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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.
Miracles On The Front Line: Snipers Defy Odds, Death In Afghanistan -- [Pat Dollard Young Americans - Erik Wong]
For seven hours, the Marine sniper team waited, crouching behind a concrete block in a dusty courtyard, at the edge of an adobe compound. They were pretty sure that a group of local Taliban militants was on the other side of the compound wall. But the snipers couldn't strike until they had some proof.
So they stayed there, in silence. They downed energy drinks to stay awake. They urinated in bottles and defecated in bags, so they wouldn't leave evidence of their presence behind.
Team leader Sgt. Erik Rue kept himself sharp by running scenarios in his head of what could happen next: What if the Taliban burst in, guns blazing? What if they enter unarmed? What if there are children in the way? What if the courtyard is overrun by the militants? Where do we go then?
Heroic female medic who ignored shrapnel embedded in her shoulder to save SEVEN soldiers during Taliban attack -- [Daily Mail] HT: Helmand Blog
An heroic army medic treated seven injured comrades after a Taliban attack in Afghanistan despite being wounded with shrapnel herself, it emerged today. Lance Corporal Sally Clarke, of 2 Rifles, ignored the searing pain caused by the shards embedded in her shoulder and back and set about treating the rest of her patrol. The worst hit was Corporal Paul Mather who incredibly managed to radio instructions for jets circling above to open fire on Taliban insurgents despite bleeding heavily from wounds the size of his fist. Corporal Mather, 28, and Lance Corporal Clarke, 22, from Cheltenham, were on patrol south of Sangin when insurgents fired rocket propelled grenades over a wall as soldiers dealt with an anti-tank mine.
Gunner's Turret--A different perspective -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
...Normally I am a driver or vehicle commander, but today I was given a unique opportunity to be a gunner. I haven't been a gunner since my training at Fort Riley, so I was rather excited about this chance to see Afghanistan at a different viewpoint. Before the mission began, I strapped on the gunner's harness. The harness is constructed of nylon webbing and has several buckles, straps, etc. It's not the most comfortable piece of life-saving equipment to wear, especially since the straps are fitted snugly through the groin area.
four down -- how many more to go? -- [Free Range International - in Afghanistan]
The bad guys hit a home run today by whacking the number 2 at NDS. The NDS is the National Directorate of Security and they are the best of what is currently available in the Afghan Security Forces. The number 2, Dr. Abdullah is an old Jihadi Commander from Laghman Province who fought the Soviets as Masooud's chief of security before continuing the fight against the Taliban. He was reportedly at the central Mosque for Mitharlam City (the capitol of Lagham Province) to fork over a ton of family dough to finance a major addition . Seems damn un Islamic to me to whack a guy who is donating that much cash to a Mosque. Killed along with Dr. Abdullah was a Mr. Imadudin, Head of the Laghman Provincial Council along with 22 other people (54 more were wounded.) The press is reporting that this was caused by a vehicle borne IED but that is not correct.
CNN Poll: Afghanistan War opposition at all-time high -- [CNN]
Opposition to the war in Afghanistan is at an all-time high in a new national poll.
Fifty-seven percent of Americans questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday say they oppose the U.S. war in Afghanistan, with 42 percent supporting the military mission. The percentage of those in opposition to the war is up 11 points since April, and is the highest ever in CNN polling since the launch of the U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan soon after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Pentagon Frets Obama's Afghan Commitment -- [Military.com]
...The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to the media, said Biden has argued that without sustained support from the American people, the U.S. can't make the long-term commitment that would be needed to stabilize Afghanistan and dismantle al-Qaida. Biden's office declined to comment.
"I think they (the Obama administration) thought this would be more popular and easier," a senior Pentagon official said. "We are not getting a Bush-like commitment to this war."
Watching the Watchmen: Assessing the Assessment -- [The Quatto Zone - in Afghanistan]
...So much for good intentions. It is now less than 24 hours after the assessment was submitted, and we have reports about its content from everyone except the dozen or so people who have actually seen the classified report in its final form.
