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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.
Updating - Refresh for updates.
Afghans Voice Their Fears Amid Marja Campaign -- [NY Times/C.J. Chivers - with the Marines in Marjah]
If the meeting was any indication, the Marines face local Afghans deeply worried for their safety and suspicious of American actions, even as the elders expressed an interest in collaborating with development projects once security conditions improve.
But first things first.
Battle starts to win over Helmand locals and wean them off poppy growing -- [The Times (London)]
Afghan civilians will today begin to pour into the district cleared by British troops in a pivotal phase of the operation to banish the Taleban.
Teachers and civil servants, together with foreign engineers, will begin to try to cement the military gains of Operation Moshtarak by winning the trust of locals.
Government Administrator Arrives in Marjah -- [Wall Street Journal]
The new Afghan government administrator of Marjah moved into town Tuesday, the most overt sign so far that the fierce military campaign to oust the Taliban is beginning to give way to the civilian campaign to win over the locals with economic aid and public services.
Afghan rights body: 28 civilians killed in Marjah -- [AP/Washington Post]
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said in a statement Wednesday that it had confirmed 28 civilians deaths in the Marjah fighting, based on witness reports. Thirteen children were among the dead. About 70 civilians have been wounded, 30 of them children, the commission said... The commission said witnesses had told them that most of the casualties came from coalition gunfire and rockets.
The United Nations on Wednesday called on all sides to do their utmost to protect children from the conflict.
Underscoring the threat militants pose, two men on a motorbike gunned down a provincial official in neighboring Kandahar province as he walked to work Wednesday in the provincial capital, police said. Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for the assassination.
Routine -- [Rajiv Srinivasan - in Afghanistan]
I'm not sure if I'm going crazy in the 7th month of my Afghanistan adventure, but I seem to have adopted a peculiar alter-ego in my spare time; that of fitness guru Tony Perkis from the movie Heavyweights. My random movie quote announcements seem to bring up the spirit on the COP, so I didn't fight the change. They've actually become part of my morning routine here in Zhari District; or at least as close to a routine as one can have living two kilometers from Mullah Mohammed Omar's home street.
The 10 Dari Phrases You Need to Know -- [Your experience may vary - in Afghanistan]
As a Coalition advisor in Kabul, I've found even a little Dari goes a LONG way. Here's my take on the absolute least you need to know...
1. Kumak! Help! Because you just never know when you might need it...
Picture Perfect -- [Rajiv Srinivasan
- in Afghanistan]
Greetings from Boston! Over the next week, I'll be indulging myself in a fatty, sugar coated, and slothful R&R Leave as I spend valuable time with my parents and sister. In the interim, I'd like to share a few photos of my tour in Afghanistan with you now that I have the bandwidth (both electronic and mental) to do so.
U.S. plans for possible delay in Iraq withdrawal -- [Washington Post]
The U.S. military has prepared contingency plans to delay the planned withdrawal of all combat forces in Iraq...
Extending Our Stay in Iraq -- [NY Times op/ed - Tom Ricks]
IRAQ'S March 7 national election, and the formation of a new government that will follow, carry huge implications for both Iraqis and American policy. It appears now that the results are unlikely to resolve key political struggles that could return the country to sectarianism and violence.
If so, President Obama may find himself later this year considering whether once again to break his campaign promises about ending the war, and to offer to keep tens of thousands of troops in Iraq for several more years.
Nir Rosen: Stop the Iraq madness! -- [Nir Rosen/Tom Ricks]
...So when I saw Nir Rosen, a fellow at the NYU Center on Law and Security, make some comments that sharply disagreed with my pessimistic views on Iraq, I asked him to write a guest post for Best Defense explaining his take on the situation. Nir, who has been knocking around Iraq lately, graciously did so.
It's been frustrating to read the latest hysteria about sectarianism returning to Iraq, the threat of a new civil war looming, or even the notion that Iraq is "unraveling." I left Iraq today after an intense mission on behalf of Refugees International. My colleague Elizabeth Campbell and I traveled comfortably and easily throughout Baghdad, Salahedin, Diyala and Babil. We were out among Iraqis until well into the night every day...
