I know it was not enough." -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
From yesterday's Watertown Daily Times of Upstate New York. I think many of us in the milblogging community (and of course others) struggle with the same feelings of inadequacy, and I very much appreciate this unnamed editor's (there is no byline) frankness and his willingness to express them. I've posted it in its entirety; I hope the Watertown Daily Times doesn't mind.

Today is #MilitaryMon -- [Bouhammer]
If you are a person that tweets or visits Twitter.com much then you probably know what a hashtag is. It is a tag that helps mark tweets on twitter and create what they call trends.
Well the most popular trend for military folks or those that support the military is #militarymon which stands for Military Monday. Every Monday thousands of us on Twitter talk about military topics, mention those on twitter in the military or that support the military, etc. etc. Whenever we tweet these micro-postings we put #militarymon in the tweet to help make the trend more popular.
Several weeks back, I along with Greta from www.kissmygumbo.com and the great guys at www.vision-strike-wear.com came up with a design of a shirt and started producing it that not only helps highlight the #militarymon movement but also raises money for Soldier's Angels Project Valour-IT.

The most significant day of my life- by MAJ Charles Ziegenfuss -- [Hooah Wife]
Major Chuck Ziegenfuss was a captain when he was wounded in Iraq in 2005. His experience was the inspiration for Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT. He's now a student in the Army Intermediate-Level Education program (formerly Command and General Staff College) in Fort Leavenworth, where he submitted this essay as part of his initial writing exam. The assigned topic was, "The most significant day in your military career."
The most significant day in my military career (as well as in my life) was 22 June 2005. This was the day after I died. It was the day that began a long journey to recovery, rehabilitation and reevaluating my role in the Army, as well as ...

Jody Mitic

Meet the new IVAW Executive Director -- [This Ain't Hell...]
One of our resident IVAW refugees just wrote that the new Executive Director of the Iraq Veterans Against the War is Jose Vasquez - another IVAW member who has never deployed to Iraq nor Afghanistan according to his own profile at IVAW;

Soldier's fight to rebuild his life -- [BBC]
The way injured British troops are treated has been in the headlines in recent weeks. Here, the story is told of one soldier's road to recovery after he was injured in Afghanistan.
"My first thought when I saw him, I thought, he's not going to want to live like this, he's not going to survive this, " says Jackie Ormrod about the moment she first saw her son's injuries. ...He lost both legs above the knee, and his right arm. It was Christmas Eve, 2007.

MILITARY

When Hard Work Pays Off -- [Army Live]
America's future Soldiers earned serious bragging rights after being named top college in the country by Forbes' yearly college review.
The U.S. Military Academy, more commonly known by West Point, received top honors as America's Best College Thursday- moving up from the number six spot only a year ago.
"Marked by an intense work ethic and drive to succeed on all fronts, the West Point undergraduate experience also allows graduates to leave without a penny of tuition loans to repay," Forbes stated in its release.
The distinguished college beat out some tough competition, such as former number one Princeton (#2), Cal Tech (#3) and Harvard (#5).

WELCOME HOME

Mobile Soldiers Welcomed Home -- [WKRG-TV]
He's one of the dozens of soldiers being recognized in a special welcome home ceremony for this US Army reserve unit. No one was lost in this latest tour

Welcome home ceremonies for returning soldiers -- [KTUL]
The first of several welcome home ceremonies for returning Oklahoma National Guard soldiers are today. More than 700 members of the 45th Fires Brigade are coming home after a 10-month deployment to Iraq (web | news) and Kuwait. Two ceremonies are planned for Monday afternoon and another is Tuesday. The first will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at the Altus High School football stadium and the second will be at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Wellness Center in Weatherford at 2 p.m.

Iraq soldiers to get official welcome home -- [ABC Online]
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd admits he was always opposed to sending troops to Iraq, but says there should be an official welcome home.

THE MEDIA

What It Takes to Tell The Story of the American Soldier -- [Down Range 46 - in Iraq]
Be there! That's the simplest answer I can offer - not just physically but emotionally.
The story of the American Soldier is told from a variety of different perspectives. There are network and newspaper reporters, freelance journalists, comics, entertainers, politicians, commentators, even the enemy who all want to tell our story.
But, hard as these folks may try, they can never tell our story the way we can. I'm not saying they are incapable of telling the truth or of relaying the actual facts of our work here but, what they cannot do in their dispatches is tell the story from Our Point of View.

Credit where credit is due -- [MilBlogs - LTC John]
Many in our community of arms have bemoaned the difficulties of traditional media outlets covering Afganistan or Iraq. The lack of reporting, the reliance on stringers, bias and mistakes have all gotten our hackles up at many times.
However, there are counter-examples. I would point out what the Chicago Tribune (who I have no great love for) has done with the deployment of thousands of Illinois National Guard Soldiers to Afghanistan

MILBLOGGING

I don't think that word means what you think it means... -- [From My Position]
The Army is trying to embrace social networking and the interwebs in general. Often, just as we do with emerging doctrine, we will go through the growing pains of developing terminology. These growing pains often lead to one term being redefined, although the meaning never changes, to come to more accurate definition. This happens all the time, when we re-evaluate terms and mission. For instance, Peacekeeping has also been monikered as MOOTW, Militarty Operations Other Than War; SASO, Support And Stability Operations; SO/SO, Support Operations/Stability Operations; Non-lethal Operations, etc.
So they have the idea at CGSC, but fail in the terminology.

Let's talk OP-SEC, ba-by, let's talk about you and me... -- [Wings Over Iraq]
(Yes, the early 90s really were that lame)
This post is in response to a number of articles (Today at SWJ, plus the round-up posted the other day here at WOI, as well as some great articles from Soldiers in the Blogosphere) regarding the risks to OPerational SECurity (OPSEC, as we call it) which might stem from blogs, and Web 2.0 social networking sites.

POLITICS

This really torqued me off -- [This Ain't Hell...]
Last night I got some emails about the Monster.com advertisement for Internment / Resettlement Specialists for the National Guard. The emailers were pushing the image of Americans being rounded up for their political ideology. Here's the ad complete with a video and an exerpt;...

National Guard not advertising for political-dissent internment camps -- [Hot Air]
One would think that the negative coverage of just about every phase of the Iraq War would have taught people about the many specialties of the US military, but especially about training for detention and stockade duty. However, we have received an eruption of e-mail over a completely innocuous job listing from the National Guard which proves that a few people pay more attention to conspiracy theories than to facts.

Dissent is patriotic - not -- [SF Gate]
Imagine it's four years ago and an aide to President George W. Bush posted a blog on the Whitehouse.gov Web site that bemoaned Internet criticism of the Iraq war, then continued: "These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain e-mails or through casual conversations.

HUMOR / SATIRE

Day By Day

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