What does it say? According to ABC News, it emphasizes a "a shift from fighting the Taliban to protecting the population, rooting out corruption, nearly doubling Afghan security forces and transforming how those Afghan forces are trained." The Los Angeles Times describes it as a call for "a full overhaul of the military's war strategy," intended "to intensify development of Afghan security forces, improve the country's government and refocus economic development initiatives." The assessment "concludes that the Taliban insurgency in the country is stronger than previously realized," ...
New On MEMRI TV: Taliban Commander in Paktika Province Maulvi Sangin: America Seeks Escape Route From Afghanistan -- [MEMRI Blog]
"Allah willing, the Americans will certainly be defeated." "They are already seeking an escape route, because the ground has begun to burn under their feet."
A different perspective of corruption -- [Doc H's International Adventure]
How many times have you seen an article in the news media start off with "There is rampant corruption in Afghanistan?"
We of the US Military abhor corruption. Bribes, kickbacks, skimming things off the inventory; these are things that we simply do not do or tolerate. Sadly there are politicians and other leaders in the US who do not share this standard of conduct. I think I am safe in declaring that almost every citizen of the US would put corruption in the BAD category.
Having been in more than a few foreign countries I would like to expand your perspective.
U.S. to boost combat force in Afghanistan -- [LA Times]
Support units will be replaced by up to 14,000 'trigger-pullers,' and noncombat posts will be contracted out, Defense officials say. The swap will allow the U.S. to keep its troop level unchanged. -- U.S. troops patrol in Kunar province.
Contractors Outnumber US Troops in Afghanistan -- [NY Times]
Civilian contractors working for the Pentagon in Afghanistan not only outnumber the uniformed troops, according to a report by a Congressional research group, but also form the highest ratio of contractors to military personnel recorded in any war in the history of the United States. On a superficial level, the shift means that most of those representing the United States in the war will be wearing the scruffy cargo pants, polo shirts, baseball caps and other casual accouterments favored by overseas contractors rather than the fatigues and flight suits of the military. More fundamentally, the contractors who are a majority of the force in what has become the most important American enterprise abroad are subject to lines of authority that are less clear-cut than they are for their military colleagues. What is clear, the report says, is that when contractors for the Pentagon or other agencies are not properly managed - as when civilian interrogators committed abuses at Abu Ghraib in Iraq or members of the security firm Blackwater shot and killed 17 Iraqi citizens in Baghdad - the American effort can be severely undermined.
Shocking Hazing at U.S. Embassy in Kabul -- [CBS]
In numerous e-mails, the guards describe a crisis in discipline and morale, understaffing, sleep deprivation, "threats and intimidation." One guard refers to a group of guards and supervisors from the security contractor ArmorGroup as "sexual predators, deviants running rampant."
Guards provided dozens of graphic photos and videos depicting shocking scenes of hazing and humiliation by superiors, most of them too lewd to show. The guards recount a climate of fear and coercion where those who refuse to participate are retaliated against, even fired.
The Horror! CBS Posts Soldier Party Pictures-- Wants You to Feel Outraged -- [Gateway Pundit]
...Here is the latest military-bashing nonsense from the democrat-media complex.
CBS is calling this "shocking hazing" at a military base in Kabul. It's not until you read the article that you find they are talking about a private security firm and not US soldiers.
Taliban Surprising U.S. Forces With Improved Tactics -- [Washington Post]
The Taliban has become a much more potent adversary in Afghanistan by improving its own tactics and finding gaps in the U.S. military playbook, according to senior American military officials who acknowledged that the enemy's resurgence this year has taken them by surprise.
Warlord's Defection Shows Afghan Risk -- [Wall Street Journal]
Ghulam Yahya, a former mayor of this ancient city along the Silk Road, battled the Taliban for years and worked hand in hand with Western officials to rebuild the country's industrial hub. Now, Mr. Yahya is firing rockets at the Herat airport and nearby coalition military headquarters. He has kidnapped soldiers and foreign contractors, claimed the downing of an Afghan army helicopter and planted bombs in central Herat - including one that killed a district police chief and more than a dozen bystanders last month. Mr. Yahya's stranglehold over the outskirts of Herat has destabilized a former oasis of calm and relative prosperity.