Haiti: Port Repair, Port Operations and Fuel Operations -- [Eagle Speak]
It's been a week or so since we last looked in on how the recovery operation for Haiti's vital ports has been going (click on one of "labels" down below to see earlier reports). Since then the U.S. Navy and other cooperating forces have made substantial progress in opening up the vital sea life line to the Haitian people:
Son of Hamas founder spied for Israel for more than a decade -- [The Times (London)]
The son of one of Hamas's founding members was a spy in the service of Israel for more than a decade, helping prevent dozens of Islamist suicide bombers from finding their targets, it emerged today.
In-Justice! Furor over O's 'Gitmo' appointees -- [New York Post]
The Justice Department's disclosure that nine of President Obama's appointees had either represented or advocated for Guantanamo detainees has touched off a firestorm of criticism...
"To the best of our knowledge, during their employment prior to joining the government, only five of the lawyers who serve as political appointees in those components represented detainees," said Holder in the letter, which is dated Feb. 18. "Four others either contributed to amicus briefs in detainee-related cases or were otherwise involved in advocacy on behalf of detainees."
Pelosi Reasserts Claims On CIA Interrogation Techniques -- [Fox News]
"I have never been briefed by the CIA or anyone else on the subject of those interrogations, to the extent that they were being used," the California Democrat told reporters Tuesday. "We were only briefed that there were lawyers in the Justice Department that thought they were legal, period."
The comments marked Pelosi's first foray into the controversy in nine months that pitted the top House Democrat against the nation's premier spy agency. Responding to a lawsuit filed by Amnesty International and two other human rights watchdog groups, the CIA released several dozen documents detailing how the CIA handled suspected terrorism suspects and briefed lawmakers about it.
The documents show Pelosi was briefed about "ongoing interrogations of Abu Zubaydah" on April 24, 2002, just weeks after the top Al Qaeda suspect was captured in Pakistan. Previously, Pelosi asserted the 2002 briefing covered only "interrogation techniques the administration was considering using in the future."
Denmark Rallies Public Behind Afghan War -- [Wall Street Journal]
Denmark has paid a high price in Afghanistan. Its 750 troops represent almost 5% of its entire military, including reserves--among the highest in Afghanistan. Of the total, 31 Danish troops have died there, an allied casualty rate behind only Canada and Estonia, which has just 150 soldiers fighting.
Yet throughout a difficult 2009, polls consistently showed around a half of Danes surveyed by TNS Gallup believed Danish troops should be in Afghanistan; only one-third said they didn't. In NATO nations such as the U.K., Germany and Netherlands, meanwhile, polls reveal over half wanting troops back home.
"If you can't win the public opinion, you have lost the war," Danish Defense Minister Søren Gade said in a recent interview.
Hon. Duckworth and Brig. Gen. Vaught, USAF (Ret.) to Be Inducted Into the U.S. Army Women's Foundation Hall of Fame -- [PR Newswire]
The U.S. Army Women's Foundation today announced its Hall of Fame inductees for 2010: The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; and, Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, USAF (Ret.), President of Board of Directors of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran, former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, and recipient of many distinguished service awards, including a Purple Heart, an Air Medal, and an Army Commendation Medal.
Vaught, one of the most highly decorated women to serve in the U.S. military, achieved many "firsts" that helped pave the way for thousands of army women to be judged based on their abilities -- not gender.
Navy soon to let women serve on subs -- [AP/Washington Times]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates notified Congress in a letter signed Friday that the Navy intends to repeal the ban on female sailors on subs... Congress has 30 days to weigh in.
Vets group has tips on GI Bill repayments -- [Military Times]
Student Veterans of America is recommending that people who must give back their $3,000 GI Bill advances quickly assess their finances to determine the best way to repay the money.
The Veterans Affairs Department has announced it will start reducing living stipends, beginning April 1, by $750 per month to recoup the fall advance payments...
Anyone who received the pay advances who is not now drawing a monthly living stipend must make separate arrangements with VA to pay back the money.
VA docs forbidden to recommend medical marijuana -- [New Mexico Independent]
Both Culkin and another patient The Independent interviewed in January, Mr. Garcia, described their VA treatment for PTSD as involving numerous different prescription drugs that induced a zombie-like state. Marijuana, they both told The Independent, has enabled them to reduce the amount of prescription drugs they take and lead more normal lives.