Iranian Made Weapons Seized In Herat Province -- [MEMRI Blog]
Afghan police said they have seized a cache of Iranian-made weapons and munitions in the country's western Herat province, according to an Afghan daily.
Some explosives and a number of BM1 rockets are among the weapons seized, according to a report in the Pashtu-language newspaper Wrazpanra Weesa.
UN Reports a Decline in Afghanistan's Opium Trade -- [Wall Street Journal]
Farmers in Afghanistan are growing less opium than last year and prices for the illicit crop have fallen to levels not seen in a decade, according to a new report from the United Nations. The decline in poppy growing is largely the result of years of oversupply catching up to farmers - cultivation climbed this decade as earlier efforts to curb it failed - and newly successful interdiction efforts that have begun to discourage production, the report said.
Election fraud... in Shorabak? -- [Flit - in Afghanistan]
Odd story yesterday from the usually reliable Dexter Filkins about election fraud in Kandahar Province.
The central premise, which Yglesias and others have commented on, is undoubtedly true. Karzai's brother is undoubtedly a powerful man, perhaps the most powerful man, in the south. And election fraud in the country has undoubtedly been rampant. But some of the details of this story don't scan.
The synopsis is...
Tribal Leaders Say Karzai's Team Forged 23,900 Votes - [NY Times]
Just a week before this country's presidential election, the leaders of a southern Afghan tribe called Bariz gathered to make a bold decision: they would abandon the incumbent and local favorite, Hamid Karzai, and endorse his challenger, Abdullah Abdullah. Mr. Abdullah flew to the southern city of Kandahar to receive the tribe's endorsement.
Interview with WUSF Radio Sept. 1, 2009 -- [Afghanistan My Last Tour - in Afghanistan]
From SMSgt Temple's wife Liisa: Rex was out on a mission today (and is safely back) but he had a chance to catch up with WUSF Radio's Bobbie O'Brien on Monday by phone. That interview aired today during NPR's All Things Considered and it will run again tomorrow morning during Morning Edition on WUSF Radio in Tampa, FL. Topic was the full scale launch of our school supplies charity project benefiting Afghan school children.
My Last Tour: School Supplies
Government Says August Was Bloodiest Month for Iraqis in Past Year -- [VOA]
Iraqi government figures indicate August was the bloodiest month in the last 13 for Iraqi citizens. More than 450 Iraqi people were killed and more than 1,500 were wounded, giving rise to fresh worries over the security situation. August was an extremely bloody month in Iraq, according to an Iraqi government report, with casualties from violence among Iraqi civilians, police and Iraqi soldiers hitting a 13-month high. The toll in August contrasts with a relative lull in July, when 275 Iraqis were killed in the weeks immediately following the withdrawal by US forces from Iraqi towns and cities.
Attacks Prompt Iraqi Security Assessment -- [Defense Link]
Iraqi security forces have undertaken a broad self-assessment in the wake of series of deadly attacks in the Iraqi capital last month, a US commander there said today. A wave of truck bombings in Baghdad killed at least 100 people and injured more than 500 others in a deadly Aug. 19 assault that exposed a lapse in security, according to US defense officials. "The Iraqi security forces, as a result of that, have done a great deal of introspective assessing, to make sure that they understand how they can mitigate that from ever happening again," Army Col. Joseph Martin, commander of the 1st Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team in Baghdad told reporters at the Pentagon today.
US Proposes Sending Troops to Disputed Area of Northern Iraq -- [VOA]
Recently, the top US military commander in Iraq said he wants to send American troops to a disputed strip of territory in northern Iraq - for a limited time - to defuse growing tensions between Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish militia. General Ray Odierno says the goal is to build trust between the two sides and bridge the gap between feuding Kurds and Arabs.