It's Almost That Time for the MILbloggies, again -- [MILblogging.com]
The MILBloggies, which recognize military bloggers for their contribution to blogging, news and information, and to the military will be held in conjunction with the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference. The Milbloggies were started in 2006, and nominations have covered a range of categories over the years including: U.S. Military Parent, U.S. Military Supporter, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Military Veteran, U.S. Military Spouse, Foreign National Military and U.S. Reporter.
Grim Milestone (watched or not) -- [Greyhawk (23 Feb)]
"...the United States passed a deadly milestone as the 1,000th U.S. service member was killed in the Afghan war." They cite coverage from AFP, Pajhwok, BBC (twice), and Reuters. US news sources... missed this one. They'll probably catch up, but if I recall correctly they used to be out in front of this stuff in years past...
Death toll in Afghan war nears 1,000 -- [Washington Post (24 Feb)]
The roll call of the fallen began on Oct. 10, 2001, when Air Force Master Sgt. Evander E. Andrews was killed in a forklift accident in Qatar while building an airstrip in preparation for the invasion of Afghanistan. The latest confirmed addition came Sunday, when Army Pfc. J.R. Salvacion, 27, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit near Kandahar.
The number of dead is small in comparison with U.S. casualties in Iraq, where 4,366 uniformed personnel have died since 2003. But as operations intensify in Afghanistan, the war is killing more and more service members who came home safely after serving in Iraq, only to return to the battlefield in another theater.
McChrystal's Right Call -- [Attackerman]
Your commanders in the area say the base isn't defensible. Their judgment can't be ignored. But what will it mean for the broader objectives of the campaign if you ignore the Afghan governor and leave him and Barg-e Matal to its fate? Why will the Afghans, who've been let down so much by empty American promises, read that move as anything other than the U.S. viewing its peoples' lives as more precious than theirs?
Juicebox Mafia Report- Politics & Warfighting -- [In the Crosshairs]
Attackerman is listening to the comments of one of his readers and that is a good thing.
...That is some very reasonable analysis and it pays to remember that military decisions are made to eventually create a particular non-military end. Politics will often play a role in that
It Happens -- [Greyhawk]
Eight Americans died because the President of the United States delayed a decision for far too long.
2 Generals Wary About Repealing Gay Policy -- [NY Times]
The top generals from the Army and the Air Force expressed deep concern on Tuesday about moving rapidly to lift the ban on openly gay service members, saying it could make it harder for their forces to do their jobs while fighting two wars.
WWII female pilots getting Cong. Gold Medal -- [Air Force Times]
The Army Air Forces allowed them to take domestic military flying jobs that freed up male pilots to serve overseas, but their service was unappreciated and was kept secret for decades. Now, after years of lobbying, the Women Airforce Service Pilots will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on March 10.
"It's been a long road," said Parrish, 87, who joined the service in 1944. "It's only taken them 65 years."
Today in military history:
1968: Battle of Hue ends
Heavy street fighting followed the Marines all the way through the city for more than three weeks. Marines of the 1st and 5th Regiments, fighting alongside the Army of the Republic of Vietnam's 1st Division, and also supported by U.S. Army 7th and 12th Cavalry Regiments drove the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces out of Hue little by little and retook the city one block at a time...
On February 24, 1968, the Imperial Palace in the center of the Citadel was secured and the elite Black Panther Company of the First South Vietnamese Division tore down the NVA's flag, which had flown since the battle's start on January 31. A few days later the NVA withdrew from the city completely.
The Communist forces suffered heavy losses in this battle, losing 5,133 men at Hue; about 3,000 more were estimated to be killed outside of the city (according to MACV).
There was also a large civilian death toll, mostly due to the massacres by Vietnamese Communist forces of the civilian population of the city during their one month control of the city. In the battle's aftermath, South Vietnamese and American soldiers unearthed numerous shallow mass graves inside the city and on its outskirts containing the bodies of approximately 2,800 people killed by the NVA and VC and their systematic way of eliminating those who were considered as a threat to Communist victory.
(Need more? Dawn Patrols Archives are here.)