Good Reading -- [Ramblings from a painter - in Iraq]
...Most news reports about Iraq seem to focus on death, destruction, and political problems. News outlets always seem to prefer bad news stories. Sells more papers, I guess. But there's another side to the story. Most of us who came here of our own volition did so to try to make a difference in the country. Here's a press release from the Corps of Engineers about a project that was just finished. Yes, it's a press release, so it's not an "unbiased" bit of reporting. That doesn't change the fact that this is a success story, about a large project we (and you - it was your tax dollars that paid for it) have completed. It'll make a difference in the lives of a lot of young kids
Hunting For Mister Big -- [Strategy Page]
Iraq is going after the nations and foreign officials who worked with Saddam Hussein to loot the "Oil for Food" program (a UN administered arrangement that allowed Iraq to export oil in exchange for food and humanitarian supplies) in the 1990s.
Roundtable: the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron - [BlackFive - Grim]
We had a rare but pleasant opportunity to speak with a pair of senior NCOs from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, currently leading firefighting missions in southern Iraq. They have been in-country for about four months, during which time they have been prepared to do "combat firefighting" in the event of a helicopter downing or other serious incident; and training the Iraqi firefighters in live fire practice. You can listen to their broadcast here.
What they wanted to tell you about, though, was their interpreter -- a man who was slated for execution for refusing to serve Saddam, until he was freed by United States Marines.
LMAT team helps Iraqi Army take control of base operations -- [Inside Ali Base]
Operations continue as normal. The focus remains the same: keep the base running and the mission on target. Iraqi Army Soldiers routinely work with their U.S. counterparts. There is one important difference: the Iraqis have taken command of the controls.
"It's a historic time for anyone serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Lt. Col. Steven Ramsay, Tallil Logistics Military Advisory Team (LMAT) Senior Advisor. "We have committed to turning over all operations to the Iraqi people and they are committed to taking over and succeeding."
Alaska Strykers teach final lessons before returning home -- [News-Miner]
Shortly after entering the police station, Staff Sgt. Daniel Blalock of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment found himself in the embrace of an Iraqi officer.
"I knew it was going to be a sad day when we told them we couldn't come back," Blalock said, after he returned the hug.
Sgt. Blalock and other members of 1-5's Charlie Company had come to the station, just north of Baqubah in Diyala Province on a mission to help train the Iraqi Emergency Response Force. The ERF, a special branch of the Iraqi Police trained for security operations, had worked with the American soldiers for months, and it was their final session...
FUBAR -- [Iron Camel - in Iraq]
...As I head out the door, I see my boss and he doesn't look happy. He doesn't mention a word about the impending cluster-fuck that's about to happen. I head toward the LZ (Landing Zone) and run into a US General, but not the one that we expected to arrive, "Is the boss here yet, Jim?" It catches me off guard.
You know when you get that feeling that something bad is going to happen, and even though it's not your fault, you or your team are going to be held responsible in some way? I think my voice actually cracked, "Hi sir. (I give him my sharpest salute as if later on when this all unravels he is going to think, "This is all fucked up, but that Gafney kid sure can salute.") "The boss isn't here yet sir. I am going to secure the LZ. The Colonel is inside."
Exclusive: Controversial Blackwater Security Firm Gets Iraq Contract Extended by State Dept -- [ABC]
The State Department has extended a contract with controversial private security firm Blackwater, ABC News has learned. The contract was due to expire this month.
Sources say the department has agreed to temporarily continue using the subsidiary known as Presidential Airways to provide helicopter transport for embassy employees around Iraq until a new contract with another security company, Dyncorp International, is fully implemented. Presidential Airways is an arm of U.S. Training Center, which is a subsidiary of the company Xe, formerly and still commonly known as Blackwater.
The Reframing of 9/11 -- [And So it Goes...]
I first read today about this apparent effort to reframe 9/11 by liberal Democrats and by the perpetual Obama Campaign Machine, Organizing For America. This is not the first report I've seen about the effort to rewrite the story of 9/11. The effort last year to make 9/11 "A Day of Service" was the first time it actually struck me as truly likely that the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil was soon to be whitewashed.
The "Day of Service" is not offensive in and of itself. This was not actually conceived by Obama. A non-profit organization called My Good Deed began organizing 9/11 as a day of national service and remembrance back in 2001. In April of this year, Obama signed legislation to formally recognize it at such.
Where this all gets dicey is detailed in this report by The Foundry.
WWF condemns 9/11 print ad by DDB Brazil -- [AdFreak]
[NOTE: The WWF says it never approved this ad and is condemning it. See the updates below.] Just in time for the anniversary of 9/11 comes this tasteless, nightmarish print ad for the World Wildlife Fund, showing dozens of planes headed for lower Manhattan.
WWF Exploits 9/11 -- [Weekly Standard]
It's shameful. An ad by the World Wildlife Fund that tries to turn 9/11 into...something that has to do with animals -- and not the animals who flew those planes into the World Trade Center. The text on the ad reads, "The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 9/11.
Iran Ready For Talks, Says Nuclear Negotiator -- [Washington Post]
Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Tuesday that the country is ready to reopen talks with world powers increasingly concerned about Iranian intentions, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. The announcement by Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili came a day before a meeting in Germany of representatives from six nations, including the United States, that are seeking to develop a strategy for addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions. "Iran has prepared to present its revised package of proposals ... and is ready to hold talks with world powers ...
Al Qaeda Tells Obama He's Going to Hell -- [Jawa Report]
A new video from al Qaida's as-Sahab Media wing is titled, "A Calm Dialogue With Obama." It shows Shiekh Khalid bin Abdul Rahman al-Hussainan chastising America and President Obama for all of the problems of the Muslim world.
Gary McKinnon: Wanted, Dead or Alive (Guest opinion/Oxblood Ruffin) -- [Boing Boing]
Gary McKinnon is a Scottish technical expert, or as he is referred to by US federal prosecutors, the perpetrator of "the greatest military hack of all time."
Although Mr. McKinnon has high name-recognition factor in the United Kingdom he is virtually unknown to the American public. He is a mentally challenged hacker who waltzed through ninety-seven US military Web sites before being caught. Mr. McKinnon was looking for evidence of UFOs. He has Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism. It doesn't make him Rain Man but it does create a different perceptual framework.
Lockerbie Paper Trail Leads to Gordon Brown -- [The Times]
Gordon Brown was accused of double dealing last night after an official document emerged claiming that Libya was told that he wanted the Lockerbie bomber to die a free man. The disclosure threatens to undermine the Government's determinedly neutral stance over the release of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi. It could also deepen the rift with the Obama administration, which yesterday demanded answers from the Government over its role in the affair.
What lies within our own heart of darkness? -- [The Burn Pit]
...the changes take place inside, you know...
Since I returned from Afghanistan, I've had a nearly complete inability to sleep on my own. My nighttime rest usually finds it's genesis in 4-5 Excedrin PM, chewed up to enter the blood stream all the quicker. And before I actually get to sleep I have to listen to a book on Audio Tape, preferably one which I have heard numerous times, so that it isn't so interesting as to distract me from sleep, but that I have sort of a soothing voice. I also don't really like big rooms, having shared my 15×30 foot plywood "B-hut" with 7 guys who make all the noises guys generally make outside the hearing of women.
Last night as I drifted off to sleep
1,493 Heroes Waiting To Be Adopted -- [Soldiers' Angels Network]
We have way too many heroes needing to be adopted. If you can't afford to adopt one
on your own - partner with someone from work, school, neighbor, friend, and family.
We need to work as a team to get the word out these troops need to be adopted.
Supporting troops on a budget -- [Soldiers Angels LA]
Angel Sharon Trombley is the Angel Bakers Team Leader and has been adopting soldiers since 2006. In that span of time she's also been laid off from her job... twice. But even amidst financial challenges, she's found a way to keep supporting her soldiers. "I don't think my soldiers ever knew I've lost my job," she says. "Financial hardship is not necessarily a good reason to stop. You can do it, you just have to get creative and put in a little extra effort."
Portraits of Love Project -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany]
Portraits of Love/Family Pics for Soldiers
Underwitten by Fujifilm: Soldiers' Angels and over 275 professional photographers of the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) have teamed up to send a piece of home to our deployed troops--just in time for the winter holidays--through an effort dubbed Portraits of Love.
The Politics of Purse Strings -- [Army of Dude]
...The VA counselors at my school buy salt in bulk to pour into the wounds of the students they are purported to serve. One in particular lambasts me whenever I call with a legitimate question regarding veteran benefits. With his trademark condescending tone, he sharply rebuked my questions about a delay in payments, suggesting that I should have been following the news of backlogged certifications, despite his assurance that the transition would not allow a payment disparity. Oh, to be tongue-lashed for not doing his job for him! He heartily laughed at my question of when to expect my next payment. In that brief moment, he acknowledged the absurdity of my situation - he didn't know, and there is no way to find out. He could not even venture a guess but did not rule out weeks or even a month. The check is in the mail, I am told. That old line doesn't work for my landlord, and it wouldn't get past my utility company. But for the government agency responsible for the benefits going out to the men and women who have served this country in a time of war, with the basic sustenance of thousands of veterans in the balance, it's business as usual.
I believe in the idea that people get the government they deserve. But do veterans get the VA they deserve?
Update: September 1, 1 PM - Within hours of this post going live, I was given the opportunity to discuss my situation with Keith Wilson, the Veterans Benefits Administration Director of Education Service at the VA....
Checks in the mail -- [Greyhawk]
It would be nice to think that Alex Horton's problems with the new GI Bill represented an isolated incident - but I'm waiting for confirmation of eligibility myself, and I can't say I'm happy with the speed of the process. That's not a confidence builder, to say the least - and Alex's experience doesn't surprise me.
Today's Medal of Honor Moment for 1 September -- [Castle Argghhh!!!]
Today is an interesting day in the history of the Medal, with classic memes, a variation on a theme, and some damn hard fighting and desperate valor, and one very tough aviator.
Homecoming -- [Short Timers - home from Iraq]
The team arrived home safely last night on Northwest Flight 405. We were met by our loved ones at the airport. Even UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers and his wife Sherry Modrow showed up to welcome us back, which was really nice of the two of them. Jenny rushed to catch a flight back to Anchorage - after all of our traveling, she still had one leg to go.
One Month... -- [The Gun Line - home from Iraq]
It has been one month since I returned home. So far, it has gone smoothly, more sweet than bitter. I have a few issues on which i am working with the VA. They all are physical, and not so debilitating as to have a major impact on my quality of life. There's the tinnitus that I suspect was caused by the daily exposure to the pairs of F-16s taking off three times a day about 200 meters from where I lived and worked. There's a lump in my right trapezius that's been there for 4 months now, with something going on down the cusp of my right shoulder. All in all, though, I came out fof the deployment intact, especially between the ears, and I count myself lucky to have done so... It's a new beginning, in many ways, beginning with what I hope is an increased sense of maturity. I had time to think over there. I had the chance to examine my life, and chart the "sustains" and "improves" that life's lessons have imparted.
Obama White House Has Secret Plan To Harvest Personal Data From Social Networking Websites -- [National Legal and Policy Center]
NLPC has uncovered a plan by the White House New Media operation to hire a technology vendor to conduct a massive, secret effort to harvest personal information on millions of Americans from social networking websites.
White House Has Plan To Data Mine Social Networks -- [Stop the ACLU]
Remember when they went ballistic over a Pentagon plan to scour the Internet for suspicious patterns that could uncover terrorist plots, a year and a half after 9/11? Oh, how times change. ...First we had the fishy snoop email fiasco, then the email spam issue. Now this. All in less than a month. And the response from those on the Left, including the ACLU?
CNN Poll: Independents disapprove of Obama -- [CNN]
Fifty-three percent of independents questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday say they disapprove of how Obama's handling his duties in the White House, with 43 percent in approval. That result marks the first time in a CNN poll that a majority of independents give the president's performance a thumbs-down.
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